Amy

How can buying a bottle of wine turn into a life-threatening situation?

“The man coming in here, he’s a cop,” said Mrs Ramirez. “So you better go. He’ll shoot you else.”

Vic turned to see a man approaching the store. He didn’t look like a cop. Maybe the old lady was bluffing; but he couldn’t take the chance. He turned to his accomplice. “Ricky, get down the aisle, make sure you have him covered. Just in case.”

Ricky moved so that he would cut off any possible exit once the man entered. He was nervous. Vic had said it would be easy money, and so far there had been nothing easy about it. There was no money in the till. The woman said that her son had called in and taken the money just before they came in. Apparently, he liked to bank the money every day at this time. Now there was supposed to be a cop coming in. He tightened his hand around the gun he was holding in his jacket pocket.

Vic for his part pointed his gun at Mr and Mrs Ramirez warning them to keep quiet and act natural.

The door opened and the ‘cop’ walked in. He was obviously familiar with the store. He walked straight to the wine section. It couldn’t have been better. He had his back to Ricky.

Ricky stepped forward slowly and quietly, worried that the man might turn at any moment. He pulled the gun from his pocket and stretched out his arm targeting the man’s back. The man was absorbed in which wine to buy. Mrs Ramirez could stand the tension no longer and gave a small cry. Before the man could react, Ricky pushed the gun into the back of the man’s head.

Ricky thought of all the movies he’d seen, all the scenes like this. “Put your hands up where I can see them,” he said. “Don’t try anything or your dead”. The man did as he was asked. Ricky stepped back scared that the man might try something. Scared that he might have to shoot him. “Now turn around real slow”.

Vic stepped up from the counter, and turned his gun from the terrified Ramirez to the ‘cop’. The man turned, his arms held up at his side. As he turned he looked at Vic. He knew he needed a fix. Vic could see it in the man’s eyes. Maybe he was a cop. Vic held his gun on him. The man then looked at Ricky, looked at Ricky’s gun hand shaking, looked up at Ricky’s face, saw the fear.

“I just came in for some wine,” he said. “I’m not gonna do anything. Just let me go.”

“This lady here says you’re a cop,” said Vic. “So open up your jacket slowly, let’s see if you’re if packing a piece.”

The man looked over at Mrs Ramirez before undoing his jacket and pulling it open. He had a gun.

Vic laughed. “My, my, we got us a cop. Take the gun out real slow and drop it on the floor. Then kick it away.”

The cop hesitated before deciding he had no choice but to follow Vic’s orders. He reached for the gun slowly. His eyes were on Ricky, who was getting increasingly nervous. Once the gun was free of the holster he threw it forward, onto the floor. Ricky stepped forward, glanced to where the gun lay, kicked it away from the cop and then backed up once more.

“He is a cop,” cried Ricky. “He doesn’t look like a cop does he, Vic?”

“Come over here, cop,” snapped Vic. This was a mess. A cop had seen them. If they let him go he’d come straight after them. Vic had never killed anyone. He didn’t know if he could do it now. He just wanted money for a fix.

The cop walked over to the counter, his arms held out at his side once more.

“Lie down on your belly and bring your hands behind your back,” Vic instructed. The cop looked reluctant to lie down. “Lie down or I shoot the old lady,” ordered Vic not moving the gun from the cop.

The cop knelt down on the floor, and then lay on his stomach. He then slowly brought his hands up behind him. He held them there, knowing what Vic intended to do.

“Keep an eye on him, Ricky,” Vic said. Bending down over the cop he searched for handcuffs. He found them on the cop’s belt, removed them and fastened them onto the cop’s wrists. Feeling like he’d tamed a tiger, he relaxed. He started to search through the pockets of the cop’s jeans for his wallet. He found it, as well as his shield.

He looked at the shield. “Detective First Grade David Starsky,” he said. “You sure don’t look like a cop. If the lady hadn’t have said something then we’d never have known”. Vic then looked in the wallet. “A lousy fifteen dollars, that all you got, cop?”

“Let’s go, Vic,” said Ricky. It hadn’t been easy money; he should never have listened to Vic. They would have to get money from somewhere else if they were to score.

