Ghosts From The Past
                                                                                       By Tooki
                                                                                  Beta read by Tonya
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                                                                                      Chapter 1

“Okay ma,” Starsky said into the phone. “I’ll be on the first flight out. I’ll let you know…ma…..ma.”
Hutch hiked his eye brows at his partner. Starsky rolled his eyes as he put on his shoulder holster. Hutch had just arrived to pick up Starsky to start their shift.
“Ma…Ma,” Starsky tried to get his mother’s attention, “Ma, Hutch is here I gotta go. Yes I told you I would let you know.”
As soon as Starsky was off the phone, Hutch asked, “What’s up?”
“Oh Nick has gotten himself jammed up again.”
“What did he do this time?” Hutch asked as they walked to his car.
“I don’t know, ma doesn’t know anything, she wants me to come to New York.”
“From your conversation sounds like you’re going?” Hutch put the car in gear. Starsky sighed and nodded, “You want me to come?”
Starsky started to shake his head no but then nodded, “Yeah, if you don’t mind. I could use the buffer.”
Hutch chuckled, “I love your mom.”
“So do I but she drives me nuts, her Nicky can do no wrong. She has blinders on when it comes to him.”

Six hours later the two detectives were on a flight bound for New York City. Starsky gripped the arms of the seat so tight when the flight took off his knuckles were white by the time they got in the air. “Relax, buddy.” Hutch put a hand on his friend’s shoulder, “We are in the air, the seatbelt signs are off.”
“Did I ever tell you I hate flying?” Starsky said not loosening his grip.
Hutch shook his head, “Look, they are starting to serve drinks.”
Starsky turned to look down the aisle just as a stewardess pushed a cart in their direction. “I’m not sure they have enough drinks on that cart for me.”
“Would you like a drink sir?” the pretty stewardess asked the detectives.
“Two beers,” Hutch smiled, “And a couple bags of peanuts.”
She flashed them an award winning smile as she poured two beers and handed over the peanuts. She looked down at Starsky who was looking rather ashen, “Relax hon,” she whispered in his ear. “You are in good hands,”
Hutch was amused that his partner hadn’t reacted to the woman’s words with a snappy come back.

After landing and collecting their luggage they hailed a cab, Starsky pulled a scrap of paper out of his pocket and leaned over the front seat, “Center Park Precinct,” he told the cabbie.
“You guys cops?” the cabbie asked, eyeing them in the rear view mirror.
“Do we look like cops?” Starsky asked.
“Naw, but that means you probably are, why else would you be going to Center Park Precinct?”
“He got you there Starsk.”
“Just get us there,” Starsky grumbled, he wasn’t looking forward dealing with his brother.
“Okay, Okay, I was just trying to make conversation.” The cabbie pulled out into traffic without looking causing a squeal of tires behind him.
The cabbie weaved in and out of traffic, nearly running red lights, slamming on his breaks, cursing out the window at other motorists and once nearly hitting a pedestrian. “And you were afraid of flying?” Hutch hissed at his partner.
With a screech of tires and the slam of brakes that caused both detectives to thump back in the seat the cab came to a grinding halt, “Here you go.” Starsky handed the man a fifty, started to asked change but thought better of it. “Keep it.”
Hutch hiked his eyebrows but got out of the cab, he was just glad to be alive, “Hey we need our bags,” Hutch tapped on the glass.
“Sure, sure,” the cabbie jumped out to open the trunk.
They grabbed their suitcases and walked up the steps to the Precinct, “We should have gone to Ma’s first to drop of this stuff,” Starsky said holding up his bag. But he hadn’t wanted to face her without Nick in tow.
A uniformed police woman at the desk looked up, “Fill this out,” she slapped a form on the desk, and went back to a conversation she was having on the phone.
“Excuse me,” Hutch said as he pulled out his badge and held it up for the woman to see.
Desk Sergeant Jill Handly peered at it and hung up the phone. “Sorry, you had suitcases, I just figured you were tourists that had your pocket picked.” She smiled at both of them which changed her appearance dramatically. Her dark hair was pulled back in a severe tight knitted bun, she had on little makeup but the smile lit up her face. “How can I help you Officer…?”
“I’m Detective Hutchinson, this is my partner Detective Starsky.” Hutch introduced them as he put his badge way.
“I’m here to bail my brother out,” Starsky said, “Nicolas Starsky.”
“Just a moment,” she picked up the phone and called booking. Officer Handly relayed the name into the receiver, listened for a few minutes then nodded, hanging up the phone. “I’m sorry but he is being held without bail.”
“What do you mean no bail?” Starsky growled.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know all the details,” Sergeant Handly replied.
“Well get me somebody that does!” Starsky said hotly.
Hutch put his hand on his partner’s shoulder, “What my partner means is…is there someone we can speak to?”
Starsky jerked away from Hutch, “This is bullshit.”
“Go sit over there,” Hutch pointed to a bench along the wall, Starsky glared at his partner but did as he was told.
Hutch turned to address the Sergeant behind the desk. “Sergeant Handly, excuse my partner but we just flew all the way from Los Angeles to bail out his brother.”
“I understand, and I’ll get somebody down here to talk to you.” She picked up the phone again.
As Starsky sat fuming he noticed an older gentlemen walk in the front door, “Uncle Will?” He got to his feet and approached the man.
“There you are Davy.” William Thomson exclaimed and squeezed Starsky in a bear hug.
William Thomson was not his Uncle, but his father’s former partner; they had been partners at the time of Michael Starsky’s untimely death. Starsky had grown up on the New York City streets with Will’s children, and William’s wife was his mother’s best friend and like a second mother to him and Nick.
“I guess ma told Aunt Mary I was coming and she told you.”
Will shot him a big grin and nodded, “You know those two don’t you?”
“I need to get Nick out of here,” Starsky said, “Ma is beside herself.” Will started to tell Starsky what he knew when Hutch joined the two men. “This is my partner, Ken Hutchinson. Hutch this is Will, my dad’s former partner.”
“Nice to meet you sir.” Hutch shook hands with the older man.
“Call me Will,” he said as he measured up the younger man in front of him. They reminded him of his younger years with Mike. He could tell they had a strong friendship just by their body language.
“Call me Hutch,” the detective liked the firm grip of the man’s hand.
“Are you staying with your ma?” Will asked after the introductions had been made.
“I guess we should have gone there first,” Starsky sighed pointing to their bags.
“Excuse me Detectives, the arresting Detective is on his way down.” Handly informed them.
They nodded their thanks, “How much do you know Uncle Will?” Starsky asked turning back to his father’s friend.
The man’s expression was grim, “Well son, I don’t think you are going to get him out on bail, Nicky really messed up this time.”
He was about to explain when a uniformed officer joined them. “Detective Dex Scott,” he addressed the men, “I understand you are related to Nicolas Starsky.”
“I’m his brother,” Starsky replied.
“We are waiting on the Feds to come and get him, I’m sure the desk sergeant told you there is no bail.” Scott told them.
“Why are the Feds involved?” Starsky asked a tingle of fear tickled is heart.
“Why don’t we go into the squad room and I’ll explain,” Officer Scott offered.
“I’ll take care of these for you,” Will picked up their suitcases. “I’ll wait and take you to Edna’s.”

The two detectives followed the detective into the squad room not unlike their one at home. Detective Scott offered them seats by his desk, he pulled a file from his desk and flipped it open. “Your brother was caught running guns and drugs over state lines, in fact several state lines, it is a federal case now and he is being moved to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn to await trial.”
“Shit Nick,” Starsky said under his breath then to the officer. “Can I at least see him?”
Scott shook his head, “Not until he is processed over there. Only his lawyer is allowed.”
“Does he have a lawyer?” Hutch asked.
“Not that I have seen.”
Starsky looked at Hutch, “I guess Nick expects me to swoop in and save the day like I have done in the past.”
“There is nothing you can do?” Hutch asked the detective.
“My hands are tied, not even the Starsky name has that kind of pull,” Scott quipped.
Starsky’s eyes narrowed as he looked at the man no older than he was, “And just what do you know about the Starsky name?”
“I know that your dad was a cop back in the day, his name and picture is on the wall of fallen officers. I also know this isn’t the first time that you have been here to bail out your brother.” Scott told him. “But this time he has gone too far. You can’t get him out of this one.” The detective tapped the file, “Up until now his offences have been pretty minor.”
Starsky sighed, he knew the man was right and he would be saying the same thing if he was on the other side of the desk. “No hope of me seeing him?”
Detective Scott looked at the two detectives, “I can get you in for a few minutes, but you make it fast.”
Starsky nodded his gratitude, “Thank you.”
“Hey, I have a younger brother that I have had to bail out a time or two.”

