Hutch stared a moment at Starsky then turned around, snagging the receiver off the phone. He winced as his protesting hand reacted to the use. Cradling the receiver to his ear, he jabbed a button.

 

        "Is this the front desk?" he asked. "This is Detective Sergeant Ken Hutchinson, can you get me an outside line to Willow Lake?" As he reeled off a number, his ears heard a restrained groaning. He looked up at Ali then over at Starsky who was painfully swinging his legs up onto the spare bed, and trying not to moan in the process. His concerns went up a notch. Starsky had mentioned how Ali had got them from the barn, and knew that besides the attempted strangling, the efforts to get out of the fire were gonna make themselves known all over Starsky's body.

 

        "Yeah, Doug?" Hutch replied to a voice in his ear, "This is Hutch. I need you to locate Professor Cleve Harlan, word is he's staying somewhere in town. Make sure he doesn't leave. I also need you to get me a search warrant for the Bow Lake Lodge and Ted O'Brian's home." There was a pause then Hutch replied.

 

        "Ali? Hasn't woke up yet. Doctor seems to think she'll be all right, just has a concussion mainly. Starsk? He's hurting, but fine."  At his words a derisive snort emerged from the far bed.

 

       "What's my barn look like?" Hutch asked looking over at Starsky who was staring thoughtfully up at the ceiling with a smirk on his face. He glanced over at Hutch as he listened intently to whatever Doug was telling him.

 

       "All the way down? Any idea yet of the cause?" There was a long pause as Hutch stared blank faced back at his partner. "Caused by what?" He asked softly, a glint appearing in Hutch's eyes that Starsky only too well recognized. He frowned, why would Hutch be getting irked? Hutch looked directly at him. "A car light…shorting on the hay."

 

       Starsky felt as if someone had suddenly doused him in ice water.

 

       "Oh sh**…" he barely breathed, looking away from Hutch. "Oh sh**!"

 

       "Why do I want the warrants?" Hutch asked into the phone. "Cleve Harlan tried to force his way into the O'Brian house this afternoon, and who ever killed Hallie Illingsworth, used the same MO as the person who tried to strangle Starsky tonight. I

especially want to question Ted O'Brian's father, Starsky stumbled across something up there that has us both asking questions. Matter of fact Doug, see what you can find out for me on Ted O'Brian, especially around the time of his birth, think you can get all that for me?" Hutch glared at the brunette who was suddenly staring back at the ceiling again.

 

       "Yeah I'll check in with you in the morning, nothing much we can do tonight, Pratt didn't know if he could make it back to get us, so we'll have to see what we can do from here." He glanced up at the clock on the wall, then back at Starsky.

 

       "Yeah I'll do that, Thanks Doug." Without even turning, Hutch lowered the receiver from his ear and reached behind him to hang it up.

 

       "It was my car light wasn't it?" Starsky asked. Hutch said nothing.

 

       "I remember seeing it hit the floor on the loft." He looked over at him apologetically. "After that I was a little preoccupied…"

 

        Hutch just closed his eyes, dropped his head a little, then reached up and ran his hand down his face, rubbing momentarily at his tired eyes.

 

      "Barn's gone, and everything in it. Doug says they're still there trying to put the hay out."

 

      "Hutch I…" Starsky tried to apologize.

 

      "Starsk." The blonde said looking at him. "You don't have to apologize." Starsky looked at him, remorse on every part of his face.

 

       "I'm just glad you both got out of it alive." Hutch said softly, then looked down at his wife.                

 

       "Doug said it took less than fifteen minutes to go up in smoke. You two didn't have much time to react."

 

       "Fifteen…" Starsky barely breathed as he recalled the events. He suddenly was glad he was laying down.

 

       "What I want to know is who the hell was in that barn with you?" Starsky couldn't help but hear the implied threat in Hutch's voice.

 

        "You ain't the only one, pal!" Starsky croaked back. "I'd like to get my hands around his throat for a change!"

 

        "I also want to know what became of Hallie Illingsworth son. Who got him after she died?"

 

        "I get the feeling he didn't go very far." Starsky mumbled, the effects of the drugs in his system beginning to win the battle.

 

        "Somehow I think you're right." Hutch mused thinking on what they had discussed. "So who is in Ted's house?" He asked. Not hearing an answer right away he glanced at Starsky.

 

         He was out.

