Santa Cruz
Starsky was sitting at his desk whistling. Hutch couldn't quite figure out what he was whistling, but it was a happy little tune. He knew why his partner was happy. Today was Monday, and they were only working until Wednesday this week. They were packing up after work and leaving early Thursday morning. They had reservations at a new resort in Santa Cruz, not far from the amusement park. It was going to be a great weekend. Hutch was taking Beverly, who he had been dating for a while. Starsky had planned this weekend around Kristy's Birthday. He grinned thinking about it. He really enjoyed helping Starsky make her day special.
Starsky looked up, "Hey Blondie, let's go get some lunch, and then we can see what's shakin' out on the street. I'm getting antsy sitting here."
Hutch chuckled, "Sure Starsk, can't have you antsy.
They drove over to Huggy's for lunch. They figured they might as well see if he had heard anything on the street they needed to worry about.
They walked into Huggy's and started back to their usual booth. Just as they were about to sit Huggy ran over to them.
"I was just about to call you guys. I heard about a hit goin' down."
Starsky and Hutch glanced at each other. Hutch looked back at their friend, "Okay Hug, what do you know?
"I heard that two cops are being targeted and it is going down today or tomorrow. I don't know who the targets are, but it has been set up by Little Jimmy Pascone. Have you had any dealings with him?"
Hutch swore under his breath as Starsky made his way to Huggy's phone.
Hutch answered his friend, "No Hug, we haven't dealt with that particular low life. I believe that is the case Babcock and Simmons are about to go to trial on. They are probably the targets. I have a feeling Starsky and I just got very busy."
Starsky walked by Hutch on his way to the door. He reached out and tapped him on the arm on the way by. Hutch waved at Huggy on the way out.
In the car, Hutch asked what Dobey had said. Starsky gave him a glance. "He was afraid of this. Pascone is in jail waiting for his trial, but that doesn't mean he isn't running things. Babcock and Simmons happened to be in the squad room when I called. He is telling them to stay put until we get there. I sure hope we get this handled quickly. I don't want to mess with our weekend, but we can't leave them out on a limb. Pascone is a dangerous man."
Hutch nodded, "I agree. This is bad timing, but we can't risk anything happening to them just because we have plans."
When they arrived, Babcock and Simmons were waiting for them in Dobey's office. They were sitting in the chairs when the partners walked in. Simmons got up and perched on the arm of Babcock's chair, leaving a chair free for Hutch with Starsky perched on the arm. Dobey was distracted by the shenanigans for just a moment. It was a little disconcerting how much the younger detectives were emulating the veterans.
The Captain cleared his throat. "Alright, what did Huggy tell you?"
Starsky shrugged, "Just what I told you Cap'n. He heard that Pascone had put a hit out on two cops. It is supposed to go down today or tomorrow. He didn't know anything else. Since his trial is coming up, and these two are the star witnesses, it just makes sense."
Dobey sighed. His men were in enough danger just working their beat. To have them be targets made his stomach twist.
"I want you four to work together, and I mean together. Try to get ahead of this. Since we are aware, they have lost their most important tool, the element of surprise." He pointed at each man. "Solve this before anything happens."
With a chorus of 'Yes Sir and Yes Captain" the four men left his office. They sat around Starsky and Hutch's desk in the squad room.
Hutch sighed, "Okay, Starsky, call Huggy. See if he knows if we are dealing with an actual hit man that was hired, or a price on their heads. You two", he pointed at Simmons and Babcock, "tell us everything you can think of about Pascone. Especially people that work for him and that he spends time with."
Starsky hung up the phone, "Hug says he thinks a hit man has been hired, but hasn't been able to get a name. He is afraid if we stop the hit man, Pascone might just go the other way and it will be open season on our friends here."
Simmons and Babcock exchanged a look. Simmons spoke, "This is a first for me. I don't think I have ever been a target before."
Babcock nodded in agreement.
Starsky gave them a rueful grin, "Hutch and I have been there a few times. The trial is Wednesday, I think if we can keep you alive until then it will all be over. That, and we have big plans this weekend starting on Thursday."
Simmons smiled, "We know, it is all you've talked about all month. I get it, she is a sweet lady. Tell Kristy we said hi."
The four men spent the next three hours going over everything they knew about Little Jimmy Pascone and his cohorts. They decided to move the conversation to Huggy's to see if he had any more information.
When they arrived at The Pits, they saw Huggy on the phone. When the bar owner noticed them he immediately hung up and waved them to their usual booth.
