Chapter 14

Hutch stayed quiet while he sat on the bed beside Starsky in their hotel room and listened to him recount what had gone on with Tony Durniak that morning.

When Starsky had finished talking, he looked at Hutch searchingly. "That's the gist of it. I think that when Nicky showed up here in LA, he was hoping to somehow find the meth in our possession and get it to Durniak himself. It would have earned him a good position in Durniak's organization."

"Well, it makes sense now why he was scouting out my place yesterday and grilling you at Huggy's – for sure." Hutch hesitated. "Maybe Nick was trying to help you in his own misguided way. Maybe he thought that if he got the meth and handed it back to Durniak, getting it out of your hands, he'd save you the pain of being implicated in the stolen drugs?"

Starsky looked at him. "What? You can't seriously believe Nicky was acting altruistically on my behalf? Now I know you're just trying to soften the harsh truth about my loser brother. It's okay, Hutch. I finally get it – Nick is a bastard to the core."

Hutch tried another angle – and while he knew Starsky was right, he was trying to make it just that little bit better for him. Finally having the ugly truth about a traitorous brother shoved in your face was a lot to deal with on top on everything else Starsky was going through. "You know, Starsk, when you think of it, by Nick selling you out to Durniak, he has actually opened up an opportunity for us to get you out of this mess."

"Opportunity? You really believe Nick did this to provide me with some sort of opportunity?"

"Well, it has opened up a possibility at least –"

"Yeah, sure. You know even better than I do that Durniak has me at the end of the plank on this one. Possibility? Face him off or death by water."

"I know it feels like that to you – especially given that he now has Nick but – "

"Nicky? Why are you so hell bent on trying to make this sound better for him than it really is, huh?" Starsky jumped up shouting, cutting across Hutch's words. "Forget Nicky! I couldn't give a shit about the loser. He's had his last chance with me with this. His last."

Tough words, hard emotion, but I'm not sure you really feel that way, Starsky. This is your hurt talking, your heart, not your head. Can you ever really let go of holding on to this little brother of yours and hoping that he will one day come through for you?

Hutch held up his hands to calm Starsky down. "Fine, we'll forget your brother. And as you've said, you know what I've always thought about him. I just want you to be sure about how you read the situation so that you don't carry around a sack of guilt if something goes wrong with –"

"If something goes wrong then I'll deal with it just like he'll have to deal with it. Nicky's made his bed; now he has to lie in it. The moment I learned the truth of how he sold me out to Durniak was the moment I let him go in my mind. Now for my sake, can we leave Nicky out of this? He's not worth the breath it takes to say his fuckin' name." Starsky slashed his hand in the air as though severing the very thought of Nick from his mind.

"Alright. Let's leave Nick aside for the moment then." Hutch went on quickly to push past the deep hurt he knew was eating at Starsky. Damn Nick to hell and back.

In truth, he felt no sympathy for the younger Starsky and doubted there was anything governing his actions then greed and hunger for self-advancement. When Hutch had learned what Nick had done, he had struggled to quell his rage over his ultimate betrayal of his older brother. But it served no purpose to unsettle Starsky by venting his anger, so he had kept quiet and focused on Starsky's needs. It didn't stop him from entertaining fantasies of what he would do to Nick when he saw him again. If he saw him again. The stupid fool could end up as another statistic at the hands of the mob. That reality was all too clear to Starsky, but he was doing his best to shove that fear down so he didn't have to face it.

"What are your thoughts on pulling this deal off then?" Starsky asked him, having moved on from the issue of Nick.

"I don't think it's an impossible situation. If Durniak can get those men - if he can, in fact, deliver them, then it'll be all you need to remove you from suspicion," Hutch said. "We just have to get the meth."

"Oh sure, just get the meth," Starsky said bitterly. "It's not goin' to be easy… legally."

Hutch tried not to react. He hoped that his determined partner wasn't considering doing anything that might land him in even deeper water with the law than he already was. "However we look at this, we've got to have Dobey involved."

Starsky remained pensive. "I don't know…it depends."

"What do you mean?" Hutch frowned. "We go behind Dobey's back, like setting up a meet to do the deal without backup - we're dead. Durniak will come heavily armed."

"Of course he will," Starsky answered.

"Then what do you mean?" Hutch asked again.

"I'm not sure I even know what I mean. That's the damn problem here Hutch," Starsky said, punching the mattress with his hand in frustration. "I'm still tryin' to work this whole thing out myself. There's so many ways it could all go to shit. What Durniak wants from me is something I don't know I'm even prepared in taking the risk to give him, even if it gets me what I need."

"But," said Hutch, "it's the only way he'll give you those men…"

"Two drug pushers in exchange for a huge load of drugs," Starsky let out a harsh chuckle lace with a good measure of disgust. "Does that sort of balance out do you think? Does that justify taking the risk to clear my name?"

"It's not just that black and white Starsky," Hutch said quietly, understanding the guilt that was gripping his partner. "There's a hell of a lot more that could be gained from doing this deal apart from just clearing your name."

"Yeah – but handing Durniak that concentrated meth…"

"I know."

"Still," Starsky said, "I can't show up with a fake load of meth. Once he realized it's not real, it'd likely get me a bullet in the head."

Hutch grimaced at Starsky's imagery. It wasn't lost on him that while talking about the possibility of meeting Durniak, Hutch used "we," but Starsky kept referring to himself alone.

Hutch nodded. "I'm sure Durniak can recognize his own product. The drug is worth too much to him. He thinks he knows what extent you're prepared to go to clear your name. He probably thinks he has you so far against the wall you'll deliver."

"I've got to take in the real meth." Starsky paused. "So? What are our chances that Dobey will give me permission to use the meth?"

"Will you stop with the 'me', Hutch snapped. "We're in this, not just you."

"If Dobey won't let me have it then that makes it a lot harder…" Starsky said, ignoring Hutch's comment completely.

