BearTrap2

Bear Trap: Part 2

   Dobey waited for his men to sit down before he leaned forward on his elbows and held them with a steady gaze.
    "You want to tell me what that was about?"
    Hutch gestured with a hand. "You heard Mitchum, Captain. He's already got Huggy tried and convicted. He's got some kind of grudge against Huggy and he wants Huggy out of action, no matter what he has to do. Huggy's never been involved in drugs, Captain. You know that as well as we do. Mitchum had no reason to open up that trunk, and he snatched those keys before Huggy could stop him."
    Dobey pointed a finger at the blonde. " I know you want to believe Huggy. To tell you the truth, I'm skeptical about the whole thing, too. Huggy may not always abide by the law, but he's never broken it outright. Plus, he's too smart to get involved in something like this. If you want to prove Huggy's innocence, you do it by the book. Now, tell me what you've got. You've been avoiding me long enough."
    Starsky cleared his throat. "We know Huggy was set up, Cap, but we still don't know who set him up. Let's face it. Huggy is a little fish. Sure, he helps us out when he can, but most of the time he keeps his mouth shut about what goes on around him. I can't see him making somebody big mad enough to go to all this trouble."
    "Then you'd better start doing your job. Check him out. That's SOP. And see if you can jog his memory enough to shake something loose. But you listen to me. If you find something, you'd damn well better follow through on it. Don't let your friendship cost you your careers."
    Hutch nodded reluctantly. "We understand, Captain. We'll do our job, all right, but we still don't think Huggy's guilty of dealing drugs."
    "Then prove it. Find out who those drugs belong to, and put HIM behind bars. That's the only way you'll clear Huggy's name. Now, get out of here. And, keep me informed. No more hiding out, got it?"
    Starsky started to protest, but nodded instead. "Got it, Cap."
    They walked quietly out of Dobey's office and went back to their desks. As their superior had ordered, the two detectives ran the standard checks on their friend. Starsky read over the information they had gathered, then looked up at his partner.
    "I don't know about you, but I feel like Hell. We're goin' over Huggy's life like he was some two bit crook."
    "Yeah, I feel the same way, but we don't have a choice. Dobey was right. If we don't find who that heroin really belongs to, this isn't going to go away. Even if the judge dismisses the charges, Huggy won't be able to live this down."
    "OK, so who's big enough to just write off a million bucks? Even if Huggy is cleared, the owner won't get the dope back. He can't exactly walk into the station and report it stolen."
    "You've got a point, Starsk. I hadn't thought about that. It's got to be somebody big. Not too many dealers can afford to flush a million dollars down the proverbial drain. But it brings us back to the same question. Who is it and what did Huggy do to piss them off so badly?"
    "Well, there can't be too many dealers that heavy around town. Let's pull some files and see what we can come up with."
    Hutch nodded, then looked back at Starsky. "OK. You know, I keep thinking that it's time to go see Huggy. If this were an ordinary case, he'd be the first person we'd go see."
    Starsky squeezed his friends shoulder. "Yeah, I know what you mean, partner. Only this time, Huggy's the one that needs us and I ain't gonna let him down."
    As they got up to go to R&I, the telephone rang. Starsky walked back to his desk and answered it.
    "Homicide. Starsky."
    "Hey, Starsk, is Hutchie with you?"
    Starsky held up a hand, signalling Hutch to stay put. "Yeah, he's here, Hug. What's up?"
    "Can you stop by for a few? I might have something."
    "We're on our way."
    Starsky hung up the phone and grabbed his jacket. "That was Huggy. He said he has something for us."
    "Thank God. Maybe the 'something' is a name, finally."
    "Let's hope so."
    They drove to the Pits and ran up the stairs. Huggy was sitting at the small table, nursing a beer. He waved them to the other chairs. For a few moments, there was only silence. Then Huggy got up and walked slowly around the room. Starsky and Hutch exchanged a bewildered look, but didn't say anything. Huggy finally stopped in front of the window and looked out.
    "You know, this room ain't so bad. There was a time when I would have thought it was the Ritz." He laughed softly.   "You should have seen some of the places that I lived in when I was a kid."
