Chapter 10

Starsky put down the telephone so hard that the table it stood on wobbled. Little Davey drooped dismally from the front of his jeans and sorrowfully the brunet stuffed himself back together, zipped up and turned his attention back to Jade. She regarded him with her beautiful almond shaped eyes. What was he supposed to tell her? "Oh by the way. I can't make love to you tonight because I have to go and arrest your brother for murdering someone else"? Somehow he didn't think that that would lead to more nights of romance in front of the TV. Should he lie? And if he did, would she think it was merely a brush-off when Starsky really did want to get to know her better?

'Trouble?' Jade asked.

'Kinda yeah. Look honey, I am so sorry but I'm a cop and we don't work regular hours and….'

'I know. You have bad men to catch. I shall have to resort to cake to replace you although what it will do at my waistline……'

The almost familiar words tugged at Starsky's heart. Something very similar had been said to him once before, that time by another beautiful brunette with shining brown eyes and a smile that could melt the polar ice caps. That girl had died because she loved Starsky and suddenly the cop felt very protective towards Jade, vowing that nothing would happen to her whilst she was with him. He walked towards her, his shyness gone, to be replaced by genuine need.

'If I could stay, I would. You are one amazing lady. The least I can do is to give you a ride home…. and maybe see you tomorrow?'

Jade nodded. 'That would be nice, and the ride home would be nice also.' She started to button her blouse whilst Starsky got together his gun, shield and cuffs. Gone was the Smith and Wessen to be replaced by a Browning Hi-power. The Smith had let him down that day in the police garage. It had snagged on his jacket making his draw a fraction of a second slower than it should have been. Maybe he may not have been able to take out both gunmen. Maybe he may not have avoided the five bullets, but a cop can only allow one mistake from his gun and so he changed. Starsky had been absurdly sentimental about his Smith. It had been with him since his Academy days and when most cops (Hutch included) still liked the reliability of the Colt, Starsky's smaller hand fit the semi-automatics better. It had been a wrench to hand in the hunk of metal that had been with him through good times and bad, but after a few hours on the firing range, even Starsky had to admit that the Browning had more stopping power and better accuracy than his old weapon.

Jade watched as the man set about getting his stuff together. He did it with assurance and with the air of someone who knew exactly what he was doing…and what he was walking into, and the confidence that she suddenly felt from Starsky did funny thinks low down in her belly. Starsky was an enigma – at once shy and unsure of himself and his body, and then transformed into hard nosed, street wise cop. The woman found herself hoping she would have the opportunity to get to know this enigma better. For now, she gathered her shawl and stood by the door, waiting.

They stood by the car as Starsky unlocked it and as she got in Jade saw the mess on the hood. 'Who did that to your beautiful car?' she asked as Starsky got in beside her.

The brunet grunted not wanting to let Jade know that it was her brother's doing. Somehow he got the feeling that that piece of information would really put a damper on their budding relationship. 'A fan' he explained simply

'Wow, that was mean. You have some fans!'

The cop grinned. 'What can I say? It's my animal magnetism, get's 'em every time. Now, where is home?'

'Back at the restaurant. I live above the Royal Phoenix with my Mom and Dad.'

'Jeez. Never a break from work, huh?'

She smiled. 'Something like that. I would have liked to have gone to college, but my family needed someone to seat customers and I was a ready made waitress.' It was said without any emotion and did not beg for sympathy. Jade was simply telling it as it was.

'Maybe one day some prince will come along and sweep you off your feet.'

'Maybe. A tall, dark and handsome one?'

Starsky's pulse raced and he looked sideways at the woman. She must have been ten years his junior with her whole life ahead of her and probably her pick of any guy who set eyes on her. What the hell did she see in him? Why argue? She was with him and not some youngster. Go figure. 'I don't do horses, but I have a Harley with a pillion seat.'

Jade giggled. 'That sounds wonderful. I've never seen a Chinese biker chick.'

'There's always a first time' Starsky smiled as he pulled up outside the Royal Phoenix. 'Home sweet home' he said as he looked up at the building.

'And a welcoming committee too' Jade said in a resigned sort of voice. Outside the restaurant Kim, Quon and Chun were standing in a small group speaking with the two huge doormen. As the TransAm drew up, one of the men must have said something to Kim and he turned to watch, an angry look on his face. The woman sighed. 'Now to face the music.'

'Huh?' Starsky asked.

