Chapter 2
'And then she said to me that I didn't care about her any more and I should take her home'. Starsky stared morosely out of the dusty windshield of the car as Hutch sat next to him sipping a cup of coffee.
'So what did ya do?'
'Stuck my tongue in her ear, groped her boob and tried to get inside her pants. What would you do?'
'And that's how you got the shiner is it? The blond asked, snorting into his drink. The brunet had turned up for their shift staking out the home of one Ritchie Frankland sporting a bruised left eye and a black mood.
'Yeah, can ya believe that?'
'You know you're trouble Starsk?'
'Bet you're gonna tell me'.
'Uh huh. No finesse. You should wine and dine a lady. Take her to a candle lit restaurant, its more whispers, cuddles and seduction rather than poke, grope and bungle.
'Poke grope and…..hey, who d'ya think I am. I can seduce a lady. It's just that Barbara aint much of a lady' the brunet said sadly. 'I know what I want, I'm just not sure she does. I want moonlight an……'
'Zebra three, zebra three, tac two for Captain Dobey' the disembodied voice spoke out of the microphone on the dashboard.
'Saved by the bell' Hutch grinned as he reached for the mic. and took it from the hook.
'This is Zebra three'.
'Starsky or Hutchinson?'
'Hutchinson Cap'n'.
'Okay' the gruff voice sounded over the airwaves. 'Get your butts back down to the Metro as soon as huh? Got a different job for ya. One ya might prefer'.
Starsky snatched the mic from his partner's hands. It was a well known fact that he hated the sitting and waiting games. As he'd observed more than once, he'd done enough waiting around in the army. He flipped the button. 'More enjoyable than sitting on our rear ends for eight days straight going slowly nuts? What the hell could be better than that?'
'Can it Starsky. It's more rear end sittin' but this time different location and different mark'.
'For fu…..'
Hutch grabbed the mic back and scowled at the brunet who was still muttering curse words under his breath. It never failed to impress Hutch that his partner could carry on for 5 minutes or so without ever drawing breath and without using the same curse twice. 'We'll be right there Cap'n' he said blandly into the mic. and closed it down. 'Starsk, d'ya really want to piss off every human being within a mile's radius? Just coz you an' your lady aren't hitting it off right now it doesn't mean you have to take it out on every other poor sod in the vicinity'.
'Wasn't' the curly haired man said petulantly and Hutch was reminded of a little boy being told off by his Dad. 'I just…..is this what bein' a cop is all about? I mean, I don't know about you, but I joined BCPD for excitement, not sittin' in your crummy apology for a car starin' at a brick wall in the hope some flake makes an appearance'.
'So getting' shot full of poison wasn't excitin' enough? Hutch asked as he started the car up.
'No, that was just freaky'.
'And the bomb in the car? Ya can't tell me it wasn't exciting driving through the city sittin' on a live, ticking bomb. Jeez buddy. As I remember it you barely got out of it before it blew'.
'Hutch it was a crummy car. It was an old fashioned saloon and' the brunet snorted at the memory 'It was dark green! It was almost as crummy as yours'.
Realising that there was no way he was going to win this round, the blond lapsed into silence and concentrated on driving.
'Wonder which whippo we're gonna be watchin' now. I could bring Monopoly. I've probably got time to read War and Peace and then critique it'.
'What?' flaxen eyebrows rose over crystal blue eyes.
'Huh?'
'You said critique. Where d'ya get that one from?'
Starsky chuckled. 'Might not be able to get into Barbara's pants, but sumthin must've rubbed off. She's is a teacher when all said an' done'.
'Well that's the problem then' Hutch said mildly 'her bein' a teacher'.
'What?' the brunet growled.
'Well I always knew you'd never got past grade school' the blond finished as he pulled up outside the Metro. He ducked out of the car just as Starsky started his next round of cursing and reluctantly the sable haired cop followed his partner into the building and along to Dobey's office.
They stopped in at the squad room to grab a quick coffee and Starsky was just beginning to rifle through the papers on his desk when the connecting door opened and Dobey's face peered through.
'Though I told you I wanted you both back here as soon as' the black man grunted.
