CHAPTER 21

Robert Durniak leaned back in his expensive leather chair and peered at Hutch with a thin smile. Slightly older than Hutch, he resembled his late father with the same piercing blue eyes and rugged features. Even his voice sounded the same, rough and coarse from too much booze and too many cigarettes over the years.

"So, Detective Hutchinson, to what do I owe the honor of this visit?"

"I need your help." Hutch said as he took a seat in the chair facing the mahogany desk.

"My help? Why would a highly decorated police officer from California need my help?"

"Don't jerk me around." Hutch said impatiently "We both know why I'm here."

"You're here, Detective, because Rachel Starsky called me and asked me to see you. I assume that it's about David."

" I need your help to prove that he was framed for murder."

"My help?" Robert said with a smirk. "That's a switch. And just how do you think I can help you?"

"I think the Salvado family set my partner up. I need you to help me get the evidence I need to prove it."

"The Salvados are a very powerful family with a lot of connections but I'm sure that you're aware of that already. Obviously Rachel has filled you in on the 'family history' or she wouldn't have sent you to see me."

"Will you help me or not?" Hutch asked in a carefully controlled voice. He was prepared to beg if that was what it took to save Starsky. "Starsky doesn't have much time left."

"I'm well aware of David's current circumstances." Robert said in a level voice. "And I do owe you both for what you tried to do for my father." He smiled but it never quite reached his eyes. "And, after all, David is family so to speak." He leaned forward and looked at Hutch intently. "All right, I'll help you. I have heard rumors that Salvados had found a way to take their revenge on David for Niko's death. Personally, I think Niko was an ass who got what he deserved but that is beside the point. As long as my father was alive, they knew that they couldn't touch David without starting a war. Tell me, Detective Hutchinson, haven't you ever wondered who sent that poor man after my father?"

Hutch looked stunned. Joe Durniak had been killed while under Starsky and Hutch's protection. He was scheduled to testify before a senate sub-committee concerning organized crime. He had been planning to name names and bring down some powerful gangland figures on both the east and the west coast. In an elaborated planned plot, he had been assassinated by a man who had been brainwashed into thinking that Durniak was responsible for his wife's murder. While investigating Joe's murder, Starsky and Hutch had discovered that the man who killed Joe wasn't the only person that had had their entire identity erased and false memories implanted in their place, turning them into mindless robots waiting to kill. They had never been able to find out who was behind the organization and now it appeared that Robert Durniak was saying that the Salvado family had been involved in some way. As if he had read Hutch's mind, Robert smiled thinly and said,

"No, they weren't part of the organization but they had the money to hire a hit man who had been brainwashed to kill my father. All it took was knowing the right person to call to make the arrangements." His expression softened as he continued. "My father was a good man. He just got old and tired. That made him vulnerable. All the Salvado family had to do was wait."

"So, what you're telling me is that you believe they framed Starsky?" Hutch asked solemnly.

"As I said, I've heard rumors. Give me a couple of days and I will see what I can find out for you. I assume that I can reach you at Rachel's?"

"Yes. For a couple of days anyway. Then I have to go back." Hutch said. He rose gracefully to his feet and held out his hand. After a brief hesitation, Robert took it and shook it firmly. Hutch left the office without looking back.

Outside the sky was dark and overcast, fitting weather for Hutch's mood. But, for the first time since this whole nightmare began, he finally had some hope. Before returning to the Starsky home, Hutch decided to make a slight detour. Climbing into the car he had rented that morning, he drove through the congested city streets until he reached the tiny cemetery in a quiet, predominantly Jewish neighborhood. Climbing out of the car, he walked to a grave that he had visited along with his partner on their last vacation in New York together.

The headstone read "Michael David Starsky. Born June 14th, 1925. Died October 11th, 1955. Beloved Husband and Family. Taken too soon but never forgotten."

Bowing his head, Hutch said a silent prayer for the man that Starsky had idolized and tried to pattern his life on. His murder had forever changed Starsky's life in more ways than Hutch had realized until now. Following the Jewish custom that Starsky had shown him, he bent down and picked up one of the smooth stones that bordered the headstone and gently placed it on top of the stone to show that he had visited the grave to pay his respects. Walking back to his rented car, Hutch slowly drove back to the Starsky home.

It started to rain just as he pulled up in front of the house. Opening the door, he pulled the collar of his leather jacket up around his neck as he darted for the house. He didn't notice the sleek black car parked just down the block with three men sitting inside as he hurried into the comforting warm of the house.

Nick Starsky was sitting in the living room, his feet propped up on the coffee table, as he watched television. He glanced up at Hutch's hurried entrance and scowled darkly. He quickly controlled his features and pasted a phony smile on his face. He had not been pleased when he came home that morning and found out about Hutch's unannounced visit. He was even less pleased to find out that the big blond would be staying for a few days. He had been even more irate when he found out that his mother had told him the 'family secrets' and arranged for him to meet with Robert Durniak that morning.

"Did 'Uncle Bobby' agree to help you?" he asked with a sneer. "Or did he tell you to go back to California where you belong? I would have."

"Good thing he's not you, isn't it?" Hutch said with a mocking smile. He was too tired to play Nicky's little game but he couldn't resist baiting him just a little.

"You're wasting your time and his." Nicky said smugly. "Dave's done for. He's accepted that. Why can't you?"

"NICHOLAS MARVIN STARSKY!" Rachel Starsky said, surprising her youngest son with her sudden appearance in the room. "You will not talk that way about your brother in this house! Ken is here to do everything he can to help Davy and I, for one, thank God for that!"

"Yeah, I forgot. Saint David who can do no wrong!" Nicky snarled in a sudden display of temper as he bounced to his feet. "He can even get away with murder and everybody looks the other way." He grabbed his jacket and bolted out of the house, slamming the door behind him. Rachel burst into tears and covered her face with her hands. Hutch immediately rushed to her side and wrapped his arms around her shaking frame.

"It's all right." He soothed her gently "I'm sure he didn't mean it. He's just not happy that I'm here."

"No, he meant it." Rachel sobbed against Hutch's comforting shoulder. "He's so full of anger lately…I don't know what's wrong with him. I can't seem to talk to him anymore. Whenever I try, he just storms out like that."

"Why don't you sit down and I'll get you a cup of tea?" Hutch suggested.

Rachel nodded and sat down on the sofa. Smiling through her tears, she said, "You're a good friend to my Davy and I'm glad that he has you. Lord knows, he needed someone after his father died. I don't think he ever really forgave me for sending him away."

"He forgave you." Hutch reassured her. "He knows why you sent him away and he knows that it was the hardest thing you ever had to do. It may have taken him a little while to understand that…but he does understand."

"I just wish…" Rachel's words faded into silence as she grabbed a tissue and blotted at her tears. She shook her head sadly. "Never mind…please forgive me rambling on. I'm just so upset about the way Nicholas had been acting."

"There's no need to apologize." Hutch told her with a warm smile. "Let me get you that tea."