Chapter 2

Hutch put his big comforting hand into the centre of his partner's back and pushed Starsky forward into the large cosy room none too gently, closing the door and standing with his back to it. The brunet's new Beretta was snugly nestled into his waistband and his own Glock pistol was held loosely in his right hand, arms folded and back straight. As Starsky/Shapiro looked back at him seeing the epitome of the "heavy" the brunet's face held what others would class as contempt and what Hutch read as a message. S'ok, we're back together again. Piece of cake huh?

Starsky turned his back on Hutch and looked slowly around the room. It was large and square and multi functional. At the end the furthest away from the door, there was a super sized bed, dressed in pale shell pink satin and heaped with cushions and pillows. It was a four poster and the curtains that hung from the rails were white muslin held back with matching shell pink ties.

The pink theme was carried through the décor in the darker tones of the thick pile carpet stretching across the room, into which a large pale ash desk sank up to its castors. The pale wood housed a table lamp, desk diary and pen set, all tidily arranged along with a small rose vase and single deep pink rose. Across from the desk was an ornate white alabaster fire place arranged with logs even though it was the height of summer and the air conditioning could be heard whirring in the background. Right in front of the fireplace four easy chairs were arranged, two each side of a marble topped coffee table holding a cigarette box, an ornamental lighter and a tray with a cut glass decanter and two tumblers.

Sitting in an easy chair facing the door, Madame Lilly sat prim and cross legged, appraising her visitor.

Standing no more than 5'2" tall, she was paper slim, her small rather pointed face looking out from beneath white blond hair, piled into a loose chignon at the back of her head. Lilly believed in understatement and wore plain but perfectly cut black slacks, a white satin long sleeved blouse open low at the neck and Gucci sandals. A single white diamond hung from a rose gold chain around her neck and mirrored the single emerald cut stone on the third finger of her right hand. The nails of her fingers and toes were perfectly polished in deep pink and finished her ensemble perfectly. She smiled with a smile that did not light up her face and indicated a seat opposite her.

'Mr Shapiro, I presume. Please, sit down. Make yourself comfortable'.

Starsky walked forward, his usual strut exaggerated as he looked around with feigned indifference. His dark suit stood out starkly amidst the pale decorations of the room and he knew the cut of the jacket and his understated gold jewellery accentuated his dark hair. He'd dressed to impress and the woman was definitely taking notice. He walked slowly to the chair and sat down, crossing his legs easily and resting back, the ankle of his left leg resting easily on his right knee. One hand rested on the arm of the chair, the other he flung expansively back until it was resting on the low chair back. Only once he was completely comfortable did he bother to look at the woman.

'Nice place'.

'Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home' Lilly said. 'It's just something I bought on a whim. The restaurant is good for entertaining and I like to live, as it were, above the shop'.

'Gives a good cover story huh? Look can we get rid of the goons?' Starsky looked behind him at Hutch and the three other guards, all ranged along the back row. The four men stared straight ahead, unblinking.

She threw a dazzling smile his way. 'I think they're decorative, they stay. As for this place, do I look like I need a cover?' Lilly bent over the table to chink the glass together and poured Starsky two fingers of Scotch. As she bent, she gave her visitor a clear view down her blouse revealing two pert but unsupported breasts. Starsky stared for a moment, took the glass from her hand and raised his eyebrows slightly.

'No, everything seems fine to me'.

The petite woman sat back down, curling her legs up beneath her so that she nestled into the chair like a cat who'd got the cream. She took a tiny sip of whisky and appraised the man opposite. 'I've heard a lot about you Mr Shapiro'.

'All of it good I hope'. Starsky took a chug of the fiery amber fluid and held the glass lightly in his right hand. With his left, he pulled back his cuff and looked at the gold Rolex Oyster round his wrist. 'Shall we cut to the chase? I'm a busy man. Why d'ya want to see me?'

'I like a man who gets down to business. No idle chat, no wasting time. Ok Mr Shapiro……or may I call you Billy?'

'Mr Shapiro will be fine, Miss Matteu' Starsky said coldly. He had a bored look on his face, enjoying the look of challenge he saw in her eyes. It was the woman who usually did the playing, but now she'd met her match and despite the seriousness of the situation, Starsky was beginning to enjoy himself. Behind him, Hutch winced inwardly. For Gods sake be careful Gordo.

'Very well. I've heard from my associates that you have several contacts who could be quite useful to me back east. You seem to have quite the little enterprise going for you'.

He raised his eyebrows lazily. 'Ten million US per year. Not enormous, but it keeps me ticking along. I have everything I need. Cars, yacht…….women' he said, the edge of challenge in his voice.

She nodded. The dollar signs almost flashing in her eyes. 'I was wondering. While you're staying in Bay City would you like to use my guest house? It's so much more comfortable than some of the hotels we have here. I'd be honoured if you'd be my guest'.

He looked at her quizzically. 'Why?'

'Why not? Call it a goodwill gesture, one business associate to another'.

