The Substitutes
By
Cheryl Aisa Moore
It was late in the evening. Bay City skies were red, the late setting sun sinking slowly. Painting everything with a pale yellow glow. The red Torino with the white stripe cruised the Bay City street.
Starsky yawned, "I'll be happy when this shift ends."
Hutch stirred in his seat, his long legs feeling cramped after a long day on patrol. The heat was oppressive. It had been a hot summer and there seemed to be no relief from the heat, even at night. A lazy fly buzzed in through the open window. Starsky swatted it away. It landed on the dashboard in front of Hutch, who picked up the newspaper lying on the seat beside him and disposed of the fly efficiently.
"Damned insects!" he grumbled.
Starsky shot a quick glance at his partner. The heat was making Hutch irritable. Starsky watched as a single bead of sweat ran slowly down the side of his partner's flushed face.
He grinned, "Soon be over buddy," he said affectionately, "home in fifteen minutes."
Hutch muttered something and hunched down in his seat.
Fifteen minutes later, the red Torino was parked outside headquarters. The partners raced through the required paperwork. They were eager to get home, have a shower, have a meal, and get some sleep. Forty minutes later Starsky pulled up outside Venice Place to drop his partner off.
"Sleep well buddy!" he said as Hutch unfolded himself from the Torino.
Hutch leaned in the window. "Sorry I have been such a grump," he said with a tired smile. " Guess the heat's getting to me."
Starsky gave him his lopsided grin, "S'OK bud, see ya tomorrow. Pick you up at 7:30."
Hutch watched as Starsky pulled away from the curb and made his way tiredly to his door.
--
She watched the tall blond as he exited the car and shivered with anticipation. The plan was coming together, but it was not the right time…soon, very soon. She had his itinerary after weeks of surveillance and knew his every move. Slowly, she pulled her car into the street, glancing up once as she saw the light come on in Hutch's apartment. Lucy worked for a security company and lived in a modest house, in a quiet neighborhood. The house looked respectable from the outside, but inside, held a dark secret. Back home, Lucy busied herself making dinner for herself and the other three. She looked after her boys well and hoped that they appreciated the effort that went into keeping them well and happy. She hummed to herself as she put the meals on a tray and descended the stairs to the basement.
--
Wednesday dawned hot and oppressive. Starsky and Hutch were back on patrol cruising the streets again. Hutch was still irritable. It was so hot!
"Have you actually got the air conditioner on Starsk?"
Starsky sighed, "Yes!"
"Well, why is the temperature the same in here as it is outside?" Hutch snapped, getting crankier by the minute. Starsky was saved from making an equally snappy retort when the car radio crackled into life.
"Zebra 3, Zebra 3! Please go to number 3 Marigold Avenue. Woman in distress."
Hutch grabbed the microphone, "Zebra 3, we are responding."
Starsky gunned the Torino. They were only two blocks away and pulled up smartly outside the house. As they approached the door it opened suddenly and a distraught woman appeared.
"Oh, thank goodness, are you the police?" she said.
Starsky nodded, "Yes Ma'am, what seems to be the problem?"
Lucy wrung her hands, "Oh dear, I was outside in the garden and when I came back into the house, there was a man in the lounge. He was putting my things into a bag. I screamed and he ran away. Oh, I was so scared!"
She collapsed into an armchair. Hutch instantly knelt down by her and took one of her hands in his. She looked into his clear blue eyes and her heart leapt. So familiar!
"It's alright lady", he said softly as he put a hand on her shoulder. "Can you tell us your name please?"
"It's Lucy," she said, sniffling into a handkerchief.
Starsky stepped forward and gently asked, "Do you have a description of the man Lucy?"
Lucy looked up tearfully, "No, he was wearing a mask."
"OK, Lucy." Hutch straightened up and took out his notebook. "We'll take all your details and let you know if we can trace this guy."
"Thank you officer", gushed Lucy. She took one of Hutch's hands in her own and noticed how long his fingers were with the right hand slightly callused.
