In Starsk'y apartment Sofia was preparing dinner. She knew Hutch was a health freak and Starky a all you can eat, that's not healthy freak. To find a balance she decided to make a huge organic pasta salad and some steaks. Now all she had to do was pretty herself up and turn on the charm. Naive but sexy should appeal to Hutchinsons hero nature she smiled to herself.
Back at the Pits Starsky finally had a chance to share with Hutch and Huggy his idea. "I'll put myself out there"he said. "What?" exlaimed Hutch. "Look Hug' I need you to spread the word, let whoever is looking that I'm happy to be found. Hutch we'll use my car, Hug' will you make sure everyone knows my car?" "Knows your car! Starsky they can see that striped tomato from the moon!" replied Huggy increduously. Hucth interrupted "No way Starsky. You're making yourself a target, not just for these guys, but for every other freak that's got a beef with you." Hutch looked straight at Starsky "I don't like it!" "Come on Hutch. It makes sense. If I can get to this Swanston maybe I can explain what went down. He's a petty criminal Hutch, he aint gonna want no kidnapping wrap against him." explained Starsky. "Your life could be in Danger" "no way" grinned Starsky "I'm not putting myself at risk. My pretty lady needs my body for at least another fifty years. I don't intend to get any part of this perfect speciman damaged or hurt" "We'll have to run it by Dobey. Hug' you'll put the word out?" Hutch asked. "You gotta ask?" replied Huggy. "I still don't like it but we need a lead on this one" said Hutch. He wondered what Sofia was going to make of all this. If his hunch was right, she was playing a very dangerous game and Starsky was already a target. What he couldn't work out was why had she not just finished Starsky already. Starsky saw Hutch's face, lost in though, "Hey" he said gently "It's ok Hutch. You'll be there to back me up. Me and thee, remember buddy?" "Sure Starsk', me and thee" replied Hutch.
The rest of the afternoon was spent at The Pits. The detectives figured that whatever was happening on the street would probably reach them at The Pits anyway and, as Hutchwas officially logged off, Starsky thought playing hooky, to reassure his friend that things would be fine, was just as good a way to spend the rest of the day. He was anxious to get home to Sofia and was glad that she had invited Hutch for dinner.
Starsky and Hutch left the bar at six o clock, after a game of darts (Huggy cheated!) and a few games of pool, both men were in good spirits and looking forward to their evening, although Starsky more than Hutch.
Hutch arrived at Starsky's place promptly at seven o clock. When Sofia answered the door, she took his breath away. Her hair was pinned up and she wore a dress that left very little to the imagination. "Hutch" Starsky called cheerily, " Waddaya think of my lady? Ol' Starsky pulled a good one this time, hey buddy?" "You look beautiful, Sofia" said Hutch shyly to the brunette. What's happening here? To Hutch it seemes this show was more for his benefit than his partners. It un-nerved him, but still, he couldn't take his eyes off her. Luckily Starsky was too loved up to notice. Sofia glided accross the room, "Dinner wont be long gentlemen" she purred and went into the kitchen. "How ya doin' buddy?" asked Starsky "Swell Stark'" then seeing Starsky's face, "I'm fine, really" "She's something, aint she? Wow Hutch I want her babies" Starsky grinned. Hutch was happy for his partner, but very scared. If he was right, about Sofia, Starsky was in danger and, at the very least, was going to get hurt. Very hurt. Dinner went well. Sofia was the perfect host and, as the evening wore on, Hutch was beginning to think that maybe he had got it all wrong. Sofia certainly seemed to care for Starsky as much as he did her. He left that night feeling better than he had done all day. Sofia knew her plan had worked. She now had Hutchinson on side too. Tommorrow would be the day then. Two days she had said, and with one dinner date, and a lot of seduction, she had achieved it. "Dave" she purred "Let's leave the cleaningup" "Why? What do you have in mind?" Starsky knew the answer and pretty soon they were in bed and Starsky hadn't felt that good since Terry.
Next morning Sofia woke early and was showered and dressed before Starsky awoke. She took him a cup of coffee and the aroma, and the sense of her, made him stir. "Morning sleepy head" she said "I brought you some coffee. I got to run" "Hey but..." replied Starsky, but she was already gone. Starky shook his head, checking the clock he realised it was almost eight and, for the second time, in as many days, he was late. He jumped out of bed and headed for the shower. En route he heard knocking on his front door, "Starsk', Starsk', Starsky open up. It's me" He heard the voice of his partner and groaned "coming, coming" Starsky opened the door. Hutch surveyed him up and down and, realising he'd just got up said "late one againStarsk'?" "I'll tell ya Hutch she's killing me, but in the nicest possible way" laughed Starsky. Hutch laughed too. After last nights meal, and a good nights sleep, Hutch felt all right about Sofia now and chastised himself for thinking otherwise.
