For Starsky the whole day seemed to drag. It seemed all the criminals were having a break. Apart from a couple of prostitutes, they asked to move on and a pickpocket, who would have taken up more time in paperwork, ther wasn't much happening. "Hey Hutch, let's go back to Central. We gotta get a lead on Sofia's father and we sure aint gonna get it bustin' hookers and pimps" pleaded Starsky. Hutch nodded and turned his car towards the precinct. " Collins in R and I has pulled Eldridge's file and he's also getting the report on the shooting. When Harley was shot" continued Starsky. Hutch nodded again but remained quiet. His mind wasn't on solving a kidnapping just protecting his friend.
Starsky read through Eldridge's file. Petty criminal, car thefts , couple of bar brawls, nothing heavy . "It don't make sense, Hutch. Sure, I killed his brother but he just aint got the smarts to pull off a kidnapping. If it's revenge he wants, why doesn't he just come straight after me? We're missing something, it just don't seem right" questioned Starsky. Hutch had a feeling that Sofia was very much the brains behind the whole thing, but couldn't work out why. " Hutch, hey Hutch. Hey you OK buddy? You sure been quiet today, you comin' down with something?" " Oh, I, yeah maybe Starsk'. I do fell kinda tired" " Hey I'll call Sofia, call it off tonight . I'll come back to your place and look after you, huh?" said Starsky with concern. It wasn't like Hutch to admit to feeling ill. "No Starsk' I'll be fine. I'm looking forward to spending time with you and your lady. Playing gooseberry is my idea of a perfect evening" smiled Hutch " Hey buddy, I didn't ask for no spectators, Sofia did!" Starsky laughed and carried on pouring over the files on his desk. Snap out of it Hutchinson Hutch thought to himself Starsky knows you too well, he'll soon guess something's up. Starsky proceeded to read over the shooting report. He fired in self defence. Internal affairs had cleared him almost immediately. Still he could understand his brother being upset. Harley Swanston was only twenty years old. Starsky had felt bad for days after that one but, with Internal affairs, Captain Dobey and Hutch, all supporting him, very soon, even in Starsky's mind, he became just another statistic. Starsky had an idea. "Hey Hutch, hey" he called. As usual, like the rest of the day, Hutch seemed pre-occupied. Starsky was beginning to think there was something really wrong with his buddy, and it worried him. "Hutch" he called with more concern. "Oh sorry Starsk', million miles away, I guess" Hutch said casually, but it was a feeble try and Starsky noticed it straight away, "Hutch, are you really sure about tonight? You Know if you're sick or something'" Starsky's face was a picture of concern and Hutch felt guilty. Was it fair to Starsky to let him think he was sick? He knew how much the curly haired detective worried about him, just as if the roles were reversed, Hutch knew how he'd be worrying about Starsky. "I'm OK bud, just tired I guess. Tell you what, I'll clock off now, tell Dobey I'm sick will ya? I'll get my head down for a few hours and be bright and breezy for our dinner date tonight , OK?" with that remark Hutch rose from his chair, grabbed his jacket and started to leave. He had just reached the door when Starsky called, "Bye Hutch, take care, you need me I'm here. I'll clear it with the Cap'n" "Thanks Starsky. I'll be fine, love ya buddy" Hutch didn't know why he added that last remark. Both detectives knew how they felt about each other. Starsky was the brother Hutch never had and Hutch was closer to Starsky than his own brother, whom he rarely saw. As soon as Hutch said it Starsky knew something was wrong. Others in the department did not really understand their relationship, often inuendos were made, but there was no truth to them. Starsky and Hutch were as close as two people could be without actually being in love. They were very much hetrasexual males. Never the less to say I love you in a squad room full of other officers meant Hutch was hurting and Starsky was damned if he knew why. He also realised he never had the chance to share his idea. He filed the papers and decided to make his way back to Huggy's. If his idea was going to work he was going to need Huggy Bear.
When Hutch left the department he had no intention of going home. He was going straight to The Pits to catch up with Huggy, see if he'd found out anything about Sofia. Hutch parked his L.T.D Ford out the back and went in the back door. Huggy saw him enter, "Hey Hutch, back so soon. To what do I owe the pleasure?", asked Huggy Bear and, in almost the same breath, "You wanna Beer?" "Sure Hug', berr'll be fine. It's been a long day. Lying to Starsky, you know I think it's really making me ill. I wish he'd never met that Sofia Helstrom. I got a real bad feelin' Hug" said Hutch weerily. He's hurtin' thought Huggy, only a matter of time before Starsky works it out too. I wouldn't want to be Hutch when that happens. Starsky can do mother hen better than any one. When Hutch was trying to beat a forced heroin addiction, it was Starsky that got him through. Those two...Huggy could never figure it out, and didn't try to. They were his friends that's all he needed to know.
Starsky's Gran Ford Torino pulled up outside the front of The Pits. Inusual Starsky fashion, in stopped in a skid, with a sqeal of tyres. Even over the noise of the bar, Hutch thought he'd heard Starsky's car, "Hey Hug' d'you hear that striped tomato, just now?" "Na Hutch, this guilt things got you hearin' things. Be cool brother, enjoy your beer. I'll be back soon and tell you all I know" smiled Huggy, going off to serve. Long day Hutchinson, long day.Just then Hutch gasped as he saw his partner walking into the bar. Oh God, how to explain this one. Starsky spotted Hutch almost immediately. He eyed him with suspicion and concern, "Hutch, what you doin' here partner?" "Oh I thought a couple of beers, on the way home, might help me sleep." answered Hutch, inconvincingly. "I don't buy it buddy, what's goin' on?" challenged Starsky. "Like I said Starsk' just tryin' to relax." "No way, you really sick or what?, I mean I know all day you've been vague, not all here, but you were fine when you picked me up this morning. In fact you were fine until that meeting with Sofia and the captain. Is that it? Do you have a problem with Sofia?" Starsky looked at Hutch, sympathetically, "Look, it wont change us" He studied Hutch's face " You remember when I was with Terry? We were still good, we just became the three muskateers instead of the dynamic duo, but it'll still beme and thee, Hutch." Starsky touched Hutch's arm "Always" Hutch felt another lie coming, "Yeah, you got it Starsk'. You saw right through me. Just like you always do" He smiled warmly at Starsky "me and thee buddy" he said and touched Starsky's hand, which was still on his arm. Huggy Bear sauntered over "Glad to see you gentlemen togethr. A Hutch without a Starsky is like a pic-nic with no food. I tell ya Starsky, your buddy here sure made a soory picture sitting here on his own." Huggy patted both detectives on the back. Laughing he said "Another beer fellas?" "Sure Hug'" they both said, in unison and laughed.