NoJustice3

Is There in Truth, No Justice?

Part 3

   Although the storm moved quickly through the area, two inches of rain fell, turning the ground around the house into a swamp. They spent the next two days inside, lying around and relaxing. The song Hutch had sang haunted Starsky as he searched for a way to help his friend.
    He lay on his bed, thinking. What happens when you decide your life has meant nothing? How can you get back all the years you think you've wasted? I know you haven't wasted them, Hutch, but how do I convince you of that? We can't go back until we settle this. We want two different things. I want to be a cop, and you don't. No, that's wrong. I want to go back on the street, and you don't. So, what's the answer? I wish to God I knew.
    He sighed, rolled out of bed and went looking for his partner. Hutch was curled up on the couch, reading a book he had taken from one of the bookcases in the front room. Gertie and Archie both had loved to read, and their different tastes led to a variety of titles. Hutch looked up and smiled as Starsky came into the room.
    "Hey, Starsk, did you take a nap? It's a good day for one. I love the peace and quiet around here. It's like living on another planet."
    Starsky sat beside the blond. "I wasn't sleeping, buddy. I was just thinking. I've been doing a lot of that lately. What are you reading?"
    Hutch grinned sheepishly. "Would you believe a detective novel? I know that sounds crazy, but these guys had it made. Every case came to a successful end and you knew that if anyone got hurt, they'd be OK by the end of the story." He put down the book and gazed steadily at his friend. "So, what were you thinking about?"
    Starsky wagged his hand back and forth. "Oh, this and that."
    "Well, that was informative. Is there anything you'd like to share?"
    Starsky looked down at his hands. "I heard you singing the other night."
    Hutch fiddled with the book. "Oh. I thought you were asleep. I hope I didn't disturb you."
    "You didn't, but the song did. Did you write that?"
    "Yeah, I wrote it a couple of months ago. It kept running through my head, and wouldn't quit until I wrote it down."
    The brunette looked into his partner's eyes. "I don't know how to help you. How can I convince you that you haven't wasted your life? You're only one man, Hutch. You can't save the whole world. We're born, we grow up, and we die. All we can do in between is the best we can. We've done so much good. You're not a failure, Hutch."
    "But, I've failed so many times, Starsky! We've watched as the guilty went free and we've let the innocent pay the price. How many more are going to be hurt, all in the name of justice?"
    "I can't answer that, buddy, but there is one thing I know for sure. If we hadn't become cops, and did what we had to do, a lot more would have been hurt. Do you believe in Fate, Hutch, or Destiny?"
    Hutch shrugged. "I don't know. I hadn't really thought about it."
    "I have. I mean, think about all the things that happened to bring us together. You rebelled against your dad and everything that he stood for. You didn't let him push you into being a doctor, or anything else. You made the decision to be a cop on your own. You stuck by your guns, even at the expense of your marriage. You could have stayed in Duluth, had a couple of kids with Vanessa, and did whatever daddy wanted you to do. But, instead, you moved to California and joined the force."
    Starsky paced the room as he tried to organize his thoughts. "When my dad died, it threw me into a tailspin. I finally pulled myself out of it and straightened out my life, but I could just as easily have gone the other way. I fell into some pretty rough company when I was young. I was looking for something I felt I had lost after Pop got killed, and went looking in all the wrong places for it. Ma didn't want to send me clear across the country by myself. She thought she was doing what was best for me. When I enlisted in the Army, I was still looking for that unidentifiable something, but I still didn't find it. Then I met John Blaine and I decided I wanted to be a cop. But, you know what? I still felt that I was missing something in my life. I didn't know what I was looking for until I met you. Then I realized I was looking for a sense of family, a sense of purpose. You've been more like a brother to me than Nicky ever was, and that's partly because we shared the same vision. We wanted to make a difference, and together, we have."
    He sat down beside the blond. "I know the last couple of years have been rough, and we grew apart from each other, but life isn't always sunshine and roses. You have to take the bad with the good. We've made it back to each other and we've weathered the storms, and we're stronger for it. You're friendship is the most important thing in my life. No matter what we do, no matter where we go, as long as we stick together, we'll make it. I honestly think we were brought together for a reason. Maybe it was just so we could have company on this roller coaster called life, but maybe it's because we could only do what we've done as a team."
    "I used to feel the same way, Starsk. I still do, about a lot of things. I've never doubted our relationship, or you. It's this job that I'm not sure about anymore. And it isn't just the job. I don't know who I am any more. I feel like I've lost a part of myself to this badge, and I don't know how to get it back. Do you know what I really want to do? I want to grow old with you. I don't care if we both get married, have a couple of kids and live in the suburbs. I don't care if we move to Rio and become beach bums. Call me selfish, but I don't want to lose you. There isn't a damned thing in that cesspool out there that is worth your life. I don't want to go out in a blaze of glory. I want to sit in a rocking chair and watch the grandkids play while we talk about the good old days. But right now the good old days aren't that good."
    "I hear what you're saying, Blintz. Dying with your boots on is still dying. John Wayne made it look so romantic. But they didn't tell you that dying hurts like Hell, and there ain't no going back. I'm looking forward to my retirement and seeing what kind of watch they give me."
    Hutch grinned. "You always did have a watch fetish." Then he grew serious. "For a while there, I didn't think either one of us would make it to retirement."
    "I know. Neither did I, and I sure don't want to go up against another Gunther any time soon. But, don't you see? Gunther nearly took everything that's important away from me. Being a cop has been my whole life, and he stole that. I need to go back, Hutch. I'm not sure if I can be the cop I was before the shooting. I won't know if I can unless I try."
    Hutch sighed. "I know, Starsk. You've gone through Hell this past year. I wish I felt the same way, but going back scares the Hell out of me. Every time we talk, we get to the same place. We want different things. So, what's the answer? Where do we go from here?"
    "We keep talking, buddy. We tear this thing apart until we find the answer. We've made a good start. Do you realize we haven't talked like this in years? We've been acting like a couple of strangers on a train, headed for the same destination. Damn it, it's no wonder you've doubted yourself. If you can't turn to me, who can you turn to?"
    Hutch shook his head. "No one, Starsk. Me and thee, remember?"
    Starsky gave an exaggerated sigh of relief. "Finally, he gets it. It's about damn time."
    "Did anyone ever tell you that you're about as funny as a rubber crutch, Starsky?"
    He was favored with a wicked grin. "Yeah, but you love me anyway."
    Hutch's eyes glistened. "Yeah, I do."

   The ground around Aunt Gertie's farm dried enough the next day for them to go back to work. Now that a solution of sorts had been reached, Hutch was more relaxed and even allowed Starsky to set his own schedule. They finished repairs on the house two days later and celebrated by having a barbeque outside. Whoever had stocked the freezer had provided plenty of meat for the two men. They grilled a side of pork spareribs, and chose two large baking potatoes to go with the meat. After dinner, Starsky found an ice cream maker and decided to try his hand at it. He searched through Gertie's recipes and found an easy one to follow. After gathering all the ingredients, Hutch helped by taking his turn at the crank.
