The phone sprang to life and after three rings, Starsky answered it.
"Is that Mr Starsky?" an efficient female voice asked.
"Yes, it is."
"I'm Mrs Pearson, the secretary at Lincoln." Starsky stopped breathing for a second, but relaxed when the voice continued with: "There's nothing to worry about. At least, I don't think there is. It's just your grandson, Max, asked me to ring you. He says there is something really important he needs to ask you to do. I wouldn't normally make such a call without good reason but, although he won't tell me what it's about, he's quite insistent."
"Well, thank you. If Max says something's important, it usually is. Please could you put him on and I'll see what it is."
"Of course and thank you."
Starsky waited while the secretary called Max over and handed him the phone.
"Gramps?"
"Yeah, what's up?"
Max lowered his voice as he answered, "It's Ollie. He didn't come into school today."
"Oh. Is he sick?"
"No, I mean, he didn't come IN to school today. He took off. I should have followed him but he went so quick, I didn't have time to. I didn't know what to do. I don't want to get him in trouble and the school will probably ring his Mom soon and then he's going to be in trouble anyway but...I'm really worried about him."
"That doesn't sound like Ollie. He's never willingly missed a day of school in his life. Did something happen on the way into school?"
"No...he's been quiet for a couple of days...ever since we heard about Freddie."
"Is he the young fella that likes drumming and has that syndrome?"
"Yeah, that's right."
"What's happened to him?"
"He was in an accident and he's in the hospital. When Ollie's mom told us, she kinda sounded weird, like it was serious, really serious."
"Oh, I see. Look, try not to worry. I'm on the case. I'm going to call Hutch and we're going to find Ollie. And Max, you did the right thing. Okay?"
"Thanks Gramps."
"You're welcome. Put Mrs Pearson back on, will ya? I'll tell her Ollie is sick. Buy him some time before he gets grounded!"
"Thanks Gramps! Bye...Mrs Pearson. My grandfather would like to speak to you."
"Hello Mr Starsky, is everything all right?"
"Yes, everything is fine. Max just realised that I was supposed to pass on a message this morning that Oliver Hutchinson is off today with a bad cold and slight temperature. You'll see I'm down as one of his contacts."
"Oh I see. Thank you. I was just about to check to see if any students were not in school and follow up with parents that haven't reported in. Thank you for saving me a call."
"You're welcome. Thank you for letting Max speak to me."
"No problem. Well, goodbye."
"Bye."
Starsky finished the call and then immediately rang Hutch.
"Hey pal. Your grandson has gone AWOL."
"What? Which one?"
"Ollie."
"Don't be stupid: Ollie's never willingly missed a day of school in his life!"
"I'm telling ya the kid has gone AWOL."
"Okay, but how come you know before I do?"
"Max rang me. Look, I'll fill you in when I pick you up. I'll be there in ten."
"I'll be ready."
S&H S&H S&H
Hutch climbed in the car and demanded, "Well?"
"Okay. Ollie went to school but didn't go in. He took off before Max could stop him. Max decided to call me. He nagged the secretary till she let him," Starsky said proudly.
"Good boy."
"He says Ollie's been a bit quiet for a couple of days since he heard his friend Freddie's been in an accident. Did you know about that?"
"No...Let me ring Lori and ask her."
"Are you going to tell her Ollie's missing?"
"I should, shouldn't I?"
They looked at each other.
"Maybe we find him first?" Starsky suggested.
Hutch considered and then nodded agreement. He quickly rang his daughter-in-law and found out about Freddie.
As he finished the call, Hutch said to Starsky, "Head towards the school. We'll start there. He can't have gone too far...can he?"
Starsky started the car and drove in the direction of the school. While they travelled, Hutch told Starsky that Freddie had been out riding his bike with a friend, a car came out of nowhere and knocked him off his bike. "Luckily, he was wearing a helmet but the poor kid got a broken leg, broken rib and some internal bruising. They were a bit worried in case he had internal bleeding but he's doing okay now. He will probably be let out of hospital tomorrow."
"I think Ollie thinks it's really serious."
"Oh."
They'd arrived at the school and looked around. They decided to head in the direction of a park that they knew the boys liked to go to. At the entrance, they parked the car and did a quick sweep of the park and then back to the vehicle. They headed off again, not quite sure where they were going - other than towards the residential area where Ollie and family lived.
"Hutch?"
"Hmm."
"Which hospital is Freddie in?"
"Memorial. Why?"
"I just saw a bus that I know goes to Memorial," Starsky observed.