Twenty minutes later Starsky was staring at his brother who was sitting in a small cell alone, no other prisoners were anywhere to be seen. Hutch stood back as the two brothers eyed each other.
“About damn time,” Nick growled.
“Seriously Nicky,” Starsky growled right back at him. “I had to come all the way from California, it isn’t like I live across the street.”
“Get me the hell out of here.” Nick demanded.
“Why haven’t you gotten a lawyer?” Big brother asked.
“I don’t need a lawyer.”
“You do need a lawyer”
“I got you,” Nick got up and came to the bars of the cell, “Get me out of here Davy.”
Starsky knew it was going to break their mother’s heart, “Nicky,” he nearly whispered, “I can’t. Haven’t they told you anything?” Nick shook his head no. “You are being handed over to the Feds in the morning; there is nothing I can do. Running guns and drugs over state lines, what were you thinking?”
“You can’t do anything?” Nick quickly dropped his tough guy swagger. “What am I going to do?”
“Get yourself a good lawyer and, if you are lucky, you won’t spend the rest of your life in jail.”
“This is going to kill ma.”
“You should have thought about that before you broke the law, Nicky.” Starsky said in an almost ‘I told you so’ voice.
Detective Scott stepped in, “Guy’s it’s time to go.”
“Come on Starsk,” Hutch called to his partner.
“Don’t leave me here,” Nick wailed.
“Sorry, you are lucky we got to talk this much,” Starsky said as he turned to go.
“Davy!” Nick called sounding like the small boy that Starsky remembered so well. “Find me a lawyer.”
“Yeah, I’ll get Uncle Will to help.”
“You have to go now.” Scott said, “You weren’t supposed to be here.”
The detectives made their way out of the precinct to find Will waiting for them. He agreed to help find a lawyer and took them to Edna’s brownstone.


                                                                                    Chapter Two

Starsky had barely knocked on the door of his childhood home when the door flew open and his mother stood there. Her tone of voice was happy to see him but her face was etched with worry for her younger son, “Davy,” She held out her arms to her son. He hugged his mother bringing her feet slightly off the floor.
“Hi Ma,” he kissed her cheek.
“Mrs. Starsky,” Hutch addressed the older woman.
She reached for the blond detective hugging him close also, “Now Ken, I have told you call me Edna…or Ma.” She planted a kiss on his cheek.
“Edna,” Hutch opted for the less intimate option.
“Come in, come in.” She tried to take their bags but both men refused. “Come have something to eat.”
Starsky smiled at his mother, she was always trying to feed the world. “Uncle Will took us to dinner on the way here.”
“So you saw Will? I told Mary that you boys were coming into town. I guess she went and told Will.” Edna grabbed her son’s arm and tried to lead him in to the kitchen.
“Listen, it’s been a long day, we aren’t hungry but we sure could use some sleep.” Starsky said gently.
“I fixed up your room, clean sheets on the beds, and towels are on the dresser.” She said eager to please. Switching subjects she asked, “Did you see Nicky?”
“We saw him, he is in big trouble this time Ma, the FBI is involved this time. He is being transferred to a Federal Prison until his arraignment.”
His mother’s eyes opened wide in surprised, “You can’t get him out on bail?”
“No, I tried.” Starsky was wary; they had been up much too long. “I’ll explain as much as I know in the morning. We need sleep and so do you.”

The detectives muscled their suitcases down the narrow hall, to a closed door, Starsky paused with his hand on the door knob, it had been a long time since he had stepped foot in his room but actually it was his shared room.
Starsky slowly opened the door, the room was pretty much the way he remembered it. There was evidence of a teenage Nick, but other than that it was how it was when he had been sent to live with his aunt and uncle. There were twin beds on opposite sides of the room, a dresser that they had shared, a chair, and a small desk. Starsky picked up a photo of Nick that looked like it might have been a senior picture. He replaced the photo and looked at Hutch. “Welcome to my world.”
“Nice,” Hutch said wondering what it was like to share such a small room.
Starsky shrugged. “You can have my bed.” He placed his suitcase on Nick’s bed, the bed spreads still had cowboy hats and guns printed on the material. It was clear that Nick hadn’t lived there for a long time.
“Are there footie pj’s lurking somewhere?” Hutch joked but the moment the words were out of him mouth he wished he hadn’t said them from the look on his partner’s face, “Hey Starsk, I’m sorry.”
Starsky waved this apology away, “Don’t worry about.”
They quickly got ready for bed and slid in between the white crisp sheets. Starsky stared at the ceiling; even though he was exhausted he had a feeling sleep would be a long time coming. He thought about his father for the first time in what seemed like ages. He thought of the rumors that swirled around his father. Many thought he was in the mob’s back pocket but if he had been their family had never reaped the benefits from it. They always had what they needed, maybe not everything they wanted, but they never went hungry.
Nick had been so young when their father had died that he barely remembered Michael Starsky. Although the memories had dimmed Starsky could remember his father taking him to baseball games and parades, but he also remembered the long hours his father worked. The tears his mother cried over the allegations of wrong doing although nothing was ever proven.
Starsky felt tears prick at the corner of his eyes and didn’t realize he was openly crying until he heard Hutch speak, “Are you alright Starsk?”
It took a few moments for Starsky to speak but finally he answered, “Yeah, yeah, go to sleep.”

Starsky had finally fallen into a restless sleep and was snoring softly. There was a tap on the bedroom door, Hutch heard it and glanced at his watch, it was barely six a.m. He got up, pulled on his jeans and opened the door a crack, Edna stood there with her apron on and her hair done up. “David is still sleeping,” Hutch informed her.
She nodded then motioned for him to come out in the hall. “I just got a phone call; Nicky is being arraigned at ten.”
Hutch was surprised, “I thought the FBI was moving him this morning. Who called?”
Edna shrugged, “They didn’t say.”
Hutch knitted his brow, “Something doesn’t seem right.”
“What’s going on?” Starsky stood in the door rubbing his eyes.
“I’m going to start breakfast, Ken will tell you,” Edna hurried down the hall.
“What?” Starsky asked again.
“Get dressed,” Hutch said shutting the bedroom door. “Your brother is being arraigned today.”
Starsky rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, “Come again?”
“Yeah, your Ma said somebody just called to say that it will happen at ten a.m.” Hutch threw on a shirt and sat on the bed to put on his socks and shoes.
“Will must have pulled some strings. I’m sure he still has some pretty good connections.” Starsky said as he got dressed.
“With the FBI?” Hutch questioned, “And wouldn’t Edna have known his voice? She said she didn’t know who called.”
Starsky plopped down on the bed. “This can’t be good.”
They heard Edna call them from the kitchen that breakfast was ready.

The courtroom was half full; Detective Dex Scott sat with his partner behind the prosecuting attorney. There were no FBI agents to be seen. The detectives, along with Edna, slid in next to Will and Mary Thomson.
“What’s going on?” Starsky whispered to Will who only shrugged.
Nicolas Starsky was at the defendant’s table with a lawyer that neither Starsky nor Will could ever hope to afford. Nick was dressed in a suit, his hair looked freshly cut and he had a smug look on his face. The lawyer leaned over and spoke to Nick who quickly changed his expression.
After the judge came in and was seated, Nick’s lawyer asked to approach the bench. The judge waved him up along with the prosecuting attorney. They spoke for several minutes then the two attorneys were waved back to their prospective tables.
The judge shuffled some papers around, and then looked out over the courtroom, his gaze held for a moment to the back of the room then he slammed down the gavel and announced, “All charges dismissed against Nicolas Starsky the defendant is free to go.” The judge made a swift exit from the courtroom, leaving nearly everyone in the room stunned, only Nick, his lawyer and a well dressed man sitting in the back corner didn’t have a look of surprise on their faces.
Detective Dex Scott jumped up as if he were going to run after the judge. “What the hell?” His partner grabbed him and pulled him back into his seat. “We had him dead to rights, how can the case be dismissed?”
Edna was overjoyed and hugged her youngest son tightly. “I knew it would be alright, Nicky, just a big misunderstanding.”
Starsky glared at his brother, just who did he know that could get him out of jail and out of trouble with the FBI? “Explain.” Starsky said to Nick.
But Nick ignored his big brother instead speaking to his mother, who was now crying from joy. “Everything is okay ma.”
Hutch stood up and surveyed the room; most people had gotten up and left including the two Detectives. He spied the well dressed man the judge had been looking at sitting in the corner along the back wall. Hutch poked Starsky in the ribs. “See the guy sitting there in the back, he has mob written all over him.”
Starsky glanced over Hutch’s shoulder to check out the man, he was dressed in a dark pin stripped suit, his dark hair was slicked back and he was much older than the last time Starsky had seen him, but he was sure he knew the face. “Uncle Will,” he whispered, “Who is the guy in the back?”
Will turned and looked, then sighed, “I think I know how Nick is out,” Will shook his head, “That is Jackie Durniak.”
“Joe Durniak’s son, I thought he looked familiar.” Starsky could see the writing on the wall; his brother was involved with the mob. He had suspected it for a while but didn’t have proof until now.
Starsky walked to the back of the room and down the row until he was standing next to Jackie Durniak. “Nice to see you, Davy.” The man addressed the detective as he stood up and extended his hand.
“I’m not sure I feel the same way Jackie.” Starsky eyed the man that was only a couple years old than he. He remembered him from his childhood; he had been at his father’s funeral, standing next to Joe Durniak. “I go by Jack now.” He said letting his arm drop to his side.
“And I go by Detective Starsky.”
Jack gave him a half smile, “I heard you became a cop.”
“Did you take over the business from your dad?” Starsky wanted to know.
Jack shrugged, “He’s around.”
“Stay away from Nick,” Starsky ordered.
“Is that anyway to talk to the man that just kept your brother out of years in Federal Prison?”
“You are the reason he almost went to Federal Prison.” Starsky growled at him.
“And who do we have here?” Jack looked at Hutch who had walked up behind Starsky.
Starsky felt Hutch behind him, “My partner, Detective Hutchinson.”
“Pleasure,” Jack didn’t bother trying to shake hands, Hutch had the same look on his face that his partner did.
Hutch only nodded, “We are leaving.”
Starsky pointed at Jack, “You stay away from my brother!”
“As I remember, we Durniak’s are always bailing out your family.”
“What are you talking about?” Starsky moved closer to Jack until he was nearly toe to toe with him.
“My father paid for your father’s funeral, if it hadn’t been for him your dad would be laying in a pauper’s grave.” Jack’s eye narrowed. “And now I have bailed out your brother, seems you owe us.”
“I don’t owe you anything!”
Hutch could see every muscle in Starsky’s body tighten. “Come on Starsk.” He gripped his partner’s arm but Starsky pulled away from him.
“Stay away!”
“I would say that was up to your brother not me.” Jack smiled at the approaching Nick; he held his hand out this time which Nick gratefully shook.
“Thanks so much Mr. Durniak.” Nick addressed his savoir.
“Mr.?” Starsky shook his head, “Nick you need to wake up”
“You need to go home,” Nick glared at his brother, “You didn’t get me out, Mr. Durniak did and had the charges dropped. Were you going to do that?”
“No, I don’t break the law,” Starsky grabbed his brother’s arm, “Let’s go Nick.”
“Nick, Melody is having a little party this evening at the house if you would like to join us. Bring your brother and his partner.” Jack was almost daring Starsky to hit him.
“I think we will skip it.” Starsky hissed at him as he pushed his brother toward the exit.
“Speak for yourself; I’ll be there Mr. Durniak.”
Jack nodded to Nick and brushed by them to leave the courtroom.
Starsky was fuming, “You are not going to a party at his house.”
“I’m an adult and I’ll do what I want,” Nick growled.
“Ma, do something.” Starsky implored to his mother.
“Jackie is a good boy Davy; don’t you remember him from the neighborhood?” Edna hugged Nick again.
“His father was in the mob and Jackie is now, probably the head of it for all I know.” He just wanted to shake some sense into both of them.
“Come on Edna,” Mary said putting her arm around her friend’s shoulders, “You and the boy’s come over for some lunch.”
Starsky ignored Mary’s offer for lunch and left the courtroom slamming open the door, Hutch followed, “Starsk calm down.”
“Why won’t either of them listen to me?” Starsky fumed.
“I guess the Starsky name still does carry some weight around here,” It was Dex Scott’s partner Rick Wagner. “At least with the mob.”
Before Hutch could stop his partner Starsky had punched the Detective square in the face knocking him to the ground. Rick came up from the floor ready to fight but Dex stopped him. “Hey,” He yelled at his partner, “Cool it.”
“Cool it? what do you mean cool it, he hit me.” Blood was gushing down his face.
“And you deserved it,” Dex sided with Starsky. “You have no idea what is going on. All you have heard is rumors that have been circulating for years; you know how that goes.”
“Hey man, I’m sorry,” Rick held out his hand to Starsky.
“Me too, I shouldn’t have hit you,” Starsky admitted.
Dex started to smile and then asked, “How would you guys like to try to get the Durniak family?”