After Starsky's shower and two cups of coffee they finally hit the streets at nine o clock. They were cruising in Starsky's car and both were in good spirits. "Zeebra three, zeebra three, see the man named Huggy Bear. Corner of Fifth and Main." Hutch, into the radio, replied " ten four central. We're on it" to Starsky "Let's role!" Huggy was on the corner surrounded by a crowd. On approaching, the detectives could see that he was attempting to baffle them with some card tricks. Knowing Huggy's flare for a hustle, and a card trick, both men smiled at each other. "Hug' what ya' got?" asked Starsky. "I am the Great Hugarino. I will baffle and amuse!" "Ok, Ok break it up, move on folks" Hutch waved his police badge, at the crowd, and it dispersed. "Ok Hug' what's up?" asked Starsky. "Well I got a lead on that cat Eldridge Swanston. It's been told he's holed up on a hotel on Sunset" "Good work Hug'" thanked Starsky. Both detectives made their way back to the torino, "good cop, bad cop?" questioned Hutch "bad cop, bad cop" replied Starsky. They pulled up outside a building that had obviously seen better days. That probably went for its inhabintants too. "Nice neighbourhood" commented Starsky, sarcastically. As they entered the building they saw a kind of reception area. Basically it was a scrawny little man, smoking, sitting at a small desk with, what looked like, a register on it. Hutch showed his badge. The man showed no interest "Swanston, which room?" "I don't know no Swanston" replied the clerk "Aw come on now Hutch" said Starsky" you gotta say please" Hutch, right in the mans face, and through clenched teeth said "Swanston, please" "Ok, Ok I don't want no trouble. Room two seven" Hutch removed the mans cigarette, stubbed it into an ashtray and said," as a measure of my thanks, for that information, I've just added ten years to your life expectancy" with that remark he and Starsky went upstairs. Outside room twenty seven they unholstered their guns. Hutch knocked "Swanston, police, open up!" They waited. Hutch was about to kick the door when it was opened by a small black man about their age. "Starsky. Hutch. " he said, looking from one to the other, "what do you want. Aint you hurt me enough?" "We need to ask you some questions" answered Hutch motioning the man inside. "What do you know about a kidnapping?" asked Starsky. "What! Are you crazy? They aint my bag, Starsky you know it. What ya tryin' to do, frame me?" Hutch shrugged and looked at Starsky. Both men could see that Swanston had no idea what they were talking about. "What do you know about Sofia Helstrom?" asked Hutch. Starsky shot him a look. "Who, what. You guys are crazy. Why are you here? What do you want?" Swanston looked really confused. "If we find out you're jiving us, we'll be back" said Hutch threateningly. With that he and Starsky left. Outside Starsky turned to Hutch, "What d'you make of that? Man that guy was really confused" Hutch was thinking, "Hutch, Hutch, hey buddy, what ya thinking?" "Starsky we need to talk" Hutch said, as they got in the car, "I need to tell you something"Starsky could see that Hutch was serious "Sure, anything" he answered. "Starsky what do you know about Sofia?" "Where's this going partner?" Starsky became defensive. "Listen to me buddy, why do you think Sofia went to the Captain about her father, why not just tell you? I mean she'd have had to have contacted the precinct pretty much as soon as you left" asked Hutch. "I don't know, maybe she was scared, maybe she didn't want me involved, I don't know" replied Starsky. "Starsky I don't think Eldridge Swanston knows anything. He's not involved. I thinl it's all about Sofia, or whatever her name is" "What the hell does that mean?" Starsky was beginning to feel angry, " What are you saying Hutch, that Sofia kidnapped her own father, for what purpose?" "No Starsky, I'm saying, I'm thinking, maybe Sofia isn't Sofia Helstrom at all." "That's insane! Well then who the hell is she?" Starsky was shouting. Hutch put his hand on Starsky's shoulder, "I don't know Starsk' but we sure as hell have to find out. I don't have all the answers. I'm not sure any of this makes sense, but since you met her, I've had an uneasy feeling pal. I've tried to ignore it but..." Hutch stopped to study Starsky's face. God he hated to hurt him. As if sensing what he was feeling Starsky nodded, "It's Ok Hutch, me and thee remember? I trust your instinct. I hope to God you're wrong, but I trust you" The look between them said more than any words could have. They drove silently back to Starsky's place, to confront Sofia. When they entered the apartment Sofia was, again, in the kitchen, preparing food. Starsky sighed. God, she looked, felt and smelled so good. Where to start, what to say? "Hey baby." smiled Sofia warmly, to Starsky, "Hiya Hutch" then, noticing their expressions "tough day huh? Boy, do you two look serious" Hutch took control "Sofia, or whatever the hell your name is, wht's going on?" Sofia, looking hurt approached Starsky "Dave?" Starsky couldn't respond. He looked down, avoiding her gaze, "Dave?" she repeated. Hutch looked at his partner. He hated this. He so wanted to be wrong, but all his instincts told him he was right. "Sofia, I asked you what's going on?" repeated Hutch. She's good. The naive little girl lost routine, almost had me fooled once he had to check himself not to be suckered again. Then suddenly, seeing that she was beat, she finally shrugged and said "My real name is Mindy. I have a sister Diana. You remember her Hutch? I'm sure you do. You destroyed her life. She's rotting away in some mental institution because of you" Starsky looked up. He could not believe what he had just heard "Sofia, M'Mindy, what are you going to do?"