Feedback: That would be kind of you…
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to these boys, just to this story. It is for enjoyment purposes only.
Author's Notes: Another fabulous idea by the one and only Brook….
This takes place just prior to 'The Set-up', Joe Durniak is alive and well, and still with the mob. He's also still fond of the Starsky family…
Family Ties
Chapter Seven
Both Starsky and Hutch looked at each other. The anger in Hutch's face sliced through Starsky like a hot knife.
"Just what the hell are you two thinking?" Dobey's voice cut through the silence.
"Well Cap?" Hutch started.
"Don't you 'Well, Cap' me!" Dobey shouted. "Stupid, that's what it was, just plain stupid." Dobey looked at the brunet, "and you fell right into his trap!" He said, shaking his finger at the curly haired detective.
Starsky opened his mouth to protest, but was cut off sharply. "Simonetti got just what he wanted." Dobey looked at Hutch, "because your partner over there can't keep his cool."
Starsky lowered his head, looking at the ground, knowing how disappointed his captain was in him, hurt him. His first thought was to get out of there and tell Hutch what he could. He couldn't stand another second having both men so upset with him. He had a reason for doing this, but now it didn't seem as important as it once was, their feelings are what mattered. He would have told Dobey everything right that second if he had been sure he was going to call this off, but right now he wasn't sure of anything, except for the fact that he needed to talk to Hutch. Suddenly his head shot up and he bolted from his Captain's office.
"Starsky! Get back here!" Dobey commanded as Hutch straightened up, looking to Dobey for permission, "well, don't just stand there staring at me, he's your partner, go after him!" Dobey shouted as Hutch followed the brunet down the hall, calling after him.
By the time Hutch had caught up with him, Starsky had been stopped, in the middle of the hallway by Knight and Williams, two officers that had been under suspicion for leaning heavy, particularly on criminals or less than respectable informants. All this was purely rumors, nothing proven. Hutch heard Knight speaking to Starsky as he approached.
"Well, I wouldn't feel too bad if I were you Starsky, looks like you've finally seen the light. There are two kinds of people in this world, those that count…and those that don't." Knight offered his hand out in front of him to engage in what Hutch saw to be a congratulatory handshake, which Starsky accepted.
"We're just glad to see you coming around." Williams offered as Hutch placed a hand on his partners shoulder, firmly.
"Starsk, you're not like them." Hutch said to his partner who was standing there staring at the two officers, wordlessly. "Let's get the hell outta here." Hutch pulled on him, moving him towards him, then gently pushing him down the corridor. "It's time we had a talk." He said as they left the building.
Hutch drove to Jake's Bar and Grill, just about a mile from Starsky's place. It was a biker bar, but at least no one there would recognize them, they really needed anonymity right now, peace and quiet so they could talk. That is why Hutch had decided against going to Huggy's this time. He didn't want the interruptions, yet a beer or two could loosen the brunet up enough to confide in the blond.
The establishment was dark inside, a few incandescent lights over the occupied pool tables and the neon lights against the dark wooden paneling were the only sources of illumination provided here. A thick blanket of cigarette smoke hung in the air, creating a fog across the establishment. They sat at a booth in the very back of the bar, away from the heavier traffic near the front door, and the restrooms. Hutch sat on one side, offering Starsky the seat across from him. A waitress was at their table immediately, throwing down felt coasters in front of them.
"What'll it be?" She asked between gum snapping. Her skimpy outfit left little to the imagination, her bosom pushed upwards and together, giving the false impression of a generous cleavage. From the look of her face, she had led a hard life, harder than most.
Hutch looked over towards the bar itself and saw three women, obviously prostitutes, scanning the bar for prospective clients.
"I'll have a beer." Starsky ordered, then looked to Hutch who seemed preoccupied with his surroundings.
"Look honey, I ain't got all day, what're you havin'?" The waitress asked impatiently.
Hutch cleared his throat and looked back at her, "I'm sorry, just a beer for me." He said, catching her eye as she winked at him.
"Oh, there ain't no need to be sorry, sugar." She said as she turned on her heels and walked away.
