CHAPTER 10

Two days later, Hutch was able to move around with only a minimal amount of pain which in turn left him one very cranky blond. Unfortunately, that put Starsky directly in the line of fire and on the receiving end of Hutch's barbed insults and sarcasm. Accustomed to his partner's moods, Starsky took it in stride and ignored him.

"Why don't you go home?" Hutch grumbled for the tenth time that morning. "I'm fine. I don't need a babysitter. I'm just gonna go back to bed anyway."

"Okay, okay…" Starsky said good naturedly. "But, you better call me if you need anything."

"I will, mom…don't worry," Hutch said with a thin smile. Starsky slipped on his jacket and headed for the door. Although he knew Hutch was feeling better and was certainly capable of taking care of himself, Starsky still hesitated when he reached the door. "Go on, Starsk," Hutch told him firmly "I'll be okay. Really."

"Okay," Starsky said reluctantly giving in. "I'll go but I'll be back later to see if you need anything."

"Go," Hutch ordered pointing at the door with a grin. Starsky returned the smile as he left the apartment. Outside the sun was shining and a cool breeze was blowing in from the ocean but Starsky barely noticed. Climbing into the Torino, he drove back to the second rate hotel where he had been staying since going undercover at the Escort Agency. He hoped they got a break in this case soon. Although he and Hutch had worked separately before when the case required it, it wasn't their usual routine. Neither one of them felt comfortable when the other one went undercover alone.

The other possible lead they had was the rumor Huggy had heard about a possible connection between the murders and an underground sex club operating somewhere in the city. Since the condition of the bodies and even the mutilation all appeared to be sexually motivated it sounded like it could be a promising lead.

That afternoon, Starsky walked down the street to the Escort service to check in. Matt was hanging around in the waiting room flirting with Becky. She blushed when Starsky entered the office and moved to the other side of the desk, discreetly putting some distance between her and Matt.

"Hey ya, Davey," Matt said with a grin, straightening up from where he had been leaning over the desk. "I heard that you were a hit with Maggie Andrews. I went to dinner with her last night and she raved about you. Those are the kind of reports that Shelia likes to hear."

"Glad to hear that," Starsky said with a grin. "She was a nice lady."

"Yeah, Maggie's okay for an old broad." Matt said "And the tips are worth it." He moved closer to Starsky and said quietly, "I saw your 'friend' parked out front a few days ago…I ran him off for you."

"Oh, yeah?" Starsky said staying in his undercover role, "Thanks. I owe ya one."

"I don't think he'll be bothering you any time soon."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Starsky asked with a frown.

"Let's just say that me and a couple of the other guys delivered a little message to him for you." Matt smiled proudly as he clamped a hand down on Starsky's shoulder.

Starsky stood rigidly, his mind racing, as he processed what Matt had just told him. "Yeah?" He said slowly "Just how did you do that?" Although his voice remained level and calm anyone who knew Starsky would know to heed the steel beneath his words.

"We just roughed him up a little," Matt admitted with a chuckle. "Nothing serious…"

'Really?" Starsky said, the steel in his voice growing more pronounced. "You shouldn't have done that. What if he tells the cops?"

"He never got a chance to see our faces. He couldn't identify us if he tried." Matt said confidently.

Before Starsky could reply Shelia opened her office door and called Matt inside. Starsky struggled to control his legendary temper. He wanted to pound Matt's face into mush but Starsky knew that he couldn't risk blowing his cover. He would report Matt's confession to Captain Dobey and let him take care of it. Matt and whoever else was involved in Hutch's attack would likely be charged with assaulting a police officer.

When Matt left Shelia's office he winked at Starsky on his way out. Starsky ignored him as he walked into Shelia's office. Shelia smiled at him warmly and said, "Well, David…I've been getting some very good reports on you. It seems like all the clients you've seen so far have been very impressed and would definitely like to see you again."

"Hey, I aim to please," Starsky said, pushing his conversation with Matt out of his mind and resuming his undercover persona.

Shelia held out an envelope to Starsky who accepted it and slipped it into his jacket. "I think you'll be very pleased…there's a little extra in there for all the good work you've been doing." She shifted through some papers on her desk. "I have a new client who has specifically requested your services for the evening. I'm afraid I can't tell you very much about her except that her name is Angela Raven and she works in the adult film industry."

"Adult films?" Starsky repeated with an arch of his eyebrow.

"Yes, that isn't a problem is it?"

"Not at all. What does she have planned for this evening?"

"She wants you to attend the premiere of her new movie with her and then join her at a cast party afterwards."

"Sounds like fun."

"She wants you to meet her up at her penthouse at seven-thirty. She lives at the Tower Arms on West Manchester. Do you know where that is?"

"I'll find it."

"A limousine will pick the two of you up there to take you to the premiere and the party afterwards. Go to the men's store down the street and tell them that you work for me. They will give a rental suit to wear tonight."

"No tux?" Starsky asked with a thin smile.

"That won't be necessary. Just a tailored suit for the occasion."

"Okay." Starsky said rising gracefully to his feet and leaving the office. He left the building and went to the men's store Shelia had directed him too. A helpful clerk fitted him with a dark blue tailored suit and a white button down shirt. He even supplied him with a pair of gold cufflinks and black dress shoes to complete the ensemble. Starsky whistled under his breath as he left the store and walked down the block to his hotel room.

Hanging the suit in the closet, he crossed the room to the phone and put in a call to Captain Dobey.

"Cap, it's Starsky." He said when Dobey came on the line. "I just found out that a couple of the guys that work at the escort service are the ones who beat up Hutch. Apparently, they thought they were doing me a favor."

"You got their names?"

"Just one. Matt King. He's the one who told me that they took care of my 'jealous ex-boyfriend' for me."

"I'm sure Hutch will appreciate knowing that his cover worked so well," Dobey said with a grunt. "I'll take care of it. We'll bring in Mr. King and find out who else was involved. They'll probably spend a few months in jail for assaulting a police officer unless this is their first offence and then they'll probably just get probation."

"I'll leave that up to you."

"Is there anything else you need to tell me?"

"Not really. I have a possible lead but I need to check it out a little bit more before I tell you about it." Starsky said

"Just make sure and keep me informed. No private parties." Dobey growled as he hung up the phone on his end. Starsky chuckled as he hung up. Although Dobey came off as being stern and foreboding, the men who worked for him knew that he was a fair and honest man who genuinely cared about the men who worked under his command.

Relaxing back against the pillows on the bed, he picked up the phone again and called his partner.

"Lo'…" Hutch's sleepy voice said in his ear.

"Hey, did I wake you?"

"It's okay…I needed to get up anyway."

"How you feeling? You need anything?"

"Naw, I'm fine."

"I talked to Dobey. I found out who beat the crap out of you."

"Yeah? Who?"

"Some of the other guys that work for the escort service. Apparently they thought they were doing me a favor."

"Some favor," Hutch grumbled "Use me as a punching bag."

"Good thing you got a hard head."

"You coming over?"

"Can't I got a 'date' tonight."

"Oh, yeah? Who with this time?"

"Would you believe a porn star?" Starsky said with a chuckle "I'm taking her to the premiere of her new movie and then a cast party afterwards."

"A porn star, huh?" Hutch shot back "Maybe she can show you some new tricks."

"I do quite well with my own tricks, thank you very much." Starsky told him with a laugh. "If it's not too late, I'll stop by when I get done. I'll even spring for a pizza."

"Just leave the kitchen sink off of half of it." Hutch told him good naturedly.

"You got it. I'll have 'em put rabbit food your half of it." Starsky said as he hung up the phone.