CHAPTER 20
Starsky turned around to confront his superior but Hutch blocked his path. He put his palm up against his friend to calm him.
Hutch closed the door, guided his partner to their desk and forced him into his chair. Barely controlled anger bubbled up, the blue eyes flashing with questions.
"What the hell is that all about?" Starsky's eyes grew dark, his nose flaring in frustration.
He continued glaring at his partner, wanting answers but aware that he probably wouldn't like the outcome. So his anger centered on the person in front of him. Hutch didn't back away but stood, ready for the flood of emotions.
"How did Dobey know anything about Ronnie?" A challenge was evident in the words and Hutch hoped he could make Starsky understand. Deciding that honesty would be essential, he steeled himself for the hurt he was about to cause his friend.
"I wanted to know more about this kid. I talked with Dobey about Ronnie's options. Then I checked on reports about the recurring street muggings. Starsky, he's got a reputation. It's just a matter of time before he's thrown into Juvie."
"So, you don't trust me? You don't trust my instincts?" Starsky stood up, facing Hutch. They were in each other's space, which was usually comforting but this time, the tension between them crackled.
Keeping his voice level, his eyes fixed on the dark-haired man, Hutch tried to reason with him. He tried to ignore the question which had been thrown at him.
'You're gonna get hurt. Starsky, this is serious. Ronnie's involved in gangs, he steals, who knows what else. He hasn't worked at Merle's in days."
"He ain't involved with gangs. He's just a kid without anybody to care about him."
Hutch pushed his hand through his hair. "Did you ask him?" Starsky looked away but the blond moved back into his line of vision. "Did you?" He asked again and when he saw the shadow of doubt cross the blue eyes, Hutch sighed.
He hated inciting Starsky's anger, but he had to make the man understand that there was no point in getting further involved with this young boy. They had already been given orders to drop any involvement with Ronnie but Hutch knew that didn't always sway them to obey.
Starsky's voice was controlled, too controlled Hutch thought.
"I didn't have to ask him. He's not the type."
"What is it with you? Why are you so willing to believe him?" Hutch tried to understand but it was their nature to question everything but this time Starsky just wanted to accept the situation at face value. He felt that the young teen was taking advantage of Starsky.
Starsky began to pace. He stopped by the water cooler and slowly pulled out a cup and filled it with water. He drained it in one gulp, filled it up again and walked to the desk.
"He tried to help me at the fight. Now I want to help him." Starsky looked toward the clock on the wall, then down at his own watch. "I understand him like no one else can."
Out of habit, Hutch reached for the water sitting on the desk. But Starsky claimed it and gulped it down, defying his partner to question the action.
Once again, Hutch thought stating the obvious would be best. "But he ran instead of staying to explain about who had attacked you."
"He ran because you scared the crap outta him." He sat back down, this time straddling the chair. Hutch took this as a good sign. He wasn't backing down from the conversation but it seemed that he was putting an obstacle between them. Sometimes body language was all they had when it came to talking to people.
"C'mon buddy. Just leave this to people who know what's best for him. Sometimes it's better not to get so twisted up in somebody's life, especially if they aren't worth it."
He could see how his words had hurt Starsky. So the blond tried to reach out to his friend but at that point, the look Starsky threw at him made Hutch retreat, almost as if he'd touched something that had burned him.
One last try was all he could do. "Ronnie didn't show up today, did he? Probably didn't want to come anywhere near a police station."
Starsky rested his head on top of his arms which were crossed over the back of the chair. He felt defeated but didn't want to admit this to his partner. He cared more then even he understood about the young boy. He felt that he'd been given an opportunity to reverse the guilt that still ate at him when it came to his own brother. He wasn't there for Nicky who ended up on the wrong side of the law. He was in and out of jail and their mother had thrown him out the last time he'd come back to her front door. All because Starsky went to California when he was thirteen. Starsky had advantages that Nicky did not have. Now was the time to make sure another youngster didn't suffer the difficulties life had thrown at him. Ronnie had no control over his family life, just like Starsky had no power to stop what had happened to him or his brother. He was fortunate to have known John Blaine to guide him and teach him about being a man. Nicky had no one to look out for him. He and Ronnie had been thrown together and now it was up to him to guide the boy and make sure his life got back on track before it was too late. Starsky was positive he was the only one who could reach the teen.
"Somethin' musta happened. I should go find him." Starsky got up, started toward the exit. He turned around to look one more time at his partner. He didn't notice the other men in the room who were going about their business but discretely still fascinated by what was going on between the two detectives. I
n a voice tinged with sarcasm and disappointment, he made one last comment.
"Thanks for your support… buddy."
He pushed open the double doors, but even as he walked down the hall, Hutch's words followed him and hit home.
"He still doesn't trust anyone. Apparently not even you!" He watched as his friend retreated into the elevator.
Hutch paced the room, half expecting Starsky to return. One of the other detectives stole a glance at the blond who smiled weakly.
He massaged the bridge of his nose and walked toward the exit.
They were a good team on the streets, knew what the other was capable of but sometimes, he didn't understand Starsky at all.
"Guess I should go after him," He said out loud, not expecting a response from anyone. It was those words that would haunt him a few days later, making him wish he had done exactly that.