Hutch looked over at his partner as Starsky noticed the working girls at the bar. One of them tipped her head, greeting the curly haired detective as Hutch noticed him smile back.
"You come here often, Buddy?" Hutch asked.
"First time," Starsky replied, "but they obviously see something they like." He continued as he smiled at the ladies.
"They're hookers Starsk," Hutch snapped. "For twenty bucks, they'd like your brother!"
Starsky returned his attention to his partner as Hutch continued to speak, "Okay, spill it." The blond insisted.
Starsky sighed heavily, how was he going to explain this to Hutch, and have it all make sense; it didn't even make sense to him.
"Okay…but before I do, I need you to promise me something…" Starsky started.
"What is it?" Hutch furrowed his brow, he could tell by the tone in his partners voice, this was serious, and he probably wasn't going to like it.
"I need you to trust me."
"I do trust you." Hutch responded.
"No, I mean really trust me. A lot of what I am going to tell you won't make sense to you, and I need you not to ask any questions, just trust me." Starsky pled, the look in his eyes boring a hole in the blonde's soul.
"Jesus Starsk, what is it?" Hutch implored his friend.
"Promise?"
"Okay, okay, I promise, just tell me what is up with you." Hutch vowed.
The waitress brought their drinks and set them on the table, the frothy head of Hutch's beer sloshing over the side. Both men thanked her as she left the table.
"What I'm about to tell you, can't leave this table, no matter what." Starsky locked eyes with his partner. "You can't tell no one, not even Dobey."
"Hey Buddy…" Hutch began to protest but was cut off.
"I mean it Hutch, no matter what, you can't say a word. Swear it?"
Hutch started to get a sick feeling in his stomach, his intuition telling him that things were about to get bad, real bad, and they were on their own. He had no choice, he had to swear, otherwise Starsky would attempt to do this, whatever this was, on his own. Hutch didn't like where this was heading, but he had to go along with it, for Starsky.
"I need your word." Starsky stated gravely. "No matter how bad it gets, you have to keep your mouth shut, I know what I'm doing and you have to trust me…please?"
"Alright, if that's the way you want it, okay, I swear. Now tell me what the hell is going on." Hutch stated as he leaned towards his partner, Starskys' voice becoming a mere whisper.
"It has to do with the people that killed my father…" Starsky paused, watching the crease on the blondes' forehead deepen. "After all these years, I'm getting a chance to bring them down…"
"What…? How…?" Hutch stammered.
"Now just listen, I can't go into all the details, but things are not going to be what they seem to be…that's where the trust comes in…"
"Who…?" Hutch tried to ask a complete question, but the words never formed.
"I don't want, or need you to cover up for me; it's all part of the plan…" Starsky watched the hurt in his partner's eyes form.
"Who's plan?" Hutch spit out.
"Let's just say, my plan, okay?" Starsky danced around the answer. "I really need you to go along with this, for me."
"Why are you doing this?" Hutch asked the one question Starsky wasn't sure he could answer.
"Because I have to."
"Bullshit!" Hutch retorted sharply.
"Please Hutch…understand…I need you to understand." Starsky said, his eyes pleading with his partners.
"Okay, okay…but if you think for one New York minute, I'm gonna sit around and watch while you do this…you're nuts."
"I need you to Buddy, for now, I need you to. No one can know you know, otherwise the whole operation is shot." Starsky dipped his head, looking up at Hutch, "You promised, remember?"
"I don't understand, what operation?" Hutch was panicking, not liking the prospect of Starsky going out on his own, to accomplish something Hutch wasn't sure he could.
"Trust." Starsky said as he chugged the rest of his beer.
"Well, whether or not I trust you , isn't the question, but let me tell you something, Buddy. I am gonna be there, beside you, helping you with this, you just may not be able to see me, but I'll be there." He said with a wink, raising his glass at Starsky and then finishing off his drink. "I'm just relieved to hear that my partner hasn't jumped off the deep end, at least not yet."