    Starsky wiped his face with a napkin. "I never thought making ice cream would be so hard. I swear we've turned that crank a thousand times already."
    Hutch grinned. "Just think of it as physical therapy. You're really giving that shoulder a work out. And the reward will be home made ice cream. That ought to satisfy your sweet tooth."
    They worked a few minutes longer then Hutch lifted the crank and checked the ice cream.
    Starsky peeked into the tub and frowned. "Why is it purple?"
    "It's not purple, Starsky. It's blue. You put fresh blue berries in it, remember?"
    "Oh yeah! So, can we eat it now?"
    Hutch offered his friend a spoonful. "Here, taste this and tell me if it's ready."
Starsky tasted the ice cream and then licked his lips. "Man, that's good! I didn't think I could top the stuff at Dairy Queen, but this does."
    Hutch tasted a spoonful and nodded. "I don't think I want to spend every night doing this for a quart of ice cream, but it is a nice change. And it's better for you than DQ. This doesn't have any preservatives."
    "Well, don't tell me what DQ puts in theirs. I want to eat my ice cream from there in blissful ignorance when we go back."
    Hutch grinned. "OK, I promise not to tell you. So, do you think you're ready to tackle the fence tomorrow? The only way we can tell if there are any breaks are to walk it."
    Starsky's eyes widened. "The whole thing? Aunt Gertie said they own almost ten acres!"
    Hutch looked at him with amusement. "I didn't say we had to do it in one day, Starsk. We can take one section at a time, and if we find any problems, we can hook the trailer up to the tractor and pull the supplies we need to fix them. Back in Duluth, my grandfather had over forty acres. It would take weeks for him to check the fences."
    Starsky breathed a sigh of relief. "Since you put it that way, I'm ready whenever you are. But I have a better idea. Instead of walking, we can take the tractor and drive along the fence row. I don't know about you, but I really don't want to walk this place a dozen times. We can take some rags and mark the places we need to fix, and go back to them."
    "That's a good idea, Gordo. We might just make a country boy out of you yet."
    Starsky took another bite of his ice cream. "Uh, uh. You can keep the country. If I'm gonna die of a heart attack, I want to do it in bed with some lovely wench, not out in the middle of a field."
    Hutch stopped eating his ice cream long enough to give his friend a baleful glare. "No body likes a wise ass, Starsky."
    They started early the next morning, after a hearty breakfast. The tractor was in good condition, and started easily, despite sitting idle for several months. Hutch drove the tractor slowly along the fence row with Starsky sitting beside him on the oversized seat. Surprisingly, there were very few breaks in the fence.
    Starsky raised his voice over the roar of the tractor. "Hey, this ain't bad. I was expecting the fence to be in as bad a shape as the yard."
    Hutch shouted back. "I think we got lucky. You said your Uncle sold the livestock off when he started to get sick, so there haven't been any animals to cause damage. The breaks we've seen could have been caused by hunter's climbing over the rails, or tree branches falling during storms. This shouldn't take long to fix at all."
    "I don't remember seeing any wood that we can use, do you?"
    "No, but we weren't looking for any. We can check the barn, then go into town and buy some if we need to. "
    "Sounds good to me. And while we're at it, we can check if there's any paint in the barn, too. I'd still like to give the house a fresh coat before we leave."
    Hutch took his hand off the wheel long enough to point a finger at the dark haired man. "I'll go along with that as long as we don't try to paint the whole house in one day."
    Starsky raised his hands in surrender. "Hey, like you said, we've got plenty of time. Why rush? We can alternate between the fence and the painting, and take a break whenever we feel like it."
    "Now you're talking! And hold onto something for Christ's sake! This ground isn't level and I don't want you falling off!"
    Starsky grabbed the seat and hid his smile. He spoke to himself under the roar of the engine. "Now that sounds more like the mother hen I know."
    They were about halfway through the back part of the fence when they saw a strange man walking through the fields beyond the fence. The two men exchanged looks then Starsky shrugged.
    "Maybe it's a hunter. Sheriff Bradley said there are a lot of them this time of year. I wonder what's in season."
    Hutch took one hand off the steering wheel and raised it. "I don't know, but he had a backpack and was carrying something in his hand. We'll have to be careful. Bradley said some of these guys get so excited that they shoot without checking to see what's on the other end of the sight."
    Starsky nodded. "If he comes too close, we'll tell Bradley about it. That's not Aunt Gertie's land, so I guess hunting on it is legal."
    As they drove the tractor along the fence, they watched the stranger disappear into the woods. Hutch made a mental note of the area, determined to prevent a tragic accident. He would definitely keep his eyes open for any sign of activity while they were repairing the fence.
   They finished marking the rest of the breaks and went back to the barn. A thorough inspection uncovered a good supply of fence rails and other supplies that they would need, but the only paint they found was buried in one of the old stalls. Hutch pried the lid off of one can and peered inside. He picked up a small stick and stirred the paint.
    "I'm not sure if this is still good, Starsk. It's all separated, and I can't tell how old it is. From the looks of the house, it's been a few years since it was painted."
    Starsky stood up, brushing the dust off his hands. "Well, a few gallons of paint can't cost that much. We can pick up a couple of paint brushes and some turpentine, too."
    "OK, but it's getting late. Why don't we hook the trailer up to the tractor and load the stuff for the fence? We can knock off early and go into town in the morning. That will give us time to check and see if we need anything else from the store while we're in town."
    "That's a good idea, Ollie. I could use something cold to drink before we get started, too."
    "Partner, you must have read my mind. I feel like I could spit cotton right about now. How about some of that lemonade you made earlier?"
    Starsky grinned. "I think I can arrange that."
    They went back into the house to cool off and drink the lemonade, then went back to the barn for the tractor and trailer. Hutch hooked the trailer to the tractor and both men loaded the fence rails first then added nails and two hammers.
    Hutch nodded to himself. "I think that does it. We need to look in the shed and in the house and see if we can find a couple pairs of heavy gloves. I don't think communing with nature includes digging splinters out of our hands."
    Starsky grinned evilly. "What about all those hardy ancestors of yours? They did this kind of stuff all day long, every day, and didn't worry about a few splinters."
    Hutch snorted. "Yeah, and they probably cut out all those splinters with a knife and didn't feel any pain. Then they poured whiskey on the cuts to kill the germs, saving a little for a good stiff belt afterwards, of course. I think you've been watching too much television, Starsk."
   The brunette grinned. "You're probably right. I know I couldn't handle this all of the time. I prefer to work with my hands inside, with a cool drink in one of them."
