The Truth Hits Close to Home

70

When Starsky and Hutch have to transport a high profile prisoner back to Bay City by train troubles ensues.

 

Group Story written by: Carol, Caroline, Cheryl, Gretchen, Michele, Nancy and Tina.

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Chapter One

As they waited to board the train, with their prisoner standing between them, Starsky exchanged a serious look with his partner. He was relieved that they would soon be on their way back to Bay City. He hoped the journey and transfer of their prisoner would run smoothly. Their prisoner was high profile and it was almost inevitable that there would be trouble somewhere along the line.

Rocco Cruz was the boss of a drugs cartel that had been operating out of the Bay City docks. His arrest had been the culmination of a very covert operation leading to the disruption of the drugs chain. Now, there were fears that Rocco’s henchmen would try to free him during the journey. Everyone was on high alert.

An announcement was made and within a minute the three men could see the train approaching. Starsky and Hutch kept a watchful eye on the people gathering around them ready to board. Silently agreeing, they moved away from the majority of the crowd and hoped that they would be able to find a relatively empty carriage to board towards the rear.

The train eased to a stop and people began to get on. Hutch climbed the steps and checked out the carriage before nodding to Starsky that it was safe to come on board. For the moment, they had the carriage to themselves but they knew it was unlikely to stay that way. Starsky sat next to the window, with Rocco beside him, where he had a good view of the door at the other end of the carriage. Hutch sat where he could keep an eye both on Rocco and the nearest door. Then the train began to move and they were on their way. It would take a couple of hours to get to Bay City and there were several stops along the way, all places where drama could erupt.

Twenty minutes later, the train began to slow down as it approached the first stop on their journey. Here the platform was rather busy. As Hutch stood up and peered out of the window, Starsky remained seated next to Rocco, watching the carriage door intently, his fingers ready to pull his gun out if needed.

Hutch paid close attention to the passengers as they disembarked and on-boarded. They had both studied the files of Rocco’s known associates and hoped they would recognise their faces if they saw them. His own people wanted to free him so he could continue leading them. However, they both knew that he had a fair number of enemies, and even associates, who definitely had an interest in stopping him from talking about them for a plea bargain and a lenient sentence. Those people weren’t so worried about Rocco remaining alive.

Two people entered the carriage and settled into their chosen seats. The first, an elderly woman, took a half-finished woolly sweater out of her handbag and began to knit. The clacking of the needles made Starsky feel edgy but he knew it was just his internal anxiety making him feel like that. The woman herself looked perfectly harmless.

As Hutch settled back into his seat, Starsky glanced at the man who had come in and noticed that he was staring at them intently. The man had opened a newspaper and was reading it but he kept looking their way. He was chewing on a cigar end and, with his neatly shaved head, looked like he might be a weightlifter or a boxer. The brunet felt his gut stir with suspicion as he briefly looked at Hutch and nodded towards the man. Rocco had also seen the man and began to move nervously in his seat.

“Say, that guy keeps looking over his newspaper at us,” he whispered to Starsky.

Hutch pulled a piece of juicy fruit gum from his pocket and unwrapped it calmly.

“Friend or Foe?” A mischievous grin appeared on his face as he asked the question.

Starsky grinned at his partner then focused back on the mysterious reader. “I’m gettin’ the feeling’ we are going to find out.”

Hutch stared intently at the man with the newspaper who was now avoiding his gaze or so it seemed. Hutch exchanged looks with his partner.

Starsky whispered, “If he’s their lookout, maybe we should get rid of him somehow and give ourselves a bit more time?”

Hutch nodded. “I think I’ll go for a little stroll,” he said loudly as he rose from his seat. “You hold the fort.”

Starsky grinned. “Don’t get lost, Blondie!”

As he neared the man, Hutch looked for signs that he was packing a weapon but saw nothing suspicious. He walked on as if he was going to again pass by, but then quickly sat down next to him and said quietly, “No sudden moves. Who are you?”

“I’m nobody!” the guy squeaked out.

“Why are you watching us?” Hutch demanded.

“C-Cuz you’re them, ain’t ya? The cops who got that medal for rescuing those kids last month.”

The man pointed to the picture in the paper. Hutch was taken aback and then smiled slightly.

“Er yes, that’s us.”

“I think what you did was amazing! I got a nephew around that sort of age. Makes you think when something like that happens. I hope if he ever gets into trouble that someone like you will be around to help.”

Hutch’s face flushed slightly as he said, “Well, thank you…What’s your name?”

“Bob.”

“Pleased to meet you, Bob.”

“Very nice to meet you.”

They shook hands.

“I’m just going to stretch my legs,” Hutch said.

Bob nodded and returned to reading his newspaper. Hutch gave Starsky a quick reassuring nod and then headed on through the door. He strolled through the carriages taking note of the faces on board then made his way back to his own carriage. There were several he thought he recognised from Rocco’s file. He lowered himself back down into his seat.

“There are enough heavies on board to form an army,” Hutch said with a wry smile.

“Nice to have company,” Starsky joked.

Turning serious, Hutch whispered to his partner, “I don’t think I like our chances.”

“They ain’t gonna do anything on a train,” replied Starsky. “Not with all the people around.”

“Wanna bet?” Hutch rubbed the back of his neck. “I think maybe we should get off at the next stop and ring Dobey.”

Starsky nodded. He looked around the carriage where two more people had joined them.

Hutch looked thoughtful and Starsky could see he was hatching a plan of some sort. Very slowly, Hutch stood up and went back over to Bob.

“Bob? Look, could you do us a favour?”

“Sure, what can I do for you?”

“Well, when some guys come in at the next station and ask where we went, can you tell them we said we were going to get off the train and make a phone call. I can’t tell you why but it’s important.”

“Sure, I can do that. If you say it’s important, that’s good enough for me.”

“Thank you.”

Starsky had been listening in and frowned as Hutch came back towards him and Rocco and said urgently, “Let’s go.”

