UnseenEnemy1

Unseen Enemy: Part 1

   Detective David Starsky poured himself another cup of coffee and grimaced at the taste. He added more cream and sugar and took another sip. Satisfied with the result, he sat back down at his desk and resumed working on the report he had started. He glanced at his watch for the third time in a row. Almost nine o'clock and Hutch still wasn't here. His partner had called him late last night and told him not to pick him up this morning, because he had an errand to run before work. The blonde detective had made light of the errand and told him he wouldn't be too long. That niggling little voice in the back of Starsky's mind told him there was more to the errand than Hutch had said.
    Hutch walked in almost fifteen minutes later. He passed his partner with only a casual "Good morning" and walked straight to the coffee pot. Starsky watched him carefully and caught the slight tremor of his friend's hand. He focused on the report again as Hutch sat down across from him.
    "Good morning, yourself. How'd your errand go?"
    Hutch ruffled through the files on his desk. "Hmm? I didn't hear you, Starsk. Sorry."
    "I said, did you do whatever it was that you needed to do?"
    "Oh. Yeah, everything's fine. It's no big deal."
    Starsky looked up and gazed steadily at his partner. "That's good. So, do ya want to tell me why your hands are shaking?"
    Hutch laughed self-consciously. "Just caffeine withdrawl, I guess. I haven't had my morning coffee yet."
    "Bull."
    Starsky held his best friend with his gaze, never looking away. A tense, non-verbal argument raged.
Something's wrong. Tell me.
    Nothing's wrong. You're imagining things. I'm fine.
    You're scared to death. Why?
    Hutch lowered his eyes first and sighed softly. He got up without saying anything and headed for the door. A quick glance back at his partner brought Starsky out of his chair in an instant. Hutch went into the men's room with Starsky close behind. He locked the door behind them. It never entered Starsky's mind to make a snide remark. The look in Hutch's eyes and the tremor in his hands told Starsky that this was no joking matter. Hutch slowly took off his jacket and laid it on the sink. He turned his back to Starsky and pulled his shirt out of his trousers. His hand pointed to his back, close to his side.
    "Look."
    Starsky stooped a bit and studied the area Hutch had pointed out. "It's a mole, Hutch. It's the same one you've always had there."
    With his back still turned, Hutch shook his head. "No, it's not. It's changed."
    Starsky examined the mole closely. The light brown color had darkened, the edges were no longer smooth, and the texture seemed coarse. Oh, my God.
    Starsky straightened up and kept his voice steady. "Did you see a doctor?"
    Hutch loosened his belt and tucked his shirt back in. "Yeah, that's where I had to go this morning. I have to go back tomorrow and he's going to cu-take it off and send a section in to be.....examined."
    Two strong hands grabbed his shoulders and swung him around. Starsky's glare was a mixture of anger and fear.
    He hissed, "Why didn't you tell me?"
    "I didn't want you to think I was being silly."
    The glare increased. Hutch dropped his head. "I was scared, OK? All those years we spent on the beach, out in the sun, and never thought twice about it. I knew that if I told you, I couldn't pretend anymore, and I'd have to admit how scared I really am."
    Starsky's eyes softened. He squeezed his best friend's shoulders, comforting him. "How long have we been partners? How long have we been friends? You don't have to go through something like this alone!"
    Hutch touched Starsky's shirt, taking comfort in the warmth. "I know. I'm sorry. I just freaked out. I didn't know what to do."
    Starsky smiled slightly. "It's OK. I understand. What time do you have to be there tomorrow?"
    "Early. Do you want to come with?"
    "Yeah. What did Dobey have to say when you told him?"
    "Uh, I didn't. I was just going to call in sick tomorrow."
    "Oh, that's good. Then, when he finds out the truth, you won't have to worry about anything else ever again, because he'll kill you."
    That finally brought a smile. "I guess you're right. Bad idea, huh?"
    "Very. Come on, let's go tell him."
    Starsky draped his arm on his partner's shoulder and led the way to Dobey's office. He studiously ingnored the fear that was squeezing his chest and making it hard to breathe.

   Captain Harold Dobey sat back in his chair and tried to ignore the cold chill that ran up his spine. He cleared his throat and put on an encouraging face.
   "Well, Hutchinson, you did the right thing. I'm sure it's nothing serious, but it's a good idea to have it checked out. I'll take you and Starsky off the duty roster for the rest of the week. If you need more time, let me know."
    "Thanks, Captain. Doctor Clayton said the procedure is simple and he'll be using a local anesthetic, so I won't have to take a lot of time off from work."
    "Good. So, finish up those reports on your desk and take the rest of the day off. I'll see you two Monday morning."
    The two detectives got up and opened the door. Dobey walked with them.
    "Oh, and try not to worry too much, Hutch. I'm sure everything will be fine."