"You don't think?"
"Well, he ain't stupid and he's worried about Freddie...do you think two and two make five?"
Hutch clasped Starsky's shoulder. "Yeah, I think it makes five. Let's go."
S&H S&H S&H
Having parked the car, they headed towards the hospital entrance.
"This'll be a first," Starsky said.
"What?"
"A floor of the hospital we've never been treated on - paediatrics!"
They walked through the revolving door and went to look at the plan of the hospital. Just ahead, they spotted the back of a familiar figure.
"Ollie!"
Ollie swung around guiltily and froze. His grandfather and adopted grandfather headed quickly towards him.
"How'd you know I was here?"
"We found out you'd skipped school," Starsky said and Hutch added, "And Starsky thought you might have come here to see your friend, Freddie."
Ollie's face fell and he mumbled something.
Hutch leaned in close and asked gently, "What did you say?"
Ollie sniffed. "If F-Freddie's going to die, I wanted to say goodbye."
Hutch swallowed down the lump in his throat and pulled his grandson close.
"I spoke to your mom. Freddie's okay, he's not going to die. In fact, he'll probably be let home tomorrow."
Ollie looked up at his grandfather with a mixture of hope and suspicion. "Is that true?"
"Yes," Hutch confirmed. "He's got a broken leg so he won't be mobile for a while but he's going to be fine."
Ollie burst into tears. Starsky placed a hand on the blond head as Hutch gave Ollie a second hug.
When he'd calmed, Hutch said, "Shall we go see if Freddie is allowed visitors?"
"Yes, please."
They headed up in the elevator to the sixth floor. They asked at the reception desk where to find Freddie and were directed to a room at the end. As they neared it, they saw Freddie's mom coming out of the room.
"Ollie! What are you doing here?"
"I came to see Freddie."
"That's very kind of you."
She looked expectantly at the two men.
"I'm Ollie's grandfather, Ken Hutchinson and this is Max's grandfather, David Starsky."
They shook hands.
"Very pleased to meet you. I've heard a lot about you."
The two men laughed.
"All good things, we hope!"
Freddie's mom smiled and then turned to Ollie. "Well, I guess you'd better come in and see Freddie."
"We'll wait out here," Hutch said.
Ollie paused.
"Grandpa, please can I borrow your phone?"
"What for?"
"There's a drumming video Freddie loves. I thought we could watch it together."
"Oh, okay. Of course."
Hutch handed over his phone and watched in fond amusement as his grandson brought up the right video within seconds and then went into the room. Freddie's face lit up and they heard him say, "Ollie! Ollie! Ollie!"
"Good to see you, Freddie."
"A car hit me. I broke my leg."
"I can see! Does it hurt?"
"'S'okay."
"Want to watch the drum challenge with me?"
"Yeah...I broke my leg, Ollie."
"You sure did. Can I be the first person to sign your cast?"
Ollie and Freddie looked at his mom.
"You sure can."
Ollie grinned happily and the two boys started watching the video together.
Outside the room, Starsky whispered, "That's one good, kid."
Hutch just nodded.
S&H S&H S&H
On the way home, Hutch reassured Ollie that he would talk to Lori and that Ollie wouldn't be in too much trouble.
Starsky suggested, "Maybe we could go meet Max from school? He'll have been worrying all day about you."
Ollie looked sorry. "I should've told him what I was going to do. I just didn't want him getting into trouble for skipping school...'cause he would've come too if I'd asked him."
"'Course he would," Starsky said, "because that's what friends do. Stick with ya when you need help."
Hutch nodded and patted Starsky's shoulder.
"Don't be hard on Max because he rang me, will ya?" Starsky asked.
Ollie shook his head. "No, I won't. He meant well."
Hutch nodded and said thoughtfully, "Because that's also what friends do: get you help when they think you need it. Even if you don't realise it."
He and Starsky exchanged glances and smiles. Then Starsky said, "Since we got a few hours till we meet Max, how about we take Ollie out for lunch?"
"Hmm. Mom might not like me being treated when I've skipped school," Ollie pointed out.
Starsky shrugged. "We won't tell her. We'll say we gave you gruel as a punishment."
Hutch huffed a laugh. "Do you even know what gruel is?"
"No, but it sounds horrible. Anyone up for pancakes?"
"Yes!" Ollie affirmed.
Starsky looked at his partner.
"I could eat a pancake or two. I missed my breakfast."
"Great. Pancakes it is."
Soon the three of them were headed to their favourite place for pancakes and talking away about everything and nothing.