Starsky waited about ten minutes before exiting Huggy's after drinking another glass of beer. He kept to the dark places to hide his identity. The alley between a bar and a store and he stopped, an uneasy feeling coming over him. He peered into the darkness, noticing trash cans knocked over, spilled garbage all over. He picked up a black cap and his anxiety grew. There was something shining in the darkness, and with a start, Starsky realized it was Ken's blond hair.
Starsky dropped besides Ken, noting the blood staining some of his hair and that Ken was motionless. He quickly checked for other wounds and didn't find any other then the huge knot on the back of Ken's head. He checked Ken's pulse and breathing. Running footsteps startled him and he drew his gun.
"Starsky!" Huggy rasped, struggling for breath. He dropped down beside him. "Jacky told me Stan robbed someone, then ran off, saying the victim was Sal's crush."
"Huggy, we have to get Ken to the hospital. I would take him, but . . ."
"You can't have Moreno or Sal connecting you to Ken. I'll take him, help me get him to my car. I can say I came across him after locking up."
Starsky gave Ken's blond hair a swipe. "Huggy, call me, I'll talk to Dobey," Starsky said after helping Huggy load him in Huggy's car. "Guess I'll take off now - take care of him."
"Course, me'man."
Huggy drove off as fast as he could, Starsky staring after him for a minute. Then he trudged to a nearby phone booth and dialed Dobey's number.
TBC
Huggy made the fifteen minute drive to Bay City General Hospital in ten minutes. He knew that concussions could be serious and though he glanced over often, Ken hadn't stirred. The uneasy feeling he had grew stronger. He pulled over; jerked open the door and ran to the ER, yelling for help.
Two male orderlies hurried to bring a gurney to load Ken in. Huggy was sweating with tension and gave a brief story on how he had found Ken after he locked up the Pits. Huggy was not allowed to follow Ken into one of the rooms but a nurse smiled at him and assurred him that Ken would be given the best care. Huggy had told her that Ken was one of his customers, so he knew his first name. He paced the floor, knowing that Starsky was worried and wondering when he should contact him. He waited several minutes before the doctor came out.
"I'm Dr, Quentin Jackson. You're with Ken? You know his last name?"
"Naaaw," Huggy said. "Just another victim of a robbery gone bad."
"I didn't find any indentification on him."
And you won't, Huggy thought. He had made a quick decision to hide Ken's wallet and identification. He didn't want Sal to be apprised of Ken's name. He knew Starsky would inform Dobey, and he would wait to see how they wanted to handle it.
"Well, your friend has a sizable lump on his head along with blood and glass particles. Smells like beer - could be he was hit with a beer bottle. Did you see who might have hit him?"
"Naaw," Huggy drawled again, attempting a shrug. "Just him. If I hadn't tripped, I might not have seen him."
"Huggy?" Captain Dobey hurried up. "What are you doing here?"
Dr. Jackson turned. "Uncle Harold! Been a long time!"
"Quentin?" Harold Dobey turned a beaming smile and shook the young man's hand. "I didn't know you were in Bay City!"
Huggy scratched his head as he looked from one to another.
"Just got here. I'm settling in my apartment, then I was going to surprise you and Aunt Edith. Can't wait to see how much the kids have grown!"
"Been a couple years and they have grown." Dobey paused, looked at Huggy and then back at the young black doctor. "Heard there was a mugging. Are you the doctor on the case?"
"That's me. I was just explaining to this man - Huggy? Huggy was the one who brought the kid in. The kid has a large lump on the back of his head, a nasty concussion and will need to stay overnight and possibly tomorrow."
"So he can't tell anything about who mugged him?"
"Not now." Quentin's attention was drawn to the nursing station where a curly dark haired man raised his voice. "I need attention now!"
Quentin frowned. "Just a minute, Uncle Harold." He walked quickly to the station. "What is this ruckus about? This is a hospital and if you need attention, you'll get it but don't harrass the staff."
"Oh, Mr. Big Shot Doc, did I upset your girlfriends? I'm bleeding here and want help! I don't care if you are a rich doc!" Starsky's voice rose as he waved his bleeding arm at Quentin.
"Quentin, I'll handle this," Dobey said firmly, grabbing Starsky's arm and leading him to a vacant room. "Now you listen here, I'm Captain Dobey of the Bay City Police Department, and you're coming with me so you can calm down."
Starsky offered a token resistance, staring at Huggy. "Hey, is he one of your finest? Looks like a pimp!" Starsky giggled, slurring his words.
Before Huggy could respond, Dobey shut the door firmly. "Now have a seat and tell me what your problem is . . ." He trailed off. "Okay, Starsky, are you really hurt?"
"Naw, just wanted to get to the hospital. How's Ken?"
"Quentin was just telling us - Dr. Quentin Jackson, my partner Elmo's son. He is the doctor working on Ken."
Starsky inhaled noisily. "Your partner that was killed?"
"Yes," Dobey's expression was grim. "The best partner anyone ever had." He paused for a moment, lost in thought. "Your arrival saved me from thinking up a lame excuse to be here. Captain's don't investigate mugging."
"You were going to pretend to be hurt? What, indigestion from overeating?"
"Knock it off, Starsky, or I could really arrest you for public drunkennesss."
Starsky stopped laughing. "I want to see Ken."
"Ok, I'll have Quentin check you out and let you go on a warning. Wait here."
"Do you want me to stay around, Captain Dobey?" Huggy asked when Dobey appeared.
"Since I'm here, I'll take your statement, we are shorthanded tonight," Dobey said brusquesly.
Quentin checked out Starsky's arm and cleaned and bandaged the wound, Starsky grimacing with the cleaning.
Starsky looked at Dobey. "Quentin, I need you to trust me," Dobey said soberly.
"Of course."
"You got a spare pair of scrubs?"
A couple of hours later, Starsky entered the room where Ken lay. He walked over to the bed, sitting down beside him.
"Boy, oh boy, Blondie, you attract trouble like honey attracts bears. You're supposed to learn to catch criminals, not be the victim of them." He got up, patted Ken's left arm awkwardly. "Doc says you'll be all right with rest. Keep out of more trouble, will ya. I'll be back when I can." After a brief look back at the silent blond, Starsky left, vowing silently to get back at the thug that hurt Ken.
TBC