    Hutch smiled. "I hope so, Captain. Thanks."
    Dobey watched his two men for a minute and then closed his eyes and said a silent prayer. It was going to be all right. It had to be.
    The two detectives tackled the last of the reports on their desk, then logged out. Starsky dropped Hutch off at his apartment and promised to return shortly. Hutch unlocked the door to his apartment and threw the key on the small table by the door. He walked into the bedroom and grabbed a pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt. The day was starting to catch up with him and all he wanted right now was to take a shower and forget.
    Hutch stood in the shower, letting the hot water beat down on his shoulders and felt the tension melt away. He pulled a towel from the rack and dried himself off. As he dressed, he caught a glimpse of the suspicious mole in the mirror. He craned his neck around, trying to get a better look. His finger hovered over the offending blemish, but the thought of touching it repulsed him.
    "Stop being ridiculous, Hutchinson. It's not going to bite you, and it won't spread by just touching it."
    The sound of the Torino rounding the corner outside broke the spell. Hutch quickly shrugged into his shirt and walked out of the bathroom. Moments later, an unearthly racket on the street peaked his curiosity. The blonde opened the door to his apartment and rushed down the stairs. He stopped, transfixed when he saw the scene before him.
    Starsky and Huggy were struggling with a roll away bed, trying to man-handle it up the stairs. Two bags of take-out perched precariously on top of the mattress. Starsky looked up and saw his partner standing there.
    "Well, don't just stand there with your mouth open. Give us a hand, why don't ya?"
    Hutch walked down and reached out to grab the bed.
    "No, no, not the bed! Grab the food before it slides off."
    Hutch took the sacks and walked back up the stairs. "Hmmph, trust you to worry about the food instead of throwing your back out. Don't let that thing go, or I'll be calling the paramedics to clean up the mess."
    After a great deal of huffing and puffing, Starsky and Huggy forced the bed through the narrow door, and into the front room. Starsky wiped his face.
    "Whew! I'm tellin' ya, Hutch, the next apartment you get is goin' to be on the ground floor. I hope you like your new furniture, cause it ain't goin' back down."
    "Starsky, I have a bed. Why do I need another one?"
    "Well, if you think I'm spendin' the next week or two sleepin' on that couch, you are outta your mind." Starsky looked at his friend, his violet eyes speaking volumes.
    Hutch glanced from Starsky to Huggy.
    You told him.
    He loves you, too, partner.
    Sapphire eyes glowed briefly, drawing strength from the proximity of his friends. Then Hutch peeked into the bags.
    "So, what's for dinner?"
    Huggy took the sacks from him and sat them out on the table. "A grilled chicken salad for you, my blonde brother, and two Huggy Bear specials for Starsk and me. Do you think your apartment can handle that much cholesterol at the same time?"
    Hutch laughed softly. "Yeah, I think so. Come on, let's eat. I'm starting to get hungry."
    Starsky grinned. "Good. Then after we eat, we'll watch the game on TV."
    "Sure, Starsk, whatever you want to do."
    It's a whole lot better than straining my neck trying to look at my back.

   Starsky sat in Dr. Clayton's waiting room and people watched while they waited for the nurse to call Hutch's name. He let his mind wander, guessing why each one was here and which doctor they were seeing. The office building was annexed directly on to Memorial Hospital, making it easier for the doctors to care for their patients. People milled about, going in and out of the three exits in the building.
    While he was watching the others, Starsky glanced out of the corner of his eye at Hutch. The blonde was reading a magazine, supposedly. But Starsky knew his partner hadn't turned a single page in ten minutes. He reached over and squeezed Hutch's knee briefly. Without looking directly at his friend, Starsky smiled and winked. He felt the tension leave the blonde detective's body, and saw a ghost of a smile.
    Finally, Hutch's name was called and he disappeared behind a door. Starsky got up and walked to the coffe pot that sat on a table in the waiting room. He poured himself a cup, added cream and sugar, and took a cautious sip. The concoction tasted better than he thought it would, so he returned to his chair and resumed people watching as he drank his coffee. His mind strayed to the small room behind the closed doors and he resolutely pulled it back.
    Nurse Rosemary Howell led Hutch down the hall and opened the door. He walked in to the examining room and tried valiantly to control his breathing. It would be embarrasing if he started hyperventilitating before the doctor even touched him. The nurse walked to the examining table and took a gown out of the drawer.
    "You'll need to take off your jacket and your shirt, Sergeant. You can keep your trousers on, but please take off your belt. After you do that, just relax for a few minutes. The doctor will be with you shortly."
    With that, she smiled and closed the door behind her. Hutch did as he was instructed and lay down on the table. Somehow, sitting on it with his back exposed didn't appeal to him. Mercifully, Doctor Clayton knocked on the door a few minutes later and entered the examining room.
