Tomorrows2

All of Their Tomorrows

Part 2

    Hutch caught up with Starsky and the two men drove back to Hutch's apartment. Both men braced themselves before going inside. Their quiet evening at home had been forgotten by the tragic events of the day. Instead of trying to resurrect the casserole Hutch had started to prepare, they settled on pizza and a bottle of wine. They doubted that Micki or Tracy would have much of an appetite now. The two women were sitting in Hutch's greenhouse, talking quietly. Hutch sat the pizza and wine on the kitchen table, then joined the girls. He sat down beside Micki, and Starsky sat beside Tracy.
    Hutch put his arm around his wife. "I talked to Griffey after you left. I saw Simonetti giving you grief, and told him to bug off. Griffey heard what I said and called us into his office. I told him what Simonetti has been up to, and he told Simonetti to cool it. I don't think we'll have to worry about him any more."
    "That's good. At least that problem is solved."
    "Micki, it wasn't your fault. You and Tracy tried to warn them about Stanley. They didn't want to listen, so there isn't anything else you could have done."
    "We could have gone to Dobey, and let him take our findings to the parole board. Brewer would have listened to him. He's our Captain, and he's a man."
    "Dobey wasn't in charge of the investigation. You and Tracy were. You shouldn't have to go through anybody else. Your work speaks for itself. If Brewer can't see that, then he's the one that needs to go."
    Micki looked at her husband. "And how many more people are going to die before Brewer changes? I don't want to build my reputation on a pile of bodies and I told you so's."
    "You won't, I promise. I think Brewer learned a lesson today. Even if he didn't, he's going to have to answer to the public on this one. He's not going to like making excuses. He'll think twice before he makes the same mistake again."
    "I hope so. It's bad enough that Stanley got out. God knows who he'll let out next."
    Hutch held her close. "I'm sorry that little girl died. Stanley is headed back to the pen, and Brewer gets the fallout. You have to let it go and move on. It won't be the last case you lose, Mick. That's part of the job."
    "I know. I'm sorry. I'll try to get my act together."
    Hutch gave her another squeeze. "Come on, the pizza's getting cold."
    The two couples enjoyed a quiet night, and went back to their normal routines. George Stanley went back to the state prison, awaiting trial for the rape and murder of Alma Thompson. Walter Brewer issued a statement apologizing for the "miscommunication" with the Task Force detectives and promised "all future parole hearings will rely heavily on the extremely competent psychologists of the L.A. County Task Force." Of course, he neglected to name the psychologists to which he was referring. Still, Micki admitted that it was a step in the right direction for the "male chauvinist pig".
    Two days later, Hutch waved good-bye to Starsky and bounded up the steps to his apartment. Micki and Tracy had been in court all day long, and were due home soon. He tossed the mail onto the kitchen table and grabbed a beer from the refrigerator. Stripping off his gun and holster, he undressed and stepped into the shower. He turned with his back to the showerhead, enjoying the feel of hot water against his shoulders. Then, wrapped in a towel, he took a pair of worn sweatpants and a tee shirt from a drawer, and got dressed. After slipping into a comfortable pair of house shoes, he wandered back into the kitchen.
    Hutch sipped the beer and thumbed through the mail. A large brown envelope caught his attention. He opened it, and frowned slightly as he pulled a photograph out. He caught the edge of the table as the floor tilted up toward him, and sat down heavily in the chair. Steel bands gripped his chest, making it hard to breathe.

    Starsky had just made it in the door when the telephone rang.
    "Starsky." There was no sound from the other end, so he tried again. "I said, Sergeant Starsky here. Can I help you?"
    Still, there was nothing. Suddenly, a feeling of dread washed over him. "Hutch? Is that you?"
    The sound of ragged breathing was the only thing he heard, but he knew instantly that it was his partner.
    "Hutch! Damn it, say something! Hutch, answer me! Talk to me!"
    Hutch looked numbly at the receiver. He didn't remember crossing the living room, or dialing the number, but he could hear his partner's voice yelling from far away.
    "Starsky. Help."
    Starsky dropped the phone and ran for the Torino. He slapped the mars light on the roof and raced toward Venice Place. Visions of Vanessa Hutchinson lying dead in his partner's apartment flashed through his mind. No, Micki and Tracy are in court. Nothing has happened to them. Dear God, what's wrong now?
    Starsky turned the siren and mars light off, and pulled up to the curb. He ran up the stairs, taking his gun out of its holster as he ran. With his right hand, he slowly turned the doorknob, and pushed the door open. He looked around the room, and didn't see any signs of a disturbance. Hutch was sitting on the sofa, his head down, holding something in his hand. Starsky put the gun back in its holster and walked up to his partner.
    "Hutch? What's wrong? You scared me half to death!"
    Hutch raised his head slowly, as if in a dream. Starsky shuddered involuntarily as he saw his friend's face. The blonde was in shock, his face pale, and his eyes glazed over. Gently, Starsky took the photograph from him. He sat down as the full implications of the picture hit him.
    Memories of a time long past returned full force. The photograph was of him and Huggy, carrying Hutch between them. The blonde was obviously in pain, with bruises evident on his face. Starsky could almost smell the sweat, and see the haunted look in Hutch's eyes. Ben Forest had kidnapped him and forcibly addicted him to heroin, in an attempt to locate Jeanie Walden, his ex-girlfriend. After getting the information from Hutch, Forest had ordered his execution, but Hutch had managed to escape. Starsky had found him, and hidden him at the bar while he helped Hutch kick the addiction. Now, six years later, Hutch's worst nightmare had come true. Somebody else knew. Starsky gingerly turned the picture over. On the back was one scrawled word. "GOTCHA!!"
    Starsky sat the photograph aside, and turned to his partner. He took him by the shoulders and shook him.
    "Hutch, look at me. Look at me, damn it! Where did it come from?"
    Hutch pointed to the kitchen table with a shaking finger. Starsky used a paper towel to move the envelope around so he could see the front of it. Hutch's address was printed in block letters and there was no return address. The postmark was for the day before, from a local post office. Starsky shook his head, frustrated. The envelope wasn't going to provide many clues. It could have come from anyone. He went back to his partner.
    "Hutch, you have to snap out of it. We have to think."
    Hutch's laugh sounded more like the final gasp of a dying man. "Think? What is there to think about? I'm finished, Starsky. My career, my whole life is gone." He sighed. "I knew it would happen some day, but why now? Damn it, why now??"
    Starsky sat down beside him. "Now you listen to me. Nothing is over! We're going to beat this. Whatever happens, we go through it together."
    "We? Oh, my God, Starsky. I was so caught up in feeling sorry for myself, that I forgot that you could be in trouble, too. I'm sorry, buddy. I never meant for you to go down with me. Dobey could be in trouble, too. Man, I don't want to be responsible for trashing his career."
    "You won't be. I know I've told you this a thousand times before, but I'll tell you again. You weren't to blame. Forest is the one who's responsible. He put that stuff in your veins. He kidnapped you and tortured you. You were the victim, not the criminal."
    "Do you think that's going to matter? I was a junkie! I used a controlled substance, and that's against all rules and regulations. Even if I didn't break the law, I'll probably be kicked off the force."
    "You don't know that, Hutch. You've spent the last six years worrying that someone will find out about what happened. Finally, it's out in the open. No more secrets, Hutch. Whatever happens, you're free. Nobody can hold this over your head any more, not even you."
     Hutch looked away for a moment, then back at his best friend. "I'm scared, Starsk. I don't know what to do."
