Same disclaimers! No profit being made and S&H don't belong to me.

Warnings: violence and bad language and bigotry.

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CHAPTER 5

Edith Dobey had been a policeman's wife for more years than she cared to remember, and was well used to the erratic and long hours that were involved. However, she knew her husband and he did call when he was going to be particularly late. By 10.00 pm her slight concern had increased to worry. He hadn't let her know about anything out of the ordinary and she decided to call Hutch at home once she'd established he'd left the precinct several hours earlier. She shared a strong affection for both Starsky and Hutch with her husband, although Dobey never admitted it openly.

"I'm sorry, Ken, to trouble you but I was wondering if you had seen Harold," Edith tried to keep her voice calm.

"He left around 6.00ish, just before we left," Hutch said. "Are you sure he didn't have any plans?"

"No, he would've told me." Edith was a sensible woman but there was no mistaking the concern in her voice. "I don't mean to sound like an overanxious wife, but…"

"Don't worry, I'll call Starsky in case he knows something. Captain Dobey'll be fine," Hutch spoke as convincingly as he could. He was slightly worried himself for he knew how close the Dobeys were, but he tried to hide his feelings of unease. He also knew that Edith wasn't a panic merchant.

"Thanks, Hutch," Edith replied warmly. She knew Hutch would follow through but she hoped she was worrying about nothing.

Hutch replaced the receiver thoughtfully. In view of recent events, he was uneasy. Dialling Starsky's number, he hoped his partner would have some idea. As the phone continued to ring, he tried to remember if Starsky had a date that night but he wasn't sure. He knew Starsky was dating a nurse, Karen, and her off duty hours were as erratic as theirs. Sometimes their plans were last minute. Shrugging his negative thoughts aside, he

then called Huggy who hadn't seen him either. Grabbing his car keys he made the decision to drive over to his partner's place in case he was there with Karen.

Damn, Hutch thought, as he arrived at Starsky's and realized he wasn't home. No sign of the Torino so he must be on a date. Using his own keys, he let himself in and decided to call Edith who now didn't even try to hide her worry.

"Excuse me, Ken, there's someone at the door. Can you hold on? It might be Harold if he forgot his keys." Hutch heard the murmuring of voices. It wasn't Dobey he thought. Edith's cry alerted him to trouble.

"Is that you, Detective Hutchinson? This is Officer John Henderson. Captain Dobey has been found badly beaten and we're just taking Mrs Dobey to the hospital."

"I'll be right there." He left a note for Starsky, still wondering where he was, and trying not to worry, he rushed to the hospital where he found a frantic Edith pacing.

"Oh, Ken." he took her in his arms. "He was beaten up and left for dead in an alley. The doctor hasn't come out yet. Rosie and Cal are at my sister's place and I didn't want to tell them until I have heard how he is. How am I going to tell them?" Hutch tried to soothe her, horrified at the events.

Hutch could see that Henderson wanted to talk to him, but he gently shook his head. He wanted to support Edith as much as he could, at least until the doctor arrived.

The doctor finally came in. "He was a very lucky man to have been found when he was. He's got a concussion, several broken ribs, but he'll be okay. He needs to stay here for a few days so we can keep an eye on his concussion, but I see no reason for concern."

Edith sobbed with relief. "You can see him as soon as he's settled in his room."

"Where is Dave?" she asked Hutch, who was wondering the same thing.

--

Henderson spoke to Hutch once Edith left to see her husband.

"We found him next to his car and we've also got a witness. The witness interrupted the beating so probably saved his life. Apparently he heard noises, went to investigate and saw the attacker really laying into the captain. He's not sure he'd recognize the attacker again but he's willing to look through mug shots and give it a go. We got lucky in finding a good Samaritan!"

Hutch sighed, thankful that there was a witness who was prepared to be helpful, but knowing they didn't have much to go on.

"Okay, thanks for that. I'll go out to the crime scene and pick up Starsky on the way through." Hutch just hoped Starsky would be home. Knowing he wouldn't be permitted to see Dobey for a little while, he figured he should start the investigation, and, hopefully find his partner.

There was still no sign of the Torino. Damn, Hutch thought to himself. He tried to convince himself that Starsky must be out on a date with Karen and reminded himself that his partner was a grown man, a tough off-duty cop. He'd turn up once he got the message about Dobey, for he was as fond of their blustering boss as he was. He left a note on Starsky's table and reluctantly left, telling himself he was being silly to worry.

Hutch shuddered at the amount of blood on the ground next to Dobey's car. Dobey had clearly been attacked by a maniac, and he only hoped that it wasn't who he suspected. He knew he had no basis for his suspicions and was being very jumpy, but he did know how dangerous fanatics could be, and Starsky had made him even more aware of the danger. Starsky--where the hell was he?

Hutch continued to look over the car and his blood ran even colder when he saw the swastika on the car seat. He remembered again what Starsky had said about what could happen when a bigot was a nut. Starsk, you should be here. He turned around and was surprised and none too pleased to see Rayner arrive.

"I heard what happened to Dobey. Do you want a hand checkin' it out?" Very cool customer Hutch thought, and eyes as hard as stones. He could almost admire him and became aware that if he had been behind the attack, it would be very difficult to prove. Hutch was wary.

"I know Starsky's your partner, but he isn't here and I am. We need to get the person who did this, don't you agree? Two pairs of eyes are better than one." It was the longest statement that Hutch had heard come out of Rayner's mouth. "Starsky isn't here but I am", why did that bring a chill to Hutch. He reminded himself that he had no firm basis for his suspicions and maybe he should get to know Rayner, just in case he made a slip up. Hesitantly he agreed that it would be useful to have some help.

It went quite well for Rayner was a good detective, and they questioned a couple of possible witnesses, as well as the one who had broken up the attack. They didn't obtain much information but Hutch could see that Rayner was very thorough. Of course if he was the guilty party then he was an extremely dangerous foe. Hutch knew that their best bet was to talk to Dobey in the morning. Rayner didn't react at all at this statement, even though Hutch watched him very carefully.

"Hutch, if you ever need a partner, I'd really like to work with you." With considerable difficulty, Hutch maintained his cool.

"Thanks, but I've got a partner and we work pretty well together." Hutch tried to sound polite but it was a strain.

"Yeah, but he's only..." Rayner made his first slip and the glint in Hutch's eyes showed him that he had to be careful.

"He's only?" Hutch tried to keep the hostility he was feeling out of his voice, but he would've very much liked to have punched Rayner's lights out. He never took criticism of his partner well and was very defensive of him at the best of times. This wasn't the best of times.

Rayner read the warning lights flashing from Hutch's eyes accurately, they were hard to miss them and he certainly wasn't dumb. He knew he had to step carefully, so he walked away. Hutch watched him with some interest for he felt he had witnessed the first mistake.

This reawakened his worry about his partner, and it was now very late. He drove back to Starsky's. Dammit, he thought, still not home. Fighting down a major panic, he breathed a deep sigh of relief when he heard the Torino's loud engine. He took refuge in anger and as Starsky got out of his car to approach him, he demanded, "Where the hell have you been?" not noticing how pale and tense his partner was.

"With Ben. Hutch, we've gotta talk and I'm glad you're here." Starsky didn't even question what his partner was doing there at that late hour and when Hutch looked at him, he saw that his usually cheerful partner was looking very grim.