Hutch came back to the garage just as Matt was sliding out from under his car.
“I think it’ll run a little better.” Matt was fishing in the pocket of his filthy overalls while he spoke to Hutch. He found what he was looking for and held it out to Hutch.
“I found this under the right fender.”
It was a tracking device. Hutch tossed it in his palm and looked at it carefully. He’s seen one like that before – but where? He was pretty sure that there was something special about this bug. Starsky was good at that kind of identification. Oh well, he couldn’t count on Starsk for at least another thirty six hours. The thought of Starsky made his stomach rumble – he hadn’t eaten since breakfast and he was hungry. He decided to go see Huggy.

Huggy was clearing up the mess.
“It looks like some of your customers got over-excited, Hug.” Hutch picked up a chair and righted it as he spoke. Huggy was struggling to return a pinball machine to its usual position. Hutch went to help him…and saw the damage on Huggy’s face.
“It wasn’t over-excited customers, huh?”
“No. It was a message for you.”
Hutch followed him over to the bar and settled on a stool. “Did they give any details?”
“Yea. They told me in no uncertain terms that it was dangerous for my health to be seen with you two guys.” Huggy stopped and looked around. “Hey; where’s Starsky?”
“He’s observing Kippur.”
“Do what?”
“Yom Kippur. Starsky seems to have had an attack of religious revival. Right now he’s sitting in the synagogue and not eating or drinking for twenty four hours.” Hutch looked at his watch; it was one pm. “They started at dusk last night; he has another few hours to go.”
“Huggy shook his head and reached for a bottle of Tylenol. I don’t like to think what he’ll be like when he’s finished. If Starsky doesn’t eat you can hear his stomach growl louder than that charged up short of his.”
Hutch laughed. He watched as Huggy swallowed two pills and held a wet towel to his eyes. “And that’s not mentioning the headaches he gets if he doesn’t get enough caffeine in the day.”
“I’ll go and see how he is tomorrow. Right now I have other things to deal with; starting with the messengers who came to call on you. Can you describe them?”
“I can do better than that Hutch; I can tell you exactly who they are and who they work for. And you ain’t going to like it.”
He was right. Hutch didn’t like what he heard at all!

They hadn’t had trouble from this quarter for a very long time. Not since they were first working as detectives. Frank Tallman had been good to his word and had conveniently died three months before the final appeal was due to be heard. He left behind a grieving young widow, a not-so-grieving first wife and a son from his first marriage. The son and his mother had every intention of continuing to run business as usual, without the help of the second Mrs. Tallman. Unfortunately for them, despite the old man’s predictions about his early death he had turned out to be a little healthier than everyone expected. The young widow was eight months pregnant! The ensuing feud between the two Mrs. Tallmans was being fought out on the streets. The second Mrs. T was the sister of a well-known underworld personality in Las Vegas. She had, as one might say, contacts! To complicate the issue her last affair before she married Tallman had been with Ray O’Malley, a man who would never miss the opportunity to increase the reach of his own drug and prostitution networks. The possibility of an all-out gangland war was real and dangerous.

Huggy’s two messengers had come from O’Malley.
Now all Hutch needed to find out was why O’Malley thought that he and Starsky were interested in him. As far as he could remember, O’Malley had never dabbled in anything other than drugs and running his stable; arms deals were not his style.

He picked up another table. As he lifted it he revealed a pile of broken glass and caught a quick reflection of the bar lights before he replaced the table into its normal position. Could there be a link?

“Huggy; have you heard anything about someone watching me…or Starsk, I guess.”
“Not a peep. The only thing I heard loud and clear was the bit where they told me to tell you guys to keep out of it.” Huggy picked up a dishcloth and went to wipe the counter; he put his hand to his head and changed his mind. “I guess I’ll leave this to the staff! I’ll be upstairs if anyone wants to see me; but I do not recommend it!”
Hutch took the hint and went out to his car.
He sat for a moment and checked out the other cars parked along the street. He saw nothing to bother him and so he started up the engine (thanking Matt under his breath) and pulled out into the traffic. He checked his mirrors again and saw a pick-up truck come slowly around the corner behind him…too slowly. He drove on, still checking the mirror every few seconds. The truck kept its distance. Hutch turned a few times – so did the truck. He accelerated; the truck kept to exactly the same speed and distance from him. He decided to let his tail follow him home.

******************************************************************

Edna Tallman was a well-preserved sixty-something. She wore her hair in a perfect cut that was re-dyed every two weeks to retain her light auburn color (and to keep the white roots at bay). She was immaculately made-up; enough to disguise the damage of age without making her look like she wore much make-up. She pulled her blue silk and lace wrapper around her and smiled at the young man standing in front of her. She was sitting in a chair in her bedroom. The room was a perfect harmony of tasteful pale blue with a thick wool carpet one half shade lighter than the color of the matching bed cover and curtains. The walls were papered in a stripe-pattern in three paler tones of the same blue. Her bed was covered in ruffled satin and the canopy above was draped in the same fabric. Holding court in the middle of the bed was Suzy, her white Standard Poodle. A young woman sat on a stool in front of Edna; she was carefully painting each fingernail a perfect shell-pink. Edna could afford to have her nails re-painted every day; even if she did little or nothing to chip the polish. Edna glanced at her hands and saw that Cathy had finished the second coat of polish on both hands. “That’s fine for now dear. Would you be sweet girl and take Suzy for her little walk?” Cathy knew that she was being dismissed; she took the blue leather leash and attached it to Suzy’s matching collar. Maid and dog left the room. Edna gestured to her son with her fanned out left hand and he sat on the bed.

“What news darling?”
Her son cleared his throat. “They are on to something. I’m not too sure what. The blond…”
“Hutchinson.” His mother intervened.
“Yea, Hutchinson; he’s on a stakeout; spent most of his day up in a tree-house opposite some warehouses over near the docks.”
“And the other one; is he in the tree-house too?
“You won’t believe this,” her son grinned.
“Try me.” There was little humor in Edna’s voice – the war for what she considered to be her rightful inheritance was no laughing matter. Like many wives of successful men – she had been a not insignificant power behind her husband’s throne.
“He’s spending the day in the synagogue!”
His mother stared at him. “Well isn’t that charming? A tough cop like Dave Starsky breaks off from his duty to observe a religious holiday. Maybe next year we should do the same. However, this year we have enough to deal with. Find out what they are looking at. The information might be useful to us.”
Her son left the room and his mother turned her attention to the difficult choice of which of her many elegant pale blue outfits she would wear today. She opted for a dress designed by the same man who was making clothes for the former Governor’s wife. She prided herself that she, Edna Tallman, had already bought from him before Nancy had ‘discovered’ him. It pleased her to dress in the same style as Nancy Reagan – their ambitions were not altogether dissimilar after all – both wanted total power! Edna Tallman was perhaps more sure of achieving her goal than was her friend Nancy – after all, Edna did not have to rely on the uncertainty of elections to get what she wanted. She selected shoes and purse to match her dress and went down to the office on the first floor of the Brentwood house that she had kept after her divorce.

*********************************************************

The Beverly Hills house that Tallman had left to his second wife Trixie was a palatial display of ostentation at its worst. Edna Tallman had insisted on her interpretation of good taste – nothing to shock the eye; restraint rather than ostentation. Her husband had neither demurred nor agreed with her – he simply allowed her to run things her way. It had been a good marriage. Their son was a credit to them. He had studied at UCLA, law and accounting; the family business was in good hands.
Tallman had always been a loving and attentive husband and Edna knew for sure that he had never cheated on her. Until the gang from Las Vegas had invited him for a ‘boys only’ trip. Edna heard the ugly rumor but refused to believe that her husband would betray her with some dancer from Cesar’s Palace. When Tallman told her that he wanted a divorce she began to believe it. When her son showed her a photograph of his father and a heavily pregnant Trixie, she accepted it. She took him for as much as she could; and ultimately his divorce had cost him his life. After a last desperate attempt to recuperate some of his lost wealth, Tallman had entered a drug deal that was busted by Starsky and Hutch. He had predicted that he would be dead before all the appeals were over – and the strain of two years of wrangling with the DA’s office and living up to the expectations of his young wife took their toll. Tallman was dead.
Trixie had chosen the house. She had grabbed him by the elbow and steered him into a rambling stucco house with a sloping driveway. “It’s perfect” she had told him. She then spent over two million dollars on remodeling the “perfect” house so that it was no longer recognizable by its former owners. She had the hallway doubled and paved in black and white marble. The staircase was remodeled to sweep up the side of the hall. And that meant that the whole of the upper floor had to be re-modeled too.
At a halfway point there was a door leading to the steam room. The stairs continued to the upper level where the original eight bedrooms were transformed into four suites each with oversized bathrooms dominated by sunken bathtubs. Her daughter reigned over her own domain in a suite that had been added above the extension to the lower level. Her bedroom was round; leading from it were her bathroom and her playroom and, of course, the suite for the live-in maid who was employed to take care of Sally-Ann.