Even as he wondered what his partner was up to, Starsky complied and dragged Rocco with him.

As they passed through the next carriage, Starsky asked in a low voice, “Why are you getting Bob to tell the bad guys our plan?”

“Because we’re not getting off this stop. We’re going to hide in the guard’s van, which is just up here and then stay on until the next station. Then we’ll get off and make that phone call.”

Starsky shook his head. “How do we know they’ll fall for it? What if some of them stay on board just in case and jump off after us at the next station? It’s a small one, if my memory is working right. Dugganville. I don’t think they’ve even got a sheriff’s office there. We might end up in the middle of nowhere with no officials like the train has. It’ll be a long wait on our own for back-up. I think we should stay on board until we get to Bay City and just keep our eyes open. I’m happy to move down to the last carriage though. It’ll be easier just watching one door.”

They’d reached a point between a carriage and the guard’s van. Hutch stopped. As always, he took everything his partner said into consideration, before saying, “Look, I know you’re right about Dugganville but that might work in our favour. Nobody in their right mind would expect us to get off there. I think it would our best move.”

Starsky thought about what Hutch said. He’d noticed the quizzical looks from some passengers who looked suspicious and from one or two that he was sure he recognised from photos. He decided to bet on his partner, like always, and nodded. Hutch grinned.

With the decision made, Hutch, Starsky and Rocco made their way to the guard’s van and approached the guard with their request. At first, he was adamant that they were not permitted to enter his van, but after Starsky waved his badge at him and told him it was an emergency, the guard complied. Hutch swore the guard to silence about their whereabouts and told him they planned to get off at the next station. The guard nodded and so the trio settled down to wait.

The train began to slow, ready for its next stop. Hutch stood up and peered through the tiny window grille, trying to catch a glimpse of what was happening outside.

“I’d say about half of the goons I saw got off and are looking for us around the station.”

The train began to move again and they could all hear muffled orders being shouted from the platform.

Hutch turned to face his fellow travellers. “Well, that leaves about half on board and that’s still a small army.”

Starsky joked, “They must have heard who they’re up against!” He turned toward a pale-faced Rocco. “You got any ideas?” he asked, not expecting an answer.

“Actually, I might have one…The next town, Dugganville, is where my grandparents have a farm. I know the place well. When I was young, we used to watch trains coming into the town together from a small hill above the track. There’s a place where the train has to slow to go around a tight turn before entering Dugganville and then going into station. Maybe we could jump off there? The men watching us won’t be expecting that…Then what happens after that is up to you two.”

Starsky and Hutch looked at each other. Rocco thought it was strange how long the look took. He had no idea they were weighing options—coming up with and tossing ideas out—in that look.

He was even more surprised when Hutch gave a slight nod and Starsky turned to him and asked, “How far is this curve from the next station?”

Rocco shook his head. He had heard stories about these two and thought it was all hyperbole, until now. He shook his head again, before answering, “It’s about a mile along the track from the station.”

When the train started moving again, the guard returned to the van. He confirmed that there was a curve ahead where the train slowed. Starsky and Hutch enlisted the help of the guard to get the door open and got ready to jump. The space was only big enough for two to go together so Starsky told Hutch to jump first with Rocco.

As the train slowed, Hutch counted down and then he and Rocco jumped together. A split second later, Starsky followed. Hutch and Rocco both rolled as they landed but Starsky seemed to crumple as he hit the ground. As Hutch got up and dusted off his pants, he saw that his partner was still lying down. He was so still that Hutch realised something was wrong and rushed to his side.

Only when he felt Hutch come along beside him did Starsky try to move. He slowly lifted his head and Hutch couldn’t miss the heavy bleed. Hutch let out a shocked breath.

“Hey partner, try not to move too much.” Hutch carefully lifted his partner’s head so he could inspect it better. “What happened to your head?” He looked around trying to see if Starsky’s head had hit a rock, but the ground was mostly even and rock free.

“Train door swung back…hit it. I think.” Starsky sounded slightly dazed.

Hutch cautiously helped his partner to sit up against him. Hutch realised that even though he and Rocco had jumped only moments before Starsky, it had been when the train was at its slowest. The train must have quickly picked up speed again. As he looked along the track, his thought was confirmed: the train was already out of sight.

Hutch felt bad that his plan had caused harm to his partner. The only upside was that there was no sight of anyone else around so the plan had been partially successful. Now, they needed to find a phone and get help on the way; for more reasons than just handing over Rocco. Hutch looked at their prisoner curiously. Rocco had made no attempt to make a run for it and he wasn’t sure why.

Rocco was waiting patiently. He had a suggestion to make but was not in a rush to suggest it. He had no plan to escape yet. It was true that he was still cuffed and that would make it difficult but he also knew the detectives were at least trying to keep him alive. His best chance was to stay with them. Once they got him to safety and had served their purpose, he’d take matters into his own hands. Right now, they were his best chance for staying alive. Once back on his own turf, he’d hold the upper hand and could put his own plans into motion.

Still keeping one eye on Rocco, Hutch pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and handed it to Starsky to help ebb the flow of blood coming from Starsky’s head.

“How are you holding up, Gordo?”

“Once I get this wound to stop bleeding, I should be good to go. Give me a couple of minutes.”

Hutch nodded, growled at Rocco to take a seat on the ground and walked several feet away to survey the lay of the land. Hutch looked around. All was still quiet.

“How far is it to the station from here, Rocco?”

Hutch was eager to get to a phone and inform Dobey that they had left the train. He hoped the captain would send help fast.

Rocco pointed vaguely. “My grandparents’ farm is not far. I think we should go there to get help for your partner.”

He watched for the blond detective’s reaction. As expected, Detective Hutchinson looked dubiously at him. He clearly did not trust him: not that Rocco could blame him.