    "Thank God we don't have to. We've got people like your Uncle Archie that loved to do it. Well, are you ready to knock off for the day? We can have dinner and I'll even challenge you to a game of Monopoly afterwards."
    Starsky gave his friend a rueful smile. "Gee, you're all heart, partner. It's a good thing my ego is healthy, at least. You know I stink at Monopoly."
    Hutch patted Starsky on the shoulder. "Just think of the law of averages, Starsk. If you keep playing long enough, one of these days you'll actually win a game."
    "In that case, there's hope for you yet, too. Sooner or later, you have GOT to win a game of chess."

   They drove into town the next morning, with a list of supplies they needed. They bought the paint and brushes first then went to the small grocery store down the block. As they were shopping, Sheriff Bradley came into the store. He walked up to them, smiling.
    "Well, hello there! How are the repairs coming on the house? We haven't seen much of you two since you got here."
    Starsky gave him a friendly smile. "It's going pretty good, Sheriff. We just didn't know there was so much to be done. We're getting ready to paint the outside of the house and make some repairs to the fence. We needed some fresh paint and other supplies, so we thought we'd pick up a few groceries while we were in town. I don't know who stocked the freezer and refrigerator for us, but they did a great job. All we need is a few basics."
    "I think you can thank Katie Sutton for that. She's a good friend of Gertie's. They used to get together at the end of a harvest, or when they slaughtered a cow or pig, and cook up a storm. Knowing Gertie, she left Katie a good supply of food when she left. And Katie is as good a cook as Gertie."
    Hutch smiled gratefully. "Then you'll have to introduce us some time so we can thank her personally. We've spent so much time eating take out and pizza that a home cooked meal is a godsend. It's a good thing we have so much to do at the house or you'd have to roll us out of here when we left."
    Bradley grinned and patted his own stomach. "I know what you mean. If I didn't get so much exercise, I'd have to loosen my belt a few notches, too. Well, I need to get back on patrol, so I'll let you get back to your shopping. It was nice to see you again. Don't be strangers, you hear?"
    Before the sheriff could turn, Hutch remembered the hunter they saw in the fields.
    "Oh, by the way, we saw a hunter in the fields behind Gertie's place. What's in season this time of year?"
    Bradley turned back to him, scratching his head. "There isn't anything in season. Rabbit season is a couple of months away and deer season isn't until fall. We have a few squirrel hunters, but they usually go up farther than your place. I'll tell you what; if you hear any shots around there, give me a call. We might be off the beaten path, but the state still frowns on poachers. Don't try to go after this guy alone, just call me and I'll call the game warden."
    Hutch smiled. "Don't worry, Sheriff, we're on vacation. This is your territory. We're just visitors."
    Bradley slapped the blond on the back. "Now that's the kind of talk I like to hear. I wish some of my constituents listened to me that well. I'll be seeing you around."
    Starsky and Hutch paid for their groceries and loaded them into the car. They ate a light lunch and then started on the fence. Some of the rails had fallen, but were still good enough to use, so they simply nailed them back in place and went on to the next marker. It didn't take the two men long to get accustomed to fitting the new rails in place, then holding them up while they hammered the nails in. They made good progress and covered the first acre of fencing by the late afternoon.
    Starsky helped Hutch unload another fence rail then wiped his face with a handkerchief. "A man can sure work up a sweat doin' this stuff. How far have we gotten so far?"
    "Well, the tractor doesn't have an odometer, but I think we've gotten past the first acre, any way."
    Starsky said sarcastically, "Oh, good, that means we have only nine acres to go, more or less. When I think that Archie did this all of the time and never got paid for it, I don't know if he was dedicated or just plain crazy. You couldn't pay me enough to do this for a living."
    Hutch agreed. "I guess it's different when it's your place. It makes you respect the farmers that worked the land without any machinery in the old days, that's for sure."
Starsky shuddered. "I don't even want to think about it. Hey, why don't we finish this one and call it a day? Tomorrow we can work a little on the house and just kinda relax."
    Hutch slapped him on the back. "Now you're learning. Rome wasn't built in a day, and this place won't be finished in a day, either. Come on; let's get this baby into place."
    They lifted the rail and put each end into the notches in the fence posts. Starsky casually looked down as he waited for Hutch to nail his end of the rail. A slight movement caught his eye and he bent down to take a closer look. His eyes widened and he dropped the rail when he saw what was causing the grass to move. Without a word, he sprinted past Hutch and jumped onto the trailer. The end Hutch had just nailed to the post fell to the ground as the lone nail gave way to gravity. Hutch jumped back before the rail could land on his foot.
    "Hey! Next time, give me some warning before you let go!" Then he glared at his friend. "Starsky, what are you doing in that trailer?"
    Starsky pointed a shaky finger and said one word. "Snake!"
    The blonde moved a few paces back, startled. Then he looked around carefully. "I don't see anything. Are you sure it wasn't your imagination?"
    "I saw it move, Hutch. And I wasn't about to wait until my imagination bit me!"
    "Well, was it poisonous?"
    Starsky glared back at Hutch. "I didn't stop to ask!"
    Hutch laughed and walked over to the trailer. "Here, hand me that sickle and I'll cut the grass down a bit. You stay in the trailer and I'll let you know when the big bad snake is gone."
    Starsky pointed a threatening finger at him. "Keep it up, Blondie, and you'll finish the fence by yourself."
    Hutch looked over his shoulder as he cut the grass down. "You really should talk to somebody about that phobia, Starsk. It isn't healthy. Just remember that the snake was probably as afraid of you as you were of it."
    Starsky watched the blond from the safety of the trailer. "That's real comforting, Blintz. I'll keep that in mind the next time I get bit."
    After he cut a large area around the fence, Hutch coaxed his friend out of the trailer and they finished the last rail for the day. The blond glanced at Starsky and smiled as they headed back to the house.
    "Relax, Gordo, it was just a garden snake. They aren't dangerous."
    Starsky cast a suspicious eye at Hutch. "What makes you so sure?"
    "If it was a rattler, you would have heard it, right before it bit you."
    Starsky crossed his arms against his chest and sulked. "You're mean, Hutch. Do you know that? You're just plain mean."
    Hutch laughed as he pulled the tractor back into the barn. "Come on, tenderfoot, let's get something to eat and go to bed early. We can sleep late tomorrow and do some painting on the house when we get up."
    "That's a good idea, Ollie. After the day we've put in, I think I could eat a horse."
    Hutch smiled sweetly. "Would you settle for a nice thick steak instead?"
    Starsky made a rude gesture then grinned. "Smart ass."
    They made sure the barn door was shut securely then walked back to the house. As Hutch opened the door, Starsky mumbled to himself. "At least we mowed the grass around the house. I've seen all the snakes I want to see on this trip."
    A dinner fit for a king soothed Starsky's ruffled feathers. The two men fell into bed, exhausted, and were asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillows. They woke up about the same time and flipped a coin for the shower. Hutch won the toss, so Starsky cooked breakfast while the blond showered and dressed for the day.
