CHAPTER 5

HUTCH returned to help Starsky move to their new location. It was closer towards the path on which they had entered the valley. The temperatures had dropped, but he was warm enough in his turtleneck and jacket. He was grateful he had worn some sneakers with good traction. If Starsky was up to it, he wanted to try to climb over the rock face that was left after the explosion. They had to get out of here. Starsky was going to need some time to get the drugs out of his system. Dobey would want to get a detail out here to track down the nutcase that had been shooting at Starsky.

He picked up a rock that fit snugly into the palm of his hand. He sure as hell did not want to get shot by his partner. He walked up to the opening in the rock face and threw it just inside the "doorway". If anyone was around, they just might mistake the noise for a loosened rock disturbed by a nocturnal creature. He waited a few seconds and then followed the rock into the cave.

"Starsk, it's me." No answer. It was quiet. Too quiet. There was no sound of breathing. Nothing. Had he died! Hutch started reaching out franticly in the dark, trying to find the body. He hit his head on an outcropping and scraped his hands on some sharp rocks, but he turned up nothing. Nothing. So he had not died. He must have become disoriented and walked out. At least that is what he hoped had happened. He eased his way towards the opening. Towards the front of the cave his hand brushed over something cold and metallic. He quickly identified it as Starsky's gun. Not knowing how or why his partner left his gun behind, Hutch stuffed it behind his back, rearranged his clothing and moved out to find his partner.

The sun rose over the hills, spilling light into the little valley. Hutch had no success in finding his partner, and suspected the worst. He was alone. He was frightened both for himself and for his partner. He located himself beside a small pool of water located behind a few fallen rocks. It was a good place to rest and eat some of the roots and berries that he had gathered while looking for shelter. He had not slept for the last 36 hours and it was getting to him. Eating and resting was not the first thing he had wanted to do, but he knew he would need to keep his strength. Silently he put aside some into a pocket for when he found Starsky – and he would find his friend. Of that he was certain. He doubted Starsky would want to eat. The drugs would upset his stomach terribly he recalled. Heroincould bean ugly and unpredictable drug.

HE remembered back to a conversation he had with Starsky after his ordeal with Ben Forest, Monk Fivells, Coney and company. They were enjoying a beer at Starsky's place after finishing up a case with a musician and some counterfeit money. He had finally regained his stride and it did not bother him as much to face what had happened. It helped that not many people knew about his ordeal. He forgot how the conversation had gotten started, but he had asked Starsky how he felt about that time. Starsky had taken a long drink from his bottle, and another before answering.

"I wasn't worried at first. I just thought you were pushing your weekend off. So did Dobey. He was not happy with you." Starsky took another swig, and then smiled. "You know Dobey actually said you were 'Shacked up with a beautiful woman.'"

"Dobey?" Hutch snorted and that turned into a laugh. "Could you see him coming in and telling Edith he wanted to 'shack up' with her?" That sent them both into a round of laughter.

Starsky took another drink and fiddled with his pinky ring. "I really became concerned after Huggy told me about Jennie running out on him during heavy trade" Starsky did a fairly good imitation of Huggy Bear's jive. "When it really hit me that you were missing, it was after I found your gun. Then I was scared." He looked down into his now empty beer bottle, picked it up and twirled around the dregs left on the bottom. "We put out an APB on you and I worked over every snitch and hood on the street." He looked up. "It was weird, interrogating people without you, about you." He looked down again. "It left me feeling exposed. There was no one to watch my back."

Starsky got a far off look on his face as he continued. "When I heard the call over the radio that you had been spotted, I wanted to wring your neck for scaring me like that. I had myself convinced that you had been spotted walking back from the store or something and you did not want to face Dobey for taking so much time."

Starsky got up and pulled another beer from the fridge. "I felt all that fear melt away and then I was just plain angry. When I drove down that alley and I saw Bernie, I thought that maybe you were drunk, you know like I am going to be." Starsky smiled and popped off the top. Hutch laughed and sucked down his own beer. "You want another?" Hutch nodded and took the one Starsky had just opened.

"Anyways," Starsky pulled another beer out and opened it and took another long swig. Covering a rather loud belch, he returned to his seat. "Anyways, when I saw you in the alley, I thought 'What a crazy idiot, getting drunk while on duty.' Dobey was going to have your sorry butt for dinner for the next month with this stunt. I think I was trying to figure out how to explain it to him so that I would not have to suffer right along with you when suddenly I realized how wrong I had been. You were messed up man. Do you remember anything about that?"