 

        Work, the present case, his wife and best friend nearly killed in a fire that destroyed his barn and everything in it added up to an uncomfortable and restless night for Hutch. When he did fall asleep, he was sitting awkwardly in the chair next to Ali's bed. With a pillow against it, and his feet propped up on the other chair, he managed to drop off somehow into the kind of sleep that didn't give you any rest. His mind had trailed off down the road marked 'financial strain' as he pondered over what they were gonna do about the loss of the barn. He and Ali were still struggling over the load of bills that had accompanied the rescue attempts for himself the previous November, plus the running of the Ranch. Wearied, he dropped off to sleep somehow, but not before the memories of the last time he had sat in a hospital waiting for Ali to wake up came back to haunt him. Those worrisome thoughts traveled with him as he fell asleep.

 

          In the wee hours when things were so still and quiet, even in a hospital, Hutch thought he heard a rustling next to his head. Blearily he blinked his eyes open, just in time to see Ali's feet move. Slowly, he swung his legs to the floor, turning in his chair, looking at the still blank features of his wife. The touch of his hand on hers brought out a soft moan and a frown on her face. Hutch suddenly quit breathing.

 

          So many years before she had woke up and reacted badly. He realized his own heart was hammering in his chest as Ali's eyes began to water as she struggled to open them. Reflexively, his large hand gripped her tiny one as she began to focus on him. She tried lifting her head, winced, groaned, and thickly whispered…

 

           "Kenny?"

 

           The release of tension in him was nearly palpable as he half stood up, leaning over her. His voice cracked as he murmured softly in her ear, placing an infinitely soft kiss on her cheek.

 

           "I'm right here, babe. I'm right here." He gently wiped the tears from her eyes, as she focused on him better. He smiled slightly realizing he had puddles in his own eyes.

 

           "Hey." he said, feeling a flood of relief as she recognized who he was. She gazed at him a long moment before gingerly reaching up and touched his face, where a tear had rolled down. Her gaze averted to the needles and bandages across the back of her hand.

 

            "Take it easy." He murmured, smiling gently. "You're okay." Her gazed flicked back to him.

 

            "There was a fire? Wasn't there?" She asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Hutch nodded, more relief coursing through him as he watched her struggle to remember and succeed.

 

             "How bad, Kenny?" She asked.

 

             "You're okay, hon. Caught a beam with your head."

 

             "David?" she asked. He grinned slightly.

 

             "Sleeping it off on the other side of you."

 

             With effort, and obvious pain, Ali slowly rolled over, looking around, realizing where she was at. She looked at Starsky, zoned under a blanket Hutch had found for him sometime during the night. She looked back at her husband a question in her eyes.

 

             "He's fine. Just sleeping it off."

 

            "Blue?" She asked.

 

             "Doug says he's fine too. Don't work yourself up, Ali. Just relax hon, you took a good sized beam in the head." Hutch said seeing that she was getting tense. "C'mon babe, relax."

 

             "Somebody tried to strangle him."

 

             "I know, Hon. He's alright."

 

             "The barn caught fire." She looked puzzled, forcing her pounding skull to remember. She looked at her husband. "Oh Kenny," she breathed, wincing. Another groan escaped her lips. "I'm so sorry."

 

             "What for Ali? You couldn't help it!" Hutch protested softly.

 

             "I got a hold of Dave's pistol." She closed her eyes wearily, rolling back towards him with a moan that told him how sore she really was. "I emptied the clip before I knew what I was doing."

 

              Hutch smiled, a mix of deep love, sadness, and mirth.

 

              "It's okay, Ali." He murmured slipping his injured hand around to her back and rubbing, not caring about the pain. "Don't get upset."

 

             She squeezed her eyes closed a moment, frowning as a wave of pain assaulted her head. As it passed she slowly opened them to gaze at him.

 

              Then it hit her. She saw the worry, the concern, but mostly the fear and the memories. Lifting her arm she slipped her hand around his neck and he drew her to him in gentle embrace.

 

             "Oh Kenny!" She breathed. "What have you been going through?"

 

             Hutch softly snorted, burying his face a moment in her neck and ivory colored hair, being extra careful not to grip as hard as he wanted to. He glanced up at another movement, seeing Starsky roll over onto his side, facing them, the lightest of smirks on his face. He looked at Hutch and winked, mouthing…

 

             "I told you so!"

