Hutchinson, N. V. versus Starsky, D.M.

85

Vanessa decides to sue Starsky for breaking up her marriage.

 

Author’s Note: There was an article in the Me and Thee magazine (45th Anniversary issue) which mentioned that William Blinn had said in an interview he had thought about doing a story where Hutch’s estranged wife sues Starsky for “alienation of affection”.

This sparked a bit of a discussion. How would Hutch and Starsky cope with the implied defamation of character? How would it have been handled in the 1970s as opposed to now. I decided I’d try to write that story & the SHFAFF August 2020 Friday Fiction prompt “If Looks Could Kill” gave me my first line.I figured it would also have been done as a flashback episode set before the series. I also tried to write around the mention of Nancy in the series and then her being called Vanessa!

(Warning: contains homophobic language appropriate for the era.)

Written in September 2020 and slightly edited and updated 2024, taking out all reference of baps and replacing them with sandwiches! The UK/US divide!

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If looks could kill, he’d be dead.

Not only dead but just a tiny pile of ash on the doorstep – completely incinerated by Nancy’s blazing eyes. All he’d done was to ring the doorbell and say, ‘Mornin’ Nancy. I’m here to pick up Hutch.’ The consequence had been an inferno of hatred shot towards him like flaming arrows let loose on an enemy target.

Once or twice in the last few months, Starsky had got the feeling Nancy didn’t like him but she’d always been stiffly polite. Now it was clear, she loathed him and wasn’t bothering to hide it anymore. He didn’t know what he’d done to deserve such an extreme reaction but knowing Nancy it could be something as little as wearing the wrong colour shirt on a Wednesday.

Nancy was still glaring at him, refusing to engage in conversation.

“So?…Could you tell him I’m here, please?”

Nancy huffed.

“I’ll tell him,” was all she said and then she closed the door in Starsky’s face.

Starsky winced. If that was how she was at seven thirty in the morning when the day had barely begun, he dreaded to think what she’d be like later when she’d had a chance to really work herself up. He worried about what state his partner, Hutch, would be in. These days, it seemed more and more that Hutch was stressed when he came to pick Starsky up for work. Now he knew why.

Starsky went down and sat in the car. From the Torino he couldn’t see Hutch and Nancy’s apartment but that didn’t stop him hearing the door slamming a minute later. Hutch came round the corner and down the steps, red-faced and glaring. Starsky could almost see the steam coming out of his ears. Wisely, he decided not to say anything when Hutch got in the car, not even a good morning.

Starsky started the engine and eased the car out onto the street driving towards the city centre. Hutch looked out of the window and drummed his fingers on his legs. Starsky glanced at the bit of Hutch’s face he could see and then looked down at his partner’s hands. His knuckles were almost white with the pressure he was putting on them and there appeared to be dried scratches on the back of his left hand. Starsky was certain those hadn’t been there yesterday. After a moment, Hutch went to pick up the radio to let Dispatch know they were ready to go on duty. Starsky stopped him.

“Don’t call in yet. We got a few minutes spare. Let’s go get a coffee…You had any breakfast yet, pal?”

Hutch turned eyes on him that were now losing their anger and turning dark with misery. He shook his head.

“Figured you might not have. Let’s stop at Billy’s on the way – we can get a breakfast sandwich and coffee. Okay?”

“Yeah, okay,” Hutch said. “Thanks Starsk.”

Starsky couldn’t bear to hear the pain in Hutch’s voice. He briefly ran his hand across the nape of Hutch’s neck, trying to soothe him, and swallowed as he saw Hutch wipe his eyes and look away.

They arrived at Billy’s. It was just an ordinary catering truck, which specialised in serving breakfast foods all day long, but Billy was a nice guy and the two of them were happy to give him their business every so often. He had a couple of picnic tables to the side of his truck where customers could eat their purchases. Today, both were vacant. Hutch went and sat at one while Starsky went and ordered two breakfast sandwiches, one coffee with no milk and one with milk and two sugars. He chatted to Billy about the weather and last night’s game while he waited, all the time keeping a surreptitious eye on Hutch. His partner looked as if he was slowly calming down.

Carefully carrying the sandwiches and coffees, Starsky set them down on the table before sliding in opposite Hutch.

“There you are, partner. Get that into you. It’ll set you up for the day.”

“Thanks.”

After a few minutes of silent eating, Starsky said, “Wanna tell me about it?”

Hutch sighed. “Same ol’ same ol’…Nancy hates my job. She hates that I missed our dinner last night with the Harringtons – whoever the hell they are – and she hates it when I try to explain why I am late and why I just want to have a quiet night in after a helluva day.”

Yesterday had been particularly awful. They’d both struggled as the victims at the scene they had been called to had been children. Starsky gave his partner a sympathetic look. For the sake of his partner and his marriage, he tried to be positive and give Nancy the benefit of the doubt.