"Too damn right it will." Hutch said, rubbing his temple, "Handing Durniak over that huge parcel of meth could wind up blowing up in our faces if something goes wrong and he gets away with the stuff. Christ! Imagine putting that amount of shit back into his hands?"

Starsky looked stricken at the thought. "You've got it. I've done nothing else but think of that since I left his place. Save my own ass at the price of fuckin' up the lives of hundreds of others and giving Durniak the potential to grow his dirty empire even more. What sort of cop, what sort of human would that make me huh?"

"Starsky – I didn't mean it like that. Just that –"

"I know that for God's sake, but the fact is Hutch, if I – if we screwed up and he did get away with the meth, it would be my fault. I couldn't live with that – especially knowing I did it out of selfish reasons."

"That's why we need Dobey in on this Starsk. He might have to bring in the Feds. This might be their best chance to bust Durniak."

Starsky looked thoughtful. "Durniak will make sure he's covered."

Hutch sat back. "But if Durniak thinks you're prepared to deal with him and bring him his meth, you wouldn't be doing it with the knowledge of the Department. If he thinks you're risking jail for illegally obtaining the drug, as well as being a suspect for murder, he's not going to worry about you being wired."

"That's true," Starsky said, mulling over Hutch's logic.

"Which is why," Hutch said, "Durniak will also accept that I'll be at your side."

Starsky's head shot up. "Hutch - "

"Stop right there, Starsky. Like I've said, I've heard you refer to only yourself when you're talking about meeting with Durniak. But it won't be just you. No way. I will be there too, right beside you, or you won't be going in at all."

"What are you going to do? Try to stop me? Stand in my way of taking the only chance I have to clear my name?"

Hutch was a little shocked that Starsky put it like that. "I won't let you risk your life by going in alone. That part is non-negotiable. We have to work out the details with Dobey before we know if we'll even be able to pull this off. But whatever he agrees to, I'm right beside you." Hutch fixed Starsky with an obstinate stare, stopping himself from driving home the point with a jab of his forefinger. He knew how that particular habit pissed Starsky off.

"Okay – you've got it," Starsky said, giving in. "We walk in together."

"Good," Hutch said, not wanting to show how worried he was by Starsky's quick capitulation.

Hutch cursed as his cell phone rang, cutting him off. He looked at the incoming call and then back at Starsky. "It's Dobey."

"I thought he was going to give us some time…" Starsky said as his partner took the call.

Hutch paced away toward the window as he listened to his captain's voice. The call was brief. He finished the call and pocketed the phone.

"He wants us in there now, right?" Starsky surmised.

"You got it," Hutch said as he opened up Starsky's overnight bag and pulled out a clean shirt before holding it toward him. "Here, you'll need to change out of that bloody shirt before we go in, otherwise Dobey will be asking questions you might not want to answer," Hutch suggested gently.

Starsky looked down at the splotched dried blood as though he had forgotten it was there. "What's happened? You looked surprised at what he said." Starsky began unbuttoning his soiled shirt.

Hutch watched him as he did, thinking again about how the blood had gotten there. Because of Nick. Because of what Nick had done to Starsky. Hutch shoved his anger away again and came back to the moment to see Starsky waiting for an answer. "Jake. Jake Webster, Van's friend from New York. He's being brought in for questioning."

"Yeah? So Dobey tracked him down?"

"No. Carlson did. It's Carlson who's bringing him in," Hutch said, bracing himself for Starsky's reaction.

"Carlson! Why is Carlson still on the case, dammit?" Starsky growled as he shrugged his shoulder into the new shirt. "I thought that was taken care of – pulling him off it."

"Apparently Webster was down in the hotel parking garage breaking into my car, and Carlson caught him."

"What? Why the hell was Carlson -?"

Hutch was already at the door waiting for Starsky to join him. "Seems that Lieutenant Carlson has a problem with following orders from his superiors. Obviously he's still shadowing us."

Starsky grunted as he grabbed his own jacket, tossing it to Hutch while he buttoned his shirt. "Damn IA, always sniffin' round like bloodhounds for a kill." Starsky joined him at the doorway. "Maybe they can hold this guy long enough to get something out of him that might help my case."

"We'll have to take a taxi – unless there's a spare squad unit down in the garage with my car. Let's go down and see." Hutch closed the door behind him as they began walking toward the elevator. "So if this Jake was breaking into my car, it's a good guess he was trying to find the meth."

Starsky pressed the elevator button. "Let's be certain of one thing, Hutch."

Hutch waited for the doors to open. "What's that?"

"There ain't no way anyone would want to break into your car to steal it or any part of it. So, yeah – I'd say we could be absolutely certain he was looking for the meth." Starsky threw back the taunt before he slipped into the elevator just marginally avoiding the heavy shoulder jab by Hutch.

Inside the elevator, the brief moment of levity left them as they both fell quiet.

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Captain Dobey had left directions for Starsky and Hutch to wait for him in his office while he dealt with Carlson and Jake Webster. He didn't keep them waiting long. When he entered his office he found Hutchison pacing near the window, talking in low tones to Starsky who was seated on one of the two office chairs. Dobey closed the door of his office behind him and walked across the room to take a seat behind his desk. As he passed by Starsky he laid a hand on his back, reaffirming his safe return. Hutch left his place near the window and came and found his own seat, perched on the arm of Starsky's chair. Hutchinson's actions were of no surprise to Dobey. Over the years he had become used to the two of them sharing one chair even in a room where there was three or four others available.

"Starsky. Good to see you're unharmed son."

"I'm fine Cap'n."

"You had us all worried there for a while. Your partner here," Dobey pulled his ubiquitous pencil from behind his ear and waved it at Hutch, "was coming dangerously close to ready to making sure the whole tech department would never work with him again." He meant it only half jokingly. Hutchinson could be a formidable force when he was worried about his partner.