 

              Both men knew something was up when not one, but two of the Tucannon County Sheriff's Dept. vehicles showed up at the tiny dirt airstrip belonging to John Pratt for his crop dusting service. Doug was out of his truck as the Cessna that had brought them from Spokane touched down and ran the length of the strip before turning and taxiing his way.

 

        Doug, holding a folder in his hands, acted impatient as the two detectives climbed out.

 

        "What is it, Doug?" Hutch asked, ducking under the wing, heading for him.

 

        "Been a shooting out down on the Jefferson place that I have to get to. I had to get this to you first. Harlan was staying at the Comfort Inn, but gave Rick the slip about half an hour ago. I think with what I got out of County Records and those two warrants, you two need to get up to Bow Lake a s a p!"

 

        "A shooting?!" Starsky asked.

 

        "Nothing to do with you, but I think you had better check that file out and head on up. I got Rick to give up his rig, get going!" Doug said jogging away from them, as he handed the file to Hutch. Hutch just barely nodded sensing the urgency coming from Doug. They'd know more later no doubt. He and Starsky piled into the waiting Bronco.

 

        "Gave him the slip huh? Wonder if he's limpin'?" Starsky muttered, climbing into the driver's seat.

 

        "And heading for the Lake too. Think we can catch up with him?" Hutch said, flipping the file open.

 

        "Your wish is my command!" Starsky chortled, flooring the accelerator.

 

        They were flying down the highway seconds later when Hutch let out a low whistle. He had been intensely scanning the file Doug had handed to him.

 

        "May have hit pay dirt here, buddy!"

 

        "Oh yeah?"

 

        "Doug's sources came up with the adoption record of an unknown baby boy to Gerald and Helen O'Brian. Only Helen O'Brian had died in a car accident just before the adoption took place."

 

        "So Jerry got a little boy all by himself." Starsky looked over at Hutch.

 

        "One guess who that boy was…"

 

        "File says that the boy was adopted from Texas, eight months after the disappearance of Hallie Illingsworth and her son."

    

   "Wouldn't be hard to make a kid disappear. Happens all the time nowadays." Starsky replied dryly, passing a semi truck at close to 90 mph. "But why go back and adopt the kid?"

 

        "Good question, why would Jerry O'Brian want to take on a baby? Oh ho!" Hutch murmured, in pleasant surprise.

 

        "What'dya find?"

 

        "Doug has written in here that Jerry and a Mark Miller, District Court Judge for Ft. Worth Texas, have been friends for almost half a century. Guess who signed the adoption papers?"

 

        "Mr. Miller!" Starsky grinned. "But if we can find all this out, so can Harlan, what's his angle?"

 

        "Simple! He wants revenge, for the murder of his sister and the kidnapping of his nephew, if what you said about him trying to get into the house has any merit. That guy is slick, Starsk, I wouldn't trust him to teach a Sunday School class!"

 

        "So let's review this thing…" Starsky suggested. "Six weeks ago we go fishin' in a lake and find the body of a woman who has turned to soap. Turns out the lady has been in there 40 years and was murdered by someone with a knotted rope, most likely a man. Ali, in her own way, steps on a bunch of toes and up pops Ted O'Brian, who knows about the woman."

 

        Hutch picked up the thread.

 

        "Meanwhile the Coroner gets a positive ID on Hallie and the people in her locket. In walks Harlan, trying to manipulate people around to get something he wants really bad." Starsky shot a glance at Hutch, their eyes meeting, an exchange of slight smiles. Years ago they used to bounce information back and forth between themselves as partners in the LAPD. Not much had changed, they still could do it.

 

        "Harlan decides it's time to confront Gerald O'Brian at the O'Brian home, but Ted won't let him near, seems Jerry is dying of cancer. Enter yours truly, who runs Harlan off the property, but not before overhearing that Gerald may not be Ted's real father.. Your's truly incurs his ire, and also threats from Theodore!" Starsky grinned looking back at Hutch.

 

        "Who goes home, hoping to do some chores around the barn when he gets attacked from behind and nearly strangled to death by a large perp with a knotted rope."

 

        "The same type of murder weapon to kill Hallie Illingsworth."

 

        "In the ensuing fight the barn is set on fire, sending both you and my wife to the hospital."

 

        "And while we wait, our reliable Sheriff turns up the adoption records of Ted O'Brian, by one Gerald, a recent widower, who, in the 1940's, manages to adopt the baby boy courtesy of a judge he personally knows."

