CHAPTER TEN
Nicky didn't seemed surprised when he opened the door of the motel room to find Starsky and Hutch standing on the doorstep. Smiling at his older brother, he said, with a cocky tilt of his chin, "I take it that you got the papers from Jessie's lawyer."
"Where is she?" Starsky demanded in a cold, unforgiving voice. "She owes me an explanation."
"She doesn't owe you anything." Nicky said, "I figured you'd be glad to be off the hook. Now you're not stuck with a brat that isn't even yours."
"Where's Jessica?" Starsky repeated, brushing past his younger brother and stepping into the room. As Hutch followed, he noticed that Nicky kept a careful distance between him and his outraged older brother.
Jessica came out of the bathroom, an unconcerned expression on her face, to confront her outraged husband. "You don't have to yell, David. I'm right here." She said calmly.
"Why did you lie to me?" Starsky demanded, his eyes flashing with a cold, barely controlled rage. "Why did you tell me the baby was mine if it wasn't?"
"Because you were there and I needed someone to take responsibility for me and the baby." Jessica replied as if her explanation made perfect sense. "Besides, you didn't seem to mind when you thought that you were the father. You were ready to take financial responsibility and support the baby."
"If all you wanted was for somebody to support the baby, then why the hell did you pressure me into marrying you?" Starsky growled.
"Because, my love, marriage entitled me to certain rights…like being covered on your insurance and to make a claim against half of your assets if we got divorced since California is a community property state."
"You won't get a dime when the court finds out that we got married under fraudulent circumstances." Starsky said angrily.
"You'll have to prove that first…and by the time you do, I'll make sure that you've lost everything you have." Jessica said with a spiteful smile. Hutch reached out to grab Starsky's arm firmly as he took a threatening step towards Jessica.
"Take it easy, Starsk…she ain't worth it." He reminded the infuriated brunet.
"She's just trying to get under your skin."
"That's right, bro…" Nicky sneered, "Listen to your partner." He made the word 'partner' sound like a dirty word, earning himself a glare from the big blond. Ignoring the clear warning in Hutch's ice blue eyes, he added, "Now you two can go back to being 'best friends' and whatever the hell else you really are."
Hutch immediately turned and swung at Nicky, a big iron fist connecting solidly with the smaller man's jaw. Nicky's eyes rolled back and he slumped to the floor, out for the count. As Hutch shook the sting out of his fist, Jessica glared at both men and hissed,
"Get the fuck out of here! Both of you! Before I call the cops!"
"Just one more question." Starsky said ominously, glaring at the woman who had almost ruined his life. "Who's the father?"
"That's none of your damn business!" Jessica taunted him with a thin smile. "Now get the fuck out!"
The two detectives backed out of the room. The last thing Starsky saw before Hutch slammed the door closed was Jessica kneeling at Nicky's side, cradling his head in her lap. For the distraught brunet, it was the final straw, an image that would be painfully etched into his memory forever. Without thinking, he slammed his fist against the brick wall of the building, splitting open the knuckles on his left hand.
"That wasn't very smart, buddy." Hutch said gently, as he immediately grabbed Starsky's injured hand to examine the damage. "We need got to get you to the hospital. I think you broke your hand."
"Look whose talking," Starsky said with a snort. "You weren't worrying about your hand when you cold cocked Nicky."
"That's because he had it coming." Hutch said with a thin smile. "Come on, Tiger. Let's get that hand looked at."
Starsky sullenly followed Hutch back to the car, cradling his wounded hand against his chest. After a three hour wait at the hospital, the doctor confirmed Hutch's suspicions. Starsky had indeed broken his hand along with three of his fingers. He would be in a cast from his fingertips to his elbow for at least the next six weeks. And, since he was left handed, that would prove to be a real pain in the ass. For the two detectives, it meant desk duty, something they both hated, but Hutch would suffer along with his partner since he refused to work the streets without Starsky by his side. He knew that Starsky would do the same if their positions were reversed. Captain Dobey would not be pleased when he found out that his favored team of detectives was grounded because of Starsky's impulsive act.
Hutch took Starsky home with him from the hospital; the brunet was groggy and giggling from the powerful pain killers that the doctor had given him. Starsky high on pain meds was almost as bad as dealing with an intoxicated brunet but without the hang-over the next morning. Hutch managed to get an uncooperative Starsky up the steps to his apartment and inside without any major complications until the brunet began to complain that he was hungry. No matter what Hutch suggested to eat, nothing appealed to Starsky, who wanted to go to The Pits for one of Huggy's specials. Knowing that Starsky was in no condition to go anywhere except to bed, Hutch finally coaxed him into letting the big blond fix him a hamburger. It wouldn't be as good as one of Huggy's specials but, in Starsky's present condition, Hutch didn't think that Starsky would notice. And he was right. The brunet wolfed down the sandwich and then went out like a light, snoring lightly as he curled up on the sofa, his head resting on his new cast.
Hutch smiled down at his peacefully sleeping friend. Reaching out to brush his fingers through those unruly curls, he said, "Sleep well, buddy. We'll get you through this just like we always do…together."
Hutch's eyes darkened with anger when he thought about Jessica and Nick Starsky. Somehow, he would make sure that they paid for their mistreatment of his friend. He had his own suspicions about the true relationship between Nick and Jessica and he prayed that he was wrong. Hutch wasn't a detective for nothing and the clues all added up when they were pieced together. If Hutch was right, it would devastate the brunet if he ever found out the truth.
The next day, Hutch decided to do some quiet investigating on his own based on his suspicions. Only this time, it would be Nick Starsky that he was investigating. If nothing came of his investigation, then Starsky would never have to know anything about it. But, if his suspicions were confirmed than he would have to tell Starsky the truth. He rarely kept secrets from the intuitive brunet but this time he was willing to make an exception to that rule and risk his best friend's wrath when he found out.
Hutch waited until Starsky was preoccupied taking a statement from a potential witness before making a discreet phone call. Loud music was playing in the background when Huggy Bear answered the phone.
"You got the Bear. It's your dime." Huggy chanted into the receiver.
"Huggy, it's Hutch. I need for you to do me a favor. I need for you to find out everything you can about why Nick Starsky is in town."
"You think he's up to his old tricks?"
"I hope not, for Starsky's sake."
"How's Curly doing?"
"Not so good. He told Nicky and Jessica to get out and they trashed his place when they left." Hutch explained
"Oh, man…that sucks."
"Yeah, then he found them shacked up together at this motel room and Jessica admitted that the baby isn't his."
"Oh, damn…that had to really tear him apart." Huggy said sympathetically. "He was really looking forward to having that kid and playing Daddy."
"Yeah, I know. Just see what you can find out. Okay?"
"Consider it done." Huggy said "You just take care of Curly locks."
"You know it." Hutch said with a smile as he hung up the phone before Starsky came back.