He smiled at her, a smile that lit up his whole face. She watched as the officers left to go out to their car.
It wasn't just luck that had brought these particular officers to her door today. She had been following them for weeks, alternately using taxis and rental cars so they would not become aware of their tail. She made the call knowing what time of day they were likely to be in her neighborhood.
--
It was two days later, Thursday, that a call came through to the office. Starsky and Hutch were doing the endless paperwork which seemed to pile up near the end of the week.
Captain Dobey was getting angry. "I want all those reports on my desk by 5:00pm tomorrow! No excuses!" He snarled this as he went into his office, then slammed the door behind him.
"Like a bear with a sore head," muttered Starsky as he refilled his coffee cup.
"More like an elephant," grinned Hutch.
Starsky laughed, "Or a hippopotamus!"
They both chuckled and then Hutch's phone rang. "Hutchinson here. Oh, yes Ma'am. Yes, OK, I can do that. Bye." He hung up the phone.
Starsky looked up, "Who was that?" he queried.
"Oh, that woman, Lucy," Hutch replied, "remember, she had a burglar?"
Starsky took a slug of his coffee, "So, what she want?"
Hutch shuffled some papers, "Well, she reckoned she heard someone last night trying to get in her front door. She wants us to come around again. I said we'd be there in an hour."
"Well buddy," said Starsky rolling a piece of paper into his typewriter, "you'll have to go alone because I've got that appointment at the dentist for a check up."
"Oh yes, I'd forgotten about that," Hutch frowned as he ran his fingers through his hair.
"And," added Starsky, "as we've got that clanger of a car of yours today, you will have to drop me off today buddy boy."
"No problem," said Hutch with mischief in his eyes, "tell the dentist not to use the drill on you unless I'm there. Wouldn't miss that for the world!"
Starsky's face fell, "You have a real mean streak in ya. Did anyone ever tell you that? I don't know why I have you as a friend!"
Hutch shook his head and smiled, "You know why partner, I'm the brains of this partnership. I have better hair, and you need me to stop you eating all that junk food!"
Starsky glared and threw a file folder at him. "You're full of crap Hutchinson!"
Hutch laughed, "but you still love me."
Starsky grimaced, then smiled. He couldn't stay mad at Hutch for long.
--
Hutch pulled up outside Lucy's house around 3:30pm. He'd dropped Starsky off at the dentist and promised to pick him up in half an hour. He knocked on the door and she opened it with a big smile.
This is a bonus, she thought, his partner is not with him.
"Come in, "she beamed at Hutch, "sorry to have troubled you again."
"That's OK," replied Hutch. Lucy was not a bad looking woman, he thought, slim, long brunette hair, possibly mid 20's. "Can you tell me what you heard last night?" He said as he followed her into the lounge.
"Take a seat please detective," purred Lucy, indicating a plush armchair. "I'm just having some tea. Would you like a cup and homemade cookies?"
Hutch's stomach grumbled. It was a while since he'd had lunch and those chocolate chip cookies looked good.
He smiled, "thank you, I'd like that."
She poured him his tea and handed him a plate of cookies. They discussed the previous night's events and Hutch took his notebook out and started writing. That's strange, he thought, the notebook seems to be out of focus. As he hit the floor, he saw Lucy anxiously hovering above him before blackness overcame him.
--
Starsky stood impatiently outside the dentists. Where the heck was Hutch? It was too hot to be standing around outside. He cursed the rule that said all armed detectives had to wear a jacket to cover their weapon in case it startled the public. For two cents he'd take it off. It was 4:30pm when he decided to go back into the building and use the dentist's phone. He got through to Dobey, who said he hadn't heard from Hutch, but messaged him on the radio while Starsky waited. There was no answer. Starsky felt a niggle starting in the back of his head.
"Het Cap, can someone pick me up? I think I know where he is."
Ten minutes later, a black and white pulled up and Starsky jumped inside, grateful for the coolness of the air-conditioned car.
