It was nearly six p.m. They'd been waiting all day for the meeting to take place between the head of the McCoy family and the mark the department had set up. So far nothing. They were obliged to stay in this crummy apartment till the meeting took place or Dobey relieved them.
"You think anyone's ever going to show?" Starsky grumbled for the third time.
Hutch had seen his partner was getting antsy so that was why he suggested playing crazy ping pong. Loser to buy the beers at Huggy's later when they finally got set free. So far Starsky was leading 4-2.
"Okay. Off the table, off the bureau into the paper bin," Hutch announced.
Bounce, bounce, twang.
"Yes! Beat that, Gordo!"
"Not bad, Blintz. 4-3 but you're still behind. Now it's my turn and you're going down."
"Yeah, yeah," Hutch said, as his partner set up his next attempt.
For some reason, Starsky was pulling off one of his sneakers and balancing it on the edge of the bed. "Right, this time off the table, off the mug and into my sneaker."
Bounce, bounce, thud.
"Look at that perfection! 5-3!"
"My turn," Hutch said. "Get out of the way."
"Thought it was first one to five?" Starsky said.
"I never agreed to that rule," Hutch said, as he picked up Starsky's sneaker. "We keep going till we've run out of combinations."
"You're just a glutton for punishment," Starsky declared. "Take as many turns as you want, Blintz. You'll never beat me."
Hutch ignored him. He picked up the metal paper bin and upended it, spilling its contents everywhere.
"You're cleaning that up, by the way," Starsky moaned.
"Okay. Off the table, off the bin and into your sneaker."
"You can't have the same end item!"
"I can if it's in a different position. It's going to be on the chest of drawers this time."
Starsky grimaced. "Okay."
Bounce, boing, thwack.
"Hah! You missed by a mile! Give up yet, buddy?"
"Never."
Starsky shrugged. "Okay, my turn. Off the table, off the bin and into my sneaker on your head."
"What?!"
"You heard me. Come on. You sit here and hold my sneaker on your head."
"No."
"You have to or you forfeit the game."
"Fine," Hutch said through gritted teeth.
"Right. Sit still, Blintz. No cheating."
Bounce, boing, thud.
"Yes!" Starsky did a celebratory jig.
There was a knock, the door opened and Dobey strode into the room. He stopped and surveyed the scene.
"Just when you think you've seen it all," he muttered.
Hutch scrambled to his feet and started clearing up the contents of the bin whilst asking, "Everything all right, Captain?"
"I'm just here to tell you that the meeting's off and you can call it a night."
"What a waste of a day!" Starsky grumbled but then his face brightened. "Never mind. It's time for me to collect on my winnings. Care to join us for a beer at Huggy's, Cap? Hutch is buying."
Dobey regarded them with raised eyebrows and then said, "I suppose I could join you for one beer before I head on home to my other children."
Hutch reddened but Starsky just grinned.
"Great. Let's get out of here."
Dobey paused in the doorway. "Detective Starsky?"
"Yes, Cap?"
"You might want to put your sneaker back on before you get in your car…Just a suggestion."