“I guess it’s hard to really understand what we do and what we face every day if you’re not a cop. Maybe you just need to sit her down and try to explain the lows of the job and why you don’t always want to be partying.”

Hutch breathed a heavy sigh. “God knows I’ve tried, Starsk. More than once. She won’t listen long enough to even try to understand. She…she just wants me to stop being a cop…I’m getting to the end of my tether, buddy. I really don’t know what else I can do. I mean I tried to talk to her last night and she just screamed at me! I tried again later when she finally calmed down and…well let’s just say I spent the night on the couch.”

“Aw, buddy. I wish I knew what I could do to help. I’d offer to talk to her but…well, she hates me. This morning proved that.”

Hutch looked at him sharply. “What happened this morning? What she’d do?”

Starsky instantly regretted saying anything. He wished he’d kept that part to himself; Hutch was stressed enough as it was.

“Oh it was nothing really.”

Hutch swallowed. “Starsk…Don’t…I need you to be honest with me. I’ve got one relationship I can’t rely on, I couldn’t bear it if-”

“Hey, babe,” Starsky interrupted softly. “This is me. I’ll always be honest with you. All right?”

Hutch swallowed again and locked eyes with him, looking for and receiving reassurance.

“I shouldn’t have mentioned it. It wasn’t a big deal. Just that she didn’t even bother being polite when I came to pick you up this morning…and then she shut the door in my face.”

Hutch looked about ready to explode.

Starsky reached out and placed a calming hand on his friend’s arm.

“Easy, pal. I’m a big boy. I don’t get offended so easy.”

Hutch shook his head. “I-I…You’re my friend, she shouldn’t treat you like that.”

Starsky shrugged.

“It’s all right. So we don’t get on. It don’t matter. ‘S long as you and me are okay, none of what Nancy does matters…Except,” Starsky decided to be blunt, “if she’s also not treating you right, pal, then that does matter…What are those scratches about?”

Hutch looked down at his hand and flexed his fingers.

“When she screamed, she also scratched,” he said quietly.

Starsky looked shocked.

“Hutch. I’ve tried not to step over the line before into interfering. Your marriage is your business…but that’s not good, Hutch. Her behaving like that, it’s only going to get worse, don’t ya think? Unless you guys maybe give marriage counselling or something like that a try?”

Hutch frowned but stayed silent. Starsky looked at his watch.

“We’d better sign in, buddy. We can talk about this more later if ya want to?”

“Yeah, later,” Hutch said. “Let’s forget about Nancy for a while and just get on with doing the job.”

They dumped their rubbish in the tall oil drum set aside for that purpose, waved to Billy and headed off to start another shift; hoping it would be a better one than yesterday – days like that could take a long time to get over.

*****

A couple of weeks later, Hutch walked into Starsky’s apartment looking grim. Starsky took one look and knew that something related to Nancy was disturbing his friend.

“Hutch? What’s the matter?”

Hutch ran a hand over his face before saying, “I don’t think I can stick it out much longer.”

“Nancy? What’s she done now?  I thought things had been a bit better this last week?”

Hutch nodded.

“It seemed to have calmed down but then last night she announced she wants to be known as Vanessa.”

Starsky choked on the sip of coffee he’d just taken.

“She what?”

“She wants to be known as Vanessa. It’s her middle name and she thinks it is a more ‘befitting name for someone of my station’.” He quoted Nancy using air speech marks.

Starsky’s widened eyes said it all. Hutch slumped on the sofa.

“Starsk? When is it okay to say ‘enough’?”

Starsky came and sat beside his friend. He thought carefully before he spoke: “From where I’m sitting, you’ve tried…Nobody could have tried harder.”

“Nancy wouldn’t agree with you. She thinks I spend all my time working and that I haven’t spent enough time on our marriage…She…she was also ranting last night about me stopping to have drinks with you yesterday. She thinks we spend too much time together.”

“But it was Mike’s birthday and she was invited,” Starsky pointed out.

“I know.” Hutch sighed. “There’s no point going on, is there? It’s never going to improve. She hates everything I love about my life. She hates all my friends. We can’t go on as we are.”

Starsky swallowed. “What ya gonna do then, pal?”

Hutch looked at him bleakly, as he said, “I think I’ve got to tell her I want out. I want a divorce.”

Starsky put a hand on his shoulder.

“I’m sorry, buddy. I really am. I know Nancy and me never hit it off but I am sorry you’re upset.”

“It’s another thing I’ve failed at,” Hutch said so softly Starsky almost didn’t hear him.

“In whose eyes, pal? ’Cause from where I’m sitting no-one could have tried as hard as you have and Nancy’s been awful hard to live with.”

Hutch smiled at his loyal friend, but it was a pale imitation of a smile. “Thanks Starsk.”

“When you gonna tell her?”

