Starsky vs Hutch

Chapter 5

Starsky jumped into the black sedan beside Charlotte. The adrenaline rush he had felt was dissipating rapidly leaving him shaky, breathless and slightly nauseous. He slid sideways in his seat, revelling in the chill from the glass as he rested his head against the window.

Charlotte smiled to herself as she drove. Yet another victim was fighting for his life in an alley, this time the pusher of a rival dealer. Her plan was working so well again. This was not the first time she had set up her business but it was the first time she had used a cop and she was finding the experience exhilarating. She found it even more satisfying that someone to whom other people looked up should succumb to her methods of persuasion like any other man.

It was perfect really she thought to herself, loving the power she felt. An unwilling subject to bend to her will, wind him up and set him off like a clockwork toy.

And this cop was the best yet. He had tried to fight them off but in the end he had given in just like the rest. He had taken longer to subdue but this seemed to make his subjugation more complete and his role as Charlotte's weapon of choice even more potent.

Now the other dealers would begin to sit up and take notice of the new kid on the block. Soon she would be queen of Bay City's drugs empire and all the riches that entailed.

Silently they drove back to her house, Starsky beginning to doze in the passenger seat.

"Come on, David. We're home," she said in the kind of sing-song voice one might use to a small child. "Let's get you inside to bed."

Starsky grumbled under his breath but obediently got out of the car and stumbled to the front door. Charlotte followed him and unlocked the door. Starsky tripped over the step and struggled to keep on his feet as he almost fell through the doorway.

Charlotte closed and locked the door then opened a door off the hallway which revealed a dark staircase leading down to the basement. Turning to Starsky she ordered him to undress and go to bed. He complied like the automaton she had moulded him into.

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Hutch slept fitfully, as he had done every night since Starsky's disappearance. Despite his exhaustion he could not attain the rest his body craved. He knew he was making himself ill but seemed powerless to help himself.

But what was even worse was his inability to track down Starsky or his captors. It would be wrong to say the trail had gone cold...there was never a trail to begin with. Whoever had taken his partner had spirited him away without leaving any clues and they had made no demands. Despite his best efforts and those of his captain and the rest of the department, he had been unable to find Starsky. Even Huggy had turned nothing.

When he got to headquarters Dobey called him into his office. "I'm sorry, Hutch, we're going to have to scale down the search." He put up a hand to forestall Hutch's protest. "We're not giving up but I need my men on other jobs. We've had two John Does, badly beaten and left for dead. I want you to work with White and Hogan on this one."

Hutch knew it was pointless to argue. It was either this or go off on unpaid leave to search for Starsky on his own. That idea was very tempting but he realised it was also an impractical one.

He left Dobey's office, picked up a cup and poured himself some coffee. Then he approached White and Hogan's desks. "Dobey wants me to work the John Doe cases with you, fellas."

White looked up. "Thanks, Hutch. Not much to go on at the moment." He tossed two slim files over for Hutch to read, aware that a fresh pair of eyes might just spot something they had missed.

Hutch pulled up a chair and sat down to read both files. It didn't take long as there was so little information contained in them.

"So what about this Charlie character? Do you think he's connected with both these murders?" he asked.

Hogan sat back looking thoughtful. He and White were both slightly older than Hutch with a record second only to his and Starsky's. "Definitely the first one," he said. "Your tip off was too much of a coincidence otherwise."

White broke in. "And the second M.O. is identical, so yeah certainly connected."

Hutch thought for a minute. "Then we need to find out about Charlie," he said. "Where has he suddenly sprung up from? Has he been here all along and is trying to take over from his boss? Or has he blown in from out of town?"

"Good thinking, Hutch," said White. He glanced at his partner. "We'll look at the guys we already know and see what's shaking. You check up on out of towners."

The three detectives separated, White and Hogan going out on patrol to see their snitches and any of the street people who would talk to them.

Hutch had the thankless task of checking records. He decided to go down in person to see if he could persuade whoever was on duty to help him. He was in luck.

"Hutch! How are you doin'?" Officer Minnie Kaplan stood up and came to clasp Hutch's hands, gazing up at him.

"Not too bad thanks, Minnie," he replied, then on seeing her disbelieving expression amended "Well not too good actually."

Minnie pulled him to her and gave him a swift hug. "We'll find him," she vowed solemnly.

Hutch felt tears spring to his eyes at this simple act of compassion. He returned the hug. "Thanks, Minnie," he said gruffly and cleared his throat. "I know we will eventually. It's just taking so long and I don't know what's happening to him."

Minnie stepped back. "We will find him," she affirmed. "One way or another we will find him."

Hutch smiled. If only it were that simple.

"So, what brings you down to my lair, oh handsome one?"

Hutch blushed. "I was hoping you would help me with a task," and he explained what he was looking for.

Minnie was glad to be able to assist the blond half of her favourite team of detectives. She dispatched him for coffee while she began to gather together what they would need.

Several hours later Hutch and Minnie looked at each other in triumph. "Thank you, Minnie. I owe you dinner when this is all over." Minnie began to protest but Hutch stopped her with a finger on her lips. "No, I mean it. I could never have done this on my own. Let me know where you want to go."

Hutch gathered up the notes he and Minnie had made and went back to the squad room. Once there he began to write his report. He had just about finished when White and Hogan returned, looking demoralised. They soon revived when Hutch told them what he and Minnie had discovered.

"C'mon," said Hogan. "We need to run this by Dobey and decide on our next move."

TBC