CHAPTER 5

Joan rushed, as much as she possibly could, to get herself dressed. Joyce helped her and tried to calm her down.

"Honey, just wait a minute. I'll help you with your shoes."

"I don't understand. I don't understand any of this," Joan exclaimed.

"I don't either, but when you get to the station, I'm sure they'll explain."

"Joyce, I don't even think they were going to tell me. When I called, Rita told me that Dave wasn't in is office. It sounded like she'd been crying. I think the only reason they told me is because, I was threatening to come down there."

"Well they fixed that didn't they," Joyce joked.

Joan smiled for the first time since the call. Her friend always knew how to calm her. When she heard the news that her husband was being held for questioning in the deaths of the two detectives found months ago, she went ballistic. If she could have reached through the phone and grabbed Chief Kalowitz by the collar, when he told her, she'd probably be up on charges now too. And where was Hutch. She was told he was nowhere to be found at that moment. She knew that if she could just talk to him, she would be able to get a grasp on what was happening.

She looked at her best friend, who was struggling to help her with her shoes. She was an angel, dropping everything and coming over at the last minute. And now here she was on her knees helping to put her shoes on--and with what thanks? "Joyce."

"Yeah." She looked up from her task.

"Thanks for coming over. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Well you'll never have to worry about that. And don't worry, the kids will be fine." I'll stay with them as long as it takes."

"Thanks. Joyce, I'm not coming home without him."

Joyce put her hand on Joan's arm. "I know."

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Joan was at the precinct in record time. Everyone within ear distance and a few who weren't heard her as she marched down the hall proclaiming her husbands innocence.

Hutch rushed down the hall, to be at her side.

"Joan, I thought the Chief told you to stay home."

"Are you serious now? Where is Dave? I want to see him now!"

"You know you can't do that. He's in with I.A. right now."

"Vultures. They've been after you two since you were rookies. When are they ever gonna let up?"

"Joan, come with me. Please. Just come with me."

She let herself be lead into Hutch's office, but she was not going to be quiet. She wouldn't be calmed until she could see her husband. The entire third floor could hear her tirade as Hutch tried to calm her.

"And don't tell me to calm down one more time…"

XX

Joan was awakened by a soft touch on her face. She practically jumped onto her husband when she saw him. She clung to him, as if for dear life and cried tears of joy and sadness.

Starsky finally pried her off.

"Hi to you too," he joked.

"Dave, what in the world is going on?"

"We're going home. That's what's going on."

"Tell me first. Why are they accusing you?"

"Honey, I've done some things I'm not proud of, but we're not going to talk about it now.

All I can tell you is that I've been suspended. I'll tell you the rest when we're home and away from here. I just want to go home."

"Okay baby, sure."

"What made you call the office today of all days?" Starsky asked.

"I don't know. I just needed to talk to you. When Rita started going into hysterics after I asked for you…"

"Remind me to thank Rita. Come on. Let's go."

He helped her up and they headed for home.

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Huggy tried Hutch at the office; he called dispatch in the hopes of being patched through to his car and finally reached him at home. Hutch, informed him of the news about Starsky.

"I can't believe it Hutch. I won't," Huggy answered. He lowered himself, slowly, into a chair, put a hand to his chest and tried to control his rapid breathing. The phone dropped from his grip and he scrambled to retrieve it. He closed his eyes, took several deep breaths and returned the phone to his ear. "Hutch man, do you want me to come over?"

"It's okay Hug. I'll be okay."

"Sure. And my Aunt Veerna grew her left arm back," Huggy replied.

"Okay, so I'm freaking out, but we've got work to do," Hutch said.

"Yeah, you're right." Huggy took a handkerchief from his pocket and mopped his brow.

"Your boy Biggs was in touch. He said, when you get time, you should check out an abandoned building on Henry Street."

"Yeah, what's there?" Hutch asked.

"He said something about a anonymous patient who was all wrapped up like a mummy."

"A mummy?"

"Yeah. Said, he couldn't make out who it was, but some dude named, uh, Carter was there too."

"Okay, Hug. Thanks."

"You sure you're gonna be okay man?" Huggy asked.

"Yeah Hug. Thanks a bunch."

"You got it, man."

Huggy hung up. A tear formed in his eye. "Must be those allergies again." He wiped his eyes and headed back to work.

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Hutch got a team out to the abandoned building that same night. There was nothing to report. No one was in the building, but it looked like someone was occupying one of the rooms and just recently took off. They would have to dust for prints etc., but they laid odds against them getting anything. Whoever was there, it looked like they cleaned up after themselves real good.

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Detective Arnold with I.A., sat in on a meeting with Chief Kalowitz, Captain Hutchinson, and his boss, Captain Lopez. They occupied the same interrogation room they used to question Captain Starsky. None of the men looked any too happy in his estimation, but especially not Captain Hutchinson. He sat there with his head hanging.

