Chapter 6

Starsky slept well that night, not least because he'd seen Hutch and verified that if not in the very best of humors, the blond was at least alive and functioning and, he had to admit, looking damned good. Satisfied that Hutch was ok, the brunet decided that if he was supposed to be Billy Shapiro and used to the good life, then at least he should use the facilities he'd been more or less forced to use. So, shortly after Hutch had been called away, he'd gone downstairs, opened the fridge door and spotted ribeye steaks there. Those he grilled and partnered with a baked potato and then he discovered the wine cellar. Choosing a nice claret to accompany his meal, he settled down to watch the huge TV screen for the night. About 9:30 Lilly telephoned and he grinned to himself as he answered.

'H'lo'

'Billy? Its Lilly. How are you finding the guest house? Do you have everything you need?' she asked, her voice low and sultry.

'Yeah, it'll do'.

'Comfortable?'

'S'ok'.

'Is there anything I can get for you? Anything extra? Anything you're missing?' she asked

Starsky could almost hear the silent like me coming at him down the phone and Little Davey sprung immediately to attention. She was a beautiful woman and under normal circumstances he'd have not needed asking twice, but he was kind of enjoying being the tease for once and so he quelled his raging libido and straightened his face.

'No, I'm good'.

'Coz if there was anything…….any little thing you want, I could bring it over. Or maybe…..would you like to come to the restaurant for a meal? I have a good selection of wines and um……I don't like to drink alone'.

'I said I'm fine. Was there anything else you wanted me for? I was about to turn in'.

'Oh! Well. Um, have a good night' she said, the startled exclamation evident in her voice. Lilly was not a lady used to rejection and as Starsky put the phone down he couldn't help punching the air in satisfaction. God he was good! She'd be eating out of his hand by tomorrow night. Maybe tomorrow night, Sunday, he'd invite her over for a meal, candlelight, soft music and then he could take what he wanted, just like the cold hearted bastard he was meant to be portraying.

As he turned in to bed, a glass of vintage champagne in his right hand, his left dipped below the sheets. Little Davey might not be getting much attention from Lilly just yet, but hormones were hormones and he still needed some consideration. He lay back on the fluffy pillows, his dark curls a stark contrast to the snowy white bed linen. His fingers closed around his core and he relaxed, imagination running riot as he thought about the next day.

Late the next morning, Starsky set off from the guest house, the Bentley pulling out quietly from the guest house drive and onto the quiet coats road. He wanted to try to get back to the Metro to bring Dobey up to date with what was happening, and he drove cautiously, thinking about the situation he found himself in. When he'd joined BCPD as a flatfoot nine years ago, he didn't think he'd be posing as the biggest drug dealer in America, living the lifestyle and driving the huge car. He'd taken the top down that morning and now the wind ruffled his sable curls as he drove one hand on the wheel and the other elbow resting comfortably on the sill of the door. Dressed today in navy blue blazer, white shirt and cream coloured slacks, he felt marginally more like himself. He wondered how Hutch was, knowing the blond had been worried about being called away the day before.

Looking in the rear view mirror as he turned the corner from the coast and towards the city, he caught sight of a black pick up truck about 100 yards behind him. Out of an abundance of caution, he slowed slightly, watching as the pick up turned off the coast road also. Starsky sat straighter behind the wheel and put both hands on the leather, driving in a more focused manner. If he wasn't being tailed all well and good. If he was, he'd be ready. He pushed the gas pedal hearing the throaty roar from the huge engine and the car surged forward. Whatever he thought about his own beloved Torino, this Bentley could knock spots off it for acceleration and he soon opened up a distance between them, but as he went up the ramp and onto the freeway, he saw the pick up speed up to join him. Damn! He didn't need this now. He needed to report back.