'We're right on it Cap'n' Hutch said smoothly, grabbing his cup from the desk. As Starsky picked his up too they followed their boss into the inner sanctum and sat down in front of the big wooden desk. They looked at their Captain expectantly. Dobey shuffled the papers and then put them down and steepled his hands.
'We've been asked to provide some cover for a State witness. He needs minding' he said slowly watching the scowl on the brunet's face deepen. 'And before you start bawlin' out at me Starsky I think you ought to listen up'.
'Why? Ya gonna do the big sell on us Cap'n? It's mindless. It never comes to anythin' you know that, an' half these flakes are as bad as the goons they're supposed to be giving evidence against. I aint doin' it. Give it to someone else. One of the newbies maybe'.
'Starsky will you shudup for just one minute? This witness asked for you an' Hutch, or at least his CO did. Won't trust anyone else, it's too important' Dobey interrupted.
'Asked? CO? What the….'
'It's Traff, Starsky. Traff is the witness'.
The brunet looked stunned. 'I don't understand. What's Traff need a minder for? He can take care of himself better 'n almost anyone I know. I'd like to see someone try to get to him. He'd make mincemeat out of 'em'.
'Not this time' Dobey said.
'What's happened Cap?' Hutch asked, sitting forward on his seat.
'I had a phone call from Colonel Whitehead, Major Trafford's CO. Seems the Major has been advising the Government on armaments and some bomb disposal techniques. Somehow, somewhere along the line a group calling themselves Arms Over Frontiers became involved in arms dealing over the border between Mexico and the US. The main players were arrested and the Major is the state's expert witness at the trial. Seems without his expertise, the trial is likely to be aborted. The AOF have been looking for him for weeks. He's had some death threats sent to the 8th Battalion which he's chosen to ignore. Then two days ago the group caught up with him near his apartment'.
'And?' Starsky asked
'They shot him and left him with a note pinned to him warning him to take them seriously and not to give evidence. He's in the base hospital now with a 24 hour armed guard, but they want him out of there. They have a safe house lined up in the mountains, but at first it seems he wasn't for going'.
Starsky snorted. 'Sounds like Traff'.
'Uh huh. Almost as stubborn as some cops I know' Dobey chuckled. 'Anyhow, they finally convinced him he needed to be out of there and that he needed backup'.
'Why don't the army provide it? Hutch asked. 'I mean, there's no way I'm gonna refuse to do this, but it does beg the question'.
'That's what I asked too. Seems they suspect that there's a mole at the battalion and they've leaked information about the trial and Traff whereabouts. They can't chance Traff's life and he's injured so he can't protect himself right now. So…'
'That's where we come in. When, where?' Starsky asked immediately.
Dobey sighed. 'I can't release both of you. We're too busy here and I still need a man on Ritchie Frankland. It's up to you who goes, but the other stops here and keeps on with the stakeout. Whichever of you goes with Traff will be backed up with one trusted soldier hand picked by Whitehead'.
'Oh no. Think again Cap. We both go. Don't "partners" mean anythin' anymore? Traff's done stuff for this department before now. We owe him. He needs us both there' Starsky argued.
'And that's something I can't give him. I have it worked out with Whitehead. You're both gonna see him at the hospital tonight, then tomorrow, whichever of you wants is gonna be with him when they transport him up to the safe house. The location will be known to Whitehead, me, the two of you and to Traff and his soldier minder. The trial is in two weeks time and during that time, you'll be with him night an' day. Got that?'
The brunet scowled even harder and sighed deeply. 'Loud an' clear Cap'n, but I don't like it. We work best together an' If I'm up there an' Hutch is down here it…..well, it don't feel right'.
'He's right Cap'n. We work better together than we do alone. We proved that before' Hutch joined in. 'You gotta reconsider'.
'Already did. An' my orders stand. I can't afford for the both of you to be away an' anyway there's the army backup. I take it you'll be going?' he looked at the curly haired cop for confirmation. Starsky nodded his head.
'Yeah, I'll be there'.
'Good. This is the location. Memorise it, both of you. Now you're visiting him at 5:30 tonight and tomorrow morning you Starsky will be back at the Army base for 5:30am. They'll have the ambulance ready by then. You have tonight to get your stuff ready'.
