Chapter 8

'And you're sure?' Madame Lilly said into the phone. 'No question?'

'No ma'am. I followed him to the station and I saw him come out a while later with a pig I know. A guy called Jiminez. They seemed tight, an' it seemed strange to me that he was out so quick. So I did a little snooping. Seems Billy Shapiro went missing three months ago. His contacts say he aint been around for a while. The guy we got here aint Shapiro Ma'am. He's a cop called David Starsky'.

Lilly cursed under her breath. 'A cop? Damn. You did good Mel. Make me even more pleased and see to him huh? Clean. I don't' want anything of this to come back to us. I want him gone, got that?'

'Yes Ma'am'.

'And Mel?'

'Huh?'

'Make sure there's nothing left'.

'Yes Ma'am! Right away'

The woman put the telephone down softly and looked around. Only minutes earlier she'd been cursing Shapiro's name for leaving her after their hot night of passion. Now she cursed Starsky's name for the double cross. Well, he wouldn't get away with it, she'd see to that. No-one got the better of Lilly Matteu and lived to see the next dawn.

Hutch heard Mel on the telephone as he drained the last of the coffee from his cup and prepared to bed down for the night. Since he'd been "working" for Lilly, he'd lived over the shop so to speak and had shared a small room with Mel at the back of the restaurant. It was cozy in the room, but they had everything they'd needed. A bunk each with clean linen, wash facilities in the room and a bathroom right next door. Food was the left-overs from Le Quatre Seasons and so he'd eaten pretty well in the four months, but his loss of weight came from living on his nerves. He couldn't relax. He was constantly looking over his shoulder and watching his back. He'd already made a bit of an enemy of Bo who found him clever and too competent a shot to put down like he did Mel. Ramp and Mel were simpletons; definitely the muscle of the outfit and until Hutch had come along, Bo had run the security outfit. When the blond appeared on the scene he found his place usurped, especially where Lilly was concerned and he watched jealously as Hutch found his way into her room occasionally.

The flaxen haired cop put down his cup, stripped off his shirt and was about to get into bed when he heard Mel say "Yes Ma'am, right away" and put the phone down. The burly redhead smiled as he turned.

'Get dressed again Cal. We got us a job to do tonight' he said excitedly.

'Damn, I'm all in' Hutch said softly. The jobs usually meant beating up on some flake who hadn't paid their due to Lilly and he was not in the mood tonight for another round of trying to stay in the background and work out a way to help the unlucky sucker on the receiving end. 'Does it have to be tonight?'

'Uh huh, we're gonna have us a little fun'.

'Who is it this time?'

'It's a surprise. We're gonna really enjoy this' Mel said as he led the way out of the door. He roused Bo and Ramp from their room and without another question, they took the two cars, the blue and the pick up, their weapons and a few other tools of their trade and set off into the night. Hutch drove the blue car, his head in a spin. He hated not knowing what was going on and he hated not being able to do anything about it. But Mel was tight lipped and told him only to drive down to the 'Angels' a new disco that had opened in town and not to take too long getting there.

The blond drove swiftly, but within the speed limit and arrived at the nightspot ten minutes later, the black pick up drawing up behind them. As they all got out of the vehicles Hutch asked again who their intended target was and as another car drew up, Mel pointed with a grin.

'Him'.

Hutch followed the gesture and his heart gave a lurch. Getting out of the big black shiny Bentley was a white suited, black shirted figure with a cacophony of chocolate curls.

'Shapiro? Why?' he stuttered.

'Aint Shapiro. He's a fuckin' cop' Mel explained.

'No, he can't be. Lilly would'a…..You sure?' Hutch's mind went into overdrive. Shit! How the hell was he going to get his partner out of this? He considered just drawing his gun and busting Mel, Bo and Ramp right there. But this whole operation had taken 9 months to set up and to blow it now would mean not only a waste of 9 months time, but also millions of dollars of taxpayer's money down the pan. No, he needed to think of something else, some way to get Starsky out of the way while still preserving the case.

The curly haired cop had just given the keys to his car to the parking valet and was turning towards the entrance when Bo made his move. Hutch watched in horror as the big black man walked swiftly over to his partner and stood close by the smaller man's back. Only Hutch could see the gunmetal grey muzzle of the Glock pistol grinding into Starsky's back, but the cop suddenly stopped, his body stiffening as he seemed to listen to Bo. Starsky's hands came from out of his pockets and he nodded slightly, turning and walking in front of Bo towards the blue car. Hutch searched Starsky's face for any sign of pain, finding instead only confusion and a little defiance. As the curly haired cop stopped by the blue car he looked around, a cold sneer on his face as he continued to play Billy Shapiro as though his life depended on it.

'Shit fellas. Can't a guy enjoy a night on the town without you gorillas followin'?' he grunted.

'Shuddup an' get in' Bo spat and pushed Starsky forward so that he cannoned into the car, bracing himself against it, arms outstretched.

'Lilly aint gonna be happy when she hears about this'. Starsky tried again.

