For Brook, who needs a diversion and likes the hurt ones!

Chapter 2

The apartment and surrounding area looked like a scene from a disaster movie as forensics moved from one area to the other, trying to establish lines of fire, calibre of weapon, tyre patterns and footprints. Starsky watched with interest as the science officer dug a large bullet out from the woodwork at the side of his door and held it up to the light admiringly before putting it into a small plastic bag, sealing it and putting a label on it.

'What ya got Freddo?' he asked with interest.

'Oh, a real doozy Starsky! It's a soft nosed bullet, a bit like a hollow tipped slug but less common. You know, this is the sort that has the tip that spreads on impact. This one's a lead bullet with a copper jacket. You can see that its left open at the tip, exposing some of the lead inside. Soft point bullets are designed to expand upon impact, as the softer lead is deformed to spread open the harder metal jacket. It gives slower expansion and greater penetration than a hollow tip. Don't see 'em too often and this is a beaut. Whoever fired it wanted to make a mess of the person they hit'.

The brunette was amused at the tall forensics guy. 'Well, you're obviously impressed. Ya gonna send it to ballistics or make love to it? Whatever it is, I hate the thought of it being in my woodwork' he said, examining the crater left by the metal, then patting the man on the shoulder as he went over to stand by his blond partner.

Hutch was in deep conversation with Dobey as the dark haired cop joined in the discussion.

'I didn't expect them to try so early on in the proceedings. The trials still three days away. I'd have thought they'd have waited till the night before maybe, so as to make sure the prosecution had to throw their hand in' Dobey was saying as Hutch rubbed his eyes tiredly.

'Well, they didn't and now we're left with the problem of where are we gonna put him?' the blond asked glancing at his partner.

Dobey shrugged. 'For tonight its going to have to be police custody, it's the safest bet. A night in the cells then tomorrow I have an idea, but I'll need to make arrangements'.

'You know me Cap, I just love surprises, but in this case I think I'd rather know. You gonna let us in on the secret?' Starsky asked as he started to gather together a pillow and a quilt, along with his gun in its holster and his blue jacket.

Dobey watched the preparations, distracted. 'Not yet, till I get it finalised, but you'll love…..what are you doing?' he asked as Starsky pushed all his belongings into his old army kit bag.

The curly haired cop looked up as if it was the most stupid question anyone had ever asked him. 'Getting my stuff together, why?'

'Your stuff? What are you packing a pillow and quilt for?' Dobey asked mystified.

Starsky shrugged and looked at his wristwatch. 'It's 4:30am. I figure we can get another five hours sleep an' knowing what the cells are like, I'm gonna be comfortable. Any more questions?' he asked as he headed for the door with Shepherd in tow.

Hutch followed behind and as he got level with his Captain he leaned over and in a stage whisper said 'Hey. You see him a few minutes a day. I have to live with that' then followed his partner and their guest down the steps and back into the Torino.

The journey down to the Metro was short and uneventful. Starsky had one eye on the road and the other on the rear view mirror for almost all the way, and Hutch also couldn't help but keep looking behind him too. Ford's men were obviously professionals and with the type of ammo they were using, they meant serious business. Both detectives heaved a sigh of relief as they reached the comparative safety of the police HQ and bundled their charge inside.

Shepherd protested a little as they ushered him in front of them through the bright neon lit corridors and down the stairs to the custody area, flipping a quick wave at sergeant in charge down there. They waited a moment before being told which cell Shepherd would be occupying and then as Hutch whisked the small man along the line of lock ups to the end, Starsky darted into one of the interview rooms and hooked a couple of chairs. Carrying them and this kit bag along to the prescribed cell, he set up the two chairs opposite each other outside the cell and as Shepherd and Hutch walked in, with the door clanging shut behind them, the brunette settled himself down on the chairs, feet up and tucked the pillow at his back and the quilt around his legs. With his gun drawn and nestling on his lap, safety on and the two men on the bunks in the cell, he settled his head back against the wall and within minutes he was asleep.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

At 9:00am, Starsky was rudely awakened by the clanging and clattering of the cell door catch being released and saw the big brown bulk of Captain Dobey walking down the corridor towards him. With the Captain were two other men he recognised, both detectives and as he blinked and wiped the sleep from his eyes the Captain wished him a good morning. Dobey looked dishevelled and it was obvious that he hadn't had a lot of sleep, if any during the night, but he had a self satisfied look on his face and as Hutch emerged from the cell yawning and stretching, he called both his men over.

'I've managed to pull a few strings and I thing we've got ourselves a place to put Shepherd that's defensible, secure and comfortable. It's a small fancy new hotel on the outskirts of town. It's not opened to the public yet, but it's furnished. You'll be the only three staying there, but what's more important, it's in its own garden which we can patrol properly. It's set on a hill, so we can see anything coming and there are security gates. How's it sound to you?'

The two detectives considered, silently communicating with each other as they had a habit of doing. Hutch's raised eyebrows said 'What do you think partner?' and Starsky's eyes said 'Seems OK to me'. They both nodded they're approval.

'Have you actually been out there?' Hutch asked, not wanting a repeat performance of last night.

'What d'ya think I've been doing all night?' the black man growled irritably. 'Its as safe as we can make it. Now, do we go, or do you all stay here for the duration?' he asked with an air of finality.

