CHAPTER 16
Both men were quiet on the way to Merle's. Hutch was thinking about his therapy and hoping that it would soon be over. Forced inactivity was always hard. His arm and shoulder felt better and he was convinced that he could exercise on his own just as well as the professional was doing.
So he was going to try and talk the therapist into releasing him soon.
Instead of complaining about Hutch's driving, Starsky seemed deep in thought. The blond knew it had to be about Ronnie.
As a matter of fact, that's exactly what Starsky was involved in. He wanted to get the boy to trust him, but each would have to give a little. He knew that Ronnie would have to get into Child Welfare Services and into a foster home. Juvenile Detention Center was another possibility. True, the young boy had participated in some petty thefts, but with Starsky standing up as a guardian of sorts, hopefully that would count for something. As for Ronnie's part, he would have to work at being part of a family, trusting others and going to school. These were all things that would be difficult and Starsky understood how hard from his own experiences as a young adult.
'Ouch, what did ya do that for?" Starsky rubbed his arm, glaring at Hutch until he realized that they had stopped in the parking lot at Merle's.
"You didn't respond when the car stopped and you didn't even look at me when I spoke to you, so how else should I get your attention?" Hutch smiled at his friend. Starsky laughed, pushing open the car door. He got out but leaned down to speak through the open window.
"Don't forget to pick me up and don't abuse my car like ya did on the ride over!"
They both looked toward the garage and watched Merle wipe his hands on a rag. He crossed his arms and appeared to scowl as he looked at Hutch's car.
"Maybe my car'll be done and you can drive this tomato home yourself." Hutch chose to ignore Starsky's snort of disgust as he put the car in reverse.
Starsky walked into the garage as Merle motioned him over. Ronnie leaned into the open hood of the LTD, making adjustments as the engine idled.
"Starkinson, good to see you today. I'll be leaving now since this machine seems to have aggravated my allergies." To make his point, Merle sneezed, coughed and scratched his neck, all in a way that only the mechanic could make you believe that you could actually be allergic to a broken down, dented car.
He wandered away, muttering under his breath as he strode to an extremely gaudy automobile that was more his style.
Starsky smothered his laughter and turned instead to Ronnie who still fiddled with a few settings on Hutch's car and didn't make any comment.
He watched for a few minutes, then handed Ronnie a tool. The boy looked up for an instant, acknowledged the help and went back to work.
"Could be a couple sticky valves.", the boy informed Starsky. Ronnie stood up, stretched his back and then went to shut off the LTD. The sudden quiet stood between them, neither one knowing what to do next.
Starsky decided a direct approach would be best. He was anxious to get his thoughts out in the open as quickly as possible.
"Will you let me help you get back to your family?" asked the detective, as Ronnie walked over to a work bench scattered with tools. The teen-ager's hands were greasy but he reached up and pushed his bangs away from his face, leaving a black streak in the middle of his forehead.
He picked up a bottle of pop sitting on the work bench and took a drink. The detective watched him as he leaned against the LTD. Again, Ronnie moved his bangs away from his face, an act of nerves rather than any real necessity. The quick repetition convinced the older man that the boy was uncomfortable and didn't trust easily.
"Don't have a family." Ronnie made the simple statement, causing the dark-haired man to shake his head.
"Everyone's got at least a mom or dad…" Ronnie cut Starsky off, this time anger making his voice crack.
"You wanna know? Mom walked out on us. My sister left, got pregnant and married some jerk. Then my brother went to Viet Nam and got killed." He fished the lighter out of his pocket and held it up to show his companion. "This is all I got left of him." Ronnie picked up a hammer from the tool bench but threw it back down in anger. The hammer scattered loose bolts and smaller screwdrivers, some landing on the floor.
Starsky moved closer and reached out, but Ronnie shrugged off the gesture.
"Your dad must be worried about you then." Ronnie turned toward the detective and pushed at his hair again.
"My dad decided drinking was more important. One night after he passed out, I took some money, his watch, packed up my things and left."
"Why not give him a call?" Starsky's eyes turned dark with worry, imagining this young boy on his own.
"I tried a couple months ago, but the phone was disconnected." Ronnie sniffed and rubbed his hand across his nose.
Watching intently, there was no mistaking the tears in the boy's eyes. When he noticed Starsky staring, he quickly wiped them away and cleared his throat.
Starsky remembered his own fear and loneliness when he was young and wanted somehow to reach out with understanding.
'I know how it is to be on your own. I was thirteen when my dad died. My mom sent me out here to live with my Aunt and Uncle. Maybe you've got relatives?"
"I don't need anybody. I'm workin' here and Merle lets me sleep on the cot in the office sometimes. Just leave me alone!" Ronnie shoved past Starsky and headed outside.
Starsky dry washed his face, realizing that he was up against an independent, stubborn young man.
"But the law's gonna catch up with you eventually. You don't wanna go to jail so why don't you let me help you?" He shouted in frustration as he followed the boy, half expecting him to keep on going. But he found Ronnie on the bench in front of the building.
Ronnie fished a cigarette out of his shirt pocket. Starsky noticed that it was already half finished. He watched as Ronnie pulled out the lighter. He held it in his hand for a minute before lighting the blunt cigarette.
Taking a long drag, the young man seemed to enjoy it and took his time answering his friend. He flicked the ash onto the ground.
"Why do ya want to put me away? I thought we were friends." Ronnie's face reflected how frustrated and scared he was. Starsky sat beside him, deciding to defuse the tenseness between them.
"I'm not doing anything till you finish Hutch's car." Starsky bent forward to check on the LTD. "Is there any hope for it?" He smiled and laughed slightly, still peering at the open hood of the LTD.
Another puff on the cigarette before Ronnie offered some insight to his family.
"My dad had a car just like that. I watched my brother try to keep that thing goin' until he finally let me help. I guess he was tired of me askin' if I could help him with his pride and joy. Dylan was awfully proud of his Mustang." He finished the cigarette, dropped the butt and ground it into the dirt with his foot and continued about Hutch's car.
'The LTD's almost done. Merle don't like workin on it but he trusts me with it. Says it gives him a headache." He laughed slightly. For the first time, Starsky saw the child that lurked just under the surface. Just as quickly though another memory made the young man's eyes darken.
"I came home from school one day and Dylan's Mustang was gone. My old man sold it." Ronnie got up and went back to work on the LTD.
The time flew by until they heard the distinctive rumble of the Torino's engine. Starsky straightened up and wiped his hands on a rag.
One more time, the dark haired man offered help. He took a business card out of his pocket and handed it to Ronnie.
"If you need me… anytime.." Starsky patted Ronnie on the shoulder and leveled his gaze directly at the boy. They both stared without speaking until Ronnie slipped the card into the pocket of his jeans.