    "Good morning, Ken. How are you feeling?"
    "Scared."
    "That's understandable. Maybe it will help if you keep this in perspective. Even if the mole is cancerous, that's not necessarily a death sentence. We've caught it early and there aren't any other suspicious areas on your body. The key to controlling any cancer is early detection and aggressive treatments. The word "cancer" is terrifying, but it's not always synonomous with death."
    "I understand, Doc. I guess I just never thought it would happen to me. Famous last words, right?"
    "Right. Now, what I'm going to do is give you a local anesthetic to deaden the area. I'll make sure it's completely numb before I begin. Then I'll remove the mole and a small area around it. I'll send a section off to the lab and have it tested. We should have the results in about a week."
    Hutch made a face. "A week? Why so long?"
    "I'm sorry, I know that it will be hard on you, but that's the earliest we can expect them. All I can tell you is try not to dwell on it. Keep busy and try not to worry. I know that won't be an easy task."
    "No, but I don't guess I have a choice."
    "I wish I could speed the tests up, but I can't. Now, if you don't have any questions, we'll get started. If you'll lie down on your side, I'll administer the anesthetic. It will only take a few minutes to take effect."
    Twenty-nine minutes and forty seconds later, the friendly nurse opened the door and smiled at Starsky.
    "You can come back now, Detective."
    Starsky was behind her before the door closed. She led him to the examining room and motioned him through the door, closing it behind him.
    Hutch was sitting on the table, buttoning his shirt. Doctor Clayton was sitting at the desk, writing on a prescription pad. He smiled up at Starsky.
    "We're all finished here, Detective. Ken, I've written a prescription for an antibiotic cream. Apply the cream and change the bandage once a day. Make sure you keep the bandage on and keep the area clean and dry. The bandage will keep it from getting irritated by your shirt and belt. When you come back next week to have the stitches removed, I should have the test results. There shouldn't be too much discomfort; aspirin should be sufficient for any pain. In the meantime, try not to worry too much. Here's your release for your Captain. You're OK to go back to work Monday morning."
    "Thanks, Doc. I guess I'll see you next week."
    Starsky and Hutch waved to the doctor and left the office. Starsky looked at his friend.
    "So, blintz, what do you want to do now? We've got the whole weekend off. Let's enjoy it, OK?"
    "Sure, Starsk. I'm game. Whatever you want to do is fine. God knows I don't want to sit around that apartment until Monday."
    Starsky smiled. "We'll think of something." Then his smile faded. "Are you OK, Hutch?"
    "Yeah, I'm OK. Say, how's that bed sleep? Is it comfortable enough?"
    Starsky sqeezed his shoulder gently. "It'll do, buddy, it'll do."

   True to his word, Starsky kept his best friend busy for the rest of the weekend. He outlined a complete itinerary, filled with activities that both of them liked. He cheerfully accompanied Hutch on a walk through the countryside, dutifully oohing and aahing at the plants and animals that Hutch pointed out. They stayed long after dark, and even cooked hot dogs and roasted marshmallows over an open fire. Saturday found them playing miniature golf, just the two of them, with no girlfriends in tow. They spent Sunday in front of the tube. Huggy joined them and they spent the day watching ball games and drinking beer. Occasionally, Hutch would reach behind him and touch his shirt above the bandage, and Starsky would reach out and gently move his hand away.
    On Monday morning, Starsky got into the bathroom first while Hutch made them breakfast. Since Starsky was staying there, Hutch made a concession and cooked eggs, bacon and toasted wheat bread. After Hutch showered, Starsky changed the bandage over the incision and then left so Hutch could finish getting dressed.
    Hutch was just putting on his jacket when he heard Starsky curse from the living room.
    "Damn it, this is too much! Where the Hell did they go to now?"
    "Starsky, what are you dithering about?"
    "I can't find my car keys! Man, if it isn't one thing, it's something else. I know I had them last night, and I put them right on the end table. Now, I can't find them."
    Hutch shook his head and walked out of the bathroom. He looked around on the floor, and bent down and picked up the offending keys. He handed them back to his volatile partner.
    "Do you want me to put them on a string and pin them to your shirt for you, buddy?" Starsky's glare just made him laugh harder. The brunette detective snatched the keys from his friend's hands and stalked out the door.
    They had been on duty for almost an hour when the first call came through.
    "Dispatch to Zebra 3. Please respond to a 187 at Memorial Hospital Doctor's Annex. Meet 3-A-41 at the west entrance on Ferlinghausen Avenue."
    "We copy, Dispatch. ETA 17 minutes."
    Hutch let the microphone drop in his lap. He looked out his window, keeping his face away from Starsky's.
    "There's more than one doctor's office in that Annex, Hutch. Let's not jump to conclusions."
