Chapter Two
"Starsky," said Hutch, looking into his partner's face and feeling the pain that he was going through. "Starsky, you haven't done a thing!"
"I haven't done a thing!" Starsky shouted, "Hutch, I hit the girl. I hit her and now she's paralyzed because of what I have done to her!"
"Starsky, listen to me," Hutch said, grabbing him by the shoulders. "It couldn't have been avoided, she just ran out into the street. I didn't even see her until it was too late. Starsky, you haven't done a thing, not one thing, buddy." He finished quietly.
As Starsky looked into the face of his friend and listened to what he said, he knew in the very back of his mind that Hutch was right, but he just couldn't say it. The facts were too strong; it was his car, and he was driving it when he hit the girl. Maybe, later, he could admit it was not his fault, but not now, not right now.
"Thanks pal," he said quietly. Turning to the doctor asked "Can I see her now?"
"Well, for a few minutes. She's asleep, so be quiet," he told Starsky.
"Thanks Doc," Starsky said gratefully.
The room was dim, almost dark, but a small light had been turned on. Starsky could see the still form lying on the bed. As he walked to the bed, he noticed how peaceful she looked, even with the bandage around her head. "It's so quiet," he thought as he reached over to touch her hand. He felt the warmth and smoothness of it and he prayed she would be all right. Looking into her face, he saw that it was not as peaceful as he thought. Starsky could see where worry and trouble had taken a toll on her. But, despite all that, the freshness and warmth of her face seemed to make it glow.
Suddenly, her eyes opened ever so slowly. She glanced around the room, not knowing where she was or what had happened. Finally her eyes rested on Starsky. She smiled at him, somehow feeling safe and secure with him there.
Smiling back, Starsky said gently "Hi there."
"Hi," she whispered, "Where am I?"
Starsky had to get closer to hear her speak. "You're at Memorial Hospital, but don't worry about anything. You're OK, just go back to sleep and get some rest."
"I'm scared," she said softly. "Will you stay with me until I go to sleep?"
"Sure, I won't budge till you are in Never Never Land." It had seemed only a few minutes when he felt a hand gently on his shoulder. Starsky knew who it was without even turning around. "She's scared Hutch," he said softly. "You should have seen the look in her eyes when I said she was in the hospital."
"Well, I guess I would be scared too if I woke up in a hospital and did not know what had happened." Hutch said.
"Starsky, Hutch, come out here." Captain Dobey said poking his head through the door.
Starsky took one more look at her, then followed Hutch out of the room. As they entered the hall, they could see Captain Dobey talking on the phone. "All right, they are on the way."
"What's up, Cap?" Hutch asked walking up to the Captain.
"I want you two to go to Lakeside Marina right away," he said.
"Why?" asked Starsky, not wanting to leave the hospital.
"You two remember a guy named Lex Williams?" Dobey asked.
"You mean that drug exchange guy we busted a couple of months ago?" asked Starsky.
"Yeah, he's the one," said Dobey. "Or rather was the one."
Starsky and Hutch both looked at their Captain curiously.
"He's dead," Dobey said flatly. "Some kids found his body washed up on the beach. He's all cut up because the boats never saw him."
"Then how do you know that it's Williams?" asked Hutch.
"It's not a positive ID, but we are pretty sure. The autopsy will confirm the reports. I want you two guys to get down there and check out the grounds and the body."
"What killed him? If I remember right, he was a very good swimmer," asked Hutch.
"Bullet, from what they told me," said the Captain.
"Cap, I want to stay." Starsky stated.
"I want you two down there now." He said gruffly but gently.
Starsky saw there was no arguing with him, so he shrugged his shoulders and started off after Hutch.
"Starsky," the captain called. "I'll call you if anything happens."
"Thanks, Captain," Starsky said gratefully.
In minutes the red Torino, sirens going and lights flashing, pulled into the marina. There were a group of people dressed in uniforms, photographers, and plainclothesman, and of course, bystanders. No crime scene was complete without the bystanders.
As the two detectives forced their way through the crowd, they could see Sergeant Ferguson trying to keep the crowd under control. "Hi Dave, Hi Ken," he said. He was about the only guy on the force that did not call them by their last names.
"Hi Jim," they answered back.
"What's up?" asked Starsky.
"Those two kids found him washed up on the shore. From what we can tell, he had been shot in the chest, clean through the heart. But, it's really hard to get anything definite because he's a little cut up. The autopsy will tell us what we need to know, though."
"Where's the body?" asked Hutch.
"Over there," the sergeant said, pointing to the right as a group of men clustered about. "The kids are over there on those rocks."
"Thanks Jim," said Starsky. Turning to Hutch he said, "You take the body, I'll take the kids."
Starting to argue with him, Hutch stopped before he started. At this time, he did not feel like arguing with Starsky. "All right, but you buy me lunch."
