{"id":297,"date":"2017-12-14T06:37:22","date_gmt":"2017-12-14T06:37:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2017\/calendar\/?p=297"},"modified":"2017-12-14T06:37:22","modified_gmt":"2017-12-14T06:37:22","slug":"december-10th-blondie-and-the-beast-part-3-by-spencer-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2017\/calendar\/?p=297","title":{"rendered":"December 14th- Blondie and the Beast Part 4 by Spencer"},"content":{"rendered":"

Click here to read Part 1<\/em><\/a><\/strong><\/span>
\nClick here to read Part 2<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/em>
\nClick here to read Part 3<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Chapter Five<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThink of the one thing that you\u2019ve always wanted.
\nNow find it in your mind\u2019s eye and feel it in your heart.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

-Disney\u2019s Beauty and the Beast<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

In the light of day, Gus Stone\u2019s low-slung office building looked unassuming. Harmless. But Starsky had found that appearances don’t tell the whole story. Gus\u2019s modest yet serviceable work space was a far cry from his luxurious house and exclusive parties, set apart from the hard-working people who bled to support his lavish lifestyle.<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky paused and swallowed hard outside the door to Stone\u2019s office. He hadn\u2019t been called in and he hadn\u2019t made an appointment. But such protocol wasn\u2019t about to stop him. His mind was made up.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Gus was on the phone when Starsky walked in. A few feet inside, Starsky pulled a set of keys from his pocket and tossed them over to the desk. The whoosh of air created by the flying keys caused the papers on its surface to flutter. Gus started to wave him away but something in Starsky\u2019s eyes caused Gus to change his mind. He looked down to the keys, then up at Starsky.<\/span><\/p>\n

He ended his phone call tersely, setting the black handset in its cradle with a frown. \u201cWhat\u2019s this?\u201d Gus asked. \u201cYou wantin\u2019 a bigger pad? A fancier set of wheels?\u201d He tapped the cigar he\u2019d been smoking on the edge of a tortoise shell ashtray in dire need of emptying.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want anything,\u201d Starsky replied. \u201cI quit.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Gus leaned back in his chair, gauging him. He inhaled deeply from the cigar, then blew a puff of smoke toward Starsky. \u201cThis isn\u2019t the kind of job you can quit with a fuckin\u2019 two-week notice.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI ain\u2019t giving no notice. I\u2019m done as of now<\/em>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Gus straightened abruptly, his displeasure sparking to life like a lit fuse. \u201cWhat makes you think you can just walk away?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky held steady while his insides quaked. Yet his face was a mask. He\u2019d had plenty of practice at hiding what he felt inside.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I get it,\u201d Gus said when Starsky returned his glare unflinchingly. \u201cYou want to go into business for yourself. You think you can make easier money by fencing? Or maybe even pushing horse? Joe warned me about you. Loyal as a retriever but too damn smart for your own good.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The insinuations collected like a foul residue on Starsky\u2019s skin, as though he were wading through a swamp. He couldn\u2019t wait to go somewhere to wash off. \u201cIt ain\u2019t that. I\u2019m done doing people\u2019s dirty work.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Gus\u2019 face colored. \u201cJust who the fuck<\/em> do you think you are?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m no different than anyone else.\u201d The simple words tasted like sweet ambrosia on his lips. Manna to a starving man.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIs that what you think? Well, you\u2019re wrong,\u201d Gus fumed. \u201cYou\u2019re a two-bit punk a long way from home. Where are you going to go? You can\u2019t just walk away like squeaky clean. Who\u2019s going to take you in the way I did? You\u2019re as dirty as I am.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky shrugged his shoulders. \u201cMaybe so, but I’ll take that chance.\u201d He pulled the notebook from out of his jacket pocket and ripped pages, one by one, from the binder, tearing them into unreadable scraps. \u201cI might not be able to stop you, but I can sure slow you down.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Gus lunged around the desk, heedless of the cigar that smashed in his hand. He grabbed for the ledger but he was too late. Names, amounts, dates, compounded by sweat and tears, floated to the floor like confetti. Inches away from Starsky, he quaked with rage, his neck mottled. His hands curled like claws at his sides.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re going to pay for that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky had nothing left to say. He just turned on his heel and walked out, leaving Gus\u2019 threats and stale, tobacco-laced breath behind. He strode out to the street where he stopped long enough to heave the contents of his stomach onto the curb.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then he got up and walked resolutely away.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Starsky had only one reason to go back to Huggy\u2019s. When he saw the tall blond sitting at the bar he was relieved the trip wasn’t wasted.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHere comes trouble.\u201d Behind the bar Huggy used his eyes as pointers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hutch turned in his stool to see Starsky walk through the door carrying an army duffle. The bar patrons\u2019 chatter turned to nervous whispers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hutch stood up cautiously at Starsky\u2019s approach. \u201cWhat\u2019s in the bag, Starsk?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt ain\u2019t some kind of bomb, if that\u2019s what ya think.\u201d Starsky dropped his burden heavily on the floor and slid onto the stool next to Hutch. \u201cUnless dirty laundry is life threatening.\u201d He gave a small smile that spread over to Hutch like a ripple of water.<\/span><\/p>\n