                                                                                Chapter Three

“You guys good?” Detective Scott asked his partner and Starsky, both men nodded, “Go get cleaned up Rick, meet us at the car.”
Scott ushered the two detectives to his car, when Rick Wagner joined them Scott pointed the car in the direction of their favorite hangout that turned out to almost be carbon copy of The Pits.
Once in the darkened bar they headed to a back booth and Rick held up four fingers and pointed to the booth they were going to sit in. A white man behind the bar nodded and started pouring beers.
The four men slid into the booth and while they were waiting on their drinks Starsky asked “You said the Durniak family, and Jackie made it sound as if his father was alive. He said he was around.”
“The old man is alive, in pretty bad health; he’s in a wheel chair and I don’t think he is calling the shots these days. It’s Jackie and that cousin of his, Hank, that man is as mean as a snake and not nearly as refined as Jackie.”
“A fancy suit doesn’t make you refined” Starsky growled as he picked up the mug of beer that has just been set before him.
“Touché.” Rick held up his beer then drank half of it in one gulp, hoping it would ease the pain in his face.
“We thought Joe Durniak was dead.” Hutch continued their conversation. “A guy named Terry Nash gunned him down, long story.”
“I guess he didn’t get the job done because I saw the old man myself about a week ago.” Dex said.
Before they could go on they heard a female voice say, “Davy is that you?”
Starsky looked up to see a beautiful woman with piercing blue eyes standing at the edge of the table. “Elaine?” Starsky pushed on Hutch so that he could get out of the booth.
“It’s me,” she threw her arms around her old friend.
He hugged her back, “What are you doing in here?”
“Pete owns the place, you remember Pete right?” She asked smiling at the man she hadn’t seen in many years.
“Yeah, I remember Pete,” Starsky had to wonder how Petey had become Pete but he was still Davy. Pete had been a scrawny kid with glasses that was always getting beat up. Starsky guessed he wasn’t getting beat up anymore with half the police force sitting in his bar.
“I come down once in a while to see him. He and his wife live around the corner.”
“Betty? He married Betty didn’t he?”
Elaine smiled again, “And I married Bernie, we have two kids. I would love for you to come do dinner and meet the kids, catch up with us.”
Hutch was amused watching the exchange between the two. He was either way off or there was a long lost love there. Hutch finally stuck his hand out since his partner wasn’t going to introduce them, “I’m Ken Hutchinson, Davy’s partner.” Starsky shot him a look, he hated being called Davy.
“Nice to meet you Ken,” she shook his hand, “Partner?”
“We are police detectives, from California.” Hutch informed her.
She looked at Starsky, “Why am I not surprised that you became a cop?”
“Sorry, Hutch this is Will’s daughter Elaine.” Starsky said, then he turned back to Elaine, “I would love to have dinner Elaine but I’m here on business and not sure I’m going to get the time.”
“Nicky,” she shook her head, “You came for Nicky.”
Starsky nodded, “How much do you know about Jackie Durniak?”
Elaine’s face fell, “He is bad news. Nick is out of jail you need to go home.”
Starsky was surprised by Elaine’s words. He pulled her away from the table, “What do you know?” he whispered.
Elaine looked around quickly, “Your mom has been trying to get Nicky away from Jackie for a long time now. She hates that he is running with him and his crew.”
“What?” Starsky eyes narrowed, “She was just telling not an hour ago what a good boy Jackie was.” “I don’t know why she is lying. But if Nicky keeps this up he is going to end up dead, along with the rest of us.” Elaine glanced around again. “I need to get back home.”
“You knew I was here didn’t you? You came to warn me.” Her sudden nervous demeanor hadn’t escaped him.
“Daddy sent me.”
“Why didn’t he just tell me?”
“They are watching.” She stepped away from her old friend and said louder so that anybody that was listening would hear her. “Well it was nice to see you again.”
Starsky watched Elaine leave the bar then sat down, “I don’t know exactly what is going on. But it’s something big. I need to talk to Ma.”
“That is what we have been trying to tell you, Starsky,” Dex said, “Something big is brewing and your little brother is right in the middle of it, maybe your mother and even you.”


Starsky opened the door to his mother’s brownstone, “MA?”
“In here dear,” she called from the kitchen. She was putting a big pot of water on the stove.
“Let me help you with that, Mrs.….Edna,” Hutch grabbed the pot from her and put it on the burner.
“Thank you dear.” She smiled at Hutch as she turned the stove on. “Nothing like homemade mashed potatoes, and don’t tell me you don’t have time to eat.”
“Is Nick coming?” Starsky asked. She shrugged noncommittally as she began peeling potatoes. “I need talk to him now.”
“He went to that party.”
“Why did you lie to me ma, I know you don’t like Jackie. You have been trying to get Nick away from him.”
“Who have you been talking to?” She didn’t stop peeling not wanting to meet her son’s eyes.
“Elaine.”
“Oh.”
“You get a hold of Nick; I don’t care what you tell him but get him here.”
It was nearly an hour before Nick showed up. He was none too happy to see his brother and Hutch sitting in the living room.
Nick was livid and pacing the Starsky living room, “How dare you get me here under false pretences.”
“I’m sorry Nicky but your brother wanted to talk to you,” Edna said wringing her hands.
“I don’t have anything to say to you big brother, I thought I told you to go home.”
Starsky advanced on Nick; Hutch touched his partners arm fearful he was going to flatten his brother. “I want some answers.”
“Maybe we wouldn’t be in this mess if you weren’t the bastard son of Joe Durniak.”
“Nicolas Starsky!” their mother yelled.
“Ma, you tell him or I will.”
“What the hell is Nick talking about?” Starsky wanted to shake his mother until she talked.
Edna’s face crumpled and tears spilled down her cheeks as she sat down on the couch, she patted the spot next to her. Reluctantly Starsky sat next to her. “It was a long time ago, before I met your father, I was dating Joe. He was a little older, had money that he liked to throw around like it was nothing. He took me out, bought me things and I guess the best appeal to a young woman was the fact her parents hated him.”
“Okay, so you dated him.” Starsky wanted to hurry her up but he could tell his mother was lost in old memories.
“One day I was at Joe’s house when there was a police raid, I had no idea what Joe was. Everyone in the house was being put in handcuffs, your father strolled into the living room where I was sitting and pulled me to my feet and took me to his squad car. I just knew I was going to jail with the rest of them.” She smiled at her son through her tears, “But instead he asked me my address and took me home to my parents. Told them that I had to stay away from Joe Durniak and that he would be there after his shift to take me to dinner.”
Starsky had never heard this story before; he had always thought his parents had met at a mutual friend’s house. It suddenly dawned on him that maybe that mutual friend was Durniak. “Go on,” he said impatiently.
“Three months later Michael and I were married.” She said softly.
“How long after that was I born?”
“Six.”
“So you got married because you were pregnant.” It was more of a statement than a question.
“No, no, by the time I found out I was pregnant your father had already asked me to marry him and I had accepted.”
“Joe Durniak could be my father then?” Starsky leaned back on the couch.
Edna shook her head, “You are Michael’s son.”
“How can you be sure?” Starsky pushed.
“I-I can’t,” she finally admitted as she dropped her face into her hands and began to sob.
“But what does this have to do with what is going on?” Starsky looked at his brother, he felt confused and a little dazed but he still pressed on. He needed all the answers.
Hutch stood helplessly by wishing there was something he could do for his partner. Maybe they should have just left town after Nick was released, after all that was what they had come for. He could tell Starsky was in pain from his expression.
Nick sighed, his tough guy façade dropped away and he was once again Starsky’s scared kid brother. “Jackie threatened Ma; she is the only link to the past, the only one that knows things that nobody should know. The only thing standing between Jackie killing Ma and probably me is Joe and Joe is in bad shape. He never recovered fully from that gunshot, when he got back to New York he was barely alive but the doctors saved him somehow. He has been in a wheel chair ever since and it was kept quiet that he was still alive.”
“Couldn’t be to quite since NYPD knows he is alive.” Hutch said.
“Jack has got you doing his dirty work for him.” Starsky looked with more sympatric eyes toward his brother.
Nick nodded, “He said he would kill Ma if I didn’t.
“Why haven’t you gone to the police?” Starsky asked his mother.
“I don’t want to drag your father’s name through the mud; people already think the worst, if all this came out….” She stopped unable to go on.
“Ma, was dad in Joe’s pocket?”
She shook her head, “NO! The only reason Joe paid for your father’s funeral was for me and I guess for you, he thinks you are his.”
“You realize you could clear his Pop’s name if you told your story.” Hutch said gently.
“And have people think that Davy is Joe’s son? I won’t do that to my husband or my son.”