“I didn’t ask you about the farm,” snapped Hutch, who was getting more irritated and more worried about Starsky by the minute. “I’ll ask again, how far to the train station?”

“The farm is only a ten minute walk. The station is at least twenty minutes away and there might be people waiting there for us. Going to the farm makes more sense.”

Hutch bit back an angry retort and tried to think the situation through so he could do what was best for his partner.

“Who will be waiting for us at the farm?” Hutch asked suspiciously.

Rocco couldn’t blame him for not trusting him. If the situation was reversed, he’d be thinking exactly the same thing; thinking that he had help waiting for him at the farm. But that wasn’t true, not in the way the detective was assuming anyway.

“Look, they don’t know anything about my life. I keep it that way on purpose. There will just be my grandfather and grandmother there…Maybe my two cousins as well. They often come over to help out, but they’re probably working out on the property somewhere.”

Hutch frowned, trying to assess if Rocco was telling the truth or not. He looked at Starsky, who attempted to shrug to say he didn’t know but ending up wincing with pain.

Rocco pressed on with his suggestion. “They’ve got a phone. You can call your Captain for help for your partner and for a ride to get me to the Feds and off your hands. This is in my interest as well. The longer we’re out here, exposed, the more likely someone will get to me.”

Hutch deliberated.

“Hutch…I don’t feel so good,” Starsky said.

That was all Hutch needed to hear to make the decision to go to the place that was nearest.

“Hey, pal, Rocco and I are going to get you some help.”

Rocco held out his hands. Hutch hesitated.

“You’ll need me to help support your partner,” Rocco said quietly.

Hutch nodded and reached into his pocket for the key to the cuffs. As he undid the cuffs, he decided that for now he would have to trust Rocco. But only until Starsky was somewhere where he could be looked after.

Hutch held out his hand towards Starsky.

“Let me look after your gun, partner,” he suggested.

Starsky nodded and handed it over, knowing that Hutch was only taking it because he didn’t trust Rocco not to make a move for it while he was helping support Starsky. Very carefully, Hutch pulled his partner upright. Starsky swayed and looked for a moment as if he might be sick.

“You okay?” Hutch asked.

“I’m just peachy,” Starsky said valiantly.

Hutch huffed a laugh. “All right, Peachy, Let’s take it nice and steady. Remember, we’re not trying to win any races here.”

Hutch spoke to his partner with such gentleness that Rocco blinked in surprise. Hutch ignored the looks their prisoner was giving him and slipped his arm under Starsky’s shoulder to take his weight. For the moment that seemed enough to keep Starsky upright so Hutch told Rocco to lead the way.

“Keep your eyes on him,” Starsky puffed. “You can’t trust him.”

“Let me worry about Rocco. You worry about you.”

Starsky snorted, but nodded.

/\/\/\/\/\

Meanwhile as the train pulled out of Dugganville to continue its journey, it was lighter by two passengers. Those two passengers had a feeling that the detectives had left the train between the last stop and Dugganville, perhaps as the train had slowed down.

“If I was Rocco, I’d be engineering an escape for myself,” the man observed.

“You still think he isn’t going to rat on everybody to save his own skin? Rocco’s looking out for himself. We’re not going to give him the chance to sing.”

“You sure he’s got family around here?”

“Yeah, I’m sure. The boss says there’s a farm just out of town that’s linked to him somehow.”

“How are we going to find it? How are we going to get there?”

“Well, we’ll need a car or a truck or something. There’s bound to be something suitable outside the station. You get that arranged while I call in. Then let’s find the nearest store and I’ll go in and ask some questions. See if I can get us directions to the farm.”

The two of them hurried out of the station, determined to discover the whereabouts of Rocco. If two detectives were to get in the way, so be it.

/\/\/\/\/\

They’d been walking at a slow pace for about twenty minutes when Starsky said, “Hutch…what’s up with Rocco? D’ya think he’s playing us? D’ya think he has people waiting at the farm to break him free? Something’s going on with him. Look at him.”

Starsky nodded towards Rocco and immediately regretted it. His head felt like a hammer was thumping a rhythm in his skull from the inside. He didn’t remember when Rocco had left his side to walk ahead of them, probably because it felt more natural to have Hutch’s support, but it worried him that he was so clearly off his game.

“Hey, take it easy. Stop worrying. We’re nearly there, farm’s in sight now.”

Starsky insisted, “Look at him, Hutch, just look.”

Hutch felt he hadn’t taken his eyes off Rocco for more than a few seconds since he’d un-cuffed him, but he looked harder and tried to see what his partner was seeing. There was something different about Rocco’s posture or the way he was walking. Either way, he didn’t seem so imposing or hard all of a sudden. But he was also well ahead of them.

“Get back here!” Hutch shouted. He was surprised when Rocco returned quickly to Starsky’s side to help support him. “If anything goes down, I want you close,” Hutch added. “If you’re walking us into something…you’ll be my first target. You got that!”

Rocco let out a long sigh. “My grandparents…they think I run and own a prestigious hotel.” The candid reply rang true. It was probably the first time Hutch felt Rocco could be telling the truth. “I’d like to keep it that way. If you’re willing to play along with that, I’ll make no moves.”

“You expect me to trust anything you say, to trust you?” Hutch said, as they paused to give Starsky a momentary break, which were becoming needed more frequently as they walked.

His partner’s silent, ‘We can’t trust him’ echoed his own thoughts. His silent response was, ‘I don’t trust him but going along with him is our only option at the moment.’

Rocco said, “Detective Starsky’s wound needs looking at and he needs a chance to rest up. While we’re on my family’s land, I’ll give you no trouble. You have my word. I know that doesn’t mean anything to you but it does to me.” He paused and then added; “Only one person knows the address of the farm. I cut him loose from my organisation a few years ago, with one condition; that he watches out for my family here and reports back to me if anyone is sniffing about.”

“Only one person and you’re absolutely sure of his loyalty? What’s stopping him from telling?” Hutch questioned.