    Starsky was whistling a merry tune as Hutch walked into the kitchen. He threw a grin over his shoulder as he cracked two eggs into the skillet.
    "You know, a man could get used to this. There aren't any alarm clocks waking us up, no phone calls at ungodly hours of the night, and no schedules to keep. I think I'm getting spoiled."
    "I know what you mean, buddy. I think I'm getting lazy in my old age."
    Starsky sat a plate of food in front of his friend. "Well, don't get too comfortable, because we still have to paint the house. Of course, no one said we had to paint the whole house in one afternoon."
    "Thank God for that! And this time, you watch what you're doing. If you slip on that ladder again, I'm going to put a net under you so you won't break your fool neck."
    Starsky grinned. "You're sure you don't want to hire a couple of firemen to hold that net?" He laughed out loud at his friend's severe expression. "Just kidding, Blintz. I'll be careful."
    Hutch wiped his mustache with a napkin and stood up. "Come on; let's do the dishes and get outside. We've got several hours of day light left. We should be able to get a good start on the house before dark."
    They spent several hours chipping the old paint from the front of the house. Finally, they were ready to start painting. With both men working, they finished the first coat of paint before night fall. The sun was starting to set as they hauled the ladders back to the shed and cleaned their paint brushes.
    After dinner, they sat outside on the porch and talked. For once, the conversation stayed far from the demons that were plaguing Hutch. Instead, Starsky told stories of his visits to the farm, when his aunt and uncle were young and in good health. Hutch watched his friend's face as he relived the good times, and smiled to himself. He could already see the too thin frame filling out and the boundless energy that was David Starsky returning to his blue eyes. No matter what happens when we go back, this was a good idea. I haven't seen you look this good since the shooting, or as relaxed. Come to think of it, I haven't felt this relaxed myself since the shooting. Finally, Hutch stood up, putting his hand on the brunette's shoulder.
    "Come on, partner, time for bed. It's getting late and we've still got a lot to do tomorrow."

   Starsky was sleeping soundly when he heard the yelling from across the hall. He jumped out of bed and ran to Hutch's room, turning on the light as he rushed through the door. The blond was thrashing in his bed, crying out in his sleep.
    "Starsky, get down! Starsky! Damn it, Starsky, where are you?"
    Starsky sat down on the bed and gently shook Hutch's shoulder.
    "Hey, buddy, wake up. You're having a bad dream."
    Hutch sat up with a gasp then slumped against the wall. He swiped at his face with a shaky hand and closed his eyes.
    Starsky kept his voice low. "It's okay, partner. I'm right here. It was just a dream."
    Hutch shook his head furiously. "No, it wasn't just a dream, Starsky! GUNTHER wasn't just a dream. He was my worst nightmare and he's never going to go away. You can sit on that damn porch all you want to and tell me cute little stories about your childhood, but it isn't going to work. It's not going to change the fact that he damn near killed you. And you want us to go back so the next scumbag can have another chance at it? Where the Hell do you get off expecting me to go through that again?"
    Starsky got up, throwing his hands up in surrender. "Fine, go ahead and quit if that's what you want to do! I'm tired of arguing with you. Go on! Go dig yourself a hole and crawl in it. Throw everything we've done in the past ten years away and find some safe little world to hide in. But you'd better understand this: you'll be doing it alone. I'm not going to let Gunther, or anyone else, keep me from doing what I want to do, and that includes you."
    Hutch jumped out of bed and stalked around the room. "You just don't get it, do you? Nobody gives a damn what we do, Starsky! Remember what you told me? We're two bugs in a toilet and every time we swim to the top, somebody flushes the toilet. If we keep on going long enough, some body's going to squash us. When we're gone, no one's going to remember who we were or what we did."
    Starsky glared back. "I don't give a damn if anyone remembers! I'm not going to sit back and let creeps like Gunther win. I believe in what I'm doing, and as long as I'm still breathing, I'm going to keep fighting. I thought you would, too. I guess I was wrong."
    He started to walk out of the room, but the sound of Hutch's voice stopped him.
    "Fine, go ahead and walk away. I knew you would eventually."
    Starsky clenched his fists in anger and faced the blond. "What did you say? I'm not walking out on you, Hutch. You're walking out on us."
    "Why not? You did it once. The only difference is this time you're standing on both feet instead of lying in a coffin."
    "What? Did you think I wanted to get shot? That's crazy, Hutch!"
    The pain in Hutch's eyes was almost too much for Starsky to bear. "Then why didn't you just get down? Why did you let them do that to you? You left me, Starsky. I wanted to protect you, but you wouldn't let me. Why didn't you let me?"
    All of his anger left as Starsky finally understood the truth. He walked over to his friend and held him tightly.
    "You weren't to blame for me getting shot. You yelled for me to get down, remember? You did the best that you could. You didn't fail me, Hutch. You haven't failed any one."
    Hutch shook his head sadly. "I wasn't fast enough. I couldn't get my gun out and I couldn't get around that damned car fast enough! I should have been watching your back. I never meant for it to happen. If I could have traded places with you, I would have."
    Starsky cupped Hutch's neck with his hand as two foreheads touched. "I know you would, buddy. That's who you are. You take the weight of the whole world on your shoulders and when something goes wrong, you kick yourself for it. You've done more good in ten years than most men do in a lifetime. Don't let that son of a bitch take that away from you. He's not worth it."
    Hutch touched the brunette's cheek. "I thought you were going to die. I was so angry with you, because you were going to leave me. I prayed and prayed that you would live, but I was afraid I would fail at that, too. I couldn't forgive myself if you died. Please don't leave me, Starsky."
    "I'm not going to leave you, Hutch. I promise." He led Hutch back to the bed and sat down with him.
    Hutch took a shaky breath and tried to regain his composure. "I've always tried to keep you safe. When Bellamy gave you that shot, I tore the streets up looking for an antidote. I terrorized everybody in sight, even poor Cheryl. It went right down to the wire, but we made it. When Marcus had you, I went crazy. I begged those idiots to tell me where you were. I went back a dozen times to talk to that psycho and threatened to take his head off if something happened to you. I didn't know where you were, but I knew if I kept looking, I'd find you in time, and I did."
    He looked at Starsky, reliving the horrors of seeing his friend hurt. "We've always made it in the nick of time, Starsk. It didn't matter how far away you were, I always found you. But you were just across the car and I couldn't protect you. I heard the shots and I tried to tell you to get down, but I couldn't save you. What's going to happen next time, Starsk? I'm scared that one day we'll be walking down the street together and someone will blow you away while you're right beside me. I don't think I could handle that if it happened."
    Starsky put his arm around his friend. "The risks are part of the job, Hutch. You can only do so much. We're not invincible."