"You keep popping up just as I am about to call. I have some more info, and you ain't gonna like it."
Starsky sighed, "What ya got Hug?"
Huggy pulled a chair to the end of the booth, "I know who the hired gun is. Cat is Victor LaGrange, but they call him The Ghost. He is one dangerous dude."
Starsky let out a low whistle. "Hutch, isn't he the guy that killed that lawyer in judge in Sacramento? They never knew anything but a nickname, The Ghost."
Hutch nodded, "So, all we have to do is what Sacramento couldn't. We have an advantage though. We know he is here, and we know who his targets are."
Babcock was looking just a little nervous. "Any idea how to do that, before he finishes the job?"
They spent the next hour trying to formulate a plan. Huggy stayed to help, fortunately the bar was slow at the moment. They discarded quite a few plans before landing on what they were all confident would work.
Starsky rubbed his face. "Now, we go talk to Dobey. We try this without him knowing and he will hand us all our heads."
Huggy stood and put the chair back. "Good luck with that my friends. My part is done. Let me know how it all plays out."
Dobey had blustered and fumed, but eventually agreed. It was a dangerous plan, but they could not come up with anything better.
Babcock and Simmons left the squad room with Starsky and Hutch close behind. The plan was for them to make their usual check on their beat. Dobey had stationed other detectives along the regular route. Starsky and Hutch were following in a car borrowed from the motor pool. Anytime Babcock or Simmons got out of the car, so did Starsky and Hutch. They weren't that worried about LaGrange seeing them. They figured he already had a spot staked out.
Starsky sighed, "This reminds me too much of what we went through with Alex Drew. I sure hope we can end this one with everyone walking away."
Hutch squeezed his partner's shoulder. "I know, at least we know that no one else has been targeted. We just need to get this guy before he gets our friends."
They had made about four stops when Starsky saw something. Babcock had just parked and Simmons was getting out.
"Hutch! To your left, you see that?"
As Starsky was saying this he got out and ran toward Simmons. Hutch looked and saw the glint of a rifle sight. He pulled his gun and aimed toward the rooftop just as a shot was fired.
Starsky was yelling for Simmons to get down, then dove towards him to tackle him down. Simmons started to fall just as they heard the shot. Starsky felt the sting in his arm as he and Simmons went down behind the car. Hutch started firing towards the rooftop as he began to run towards the building. Babcock was right behind him.
Hutch and Babcock made it to the roof in no time. They were surprised to find a man down. They carefully approached the man. Babcock secured the rifle laying on the roof next to the man. Hutch checked on the phone figure. He looked up at Babcock and shook his head.
Babcock ran to the edge of the roof when he heard a shout from Simmons. He looked back at Hutch.
"I got this, you need to get back down there. Starsky was hit!"
Hutch turned and ran for the stairs without a word. He just knew this was too easy.
When Hutch reached his partner, Simmons had him propped up against the car. Hutch knelt in front of Starsky and started checking him over. Starsky pushed his hand away.
"Easy Blintz, it is hardly even a scratch. I might not even need stitches. Look!"
He held his arm up for Hutch to see. Hutch wiped away the blood to see where a bullet had grazed his partner's arm. He heaved a sigh of relief.
"Babcock said you were hit and I thought they worst. You still need to get it checked, but you are right. It is not bad at all."
Starsky was able to return to work the next day. According to Huggy, the threat against Simmons and Babcock was no longer active. Starsky and Hutch still stuck close to them all day Tuesday, just to be sure. Wednesday, they went in to court. Little Jimmy Pascone was sentenced to life in prison, with no parole. Their Wednesday was uneventful. When they got off, they went home and packed everything they needed for their long weekend away.
They picked up Kristy and Beverly early Thursday morning. Kristy was concerned about the bandage on Starsky's arm.
Starsky gave her a kiss. "Don't worry Schweetheart. This didn't even need stitches. Now, let's get this show on the road.
They arrived in Santa Cruz just about dinner time. They checked in to their rooms and then went looking for a place to eat. Starsky told them he made reservations for the next night at a fancy restaurant for Kristy's Birthday.
The rest of the weekend was full of fun. They spent time on the beach, boardwalk, and amusement park. The couples also spent time apart. Starsky and Kristy went off on their own as did Hutch and Beverly.
Sunday morning they started the drive back. Kristy was sitting in the front seat beside Starsky. He was holding her hand as his drove.
"Kristy, did you have a good birthday weekend?"
Kristy smiled, "Oh yes, you always manage to make my birthday special. Thank you."