“The concept of loyalty in a business like mine might seem strange to you and, yes, you’re right it is rare, but I trust him. He’s loyal to me.”

Starsky made the effort to speak: “You say no-one else knows about this place. Are you really sure? Some of your enemies have the means to find out information.”

“True,” Rocco conceded. “As far as I know, this place is a secret.”

Hutch was thinking twice about heading down to the farm and possibly putting them all in the middle of a fire-fight. But he was concerned for Starsky as he hadn’t had a chance to stop and take it easy since he got injured. He badly wanted to get his partner somewhere safe.

“You’re not going to cause us any trouble while we’re on the farm?” Hutch asked, half-wanting to believe Rocco.

“I won’t,” he said adamantly. Then with a slight smile he added honestly, “The gloves come off when we leave their land. If I see an opportunity…”

Hutch had to admire his apparent honesty and replied almost in kind: “Fair enough. But you need to know that our guns will stay close to hand. You try something, it will be the last thing you do.”

Rocco nodded. “Shall we?” he asked, as he offered to help Starsky up again.

With Hutch’s help, they got Starsky to his feet and began a slow trudge down the track that led to the farm.

 

Chapter Two

Back at Metro, Captain Harold Dobey was pacing his small office. There was a knock on the door and Dobey gave a gruff, “Come in,” before sitting back down in his chair.

Detectives Babcock and Simmons and Officer Bernie Glassman entered their commanding officer’s lair.

“Gentlemen, take a seat and thank you for getting here so quickly.” As the detectives sat and the uniformed officer took up a position leaning against the wall, Dobey continued, “As you know, Starsky and Hutchinson were bringing Rocco Cruz back to Bay City via train. I checked with the station master and the train arrived in Bay City an hour ago with no signs of Starsky, Hutch, or the prisoner as of yet. Given the time of day, even if they stopped for a bite to eat, they should have been here by now.”

The detectives exchanged glances as Officer Glassman queried, “Do we know if they got off the train in Bay City or was it maybe at an earlier stop?”

“That’s what you three are going to find out,” Dobey huffed.

Taking that as their cue to get to work, the three men left the office.

“How can I be of help?” Bernie asked the detectives.

“Trace the train’s route from where they started and call each station to see if the station masters remember seeing Starsky, Hutch and their prisoner or if anything out of the ordinary happened around their stations. Meanwhile, Babcock and I will check Cruz’s file and look into known associates to see if we get a lead there,” replied Simmons.

With their tasks decided, each man got down to work.

Dobey sat in his empty office, one hand hovering over his telephone. His other hand’s fingers drummed on the desk as he considered making the call. What harm could it do, apart from damage his reputation, but his men were priority, and so he dialed the number.

“The Pits, the bar with the added benefit of my personal wit.”

“Huggy.”

Recognising Dobey’s voice he knew it wouldn’t be good news. “Trouble on the train?”

“They told you?!” Dobey’s tone was gruff and angry.

“No way, man! The street talks.”

“They’re missing. Streets tell you that?”

“No, but they told me they’re in bad company. Company, whose previous life was in a small town on route. Or at least that’s the word I heard.” He hesitated before stating the obvious, “Y’all know the company they’re keeping is highly sought-after.”

“Yes, that’s what worries me.”

Huggy hesitated before saying, “This might be one time when you have the streets’ ear. Ya dig?”

Dobey swallowed. “I dig,” he echoed gruffly. “Keep this between us?”

“Damn right! I have my reputation to consider.” Huggy knew it would be both of their reputations if word got out.

Dobey hung up. There was little on record about Rocco Cruz, no known family members or record of where he came from. He hated to do it, but needs must. He left the police building to call on someone he’d helped years ago to turn his life around. Charlie.

Charlie had been close to Rocco when he was moving up the ranks and building his empire. It had never been known for certain, but their closeness may have been the only reason Charlie had walked away from the cartel with his life intact. Now, Dobey needed to convince him that helping could be key in saving Rocco’s life.

/\/\/\/\/\

Hutch paused as they approached the farmhouse.

“Remember, if you’re telling the truth, we have a deal.  If you’re not…you’ll regret it.”

He moved his Colt python discreetly to his jean’s waistband under his jacket. He gave Starsky his pistol back. Starsky quickly hid it out of sight.

Rocco knocked loudly, and an elderly woman opened the door.

“Rochbert! What a wonderful, wonderful surprise!” Rocco bent down as his grandmother flung her arms round him and greeted him with a kiss. “You should have called. The place is a mess…and you have friends with you. What will they think?!”

“Ma’am,” Starsky and Hutch said in unison.

As she led them inside, Rocco’s grandfather appeared, saying, “Now you know he prefers to be called Rocco! Come in, come in.” He noticed Starsky’s bruised, swollen cut on his forehead and that he looked as if he needed to sit down before he fell down.  “Looks like you’ve been in an accident,” he observed.

“Yes, a car accident. A mile or so back. Rocco suggested we came here for help,” Hutch quickly explained.

These folks seemed genuine enough but he was still on high alert. Rocco had said there were two cousins who visited his grandparents often but so far there was no sign of them. They followed the two elderly people into the kitchen and Starsky gratefully sat down on one of the kitchen chairs.

Rocco’s grandmother took out a large medical box and, after rummaging through it, began treating Starsky’s wound. She took control, despite Hutch trying to object. He watched her gently deal with the wound, keeping a close eye on his partner’s reactions.

“That’s quite a gash you have. I’ll go call Doc out,” she said, putting the box back away and leaving two painkillers out for Starsky to take.

“Er, no need. You have the magic touch; a drink and rest and I’ll be as good as new.”

“I really think the Doc should check you over.”

“What and spoil our lovely surprise visit!” Starsky said, with a friendly smile.