Just like that, the tension that had followed Starsky into the bar dissipated into the smoky air.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDid your washing machine in those fancy digs of yours break down?\u201d Hutch sat back down and rested his hand on his glass.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s just say, I moved out.\u201d Starsky turned to Huggy. \u201cHow about a beer? I\u2019m just a regular customer today.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s good to know,\u201d Huggy said as he reached for a glass.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happened?\u201d Hutch asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI quit.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cReally?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, really.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Huggy set a beer down in front of Starsky. \u201cIn that case, this one\u2019s on the house.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hutch lifted his glass and touched it to Starsky\u2019s with a clink. Above the rims their eyes met, the two distinct shades of blue melding.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you going to do now?\u201d Hutch asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky took a gulp of beer and swallowed, letting the refreshing liquid sooth the burn in his throat. \u201cNot exactly sure.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about going back east?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe later. Just not right now.\u201d He wouldn\u2019t admit he had no intention of showing up on his mother’s doorstep with nothing more than a pair of too tight jeans to show for himself. The look on Hutch\u2019s face said he didn’t need to.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about you?\u201d Starsky asked purposefully. \u201cDid you mean what you wrote?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAbout what I really wanted?\u201d Hutch nodded. \u201cI guess I have a call to make,\u201d he said next, his gaze never leaving Starsky\u2019s face. \u201cI\u2019ll tell my parents this is going to be my last semester of law school. I won’t be taking the bar in the spring.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d Huggy’s already wide eyes grew even larger as he looked from one to the other, caught up in their game of catch and release.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cStarsky and I got to talking the other night,\u201d Hutch said. \u201cAbout how we might have been looking at things the wrong way. Being who other people wanted us to be, instead of just being ourselves.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHutch left me a note saying that if I straightened up, he\u2019d quit law school,\u201d Starsky finished. \u201cSeein\u2019 as how that\u2019s never what he wanted. He was just don\u2019 it to keep peace in the family.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hutch gulped down the last of his beer and set the glass heavily on the bar. \u201cI suppose my trust account will be closed within a week.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky\u2019s glass followed suit. He wiped at his mouth with the back of his hand. \u201cI suppose Stone will try to get even.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Huggy looked from one to the other as they grinned at each other. Not catch after all. More like Chicken. \u201cYou\u2019re both crazy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPossibly,\u201d Hutch said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Huggy shook his head. He picked up a rag and began to wipe the bar down, then stopped and slowly turned back to Starsky. \u201cSo if you\u2019re not working for Gus anymore, there\u2019s a good chance some other creep will be knocking at my door?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s that chance,\u201d Starsky drawled.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSeems to me I might need a good bouncer for a while,\u201d Huggy mused. You know anybody looking for a job? It doesn\u2019t pay much but at least it\u2019s honest work.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou could flop on my couch for a while if you want,\u201d Hutch jumped in, before Starsky had a chance to turn him down. \u201cMy place isn\u2019t a castle, but at least it\u2019ll keep the rain off.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky was speechless. He felt the same way he did when witnessing a small miracle, like a ray of sun piercing the thickness of a cloud bank or the first buds of spring emerging through mud.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hutch put a hand on Starsky\u2019s shoulder and gave him a little shake. \u201cWhat do you say?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The jostle served to break up whatever had jammed in Starsky\u2019s throat. \u201cI guess I could, for a little while,\u201d he said, then adding, \u201clong enough to make sure you get into the police academy, anyway.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hutch smiled, giving Starsky the odd feeling that he\u2019d known what Starsky was going to say all along.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cPolice academy, huh?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m thinkin\u2019 it\u2019s where you belong,\u201d Starsky said. \u201cYou got a way of seein\u2019 the best in people, no matter how messed up they are.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

