CHAPTER 13

The first time Ronnie showed up at Merle's, he just looked around without saying anything to the old black man. He'd been invited back and for some reason, Ronnie liked the man and felt safe with him. It took him a few days to actually stay long enough to watch the mechanic at work.

The third time Ronnie appeared, Merle ignored him. He continued the work he'd been doing on an old Chevrolet but didn't speak to the boy. He figured that the kid was skittish, like an abandoned animal that had to learn to trust again. So he fiddled with tools, made noises of frustration and made room as Ronnie sidled up to the car, watching as the mechanic seemed to struggle with what he was trying to do.

Without a word, Ronnie handed him what was needed and moved a little closer as Merle made the adjustment.

Glancing sideways, he winked at his guest, and then switched the toothpick he was chewing on to the other side of his mouth.

"You see the torque wrench around?" Merle put his hand out, expecting the tool to appear and wasn't surprised when the instrument met his palm.

Continuing to work, the mechanic spoke to Ronnie who watched and handed tools when necessary.

"You seem to know your way around a ve-hicle." Merle spoke the last word as only he could. It made Ronnie grin for the first time.

"I used to help my brother." Ronnie stepped back as Merle wiped his hands on a greasy rag.

"You want a job?" That's how the boy came to be there when Starsky and Hutch pulled up in the battered LTD.

Merle identified the car and owner before he even looked up from under the hood of the car he'd been working on. He inspected the work Ronnie was doing before he went to join the two detectives.

"Ya can't leave that piece a junk in the middle of my lot! It'll attract all kinds of pests." Secretly, Merle liked both of these men, but felt it was his duty to give them both, particularly Hutch, a hard time.

"Starsky, I'm leaving. I told you this was a bad idea." Hutch stalked off, playing the game that was expected of him.

Starsky watched Hutch walk away, then held his hands up in front of him, signaling Merle to calm down.

In a low tone, meant only for Merle, Starsky confided in the mechanic.

"Look, you and I both agree that Hutch's car is an eye sore." Starsky wagged his eye brows, and moved in closer to shut out Hutch.

"But you understand how attached people get to their cars. Hutch can't help it."

Merle tipped his hat back on his head and folded his arms in front of him. He watched as Hutch dug in the dirt with his foot, like a kid drawing a line in the dust, daring his enemy to cross it.

"It is true, Starkinson, that beau-tey is in the eye of the beholder." Merle gave his own spin on even the most common words, making his speech often hard to follow but impossible to ignore.

Starsky whistled to get his friend's attention. As Hutch looked in their direction, the dark-haired man motioned with his hand for the blond to join them.

Acting as referee, Starsky kept space between Hutch and Merle but spoke on behalf of them both.

"Hutch, you agreed to bring that… the LTD…" Starsky coughed dramatically for the mechanic's benefit and winked for only Hutch to see.

"… You agreed 'cause the car stalled out several times today. Merle's just gonna check it over and make any adjustments to get it runnin' smooth again, okay?" He looked to Merle for confirmation and satisfied at the man's slight nod, he searched Hutch's face for acceptance. Slowly, Hutch stuck out his hand to Merle, who grimaced but shook the proffered hand.

"Now, I'm goin' to use your phone, Merle and call Huggy to come pick us up, 'cause that way, you can have it over night. That'll give ya time to fix whatever needs fixin', agreed?"

A big sigh from Hutch was all he offered while Merle wandered over to the dented LTD.

Starsky turned toward the office but stopped when he didn't see Merle's regular helper.

"Hey, where's Pete?" Merle threw his rag on the hood of Hutch's car before he answered.

"That turkey up and left last week. Turns out, he's wanted in another state for check fraud, among other things." He walked back toward the two men, making unsettling noises under his breath.

"But he worked for you for a long time, didn't he?" Hutch asked, annoyed that the one employee that he'd liked wasn't smart enough to keep above the law. He might have issues with the flamboyant Merle, but the man really did know cars and how to fix even the most cantankerous vehicle, Hutch's car a case in point.

"Yeah. I just hope I'm not sorry I hired the kid in there." Merle pointed to the garage. They all watched as a pair of legs stuck out from underneath a car. It was then that Starsky noticed a familiar jacket hanging on a hook just inside the garage.