    "I'll tell you what we're goin' to do. We're going to tell Micki and Tracy what's goin' on, and then we're going to walk into IA and throw that damned picture down on Griffey's table. No more hiding, Hutch. If IA kicks us all off the force, then I don't want to be a part of it, anyway."
    "How am I going to tell Micki? What is she going to think?"
    "She's gonna think the same thing I do: that you've been beating yourself up over this long enough. Don't sell her short, Blintz. She's smart, and she'll face this like she does everything else: head on."
    "I hope you're right, Starsky. God, I hope you're right."

Starsky phoned the courthouse and talked to a court reporter. He turned back to Hutch.
    �Well, court was adjourned a few minutes ago, so the girls will be home soon.�
    Hutch ran his fingers through his hair and rubbed his face. �How am I ever going to explain this to her? What will I do if she leaves me?�
    �She�s not going to leave you, buddy. Micki�s not like that. She�ll understand, you�ll see.�
    Hutch was still pacing around the room when he heard Micki's Torino come around the corner. He was surprised by his own thoughts. It was funny what he remembered as his world was crashing around him. When he had first seen Micki's car, he had groaned out loud. It was the same as Starsky's, but it was at least painted a respectable metallic blue. When she mentioned painting it white with a wide red stripe down the side, he had laughed in spite of himself. She had joked that they could put their cars hood to hood and give people a headache. It would be their own optical illusion. Hutch took a deep breath and tried to slow his heart rate. Would they ever be able to joke about anything again? He wiped his palms on his pant's legs as he heard the girls climbing the stairs.
    Micki walked in and tossed her jacket on the table. She stopped moving when she saw the two men's faces.
    "Something's wrong. What's the matter, Ken? David? What's going on?"
    Starsky motioned for the girls to sit down. "We need to talk, Mick. Something has happened, but I need you to listen to what Hutch and I have to say before you make any judgments. It's not going to be easy to hear, but you have to know what's goin' on."
    "You're scaring me, David. Just tell me what it is."
    Slowly, Starsky told Micki and Tracy about Ben Forest and the heroin addiction Hutch had covered up for years. He told them everything about that horrible time. Hutch added what he could, and was honest about what he had felt. Finally, Starsky showed them the photograph. Micki looked it over carefully, then turned to her partner.
    "Tracy, you're the expert on Internal Affairs. What can they do, exactly?"
    "The way I see it, there are two main points. You were kidnapped, Ken, and forcibly addicted. On the other hand, it was a controlled substance. The current regulations apply to police officers who voluntarily take narcotics. If an officer is addicted, and is caught under the influence while on duty, he can be terminated. But, this doesn't apply to you. You were the victim of a crime, and the addiction was an isolated incident. You've been clean for six years. I agree with David. I think the best way to proceed is to bring it to IA's attention, and get it resolved once and for all. You shouldn't have had to go through that alone. You didn't fail the system. The system failed you."
    Hutch smiled gratefully, then sobered. "But, what if I can't prove it was forced? I mean, everything else is in the report that Starsky wrote. He told about Forest kidnapping me, and going after Jeanie, but he left out the part about the heroin. He did it to protect me, but now it's going to be my word against IA's. Simonetti could argue that I was already using at the time, and the two incidents weren't connected in any way. Monk is dead. The rest of Forest's men are in jail, and I don't think they'd walk across the street to help me. And it's a cinch that Forest won't. How am I going to prove what happened in that house?"
    Micki raised the picture she was holding. "Like the old saying goes, one picture is worth a thousand words. You don't have to be an expert to see that you were hurt. We can use this to our advantage. We've got Starsky's testimony, as well as Dobey's and Huggy's. Dobey has as much to lose as you and Starsky do, and more. He wouldn't risk his own career by lying for you, and his word carries a lot of weight. I don't think Simonetti would be stupid enough to accuse him of perjuring himself at a Review hearing. Everything will work out, Ken. You'll see."
    Tracy reached out and squeezed his hand. "Tomorrow morning, we're going to walk into IA's office and talk to Griffey. If he decides to press charges, we'll ask for a preliminary hearing. You aren't disputing the fact that you were addicted, but there were extenuating circumstances. You'll be allowed to present evidence that you were forcibly addicted when you were kidnapped by Forest. After Lieutenant Griffey hears all the testimony, he can decide if there is enough evidence to support those charges. If that happens, then you'll need a good lawyer for the formal hearing. I honestly don't think it will get that far, Ken, but you need to be prepared for the possibility. It's your call, and your career that's on the line."
    Hutch walked over to his partner. Two pairs of blue eyes met. The blonde spoke softly. "It's not just my career that's on the line. You took care of me, and now you could lose your job because of me. It's sure as Hell not the way I wanted to repay you, buddy. I'd go back and do the whole thing over again, without you, before I'd risk hurting you."
    "Uh-uh, Blintz, no way. It's me and thee, remember?"
    The bond that had been theirs alone seemed to shine even brighter in Hutch's smile. Starsky smiled back and winked, then nodded. Hutch turned back to the girls.
    "It's settled then. We have a date tomorrow with IA. So, where do we start?"
    Starsky grinned. "Well, I think the first thing we should do is get something to eat. You can't fight City Hall on an empty stomach, I always say."
    Hutch laughed out loud. "Leave it to you to think about food first. OK, we'll grab something to eat, and try to work out a plan. Where do you want to go?"
    Micki spoke up. "The most logical place is The Pits. We need to talk to Huggy anyway. He's got a stake in this too, remember? He may not be on the force, but he could still be charged with obstructing justice. The sooner we tell him what's going on, the better."
    Hutch scowled. "Damn, you're right. I hadn't thought about that. So, we go to Huggy's."
    Tracy spoke up. "It might be a good idea to have the Captain meet us there. We need to tell him what's going on, too. We don't want him to be blindsided by this."
    Starsky nodded. "I'll call Dobey and tell him to meet us at The Pits."
    The four detectives drove to The Pits and waited until they were all together. When Starsky told them what was going on, and showed Huggy and Dobey the photograph, Huggy put his dark hand on Hutch's shoulder.
    "I'm sorry, my blonde brother. I know you've been afraid this would happen for a long time, and I can see how much you're hurting."
    "Thanks, Hug. I won't deny that I'm scared, but at least it's all out in the open, now."
    "So, what are you going to do?"
    Hutch shrugged. "We're going to IA and put everything on the table. If Griffey believes what I tell him, I'll still have a job tomorrow. If he doesn't....."
    Micki put her hand over his. "He'll believe it. He has to. It's the truth."
    The blonde detective tried to smile. "I wish I had your faith in the power of the truth. We all know that it doesn't always work out that way."
    "We'll make it work, this time. You'll see."
    Dobey cleared his throat, and spoke for the first time. "We'll do everything we can to help, Hutch. You know that. Starsky and I knew what we were risking when we kept the truth hidden. I've never regretted my decision, and I don't intend to start now."
    "Thanks, Captain. You know, I'm scared of losing my job, but I'm terrified that this will fall back on you and Starsky. I don't know what I will do if that happens."
    Dobey looked steadily at his top detectives. "Well, the best thing to do is make sure it doesn't happen. So, what's the plan?"
    Micki nodded at her partner, indicating that she should answer. Tracy took a deep breath. "Well, as I said, we can ask for a preliminary hearing first. It's not as rigid as the formal hearing, and I think we'll have a better chance of presenting our case."
    Huggy asked the question on everyone's mind. "Who's going to represent the Blonde Blintz?"
