Chapter Seven

Starsky was coming to the end of his third week of light duties and was really looking forward to getting back out on the street with Hutch the following week. He'd been down to the firing range this morning to get signed off to carry a gun again. He'd wished Hutch had been with him because it had actually been quite difficult emotionally. The last time he'd fired his gun, it was when he was being shot down by Gunther's execution squad and unsurprisingly this thought was uppermost in his mind. His hand shook a little as he took aim for the first time. The instructor didn't appear to notice and congratulated him on his near perfect score.

Starsky had collected his holster and gun and had put them straight on. By the time, he got back upstairs to the bullpen, the gun was weighing heavy on his shoulder and he took it off and placed it on the table next to the cold case files he was reading through. He rubbed his eyes and read through Hutch's additional case notes for these particular two cold cases. These were the two Hutch had asked Dobey if he could hang on to from his reviewing job over the last few weeks.

Something about the murders of James Bartholomew and Eddie Dunn was still oscillating at the back of Hutch's mind. Starsky knew his partner well. It wasn't so much that he got hunches: it was more like he saw something in the background that nobody else could see and when he was ready he would drag the piece of information, or the pertinent fact, or the little bit of the puzzle that didn't quite fit, out into the foreground for everyone else to see. Starsky loved those moments. It was like watching a scientist discover some element for the first time. Electric.

However, being stuck in the squad room was not an electrifying experience. "I am bored, bored, bored," Starsky muttered.

The two detectives, who were in catching up on paperwork, waited for the inevitable explosion. Johnson and Michaels had both experienced a bored Starsky in the past. But Starsky was trying not to go back to being that person for his blood pressure's sake. He decided to distract himself and went out to the candy machine to get a bar. He'd been good all morning and deserved a little treat. He was just shoving it into his mouth when Hutch came back in. He looked but didn't say anything.

"Only one I've had all week Hutch. I promise."

Hutch smiled and pretended he believed him. He went over to the water cooler and got two cups of water. As he handed one to Starsky, he asked, "What do you think about coming with me to Bay City High School to ask some questions? I haven't managed to get there yet."

"Will Dobey allow me out?"

Hutch said, "Only one way to find out."

Hutch strode past Starsky's chair and knocked on the Captain's door. At the shouted 'Come', he opened the door and stuck his head in. "I'm taking Starsky with me to Bay City High to ask some questions about the Bartholomew and Dunn cases. Any objection?"

Dobey mumbled something but it wasn't clear what he said. Hutch closed the door.

"He said that's fine."

Starsky grabbed his jacket, holster and gun then headed through the door before Dobey could appear and say that wasn't what he had said at all. Hutch grabbed the case files and sped after his partner. As the doors swung shut behind them, Dobey threw open his office door.

"Where the hell are Starsky and Hutch?" he asked Johnson and Michaels.

They looked at each other and shrugged. Dobey ground his teeth and went back into his office and slammed the door shut, leaving the two detectives to break out into grins. Nobody pushed Dobey's buttons quite like Starsky and Hutch.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

When they were safely out of sight of the precinct, Hutch pulled his car over to the kerb near a phone booth.

"I'm just going to ring the school and warn them we're coming," he said.

"Okay."

Starsky waited patiently for Hutch to come back. His mind wandered and he started to hum a tune as he sat there. Hutch reappeared and climbed in.

"The secretary said the Principal would be free in half an hour so that's good timing."

"Great."

Starsky became aware that Hutch wasn't starting the engine and glanced at him.

"So…how did it go?" Hutch asked.

Starsky decided to be deliberately obtuse. "How did what go?"

Hutch wasn't going to let him get out of talking to him. "The shooting range dummy. How'd it go?"

Starsky shrugged. "It was fine. Actually, I got a near perfect score. They gave me my gun back."

"Hmm." Hutch stared at Starsky with an eyebrow inviting more from his partner. "Come on Starsk, this is me. What's bugging you?"

"What makes me think something's bugging me?" Starsky challenged Hutch.

"Cos you're not wearing your gun…and cos I know you, buddy…I'm sorry I got called away. I wanted to be there…It was hard, wasn't it? First time since…"

Starsky sighed. "Yeah, it was hard…but I'm okay. I'm glad it's done…It's just my gun feels so heavy. I haven't worn one for months. I'd forgotten how much they weigh…It's just going to take me a minute to remember how…and why."

Hutch nodded with understanding. Wearing a gun was a responsibility as well as being a physical burden. "You'll get there buddy. You'll have to put it on to go into the school. We can't leave it in the car but you can take it off again when we come out. Small steps."

"Thanks babe. I knew you'd get it."

Hutch patted his arm before he started the engine and drove the car towards Bay City High.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

The Principal was a tall, black man with a firm handshake called Woodrow Jones. Starsky and Hutch liked him instantly. He indicated they should sit down and leaned back in his green suede chair, steepling his fingers as he looked at them.

"What can I do for you detectives?"

Hutch took the lead. Starsky was content to watch him at work.

"It's about the murders of the fathers of Matthew Bartholomew and Clint Dunn. We were wondering if you could tell us of anything they have in common."

Principal Jones looked very confused. "Does your department really think there's a connection between these two terrible incidents that happened months apart? How on earth could they be connected?"

"We're not sure yet but we think they could be," Hutch said. "If there is a connection, it might help us unravel what happened and get justice for the boys and their families."

