Thank you as always to the usual suspects (you know who you are!) And special thanks to 'Guest' for all your encouragement and support...I wish I knew your name.

Starsky vs Hutch

Chapter 9

The taking of Jackson and Whitman was surprisingly and somewhat disappointingly low-key and easy. They had clearly not expected to be tracked down so quickly and were totally unprepared when the cops broke down their door. After a brief struggle, both men were restrained and transported to headquarters. However a search of their premises did not reveal Starsky, the mysterious woman driver or Charlie.

Hutch was furious that he was not permitted to question either man but Dobey insisted he could only observe, pointing out that it was White and Hogan's case. Hutch had to admit they were pretty good but was sure he and Starsky could have obtained the required information faster.

White and Hogan certainly had an incentive however, having been ambushed and shot at. In fact, White was conducting the interviews with his left arm strapped where he had been hit.

Jackson cracked first and with the promise of leniency if he cooperated, he gave up the address where Charlie was hiding Starsky.

As Jackson was being taken back to the cells he saw Hutch and smirked. "Think you're gonna get your partner back, Hutchinson? He's not your partner any more, he belongs to Charlie now."

Dobey was ready to restrain his detective but Hutch merely eyed Jackson icily and replied "Starsky will always be my partner no matter what you've done to him."

"He'll never be your partner again, Hutchinson!" Jackson shouted as he was hustled away. "We've broken him! He'll never be a cop again!"

Luckily the officers escorting Jackson were able to hurry him away before Hutch could get to him.

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

It was not normal practice for Captain Dobey to ride with one of his detectives on a bust, but then these were not normal circumstances. He was determined to oversee Charlie's arrest and Starsky's rescue in person.

They sped to the address Jackson had given them. White and Hogan followed, along with a patrol car. All three vehicles killed their lights and sirens as they neared their destination. They coasted silently to a halt outside the property they had been directed to. It was on a street where all the houses were built closely together. Each one had a small patch of grass to the front and a backyard separated from their neighbour's by fences in various stages of disrepair. Most had a car parked out front despite it being early afternoon.

Hutch and Craven, one of the patrolmen, went round the back. White and Hogan gave them a couple of minutes to get into position then Hogan hammered on the front door shouting "Police! Open up!" He kicked in the door as Craven simultaneously kicked in the back door.

All four officers worked their way into the house, weapons drawn. Dobey and the second patrolman followed White and Hogan inside .

The back door opened directly into a kitchen. Hutch and Craven quickly cleared the room and moved into a hallway with three more doors opening off it and a staircase. White and Hogan emerged from one of the rooms shaking their heads as Hutch and Craven entered the hallway.

Hutch and Craven checked a second room, finding no one. The third door led to the basement. As there was a key in the door, they decided to clear the rest of the house before coming back to check down there. Hutch locked the door and pocketed the key.

As Hogan put his foot on the first step, a small, blonde woman appeared at the top of the stairs. Dressed all in red with a white scarf at her neck, she made Hutch think of the 'tomato' on legs.

"Can I help you, gentlemen?" she asked, her voice low and melodious.

" Police officers," said Hogan, holding up his badge. "We're looking for Charlie."

"That would probably be me, "she said. "I'm Charlotte Walmsley. My friends call me Charlie."

There was silence for a heartbeat then Hogan took the stairs two at a time, grasped her arm and brought her none too gently down to the hallway.

"Where is Detective Starsky?" Dobey asked.

Her eyes flicked to the basement door then returned to Dobey's. "He is mine," she said coldly. "David is here of his own free will."

"Read her her rights," Dobey growled to Craven. "And take her to headquarters."

"You've got nothing on me," she purred.

"Your associates have told us all we need to know," said Dobey.

Charlotte's eyes flashed but she laughed. "You take their word over mine? I have done nothing wrong."

"Craven!" Dobey barked. "Book her! And use the Miranda card. I want this done by the book, no loop-holes she can wriggle out of."

Charlotte looked at Hutch, eyeing him insolently from head to toe. "You must be Detective Hutchinson. You did well...the most entertaining fight I've watched."

Hutch felt sick. This woman had done something to his partner and then set the two of them against each other. "And she was entertained by it," he thought in disgust.

"My lawyer will have me out in no time. I've done nothing wrong." Charlotte hissed as she was led away by Craven and his partner.

Hutch retrieved the key from his pocket and unlocked the basement door. It was dark and Hutch fumbled inside the door for a light switch. He led the way down the steep staircase and stopped so suddenly White nearly cannoned into him. The basement was furnished as a small, one-room apartment with a sofa, a table with a small tv on top, two cupboards, a sink and small cooker, a bed in one corner and a curtained area that presumably hid toilet facilities.

A dark-haired man lay on the bed with his back to the stairs. He did not move and Hutch feared the worst as he advanced quietly on the silent figure.

Hutch reached out a tentative hand and placed it gently on the man's shoulder. All four officers were startled at the response this touch elicited. It was as though Hutch had thrown a switch connecting the figure to the mains. Starsky sprang from the bed and adopted an aggressive pose almost before they could blink. Hutch took an involuntary step back, then raised both hands defensively.

"Starsky?" he said softly.

Starsky's eyes narrowed as he recognised the man in front of him. "You!" he spat. "What're you doin' here?"

