CHAPTER 2
The Pits was a nondescript bar and grill in downtown Bay City. From the outside, it resembled hundreds of similar bars scattered throughout the city. The owner was a tall, thin black man known simply as Huggy Bear. Only the DMV, the IRS, and a few selected friends knew his real name.
Starsky and Hutch frequently depended on Huggy to provide them with information they couldn't get anywhere else. But, he wasn't just another one of their snitches; he was also a good friend to the two detectives.
The bar was crowded with the usual early evening trade when Starsky and Hutch walked in. Power drinkers, cheating spouses looking for a one night stand, some of the local working girls looking to pick up a quick trick, and college students out slumming for the evening. The air was heavy with smoke and not all of it came from regular cigarettes. Ignoring the distractions, the two detectives made their way to their favored booth in the back of the room. Several of the regulars called out a greeting as they made their way through the crowd.
As they settled into the booth, Huggy walked over to their table and sat two frosted mugs of beer down in front of them. A flamboyant dresser, today he was dressed in a hot pink shirt and a pair of neon blue slacks.
"Huggy, if that outfit was any brighter you wouldn't need that neon sign out front," Starsky drawled as he picked up his mug and took a long swallow of his beer.
"You're just jealous because you don't have my keen fashion sense," Huggy said in a smug voice as he momentarily struck a pose. Smiling at his two friends, he said "You guys eating, drinking or fishing?"
"Still looking for our friend out there that likes to slice and dice…" Hutch said with a frustrated frown. "Anything new on the streets?"
"I heard you found another one." Huggy said somberly as he pulled up a nearby chair and sat down at the end of their table. "Nobody out there seems to know anything or at least they're not admitting to it if they do. They're scared. Nobody wants to turn up as the next victim."
"The commissioner wants Starsky to go under as bait," Hutch grumbled, the tone of his voice making it clear that he still objected to the idea.
"And what's Captain America gonna be doing while your out wining and dining the elite?" Huggy asked with a glance in Starsky's direction. Brown eyes met deep blue in a moment of silent communication that spoke volumes. The two men had been friends since Starsky had been sent to Bay City to live with his aunt and uncle when he was thirteen. Like all friends, they shared secrets between them that nobody else knew about.
"Hutch is gonna be my ex-boyfriend who's still hot for my bod," Starsky said with a chuckle. Hutch choked on a swallow of beer when Starsky revealed his cover for this assignment. He coughed and sputtered as Starsky helpfully slapped him on the back.
Huggy shifted his gaze to meet Hutch's ice blue eyes. "Watch yourselves out there. Some of the players may not take too kindly to new meat coming into their turf. Ya dig?"
"We hear ya, Hug." Hutch told him as he regained his breath. "How about bringing us a couple more beers and two specials?" He turned to his partner with a grin. "I'm buying."
"In other words put it on your tab." Huggy said dryly as he shoved back the chair and rose to his feet. He put the chair back at the proper table and strolled into the crowd.
"Okay," Hutch said deciding that this was the perfect opportunity to discuss the case between themselves. "What have we got so far?"
"Three victims. All in their early to mid-thirties. All three killed somewhere else and then dumped where their bodies were found." Starsky recited from memory. "They'd all been tortured and raped for a few days before they were finally killed and they were all missing a vital part of their anatomy."
"Trophies?" Hutch mused thoughtfully. It was an established fact that serial killers often took a trophy from their victims in order to reminisce about the crime later on. This wouldn't be the first case they had investigated where the killer took body parts as a trophy.
"A little gross…but that would be my guess." Starsky made a disgusted face at the image of someone keeping a man's genitals as a trophy.
"Okay, the first body was found six weeks ago, the second body three weeks ago, and the latest victim was found this morning."
"So, if the killer is following some kind of pattern…he'll probably kill again in three weeks."
"But, we still have no idea how he picks his victims or where he takes them for his fun and games before he kills them. What else do we know about the victims?"
"Two of them worked for Diamond Escorts and we assume that the third one did too." Starsky said "The first victim, Dale Bradshaw had a record for hustling. But the other one was clean. We won't know anything about victim three until we identify him."
"Hopefully, the perp stays in the area and doesn't decide to branch out." Hutch said with a weary sigh.
"He's stayed pretty close to home so far no reason for him to change his pattern now. He feels comfortable…safe. He thinks he's got away with it."
"So far he has."
"He'd have to have his own place…or at least some place secluded where he could take his victims before he killed them." Starsky mused as the two continued to bat ideas about the case back and forth. "He probably gets off on the torture more than he does the killing. The murders are just his way of keeping them from identifying him."
"I hate the crazies." Hutch closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose with two fingers. He could feel a headache coming on. "They're always the hardest ones to catch."
"Just because they're crazy that doesn't mean that they're not smart. But, sooner or later, they all make a mistake." Starsky reminded him. Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of their food and fresh drinks. They ate in silence for several minutes before Starsky asked, "Are you okay with your cover?"
"I guess I'll have to be, won't I?' Hutch grumbled "I still don't have to like it."
"Look, I know that neither one of us likes going in cold without the other one there to watch our back," Starsky said, "But, this may be our best shot at catching this guy before he kills again. It's not like I haven't acted as bait before."
"Yeah, and I didn't like it then any better then than I do now," Hutch made a face and pushed his half eaten plate of food to the opposite side of the table. "I think I just lost my appetite."
Starsky took a few more bites of his food and then pushed his plate aside too. "Let's get out of here," he said "I need some sleep."
"Me too," Hutch agreed.
The two men stood up and Starsky pulled some bills out of his pocket. He dropped them on the table to pay for their food as they exited the bar. Since Hutch was driving, he stopped at the building where Diamond Escorts was located so Starsky could put his completed application in their mail box. Twenty minutes later, Hutch pulled up in front of Starsky's apartment.
"You wanna crash here tonight?" Starsky asked as he struggled to open the passenger side door. The door finally opened with a protesting screech of metal.
"Naw, I think I'll head on home." Hutch said "Don't forget it's your turn to drive tomorrow. Try to be on time for a change."
Starsky waved a hand over his shoulder as he walked towards the steps that led to his apartment. Digging his keys out of his jeans, he unlocked his door and went inside. Automatically he reached to the left and flipped the switch that turned on the lamps sitting on either side of the couch. Shrugging out of his light jacket, he tossed it over the back of the sofa and then unfastened the straps to his shoulder harness. He hung the holster with his Beretta in it on a hook beside the front door. Making sure the door was locked securely for the night; he turned off the living room lights and went into his bedroom where he began stripping off his clothes.
Settling back against the pillows, he picked up the remote for the TV and flipped through the channels until he found an old movie that he had only seen a few times. He settled back to watch until he got drowsy enough to sleep.