At another time, on any other day, Dobey might have expected that Starsky to have taken the comment and made light of it. Run with it a bit more. Dobey knew that Starsky was always looking for an in to rib at his largely cool and calm, blond partner. But Starsky only gave his partner a long, fond look. "It was understandable that Hutch thought the worst when he saw Durniak's thugs taking off me and my brother." Starsky said, as though remembering the morning's experience, obviously still fresh in his mind. "For a while there I wasn't so sure Durniak would let me walk out of there alive either. With men like Tony Durniak, you just never know –"

Dobey watched the two of them, watching each other – sizing up their body language and their unspoken dialogue with each other. He didn't miss the way Hutchinson's long solid thigh pressed hard against his partner's forearm as he sat perched on the arm of Starsky's chair. Clearly this was no time for diversions of lightness. Both men were pensive and strained.

"Can you tell us anything about Jake Webster yet?" Hutch asked.

"Not yet. Carlson only just got him in here and booked. Once he's processed the Homicide boys are going to question him. We'll wait to see if his prints match the few they managed to lift from your greenhouse last night. If that's the case, we've got him on the car and your apartment. It means a better chance of getting him to talk in order to get himself off the hook."

"Do you think he will?" Starsky asked.

"Initially he told Carlson he wanted to lawyer up," Dobey said, "but I heard from the Santa Monica boys that he's settled down and he's now agreed to be questioned. His lawyer was arriving as I came in here to you."

Starsky made a spluttered sound midway between a snort and a scathing laugh. "No surprise there. I bet Carlson pushed his buttons enough to make him ask for one."

Dobey chose not to comment about Starsky's opinions of the IA Lieutenant. "I don't think the homicide team will have too much to do with him. He is not a suspect in Vanessa's murder as he can substantiate he was in New York at the time. I think Simonetti wants some time with him, especially in view of the fact that he was picked up breaking into a cop's vehicle."

"What's the reason he gave for being in the hotel garage in the first place Cap'n?" Hutch asked, his face quirking in a way that told Dobey it wasn't so much a question but a way to emphasize that Carlson was still stepping on their toes and going against procedure.

"Don't worry about that for now," Dobey waved his hand at the question, remaining non-committal. "Let me handle the lieutenant – and IA in general, for that matter. We've got more to talk about then to bitch about Carlson's intentions. Either way, his being there has resulted in a new thread for the case. We've got Jake Webster in a position where we can hold him and hopefully get him to open up. It could be enough to get Starsky off the hook – or at least buy us some time. Carlson might just have scored one for you Starsky."

Starsky swore under his breath, pulling his face in distaste and disbelief. "I'd bet my last damn dollar that helping me out was the last thought in that bastard's mind when he sprang Webster in the garage. More like he thought it was another opportunity to incriminate me further. Sneaking around after us like some -"

"Starsky!" Dobey snapped, "Enough about Carlson. Let's move on for God's sake." Dobey leaned his big girth forward over the desk, thumping the side of his hand in frustration on the arm of his chair determined to bring the focus of the meeting back to what had happened with Starsky that morning.

All it got him was a scowl from Starsky and an obstinate look of refusal to back down on his attitude to the IA lieutenant. Dobey found himself looking at Hutchinson for assistance.

"The captain's right Starsk," Hutchinson pacified. "Carlson doesn't matter right now. Put it away till later."

Just as Dobey knew it would, Hutchinson's soothing tone quickly settled his partner, who blew out a breath, nodded and even managed to look a little contrite. Dobey accepted the quick change in Starsky. He was well versed in how these two could quickly pull each other back from slippery angry, precipices when his own efforts only seemed to fuel the anger more.

'Sorry Cap'n…I'll shut up about him," Starsky said, more calmly now. "The guy just really unnerves me."

"And I'm sure that the Lieutenant has the same sense about the two of you. But it's time to put that aside the time being. Now about what happened this morning? Are you going to fill me in? I'd like to hear what went on – and," he fixed both detectives with a discerning look, "I'd appreciate it if you gave me the whole story."

Once more the two men looked at each other, rather than at him. Dobey could sense that Starsky was trying to decide how to open the discussion.

"Starsky I need you to level with me," Dobey prompted, his voice taking on an edge of warning. "Level with me, and don't make it harder for me than this already is to try and help you."

"You're not going to like it Cap'n," Starsky answered, closing his mouth in a firm line.

Dobey let out a sigh. "You said it yourself Starsky. With a man like Durniak, this is no time for one of your private parties. I've got enough shit to shovel with the fact that I took the meth off you last night. I think you know that." He waited while the two men nodded in acknowledgement.

"We do Cap'n and we're appreciative –" Hutch went to answer.

Dobey cut him off. He wanted to get his point across while he still has control of the conversation.

"And you Starsky. You've got more than enough to contend with having IA on your case – personally and professionally and Homicide getting antsy because so far we have little or nothing to go on."

"I know that too Cap'n," Starsky said flatly and Dobey could see the physical evidence of fatigue and stress around his eyes and the worry in the rigid set of his jaw. On noting it, Dobey pulled back a little, his tone taking on a concerned edge.

"Hutch told me that your brother didn't return with you when Durniak let you go this morning, " Dobey said, watching Starsky carefully as he added the part about Nick, trying to get a handle of what might be behind this new situation. Starsky's face was giving little away – at least not to him – as he was caught up in a two-way silent exchange with Hutchinson. God why was it always like this with these two? Dobey never ceased feeling frustrated with the exclusivity of his two detectives style of communication. He often felt that he was privy to only fifty percent of what the two of them were saying, shut out by their well-practiced non-verbal interplay.

"Nicky stayed with Durniak." Starsky said and left it at that.

Dobey hoped that with the hooded, shared glances passing between them that they were in fact going to cut him in. If they didn't he was more than concerned about the outcome for each and every one of them.