    Hutch sighed and looked over at his partner. "I know. It just really shook me up when I heard that." He smiled a little. "Besides, Carol didn't even say who it was. It may not even be one of the doctors."
    Starsky squeezed his partners shoulder. "That's better. We'll know in a few minutes, then we can take it from there. Right?"
    "Right."
    Officer's Baker and Henry met them at the entrance. Jerry Baker had matured into a good policeman over the years. His enthusiasm was still there, but was muted by experience.
    "OK, what have we got, Baker?"
    "The victim is Dr. Samuel O'Roarke. He's an internist, and he's been practicing out of the same office for about 17 years. His receptionist found him when she came in to work, about 9:05. He's been dead for a lot longer than that, though."
    "Is DeLaney inside?"
    "Yes. It's the third door on the right. Mrs. Reineike is in his private office. She's the receptionist that found him."
    "OK, Baker, thanks. I see the crime team's already here. Good work. Sit tight, and we'll get back to you."
    They walked into the office and found DeLaney in one of the examining rooms. Dr. O'Roarke's body lay on the floor, covered by one of his sheets.
    Starsky stood beside the ME. "What have we got, DeLaney?"
    "Male, 49 years old, shot once in the back at close range. Small caliber gun, maybe a .25."
    Hutch raised an eyebrow. "A .25 doesn't have much punch."
    "It does when it's point blank. This one went straight into the heart. He was dead before he hit the carpet."
    Starsky looked around. "I know these offices don't stay open all night long, but the hospital is right through those double doors. I can't believe someone walked in here and put a slug in this guy without anyone hearing it."
    One of the crime team members spoke up. "I think we have the answer for that, Detective Starsky."
    He came forward, holding a clear baggie with a pillow inside. "We found this in one of the trash cans. It's got a hole in the middle and we found the pillow case stuffed in the bottom of the trash can, too. There's powder burns on it."
    "So, somebody waltzed in here, grabbed a pillow and shot the guy in the back. Then they just walked right back out again. Man, that's cold-blooded if I ever heard it."
    Hutch nodded grimly. "Can you put a time of death on this one, DeLaney?"
    "I'd say sometime Friday night. You want anything closer, you wait for the post-mortem. The body's pretty far gone, as you can see."
    Starsky grimaced. "We'll take your word for it. Get back to us ASAP, OK?"
    DeLaney glared at Starsky. "You know, if you ever said to take my time, I'd probably faint, Starsky. I'll push it as hard as I can."
    Starsky grinned at his departing back and turned to his partner. "Well, let's go talk to the receptionist."
    Hutch knocked on the door, and then walked in. The receptionist was sitting in one of the easy chairs, sniffling and wringing a tissue in her hand.
    "Mrs. Reineike? I'm Detective Hutchinson, and this is Detective Starsky. I realize how upset you are, but there are a few questions we need to ask you. Do you think you're up to it?"
    The woman lifted her glasses and wiped her eyes. "I guess so. What do you want to know?"
    "Could you tell us what happened this morning? Take your time, and try to remember everything."
    "OK. I was a little late coming in this morning. My mother is in a nursing home, just a few blocks away. She had a bad night, so I stayed a few minutes longer this morning so I could talk to her nurse. Dr. Sam knows my mother is seriously ill, and he helped get her into that nursing home, so it would be close to work. As long as I'm there by 9:30, he doesn't say anything if I'm a few minutes late. I stopped for just a few minutes to talk to Nancy. She's the East Wing ward clerk. We've known each other for years. Anyway, I told her that I was running late and needed to get to the office to open up. When I got there, I saw the door was already unlocked. I called out to Dr. Sam and said I was sorry for being late. When he didn't answer, I went looking for him. I found him in Exam room 2. It was horrible!"
    Hutch patted her shoulder. "I know, Mrs. Reineike. It's OK. Would you like a glass of water?"
    "Yes, thank-you."
    Starsky drew a cup of water from the fountain and handed it to her. They sat patiently while she composed herself. She handed the cup back to Starsky and smiled slightly.
    "Thank-you. I'm sorry that I'm such a crybaby. It's just that I've been with Dr. Sam for almost 15 years. He was such a good doctor. I can't believe anyone would want to kill him!"
    "Yes, ma'am, we understand. Could you tell me when you last saw Dr. O'Roarke alive?"
    "Yes, it was Friday afternoon. I usually leave around 5 o'clock, after the last appointment of the day. Dr. Sam stayed late, but he does that a lot. I'm sorry, I meant 'did'. He dictated each patient's diagnoses and treatment into a tape recorder during the exam, and then played it back at night. It was easier than trying to remember every detail of the exam."
    "Was he alone when you left?"
    She sniffled into the tissue and nodded again. "Yes, the other girls had already left. I'm the last one out, and I trip the lock on the door. When Dr. Sam finishes, he just closes the door and it locks automatically."