Officer Cal Ryan had been deployed to pick Starsky up. "Where to Starsky?"
"Number 3 Marigold Avenue."
Cal noticed the serious look on Starsky's face, "trouble?" he asked
"Not sure," Starsky rubbed his chin, "Hutch was meant to pick me up over an hour ago and Cap can't raise him on his car radio."
Cal drove the black and white to Marigold Avenue. Starsky leapt out of the car.
"I don't see Hutch's car anywhere, but wait here. This is where Hutch was going after he dropped me off."
Approaching the house, Starsky felt uneasy. The gut feeling he had that his partner was in trouble was there. The two of them had a connection so strong that they could sense when the other one was in trouble.
--
Lucy was thinking of preparing dinner when a movement outside made her look out the window. A police car was pulled up outside and Detective Starsky was getting out of it, a worried look on his face. Quickly, Lucy shoved Hutch's magnum in a drawer. How helpful Detective Hutchinson had been bringing his gun. It may come in handy. She and Jonas would soon be away from this place, but first, there was the little matter of the occupants in the basement. As a knock came on the door, she took a deep breath, plastered on a smile, and opened the door.
"Detective! What can I do for you?"
Starsky sized her up. She seemed relaxed. "Hi Lucy, did Detective Hutchinson come around here this afternoon?"
"Yes officer," replied Lucy sweetly. "He did. I had a prowler last night, you see, and."
"Yes, yes, I know," Starsky cut in, his eyes roving around the room, looking for any clue as to what happened to his partner.
"He was very nice," added Lucy. "He made some notes and promised to look into it before he left."
Starsky eyed her up and down. She sounded pretty genuine and Hutch's car was not parked out front. "So, when did he leave?" he asked her.
"Oh, he was only here for about twenty minutes. I gave him a cup of tea. Such a nice man." Lucy replied.
"Hmmmm, OK Lucy, thank you," Starsky turned to leave.
"No problem officer. Glad to help."
The door closed behind him and Starsky looked up and down the street. Where did you go Hutch, he thought? That feeling of dread was starting to rise in his stomach and visions of Hutch being held by Forrest, and Hutch alone under his car down in the ravine, came vividly to him. This was like déjà vu and he didn't like it one little bit. As he climbed inside the police car he was unaware that Lucy was peering out from behind the curtains, a triumphant look on her face.
--
Hutch had now been missing for two days. An APB had been put out on him and his car. A cruising black and white had discovered the car abandoned in a deserted parking lot across town. That was where Lucy had driven it soon after she drugged Hutch. She had worn gloves and taken a bus back home. Forensics had crawled all over it, but nothing had come up. Starsky was beside himself with worry. He'd called in all his snitches, but none knew anything. Dejected, he dropped into the Pits after a long day spent trying to figure out what happened to his partner. He hadn't eaten much in the last forty-eight hours, but a beer in this heat is what he craved.
"Hello my man," said Huggy who was drying glasses behind the counter. "Any news?"
"Nothing." Starsky slumped onto a bar stool and Huggy poured him a beer. He leaned his elbows on the bar and sized up the brunette. "You look terrible Curly!" he said, "not sleeping?"
"Can't," replied Starsky morosely, sipping at his beer. His dark blue eyes had dark rings around them, a sign that he was exhausted.
"You aint doin Blondie any good if you run yourself down," said Huggy.
"Where the heck is he Huggy?" Starsky's eyes were so full of misery that Huggy laid a hand on the brunette's shoulder.
"Blondie can take care of himself, you know that. Dontcha?" he said softly.
Starsky looked up into Huggy's concerned brown eyes, "If he's hurt…." He couldn't finish the sentence and dove back into his beer when he felt the tears welling up.
With a shrug, he straightened up, "We've been through that lady's place with a fine tooth comb, but nothing, and she's been so nice about it."
Too nice, he thought. Can someone be too nice? There was something about her.
"Anyway, if you hear anything, no matter how small, especially about Lucy Burke, let me know. I'm damned if I know where he is, but I gotta find him."
