CHAPTER 3

A hush fell throughout the crowd of officers still gathered at the hospital when a doctor in blood-stained scrubs suddenly appeared. In a solemn voice, he said, "Family for David Starsky?"

"Here," Dobey said as Hutch bounced to his feet to stand beside him. "I'm his commanding officer, and this is his partner."

The doctor nodded to acknowledge them. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly before saying quietly, "I'm sorry. Mr. Starsky died on the operating table. There was nothing we could do."

Before anyone could react, Hutch gave a guttural scream and began slamming his fists against the wall. Two officers and Dobey grabbed him to keep him from injuring himself. He moaned deeply, tears running down his cheeks, as the two officers lowered him into a nearby seat. Both his hands were bloody, the skin over his knuckles ripped open.

"I'm sorry," The doctor said as he stepped up to take a closer look at Hutch's hands. "You need to take him to an exam room. He going to need x-rays to make he didn't break anything, and probably a few stitches as well." Turning to face Dobey, he once again offered his condolences before walking away. Empty words that fell on deaf ears.

Dobey immediately turned his attention back to Hutch, who was moaning softly and staring vacantly. In the same quiet tone he would use with a wounded animal or hurt child, he said, "Come with me, Hutch. We need to have a doctor take a look at your hands."

As he helped Hutch to his feet, he caught Minnie's eyes. Without a word, she fell in step on the other side and the two of them led a seemingly docile Hutch through the swinging doors into the exam area of the hospital. A helpful nurse ushered them into an empty cubicle to the left and closed the curtain behind them to assure their privacy.

As he sat down on the edge of the exam table, Hutch seemed to rouse from his stupor. Looking at Dobey he whispered "Starsk?"

"He's gone. There was nothing the doctors could do. He died on the table."

"Nooooo…" Hutch whimpered, fresh tears spilling from his eyes. Minnie didn't even try to hide her own tears. Ken Hutchinson was one of the strongest men she knew, but even the strongest men in the world have a breaking point.

Even Dobey let a few tears fall for his fallen officer and friend. He would still have to break the news to his own family. To his young daughter, Rosie, Starsky and Hutch were her honorary Uncles, and he knew she would take the news hard. Other then her grandmother's death when she was only four, seven-year old Rosie had never lost someone really close to her before.

Minnie held Hutch close. He rested his head on her shoulder, silent sobs shaking his entire body. A doctor came in and immediately sent Hutch to have x-rays done on his hands. After that was done, it was determined that he had broken his right hand and severely bruised his left. It took 10 stitches to repair the torn skin over his knuckles, and he left with a soft cast on his right forearm.

"You're coming home with me for a few days," Dobey told him as they left the exam room. The tone of his voice left no room for argument. Hutch didn't answer; he just stared vacantly in front of him and let Dobey guide him out of the hospital. The doctor had given Hutch a prescription for valium along with one for pain. Dobey would monitor Hutch's use of both over the next few days.

News of the shooting had already spread throughout the city, and several reporters had gathered in front of the emergency entrance to the hospital.

Dobey pushed his way past them, his only remark a terse, "No Comment." The department's PR people would prepare a statement that would be released to the press.

Dobey escorted Hutch to his car and guided him into the front seat, helping him fold his long legs into the vehicle. He fastened Hutch's seat belt for him and closed the door. Hutch still was not responding other than that vacant stare into his own private hell.

Half an hour later, Dobey pulled into the drive of his modest two-story home on a quiet street in a suburb of Bay City. The front door opened as he helped Hutch from the car and his wife, Edith, appeared in the archway. She watched with a sad expression on her expressive face as her husband led a meek Hutch up the cobblestone walk to the house.

"Let me take him to the guest room," Edith told him, "So he can rest for awhile."

"Where are the kids?"

"Cal went over to his friend, Billy's. He knows. He heard a news report about the shooting. It's all over the news. Rosie is up in her room. She doesn't know yet."

"I'll tell her," Dobey said with a heavy sigh. He turned Hutch's care over to his capable wife and slowly climbed the stairs to the second floor to talk to his daughter.

Rosie Dobey glanced up as her father opened the door and entered her bedroom. A sensitive, yet precocious, child, she knew from the expression on her father's face that something was wrong.

"Daddy?" she said softly. "Why are you home so early?"

"Come here, princess," Dobey said as he sat down on her bed and held out his arms. Rosie ran to him and climbed into his lap, leaning her head against his broad chest as he wrapped her in his arms.

"What's the matter, Daddy?"

"Something's happened, baby. Something bad. Uncle Dave got shot."

"Is he okay?"

"No, Baby, he isn't. He died. He went to heaven to be with Jesus and Grandma."

"And he's not coming back?" she asked.

"No, he's not."

"What about Uncle Ken? Is he okay?"

"He's very sad right now. I brought him home with me and he's going to be staying with us for a few days." Dobey smiled and kissed the top of his daughter's head.

"Cause he loved Uncle Dave, too…"

"Yes, he did."

"Can I see Uncle Ken?"

"Maybe later. He's resting right now."

Rosie buried her face against his chest and began to cry softly. Dobey sat there, rocking her gently, until she cried herself to sleep. Laying her on the bed, he covered her with light blanket and headed back downstairs to the comforting arms of his wife.

Edith silently wrapped her arms around him and gave him a heartfelt hug.

"How's Ken?" Dobey asked

"Resting. Still in shock. We'll have to keep a close eye on him."

"I have some pills the doctor gave me for him, but I don't want to give them to him just yet."

"How are you doing?"

"As well as can be expected," Dobey said as he jerked his tie loose and threw it over the easy chair. His voice cracked. "I always knew this could happen…but, it happened right in the police parking lot…two men dressed up like cops…" He took a deep shuddering breath and exhaled slowly. "I need a drink."

Dobey was not normally a drinking man. An occasional beer now and then, but seldom anything stronger. But, under the present circumstances, he was going to break that rule. He walked over to their sparsely stocked bar and poured himself a shot of whiskey. He drank it down in one quick swallow, grimacing as it burned its way down his throat to his stomach. A second shot followed, and then he capped the bottle and returned it to the shelf.

"Did you reach his mother?" Edith asked

Dobey nodded solemnly. "Her plane should be landing around five-thirty. Starsky's Aunt and Uncle are meeting her at the airport and breaking the news to her."

"His brother isn't going to be with her?"

"No. She said she doesn't know where he is right now to tell him."

"He may hear it on the news. I heard a report just before you came down that news of the shooting had gone nationwide."

"God, help us all get through the next few days…" Dobey said quietly.

"And God help Ken," Edith said, "I'm not sure that he's going to be able to handle losing David."

"I know. We could lose them both."