The Major Incident
CHAPTER 2
The men looked at each other and cautiously entered Dobey's office. They both knew that tone and it usually meant that their Captain was not a happy man, either with them, or someone else. As they entered they both realised that it was probably the latter on this occasion, as also in the room was a tall, ramrod straight man with short hair, a tanned skin and sharp features. He wore a dark blue suit, white shirt and navy blue tie and had an air of authority about him.
Starsky immediately flopped down on the chair to the left of the door, his blond partner perching on the arm of the same chair. Both men looked expectantly at their boss, knowing from experience that wise cracks at a time like this would only infuriate the dark skinned man.
'Starsky, Hutchinson, this is Brigadier General Sharpe of the US Army Special Operations Unit. General, these are the two men I think you need to speak to'. Dobey sat down heavily and waited.
General Sharpe turned to fully face the two detectives. He was a good four inches taller that Hutch, the taller of the two men, and he had a presence about him which immediately made Hutch sit up and take notice. Starsky, on the other hand seemed unable, or unwilling to look at the General. Instead, he stared at his Addidas clad feet.
'Gentlemen, I'd like to thank your Captain for allowing me this time to speak with you. I'll keep this short and to the point. We have a situation, which I think your unique talents will be able to help with. During the past six months, five men from my unit have been found dead in suspicious circumstances. Three have died from apparent asphyxiation, although no ligatures or similar have been found. The fourth was found with a gunshot wound to the head, seemingly a suicide, and the fifth appears to have taken an overdose of barbiturate. Its this last death which has caused me to seek you out, as the soldier in question is one Private First Class Pitt, the son of Senator Pitt.
None of these unfortunates were the type who would contemplate suicide, and investigations have turned up no clues at all. That's where you come in'.
Hutch looked over to Dobey. 'Our unique talents. Whats that supposed to mean Cap?'
Dobey looked uncomfortable. 'The General here wants you both to go undercover to investigate what he believes is a narcotics ring within the 12th Battalion. Hutch, with your medical background, you'd be there as one of the Medical officers and Starsky'…………..
'Starsky, get back here' Dobey shouted to the dark haired man's back, as Starsky rose and left the room. He looked apologetically at the General and shrugged. 'Told you he wouldn't buy into this. He's never talked about his tour. I get the impression he's buried it so deep for a reason'.
General Sharpe's face fell. 'Its unfortunate. We could specifically use Major Starsky's talents on this one'. He looked over to Hutch. 'Perhaps you, as his friend could persuade him?'
Hutch's jaw had dropped 'What did you call him? Major Starsky? You've got the wrong guy. He was a Captain in Vietnam, but that's it'.
'I think you need to have a conversation with your friend, Mr Hutchinson, there are obviously things he hasn't told you, and we do need him'.
Hutch rose from the chair arm and headed for the door. 'Sure I'll talk to him General, but I'm not goin' to force him into something he doesn't want to do'.