This morning Sally-Ann was with her maid, playing in the garden. Trixie was in conference with her ‘business manager’, Big Jack Malone. Malone knew everything there was to know about extortion. He also knew how to keep Trixie happy – and had been doing so long before she was obliged to order a whole black wardrobe from her favorite store on Rodeo Drive.
“Did you ask Ray to do that little job for us?”
“Yes, honey. His men delivered the message last night.”
“Good. I want that old witch out of my hair once and for all." She giggled in a childish voice and reached for a bottle. Malone sighed, it was barely ten in the morning and she was already slurring her speech.
“Haven’t you had enough?”
“No.” She poured a slug and drained it defiantly.
“OK Breakfast is over. Now tell me about those two cops.”
Malone settled into a chair. “The blond is still staking out the warehouse waiting for a non-existent arms deal. The other one, Starsky, has disappeared.”
“A girl?”
“Well last time anyone saw him he was dressed up like he was going to a wedding…or a funeral.”
Trixie giggled.

***************************************************************

Aw shit I think my stomach is gonna growl.
Starsky sat as still as he could – trying to conserve energy. He swallowed every precious drop of saliva, but he could feel his mouth going drier with every breath; he stole a look at his watch. Two more hours!
They had taken a couple of breaks and gone out onto the lawn in front of the synagogue. A bit of fresh air would be welcome now.
He tried to subdue his stomach but failed. One of the Stern kids giggled.
“Don’t worry, David, it happens to all of us.” Mrs. Stern was smiling up at him.
“You look pale and you aren’t in the habit of doing this, are you?”
“No ma’am. To tell the truth, it’s not the lack of food but not being allowed to drink anything. My mouth feels like the Mojave Desert.”
“I try to nap a little – no-one notices – they think I’m meditating on my life.”
“I might snore.”
They both laughed in whispers.

I wonder what Hutch is doing.
Dobey is probably on his fourth burger of the day….shouldn’t have thought of that!
There was definitely someone watching me; hope whoever it was enjoyed the show.
Suppose someone is watching Hutch. It could blow his cover. I only have to turn my back for a couple of hours…No, that’s not fair, he can hold his own without me; he may have to if I decide to… Not now; that is not for now. Or is it? This is the time to examine my life. So what do I do, stay here and try to carry on despite the memories in every turn of the street? Or take the New York offer and go up a grade? Dad said I should never try to run away; I never have yet. But would it be running away? Wouldn’t it be honoring dad to go back; take over the precinct; his precinct? And have momma nagging me to find a nice girl…I did find a nice girl and Prudholm took her away from me.

He continued to argue in his mind until he noticed that there was no light coming through the windows. Rabbi Stern was saying the last prayers of Kippur.
“Come on David, you can help me get the table ready – and drink a pint of water!”
He followed Mrs. Stern out into the cool evening air.

***************************************************

The Torino was in its place under the eucalyptus tree
Hutch groped along the ledge above Starsky’s door and found the key. It was nine thirty in the morning. He had already checked in with Dobey.
“The word is that the deal is not for today. Go and check up on your partner.”

Hutch opened the door quietly. Starsky’s holster was hanging from the coat rack. The apartment was, as usual, neat and tidy. He walked quietly over to the bedroom; and went in. Starsky was not in his room. The bed had been slept in. Hutch turned to the bathroom. The acrid smell of vomit hit him as he walked in. He dreaded what he might see; there was always the terrible chance that Starsky would be too weak to straighten himself up, he could drown in his own vomit. The bathroom was empty. Hutch went back to the bedroom. He opened the closet and saw that Starsky’s knitted jacket was missing – he did a quick check of the rest of the closet and noticed immediately Starsky’s smart suit was in its place. He checked out the rest of the closet; all Starsky’s shoes were there…but there was an empty hanger. He rifled through Starsky’s collection of scruffy jeans and stopped. The pair with the ‘phone number written on the leg was missing. There was an envelope on the pillow. He opened it and took out a photograph of Starsky dressed in his suit and carrying his black velvet pouch; he was opening the Torino’s door. He checked out the room again. No sign of a struggle; had Starsky gone quietly or had he been drugged? He went to the ‘phone and picked up the handset using his cuff to prevent prints.
“This is Detective Ken Hutchinson. I need a forensic team at (he gave Starsky’s address to the dispatcher). Yes that’s right, Starsky’s place. Now transfer me to Dobey please.”
He was still waiting for Dobey to take the call when he heard a movement behind him.
Please God I’m over-reacting and he just went out for a walk…no even he wouldn’t go out barefoot.
He turned to see Huggy standing in the doorway; he was holding a big buff envelope.
“I thought you should see this, Hutch. The next message just came through.”
Hutch gestured to Huggy to come in and returned to the ‘phone.
“Captain, Starsky’s disappeared! I came by to see if he was OK, his car is still here, his suit is in the closet but he’s not here. I called for a lab team. He threw up sometime – but I don’t know if it is connected…a pair of jeans and his big sweater…no shoes and his gun is still here.” He listened for a moment. “Sure. Huggy’s here and he has something to show me. We’ll come to the office when the lab team has finished here.”

Hutch put down the ‘phone and turned to Huggy. “Sorry Hug, but I can’t ask you to sit down. I want them to go over this place with a fine-toothed comb. What do you have?”
Huggy frowned and held out the envelope. As Hutch opened it and registered the contents; Huggy explained how he had received it.
“When I got to the bar this morning I saw that someone had written something on the message board. I left the note in place in case you want it checked for prints. I took the board down and put it in my office.”
“Good thinking.”
“Thanks. So, like I was saying, the message was a big arrow pointing to this envelope on the table and underneath it said…’He’s safe, for now’. I didn’t know what it meant until I opened the envelope. I didn’t think about my prints being on the envelope, sorry!”
“That’s OK, Huggy; if there are prints on the note it won’t matter.”
Hutch pulled the photo right out of the envelope and stared at it. Starsky was sitting on a chair and it was evident that his hands were tied behind him. He was wearing his jeans and sweater and his bare feet and chest looked strangely vulnerable. He looked closer; there was a cut above one eye and the blood was trickling down Starsky’s face. He looked utterly dejected and Hutch could see from the expression on his friend’s face that a migraine was still pounding behind his eyes.

The lab team arrived and Hutch gave them instructions to check the whole apartment thoroughly. One of the technicians whistled. “Wow, the guy is a better house-keeper than my mom!”
Hutch looked around. It was true; Starsky’s apartment was as neat and clean as a new pin – whereas even with Fifi’s loving attentions (annoying as she was) his place could look like a tip in a day. “It should make things easier for you to find other prints. Lock up behind you and bring me the key, OK.”
Hutch led Huggy down the wooden steps and over to his car. They left Huggy’s car and set off for the precinct in Hutch’s rolling trash can. Huggy cleared himself a place on the front seat and threw two odd shoes, a couple of magazines, a molding apple core and three soda cans onto the back seat. Hutch didn’t say a word.

******************************************************

Gerry and Terry were standing in Malone’s office.
“What do you mean; he wasn’t there?”
Gerry sighed. His identical twin sighed too. They were two of the best; and the great thing was that they could always make sure of an alibi. If Gerry was trashing a bar, Terry would be making a difficult purchase in a store. When it was Terry’s turn to do a job; Gerry would be conspicuously present in a not-too-crowded bar or restaurant.
They rarely worked together – visiting Huggy had been an exception – to emphasize their point.
“He wasn’t there. His flashy car was outside; but he was not there. It looked like he had slept in the bed though.”
“And you didn’t think to stay a while in case he was out jogging or something?”
“The way he looked when he came back last night – he wasn’t going to even crawl this morning! Man he looked sick!”
Malone stared at him. “So why didn’t you take him last night?”
“Because … you only called this morning!”
Terry grinned – or was it Gerry? Even Malone had trouble telling the difference.
“Find him. Trixie is looking forward to meeting him!”

Trixie was repainting her toenails. She had a cigarette dangling from the corner of her mouth and a nearly full glass of gin at her side. Malone kissed the nape of her neck as she leaned forward to put the last brush stroke on the nail of her big toe.
He nuzzled her and she turned to look up into his eyes.
“Cut it out, Jack; you’re making me smudge the polish.”
He withdrew.
“Did they bring him?”
“No; he wasn’t there. It sounds like someone else got there first. Trouble is I can’t think who.”
“That old witch Edna?”
“Maybe…I’ll see what the word is.”
“What about the blond?”
“He’ll be hitting his own little panic button if his partner isn’t at work tomorrow.”
“Well maybe he can help us to find his friend – and then we’ll kill two birds with one stone.” She giggled at her own weak joke.