    Starsky spoke softly. "You had it pretty rough, didn't you?"
    "You can say that again, Starsk. I'm not having a pity party here, but I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth. My mother, if you can call her that, was a junkie and a whore. She never let me forget that I was an accident, when she bothered to talk to me at all, that is. If it hadn't been for friends like Julius T., I don't think I would be here today. She sure as Hell didn't care if I lived or died. She didn't care about anything, except the junk she put in her arms every day."
    Hutch kept his voice gentle, also. "But you made it out of there, Hug. You pulled yourself up and you've got a good thing going now."
    Huggy smiled and sat back down at the table. "I know that, Hutch. I ain't suicidal, I'm just trying to tell you how it was. As soon as I was old enough to fend for myself, I hit the streets. I still had to go back to that dump we lived in to sleep, but I took care of myself. I closed the door on that part of my life a long time ago. Maybe that's why it took me so long to remember."
    Starsky sat forward. "Remember what, Hug?"
    For the first time, Huggy looked directly at the other men. "I've never told this to anyone else. Hell, I buried it so deep that I haven't even thought about it for years. But, I'm telling you now, because I think I know who set me up."

   Hutch looked calmly at Huggy. "OK, buddy, go ahead. We're listening."
    "There was this other hooker, her name was Ruby Lynch. She was just another working girl, but she was also the closest thing I had to a real mother. While my so-called mother was out screwing around, Ruby made sure I had food in my gut and clothes on my back. She didn't have to do it, but she always looked after me. By the time I was thirteen, I'd decided that I was going to marry her when I grew up and take her out of that cesspool. It didn't matter that she was twenty years older than me. She gave me the closest thing to love that I'd known since the day I was born."
    Huggy took a drink, then grimaced at the taste of warm beer. His brown eyes were full of grief.
    "One night, while I was taking care of some business for Julius T., I heard Ruby arguing with this dude in an alley. I couldn't see who it was because they were standin' in the shadows, but she was really mad about somethin'. I snuck up the alley as far as I could without them seein' me, but I still couldn't make out what she was saying. She kept shouting at the guy and was cussin' like a sailor. Finally, she hauled off and slapped the guy in the face. It must have been quite a punch, because I could see his head turn from where I was standing. When I started to move closer, I saw a flash of light. I thought at first it was a car going by, so I squatted down so no one could see me. When I realized it wasn't a car, I stood up and looked back at Ruby. She was lying in the alley, and the dude was gone. I tip toed up to Ruby and got down on my knees so I could see her face. She was dead. She had this tube top and short skirt on, and I could see the blood on her skin, even in the dark."
    Hutch nodded to himself. He'd guessed the end of the story before Huggy finished. He reached out and squeezed Huggy's arm.
    "What did you do?"
    Agitated by the memory, Huggy started pacing again. "What do you think I did? Man, I ran! I ran back to that crummy little apartment and didn't come back out. I kept expecting the fuzz to come knocking on my door, but they never did. I figured out then that no one saw what happened but me. I don't guess the cops lost much sleep over another dead hooker, cause I never heard anything about it. I hated the thought of Ruby ending up like that, but I didn't know what else to do. I was just some punk kid and I knew the cops weren't going to listen to what I had to say. I was afraid that they would think I killed her, especially since I didn't see the dude that she was fighting with.
    So, I just kept my mouth shut and went on with my life. I got out of that stinkin' hole as soon as I could and never looked back. I pushed the whole nightmare right out of my mind. Then, one night, it all came crashin' back. This dude came into the bar where I was workin' and told me he knew what I'd seen. I thought I was so slick back then. I didn't think anybody had seen me, especially not the guy that killed Ruby. He told me that if I ever told anybody what I saw, he was going to go after everybody that I cared about. He said he wouldn't waste his time on the cow that had me, but he'd go after Cora Lee and Julius T. I was scared out of my mind, so I just nodded. He walked out like he was going for a stroll, not like he'd threatened to destroy my life. I never said a word about that night, and I never saw him again."
    Hutch asked, "So you think this is the person that's framing you now? Why would he do that after all this time?"