'Don't you believe it. She's the one who told us to pick you up' Bo continued with a leer on his face. The big black guy was enjoying himself and Hutch felt the aura of danger in the air.

'Lilly did? Why?'

'Cos some things aren't how they seem, are they pig?'

'Hey, watch your language' Starsky snapped. 'You kiss your Mother with a mouth like that? Who are you callin' a pig?'

'David Starsky, that's who. Name ring any bells?'

A split second of fear showed in the troubled indigo eyes before Starsky decided to try to brazen it out. At the side of him, Hutch's heart sank. Fuck! They knew. His cover had been blown, but by who?

'You got me so wrong punk. An' when I see Lilly an' straighten all this out, they're gonna find you face down in the bay. No-one treats Billy Shapiro like this'.

'It's as well he's in upstate Indiana then aint it' Bo said with a final grin. 'Enough talk. Get in the car now. Cal, drive back to the restaurant. Mel, sit in the back with him huh? If he moves, shoot him'.

Mel nodded and bundled Starsky into the back of the car, producing a pair of handcuffs which he used to secure the brunet to the passenger grab above the door. He drew his gun and kept it pointed at Starsky's side s the brunet looked ahead. Hutch slid into the front seat, his mind a whirl as he started the engine and drove off, the black pick up hot on his heels. He cast a surreptitious look in the rear view mirror and his partner's eyes shone back at him, calm, trusting. They'd handle this. They'd find a way out. Because they were together. Hutch hoped Starsky's complete trust in him wouldn't be shaken, but right at that moment, he had no idea how he was going to protect the assignment and Starsky at the same time. Something had to give.

'Where are we goin'?' Starsky asked, his eyes searching out Hutch's in the mirror.

'To see the boss lady' Hutch replied as coldly as he could.

'What's goin' down?' And what are we gonna do about it partner?

'You. You're goin down' Unless ya can find a way to stop it.

'Me huh? Ya think ya can take me?' I'll be ready if you get to make a move.

'No problem. No use fightin' it. Better to go easy' Just go with me on this huh? Don't make it harder.

'I don't do nuthin easy' Starsky grunted, looking in the mirror. You ought to know that Pal. If there's a chance, I'll take it.

'No? Well maybe there's a time to start' Starsk, don't do anythin' stupid huh? Just go with me on this.

'Enough talk. You're gonna need all your breath for when Madam Lilly's done with ya' Mel interrupted and dug Starsky in the ribs. 'Boss lady don't take kindly to cops swimmin' in her soup'.

Hutch winced as he heard Starsky's soft hiss. Mel's elbow had caught him on his damaged rib and now, with his free hand, he massaged the spot tenderly. Minutes later, Hutch drew up outside the restaurant and as Bo and Ramp pulled up behind and got out of the car, they pulled Starsky roughly from the back of the blue auto and hauled him into the back door of the restaurant and through to Lilly's rooms. She was waiting, sitting calmly on one of the chairs by the fire, a large whisky in her hand. She looked up as Bo pushed Starsky roughly into the room. He staggered, straightened and stared at her contemptuously.

'Mind tellin' me why you sent your goons to pick me up?' he yelled.

Lilly stood and came to face him. 'I don't suffer fools gladly, and I don't like to be made a fool of' she said icily.

'And? If this is about me cuttin' and runnin' after the sex darlin' I was never one to be faithful, ya know. It don't mean nuthin'.

'Don't flatter yourself' she spat.

'Then what?'

'What indeed, Detective Starsky'.

The brunet V'd his eyebrows. 'What is it with this detective thing? Ya got a secret yearnin' for some groin action with a cop?'

Lilly drew back her hand and slapped him hard across his face. 'Don't insult my intelligence! I admit I was drawn in by your act, but you're not Billy Shapiro. You're David Starsky, Detective Sergeant, First Class of the 8th precinct, and don't try to deny it'.

Behind him, Hutch's stomach somersaulted inside him. How had they found out? Who'd leaked the information? Shit! How was he gonna get his partner out of this one, and himself for that matter, because if they'd found out about Starsky, sooner or later they were gonna start investigating with the brunet's partner was.

Lilly looked at Bo who took hold of Starsky's arms, pulling them behind his back tightly. Starsky stared at her, defiance shining in his eyes now he knew he needn't pretend any more.

'Ok ya got me. Lilly Matteu, I'm arresting you for……' Mel landed a blow in his stomach and he doubled, wheezing and sucking in a deep lungful of breath. He looked up through tearing eyes. 'supply and possession of cocaine, heroin and….' Mel struck again, lower and again the brunet doubled over, this time depositing the contents of his stomach on the deep pink carpet.

At the side of the Lilly tutted. 'Not here boys, out back. Don't make a mess on the carpet! And when you've finished having fun, make sure his cop friends don't find the body'. She turned, looked at the panting cop one more time, then picked up her glass and walked out of the door and into the restaurant. Behind her Bo grinned evilly.

'Time for some fun boys'.