--
Hutch woke up with a blinding headache. Through the fog in his brain, he could hear voices.
Shapes began to appear hazily. As the fog cleared, he was aware that he was in some sort of room with three faces peering anxiously at him. He blinked to clear his vision. There was something strange about all three. And then he realized, they were all blond, three blond guys staring at him.
"Man, what happened?" he said rubbing his head gingerly. "One minute I was drinking tea, the next."
"She drugged you," one of the blonds said.
"Wh… where are we?" Hutch tried to take in his surroundings.
One of the blonds spoke up, "We're in the basement man!"
Hutch pulled himself up with difficulty, his head still swimming. "And, who are you?" He asked
.
A hand was proffered, "I'm Mark and I'm a hairdresser."
The second one smiled, "I'm John and I's a parking lot attendant."
The third one added, "I'm Alan, I work in a bookstore. So who are you?"
Hutch heaved himself off the floor and had a quick look around the room. "I'm Ken, and I'm a police officer." The room he was in had two bunkbeds lined up on two of the walls. There was a table with three chairs and a small coffee table that held a television set. There was a door on the far side and high up there was a small window with curtains and bars set across it. A huge fan set high in the ceiling whirred nonstop sending cool air into the room.
Hutch pointed to the door on the far wall. "What's in there?"
"That's the bathroom, man," said Mark, "welcome to your prison!"
Hutch did not appreciate Mark's attempt at humor. "So, how long have you been here?" He asked as he rubbed at his sore head. His vision seemed to be clearing somewhat. The three had varying stories. One had been there for three weeks, another for two, and the third for only a week.
"I've been carving a tally on a wall in the bathroom of the days I've been here," said Mark.
"With what?" asked Hutch.
"Oh, we get meals and there's usually knives and forks."
Hutch was puzzled as to why three strong, young men had not been able to overpower Lucy when she brought the meals in. "So, why haven't the three of you jumped her when she brings in the meals?" He asked.
Mark indicated the door, "See that hatch? She never opens the door. Meals come through there."
Hutch turned to see the small flap at the bottom of the door. The room looked secure. A visit to the bathroom revealed a tiny vent high up on the wall. This place was like Fort Knox!
"So what does she want with us?" Asked Hutch, pacing the room like a caged tiger.
"We don't know," replied Alan, "we're just prisoners."
Hutch ran his hand over his face. This whole situation was weird, but he had to find a way to get them all out of this.
--
Lucy sat in her armchair, fingering Hutch's magnum. She had hidden it behind the bookcase before Starsky had visited, and now cradled it in her arms. She stared fondly at a framed photo that she retrieved from behind the bookcase when she got the gun. A sadness came over her as she looked at the two happy faces smiling out at her from the photo. Was the cop one? She had to decide now. One of them had to go. A hardness came over her face. It was time. She moved over to the bookcase, the magnum in her hand.
--
The call that he dreaded came over Starsky's radio.
"All units in the vicinity of Archer's Creek. Dead male near the gully by the bridge. Please respond."
Starsky was closest. He gunned the Torino and reached the gully just as a black and white also pulled in. An old man walking his dog had called it in. As Starsky exited the car, the man yelled, while pointing his finger. "Down there, a blond guy."
Starsky leapt down the incline, heart racing. No please, he begged silently. Please don't let it be him. He felt sick as he saw the long legs sprawled out on the damp ground and the head face down, blond hair matted with mud.
"Hutch." He whispered as he knelt down by the body, turning it over and cupping the pale face in his hands. A stranger stared sightlessly up at him; a bullet wound clearly visible in the center of his forehead.
Officer Clay Ryan and his partner came scrambling down the bank, "Is it..?"
"No," Starsky said wearily, "no. thank God." He rose and turned away, dry retching as Clay and his partner went to inspect the body.
--
Huggy looked up as one of his regulars ambled into the Pits. "Charlie," he greeted the old man. "Your usual?"