Principal Jones leaned forward and pressed a button on his phone. His secretary answered.

"Janice, please could you find the transcripts for Clint Dunn and Matthew Bartholomew and bring them in here."

"Of course, sir," the disembodied voice replied.

"What exactly are you looking for?" the Principal asked Hutch.

"Any commonalities. However small."

"Well from memory, I can tell you they're in different grades and studying different subjects apart from the core ones. Bartholomew is quite good at drama. Dunn's taking shop."

There was a knock on the door and Janice came in carrying two thick files in front of her. She handed them over to the Principal. As she went to leave, Starsky caught her eye and winked. She blushed and almost giggled.

Principal Jones opened both files side by side and invited Hutch to look at them. Hutch leapt up and peered over the Principal's shoulder. Starsky watched his friend's eyes as they scanned both files.

"I see Clint was in quite a lot of trouble before his father died."

"Yes," Principal Jones affirmed. "I think he had a bit of a difficult home life, divorced parents. He was finding it difficult. It's sad to say but he's actually been a better student since his father died."

Hutch was listening but still scanning the files. "I see they're both good at sports. Basketball and wrestling in particular."

"Yes, they've both been on the school wrestling team."

Hutch looked thoughtful. "Would we be able to speak to the coaches?"

Principal Jones looked at his watch. "Yes, the school day's nearly over. They'll be a little break before after school activities start. If you come with me now, I'll introduce you to the coaching staff."

Starsky and Hutch followed the Principal through the corridors of the school as the end of day bell sounded and streams of students flooded out of the classrooms and flowed in the general direction of the exit.

He took them down to the Sports' department and introduced them to: the head coach, a thickset man called Ben King; the basketball coach, a tall man called Max Kennedy; and the wrestling coach, an older man named Gus Wilson. Principal Jones excused himself and left the detectives with the three coaches.

When Hutch explained why they were there, all three of them seemed happy to help the detectives with their enquiries although they commented that they couldn't see how knowing about the boys' sporting activities could help the police catch their fathers' killers.

Head Coach King said, "They're both liked. Bartholomew more so than Dunn maybe but that's because he's that type of kid. Friendships come easily. Dunn's a different kettle of fish. Doesn't find life easy, I don't think."

Gus Wilson spoke: "Dunn's a good kid. Just needs someone to take an interest."

Hutch said, "I understand both boys are good at basketball and have been on the wrestling team quite a while. Are they friends?"

Coach Kennedy said, "I don't think they're friends exactly, different year groups. Different social sets if you know what I mean. They play in different teams for basketball, have different practice times, but the wrestling squad's quite a close knit group. They watch each other's backs, wouldn't you say Gus."

"Yes, that's true," Gus said. "I try to instil discipline into my squad but also responsibility for each other. If someone needs help, they all pitch in."

"I see. Could I ask you how the boys have coped with the loss of their fathers?"

"Bartholomew was devastated," King said. "Dunn less so…I don't mean he didn't care, just I think his father was a difficult man."

He looked at Wilson. "Fair to say?"

Wilson nodded. "Yeah, think Dunn had a bit of a temper, used to take it out on the boy. He's better off without him."

"Are you aware of their fathers having much interaction? Did they meet at wrestling matches or basketball tournaments?" Hutch wanted to know.

Kennedy said, "No, don't think I ever saw Bartholomew's father at a game. He's more the social fundraiser father."

Wilson snorted. "Bit of a jerk really. Always telling Matthew sport was a waste of time."

Hutch closed his notebook. "Well, thank you all of you for your insight. That's given us a good idea of the boys' backgrounds. Don't know if it will lead to anything but you never know."

Starsky didn't know how he knew but the slight twitch he saw in Hutch's cheek told him his partner was onto something. As the coaches walked away, Hutch called after them and said, "Oh, Coach Wilson, one more question. I noticed that Matthew had stopped wrestling for a little while before his father died but then he took it up again. Why was that?"

Wilson's face was blank but he answered the question: "His father made him give it up. I told ya, he thought sport was a waste of time. He wanted Matthew to concentrate on his other subjects. After his dad died, the kid came back." The coach shrugged and walked away.

Hutch watched him go and then turned to his partner. "Let's get out of here. We can swap notes in the car."

Starsky nodded and followed his blond partner out of the school towards the car. When they were safely settled inside and headed back to the precinct, Starsky said, "You think it's Wilson, don't you?"

Hutch confirmed his suspicion. "I don't know how or why but it's got something to do with that wrestling team. What did they call it: 'close knit'? Wilson seems very protective of his squad."

"Protective enough to stop an abusive father, you think?"

"Maybe…and maybe once he'd done that, it was only a simple step to remove a man who was stopping his kid from being part of the squad…What does your gut say Starsk? Think it's too much of a reach?"

"My gut agrees with your intuition buddy…but I don't know how we prove it after all this time."

Hutch rubbed a hand over his face and sighed. "Yes, that's going to be the tricky part. Both murders are too long ago for potential witnesses to remember anything much. Too long ago for forensic evidence to be revisited."

Starsk glanced at his partner, catching his eye. "Don't get down about it…We'll catch him…It's what we do."

Hutch gave him a grateful smile. "It is now you're back partner. I've missed working with you…I didn't 'work' without you."

Starsky nodded and left it at that. Some things didn't need to be said out loud to be heard and he knew Hutch was reading him loud and clear.