"Under force?" Asked Dobey.

Once again Starsky look quickly at his partner who returned him a small nod.

"They have – a quasi working relationship. Believe me it doesn't sit well with me…" Starsky's eyes couldn't hide the resentment that his words only hinted at.

"Is your brother alright?"

"He was when I left Durniak's office," was all that Starsky offered as way of explanation.

"So it's a complicated situation where your brother is concerned," Dobey said, "I hear that. That's between you and your brother Starsky. But I need to know what impact does it have on what Durniak wanted from you by setting up this meeting?"

"Nicky has become extra collateral. He's added a bit more to Durniak's bargaining power," Starsky said. "Durniak has negotiated a deal with me. He says he'll hand over the two men who were responsible for Vanessa's death. He claims he can get the two men, and – persuade them to come forward. Without them I'm fucked. I know that and he knows that. "

Dobey played with the pencil in his hands, rolling its cylindrical surface he felt his brow bunch up in consternation. "I see. So he's offering you enticing bait, one which I'm sure with his power and resources to say nothing of his threat potential, he can deliver to you." Dobey was already figuring out the details of Durniak's proposal. Obviously he'd withheld Starsky's younger brother to force him to do what he wanted – as well as the promise of a testimony that would knock Starsky's from prime position as suspect for murder. "And will he also be offering your brother in this deal?"

"Yeah, Nicky too." Starsky said with yet another look at Hutchinson as he did. It left Dobey sure that he was only going to get part of that story. For now though, he let it slide. He was more interested in hearing how the two detectives imagined they were going to handle Starsky's part of the deal. He already knew what Durniak expected from Starsky.

"So he wants a trade. In return for your brother and your ticket out of a murder conviction – he wants you to hand him over the meth, which he thinks you have. " Dobey stated rather than suggested his summation. He could see by Hutchinson's face that he was right in his calculation.

"You've got it Cap'n," Starsky said, grim faced.

"We think that Durniak isn't sure where Starsky stands in all of this, " Hutch expanded. "He probably thinks that Starsky is in such a position that he is prepared to act against the law to achieve what he wants to. He thinks Starsky will take the opportunity to get himself clear of a murder rap."

Dobey exhaled loudly, easing his big girth back into the depths of his chair. "Has he given you a time limit on this deal?"

"He said he'd contact me when he had the men," Starsky answered. "Somehow I don't think it will long. He wants the opportunity to get back his drugs."

"I'm sure he does Starsky," Dobey said, but his pursed his big lips with contemplation, "but I also think he wants to see you do something that could ruin your career and your future. You go into that trade and hand him his drugs back, without cover, you are essentially putting everything you have on the line."

"Then I guess I'm his big incentive to show up aren't I?"

Dobey was taken aback by the offhanded way Starsky made the remark. By the looks of the strained face on Hutchinson who went rigid beside Starsky, Dobey guessed he was also more than shocked.

He knew then that Starsky was prepared to walk the line with this whole thing and Dobey knowing the duo like he did, imagined Hutchinson would walk right into the fire alongside him if need be.

Dobey tried to turn the conversation away from Starsky's cavalier assertions.

"You so sure it will be Durniak himself who will front up at the trade?" Dobey questioned. "Why wouldn't he just send a couple of his men to do it? You realize with out Tony Durniak himself accepting the drugs, there is not a lot we can hold him to."

Starsky shook his head. "No – he won't do that. One Durniak is a man of his word. If I say I expect him there, he'll be there. And two, like I said, he wants to see me to it – to hand over the drugs for him to spread all over the streets, to be sure he sees me sweat having to do it. Don't forget he had no qualms about being there in person to meet with me this morning. He wants to be in on this. Front and center stage."

"And as Starsky said Cap'n," Hutch added, "Durniak will expect that Starsky also keeps up his end of the deal. Starsky and I have talked about this and we both agree that because of that, and to not endanger our lives, we'll need to take in the –-"

"The real meth, not a dummy parcel," Dobey finished. "You sure don't ask for much."

"Sorry Cap'n," Hutch winced a little at the demand they putting forward to him.

"We're prepared to leave you out of this Cap'n," Starsky said and Hutch nodded in accordance.

"Leave me out of it?" Dobey pitched his voice just below a shout. "And how in hell's name to do you propose to do that?" he looked quickly at each of them in turn. The look on their faces, particularly the hard look on Starsky's was of great concern. "No. Don't even tell me what you mean. I don't want to hear it, let alone believe you would even for one moment consider it." Dobey swore under his breath. He could feel the blood suffusing his face, congesting behind his eyes and his tight brow. These men of his were going to be the death of him.

"It could mean that we clear Starsky's name," Hutchinson inserted quietly, using the technique of his that Dobey was familiar with where he tried to cool down the heat in the room.

"Clear his name and achieve what else? God damn – isn't it bad enough that Starsky is already a major suspect in a homicide that the both of you are already under the scrutiny of IA? Now you want to go and layer up the mess with a move that would destroy both of your careers –"

"And if you get involved with helping us use the meth, it would mean the same for you Captain," Hutch said.

"Surely you know I can't just hand you the drugs so that you can set up your own sting. This whole thing is bigger than just where Durniak has you on the playing field Starsky. It's bigger than Vanessa's murder. Durniak and everything he represents is a minefield. The Feds will want to be in on the chance to take Durniak down. They're already aware of the link between the murder investigation and Durniak."

"Look, Hutch and I have talked about this Cap'n. Of course we'd like to think we can go in with backup…and even have the Feds as part of it to really make sure we pin Durniak down," Starsky said. "But – at the same time, it could mean we blow the one chance I've got at this whole thing. I don't want to chance that. I really won't."