**************************************************

Starsky had come home around nine-fifteen. His head was pounding and all he wanted was to get to bed and take a couple of pain-killers. All the same, he undressed and put his suit carefully on a hanger and into the closet. He kicked off his shoes and put them in their place and went into the bathroom to put his shirt and socks into the laundry basket. He took the bottle from the cabinet and swallowed two pills with a gulp of water from the faucet. He crawled into his bed, still wearing his shorts.

He must have been a sleep. He woke to nausea and was throwing up in the toilet bowl when heard someone come into the apartment. Probably Hutch, come to see if I need a nursemaid. He hauled himself up and turned. It wasn’t Hutch! He slumped back and threw up again.

“Oh shit – that’s disgusting!” Rough hands pulled him to his feet and dragged him into the bedroom. He allowed himself to be dumped on the bed.
“Find something to dress him.” It was the same voice; Starsky couldn’t be sure if the speaker was a man or a woman. The voice was husky and his head was buzzing.
They were forcing his legs into jeans; the rough denim seemed to scratch his legs like the sandpaper he used to smooth the wood of a model. As always; his migraine put every one of his senses on high alert. He felt the pressure as a hand closed his zipper.
He was pulled to his feet and now they were putting his arms into something soft and bulky. My sweater…mmm…nice and warm.
“Can you carry him?” The husky voice asked.
“No problem!”
Starsky was aware of being hoisted over someone’s shoulder in a fireman’s lift. Head down; his brain throbbed and he gagged.
“If he throws up down my back……..”
“Shut up and get him to the car.”
Being carried down the stairs was torture, but he managed to control the urge to throw up again. He was busy trying to identify the second voice.
He was upright again and being shoved into a car. He groaned.
“Hey Starsky; don’t you want to open your eyes?”
“Light hurts.”
They tied a blindfold around his face. “Doesn’t matter if you open them now.”

The car stank of stale cigarettes. Starsky battled with the burning fluid that was rising in his throat. He swallowed hard and then passed out.

When he came to, he was tied to a chair. A flash of light blinded him; then another. ‘Husky Voice’ was in the room. “Get a close up of his face…we’ll take a second shot later.”
The camera flashed again. Starsky tried to open his eyes enough to see where he was and who was doing this to him. The room was in almost total darkness. His head felt like someone was trying to drill through from his brain to his nose. He was thirsty and, yes, he was scared. Something about this didn’t add up – although in his current state he was not able to think clearly enough to see what it could be.
“Hey,” he was pretty sure he said it aloud; the reply told him he had.
“Yes handsome?”
“Find me something for this headache willya. I have a real migraine.”
“Oh Sweetheart; why didn’t you say so? I have what you need.” There was a pause as Husky Voice turned away. “Get him to the other room – and be kind to him.”
Someone untied him and lifted him gently. He was carried a short distance and laid down onto a soft bed. They undressed him and tucked him up. They held a glass of water to his lips and someone put two pills into his mouth.
“No pills…throw…throw up…”
“Don’t worry, one of them is an anti-emetic; you won’t throw up and your headache will soon be gone.”
He slipped into deep sleep

**************************************************

They were sitting in conference in Dobey’s office. Hutch and Huggy faced Dobey across the desk. Sitting next to Dobey was Federal Agent Mick Tanner.
Hutch had never met Tanner before, but he had heard good things about him and for once did not feel hostile to a guy from the FBI. Tanner had information that put the ball into a new game-plan.
If Starsky was here he’d say he heard the crowd whistle. Hutch had never forgotten Starsky’s remark about being suckered in a High School football game.

Tanner was speaking.
“…so we can be sure that the arms deal is just a side-show to keep you away from more important things. The second Mrs. Tallman’s family is moving in.”
Huggy looked at Hutch and then at Dobey. “Excuse me if I seem a little under-informed here, but what is he talking about?”
“Simple Hug; Trixie Tallman has a brother in Vegas….if I tell you that her maiden name is Kelly, does that help?”
Huggy whistled. “That explains it.”
Dobey leaned forward. “Explains what, Huggy?”
Huggy grimaced. “I didn’t really take it in when they were trashing my place; but someone mentioned ‘taking Curly on a long trip’.”
“Curly!” Hutch exclaimed. “They have Starsky; but where?”
Tanner had the answer. “I had a report that Geena Kelly and a one of her brothers were seen returning to Vegas round one this morning. They had another man with them – he looked sick.”
Hutch rubbed his hand over his face.
“Does the Mann Act still apply?” Everyone laughed. Tanner took up the joke: “well, I don’t think Starsky consented to being taken over the State line by a member of the opposite sex but….”
“The point is,” Dobey cut the humor short, “Starsky appears to have been kidnapped and we do not have any idea why. Hutchinson, you’d better go to Vegas and see what you can find out. Do you still have contact with someone in the Police Department out there?”
Hutch thought for a second. Although he and Starsky had not always been on the best of terms with him the last time, Hutch knew that he could count on Cameron.
“Yes. Cameron.”
“Well what are you waiting for?”
Hutch stood to leave and Huggy started to follow suit.
“No, Huggy,” Dobey said, “I have something more to talk to you about.”
Huggy sat down again and Hutch left the room.

Tanner and Dobey looked at one another and Dobey signaled to the Fed to go ahead.
“We need you to play a little role for us Mr. uh Mr. uh….”
“Brown. But my friends call me Huggy.”
Tanner smiled quietly. “Huggy, I believe that you are able to make contact relatively easily…I mean…you are a valuable source of information for Detectives Starsky and Hutchinson; am I right?”
Huggy nodded; his eyes were half closed as if he knew what was coming and was already considering his answer.
“It would be helpful to us if you could give certain people the impression that you no longer care to give information to Starsky and Hutch. In fact, I think it would be best if certain people believed that you were no longer their friend – more their enemy.”
Huggy stared at Dobey. “Who is going to believe that, Captain?”
Tanner continued.
“Can’t you find a way of making people believe that you are no longer on speaking terms?”
Huggy swallowed.
“Does Hutch know about his Captain?”
Dobey avoided his gaze.
“Captain?”
“No. But he will be kept informed.”
“OK, on one condition.”
Tanner missed a beat. “What condition?”
“I tell Hutch.”
Tanner and Dobey nodded. Huggy stood up. “In that case, if you will excuse me gentlemen, I’m going to talk to Hutch; and then I’ll get the word out as you want.”
As soon as Huggy had left the room, Dobey turned an angry face to Tanner. “This had better work!”
“It will, Captain; it will.”

Huggy found Hutch at his desk; he was talking on the ‘phone and gestured to Huggy to take Starsky’s place opposite him. Huggy fingered the Piggy Bank on the desk while Hutch finished his call.
“What is it Hug? You look like someone just died.”
“As long as it isn’t our friendship.”
“Huh?”
“They want me to put out the word that I’m no longer on speaking terms with you two. I said I’d only do it if you were OK about it.”
Hutch blinked. “Do you know why they want that?”
“Yea. It seems that they think I can make contact and find out who has Starsky.”
“Then do it Huggy. As long as I know the truth…and we find Starsk…it doesn’t matter.”
Huggy stood up and put the Piggy Bank back in its place. As usual Starsky’s desk was clear of all extraneous stuff – there was a pot of pencils and a file but nothing else; Huggy had the feeling that his friend would notice immediately if the Piggy Bank had been moved by a fraction of an inch. Superstition made him leave Starsky’s desk as he found it.

Hutch went straight back into Dobey’s office. Tanner had already left.
“Huggy just told me.”
“Sit down Hutchinson and listen.”
Hutch served himself at the water cooler and resumed his seat.
“Tanner thinks that this is all a big diversion to keep us out of a takeover. The Kelly family wants the drug action here…and that means that they need to get an advantage over the Tallmans.”
“I guess with the feud going on between the two Mrs. Ts that would be easy enough.”
“Not as easy as you think. It is possible that Trixie Kelly-Tallman does not know what is going on. If Huggy puts out word that he is no longer on your side, we hope that one or other of the interested parties will get in touch with him.”
“But what about the people who trashed his place – they were working for O’Malley – and he’s tied to Junior.”
“We have reason to believe that Junior is not the loyal momma’s boy he appears to be.”
Hutch rolled his eyes. This was turning into a maze – every time you think you’ve found the way out another brick wall blocks you. In this story it was as if nothing was what it seemed to be. The only thing he was sure about was that Starsky had been kidnapped.”