“I’d better do it tonight. I-I guess she might ask me to leave straight away. Can I-”

“No need to ask, pal. Stay as long as you need. If you need help collecting your stuff, let me know.”

Hutch took a shaky breath. “Thanks. I might need it…depends on how she takes it.”

“Hopefully, she’ll realise it’s best for both of you,” Starsky offered, trying to encourage Hutch. Secretly, he had a feeling Nancy was going to take it very, very badly.

*****

A few days later, a thin blue-suited man came into the bullpen carrying a pile of papers. He spoke to the detective sitting nearest the door and was waved on towards the tables where Starsky and Hutch sat.

“David Michael Starsky?”

Starsky looked up in surprise. “Yes?”

The man handed him a folded piece of paper. Starsky took hold of it and stared at it in shock.

“Could you point me in the direction of Harold Dobey?” the man asked politely.

Wordlessly, Starsky pointed in the direction of Dobey’s office. The man nodded as he went to knock on Dobey’s door. At the barked command to enter, he disappeared inside. Starsky slowly unfolded the paper and then raised alarmed eyes towards Hutch.

“What? What is it?”

Before Starsky could answer, the man in the blue suit came back out of Dobey’s office and left the squad room with alacrity.

A second later Dobey appeared in the doorway to his office and said sharply, “Hutchinson! Starsky! Get in here now!”

The two detectives made their way into Dobey’s office. He waved a piece of paper in the air and asked crossly, “What is the meaning of this? Is this some sort of joke? If so, it’s in poor taste.”

Hutch’s face telegraphed his complete lack of understanding as to what was happening and then Dobey observed that Starsky was also clutching a paper in his hand. The captain’s face softened. He pointed at the door.

“You’d better close that door, Detective Hutchinson. Take a seat both of you.”

Hutch closed the door and looked at his partner, trying to get a clue from him as to what was going on.

Dobey sighed. “Let me see what you have there,” he said, asking for Starsky’s document with an outstretched hand. Starsky handed him his paper and Dobey scanned it quickly.

“Would someone please tell me what is going on?” Hutch demanded.

Starsky sat heavily in a chair as Dobey handed the document straight to Hutch.

“Oh no!”

Hutch blanched as he realised he was looking at a subpoena calling Starsky to answer a complaint made against him. He read the details – Nancy Vanessa Hutchinson (henceforth known as the plaintiff) is suing David Michael Starsky (henceforth known as the defendant) for compensation on the grounds of alienation of affection. The plaintiff asserts that the defendant did knowingly cause a rift between the plaintiff and Kenneth Richard Hutchinson (spouse of the aforementioned plaintiff) and caused damages in the form of: emotional distress; embarrassment and humiliation; loss of future income; and loss of consortium.

“I don’t believe this!” Hutch said angrily.

Starsky frowned then he asked quietly, “What’s that part mean? The bit about con-consortium? What’s that?”

Hutch looked blank but Dobey shifted uncomfortably as he said, “I think it means conjugal relations.”

Hutch’s eyebrows hit the roof. “This has got to be some sort of bad joke! Sir, what have you been given?”

Dobey placed his paper on the desk in front of him. “I’ve been called as a witness on behalf of the plaintiff.”

“What?!” Starsky and Hutch said at the same time.

Hutch started pacing and shaking his head.

“I am so sorry. I’ll go see Nancy and see if I can sort this out.”

“Detective Hutchinson…Sit down, son.”

Dobey’s voice was quiet but firm and grave. Hutch stopped pacing and turned worried eyes on his captain.

“Sit down, son,” the captain said again.

Hutch perched on the arm of Starsky’s chair.

Dobey cleared his throat.

“You can go and see your estranged wife. That is of course your prerogative but Detective Starsky will have to make some sort of legal answer to the complaint otherwise he might easily be arbitrarily fined financially by the court.”

Hutch looked down at Starsky, an apology filling his eyes. Starsky patted his arm.

Dobey carried on: “I can ask the legal department to give you advice on how to proceed…both of you…but I’m not sure that either of you have really understood the implications.” He cleared his throat. “This could get very messy and uncomfortable for both of you.”

They looked at him blankly. Dobey pulled a hankie out of his pocket and wiped his face.

“I was in a squad where a similar situation occurred. It wrecked the partnership and…well, the third party…the person having the affair…well, he had to move away.”

The two detectives frowned.

“But this isn’t that Captain,” Hutch protested, half smiling, “I mean we’re not having an affair!”

Starsky grinned. “He’s not my type!”

Dobey didn’t smile, in fact he looked grimmer. “I think Mrs Hutchinson has chosen the wording of her suit very carefully…the wording…well, the wording is going to imply…that you are…that is…”

The grin left Starsky’s face and he swallowed. “Are you saying people might think we are…that we’re…gay?”

