Same Disclaimers: S&H do not belong to me and no profit is being made.
Thank you for your kind reviews. Please accept my sincere apologies for the delay – my computer problems do continue, and the added problem of it being Christmas has meant I haven't had time to try to fix the computer issues. I shouldn't have started posting this story at this crazy time of year. I hope to post more regularly now but can only do so if the computer cooperates!
CHAPTER 3
The days merged for Hutch – he was kept heavily sedated and was barely aware of his surroundings or time. All he knew for sure what that there was no sign of Starsky, and he should have been there with him. He couldn't accept that he'd killed his best friend and partner even in his more lucid moments, but he couldn't ignore the worrying fact that Starsky wasn't there. He was also vaguely aware of the fact that Dobey and Huggy hadn't visited either, and even though he was confused and dazed, he knew it wasn't right. Of course, if he had killed Starsky, then he didn't deserve to have them visit, or care about him. It was an impossible scenario to accept, but his mind was a total blank as to how he had arrived at where he was. Considering how he had always felt about anyone who tried to hurt Starsky in the past, it was hardly surprising that he turned in on himself, even though he still tried to reject the knowledge. He was quickly falling into a very deep depression.
The doctor watched his withdrawal with pleasure. His plan was working very well so far, and he would at last be able to get revenge on the two people who had sought to destroy him. It was because of the detectives that he'd lost his license and been thrown in jail, and he had vowed revenge on them both. With his thick beard and glasses, he wasn't too worried about Hutch recognizing him, especially in his drugged condition. He'd learned a hard lesson at Cabrillo, with all of his worthy research being thrown out of the window. He was going to make both detectives pay and pay dearly. The one clear thing which had stuck in his mind over the years was the knowledge that the best way to hurt one of the cops was to hurt the other. It had taken a lot of patience, over a year establishing himself at this hospital, but it had been very worth the wait. He'd killed another doctor and had taken his identity and spent the last two years building up to this culmination of his plans.
The time had been well spent, in finding out all he could about Starsky and Hutch, and to observe them, and it had been this research and observation that had enabled him to capture Hutch fairly easily. He'd paid close attention to their exploits and had even started dating a junior female officer. By asking seemingly harmless questions, he'd managed to keep nicely abreast of what they'd been up to, and the Kira affair had proven to be a real help. He'd felt he could use it in some way, and he'd certainly been proved correct. Initially he'd hoped that the friendship would be destroyed, but he had seen it survive somehow. He was determined their luck was going to run out, and they weren't going to survive much longer. After the initial disappointment, he then realized that the deep concern they held for each other could be useful, and be used against them.
Starsky had barely survived his last capture by the Marcus cult, who had apparently terrorised and tortured the detective. So the doctor had used his name to lure Hutch out, by claiming he had information that Marcus' men were after Starsky again. He'd counted on the fact that Hutch's concern for his partner would mean that he'd come out alone and he had. The doctor had hired some thugs, and with their help and the use of heavy sedation, had captured Hutch and subdued him. It had been worth his while biding his time, for he had needed the hospital to help him create the scene for Hutch so that he would believe in the breakdown. He'd admitted Hutch and kept him as isolated as possible from the other staff and patients, claiming that he was a dangerous patient but he intended to use an experimental therapy on him. The doctor whose ID he had stolen, was a specialist in such treatments, so it had worked for him. He'd been very lucky with that doctor, since he had no family and was from out of town. It had not proven difficult stepping into his shoes. He felt that everything was on his side and that he would finally be able to obtain his revenge. He'd managed to keep Hutch so doped up and in such a traumatized state, he'd barely noticed him. It was certainly now time to bring Starsky into the game.
As he watched the sleeping Hutch, he realized it would now be easy to finish him off but he wanted him to suffer first. By bringing Starsky back to life and then killing him, Hutch would certainly be destroyed. Yes, it was time to bring Starsky in. He must be going out of his mind by now.