"You don't want to chance what? Getting clear of a possible murder charge? But you're prepared to risk getting convicted for illegal drug dealing?" Dobey heard the incredulous tone to his question but in truth he was quite disturbed by the stubborn hardness that Starsky's was exhibiting to him.

"That's right. It's a massive risk I know. But if I don't take it what have I got? Durniak can take those men and make them disappear. Then it's just me against the law, the only suspect in a murder – to say nothing of a large stash of stolen drugs on the side to bolster up my motives for killing her. That would leave me with no chances whatsoever. I'm not prepared to have no chance Cap'n. You need to believe that."

"You talk as though you are going to get a say in how all of this is run Starsky, not just a say, but that you want to call the shots all the way," Dobey told him, feeling his blood pressure creeping up, feeling his gut spasm at the implications of what Starsky was all but threatening to do. "This is a matter that doesn't just concern you but the Fed and the –"

"I don't give a shit about the Feds!" Starsky growled at Dobey.

"Starsk….settle down. The Captain just wants to go through our options here –" Hutch tried.

"I don't have any fuckin' options but to do this one thing and you know it as well as I do Hutch! I know it's a risk and a long shot, but it's something. I won't forgo this opportunity just to make it all nice and palatable for the Feds. Its not their head that's on the chopping board here – they've got nothing to lose except a big play to take down a mob boss. "

"Alright then Starsky, if you don't care about the bigger picture here in taking down Durniak," Dobey turned a little in his seat and waved his pencil at Hutchinson, "what about your partner here? I assume of course that Hutch will be with you when you do this? There's no way by the look on his face that he would allow you to do otherwise am I right?" Dobey didn't wait for an answer but went on quickly. "So tell me, do you care about him? Hmm? Does it concern you in anyway that going into a trade with someone like Durniak solo, without backup or legal sanction leaves the two of you open to ruined lives if not death? "

For one moment Dobey thought that Starsky might either bolt from the room or make a charge at him across the desk – such was the look of pained fury in his dark blue eyes.

He watched as his rationale pulled at Starsky, who bit down hard on his lip, closing his eyes as though trying to sort out his priorities in his head.

"Of course I don't want to risk Hutch in any of this – in any way – if I had a way to leave him - " Starsky started to say.

"Captain," Hutch said with force, putting his hand up against Starsky's face as though to hold back whatever he was going to say. "Say it does work. Say we do this trade and clear Starsky. Then it'll be worth the risk. For me, it's more than worth the risk. Getting Durniak is a bonus. My aim here is to get my partner free of suspicion so that he can get back on with his life. So that we can get back on with our lives." As Hutchinson made the firm statement Dobey's eyes were drawn to the way that he squeezed his partner's arm and then followed it up with yet another pregnant look directly into Starsky's eyes before looking back at Dobey in appeal. The sheer intensity of their almost singular presence just across from him was striking. Dobey was well used to it of course, but this morning, the substance of their singular unit was doubly strong. There was a different quality about the pair of them.

Dobey leaned back in his chair, and under the guise of chewing a while on the proposition of the deal he chewed a little on what was different with his two men. Something had changed between them. It might have only been subtle on the surface. However, to him, someone who was well used to the ways of these two men and saw below the surface, the changes in the way they were acting were obvious at the same time. There was a new layer, a new texture to the way they looked at each other. Something that took them beyond what they had always been as partners. He realized then that he had actually noticed it the previous night when they'd called him to Hutchinson's apartment to show him the meth. At the time he had only given it passing awareness, the issue of the meth more pressing than playing detective with the two of them.

Now – here in his office with them right across from him, it dawned on him what had changed. If he was right and he was fairly sure that he knew the two detectives well enough to read them correctly, then it just made this whole scenario of a trade off with Tony Durniak all the more dangerous.

There was so much to lose, on all fronts and even more so now that the nature of the two men's relationship had changed. But the biggest risk of course would be that going in to the operation, his two men had to face the very real possibility of losing each other.

The stakes were already high but in light of Dobey's new assessment of Starsky and Hutchinson, they had just got a lot higher. In his experience, cop partnerships that crossed the boundary from friendship and loyalty to something much more erratic and complex – like a romantic or sexual relationship placed themselves wide open for danger.

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The two Santa Monica homicide detectives were stepping out from one of the interview rooms when Carlson approached. They both nodded, acknowledging him in passing but said nothing to him. It still rankled that he was being cut out of all proceedings to do with the investigation of Vanessa Hutchinson. It particularly irked him to think that they had just been talking with Jake Webster in interrogations – his collar, and the man that was of considerable interest to the investigation.

Carlson bided his time in the corridor outside the interview room where he knew Simonetti had been conferring with the two Santa Monica detectives. Simonetti had told him he would come out and give him the latest development from the homicide team before he began his own questioning of the now detained Jake Webster. To Carlson's knowledge, Webster and his lawyer were still in the interrogation room where he had shown them to earlier.

When Simonetti walked out of the room a short while later, closing the door behind him, he acknowledged Carlson standing against the wall. He walked up and greeted him.

"It looks like they've finished with Webster then?" Carlson stated, throwing his head back in the direction he'd just seen the two detectives head toward.

Simonetti nodded. "Webster is not under suspicion for the murder – his presence in New York at the time of Vanessa Hutchinson's death and there is no other evidence to tie him into it. He is more likely to be of use to us in determining if there is any possible involvement of Starsky and or Hutchinson in the handling and concealment of the meth – in particular Starsky's motives in meeting with the woman on the night she was killed. "

"You think he'll talk?" Carlson asked.

"Yes I do. He and his lawyer seem happy. Any useful information he can give us it will mitigate against charges that we can bring against him on a federal level with Hutchinson's car and his police weapons," Simonetti answered before blowing out a tired breath . "If he co-operates he'll probably get off with a suspended sentence for the B and E and vandalism at Hutchinson apartment."