Arnold heard about how close the two were. Everybody in the academy knew about them. When he came to work for I.A., he'd found they had a grudge against the two. He didn't put much stock into their creedo. All cops are considered guilty until proven innocent--especially Starsky & Hutchinson. He'd come to I.A., to make a difference, not to become involved in a crusade against those two. Besides, he thought they were pretty decent guys. They always treated him okay--well, as okay as a cop could treat anyone in I.A. After all, they were the enemy to every right thinking cop in America.

He thought, it was a sad thing to see these two finally be split apart. In his estimation, a bad cop was a bad cop and deserved what he got, but there was no glory in that. Also, as long as he'd been in the department, he was secretly hoping that these two would beat the odds.

He listened to his Captain gloat. "So, what do you think of the mighty duo now Chief?"

"There's no reason to be smug about this Lopez. You know, being in I.A., is no vaccination against falling."

Hutch lifted his head and looked Lopez in the eyes. "If you don't want me to tear your head off Lopez, I'd advise you to stick to the facts."

Lopez smiled nervously and then rifled through his papers. "Okay, fine. This is Starsky's confession. We've made a deal. He's staying in to get us more information, but as far as anyone else knows, we have suspicions about Captain Starsky, but don't have sufficient proof at this time, so he's on suspension. It will be considered an on-going investigation and he'll not be allowed back into this building.

Now, everyone in the know will be ordered to keep his mouth shut about this deal. And since myself, Arnold and now you two are the only ones who know, I'm sure we can be reasonably sure that there will be no leaks, unlike in your department Captain Hutchinson.

Hutch started to get up, but the Chief put his hand on Hutch's shoulder as a restraining measure. "Okay, gentlemen. We'll keep you informed." He herded Hutch out into the hallway.

"Chief, I'm telling you, if I catch that creep alone..."

"I don't want to hear it. Go home and get some rest. We're going to have a busy week ahead of us."

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Carter and Ortega brought several pieces of news for Mr. Morgan. Robinson was awake.

Also, their friend, Starsky was suspended for possible ties to murder and drug trafficking.

"I guess Starsky's no good to us anymore," Carter said.

"Nonsense," Mr. Morgan refuted. "He still has the same people in place. He's not going to give them up and consequently, he can still be of some use to us."

"If you say so Mr. Morgan."

"I say so."

"Yeah, sure. I didn't mean anything by that."

"Good. Now, about Robinson."

"He woke up this morning."

"Good. Get his contacts name out of him. After, that we'll no longer have a use for him.

Now, tell me something about Sergeant Biggs."

"He's an okay guy. Keeps his mouth shut. Does what he's told."

He looked at the other man in the room for confirmation. "Ortega?"

Ortega just nodded in the affirmative.

"Excellent. We're going to need someone to replace Robinson. Make it happen Carter"

"Yes, sir," Carter said.

"Fine. You're dismissed.

Both Carter and Ortega left Mr. Morgan to make his plans.

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

It was early in the morning and Starsky thought he was alone. When he heard a noise, he turned to see Rachel standing in the shadows.

"Honey, come here. What's wrong?"

Rachel scurried over and jumped in his lap. "You and ma were cryin last night. I heard you."

"I'm sorry honey."

"Is Ma getting sicker?"

"Yes, baby."

" Is she gonna be okay?"

"I hope so sweet heart."

"Aunt Joyce says, when you pray, everything looks brighter. You wanna pray with me daddy?"

Starsky couldn't say anything; he just nodded in agreement. He took his daughter in his arms and they hugged each other tight.

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Robinson woke several hours before Carter and Ortega arrived. He was alert and talking, but still very weak. He remembered blowing the whistle on Juarez. When they'd gone to take care of him, Juarez got off a round, shooting him in the head. He didn't remember anything after that. Carter told him that Jaurez was dead.

"Good. The little weasel deserved it."

"How's your memory man. Carter tapped his head. You all right up there?"

"Quit it. And yes, I'm fine. Well, as soon as I get enough strength to stand up I'll be fine."

"Good. You want to tell us who your man on the outside is?"

"Hey, that's privileged information."

Ortega reached into his pocket, pulled a gun and put it to Robinson's head.

"We got no problem sending you right back where you just came from," he said.

"Okay, okay. Boy you guys are touchy."

"Just confirm or not. It's Starsky, right?" Carter asked.

"Starsky. What ever your on, give me some, so I can get rid of this sledgehammer inside my head."

"Quit fooling around Robinson. You're saying Starsky's not your man outside?" Carte asked again.

"My guy's in the 8th Precinct and his name is Martinson. Starsky's squeaky clean. Everybody knows that. You couldn't turn him if you nabbed his Mother."

"We've been working with him. He's been giving us some good information."

"Well, if he's working with you, your dead, cause I'm telling you, Starsky's gold through and through. He's got to be setting you up."

"You're sure?" Ortega raised the gun to Robinson again.