                                                                                               Chapter 4

Nick had stuck around for dinner, it had been a quiet event, just the clanking of utensils on plates with the occasional request for the passing of food.
They had just finished when there as a knock on the front door. Starsky tossed his napkin in his plate and went to answer the door. Dex and his partner Rick stood there, both with grim faces. “What’s wrong?” Starsky asked immediately.
“Somebody shot up a brownstone a few blocks over,” Dex explained. “I think it was your friend’s, the one that was at the bar this afternoon.”
“Elaine?”
Rick nodded, “It sure looked like her, and she had two young boys with her.”
Hutch was standing behind Starsky holding out his jacket, “Let’s go check it out buddy.”
Starsky stabbed his finger in the air at Nick, “You! Stay here!”
Her brownstone was two blocks away and the four detectives made it there in record time. Elaine stood on the sidewalk with her two boys, four and six clinging to her legs, she was talking to an officer who was jotting down notes.
“Elaine, are you alright?” Starsky touched her shoulder from behind. She turned and threw herself into his arms, tears coursing down her face. She had been holding herself together for her sons but now all her strength faded away.
“Mommy?” the older of the two boys asked with a look of concern on his face.
“It’s okay Tadder, mommy is fine.” She brushed the top of his head with her hand. She released Starsky quickly composed herself and bent down to pick up her youngest son John. “This is an old friend of mine from when I was a kid.”
Both boys peered at Starsky then looked at Hutch. Hutch grinned at them. “I’m Hutch, the old friend’s partner.”
“Partner? “Tad asked.
“We are police detectives,” Hutch explained and took out his badge and show the boys, they both reached out to touch it. “Would you boys like to come sit with me while your mom talks to the other police officers?” They both nodded and Hutch led them to the steps leading up to the house next door. Elaine smiled at Hutch in gratitude as she turned back to the officer taking her statement. Starsky had his arm protectively around her shoulders.
“We were in the kitchen, if the boys hadn’t been with me,” Tears ran down her face again.
“You said you were married, where is your husband?” The officer taking notes asked.
“Right here.” Bernie Steinberg said as he eyed the man standing with his arm around his wife.
Elaine turned and rushed into her husband’s arms. He held her tightly as he continued to stare in Starsky’s direction; there was something familiar about the man that was with his wife. Starsky held out his hand to Bernie, “You probably don’t remember me.”
“Davy Starsky,” he said, recognition finally dawning on him, but didn’t accept the hand offered. He knew that his wife had been in love with the curly headed boy at one time. And by the looks of things he had loved her too.
“Dave or Starsky if you don’t mind.” Starsky dropped his hand. He turned back to the officer. “Are you done with her?” The officer nodded. “Why don’t you go to Ma’s, you’ll be safe there.”
“If you don’t mind I can take care of my wife.”
“Sorry I was just trying to help.” Starsky backed off.
“Thanks Davy, I think I will, boys.” She called to her sons who were listening to Hutch intently.
Bernie gave her a disapproving look but didn’t try to stop her. “Fine, I’ll be there to get you as soon as this mess is straightened up.”
Hutch walked the boys to their mother. “You want me to take them over?”
“I will take them”, Detective Dex Scott offered. He thought that perhaps Starsky could use his partner’s support.
After Elaine and the boys were gone, Bernie turned Starsky, “I told Elaine to stay away from you. I knew there was going to be trouble if she started talking.”
“She didn’t really tell me anything,” Starsky answered.
“It doesn’t matter, Jackie has his spies everywhere, it got back to him that she was seen talking to you.” Bernie was nearly standing toe to toe with Starsky. “And now our home has been riddled with bullets. If they had been killed it would have been on your head.”
“Wait a minute,” Hutch stepped in between the two men. “She came to the bar we were at; she came up to our table and wanted to talk to Starsky.” He was livid that his partner was being verbally attacked.
Bernie glared at Hutch. “Things were going fine until you two came to town.”
“Excuse me,” Starsky now had raised his voice. “I came here to bail out my brother.”
“Well he is out so why don’t you go back to where you belong before somebody gets killed!” There was a tinge of fear in the man’s voice.
“Out scot free,” Another officer remarked. “Wonder how that happened? Guess the Starsky’s are living a charmed life.”
Starsky spun around to confront the officer, “What is that supposed to mean?” The officer was young too young to know about Michael Starsky first hand. The rumor mill was still alive and well and it was clear Nick’s sudden release had stirred up those rumors yet again. “You don’t know what you are talking about.”
“You might be right but my pops does.” The officer growled. “Are you a dirty cop too?”
If it hadn’t been for Hutch, Starsky probably would have ended up in jail for assaulting a police officer, “Don’t let him bait you, buddy,” Hutch said in his ear. “Let’s get out of here.” Starsky looked at Hutch, “Come on.”
Starsky allowed to Hutch to pull him away from the scene, as they passed by Bernie, Starsky said to him, “I’m not after your wife if that is what you think. We were kids; I haven’t seen Elaine since we were kids, so why don’t we stop working against each other and work together to figure this out.”
Bernie blushed slightly at being figured out, nodded, “Tell Elaine I’ll be there as soon as I finish up here.” He looked at the front of his home, the windows were shot out and he was going to have to board them up until he could get them fixed. The front door was also riddled with bullet holes.