Vic stashed the money in his jacket pocket. He checked that the man and woman were keeping still. The old lady was crying on the old man’s shoulder. “Go out to the van, Ricky. I’ll be out in a minute. Just got something I’ve got to do here first.”

Ricky made for the door, but then stopped and turned back. “You’re gonna kill a cop?”

“He’s seen us hasn’t he?”

“Yeah but, you gonna kill them too?” asked Ricky. He pointed at the man and woman. Mrs Ramirez became hysterical at this, and Mr Ramirez held her tighter.

” Just the cop. Those two won’t say anything that’ll be of any use in finding us.”

“You’ll be caught,” said Starsky. “Believe me.”

“Shut up, cop,” shouted Vic. “I’ve got to kill him, Ricky. Don’t you see?”

“But if you kill him, we’ll have every cop in the city looking for us,” pleaded Ricky.

“Listen to your friend,” said Starsky. “You don’t want to make things worse than they already are.” He was trying to argue with a junkie for his life. Vic threatening to kill him was his main concern. He was the kind of man who would have been angry even without it being drug-fuelled. The skinnier boy, Ricky, he was scared, but would still listen to reason.

“Keep quiet, cop,” yelled Vic pushing the gun against the side of Starsky’s head. The cop closed his eyes, as if expecting the gun to go off. Vic pulled it back suddenly. Realising he couldn’t kill. The thought of it scared him. He stood up and watched the cop slowly open his eyes; in disbelief he was still alive. He needed to think of something.

“Vic?” Ricky thought the cop was a dead man. He’d seen the flash of anger in Vic’s eyes. He had closed his eyes. Not wanting to see the slaughter. He had expected to hear the gun, but there was just silence. When he opened his eyes, Vic was standing over the cop with the gun at his side.

“We’ll take him with us,” said Vic, turning to Ricky

“What?”

“We’ll go find TJ. TJ’ll waste him for us. Just for kicks. You know he would.”

“But I need a fix, Vic. We need to go do another store,” whined Ricky.

“It won’t take long. We just go find TJ. Then boom. The cop’s dead and we can go do a store. Get that fix. Why TJ’s always bragging about the hits he’s done. It’d be no trouble to him.”

“No, Vic, let’s just go. Leave the cop.”

“I ain’t leaving him here. He’s seen us, Ricky.”

Ricky hesitated. “Do you know where we can find TJ?” he asked.

Vic kicked the cop in the ribs, getting him to roll over onto his side. He crouched down and grabbed the cop’s hair pulling his head around so the cop was looking at him. “I don’t want any trouble from you. I will kill you if I have to. Hey cop, what do you say? Be good and you’ll get to live a little longer.”

“Doesn’t sound like much of a deal,” muttered Starsky. His best option was to make a break for it. If he could. So he knew this Vic couldn’t carry out an execution. If he could he’d be dead already. He was aware though, that in the heat of the moment, Vic was capable of firing the gun.

He was off duty. Hutch wasn’t expecting to see him until tomorrow morning. The store was by Hutch’s house; he’d passed it on his way to drop Hutch off. Starsky regretted not getting the wine first. Hutch would’ve been in the Torino. By now he would have realised something was up and come to the rescue.

“Are you sure TJ will kill him? If we can’t find him, Vic. Will you do it?” asked Ricky. Starsky glanced in the direction of Ricky’s voice. He was losing an ally.

“I’m not worth the trouble,” Starsky said to Vic.

“Oh but I think you are” said Vic, letting his hair go and standing up.

“Get him then, Vic. Let’s go.” pleaded Ricky.

“Yeah, let’s go get you executed, cop. If we can’t find TJ I will do it myself.”

Starsky tried to remember having ever heard of a TJ. He couldn’t think of anyone. “Really, I’m not worth it,” pleaded Starsky. “Leave me here. I won’t say anything,” he tried to sound convincing.

“Go get the van started, Ricky. We’re taking him with us.”