Jade turned to him and put a hand on his cheek, her skin warm and butter soft against his five o'clock shadow. 'My brother told me not to talk to you. He was angry that I'd spoken with you and your friend last night.'

'So what? You went out with me just to piss him off?' There was a touch of anger and also hurt in the brunet's voice and Jade smoothed her hand down his cheek, trickling her fingers around to his lips to silence him.

'No, not to anger him. I'm my own women despite what he thinks. I was curious and yes, the thought of doing something against his will did encourage me. But I really did want to get to know you better and I'm glad we had some time together. Are you?'

The edge of fear vanished into the mist. She wanted him because she wanted him. Pure and simple. No hidden agenda. Starsky sighed and nestled against her hand for a second. 'I couldn't have asked for a better evening' he said softly. 'And then he has to go and ruin it.'

Jade looked surprised. 'My brother? He's waiting for me, yes. But I can handle him.'

Starsky shook his head. It wasn't just the welcoming committee as much as the fact that Kim had set in motion another murder, not that he could tell Jade that. But at the same time, this was a great excuse to vent his anger and also protect his girl. 'You can handle him by taking another beating? I don't think so. No girl of mine gets hurt coz of me. Not any more' Starsky said decisively. He got out of the car as Jade opened the door.

'No, it's ok Dave. Please. I can handle this' she urged as Starsky took her hand and helped her from the car. As she got out Kim walked over and stood close enough to be intimidating.

'Get inside. I'll deal with you later' the Chinese growled.

'I don't think so Pal' Starsky snapped, putting his own body between Kim and Jade.

Kim grinned. 'Would you like a rematch? If I recall you were the one getting better acquainted with the ground yesterday. How are the bruises Detective?'

'Fine and dandy and yeah, you lay one finger on her and we'll have a rematch. Down at the station where I'm gonna haul your skinny yellow ass if you harm one hair on her head.'

Kim's fists balled and then he seemed to relax them forcibly. He turned to the rest of his group and put his hands to his face in mock horror. 'This little cop is going to arrest me. Save me someone. Call my lawyer!' Kim turned back to Starsky, his face ugly with anger as he pointed his finger menacingly. 'You stay away from my sister and you keep your nose out of my affairs and maybe, just maybe, we will both live long and healthy lives.'

'Is that a threat?' Starsky asked, squaring up to the smaller man.'

Kim smiled. 'No Detective it's not a threat. It's a promise.'

'You….' Starsky's fists came up at the same time as his rage engulfed him. He could feel the anger welling up from deep inside him and despite the fact that his side was still on fire, he had the overwhelming desire to plough his fist into Kim's smiling face.

Jade caught his hand with surprising strength and put herself between the two men, a hand on each of their chests. 'Stop this. Stop this now' she said sharply. She looked at Starsky and let go of his fist, straightening the fingers of his hand so that she could hold it and caress it. 'Go. I'll be fine. Just go and do what you have to do. And I will see you tomorrow' she added defiantly. She turned to Kim who was about to say something when she cut him dead. 'As for you! You talk about Chinese honour, but you don't believe in it. I will meet with who I want and I will talk with who I wish. We are in America now brother, not the homeland and no amount of bruises will stop me doing as I please.' With a toss of her long black hair she stalked off into the restaurant, the men at the door parting to let her through.

Kim turned his attention back to the cop. 'You have no idea of our ways. Say goodbye to her, cop, you will not be meeting with her again, I can promise you that.'

'I mean it, you lay one finger on her and you'll wish you'd never even heard of Bay City. Got that punk?' Starsky snarled.

'Go and play at cops and robbers Mr Policeman. I'm sure there are jaywalkers out there who need your very important attention. But be careful because you never know who will be around the corner watching you and waiting.'

Starsky was about to retort when he saw Jade waiting by the door. The girl shook her head, pleading silently with him not to make this a full scale battle, and for once, Starsky listened. Deep down, the memory of his last fight with Kim called to him. He could still feel the fists ploughing into him and still hear the sickening thud as the foot connected with the side of his face. Somewhere deep inside, Starsky's self preservation button got pressed and he backed off a step, angry at himself for the fear he felt in coming up against this Chinese one man battle zone again. Balling up his anger and stuffing it deep down inside him, he ignored Kim's comments. With a dignity he didn't feel, Starsky walked slowly and assuredly to the car and got in. It took a will of iron not to wince as the movement once again caught at his rib and chest, but it would have been an icy day in hell when Starsky let Kim see how much he was hurt. Without a backwards glance, he gunned the engine and drove away in a squeal of tyres.