 

        "Several months after the disappearance of Hallie Illingsworth and her baby boy." Hutch mused, looking very thoughtful.

 

        "Try this, Starsk. Gerald knows the Illingsworths, as what you said about Harlan confirms. His wife dies. Charles Illingsworth dies in the war. Gerald goes to Hallie. Something goes wrong and he kills her. To get rid of her is simple, dump her on a lake no one comes back from. So what about the boy? He can't have Hallie, so he goes after the son. Ships him to  Texas, gets his friend the judge to sign over adoption to him. On life goes. Meanwhile Cleve Harlan has been searching and waiting and searching and waiting for the opportunity to get at Gerald in his own way. In we walk, or I should say Ali, she discovers Hallie's body and through her pursuit of answers, stirs up the hornets nest all over again." Hutch looked at Starsky.

 

        "Harlan, upon identifying his sister and the people in the locket, and no doubt knowing that Gerald O'Brian is about to die from cancer decides he wants to be the one to drive the nail in the coffin."

 

        "And tries to take me out of the way to prevent me from stopping him."

 

        "And taking my wife out in the process."

 

        "Sounds good to me, pal." Starsky said.

 

        "We just need to see if Harlan or Ted is limping and if one or the other has a '79 pick up with new air conditioning." Hutch added.

 

        "Thanks to Ali." Starsky replied looking over at his partner. Hutch looked at him, then smirked slightly nodding his head.

 

        "In her own warped and twisted way, yeah, thanks to her."

 

        Starsky snapped his fingers, suddenly barking out a laugh, and looking at Hutch with triumph.

 

        "O'Brian knows!"

 

        "What do you mean?" Hutch snapped.

 

        "He told Harlan he didn't want him going around spreading his lies. Harlan has told him he's an Illingsworth. Ted refuses to accept it! That's why he's so angry about us getting involved in the case. He's also mad enough and defensive enough…"

 

        "To deny it all!" Hutch finished for him. The two looked at each other, the feral smiles of two predators after prey lurking across their features as the hunt drew closer to success.

 

        "It fits Starsk! It fits!"

 

        "We got to get to Jerry O'Brian!"

 

        "Before Harlan does."

 

        "Should have caught up to him by now!" Starsky muttered trying to eke out a little more speed from the Bronco.

 

        "If he obeyed the speed limit." Hutch replied dryly, he reached across the dash and flipped on the flashers strapped across the top of the Bronco. Starsky only smiled in return and edged the needle up on the speedometer a little more.

 

         When they did pull into the lot at Bow Lake Lodge, they looked at each other, questions in their eyes. The place was deserted. No cars were parked anywhere in the lot. A glance at the dash clock told them both that the place should be jumping with the breakfast crowd. Hutch's head swiveled around, looking out across the lake. There were a few fishing boats scattered around it, and several large cruisers docked at the resort pier. Other than that, there was nobody.

 

        Starsky slowly let the Bronco roll forward, carefully scanning his side of the car while Hutch did the same on his. Habit kicked in, Hutch reached up, slipping his hand inside his jacket to pull his weighty .357 Magnum from its holster under his left arm.. As he did he let out a sharp hiss of pain, causing Starsky to nearly jump out of his skin.

 

        "What the…" he started then stopped at the look of pain on Hutch's features as he gingerly extracted the gun with only three fingers. He quickly switched hands, drawing the other to him, waiting for the wave of pain to pass before looking down at it. The swelling and the tattletale deep purple bruising under the skin of his ring and small finger knuckles told the story.

 

        "Damn!" Hutch hissed, grimacing at his hand.

 

        "That's what you get for punchin' a wall!" Starsky snapped and looked at his partner with concern. "Can you use it?"

 

        "I don't know. Might have to switch hands."

 

        "You're not that ambidextrous, Hutch." Starsky murmured.

 

        "I am with support." Hutch replied, fingering the stock on his gun awkwardly. He slipped his injured hand around his left wrist, trying not to wince at the pain. He nodded as they drew closer to the building.

 

        "Something definitely isn't right here."

 

        "You can say that again." Starsky said looking at the lodge with increasing uneasiness. He knew Hutch was feeling the same way.

 

        "Where are all the patrons?" Hutch mused out loud.

 

        "There's a sign in the window." Starsky said, pointing it out. He stopped the car.

