Chapter 3

'What the hell? What gives you the right to came breakin' into my house like a whirlwind from Hades?' Starsky yelled. The two Feds stood impassively as Starsky's face went turkey cock red and he paced the room.

'We have every right when the whole fucking job is in jeopardy' Markham said quickly.

'The only thing in jeopardy is my partner right now but you don't seem to care a dime about him. What is it with you guys? Does the FBI breed automatons? Do they remove your emotions once you sign up, if you ever had any to begin with? Or maybe you're just all cloned huh?'

'The FBI picks its men because of their control, Detective, something you would seem to know very little about' Chun said coldly.

'Control? This aint control, its downright carelessness. There is a man, a damned good man who just so happens to be my partner. He's undercover doing your dirty work. He's at the pointy end of things just coz you two don't have the balls to do it yourself. And from what I can see you're takin' a pretty cavalier attitude to his safety. I've told ya about…'

'You've told us squat. What you've done is put your ego before your friend's safety. You think you can do more for Detective Hutchinson than we can?'

'I know damned well I can' the brunet yelled, his face now mere inches from Markham's.

'I'm gonna say this just once. Back off and leave this to the guys who know what's going down.'

'I'd rather leave my partner in a pit of rattlers than leave him to your "care". As for backin' off…..'

'Don't force me to do something we'll both regret' Markham fixed Starsky with a glare.

'You? I'd like to see ya try' the hot headed cop grunted as Chun came at him from behind. Starsky whirled, ready to face the Chinese man but at the same time he caught a glimpse of Markham readying his cuffs from his back pocket. As Chun came at him again, the brunet felt cold metal circle his right wrist. With a yell, he rounded on the other Fed, using the loose handcuff as a weapon and flailing it around him, widening his safety zone by another foot or so.

'Is that all ya got?' he taunted as Markham backed up a step. 'Does it take two of ya to take me?' Starsky crouched ready for anything as Chun came at him again. His eye focused on the one man, Starsky wasn't quick enough to dodge the punch from Markham that seemed to come from nowhere and his head snapped sideways, the Fed's fist catching him on the left temple by the side of his eye. Staggering back, Chun leaped onto Starsky's back, his hands twined around the brunet's throat, cutting off his airway. Starsky grunted, whirling again, trying to dislodge the man from his windpipe. He overbalanced, his equilibrium upset by his passenger and tripped over his own coffee table, landing heavily as his face connected with the corner of the wooden furniture. He gasped as blood started to flow from a cut over his left eyebrow and shook his head to clear it.

The pause was all that Markham needed and swiftly he bent, pulled Starsky's left hand behind his back to join his right and clipped the second cuff into place.

'You arrestin' me?' Starsky muttered.

'Let's just say we're gonna make sure you stay out of the way' Chun smiled, panting slightly.

'And what about Hutch?'

Chun pulled Starsky to his feet. 'Let us worry about him. For the time being Starsky, you aint a cop and you don't have a partner. Got that?'

Defiance shone back from troubled indigo blue eyes. 'I'll believe that when my Captain tells me and not before. I'm not takin' orders from two no good flakes who wouldn't know a Smith and Wesson from a hunk of tin.'

Markham grinned savagely. 'From your Captain huh? That can be arranged.' Without room for further argument, the two grey suited Feds grabbed a hold of the cop's arms and propelled him towards the door. Starsky, for his part dug his heels in, refusing to make it too easy for either man, but his head ached viciously from the blow and the fall and eventually he gave up, gritting his teeth as Chun put his hand on top of the curly head, helping Starsky into the waiting car.

The drive down town was accomplished in uncomfortable silence. With his hands pinned behind his back, the metal cuffs dug uncomfortably into the brunet's spine. His mind raced, but he tried to harness his temper, feeling that Dobey would quite rightly back him up and show Chun and Markham the error of their ways.

The city flashed by, the sun coming up over the mountains in the distance and sending coral and pink tendrils across the deep blue of the horizon. By the time the car drew up outside the big, square stone façade of the Metro, the sidewalks were lit by the early morning sun and the air held the fresh, cool quality of a morning that promised to turn into another hot one.

Markham stopped the car and Chun opened the back door. Starsky slowly got out of the car, looking around him and silently followed the two men inside. A couple of the men on duty at the reception desk raised their eyebrows at seeing one of their own cuffed and being taken down to the interview rooms, but by the set of Markham's jaw, no one commented and within minutes, the brunet was seated inside the white painted room with a number 5 on the door. As with every other interview room, it held four chairs of the wooden, utilitarian variety and a square desk anchored to the floor by solid bolts. Starsky was more used to being the other side of the fence as he now sat, still cuffed, eyeing Chun morosely while Markham went in search of Dobey.

'Can we get rid of the bracelets?' the curly haired man asked in a monotone.

'No.' The reply wasn't considered and it was clear Chun was as pissed as his partner.

'Terrific' Starsky mumbled and tried to sit back in the chair. He stared at the floor, wondering if Hutch had got back to the factory and was lost in his thoughts enough that he jumped when the door to the small room opened and Markham and Dobey entered. The portly black man took one look at his handcuffed officer and blew his top.