"Oh yes, Huggy, the heat is melting the pavements. A man needs a cool drink on a day like today."
"Ya got something for me Charlie?" asked Huggy leaning forward.
"Maybe, maybe not. What's it worth to ya?" Charlie grinned. Happily sipping on his whiskey and soda.
Huggy walked over to the cash register and pulled out a crisp twenty-dollar bill. "You owe me Starsky," he mumbled to himself. He waved the bill in front of Charlie, "Well?"
Charlie pursed his lips and frowned. "You was asking me about a certain Lucy Burke? I knew I'd heard that name before. Took a while, but I do remember, oh about four or five years back, reading a newspaper report about said lady." He stopped to take another sip of whiskey.
"Yes! Yes well?" prompted Huggy impatiently, "spit it out!"
Charlie looked thoughtful, "There was a car accident you see. Car went over a ridge, can't remember where. Anyway, this lady was pulled out of the car alive, but her fiancé never made it. Sad story." He mused, looking into the amber glow of his whiskey.
Huggy shook Charlie's hand, "Thank you Charlie, you might be on to something."
He went over to the phone and picked up the receiver. "Is this Bay City Police Station? I want to speak to Detective Starsky."
--
It was two weeks now since Hutch had been kept captive in the basement room. John had been removed at gun point and never came back. Hutch took the opportunity to try to talk to Lucy, but she had told him to shut up. Hutch saw a madness in her eyes that convinced him that she would pull the trigger of his magnum at the slightest provocation. Since then, he had tried yelling through the vent in the bathroom for help. Alan morosely said, "This room is soundproof, no one's gonna hear you. We tried that."
He tried to pry open the bars and louvres on the window by standing on the table, without success. Each day food was pushed through the door flap, and dirty plates taken away. The same with fresh laundry, even socks, underwear, and shirts were provided. Though not the clothes Hutch would normally wear. It seemed as if Lucy had thought of everything. The TV provided the only link they had with the outside world and Hutch saw his face on the news. His heart ached for Starsky, for he knew his partner would be going through agony, not knowing if he were dead or alive.
--
This was the breakthrough that Starsky had been hoping for. One vital piece of information that could lead him to his partner. The last two weeks had been hell. The city had been combed from top to bottom and leads followed up. Lucy's house had been searched again, but nothing indicated that Hutch was still there. Now, all available personnel had been put on the case. Detectives, policemen, and file clerks were all poring over newspapers dated four to five years back. It didn't take long.
A shout from Minnie alerted Starsky. "Got it!" She yelled triumphantly, waving the paper over her head. She hurried over to Starsky's desk, and the other detectives followed her. They crowded around the desk as Minnie spread the newspaper out. The headline screamed, 'Fatal accident at Jackson's Ridge.' The dead man's name was Jonas Pike and the woman who survived was identified as twenty-three-year-old Lucy Burke. There was silence around the desk and Starsky's heart skipped a beat as he stared at the photo of the dead young man. Blond hair, blue eyes, the resemblance was uncanny. He was a dead ringer for Hutch! At that moment, Captain Dobey emerged from his office.
"Look Cap," said Starsky as he showed him the newspaper article. Dobey bent over to read the report, then straightened up. He looked serious. "That's not all," he said, "the report has come back on that John Doe you found. His name is John Anderson. He was a hairdresser and the bullet that was found in his brain has been identified as a match to the bullets that Hutch uses in his magnum!"
Starsky's knees went weak and he hung onto the desk to stop himself from falling. "She's got him!" he snarled, "I know she's got him!"
"Bring her in for questioning and tear that place apart!" yelled Dobey, "and take Babcock and Simmons with you."
Starsky grabbed his jacket and raced towards the door followed closely by the other two detectives,
"And Starsky!" bellowed Dobey, "Get a warrant!" He headed into his office to call for back up.