****************************************************

Starsky was trembling – or shivering. He had not idea where he was; all he knew was that he felt like he was dying. The sheets were soaking. He was groaning and whimpering and seemed to be trying to fight away the blankets.
Geena Kelly touched his face and withdrew her hand as if it was burned.
“C-c-c-cold.” He muttered something else, but she couldn’t make it out. There was something wrong here.
“Are you OK?” Her voice seemed even more husky with concern
“Dunno. I d-d-d-d-don’t know if I’m cold or hot. I can’t stop trembling.”
His voice was so quiet and hoarse he sounded as if he was dying.
She stroked his cheek, he was burning up, and he nuzzled into the pillow hugging the blankets around him.
“What about your headache?”
Another groan.
“I f-f-feel si-si…” He leaned out of the bed and started to retch. A cool hand touched his forehead and Geena eased him back to the pillow. “It’s dry heaves…you don’t have anything left to throw up. Hey I know about migraines; you should have told us – we wouldn’t have been so rough with you.”
“How nice…a kidnapper with a heart! What did you give me?” His voice was hoarse and strained.
“I told you, I know about migraines – I gave you some of my pills. How’s your head?”
“Exploding out through my eyes; feels like my brain’s running down my nose”
“I’m going to call my doctor. Try to sleep, OK?”
He heard her leave the room.

“What do you usually take for a migraine, David?”
Starsky didn’t bother to ask how this doctor knew his name; his throat was dry and he croaked out the name of the drug.
“That explains it. Geena, I know you meant well, but what one person has on prescription isn’t always good for someone else. David here takes a morphine-based treatment; not what you take. In rare cases; a patient can have an adverse reaction to your medication - and that is happening here.”
He looked at Starsky who was now shaking violently and sobbing; he seemed terrorized.
“I’m going to give you a shot, David. It will counteract the reaction and relieve your pain.”
Starsky withdrew into the bedclothes. “No!” He buried his arms under the covers. “No; please, not a shot.” He was like a frightened child. Geena sat on the edge of the bed.
“Come on, it will soon be over. Give me your arm…”
“No!” Starsky burrowed further under the covers. “Please…Please…no…”
She turned back the edge of the blanket and stroked his clammy face. “Come on; give me your hand.”
She reached into the bed and held his hand in hers. He allowed her to take his arm out from under the blanket.
“Grip my hand, David; I don’t mind if you hurt me. Hold on tight and it will soon be over.”
Her voice was so kind and soothing; he knew he could trust her. He stretched out his arm and squeezed her hand in his…he didn’t feel the needle.
“Go to sleep now. I’ll stay with you. I’ll be here when you wake up.”
“Water…I need to drink…”
She held a glass of cool water to his lips and he managed a couple of sips before sinking into a deep sleep.
“Poor guy,” she said as she crept out of the room. “I’ll just have to look after him as best I can.”

**************************************************************

Huggy left the precinct and went across the road to a phone booth.
“Rolly? It’s Huggy. I want you to spread the word that I ain’t ever going to co-operate with Starsky and Hutch again…why? My joint gets trashed and they don’t give a flying…!”
He replaced the handset and grinned. The next call was to Metro Cabs. He needed to get his car from outside Starsky’s place and he could spread the word at the same time.
The cab arrived and when he saw who was driving he knew he’d made the right decision.
“Can you believe those guys? My place gets trashed and all they can think of is to call me over to Starsky’s place and the haul me over here to give me even more of a bad time. I gotta get my car back, ‘cos Starsky’s disappeared; and as of now, we are no longer speaking.”

After he finally returned to The Pits he made one more call. Mickey would finish the job for him.

Hutch made a couple more calls to Vegas before returning to his place to throw a few things into a bag. He arrived at the airport with fifteen minutes in hand – and lost ten of them trying to find somewhere to park. With five minutes to go he ran to the boarding gate – setting off the alarm at the metal detector as he did. Two security men gave chase and Hutch managed to flash his badge just in time. He arrived at the gate and sprinted up the gangway. As soon as he was on board the plane the stewardess closed the door.

The flight arrived on time and Cameron was there to meet him.
“Glad to see you again Hutch; I hear your partner might already be here.”
“I wish I understood what is going on; but yes, all the evidence says that someone kidnapped Starsky and brought him here.”
He followed Cameron to his car. They were about a mile from the airport when the radio crackled. Cameron took the mike.
“Cameron.”
“Patch through from Captain Dobey, do you have his officer with you?”
Cameron handed the mike to Hutch.
“This is Hutchinson.” There was a crackle of static and then Dobey’s voice came through loud and clear. “Get a flight back here, Hutch. There is something going down and I need you here.”
“What about Starsky?”
“LVPD will deal with it, Hutch. I need you here.”
Cameron had already turned around and was driving through the airport entrance.
“Short trip; better luck next time!”
Hutch went straight to the American Airlines desk and presented his return stub. The clerk looked at it. “But sir, you have only just arrived!”
“Yes, and now I’m leaving. Please get me on the next flight – it’s a Police emergency. He showed his badge.”
“There is a flight leaving in fifteen minutes.”
Hutch snatched the ticket and ran to the gate. The plane was the one he had arrived on and the crew was on turn-around. The stewardess greeted him and showed him to his seat. “I guess he lost all his money in a slot machine at the airport.” She said to her colleague.

Hutch found his car. He could have sworn that he had parked on a legitimate space – but there was something tucked under the wipers. He grabbed the paper and saw that it was not a ticket; it was another envelope. He opened it.
It was the same photo of Starsky. He turned it over and read the note. “So close; but not close enough.” Instinctively he turned around to scan the area – how did they know that he was back? Come to think of it; who were “they”?
He watched the passengers from his flight as they filed out of the airport – none of them had been on the outward flight. Even if it had been one of the passengers; how did they get to his car so quickly? The stewardesses were coming out of the terminal and one of them waved to him with a friendly smile. A stewardess…or a member of the aircrew who could radio ahead? He waved back and motioned an invitation; she came over.
“Can I give you a ride into the city?” He turned on the blue-eyed blond charm.
“Oh that is so sweet of you. I have a ten hour break before we go back to Vegas.”
“I thought you were maybe based here – the flight was a back-to-back wasn’t it?”
“You know the lingo huh?”
“I’ve dated a few stewardesses in my time.”
“I’ll bet you have.” She licked her lips and stared him straight in the eye. “It was a back-to-back but my duty started in Vegas on the flight out here last night…I go home again on the first flight tomorrow – I have to report in at 6 am.”
“Well maybe I can offer you dinner.”
“You certainly can!”

Dinner was a take out pizza which they ate in the kitchen. They had dessert in the bedroom. Hutch learned a few tricks he had never seen before – but that was all. If this girl was involved in Starsky’s disappearance, she knew how to keep a secret.
A flash of light outside the window woke Hutch up. Peggy was gone. He rolled out of bed and peered at the clock in passing. She had another hour and half before she had to be at the airport. He saw that her uniform was still neatly folded on the chair – his pants and shirt were scattered across the floor as usual. She came in from Hutch’s glazed patio; she was holding a small mirror.
“Oh great, you’re awake; I think I have an eyelash in my eye. I didn’t want to wake you so I went out there.”
Hutch let that go by…the lighting in the patio was not strong enough for her to be able to see if she had anything in her eye – but it was enough to send a signal. He went along with her story and led her to the bathroom.
“The best light is in here,” he said. There was nothing in her eye and he suggested a shower. This time it was Hutch’s turn to teach her a new trick.
Over coffee he said: “I’ll call you a cab – I have to work.”
She didn’t argue.
“Will I see you again?” she asked.
“I certainly hope so. Give me your number.”
She wrote a phone number on a piece of paper and tacked it on his bulletin board. She laughed “I hope you can tell which is which!”
“I remember the ones worth remembering.”
“Am I worth remembering?”
“You are going to be in my mind.”

Hutch arrived at the station just as Dobey was leaving with a SWAT team.
“Come on Hutch; I’ll explain on the way.”
They were driving to the docks; and Hutch recognized his tree-house from the last stake-out.
“But I thought….”
“We all thought it was a hoax; that’s what they wanted. Huggy got word that the deal is for real and for tonight. Since he put it out that you guys are no longer speaking every hood and player in the city is bragging to him about the heists they are planning!” Dobey chuckled.
The SWAT team was in position and Hutch crouched behind Dobey’s car watching and waiting and holding his breath.
An hour later Hutch had cramp; Dobey’s stomach was growling and the SWAT team was getting restless. A truck appeared at the far side of the warehouse and two men stepped down from the cab.
Hutch recognized Gerry and Terry. Something didn’t add up. All the evidence had been that his heist was O’Malley’s work; so what in the hell were these two doing here?
He whispered to Dobey. “Something’s wrong. Those two work for Malone, and he works for Trixie Tallman. The word was that this heist is O’Malley’s gig. There is no reason for them to be here…unless…”
Dobey looked at him. He continued; “…unless we are being set-up again.”
As if to answer his remark the twins climbed back into the truck and drove away. As it turned the corner of the building an arm appeared through the window and gave them the finger.
The SWAT commander was furious. He stalked over to Dobey’s car and demanded an explanation. Dobey suggested that they go back to his office. The commander dismissed his men. Dobey drove in silence until they arrived at headquarters. “Go home Hutch; we’ll talk about it in the morning.”