They each ordered another beer and discussed the day's events, including the look on Simonetti's face when Starsky had him against the wall. After they were finished, Hutch took Starsky back to his place and headed home.
XXXX
Starsky entered his apartment, shedding his jacket, and hanging it on the hook beside the door. He stripped his shirt off before he made it to the doorway of his bedroom as he undid his belt buckle. He pulled out a fresh pair of jeans from the dresser and a nicer shirt, buttoned down front.
The phone rang as he moved back into the living room to answer it.
"Hello?"
"Detective, it's me, Chief Ryan…"
"Yes sir?"
"I've already been given the report by Simonetti, requesting permission to continue his investigation…of course, I have given him the green light."
"Yes sir."
"How about your partner, Hutchinson? Is he buying this?"
"He won't be any trouble Chief, I assure you."
"Something big is going to go down in the next couple of days…you just need to play along…it won't be easy for you, but I'm sure you are keeping your eyes on the prize…It'll all come together soon…"
"Yes sir, I am. But I need to meet with you, we need to talk."
"I'm afraid that won't be possible."
"Sir?" Starsky questioned with hesitation.
"Don't you get it; we're being watched, constantly. I just can't risk it. We can't risk it…"
"But…you told me we'd meet. I have some questions…" The irritation in his voice began to rise.
"You're questions are just going to have to wait. There's no time for this now!" Ryan cut him off. "Look, it's a little too late for second thoughts, Detective. Either you go through with this, or Simonetti just might find reason to have your badge."
"Are you threatening me, Chief?" Starsky cupped the receiver in his right hand as he pursed his lips, spitting into the phone.
"Just calm down, I'm not threatening, just stating a fact. Besides, the way I see it, we should have this whole case wrapped up quickly. I'd say within two weeks at the most, once we get you in."
Starsky sighed, squeezing his eyes shut, slowing his breathing, and his heart rate.
"Besides, don't you have a date to get ready for?" Ryan asked as Starsky realized there was a connection between Carmen and Chief Ryan, she must be the contact person.
The brunet opened his mouth to speak, but the line went dead, Ryan had hung up. Starsky slammed the phone down in frustration.
XXXX
The curly haired detective, changed his clothes, and donned some especially fragrant cologne and headed out the door, on his way to Huggy Bear's to meet with Carmen. He entered his friend's establishment, greeting him quickly and requesting a private booth. Huggy wasted no time escorting him to one of the side booths, out of the way of the other customers. Huggy knew him well enough by now, not to ask any questions.
Starsky informed his friend that he was waiting for a 'guest'. He left a brief description of the female person he was waiting for. Huggy went back to the bar and drew a draft beer for the curly haired detective, and returned it to his table.
He wasn't even able to finish his drink before Huggy was escorting Carmen to Starsky's booth. The brunet rose as she approached, taken by her looks, she was strikingly beautiful. Her emerald green eyes contrasted with her olive skin tone, and gorgeous features. She had high cheek bones and full lips. Her shiny jet black hair flowed over her shoulders, down to the middle of her back. She had an air of confidence about her that he found extremely sexy and attractive.
He offered her a seat at the booth, which she took, and he slid into the seat across from her. She immediately got up, moving to his bench, and slid in next to him. Her tight blue jeans, and even tighter red tank top, accentuated her features. He had a hard time keeping his eyes off of her as he drank in her beauty. Placing his elbow on the table, he laid his hand against the side of his face as he stared at her. She wore a shiny leather jacket over her top, which matched her black tresses.
"It's good to see you again." He said, immediately regretting his less than smooth line.
"Oh, you haven't seen anything yet, are you sure you're ready to play this game, cause you know, there's no turning back…" She said as she grabbed his leg under the table, squeezing it tightly.
She leaned into him, taking his mouth hungrily to hers in a deep and passionate kiss. For a moment there, Starsky almost forgot this was an assignment, for him it felt like last Saturday night.
She moved her mouth to his neck, nipping and licking teasingly as she reached his ear.
"We're being watched; you have to make this look good." She hissed as she reclaimed his mouth with hers.
To Be Continued…