    Micki answered slowly. "I think Tracy should. She has a better idea of how Internal Affairs works. Besides," she grinned, "they don't call her the Negotiator for nothing."
    Tracy grinned back ruefully. "Thanks, partner. I'm beginning to regret taking that course on Internal Affairs."
    Dobey surprised everybody by nodding his head. "I think Tracy is a good choice. My first instinct was you, Micki, but Simonetti would jump on that idea with both feet. You and Hutchinson are married now, so he'd scream his head off about you not being objective about the whole thing."
    Starsky frowned slightly. "But, Tracy and me are engaged, too. Besides, she's Micki's partner, and I'm Hutch's. Don't you think Simonetti'll have something to say about that?"
    "Oh, I don't doubt that he will. Griffey is the one that matters, though. Tracy has a reputation for being fair, and like Micki says, she's a good negotiator. And don't forget that, while she may be involved with you now, she wasn't then."
    Huggy asked, "I don't pretend to know about that kind of thing, but doesn't she have to be a lawyer to represent Blondie?"
    Tracy shook her head. "Not in a preliminary hearing. The regulations state that Ken is entitled to counsel of his choice. However, if Griffey demands a formal hearing in front of the board, then Ken will have to be represented by an attorney."
    Micki laid both hands on the table. "So, is it settled? Ken? This concerns you the most, obviously. If you want an attorney, say so. You won't hurt anybody's feelings."
    Hutch thought carefully for a moment, the shook his head. "Truthfully, I don't think an attorney would work any harder on my case. If we have to go to a formal hearing, then I'll call around and find one. Until then, I think I'd rather stick with the home team."
    He put his hands next to his wife's, with their fingers touching. Slowly, four more pairs were added, with each touching the other. Six pairs of hands formed a circle, representing the bond they all shared.

   Lieutenant Griffey's office was crowded the next day as the four detectives, plus Dobey and Simonetti gathered around the Lieutenant's desk. Griffey looked down at the picture he was holding, then sat back in his chair. He gazed at the people standing before him.
    "So, Sergeant Hutchinson, would you like to explain this?"
    "It's a long story, Lieutenant. I'm not denying the fact that I was addicted to heroin for a short time, but it wasn't voluntary, believe me."
    Simonetti interrupted with a scornful laugh. "Of course not! The devil made you do it, right?"
    Griffey silenced his man with a glare. "That's enough, Detective. This is an extremely serious matter. Sergeant Hutchinson, are you aware that if you are found guilty of using narcotics, you can be terminated immediately?"
    "Yes, sir. I would like to request a preliminary hearing to present my case to the board."
    "All right. Do you have counsel?"
    "Yes, sir. I've asked Detective Tracy Edwards to represent me."
    Simonetti protested loudly. "Oh, come on! Detective Edwards is not an attorney, and she's engaged to your partner! You're going to turn this whole thing into a circus! You've got to be nuts to put your career in her hands!"
    Tracy spoke before Hutch could. "Sergeant Hutchinson is allowed to choose anyone that he wants to represent him. There's nothing in the regulations that says it has to be an attorney. This is a preliminary hearing, Simonetti. If a formal review board is convened, Sergeant Hutchinson will retain legal counsel."
    Simonetti started to protest again, but Griffey held up his hand. "Is this what you want, Sergeant Hutchinson?"
    "Yes, sir."
    "Very well. We'll schedule a preliminary hearing for one week from today. You'll present your case to three members of the board, including myself. If we decide that enough evidence exists to support the charges, we'll set a date for the formal hearing then. Dismissed. Oh, not you, Alex. I want a word with you in private."
    The four detectives and Dobey left Griffey's office, closing the door behind them. Hutch turned to the others.
    "I didn't realize he'd set it so soon. A week doesn't give us much time."
    "It'll be enough. We don't have a lot of witnesses to track down."
    "True. You know, I just thought of something. Who the Hell took that picture in the first place? It had to be somebody at Huggy's, but who?"
    Micki grinned. "That's what you and Davey are going to find out. Tracy and I will work on your defense, and you two can find out who took that picture. I'll lay you ten to one odds that Simonetti had something to do with it."
    Dobey shot her a questioning look. "What makes you so sure?"
    "Look at the timing, Captain. We're talking about an isolated incident that happened over six years ago. Only a few people knew about it, and no one has talked. Now, suddenly, this picture surfaces. Simonetti has carried a grudge against David and Ken for a long time. That's not exactly a secret, either. So, I'd be willing to bet that one of Simonetti's snitches got himself into a jam, and just happened to be holding this picture. He decided he needed a get out of jail card, and this is it. You can bet that if Simonetti knew the picture existed before now, he wouldn't have waited all this time to drop the bomb on Ken."
    "Well, that makes sense. OK, you two start asking around, but be discreet. If Simonetti was behind the picture some how, he's not going to want Griffey to find out about it. And if one of his snitch's did take that picture, we don't want him to clam up now."
    Hutch agreed. "Right, Captain. Micki, we'll meet you and Tracy back at our apartment at say, five o'clock. If we happen to come up with anything before that, we'll let you know."
     Micki nodded. "We need to pick up a few things, then we'll head over there. If we have to go anywhere else, we'll let the Captain know."
     "Sounds like a plan to me. Captain, we'll stay in touch."
    "Make sure you do. And, be careful. This is all getting a little too weird for my taste. I don't like it, not one little bit."
    Dobey walked back to his office, leaving the two couples alone. Hutch kissed his wife and held her for a moment. Starsky kissed Tracy good-bye, then he and Hutch went back toward the IA offices. Micki watched them briefly, then sighed.
    "Come on, Trace. We need to gather up a few files and get started on this. We don't have any time to waste."
    Back in Griffey's office, the Lieutenant was having a serious talk with his detective. "Well, you've really done it this time, Alex."
    "Me? What are you talking about, Lieutenant? I didn't do anything wrong. Hutchinson did that all by himself."
    "He says that it wasn't his fault."
    "Of course he's going to say that! Hutchinson got himself hooked, Lieutenant. Starsky found out about it, and got him off the stuff. He and Dobey kept it under wraps until now, and that's against regulations. Ben Forrest is a known drug dealer, and he's doing twenty to life in the pen. He's a perfect scapegoat for them. If they blame him, and he denies it, who's going to believe him? If Forrest really is to blame, why didn't Starsky take his partner to the hospital, instead of hiding him away somewhere?"
    "You'd better be right, Alex. Accusing Hutchinson of using narcotics is serious business. If he's convicted, he could lose his badge and face criminal charges as well. If there's the slightest chance that he's telling the truth, I want to know about it."
    "He's lying, Lieutenant. I'd stake my reputation on it."
    Lieutenant Griffey sat back in his chair and looked Simonetti in the eye. "That's good, because that's exactly what you're doing. If I find out that Hutchinson is telling the truth, your career will be on the line. I'm not kidding, Alex. This grudge match has gone on long enough. This one's for all the marbles. It's Hutchinson's badge, or yours. Don't screw this up."
    Starsky and Hutch were coming around the corner at the same time Simonetti was leaving Griffey's office. Instinct told Starsky to step back, and push Hutch back with him. He craned his neck and watched as Simonetti walked in the opposite direction.
    "He's gone. I don't know where he's goin', but I hope it's out of the building. I don't want to run into him while we're grillin' his buddies."
    Hutch nodded. "Yeah, and it would be better if Dryden were gone, too. I don't think he'd be too willing to help us."