Ricky put his gun back into his jacket pocket. He ran out of the store. Vic stepped over Starsky before bending down and grabbing him by the collar of his shirt and jacket and hauling him up to his knees. He pushed his gun into Starsky’s back and ordered him to get up.

Starsky struggled to his feet. Vic guided him to walk backwards out of the store. He paused at the door while Ricky got out of the van and opened the back doors. As soon as this was done Vic kicked open the door and pushed Starsky out and towards it.

Starsky was hoping to have the chance to break away from Vic, but the nervous Ricky had his hand in his pocket pointing his gun at him. Starsky looked into the back of the van, just before he was pushed into it. He was surprised to see a young girl of approximately six years of age sitting there.

“Amy,” said Ricky in an exasperated manner. “What have I told you about getting in the back? Come out of there.”

The girl looked down at Starsky lying on the floor of the van, before getting to her feet and walking to the back, to be helped out by Ricky. As soon as she was out the doors were shut and then the driver and passenger doors were opened and Ricky, Amy and then Vic got in. The engine started and they headed out into the street.

Ricky was driving. He looked over his shoulder into the back of the van at Starsky. The glass partition that should have been there was missing. “What do we do, Vic?” he asked turning his attention back to the road.

“We find TJ. Head over to the Metal Rooster. He ought to be there or someone would have seen him around.”

Starsky was getting thrown around in the back of the van as it moved through the early evening traffic. He pushed himself upright as much as he could and propped himself in the corner of the van. If Mr and Mrs Ramirez were phoning the police right now he figured it would take about fifteen minutes max for a patrol car to arrive. Once they saw his Torino they would know he’d been taken. They’d inform Captain Dobey and he would tell Hutch.

The Metal Rooster was a bar Starsky knew of but had never been to. It was a heavy metal bar. He knew it by reputation. Most Saturday nights a patrol car would be called to break up a street fight there. TJ. He still couldn’t place the name. He flexed his wrists against the handcuffs but they were firmly in place.

Roughly twenty minutes after they had set off the van slowed, bounced over some rough ground and then came to a stop. Wait here and keep an eye on the cop,” Vic ordered before getting out of the van.

Starsky could hear Vic’s footsteps fading into the distance. Ricky turned himself around so that he could see Starsky. Ricky shivered a little as his need for a fix took hold.

“Why is that man tied up? Is he bad?”

“We’re just playing a little game with him, Amy, that’s all.”

Amy turned herself around so that she could lean on the partition and look at Starsky. Starsky looked at her. She was a cute girl with dark hair worn in braids. She looked like a tomboy; she was wearing a striped T-shirt and dungarees.

“Hi, Amy,” said Starsky smiling at her. “She your kid sister?” he asked Ricky.

“No. She’s my sister’s kid. I’m babysitting her.”

“You got a strange idea of babysitting,” said Starsky. “You take her along to all the liquor stores you hold up?”

“Tonight was the first time…what’s it got to do with you anyhow, cop? Shut up.”

“Is he a policeman?” asked Amy.

“Yeah, Amy, he is and it’s our secret okay? Mommy might not like it if she knew we were playing games with a cop.”

“Why?”

“Just cause okay, Amy?”

“Okay.”

“Do yourself a favour, Ricky,” said Starsky. “Let me go, take Amy home to her mother and keep away from Vic.”

“Vic’s Uncle Ricky’s friend,” said Amy. She turned to look at Ricky, frowning at him. “Are you cold Uncle Ricky?”

“Think I’m coming down with something, sweetheart. I’m okay.”

Amy turned back to Starsky. “What’s your name?”

“Starsky. My partner calls me Starsky.”

“What’s a partner?”

“Quiet, Amy, you’re getting on my nerves,” snapped Ricky. “Sit back down here and quit asking questions.”

Amy did as she was told.

“They’ll know by now I’m missing,” reasoned Starsky. “My partner, Hutch, will know. Thing about my partner is, he never gives up. He’ll keep looking for me until he finds me. I’d do the same for him you see. So let me go, Ricky, and save yourself a lot of trouble.”

“I can’t. Vic would kill me.”

