Chapter 2

.…October 4, 1984

"Hey, ya want to go down to the Pits, Hutch…shoot some pool…pop back a few cold ones," quipped Starsky as he literally bounced beside Hutch as they each went to their respective cars for the drive home after several grueling days of stake out work.

"Nah man, I'm to pooped to be much company tonight," replied Hutch avoiding his partner's eyes…hoping he hadn't revealed the relaxing evening he had planned with Lizzie who he had been dating…rather seriously for the past few months.

"Yeah, I hear you pal…," Starsky replied coyly.

In the next few months after Starsky's disappearance, Hutch would have many discussions with the department psychologist trying to convince himself to let go of the guilt he had felt for this very reason. His best friend had somehow known that he had plans for that evening with Lizzie.

Funny thing about Lizzie… Hutch knew it wasn't her fault that Starsky was taken. He had depended on her after Starsky's disappearance…even married her but still…he could never shake the feeling that if she hadn't been so important to him his best friend would be with him now.

"If only I had gone with you, Starsk…or you had come with me!" Hutch thought as the pines started to blur and mesh as his eyes filled with unshed tears. "Would you have been kidnapped and ki…" Hutch couldn't even THINK the word…even now. He KNEW what had happened to his partner of fifteen years, yet he STILL couldn't think or say that word with his partner's name…even NOW Hutch didn't want to associate that word with his partner.

"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING GORDO allowing yourself to be taken!" Hutch's mind screamed angrily at his friend…at God…at anyone …at EVERYONE. Hutch reprimanded himself swiftly for thinking badly about his friend…and then his thoughts returned to his old familiar emotional friend where this case was concerned…guilt.

"I should have been there to watch your back, Starsk."

There had been no ransom, no phone calls, no prints on Starsky's car or at his apartment. It was as if Starsky had gunned up the Torino and rocketed out of the police garage and into orbit somewhere. Hutch had gone through anger at himself…at Starsky…at any and all of the lowlifes that had crossed the two detectives' path during their partnership. Then there was the emotion of worry that had almost consumed Hutch like a living entity inhabiting his body and his mind.

Hutch had thought that the worry would destroy him…but it was the guilt that almost did.

After a few months of no word…no clues…no hope…Hutch was literally at the end of his rope. His rope of sanity…his rope even of life. Captain Dobey had tried gruff strong arm tactics to make Hutch seek counseling, but it had ended up being the captain's daughter, Rosie, that had made Hutch realize that he HAD to get help. Not only for himself, but for those that cared for him.

"Please, Uncle Hutch…" Rosie had pleaded in a small, frightened voice, close to Christmas time of 1984. "I can't lose Uncle Dave AND you too! I know I'm being selfish, but I don't think I could take that! I need you Uncle Hutch…PLEASE!!!"

Hutch remembered how she had clung to him…her arms encircling his waist…her tears soaking his shirt…her sobs ringing in his ears. It was at that moment that he realized that he was not the only one affected by Starsky's disappearance…that he was making things worse on the very people Starsky loved the most in his life. When Hutch's tears had merged with Rosie's, his recovery had begun.

Now every emotion Hutch had ever felt relating to his partner's disappearance was back in full force again…with the addition of one emotion he had never felt…until just that very moment. That emotion was joy.

It seemed odd to Hutch that he would be feeling anything other than despair now. He no longer had the option of optimistic hope that Starsky was "out there" somewhere anymore…but he COULD make good on the promise he had made to Rachel Starsky when he stood next to her at the memorial service she had for her son.

There was no body to bury…no casket to place anywhere to pay respects to. It was a small, very simple service in what was said and done to honor Starsky, but very representative of what Hutch thought his best friend would have wanted.

Hutch wasn't even going to go as he still hadn't given up hope of finding his partner.

Hutch paused a moment in his thoughts remembering Mrs. Starsky's words in November 1984, "Ken, would you please stand with me to honor my dear son? I somehow feel close to him when you're near. Please Ken!"

Hutch remembered thinking at the time, "No I can't Mrs. Starsky…he's out there somewhere I KNOW he is…"

But Hutch had known that he could be no where else when Rachel had said in a small frail voice she never revealed to anyone during that nightmare, "I don't think I'll be able to be strong enough to survive the pain if you're not there with me, Ken."

Hutch could no more turn her request down at that moment than he ever could deny her son anything he had ever asked of him. It was something he could do to help Starsky's mother, and if being at the service helped her in any way then Hutch felt, at the time, "At least I can tell Starsky that I did what I could to help his Ma when he couldn't be there himself."

What Hutch had actually said to Rachel was, "I will be there with you Mrs. Starsky and help you in anyway I can, but know this..." Rachel had looked up to Hutch with tears streaming wet grooves through her foundation. "I WILL find Starsky and I will bring him home to you…I promise you Mrs. Starsky…I WILL BRING HIM HOME SOMEDAY!"

The day that he had promised Rachel so long ago was finally coming to pass with every humming rotation of the tires on the car. Hutch felt joy that there would be closure for Starsky's family and friends, but more importantly for himself.

He had promised to find his friend and he was just minutes of doing just that.

00000

"Captain Hutchinson?"…

Someone was touching him on the shoulder, just as Starsky used to do whenever they were cruising around Bay City.

Hutch turned towards the driver of the car and his partner's name almost escaped his lips…but he caught himself upon gazing at the man attached to the arm that was so desperately trying to ease his suffering.

