First Divide Then Conquer

Chapter 1 Starsky

Walking along the beach David Starsky was deep in thought. He had been on 'vacation' for about 2 weeks now, it was actually a suspension. He walked the shores of Redondo Beach. The pier was nearby, and he was going to sit under the pier and listen to the waves again. Days had run into days, and he had no other pressing engagements or even a job to do. He walked to a spot that was still dry and the waves had not come close to it. Sitting on the sand he thought:

"Three weeks ago, Hutch and I had just gotten that assignment. We had collected the evidence and were just about to complete the bust when Cap called us in. We went to the office and sat there waiting to find out what he was going to tell us. When he walked in he looked very upset. He almost shouted at us, well mostly at me. Apparently I had done something to make someone angry. I remember he said to me:

"Starsky as of this moment you have been taken off this case and are on suspension until further notice!"

"Why, what happened?" I asked Cap Dobey looked at me and said:

"There were several complaints in the past few assignment s that you were unnecessarily rude to several witnesses. But what was really bad, is that you bad-mouthed a fellow cop! The mayor wants you off the force not just suspended. But even he has to abide by the rules! So, you will be suspended until further notice. You will collect pay so if you want a new job, I suggest you look for one! Now, clean out your desk and get out of here!"
"But Captain Dobey, how much evidence is there? I mean suspended maybe but it sounds like he is fired!" Hutch asked me. I was too angry to say a word.

"Hutch, you will no longer be working with Starsky I have someone else who you will be working with! Oh, as far as you to go, your friendship ends with this job! Hutch you will no longer speak to Starsky or even see him in your off hours and Starsky same thing goes for you. If I hear of either of you two collaborating or seeing each other both of you will be off the force!" Captain Dobey said. He did not like the fact that he had to suspend one of his best detectives, but he hated it even more so telling them they could no longer work or see each other outside of work. David then went to his desk and packed his things into a box while Dobey had Ken meet his new Partner a police officer who had gone through the training and had been fast tracked to becoming a detective.

The waves crashed against the pier; Dave watched deep in thought as the waves made their way up to his toes. The tide was coming in. He watched a little longer and then stood up and started to walk towards the other side of the pier, still under the boardwalk, still watching the waves as they started to grow. He looked out toward the ocean and watched as he saw some surfers on the waves, and a boat or two going by which caused more waves. The sun was hot, it was a 90-degree day there in California and David Starsky walked under the pier and to the other side just watching the waves rolling in.

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Ken Hutchison was not happy about his best friend's suspension, he felt something had gone wrong somewhere. For the Mayor to be involved with the suspension or firing of a detective it had to have caused a death or something but there was nothing in the paperwork or archives. He was introduced to Stan Reynolds a police officer who had risen from the ranks rather quickly and became a detective. Hutch was to be his mentor and also his partner. Captain Dobey said that he would learn a lot from Ken Hutchison, but Ken Hutchison himself thought that Stan had risen too quickly. It had taken him about 6 years and 2 years OJT before he received his certification, he had a BA in Criminal law as well as a masters in forensics. David had done the same thing except in California his specialty was gangs and narcotics. Newly minted Detective Reynolds had received his BA in Criminology and Sociology with a specialty in Narcotics and Forensics. He had finished all of this within a 5-year period. Hutch was a little concerned that the short amount of time he had been on the Police force(2 Years) and the 3 years it took to gain his BA and the specialties was a little two fast but he did work well and try. But their personalities were not good with each other, Hutch was thorough, Reynolds was quick to make a decision and ask wrong questions. Was it because he was still starting out? Or because he had skipped or missed some of the education that all detectives and police officers were given? Hutch wondered about this. But their first assignment went okay, and Reynolds seemed to be doing fine. Hutch thought about their first assignment together, a robbery murder that had been tied to gangs and narcotics. Reynolds had all but jumped in feet first and almost got them killed. Fortunately, they had back up and Hutch was only grazed by a bullet. He spoke to Reynolds about what happened as they had filed the report.

"Stan, you know that if you had waited for me to signal, we would not have needed back up?" Hutch said to Reynolds

"Yes, I know, but I wasn't sure if the guys on the other side were going to shoot first!" said Reynolds. Hutch shook his head and said:

"That is why I told you to wait for my signal! I was waiting for them to give up and they would have if you had not fired that shot! The whole point of waiting is to give the perps a chance to surrender!" Hutch said.

