Danny Tovo was at wit's end. He set up a special "Valentine's" Sunday brunch for February 16, 1980, at Danny's- his Marina Del Rey restaurant. Danny had high hopes for the new decade. He was expecting couples, or perhaps adult children with their mothers, all cheerfully sipping mimosas enjoying the holiday weekend in Southern California. Instead he gets his happy hour regulars wearing a path in the carpet to the Bloody Mary bar. Danny was starting to have enough. The group of men were getting louder swapping police and war tales not meant for the breakfast table, and the other customers were starting to notice. Danny finally went over to the table and addressed the ring leader.

"Quincy!" The restaurant owner addressed the ringleader, "Since when does your motley crew do brunch?... I had to send the busboy out for more Bloody Mary mix, thanks to you!"

Los Angeles County Medical Examiner Quincy replied, "Oh come on, Danny, you know you love us. Lt. Monahan, Sam and I are waiting for Dr. Astin to show up with a car from the motor pool to take us to the Forensics Convention in San Francisco. And since Astin signed out the car, he won't let anybody else drive it."

Lieutenant Frank Monahan, LAPD, added, "Which means more Bloody Mary's for us!" Monahan and Quincy weren't normally so buddy-buddy but the vodka made them quick pals.

Lab technician Sam Fujiyama observed, "Where is Dr. Astin? He should have been here an hour ago. It's not like him to be late." Astin's tardiness no doubt played a factor in the number of cocktails consumed by the three.

Danny sighed, "Well you are disturbing some of my other customers. It is Sunday morning after all."

Tovo was wondering what to do next with the group, and then was relieved to see Quincy's boss enter the room. Tovo smiled. It was now Dr. Robert Astin's problem. The inebriated trio would soon be out of his beloved Danny's.

Dr Astin walked over to the table and addressed the group, "Gentlemen, I have some bad news. The motor pool car won't start. The quickest I could get it in to get it fixed, or another car, is Tuesday. I'm sorry, it looks like the convention is off. I decided to come tell you in person, so I can give you rides home in my own car. Well, except for Quincy. You can walk to your boat. I figured you all would be drinking..."

Quincy complained, "Oh come on, Dr. Astin, I was looking forward to spending a few days in San Francisco. There is a doctor there that I worked with in Korea that I haven't seen for almost 30 years!"

Sam offered, "Can't we take one of our own cars? You just mentioned you came up here in yours."

"Or fly?" The Police Lieutenant inquired.

The Deputy Coroner explained, "The county can't afford plane tickets, and liability rules require we go in a government vehicle. All of the other county vehicles are signed out."

An idea hit Quincy. "Yes, and one is out there in the marina parking lot," the pathologist observed.

Realizing what he was saying Monahan and Fujiyama started to protest in unison, "No Quincy, not that!"

Quincy rationalized, "Why not? It's a station wagon. The rear seat folds up. Plenty of room for luggage. I know it's signed out to me, but I'm sure the county wouldn't mind Dr. Astin driving it."

Astin reluctantly agreed with his subordinate, "It would meet the county's liability requirements. And I am authorized to drive any of the department's vehicles."

Monahan stated the obvious, "But it's a hearse!"

Quincy told Astin, "You can just park your car next to the wagon. Don't worry about leaving it there, the lot if very secure. I'll just tell Chuck at the gate to keep an eye out for it. We have our bags here already, we can swing by your place to pick up your things on the way out of town.

The four got into the black LTD wagon. Astin got behind the wheel, Quincy got in the passenger seat. Monahan and Fujiyama got into the back seat with much hesitation. Astin soon realized the wagon drove like a tank, even though it was a fairly late model vehicle. The deputy coroner also was aware of the looks he was getting driving it down the street. His neighbors were actually gawking when he parked the hearse in front of his house. Fortunately, he had not unpacked yet, and was quickly able to grab his bag. The foursome was back on the road within minutes.

Quncy noted, "Wow that was quick!" Astin had the other three wait in the car when he ran in and out.

Astin explained, "We have a six hour drive ahead of us, and we had a late start. BTW, when was the last time you had this thing serviced?"

