MERITORIOUS

Captain Dobey is grateful to Starsky and Hutch for saving his family in the episode ‘Captain Dobey, You’re Dead.’

His thoughts during scenes and missing scenes. First published 2021.

Monday 17^th November 1975

“Hutchinson…Pommier…What? A telephone company uniform? Got it.”

Dobey felt his heart stop when he heard Hutch’s words in answer to the person on the phone. It stopped for three whole beats.

Edith, Cal, Rosie.

Hutch was putting the phone down, saying, “Our man’s been spotted at Mandalay Heights Airfield.”

Dobey’s heart resumed beating and his brain finally caught up with his heart. He spoke, not caring that the fear must be obvious in his voice, “Wait a minute. There was a telephone truck at my house this morning. The man was supposedly fixing the wires Moon cut.” A second later, he was scrambling out of his chair, issuing orders as he ran, “Rose, get my wife on the phone. Tell her to get out of there. You. Get the bomb squad. Tell them to be at my house right now!”

Dobey was moving fast; his heart was racing faster. Beating faster than was healthy for a man of his considerable size but his family was in danger and he had to get to them as quickly as he could.

He’d accepted the dangers of his job many years ago when he’d first been on the force and again when he became a detective. Accepted it and pushed it to the back of his mind; even after he lost Elmo, his partner and also his best friend. The danger just wasn’t a consideration anymore. He had always undertaken whatever was needed to get the job done and hoped and prayed that his Heavenly Father would keep him safe. But if He didn’t, that was all right, too. He would just keep on doing what needed to be done, and what he knew was right. He would keep on until he couldn’t do it anymore.

Becoming a Captain had brought its own set of worries and fears. Sending the men and women under his command into danger was something he had never found easy. His heart followed them wherever they went and he prayed daily for all of them to stay safe. He shouldered the responsibility well and few knew the torment it sometimes gave him.

But his family in danger? That was a whole new level of fear and anguish. What if the call was too late? What if the explosives went off while Edith was being warned to get the family out of the house? What if they…? He shook himself, remembering his mother’s wise words borrowed from the Bible and introduced to him at an early age: Don’t borrow trouble from tomorrow.

He told himself firmly, “The call has reached Edith in time. My family are outside of the house and the bomb squad is on the way.”

Within a few minutes he would be there himself, reassuring them. That was his job as head of the Dobey household but he would also be reassuring himself that they were all alive and well. That all the family members were still together. His thoughts turned to the man who had had the audacity to put them in danger. C J Woodfield. He would pay for his foolish and wicked actions. Woodfield was a man who loved nothing but money and power. He had no concept of love or loyalty, or that there was more to life than riches.

“And he is the poorer for it,” thought Dobey.

Woodfield would be arrested and then he would see how quickly his supposedly loyal staff would turn on him, rushing to make the best deal they could so that they wouldn’t go down with him. Yes, he would be arrested. Not just for his attempt on Dobey himself, and now the attempt on his family, but also for his part in the murder of Isaac Douglas, the Civil Rights Activist and close personal friend of the Dobeys. He would also stand trial for all the illegal political dealings he had undertaken; all the bribes he made to corrupt people, including the former police detective who had attempted to kill Dobey. Moon.

Dobey’s mind replayed the scene outside First Congregational Church yesterday where Moon had been stopped in his tracks by Hutch. Yesterday was when his men had once again proved their loyalty. No scuttling away to make deals with the rich and powerful. No turning their back and looking the other way. No. He was blessed with loyal officers, some of whom had become almost friends.

Right now, his two best detectives would be on their way to take Pommier into custody and he knew he could leave that job in their capable hands. As soon as he knew his family was safe, he would regroup with them and put the final pieces of the puzzle together. And then they would go get C J Woodfield.

*****

Thursday 1^st January 1976

It was the start of a new year. What would the New Year have to offer? There was much that had happened last year that filled him with sadness. Even in just the last two months, there had been the loss of some very fine officers; Helen Davidson and Ed Jamieson to name but two.

But there was much to be thankful for, Dobey decided. He and his family were still in one piece and together. Dave Starsky had recovered well from being shot when he and Hutch had entered an Italian restaurant at entirely the wrong time. Starsky had been out of the hospital by Christmas, which was a relief otherwise he, Hutch and anyone who had visited the detective in hospital would have got even more of an earful than they already had.