    Hutch gave him a small grin. "I think I know where you can get a suit of armor, cheap. It's a little tarnished, but I think it would fit."
    Starsky pulled his friend close. "Nah, that's OK, buddy. You keep it."
    Hutch sighed forlornly. "What are we going to do, Starsk?"
    Starsky thought for a moment. "I'll make a deal with you. If I'm reinstated, we'll go back on the streets for six months. If I can't cut it, or you just plain can't handle it, we'll do something different. We can still be cops without being on the street."
    Sky blue eyes widened. "You'd do that for me?"
    "No, partner, I'd do it for us. Now get some sleep. We still have a farm to take care of."
    Hutch settled back in the bed and let Starsky cover him up. For the first time since the shooting, he thought maybe things would turn out right after all.

   Starsky slept fitfully, keeping one ear open for sounds coming from the other room. The rest of the night passed quietly and he fell deeply asleep around dawn. When he awoke, the sun was shining in the small window. Startled, he jumped out of bed and walked quickly across the hall. He felt a small tingle of alarm when he saw Hutch's bed was empty. He stood quietly and listened for any sounds in the house. The clinking of pots and pans drifted from the kitchen. He forced himself to stroll nonchalantly into the room.
    Hutch was standing in front of the stove, cooking. He glanced over his shoulder and smiled shyly. "Morning, Starsk. I hope you're hungry. I found a slab of hickory smoked bacon in the freezer and thought it would go great with the eggs."
    Starsky grinned, playing along. "What, no biscuits?"
    "I'm one step ahead of you, Gordo. They're in the oven, staying warm. It's a good thing you got up when you did. Another few minutes and they would have been hard enough to break a window."
    "God forbid. The last thing I want to do is replace a window."
    "Then sit down and eat before it gets cold."
    Starsky did as he was told. As he ate, he watched Hutch closely. Over a second cup of coffee, he asked the question on his mind.
    "How are you feeling this morning?"
    Hutch inclined his head slightly. "I feel better, actually. I think I've been angry with you all this time for getting shot and I didn't realize it. I know that sounds stupid, but whenever I thought of how close you came to dying this time, it scared the Hell out of me. I felt like if I couldn't protect you while you were that close to me, how was I going to protect you when we went back on the street?"
    "Do you realize now that it wasn't your fault?"
    "I think so. But Gunther was just the straw that broke the camel's back. We've had some crappy cases over the past couple of years and I was already beginning to have doubts about this job. When I threw my badge into the ocean, I never planned on putting it on again. Then Allison came along and I felt like the job was sucking me back in, whether I wanted to go or not. I started thinking that the only way to keep us both alive was to get out for good. I know Dobey was trying to keep me occupied by having me train those recruits, but that only made things worse."
    Starsky frowned. "Why is that?"
    "Did you see Johnson? He's a kid. They all were. I felt like Judas leading the lambs to slaughter. They had the same ideals we did when we graduated the academy and look where it's gotten us. I didn't want to see them end up feeling the way I did and that just made me resent the badge that much more."
    "And when I told you that I was ready to go back, you felt trapped."
    "In a way, I did. I hate to admit this, but I was hoping Dr. Martel would say you weren't ready yet. I thought that would buy me enough time to get my head on straight."
    Starsky squeezed Hutch's arm. "Why didn't you tell me how you were feeling?"
    "I watched you fight your way back from the brink and I just couldn't do it. I thought I could play along, but when you told me you were ready, I knew I couldn't go back. So I used the anger to keep from admitting how I really felt. I was terrified, Starsk. I was afraid that I would screw up because of the way I was feeling and really get you killed this time."
    Starsky gave him an encouraging smile. "Well, you got it out in the open now, so we can work through it. We're going to get some crappy cases, Hutch, but that's what we do. We see the worst in people and sometimes it makes it hard to see the good. But you can't hold it inside. You gotta move on and chalk it up to experience. The slime won't drown us if we don't let it."
    Hutch sighed. "I know, Starsk. I can't promise that I'll do that, but I'll try."
    "That's all anybody can do, partner."
    Starsky finished his coffee and stood up. "Do you feel like doing some more painting today? Or would you rather we just finish the fence and take it easy the rest of the day? Whatever you want to do is fine with me."
    "Why don't we just play it by ear? We don't have that much left to do on the fence, so we can take care of that this morning. Then we can eat lunch and if we're not too tired, we can work on the house. We still have a few days before we go back, at least."
    "That sounds like a plan to me. Come on; let's get the trailer loaded up and get to it. It looks like it's going to be a nice day."
    It didn't take long to finish repairing the fence on the back part of the property. Hutch turned the tractor around and headed back to the barn for the last load of rails when they saw the strange man again. This time, he noticed them. Hutch raised a hand in greeting, but the man turned away and rushed into the woods.
    Starsky frowned as he watched the man disappear. "He doesn't seem too friendly, does he? Maybe he really is poaching. You think we should call the sheriff and let him know we saw him again?"
    Hutch nodded. "It wouldn't hurt. God only knows what he's hunting, but Bradley said there isn't anything in season right now. When we get back to the house, we'll give him a call."
    They didn't have to make the call, though, because Bradley was waiting for them when they arrived. The two men exchanged looks then walked up to the SUV.
    Starsky smiled slightly. "Good morning, Sheriff. How's it going?"
    Bradley shook his head. "Not too good, David. We've got a young'un missing."
    Hutch raised an eyebrow, confused. "Young'un?"
    "Sorry, I mean a child. Little Jessie Chapman is about seven years old and lives on the other side of those woods over there. Mr. and Mrs. Chapman got up about six this morning, like they always do, and went out to do the chores before they left for work. Jessie was playing in the yard, but when Mrs. Chapman called her in for breakfast about 7:30, Jessie was gone. They looked all around the place, but couldn't find her. Their place sits right in the middle of those woods, so she could have just wandered off, but Mrs. Chapman says that's not like Jessie. She knows they have to get her off to school before they can leave for work, so she always stays close to home. When she still didn't show up by ten o'clock, Jerry called me. Right now, they're worried, but not frantic. But Jessie was only wearing shorts and a tee shirt, and sneakers. It will be pretty warm today, but when the sun sets, it cools down fast. These woods can be dangerous for a child alone. We're getting together a search party and I thought you might lend a hand."
    Hutch nodded quickly. "Sure, just tell us where you want us to go. Oh, by the way, we saw that hunter a little while ago. He was behind the field again and went into the woods about the same place he did the other day."
    Bradley frowned. "Can you describe him?"
    Starsky thought for a moment. "He was about 5'9", about 150 pounds, and was wearing a camouflaged jacket, jeans, and either cowboy boots or work boots. We still couldn't see what he had in his hands, but it could have been a rifle."
    Bradley was taking notes as Starsky spoke. "Did you see anything else?"