“I’m afraid so, Detective Starsky, and there could be a lot of unpleasant weeks ahead given the public perception of homosexuality at this current time and particularly how it is viewed within the Police Department. I’m sorry. I would advise you to get some good legal advice to clear this up as quickly as possible and be prepared for some mud-slinging.”

Abruptly, Hutch stood up and left the office, storming through the door that led out into the corridor and slamming it behind him. Rather than looking angry, Dobey looked after him with sympathy. He turned his attention to Starsky.

“Son, do you want to make your own arrangements to get legal counsel or do you want me to see if someone in our legal department can help?”

Starsky’s eyes widened. “Er…I think I’ll take the help from our legal department…if you think that’s best?”

Dobey picked up the phone. “Leave it with me. I’ll see what needs to be done next. I’m going to tell Dispatch that you’re both off-duty for the rest of the day. Hutchinson isn’t going to do anybody any good the mood he’s in. Come back around four for an update on the legal situation. I’ll try to get someone from the legal department here to meet with you. Now, go find that partner of yours and make sure he keeps a cool head and doesn’t do something that will make this situation worse.”

Starsky folded the subpoena up and placed it out of sight in his jacket pocket then he hurried out of Dobey’s office to try and find Hutch. There was no sign of his partner in the corridor. Starsky went down a floor and bumped into Minnie.

“Hey, honey. Looking for Hutch?”

“Yeah, you seen him?”

“No, but Joe Doyle said a white-hot Hutch stormed past him and out to the parking garage. Joe said he wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of that blazing inferno! What did you do?”

“Not my fault this time Minnie. Somebody else’s.”

“Well, sounds like he’s about ready to explode and needs careful handling.”

“Thanks Minnie. I’ll go find him.”

“Good luck, honey. Hope he’s cooled down a bit.”

Starsky hurried down another floor and headed towards the parking garage. He spotted Hutch at the far end of the lot, bouncing a ball against the wall. It made an angry staccato rhythm as it bounced between the wall and ground and back to Hutch’s hand.

Starsky walked up quietly and leaned on the hood of the nearest car. He waited patiently, giving Hutch time to become aware of his presence and to grow calm enough to speak. He’d seen his friend angry before but he’d never seen him quite like this – incandescent with rage. He was burning so hot Starsky was afraid to say anything in case Hutch flared like a Roman candle and then disappeared completely in a ball of fire.

The tempo of the ball bounce gradually slowed and then came to a stop. Hutch suddenly deflated and turned wounded eyes to Starsky.

“Why’s she doing this Starsk? Why? I can understand her hating me but why she’s trying to drag you into it?”

Starsky shook his head and stood up. “Let’s get out of here, pal. We need to talk but not here. It’s all right with Dobey – he’s taken us off duty for the rest of the day.”

He walked away towards the Torino and heard Hutch following behind. Once they were both inside, Starsky started the engine and slowly reversed the car out of its space and then exited the car park, driving towards the park and a place to talk away from unwanted listening ears.

*****

“Look at it from Nancy’s point of view; I’m part of the job that’s stolen her husband from her. I can see why she’d place the blame on me – she can’t very well sue the whole Police Department so she’s had to settle for suing yours truly.”

Hutch was speechless. Of all the words he had expected to come out of his partner’s mouth these were not the ones.

“I can’t believe you’re trying to understand what she’s doing! Aren’t you mad?”

“’Course I’m mad…but it’s not going to help, is it? And you’re mad enough for the both of us. I thought I’d try to be the calm one for a change.”

Suddenly, Hutch was smiling a little. “Is that right?”

“Yeah, we can’t have both of us going off the deep end. Who’s going to rescue us if we do?”

“Yeah, you’re right.” Hutch bumped his shoulder against Starsky’s. “Thanks, partner. Sorry. I’ll try and stay calm. It’s just she knows how to push my buttons.”

“That’s what she’s counting on, pal…You gotta play this smart. Don’t let her rile you.”

Hutch blew out a long breath. “I’ll try…What are we going to do about responding to the subpoena?”

“Well, Dobey said he’d talk to legal for me. He said to go back in around four and he’ll try to get someone from the legal department there to talk me through what I need to do next. You don’t need to come unless you want to.”

“I want to and it’s ‘what we need to do next’. Anything that affects you, affects me partner,” Hutch said, looking intently at Starsky.

Starsky nodded. “Yeah, I know that, partner.”

“Good. Well I guess we’d better go back and see how Dobey’s getting on.”

*****

Starsky’s head was aching from all the legal jargon being spouted by the smartly dressed man in front of him. Dobey had introduced him as Mr Fowler from the legal department and he was now running through the legalities of the case.

“This is a Tort claim, gentlemen. Detective Starsky needs to make some sort of response to the plaintiff’s complaint – I can help with the wording of that – then a date will be set for a trial, which will be held in front of a judge in family court. At that point, witnesses will be called and evidence given and then a judgement will be entered. Then after the trial, appeals can be made or the agreed payment will be collected.”