"Are you going in now for the questioning? I know that his lawyer has already been briefed," Carlson asked, knowing that his eagerness to be a part of the interview was more than evident and had been since he had arrived at the precinct with Webster in tow.

"You know I can't let you in to question him Carlson," Simonetti looked at him before shaking his head a little, as though he had clearly read his desire to be included in the interrogation. "I've got to stick to the letter here, and Dobey has taken this higher up the ladder to make sure you are kept out of the case formally," Simonetti said, his tone not quite sympathetic, but at least understanding. Carlson was grateful for that much.

"I know…I know," Carlson said. "I just think that this guy will be the key to pinning down what Starsky had to do with the stolen drugs and Hutchinson's ex wife. The fact that he was tearing Hutchinson's trunk apart means he must know something about where the stolen meth was stashed."

Simonetti looked uncertain. "Look you know there is little point in making suppositions until I question him. I'll fill you in as soon as I'm out so hang around for a while if you can."

Carlson was pleased that Simonetti was still prepared to keep him in the loop despite his being off the investigation formally.

As Simonetti left him to return to the interrogation room where Jake Webster and his lawyer waited, Carlson resigned himself for the wait and made his way to the nearest vending machine on the floor. He'd bide his time with some sugar and maybe put in a call to Clare. He'd been guilty of neglecting her since this whole thing had begun and he knew she resented it and the fact that it dragged Starsky back into her personal life.

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Less than half an hour later Simonetti tracked Carlson down at his desk. Carlson was just finishing up his phone call and was frankly surprised to see Simonetti tapping his hand on the glass partitioning of his office. So much sooner than he had expected.

"Must have made short work of that or else you hit a brick wall with him?" Carlson waved him in and sounded him out immediately.

"The former," Simonetti said. "From how you described him when you apprehended him in the hotel car park he'd calmed down considerably. He was co-operative."

Carlson wondered briefly if his colleague was having a jab at him about his treatment of Webster during the apprehension, but let it slide. He was more interested in hearing what had gone on in the interview.

"And so?" Carlson asked, the impatience in him quickly settling as he read Simonetti's body language.

The other IA officer had leaned one shoulder against the wall while he stretched out his neck muscles. There was no sense of urgency in his actions. He looked tired and worn around the edges as though all he wanted was to go home and sleep. Obviously then the interview with Webster had been low key.

Simonetti pulled hard on the muscles at the back of his neck. "Well it seems that Starsky is on the level about most of what he has told us."

Carlson ran his hands through his hair in frustration. "You've got to be kidding me," he said angrily before he could stop himself.

"According to Webster he had nothing to do with the stolen drugs or Vanessa Hutchinson. Webster seemed convinced of that."

"You mean there was nothing personal going on between him and Hutchinson's ex?" Carlson flicked back at him quickly. "Nothing sexual or –"

"No – nothing at all. Not even prior contact. According to Webster, her intention was to try to wangle her way into Starsky's life and make use of his relationship with the Durniaks. She was sure that if she got him to hear her story that he might feel so worried about how it would look for his Hutchinson that he would be prepared to help her. Webster said that Vanessa believed that Starsky would do anything to help his partner, even going back to his childhood roots to make contact with Tony Durniak. Putting Hutchinson in a precarious professional position was apparently what she was going to use as her main draw card to get Starsky to co-operate with her."

"And when did she take all of this to Starsky? This request for his assistance? Had they met up before that night she was murdered?" Carlson asked.

"No – Webster said that was the first and only time Vanessa Hutchinson met with Starsky by herself. The last time Webster spoke with her was after she had arranged the meeting with Starsky at his place. She phoned Webster a few times after she got him to agree to meet her. In his opinion she was unsettled about the meeting – not sure at all that Starsky would be receptive to her, especially as she was going behind Hutchinson's back to see him. Apparently Starsky had never liked her…even years ago."

"And you are quite sure that until that meeting Starsky knew nothing about the real reasons she was in LA? That he new nothing about the stolen meth?" Carlson re-affirmed.

"Yes, Webster seemed certain of that. It seems that Starsky's only intention to meet with her was to hear what she wanted to tell him."

Carlson shook his head in disbelief. "I just find that too hard to believe…"

Carlson didn't miss the flare of frustration in Simonetti's eyes. "Nonetheless, that's what Webster claims and from Webster's statement there is no clear intent on Starsky's side to meet with her for any reason than that she requested it," Simonetti stressed. "Certainly there is no evidence of intent to commit any crime, let alone kill her."

"Starsky is still the only suspect and the only person with her at the time of her death." Carlson pointed out. "Webster's statement doesn't prove he didn't kill her. Until we have the two men Starsky claimed were responsible for the murder, nothing is certain. Did Webster say whether he knows these two men?"

"He said he didn't know them but knew of them through his dead friend Marco. Marco was of the connection between Webster and Vanessa Hutchinson. He's giving the stenographer the details of what he knows about them now. At least now we've got their names which is more than we had."

Carlson stood and paced across the width of the small office space and turned. His certainty that Jake Webster was the key to uncovering Starsky's guilt was quickly fading. Still, he couldn't concede so easily. "So, tell me Simonetti? Are you buying all of this? That Starsky is innocent of anything to do with this whole thing? That he was just stuck in the middle of a messy situation which got the woman killed?" he asked doggedly.

"Matthew," Simonetti said, reverting for the first time in the conversation to Carlson's rarely used christian name, and drawing in out as though striving to retain his patience, "Look, I've been where you are. I know how you feel."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Just that it's no secret that my dealings with Starsky and Hutchinson have never been smooth. Everyone in the department, including you, knows we have a history."

Carlson gave a sharp laugh. "Of course I know that – but that's endemic with the whole department. You show me one cop who likes us. IA hardly win prizes in popularity."