The next envelope was tucked into the ironwork pattern on the front door of Hutch’s apartment. He opened it. It wasn’t a photo of Starsky. It was a photo of Peggy standing in the patio.
Who is watching me? And why?
He went to bed.

Hutch went straight to Dobey’s office. He stopped short; the Captain was opening a buff envelope. Hutch sat down and raised his eyebrows.
“Mine was of my …uh…house-guest.”
Dobey gave him the photo from his envelope. It was of Dobey and Hutch arriving at the stake-out.
“Someone is trying to tell us something.”
Dobey gave him a sour look. “I’ve been on the force long enough to draw that conclusion without your help; Hutchinson.”
“Is there something you haven’t told me?” Dobey sounded worried.
“Well Captain, the other day on the stake-out I was sure someone was watching me. And when I got to Starsky’s place…there was a photo; someone had been watching him too.”
Dobey was looking for something on his desk. “I also received this one this morning.” Hutch looked at it and grinned. “He always did want to be a stripper!”

************************************************************

Edna Tallman was furious. For the fourth time in the space of three weeks the deal had fallen through at the last minute.
“I do not care to hear your excuses, Mr. Garcia. I ordered certain goods from you over one month ago. My people have been in place at every set-up you have chosen – but your people never show. Now, either I have delivery within the next forty-eight hours or you will have to find a new customer; which will not be easy for you because I will make it my business to tell all my colleagues about your lousy delivery schedules. I expect that delivery Mr. Garcia and now I’m the one who is giving the meeting place.”
She looked up at her son who was cleaning his fingernails with a letter-opener.
“Frankie, shall we invite him here or to the warehouse?”
“The warehouse mom.”
She turned back to the ‘phone. “Garcia; I have a warehouse over in South Central, “ she gave the address of an office supplies store, “have your man there tomorrow morning at ten am sharp.” She hung up before Garcia could reply.

“Now Frankie darling; what was it you wanted to talk to me about?”
“I think we have a traitor in our camp.”

*********************************************

Starsky slept fifteen hours straight. At first he tossed and turned and moaned and whimpered. His fever was burning his face red and sweat poured down his cheeks along with his tears. He was fighting his way through sickness and nightmares.
Geena stayed at his side. She dabbed at his face with a towel soaked in cold water and stroked his hair. After a while the shot began to take effect and he calmed down. Soon he was sleeping peacefully, lying on his back with his face relaxed into one of the sexiest smiles Geena Kelly had ever seen in her life. “This could turn out to be a lot more interesting than I thought it was going to be…he is stunning!”
Geena Kelly was not a woman to take her men lightly. She grew up in one of Vegas’ toughest families. She had no brothers and her father had groomed her to replace him when the time came. The time had come just after she returned from Europe. Her father was still young – and so were his killers. The mid-sixties had seen another turn in the fortunes of the mobsters that had always run “Sin City”. New money was coming into Vegas all the time and the old and the new clashed regularly. Ted was most definitely ‘old money’; his hold on the Strip dated back to the heady days when Vegas was still just a dusty little town where the railroad and construction crews went to get a little light relief. Ted’s father had seen the potential of providing lonely men with the distractions of wine, women and song. When the New York mob started to move in and build casinos; Kelly senior had gleefully added gambling to his offer. The proceeds of his enterprise sent his son to Yale and his grand-daughter to Wellesley and Grad school in Europe. After a few years of threats and counter-threats Ted lost the fight. They found his body in a shallow grave just behind the construction site where the newest and biggest hotel on the strip was rising out of the desert. He had been strangled. And that left Geena to take over Daddy’s business. Geena had learned business management at the London School of Economics. Her golden looks and her husky Marilyn-crossed-with-Carol voice gave most of the men in the business the impression that she was just another Vegas blonde with money; until they came up against her steely no-nonsense management. She not only sat on the Kelly Empire’s throne – she was the power on it, behind it and probably under it too. Her cousin had a part in the Empire. He was responsible for “debt collection” and any other incidents that might need a firm hand to regulate. He had a well-trained team of very firm hands to do the job as and when required. There was one other reason why Cousin Vince was so useful to Geena – his sister; Trixie Tallman. Trixie’s boyfriend, Malone, had said that he needed a favor and Vince had been only to happy to help. Geena had her own reasons for getting involved in this caper – but she wasn’t sharing that with anybody right now. Besides she had other things on her mind, including the welfare of the sexiest guy she’d ever laid her eyes on.
The trouble with Geena (Vince had been heard to say) is that she always wants to get inside some guys pants!
He wasn’t far off the mark. It wasn’t as if she was a nymphomaniac; she just loved sex! She didn’t see how it was ok for Vince to go from bed to bed but not ok for her. Besides, some of her adventures had been very helpful in increasing the company turnover…if Vince would pardon the expression. Vince would have pardoned it if he had got the joke – but he was as dumb as his cousin was clever.

So now Geena was staring at this gorgeous hunk of a man sleeping in her bed and in need of all the TLC she could give him. She didn’t really know why he was here – and frankly her attitude was one big “Rhett Butler”… she didn’t give a damn! She had been asked to organize a kidnapping and she’d been happy to play; knowing that the stakes included a large interest in the Tallman operation. She had no idea who he was; but she had every intention of getting to know him very well in the next couple of days.
He stirred in the bed and moaned. She touched his shoulder and he snuggled further under the covers muttering “Piss off Blondie; let a guy sleep willya.” She reflected on his attitude to his girlfriend and shrugged. It wouldn’t be the first time she’d broken up a couple; if he was the rugged macho type, all the better. She left him to sleep and went to find herself some coffee.

******************************************************

Hutch sat at his desk and pulled a legal pad out of the pile of papers and files in front of him. He drew up two columns and stared at the page in front of him. He knew that somehow he had missed something and that the thing he had missed was important and probably only too obvious! He looked across the desk instinctively, hoping to get some guidance, and sighed with frustration.

The columns stayed blank. He could only state the obvious – they had been suckered and Starsky was missing. That was it! Starsky was missing; and so far no-one had made any demands. No ransom. No ultimatum. No warning that if Hutch didn’t stay out of things… The only message had been delivered to Huggy when The Pits was wrecked. Even that didn’t make sense. The Pits was wrecked by two guys who used to work for Tallman. He decided that it was time to pay a few courtesy calls.

First stop was Brentwood. He stood in the porch and listened to the tasteful chimes echoing and fading through the house. The door was opened by a butler straight out of Agatha Christie. He must have been six foot six, because he stared down his long nose at Hutch as if he could smell something unpleasant. Hutch showed his badge and asked, politely, if Mrs. Tallman was home. The butler motioned him inside.
“Wait here. I’ll ask if Madam is receiving visitors.” He walked slowly across the hallway and into a room to the left. Hutch decided to give it a count of twenty then he was going in “receiving” or not. He had counted to fifteen when “Jeeves” returned.
“Madam will see you, sir.” He led Hutch across the hall and opened the door to usher him into Edna Tallman’s presence.
Edna Tallman was sitting in a wing chair; her legs were gracefully crossed at the ankle and she appeared to be reading a business report. She looked up at Hutch over the frames of her reading glasses.
“Officer Hutchinson; I don’t believe we ever had the pleasure.” She held out an elegant hand; Hutch hesitated – did she expect him to shake it or kiss it? He opted for a polite handshake. “Please, take a seat. To what do I owe this interesting visit?”
Hutch was caught off balance by her manner. She was almost too polite. He cleared his throat. “Well ma’am, I was hoping that you might know something about a kidnapping.”
“Kidnapping! Who has been kidnapped?”
“My partner.”
“I see; and you think that I have something to do with this. Officer Hutchinson, my husband and I may have had many activities that did not entirely follow the law that you so efficiently uphold; but kidnapping was never in our repertory.”
Hutch let her finish. “I know that ma’am. But two of your employees trashed the bar belonging to a friend of mine, and then he found a message and….”
Edna looked at him and then shook her head. “I know nothing about that. I think we should ask my son if he can help you.” She picked up a phone and tapped three buttons.
“Frankie, darling, could you spare us a moment?” She hung up and smiled at Hutch. “I’m forgetting my manners, Officer Hutchinson; can I offer you a drink?” Hutch shook his head. “Oh of course; not while you are on duty. Tea? Coffee? A glass of milk?” Again Hutch declined – he sensed that she was mocking him and was having trouble keeping his anger hidden. A door at the end of the room opened and Frankie ‘Junior’ Tallman walked over to stand beside his mother’s chair. Hutch looked at him carefully. He was the image of the man his father must have been twenty five years earlier; Hutch wondered if he was as ruthless. Hutch figured that Frankie must be around forty years old.

