Chapter Twelve

Author's Note: If any reader likes a visual, take a look at David Soul in Here Comes the Brides. As athletic as he was, if you just look at the pictures he was very slim. That is what I am basing my anorexia story. Hutch would be very susceptible because of being overweight at one time and being teased about it and also being in a very competitive and controlling family.

None of the three slept well that night. Despite Mickey going to hug her brother when he came back from his run, Ken remained uneasy, worried about Mickey's mental state. Ken had asked Starsky what he thought and Starsky assured him Mickey was probably just letting off steam. Mickey had been tempted to slip Ken another sleeping pill but settled for sleeping tea. After he dozed off, she talked quietly to Dave.

Starsky finally drifted off himself and Mickey stayed awake, staring into the night.

The next day, after lunch, most of the Hutchinson family were assembled in a large conference room

Starsky and Dobey watched from the cameras on the wall the gathering for the reading of the will.

Dobey asked, "Why are we here, Starsky? Where's McCallum and Red?"

"We're here to monitor and discern any secret motives. I didn't have a chance to tell you earlier. Mickey thinks she has lost perspective."

"I hate to tell you, but McCallum thinks she may be having a breakdown." Dobey looked at Starsky. "No one saw or found any bullets when she was shot at. There is no evidence but her word she was run off the road. The notes – she could have written them. The only tangible event was her partner being killed two years ago. McCallum stated the Mickey changed drastically after that. I am sure you can understand what that might be like, Hutch has had some close calls, as did you."

"Did Red say so to?"

"He didn't but looked very worried. He has been shadowing her to keep her safe. You know, there's a burden in being the first female cop. She was very young. She may have not been handling the stress as well as McCallum used to think. How's Hutch?"

"Not good. He and Mickey got into it yesterday and I learned some very disturbing history about him – but I can't tell you now. Mickey will try to get him out of the room as soon as possible. There are things going to come out she doesn't want him to know. And Mickey doesn't trust McCallum or Red."

The family, minus children, were all seated around the conference table. A large screen was in the west wall. The lawyer read that Mrs. Ingrid Hutchinson had videoed her will and the lawyer had been asked to leave the room.

Ingrid started out with general best wishes to her family and voiced her pride in the whole family. In general, she had left $20,000 for each great-grandchild for college expenses.

"For my dearest grandson, Kenneth, I have done as he has requested and left one-half of his inheritance to the policeman's fund and one-half for baseball scholarships to the University of Minnesota. Kenneth, I request that you keep using your talents and remain the kind, sensitive young man you are now. I am so proud of you and I will miss you so much." Ingrid's voice sounded shaky for a moment, and she drank a glass of water before continuing.

"For my dear granddaughter, Mickey, my Little Lena, I have also followed your wishes and have left one-half of your inheritance to the anorexia foundation and one-half as softball scholarships for the University of Minnesota. Mickey, I am so proud of you and your accomplishments and will only ask that you share your burdens more."

There were more bequests divided equally between her three living children and their wives. A large amount of her assets was divided between her three sons. Her church and favorite charities also received generous bequests.

Dobey and Starsky were puzzled. Starsky had thought there was going to be some fireworks, but for now all seemed calm.

Everyone had refilled their drink of choice, and Mickey got up to pour a glass of tea for her and Ken and slipped the contents of one small packet in the one she handed to Ken. Polite conversation ensued in the next few minutes, until Carlton, who had several drinks, said sneeringly to his little brother and sister. "You both gave away your inheritance. To charities and baseball and softball scholarships. You are both weaklings, and should have kept the money, you both have limited futures being cops." He spit the word cops out as if it left a foul taste in his mouth.

Starsky could see his partner tightening his grip on his glass, while Mickey put a restraining hand on his arm.

"Maybe by your definition, Charlatan. We both had to fight for everything and neither one of us ever cheated, like you did."

"What do you mean, cheated?" Carlton asked belligerently. Still very large, muscled, but with more fat than in the past, Carlton rose to his full height and moved to stand by Ken and Mickey.

"I mean cheated! In high school, in college! Did you ever remember I was going to be a detective? It wasn't hard, getting some of your nicer friends and girlfriends you dumped to tell me you had exams stolen, or else you would have flunked out, and there would go your chance for the Heisman Trophy, right, Charlatan! You would have been kicked out and disgraced forever. Which is what you deserved." Mickey stood and faced her much larger brother, with flushed face.

"I wish you were a boy, just for five minutes so I could rearrange your face, little sister!" Carlton took a step toward her.

"Don't let me being female stop you! I have wanted to deck you practically from the minute I was born!"

Carlton sneered, "You aren't smart enough to know what I couldn't do to you, I could do to your precious Kenny!" Flushed with drink and rage, he pushed Mickey away from him.

"Hold it, Carlton! You get away from her!" Ken demanded. He stood glaring at Carlton, then his sight began to dim, and the voices sounded far away.

"Who's going to make me, Pudge?"

"You'll throw interceptions, you'll throw interceptions!" Mickey chanted in a sing-song voice as she danced around her older brother.

"Kenneth, if you won't stop for yourself, think of what your dying will do to Mickey. Do you see how thin she is? You have to get help to keep her from dying!" Ingrid urged, suddenly standing beside him.

"Kenny? Kenny, are you all right?"

"I'm not dying, I'm not!"

"Kenny!" Oldest brother Joshua was suddenly standing right beside Kenneth as he passed out.