“This is ridiculous!” Hutch exclaimed. “What sort of relevant evidence could Nancy possibly have and why on earth would she be calling Captain Dobey as a witness?”

“My guess is that she simply wants the Captain here to corroborate the number of hours a week you work and that your work has been detrimental to your marriage because of the long hours and the stress you experience. I can’t imagine that there’s anything more to it…at least I hope not.”

Hutch wasn’t so sure. He exchanged worried looks with Starsky.

“Let me draft a response, Detective Starsky. Come to my office midday tomorrow and you can look the document over before I submit it to the court. Then I expect a date will be issued for the hearing and we’ll see how we need to proceed.”

“If it goes to court, what kind of remuneration could Nancy expect to get for these ridiculous claims?” Hutch asked.

“Well, in a case of infidelity the plaintiff can ask for the return of gifts given to the tryster and possibly compensation in the form of a monetary award against loss of future income.”

Hutch looked confused. “Wouldn’t that be down to me? You know like alimony payments?”

“Mrs Hutchinson may also ask for those on top but no, in this case, she is asking for a payment from Detective Starsky for causing you to leave her and therefore affect her expected income.”

Hutch ran his hands through his hair.

“This is insane! She’s insane! The judge wouldn’t allow that surely?”

“Depends on the evidence presented and how much Mrs Hutchinson can prove that Detective Starsky has been instrumental in causing a rift between the two of you. We’ll know more once we see the list of evidence. That’s all I can say for now.”

Starsky had been quiet throughout, now he asked a question: “Mr Fowler, about the gifts to the – what did you call it – the tryster? What’s that mean exactly?”

Fowler cleared his throat. “In the case of infidelity, the tryster is the person having the affair with the husband or wife. Clearly that’s not the case here but…”

“But Nancy’s trying to paint it as if it is,” Hutch said, sounding outraged.

Starsky had blanched a little at Fowler’s response. Suddenly, the seriousness of what Nancy was accusing him of was becoming starkly apparent. He felt a little knot of anxiety settle in his stomach. Accusations like this could ruin people. He breathed out slowly, hoping that Hutch wouldn’t notice his momentary panic. He had to keep it together for Hutch’s sake.

Hutch suddenly thought of something. “How does Nancy’s claim fit with the divorce we’re going through?”

“Did you file for divorce? Or did she?”

“I did.”

“I see. A no fault divorce?”

“Yes.”

“Well, if her claim is upheld by the judge that could allow her to claim that there is fault and it’s on your side. She would then be awarded a larger portion of your assets rather than an equal split.”

Hutch ran a hand over his face and sighed.

As Fowler packed up his brief case, Starsky said, “Thanks Mr Fowler. We’ll see ya tomorrow.”

Fowler nodded at all three of them and left the room. Dobey looked at the worried faces in front of him and spoke gently: “Fowler’s good at his job and he’ll guide you through the legal jungle all right. Go home the pair of you and try not to worry.”

Starsky said, “Thanks Cap. I’m sure it will all come to nothing.”

Hutch was silent as they left the room and headed out of the building.

“Wanna go get a drink at Huggy’s?” Starsky asked.

“I guess,” Hutch responded morosely.

They got into the Torino and Starsky drove them the few miles to Huggy’s establishment. They decided to sit at the bar on the two stools at the far end. Usually, they would move them closer together so they could talk without being overheard but today Starsky found himself feeling self-conscious and made sure there was adequate space between the two of them. Hutch didn’t seem to notice the gap. They sat in silence as they drank from their tall glasses of beer.

“I’m so sorry about all of this, Starsk.”

“Not your fault, Hutch. It’ll work out. Don’t worry about it.”

Hutch turned surprised eyes on him.

“How are you keeping so calm?”

“Told ya before, I gotta keep calm so I can pull you back when you try to dive off the deep end.”

Starsky grinned at him.

Hutch shook his head with a small smile. “Thanks, buddy.”

“No problemo! How about we have a game of pool, more beer, something to eat, more beer and forget about the Right-Honourable-Pain-in-the-Butt-Nancy-Vanessa for a while.”

Hutch drank down the rest of his beer.

“Sounds good to me.”

*****

Three days later, Starsky was just about to enter the Parker Centre when he was stopped by a man holding a microphone and tape recorder. He recognised him as Dennis Leyland from the Bay City Star, one of the most disreputable newspapers in the city.

“Whadda ya want, Dennis?” Starsky growled at him.

The man was notorious for looking for salacious details about cases from the Division that he and Hutch worked. He tried to think if they were working on anything at the moment that would have sparked the man’s interest but couldn’t recall anything.

“Just wondering whether you could confirm for me how long you and your partner have been having an extra marital affair? Have you always been a faggot or is this a new direction for you both?”