    Starsky took a deep breath. "Well, standin' out here in the hall ain't getting us anywhere. You ready?"
    "Yep. Lead on, McDuff." As Starsky walked toward the IA office, Hutch muttered under his breath. "Once more, unto the breach, dear friends, once more."
    The small office was empty except for one detective. Roger Moss was the newest addition to the department and had only met Starsky and Hutch briefly. Starsky was happy to see the young detective. Good. If we're lucky, he won't even remember our names. He said a small prayer that Simonetti would stay away until they were finished.
    "Hi'ya, Detective. We're lookin' for Detectives Simonetti, or Dryden. Would you happen to know where they went?"
    Moss shook his head. "I think Detective Dryden is over at the county courthouse. I don't think he's going to be back until tomorrow. And you just missed Detective Simonetti. He didn't say where he was going, but he said he'd be back in a couple of hours. Is there anything I can help you with?"
    Starsky acted like he was thinking carefully, then said, "I'm not sure. One of his informants was arrested a couple of days ago, and we think he's connected to one of the cases we're working on. Only, he won't talk to us, because he said he already talked to Detective Simonetti. We just wanted to check with him before we talk to the snitch again. I don't suppose you would know anything about that, would you?"
    "Well, I know that Simonetti went down to the county lock-up to talk to somebody, but I don't know the perp's name. The jailor might know."
    Starsky gave Moss a smile. "Then I guess we need to talk to Smitty. Thanks, Detective. You've been a big help."
    Hutch nodded to Moss, then walked out behind Starsky. He turned to his partner.
    "Well, it looks like Micki was right. Whoever this snitch is, he was at Huggy's that night. I'm still not sure talking to Moss was the right thing to do. Do you think he'll tell Simonetti we were looking for him?"
    "Maybe, maybe not. It doesn't really matter. If Simonetti finds out we're hunting for this snitch, maybe he'll get nervous and slip up. Remember what the Captain said. Simonetti doesn't want Griffey to find out that he was behind that picture. I get the feelin' that Simonetti's already on shaky ground with the Lieutenant. He's not going to want to make it any worse."
    "You've got a point there. OK, let's go see Smitty. I want to talk to this snitch before Simonetti finds out we're on to him."
    "Good idea, Ollie. Let's go."
    They drove to the county jail and found Calvin Smith. Smitty had been the jailor for over twenty years, and made it his business to know everything that was going on in his jail. If Simonetti had been there, Smitty would know when, and to whom he was talking. Starsky and Hutch found the jailor at his usual spot: sitting at his desk in front of the cellblock. Although Smitty didn't look imposing, any inmate that made the mistake of causing trouble soon realized they had underestimated the ex-Marine. Despite his grey hair and medium build, Smitty was capable of subduing the most violent convict.
    He smiled widely and got up from his chair as the two detectives walked up to the door.
    "Well, look what the cat dragged in! How ya doing, Starsky? You keeping him out of trouble, Hutch?"
    The two men exchanged glances, then Hutch smiled ruefully. "I think he's the one that's keeping me out of trouble this time, Smitty."
    "Uh oh, that doesn't sound good. What's going on, boys? Is there anything I can do to help?"
    Starsky sat on the edge of the desk. "We're hopin' you can. Simonetti is on our tails again, and this time he's trying to cause some real bad trouble. So, I'm sure you can guess that we don't want him to know we've been talkin' to ya."
    "Say no more, Starsk. I ain't got much use for that one. Dryden is a pretty stand up guy. He don't go after nobody that doesn't need goin' after. Simonetti is a horse of a different color. I don't trust him and I ain't about to help him railroad anybody. So, what can I do for you?"
    "We're looking for one of Simonetti's snitches. Simonetti would have been down here a few days ago to talk to him. We need to know who that snitch is, and we need to talk to him before Simonetti finds out we know who the snitch is."
    "Yeah, he was down here. He was talking to Louie Holmes. I don't know what it was about, but that creep is as slimy as it gets."
    "Well, I guess we need to talk to Louie, then. Can you find us a room?"
    "Sure, give me about ten minutes, then go to Conference room number three."
    Ten minutes later, they stood outside the conference room door. Starsky peeked through the small window, then stepped aside so Hutch could look.
    "So, do you recognize him?"
    Hutch shook his head. "Starsky, I could barely recognize you that day. Do you recognize him?"
    Starsky shook his head, also. "No, but if he was only a face in the crowd, there's no reason why I should. Well, we ain't doing any good out here. Let's go see what Louie has to say."

   Starsky walked into the small room, with Hutch following close behind him. As soon as he saw Louie Holmes close up, he remembered that they had met before, after all. He swaggered up to the table.
    "Well, well, if it isn't Louie the Toke. Still smokin' that funny tobacco, Louie?"
     Louie peered through his mousy brown bangs and curled his lip at Starsky. "What the Hell are you doing here? I ain't got nothin' to say to either one of you. Does the Boss know you're talking to me?"
    Hutch sauntered over and calmly sat down across from Louie. "Boss? Oh, you mean Simonetti. Well, to be honest, he doesn't. But don't worry your crummy little head about it. He's not going to be mad at you for talking to us. I mean, you did him a favor, didn't you? I'll bet he thought he'd died and gone to Heaven when you showed him that picture."
    Louie sneered. "You think I carried that thing around with me? I ain't that crazy about your face, Hutchinson."    Then he noticed the look on the two detective's faces. His jaw clenched with anger. "Cute. Real cute. So what if I was the one that gave him the picture? There ain't no law against taking pictures in a public place."
    Starsky sat down beside his partner. "So, you're a famous photographer and you've been undercover this whole time. What were you doing? Seeing how the other half lives?"
    Hutch chortled. "Good one, Starsk." When he looked at the snitch, his eyes turned to steel. "Answer him, punk. How is it that you just HAPPENED to have a camera that night?"
    "I was doing a favor for my brother, if it's any of your business. He thought his old lady was running around on him, but didn't have enough dough for a private detective. So, he asked me if I would tail her for a couple of days, just to see if he was right. And he was. The little slut was in The Pits that night, with some John. She was so busy cozying up to him that she didn't even see me. When I saw Starsky and Huggy Bear carrying you in, I knew something was up, but I didn't know what it was. Then, when you guys sent me up the river, I ended up in a cell with Chuck Coney. He told me what happened to you. I figured that you were strung out, and Starsky helped you kick the stuff. By the time I got out of the joint, it was old news, so I held on to the picture. When I got busted the other day, I knew I was headed back to the slam for a long time. So, I called the Boss and told him what I had. He ain't exactly your number one fan, so I thought he might cut me a deal for the picture."
    Hutch barely kept his voice even. "So, what did you tell him, Louie? Did you just make something up to go with the picture? I'll bet you came up with quite a story."
    "I told him what Coney told me! I said Forest strung you out to find that broad, and you got away before they iced you. I didn't have to make anything up, Hutchinson. You were a junkie and even I know that junkie's ain't allowed on the force."
    Hutch growled in response and lunged toward the felon. Before he could grab him, Starsky laid a hand on his arm. The two men shared a long look, then Hutch settled back in his chair. Starsky waited a few seconds, then took over the questioning.
    "Now, let me get this straight. Coney told you everything that happened when Hutch was kidnapped. You knew that none of this was Hutch's fault. What did Simonetti say when you told him?"
    "He said he didn't give a damn how it happened, that he was just glad that it did. He was laughing his ass off, and said that he finally was going to get rid of you two."
