Should've mentioned before this story is set just after Bounty Hunter (although I'm sure you already figured that out).
Thanks to all those who reviewed chapter 1, that's very sweet of you! Here's chapter 2, hope you like it. Please forgive any "Britisms" – any errors are down to me.
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FOR GEORGIE
Chapter 2
Driving into the alley behind "The Pits" they spotted Eddie Hoyle emptying trashcans into a garbage compactor and pulled up along side.
"How ya doing Eddie?" Hutch asked as he climbed out of the Torino.
"Oh, hi there Starchy," Eddie smiled at Hutch. "What you doing here?"
"How many times we gotta tell you Eddie?" Starsky grinned as he joined his partner. "I'm Starch … he's Hup."
"Oh … sorry Starchy. Just wish there was someway I could tell you two guys apart … you know you both look so alike."
"So you keep telling us, but if you look real close," Starsky leant forward to whisper in Eddie's ear. "You'll notice that I'm the intelligent looking one. Hup here has that dumb look on his face all the time." He winked at his partner.
"Hah, hah, very funny." Hutch growled. "So … how are you doing?" he asked Eddie again.
"Oh … I'm okay … I guess. Doc says my heads gonna be fine. I wanna thank you again for getting me this job … Huffy is a real nice boss."
"Huffy?" Starsky queried.
"That'll be me," Huggy Bear sighed as he joined the two detectives and Eddie.
Starsky laughed. "Hey Hutch … you remember old Huffy here."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Huggy responded. "Glad you two came around … need to talk to you about something." He motioned for them to follow as he went back inside.
Lunchtime custom was noticeably light as they sat down at the bar. Huggy deposited a glass of light beer in front of each detective, whilst Starsky helped himself to nuts.
"So Hug, how's Eddie doing?" Hutch enquired.
"Okay … he's a good little worker you know. Just wish he could remember my name from one day to the next."
"You and us both," Starsky laughed as he ate another handful of bar nuts.
"What did you want to talk to us about, Hug?" Hutch asked.
Huggy leant across the bar. "Well," he said in a low voice, "just thought you'd like to know that the shipment you asked me about last week has been cancelled. Seems our friends got a little jumpy and decided to bring it in another way. And before you ask I ain't got a lead on the other way … yet … but I'll let ya know."
"Thanks," Hutch smiled and stood up. "C'mon partner time to go."
Starsky grabbed more of the nuts and joined his friend at the door.
"Hey Starsky," Huggy called after him. "You got worms or something." He pointed at the bowl that now lay empty on the bar top.
"Nah … had breakfast at Hutch's place this morning.
"Enough said," Huggy responded.
As they exited The Pits, Eddie was still hard at work cleaning the now empty trashcans.
"Take it easy," Starsky smiled as he pressed a ten dollar bill into the elderly man's hand.
"Yeah … take it easy," Hutch called as he opened the Torino passenger door.
Eddie Hoyle beamed at the two detectives. "Thanks Starchy … thanks Hup," he said.
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"So … what d'ya wanna do for lunch?" Starsky asked as they drove away.
"You just ate a whole bowl of nuts and you're already thinking about more food."
"Hey … we already established I'm the intelligent one in this partnership, which means I need to keep eating to maintain a high energy level. It's called "brain" food, Hutch."
Hutch looked incredulously at his partner.
"Seriously … I read this article in Readers Digest once which said that really smart people, like rocket scientists and stuff, have to eat a lot just so they can keep having good ideas." He glanced sideways at Hutch. "Guess that's why you can get away with fasting all the time, huh."
Apart from a few minor incidents the day passed relatively smoothly and by six p.m. Starsky was pulling up outside Venice Place.
"What you doing tonight?" Starsky asked his partner.
"Dinner at Abby's place," Hutch replied as he climbed out of the car.
"Abby making another of her "parrot cage" specials, huh."
"Yeah … gotta pick up some ingredients on the way over there."
"Oh … run out of unicorn toes did ya?" Starsky smiled.
"Yeah … something like that," Hutch laughed, and then asked, "hey … you want to join us later?"
"Um … no thanks," Starsky replied quickly, trying valiantly to hide the grimace before continuing. " You want me to pick you up from Abby's place in the morning?"
"Yeah … come around about seven will ya."
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He couldn't believe how simple it had been; a mere phone call had delivered them to him. Now, as he watched he felt a strange excitement. Was this how hunters felt as they stalked their prey? After all that was the situation wasn't it? He was the hunter and the two men searching the alley below were the prey. He knew they wouldn't find what they were looking for. The suitcase of stolen watches they were seeking didn't actually exist. It had been created as a simple lure - a means to an end. And the end was near as he aimed his rifle at one of the uniformed officers and pulled the trigger.
