Chapter Six

"I shouldn't have expected you to remember," Red said. "It's been a long time."

Starsky tensed, a sinking feeling in his stomach. Maybe Red was someone he arrested, someone looking for revenge.

"Of course, I've followed you most of my life. I read every news report about you and your partner." Red's eyes were bright with excitement. "I was always cheering you on, feeling grateful." He met Starsky's eyes. "I was ten when I vowed to repay you for what you did for me."

And then it all came back to Starsky. The little boy who came to school one day with black shoe polish on his red hair. Starsky had just lost his father. This was before his mom found out about the tough kids he was hanging with.

Red had been a few grades behind. As the only child in the school with bright red hair, he'd had his share of teasing, and bullies who were always trying to beat him up.

One day, Starsky saw that he'd put black shoe polish on his hair to cover the red color. The poor child had been surrounded by bullies, each taunting, telling him he was stupid and just a clown, black paint dripping down the sides of his face.

Starsky had stopped them. The other kids had run off when they realized he was that tough kid who hung out with gang members.

Starsky had walked the little boy home and never saw him again. His mother sent him off to live with his aunt and uncle in California the next day.

Now, he looked at the man and saw the boy within.

"So, you followed me because…"

"I wasn't following you at first. I was on my way to Chicago to pick up my wife and kids. It was coincidence that I saw you in that restaurant. At first, I thought you were a drug addict, but I knew you could never be that person. Besides, I saw you and your partner on TV just a few months ago. The mayor gave you your badges back. You looked normal then. I figured something really bad had happened for you to look the way you do now. That's why I followed you. You saved my life. It was my turn to help you."

Starsky shook his head. "All I did was chase some bullies away."

"You did more than that. You showed me that I was worth something. You set me on the path I'm on now. Because of you I came out of the shell. I went to college and got a worth-while career as an accountant. You showed me that I could be likeable, so when I met my wife, I didn't run away."

Red took in a shuddering breath. "Your kindness changed my life. I know you don't remember, but I'll never forget."

Starsky stood up. "I'm going to find a car and move on. You don't need to get messed up in this."

Red grabbed his wrist, then pulled back like he'd touched an electric wire when he saw Starsky's reaction. He looked down at his coffee. "Whatever you're involved in, I'm here to help." Red looked up. "I was put here for a reason."

Starsky shook his head. "You don't even know what it is I'm involved in."

"I don't need to know."

Starsky was speechless. He sat down, meeting the other man's eyes. "I remember you. And I don't want to mess up your life."

"Let me help you. Please."

"you've already helped me. You saved my life."

"And you saved mine a hundred times over. Let me repay the favor."

Starsky considered. He'd planned to ask the waiter where he could find a car. He looked around at the shabby surroundings. Very unlikely that a small town would have a Hertz Rental store. He could have Red drop him off somewhere and wait for a rental place to open, but that would mean waiting till morning. He needed the cover of darkness.

"Okay," he said slowly, seeing no other choice. "But you need to know that what I plan to do could land us both in jail."

"So be it," Red said, coming to his feet. He looked outside. "Looks like the storm passed and it stopped raining." He headed for the door. "I'll drive. You sleep because you look like you're going to collapse."

Starsky threw some money on the table and they both headed out.

TBC