    Hutch added, "He had a back pack. I think it was black or dark blue. And he was wearing a cap of some kind. It wasn't really a ball cap, but maybe a hunter's cap with the ear flaps turned up."
    "Was the cap green, with tan flaps, and did it have writing on it?"
    Hutch nodded. "I think so, but we couldn't see what it said. Why, do you know who it was?"
    Bradley sighed dejectedly. "I have a good idea. Let me call my dispatcher and check something out. I think the hunter and Jessie's disappearance could be connected."
    He reached into the SUV and picked up the microphone. "Hey, Mabel, are you there?"
    "I'm right here, Sheriff. Did you find Jessie?"
    "Not yet, but I want you to do something for me. Call down at Nelson's garage and see if Frank Burger came to work today."
    The two detectives could hear the puzzlement in her voice. "OK, Sheriff, I'll do it right now and get back to you. It'll only take a minute."
    "Thanks, Mabel. And don't say anything to old man Nelson. Just ask him if Frank is working and get back to me."
    As he waited for Mabel to call back, Bradley explained his request to the two men.
    "Frank has been going through some tough times lately. He lost his little girl right after Christmas. She fell into a pond and though we pulled her out before she drowned, she came down with pneumonia a few days later. The doctors did all they could for her, and they even flew her to the children's hospital in San Francisco by helicopter, but she never pulled out of it. Then Frank's wife up and left him, a few weeks later. I guess she blamed Frank for it, because he was supposed to be watching Lori while she was at work. Old man Nelson told me a couple of weeks ago that Frank was missing a lot of work, and going off in the woods by himself. I've seen him a few times myself, but I didn't force the issue because he wasn't bothering any body. The last time I saw Frank, he was wearing that hat and backpack. Lori Burger was in the same class with Jessie Chapman."
    Hutch glanced at his partner then turned back to the sheriff. "So you think he might have snapped and taken Jessie as a substitute for his little girl?"
    Bradley sighed. "It's a possibility. My own kids are grown and have kids of their own now, but I know how I'd feel if I lost one of my grandkids. Don't get me wrong. Frank's a pretty good guy. He's never been in any trouble, except for a few fights when he was younger. But this kind of loss can make anyone go a little insane."
    Before either man could comment, the radio beeped and Mabel's voice came through. "Sheriff, are you there?"
    "Go ahead, Mabel. What did old man Nelson say?"
    "Frank hasn't been to work all week long. He called Nelson Sunday night and told him he was going to visit his brother in Nevada."
    Bradley frowned. "You sure he said Nevada?"
    "That's what old man Nelson said."
    "OK, Mabel, thanks. I'll be back in town in a little bit. Keep everyone close to the station. I want to get the search party on the road as soon as possible."
    "Sure thing, Sheriff. Out."
    Bradley shook his head with regret. "Well, that cinches it. Frank's brother moved to Arizona a year ago. If he told old man Nelson that he was going to Nevada, he was throwing up a smoke screen. I think our missing person's case just turned into a kidnapping."
    Starsky shook his head sadly. The loss of a child would make any man snap. "So what do you want us to do?"
    Bradley scratched his head. "I'll tell you what; why don't you go back to where you saw the man and look around a little. Be careful. I know you aren't familiar with the woods either and we don't want to have to hunt for you, too. If you spot Frank and can follow him without spooking him, do it. I've got an extra radio with me. Give me a call if you find anything."
    Hutch gazed steadily at him. "Remember Sheriff, we don't have any authority out here. We're just visitors."
    Bradley grinned crookedly. "I can remedy that. Hold up your right hands."
    They did as they were instructed and Bradley swore them in. "I hereby appoint you as deputies pro-tem for the duration of the Jessie Chapman case. You are accorded the authority and responsibility of Deputies of Mariposa County and will be expected to abide by its laws and regulations. Do you accept this appointment? Say I do."
    Both men repeated, "I do."
    Bradley nodded. "So we have that formality taken care of. I know you're on vacation, but do you have your weapons with you? I don't want you going up against Frank unarmed, especially if he's unstable."
    Starsky smiled. "You know how cops are, Sheriff. We never go anywhere completely unarmed. They're in the house."
    "Good. I don't want to see Frank get hurt, because I know he isn't himself right now, but Jessie's safety is our main priority. "
    Hutch nodded. "We've had experience with this type of case before, Sheriff. We'll do our best to make sure no one gets hurt."
   "Good. I'll get back to town and get the rest of the search party organized. For now, don't talk to anyone but me. We've got some good people in this town, but we don't want anyone to panic and start shooting at everything that moves."
   Bradley reached through the window of the SUV and took one of the radios out of the glove compartment. He handed it to Starsky.
   "It's already set on the right frequency. I'll have the other radio with me and any calls will go to the car, too. Good luck, you two, and thanks."
   Starsky smiled encouragingly. "Don't worry, Sheriff. We'll find her."
   "I hope so. And don't forget; this is only supposition right now. Jessie still could have wandered off and Frank may just be taking some time alone to get himself together. Don't rule anything out."
    "We won't, Sheriff. We'll keep in touch."
    Bradley checked his watch and looked up at the sky. "I figure we have about five or six hours of daylight left. If we don't find something pretty soon, I'm going to call out our K-9 unit. Beauregard is getting a little long in the tooth, but he's still got that bloodhound nose. If she's anywhere around, he'll sniff her out, even if we can't see her. I sure don't want to think about that little girl being out there by herself after dark."
    He shook his head worriedly and climbed back into the SUV. As he pulled away, he raised his hand in a farewell.
    They watched him until he was out of sight, then Hutch turned to his partner.
    "Well, let's get moving. There's a compass in the desk drawer, too. We'll grab it just in case."
    Starsky looked at his friend with suspicion. "Do you really know how to read one of those things?"
    Hutch shrugged. "How hard can it be? You just keep the arrow pointed north."
    Starsky followed the blond into the house, grumbling. "Now, why doesn't that make me feel better?"

   Although neither man had planned on a rescue operation in the woods, they managed to find appropriate clothing. To help them blend in with their surroundings, both men dressed in dark colored clothing then put on their holsters over their tee shirts. Starsky found a rifle that Archie had used in his younger days for hunting, and after making sure it was in working condition, he loaded it and put extra shells in his pocket.
    They unhitched the trailer and drove the tractor back to where they'd seen the man go into the woods. Hutch parked the tractor in a stand of trees and they started walking. They walked slowly, stopping often to listen. The only sounds they heard were from the small animals scampering through the trees. Starsky clipped the radio that Bradley had given him to his belt and they could hear the voices of the rest of the search party through it. He stopped to sip water from the small bottle in his back pack.
    He turned to Hutch. "Where do you think they'll start looking?"
    "I would guess closer to the Chapman's place. I don't hear anyone close by, so I assume Bradley's keeping his suspicions about Frank Burger to himself right now."