    "Did he usually leave at the same time every night?"
    "Oh, no. Dr. Sam was very dedicated. He never paid attention to time. He'd come in early in the mornings, or stay late at night, whenever someone needed him. He was a wonderful man. I can't imagine anyone wanting to hurt him!"
    "I know how upsetting this is for you. We can stop for now, and let you get some rest. Why don't you let Officer Henry take you home? It's going to take us a while to go over everything, so we'll lock up when we leave. The only other thing we need right now is the names of everyone who works here. We'll need to talk to them, too."
    "All right. I have their files right in that cabinet. They contain everything you'll need."
    "That's good. Now, is there someone you'd like us to call for you? I realize this has been quite a shock for you."
    "No, I'll be all right. My next door neighbor is a good friend of mine. She'll keep me company, I'm sure."
    Mrs. Reineike stood up, then looked stricken. "Oh, goodness, I forgot about Mrs. O'Roarke! She sounded so upset when I told her what happened. Maybe I should call her and see if she's OK."
    "So, Dr. O'Roarke was married? When did you call her?"
    "After Rosemary called you, I mean, the police. I thought she should know, and I didn't want her to hear it over the radio, or anything."
    "Rosemary? Who's Rosemary? I thought you notified the police, Mrs. Reineike?"
    "Gosh, no, I was too shocked! Rosemary Howell is Dr. Clayton's nurse. She heard me screaming, and came over to see what was wrong."
    Starsky glanced quickly at his partner, but Hutch was controlling his expression carefully. A small shake of his head gave the only hint of his frustration.
    "OK, why don't you let Officer Henry take you home now, and we'll talk to Nurse Howell. We'll be in touch if we need to ask any more questions."
    "Yes, I'd like to go home. Thank-you. Poor Dr. Sam! What are all his patients going to do now?"

   The two detectives made sure Mrs. Reineike was safely on her way home, then went out to talk to Baker again.
    Starsky leaned against the patrol car. "OK, Jerry, what have you got so far?"
    "We've talked to Dr. Clayton's nurse. She's the one that called it in. She pretty much said the same thing that Mrs. Reineike did. She heard her screaming, and when she found Dr. O'Roarke, she called us."
    "OK, grab some help and start asking questions. Find out who was around Friday night, and if they heard anything suspicious. We won't know anything more until the autopsy is finished, but see if anyone remembers anybody going in or out of the Annex. We've got the crime team going over the good doctor's files, so don't worry about that. Concentrate on the hospital. We just don't have a lot to go on right now."
    "Sure thing, Starsky. It will take a while, but if we get anything solid, I'll let you know right away."
    Starsky clapped him on the back. "You might just make a detective yet, Jerry."
    "Oh, no, all I want is to be a good beat cop. That was good enough for my dad and it's good enough for me. I'll leave the detective work to you guys."
    "We hear you, Jerry. Now, we need the address of Dr. O'Roarke's widow. Apparently, Mrs. Reineike called her right after she found the doctor dead. We'll need to talk to her ASAP."
    "Sure. They live in Beverly Hills. From what I can gather, it's a family home, and Dr. O'Roarke's mother lives with them. If I'm thinking of the right house, it's quite a mansion. I'll write down the address for you."
    Starsky had to agree with Baker as he turned onto the gated drive. The house loomed above him, almost daring intruders to breach it's defenses. One lone car sat in front of the house.
    "Probably got a twenty car garage out back," Starsky muttered aloud.
    Hutch nodded. "No wonder my parents wanted me to be a doctor. I could get my whole family in that thing, and still never see them."
    They both straightened their jackets and and their backs as they waited for the door to open. If they were expecting Jeeves the butler, they were disappointed. An imposing young man in his twenties looked down at the two detectives. Although he was dressed in the usual attire, any resemblance to a typical servant ended there. He was at least 6'4", and would have been right at home on a football team.
    "Yes, may I help you?"
    Hutch cleared his throat. "I'm Detective Hutchinson and this is my partner, Detective Starsky. We'd like to speak with Mrs. O'Roarke about the death of her husband."
    The young man looked as if he'd eaten something sour. "Mrs. O'Roarke's husband died years ago."
    Starsky frowned. "I assume you're talking about Dr. O'Roarke's mother. We need to talk to her, of course, but we meant his wife. I believe her name is Leia?"
    "Oh. Her. She's in the sitting room. She's very upset. Can't this wait?"
    Hutch was fast losing patience. "No, it can't. We know that she has already been notified of his death. It's important to interview everyone associated with the doctor as soon as possible. Since his body was only discovered this morning, we've already lost precious time. If you don't mind...?"
    The male servant sniffed and moved back to let them in. He walked down the long hall, and knocked on a door. He opened it without waiting for an answer and walked in.