“No he wouldn’t. Trust me. I can get you something to help you through and I can keep Vic away.” Starsky paused. He could see Ricky thinking it over. Tempted. “C’mon, Ricky. Just let me out of here that’s all you’ve got to do.”

Ricky looked at Amy and then at Starsky. He hesitated for a second and then opened his door and got out of the van.

Amy knelt up on the seat. Starsky could see her looking out of the window. “Here’s Vic,” she shouted, happy to see him return. With the driver’s door open Starsky could hear Vic and Ricky’s conversation clearly.

“What are you doing out of the van? I told you to keep an eye on the cop.”

“He’s not doing anything, Vic. I needed some fresh air.” Ricky’s voice dropped a little lower, “I need a fix bad, Vic.”

“We’re going to get one. TJ’s on his way back here okay? We might have to go somewhere quiet, but we’ll do another store soon.”

“Yeah, well. Hope they ain’t been banking cash,” shivered Ricky.

“That was just a fluke. We’ll be fixed up soon. I promise.”

“I’m not so sure about this, Vic.”

“Not so sure about what?”

“The cop. Maybe we should just let him go.”

“We’re in too deep now. We get caught, and they’ll throw away the key.”

Starsky heard more footsteps and guessed that TJ had arrived. He heard a different voice a little further away. “So what you got?” the voice said. Starsky heard all three walk to the back of the van. The doors were opened. “We got us a cop for you to kill,” Vic announced. “Thought you might enjoy wasting him for us,” he continued as TJ caught sight of Starsky in the back of the van.

Starsky recognised TJ immediately. He knew him as Tommy Jackson. He was a small time hood and drug dealer who fancied himself as being a wheeler and a dealer. TJ recognised him.

“Shit that’s Dave Starsky,” TJ exclaimed. “What are you doing with him?”

“He walked into a liquor store we were holding up,” explained Vic. “The liquor store came up empty and now we got the cop to get rid of.”

“There’s lots of people would like to see Dave Starsky out of the way. Him and his partner, Hutchinson,” said TJ sleeking back his black greased hair and leaning into the van for a closer look at Starsky.

“Tell them it’d be better to let me go, Jackson,” said Starsky

TJ stood up straight and let out a breath, thinking things through. “I hate to agree with the cop but you’re crazy, the two of you. It’s madness.”

“We thought you’d want to do him,” chipped in Ricky.

“Madness,” repeated TJ. He sat down on the edge of the van and looked back at Starsky and then at Vic and Ricky.

“So?” asked Vic.

“What if I tell you he’s worth more to you alive? I know of someone who might want him. Might be worth your while finding out how much they’d be willing to pay for you to hand him over. You can’t afford to wait though. If you do the police are going to catch up with you. He’s got a mean partner too.” He looked back at Starsky. “I could make a call. You need to do the deal tonight.”

“How much?” asked Ricky.

“Depends what they offer. Enough for a few fixes though, I should think.”

They could get a fix. Ricky was happy with it. Vic too. “Go ahead and make the call then. We’ll wait back here for you.”

TJ headed back in the direction of the Metal Rooster. Starsky had a chance to see they were on a deserted lot. It was beginning to get dark. Vic closed the van doors and Starsky heard both men walk back round to the front of the van and get in.

“I’m thirsty, Uncle Ricky,” said Amy.

“We’ve got to wait here a little while. Be a good girl okay, Amy?”

“But I want a drink,” Amy continued.

“Is she going to keep whining all night?” asked Vic impatiently.

“She’s thirsty, Vic. There’s a store over there I’ll go get her something OK?”

“Okay but be quick about it.”

“Can you give me some money?”

Vic reached into his jacket and took out the fifteen dollars he had taken from Starsky’s wallet. “Here. Be quick.”

Ricky and Amy got out of the van and headed for the store. Vic stretched a little and scratched himself. He was hoping TJ wouldn’t be long. He looked into the back of the van at the cop. “Wondering who’ll get you?” he sneered.

“No. Thinking about who’ll get you,” replied Starsky.

“Should have got Ricky to get you something. After all you’re paying and it would sort of be like a last meal for you wouldn’t it?”