"I'm not just talking about IA's stigma amongst other divisions," Simonetti said, "I'm talking about how I viewed Starsky and Hutch – personally – for a long time. I wanted nothing more than to pin something on them both because I was certain they were playing both sides of the field. Their profiles, arrest records, attitudes to informants, and connections with the street – I thought it meant for sure that underneath all the heroic glitz they were bad. But over the years I just couldn't make a thing stick that proved my suspicions. I'll even admit that when this case landed us Starsky at out door that this time I might be finally proved right. But then Webster's statement has just shown me again how wrong I could be."

"We don't know enough about how the two of them might be involved with him. How can we be certain just yet that Webster is not someone that Starsky already knows?" Carlson blocked again, but in his own head he heard how pathetic he sounded, clinging on to a hope that he still might prove Starsky was guilty.

"Oh come on! Webster has no conceivable reason to lie about Starsky. What would it get him?"

When Carlson didn't respond Simonetti continued. "I've faced it – and now you have to as well. Starsky and Hutchinson are not what you want to prove them to be. The two of them aren't dirty cops. Unorthodox? Sure. Loose with the rules? Certainly. Risk takers to the max. But in the end – they're good, solid cops. You just have to accept, that like me, you were wrong." Simonetti paused. "I hope you can do that or you'll be digging your own grave for your career."

Carlson was still mulling over Simonetti words when he realized the other man had walked away from him, headed out of his office.

"Good, solid cops." The phrase played in Carlson's head long after Simonetti had left. It was how he had always prided his own status and commitment to the Force. The realization that Starsky and Hutchinson might also be worthy of the label was sitting like a rock at the entrance to his stomach. It would still be a while before he'd be able to swallow the truth that had been put in front of him. However one thing was becoming very clear for Carlson. If he wanted to keep his job, and the label of 'solid cop', he'd just have to force it down. No matter how hard it was to swallow.

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Hutch knew as he had pressed a light kiss to Starsky's forehead and rolled away from him that sleep wasn't going to come easy to either of them that night.

They were sharing a bed but despite the physical proximity Hutch despaired at the emotional chasm between the two of them. It had been steadily widening since they had left the hotel that morning and driven into precinct to meet with Dobey. Thereafter the gap increased further. Starsky made sure of that.

After the initial relief of being reunited with each other that morning at the hotel, Starsky had been increasingly withholding of himself. The meeting with their Captain had only proved how far Starsky was prepared to go to put everything on the line to shake himself free of being accused of murder and to sever himself from Durniak's clutches. After the beautiful closeness of the morning reunion at the hotel Hutch had felt Starsky drifting away from him as the day unfolded and the plans for meeting with Durniak were laid out between them.

It was as though he believed that until he had seen this thing through to the end he could not allow himself to become any closer to Hutch than he already was. It felt to Hutch like he was pulling away from him, preparing himself for some inevitable swift, some sharp severance of what held the two of them together. Even last night when they crawled into bed finally, Starsky had been withdrawn and short with him. Hutch knew why of course – better that he cut himself off from Hutch before reality did it for him. Hurt but understanding Starsky's twisted logic, Hutch had resigned himself to rolling away to his own side of the bed, seeking solace in the fact that at least his lover was beside him. In the early hours of the still dark morning he woke to the soft slide of a warm hand over his hip and then a firm arm circling his waist, his neck tingling with the soft exhalations of his sleeping partner who had nuzzled his chin into the crook of his shoulder. Hutch allowed himself to relax back into the possessive embrace, consoled that in sleep at least, Starsky couldn't help but reach for what he truly wanted and needed.

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The coffee was black and strong with just a hint of sugar to blunt the edge of bitterness. Just the way Tony Durniak liked it. He had always been an early riser. Over the years he found that it often gave him the upper hand. He quite liked to consider himself something akin to the proverbial bird – getting in first to feast on unsuspecting prey.

His men had finally found the two men who had once worked for him – the two that Starsky needed so badly. In fact of course, he had set his men the task to track them down some days earlier when he'd first become aware of their nefarious activities. Their possible involvement in a murder case was a secondary consideration, and only of consequence if it led the police back to him. However the unexpected development of his childhood acquaintance, David Starsky, being thrown into the mix, had added an unexpected bonus.

Now, not only would the men be punished for their stupidity of betraying the hand that fed them, but also Durniak would receive a double benefit of being able to trade them for the meth they had initially stolen from him. Not only would he get his meth back, he would finally get the opportunity to watch David Starsky sink lower than low. When Starsky brought the meth back to him, it would have proved he was willing to throw away his career and his morality just to clear his name.

It would be one of the highlights of his life. Anticipating the imminence of that moment, Durniak swallowed the last of his coffee and reached for his cellphone to make the call.

When the first call went unanswered, Durniak's mouth thinned with annoyance. Maybe he was expecting too much - expecting that his prey would be feeling cornered and apprehensive, waiting, hoping….sweating for his contact. He had imagined Starsky would be living on raw nerves, jumping at the first sound of a call. It was how he wanted him to be.

He waited a beat and hit the call button again, frustration mingling with anticipation, unfurling inside of him.

Wake up, David Starsky. I need you to dance for me.

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"Oh God no…too early…..man….is that really my phone?" Starsky mumbled, his voice sleep tinged and husky to his own ears as he rolled toward the side table to make a futile stab for the vibrating black unit. In his groggy state he only managed to knock it to the floor where it landed somewhere near the side of the bed out of his reach. The fact that it made a clattering sound confused him for a moment. A hard floor? Wooden floor. The hotel had plush carpet.

The ringing phone stopped.

"Who the hell would….?" He rubbed hard as his whiskered jawline, and even harder at his eyes, trying to make sense of his whereabouts. He squinted hard at the far wall and the ceiling. Not the hotel after all. Hutch's bedroom alcove. They'd checked out yesterday evening. It couldn't be more than seven in the morning judging by the morning rays of sunlight and the light sound of traffic outside of Hutch's apartment window. They had returned to Venice Place last night after a full day in at the precinct. Both of them were exhausted – mentally more than physically. There had been tension between them. Hutch was not pleased with him. It was coming back to him now. Still they were together in bed – yes they'd gone to sleep beside each other, but not holding each other. Physical distance caused by emotional distance. God he was so tired…so much in his head.