    Mrs. Leia O'Roarke stood frozen by the chair from which she had been rising. Anger flashed briefly in her eyes.
    "Yes, Toby? What is it? I told you I didn't want to be disturbed."
    Toby gestured at the two detectives. "Detective's Starsky and Hutchinson. They want to talk to you."
    Two voices spoke in unison. "I'm Starsky, he's Hutchinson."
    The butler shrugged. "Whatever."
    Without another word, he turned on his heel and left the three of them alone. Leia O'Roarke's eyes sent daggers into his back.When she turned back to them, her smile was rueful.
    "I'm sorry, detectives. Toby's family has worked for the household so long that he forgets his status. I assume you want to ask me about my husband's death?"
    Hutch nodded. "Forgive me for saying this, ma'am, but you don't seem very upset."
    "I was stunned when Elizabeth called me, and I guess it hasn't really sunk in yet. Besides, I'm an O'Roarke, if only by marriage. We don't show our emotions, Detective. We have a reputation to protect, you see."
    Starsky traded glances with his partner. "Yes, ma'am. Could you tell us where you were Friday night? I'm sorry to be so abrupt, be we have to ask."
       "Of course, I understand. I was in San Diego, visiting an old school friend of mine. I didn't get back until Saturday afternoon."
    "Weren't you worried when your husband didn't come home for two nights?"
    "My husband was very dedicated to his patients. I learned that lesson years ago, when I married him. It wasn't unusual for him to spend several nights in a row at the hospital. A lot of his patients have been with him for many years. They're getting older and their health is failing." She sighed. "My husband was married to his job first, and me second. I was very much in love with my husband. I knew what our life would be like from the moment he proposed, and I accepted it."
    Hutch smiled slightly. "Point taken. Do you know why anyone would want to kill your husband? Everyone that we've talked to speaks highly of him."
    For a brief moment, her composure broke. Her face reddened slightly and her fists clenched by her side.
    "No, I don't! Sam wasn't a god, by any means. He was a human being, with human failings. But he wasn't a bad man, either. The only thing he ever wanted to be was a doctor. He spent his life helping people, not hurting them. I can't imagine him doing anything so wrong that someone would want him dead."
    "Do you know if he ever recieved any threats, or suspicious phone calls? Was he having any problems outside his practice, or your marriage?"
    "No, not that I know of. Sam's practice was his whole life. If he had any problems outside of that, he didn't tell me about it."
    Hutch glanced at Starsky, raising an eyebrow. Starsky shook his head slightly, indicating that he didn't have any more questions for Dr. O'Roarke's widow.
    Hutch nodded once. "OK, I think that's all for now, Mrs. O'Roarke. If we have any more questions, we'll contact you. And if you think of anything that will help us, please don't hesitate to call."
    "Of course, Detective. You will keep me informed, won't you?"
    "Yes, ma'am. Oh, we do need to talk to Dr. O'Roarke's mother. Is she here?"
    "Katherine is always here, Detective. She's getting along in years and always complains about her arthritis slowing her down. Sam prescribed some anti-inflammatory drugs for her, but she said they didn't help. She's probably upstairs, in her private sitting room. Just go up one flight, and turn to your left. It's the third door down."
    Starsky smiled. "Thank-you, Mrs. O'Roarke. We're sorry for your loss."
    "It's Leia, Detective Starsky. Mrs. O'Roarke makes me sound so old."
    The two detectives nodded and closed the door gently behind them.

   Starsky looked at his partner and asked, "Well, what do you think?"
    "I think that is one unhappy widow. Considering the way Toby treated her, I'd say that her status in this family is pretty shaky right now. I'm curious to see how the good doctor's mother reacts to her now."
    "In other words, the lady wasn't good enough for mommy's little boy? If that's true, then the lady wouldn't kill her husband. So, do we cross Leia O'Roarke off our list of suspects?"
    Hutch shook his head. "Not just yet, partner, but we can move her down the list a little. Let's see what momma has to say first."
    They followed Leia's directions and knocked on the door. Neither man was surprised when Toby answered the door. His jaw clenched when he saw them.
    "Mrs. O'Roarke isn't seeing guests right now. She's in mourning."
    Hutch barely hid his anger. "Toby, my man, your loyalty is admirable, but it's starting to get on my nerves. We are investigating a homicide, and you are hampering that investigation. We're going to talk to Mrs. O'Roarke, either now or later. If we have to get a warrant and take her down town for questioning, we'll do it. We just thought she would be more comfortable talking to us in her own home."
    Before the servant could reply, a soft voice came from inside the room. "It's all right, Tobias. Show the detectives in, please."
    Toby grunted and moved aside. Katherine O'Roarke gestured once. "You may go now, Tobias. Please tell cook to have lunch ready promptly at one. There are arrangements to be made. I'll need you to drive me, of course."