"You're kidding me right?" Robinson asked.

All of the sudden, Carter wasn't feeling very well. He turned to Ortega. "What do you think?"

"I think we got a cover cop on our tails."

"Oh boy. Morgan's not going to like this."

Ortega returned the gun to his jacket and they got up to leave.

"Hey, what about me?" Robinson called out.

"Just sit tight," Carter yelled. We'll be back.

Robinson laid back and thought to himself. If Starsky was on to them, they'd better watch their backs.

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Biggs finally made it. He was part of the inner circle. He knew dates, times and places. The only thing he didn't know was how he was going to get the information to Metro. Tight security was placed on all of the men who would be involved in the transfer. Four million dollars of cocaine was being transported through four different locations. Four police vehicles on the Mexican side of the border would hand off to four police vehicles on the U.S. states side of the border at different intervals. Those teams would distribute the cocaine to various locations until each location was stocked. Other distributors would take it from there. A lot of time and effort went into scheduling and anyway you cut it, that was a lot of corruption. If Biggs even thought of going to the bathroom, there was somebody by his side. There was no way he could get the information to Huggy. This was going to be a real problem.

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Starsky was in his car when his beeper went off. He recognized the number as Carter's. He would need to meet them at the usual spot. He headed towards the amusement park.

XX

Carter and Ortega were really quiet on the way to their destination. Starsky was getting a bad feeling. If they were on to him, he was dead. Hutch didn't know where he was. They planned his infiltration into this ring even before Hewitt and Juarez were killed, when he was approached by two men who were transferred to narcotics about three months ago. They figured since these men knew nothing about Starsky's past, they could be fooled with his false records. They decided early on, not to let anyone in on it, not even Chief Kalowitz. Everything was going according to plan, down to making I.A. suspicious of him and giving him more clout with Carter and Ortega. The only other person who was in on it at this point was Dobey. That was just an inspiration by Hutch. It did the trick.

He hoped that months of planning were not about to go down the drain. Maybe he was just being paranoid. Maybe they were taking him to introduce him to the top man. He stopped thinking positively when they reached their destination. Ortega searched him and took the gun, Hutch slipped to him. They walked for a few seconds and then took the elevator down to a sub basement.

"Hey guys, were are we going?" Starsky asked. He didn't really expect an answer, but the quiet was getting to him.

Ortega and Carter stopped and Carter unlocked a door.

"Go on in. There's a friend waiting for you," Carter said."

"A friend." Starsky moved forward. The room was stocked with hospital equipment. In the far corner there was a figure lying in bed. When he got close enough, he recognized the face. It was Robinson. Now he knew he was dead. Robinson was the missing undercover detective. If they were onto Robinson, they must be on to him too.

Starsky was about to say something when Robinson spoke.

"Starsky?" I told you that guy is squeaky clean. What did you bring him here for?"

"Wait a minute." Starsky said. "You mean to tell me we've been spending our time looking for you and you're dirty?"

"Ain't life full of surprises?" Robinson teased.

"They sure are Robinson," Ortega said, just before pulling the trigger.

Starsky was shocked. He thought they were going to kill him, not Robinson. "What the…"

"Robinson says you're clean. We believe him. We're still going to do our deal," Ortega said. "And now you can go cop."

Starsky hesitate to move, so Ortega pointed the gun at him. He started slowly, keeping his eye on Ortega. He made it to the elevator and then Ortega spoke again.

"Don't bother sending a team for the body. This will all be cleaned up before you get back. And Starsky, believe me, we'll be in touch."

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Starsky and Hutch stood in front of Chief Kalowitz, hands behind their backs.

"I oughta have your badges for this. What were you thinking? No, don't answer that… On second thought go ahead answer--this outta be good.

"We'll…" Hutch started.

"Shut up. I'm talking," the Chief said. "Do you know what you put everybody through?"

"Chief…" Starsky started to explain.

"And what have you gotten out of this. Nothing, cause we're right back were we started from."

He paced back and forth. You want to be maverick's, you want to play it solo? Do it own your own time not mine." He thought for a moment. "And what was that soap opera you were performing in my office. Me and thee, what's that supposed to be about?"

"You know what. Get out of my office.

"Chief…" Hutch started.

"Get Out!"

"Yes, sir," they said in unison.

The Chief shut the door in their faces once they were in the hallway.

"Well that went over big," Starsky commented. "Got any more bright ideas."

"Stark, this isn't my fault."

"Whose bright idea was it to go in without telling the Chief?" Who brought in Dobey?

And who…"

Chief Kalowitz opened his door. He didn't look well.

"Chief, are you okay?" Hutch asked.

"Chief?" Starsky said a second later.

"They've taken Joan to the hospital. She's in a coma."

Starsky couldn't breath. He looked to Hutch.

"She'll be alright," Hutch said. Let's just get down there. She'll be alright."

Starsky and Hutch took off down the hallway.