Starsky laughed and turned toward the rocks. He could see two boys about eight or nine. Both of them looked a little shook up, but when they saw Starsky coming, they perked up and tried to look brave.
"Hi," said Starsky, "My name is Dave, what's yours?"
After a little pause, one of the boys said, "I'm Danny, he's Butch."
"Well Danny," said Starsky, now seated on a rock. "Want to tell me what happened?"
"Are you a cop?" Butch asked.
"Yes, I'm a cop." Starsky said.
"Do you have an honest to gosh police car?" Butch asked, his eyes shining brightly.
"No, my car isn't like a regular cop car. You see that red Torino in the parking lot with the white stripe on it?" Starsky said pointing to his car.
"Yeah," Butch said looking over to the Torino.
"Well, that's my car," Starsky said proudly.
"Really!" said Danny, his voice full of excitement. "Can we ride in it?"
"Not today Danny, but tell ya what. Tell me what happened and I'll see if I can arrange a ride – ok?"
"Sure – that would be great," both boys answered together.
"Well," started Danny. "Butch and I was walking along the beach trying to find a good spot to watch the boat show. We saw this thing lying on the beach and thought it might be a fish or something. We ran up to it and found out it was a guy. At first, we thought he was asleep, then we saw that he was really hurt, so we ran into the shop up there and told the people. That's when they called you guys." He finished wide-eyed.
"Yeah, it scared me!" said Butch.
"Can I ask you something, Dave?"
"Sure," said Starsky cheerfully.
"Did you ever get scared about something? I mean, like when you get to go find a mean guy and you got to walk in the dark. Do you get scared?"
Starsky answered the little boy quietly. "Yeah Butch, I get scared. But, I say a little prayer and that helps. It's not dumb or sissy to be scared, it shows that you are human and makes you a better person. Okay?"
"Great! Now I know it's not stupid to be scared. Thanks, Davey" said Butch joyfully.
"Starsky," Hutch yelled, "Come here."
"Comin'," he answered. "You guys stay here, someone will be by to take you home," Starsky told the two boys.
"Will they take us home in a police car?" Danny asked excitedly.
"I'll see what I can do." Starsky said. "You guys just stay here out of the way."
"What's up?" Starsky asked coming down off the rocks.
"It's Williams all right." Hutch said. "I wonder why they dumped here by the Marina."
"I think I know" Starsky said. "The kids said they came on him while looking for a spot to see a boat show."
"You mean," started Hutch, "that someone hit Williams, then dumped him in here knowing about the show and thinking the boats would get to him before anyone else?"
"By George, I think the ole chaps got it." Starsky said in a British accent.
"Hey Dave!" Ferguson called, "Dobey's calling you on the radio."
"He must be calling about Wanda," he said urgently. Starsky turned and ran for the car.
"Zebra 3, this is Dobey, come in, over" said the voice over the little box.
Reaching inside the car, Starsky grabbed the mike and spoke into it. "Zebra three, go ahead," Said Starsky.
"Starsky, Wanda's awake and you need to get over there. She's not too happy about her condition, not happy at all." Dobey said.
"On our way, Cap." Said Starsky as he jumped into the car.
"Let me speak to Hutch after you two get going." Dobey requested.
After they got into the car, Hutch took the mike and said, "Hutch here, Captain."
"Was it Williams?" he asked.
"Yeah, someone plugged him and then dumped him into the river hoping the boats would get to him before we did."
"Any idea as to how long he's been dead?" Dobey asked.
"Nope Captain, we'll know that when the autopsy report is done." Hutch answered back.
"Hutch," Starsky interrupted, "Ask him about Wanda, how is she doing?"
"Captain, Starsky wants to know how Wanda is doing."
"She's all right physically. But, she's got a very negative attitude about her paralysis. She wants out of the hospital, too."
"We're here now Captain," Hutch said as they pulled into the parking lot.
"I'll see you two back at the office" said Dobey, "over and out."
"Zebra three, out." Hutch said as Starsky parked the car. Starsky started to get out, but hesitated and then retreated back into the car, staring out into space, searching for something. Hutch was already out and heading inside when he realized his partner was not behind him. Going back, he bent down and saw Starsky staring out, looking a million miles away.
"Hey," he said gently placing a hand on Starsky's shoulder. "What's wrong?"
"Huh," said Starsky, coming out of his dream. "I was just thinking of what I should tell her," He said thoughtfully.
"Tell her what?" asked Hutch
"Tell her that I was the one that hit her. I want to help her, but she might think I'm doing it out of pity for her and she might not even want my help."
"Well, there's only one way to find out," Hutch said. "Just tell her, then see how she feels. Maybe she'll accept your help. But she might think like you said, that you are doing it out of pity, or because you feel you are obligated to help her. Be sure Starsky that you want to help her. Don't do this because you feel obligated or sorry, do it because you want to." Hutch finished.
