Chapter 7 The Sting
Starsky was in the meeting room with Tim Colby. They spoke about Albert Finster who they knew already was on the take.
"Dave, what you can do is Mr. Finster think that you have settled into life here at the jail. Get him to let his guard down. I will be coming in as an inspector…" Starsky shushed him and waited for a minute, then passed a paper and pen over to him. Tim read the note and started to talk again but not about what the plan was.
"So, you tell me that you are afraid they will put you in the general prison?" Tim said as he wrote the instructions for Starsky to follow.
"Yeah, that means that I will probably not have long." Dave said as he read the instructions then waited for Tim to ask another question.
"I will see what I can do to keep you out, is that okay?" Dave said yes. They were finished and Tim left the meeting room. The guard came and took Starsky to his cell, but he passed the cell and went to a small door. The door was open and Starsky was shoved inside.
Huggy Bear had instructions and was setting up the booth in Huggy Bear's restaurant. Dobey called the mayor and told him that there was a meeting at The Pits and that he was needed to be there. The time was 7:00 pm. Bernie Grossman and another officer who was also wanting to be a detective had been given the assignment to listen to Dobey and the Mayor. They were to sit in the booth near the one that was wired. Their booth was also wired.
Dave Starsky blinked a few times. The bright light shone in his eyes, He heard a voice that was at once familiar but also unfamiliar.
"Mr. Starsky, do you know who I am?" Starsky looked as best he could and said:
"No, but I am sure you are going to tell me!" The man behind the bright lamp smiled and said:
"I am your previous partner's partner now! But we know he is dead!" The man said in a sinister voice.
"I am going to offer you a deal, you join us and we will set you free and tell the papers that it was a mistake and that your Partner Hutch was hooked on drugs again and died! In fact, he drowned!" Starsky did not say anything at the moment, he was waiting and thinking when he would be able to do something.
"Well, what do you say?" The man said to him.
"I don't say anything, what do you want me to say!" Starsky said as he took in what he could see around the room. The man was not patient, he signaled one of the guards to hit him. Dave took the hit but stood without moving.
"You don't want to mess with us Mr. Starsky! We can put you in the general population and we will see how long you last!" Starsky looked at the man and just then recognized him.
"You Know Bernie, it is very bad when a cop turns on his own for money!" Starsky said. Just at that moment, the door was opened and Tim Colby and two FBI agents came in. Everything was recorded. There was a little bit of a fight but Starsky whom Tim released his handcuffs punched Bernie Grossman who then tried to punch Starsky but he missed and fell on to the floor hitting his head on the table as he went down.
At the Pits, Captain Dobey, inspector Erskine and other FBI agents were sitting at the booth with the Mayor and Mr. Finster. The Mayor was talking to Erskine and telling him that he would 'cooperate' any way he could to help find the person who had kidnapped Mrs. Dobey.
"I tell you, Inspector Erskine, that I will do everything in my power to find Mrs. Dobey. I am sure that this is unrelated to the problems that Captain Dobey has with Detective Starsky. And I am truly sorry about Detective Hutchinson, it is always hard when a cop turns bad!" Dobey looked at the Mayor and said:
"Mayor, I need you to sign this paper for me! It is from the department concerning the attorneys that are listed as well as several cops and detectives who are known to taking bribes for certain privileges!" the mayor was surprised and looked at the paper. The names that were on the list were those he had paid off. Starting with Bernie Grossman, and Albert Finster.
"I had my secretary put them in alphabetical order starting with the first names. Do any of these name seem familiar to you?" The mayor looked visibly shaken, he looked over to Albert Finster who said:
"Sir, I have no idea where they came up with this list. We can charge the police department with improperly obtaining any evidence!"
"Albert, do you have anything to say? We have checked into Bernie's records and found that the detective school we paid for was not aware of your status? In fact, they had no knowledge or proof that you attended that particular school!" Bernie looked at Albert, then at the mayor.