Starsky leaned forward and put his glass down on the table, his indigo eyes narrowing as he looked back at her, his gaze never wavering. 'That's bullshit!' he grinned coldly. 'If we're both businessmen of the world, we both know ya don't get sumthin for nuthin. Don't insult my intelligence lady. Spit it out. Wha'd'ya want?'

She sat back, contemplating him. There was something about the raw animal passion of the man that drew her to him. She was good at her business. Some called her cold hearted and calculating, the more plain speakers called her a bitch. But she appreciated hard nosed deals and the aura of power surrounding Billy Shapiro turned her on like a caplet of amyl nitrate. She wanted his business and, she admitted, she wanted him. She wanted him to crawl to her, to beg her, to romance her and ultimately to give her exactly what she wanted.

'I admire single mindedness Mr Shapiro, so I'll come to the point. I have a fair organisation here. Not quite on the scale of yours, but it's a living. I have contacts up and down the west coast from Seattle to San Diego and they've proved more than useful. But I'm sure you'll appreciate that there's only so far I can go with them before I need to……shall we say expand. And that's where you come in'.

'You aint tellin' me anythin' to keep my attention'.

'Well, I think I can cut us a deal which will be mutually beneficial. I know you have a lot of contacts back east. Your operation has been going a lot longer than mine and I'm sure you'd like to expand too. Some of your contacts are already here, and I know you'd appreciate the wisdom of keeping them sweet. It's such a cut throat world we live in' she paused, holding up the glass as she licked her lips.

'I'm not here for games lady. I can handle my own contacts. I don't need some woman tellin' me how to run my deals'. Starsky started to get up to leave but she put her feet down to the ground and held out a hand.

'I didn't mean to insult you. I was trying to offer you a solid business proposition. I share my information with you and you share yours with me. With more and more stuff coming in from Colombia and New Mexico I thought you might like a slice of the action down here too'.

'And in return? Seems to me lady, like you're gettin' the best outa this deal. You're the one who's gonna be feedin' off my name an' my reputation. No deal!'

'Not even for a 50/50 split?'

'You're crazy! What the hell sort of incentive'd make me give up half my client base to you? Ya want easy money, the city's cryin' out for hookers. I'm sure you'd succeed. I'm outa here'. Starsky got up and started to walk towards the door seeing the way blocked by Hutch and three other heavies, all fingering their weapons ready for action.

'No-one leaves till the boss says' one of the black guards muttered, his hand on Starsky's shoulder.

The brunet brushed it away angrily and turned and stared at the woman contemptuously. 'Ya gonna call off your gorillas?'

She nodded at the four men by the door and they parted. 'I'm not that easy to brush off Mr Shapiro. I don't take no for an answer. Not at first. Why don't you reconsider? Take some time huh? The guest house is still yours if you want it'.

'I got a place'.

'Call me tomorrow then' she pressed. 'Think about it over night'. She ran her hand over the front of her blouse, her nipple rising and poking up through the soft satin. 'I could make it worth your while. I think we'd work well together. Call me tomorrow. I'll be waiting. Boys, why don't you show Mr Shapiro to the door?'

Starsky stared at her hard. He admired someone so hard nosed that even with the insults he'd thrown at her was still up for cutting a deal. Turning away with exaggerated slowness, he walked out into the hallway, wishing he could have a couple of minutes alone with his partner.

Hutch had watched the whole interplay between the brunet and his woman boss. He'd seen just how ruthless and calculating she could be and he winced inwardly as he listened to Starsky pushing her further than he'd heard anyone push before. It felt so odd and out pf place to hear the usually easy going brunet playing the hard man. It was so out of character that for a few minutes during the short interview, Hutch almost forgot that this was his partner of seven years speaking. Starsky was so into the role that the blond felt utterly convinced for minutes at a time that he really was Billy Shapiro, big time coke dealer from Rochester, New York. He waited for the explosion as he heard some of the things Starsky had said to Lilly. She was not noted for her patience. But even when the brunet was playing a role, he could still get under someone's skin, the animal magnetism and charm of the man winning over even the hardest of characters.

The group of five walked down the hallway, Starsky in the middle of the four guards. He desperately wanted to speak to Hutch. His partner was so near, and yet so far away. In all their years working together they'd never been separated for so long at a stretch and sappy as he admitted it was, he wanted just a few words now that the adrenaline was wearing off.

Starsky reached into his jacket pocket, pulling out his black alligator wallet and purposely dropped it on the floor. Halting the small cavalcade, he bent down to pick it up, causing hutch, who was at his rear to bump into him. his credit cards and money scattered over the carpet and the blond bent down to help him scrape them together.

'Nice goin' Hutch mumbled quietly. 'Good t'see ya'.

The blond's hand brushed his as Starsky grunted out loud 'Hey, hands off Blondie. Keep your digits where I can see 'em huh?' As he looked round into Hutch's face he winked before standing up and walking unconcernedly out into the restaurant.