“Officer Hutchinson; I’m sorry, Sergeant Hutchinson…I believe you and your partner were promoted since the last time you were involved with my family.” The sarcasm dripped from his lips. Hutch returned the fire with ease.
“That was while ago, Tallman; you may even have to congratulate us again before long.”
Edna glared at her son. “Enough Frankie! Sergeant Hutchinson, please excuse my son.” She turned to Frankie. “The sergeant has some questions and he hopes that we might be able to help him to answer them.”
Frankie sat down on the chair nearest to his mother; leaving Hutch the choice of an uncomfortable-looking footstool or standing. He decided that he would have more of an advantage if he remained standing.

“I have two situations that do not make sense; Mrs. Tallman. The first is the rumored arms deal that never goes down – but for which some of your men seem to be ready. The second…the second is a kidnapping.”
He paused and felt rather than heard Edna Tallman draw her breath. Frankie remained impassive and began to examine his badly chewed finger nails.
“Perhaps,” Edna spoke carefully, “perhaps we can deal with one issue at a time, Sergeant.”
Hutch smiled. “Where would you prefer to start ma’am?”
Instead of answering him; she turned to Frankie. “What do we know about an arms deal, Frankie?” “Nothing, mother. I haven’t heard anything about any arms deals in the city, Sergeant . Are you sure that the information you have is correct?”
Hutch didn’t miss a beat. He stared Frankie down and waited a second. “My information comes from more than one reliable source, Mr. Tallman. Does the name Casey mean anything to you?” Now it was Frankie’s turn to stay as impassive as possible.
Casey was one of O’Malley’s most reliable men. If Hutch was implying that Casey was informing; it meant that he had sources closer than Frankie had thought; and that could put Frankie into a very difficult position if certain other information came to light – especially in front of his mother.
“The name means absolutely nothing to me, Hutchinson. Mother, have you ever heard of someone of that name?” “Not since you watched TV as a child my dear; do you remember Casey Jones.” They laughed and Hutch forced himself to stay calm.
“OK, let’s talk about kidnapping; which as you know is a very serious offence; it is a Federal offence when the victim happens to be a police officer.”
This time both the Tallman’s looked at him in surprise. This time they are going to tell me the truth.
Edna spoke first. “Who is the victim?”
“My partner.”
Frankie studied his nails with a renewed interest. Edna appeared not to notice and continued. “Do you have any indications?”
“No ma’am; that’s why I have come to see you. I thought you might have…with all your contacts…I mean your wide circle of business associates…”
“What you mean, Hutchinson, is that because we are involved in certain activities we must necessarily be in contact with all the criminal elements in this city. I am sorry to disappoint you, young man; but I do not invite all the pimps and hustlers in town to my dinner table. No, Sergeant Hutchinson, I have not heard anything about the kidnapping of a police officer.”
Hutch turned to Frankie. “What about you?” Frankie looked up from his nails. “Nothing.” He stood up. “Now if you will excuse me I have an important call to make.” He glanced at his mother and Hutch thought of a child waiting for permission to leave the table. Edna nodded and Frankie left the room; Hutch stood up and started to walk to the door. “Are you sure he always tells you the truth, ma’am?” Edna looked at him sharply. “Frankie may have been a spoiled child, officer, but the one thing his father would not tolerate, was lying. Yes, I am sure that he is telling the truth.”
Hutch smiled and left the room.

Back in his car he reached for the radio. “Zebra Three to control…patch me through to Dobey please, Mildred.” He waited, drumming his fingers on the wheel. “Captain; I want a twenty-four hour tail on Frankie Tallman…I’ll explain when I get back; but I’m not leaving here until a back-up unit arrives.” He started the engine and slid around a corner to a position where he could see the Tallman’s gates; without being seen. He settled into his seat and waited for his replacement to arrive. Twenty minutes later the brown four-door Torino that Kalowitz drove, appeared in his rear-view mirror. Hutch stepped out of his car and went to speak to his colleague. “I have a feeling that Frankie doesn’t always tell mommy who he has gone to play with. Keep a close eye on Junior for me.” He got back into his own car and drove back to the station.

Dobey and Tanner were waiting. Hutch settled into his favorite chair.
“Tallman Junior is involved. I don’t know how or even why; but I do know that he is involved. The interesting thing is that I don’t think momma knows what Junior is doing.”
Tanner looked at him carefully. “What do you think is going on?”
“If I knew that I’d be out there dealing with it, Tanner.” Hutch’s voice was rising dangerously. Dobey barked a warning. Hutch ignored him. “I mentioned that Starsky has been kidnapped. Edna Tallman really doesn’t know anything about it; but Junior… he suddenly had an important call to make. He acted like he knew much more than he wanted me, and more to the point, Edna, to know.”
“What do you want from me?” Tanner asked.
“A wire tap. I want Tallman’s ‘phone under twenty four hour surveillance; and I’d like his car tapped too. I mean, we can set up a tail but he’s clever, a bug would be better.”
Tanner pushed a sheet of paper to Dobey; “sign here Captain, and we’ll set it up immediately.” Dobey signed and Tanner left the room.
“Hutch?”
“Yes?”
“Do you think Tallman had Starsky kidnapped to keep us away from the arms deal?”
“No, I’m sure that there is no arms deal. The way Edna reacted…it isn’t an arms deal; but they are waiting for a delivery of something. I don’t think that Edna is involved with the kidnapping…call it a gut feeling; but I just don’t think she is in on it.”

***********************************************************

Geena checked on her house-guest regularly. He was still asleep. His dark lashes were brought into sharp contrast against the pallor of his face. “It takes me four layers of mascara to get lashes like that!” she thought. He stirred slightly, but he was still fast asleep. She sat and watched him for a while. She had never seen a man with such a strange combination of vulnerability and sexuality before. “A sexy, frightened child; like a kid getting over a nightmare.” She was looking forward to finding out more…much more. She started to undress.

***********************************************

As soon as Hutch had left the house; Edna went to find her son.
“Frankie! What is going on?”
“Nothing mom.”
“Don’t lie to me; your father would never have let this happen. If we are implicated in a kidnapping….”
“Mom; I’m telling you. There is nothing to worry about. We are not involved. Hutchinson’s question was a surprise to me too.”
“I hope I can believe you, Frankie.”
“Trust me mom.”
“I do; and that is what is worrying me right now.” She looked at her watch. “I have a lunch date. Find out what is going on, and make sure that we are not dragged into it!”
Frankie watched her leave the room. He waited a couple of minutes and stepped over to the window. He watched as his mother’s Cadillac slid out of the gates and smiled.

*******************************************************************

O’Malley was waiting for Frankie’s word before making the next move.
He had already heard that the tracking device had been removed from Hutch’s car – not that it had been connected to anything. The find had its effect; Hutchinson would start to believe that he was under observation.
The ‘phone on his desk buzzed and he picked it up. “Mr. Tallman is here to see you, Mr. O’Malley.”
“Thank you Janie; ask him to step into my office.”
Frankie Tallman appeared in the doorway the instant that O’Malley put down the ‘phone. He did not wait to be asked, but sat down in the most comfortable chair in the room – the one behind O’Malley’s desk. O’Malley was obliged to sit in the visitor’s chair.
“Gerry; I think we are going to have to change our tactics.” Tallman started to examine his nails. “Hutchinson is beginning to put two and two together. But fortunately for us; he is not too good at math and so far he only gets 22.” He paused to smile at his own joke. O’Malley didn’t get it.
Tallman continued. “Hutchinson is not so dumb. He has realized that there is no arms deal; but he has not yet understood that there is another deal going down. And, of course, he still hasn’t figure out why Starsky has disappeared. Have you found out about that yet, by the way?”
“Nothing. I think Trixie might be involved, but I can’t get anything from her people right now.”
“Keep trying. My mother is very concerned that we must not be involved in that one.”
“Believe me, we have nothing to do with it, Frankie; nothing. I’ll get my contacts in Vegas to see what they can find out – there has to be reason why Hutchinson went out there.”
“Do that, Gerry. Now let’s turn our attention to other business. My mother had a long conversation with Garcia today. He has an appointment at the warehouse; I think you should be there to meet him.”
Tallman gave O’Malley all that information he needed and then stood to leave. “I’m counting on you Gerry. Get the goods and make sure that Garcia never pulls a trick like this again. Never!”
“Count on me.”
“I am; and you know what happens to people that I don’t feel I can trust; don’t you Gerry?”

Frankie left the room.
“Little bastard,” O’Malley thought to himself, “ready to double-cross his mother. We’ll see about that!”