"I don't want a repeat of another Pete, ya know?" Merle cackled at his own joke, realizing it was pretty lame, but he figured if ya didn't laugh at life, then it would drag you down every time there was a problem facing you.

Starsky started back to the garage and stopped as he got to the car being worked on. He circled the car, stopping in front of the jacket hanging on the hook. He quickly searched the pockets, finding only a lighter and an old watch. He put them back then kicked at the legs.

"Hey you, come out here."

The body under the car stilled, then the boy slid out and stood up. Ronnie's eyes grew wide as he recognized Starsky. Hutch had been watching but when the kid stood up, he hurried to Starsky's side. That motion startled Ronnie and as he recognized the blond, he backed further into the garage.

"Ronnie? It's me Starsky. I ain't gonna hurt ya. I just wanna talk." Ronnie kept his eyes on Hutch, wanting to believe Starsky but unsure of the other's motives.

With the car between them, Ronnie stared first at Starsky but pointed over the man's shoulder at Hutch.

"What about him? He hates me."

Starsky leaned over the roof of the car which only prompted Ronnie to back up against the wall behind him.

"Nah, Hutch is just grumpy sometimes. He's actually pretty cool." Starsky changed position, twisting to face Hutch. For his part, the blond held his hands up in front of him as a sign that he meant no harm. Instead of entering Merle's office through the garage, he went back outside and entered that way, rather than startle Ronnie further by getting any closer than was necessary. He'd go call Huggy and leave Starsky with the kid.

"You're okay? I was real scared when I saw all that blood." Ronnie came around to the front of the car, watching as Hutch disappeared.

"Yeah, sure. I really appreciate your help. Wanna go grab a burger? Our friend is picking us up and he owns a bar…." Starsky broke off the invitation at the wary look that crossed the boy's face. He was about to move closer to the boy and reach out with a friendly, inclusive gesture when the atmosphere between them changed.

Ronnie suddenly had an angry look in his eyes. His mouth set in a stubborn line. He backed away, looking for a way out which made Starsky wince.

"Ya can't fool me, I know how this works. You pretend to like me while he's in there callin' the juvie police to put me away." The boy kicked the car's tire in frustration. It didn't help matters when Hutch returned to the garage, standing in the entrance, his hands on his hips. Ronnie took that as a bad sign and took off out the back door before Starsky had a chance to follow him.

Starsky wanted to run after him but Hutch's grasp around his bicep, kept him from advancing.

"What the hell did ya stop me for? All I wanted to do was buy the kid some food!" Starsky shrugged away from Hutch and walked out of the garage. Hutch followed him around the back of the building, not surprised when there was no sign of Ronnie.

"He just doesn't trust you yet. We'll find him later." Hutch reached out to grip Starsky's neck, gently turning him back toward the front of the structure.

"I just needed a few more minutes and he woulda." Petulantly, Starsky kicked at the dirt, giving Hutch the impression that he was now dealing with two kids. But the smile left his eyes as he noticed Starsky start to shiver.

Starsky rubbed his temple, closed his eyes and wobbled, leaning in to his friend.

Just then, they saw Huggy's big Cadillac pull into the lot. Hutch guided Starsky toward the car, got him situated in the front seat and spoke to Huggy.

"Give me a minute; I need to just square things with Merle." He hurried into the office and dug his keys out of his pocket.

"Do you know where that kid lives?" Hutch stretched his hands out flat on the desk, bending toward Merle.

"You just scared my replacement mechanic away and ya want I should give you information about him?" Merle hit the desk with his fist then stood up.

"I don't know nothin' bout him except he's good with tools and cars." Merle calmed down; even though he feared that the boy wouldn't come back.

"Look, he's really a good kid. But I don't know where he lives.

Hutch glanced out the window before turning back into the room. He sighed and pushed his hand through is hair. He winced at his own pain and conceded that maybe today had been too much for both of them. But he didn't want Starsky to get hurt. He would do anything he could to help both his friend and the young boy.

"If Ronnie comes back, give me a call, will ya? He probably will, at least to get his jacket."

Hutch's long legs took him back to the Cadillac. He groaned as he got in and shut the door.