Even injured, Hutch listened as his partner charmed her into changing her mind. He knew why he was doing so and had to agree. The fewer people who knew they were there, the better. Even though Starsky did need to be seen by a doctor, it could be more harmful for him if it led the wrong people to them.

“If you don’t mind, please could I use the phone?” Hutch asked.

He was beginning to believe Rocco had managed to keep his grandparents in the dark about what sort of man he was and dared to hope that it would be plain sailing from here.

“Yes, yes it’s just through there.”

Rocco’s grandmother pointed to the lounge, which they had passed on the way to the kitchen. Hutch had glanced into the room as they passed it, checking if they had any unexpected company, but hadn’t spotted a phone.

“It’s on the cabinet behind the door.”

“Thank you.”

Hutch hurried away to make his call. The sooner he could get hold of Dobey, the sooner they could get out of here and back to Bay City.

/\/\/\/\/\

Before Dobey reached the front door, it opened and a man came out. He walked briskly towards him and, although he smiled, Dobey could tell he was concerned to see him there. Dobey explained why he’d come. Initially, Charlie was adamant he didn’t know any of Rocco’s family or their whereabouts. That was until Dobey said the names of the towns that were on route of the train line.

Dobey saw him blink and knew he was on to something.

“Two of my men and Rocco have gone missing. I believe they’re heading to Rocco’s family. No one knows where they are, not even Rocco’s own men. But they will get found. It’s just a question of who finds them first. You have no loyalty to him anymore. You made a choice to leave that life behind. If you know anything, please tell me.”

The man’s head lowered as he contemplated his answer.

“I do still have some loyalty to him.” He saw Dobey’s face and quickly added, “Not in the way you imagine…It’s just I wouldn’t have been able to leave and change my life if Rocco hadn’t let me. I know what he is. I don’t know why he allowed me to go except for some sense of loyalty to a friendship we once had…”

Charlie’s voice trailed off and Dobey knew he was deliberating. He waited.

After a moment, Charlie said, “There’s one place he might go. They have no idea what Rocco does or what he’s become and he’s worked hard to keep it that way. There are no links to him, he’s made sure of that to keep them safe.”

Time was of the essence for Dobey, but he knew he couldn’t rush Charlie. Ties from one’s youth were hard to break however much we might think we had worked our way free.

“They don’t know how dangerous he is and the sort of people who will go after him.” Charlie chewed over the decision to disclose the information he knew. He asked for an assurance: “You’ll make sure they’re protected, kept safe?”

“You have my word on it. We’ll do everything in our power to keep them all safe,” Dobey said sincerely.

“Your word’s always been good to me in the past…but Rocco. He’ll know I gave up the address.”

“I’ll arrange protection for you and your family if it’s needed.”

Charlie shook his head. “No. Do something better. You make sure you personally tell him I had to keep his folks safe like I promised and this was the only way. That’s the deal, and I’ll give you the address.”

“You have my word,” Dobey promised. “I’ll tell him.”

Moments later, Dobey was driving and radioing the address to his team.

/\/\/\/\/\

The couple left the train station. The woman immediately headed to a phone booth and spoke briefly to their boss. The man walked through the car park and pretended to drop something next to a dark maroon saloon car. Within seconds, he was inside. He got the engine started and headed to pick up his partner from outside the phone booth. Then they headed through the town, looking for a general store. The sort of place where people might be friendly and not think too much if someone asked for directions to somewhere local.

/\/\/\/\/\

After Hutch hung up the phone, the others joined him in the lounge. He managed to convey to his partner silently that he’d been successful in making contact with Dobey. Starsky looked relieved. They were all told to sit down and Rocco’s grandmother came in carrying a tray of much needed coffee. As Rocco leapt up to help her, Starsky and Hutch exchanged wry smiles.

The five of them sat and chatted. Well, Rocco’s grandmother did most of the talking. She explained ‘the girls’ were out shopping in town but were due back very soon. Gradually, Starsky and Hutch became more comfortable. It was unbelievable but Rocco had told them the truth. His grandparents were completely unaware what a dangerous man their grandson was.

Starsky gave Hutch a sly smirk when the sweet, elderly couple told their grandson off for not visiting enough. The man, who was feared by anyone who crossed his path, sat apologising sincerely.  The man, who ran one of the largest drug cartels in the state, was being told off for not driving safely and having a car accident that never actually happened by his sweet, little grandmother. It really was quite extraordinary.

The conversation moved on and Hutch watched as Starsky drifted into a light sleep. He was concerned about potential concussion but aware the long walk had taken a physical toll on his partner. When his call had been patched through to Dobey, he’d been told that members of their own squad were already on the way. It was expected to take them about an hour to reach the farm.

While Hutch was relieved to know that assistance was definitely on the way, his concern about their situation increased. He couldn’t help thinking that if Dobey had known where they were then others might also figure it out.

When Rocco’s grandmother realised that Starsky had fallen asleep, she whispered that the rest of them should move into the kitchen and leave him in peace.

/\/\/\/\/\

Within a few minutes, the couple found just the right sort of place and pulled the car over. The woman was about to get out of the car when she saw two women coming out of the store and gasped in shock.

“Look. They look just like Rocco! Maybe they’re sisters of his.”

“It’s a long shot that they are but, if it pays off and we find him, we’ll be highly rewarded.”

The couple watched as the two women climbed into a blue truck.

“I never heard of him having any sisters, but it’s definitely worth investigating. The resemblance is uncanny!”

As the blue truck reversed out of its space and then headed away from town, the dark maroon saloon followed them at a distance. They came to cultivated fields and what looked like a lane leading down to a farm. The truck turned in.

The couple drove on a little further to go unnoticed then stopped the car. They climbed out, checked their weapons and walked back towards the lane. At the top, they paused to take in the location of the farmhouse and any cover in front of it and to come up with a plan.

/\/\/\/\/\

Starsky woke up, hearing laughter from another room. As if psychic, Hutch suddenly appeared in the doorway.