Starsky didn’t reply. He was hoping that Mrs Ramirez had remembered the name TJ. That Hutch could place him, know it was Tommy Jackson. Hutch had a memory for names. Thing was did Mrs Ramirez?

Vic turned on the radio. Heavy metal filled the van. They waited in silence. After ten minutes the passenger door opened on the van and a giggling Amy climbed in followed shortly after by Ricky. “We had a race and I won,” explained Amy.

“Yeah okay. Sit still,” said Vic.

“She’s just a kid, Vic,” Ricky said, climbing into the van.

“She’s getting food all over my jeans. Christ’s sake watch your drink.”

“Get in the back, Amy,” ordered Ricky.

“But, Uncle Ricky, you said I couldn’t.”

“But now I’m saying you can okay?”

Starsky looked up to see Amy climbing through the partition. She smiled at Starsky before taking the food and drink that Ricky passed to her.

“Keep away from the man,” said Ricky.

Amy smiled again at Starsky offering him a potato chip. “No thanks,” said Starsky “I’m a little tied up at the moment.”

Amy laughed. “You’re funny. I can give it to you if you like.”

“Okay,” said Starsky.

Amy leaned over towards Starsky but as she did so Ricky put his hand through stopping her progress. “Amy, I said to keep away from him.”

Amy backed away from Starsky choosing to sit opposite him.

Starsky heard footsteps approaching the driver’s side. TJ was back. Vic opened his door. “Any luck?” he asked.

“I got you a buyer,” said TJ. “They’re on their way over to pick him up.”

“Not that it makes any difference to us, but who’s having him?” enquired Vic.

Starsky listened intently. “I called Steve Crossland. He’s sending some of his men for him now.”

Steve Crossland. Starsky had arrested him for drug running a couple of months ago. With a good lawyer that Crossland could easily afford the charges were dropped. Starsky and Hutch were putting a lot of effort into finding more evidence on Crossland so that he wouldn’t wriggle off the hook next time. Crossland was bad news for whoever crossed his path.

“How much did you get?” asked Ricky.

“I took five hundred for my trouble but you’ll be getting a thousand dollars. Starsky’s hot property.”

Ricky whooped in delight at this news. “Looks like we hit the jackpot with the cop,” crowed Vic. “Next time we need money all we’ve got to do is bag us a cop,” he laughed.

“I’m sorry to interrupt the party,” Starsky spoke up. “You don’t want to be messing with Crossland. He’ll kill you just as easily as he’ll kill me. Jackson you should know that.”

“Shut up, cop,” laughed Vic.

“Yeah shut up, cop,” echoed Ricky.

“Is Crosslan’ a bad man?” asked Amy. She was the only one listening to Starsky.

“He is, Amy, but don’t you worry.” Starsky smiled at the girl trying to reassure her. In trying to explain the danger the only one he’d manage to frighten was Amy.

She put her arms around Starsky. “I want to go home,” she whispered.

“Me too, Amy. Me too,” he replied. He needed the cavalry to show up right now. In a battered Ford LTD.

Starsky heard a car approach and Vic and Ricky got out of the van closing their doors behind them. Starsky could hear voices but too far away to understand what they were saying. “Listen to me, Amy. I want you to climb up into the front of the van and hurry. Get down low and no matter what you hear keep down and don’t make a sound.” Amy lifted her head to look at him. Her face was crumpled as she tried not to cry. “Don’t be scared, Amy. Its all part of a game remember?”

“Yes. Okay.”

“Hurry then. Put your foot on my shoulder. Remember be quiet, Amy, and keep down.”

The little girl hugged Starsky and then quickly climbed through the partition. She had just dropped out of sight when the back of the van was opened. A light at the edge of the lot illuminated the area. Starsky could see two of Crossland’s best-hired thugs, Frankie De Matta and Harry Delaney looking in at him.

Frankie smiled, his gold tooth catching the light. “Hello, Starsky,” he whispered. “What a pleasant surprise to find you all trussed up like a prize-giving turkey”.

“Hello, Frankie,” said Starsky. “You don’t get any funnier with age do you?”

Frankie turned to Vic and Ricky. “Get him out then,” he ordered.

