CHAPTER 14

Hutch was shocked when the jury notified the judge that they had a verdict after only deliberating for three hours. His heart was pounding frantically as he slipped back into the courtroom and took a seat as close to the defense table as possible. He knew that the verdict could go either way and he was terrified that it would go against Starsky.

He knew that Lew would automatically appeal the decision if Starsky was found guilty but that would not prevent Starsky from being sent to prison in the meantime.

Starsky was escorted into the courtroom, his eyes automatically seeking out Hutch's gaze for support, as he took his place beside Lew. They all stood as the judge entered the room and then remained standing until the jury was seated. The judge ordered everyone else to sit down while Starsky and Lew remained standing.

Hutch saw the rigid set to Starsky's shoulders as he stood at attention before the bench. Hutch knew that Starsky was trying to maintain his composure as he waited for the verdict to be announced.

"Madam Foreman," the judge intoned solemnly as the woman who had been elected spokesperson for the jury stood up. "Has the jury reached a verdict?"

"Yes, your honor, we have." She said seriously, keeping her eyes focused on the judge's face.

"Would you pass the verdict to the bailiff, please?"

She handed the folded sheet of paper to the court bailiff who accepted it and walked across the room to hand it to the judge. The judge accepted the verdict and slowly unfolded the paper, reading it in silence. He looked up and gazed around the room. "There will be no outbursts or displays of any kind when the verdict is read." He said gravely. Locking eyes with Starsky, he glanced back at the paper and said, "David Michael Starsky, the jury has found you guilty of murder in the first degree."

"No…God, no…" Hutch muttered under his breath, as he grasped the railing in front of him so tightly that his fingers turned white from the pressure. He heard Starsky's audible gasp and saw him sag slightly as if his knees were going to give out until Lew reached out and grabbed his arm securely.

"Your honor, may I request that jury members be polled?" Lew asked grimly.

The judge nodded and asked each jury member individually what their verdict had been. One by one, they each said guilty. When they had finished, the judge looked at Starsky and said, "David Starsky, you have been found guilty of the crime of murder in the first degree. This court is prepared to pass sentence on you immediately. For the crime of murder in the first degree, you are hereby sentenced to death in the gas chamber. You are to be transported immediately to death row at San Quentin penitentiary and may God have mercy on your soul."

With a final bang of his gavel, the judge rose from the bench and left the room. The courtroom immediately burst into chaos as everyone started talking at once. Hutch immediately climbed over the railing separating him from Starsky in an effort to reach his side. The officer, who had stepped forward to take Starsky back into custody, paused and allowed Hutch to pull his partner into a heartfelt hug. Hutch felt the fine tremor that raced through his partner's slender frame at his touch and the desperate need as he reached out to cling to Hutch almost frantically.

"I'm sorry, sir," the uniformed officer said apologetically "But, he'll have to come with me now."

Hutch nodded, not trusting himself to speak, and stepped back. He looked deeply into Starsky's eyes and saw the terror lingering in those sapphire depths. He tried to communicate all of his love and support to his partner with his eyes as the officer cuffed Starsky's hands behind his back and prepared to lead him out of the room. Hutch knew that he would never forget the fear and desperation that he saw reflected on Starsky's face as he was led away.

"What now?" Hutch demanded in an outraged voice, turning to glare at Lew ominously. He clenched his hands tightly into fists to keep from punching something or someone. "What the fuck do we do now?"

"We always knew that this could happen." Lew said calmly. "And, frankly, I can't say that I'm surprised at the outcome. I file an appeal immediately. That will buy us some time."

"Time for what?" Hutch growled "To keep beating our heads against the wall and coming up with nothing while Starsky rots in a jail cell?"

Lew arched an eyebrow questioningly and said, "Are you giving up on David now?"

"OF COURSE NOT!" Hutch declared his voice rough with anger. "I'll never give up on him…not as long as I'm alive!"

"Good. That's what I wanted to hear because you're all he has right now. Let's go back to my office and talk."

Hutch turned and strode out of the room ahead of the older man. Although he knew that the verdict could go against Starsky, it was still devastating to hear his partner and best friend being sentenced to die in the gas chamber unless Hutch could find a way to save him.

Twenty minutes later, Lew and Hutch were settled in Lew's office reviewing the case notes they had so far. Although they had reviewed the notes throughout the trial, there had to be something they had missed.

"All right," Lew said thoughtfully "The biggest problem we have with David's case is the testimony of the three cops who swore under oath that they saw David push Prudolm off that roof. What do we know about them?"

Hutch glanced through his notes until he found the information he needed. In a somber tone, he read aloud,

"Ray Kilroy. First year patrol officer. Graduated with honors from the Academy last spring. Married with a baby on the way. No suspicious activity in his bank accounts. Nothing.

