Part XXV

When the boat reached the dock, Starsky was the first one forced off and was obviously being kept near the edge. Hutch read the threat and cooperated with moving down the dock to a small pavilion of sorts where a group of four were waiting on them. It didn't escape either of his attention that all four of the group were blonde haired and blue eyed.

To his extreme disgust, Hutch found himself being sized up like he was some sort of animal at an auction. The examination also entailed the systematic removal of his clothing which mortified him, but Starsky had been moved very deliberately into his line of vision. Again acknowledging the unspoken threat, he didn't fight the procedure though he couldn't help the flinching at being prodded and occasionally groped. Starsky did what little he could do for his partner, locking eyes with him and giving him their connection to concentrate to help him try to ignore what was being done to him. Even so, he didn't think his fair skinned partner could be any redder if he had an all-over sunburn.

Then he saw his partner wincing and shifted his gaze just a bit to see what they were doing to Hutch. One of the men was taking blood samples and, once that was done, forced him to give a urine sample as well. The man who was behind Hutch keeping him steady looped something around his neck, using some sort of tool to crimp it in the back. Once that was done, they wrapped what was basically a spa towel around Hutch's waist and started the two of them toward a building. As with getting off the boat, they forced Starsky to lead the way.

The building seemed new and rather spartan. Once inside. the room they were taken to was basically a cell. Two cots. Two chairs. One table. One toilet in the back corner of the room. Starsky was stopped at the door while Hutch was pushed on inside and they both felt a moment of panic that they might be separated.

"Now. It's time to explain the basic facts of your existence. This room here is temporary. You two are in isolation until your tests come back. If you're free of disease and drugs, the two of you will go to nicer accommodations. Disease free but not drug free? The two of you will be staying here until you detox."

They both noted that what would happen if Hutch wasn't disease free wasn't spoken of. That along with being a bleached blonde was apparently in the realm of a death sentence.

"Levitch. Your quality of life as well as your length of life is all up to Johansen here. So your job is to keep your friend here in good condition. Because if he goes? You go. Johansen. You cooperate and do what you're told to do when you're told to do it? Life can be quite good for both of you. But you buck the rules and the penalties will be taken out on Levitch. Ever hear the story about a prince's whipping boy?"

Starsky wasn't sure what the hell the man was talking about, but from the way Hutch stiffened, he knew it wasn't good.

"Yeah. I know the story."

"Then nothing more needs to be said, does it?"

To Starsky's surprise, the cuffs were removed from him before he was motioned to join Hutch in the room.

"Now - consider these your first lessons in how things are now. Johansen's arms are to remain wrapped until we give you permission to remove them. Food will be arriving shortly. Make sure he eats."

Back at headquarters, Officer Duke Lukela found himself the center of attention as soon as he walked through the door. It obviously wasn't the reaction he was expecting. Nor was the intensity McGarrett had when he pointed him over to a chair.

"You called here asking about two California policemen by name. Why?"

"I thought we should locate these guys and try to warn them, sir."

Duke reached into a pocket and pulled out a folded sheet of paper, passing it over to McGarrett.

"A guy I get information from on my beat gave this to me. Some bumbucha mainland haole is offering some serious money for those two guys."

"Danno, take a look at this."

Reaching out to take the paper, Danny looked it over and frowned.

"Someone on the inside did this. Either in California or here."

Looking over to Chin and Kono, Danny filled them in.

"Same photos and same misidentification as we got."

"Just what we didn't need. How many of these 'wanted' posters are floating around out there?"

"My guy says they're pretty thick in certain spots. Some bars, fences - places like that. I called you guys the second I got hold of this."

The dour moods in the room were making him think the worst.

"It already too late?"

The men all exchanged looks, then McGarrett made the decision.

"We're in a situation where we're likely to need you for extra manpower. Let me clear it with your chief and then we'll catch you up to speed."

Steve stepped into his office. Kono offered Duke some coffee. Conversation was pretty much limited to that until Steve came back into the room and gave Danny the nod. Reading that as the okay to go ahead, Danny pulled out the fax they'd gotten a few days before and slid it in front of the officer.

"They aren't over here as tourists. They came here to help us work a case undercover."

It only took two beats for him to look back up to Danny.

"From the glum looks, I'm guessing these guys have already started their assignments and, if the ones you are after catch wind of this, it could be bad."

"The guys we're after have already killed six men - two today. I don't think assuming they'd kill two more would be a stretch."

Chin frowned at the 'wanted' flyer.

"Even worse, they're missing right now. Along with at least eight other men."

The phone rang and Kono went over to his desk to answer it. Hanging up, he left briefly, then returned with a box.

"First response from the local pilots, boss. His brother does photography as a hobby. This is everything he's taken from the air this year. It's a lot of stuff, but it's divided up by month at least."

"Everybody grab a folder. Danno, take the most recent folder. Between all of us, we can cover the last five months. Right now, this might be our best shot at finding where they took Ken and Dave."