    "Yeah, that makes sense. Like he said, we don't know these people, so the man we saw could be just another hunter and not Burger at all. He's keeping all his options open like any good cop would."
    "Right. If Burger is innocent, even a charge would be damaging, especially in a small town like this. People would look at him differently and that matters a lot more in Lamont than it would in Bay City. I hope she is just lost, Starsk. That would be scary enough for a little kid, but being held against your will by someone that is unbalanced would be even worse. It would be enough to scar her for life, if he goes too far."
    Starsky put his hand on the blond's shoulder. "Then we have to make sure we find her before he does, if he has her. Now point that compass of yours in the right direction and let's get going."
    The sun was getting alarmingly low in the sky when Bradley's voice came over the radio.
    "David, Ken, you boys out there?"
    Starsky unclipped the radio. "We're here, Sheriff. Have you had any luck?"
    "No, not so far. What about you two? Have you seen any sign of that hunter you were talking about?"
    Starsky surmised that there were others close to the radio, so he kept his comments general. "We haven't seen anybody since we got here, Sheriff. We'll keep looking though and let you know if we find anything."
    "You do that. I've called in the K-9 unit and he should be here shortly. If we find Jessie, I'll give a yell. Keep in touch and be careful."
    Hutch shook his head grimly. "Damn, I was hoping they'd found her."
    Starsky nodded. "Well, standin' here flapping our gums ain't gonna find her, so let's get back to it."
    They continued their search, going deeper into the woods. They stopped occasionally, looking at the sun. The two men exchanged glances, their expressions glum. They knew they would soon have to return to the farm or risk being lost also. Starsky was about to voice his thoughts when a flash from the corner of his eye caught his attention. He pointed to a small clearing to his right.
    "Hutch, did you see that?"
    "I didn't see anything. Did you see someone?"
    "I'm not sure. Come on; let's get a little closer."
    They walked silently through the trees until they reached the clearing. Hutch looked closely and pointed a finger.
    "Look, Starsk! That looks like an old cabin right behind those trees."
    "Yeah, it does. Maybe we found something, partner. It's about time. Another hour and it will be dark."
    Starsky walked in front with the rifle while Hutch took out his magnum and followed him. They stood behind a large tree and peeked around cautiously. At first, the cabin seemed deserted, but then they saw a movement inside. They watched for a few moments, uncertain what to do. Then, about ten minutes later, the man they had seen came out of the cabin and went back into the woods. The two detectives ducked behind the tree and watched him leave. Starsky motioned to his partner.
    "Come on; we don't know how long he's going to be gone and I want to see inside that cabin."
    They crossed the clearing quickly and ducked into the cabin, keeping an eye out for the stranger they had seen. Starsky went in first then moved slightly to let Hutch in. As their eyes became accustomed to the dimness, they could see a tiny figure huddled on the only bed in the room. Starsky handed the rifle to Hutch then knelt down a few feet from the bed.
    "Hi, honey. Are you Jessie Chapman?"
    The little girl sniffled, her eyes wide with fear. "Uh huh. Who are you?"
    "My name is David, and this is Ken. We've come to take you home. Can you tell us what happened?"
    Jessie wiped her face with a small hand. "I was playing in the yard and saw Bambi eating Mommy's corn. I wanted to pet her, but she ran off, so I chased her. I got lost and then Mr. Burger found me. I thought he was going to take me home, but he kept calling me Lori and said that I shouldn't be so close to the water by myself. I wasn't near any water, and I kept telling him my name wasn't Lori, but he wouldn't listen. I just wanted to go home, but it's like he couldn't hear me."
    "I think Mr. Burger is confused, sweetheart. I don't think he meant to scare you, but he's really sad about Lori. Do you know what happened to her?"
    "Uh huh, she got sick and went to Heaven. Is that why he's sad? Does he miss her?"
    "Yes, sweetheart, he misses her very much. But your Mommy and Daddy miss you, too. So we're going to take you home now. I know you're probably tired and hungry, but do you think you can walk? We have a tractor parked not far from here, so when we get back to it, we can ride the rest of the way to your house."
    "Can I help steer? My daddy let's me drive our tractor sometimes."
    Starsky smiled kindly. "Sure, honey. We're not from around here anyway, so you can show us where you live. Are you ready?"
    Jessie nodded. "I'm ready. I want to go home."
    Starsky stood up and took the radio from his belt. "Sheriff Bradley, are you there?"
    Bradley's voice came back instantly. "I'm here, David. What have you got?"
    "We found her, Sheriff. She's fine."
    "Was she alone?"
    Starsky's voice was filled with regret. "She is now, but she wasn't earlier. The person we were speaking of was holding her against her will. But he's gone now, so we're going to try and get her out of here before he comes back."
    "Where are you? Oh, that's a stupid question. You probably don't know where you are exactly."
    Starsky smiled briefly. "You got that right. We're in an old deserted cabin close to where we saw the hunter go into the woods. Can't tell you how far in, though. These woods look alike to us foreigners."
    He could hear the amusement in Bradley's voice. "That's OK. You can't help it if you're a tenderfoot. There's a red button on the side of the radio. Push it in and it will emit a homing signal so I can find you."
    Starsky looked on the side of the radio and pushed the button as instructed. "Got it. We really don't want to stick around here. If the guy comes back, that could complicate things. So we're gonna head back to our tractor. It shouldn't take us long, so keep an eye out for us."
    "All right, but be careful. Our hunter won't like it if he comes back and sees that Jessie is gone. He'll likely take his anger out on you if you run into him."
    The two men shared a look again then Starsky spoke into the radio. "We understand, Sheriff. What's your ETA?"
    "I'm back in the car and I'm leaving right now. I should be there in about fifteen or twenty minutes. When you get back to the tractor, let me know. If he still isn't around, go on back to Gertie's and wait for me there."
    "Roger that. Starsky out."
    Starsky offered his hand to Jessie. "Are you ready, sweetheart?"
    "I'm ready. Can I have a drink of water when I get home? I'm awful thirsty."
    Starsky made a face and offered her the bottle of water. "I'm sorry, honey. Here, it's not cold, but it's wet. We'll get you a nice big glass of ice water when we get you home."
    She took the bottle and finished the water then handed it back to him. "Thank-you. Can I have a hamburger when I get home, too?"
    "I think your mommy will fix you whatever you want when she sees how brave you've been. We'll have you home before you can say Rumplestiltskin."
    Jessie giggled and took his hand. Hutch went out first, with the rifle ready, and Starsky followed with Jessie. Starsky felt the itch between his shoulders as they crossed the clearing into the woods. They were almost back to the tractor when Frank Burger stepped into their path. He was holding a shotgun in his hands.
    "OK, stop right there. I don't know who you are, but you're not taking my little girl any where. Lori, get over here, now."
    Jessie cowered behind Starsky as Hutch stepped in front of them. The blond kept his voice calm as he clutched the rifle.