"I suppose so, but they are criminals, so why should we wait when we can actually get them!" Reynolds asked Hutch who quoted something from the Police manual about policy and procedures. Hutch was not surprised when Reynolds had to go before the policy board, and they had explained what Hutch had just told him. They let him go since it was his first assignment.

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Starsky was walking away from the pier and over to some rocks, he had just stood on the top rock when he noticed something unusual floating on the water. He bent down to get a closer look and what he saw he immediately climbed down the pile of rocks and pulled someone he knew out of the water!

Chapter 2 Hutch

Captain Dobey was not a happy camper. He took the phone call and was very upset. When Stan Reynolds walked into the office Dobey stared at him very intently and asked

"Do you know where Hutch is?"

"No, sir I don't. I left him yesterday when we finished the report on the new assignment. I did not see him at all after that! Sir." Reynolds said to Captain Dobey. The captain looked at Reynolds and said:

"That is because your partner is missing!" Reynolds looked at the captain and said:

"Missing? I thought he went home after work?" Reynolds said

"You don't spend time with him? You don't know what he does after he gets off work?" The captain asked him.

"No, sir, I don't, I invited him out for a couple of beers once or twice but he always said he needed to go for a run and he didn't drink beer during the week! He never asked me to come by to visit with him either. Of course, I am married and have two children but that doesn't mean that I can't…" Captain Dobey stopped him and saying:

"That is fine Reynolds! I will get you another partner soon. In the meantime, will you help Lloyd and Benson with the homicide case? I will let them know you will be on their team!" Captain Dobey sat at his desk and then looked up and said:

"Why are you still here? I said you will be going to Lloyd and Bensons team. Go talk to them and ask them to bring you up to speed!"

"Yes sir Captain!" Reynolds left and Dobey sat at his desk the door was shut so he took off his glasses and tears came out of his eyes.

"First Starsky, now Hutch? What happened?" he put his head in his hands and sobbed. The phone rang he picked it up and said his name.

"Hello, Captain Dobey, This is Huggy Bear, Starsky needs to see you as soon as possible, it concerns Hutch!" Captain Dobey did not say anything right away.

"Captain, are you there?"

"Yes, yes, I am here, when does he want to see me?"
"He says to meet him at my business establishment at 9 pm tonight." Captain Dobey answered yes to Huggy Bear and then hung up the phone. Something was going on, he needed to find out what it was. Hutch had disappeared two days ago, and no one had seen him anywhere.

It was 8:45 pm. Starsky walked into Huggy Bear's place and sat in the farthest booth and ordered a beer. He was alone and he was watchful.

"Starsky, you know I don't know why you wanted to contact Captain Dobey, is there something you need to tell me?" Starsky looked up at Huggy Bea and said:

" You will know in a little while, we three need to talk, can we use your office?"

"Sure, I just wish you had said something sooner. The office is a mess!" Huggy Bear said as he watched the door and saw two customers coming in.

"I need to take care of these fella's and I will be available when he gets here" Huggy Bear said as he walked to the two new customers. Starsky recognized one of them and made a mental note to tell Cap when he met with him.

It was a few minutes later that Cap walked in. He was alone and looked for Starsky, when he saw him he walked over to the booth. As he passed the two booths before Starsky he saw Reynolds sitting in a booth with someone else.

"One beer for my friend, Starsky raised his hand to get Huggy's attention. Huggy nodded and poured a beer and then poured another beer as well. He walked over to the booth and said:

"I will take you to my office right now. Follow me!" Huggy went up the stairs to a second office. This was where he usually spoke to people who needed absolute privacy. They walked in and sat down at a small round dining table that held four chairs. He set the beers down and they all sat at the table.

"So, what is this all about, Starsky!" Captain Dobey said

"I know where Hutch is!" Starsky said to Captain Dobey and Huggy Bear.

"I thought I told you to stay away from him!" Dobey said to Starsky.

"I did, except he came 'floating' by me while I was walking along the beach!" Huggy Bear was curious and asked:

"I did not know Hutch was missing, what do you mean 'floating?" Huggy said. Captain Dobey looked at Starsky and waited.

"I mean, literally floating. He had been dumped in the ocean!" Starsky said. Captain Dobey and Huggy Bear both stared at Starsky.

"What!?" cried Captain Dobey

"I mean, that he may have been in the water only a short time. He is okay but he is going to need medical help! I thought if I waited to tell you then you wouldn't report it to anyone just yet. Something happened and I want to know who tried to kill Hutch!" Starsky said.

"Besides, he needs medical attention, and I did not want something to happen to him!