    Huggy sighed and spread his hands. "He was only a bit player back then, but now he's one of the biggest. Maybe he's getting nervous. I mean, I'm the one person that can put him with a murder. If I'm convicted of dealin' drugs, nobody's gonna believe anything I have to say again."
    Starsky thought over what their friend had said, then nodded. "OK, Hug, now give us the punch line. Who is he? Who killed Ruby?"
    Huggy took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. A slight chill ran up his spine. He said a silent prayer for all the people that he loved. Finally, he looked at the two detectives.
    "James D. Blanks."
    Starsky and Hutch traded startled looks, then Hutch groaned.
    "Aww, Huggy, not Jimmy the Blank? No wonder you were scared. That nut's certifiable."
    Huggy looked miserable. "Yeah, I know that. He was just another dealer back then. How was I to know he would climb to the top of the ladder? I didn't think I'd ever hear from him again because I wasn't a real threat as long as he was just dealin'. Now he's in charge of the whole enchilada. Maybe that's why he's coming after me."
    Starsky looked at his partner for a moment. Hutch shrugged slightly then nodded. Starsky broke the news as gently as he could.
    "Jimmy's a good possibility, but there's a problem, Hug. He's dead. They buried him a week ago."
    Huggy's brown eyes widened in shock. "DEAD??? Oh, man! Then it can't be him. That's it. I'm finished. You might as well take me back now, cause there ain't no way I'll ever get out of this."
    Strarsky held up his hand. "Now wait a minute, Hug. Is there anybody else that could have known about Ruby? Anybody at all?"
    "I sure as Hell didn't tell anybody, Starsk. I don't see why Jimmy would, either. Unless...."
    Hutch leaned forward. "Unless what?"
    "Tony Foxx is Jimmy's right hand man. I guess that means he takes over now, huh? Maybe he's got this weird idea that I can hurt the organization in some way. It doesn't make much sense, but Tony ain't too big in the brains department, if you know what I mean."
    "Well, it's better than nothing, so we'll check Tony and Jimmy out. Maybe we can find something solid. In the meantime, you stay put. Tony's as crazy as Jimmy was. I wouldn't put it past him to come after you. We'll let you know if we come up with anything."
    "Make it soon, Blondie. I'm gettin' cabin fever already. If I don't get out of here soon, I'm gonna start bouncin' off the walls."
    Starsky put a hand up. "Just hold your horses, Hug. This is the safest place to be right now. Don't get any bright ideas about hunting for Tony yourself. That's our job, so let us handle it."
    "Yeah, yeah, yeah. I hear you. I won't do anything dumb."
    Huggy Bear waited until he heard the Torino driving away, then moved to the window. He spoke softly to himself.
    "I won't do anything dumb, but I sure as Hell ain't sitting here any more, either. It's time for Huggy to get in the game."

   After making a few phone calls to his best sources, Huggy went back downstairs to the Pits. Tending bar helped to take his mind off of his problems, if only for a little while. He was just begginning to feel human again when he saw the imposing figure come through the doorway. Although he groaned inwardly, Huggy kept a neutral smile on his face.
    "Well, if it isn't Marshall Dillon himself. If you're looking for Starsky and Hutch, I haven't seen them in a while."
    Harold Dobey sat down on the barstool opposite Huggy. He shook his head.
    "No, for once they actually checked in with me. I know they're following up a lead."
    "Then, what can I do for you, Captain?"
    "How about a beer?"
    Huggy's jaw dropped, then snapped shut. He reached for a glass mug and after sneaking a peek to make sure it sparkled, he handed the beer and glass to Dobey. The Captain poured the liquid and contemplated the frothy head in silence. A few minutes later, he looked up.
    "I know you and I haven't always agreed on the finer points of the law, Huggy, but I believe your heart's in the right place. I can't pretend to know what you're going through, but hang in there. If anybody can figure this whole thing out, it's Starsky and Hutch."
    Huggy smiled with gratitude. "Thanks, Captain. Believe it or not, your opinion of me does matter. I appreciate you coming down here and telling me that."
    Two pairs of brown eyes met. "And I appreciate everything you've done for my boys. You've been there for them through some pretty rough times. You've given a lot and asked nothing in return."