Then as full wakefulness came to him, reality flooded in, swamping him.

Durniak. Durniak, meth and Nicky. Meeting with Dobey. Hutch pissed off at me. More discussions with Hutch. Planning and scheming…Hutch getting more and more frustrated….with me… frustrated because I'm pulling away from him.

His cell phone began to buzz quietly once more, jumping a little as it pulsed up and down on the hard floor below him.

"Shit, shit!" he fumbled clumsily to lean over the bed and snag it up in his hands, keeping his voice low out of consideration for Hutch beside him.

" – 'Lo…Starsky here." He looked over at Hutch who appeared to be still deep in sleep, his eyes hidden by his upper arm, his white blond hair mussed all ways on the pillow.

The caller did not immediately identify himself and still a little groggy Starsky waited. He had initially assumed the early morning call would be from Captain Dobey and he'd allowed himself a quick moment of relief that it didn't matter that he had handled the call so clumsily. Dobey was used to getting such a reception from him in the early morning.

"Detective Starsky, who is this?" Starsky said a little more clearly, a little more forcefully as he twisted away a fraction from the sleeping man beside him. He turned toward the window as he did, shifting gradually and carefully to the side of the bed in order to create as little disturbance as possible when he stood up. It wasn't an unconscious move. In fact he was well aware that he was creating a barrier between him and Hutch while he spoke with the caller who he had now identified.

Compelled to seek some privacy, he stood quickly and walked out of the bedroom, segregating himself from his partner as he spoke to the man on the phone. Tony Durniak.

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Hutch waited for Starsky to finish the call. The phone had woken him but he'd still been drowsy as Starsky had fumbled with the phone. He'd come wide awake however at the tight sound that came into Starsky's voice as he left the bed and he knew then who the caller was.

The call had come far sooner than he had anticipated and way too soon for him to feel prepared for it to happen.

It was surprising really. Surprising how quickly it was all going to come to a head. Surprising how quickly Tony Durniak had made contact with Starsky. Could Durniak already have his half of the deal sorted? Maybe he could Hutch realized. Power expedited many things.

Hutch couldn't imagine that Durniak would be calling Starsky unless he had the two men and had secured their co-operation.

What had Starsky called Durniak? A Man of Honor, a man of his word.

Well Hutch hated this man of honor and pride. Hated what he represented in Starsky's past, hated the fact that he had come back into Starsky's life at this point to offer him up a deadly proposition – one that Starsky could not stand to refuse.

More than that, Hutch hated that Durniak was driving a wedge between him and his partner. Since they had agreed to how they would set up the trade with Durniak, Hutch knew that Starsky was starting to close him out and withdraw into himself.

There was no point in going out to Starsky. Best if he dealt with Durniak on his own terms. He knew that his partner was as taut as a trip wire and would stay like this until this thing was over.

He heard Starsky stop talking. Heard him go into the bathroom. Heard the water blasting in the basin, the toilet flush, the water blasting again before he finally emerged.

Naked in skin, and naked in expression. Hutch could read it all from where he lay on his side watching Starsky.

"I'm not going to like what you're going to tell me am I Starsk?" he asked him.

"You knew it was going to happen. It's just happening a lot sooner than either of us probably expected it would."

"He has the men then?"

"Says so."

"Fast worker."

"Like Dobey said," Starsky said coming closer to the bed and to Hutch. "He has the power to be."

Hutch pressed his lips together and nodded. Understanding everything that Starsky hadn't said.

"Did you tell him about the meth?" Hutch asked.

"Yes."

"And you're sure he'll front up himself and not send his men?"

"I told him that was the condition but I know he will be anyway."

"Because he wants to make you sweat the bastard." Hutch sat up now, the anger and anxiety pulsing in his head making it impossible for him to stay lying down and still.

"I guess he's waited a long time to see me look like that. He tried too many times when we were younger to make it happen but I always stood my ground against his thugs."

Hutch felt the anger build more.

"Did you tell him that I will be with you?"

"He said he looks forward to the opportunity of meeting you," Starsky gave a small torn laugh.

Hutch gave his own twisted smile to the thought. "I can't say that the pleasure is mutual." He pulled himself up even higher in the bed and held out his arm to Starsky. "I think you know I'm more than worried about how this will go down Starsky."

"I know."

"I think you know that I'm also worried about how this is making you feel and act."

Starsky closed the distance between them and reached out to take the offered arm, not resisting as Hutch pulled him onto the bed beside him.

"I know that too and I'm sorry. It's just got my mind twisted up and until it's over –" Starsky said quietly.

"I understand that babe. But I don't want you to go away from me like you did last night, like you did yesterday. You cut me out and even though I know why, I can't let you do that to us." Hutch was pleased that Starsky allowed himself to be folded firmly and lovingly into his arms. As he held him, Hutch could feel some of the tension leave Starsky's body. "I just want it over Starsk. Over and behind us. Only then do I think I can have all of you."

"You will Hutch," Starsky told him, turning to reciprocate the holding. "If it ends the way we hope it will, we'll have that – and lots more."

"And so it's all arranged?" Hutch could barely ask as he tightened his hold on Starsky's warm naked body. He just wanted a few more seconds of this – this perfect closeness.

"It happens tonight," Starsky said, almost bluntly, something almost fatalistic caught in the words.

"How the hell did Durniak bring it altogether so quickly…?" Hutch wondered out loud.

"Does it matter?" Starsky held on tighter, sliding his naked skin along Hutch's, melding their bodies into one warm loving tangle. "Either way it ends tonight Hutch."

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