Just at the moment, Starsky and Hutch walked into the room together. Albert looked and his mouth opened but nothing came out. Bernie was just as surprised and said:
"He died, I watched, I shoved him into the water!"
"Did you Bernie? Was it really me? Or did you just shove someone in the water that looked like me!" Hutch said
"The name of that person is Rocky Galan, seems he was one of your runners!" Starsky said as he looked at the Mayor. The mayor was furious and said:
"I want to talk to my lawyer!"
"But I am your lawyer Mr. Johnson!" Albert said
"No, you are not my lawyer, I have another lawyer!" The two FBI agents waited until the mayor and the detective and lawyer were led out in handcuffs.
Chapter 8 The Rescue
"We know where your wife is. She is in a beach house on PCH near Malibu. There is a small family a man, a woman and two small children. We did not want any problems…." Inspector Erskine said
" Wait a minute!" Captain Doby said and then turned to Starsky and Hutch and asked:
"Would you two go get her for me?"
"Yes, what is the address!" The FBI agents did not want to give them the address.
"Why not?" Captain Dobey said
"It might be dangerous; she might be killed! We have to go in as a surprise!" Tim Colby said holding the piece of paper with the address on it.
"You know Starsky, I don't think these are taking into consideration that the Mayor or someone may have contacted them already and the captains wife is in danger as we speak!" Hutch said to his partner.
"I quite agree!' Starsky said as he grabbed the paper out of Tim Colby's hand before he thought to keep it. They bolted out of the door and went down to the garage. The red tomato was there and Starsky got in and started the engine. The two FBI agents followed closely behind to the garage as well and got in their car.
"Starsky, do you know where we are going? I did not look at the address yet?" Hutch asked as he sat in the passenger seat.
"I got it." Starsky said as he drove.
"How could you get it that fast?"
"When I was suspended, I was being followed by a blue and white car. I turned, it turned, you know how that works? Anyway, I was able to see where they turned off, when I saw the address I knew that is where the blue and white car was, that is where Mrs. Dobey is." Hutch said 'oh' and let it go, They got to the place. The Blue and white car was there as well as the brown sedan and a station wagon. They parked away from the place and came in from the south side.
"There are children here?" Starsky said. Hutch looked as well, Mrs. Dobey was outside with the children pushing one of them on a swing. The other was sitting in a playpen. They saw a man come out and the child on the swing ran over to him and asked if they could go get an ice cream. Hutch and Starsky watched and saw the man tell the child in a little bit, a woman came out and took over with the children. Mrs. Dobey went back inside with the man.
"I will go in through the front, you want to go in through the garage?" Hutch asked Starsky. They could not go in the back because of the other lady. Starsky thought about it for a moment and then saw a dark blue continental drive up.
"Great the FBI are here now. I suppose we have to include them?" Starsky said.
"This might work out. They can distract the lady and we can get inside?" Hutch said to Starsky. So, they made their way to the side of the building where the FBI agents were just getting out of the car. Hutch informed them of the situation and then they said they would handle the lady and the children.
A few minutes later, the man was captured and Mrs. Dobey was free, the lady was also put in the car with the FBI and Child Protective services was called.
Captain Dobey had decided to follow the FBI agents and when his wife was rescued went to be with her.
"Oh, Harry, I am so glad you are here. What is going to happen to the children. Robbie is 5 and Rubie is 2? Can we take them home and take care of them?" Mrs. Dobey asked.
"Sweetheart, we can find out later, I understand that you want to care for the children but I think that you need to have time first. We will check into that later this week, okay dear?" Cap said as he held her in his arms.
Walking back to the car Dave looked at Starsky, they passed the Cap who said:
"I will see both of you first thing Monday morning!" He smiled at them and they smiled back.
"Are you hungry?" Asked Starsky
"Yes I am." Hutch said then he said:
"Where to?" Starsky smiled and revved up the car and turned and headed to his favorite restaurant.