****************************************************************

Geena slid between the sheets and snuggled up to the warm body in the bed. Starsky stirred and moaned gently. She kissed his neck and put her arms around him. She nuzzled his shoulder and started to caress his body. Her hands worked gently down his chest and down to his belly. She followed the furry line down to his crotch. He moaned again and turned towards her. Her hands continued and she felt him harden. Starsky was still half-asleep but his body began to follow its own instincts. She straddled him and guided him into her. His lips found hers and she sucked on his mouth. She continued to lead the way; gently but insistently grinding against his pelvis; he followed her rhythm and awoke enough to continue on his own. As they continued their prone dance she whispered in his ear; “feeling better now?”
“Mmmmm….” His rhythm became more and more intense and Geena felt herself coming to a climax. He let out a groan and fell away just as she came to her own orgasm.
“How’s your headache?”
“Better.” He rolled away and slept again.

I have to be dreaming!
Oh that’s good; that’s nice…mmmmmm…come closer to me……steady now…not to fast; be gentle with me I still feel kind of fragile here…oohhhh…that’s good…mmmm like that…oh here we go…yes… yes…here I come ready or not…aaahhhhhhh

Geena tucked herself into the curves of his body and sank into a satisfied sleep.
If that’s what he’s like when he doesn’t really know he’s doing it…….

Starsky woke up and stared at the head on the pillow next to his. Whoever she was; she was beautiful. His headache had gone; and a certain dampness suggested that the lady beside him had something to do with the cure. Hadn’t he heard some place that an orgasm can ease pain? He tried to roll away – he needed to pee – but she opened her eyes and reached out sleepily.
“Good morning. How do you feel?” It was the husky voice that he had heard before.
“Uh…uh…fine, I guess. I’d like to hang around for a formal introduction; but I really need the bathroom.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
He sat up carefully; his head was no longer pounding. He slid his legs out of the bed and stood up; he was totally naked – and it seemed to him that it was probably too late for modesty. He went to the bathroom and peed. As he passed the mirror he noticed that he had at least two days’ beard. He had a memory of blood on his face – but there was no sign of a wound. He went back to the bedroom looking forward to getting to know his hostess a little better.
She was lying on her back and gave him an approving look as he came into the room.
“Come and lie beside me, David.”
How could he resist? He slid under the covers and lay on his back beside her.
“You know my name, but…”
“Call me Geena.”
“Hi Geena. How well do we know each other?”
She grinned and for an answer she gave his cock a friendly tug.
“That well huh?” He rolled over and kissed her sucking gently on her lower lip before pushing his tongue between her teeth and into the sweet warm cavity of her mouth. Her tongue came to met his, like a small inquisitive animal exploring a new space. He pulled her closer. Her hands moved from his cock to his butt; stroking and gripping the firm muscles. He parted her legs with his hand and slid a finger into the warmth. He turned her slightly and straddled her; pushing gently and thrusting up into that same warm wet place that his finger had prepared. He pushed gently and felt her start to pump and grind beneath him. He rolled them both over so that she was now sitting astride him; he continued his steady pulsating thrusts; taking care to let the enjoyment last as long as possible. She sat across him and bent her face down to his once more. She started to lick his chest and then lay the length of his body. Her tongue found the line of his sternum and then continued to his belly-button. She thrust the tip of her tongue into his belly-button and he felt his rhythm intensify. She withdrew from him and caught him in her mouth just as he reached his final spasm.
He waited for the moment to pass and felt his energy return. This time it was his tongue that went on a voyage of exploration.
They lay together in a haze of satisfaction. Geena broke the silence. “Breakfast?”
“What’s on the menu?”
“Whatever you like.” He pulled her towards him again. “Honey.”

An hour later, after a shower, Starsky was sitting with Geena in her kitchen. Over coffee and toast and honey he tried to find out exactly where he was and, more to the point, why he was there.
“You do realize that kidnapping a Police officer is a federal offense?” He smiled and spooned honey onto his third slice of toast.
“They didn’t tell me you are a cop. Are you here against your will; David?”
He laughed. “It’s not an unpleasant experience; but I don’t remember consenting to come here.”
“I promise to make your stay here as pleasant as possible.”
He sipped his coffee and looked up at her; the expression in his deep blue eyes made her want to drag him back to bed there and then. “I’m sure you will. But don’t I get some kind of explanation…or do you always date guys this way?”

The ‘phone rang. Geena answered it on the third ring; she cupped a hand around the receiver and turned away from Starsky. He strained to hear what she was saying.
“Yes…sure…OK…If that’s what he wants…We’ll deal with it straight away…Don’t worry; we’ll do a very good job…” She laughed at something the other person said. “Oh he has no complaints!”

She put down the receiver and came back to Starsky’s side. “I’m sorry honey pie; but it is time for the next photo session.”
Starsky stared at her. He remembered the flash of a camera back when his head was still exploding.
“Maybe you’d like to explain.”
“We need another photo of you…just to keep the interest up in LA.”
She took him by the hand and led him down the cellar stairs. There was a chair in the center of the cellar. Opposite the chair, a professional portrait camera; a spot light and a reflective umbrella were set up; it reminded Starsky of a photographer’s studio. She motioned him to sit down. Watching her carefully, Starsky ambled over to the chair and sat with his back straight and his feet planted slightly apart, his knees making perfect ninety degree angles.
“Relax Dave; I’m not going to hurt you.” She took a small bag from a table and looked inside. She came towards him. He pulled back instinctively; and then grinned. She didn’t have a weapon in her hand; she was holding a stage make-up crayon and a photo.
She checked the photo and carefully drew a small cut above his left eye. She took another crayon and added a couple of convincing bruises to his cheek and chin before creating the finishing touch by trickling stage blood down his face. By the time she had finished Starsky looked as if he had been worked over thoroughly by someone who knew how to do the job with the best results.
“Try to look a little sorry for yourself Dave.”
He grinned. “After this morning?”
“Come on; think of something sad.”
Starsky thought for a second…and suddenly his face became a vision of dejection.
Geena took her place behind the camera. “Put your arms behind you as if you are tied up.” He did as she asked.
“Look at the camera.” He raised sad eyes and looked at her steadily. The flash made him blink. She took a second shot in case the first didn’t come out.
“Now could you slump forward, Dave; make it look like you can’t keep conscious.”
He obeyed; whatever this game was, he saw no reason not to cooperate – who could tell that there wasn’t someone else less gentle than Geena in the house.
“Ok; I’ve got all I need. Come on; let’s clean you up.”
“Are you inviting me to take a shower?”
“Yes.” She kissed him and took him by the hand to lead him up the stairs.
“I’m sure I should be trying to escape but…”
“One question.”
“Yeah?”
“You really did look sad just now; what were you thinking?”
“I was thinking of the last woman I made love to.”
“And that made you sad?”
“She’s dead.”

*********************************************************

This time the photo was delivered by UPS to Dobey’s office. Dobey opened the envelope and pulled out a sheet of paper and an A4 sized photo. He took one look and went to the door of his office.
“Where’s Hutchinson?” Minnie looked up from the filing cabinet. “I guess he went to the john.”
“Find him and tell him I want to see him now!”
Minnie looked at him steadily. “You want me to go to the men’s room?”
Dobey grunted. “If you want something done in this place…”
Dobey opened the door to the men’s room. Hutch was nowhere to be seen – but one of the stalls was closed. Dobey addressed the closed door. “Hutchinson, when you’ve finished I want you in my office straight away.” The toilet flushed in reply; Dobey went back to wait.
“Yes Captain?”
“We got another photo.” He gave Hutch the photo. “The note says ‘he’s still in one piece…for now!’ I don’t like to see what they’ve done to him.”
Hutch was studying the photo closely. Starsky had obviously been badly beaten. He had bruises on his face and a black eye developing. There was trickle of blood on his cheek. Hutch looked sick and let the photo drop limp in his hand.
“Who are they? And what do they want from us?”
“Get out there and find out. I don’t want to see you back here unless you have a good lead.”
Hutch took the photo with him; Dobey didn’t protest.