    Starsky nodded thoughtfully. "Well, I guess that's it. Oh, one more thing. What kind of deal did he cut you, Louie?"
    "I don't know yet. He's at the DA's office right now. I ain't worried, though. That picture sure came through for me. In fact, I just might be walkin' out of here in a little while."
    Hutch slowly got up from his chair and gathered Starsky with his eyes. He knocked on the door and waited for Smitty to open it. Before he walked out, Hutch turned back to Louie.
    "Don't bet on it."
    When they were outside, Hutch cursed out loud and kicked the door.
    "Damn it! He knew, Starsky! Simonetti knew the whole story the minute he talked to Louie and he went running to Griffey anyway! He doesn't give a damn about the truth. All he wants is my hide! Why the Hell couldn't he stay out of my life?"
    He threw his hands up and strode down the hallway, covering the distance in long, angry strides.
    Starsky said a hasty thank-you to Smitty, then hurried to catch up with his partner. Hutch was in the car before Starsky could exit the building. They rode back to the station in silence.
    Finally, Starsky turned to his friend. "You OK?"
    "No." He pounded his fist on the dashboard. "I don't believe this! I've had nightmares about this shit for years and some punk with a camera finally blows the whistle on me! What the Hell is that? Karma?"
    "It's called being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Or, if you're Louie, the right place. It ain't some kind of punishment, Hutch. You didn't do anything wrong. When are you goin' to accept that?"
    The blonde detective looked out the window at the passing cars. "I wanted it, Starsk. When Forest took it away, I was willing to do anything to get it. God, look how I treated you! I fought you, and called you every name in the book. If you had turned your back just once, I would have ran out the door and headed straight for the nearest dealer."
     Starsky turned into a parking lot and stopped the Torino. He put the car in Park and turned off the ignition.
    "Look at me, Hutch." When Hutch finally turned his head, Starsky continued. "That was the junk talkin', not you. Answer a question for me. If a woman is kidnapped and raped by someone that her boyfriend knows, is it her fault that she was raped?"
    Hutch shook his head. "Of course not."
    "Then why is it your fault that you got hooked? Forest did that to you. You aren't to blame. You don't have a damn thing to feel guilty about!"
    "I told him where Jeanie was, for Christ's sake! I promised I would take care of her, and I told him exactly where she was!"
    "Jeanie wasn't a saint, buddy. I know you cared about her, but she wasn't some innocent kid that Forest conned. She knew he was after her, and she knew you'd do anything to keep her safe. She wouldn't let you tell me where she was. If she had been straight with us, we could have kept her safe. Hell, we would have gone after Forest. She tied your hands, partner. She tied both our hands."
    "She didn't want me to go after Forest. I wasn't her bodyguard, Starsk. I was her lover."
    Starsky nodded emphatically. "That's right! You weren't on duty, Hutch. You were protectin' somebody that you loved. If Dobey had assigned us to her case, we would have had a lot more information to work with, and Jeanie would have gone to a safe house. You've spent so much time beatin' yourself up that you forgot Jeanie's part in all of this. You have to let it go now. There ain't no secrets any more. Put it back in the past, where it belongs, and move on. Forest ain't worth it, and neither is Jeanie."
    "I'm scared, Starsk. Two years ago, I wouldn't have cared if I lost my badge, or anything else. Now, I'm happier than I've ever been. I don't want to lose everything because of that son-of-a-bitch."
    "You won't."
    Hutch managed a smile. "And what makes you so sure?"
    "Because you got Tracy, Micki, and me in your corner. How can you lose?"
    Hutch laughed, then sobered again. "I hope so, Starsky. God, I hope so."
    Starsky started the Torino and pulled out of the parking lot. When he turned left, instead of right, Hutch frowned.
    "Hey, where are you going? The station is the other way."
    Starsky nodded slightly. "I know, but I just thought of somethin'. We want to talk to the girls, right? Well, do we really want to do that with Simonetti lurking around somewhere?"
    Hutch made a face. "No, we don't. I hadn't thought of that. Well, they should be back at the apartment by now, anyway. At least we won't have to worry about him there."
    Starsky parked the Torino behind Micki's, then followed his partner up the stairs. As Hutch opened the door, he could smell something good coming from the kitchen.
    "Hey," he said happily, "you cooked dinner! That's great, cause I'm starving."
    Micki snorted derisively. "We haven't had time to cook. Dinner is being provided courtesy of the Holhman Restaurant. We stopped by there on our way home. If you two want to wash up, we'll eat before we get down to work."
    Starsky rubbed his hands together in anticipation. "You don't have to tell me twice." He made a beeline for the bathroom before Hutch could take off his jacket.
    The blonde shook his head fondly. "That's my partner. The world could be coming to an end and he'd still have an appetite."
    They enjoyed a quiet dinner, carefully avoiding the upcoming hearing. They all settled down in the living room, then Starsky told Micki and Tracy about their interview with Louie Holmes.
    He grabbed another beer for himself and Hutch, then asked the question foremost in his mind.
    "So, should we go to Griffey and tell him what we found out?"
    Tracy shook her head. "No. So far, all you have is Louie's word against Simonetti's. Louie is a two-time loser, and Simonetti is a detective. Whether we like it or not, he's got a good reputation. He started out in Homicide, and had an excellent arrest record before he transferred to IA. Considering all the trouble he's gone to this far, he won't hesitate to call Louie a liar. I think we need to keep this to ourselves until we can find another way to corroborate what Louie told you."
    Micki shook her head in amazement. "I can't believe Simonetti would sink this far. I don't like it, not one little bit."
    Tracy could see the wheels turning in her partner's head. "What's wrong, Mick?"
    "Think about it, Trace. Simonetti lied to Lieutenant Griffey. He's trying to convince him that Ken got himself addicted, and Forest had nothing to do with it. He knows that's a lie, and he knows that when the truth comes out, he could lose his badge. Does that sound like the act of a rational man?"
    "No, it doesn't."
    "I think Simonetti is close to the edge of a cliff, and if we're not careful, we could push him over it. God only knows what he will do when we prove that Forrest is responsible for Hutch's addiction."
    Hutch flinched slightly at the word "addiction". "I'm still not sure that we can prove it, Mick."
    Tracy smiled at him. "Oh, we'll prove it, all right. We've already got a few ideas, and now you've given us Louie's testimony, too. We may not be able to use him at the hearing, but he gave us a place to start. Don't worry, Ken. We've got one thing on our side that Simonetti doesn't have."
    "What's that?"
    "The truth."

   After noticing the time, Starsky and Tracy said goodnight and went back to their apartment. Micki sensed that Hutch needed some time alone, so she excused herself and took a shower. When she came out a short time later, Hutch was standing on the balcony, looking out over the city. She walked up behind him and put her arms around his waist.
    "It's going to be OK. We'll find a way to resolve this, once and for all. You'll see."
    "I feel like I've been walking around with a time bomb strapped to my back, and it's about to go off. I don't want to take all of you out with me when it blows."
    "You won't, I promise. We're going to defuse that bomb, Ken. No one will be able to threaten you with this ever again."
    Hutch turned around to face his wife. "I'm sorry, Mick. I tried so many times to tell you, but the words just wouldn't come out."
    She smiled wryly. "I won't deny that I was a little disappointed. I wish you had felt comfortable enough with our relationship to tell me. But, I'm not naive, Ken. We really haven't known each other all that long. I can only imagine what you went through and I know how hard you worked to keep this a secret. If this hadn't happened, I'd like to think that someday you would have told me yourself."