No sapphire eyes greeted him…only sad brown ones…

No dark curly hair…instead the hair was a thinning reddish brown with a touch of gray at the temples…

No brown leather jacket or blue jeans…it was the tan uniform of a county sheriff that stared back at him

"Captain Hutchinson?" tried Sheriff Hawkins again.

"Yeah, sheriff…I'm with you now," replied Hutch.

"Did that note say turn left or right?" the sheriff asked. "We're coming to a fork in the road up ahead and I was wondering…"

Hutch looked at the handwritten directions with some disgust. If John McFarland wasn't already dead, Hutch could easily shoot him dead right then and there with no thought of his "rights".

"HIS rights…what RIGHTS did he give you, Starsky?" Hutch's thoughts screamed through his head. "No on second thought, shooting is to fast to make up for the agony you put my partner through, McFarland…what you made his family…his friends…WHAT YOU MADE ME GO THROUGH…!"

"Captain…sir…?" said the sheriff a little more urgently as the fork in the road came into view from the road.

"Oh, I'm sorry again Sheriff Hawkins…the directions say take the left fork," replied Hutch.

"Thanks Captain," he replied as the caravan took the turn to take them further up the mountain and that much closer to their destination.

"Captain Hutchinson, I wanted to tell you how sorry I am for your loss," stated the sheriff with compassion. "I remember seeing you on the TV when your partner was taken when I was just a runt deputy under Sheriff Lawson…terrible thing not knowing…to feel so helpless."

Hutch just nodded his head…still immersed in his thoughts about Starsky…about their partnership…their friendship through the years.

" I had a really good friend, about my age, who was a deputy in the next county about the same time as your partner was missing who was killed in the line of duty." the sheriff continued. "David Tuber was his name."

Hutch winced physically at the uttering of the word "killed" along with the word "friend'.

"I still think about him a lot…especially at times such as this, and I want you to know Captain that my department will do everything possible to see to it that Detective Starsky is given the proper respect and dignity that he obviously didn't receive at his death," continued Sheriff Hawkins as the patrol car eased to a stop. "It's the very least we can do for him…as well as for you, sir."

Hutch was acutely aware as the car slowed to a stop, "Thank you sheriff. I know that Starsky's family will appreciate your time and respect. I do too as well as everyone that serves with the Bay City police department."

The two men emerged from the car into the crisp mountain air. There was a small clearing just beyond a line of small saplings.

"This is so beautiful," thought Hutch as he stood in awe at the sight before him.

The massive snows that were so prevalent during the winter in the Sierra Nevada Mountains had melted for the most part, allowing small wildflowers to burst forth in pastels hues of blue, pink and yellow…every color of the rainbow. The trees surrounding the meadow swayed gently back and forth in the spring breeze and made a whistling sound. Other than that there was no sound…only serenity and calm.

Hutch gasped inwardly as his senses absorbed all the beauty around him.

"It's almost a shame to take you away from this beautiful spot," thought Hutch. "It's as if God Himself knows that there is someone very special here in this place."

00000

Sheriff Hawkins organized his men and they all began to dig in the soft earth in the center of the meadow as the directions indicated. After almost a hour of back-breaking work, Hutch's mind began to think that McFarland was playing with his emotions from beyond the grave…that maybe Starsky wasn't buried there after all…

"…that might mean that there is still hope…" thought Hutch, his spirit a little lighter…a little more hopeful, but then his hope leeched away from his body and he visibly sagged his shoulders as the words "We've hit something solid, sir," came from one of the deputies.

Sheriff Hawkins acknowledged his deputy and ordered that the object be cleared away and brought to the surface to be inspected.

"Captain Hutchinson, maybe it would be best if you would wait in the car while we see what my men have found," the sheriff began. "Your partner would want you to remember him as he was…"

"Sheriff…" answered Hutch, his sky blue eyes like daggers. "You have no idea what my partner would or would not want, and I would appreciate it if you would not make assumptions in that regard!"

"I just thought, sir…" stammered Sheriff Hawkins.

"No sheriff you didn't think!" replied Hutch, then placing his right hand up to his eyes and rubbing probably harder than he should have, "I'm sorry, sheriff. I appreciate what you and your deputies have done so far, but you and I both know that I'm the best person to make a preliminary ID here and besides…as you said…it is the least I can do for my best friend!"

The plain wooden box was lifted carefully, but easily by the three deputies and placed on the ground beside the mound of dirt. It appeared to be sealed with what looked like pitch and tar but on the lid there was attached a rectangular metal plate. It looked rusty and worn around the edges where four screws had secured it to the lid of the makeshift coffin from age, but the name "Detective Sergeant David Starsky" could clearly be seen crudely etched onto its face.

The prison doctor took a hammer and looked towards Hutch. With a nod, Hutch indicated his readiness for whatever came next. The doctor carefully pried open the lid as the sheriff's Polaroid camera took pictures of the coffin and site for evidence.

The doctor gave an audible grunt as the last of the nails was released from the lid. They all took a collective breath as the lid finally was removed.

Hutch's breath hitched at the sight of the body inside. It was nothing more than a skeleton with wisps of cloth surrounding it. A tattered light blue denim shirt, an equally tattered and torn pair of worn jeans and patches of dark hair was all that could be seen on the body. The body wore no shoes and was about the right height to be Starsky.

Absently, Hutch reached into his pocket and brought out Starsky's two rings that had been in the envelope. He placed them on his own finger. Although it felt strange to have them there, Hutch felt a peace that he hadn't felt in a long time as he let the human part of himself show through for only a moment.

"Oh God, Starsk…" he whispered.