Mission accomplished he carefully laid down the rifle and placed the prepared note along side it. He smiled as he calmly climbed down the fire escape. Georgie would be proud of him and that was all that mattered.
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"Morning," Starsky grinned at his friend as Hutch dropped onto the passenger seat beside him. Judging by the tired features Hutch hadn't slept much the night before.
"Morning," Hutch yawned, stretching out legs as far as they would go.
"You look like you've been up all night … you been practising those yoga positions again?"
"Something like that," Hutch smiled waving farewell to Abby as she stood at her apartment window.
"So what we got lined up today?" Starsky queried as they drove away.
Hutch pulled out a notebook from the glove compartment and began flicking through the pages.
"Couple of meets … a follow up on that liquor store robbery. Just a normal day in the life."
"Does this normal day in the life keep us out on the streets … outta Dobeys way?" Starsky asked hopefully.
"There's always a possibility," Hutch replied and then smirked as a radio call came through. "Zebra three … zebra three … Captain Dobey requests a meeting in his office."
"On the other hand … late with your paperwork again Starsk," Hutch goaded.
"Think we can get away with the usual static trick?"
"Not this time partner," Hutch replied picking up the mike. "This is Zebra three … please inform Captain Dobey that we're on our way in."
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Twenty minutes later the two detectives walked into Dobey's office."What's up Cap'n?" Starsky grinned.
"Shut the door." Dobey replied his manner solemn.
"Hutch I'm beginning to think I'm gonna get busted for more than late paperwork." Starsky jibed as he closed the office door.
Dobey cleared his throat, "Um … Starsky I think you need to sit down," he nodded towards the seat in front of his desk and waited for both men to be seated before proceeding.
"Early this morning one of our uniformed officers was shot whilst responding to a ten sixty-four," he said. "This was found next to the murder weapon." He handed the curly haired detective a crumpled piece of paper.
Starsky stared incredulously at the note.
Hutch looked curiously between his partner and Dobey and then after several minutes of silence lifted the paper from his partner's hand. He quietly read the scrawled message:
#3 FOR STARSKY
YOU KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE TO DOWith a worried glance at his friend he handed the note back to Dobey. "Do we know Prudholm's safe under lock and key?" The question was automatic.
"Already checked … he's still in the mental hospital." Dobey replied.
"Have there been any phone calls?" Hutch asked.
"No … nothing yet … but I've left strict instructions … any calls coming in for Starsky will get recorded"
"So what do we have here? … a copy cat?" Hutch continued, glancing once more at his partner.
"Not possible … we never released details on the previous killings. Our best guess is it's someone who either knew George Prudholm six months ago or knows him now … it's the only explanation for the level of knowledge," Dobey growled.
"What was the officers name?" Starsky asked quietly.
Dobey looked at the man now slumped before him. "I don't think you need to know that right now Dave," he responded carefully.
Starsky stood abruptly, leaned against the desk and stared at the man seated there. "Yeah Cap'n, I think I do," he said, voice dangerous. "I wanna know the name of the guy who's lying dead in the morgue. I wanna know if he had a wife, if he had kids. I wanna know all the details 'bout another cop who just got wasted cause of me!"
Hutch stood alongside and placed a reassuring hand on his partner's shoulder. "Starsk!" he said, "this is not your fault."
"Don't give me that," Starsky replied shrugging off the hand. He moved away from the desk, stood facing the wall for a few moments and then turned to face his partner.
Hutch recognised the look in his best friend's eyes. "I'm on the edge, I'm hurting and I don't know what to do."
"What's the plan Cap'n?" the blond detective asked, aware of the need to refocus his partner.
"Same as last time," Dobey replied. "We say nothing to the press … keep the lid on tight until we flush this creep out."
"There is another way." Starsky offered. "We all know that if I do what this guy wants, if I resign, this ends now and nobody else has to die."
"No way Starsky I wouldn't allow it six months ago and I'm not gonna allow it now." Dobey bellowed.
"You really think I'm gonna sit back this time and let some crazed nut start killing again." Starsky shouted in return.
"Yeah I do … as long as you work in Bay City you're gonna follow my orders. And I'm ordering you not to resign … do I make myself clear Detective Starsky!"
"Oh I hear ya loud and clear Captain Dobey … but I don't have to like it!"
Hutch watched his partner storm out of the office and then moved to follow.
"He's gotta be strong," Dobey's comment was calm, heart-felt.
"I don't know if he can be this time Cap'n," Hutch replied as he walked out the door to find his friend.