Vic leaned into the van. Grabbing Starsky’s legs he pulled him until he could reach Starsky’s arms. He pulled again. Starsky had to move fast to put his feet down and stop himself falling forward. “Say hello to the detective, Harry,” instructed Frankie.

Harry stepped forward and punched Starsky fast and hard in the ribs. Starsky fell back badly winded and writhed on the ground as he struggled for air.

Don’t damage the merchandise fellas,” said Vic. He reached down to pull Starsky up onto his knees. Starsky bent double. Still struggling for breath.

TJ approached Frankie. “Mr Crossland agreed to pay fifteen hundred for him. You’ve got the money with you I hope.”

“Yeah we’ve got the money,” answered Frankie. He reached into his jacket but instead of the cash he brought out his gun.

“You gonna waste him here?” asked Ricky backing away, afraid of seeing it.

“No. Mr Crossland wants to see him first. We’re going a little ride to the docks.”

“So you got our money?” asked Vic.

“Yeah. I told you we got your money, but we’ll be keeping it.

Starsky looked up to see Harry reaching into his jacket. He turned to look at Ricky, his eyes told him he still didn’t know the danger he was in. “Run, Ricky, run,” he yelled. As Starsky warned Ricky, Frankie aimed his gun at TJ and shot him straight between the eyes. Harry turned and fired at Vic hitting him in the stomach.

Ricky had started to run the moment Starsky gave him the warning. Frankie was aiming at him now. Starsky threw himself at Frankie’s legs knocking him to the ground but Harry aimed and fired at Ricky hitting him in the leg. Ricky pivoted, falling to his knees in silent agony. Then the back of his head exploded as Harry fired the killing shot.

Vic was still moaning on the ground, not quite dead. Frankie walked over and fired a bullet into his head. He turned and smiled at Starsky. “Don’t think you’ll die so fast,” he said. He grabbed Starsky by a handful of his hair and punched him in the face. A dress ring on his right hand split Starsky’s lip. “That’s for knocking me over,” he hissed.

Starsky reeled from the punch, tasting blood. He’d failed to save Ricky for Amy. He was listening for Amy. She was keeping quiet. Playing the game.

Harry took hold of Starsky’s right arm and pulled him up onto his feet. He pushed him forward keeping his gun on him and directing him towards a black sedan.

“I got blood on my suit,” said Frankie. “I had plans for tonight.”

He opened the trunk and both he and Frankie pushed Starsky into it. Starsky said nothing; didn’t resist. He wanted them to leave the lot. He wanted Amy safe. Harry closed the trunk and the two men got into the car and sped off into the night.

Reports of shots being fired brought the first patrol car to the deserted lot within five minutes of the sedan leaving. Another quickly joined it. The patrol officers made a cautious sweep of the area before approaching the three bodies. They checked for signs of life. There were none.

Reports that a blue van was involved in the incident brought a Ford LTD on the scene a few minutes after. Hutch got out of his car and surveyed the area. There was enough light to see three bodies but not enough to determine if Starsky was among them. The radio reports had said there were no survivors.

All that Mr and Mrs Ramirez could tell him when he got to the store was that the men who took Starsky had a blue van. Mrs Ramirez was hysterical. She kept saying she thought that Starsky was going to die. At first Hutch had thought they wanted to hold Starsky hostage but Mrs Ramirez said they were going to kill him. She was bereft. She had told the men Starsky was a cop.

Hutch took a deep breath, and went to see if his partner was amongst the dead. The first two bodies were those of the men Mr Ramirez had described. One had tried to make a run for it and died trying. The other had been shot twice. He walked slowly to the third body feeling his heart beat faster. It wasn’t Starsky. A small smile of relief crossed his face as he realised Starsky wasn’t among the dead. Yet.

He recognised the third body as Tommy Jackson, a local hood.

A patrol officer was at the front of the van. He opened the door and shone a torch in and called out for Hutch. He walked to the passenger side of the van with his heart pounding in fear at what he might find. His eyes hesitantly followed the torch light to a little girl, huddled in the foot well of the van. She was crying quietly. Her face red. Dirt-streaked by tears.