In answer the brunette started packing up his bedding and stuffing it back into his kit bag. 'Lead the way oh great leader' he said dramatically as Dobey turned and set off back out of the cells.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

The process of getting the little snitch back out of the police station was repeated, but this time, the detectives borrowed an unmarked police car for the journey through the city and out to the hotel. Much as Starsky hated to admit it, his striped tomato was just too well known and too unmistakable to risk using that for the transportation. So he grumbled and groused as he slipped in behind the drivers wheel of the plain dark blue Mercury and turned the key in the ignition. With Hutch riding at his side, his eyes on the mirrors for anything suspicious, and Shepherd in th back seat the two cops pulled out of the police garage and into the morning traffic. In front of them a light coloured Lincoln and behind them another dark coloured Mercury made up the security detachment. All three cars spread themselves out over a convenient distance, so that they could cover each other if necessary, but didn't look as though they were travelling in convoy.

There was silence in the Mercury as the brunette drove smoothly and steadily, not wishing to draw attention to the car or the passengers as he threaded his way through the city traffic. At the first set of red lights, he pulled up, drumming his fingers impatiently on the steering wheel aware that they were sitting ducks if anyone wanted to take a pot shot at them. They held their breath and then both heaved a small sigh of relief as the green light winked on and they were once again on their way. Once out of the main city environs, Starsky pushed the gas pedal and the big car responded with a satisfying throaty growl as he pushed it up the hills behind the town. Following the directions their boss had given them, they took a left and then another right and pulled into a driveway barred by impressive high wrought iron gates. In the distance, up the drive, the big blond could see the pale coloured Lincoln and as he pointed it out to his partner, the gates swung slowly open admitting them and the Mercury behind them. As the gates swung shut behind the last car, anyone looking in that direction may have spotted the flash of sunlight reflecting from the binocular lenses of the man hidden in the scrub further up the hill.

The convoy of cars steady wound its way up the newly black topped driveway and finally drew to a halt outside the new hotel. It was built like a rich mansion and had impressive double doors leading into a reception hall. A billboard outside proudly proclaimed

Mayan Towers Hotel

and exclusive resort

Opening soon.

The man up the hill watched through his spy glasses as the two detectives got out of the car, casting glances all round before pulling the little ginger weasel from the back seat and pushing him into the building. Carefully he put away the binoculars in their case, rose to his knees and brushed the dirt and vegetation from the front of his shirt. He backed up until he couldn't be seen from the hotel grounds and got to his feet, walking quietly and with purpose back to his car, parked over the brow of the hill. Taking a two way radio he messaged back that the carrot was on the stall, accompanied by several other vegetables. He listened to the response and nodded, putting the radio down and settling back in his seat to wait.

Inside the hotel Starsky was looking around appreciatively. 'Well, if we have to hole up somewhere, I approve of the choice' he said, his voice echoing slightly around the deserted marble embellished hall. They were stood in a rounded reception area, decorated in classic black and white marble tile, with fake Corinthian pillars reaching up to hold up a staircase that Scarlet O'Hara would have been proud to walk down. The reception desk was wood panelled in pale ash wood with a black granite countertop and as Hutch walked behind it, he could see that it led into two small rooms at the back. To one side was a small kitchen area with oven fridge and kettle, obviously for the staff's comfort and to the right, a well equipped first aid room, set up with examination table and white cupboards neatly labelled with equipment, bandages and various other medical items. He chuckled. It was so good that the hotel had such confidence in its abilities to entertain its guests that it had to have a fully equipped sick bay!

Coming back into the main hall, he saw that his partner and their ward were making their way upstairs as the five armed guards who'd accompanied them spread themselves throughout the ground floor of the building, making it secure. The blond hated to think what all this was costing the Californian tax payer and just hoped that Shepherd's evidence would be worth it. He followed the two up the stairs and turned to the right, seeing Shepherd heading off into the first bedroom.

Dobey had certainly excelled himself with this hideout. It was luxury taken to the n'th degree. The bedroom Hutch found himself in was large, and beautifully decorated in sumptuous reds and creams with what looked like suede on the walls. Heavy ruby red drapes hung at the large windows and pooled onto the floor. In the middle of the room stood the biggest bed the blond had ever seen topped by a tapestry canopy and behind it a walled off walk through closet which was big enough to hold a dance in. Off to one side was a door leading through into a luxurious marble bathroom. Hutch found Starsky standing in the middle of the gleaming room, his mouth open as he took in the Olympian sized tub, the shower large enough to take a full football team and a steam room partitioned from the main room by an etched glass door.

'I think I've died and gone to heaven' the brunette whispered. 'all I need now is that tub filled with hot scented water, bubbles and that new girl, Rachel, from traffic'.

Hutch meandered over and blew in his friend's ear.

'Sorry to ruin your fantasy pal, but are we gonna sort out the sleeping arrangements, or are you going to stay in here with your dreams all night?'

Starsky sighed. 'I've told ya before, I never talk about beds on a first date' he said, wiggling his eyebrows. He walked past his partner and back out into the bedroom where Shepherd was already stretching out on the big bed.

The two cops looked at each other, then back at the snitch.

'OK Goldylocks' the brunette said to Shepherd. 'Here's the deal. Me and Hutch take the bed, you take the couch' he pointed at the chaise langue in the corner of the room, the furthest away from the door. 'That way, if we have any more unexpected guests, we get to 'em first' and without waiting for an answer, he turned and left.