    "Yes, Lady Katherine. Just ring when you are ready."
    Katherine smiled at the two men. "Won't you sit down, detectives? This arthritis makes it very difficult for me to stand for long periods of time. Now, how can I help you?"
    "Mrs. O'Roarke, we've talked to several people that knew your son, but we've yet to find a motive for his death. Did your son have any enemies? Perhaps someone who blamed the doctor for a loved one's death? Or, a peer that didn't agree with the doctor in some area of his career?"
    "No. I assure you, Detective Hutchinson, my son's reputation as a doctor was never sullied. There was never so much as a hint of a lawsuit in all the years that he practiced. Sam was recognized several times for his innovative treatments of various diseases."
    Starsky cleared his throat. "Forgive me for asking, but did your son have any vices? Did he like to gamble, or did he drink?"
    "No, he didn't. My son lived and breathed his profession. He simply didn't have time for anything else."
    Hutch's voice was quiet. "Did that include his wife?"
    Katherine sniffed disdainfully. "Marrying that woman was the worst mistake Sam ever made. I tried to talk him out of it, but he was young and said he was in love. She was completely wrong for him. She came from a poor family and wouldn't have been able to attend the university if it hadn't been for her scholarships. I tried to tell Sam that all she was interested in was his money and this home, but he was blind to all criticism about her. I'm convinced that the only reason why she stayed married to him all these years was to spite me."
    "Do you mean they were having problems?"
    "If they were, Leia was sure to keep them from me. If I had any idea that the marriage was in trouble, I would have kicked her out of my home immediately."
    "Then, can you think of any reason why someone would want to kill your son?"
    "I've been asking myself that same question, Detective. Samuel told me everything. There were no secrets between us. I can't think of anyone that wished him ill. That's what makes this whole thing so senseless. He wasn't some scoundrel living on the street. He was a prominent doctor with a successful practice. Are you sure that it wasn't simply a random act of violence?"
    "Right now, we're not sure of anything, Mrs. O'Roarke. We've just started the investigation. Don't worry. We're confident that we will find the person, or persons, that murdered your son. We'll let you rest now. We'll be in touch if we have any more questions."
    "Thank-you, gentlemen. I must admit that I'm quite fatigued. I'll have Tobias see you out."
    Starsky looked at his partner. "Uh, that's not necessary, Mrs. O'Roarke. We can see ourselves out."

   The duo grabbed a quick lunch, then went to Captain Dobey's office to compare notes. When they got to his office, Dobey was having a muted conversation on the phone. They sat quietly and waited for him to finish.
    "Yes, sir, I know Dr. O'Roarke's reputation. He's a prominent member of the community. Yes, we're doing everything possible to catch his killer. Yes, sir, I'll keep you informed."
    Dobey hung up the phone and sat back, exhaling slowly. He looked at his top detectives.
    "As if you couldn't tell, that was the Commissioner. Samuel O'Roarke was a VIP, and a close friend of the Commissioner's. He's putting the heat on me to solve this case quickly, and I'm putting it right on you two. So, what have we got?"
    Hutch grimaced. "What we've got is bumpkiss, Captain. The man was a saint. We've checked his credit history, and his bank accounts. There haven't been any large withdrawals lately on any of his accounts. He wasn't into drugs, cards, or the horses. We checked with the Medical Board. He's never been sued, for anything. His wife was even willing to take a back seat to his career. The only sound of discontent came from his mother, but it was directed toward the doctor's widow, not the doctor. I'm surprised they never erected a statue of him outside of his office."
    Dobey looked steadily at the blonde. "So, are you saying he's a little too good to be true?"
    Hutch shrugged. "Somebody didn't like the man. We've gone over his office inventory twice. He didn't keep any narcotics in his office, so we don't think it was a random hit."
    Starsky spoke up. "Whoever killed him knew his habits, and the other doctors', too. They knew he stayed late at his office, but most of the other doctors rarely did. They were confident enough to walk through the hospital and into his office after hours. We checked. The only door that wasn't locked at five o'clock each night was the one connected to the hospital. And most of the doctors used that entrance, too. They didn't even have a key to the other doors. We're looking for someone close to him, I'm sure of it. When we find out why, we'll find out who. Bet on it."
    Dobey pointed his finger at the two detectives. "I am betting on it, and so are you. I want this person, or persons, found. If that means you have to dig up a little dirt on O'Roarke, then do it, but watch yourself. Nobody likes to see their idol dragged through the mud. If you mess this one up, we'll all be in the unemployment line before you can blink."