“Hey,” whispered Hutch. “It’s okay. What’s your name”?

“Amy.”

“It’s okay, Amy. I’m Ken. Can you tell me what happened here?”

The little girl looked at him and moved a little, uncurling herself to reach up to the seat. “I don’t want to play this game anymore,” she cried.

Hutch crouched down to be at eye level with her. “What game is this then?” he asked gently.

“Uncle Ricky and Vic, they had a man in the back of the van,” she sniffed.

“And what happened to the man?”

“Some men came and they had guns.”

“And you hid here?”

“The man said to.”

“Do you want to come out now?”

“I want to go home,” she pouted, tears filling her eyes. “I want Mommy.”

“The man,” Hutch whispered. “Do you know what happened to him?”

“No. I want to go home.” Amy sat up onto the seat fighting back the tears.

“The man is my friend, Amy. I’d like to find him.”

“Is Uncle Ricky with the Angels?”

Hutch reached out to comfort the girl. As he did so she opened her arms and climbed into his, resting her head on his shoulder. He carried her over to a patrol car, which was far enough away for her not to see anything. He cradled her head so that she wouldn’t turn and see the massacre. Once there he settled her down in the back seat fetching a blanket from the trunk. She had stopped crying and was fascinated with Hutch’s hair, which looked golden in the light. She reached up and ran her fingers through it.

“Amy. The man is my friend. My best friend. Did you hear anything that would tell you where he was taken?”

“I liked him. He was nice. I wanted to give him a potato chip but Uncle Ricky wouldn’t let me.”

“He would have liked the potato chip.”

“He would? Do you think Mr Crosslan’ will give him a potato chip?”

“Mr Crossland?”

“He’s not nice is he? I didn’t like the man who came. He was called Frankie. We’ve got a dog called Frankie at home. He’s seven. He’s older than me.”

“Listen, Amy. This is really important. I need you to think about it really hard. Did you hear Frankie say where they were taking Starsky? The man?”

Amy sat back and stared up at Hutch. She bit her lip and smiled at him. “That’s easy,” she giggled. “They said docks. That’s where the big ships are isn’t it?”

“Thank you, Amy. Thank you.”

“Are you going to the place? Can I go too? I’ll help you find Stars…the man.”

“No, sweetheart. We’ll get you home to your mommy okay?”

He looked around and spotted Officer Heather Samuels. Calling her over he quickly introduced her to Amy and said she would be looking after her. Amy was happy with this and Hutch straightened up and ran back to his car getting in quickly and speeding off.

Hutch headed for the docks informing dispatch where he was going and requesting back up. Crossland had a warehouse over on the docks and it was a sure thing he’d have Starsky there. As he got closer he was joined by a patrol car whose driver had the sense and experience to not use the siren and to kill their lights as they pulled onto the docks.

Hutch pulled up a short distance from the warehouse. He and Starsky had staked the place out a few times at night waiting for a shipment to arrive and so Hutch was familiar with his surroundings. He linked up with Mike McGuire and Dan Jones two experienced patrol officers and they all drew their weapons as they approached the warehouse. Hutch led the way around the building, he knew the way in, there was a door leading into the warehouse just around the corner. It entered into a small office and Hutch would lay odds that Starsky would be there. Hutch moved quietly, when he got to the corner of the building he took a breath and glanced quickly round it. Two cars were parked up by the door; one of them he recognised as Crossland’s. He couldn’t see or hear anyone but a light was shining from the office window.

Followed by McGuire and Jones, Hutch crept around the corner and then dropped low as he got close to the window. He could hear voices now. He had found Starsky, he could hear him talking to Crossland, trying to buy himself time. Heard Crossland making threats. Anxious to see Starsky he bobbed his head up quickly. His partner was sitting on a wooden chair, his cuffed hands behind him. As he ducked back out of sight Starsky had turned his head, Hutch could see the damage done in cuts and bruises.