When the detectives entered Edna’s the boy’s were sitting on the couch each with a Popsicle, Nick was also eating one watching cartoons with them. Elaine was in the kitchen with Edna making coffee and slicing cake. Starsky figured his mother was trying to keep her busy and keep her mind of what could have happened.
Elaine appeared in the doorway of the kitchen, “Where’s Bernie?”
“Still at your place talking to the police,” Hutch answered. “He said he will be here when he can.”
“Have you called Will?” Starsky asked her.
“I just did, he said that me and the boys will be safe here with you.” She smiled at her childhood friend.
“I think your husband has other ideas about that.”
Elaine laughed, “Don’t mind him, for some reason he is jealous of you.”
“I got that.”
“Where is Dex and his partner?” Hutch asked.
“He said he would be back later and wants you two to wait for him.” Elaine answered. “He wants to talk to all of us.”
“What about?” Hutch asked.
She just shrugged but glanced in Nick’s direction. Hutch walked over to Nick. “So what else are you into?”
“Don’t talk to me like that,” Nick glared at Hutch as he finished off the cold treat and deposited the stick on the coffee table.
“What the hell else are you into Nick?!” Starsky growled at his brother. “You know what is going on so you had better spill it.”
Nick ignored both men and went back to watching cartoons. Starsky leaned over and picked up the stick and deposited it in the trash. “You need to grow up.”
Nick was about to come back with some sort of retort but there was a knock on the door. Starsky opened it expecting the two NYPD detectives but instead Bernie stood there. Sweat stood out on his forehead and his hands were dirty.
Worry creased Elaine’s face, “Are you alright?”
“I got plywood over the windows. I packed a couple of bags; we aren’t going back there tonight.” Bernie pulled out a handkerchief and mopped his face. “He might have just won this time.”
“What are you talking about?” Starsky asked.
“Bernie, NO!” Elaine hissed at her husband.
Bernie shook his head, “This has gone on long enough.” He sat down in a nearby chair his animosity for the curly headed detective seemed to be gone. “We need help.”
“Detectives Scott and Wagner have already asked us for help.” Starsky said, “We will do what we can but our badges don’t mean much here.”
“Tell us.” Hutch said.
Nobody noticed Nick sinking down into the couch trying to make himself smaller and wishing he could just disappear.
“Jackie is trying to take over the neighborhood. He is buying up everything and if somebody doesn’t want to sell his goons harass them.”
“Why?” Starsky asked, he turned and looked at his brother as did everybody else.
Nick could feel everybody’s eyes on him. “Why are you looking at me?”
“Because you know little brother” Starsky growled.
“Nicolas, you tell them what you know,” Edna said, she was very unhappy with her youngest son and had been for awhile. “No lies.”
Nick sighed and sat up, “It’s no big deal, Jack just wants to turn some buildings into a night club.”
“A night club in this neighborhood?” Elaine gasped, “That would ruin it.”
“Progress baby!”
“That isn’t progress that is greed,” Bernie said. “You know it’s going to be more than a night club, Jackie is looking for a place to run his drugs and girls out of.”
Nick gave him a pained look. “Then why don’t you sell and move, Jack is offering everybody a fair price.”
“We happen to like living here,” Elaine retorted. “It is a great place to raise our kids…or was.”
Starsky’s eyes narrowed, “Is that why you were running guns and drugs? Did Jackie need more money for the holdouts?”
“Shut up! You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t I?” Starsky advanced on Nick, he leaned over and pulled the younger man to his feet by the collar of his shirt. “You are nothing but a punk Nicky!”
Nick tried to jerk loose but Starsky had a tight hold on his shirt. Nick balled his fist up and brought it up to punch his brother when their mother stepped in.
“STOP!” The older woman shouted as she put her hand over Nick’s fist. Starsky released his brother and stepped back. “That is enough.”
“Mind your own business Ma!” Nick shouted at his mother.
Edna’s face crumpled and that was when Starsky punched Nick in the face sending him careening into the couch nearly falling on the boys, both jumped from the couch and rushing to their mother’s side
“It’s alright.” She bent down to comfort them then hustled them into the kitchen with a promise of food.
Nick had never spoken to his mother like that before, tears spilled down her cheeks as she went down the hall to her bedroom, they could hear the door slam.
Hutch rushed down the hall after her. He knocked softly on her bedroom door. “Mrs. Starsky…Edna,” still no answer came from inside. “Ma?”
The door opened slowly, the older woman peeked out. “I’m okay Ken, I just need a moment.”
“Can I come?” Hutch said kindly.
Edna opened the door wide enough for the detective to enter.
“I just don’t know what to do about Nicky.” Hutch looked around the room, there were pictures of Michael Starsky, Nick and Starsky when they were little sitting on her dresser. One of the pictures showed the boys with their arms around each other and grinning from ear to ear. Hutch picked it up. “I miss those days.” She said wistfully. “Michael wasn’t around as much as he wanted to be but he loved those boys and would do anything for them. He would be just heartbroken if he could see Nicky now and so proud of Davy.”
“Nick has just lost his way; maybe he will find his way back now.” Hutch said in hopes of making Edna feel better he as he sat the picture back in place.
“Not if he doesn’t stop running with Jackie.” She sat down on the bed. “I guess I was just blind to what was going on. He has been in trouble off and on but nothing big. I think he was given a pass on a lot of stuff because of Michael. Many thought he was a dirty cop but there were just as many or more who knew he wasn’t.”
There was a soft tap on the door and Nick poked his head in. “Ma, can I come in?”
Edna waved her youngest son into the room. Hutch gave Nick a stern look and Nick had enough sense to look ashamed, Hutch then left the room to allow mother and son to talk.


                                                                                         Chapter 5

Starsky was nursing his bruised knuckles with a bag of frozen peas Elaine brought him. “Ma alright?”
“Yeah, Nick is in there talking to her.” Hutch answered, “How’s your hand?”
“Thanks buddy,” Starsky gave his partner a small smile and flexed his hand “It’s alright.” This hadn’t been the first time he had hit Nick, but for some reason this time had hurt the most. They always seemed to be battling each other, even as kids.
A knock on the door brought Starsky out of his thoughts and he rose to answer the door. Dex and Rick stood there, neither detective looked happy. “Come on in everybody is here.”
“We can’t prove that Jackie Durniak had anything to do with it,” Dex told them, “But if you would file a complaint to the fact that he had been harassing you to move we could at least bring Durniak in to have a talk.” Detective looked at Bernie and Elaine.
“And what do you think our lives would be worth if we did that?” Bernie asked.
“For now we can put you in protective custody.” Rick said “If anything comes of this and you do have to testify you can go into witness protection.”
Elaine looked at Starsky, “Witness protection? What does that entail?
“I’m not going to lie to you, witness protection is not easy.” Starsky told her grimly. “You will have to leave everything behind, have no contact with anybody, and change your names, even your appearance.”
Elaine looked shocked. “I couldn’t leave my parents. We are all they have, and the boys they couldn’t be without their grandparents
Bernie put his hand on his wife’s shoulder but she moved away from him. He had been all for moving with the first offer that Durniak had made, he had wanted to get the hell out before it turned ugly. He hadn’t wanted to live in the neighborhood after they were married anyway but Elaine had insisted. It had been alright for a while, it was nice having her parents so close, especially since his parents were long dead and he had no other family. But with the increasing threats he was worried for his family’s safety and it had been by the grace of God that his wife and children hadn’t been hurt or killed when the bullets starting flying into their home. “Honey, think of the boys.”
“That is what I’m thinking of,” Tears stood in her eyes. Bernie finally had his excuse to move. Her anger finally flared. “You have always hated it here, even when you were a kid all you talked about was leaving. I sometimes don’t understand why you even married me; you knew I never wanted to leave. I love it here.”
“Elaine this is not the time to go into all that.”
Starsky had been watching Elaine intently, wondering if his mother hadn’t sent him off if he and Elaine would be married and have two little ones running around, heck maybe three or four. He had loved her for as long as he could remember even before he knew what love was. They of course were friends because their fathers were partners so they spent a lot of time together. Then Bernie had moved in next door to Elaine and things started changing between them. He hadn’t had the courage to proclaim his love for her. Starsky sighed, he had never admitted that to anyone not even to himself and all those buried feelings came flooding back. It had been easier to pretend they were just friends and after believing that for so long it had become fact, until now.
“Starsk?” Hutch put his hand on his partner’s shoulder; he was worried about his friend. Starsky had a couple of hard days especially since finding out that the father he had known and loved might not even be his father after all.
Starsky jumped up like he had been shocked by his partner’s touch, “I need some air,” He mumbled nearly sprinting out the door.
Hutch started to follow Starsky but Elaine stopped him, “Let me.”
Bernie bristled as he watched her follow the detective out of the apartment. Rick and Dex looked at each other wondering what was going on. “I’ll come in and sign a complainant and testify if necessary.” Bernie said suddenly.
“What about your wife?” Dex asked.
His young sons were clinging to his legs not understanding what was going on. “I’ll take my boys and go into witness protection if it comes to that and if Elaine wants to come fine, if not....well I guess she can stay here and hope that she isn’t murdered by Jackie Durniak but I’m done. I have to think of our children.”

Elaine found Starsky outside leaning against a tree in a small park across the street. He had his eyes closed and his was nearly hyperventilating. “Davy?” She sighed, “Dave.” When he still didn’t acknowledge her presence she finally said, “Starsky.”
He opened his eyes slowly; she could see he looked like he was on the verge of crying, “What are you doing out here?”
“I told your partner I would check on you. Take a deep breath.” Elaine reached out to touch him but Starsky moved. “Come on Davy we used to talk about everything.”
“That was a million years ago El, you are married, have kids, you need to be in there with your husband.” Starsky said, “You have a big decision to make. I’m just fighting ghosts from the past.”
“Am I one of those ghosts?”
“I guess you are even though I didn’t realize it until now.” Starsky turned away from her not wanting her to see the pain on his face. It wasn’t just her; it was everything that had come crashing down on him. Even his mother sending him away was bothering him although he knew it was for the best. But perhaps if he had been around Nick would have turned out better.
“Elaine,” Bernie shouted from the steps of the Starsky brownstone with the boys, and the two NYPD detectives behind him. Elaine looked at Bernie and then back to Starsky, she wanted desperately to tell Starsky that he wasn’t the only one with ghosts and regrets but instead she turned and walked toward the man she wasn’t even sure she really knew.
“Elaine,” Starsky called out, Elaine turned, “If it comes to it, go into witness protection, I’ll see what I can do about getting your parents in with you.”
“Thank you,” She whispered then ran across the street and scooped up her youngest son. They followed the detectives to their car and were driven to the Precinct for a statement then put in protective custody.
Starsky watched until the car was out of sight realizing that it was probably the last time he would ever see her. Just as he was crossing the street Nick came down the steps, “Where do you think you’re going?” Starsky demanded.
“Out.” Nick said and started to walk away.
“No you’re not, get back in the house.” Starsky grabbed his brother by the arm. “You are done running with Jackie and his crew.”
“I was going to buy some smokes.”
“Liar. When are you going to get it?” Starsky wanted to know. “If you keep hanging with Jackie you are going to go down with him and there will be nothing anybody can do to help you.”
“Go to hell.”
“You really have learned nothing have you?” Starsky growled at him. He leased his grip on Nick’s arm. “I’m done. You have already broken Ma’s heart, do what you want!” Starsky walked up the steps slamming the door behind him.
Nick stood on the street for a few moments then got in his car and sped off.
Hutch was in the kitchen with Edna when Starsky entered the brownstone, they both looked up from the clothes they were folding, Edna’s face fell when she saw Nick wasn’t with him. “I’m sorry Ma, Nicky left.”
Edna didn’t say anything as she continued folding clothes; it had been a long emotional day, she needed to keep herself busy. Edna knew her youngest son was going to end up in jail or dead.