"As you just mentioned, time is always an issue..." Quincy retorted.

Fortunately, the traffic was light when they got on the 101 outside of downtown LA. The Bloody Mary's were catching up to Lt. Monahan and Sam, as they were both dozing off in the back seat. The two were soon sound asleep. So much so they didn't wake when Astin pulled the wagon off to the side of the busy freeway.

Quincy was still awake and asked, "What's wrong?"

Astin replied, "I don't know, it just started to loose power. I don't get it, we have half a tank of gas."

Quincy groaned and slapped the dash. The gas gauge dropped to E. Quincy mumbled, "Gauge sometimes sticks."

Astin pondered, "And you didn't think to mention that until now..."

Before Quincy could explain himself a couple of California Highway Patrol motorcycle officers pulled up behind the station wagon. Astin was relieved.

Officer Frank Poncherello was the first to see the hearse pulled to the side of the Hollywood Freeway. He pointed out to his partner, Officer Jon Baker, "Now there is something you don't see every day."

Baker grinned. One of the things he liked about riding with 'Ponch' was that he would encounter things you don't see every day several times a week. The Training Officer got on his radio, "Seven Mary Three responding to a county vehicle in distress on the Hollywood Freeway."

Dispatch acknowledged, "10-4, Seven Mary Three."

Ponch said to Jon, "I'll back you up partner, while you check this out."

Jon was a little exasperated, but said, "What, are you afraid of a station wagon now. OK... watch out for traffic."

Ponch stood towards the back of the hearse, where he could see and hear his partner. Strategically, it did make sense that somebody stay towards the back of the hearse to watch for oncoming traffic and back up his partner.

Baker mentioned to the driver, "Afternoon, what seems to be the problem." The driver mumbled something while handing the officer his credentials, to which Jon said, "That's OK Dr. Astin, it happens to the best of us."

Dr. Astin said loud enough for Ponch to here, "Yes, but it's all Quincy's fault."

To this the passenger (presumably the aforementioned Quincy) replied, "Well if somebody wasn't in such a hurry to leave."

Ponch smiled. It reminded him of several conversations he had with his partner. Baker then intervened by saying, "Since you are an official vehicle, I have a unit coming with a gas can."

Jon then looked into the car and said something that shocked Ponch, "Say, who do you have in back? He looks very familiar"

Astin responded, "Oh that... that's Lieutenant Frank Monahan, LAPD."

Baker said, "Oh yes, I've met Lt. Monahan before, I don't think I've ever seen him at such peace."

Ponch's head was spinning. He couldn't believe this flip side of Jon Baker. Not to mention the idea of a police lieutenant in a hearse stranded alongside the road. Where is the honor escort. Frank was about to get on his radio and ask for one when he heard a booming voice from the back of the Ford Wagon saying, "What the hell is going on here." Upon which, Poncherello tripped while rushing over to the motorcycles.

Dr. Astin asked Baker, "Is your partner alright?"

Baker said, "I'm never really sure."

Monahan stepped out of the vehicle, flashed his badge and asked Ponch, "Officer, do you need assistance?"

Poncherello called back, "Code 4, I'm OK."

Finally the four got back on the road. Thanks to running out of gas in Hollywood and a leaky radiator hose on the grapevine, which also caused a bit of a ruckus in a California small town, the group didn't

get to their hotel in San Francisco until nearly midnight. On top of it all, when they got to the hotel, the first two valets refused to park the hearse. Finally an assistant manager was able to take care of the car and check them in.

Sam said, "I'm beat."

Astin remarked, "You slept most of the way, I drove for almost 12 hours!"

Monahan quipped, "On a six hour drive."

Quincy had the last word, "I don't know what you guys are complaining about, I have to do a presentation in eight hours."

The Los Angeles Medical Examiner was ready bright and early Monday morning. The room in Brooks Hall had a good sized crowd, as Quincy has been making a name for himself in the field. The renowned pathologist started his lecture, "Ladies and Gentlemen, you are about to enter the most important and fascinating sphere of police work: the world of forensic medicine."