Chapter 19

Starsky was not having a good day. He'd gotten to his doctors appointment on time only to find out that the physician had an emergency at the hospital and as a result, Starsky wasn't seen until two hours after his original time. He hated waiting and by the time he got to the precinct, he was feeling restless.

It did lift his spirits considerably when he was able to park in his favorite spot in front of Parker Center. With the return to work slip in his shirt pocket, he raced up the steps and through the double doors, expecting the squad room to be busy and noisy. Instead, there were only a few men at their desks. Mark was typing out a report, listening to a woman give her story about a crime. He raised his hand in greeting then returned his attention to typing.

Duke sat with his head buried in a file, other reports scattered over his desk. A mug of coffee sat in the center, the contents spilling out and staining a folder. He never looked up or acknowledged he'd seen or heard anyone entering.

Starsky stood just inside the doors, studying the office and wondering where everyone was. He looked at his watch, annoyed that it was so late in the afternoon. He'd arranged to meet Ronnie at two but the boy was no where in sight.

"Hey Duke, how the hell are you?" Starsky grabbed the chair opposite the other man and straddled it. The man looked up, his hair disheveled and a five o'clock shadow spreading over his face.

"Starsky! Glad to see you." Duke spoke around the pencil in his mouth and stuck his hand out to shake the other man's. The dark-haired man returned the greeting and asked about the lack of people in the room.

"Where is everybody?" Starsky looked around again, eyeing Captain Dobey's closed office door.

"Bay City isn't short on crimes. Glad you and your partner are better, Can't wait for you to get back on shift." The disheveled detective picked up his mug and went to refill his coffee. He peered into the empty glass carafe, scowling at the bottom of the pot, scorched black from neglect.

Duke sat down and moved a few papers around until he found the one he had been looking for.

"Is Captain Dobey around?" Starsky glanced over his shoulder in the direction of Dobey's office, wondering why the man hadn't come bustling out yet to greet him.

Duke didn't look up, intent on organizing the file folder in front of him, providing an answer tinged with annoyance.

"Was earlier. In a meeting now."

He studied his watch again. There was still no sign of Ronnie.

"Anybody looking for me? Did you see a kid at my desk?"

Duke stuck the pencil behind his ear and set the folder aside. He dry washed his face and pushed back his chair before answering.

"Only one lookin' for ya was Dobey. He wants to see you and your partner." Duke gathered the loose papers, stuffed them in a folder and stood up. "I gotta go, but it's great having you back." He headed for the door, his shirt hanging over his pants and his tie askew.

Starsky sighed, wondering about Ronnie. He wanted to believe that the boy would still show up but it wasn't looking that way.

He had just gotten to his desk when the doors to the squad room opened and Hutch walked through, looking troubled as he came directly to their shared desk space. He perched on the side of the table as he reached out to his friend.

"What took you so long? Didn't you get cleared?" The blonde's forehead wrinkled with concern as he watched Starsky's face for an answer.

The dark-haired man offered up a crooked smile and as he leaned closer to his partner, he laughed as he waved the slip of paper in front of him.

"The doc was delayed so I wasn't seen when I should've been but here it is, my release!" Hutch reached for the paper, wanting to see for himself the official words giving freedom to his friend.

Hutch patted him on the back. "Dobey called and said he wanted to talk to us both. When you weren't here, I went down to the cafeteria to get something to eat."

Starsky looked anxiously toward the hallway, still expecting to see Ronnie. He changed position, sitting on the back of the chair, his feet resting on the worn, cushioned seat. "Did you see Ronnie at all? He should've been here by now."

"Nope, never ran into him. I was hoping to thank him for the great job he did on my car. It's running better than it has in a long time." Hutch reached for one of the folders and began to read the top sheet. Just as both men began to settle into the work in front of them, Captain Dobey barreled through the doors, scowling at the room in general but his piercing eyes landing on the recovered detectives specifically.

"Starsky! Hutchinson! In my office… now!"

"Same old grumbling ogre.", Starsky whispered to Hutch as they followed the captain into his office.

Starsky took the chair closest to the desk and Hutch perched on the arm, leaning in toward his partner. It was an old habit, not at all out of the ordinary as far as Harold Dobey was concerned. He was happy to have them well again, but he'd be damned if he'd show it. Instead, he glared at them both and cleared his throat.

The detectives handed across their clearance papers to their captain. He studied them briefly then shoved them into a folder which sat in front of him.

"You've got your assignments on your desk out there so I expect you to be in on time tomorrow and get busy. No fooling around." He pointed a finger at the two men across from him, frowning at Starsky's salute.

Dobey chose to continue explaining about their assignment, rather than comment on Starsky's attitude.

"We know a few of those involved in that altercation at the playground. We questioned Freddy who seemed most interested in giving us details. He's a member of The Blades but after what he told us, won't be staying in Bay City long. He gave up several of The Blade members. We've made some arrests but it seems that a creep by the name of…" Dobey pulled a sheet of paper out of the mess on his desk, looking for one particular name. …"Diaz Ramada… a slippery weasel. He's got a long rap sheet. He's a dangerous fellow whom we'd like to apprehend."

Hutch rubbed his shoulder, thinking of the fight and how he had been injured. Again, his thoughts went to his partner, lying motionless on the ground and unresponsive.

The partners met eyes and Starsky winked, reassuring his friend that he was alright.

Dobey ended the briefing but had another subject matter to discuss.

"We're still getting reports on somebody stealing purses and wallets. Same area, near the senior center and by all accounts, it's the same kid. I think you know about him?" Dobey held Starsky with a dark glance; a warning that he better be honest.

"Well, ya see… ummm it's like this. He's a good kid. He's been working at Merle's and doing really good. He fixed Hutch's car. Tell him Hutch." Starsky poked his friend in the shoulder to encourage him to help out.

"Yeah, he got my car up and running." Hutch pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. He knew where this was going and didn't want to be part of Starsky's story nor did he want to be reeled in by his superior. Either way, he was stuck in the middle.

"That's not what I'm after and you know it." Dobey stood up and came to stand in front of the two men. He leaned back against the desk and crossed his arms.

"Do I have to say it? No private parties! This kid belongs in Children and Youth Services or in Juvie. Do I have to put a warrant out on him to have that accomplished?"

"Cap, just give me some time. I don't want him to feel pressured. If he'll trust me to take him to that office and smooth the way for him…" Starsky pleaded to no avail. The captain composed himself, refraining from the tirade that welled up inside him. He spoke quietly, thinking that would get his point across rather than raising his voice.

"If you know where he is, you better bring him in, understand? He'll get the help he needs and you can still be part of his life once he's been processed." Dobey went back to sit at his desk. Once seated, he rubbed his face in frustration. He understood Starsky's motive but the rules had to be followed.

Hutch sat quietly, waiting for the volcano of words that Starsky would spew once they were out of earshot of their captain.

"I shouldn't have to remind either of you that we are not a social service agency. What happens to that boy is not our concern."

Dobey lowered his eyes to his desk and when he looked up again, there was no question that the subject was closed and that they were dismissed.

He saw Starsky wavering. The detective had more to say but his partner held him back. That light touch on his arm did the trick but didn't remove the dark look in his eyes. The captain had stated his position. He guessed that Hutchinson would be in for an ear full.

Getting back to his own work, Dobey put the situation aside in order to finish up and head home. Beef stew for dinner. He had promised Edith he'd be home and he wasn't about to miss out on a family meal.