Chapter 2 ~ Dinner And A Show

Bay City

“I’m sorry, Dave.”

“You’re sorry?” Dave held the beer bottle to his swollen jaw.

“We’ve been trying to catch the guy.” John Blaine eyed the black eye and scraped face. Not too bad, and it could have been far worse. “So far there’s just the little fish out on the street. We haven’t been able to get to him.”

“His boys won’t talk?”

“They just sit there and wait till their lawyer bails them out.” John took a drink of his beer. “Have I told you how much I hate lawyers?”

“Not in the last five minutes.” He laughed, grimacing as his jaw twinged in pain.

“Lawyers have their place.” Al said. “Preferably under a bus.”

“No shop talk, John.” Maggie called from the kitchen window. “You promised.”

“Yes, dear.” He said meekly, winking at Dave.

They were sitting in the backyard, the gate between their backyard and the Blaines’ standing open. Al was at the barbeque grill, minding the steaks there, while Maggie and Rosie worked in the kitchen.

“Maybe I can help.” Dave offered. “After all, these guys are going to come after me again once I go back to work.”

“Dave.” Al pointed his barbeque tongs at him. “These guys play for keeps.”

“I know that.”

“He’s right, Dave.” John took another drink of his beer. “Don’t think that everybody has caved in and paid up.”

“They had to set a few examples. I know how it works.” Dave shrugged. “But you know I can help with this. They know I’m not a cop – so maybe I can get them to let something slip. Maybe get their boss’ name.”

“I don’t know, Dave.” John didn’t like the idea at all. He’d watched Dave grow up right next door and felt almost like he was an uncle to the boy. He and Maggie had never had kids, which might be for the best, all things considered, and there were times that Dave had filled that void in their lives. Putting him in danger wasn’t something he wanted to consider doing. “You’re a civilian – you shouldn’t be involved.”

“And that’s a weak ass argument.” Dave took a drink of his beer. “I’m gonna get my ass kicked again – how much more involved can I be?”

“You could come to work for me.” His uncle said as he flipped the steaks over.

“There you go, go to work for your uncle.”

“You want me to be a coward? Between the two of you, I’ve had – almost – “ He got up from his chair and went to lean against the fence. “You’ve both kinda been like – you know – my pop – and I can’t believe that you’d want me to just roll over. I know he wouldn’t.”

Al and John looked at each other. He had them there. Two men without a son, both doing their best to raise one. They’d tried to instill values and integrity in the rebellious, wounded boy – maybe they’d been too successful.

“We’re not asking you to roll over.” Al told him. “We just don’t want you to get yourself hurt – or killed.”

“I’m not looking to get myself killed.” He walked back to his chair and sat down again. “I just got back from a war zone – surviving and getting home was all I could think of. But if I’ve got to give in to someone like this – I gotta wonder why.”

“Dave, I’ll talk to my captain – but I’m not promising anything.” There was no doubt in John’s mind that his captain would tell him no. “But if he says no – then you forget going back to work for the cab company – deal?”

“Deal.” Leaning forward, Dave shook his hand. “We’re gonna get this guy.”

“Dave…” Sighing, Al flipped the steaks again. “Why don’t you go see if your Aunt Rosie and Aunt Maggie are ready to eat?”

“Sure.” Putting down his beer, Dave went into the house. “Hey, dinner’s ready!”

“Don’t worry, Al.” John fished a cold beer out of the ice chest and took it over to him. “There’s no way that Captain Sullivan will agree to let Dave help us.”

“I hope the hell not.” Popping the cap off, Al took a deep drink. “His mother will kill me.”

“His mother’s going to kill me.” John muttered.

“Relax, Blaine. We’re sitting right here watching the kid.” His partner told him for what felt like the thousandth time. “We’ve got him wired and there’s three cars out here to keep an eye on him.”

“I know, I know.” And a dozen things could go wrong.