Determined to lose them, he floored the pedal and shot off through the traffic the needle nudging 60, 70 and on towards the 80 mph mark. Behind him, he could see the black truck struggling to keep up and now that he thought the had the upper hand, the brunet started to enjoy himself. It wasn't every day he got to drive at speed, the wind in his hair in a low long convertible. He nursed the car through the traffic, passing smaller family saloons as though they were at a standstill, but still the pick up hung on behind him and now another car hove into view.

Starsky had just passed another on ramp when he was spotted by the local cops. The black and white shot out onto the freeway, siren blaring and lights flashing menacingly. The brunet looked in the rear view mirror and cursed. No, no, no, no, not now. Please not now. Unless……

He pushed the gas pedal further, pushing the needle upwards to 90 now and the insistent blaring of the siren got louder as the cop car gave chase. At the back, he could just about make out the black pick up truck struggling along. They could still see him - good. Slowly he eased off the gas pedal, allowing the cop car to gain on him and as it came up alongside, he waved laconically at the uniform and pulled over to the side of the road. As he came to a stop and the cop got out, he saw the pick up pull over 200 yards behind him.

The young uniformed officer, a guy Starsky had never seen before swaggered over to the Bentley and stood a respectful distance from the car, mirrored sunshades on his nose and his baton at his side.

'Out of the car Sir' he said clearly to the brunet.

Starsky looked straight ahead, knowing of his cover wasn't to be blow he needed to make this look good. 'What for?'

'You seemed to be having some problems getting the back tires off the runway. You were speeding wise guy! Get out of the car and assume the position'.

Cockily the brunet got out of the car and walked to the front, placing his hands gently on the hood. Behind him, the cop kicked his legs further apart as he started patting his collar down.

'Easy tiger' Starsky said as the hands searched up the inside of his leg. 'There aint nuthin up there to interest ya'. He tried to stand up, but the cop pushed him back down roughly and with an angry shout he turned quickly and caught the cop's hand in his own. 'I said careful' he said, his eyes glittering a challenge at the young guy.

The young cop's temper snapped and he slammed Starsky back against the car, fumbling along his belt for his cuffs and as he leaned his body into the brunet's. Taking each wrist in turn and pulling them roughly behind the brunet's back he snapped on the bracelets, leaving the curly haired man leaning heavily on his auto. Secured, he continued his search of his arrest and as his fingers dipped into Starsky's left pocket, they closed around the small plastic packet and pulled it out, holding the container of white powder up to he light.

'Well lookee here! Not just a speeder huh?'

'Ok, ya got me. Ya gonna take me in?' Starsky asked, glancing back down the road to the truck.

'Sure am. You have the right to remain silent. You have the right….'

'To an attorney, yeah, I know the score. Just one thing. If you're partner's gonna drive my car back, make sure he knows what he's doin' huh?' With that, Starsky levered himself up from the Bentley and walked confidently to the black and white. Getting into the back seat, he grinned to himself. This couldn't be better. His street cred with Lilly would go up a notch and if he played his cards right, he'd still be able to get in touch with Dobey.

He said nothing on the way back to the 6th precinct but as he was unloaded from the squad car, he looked around him. There was no pick up truck in sight and now that he was confident he wasn't being tailed any more, he dropped his guard. He smiled at the young cop.

'Hey kid, this aint what ya think. I'm a cop too. Names Starsky. Sergeant David Starsky of the 8th precinct' he said.

'Uh huh. An' I'm Gerald Ford. Inside Bozo' the young man nodded to the door.

'I mean it' Starsky growled. Just let me make a call to my captain huh?'

'You'll get your one phone call. Better make it good. Possession of coke'll get ya 2 years'.

'Listen, kid,'

'I'm aint no kid of yours. I said shudup and get in there' the cop took hold of Starsky's arm and slammed him against the door to the building. The blow caught Starsky's cracked ribs and he grunted in pain, sucked in a breath and followed the cop docilely inside. Wouldn't do to be on a dangerous undercover assignment and yet be damaged by the heat!

