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Starsky vs Hutch

Chapter 2

Starsky regained consciousness to a world filled with pain and confusion. He was curled up on a freezing cold surface with his hands secured behind his back by what felt like handcuffs, "Probably my own," he thought grimly.

Struggling to open his eyes, he quickly realised that he was blindfolded. A cacophony of sound pounded at his eardrums.

Stretching gingerly he could feel bruising on his torso. His face felt stiff with what he suspected was dried blood and his head ached, although how much was due to a blow and how much to the noise he could not ascertain.

He tried to kick-start his memory but had no recollection of how he came to be in this predicament. His brain felt like cotton-candy.

The sound suddenly cut out leaving his ears ringing, so he was unprepared for the boot that kicked him in the kidneys. He grunted in pain then gasped as he was hauled to his feet.

Starsky stumbled, trying to stay upright as his captors dragged him across the room and dumped him in a chair.

"Wha's goin' on?" he mumbled. He received a blow to his jaw on the left, then another on the right, like two slaps with the face and then the back of a hand. Blood trickled down his chin from a split lip.

"Ya can't do this. I'm a cop. My partner'll be looking for ya." Again no answer, just another blow which rocked him and the chair on which he sat.

Starsky could feel himself beginning to grey out and fought to stay conscious. His head wobbled but an unseen hand grabbed a fistful of curls, yanking his head up.

"We know you're a cop, cop," a voice spat in his ear. "And your partner will never find you."

Starsky's heart raced but he refused to show fear. "He will find ya!" he yelled. "He's the best cop I know! And he'll track ya down and..."

Another blow silenced him as he passed out again, falling from the chair to the concrete floor.

And the noise resumed.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Hutch awoke with a start as the alarm sounded. He grunted with irritation, switched off the alarm and flung an arm across his eyes as he summoned up the energy to start the day. Finally he swung his legs over the side of the bed, dry-wiped his face and padded to the bathroom.

He felt a bit more human after his shower and wrapping a towel around his waist, he went to the kitchen to blend his morning power shake. Putting the empty glass in the sink, he glanced at the clock and went to get dressed, knowing Starsky would soon be there to pick him up for work.

Eight o'clock came and went with no sign of Starsky. Hutch huffed an annoyed sigh. Dobey was going to be mad...again. He picked up the phone and dialled Starsky's number, but no answer. A little prickle of apprehension trailed icy fingers down his spine.

He gave himself a mental shake. "C'mon, Hutchinson. He's running late, that's all." But some sixth sense told him that Starsky was not running late at all.

He tried phoning again but there was still no answer. So he rang headquarters.

"Dobey," a gruff voice resonated in the receiver.

"Uh, Cap, it's Hutch."

"Where are you? Get in here now, you two, and straight in my office!"

"Captain, I'm worried about Starsky." A heavy sigh greeted this. "He should have picked me up at eight but didn't show. I've phoned him twice but there's no answer."

Hutch paused and took a deep breath before continuing, his words dropping into the silence like stones into a pool. "Cap, I've got a bad feeling about this. I'm on my way over there now."

Dobey sighed again but had the utmost respect for 'feelings' between partners, especially these two. "You want me to send a black-and-white?" he asked.

Hutch could imagine Starsky's embarrassment and irritation if a patrol car turned up at his house when it wasn't needed. "Not yet. Let me go have a look and I'll call you."

"Okay, Hutch. But make it fast."

"You got it."

Hutch shrugged into his jacket, grabbed his keys and ran for the door, grateful for an understanding captain.

Hutch jogged to his car, relieved when it started first time. He slapped the mars light on the roof and drove to Starsky's, siren blaring.

He leapt out of his car and raced past the Torino to the front door. He banged on the door with his fist.

"Starsky!"

No answer.

"C'mon, Starsky! We're late again!"

Still no answer.

A slight tremor made Hutch fumble with his key in the lock. Starsky's apartment was silent and Hutch could tell immediately that Starsky was not there.

His heart leapt to his throat as he stood in the centre of the room and revolved slowly, looking to see if anything was out of place. He swallowed convulsively and ran back to his car to request a patch through to Captain Dobey.

In no time at all a black-and-white was on site, closely followed by Captain Dobey and a forensics team. Hutch did not think that Starsky had been in his house but the team were thoroughly dusting for prints anyway.

Hutch prowled outside and leaned against his car, staring at the Torino. Captain Dobey followed him.

"Cap, I'm almost certain he didn't go in last night. I think someone jumped him when he got out of his car."

Captain Dobey looked at his detective, seeing the conviction in his face. He lumbered off to remind forensics to check the Torino, even though he knew they would do so after finishing in the house.

Hutch pushed away from his car and stalked around the Torino, touching nothing, eyes scanning the ground for any clue that might tell him what had become of his partner. But the Torino stood silently and there was nothing obvious to be seen with the naked eye...Jackson and Whitman had done their job well.

Hutch ran trembling fingers through his hair and took a calming breath as he watched his captain return. "There's nothing I can do here, Captain. I'm going to see Huggy."

Dobey rested a meaty hand on Hutch's shoulder. "Okay, Hutch. But then I want you back at headquarters. I'm going to pull the files on all your recent cases and we'll go through them together."

Hutch nodded. "Thanks, Cap'n."

He strode to his car and drove swiftly to Huggy's. He had to bang on the door for several minutes before an angry voice shouted down.

"This better be good or you'll be dealing with a grizzly!"

Hutch listened to the sounds of the door being unlocked, then slid inside when it opened. His eyes boggled as he took in Huggy's pyjamas and robe which were a blinding combination of pink and yellow.

Huggy glared at him and Hutch held up his hands in mock surrender. "Sorry, Hug. You know I wouldn't wake you if it wasn't important."

Huggy shuffled behind the bar yawning, and poured two glasses of juice, pushing one towards Hutch.

"Where's your other half?" he asked.

Hutch took a sip of his juice. "That's why I'm here, Hug. He's missing. Have you heard anything?"

"Hutch, if I knew anything you'd be the first to know. Let me get dressed and I'll put out some feelers."

"Make it fast, Hug. He's been gone all night."

"Hey, man. You have to ask?"

Hutch raised his hands again looking contrite. "Sorry, Hug. It's just...you know?"

Huggy nodded sympathetically. "Yeah. I know."

Hutch drained his glass and placed it on the bar, a slight rattle betraying the tremor in his hand.

Huggy briefly patted Hutch's arm. "Hey, amigo. We'll find him."

Hutch looked into his friend's sympathetic, brown eyes and gave a small nod. "I'll be at headquarters," he said, heading out the door.

TBC