When Huggy brought them two more glasses (the last ones on the house, he warned, or he would go broke), he found them sitting side by side so closely a napkin could barely pass between them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter Six<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cDavid Starsky!\u201d A voice called sharply out of the darkness.<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky and Hutch had finished their beers and helped Huggy close up shop. Starsky, his duffle slung over his shoulder, had followed Hutch out to his car when he heard the voice he figured would haunt his dreams for a long time to come. Its jagged sound echoed from the buildings that lined the city street.<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky and Hutch turned as one to see Gus Stone silhouetted under a street lamp across the street, his feet spread wide, his gray overcoat billowing in the cool air.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI told you I\u2019m done with you, Stone,\u201d Starsky called back. \u201cNow go back under the rock you crawled out from.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou think you\u2019re something special, like you\u2019re untouchable,\u201d Gus spat out. \u201cLet me tell you something, boy. I know all about you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky took a step forward, blocking Hutch with his body, but Hutch would have none of it, matching him move for move. \u201cLeave it alone,\u201d Hutch warned.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s this to you, blondie? Don\u2019t tell me you care what happens to this punk. I got news for you. He can go down just like his father. Starsky\u2019s pig of a father wasn\u2019t capped in some random hit. It was planned all along. Your buddy<\/em> — Joe Durniak — set up the whole thing,\u201d he directed at Starsky.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you saying?\u201d Starsky felt as if he\u2019d been slammed in the gut. His knees grew weak and he sensed the blood drain from his face. He felt Hutch\u2019s arm at his elbow, bolstering him as Gus continued to rail.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t you get it? Big Joe, everyone\u2019s favorite uncle, is in with the mob. A wise guy. But your pop, he was on to him, see? He was about to turn Joe in when he got burned. You want to know the funniest part?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Gus\u2019s face split into a sadistic grin. \u201cJoe actually liked you. Thought you were smart like your father. Joe thought he could get you to follow in his footsteps if he started early enough. But he messed up. That’s why he sent you out here. Joe thought you might find out a truth you weren’t ready for. That you didn’t have the stomach to join the Family.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Gus pulled a gun from his coat pocket and pointed it at Starsky. \u201cI\u2019m gonna fix his mistake before your head gets any bigger.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky stood immobilized as he listened to Gus\u2019 words, because of the gun Gus trained on him. He suddenly realized that what he had done or didn\u2019t do that night all those years ago hadn\u2019t<\/em> mattered. It wasn\u2019t his fault that his father had died after all. It was Joe Durniak\u2019s.<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky\u2019s stomach began to roil just like it had at his pop\u2019s funeral. The years peeled away. He could see the contrived sympathy on Joe\u2019s face, smell the gardenias Joe had brought to the house. Their overpowering scent had left Davey slightly woozy.<\/span><\/p>\n