 

        Moving cautiously, they both popped open the doors and slowly got out, still looking carefully around. Starsky unzipped his jacket and retrieved his own pistol.

 

        "This place should be crawling with people." Hutch muttered, gripping his Magnum, left handed. Moving together, they both headed towards the lodge door.

 

        Hanging crookedly in the door window was a hand scrawled sign.

 

        "Death in the family." Starsky muttered under his breath.

 

        "Gerald O'Brian?" Hutch asked, looking over his shoulder towards the lake.

 

        "Has to be. He wasn't long for this earth when I saw him yesterday." Starsky tried the door, finding it locked. He looked thoughtfully at it, then abruptly holstered his pistol.

 

        "What are you doing?" Hutch asked as the brunette fished out his ID wallet. His eyes glittered a bit as he slipped a fingernail along the edge of the leather and pulled out a lock pick.

 

        "I want to take a look at that picture again, I'll only be thirty seconds."

 

        Hutch looked at the smirk on his partner's features.

 

        "That's illegal you know."

 

        "So who's gonna arrest me? You?" he asked as he slipped the lock pick in and looked around. It never ceased to amaze Hutch how quickly Starsky could open doors when he wanted too.  He only smirked back as Starsky hitched his eyebrows at the sounds of a satisfying click, then slipped wordlessly inside the door. True to his word, he was back in less than thirty seconds, carrying the picture.

 

        "Nobody in there but the rats." He commented as he locked the door and shut it. He flipped the picture over quickly, loosing the tabs holding the backing in place, while moving towards the Bronco.

 

        "Did you see the pictures in Hallie's Locket?" he asked Hutch as the blonde leaned over his shoulder, watching what Starsky was doing.

 

        "Yeah."

 

        "Tell me that Ted doesn't look like his dad. Ah ha! Look there." Starsky grinned in triumph. Scrawled on the back of the picture were three names and a date.

 

        "Charles Illingsworth, Gerald O'Brian, and Mark Miller, June 1940." Starsky flipped the picture over. Hutch shook his head as he studied the photo.

 

        "How the hell did I miss that?" he murmured.

 

        "Mark Miller." Starsky commented.

 

        "Our obliging judge from Texas."

 

        "What was it about Hallie Illingsworth that would cause Gerald to adopt her son?" Starsky mused.

 

        "If he's dead, we may never find out." Hutch mused, stroking thoughtfully at his moustache.

 

        "I'm telling ya Hutch, Ted knows. I'm bettin' that Jerry told him everything before he died, and that Harlan has tried to tell him everything, but he's refused to listen to him. And why would Harlan wait this long to get even?"

 

        "Maybe because he wasn't certain what really happened with Hallie to begin with. Her resurfacing in the lake the way she did, may have just been the spark to light the fire."

 

        "And what about Jerry's dying? What'll he do if he's not able to get to him before he dies?" Starsky asked looking at Hutch. Their eyes met...

 

        "He'll try to talk to Ted." Hutch replied.

 

        "And Ted isn't in any mood to talk!" Starsky hastily began gathering up the pieces off the hood of the car.

 

        "Where would they be at?" Hutch asked as they scrambled back into the Bronco.

 

        "There's a house back up above the lodge, the driveways got to be a short distance down the road." Starsky said, whipping the Bronco around. "What I want to know is, where is Harlan?"

 

        What greeted them when they did find the driveway was a '79 pick up, dark brown, with a stitch mark of several bullet holes running down its length. Starsky snorted out a laugh.

 

        "Will you look at that?"

 

        "That was parked up on the irrigation ditch?" Hutch asked as they drew along side the vehicle. It had been parked a short way down the drive way from the house. Starsky was busy counting.

 

        "Twelve out of 17!" he said looking askance at his partner. "Al hasn't lost her touched with a gun."

 

        "She just lost her reasoning to be able to handle it properly." Hutch said testily, looking at the truck.

 

        "Well, consider the circumstances, pal." Starsky replied, slowly rolling past the truck. Hutch sighed, fingering the stock of his gun.

 

        "Yeah."

 

        Starsky could here in his voice that Hutch was kicking himself for not being home.

 

        "She did all right, Hutch." He said quietly as they drew up to with in sight of the house. Starsky stopped short, remaining in the trees.

 

        "How do we want to do this?" he asked as they looked at the garage and house before them. Ted's F-150 sat parked in the driveway.