“Are you going to talk to me?” Hutch wanted to know as they lay in the dark in the twin beds with the cowboy hats and guns on the spreads.
“What do you want me to say? I feel like my whole life is falling apart? That I may have made a mistake years ago not telling a girl how a felt? I have lost my little brother. Let my mother down. Don’t know who my father is. Do I need to go on?” His voice broke.
Hutch got up and went over and sat on the edge of the bed. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have pushed.”
Starsky rolled over to face the wall, “We are leaving tomorrow.”
“We told Dex we would stay and help nail Jackie.” Hutch said.
“I told Nick I was done and I am I’m going home, you do what you want.”

The next morning Starsky walked in the living room carrying his suitcase. Edna was sitting on the couch, “Ma, I’m going home, I’m sorry I just can’t do this anymore.”
Edna got up and wrapped her arms around her son. “It’s okay Davy, you did what you could. Don’t blame yourself for Nicky, I should have done more.”
Starsky hugged his mother tightly, “It’s not your fault either Ma.”
Hutch emerged from the hall but he wasn’t carrying his suitcase. “I’m going to stay if your Ma will put me up. I want to help put Jackie Durniak away.”
“Of course Ken.”
“I’m sorry, I just can’t.” Starsky opened the door to leave and a man in a three piece suit stood here holding a briefcase.
“Are you David Starsky?” the man asked without introducing himself.
“Yeah,” Starsky said, the man handed him a white envelope, nodded and left. “Who is it from?” Hutch asked.
Starsky turned the envelope over in his hand “Doesn’t say,” He opened it; there was a single sheet of paper. The words were straight and to the point. He looked up at his partner and mother. “Joe Durniak wants to see me.”



                                                                                                Chapter 6

Starsky gave a single knock on Joe Durniak’s hospital room door and then pushed it open without waiting for an invitation to enter. He had wrestled with the idea of whether he should meet with the man or get on a plane and leave everything behind him.
But curiosity won out and now he was entering the mob boss’s room. He knew Hutch had his back and was sitting in the waiting room down the hall, his partner had offered to come in with him but he needed to do this alone.
“Durniak?” A white head turned in his direction. “It’s David Starsky, you asked to see me?”
“Davy.” There was a fondness in the old man’s voice Starsky didn’t like. “Come on over here I don’t bite, don’t have my teeth in.” Joe joked.
Starsky didn’t smile but moved to stand at the end of the bed. He was shocked to see the man laying there; he was nothing like he remembered. Durniak had been a rotund man with a commanding voice, but now he looked small and frail in the white sheets that surrounded him. An IV was dripping into his arm and an oxygen mask was lying on his pillow. “What did you want to see me about?” Starsky asked. He wasn’t sure he wanted to hear what the man had to say. What if it was to claim him as his son?
Joe struggled to sit up, “Please, sit.” But Starsky remained rooted at the end of the bed. “I wanted to clear some things up before I die. Please sit.” He said again.
Starsky sighed and sat down. “Can we get on with this; I have a plane to catch.”
Joe chuckled, “You were always impatient.”
Starsky looked at the old man, “Don’t pretend to know me.”
“I’m sorry I have caused you and your mother a lot of pain.” Joe reached out his hand toward Starsky but he ignored it. Joe sighed and clasped his hands together on his frail chest. “Your father was not a dirty cop; he did not work for me. Don’t get me wrong, I offered many times but he always turned me down flat.”
“Yeah I kind of already knew that.” Starsky snapped, tired of the old man he got to his feet.
“You might, but the rest of the world doesn’t. I’m dying and I couldn’t go to my grave without setting the record straight.” Joe wheezed, he grabbed the oxygen mask on his pillow and took a couple of deep breaths.
“Should I call a nurse?” Starsky asked.
Joe shook his head no, after a few more deep breaths he put the mask back on his pillow, “I gave a statement to the police commissioner with a reporter present just so it can’t be swept under the rug that your father was a good cop, now everybody will know.”
Starsky gave the man a brief smile. “Thank you, Durniak, that will mean a lot to my mother. And it means a lot to me.”
Starsky got up to leave, “Don’t you have a question for me?” Joe asked.
The detective turned to look at the elderly man. He took a deep breath not sure he wanted to ask, not sure he wanted to know, finally Starsky did ask the question. “Are you my father?”
There was that fond look that Starsky didn’t like, it took Joe a long time to answer but finally he shook his head slowly, “No Davy, you aren’t my son.”
Relief spread across Starsky’s face but it turned to doubt, “How can you be so sure?”
The old man smiled, “I can’t have children, childhood accident.”
“What about Jackie?” Starsky wanted to know.
Joe sighed, “I took Jackie in when he was about 2 years old.” In spite of himself Starsky sat back down intrigued, he wanted to hear the story. Joe went on, “Jackie and his mother came to live with me, and two months after they moved in she disappeared leaving her son behind. I haven’t seen or heard from her since.”
“If you knew you couldn’t have children then why didn’t you just tell Ma instead of letting her think I could possibly be yours?” Starsky wanted to know, there was no anger in his voice only curiosity.
“I have many regrets in my life and that was one of them. I guess at the time I thought if your mother knew there was a possibility that I was the father that she would come back to me. Despite what you might think I really did love your mother, she was the only good thing in my life.”
“Then why? Why didn’t you tell her the truth once you knew she was staying with my father? Why didn’t you come forward and clear his name then?” Starsky had so many questions.
He shrugged his old man shoulders, “I guess I was hurt and I wanted to hurt back and then as time went on it was just easier to not say anything. As for your father, it would have been a sign of weakness if others realized I didn’t have him under my thumb.” Tears of regret stood in his eyes, “I’m sorry Davy, sorry for everything.”
Starsky reached out and laid his hand on Joe’s withered hand, it was hard to be angry looking at the man now. “If you still care at all for Ma, is there anything you can do about Jackie, he is terrorizing the old neighborhood.”
“I have been trying to talk to him but he doesn’t listen to me, he is poised to take over the moment that I’m gone, not like he hasn’t already.” Joe shook his head, “Only the old timers are still loyal to me, Jackie has his own crew.”
“He nearly had a childhood friend of mine and her family killed yesterday.” Starsky informed Joe.
“Will’s girl, I heard. Jackie is out of control.”
Starsky was surprised, “You know Will?”
“Of course, he was your father’s partner and…..” Joe hesitated only for a moment; he was going to come totally clean. “Will was the one on my pay roll.”
“WHAT?” Starsky stood up, he turned and looked out the window, mulling over what Joe had just told him. He turned back to the man in the bed, “He let my father take the heat?”
“No, your father was protecting Will; he let it all fall on himself.”
“But why?”
“That my boy went to the grave with your father.” Joe coughed again and grabbed the mask. “What would you do for your partner?”
Starsky could understand that but he wondered if he would protect Hutch if he knew he was working for the mob. He was pretty sure he wouldn’t keep quiet but then again who knows. Starsky wasn’t mad at Will but he had to wonder where the money went, Will and his family lived no better than the Starsky household. “Did you out Will in your statement?”
“No, I didn’t see any sense in ruining another life. It’s over and done with. Will is retired, I’m going to be gone soon, why hurt anybody else.”
Starsky nodded in agreement, he was unsure if he would confront Will or not, but he did want answers. “I was getting ready to leave but I think I’ll stay now. Jackie needs to be stopped.”
“I’ll take care of that.” Joe gave Starsky a small smile.
There was a tap on the door, and then it swung open. Jackie Durniak stood there in his three piece suit and his perfect hair. “Father.”
In a surprisingly quick move Joe reached under the covers brought out a gun and without hesitation shot Jackie square in the chest. Starsky was scrambling to get his weapon out, everything happened so quickly. Jackie crumpled to the floor gasping for air.

Hutch looked at his watch; his partner had been in Durniak’s room a long time. He hadn’t liked having to wait outside; he wanted to be there for Starsky. Hutch thumbed through countless magazines, drank a couple cups of bad hospital coffee and was still waiting. He caught a glimpse of a man going in Durniak’s room but thought little of it. Until the blast, everyone in the waiting room and nurse’s station jumped and looked around wondering what the sound had been. But Hutch knew immediately what it was.
He yanked his gun from its holster and sprinted down the hall yelling as he went for everybody to get down. Hutch’s heart was pounding has he shoved open Durniak’s room door not knowing what he would find and cursing himself for allowing Starsky to go in alone. “STARSKY!” Hutch yelled as he entered the room. Relief flood Hutch’s face when he saw his partner was unharmed.
He stared at Jackie Durniak bleeding out on the floor. “Get some help in here,” Hutch yelled into the hall.
Joe began wheezing, he had dropped the gun on the bed after he had shot his son. Starsky leaned over and placed the mask over the old man’s face. Joe was beginning to turn slightly blue.
Two nurses and several orderlies rushed into the room. “Get a gurney,” one nurse yelled as she knelt next to the fallen man to take his pulse.
Hutch stepped over Jackie’s body, “Are you alright?” He was totally focused on his partner.
It took Starsky a beat or two before he could answer, “I-I’m fine.”
Joe pulled the mask from his face. “I shot Jackie,” He didn’t want there to be any doubt.
There was a flourish of activity as Jackie was hoisted on to a gurney. Two uniformed officers walked in when the gurney was out of the way. “What the hell is going on?” One of the officers recognized Starsky from the shooting the day before. “Who got shot?”
“Jackie Durniak.” Hutch answered.