The two men looked distinctly uncomfortable and Dobey gazed back at them. 'That's all. You have your orders, now go' he said, picking up the file in front of him and going back to reading it. 'And don't' slam the….'
The duo headed for the door and Starsky slammed it closed, registering his disapproval.
'…..door' Dobey finished with a chuckle.
As they headed back to Starsky's place for the brunet to pack, Hutch tried to look on the right side of them being separated. 'At least you won't have to water my plants' he offered.
'You always say I kill 'em anyhow'.
'I know, so this time I won't be accusin' you of murder' the blond agreed.
'Can you murder a plant? I thought homicide was from "hom" meanin' "man". They aren't people Blintz. Wouldn't it be…..dunno, planticide or sumthin. Maybe flowercide or assault with a deadly fern?'
'You're weird, you know that don't ya Starsk? Just….weird'.
'I know. But ya love me anyway' the brunet grinned, his anger at his captain temporarily forgotten.
Two hours later, and with the brunet's bag packed and ready back at his apartment, the two men passed through the security checkpoint at the 8th Battalion and parked outside the hospital block there. With directions from the soldier on duty, they were sent down a long, impersonal and antiseptic smelling corridor and through a door on the right. Two soldiers snapped to attention as they approached and Starsky held out the pass they'd been given as proof they were allowed to be there. As they walked in, a hand lifted the phone and punched in a number.
'He has visitors. Be prepared to follow them afterwards. The dark haired one is a cop and a close friend. The blond one is his partner. And be careful. They'll be wary. Keep your distance'. The hand replaced the phone and the body turned away.
Inside, Starsky pushed the door to Traff's room open and walked in, his partner at his heels. The soldier inside also checked their credentials and then left the room, closing the door softly behind him. The room was darkened, the blind having been pulled down over the window and the room was softly lit by the diffused light from the blind and a small lamp lit above the bed. On the single bed, Traff lay asleep, drips still feeding fluid into the back of his right hand, his left shoulder heavily bandaged. That was the only outward sign that anything was wrong until they got closer to the bed. Once by the bedside, however, the two could see that the soldier was having a hard time of it and his head was tossing restlessly on the pillow. Traff's lips moved silently as though he was deep in conversation with someone and heat radiated fro the lithe muscular body.
Gently Starsky reached out a hand and laid it on his friend's right shoulder, leaning over the bed.
'Traff? Hey Tommy boy, wakey wakey, ya got visitors'.
The voice seemed to penetrate the dream and Traff let out a small cry then gritted his teeth, his jaw muscles working as his eyes flashed open. For a moment, they remained unfocussed and danced around the room, but slowly they came to rest on the two cops and a weak smile flashed across the handsome features.
'Curly…..glad t'see ya' he rasped, his voice rough and raw.
'Jeez Traff, what did they do to you Pal?' Starsky asked, shocked at the pain lines etched deep into his old army buddy's face.
'Put a hole where a hole don't belong. Glad you're both here'. The soldier looked weary and his eyes narrowed as more pain assailed his senses.
'You need the nurse buddy?' Hutch asked, seeing the signs of pain.
'No, m'good. They gave me this button thing for morphine'.
'Aint it workin'?' Starsky asked, staring at the offending button.
'Yeah. Didn't use it'.
'Aww shit buddy. It aint no use bein' a hero. Take the pain meds before ya crease up some more'.
Emerald eyes fixed on the sapphire ones above him. 'Will do, now you're here. Couldn't relax b'fore. Don't know who to trust' Traff gasped. Sweat beaded on his brow and Hutch took a cloth from the nightstand and wiped the trickles away.
'Just rest now huh? Take the morphine before you pass out on us and relax. We're not goin' anywhere an' Starsk'll be coming with ya tomorrow.
'Yeah? You comin' Chief? Thank God. If I couldn't have both of ya, half of the dynamic duo is good. Fell like I can…..' the eyes closed mid sentence as the powerful pain killer took its effect and at the side of the bed Starsky snorted softly.
'That's my boy. Great outa the traps but absolutely no stayin' power'.
And as the two cops settled down to watch over their friend, the hand made another phone call to deliver the latest news.