    The thin black man grinned. "I did it for a reason, Marshall. It's called 'friendship'."
    Dobey grunted. "I've never doubted that, Huggy. I know friendship and loyalty mean a lot to you. Starsky and Hutch feel the same way. What I'm trying to say is, stay put and let them handle this. They don't believe in letting their friends down, either."
    "I know, but I feel so damned helpless. This isn't their fight, it's mine."
    "You're a citizen, Huggy, just like everyone else. You have as many rights as the next man. We don't expect civilians to put the criminals in jail. That's our job. Let us do it, all right?"
    "Sure. I've sat it out this long, a little longer won't hurt."
    Dobey nodded. "That's what I wanted to hear."
    He stood up and took a bill out of his wallet. After draining his beer, Dobey laid the bill on the counter.
    "Thanks for the beer. It was a good brand and the glass was nice and clean. Keep up the good work."

   Starsky and Hutch looked the files over carefully. Tony Foxx had indeed inherited Jimmy's empire after his death. Tony's rap sheet was a lot like his former superior's. Both men had started their careers by dealing drugs in dark alleys and worked their way up the family organization. Despite what everyone thought, Tony possessed a canny intelligence that his superior never had. Although it never seemed that way to outsiders, Tony was the brains of the team, while Jimmy was the brawn. Since Jimmy's father had held the drug ring together while Jimmy was busy making a name for himself, Tony was content to let him remain a figurehead after the old man died.
    Hutch rubbed his tired eyes and looked at his partner. "Well, it looks like this frame up has Tony's name written all over it. Jimmy would probably roll over in his grave if he knew Tony threw away a million of his hard-earned dollars just to get Huggy out of the way."
    "Yeah, but what's the big deal? So Huggy saw Jimmy kill Ruby. So what? That ain' no skin off Tony's nose. We're back to the same question. Why go to all this trouble?"
    "I don't know, unless Tony happened to be with Jimmy that night. Huggy said that Ruby was in the back of the alley. Maybe Tony was close by and Huggy didn't see him. If Tony was there, that makes him an accessory, and there's no statute of limitations on murder."
    "Well, that's the only thing that makes sense to me. Why else would he care about an old murder that Jimmy committed, unless he was in on it?"
    Hutch asked quietly, "I think it's time we had a little chat with Tony, don't you?"
    "Sounds like a plan to me. Shall we?"
    The blonde closed the file he was looking at and stood up. "We shall."
    The bar which served as a front for the new drug king fit Tony Foxx perfectly. It's garish exterior assaulted the two men's eyes as they climbed out of the Torino. When they walked through the heavy wooden door that someone had painted gold, the noise assaulted their eardrums as well. The vividly colored tableclothes didn't hide the scratched and scarred tables or their dented legs. A huge bar that was equally worn dominated the smoky interior.
    Starsky and Hutch forced their way through the motley group of drunks and scantilly clad waitresses and knocked on a door in the back of the room. The door opened a crack and one baleful eye peeked out.
    "What'dya want?"
    Starsky scowled. "We want to see Tony. Tell him Detective's Starsky and Hutchinson want to talk to him."
    "He ain't here and if he was, he wouldn't want to talk to you pigs."
    Hutch stuck his size eleven shoe between the door and the frame and jerked his leg sideways. As the door flew open, he grabbed the arm that was trying to hold the door closed. He pulled the scrawny form out into the hallway and slammed him up against the wall.
    The blonde towered over the frightened thug. "We don't care what Tony wants. We are going to talk to him if we have to go through you to do it. Now, you have one chance to keep your body intact. Where's Tony?"
    "I don't know where he went. Tony doesn't have to tell anybody where he's goin'. And I don't know when he'll be back."
    Starsky moved to the other side of their captive. He leaned into the man's face.
    "Maybe he went to take care of business. How many goons did he take with him?"
    "He didn't take nobody with him. He left in his Corvette a little while ago. He didn't say nothin' except he was going to take care of some old ghosts. I don't know what he meant by that, and I wasn't about to ask."
    The two detectives thought for a few seconds, then reached the same conclusion. Two pairs of blue eyes met.
    In the same breath, they whispered, "Huggy."

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