"I really do want to help her Hutch." Starsky said determinedly.
"Well, tell her that and make her believe it." Hutch told him.
After thinking for a second Starsky said, "Thanks Hutch, don't know what I would do without you."
"All in a day's work my friend," said Hutch imitating W.C. Fields, "all in a day's work."
Minutes later, they emerged on the fourth floor. The doctor was just coming out as they stepped off the elevator. "How is she?" Starsky asked.
"She's fine physically, but her attitude toward the paralysis isn't good. If she wants to walk, her attitude has got to change and soon. She's giving up already, does not even want to talk about starting therapy. The longer she refuses and tries not to walk, the slimmer are her chances of walking again."
"Does she know who hit her yet?" asked Starsky.
"No, she's asked, but I thought I'd leave that up to you." The doctor said.
"Thanks Doc, can I go into see her now?" Starsky asked.
"Sure, go in and good luck." As Starsky walked away, the doctor turned to Hutch and said, "You have a remarkable friend Detective Hutchinson. He really cares for others."
"I know Doc, he's one of a kind. I could not asked for a better friend," Hutch said proudly.
Starsky poked his head in the door to see if Wanda was asleep. Instead, he saw a lonely girl, trying to fight the world all by herself and losing. "Hello," he said cheerfully. "How ya feeling?"
"Considering the fact that I can never walk again, I've never been better in my whole life!" she said harshly. "Who are you anyway? What right have you got to come barging into my room!"
"My name is Dave," he answered patiently. I came in here earlier and spoke to you, but you probably don't remember. I just wanted to see how you were feeling. Doctor Johnson said that with therapy and a body brace, you can be walking again really soon."
"Well, if you're so smart, maybe you can tell me something! How can I do therapy when I can't even move my foot or my big toe! And, while you are at it, how about telling me or finding out who hit me. I'd like to tell that person a thing or two, the dumb clot!" she said hotly.
The words she said cut through Starsky like a knife. He knew she was mad and she would be even madder when he told her. Finally, he said quietly, "I don't know about the therapy part, I guess that's up to you. But, I can answer your second question. I know who the person is that hit you. I know that that person really wants to help you, he's been through the ringer worrying about you."
"Well, quit giving me his life story and tell me who it is," she said impatiently.
Starsky took a deep breath and looked her straight in the eye and said, "Me." He saw the hate well up in her eyes, it cut through him like the words had before.
"You're the one that hit me? I should have realized it. You ran me down, so now you feel sorry for yourself and for me. You think I need your help, well I don't! I don't need your help, or the doctor's help or anyone else's help! I'm paralyzed and I can't do anything about it. I'll just stay in a wheelchair for the rest of my life! I'll…"
"No you won't!" Starsky yelled. "I don't want to help you because of what I did to you. I want to help you because I care about you. And, if you'll get your tail outta that darn bed and work, you can walk." He said roughly. "You just gotta put some sweat behind it. No one around here is gonna feel sorry for you. Everywhere you go after you get outta here, you're going to be looked down on! You're going to have to look up and people will look down on you. Not because you are in a wheelchair either, but because you had the chance and the ability to walk and you blew it! Threw it away like it was a piece of garbage! There are a lot of people who would give everything they own to have the chance you have because they can't walk. And what do you do with your chance? Do you keep it? NO! You throw it away and wallow in your own pity and expect other people to wallow with you. We'll, I'm sorry I ever tried to help you because you don't want any help, you want pity. Well, Lady, I don't believe in giving pity! SO, you won't get any from me!" and he turned to walk out of the room.
"Dave!" said a tearful voice. Starsky stopped half out and half in the door, listening to what she had to say. "Dave, I've had it rough these past two years, I'm afraid to trust anyone. You're right, I do want someone to pity me, but not anymore." She was quiet a moment and then said in a voice full of determination and will, "What I'm trying to say Dave is, will you help me? I'm sorry for what I called you, I really am. Oh, Dave please help me, I do want to walk again!" she was crying hard now.
Starsky turned and looked at Wanda. He saw the pain, the anguish, everything that she had gone through had come to the surface in tears for the first time. He could see the tears in her eyes, tears that had stayed inside and were only now beginning to escape. But, most of all, he saw a young lonely scared girl, with no one to turn too. She was all alone in a great big world. Starsky walked over to her and took her in his arms. He felt her relax, Wanda was trusting him. Quietly he said, "Don't worry, I'll help you, Wanda."
"You won't leave me?" she asked in a tired and fearful voice.
"No, I won't leave you, I promise." He said softly.
"Thank you Dave, thank you." She said gratefully. And she fell asleep in his arms, feeling safe for the first time in two years.