--
Lucy was finalizing her plans. At last she had her Jonas. The car was packed. Now all she had to do was dispose of the other two. Then she and Jonas could leave could leave Bay City and its bad memories and get married at last. The latest substitute was satisfactory. A warm feeling descended the stairs to the basement, rope and gun in her hands. Opening up the door to the basement room she held the gun in front of her.
"Get back, all of you," she snarled, and the three blonds backed away. Pointing at Hutch she said, "You! Kneel down, hands behind your back!" She handed the rope to Alan and indicated he should tie Hutch's hands together. Alan obeyed. He didn't know what happened to John, but, maybe if she killed Hutch, he and Mark would be spared.
"Now, you other two stand, facing the wall."
Hutch managed to rise off the floor. "Lucy," he said.
"Shut up Jonas," she yelled, "Be thankful I chose you!"
Hutch stared in horror. She was going to shoot the other two men. Lucy indicated for Hutch to move to the other side of the room. He considered charging at her when a sudden noise from the stairs startled Lucy. Quickly she grabbed Hutch and held him between her and the door. The magnum was pressed firmly against his temple, one arm encircling his neck.
--
Starsky had reached Lucy's house accompanied by Simmons, Babcock, and a black and white. Dobey was on his way also. Starsky had requested no sirens. He didn't want to spook Lucy. He jimmied open the door with a crowbar, indicating for the two policemen to go around back, the other two detectives to come with him. Creeping into the house, gun raised, he gave the lounge a quick glance. The other two were checking out the other rooms. They came back quickly. "Nothing!" said Simmons. Lucy's car was outside. She HAD to be here. Desperately he looked around the room for a clue. The photo of Lucy and Jonas jumped out at him. It was sitting on the large bookcase on one side of the room. As he stared at it, he noticed just beside it a small knob. That's odd, he thought, and gingerly turned the knob. The bookcase began to slide to one side.
"Wow," said Babcock.
Starsky put one finger to his lips, "Shhhhh!" he whispered.
A staircase descended downwards. Heart beating faster, Starsky descended, followed closely by the other two. Approaching the door at the bottom, he cautiously kicked it with his foot. He leapt into the room, gun pointing in front of him.
"Don't come any closer." Lucy yelled, pressing the magnum harder into Hutch's temple. Starsky's heart did a flip. Hutch was pale, his hands obviously tied behind his back, and Lucy had a firm grip on him. His eyes took in the other two terrified men up against the wall.
"Simmons," Starsky said quietly, "get those guys out of here."
Immediately, Simmons ushered the two blonds out of the door and Starsky moved closer to Lucy and Hutch. Two sets of blue eyes locked and Starsky felt the emotional connection. He felt relief at having found his partner but knew that one false move could put a bullet in Hutch's brain. The two men had been in situations like this before. When adrenaline coursed through their veins and that connection had to save their lives. Now, they needed to connect on a subconscious level if they were to get out of this alive. Hutch stared straight at him. He had to get Lucy's attention.
"Lucy," he said. "Please, can we talk about this?"
Focused on Starsky, she was caught by surprise when Hutch suddenly went limp. She looked down at him for one moment as he slumped in her arms. Instantly, Starsky lunged forward, grabbing the arm that held the gun and forcing it upwards. As Hutch fell to the floor a shot rang out, hitting the ceiling. Babcock, who was behind Starsky, ran to Lucy and grabbed her, forcing her other arm behind her. The magnum fell to the floor and Starsky scooped it up while Babcock put the cuffs on Lucy. Starsky turned to Hutch and grabbed him by the shoulders.
"You Ok buddy," he gasped.
Hutch looked up. "I am now," he whispered, and sank into Starsky's arms shaking like a leaf. Starsky reached behind him and untied the ropes around Hutch's wrists. Lucy was now sobbing. "Jonas! Jonas!" she cried as she watched Starsky ease Hutch off the floor. The two detectives faced each other, and a little smile played on Hutch's lips.
"I knew you'd find me buddy," he said quietly.
Starsky wrapped his arms around his partner. "I always do. I always do, and you owe me a beer."