“How are you doing, Gordo?”

Starsky opted for telling the truth. “So-so. How long was I out for?” The silent ‘Is everything alright?’ question was heard by Hutch.

“Only half an hour. The girls are back.”

Starsky read the message, ‘All is okay, and the cousins are fine,’ in Hutch’s voice. Starsky knew it must be their laughter that he had heard from the kitchen. He felt himself relax slightly but knew that he and Hutch still had to be on alert. Starsky realised he could feel his holster and gun underneath his jacket. At some point, Hutch must have moved it for him. He looked at Hutch.

“They know we’re police, but they still believe he’s some big hotel tycoon. They think we’ve been meeting with him to talk about hotel security.”

The two of them had a brief conversation and Hutch was able to fill his partner in on what Dobey had said. Starsky’s eyes widened as he came to the same conclusion as Hutch had. Then they joined everyone in the kitchen before they were missed.

The grandmother was in her element now; loving her only three grandchildren being together, telling stories from old times and embarrassing them all. The warm welcome reminded Starsky of his own family gatherings.

Unfortunately, it also brought sharply to mind his own decision to keep some family members in the dark about a certain someone’s criminal activities. Perhaps he should talk to his ma about his little brother? But did he really want to destroy the idealistic perception she had of her ‘little’ Nick?’

If he didn’t have the heart to be the one to destroy these people’s perception of Rocco, how could he do such a thing to his own mother? Almost as if he could read his mind, Hutch briefly squeezed his partner’s shoulder. But a second later both of their attention was caught by Rocco.

As they had entered the kitchen, Rocco seemed to be preoccupied with looking out of the window. Suddenly, he turned and looked, directly at Hutch.

“I see we have more company,” he said lightly.

Starsky and Hutch knew that he meant ‘outside,’ and wasn’t referring to Starsky re-joining them as everyone else assumed.

Rocco’s grandmother was saying, “David, you do look a lot better after that rest.”

Hutch left Starsky’s side as he was introduced to the cousins. Starsky stayed still so he could stop anyone going toward Rocco and his partner. As he looked at the young women in front of him, he immediately noticed the family resemblance. The girls would easily have passed for Rocco’s sisters rather than cousins.

Rocco spoke quietly but urgently to Hutch. “They’re not any of mine. Like I told you, there’s only one person knows this address. He’s welcome here in this house and wouldn’t be hiding outside.”

Rocco was keeping his voice low and Starsky continued to do his best to shield Rocco and Hutch so they wouldn’t be pulled into the conversation with the family members.

Rocco looked over at his family and said, “I won’t endanger them. I’ll leave, let them see me and draw them away from here.”

Hutch was immediately suspicious that Rocco was using the threat of danger to get off his grandparents’ land and out of their agreement before back-up arrived. Hutch considered the truck parked outside. They could try to leave now. They could head out in the truck without back-up escorting them or they could wait and hope back-up arrived quicker than expected.

He searched Rocco’s face, trying to gauge his part in the situation. Rocco’s tense brow and jaw showed anger and concern rather than the expression of someone attempting to manipulate the situation. Hutch turned, silently looking at his partner for his input. He knew they had to do something and fast.

Rocco waited, wondering why Hutch was just standing there and not responding to his suggestion. He hadn’t even acknowledged it in any way. He noticed Starsky turn and face his partner, nod and give a crooked smile. Rocco watched, not quite understanding what was going on although something clearly was.

“Hey, now I have vacated your lovely lounge and that extremely comfortable settee, I think we should move back into there,” Starsky suggested.

Hutch agreed, knowing Starsky’s tactics. His partner was getting the family members to the room at the back of the house, away from what had captured their attention at the front.

Starsky spoke again. “We’ll stay in here for a moment. I mean we wouldn’t want to bore you all with hotel security business now.”

Rocco caught on to what the partners were doing. “Yes, we’ll join you shortly. Grandpa, I was telling Ken about your old shot gun. Do you mind me showing it to him?”

“Of course not. You go ahead, Rocco. Who’d ‘a guessed police help out with hotel security?”

“You’d be surprised who needs our help,” Hutch responded, flashing a warning glare at Rocco.

Both partners were wondering if he’d previously had different ideas about using the shot gun against them if he got the chance.

“They’re getting closer to the house,” Hutch said, as they were left alone in the kitchen. “A man and woman, definitely armed.” He couldn’t see them that well yet, but they were taking turns to move forward, as if covering each other when one was in the open.

“It’s me they want! Let me take the truck. They’ll follow.”

“If you leave, we’ll be going with you…and if they don’t follow us…”

Starsky continued where Hutch left off. “…They’ll think they know where we’re going. We’d be leaving them, your family, and they’d be left helpless.”

Hutch nodded. “Back-up is on the way, we stand our ground. Two on two.”

Rocco’s anger flared up. He was angry because his family were in danger and that the cops were right. He realised the four people in the other room wouldn’t be left to leave the farm alive even if he and the detectives could get to the truck and away.

‘No loose ends!’ How many times had he given that order to his own men?!

The first bullet hit the window before they expected it. Screams came from the other room and Rocco immediately ran to help his family.

“I’ll be back with the gun! While you help keep them safe, we’re on the same side,” he shouted as he ran out of the kitchen.

The screams quietened. Rocco was clearly calming his family down.

As Hutch fired, he could see Starsky’s aim was unusually off, but they were holding the attackers from gaining more ground on them. Suddenly, the woman ran out wide, rather than forward and hid behind some fencing.

Neither attacker had been hit yet. They were good, worked well together. Starsky and Hutch knew it could be another half hour before the cavalry arrived and that they had no choice but to trust Rocco with a gun.

Rocco returned. The old shot gun he had was better than nothing. The windows in the kitchen were now mainly shot out. Rocco’s shot rang out, hitting the fence just as the woman leapt away.  She took off round the side of the house, which they realised would give her access to the back of the property.

