Did They Know?
A double drabble by Kaye
Huggy watched them fly out of the bar. Phone call. Hushed tones. Decision. Life and death. See ya, Huggy. Pay you later. Did they know about the fear that scrambled up his spine every time they hit the door running?
Huggy never let anyone else answer the phone. He was their scout, their source, their lifeline. Did they know he sometimes slept standing up, at the end of the bar, waiting for their call?
Huggy ignored his paying customers to help Starsky drag his addicted partner up the back stairs. Did they know how much it cost him to see Hutch so strung out – from the poison that had already claimed three of his friends?
Huggy hoped they understood the message. "Hutch, let me talk to Starsky." Did they know his ribs cracked under the pressure of not telling Stryker's goons where they were? That his heart shattered at his own betrayal.
Huggy watched them swagger back into the bar. Smiles. Back slaps. Death defied. Hiya, Huggy. Sit down, have a beer with us. Did they know the banter and jibe disguised the relief and supplied the strength to face the fear the next time they flew?
Did they know?