    "I would have. So, do you forgive me?"
    She kissed him gently. "I forgive you. Now, when are you going to forgive yourself?"
    Hutch chuckled and sat down on the bench. "That's what I get for marrying a psychologist. OK, detective, analyze me."
    She grinned wickedly. "It's just that famous Hutchinson guilt working overtime. You are the only man I know that could actually blame himself for being kidnapped. You didn't do anything wrong, Ken."
    She sat down beside him and took his hands in hers. "Forrest's men took you from your home, blindfolded you, and beat you. See these hands? They were tied, literally. You couldn't get away, and you couldn't fight. Ben Forrest is evil incarnate. He took your own body and turned it against you. You never had a chance. The person who committed the crime is in prison now. It's time for you to break out of the prison that you created for yourself."
    "I'll try, I promise. If Tracy manages to charm the IA board, maybe I can finally put this behind me."
    Micki put her arms around his neck and kissed him. "I love you, Ken. I love all of you, the person you are. One isolated incident isn't going to change that. From now on, no secrets. Whatever happens, we face it together. You, me, Tracy, and David."
    He held her close. "I think I can manage that."
    In the days before the hearing, Starsky and Hutch tried to keep to their routine while helping Micki and Tracy prepared for Hutch's defense. Before they knew it, the day had arrived. After taking a collective deep breath, the four detectives walked into the large room that was set up for the hearing. Micki, Tracy, and Hutch sat down at the table closest to the window, and Starsky sat behind them in the first row of seats. Shortly after that, the three board members, Lieutenant Griffey, Commander Phillip Horn, and Lieutenant James Choate, walked in and sat down at the table. Simonetti and Dryden followed a few minutes later, and sat down at the table opposite the three detectives. Starsky frowned and leaned forward to talk to Tracy.
    "Simonetti's prosecuting? That's not good."
    Tracy turned slightly. "It's not called prosecuting, David. This isn't a formal hearing. He's just presenting evidence."
    Starsky rolled his eyes. "Sure. And you can say that a mule is just a horse with long ears, but it's still a Jackass."
    Micki snickered. "Yeah, and Simonetti's the biggest Jackass of all."
    Hutch fought to keep a straight face. "OK, you two, behave."
    Since this was a closed hearing, there were no spectators. Commander Horn cleared his throat to get everyone's attention, then spoke.
    "This is an informal hearing to hear evidence on the charges that Detective Sergeant Kenneth Hutchinson did wilfully use an illegal narcotic while on duty, and subsequently hid that abuse from this department. Sergeant Hutchinson, will you please stand?"
    Hutch slowly stood and faced the three board members. Tracy stood beside him.
    "Sergeant, I understand that Lieutenant Griffey has explained the procedure that we will follow in this hearing. Is that correct?"
    "Yes, sir."
    "Very good. Then, with counsel's permission, I will forgo any long explanations, and we'll proceed with the hearing. Are there any objections?"
    Tracy and Simonetti responded. "No, objections, Commander."
    "You may all be seated. Detective Simonetti, you may begin."
    "Thank-you. I call Officer Bernard Glassman to the stand."
    He waited until Bernie was seated, then walked up beside him. "Officer Glassman, how long have you been a patrolman?"
    "Almost twenty years."
    "And have you patrolled the same beat during that time?"
    "Yes, sir."
    "I'd like to take you back to late 1975. Do you remember a Missing Officer bulletin on Detective Ken Hutchinson?"
    "Yes, sir."
    "Did you subsequently see Detective Hutchinson after the Missing Officer was filed?"
    "Yes, sir."
    "Would you tell the board what you observed that day?"
    "My partner and I were patrolling our sector when I saw a man stumbling down the sidewalk. He appeared to be sick or injured, and ran into the alley. When he turned, I saw that it was Detective Hutchinson, so I told my partner to call it in, and I got out of the car. I followed Detective Hutchinson down the alley, and saw that he had collapsed. I was almost to where he was laying when his partner, Detective Starsky, drove into the alley and stopped. We reached Detective Hutchinson at the same time, and Detective Starsky started to examine him."
    "Would you describe Detective Hutchinson's condition to us?"
    "He was sweating profusely, and I could tell that he was in some type of distress. His clothes were dirty, and torn, and he had several bruises on his face. He didn't seem to be aware of his surroundings, and wasn't responsive. Detective Starsky looked him over for a minute, then pushed his sleeve up on his arm. There were needle marks on the inside of his elbow."
    "Are you familiar with drug addicts and the paraphernalia they use?"
    "Yes, sir."
    "In your opinion, was Detective Hutchinson using intravenous drugs?"
    "Yes, sir. I admit I wasn't very professional, but I blurted out that Detective Hutchinson was a junkie. I'm sorry, but that's the way it looked to me."
    "And how did Detective Starsky respond to that?"
   "Well, I told him that I would have to make a report, and he stopped me. He said "No report, Bernie. Do you hear me? No report. I'll handle this." Then I asked him about Captain Dobey, and he said he'd clear it with him. So, I helped him take Detective Hutchinson to his car, and they drove away."
    "So, Detective Starsky said he'd take responsibility, and would also notify Captain Dobey. Have you had any contact with them since the incident?"
    "No, sir. I never heard any more about it, and no one ever contacted me, until the other day."
    "Thank-you. That will be all." Simonetti turned to Tracy. "Detective."
    Tracy walked up to the stand. "Officer Glassman, did you ever see Detective Hutchinson using narcotics?"
    "No, ma'am, but I don't see most of the addicts on my beat using them, either."
    "So, while your experience supports your assumption that Detective Hutchinson was a 'junkie', you don't have any idea what the circumstances were surrounding the incident. Is that correct?"
    "I guess so."
    "In other words, you have only that short time in the alley on which to base your conclusion. Correct?"
    "Yes, ma'am."
    "You've stated that you had no further contact with Detective Hutchinson, or Detective Starsky after that day. Since Detective Starsky withheld those details in his report, how did Detective Simonetti know to contact you?"
    "When the written notice came down about this hearing, I contacted Detective Simonetti myself. I didn't want to get into trouble for withholding evidence. I didn't mean Detective Hutchinson any harm. Whatever happened, he's a good cop, and I don't like having to testify against him. But, it's my duty. I'm a cop, too."
    "I understand. No further questions."
    Commander Horn nodded at Bernie. "You may step down, Officer."
    Bernie mumbled a fast thank-you and practically ran from the room. Simonetti waited until Tracy was back at the table, then stood.
    "I call Captain Harold Dobey to the stand."
    Micki glanced at her partner, and Tracy simply shrugged. They knew that Simonetti blamed Dobey for "letting Starsky and Hutch run wild", so this wasn't a surprise. Micki squeezed Hutch's knee gently under the table, and sat back in her chair. All they could do was watch and hope that Tracy could work her magic and save all three careers.
    "Captain, we all know who you are, so I'll dispense with the introductions, and get right to the point. Detective's Starsky and Hutchinson have been under your command for quite some time, right?"
    "Yes."
    "How would you characterize their methods?"
    "I'm not sure I understand the question."
    "It's very simple, Captain. Would you say that they always followed standard operating procedures, and obeyed all regulations?"
    Dobey cleared his throat. "Well, no, I wouldn't say that. They've been known to be a little unconventional in their investigations."
    "Unconventional? That's an interesting way to put it. OK, we'll take some examples from some of their more flamboyant cases."
    Tracy stood. "Commander, I fail to see how this line of questioning is relevant to this case."