    "It's all right, Frank. We're not going to hurt her. This isn't Lori. It's Jessie Chapman and we're taking her home."
    Frank raised his gun. "No! You're not going any where! That's my little girl and she's coming home with me."
    "Frank, listen to me. Lori's gone and you can't bring her back. We don't want any one to get hurt. Put the gun down and let us pass. We need to take Jessie home. Her parents miss her, just like you miss Lori."
    Frank shook his head emphatically. "No! She's my little girl and I'm taking her home. I won't hurt her. She's my baby and I love her. I'm a good father."
    Hutch stepped forward slightly. "I know you are. You never meant for Lori to get hurt. It wasn't your fault. There are some things you can't predict and you did the best you could."
    Tears welled up in Frank's eyes. "She's my baby. I wouldn't ever hurt her. I didn't mean for it to happen. I thought she was right there. I only went into the house for a drink of water. I wasn't drunk. I don't drink anything when I'm watching Lori. When I got back out, she was gone. I looked for her, but I couldn't tell which way she went. I pulled her out of the water, but she got sick. I stayed with her every minute, but I couldn't save her. I tried, but I couldn't save her. I'm a good father!"
    "I know, Frank. You aren't to blame. You did everything you could. You did your best, but it was out of your�.hands."
    Hutch stopped as his words came back to him. Starsky had said the same thing to him many times, but now he suddenly understood. He nodded to himself.
    "It's going to be OK, Frank. Losing some one you love is hard, but you'll get through it. I know how much it hurts, believe me, but you have to move on now. You'll see Lori again someday and she'll be so happy to see you! But we have to get Jessie home now. Her parents are really worried about her. You don't want them to worry, do you?"
    Frank rubbed his eyes and let the gun slide to the ground. He peered around Starsky at the frightened child.
    "Jessie? What are you doing out at this time of night? Look at you, child! You'll catch your death of cold."
    He caught his breath and let out a heart-wrenching sob. "Oh, God, what have I done? I'm sorry! I never meant to hurt anyone!"
    Hutch stepped forward and kicked the shotgun away. Starsky turned and picked Jessie up.
    "It's OK, sweetheart. Everything is going to be okay now."
    They both looked up as Sheriff Bradley's SUV roared to a stop. Bradley and a young couple jumped out of the vehicle. Jessie let out a squeal of delight and wriggled out of Starsky's hands. She ran to the couple.
    "Mommy! Daddy!" They gathered her up in their arms and hugged her tightly.
    Bradley went over to Frank and patted him gently on the back. "It's OK, Frank. It's time to go home. You need to rest now."
    He gently handcuffed the distraught man and put him in back of the SUV. Starsky crossed over to where his friend was standing and put an arm around his shoulders. He smiled at the touching scene before him.
    "If you're still wondering if anyone cares, partner, ask those folks. I think they'll tell you they care."

   The two men followed Bradley's SUV back to Gertie's house. Jessie sat on Hutch's lap, helping him steer the tractor as promised. A patrol car was waiting at the farm to take Jessie and her parent's home. After several hand shakes and hugs all around, Jessie's parents said good bye and left. Bradley waved a final farewell and left with Frank Burger soon after that, leaving the two detectives alone. They had a quiet celebration and fell into bed, exhausted.
    The next morning, they ate an early breakfast, determined to finish the painting on the house. As they walked out the door, they heard the sound of several vehicles coming up the road.
    Starsky turned to Hutch with a bemused look on his face. "What in the world�.?"
    Hutch shook his head briefly as Sheriff Bradley got out of the SUV and walked up to them.
    "Good morning, lads! I was down at the tavern last night, celebrating, and got to telling everyone what you were doing for Gertie. The guys thought you could use some extra hands, if you don't mind the help. It's kind of a thank-you for getting Jessie home safe."
    Hutch glanced at his friend and smiled. "Mind? We'd be eternally grateful, Sheriff. Thanks!"
    Bradley grinned and waved to the other men. "Well, what are we standing here gabbing for? Let's get to work!"
    The other townspeople hauled tools, wood and paint out of their trucks, along with several coolers filled with beer. Several hours later, Gertie's house had a fresh coat of white paint, as did the fence. The field was mowed, and a load of gravel covered the drive way. Even the barn and the other outbuildings were repaired. At last, Gertie and Archie's farm was restored to its previous splendor.
   As the sun was setting, several women arrived at the farm, laden with food. Before they knew it, the two detectives were in the middle of a celebration. As Starsky and Hutch sat on the porch, relaxing in the company of their new friends, Sheriff Bradley walked up to them.
   Starsky asked the question that had been on his mind. "What's going to happen to Frank Burger, Sheriff?"
   "We took him up to 'Frisco for a psychiatric evaluation. He still has to face kidnapping charges, but with your testimony and the doctor's, I think we can keep him out of prison. Losing a child is enough to send anybody into a tailspin and I think the judge will understand that."
   Hutch smiled. "I'm glad. Whenever you need us, let us know. I know what he did was wrong, but Frank Burger doesn't belong in prison. "
   "No, he doesn't. And I talked to his wife on the phone today. She still loves Frank and was really upset when I told her what happened. She was scared to death that he would go to jail. I think I convinced her to get some counseling, too. They may never get back together, but maybe they'll get past Lori's death."
    "Well, that's a start, any way. Like I said, you have a great town here, Sheriff. I'm glad everything worked out the way it did."
    Bradley smiled. "Yeah, I am, too. Oh, by the way, your Captain called my office yesterday. Mabel told him what was going on and he left a message for you."
    Starsky raised an eyebrow. "Really? What did he say?"
    "He said to tell you that you had an appointment bright and early Monday morning. I guess that means you'll be leaving us?"
    Starsky glanced at Hutch. The blond smiled slightly and nodded. Starsky winked encouragingly.
    "I guess it does, Sheriff. We need to get back to work. I'm going to miss this place though."
    "Well, then, don't be strangers. You're welcome here any time. Don't forget that."
    "We won't, Sheriff."

    Two days later, they loaded the last of their belongings into the Torino. Hutch stood by the door and looked fondly around the farm.
    "You know, I didn't think we would do it. This place looks great."
    "Yeah, it does, with a little help from our friends."
    Starsky laid his hand on his partner's arm. "Remember what I said, buddy. We go back on the street for six months. If I can't cut it, or it gets too much for you, we'll decide what to do next. No matter what happens, we'll make the decision together."
    Hutch clasped his friend's hand in his. "Me and thee, partner, all the way."
    Starsky favored him with a thousand watt grin. "Now you're talkin'."
    They climbed into the Torino and Starsky looked over at the blond.
    "Are you ready, Blintz?"
    Hutch smiled. "Yes, I think I am."
    Starsky turned the Torino around and they drove down the driveway, headed home.

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