“Look at it Huggy; look at him…he looks like they really worked him over. Poor Starsk – he must have been feeling bad enough without this!”
Huggy looked at the photo and shook his head. He poured Hutch a second beer.
“What have you heard, Huggy?”
“I’ve heard a lot of stuff that doesn’t add up.”
Hutch took a long swallow of beer. “Tell me what you have.”
“Well; first I hear that Edna Tallman is very angry with someone…a certain Mr. Garcia. Does that mean anything to you Hutch?” Hutch shook his head.
“Me neither. Well as I say it would appear that Garcia has let Edna down on a deal and he thinks that he has an appointment with her this afternoon at that warehouse of hers down in South Central; but from what I hear he is going to meet O’Malley and some of his friends.”
Hutch drained his glass and motioned to Huggy for a refill.
“Then I heard that Junior is not being straight with his momma.”
Hutch looked up, ‘that’s what I figured when I went visiting.”
Huggy nodded and pulled the beer pump. Amber fluid and white foam filled the glass.
“It would seem that Frankie does not want to share with his mom. And this is the good bit, Hutch; it seems that Trixie has a new lover…and that if she marries him she will not have to change her name again; if you get my meaning.”
Hutch missed a beat.
“Run that again. Tallman Junior is… oh that is too good to be true.”
“It ain’t good news at all.” Huggy sounded deadly serious. “The thing is that O’Malley still has the hots for Trixie – and her inheritance from the old man. Then of course there’s Malone.”
“Whoa; hold on Huggy, you’ve lost me there.”
“You had one beer to many; or what?”
“My mind is as clear as yours Hug; I just can’t keep up with this underworld gossip column.”
“OK. Before Trixie married Tallman she was living with O’Malley back in Vegas. It was O’Malley that introduced her to the old man – and word was that he wished he hadn’t! Malone is Trixie’s….”
“I know who Malone is.”
“Are you sure?”
“Come on Huggy; every one knows that since Tallman died, it’s Malone running their business.”
“And?”
“And what?”
“And he’s also sleeping with Trixie – in fact there are those who will tell you that Sally Ann ain’t no Tallman.”
Hutch drained his beer in one.
“What about Edna? Does she know about all this?”
“She knows what Frankie boy wants her to know – you know what they say about mothers of only sons; she’ll believe anything he tells her.”
Hutch thought about that for a moment; Edna Tallman was a tough old bird in more ways than one – but she’d been surprisingly sure that Frank was telling her the truth.
He thought for a moment. “Where is the meet with Garcia?”
Huggy told him again. Hutch ran out of the bar; taking the steps two at a time. Huggy went back to smoking a cigarette and wiping glasses.

On his way to the warehouse, Hutch radioed to Dobey. “I’m heading for the Tallman warehouse in South Central…I could do with some code three back-up.”
As he continued he listened to Mildred sending out the message to all units in the vicinity. He looked at the clock on the dashboard – it had stopped at six thirty (and he could only guess at how long ago that might have been.) He fished in his pocket and pulled out his fob-watch; the meeting was in forty minutes; that gave him a plenty of time to be in position. He pulled up about a half a block from the warehouse and picked up the radio.
“This is Zebra three to all units called to my back-up. Please identify yourselves and give your positions.” He listened as three black-and-white crews checked in and told him where they were. “OK, I’m on the corner of …” he checked where he was…” Avalon and East Gage…position yourselves in the same area and advance on foot…. Please switch over to….” He gave the correct band for his walkie-talkie.
He got out of the car and started to walk towards the warehouse. So far there was no sign of anyone else in the vicinity. He tried a side door and was relieved to find that is was not locked; he slipped into the darkness of the empty warehouse. He paused to allow his eyes to accommodate to the change of light and then looked for a good place to wait. He spotted a pile of wooden crates and climbed up to the top of them.
He did not have to wait long. One of the main doors opened and someone switched on the lights. Hutch noticed his shadow on the floor in front of the crates and withdrew behind a barrel that was balanced precariously on top of his perch. He held his breath and listened.
“You; cover the main door. You; get over there and wait in the office. You two come with me.” Hutch heard footsteps as three men walked across the warehouse floor. He looked down and saw them stop to wait; facing the main entrance. One of the men held an attaché case; the other two held pistols fitted with silencers.
Hutch assessed the situation in his mind. He was not going to be able to radio for reinforcements with these guys immediately below him. He still did not know who they were. When the door opened again he got his answer…and a big surprise.
Frankie Tallman walked into the warehouse.
“Everything ready O’Malley?”
“Just fine Frankie; just fine.”
“Well then I guess we just have to wait.”
This doesn’t make sense. Why would Junior come here if O’Malley is supposed to be doing the dirty work?

They all heard a truck pull up outside the warehouse and the horn honked twice.
“Let them in.” O’Malley shouted. Someone slid open the big loading bay door and a truck backed up to the ramp. The driver and his passenger got out of the cab and came to face O’Malley and Tallman.
“Mr. Tallman; Mr. O’Malley. I have your shipment.” The voice had a heavy Latino accent – too heavy to Hutch’s way of thinking. Mr. Garcia is no Latino. I wonder who he really is and where he’s from.

O’Malley shouted to his men. “Unload the truck.”
Garcia smiled and gestured to the attaché case. “I’d like to check the payment first.”
“You’ll be paid in full just as soon as the truck is unloaded.” Tallman said coldly.
Hutch heard the whistle in the air. They had been suckered. O’Malley’s men were unloading big wooden cases that certainly did not contain a drug haul. They were too heavy for one thing.
Tallman walked over to one of the crates and forced up the lid; he took out a Uzi rifle. Hutch had only heard of these things; now he was seeing one for the first time.
Tallman smiled and turned to O’Malley. “Pay the man.”
O’Malley nodded and the two men beside him opened fire. Garcia (or whatever his name really was) and his sidekick fell before they knew what had hit them.
Up on his perch Hutch started to tune in his radio – and then he changed his mind. It was a risk worth taking; but he wanted Tallman and O’Malley to lead him to the exit from this maze; arresting them would not help him find Starsky – he was sure of that.
O’Malley called for his other men. “You and you; reload the truck and take it to the safe place. The rest of you can clear up this mess; he gestured to the two bodies on the ground.
Tallman started to the door; “I’ll see you tomorrow O’Malley.”
“I don’t think so.” A single shot rang out and Tallman fell.
Damn!
Hutch waited for O’Malley to leave; using the cover of the noise that reloading the truck made, he whispered into the walkie-talkie. “Zebra Three to back up; come on in and join the party.” He pulled out his gun and checked the safety before climbing down from his perch. Just as one of O’Malley’s men spotted him, the uniformed officers appeared at the warehouse door. Hutch shouted “You might as well forget it guys; we outnumber you and we have already pulled out or guns!” He left the uniformed men to cuff O’Malley’s men and went back to his car.
I guess someone had better break the news to Edna. He radioed in to Dobey to tell him what had happened and headed for Brentwood.

*******************************************

Geena was wiping the last traces of make-up remover from Starsky’s face. “I guess you can shave now.” She said and kissed him on the tip of his nose. He grabbed her and returned the compliment. “I don’t have a razor here; and I’ll bet you go to a beauty parlor to have your legs waxed.” She smiled. “You’ll find everything you need in the bathroom.”

Clean-shaven, Starsky came down to find Geena lounging by the pool. He was wearing his jeans but no shirt and he was barefoot. He sat on the lounger bedside her.
“Am I allowed to ask a question?”
“Of course.”
“I don’t want to seem ungrateful; and maybe it is none of my business – except that it is my business because I’m the one who has apparently been kidnapped and brutalized.” He grinned and leaned over to kiss her. “I mean you ‘raped’ me before I was really awake; and then there’s those photos of my ‘injuries’…so what I really want to know; and I think I have a right to ask; is ‘what the hell is going on here?’”
Geena picked up a bottle of sun oil and handed it to him. “If you oil my back I’ll tell you.”
“I guess you could start by telling me who you are and where I am.” He started to rub the oil into her back; working down from her shoulders and noting that she had undone the back of her bikini.
“My name is Geena Kelly;” she paused. “You are allowed to laugh, most people do; I guess my parents couldn’t resist it!”
“I’m not laughing.” He had heard the name before.
“This is my home in Las Vegas and I was asked to keep you here as a house guest for a few days.”
“You have an original way of inviting people to the party.”
“I know; but it had to look like you’d been kidnapped.”
He was oiling the small of her back and looking at the two indentions just above the rise of her buttocks. He took a deep breath.
“Was seducing me part of the plan?”
“No; I guess that was my own little improvisation. Do you object?”
Starsky thought about it. “No…no …I guess it helps pass the time.”
“Believe me, it was a pleasure.”
“Did I say I didn’t enjoy myself?”
“You did?”
“Well I guess that as long as I’m your prisoner; I’ll just have to submit to your wishes.” He smiled as she reached out to unzip his fly.

**********************************************

The snooty butler opened the door but this time Hutch didn’t give him a chance to say anything. “I need to see Mrs. Tallman; I have to tell her something before she hears it from anyone else.” The butler looked at him. “Do I assume that Mr. Tallman Junior has met with an accident, officer?” “How well do you know her?” “I’ve worked for her for over twenty years.” “What’s your name?” “Edwin.” “Come with me, Edwin.”
The butler led Hutch to Edna’s bedroom. Edna was having her daily manicure; when she saw Hutch and Edwin she motioned to Cathy to leave. She pulled her wrap around her as if she was cold;