CHAPTER 11
Alice fixed Rachel a cup of tea while Hutch began to question her about the last time she had seen Nicky.
"It was just before David was shot," she stated in a trembling tone. "He came in and said he had to leave for a few days…something about a job lead. I really wasn't paying that much attention because Nicky was always going off somewhere for a few days."
"He didn't try to contact you after the shooting?"
"No, and I thought that was unusual. Especially after it ended up on the news here. But, David's always been the responsible one, not Nicky." Rachel sighed heavily. "I know he loves David, but they are as different as night and day. I don't think I've been a very good mother to either one of my sons."
"You've done the best you could under the circumstances," Hutch consoled her. "You sent Starsky to Bay City to protect him, and he's the man he is today because of you."
"But, I couldn't protect Nicky from the things that I sent David away from. So, that means it's my fault he's the way he is. He was all I had left and I couldn't bear to lose him too…so I looked the other way and look what happened."
"He's still an adult who makes his own choices; you're not responsible for that. Nicky's selfish and self-centered, but none of that is your fault."
"I just don't know what to think anymore." Rachel brushed a single tear from her cheek. "I was just starting to accept the fact that David was gone when I got that letter…and now this phone call from Nicky…"
"I promise you, I will get to the bottom of it," Hutch told her solemnly. "For both our sakes."
"And I'm going to help," Huggy declared.
"Me too," Alice added. "Even if that means just staying here with you so you won't be alone."
"Thank you…thank you all. My David is truly blessed to have friends like you in his life." She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "I think I'll go to bed now. I'm tired."
"Get some rest," Hutch said with a gentle smile. "We'll start looking for answers first thing in the morning."
Rachel rose to her feet and started to walk away, then paused at the bottom of the steps that led to the second floor and said, "You should start by talking to Joe Durniak's son, Joe Jr. If anyone can help, he can."
Hutch nodded.
Joe Durniak Sr. had been a mob boss who had agreed to testify at a grand jury hearing. He had been in protective custody for seven months, and Starsky and Hutch had been the detectives in charge of protecting him. He had been killed before he could testify, and his murder had led Starsky and Hutch into uncovering an elaborate ring of ordinary people who were being brainwashed into becoming assassins.
But, Joe Durniak had also been a childhood friend of Michael Starsky, and they had remained friends even as adults. They operated on opposite sides of the law, but that didn't not stop them from being friends. When Michael Starsky was gunned down in his own front yard, Joe had paid for the funeral and, unknown to most people; he had given Rachel the money to send her oldest son to California.
His son, Joe Jr., had taken over the family business after his father died, and he was in the position to have his finger on the very pulse of the city. Hutch remembered Starsky talking about playing with Joe Jr. when they were kids, so it appeared that Joe Jr. also had a tie to the Starsky family.
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After a restless night for everyone, they were all up early the next morning. Rachel made a big breakfast with pancakes, eggs, fried potatoes, and bacon. Although the Starsky family was Jewish, they did not observe the kosher rules concerning food. As a result, the Starsky family's background was a curious mix of Jewish and Gentile customs.
While the others ate, Rachel made some phone calls and arranged a meeting for Hutch with Joe Jr. at nine A.M. at his downtown office. After breakfast, Hutch and Huggy left the house to keep the appointment while Alice stayed behind with Rachel.
Durniak Enterprises had an office in a twelve-story building in downtown Manhattan. To the general public, the office was the headquarters for a successful import/export business that had been started by Joe Sr. over thirty years ago.
But, law enforcement knew that it was actually a front for the other businesses operated by the Durniak family. That included prostitution, numbers running, and racketeering. The one thing that Joe had always insisted that his organization stay away from was the drug trade, no matter how profitable it might be. And, unlike the majority of the mob bosses in the city he did not use random violence to control his empire or his employees. When Jr. took over the business, he made it clear to all of his employees that his father's standards would still be upheld.
At the twelfth floor, Huggy and Hutch stepped off the elevator into a large, open room with a plush, beige carpet on the floor and wall-to-wall windows that overlooked the city. Behind a desk sat a beautiful redhead with brown eyes and a figure that left little to the imagination. She smiled brightly at Hutch and said, "Welcome to Durniak Enterprises. May I help you?"
"My name is Ken Hutchinson and this is Mr. Brown. We have an appointment with Mr. Durniak."
"Yes, he is expecting you. Down the hall to your left. It's the last door on the right."
They followed her directions and located the office. Hutch knocked lightly to announce their arrival and then opened the door. The inner office had the same plush carpet and spectacular view as the reception area. Hutch's experienced eye told him that the framed art on the walls was authentic, not cheap knock-offs.
The man behind the desk was in his late forties with the same steely eyes and heavy jowls as his father. When he spoke, he had the same raspy voice from too many cigarettes and too much booze.
"Welcome to my office, gentlemen. I'm sure you realize, that since I do not know you personally, you are here merely as a favor to Rachel Starsky."
"We understand that," Hutch replied. "I believe Mrs. Starsky explained to you the purpose of our visit."
"Yes, she did, and I am willing to help you in any way I can." He reached out and handed Hutch a folded piece of paper. "Go to this address. There you will find part of the answers you seek."
"Thank you," Hutch said quietly. He turned and left the room with Huggy trailing behind. Once they were out of the building, Hutch unfolded the paper, reading the address and the directions on how to get there. It was someplace in China Town.
Thirty minutes later, Hutch pulled up in front of a Chinese restaurant. The sign on the door said it opened at eleven, and it wasn't even ten yet. Hutch knocked on the closed door and waited for a response. After a minute or two, the door opened just far enough for a young oriental girl to peep out at the two men. She smiled and handed Hutch a sealed envelope and then shut the door securely.
Hutch glanced at Huggy and shrugged his shoulders as they walked back to Hutch's car and climbed inside. He tore open the envelope and took out two pictures. One was of Nick Starsky that had obviously been taken without his knowledge. In it, he was tied to a chair and blindfolded. But, the second picture was the one that took Hutch's breath away. It showed Starsky lying on a hospital bed hooked up to a variety of tubes and machines. He was thin and pale with his eyes closed, but he appeared to be very much alive
"I'll be damned," Huggy whispered. "Curly is alive."
"It sure as hell looks that way," Hutch said quietly, peering closely at both pictures hoping to find a further clue that would help him find them. "The question is…where the hell is he?"