Once inside, he was shown to a small interview room. The cuffs remained in place and the uniform left as Starsky sat uncomfortably on the chair and waited. He looked around, the room looking no different to any of the eight rooms at his own precinct. White, utilitarian furniture, white sound proofed walls and a large two way mirror or one wall. He sighed, wondering how long they'd let him sweat before someone came to formally charge him. He wriggled his shoulders, a dull ache from the unnatural position starting between his shoulder blades.

Starsky jumped slightly, half an hour later as the door to the small room opened with a jerk. He opened his eyes from his doze and looked up into the big brown eyes of Jiminez. The Puerto Rican scowled at him and he returned the gaze with a deep groan.

'Well aint that a pretty sight?'

'Shit. It had to be you two huh? How'd'ya find me here?' Starsky was none too happy to see one half of the two thorns in his side. Outside the door he saw Simonetti lurking, an eager leer on his face.

'One of us has to get with the plan. We were following ya'.

'And the pick up? Did ya see that?'

'Pick up? Which……'

'Oh shit! The pick up driven by Lilly's goons. Thank God I got arrested. If not you'd have blown my cover for good'.

'It aint us that's gonna do that. You're the one who's not takin' this seriously. Such a cosy little meetin' with Hutchinson yesterday. What if you'd been overheard?

Shuddup an' get me out of these' Starsky growled rattling the cuffs at the cop.

'What the hell were you thinking? This is a joke to you?'

No! Getting arrested is not my idea of a laugh! You however are guaranteed to have me splitting my sides'.

'You're an asshole Starsky'.

'And you're a dickhead, but I don't go round advertisin' the fact'.

'Do you realise ya put the whole operation in jeopardy?'

'No, I didn't. But you – You have no fuckin' idea. You and him' he nodded at Simonetti. You're bloody useless. Ya call that episode in the alley actin'? My God my kid brother could have done better in kindergarten'.

'I was cautious' Jiminez said defensively.

'No, you were a coward. I've seen girls run away slower than you did'.

Jiminez balled his fists, closing on the brunet who stood his ground, hands still secured behind his back. Indigo eyes blazed at him. 'That's your style is it? Ya can only deck me when I'm cuffed?'

'I wish Starsky, I wish!. Turn around'.

Jiminez unlocked the cuffs from the brunet's wrists and Starsky stood rubbing the feeling back into them. 'Where's Dobey?'

'He's back at the Metro. Told us to find out what's goin' on. So? Spill'.

'There's a shipment comin' in. No idea when yet, but I've made the deal with her and she's offerin' to let the east coast contacts take 60/40. I'm gonna make my move on her tomorrow an' then on Monday I should have more for ya. We meet at the pier down the coast, right? Monday afternoon'.

This shipment. How big is it?' Simonetti asked.

'Big enough for Lilly and her goons to be getting' jumpy. I gotta be careful, which means I need to get outa here. Not too quick, but fast enough for it to look like I got good bail contacts. Tell Dobey it should go down some time this week'.

'And Hutchinson?'

Starsky grinned cheekily. 'If I get the chance I'll tell him you were concerned for his safety'.

Jiminez snorted. 'It's you that'll get him into trouble if anyone does' he started to say as Starsky backed him up against the wall of the interview room. The brunet had a handful of the Puerto Rican's collar in his fists as he glared into Jiminez' eyes.

'You listen to me mother fucker an' you listen good. Me an' Hutch'll take care of ourselves. Just keep your sorry ass out of our way an' be ready when the time comes. I'm not gonna put my life or my partner's life on the line to have some two bit, half hearted screw up queer our pitch, got it? Have ya?' he growled.

Jiminez pulled the smaller man's hands from his neck, brushing himself down with exaggerated carefulness and sneered at Starsky.

'You see to yourself and your pretty partner, we'll do the man's stuff. Now get outa here' he said with a voice that was not quite as steady as he would have liked. Starsky stood back, breathing heavily. He pointed a warning finger at Jiminez, straightened his blazer and without a backwards glance headed out of the small room and off up the corridor.