He remembered the shiny Schwinn Joe had put together for Nicky on his birthday. The old car he\u2019d miraculously arranged for Starsky to buy at sixteen. The back room meetings, the generous payments for packages carried and messages delivered after dark. The admonishments — Keep this between us, kid — <\/em>that Joe had used to make him feel appreciated and reel him in bit by bit.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hutch didn\u2019t move from Starsky\u2019s side. \u201cDon\u2019t be a fool, Stone. Being a crooked loan shark is one thing. Being a murderer is something else,\u201d he cautioned coolly while next to him Starsky burned.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cStep aside, blondie. You don\u2019t want to die for this creep.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/strong>You got it wrong, Stone. It\u2019s you<\/em> who\u2019s the beast,\u201d Hutch proclaimed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky saw Gus turn his gun on Hutch at the insult. The motion made him come to life. He moved to push Hutch aside, the same time as he heard the crack of gunfire and felt a white hot poker stab his shoulder. The force of it threw him backwards and he landed hard on the pavement.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo!\u201d Hutch cried out, dropping down beside him. Starsky felt Hutch grope him with frantic tenderness. Finding the bullet wound, Hutch pressed down with both hands and Starsky gasped in pain.<\/span><\/p>\n

The night exploded then with the scream of sirens, a cacophony of shouts and running feet. Starsky distantly heard calls of \u201cPolice! Put your hands in the air!\u201d Then other shouts and a scuffle.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOh God!\u201d Huggy exclaimed as he arrived on the scene. He crouched with Hutch next to Starsky on the ground. \u201cI was afraid of something like this. That Gus Stone is one badass dude. I knew no way was he gonna let Starsky walk away. I saw the whole scene go down and did something I thought I\u2019d never do \u2013 call the cops.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky tried to speak but only managed a groan.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHang on, buddy. It\u2019s going to be okay,\u201d Hutch crooned.<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky moaned again. There was something he needed to say. Starsky was seeing his life as one long dizzying carousel ride, a parade of faces that blurred in passing. His father, mother, counselors, Big Joe. But then his focus settled in on one.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m here,\u201d Hutch said.<\/span><\/p>\n

An officer ran over to them yelling, \u201cAn ambulance is on its way.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Two other policemen had put Gus Stone in handcuffs and were leading him to a squad car. \u201cWhat happened here?\u201d one of the officers said as he reached them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGus Stone took a shot at my friend, here. Nearly killed him,\u201d Hutch said, not releasing the pressure of his hands or taking his eyes from Starsky\u2019s face.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI saw the whole thing from my place across the street, officer.\u201d Huggy stood and gestured to his bar. \u201cI was the one who made the call. Stone\u2019s been hassling this neighborhood for years.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

My friend.<\/em> Starsky grabbed for Hutch\u2019s arm. \u201cN . . . not a monster . . . \u201d He felt weak, fading away.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, babe,\u201d Hutch leaned in to whisper. \u201cThat you could never be.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

A team of paramedics appeared and Hutch moved aside. They examined Starsky\u2019s shoulder and took his vital signs with Hutch hovering inches away. When they secured Starsky in a gurney and lifted him into the ambulance, Hutch climbed in beside him.<\/span><\/p>\n

When Starsky was finally settled, he turned to Hutch. Pain medications were starting to kick in, making him feel dreamy and peaceful. \u201cEverything\u2019s gonna be okay now, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Hutch smiled down at him. \u201cIt sure is. We have a whole other lifetime to live.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Starsky caught his reflection in a mirror hanging from one side of the ambulance. He noticed he could use a haircut and that his shirt was torn and bloodied. He saw he wasn\u2019t perfect, but not irredeemable either. He was just — human.<\/span><\/p>\n

FIN<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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Click here to read Part 1 Click here to read Part 2 Click here to read Part 3 Chapter Five \u201cThink of the one thing that you\u2019ve always wanted. Now find it in your mind\u2019s eye and feel it in … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,7,16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-297","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fic","category-gen","category-safe-for-work"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2017\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/297","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2017\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2017\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2017\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2017\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=297"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2017\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/297\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":322,"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2017\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/297\/revisions\/322"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2017\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=297"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2017\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=297"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/advent.starskyhutchcalendar.net\/2017\/calendar\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=297"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}