Eugene McDonald. Ten year veteran on the force. Widowed with a teenage daughter. Kilroy is his partner. They've worked together for the past six months. He owns his own home and has a modest savings with no unusual deposits or withdrawals." Hutch sighed as he continued on to the last name on his list. "Juan Oretga. He's also a ten year veteran on the force. He's divorced with two little girls who live with his ex-wife. Most of his income goes for child support and alimony. His wife got their house and car in the divorce. He works a second job, part time, as a security guard at a warehouse downtown. Nothing unusual about any of them except that they are all adamant that they saw Starsky push Prudolm off that roof."

"What about the hooker? The one who swore that she overheard you and Starsky discussing a plan to kill Prudolm before he killed anyone else?"

"Margaret Ashworth. Street name Cookie. Aka Patty Ashworth aka Dixie Darling aka Queen Margaret. She's been busted for everything from forging checks and credit card fraud to assault and possession of narcotics. No permanent address and her only means of support is prostitution. Divorced four times and has three children that are all in the custody of children's services. A real pillar of the community. She'd sell her soul for a fix but I can't find anything on her to prove that she helped set Starsky up. What about Edwards?"

Lew leaned back in his chair and snorted. "He's got higher aspirations than the Prosecutor's office. He wants to be governor someday. Comes from a political family with enough money to buy him the office if he plays his cards right. He plays rough and he doesn't care how he gets his convictions as long as he gets them."

"Even if it means buying off witnesses or jury members?" Hutch asked with a growl.

"Possible but highly doubtful. He's smarter than that. He wouldn't risk his political career but that doesn't mean that he wouldn't look the other way if the price was right."

"How do you know Huggy Bear?" Hutch asked watching Hamilton's face closely to gauge his reaction to the question and the abrupt change in subject.

Lew smiled broadly and tented his fingers. At first Hutch didn't think he was going to answer the question, then he said, "Does it matter?"

"Not really. Just curious that's all." Hutch admitted

"I knew his mother…a long time ago. She was a good woman who deserved better than she got in life. We were friends and I tried to help her out over the years…up until she died. I suppose you could say that Huggy considered me his surrogate father for awhile."

"Is that how you met Starsky? You did know him before this, didn't you?"

"You're very perceptive, Detective Hutchinson. No, I met David through a mutual friend. John Blaine."

"You knew John?" Hutch asked in a surprised tone.

"Yes, I knew John very well." Lew said, watching Hutch closely as he answered. "And just to satisfy your curiousity…yes, John and I were more than just friends."

"I'm sorry." Hutch said, blushing furiously at the confession. "It was none of my business."

"Don't worry. I'm not ashamed of who I am or my sexual preferences. And to answer the question I can see that you're dying to ask…no, David didn't know about John and me. To him, I was just one of the guys that John hung out with. After David came back from Viet Nam, I helped him out with a legal matter and we've met a few times since then for dinner. Are there any other questions I can answer for you before we continue?"

"No." Hutch said, shaking his head slightly. "I'm sorry for invading your privacy like that."

"There's no need to apologize. I told you…I'm not ashamed of who I am. I've been lucky my entire life, just like you have. Wealth has its privileges. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Sometimes. But I turned my back on my parents' wealth years ago." Hutch said "And I'm perfectly content with my life the way it is."

"Good for you. You're lucky because you have the one thing that money can't buy. You have David and he's worth more than all the money in the world." He held up his hand to stop the protest he saw on Hutch's lips. "I know that the two of you aren't a couple...I also know that once you are David's friend, you're his friend for life. What the two of you have is something very, very special. You should cherish it."

"I do." Hutch admitted "That's why I have to find a way to prove that he's innocent. That he didn't kill Prudolm."

"Well, if anyone can do that…I'm sure that you can. David trusts you and he needs you, just like you trust and need him." He paused as if pondering his next words carefully. In a somber tone, he said, "Ken, I am going to tell you something that may or may not help David. It's up to you to decide. David has made some powerful enemies over the years and not all of them are here in Bay City. There are some very powerful people out there who would go to any length to separate you and David because together you are a force to be reckoned with. And some of those people have carried a grudge against David for a very, very long time."

"I'm not sure I understand…"

"I'm afraid that I can't tell you anymore than that. Some secrets are not mine to tell. And some secrets, David would rather take to his grave before revealing them to anyone…even you…even if those secrets could save his life."

Lew refused to elaborate further. After a few more casual references to the case, the two men parted ways, promising to stay in touch as they worked together to free Starsky from prison.

Hutch thought about Lew's words as he drove home. He had a feeling that there was something going on with Starsky that he didn't know anything about something that Starsky didn't want him to know. After over ten years together as best friends, Hutch thought he knew everything there was to know about David Starsky. Apparently, he was wrong. The man still had some closely guarded secrets that he had never revealed to anyone, not even Hutch. He knew that he would not be allowed to see Starsky before his transfer to San Quentin. Despite Starsky's request for Hutch not to try and see him if he ended up on death row, Hutch was determined to visit his headstrong partner as soon as he could.