“Starsky certainly does love Christmas,” Dobey thought, “And woe betide anyone who tries to make him miss it. Be that a hitman for the Mafia or the Grinch!”

Personally, Dobey thought the doctors had let Starsky out the day before Christmas Eve purely to avoid his wrath at being prevented from celebrating the holiday season. Starsky had been on light duties since Christmas and was due to start back to full duties tomorrow. Not before time. His method of filing left a lot to be desired. He was better out on the streets with his partner, where they both belonged.

Dobey heard movement and chatter in the squad room as the day shift arrived and his detectives grabbed cups of coffee and looked through paperwork before heading out. He listened to the banter going back and forth between his two favourite detectives and smiled.

Suddenly, he heard the sound of the doors opening and a breathless Minnie coming in, talking excitedly. Ah, it was as he had hoped. Minnie would be the one to tell them. He smiled secretly to himself and kept his head down and his eyes firmly on the paperwork in front of him, in case anyone glanced in through the door. There were noises of surprise from Starsky and Hutch and the sounds of slapping of hands on backs and congratulations. It was official then. They would be receiving their medals on Saturday at a ceremony with the Police Commissioner at City Hall.

He heard Minnie reading out loud: “Detective David Starsky and Detective Kenneth Hutchinson are awarded the Meritorious Police Duty Medal. This award is for officers who have shown exceptional perseverance and faithfulness in the execution of their duties.”

Dobey had put them forward for that medal because he couldn’t think of a more fitting award for the pair of detectives who had saved the lives of his wife, children and himself. Not only that but they had helped him get justice for Isaac Douglas’s family by consistently giving up their free time to help him gather the evidence to connect the dots from Isaac’s homicide to C J Woodfield. They had also helped him finally get justice for his partner, Elmo, just a few months previously.

Dobey had thanked them both at the time for saving his life, telling them that he owed them one. He hadn’t liked to be over exuberant in his praise, after all there were many officers who had been instrumental in putting the case together but, truth was, he owed these particular detectives so much more than any of the others. Even though he didn’t say it often, they had to know what high regard he held them in and how fond he was of them. After all, not every detective got invited to his house to celebrate his children’s birthdays.

There was tap on the door frame and he looked up to see two pairs of blue eyes smiling at him.

“Come in,” he said, much more quietly than usual.

Starsky sprawled in his usual chair. Hutch sat on the arm.

“We don’t know what to say,” Hutch said. “Except thank you.”

“It’s fully deserved,” Dobey replied gruffly. “This last year has been a good one for the department and for me personally and you were both instrumental in that so…” He shrugged.

“Thanks Cap,” Starsky said, “But we really feel your name should be in the list, too. These are your medals just as much as they are ours.”

Dobey felt a feeling of pride and affection filling his chest. He cleared his throat and got his hankie out to wipe his face.

“Well, thank you but there are yours and as I said fully deserved. I know it’s too short notice for your parents to get here for the ceremony so Edith and I wondered if you’d like to come to dinner afterwards to celebrate. Of course, if you have friends you would rather be with, please say. We shan’t be offended.”

Starsky and Hutch looked at each other for a few seconds and exchanged thoughts silently. Hutch turned to face Dobey.

“We’d like that very much, Captain, and thank you again.”

“You’re welcome,” Dobey stated. “Now get out of here and go and do some work. Starsky, get those reports finished so you can get back out on full duty tomorrow.”

“They’re already done. I’m ready to go back out now, Cap,” Starsky protested. “Can’t I start back today? I am so bored!”

Dobey looked at Hutch who nodded agreement.

“Fine. I’ll clear it with personnel,” Dobey said.

As the two detectives went to leave, they paused and looked back.

“Happy New Year!” they both said.

“Happy New Year!” Dobey replied and then made shooing motions.

They grinned as they left him in peace. As soon as they were out of sight, he smiled and lifted the phone to call Edith. She’d be thrilled that his request for their medals had been agreed upon and she’d be even happier that ‘her boys’ were going to celebrate with the Dobeys after the award ceremony.

Dobey thought that he couldn’t imagine not celebrating with them. He realised that he now regarded them like sons. He had just as much pride in them and love for them as he had for Cal and Rosie. ‘The family’ had grown larger by two and was all the better for it. Yes, there was a lot to celebrate in this new year.