'You told me you needed me to talk to Starsky. You didn't tell me he'd been arrested' he yelled, sweat beading on his forehead.

'He isn't arrested, but he didn't want to come down town. This was the only way we could get him here.'

'We don't use handcuffs for coercion Markham. Get those bracelets off of him right now' Dobey ordered.

'You tell him Cap'n.' Starsky grinned.

The captain whirled. 'And you. Keep your mouth shut, or so help me I'll shut it for you.'

The brunet promptly closed his mouth, but the humorous twinkle remained in his eyes and he blew a cheeky kiss at Markham as Chun released the cuffs. Starsky sat rubbing his wrists and waiting for the next move.

'I want him out of the way. I told you he was a loose canon and if we leave it any longer he's gonna blow the whole thing' Markham explained, ignoring Starsky completely.

'Why? What's happened now?'

'Hutch came to see me and these two goons took exception to it' the brunet muttered.

'Hutchinson came to….. why? Is he ok?' Dobey asked.

'Ask Laurel and Hardy over there. They seem to know everythin'.'

'Starsky!'

The cop shrugged his shoulders. 'I dunno Cap'n. I got the feelin' sumthin was wrong, but we didn't exactly have time for a five course dinner by candlelight. He seemed uptight.'

Dobey sighed. 'He's been under for eight weeks. He's gonna be uptight anyhow. Can't you be more specific?'

Starsky started to open his mouth to answer when Markham stepped in.

'Detective Hutchinson is doing just fine. He's in with Milano and Sal trusts him. He should get the information we need within weeks if not sooner.'

'If he isn't dead first' Starsky muttered.

'See Captain? That's just the sort of behaviour we come to expect from…..'

Dobey rounded on the Fed. 'You keep your nose out of my man's business, ya hear. Seems to me that if anyone is to blame for tonight it's you two. How quiet can you keep a job when two suits go breakin' into a cop's house huh? Starsky and Hutchinson have worked together for a few years now. They know each other's moves. If Starsky thinks his partner is in trouble you should think seriously about it.'

'Yes but…..'

Dobey drew himself up to his full height and glared at Markham. 'I said shut it. Now wait outside while I talk to my man huh? Out. Now!'

The two Feds looked as though they were about to start another argument, but saw the look on the black man's face, thought better of it and moved quietly out of the room, closing the door behind them.'

Starsky grinned. 'Thanks Cap. Those two turkeys were beginnin' to bug me. I…'

Dobey rounded on the brunet. 'Shut it Starsky. They have a point. Hutchinson can't keep his cover going if he's comin' to see you. Did he give you any information?'

'No, but….'

'Then he shouldn't have come, it's as simple as that. And to my mind there's only one way to stop him and that's for you to not be here.'

'Oh now hold on Cap'n' Starsky got to his feet.

'Don't "hold on Cap'n" me. Much as I hate to admit it, they're right. This job took six months to set up. It's costs thousands and Hutchinson is close to finding who the mole is. I can't jeopardise the job goin' wrong now, so I'm taking you off duty.'

'What?' The brunet's forehead creased as he started to argue.

'I told ya Starsky, can it. I can't trust you to keep out. You and Hutchinson are too close. I can't blame you for wanting to watch your partner's back, hell, Elmo and me were as close as you two are, I know what it means. But you have to back off, and if you won't follow orders, then you're just gonna have to take a leave of absence. A duty cop can't be seen to be interferin'. Can he?'

Light dawned in the curly head. 'But an unofficial cop who was on leave maybe…..'

'What you do in your own time isn't my concern Starsky, but be careful. Just coz you're not on duty doesn't mean those two turkeys won't be watchin' you. Steer clear as much as you can huh? Lay low, keep your ear to the ground, but try not to go swimmin' in Sal Milano's soup.'

'Sure thing Cap'n. Lay low and don't go lookin' for trouble. I got it.'

Dobey sighed heavily. 'I know you've got it, but somehow trouble seems to follow you and Hutchinson around.'

oOoOoOoOoOoOo

The man in the black panel truck picked up the microphone and pressed the transmit button.

'Seems Keith Hurst isn't who he seems. Your informant was right, Sal. Keith Hurst is really Detective Ken Hutchinson.'

The tinny voice came back over the airwaves. 'I thought as much. Where did he go and what did he do?'

'He visited his partner, one Detective David Starsky. Didn't spend too much time with them, the Feds broke in and Hurst….. Hutchinson left. He's on his way back. Do you want him to have an accident?'

'No, I don't think so.'

'But boss, he's a fuckin' cop!'

There was a sigh down the line. 'There's an old saying. Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. I think we've just found a new use for Mr Hutchinson. Who better to deal with his partner than our blond double crosser? Once he's had the treatment, he'll be putty in our hands. Hurry back Radio, unless you want to miss the beginning.'

The mic. went dead and the man in the truck put it carefully on the dash board, grinned and prepared to follow the maroon Jag back home.