                                                                                      Chapter 7

                                                                            ~Six Months Later~

It was almost time for their shift to be over when the phone rang, Starsky grabbed it hoping it wasn’t something that would keep them in the office longer. “Starsky,” He barked into the phone then in a softer voice said. “Alright, I’ll be there.”
Hutch stopped typing and watched the expression on his partner’s face go from annoyed to somber. “What’s up?”
“Joe Durniak died, the funeral is in a few days.” Starsky hung up the phone.
“He was tough old bird, I can’t believe he lasted this long.” Hutch could remember his fear when he heard that gunshot at the hospital. He would have killed Durniak on the spot if he had hurt Starsky. He was shocked to see Jackie lying dead on the floor shot by the old man. Stunned, Starsky stood there holding his gun while Joe Durniak looked nearly dead himself as he lay in the bed, a gun lying on the white sheets. “I’ll go with you,” Hutch stated, he wasn’t letting his partner go alone.

The plane had taxied and was in the air when Starsky finally spoke, he had been nearly as silent as he had been on their way home from New York six months earlier. He had been lost in his thoughts both times. He hadn’t told Hutch anything he and Durniak had talked about. Hutch found out that the older Starsky had been cleared by Durniak’s confession the next morning in the newspaper. Although Hutch had wanted more details he didn’t pry.
Now Starsky had turned in his seat ready to tell it all. “I’m sorry I have been so moody and haven’t told you anything.”
“I know you have been going through some stuff and you would tell me when you were ready.” Hutch said kindly, just glad that his partner was finally opening up. He had been very concerned about Starsky when they had first gotten back. It had taken him a few months to finally return to normal and get back into the groove of things.
“Yeah but I should have talked to you, I knew you were worried.” Starsky gave Hutch a half of a grin. “You know Durniak cleared my pops, but you don’t know the rest of it. It was Will.”
“What was Will?”
“The cop in Durniak’s back pocket.”
Hutch’s mouth dropped open. “Your Uncle Will?”
Starsky nodded. “I was shocked too. I couldn’t believe it.”
“Are you going to say something?” Hutch wanted to know.
Starsky thought for a moment, he had gone over it in his head many times; he slowly shook his head, “No. I know what Ma, Nicky and I went through and I don’t want to put Aunt Mary, Elaine and her boys to go through it.”
“Do you think your father knew?”
Starsky shrugged, “I don’t know. Probably. Would I know if it was you and I?”
“Probably.”
“I’m not Durniak’s son.” Starsky blurted out; it felt good to say it. He had told his mother when he had gotten back from the hospital but he hadn’t said anything to Hutch.
“Durniak wasn’t able to have children.” Starsky said leaning back in the seat, he had all but forgotten he was flying.
“What about Jackie?” Hutch asked. Starsky quickly relayed the story that Durniak had told him. “Wow.” Hutch shook his head in disbelief.
Both men fell silent for the rest of the trip lost in their own thoughts.

The two detectives stood dressed in slacks and dress shirts with their jackets hung over their arms as they waited for the graveside service for Joe Durniak to start, there was a growing crowd but as far as Starsky knew none of them were family. It was mostly old men waiting to see who would be taking over for the Durniak’s now that Jackie and the old man were both dead. Most had stayed loyal to the old man but some had followed Jackie hoping they wouldn’t be put out to pasture when Joe died. But with Jackie going first they had aligned back with Joe.
Starsky felt a hand slip though his bent arm holding his jacket and looked over to see Elaine Steinberg smiling at him. “What are you doing here?” he asked her.
“I wanted to see you.” She smiled her heart breaker smile that had always gotten to all the boys.
“You could have done that at Ma’s later.”
“I didn’t want everybody around.” Elaine said softly.
Starsky looked around, “Where are Bernie and the boys?”
“The boys are with a friend and….well Bernie and I are in the middle of a divorce.” She explained.
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Starsky looked at her but she wasn’t sad, in fact, she was still smiling at him.
“I guess with all that has happened we realized we just didn’t belong together.” She admitted.
“What about the boy’s?” Starsky asked as he surveyed the ever growing crowd, he wondered why the NYPD wasn’t there, he was sure there were warrants out on a lot of the mourners.
“They will still see their father, maybe not as often if I move to the West Coast.” She held her breath to see what he was going to say.
Starsky let her West Coast comment go. “What about your parents?”
“Davy, I haven’t seen them in five months. They left for parts unknown, gave me their house to live in, packed up what they could carry and disappeared.” Her face was now somber as she thought about her boys asking repeatedly to see their grandparents.
“You don’t know where they went?”
“I get a phone call once a week but they never say where they are and I stopped asking.” She frowned, “Don’t you think that is kind of strange?”
Starsky shrugged his shoulders. Hutch was standing close enough to hear the conversation without appearing to ease drop. It was clear that Will was worried about Durniak’s admission and was concerned that the old man might out him.
“I thought the boy’s and I would move to Bay City, I’m tired of the cold winters and I need a fresh start.” She looked up at Starsky, “We can pick up where we left off.”
“Left off? Left off when we were twelve?” Starsky asked incredulous. “You don’t even know me El; we haven’t seen each other for years.”
“We can get to know each other again.” She said almost pleading, her parents were gone, she couldn’t stand being married to Bernie anymore and she didn’t like being alone.
“That ship sailed a long time ago.” Starsky tried to move away but Elaine clung to him.
“It can be like it used to be.”
“We were twelve,” Starsky reiterated.
Hutch poked his partner and jerked his head sideways; Starsky glanced that way and saw Detectives Dex Scott and Rick Wagner. “What do you think they are doing here?” Hutch asked.
“Paying their respects?” Starsky half joked to his partner. Elaine was still holding tightly to Starsky’s arm. “El, I don’t want to hurt you but I’m a cop, I don’t have time for a serious relationship even if I wanted one. I’m sorry.”
Looking bewildered Elaine allowed her hand to drop from his arm; she stepped back and looked toward the casket. “I think they are about to start.”
Elaine started to walk away but Starsky caught her hand. “Why don’t you go live with your parents? Next time they call, tell them you want to be with them. You will find some nice guy and settle down again. I’m just can’t be that nice guy for you.”
She nodded woodenly and walked away without looking back. Starsky decided that she wasn’t the girl that he had once known but he wasn’t the same boy she had know either.

The Pastor gave an eloquent sermon for Joseph Durniak but the two detectives were sure it was falling on deaf ears as they could see the mourners wheeling and dealing as to whom was going to take Durniak’s place. It made Starsky feel a little sad and when the casket was lowered into the ground he was the only one that step forward, took a hand full of dirt and dropped it atop the casket, Hutch then followed suit and finally Dex and Rick did the same but none of Durniak’s cronies took notice.
As Dex walked by them he whispered, “We need to talk.”
A look passed between Starsky and Hutch, both wondering what there was really left to talk about. Starsky was hoping they hadn’t somehow gotten wind of the fact it had been Will that had been Durniak’s inside man.
With the service over the crowd began moving towards their cars, Dex and Rick were leaning on the detective’s rental Hutch and Starsky had rented at the airport. “What’s up,” Hutch questioned as they neared the two men.
“Where is William Thomson?” Dex said.
“How should we know?” Hutch answered for the both of them.
“He has disappeared,” Rick informed them although they already knew. “And I don’t buy his daughter doesn’t know where he is.”
“You were talking to her Starsky, what did she say?” Dex wanted to know.
Starsky wasn’t about to tell them about the conversation he had just had with Elaine, it was none of their business. “Not much, she just came to pay her respects.”
“She left before the funeral,” Rick growled.
Sighing Starsky glanced at Hutch then said, “She wanted me to know that she left her husband, is that enough information for ya?”
“And why would she….oh I get it.” Rick grinned and winked at Starsky who ignored him.
“Listen we need to get going, we don’t have long before our flight leaves and Starsky would like to see his mother.” Hutch tried to step in before things escalated.
“I noticed that she didn’t come.” Dex said.
“Why would she?” Starsky was becoming annoyed by their questions.
“Why are you here?” Rick smirked. “Maybe your father really was on Durniak’s payroll after all.”
Infuriated, Starsky advanced on the detective, “Durniak cleared my father.”
“And we are just supposed to believe a mob boss?” Rick was now standing toe to toe with Starsky. “Looks to me like both your father and Will were on the take and now Will has taken the money and run.”
“Where we come from, it’s called retiring,” Hutch stepped in between Starsky and Rick.
“People don’t usually disappear off the face of the earth when they retire.” Rick refused to back down.
Hutch put his hand on Rick’s chest and pushed him back. “That’s enough. We came to pay our respects not to be integrated.”
“But don’t you see that is where you lose me. Why would you want to come to the funeral of a man that let the world think Michael Starsky was a bad cop? If he wasn’t on the take, then he was protecting somebody that was, Will Thompson, and in my book that is just as bad.” Rick was beginning to get loud and several people were now looking in their direction.
“Listen, I was a kid I don’t know what went down and to tell you the truth, I don’t want to know.” Starsky was now seething and Hutch knew it wouldn’t be long before his partner blew, he was surprised he had kept his cool this long.
“Come on Rick,” Dex was pulling his partner toward their car. He wanted some answers also but it was getting out of hand. There was going to be a fight.
Rick jerked away from Dex, “I came for some answers and I’m going to get them.”
“You can’t get something I don’t know!” Starsky nearly shouted.
“This is over,” Hutch growled as he took the car keys from Starsky, unlocked the door and pushed his partner in before there was a fight.
“I’m not done!” Rick shouted.
“Yes you are,” Dex said also pushing his partner toward their parked car.
Starsky was fuming as they drove off in the direction of his mother’s brownstone. “What the hell was that all about?”
“Let it go. Rick has been out for a fight with you since we met in court that day.” Hutch said. “They obviously don’t have any proof or they wouldn’t be busting your chops.”