Starsky was so shocked his mouth fell open and not a sound came out of it. He found his feet were frozen to the sidewalk.

“Are you denying that you’re being sued for breaking up your partner’s marriage?”

“No, I-”

“Isn’t it true that your partner’s moved in with you? That the two of you are living together?”

“No, that’s not exactly how-”

“Where is your partner? Had a tiff with your lover, have you? That why he’s not here now?”

Starsky suddenly found he could move his feet after all.

“No comment,” he snarled in Leyland’s face and then fled into the building, not stopping until he was safely in the squad room.

Hutch was there ahead of him. He’d driven his own car in this morning as he had some errands to run before their shift. He looked up at Starsky as he came in. The smile that had started to form vanished as he took in Starsky’s upset face.

“What’s happened?”

“Dobey in yet?”

“No, I don’t think so. Why?”

Starsky looked at the other two detectives working in the squad room and then nodded his head towards Dobey’s office.

“We need to talk.”

Quickly, Starsky knocked on the door to double-check the room wasn’t occupied by his captain and then, when there was no answer, he walked on in. Hutch leapt up from his seat and followed his partner inside, closing the door behind him.

“What’s happened?”

“I got ambushed on my way in…by Leyland.”

“That hack from the Star? What did he want?”

Starsky sat down heavily and swallowed. “Somehow he’s found out about me being sued. He was asking me questions about it?”

Hutch frowned. “What sort of questions?”

“Are we gay? Are we living together? That sort of question,” Starsky informed him in a monotone, trying to hide how upset he really was.

Hutch wasn’t fooled. “Oh God! I’m so sorry, Starsk. I feel like we’re stuck in a nightmare and I’m trying to wake up and it’s not working.”

“What are we gonna do?”

“I don’t know…I guess now the word’s out, things could get awkward. You know, I had a feeling those two idiots from Internal Affairs were looking at me funny this morning. Now I know why.” Hutch sat down in the other chair in the room. “I’d better find somewhere else to stay.”

“Nah, don’t do that, pal. That’s not right. Why should we change what we do ‘cause of that sleazoid? There’s nothing wrong with you staying at my place while your divorce is going through.”

Hutch looked at him with sorrow and shook his head.

“But it’s all going to be about how it looks from now on, isn’t it? We’re going to be under a microscope…and I can’t do anything that might add fuel to the fire and give Nancy a reason to take you to the cleaners.”

“But-”

“I’ll move out tonight. Go to a motel for a couple of nights and then see if I can find somewhere cheap to rent.”

Starsky shook his head.

“Hutch, I don’t want you to move out ‘cause you think I can’t take a few comments. You’re my best friend. I don’t mind putting up with a load of crap we both know ain’t true. It’ll blow over. Don’t run at the first sign of trouble.”

Hutch smiled softly. “I know you can take it, buddy. I just don’t want to put you through it because you’re my best friend and it’s my job to protect you from my spiteful ex-wife and all the trouble she’s causing.”

Starsky frowned and then nodded. “All right. If you think it’s best you stay somewhere else…I guess…I guess that’s okay but I’m still not happy about it.”

“My back was killing me anyway after being on your couch,” Hutch tried to joke.

Starsky sighed. “But we’re not changing anything else. We do what we do. We are what we are. No need to change anything else because of…her.”

“Yeah, all right, buddy. Me and thee same as always.”

Starsky locked eyes with Hutch and then nodded.

As they went back into the squad room, Hutch said, “As for her…Maybe I should sue her for emotional distress? What do you think?”

“I don’t think I could take any more legal jargon, pal. One Civil Tort at a time…and that’s a sentence I never thought I’d be saying!”

*****

“The evidence listed,” Fowler was saying, “is a cheque made out for tyres and trims for Detective Starsky’s car from October last year. Mrs Hutchinson is citing this as a gift that was made without her knowledge or consent.”

“But Hutch just lent me the money,” Starsky protested. “My tyres got shot up during the Fernandino case and I had to replace them. It was just before payday and I didn’t have the money so Hutch paid but I paid him back three days later.”

“Would you have a bank statement showing that the same amount of money as you paid out was returned to you?” Fowler asked Hutch.

“I’m not sure…I’ll have to try to dig it up on an old statement. I’m not sure I have them all – things like that got left at the apartment with Nancy.”

“Well, try to find it please. She also claims that you bought Detective Starsky an extravagant birthday present for his last birthday – a present that is out of line with what is reasonable between two people that are just friends.”

“I spent more than usual because I bought two tickets for the game so we could both go. I don’t think that’s unreasonable,” Hutch said with annoyance.

Fowler smiled at him. “It sounds perfectly reasonable to me Detective Hutchinson and I shall argue that it is so don’t worry on that account.”

“So is that it for evidence of gifts?” Starsky asked.

“Yes, Mrs Hutchinson has actually presented very little on that front. However…”

“However?” Starsky asked, his voice betraying some anxiety.