“I’ve got her!” Starsky shouted, as he ran to the back.

She was out of his sight, but he sensed she was close. The back door flew open, with aimless bullets following, not seeking any particular target. Over the renewed screaming and shouting, Starsky heard a cry of pain.

“HUTCH!”

His partner’s response was the familiar sound of the colt python firing and Starsky instinctively knew Rocco must have been hit. There was a momentary lull in the shooting.

“Starsk?” Hutch sought to know his partner’s status.

“Yeah. Still here. You?”

“Yeah.”

They were both okay but knew they were running low on ammunition. The fear filled cries from the lounge had softened. Hutch quickly glanced down at Rocco, assessing his injuries.

“How bad?” Hutch asked.

“Keep them safe. Don’t worry about me!” Rocco gasped, as he lay wounded and bleeding out.

“We will all leave here alive!” Hutch replied firmly, as he aimed at the figure crawling forward on his front towards the house. He fired and thought he’d hit his target until the onslaught on bullets started back up.

Hutch noted that the sound of bullets from the back of the house sounded like the attacker was now in the house. He heard his partner’s shots echo out until the shooting at the back suddenly stopped. There was a stillness that was alarming after so much noise.

“Starsky!?”

“Clear! Front?!”

“No movement!”

Hutch kept watching the figure on the ground for any sign of movement. He only had sight of the legs, but it wasn’t only trapped mice that played dead and he wasn’t going to make the mistake of looking away.

In the lounge, Starsky slowly got up and walked over to the body on the floor. He kicked the attacker’s gun away and cautiously checked her for a pulse. She was young, beautiful and now dead by his own hand. He hadn’t meant to kill her, but his blurred vision had ruined his aim. He knew he would be cleared of any wrongdoing with the killing. It would be considered ‘reasonable’ under the circumstances, but killing never felt justified and he had to live with that.

Sombrely, he stated, “Clear at the back.”

Hutch understood what the words meant and what they meant to his partner.

As Starsky straightened up, his head spun again and he had to steady himself. He briefly checked on the family and told them to keep down. He noticed the grandfather was keeping them all low and comforting the ladies as much as he could.

“Cavalry’s arriving!” Hutch shouted.

Starsky joined his partner in the kitchen. The long police convoy could be seen easily, their lights flashing as they sped down the track to the farm. It was a signal of their presence to anyone looking for Rocco, whatever their motives, and a clear warning that Rocco was under police protection.

Starsky stayed inside with Rocco and kept an eye for movement outside while Hutch went outside, down the steps and approached the body on the ground. He kept his gun aimed at it all times. He shook his head back to his partner, looking down as he walked back.

He joined Starsky, who was now on the floor next to Rocco applying pressure to his wound. Rocco was conscious but very weak; his survival depended on how fast he received help. Starsky had got one of the cousins to call for the paramedics so help for Rocco was already on the way.

“I don’t want to see their disgust and fear,” Rocco rasped in shortness of breath. “Keep them away from me.”

“The deal stands,” Hutch replied, “the charade is safe with us…while we’re on their land remember?!”

Dobey and back-up arrived with screeching of tyres and dust being thrown up in the air. Hutch had signaled that all was fine, but Dobey wasn’t taking any chances. Hutch joined Dobey outside, telling his captain of the agreement they had made with Rocco. He didn’t like it but out of respect for his men, Dobey reluctantly agreed to going along with it and kept most of the officers outside to guard the house.

Dobey took two officers in to take statements from the family in the lounge. The cousin, who Starsky had asked to call the paramedics, had seen the blood on his hands and clothing and realised that Rocco must be seriously hurt. She had managed to get her grandparents to stay in the lounge while the detectives dealt with Rocco’s injury as best they could. But she knew it wouldn’t take long for her grandparents to want to come through to see their grandson.

Dobey knelt next to Rocco as Hutch relieved Starsky and put pressure on Rocco’s wound, trying to stem the bleeding with folded up cloths. Dobey nodded his head towards Starsky; his condition hadn’t gone unnoticed by his captain and Hutch nodded his acknowledgement of Dobey’s concern. He thought his partner’s cut had reopened but he couldn’t see how badly it was bleeding as it was in his hair line.

Dobey looked down at Rocco and said, “I have a message for you, Rocco. A man we both know told me you would know who gave up this address.”

“I do…one person…had this address.”

Starsky and Hutch glanced at each other taken aback. He had told them the same, but they hadn’t believed him.

Dobey nodded. “He wants you to know he had to tell me in order to keep your folks safe, to keep his promise to you.”

“Hmph, he did the right thing…he’s a good man.”

“That he his.”

Both Starsky and Hutch were surprised by the warm note in their Captain’s voice. Dobey nudged Hutch and indicated he wanted to take over in keeping the pressure on Rocco’s wound. Hutch was grateful to be relieved and immediately joined his partner who was sitting slumped at the kitchen table.

“Hey buddy, how you doing?”

Hutch put his hand on his partner’s shoulder, noting that his colour had drained from his face and he was holding his ribs.

“Had better days.”

“Yeah…let me take a look at you.”

Hutch saw that there was a nice goose egg on his partner’s forehead now, the bruising had started to develop and the thin cloth Starsky had been holding to his head was soaked with blood. Thankfully, Hutch found the bleeding had stopped when he checked. Hutch then gently lifted his partner’s shirt, causing Starsky to catch his breath. The whole of his right side was a range of yellow, blue and purple bruising.

“Hey, should’a told me, buddy,” Hutch gently chided, as he realised Starsky’s ribs must have got injured in his crash-landing from the train.

“Didn’t want him knowing,” Starsky said apologetically. They heard the sound of ambulance sirens approaching. “Don’t let them keep me in, Hutch. I hate hospital food,” Starsky joked.

“Let’s see what they say, before I make any promises,” Hutch said quietly.