Chancing another look, Hutch this time assessed the situation. Frankie De Matta and Harry Delaney were leaning against a wall on the far side of the office. They were watching Crossland who was in front of Starsky taunting him. He had a gun in his hand. Hutch tensed when he saw this. Unable to allow himself to drop out of sight, his instinct to watch and protect his partner. He clicked the safety off his gun as he slowly stood up, his eyes on the gun in Crossland’s hand.

Crossland was moving to Starsky, the gun still pointing down. It was the only thing keeping Crossland alive, he just didn’t know it. Crossland’s time ran out. He raised the gun at Starsky.

“Police! Freeze!” yelled Hutch. Crossland turned, unable to see who was outside of the window. He fired a shot through it. Hutch pulled the trigger of the Magnum and Crossland’s body jerked back as a bullet struck him in the heart. He was dead before his body hit the ground.

McGuire and Jones had rushed through the door. They now held their guns on De Matta and Delaney who were too stunned seeing their boss go down to think of reaching for their guns. They held their hands up as two more patrolmen arrived.

Hutch hurried to Starsky who had thrown himself sideways onto the floor. He knelt down by his side and took Starsky’s face in his hands. He’d been badly beaten up, his face was bruised, his right eye swollen shut and his lip split. Starsky looked up at him with his one good eye. “What took you so long?” he asked.

“Can’t you ever just have a quiet night in?” smiled Hutch. He pulled Starsky back upright. Helping him to his feet, checking him over and finding only bruised ribs to add to the facial injuries.

“Hutch…”

“We should get you to the hospital get you checked out.”

“Hutch…”

“You might have a concussion.”

“Hutch…”

“What Starsk?”

“Can you take the cuffs off? My arms are killing.”

Hutch reached into Starsky’s pocket for the keys and removed the handcuffs. He rubbed his arms to help restore the flow of blood and mussed up his hair in relief his partner was alive.

“Is Amy okay?” Starsky asked.

“Yeah she’s fine. She was the one who told me where to find you.”

“She’s a cute kid. I owe her one.”

“We both owe her one, partner. Come on, Starsky, I think I should get you to a hospital.”

“I’m fine, Hutch, just cuts and bruises honest.” Starsky looked down at Crossland. “I told him you’d get him. He didn’t believe me.”

De Matta and Delaney were led away. As they were taken out Dobey arrived. He had a look of relief on his face to see Starsky looking battered but alive. Hutch was there supporting him, a concerned look for his partner on his face. Dobey walked up to them and looked down at Crossland. “I look forward to reading your reports,” he sighed. He studied Starsky. “You need to get to a hospital.”

“That’s what I’m trying to tell him, Captain. He’s just not listening.”

“Where’s Amy?” asked Starsky.

“The little girl? Heather’s looking after her at the station. I have officers over at her home, talking to neighbours to try to locate where her mother works.”

“I want to go see her,” said Starsky.

“See her after you get fixed up at the hospital, Starsky. That’s an order. Now go on. I’ll finish up here.”

Hutch took Starsky’s elbow and led him from the office and back to the LTD. He was limping slightly as he walked. “What’s wrong with your leg?”

“Will you cut it out, Hutch? I’m fine…honest. Just hurt it a little when I threw myself sideways in the chair. Please, Hutch, can we just go to the station and see Amy’s alright? Then I’ll let you take me to the hospital…I promise.

Hutch turned and studied his partner. “Starsk, you look like something from one of those horror films you love so much. You’ll give Amy nightmares if she sees you like that. Give your face a chance to heal up and we’ll go see her then.”

“Is it that bad, huh?”

“Starsk, you’re gonna give me nightmares. Now let’s get you to a doctor.”

“If I can’t go see Amy till tomorrow then just take me home, huh?”

“Would you stop whining and get in the car? You’re going to the hospital.”

“I want a teddy bear.”

“Okay, but only if you’re a good boy for the doctor.”

“No. For Amy, dummy.”

Hutch smiled, ruffled Starsky’s hair once more. “Best one money can buy, partner. First thing tomorrow morning.”

Starsky winced. “Hutch. You promise you won’t let the doctor keep me in overnight? You promise you’ll take me home?”

“Get in the car, Starsky.”

“I hate hospitals.”

“I know, buddy. Believe me I know.”