Fowler looked slightly uncomfortable. “It seems Mrs Hutchinson is claiming that your friendship has become so close that it has interfered with the marriage. She’s listed several occasions where you spent hours together after work when you’d already spent all day together. She claims to have photographic evidence showing you…being more intimate than is usual with most men.”

Hutch’s face turned red with anger and he jumped up and started pacing furiously beside Starsky’s chair.

“If that is brought up in front of the judge, what does that mean? Does that mean we gotta put our friendship on trial? Lay it all our bare and have people tell us that there’s something wrong with us, with how we act towards each other?”

Fowler thought for a moment before responding: “In the three times I’ve met with you, I’ve seen you share coffee cups, sit on the same chair when there’s another one available and pat each other repeatedly.”

“What are you saying? You think we’re gay too?” Hutch demanded.

Fowler shook his head. “It’s just an observation not a criticism. To be perfectly honest with you, the way you two are with each other reminds me of my relationship with my brother when we were growing up. It’s just unusual to see such closeness outside of a familial relationship and I’m afraid that Mrs Hutchinson is trying to paint your gestures and closeness as something other than friendship.”

“I could kill Nancy. I can’t believe she’s trying to make it seem as if Starsky and I are doing something wrong! She’s making out we’re not normal because we like to show our feelings.”

Starsky went to lay a calming hand on his friend and found himself hesitating. He swallowed a lump that formed in his throat. It wasn’t fair. Nancy was taking something special and ruining it with her twisted attempt at revenge. Hutch needed him and yet Starsky felt like he shouldn’t touch him, like there was something wrong with touching his best friend.

Touch was part of their special bond; it calmed them, gave them both reassurance and helped reinforce their friendship. More than that, Hutch had been starved of touch growing up and he needed the affirmation that Starsky’s friendly embraces, hair ruffling and the touch of a hand on his shoulder or stomach gave him. If he couldn’t touch Hutch, how was Hutch to be reassured that he was loved and accepted?

Starsky felt like crying – as if something precious was being ripped away from him and he was powerless to stop it. He suddenly felt the need to be somewhere else, anywhere else.

“Mr Fowler? I need to get some air. Can we continue this later?”

Fowler nodded in sympathy. Starsky was up and out of the door before Hutch had time to react. He stopped pacing and looked after his friend’s retreating back with worried eyes. He turned to Fowler to find him looking at him understandingly.

“I think your friend is finding this hard.”

“Because of what people are thinking about us?” Hutch wondered.

“No, because of what he might lose…and I don’t mean money.”

*****

Starsky arrived outside the complex housing Hutch and Nancy’s apartment. He turned the engine off and sat for a moment trying to get up the courage for what he was about to attempt. Slowly, he walked up the steps and round the corner and stopped outside the front door. He took a deep breath and knocked. After a minute he heard footsteps and the door opened. Starsky stuck his foot inside the jamb before Nancy could slam it closed again.

“What do you want?” she asked. “You shouldn’t be here.”

Starsky took another deep breath and forced himself to keep calm.

“Vanessa,” Starsky said, deliberately choosing to use the name Vanessa had decided to she wanted to be known by. He hoped she would recognise the gesture for what it was; an olive branch. “Vanessa, what is it you want?”

“I’d have thought that was clear from my complaint. I want compensation for you messing up my marriage and my life.”

Starsky didn’t react. “No, I mean…When all of this is over what exactly are you hoping will be the outcome for your relationship with Hutch?”

“What do you mean? What relationship?”

Starsky pressed on while Nancy at least seemed to be listening. “Well, do you hate him so much that you don’t want to see him again ever? ‘Cause if that’s your goal you’re going the right way about it. On the other hand, if you still have feelings for him and you want one day to be on friendly terms with him, you need to think about what you’re doing.”

Nancy shook her head. “It’s too late for any of that. He’s left me. He hates me. There’s no chance of mending our marriage. It’s all gone, all ruined.”

“I know you don’t like me and you’ve got no reason to listen to me but I hope you will at least consider this. Yes, your marriage is over – I don’t really think it was working for either of you in the end and I think deep down you know that’s true. Hutch didn’t mean to hurt you; he didn’t mean to find something that he loves doing that would be something you would hate. It just happened. He doesn’t hate you yet but he will if you carry on down this road…because what you’re doing won’t just bring me down, it will bring him down, too. I don’t care about me, I only care about him; and I think you do too. I think that’s why you’re lashing out like this – ‘cause he hurt you and you want to hurt him back, but it won’t make you feel better in the long run.”

Nancy shook her head. “It might.”

Starsky sighed and tried a different tack. “You want to be known as Vanessa, right? You want to reinvent yourself…Well, who is Vanessa? Is she someone smart and beautiful and capable who can stand on her own two feet and show the world what’s she’s made of?…Or is she someone who just wants to tear everyone else down around her and make them miserable so she can have a little petty revenge? You’re better than this Vanessa. You need to let Hutch go and move on.”