"I've come for you, Starsk."

"Ha! Can't take me on your own then?" Starsky glanced quickly at Dobey, White and Hogan before turning his gaze back to Hutch. "Shame. I thought you were a worthy opponent but obviously I was wrong."

"Starsky, I don't want to fight you, I want to help you."

"Yeah right," Starsky sneered. "Scared ya can't take me so ya bring your friends...cop."

Hutch flinched and glanced at Dobey. "What's my name, Starsky?"

"Don't need to know your name. You're a cop, that's all I need to know."

Dobey, White and Hogan exchanged incredulous looks but Hutch remained focused on his friend. He gentled his voice even more and took a step forward. "C'mon, Starsk. Let me help you."

Starsky took a corresponding step backwards. "Don't need no help. 'Specially from a cop. 'Specially from you."

"Starsky, listen to yourself. You do need help...and I can help you."

Hutch motioned to the others and, somewhat reluctantly, they retraced their steps to the hallway leaving Starsky and Hutch alone in the basement.

"Okay, Starsky. We're alone now, so are you gonna to tell me what's goin' on here?"

"Ain't nothin' goin' on," Starsky said sulkily. "'Cept you disturbin' me." His eyes flicked past Hutch. "Where's Charlie?"

"She's gone, Starsk. She can't hurt you any more."

"Noooooo," Starsky moaned. "No, no, no, no, NO! What have you done to her?"

Almost without warning he launched himself at Hutch in a frenzy. Fortunately Hutch was half prepared for it but that did not prevent him being propelled back by the force of the attack. He parried most of the blows Starsky was aiming at him, all the while talking soothingly trying to calm his friend down.

"Starsky, please...please, buddy...c'mon, Starsk...easy now...calm down."

Starsky was enraged beyond reason. "Fight me, damn you! Fight! Come on, you coward!" He stood panting, eyes wild. He raised both hands and beckoned to Hutch tauntingly. "C'mon, big boy! Take your best shot!"

Hutch looked at his friend. "Starsky, please...don't make me do this."

"Aw come on," Starsky drawled. "You know you want to."

"No, Starsk. I don't want to," Hutch said quietly, his voice low and filled with emotion . "I want to help you."

The real David Starsky responded to the intensity colouring Hutch's voice and peeped over the parapet of his fortress but Charlotte's creation pushed him firmly back.

"Yeah, that's what you cops always say but you don't mean it."

"It's true, Starsky. Let me help you...please."

"You cops are all the same...you're all bad. I don't trust you as far as I can throw you."

Hutch fought not to react. He was beginning to accept that Starsky had been brainwashed in some way but even so was completely taken aback that Starsky no longer trusted him. He had always felt that their mutual friendship and trust could overcome anything. He had never before had any reason to question it, it just was...an intrinsic component of their partnership. And now Starsky was casting doubt on Hutch's whole view of their relationship.

"Maybe it's because I took so long to find him," Hutch thought, a little snake of guilt beginning to uncoil in his mind. He swallowed and looked Starsky in the eye.

"I am so sorry I didn't find you, Starsky. We looked and looked but there was no sign of you. I should have tried harder...I am so sorry, buddy. For what it's worth, I still trust you."

"It's worth squat, cop. Why should you trust me? I'm nothing to you," Starsky hissed venomously. "And you're nothing to me."

Hutch couldn't believe what he was hearing. What had that woman done to Starsky? Hearing the cutting words coming from Starsky's mouth was like a knife to his heart. But he still had to try to salvage their friendship.

"Starsky, you are my best friend, the best friend I ever had. And as far as I'm concerned nothing can change that. You're my partner."

Starsky snorted. "Huh! Not any more, buddy boy. I am not a cop. Cops are bad and I am not bad any more."

Hutch felt as though his heart was breaking as he realised he was going to have to restrain Starsky to remove him from the basement. He stepped forward but Starsky took this as a threat and once again began raining blows on Hutch.

"Starsky...please...I don't wanna do this," Hutch begged but his words fell on deaf ears.

Fending off the blows as best he could, Hutch suddenly pressed forward and bore Starsky up against the wall, putting his height and weight advantage to good use. He captured one of Starsky's wrists, holding it firmly, and rammed his forearm across Starsky's throat.

"Starsky! Stop this right now or I'll have to cuff you!"

Starsky's reply was to attempt to hit Hutch with his free hand. Hutch increased the pressure on Starsky's throat and letting go of Starsky's wrist, snagged his cuffs from his back pocket. He had snapped one onto Starsky's wrist almost before he'd realised what was happening. Then he spun Starsky around so that he was facing the wall, spread his legs apart and pulled his free hand behind his back. Starsky's face was pressed painfully against the wall.

"C'mon, Starsky. Stop this now. Please, buddy." Hutch's tone was agonised but Starsky continued to struggle.

Starsky was almost crying with frustration as he tried unsuccessfully to break the hold Hutch had on him.

"C'mon, Starsk. Relax."

Starsky struggled some more then suddenly slumped in defeat taking Hutch to the floor with him. Hutch quickly snapped on the other cuff then held Starsky in his arms.

"I got you, buddy. I got you. We're gonna get through this. I got you."

He looked to the ceiling then back to his friend, tears swimming in his eyes.

TBC