   Starsky didn't act too afraid. "The problem is, Cap, we can't FIND any dirt. Katherine O'Roarke could have sent us in the widow's direction, but she didn't. The widow could have sent us in the mother's direction, but SHE didn't. The receptionist, Mrs. Reineike, thought O'Roarke walked on water, so she's not about to tell us anything. Nobody's talkin'."
    Hutch held up a finger. "Wait a minute. She won't, but we haven't talked to anyone else in that office, yet. Where's the personnel records?"
    Starsky rummaged through the files. "Here they are."
    Hutch looked through the manila folders. He held out one for Starsky to read. "This one, Evelyn Chambers, she's only worked for O'Roarke for about three years. Everyone else has been with him for at least ten. Was she added because his patient load increased, or did she replace someone else?"
    Starsky grinned. "Let's find out."

   Thirty minutes later, the Torino pulled into the parking garage beneath the Abbey Apartments. They took the elevator to the fifth floor, and knocked on Evelyn Chambers' door. Moments later, the door opened and an almond shaped green eye peeked out of the crack.
    "Yes, may I help you?"
    "Miss Chambers, I'm Detective Starsky and this is Detective Hutchinson. We'd like to talk to you about Dr. O'Roarke."
    "Of course, come in." She closed the door long enough to take the chain off, then opened it all the way. Evelyn was a pretty brunette, about thirty years old. She showed them into the small living room and motioned for them to be seated.
    "I'm not sure how I can help you. I told the other policeman that I left Friday at 4:30 and Dr. O'Roarke was still alive."
    "Yes, we know that. We just wanted to ask you a few questions about your employment. You worked for the doctor for three years. Is that correct?"
    "Yes, it is."
    Starsky moved forward in his chair. "Did you, by any chance, replace anyone?"
    "Well, yes, I did. I replaced Allison Sweeney. She worked for Dr. O'Roarke for almost ten years, but quit when her husband became ill. I was an LPN at the hospital at the time, and Dr. Sam said he liked the way I worked. He was very particular about his nurses. He said he gave the highest quality of care to his patients and wouldn't tolerate any less from his employees. I went to work for him a week later, and I've been there ever since."
    Hutch thought for a moment, then changed the direction of his questions. "Miss Chambers, did you like working for Dr. O'Roarke?"
    "Yes, I did, very much. He was a wonderful doctor and a perfect gentleman, at least to me."
    "What do you mean by that?"
    "Well, you know how gossip gets started in a small office like ours. I heard a few things when I first started, but Elizabeth said to consider the source and to not pay attention to them."
    "Who was the source?"
    "Why, Allison, of course. Honestly, Elizabeth was more offended than Dr. Sam was by the rumors Allison started when she left. Dr. Sam just took them in stride and didn't even comment about them."
    "Exactly what rumors did she start?"
    "Well, I don't like spreading gossip, Detective Hutchinson, but I do want you to catch the person who killed Dr. Sam. She wasn't very specific about names, but she said that Dr. Sam was a little too involved with some of his female patients, if you get my drift. Allison told me that one day over lunch, but she wouldn't say which patients she was talking about, or how she knew. I was very uncomfortable about what she said, so I mentioned it to Elizabeth. Well, let me tell you, she hit the roof! She said such scandalous gossip would not be tolerated in that office and not to mention it again. She said she was very hurt by what Allison said, because Dr. Sam had done so much for her and her husband. I could tell that everyone else in the office felt the same way, because they were very cool toward me for a while after that. So, I never brought it up again."
    Starsky gave Hutch a thumbs up behind Evelyn's back, then got up to go.
    "Well, thank-you for your time, Miss Chambers. We'll keep what you said in confidence, at least until our investigation is finished. If we need anything else, we'll be in touch."
    "Of course, Detective Starsky. You know, it doesn't really matter what Dr. Sam did after hours. He was a good doctor. I would think any infidelity would be between him and his wife. If husbands were murdered simply because they were unfaithful, divorce courts would be empty, and the morgue would be full."
    Starsky smiled. "I agree, Miss Chambers. Good-bye."
    The two detectives walked back to the Torino. Starsky grinned at his partner.
    "Finally, a real lead! Looks like you were right, buddy. Dr. Sam WAS a little too good to be true."
    "Yeah, it looks like it, but I can't believe it's going to be that easy. I know it's the oldest reason in the books, but Miss Chambers was right. There's always divorce court."
    "Not if it means losing everything. Looks like Mrs. O'Roarke is still at the top of the list."
    "Well, if that lady was lying to us, and knew about her husband's little flings, then she's one Hell of an actress. I want to talk to Allison Sweeney before we talk to Leia again."
    "Then, let's go see her, but not tonight. It's late, and I'm getting hungry. What say we go grab something to eat and knock off for now? We can tackle Allison in the morning."
    "Sounds good to me, partner. One thing's for sure. Dr. Sam isn't going anywhere and I doubt if his widow is, either."

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