                                                                                        Chapter 8

When they entered the Starsky brownstone Edna was sitting on the couch dressed in her best. She jumped up when the two men entered, “I thought you were Nicky.” Edna hugged them both and returned to her place on the couch. “He was supposed to pick me up and take me to Joe’s funeral.”
Starsky was glad she hadn’t made it; he wouldn’t have wanted her to hear the exchange between him and the NYPD detective. “Where is Nick?”
Edna shrugged, “He was supposed to pick me up almost 2 hours ago. I guess I missed the service.”
“Sorry Ma.” Starsky said down next to her. “Is Nick up to his old tricks again?”
She looked at her son blankly at first then shook her head, “He has a real job now.” She never wanted to think the worst of your youngest son.
Starsky looked up at Hutch who was standing behind the couch. Neither one believed for one second that Nick was doing anything on the up and up. But Starsky didn’t want to start anything, he just wanted to see his mother and get the hell out of town. He was hoping Nick wouldn’t show up until after he left.
There was a knock at the door that startled them all, being closest Hutch opened the door. The same man that had delivered the letter from Durniak stood there. This time he had a large manila envelope which after a nod handed it to Hutch then disappeared.
Hutch looked at the large envelope then handed it to his partner, who in turn handed it to his mother. “See what it is Ma.”
It was obviously from Joe Durniak since it was his lawyer that had delivered it. Edna tried to hand it back to her son. “You open it Davy.”
Starsky shook his head and pushed it away. “You need to open it, I’m a cop remember, who knows what might be in there.”
Edna sighed and with shaking hands opened the envelope and reached in. She pulled out several bank passbooks; each one was an account with a million dollars each in them. Edna’s name was on every one of them. Her eyes widened in surprise and she handed them to Starsky who looked at them and then handed them to Hutch. Hutch let out a low whistle when he saw the amounts in each account.
Next she pulled out a hand full of deeds, to all the properties that Jackie had bullied the owners out of. A note was attached to the first deed which instructed Edna to give each owner back their property free and clear. There was small envelope with a key to a safe deposit box which would never be used by the Starsky family. Starsky took it and tucked it in his pocket, he would destroy it. He didn’t want to know or care what Durniak might have squirreled away. He had thought for a moment of giving it to the police but then there would have been questions of how he came in to possession of it. He didn’t want another confrontation with Rick Wagner.
There were a few stocks and bonds along with several thousand dollars in cash, when the envelope was empty Edna looked at her son with moist eyes. “Why did he give all this to me?”
“I think he loved you Ma,” Starsky said honestly. “When we talked he still had great affection for you, I could hear it in his voice.”
“What should I do with all this?” Edna asked looking at everything on the coffee table.
“Give the deeds back just like Durniak wanted. As for the accounts, I don’t know. The police could know about the accounts and be watching but since they are all in your name they very well may not know about them.” Starsky looked to Hutch for advice.
“You have plenty of cash there Edna, hire a lawyer and have him look into it.” Hutch advised. “Or do nothing, put the passbooks in a safe deposit box and forget them or destroy them.”
Edna looked upset and confused. Starsky scooped up the documents spread on the table and the passbooks and stuffed them back in the envelope. “You don’t have to deal with this right now Ma.” He then took his mother’s hands in his, “But whatever you DO, don’t tell Nick. Do you understand me?”
She nodded, “You take it.”
“Ma I can’t, you need to put this somewhere safe, some place where Nick won’t run across it. If he does who knows what he will do.” Starsky cursed Durniak in his head, why would he do this? If anyone found out it would make his father look like a dirty cop and Durniak’s confession would mean nothing. Suddenly Starsky remembered something Elaine had told him. “Ma, where are Uncle Will and Aunt Mary?”
Edna dropped her gaze to her hands and began to twist the hanky she had been holding. “I-I don’t know.” She stammered.
“Ma, you are lying” Starsky accused her. “I’m pretty sure Elaine doesn’t know but you do, don’t you?”
Her voice was barely above a whisper, “Mary told me, Will doesn’t know that she told me, but Mary wanted someone to know.”
“Where are they?” Starsky asked
Edna shook her head. “I won’t betray them, not even to you. Like you keep telling me, you are a cop. I don’t want you to have to lie if you are asked.”
Starsky nodded, he started to tell her about his encounter with Wagner but then thought better of it, she was already overwhelmed without thinking the NYPD might be knocking on her door any minute. “Ma do you know?”
“Know what?” There was twisting of the hanky again, it had always been her dead giveaway that she wasn’t being truthful. “I told you, I won’t say.”
“That isn’t what I’m talking about Ma and you know it.” Starsky grabbed her hands to make her stop twisting. “Do you know about Will?”
Edna sat for a long time perfectly still only her chest rising with every breath. “If you are talking about him working for Joe…yes.”
Starsky got up from the couch, “How could Pops protect him like that? He ruined everything. He might have even got Pops killed.”
“Would you betray Ken?” she asked.
Starsky sighed, “I don’t know.”
“Of course you wouldn’t,” Edna looked first at her son and then at Hutch, “You are brothers, you would have each other’s backs just like Michael had Will’s back. Michael had no idea at first, but as time went on he figured it out and confronted Will. Will told him the truth and begged Michael not to tell. When Michael was killed, Will wanted to come forward but I wouldn’t let him. I didn’t want to see Mary and Elaine hurt, Will would have lost his job at the very least and most likely gone to jail. I couldn’t let that happen. Shortly after your father died, Will wanted out but Joe said no so I went and had a talk with Joe and made him promise to let Will out with no repercussions and he did.”
“Why didn’t you tell me all this before?” Starsky wanted to know.
“I didn’t want you to think badly of Will.” Edna plainly stated, then added, “Or me, don’t forget I knew also, I could have ousted Will and cleared your father’s name years ago.”
“It’s alright Ma,” Starsky hugged his mother close.
“I went to see Joe in the hospital,” Edna admitted deciding that her son might find out if he talked to Detective Scott.
“When?” Starsky was once again shocked.
“About two months after he killed Jackie.”
“Did he ask for you?” Starsky asked.
She shook her head no, “I guess I just needed to see him. I hadn’t talked to Joe since the day I asked him to let Will go. I wanted to thank him for telling you the truth since I couldn’t.”

After the shooting the police wanted to take Joe Durniak into custody but he was too ill to be move to the jail infirmary so a guard was placed on his door. The district attorney, after reviewing Durniak’s medical condition decided not to waste the tax payer’s money by putting him on trail; Durniak would be dead in a matter for weeks according to the doctors. But Durniak surprised them all by hanging on for the next six months.
It had been two months since the shooting when Edna Starsky got it in her head that she needed to see Joe; it had been years since she had seen him. She knew walking into the hospital to see him wasn’t an option since he was under guard they would never let her in his room, so she called Center Park Precinct and asked for Detective Scott. Without any questions Dex Scott arranged it, he felt like he owed the Starsky family that much. He even picked up Edna taking her to the hospital and escorting her to Durniak’s room. He stepped in the room with her for only a moment then slipped into the hall allowing the older woman to be alone with Durniak. He had no idea what they had to talk about, but he didn’t care and had been careful not to let his partner know what he was doing.
Edna approached the bed quietly and looked at the man laying there, at first she thought that he might be dead but then she saw his chest rise and fall he was sleeping. She rounded the bed and pulling a chair close she sat down. As if Durniak sensed her presence his eyes fluttered open and his head turned to look at her.
“Edna?”
She leaned forward and took his withered hand, “Hi, Joe.”
“You came.”
“I did, I wanted to thank you for talking to Davy.” She smiled at him as the years melted away, she was twenty again and he was thirty, she no longer saw the old man lying in the bed.
“He turned out to be a fine boy.” Joe said proudly.
“I know it must have hurt not claiming him as your own.” Edna was grateful but sad.
He patted her hand, “It’s better for Davy to think Michael was his father, he was a good man and I respected him.”
Edna smiled through tears that were forming in her eyes, “He respected you for what you did even though you were on opponent sides of the law. Not laying claim to Davy was a brave thing to do.”
“It was the right thing to do dear, what kind of life would I have given him?” Joe was at peace with his decision he had made years before.
“Maybe someday I will tell him the truth.”
“NO,” Joe said with all his might, “Let it be Edna, please, for me and for Michael’s memory. It would destroy the boy.”
She nodded, wiped her tears and placed a kiss on Joe’s forehead. “I guess I had better go, you get some rest.”
Hours later Joe Durniak slipped into a coma where he remained for the next four months until he finally died.

Once again the two Bay City detectives were sitting on a plane waiting for it to taxi and take off. “Are you alright?” Hutch asked staring at his friend’s profile wondering what he was thinking.
“I think so.” Starsky said honestly, he turned and smiled at Hutch.
“What do you think your Ma is going to do?”
Starsky shrugged, “I don’t know and I’m not sure I want to know. I just hope she keeps her promise and doesn’t tell Nick.”
“And Elaine?” Hutch wanted to know.
“I pretty much told her not to come to Bay City so we will see what she does.” Starsky frowned hoping the woman with her boys in tow would not show up on his door step. “I don’t know what she needs but it’s not me, she is just trying to hold onto the past.”
“Are you?”
“Am I what?”
“Still holding on to the past?”
Starsky smiled again and shook his head, “All my ghosts from the past are finally gone.”
A stewardess appeared next to them with a drink cart, the plane was in the air without them even noticing. “Would you like a drink?”
“Sure sweetheart,” Starsky said in his best Bogie voice.

                      THE END