 

        "If that was Harlan in the truck, he's got to be in that house somewhere." Hutch commented.

 

        "Front of the place is to the left, two steps up to the deck. Front door is mid way. Living room will be on your left as you face the door. Gerald's room was at the back left side also. You take the front and I'll take the back of this place, see what's up." Starsky said, knowing Hutch would get a quick layout in his head before his feet hit the gravel.

 

        "Gotcha." Hutch replied, letting himself out. As a precaution, Hutch slipped over to the truck, checking out the bullet holes, then laid his hand on the hood. "Engine's still hot." He said as Starsky watched, the brunette nodded and the two split up, Hutch slipping off into the trees and Starsky making his way up the driveway.

 

        It hadn't been very long since Harlan had arrived at the house. As both men, keeping a cautious eye on each other, slowly approached the building, they could hear Ted's voice booming inside.

 

        He was laughing.

 

        Like a cat Hutch slipped silently up onto the porch, sticking close to the house, back against the wall. Clumsily, he gripped his left wrist as best he could, holding the Magnum down. The grimace on his face a mixture of pain and knowing that he and his partner were walking into a dangerous situation. Instinct screamed it. Something wasn't right, and Ted O'Brian began to confirm it.

 

        "You're too late you damned fool!" His voice carried out the front door, which happened to be open.

 

        "He can't be dead yet! You're bluffing, Theodore!" Harlan's voice replied closer to them. Hutch paused, gluing himself to the wall, listening.

 

        "Oh yes, he is! He died at 2:30 this morning! You're too late! I've already taken him down to the boat!"

 

        "I don't believe you." Harlan responded. Ted laughed, a note of hysteria in it.

 

        "Go look for yourself!" Ted challenged, almost gleefully. "You'll never get the chance to kill him now! And he told me everything! Everything I tell you! All your lies, your mis-leadings, your filth! Wasted!" He laughed again. Hutch could hear movement and silently swore, unable to look around the door to see if Harlan was the one limping, with out giving himself away.

 

        "You're the one who'll pay now, Harlan! You! You'll never succeed!" Ted gloated. There was a pause as the two men left the living room. Hutch risked a quick look inside. He barely caught sight of Ted's back as he moved down a hall.

 

        "It was you! You all along! You killed your own sister! You choked the life out of her with a rope! You didn't like the fact that she married Charles Illingsworth and tried to blame her death on Dad! You've tried to convince everyone that I'm Illingsworth's son! You've gone around telling everyone that Dad was her killer! And you've waited this long to come back and

try to kill him! Well you've lost!"

 

        "Don't be a damned fool, Robert!" Harlan voice rose as he went into another room. "You're the living image of your father! You could be his twin! You are Robert Illingsworth whether you care to believe it or not!"

 

        "I AM NOT!" Ted roared. "That's just one of your lies!"

 

        "Gerald O'Brian was crazy in love with Hallie!" Harlan shouted back. "It drove him insane when she turned down his proposal and married Charles instead! In spite, he married Helen Leary and her death in the accident drove him over the edge! He went back to Hallie when he learned that Charles wasn't coming back from the Philippines and when she refused to accept

him he throttles the life out of her! Then he took you! He took you away from her family, he took you away from ME! You are my sister's only child! MY SISTER! My only surviving relative! And by god, Theodore, or what ever you want to call your self! I'm not going to let that murderous bastard get away with his last dying wishes! If that Hutchinson woman would only have

cooperated, I'd have sent O'Brian off the way he should have gone!"

 

        "Hutchinson!?  What has SHE got to do with this?" Ted hollered. Hutch froze, as if a bucket of ice water had been dumped all over him. Harlan however was on a roll.  

 

        "If she'd have only followed me up here! Her disability clouds her reasoning! She's nuts! And a fully trained cop! She'd have got me in here and would have been indispensable in helping me destroy Gerald O'Brian!"

 

        "You're crazy!" Ted shouted at him. "And a liar!"

 

        "And that Starsky!" Harlan continued. "He had the golden opportunity in his hands of solving her murder and getting all the credit, but what does he do?! The damn fool runs me off! He threatens to stop me from coming up here and getting what I want! Well I stopped that! He and that Hutchinson woman are probably toast by now! And when they autopsy the body they'll find that he died of strangulation, just like Hallie did and you know what, Theodore? They'll come looking for you!!"

 

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