He kept his hand on his partner’s shoulder as he waited for the paramedics to arrive.

 

Epilogue

Rocco was still under arrest even though he was being taken to hospital. However, mindful of their promise, Starsky and Hutch asked the officers accompanying him to tell the family he was in protective care. The men didn’t understand why the two of them were protecting their prisoner when he’d almost gotten them killed, but they respected the partners and went along with their request. After all, it was likely to only be for the next 24 hours. Then Rocco would probably be transferred to a prison hospital.

Starsky was checked out at the hospital under Hutch’s, and Rocco’s grandmother’s, watchful eyes. The new line of stitches was nearly concealed by his partner’s unruly hair, but Hutch knew the injury from the train door could have been much worse. Although his x-ray results were clear, the doctor was concerned about the amount of blood loss from his scalp. Eventually, they convinced the doctor to discharge Starsky, provided he was not left alone and would return to the hospital if he had any symptoms causing concern.

As always, over the following hours the partners were there for each other. They both understood the support between them was two-way. That support was not just for Starsky’s possible concussion, but also their coping mechanism for having killed someone while on duty. They talked, they rested and they talked again. When Starsky went quiet, Hutch allowed his partner space, knowing that he would open up eventually and he would be ready to listen.

For Starsky, Rocco’s grandparents’ situation was playing heavily on his mind. Were they blissfully ignorant of whom Rocco really was? Or were they dangerously unaware of something they should know?

His own brother, Nicky, might not be a head of a drug cartel, but he often operated on the wrong side of the law. In addition, he seemed to be getting more deeply involved with people he should stay clear of.  Starsky knew very little of what Nicky was involved with these days, but his brother often tripped up and told him something by accident. Could Nicky’s reckless decisions and connections one day put his own mother’s life at risk?

Starsky knew there was no love lost between Nicky and Hutch. But he could always discuss anything with Hutch, even his brother. He knew his partner would have his best interest at heart and tell him the truth even if he had to be brutally honest, even if the truth was hard to say or hear. He trusted Hutch, trust him more than his own brother. Starsky didn’t want his love for Nicky blindside him and also be a potential risk to his mother.

He turned to Hutch, who was ready and waiting, and said, “Hutch. I got something I need to talk to you about.”

/\/\/\/\/\

The next day they visited Rocco in hospital before he was transferred to protected, solitary confinement in prison.

“You’re looking a lot better today,” Hutch commented, as the officer on guard took the opportunity to take a break.

“Thank you. I wasn’t sure I was going to make it out of there. I’ll find out who needs to be dealt with, and they’ll get what’s coming to them.”

Starsky and Hutch wondered how he would do that while in solitary confinement but didn’t ask.

“You two kept my family safe, and me alive. Anything, I mean anything you ever need. You know where to find me.”

“That’s not necessary,” Starsky replied, feeling Hutch’s outrage and the tension in the room rising.

“I’ll have people watching out for my family while I’m inside. You’re welcome to pay them a visit, they like you.” Rocco’s tone sounded as if he was almost hoping they would call on his family.

“We’ll bear that in mind, won’t we, Hutch?”

Hutch nodded.

Starsky wondered whether to say something to Rocco about his family and his situation or not, but before he could decide, Rocco nodded at the bedside cabinet.

“Look in there, please.”

Dubiously, Hutch opened the cabinet door and pulled out a long envelope.

“What’s this?”

“I’d like you to give it to my family…I’ve decided they need to know who I really am. I’ve tried to explain. I hope they can understand.”

“We’ll give it to them,” Hutch promised.

Starsky’s face was filled with unidentifiable emotions as he said, “I think it’s good that you’re telling them the truth.”

Rocco nodded at them and then sank back into the bed, closing his eyes.

/\/\/\/\/\

Before leaving the hospital, they went and said goodbye to Rocco’s grandparents and cousins, who were sitting in the waiting room along the corridor. The grandmother immediately gave them both a big hug and peck on their cheek which made them feel guilt ridden with the lies they had maintained. Initially, the agreement had been made out of necessity. Then they hadn’t had the heart to break the news to the family. Now, they had to assume that Rocco’s letter would inform them who their grandson and cousin really was.

Starsky and Hutch knew him as a cold-blooded murderer, the boss of a drug cartel. But the family was oblivious to that and were still proud of the man they thought he was. They thanked them for saving Rocco’s life.

Leaving the hospital building, they both felt conflicted. They knew they would next see Rocco in court and that he deserved to be there. But this was the same Rocco who had stood with them and fought beside them to protect his family more than himself. The case that had started off with them just escorting a high-profile criminal had unbelievably led them to meet his hidden family; a family he clearly loved.

They knew that Rocco would have thought nothing of wiping out whole families belonging to those who crossed him. Yet for years, he’d only seen his own family when he could disappear without a trace to keep their identity safe. He took every precaution and covered all traces to protect their identity. That part of him had nothing to do with his desire for money and power. It was out of pure love for them. Pure love in the man they had thought wasn’t capable of such an emotion.

Despite their absolute conviction that Rocco should be going to jail, they couldn’t help but feel sorry for his family. Their only consolation was at least the family would now know everything before Rocco appeared in court and the case was reported on in the national newspapers and on television.

It was highly likely that the danger to Rocco would increase. Every day the bounty on his head would grow. Even if he survived the court case and the people he named were all put in prison, he would be looking over his shoulder for the rest of his life. But it was a risk he’d taken with the life he’d chosen.

In silent agreement, the two of them headed back to Hutch’s place. Once inside, Starsky settled on the couch while Hutch went and got them both a beer. Hutch sat down next to his partner and waited. Starsky sipped his beer and then turned to face his partner.

“So? Have you come to a decision?” Hutch asked.

“I think I have. I think I know what I have to do.”

Hutch nodded. “Well, whatever you decide, you know I’ll be right there with you.”

Starsky nodded. For now, nothing else needed to be said.