    Simonetti glared at the young woman. He turned to the review board. "Commander, Detective Hutchinson is accused of using illegal drugs while on duty. He was aided and abetted by his partner, and Captain Dobey. I intend to show that Detective Hutchinson isn't as pure as he pretends to be. His entire career has been marred with questionable tactics, and he has been known to blatantly disobey a direct order from his Captain. I also intend to show that the use of narcotics is well within the realm of possibility for this detective, contrary to what his partner might say. If he had conducted himself in a manner that was expected of a police officer, he wouldn't have gotten himself into this situation in the first place."
    Tracy protested forcefully. "Commander, Detective Simonetti is allowing his personal feelings to influence this hearing. That last statement was extremely inflammatory."
    "She's right, Detective Simonetti. This isn't a forum for your personal grievances. If you have evidence to offer that is relevant to this case, get to it. Otherwise, call your next witness."
    Simonetti glared back at Tracy, then wiped the expression from his face. "Yes, sir. Captain Dobey, do you remember a woman by the name of Gillian Ingram?"
    Dobey shot an involuntary look at Hutch. His voice was muted as he answered. "Yes, I do."
    Simonetti's jaw muscles spasmed, then he spoke with infinite patience. "Will you please tell the board who she was?"
    "She was someone that Detective Hutchinson was involved with for a short time."
    "What happened to her?"
    "She was murdered."
    "And did you find the person responsible for her death?"
    "Yes, it was Albert Grossman."
    "Wasn't Al Grossman a known criminal that attempted to open a pornographic establishment in this city?"
    "Yes, he was."
    "And didn't Gillian Ingram work for him?"
    "Yes, she did."
    "In fact, Gillian Ingram was a prostitute, wasn't she?"
    "Yes, she was."
    "Wasn't she murdered because of her relationship with Detective Hutchinson?"
    Dobey responded angrily. "She was killed because she was trying to break free from Grossman's clutches. He found out that she was in love with Hutch, and he killed her, because he was afraid she would jeopardize his illegal operations."
    "Ms. Ingram wasn't the only woman with a dubious past that Detective Hutchinson was involved with, was she? Tell me, who was Vanessa Hutchinson?"
    "She was Hutch's ex-wife. She was murdered in his apartment."
    "With his gun, correct?"
    "Yes, but he was exonerated, as you will remember."
    "Oh, I remember all to well. I also remember that Vanessa Hutchinson was murdered because she tried to double cross Martin Wheeler, a known fence that dealt with stolen diamonds. Is that correct?"
    "Yes, and Detective's Starsky and Hutchinson were responsible for bringing the man to justice."
    "But, that was after Starsky disobeyed a direct order from you to bring his partner in, and they took it upon themselves to pursue the suspect on their own. Correct?"
    "Yes."
    "So, isn't it safe to say that Detective Hutchinson wilfully disobeyed direct orders, and repeatedly became entangled with women that had, shall we say, questionable reputations? Hasn't this been a pattern throughout his whole career?"
    "Detective Hutchinson has never been convicted of any wrong doing. I have to admit that he hasn't had much luck with the women in his life, until now."
    "Until now. Oh, yes, you're talking about the present Mrs. Hutchinson, Detective Micki Ellis Hutchinson, correct?"
    "Yes."
    "OK, let's talk about their relationship. How long have they known each other?"
    "For almost a year."
    "And when did they become engaged?"
    "A few months ago. I don't remember the exact date."
    "In fact, didn't Detective Starsky and Detective Edwards announce their engagement at the same time?"
    "Yes."
    "And wasn't a date set for a double wedding?"
    "Yes."
    "Isn't that wedding still several weeks away?"
    "Yes."
    "So, how is it that Detective Hutchinson and Detective Ellis are married now?"
    "They decided to elope."
    "Isn't it true that both Detective Hutchinson and Detective Ellis were drunk when they decided to elope, and they flew down to Las Vegas, with Detective's Starsky and Edwards in tow? And isn't it true that they made a public spectacle of themselves while in Las Vegas? Remember Captain, I was there."
    "They had both been involved with very stressful cases. Yes, they had a few drinks, and decided to elope. It may have been a lapse in judgement, but they didn't commit a crime, Detective."
    "Really? Permit me to quote from the Policeman's Code of Ethics. "I will keep my private life unsullied as an example to all. I will be honest in thought and deed in both my personal and official life, I will be exemplary in obeying the laws of the land and the regulations of my department." Tell me, Captain, does Detective Hutchinson's career echo that code of ethics?"
    "Detective Hutchinson is a good cop. He's one of my best detectives."
    "Answer my question, Captain. Does Detective Hutchinson's career echo the Policeman's Code of Ethics?"
    "No."
    "Thank you. Your witness, Detective."
    Tracy gathered her thoughts, then stood. "Captain, would you consider Detective Hutchinson to be an alcoholic?"
    "Of course not."
    "Have you ever known him to be abusive to women?"
    "No."
    "In your opinion, is there anything in Detective Hutchinson's actions, past or present, that would support the accusation that he was addicted to Heroin, of his own free will?"
    "Definitely not. Detective Hutchinson was a victim. He was kidnapped by Ben Forrest, beaten and tortured. He went through the terrible ordeal of withdrawal, and has been drug-free ever since."
    "Thank you, Captain. I have no more questions."

   Dobey looked scathingly at Simonetti, then stalked from the room. Simonetti had a self-satisfied smirk on his face as the door slammed shut. He stood and faced the board.
    "I call Detective Sergeant David Starsky to the stand."
    All four detectives were startled. Micki leaned toward Tracy and protested. "He can't call David, can he? Isn't he supposed to notify witnesses and interview them before the hearing?"
    Starsky and Hutch listened to Tracy's answer with trepidation. "Not if it will interfere with the investigation. Simonetti's smart. He knows David won't help him willingly, but he won't lie in front of the board, either. Simonetti can ask him any question he wants that's relevant to the case, and David has to tell the truth. There's no Fifth amendment protection here."
    Starsky's jaw clenched. "So, I don't have a choice."
    Tracy touched his arm briefly. "No. I'm sorry, David. If you refuse to testify, you could be suspended, and charges brought against you."
    "Well, I guess that settles it. OK. Here goes nothing."
    Starsky looked into his partner's eyes, then stood up. Before he could move away, Tracy clutched at his sleeve. He leaned toward her as she spoke.
    "And keep your temper! You won't do Ken any good if you lose it."
    He nodded again, and walked to the stand. He looked calmly at Simonetti, waiting for the ordeal to begin.
    "Detective Starsky, how long have you been with this department?"
    "About 12 years."
    "And would you say you had some experience with the drug trade, and users in this area?"
    "I guess so."
    "So, when you saw your partner in that alley, back in 1975, did you come to the same conclusion that Officer Glassman did?"
    "I saw the marks on his arms."
    "That's not what I asked you, Detective. When you saw those marks, did you come to the same conclusion that Officer Glassman did? Did you realize that your partner had been using intravenous drugs?"
    Starsky counted to ten slowly. "Yes."
    "And you decided to omit that information in your report, correct?"
    "Yes."
    "Where did you take him that day?"
    "I took him to a bar called The Pits. It's owned by a friend of ours."
    "A friend? Isn't the owner of The Pits a man that goes by the name of Huggy Bear? Isn't he an informant of yours?"
    "He's a friend. He's helped us out on a few cases."
    "Fine. So, you took Detective Hutchinson to this bar, and you helped him kick the habit. Did Captain Dobey know where you were, and what you were doing?"