"Yeah, bits and pieces. I remember kicking the guy in the face in the backseat of Monk Fivell's car. And I ran. I felt like I was being burned alive, my blood hurt. Weird huh? I don't remember you finding me, but I think I remember fighting you in the car."

"You were a handful. I'm glad the Torino only has two doors. It made it easier to keep you in the car. Once we got you in the backseat, you didn't have enough coordination to get back out again. When you weren't puking, you were kicking. I didn't know where to take you. If I didn't think IA would have found some way to hold you responsible for the addition or that the press would have been all over your abduction, I would have taken you to the hospital." Starsky went over and got a glass of water. "There was just too much I did not know, and truth be told, I knew I could help you kick it cold turkey."

"Yeah. God, how I wanted more. I hope you never have to go through what I did."

"Me too."

They both laughed and found their respective bottles very interesting. Starsky started peeling the label off of his.

"You know, I don't have a problem standing up to hoodlums and the human trash out on the street, but facing you down was one of the hardest things I have ever done."

"I bet. You don't realize just how addictive that stuff is. I mean, we've seen all the junkies on the street and somehow they just fade into the failures that choose drugs over reality. Whatever drives them to the stuff, once they take it, you know they are not going to give it up. Not voluntarily. Not without hitting rock bottom." Hutch sighed. He hoped Belinda Williams had hit rock bottom and would seek help after selling out her former friend, Rankin. He saw Starsky's disgust with the girl when she asked what she was going to do now that she couldn't get some money for her former friend. He could see how badly she needed help. Starsky surely did not agree with his decision to give the money to her, but Starsky did not have the firsthand knowledge of the torture she endured. She was malnourished and in desperate need of detox. Somehow, he doubted she would use the money to get anything more than another fix. He agreed with Starsky in one aspect – it was her choice.

"I don't know how much they used on me, but I remember what it felt like when they took it away. I was desperate. When they weren't beating me they were taunting me. It was brutal. All they wanted was Jennie. After a time I could not think of anything but the drug and finding some way to stop the pain."

"That's why you gave that singer the money."

"When she said I had no idea what it was like, it just tore at me. I know what she is feeling. I could feel her pain. I so wanted you to get me just a little fix at Huggy's, something to take the edge off."

Silence settled on the two while they finished yet another bottle. "You want some water or another beer?" Starsky said, breaking into Hutch's thoughts.

"Water. Would you do anything differently?"

Starsky pulled a glass down and filled it with cold tap water. After handing it to his friend, he turned, stumbled, overcompensated and grabbed onto the refrigerator to regain balance. He opened it andpulled out another beer for himself. Finding his way back to his chair, he finally replied, "I wouldn't have left Huggy in charge of keeping you in one place…"

Hutch laughed and looked out the window. "It all worked out."

"You and your perch." Starsky laughed. "'You want to come down from there or shall I send out for lunch?'"

"Seriously, would you do anything differently?"

"I'll tell you this. If Ihad the choice, Iwould still go cold turkey. You were physically addicted. I knew you didn't truly want the drug mentally. I hated having to face you down when you were craving the drug. I just could not see myself going out to buy heroin and then shooting you up with it." Starsky shuddered. He then smiled and added, "It would ruin my sterling reputation."

They both snorted in amusement. "There really wasn't anything I could do but let you hit me and ride it out. Seeing the condition you were in, I'm not sure I could say it hurt me more than it hurt you, but you sure throw a mean right hook."

"Don't forget it either. That's what makes me a super cop."

Starsky rolled his eyes and replied, "I see you are still delusional."

Hutch looked his partner in the eye. "I'd do the same for you."

"I count on it, buddy."

HUTCH thought about what he would do once he got to his friend. He did not know where he was yet, but he would find him, and the gunman would pay. Hutch would ensure that.

Hutch was pulled from his reflections by the sound of footsteps approaching. Dropping the last of his makeshift meal, he aimed his gun in the direction of the sounds, and softly moved into a better position. Hutch could hear the person crying softly as she came nearer. He could make out the shadow of the person on the valley floor.

"Freeze," he snarled when she came around the stone. The girl jumped and smothered a scream. She looked frightened and panicked.

"Mister please don't hurt me!" her soft voice pleaded. "I need your help. Please, don't hurt me…"