“You just want me to stop proceedings so you won’t lose a load of money.”

Starsky looked Nancy right in the eyes and stated, “I want you to stop hurting Hutch and I want you to stop hurting yourself. I hope you can see it’s time to stop this…but I guess there’s nothing I can say that will make you change your mind. I’m sorry if what me and Hutch got made you feel left out. He did love you, ya know. He just wanted to be different from what you expected him to be. It’s not his fault – just life took a turn one way when you thought it was going in a different direction. It happens. Please Vanessa…please just stop this.”

Starsky removed his foot and walked away, leaving Nancy staring after him. He didn’t know whether anything he had said had gotten through to her. He only knew he had to try to make her see reason for Hutch’s sake; before Nancy tore him and Hutch into tiny pieces that couldn’t be glued back together.

*****

When Starsky didn’t come back, Hutch went looking for him and eventually found him at his home. Starsky opened the door and then walked away from him.

“Where you been, partner? I was getting worried.”

“Sorry. I just needed a break from all the legal jargon,” Starsky said.

He walked over to the window and looked through it watching the street below. Hutch walked up beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder. Starsky stiffened then stepped away, out of Hutch’s immediate reach.

“Don’t.”

“Don’t what?” Hutch asked.

Starsky kept looking out of the window.

“I don’t think we should touch each other for a while. I don’t think we should be seen being so close until all of this is over and things go back to normal.”

“Don’t be dumb.”

“I don’t want to cause trouble for ya, Hutch. People are already whispering about us. Soon they won’t be whispering, they’ll be openly hostile. It’ll make doing the job hard, impossible maybe. You’ll be embarrassed to be seen with me and I’ll feel like I’ve messed up your career. It’s both our faults, I guess. We’re too touchy-feely. That’s what people think, isn’t it? I’m so sorry, Hutch. I didn’t mean to cause you a problem. It’s just who we are. It’s just who I am with you, but I’ll try to stop. I’ll try to change if it’ll help make things better for ya.”

Hutch felt as if someone had punched him in the chest; the pain he could hear in Starsky’s voice just about broke his heart. He wrapped his arms around Starsky’s middle and rested his chin on Starsky’s shoulder.

He whispered fiercely, “No, don’t you ever change, Starsk. I need you to be you or else what we got won’t work, partner.”

Starsky felt his heart fill with relief as he suddenly realised that it wasn’t just Hutch that needed to know he was loved and accepted for who he was; and it wasn’t just his job to reassure. It worked both ways – something he’d forgotten for about a minute. He placed a hand on top of one of Hutch’s.

“You sure, partner?”

“Never surer of anything.”

The phone started ringing.

“I’d better get that. Might be Dobey.”

Reluctantly, Hutch let Starsky go and his partner crossed the room quickly and picked up the handset.

“Yes, sorry, Cap, I’d had enough of…What?”

Hutch walked closer trying to hear what was being said on the other end of the phone. He tried to read his partner’s expression.

“Thanks, Cap! Yes, Hutch is here. I’ll tell him.”

Starsky put the phone down and stared at it with surprise on his face.

“Well?”

Starsky slowly started to grin. “Nancy’s withdrawn her complaint.”

“What?”

“She’s withdrawn her complaint.”

Hutch shook his head, bewilderment clear on his face, quickly followed by overwhelming relief. Starsky went and got two beers from the fridge and offered one to Hutch. As they went to sit on the couch, Hutch’s mind began to work. He added two and two together and it equalled Starsky.

“Starsk? Where did you go this afternoon?”

Starsky just looked at him.

Hutch shook his head. “Whatever you said must have worked…You never cease to amaze me, partner.”

Starsky looked embarrassed as he took another sip of beer. After a moment, he looked at Hutch with a serious expression on his face.

“About what I said. I still think maybe we need to be more formal at work for a while. Not give people an excuse to fling mud around. What do you think?”

“Let ‘em sling what they like.”

“I’m serious, pal. Don’t ya think we need to be more careful?”

“No, I meant what I said. Me and thee only works if we’re both true to our natures and who we are. You gotta be you, Starsk. ’Cause I can only be me if you’re you. You get what I’m trying to say?”

“Yeah pal, I get ya; loud and clear.”

To show he really did understand, Starsky ruffled Hutch’s hair.

Hutch nodded. “Thanks, now I know everything’s fine and we’re all right.”

Starsky smiled with relief.

They didn’t have to stop sharing coffee cups, or sitting on the same chair with barely a space between them or leaning against each other as they worked. Nobody was going to stop them expressing their friendship in the way that was natural to both of them; with pats, shoulder squeezes or hugs. Their ‘me and thee’ bond was still intact and for that he was very, very thankful.