    "He knew."
    "That's all the questions I have at this time, Commander."
    Commander Horn nodded to Tracy. "Your witness, Detective."
    Tracy walked to the stand. "Detective Starsky, you've been Detective Hutchinson's partner for a long time, haven't you?"
    "Yes."
    "Have you ever known him to use any illegal drugs during that time?"
    "No."
    "Could you tell me what preceded the events that took place in 1975?"
    "Hutch and I had finished up a case, and he was getting ready to take some time off. He had met this girl, Jeanie Walton, and they were going to spend some time together. When he didn't come back to work, I started getting worried. Hutch isn't the type to just goof off and not call in. I went to his canal house, and searched it. I didn't find any signs of a struggle, but I did find his weapon. If Hutch was plannin' to go out for the evening, he might have left the gun at home. But, not if he was planning to be away for several days. There's too many ex-cons that carry a grudge against us for him to go that long without his weapon."
    "So, you requested that a Missing Officer bulletin be issued, correct?"
    "Yeah. He was missing for about four days before Bernie spotted him in that alley."
    "Other than the marks on his arms, what was Detective Hutchinson's condition?"
    "You could tell that he had been beaten. He had a black eye, and bruises on his face. He was pale, and in a lot of pain."
    Tracy went over to the table, and took a stack of photographs from a folder. She handed them to Starsky.   "Detective, do you recognize the top photograph?"
    "Yeah. It's the picture Hutch got in the mail the other day."
    "Would you describe the photo, please?"
    "It was taken that night at The Pits. Me and Huggy are carrying Hutch. You can see how out of it he is. We took him up the back stairs and into a spare room over the bar."
    "OK. Now, would you take a look at the second picture, and tell me what you see?"
    Starsky looked at the next picture closely. "It's a close up of Hutch. I can see his hands around my shoulders, and Huggy's."
    "Would you look closely at his wrists? What do you see?"
    "It looks like there are some marks around them. I can't tell for sure."
    "Would you look at the final picture? Can you see his wrists, now?"
    "Yeah, there are red marks around both of his wrists."
    "In your experience as a police officer, have you ever seen marks like those before?"
    "Yeah, in kidnap victims. They're rope burns."
    Tracy nodded and took the photos from Starsky. She walked over to the board members and gave the photos to Commander Horn. He looked them over, then passed them to the other officers.
    Tracy gave them a few minutes to look at the pictures, then resumed her questions. "So, again as an experienced detective, what were your conclusions about the incident that occurred in 1975?"
    "Hutch was kidnapped because of his relationship with Jeanie Walton. We found out that she was Ben Forrest's ex-girlfriend, and he was looking for her. Forrest kidnapped Hutch and tried to beat the information he wanted out of him, but it didn't work. That's when he decided to get Hutch addicted to heroin. Forrest is a known drug dealer, so he had an unlimited supply of the stuff. After a couple of days, Forrest took the heroin away, and Hutch went into withdrawal. Finally, after Hutch told him where Jeanie was, Forrest told his men to get rid of Hutch. Instead, he managed to escape. That's when Bernie found him in the alley."
    "At any time, Detective, did it cross your mind that Detective Hutchinson's addiction to Heroin was voluntary, and not related to Ben Forrest at all?"
    "Never. If he was using drugs, I would have known it. We're partners, but we're also friends. He would have trusted me enough to tell me, and he would have known that I would help him."
    "Thank-you, Detective. That will be all."
    Starsky stepped down and walked back to his chair. As he was sitting down, he happened to look at Lieutenant Griffey. The Lieutenant's face was filled with anger, and he was glaring at Simonetti.
    Commander Horn motioned to Simonetti. "Detective, you may call your next witness."
    Simonetti cleared his throat, then stood up. "That concludes our case, Commander. We have no further witnesses to call."
    "Very well. Detective Edwards, you may call your first witness."
    "I call Charles Coney to the stand."
    Now, it was Simonetti's turn to look startled. His eyes narrowed as Coney walked into the courtroom, handcuffed and followed by a guard. The guard took the handcuffs off, and stepped a few feet away from the stand.
    Tracy stood, but remained beside the table. "Mr. Coney, would you state your full name and place of residence for the record?"
    "Charles M. Coney. I'm currently residing at the California State Penitentiary, courtesy of Detective's Starsky and Hutchinson."
    "Of what charges were you convicted, and what was your sentence?"
    "Kidnapping and attempted murder of a police officer. I got fifteen to life."
    "Were there other charges?"
    "Yeah. Possession of drugs with intent to sell."
    "And Detective's Starsky and Hutchinson were the arresting officers?"
    "Yeah, the bums."
    "I take it that you don't care for the detectives."
    "You could say that."
    "So, you have no reason to lie for them."
    "I wouldn't walk across the street to spit on them if they were on fire."
    "Good. Then your testimony will be the truth."
    "Yeah."
    "Would you tell the board the events leading up to your arrest?"
    "My Boss was looking for this girl that he was hooked up with..."
    He stopped as Tracy raised her hand. "What was your boss's name?"
    "Oh, sorry. Ben Forrest, and the broad's name was Jeanie. Anyway, he was freaking out cause this dame knew too much about him and she had dropped out of sight. He found out that Hutchinson was banging her, so he figured he might know where she was. He had us stake out his joint, and grab him. We conked him on the head and tied him up, then took him to the Boss."
    "Exactly where did you take him, and who else was in the house?"
    "Monk, and Jimmy Clark. It was Monk's house. It had a weird name for the street. It sounded like witch hammer, or something like that."
    "By Monk, you're referring to Allan Phylos? Was the address 915 Merchamer Street?"
    "Yeah, that was it. Anyway, when Hutchinson wouldn't talk, the Boss decided to string him out. It didn't mean a damn thing that he was a cop. Nobody can beat the heroin. Nobody."
    "How long did you keep Detective Hutchinson captive?"
    "Four days. Man, he took to that stuff like a baby to a bottle. He couldn't get enough of it. After he was hooked real good, the Boss took it away. It didn't take long before he was on the floor, beggin' for it."
    "So, he told Ben Forrest where Jeanie Walton was."
    "Yeah. The Boss knew it was only a matter of time."
    "What happened after Forrest found Jeanie Walton?"
    "He brought her to the house, and told us to get rid of Hutchinson. We put him in the car, and was on the way to the docks when he got away."
    "What did you do?"
    "Monk started to go after him, but we saw this cop car down the street, so he got back into the car and we left."
    "Did you see Detective Hutchinson after that?"
    "Yeah. The Boss was real ticked that he got away, so me and Monk tore up the streets looking for him. We finally got hold of Micky, one of Starsky's pet stoolies, and used him to try to get to Starsky. Only, Hutchinson showed up, so I decided to go with the flow and get rid of him. Only, before I could, he got away again. I gotta give it to him. That is one tough cop. I chased him, but Starsky showed up in that hopped up car of his, and killed Monk before we got to Hutchinson."
    "How long had you been working for Ben Forrest?"
    "I don't know. A long time. Since I was a kid, I guess."
    "So, would you consider yourself an expert on drugs, and drug addicts?"
    Coney laughed. "Yeah, that's what I am, an expert."
    "Before you forcibly injected the heroin into his bloodstream, did he act like someone who had used drugs before?"
    "Hutchinson? Hell, no! If he had used the stuff before, it wouldn't have hit him the way it did. That guy was as clean as a baby's bottom."
    "Thank you, Mr. Coney. Your witness, Detective."

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