When he’d suggested the idea to Captain Sullivan, it had been only because he’d assumed that the idea would be immediately shot down. Instead, Sullivan had said he’d think about it. John hadn’t worried – it sounded like a polite way to say no. Three hours later, Sullivan had called him into his office to discuss the specifics, and two nights later here they were.

“His mother’s going to kill me.” John said again. “And then Rosie and – if there’s anything left – Maggie.”

“Shut up, John.” His partner said. “He’s stopping.”

A man and woman coming out of a café had flagged the cab down, and it pulled over to pick them up.

Dave was a little nervous, but excited as well. It felt good to be doing something about the goons that were holding people up. Bet Pop would be proud of me. The tape itched where it was stuck to his chest and belly, and he was sure to lose some hair when it came off, but it made him feel a bit like James Bond.

He’d played meek and mild for Rustin when the man had questioned him. Told him that he was from New York after all and knew how things worked. He just wanted to make a living. The cab owner had smiled and patted him on the back before telling him to get his ass to work.

There’d only been routine pickups so far, people going out and people coming home. But it was getting late and his friends should be showing up soon. Dave tried not to glance in the rearview mirror too much. John had assured him they’d be tailing him and he had to trust him on that.

After he dropped off the couple at their apartment building and pocketed his quarter tip, Dave had only gone a few blocks when a dark sedan pulled out in front of him. Another one quickly cut him off from behind.

“Here we go. This is them.” He said quietly.

John gripped the steering wheel tightly. Beside him, his partner checked in with the other two units. Everyone was in place and ready.

Two men got out of the car in front and walked back to the driver’s side of the cab. Dave bit back a grin when he noticed they did so a little more carefully this time. John had told him to stay in the cab, and he did so, rolling down the window as the men got closer. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see that two more men had walked up to the passenger door.

“You ready to cooperate?” One of the men leaned in the open window. “Or do we need to ask a little less nice this time.”

“Hey, I’m willin’ to cooperate. I just need better terms.” He looked up at the guy and gave a sheepish grin. “I gotta make a living, too, you know.”

The guy laughed. “We all gotta make a living, kid.”

“Hey, cut a vet some slack. I’m just getting back on my feet.”

“You went to Vietnam?” The guy asked. “That war’s a mess.”

“Tell me about it.”

“Tell you the truth, kid. I’d like to. I’m a vet myself.” Shrugging, the guy reached in and grabbed Dave’s collar. “But the boss wouldn’t like that, you understand?”

“I shoulda stayed in New York.” Dave said. “Went to work for Durniak and made some real money.”

“Durniak?” John said in surprise. His partner’s eyebrows went up.

“Durniak?” The goon let go of Dave’s shirt. “What’d you know about Durniak?”

“Joey? He’s my uncle.” Dave shrugged as if everybody had a gangster for an uncle. “I coulda went to work for him, but I thought I’d come out here and try the straight and narrow, make my mom happy, you know?”

The guy leaned back and looked at the men with him. They shook their heads. For all they knew this kid was full of shit, but they didn’t want to tangle with Durniak. He leaned back in the window. “What’s your name, kid?”

“Dave.” He smiled up at the guy. “You gonna call him?”

John pulled his gun out. This was not going according to plan. He knew a little about Dave’s background from Al, and he knew that Durniak had had something to do with Mike Starsky’s death, but he didn’t know exactly what.

“This may go sour.” His partner muttered. He’d pulled his gun out as well and had his hand on the door handle. They were a block back, but they should be able to get to the kid before he got roughed up too bad.

“You know, why don’t you take me to meet your boss?” Dave suggested. “I’m intereseted in making some money – more than I can make driving a damn cab.”

“What about your mother?” The guy asked.

“Well, I won’t tell her if you won’t.” Dave grinned.

If the kid was full of shit, he was doing a hell of an acting job. On the other hand, he had some balls. “Tell you what kid. I’ll tell the boss. We’ll let you know.”

“You do that.” Dave pulled a roll of bills out of his pocket. “Here. For now here’s my money. I’ll pay up and you don’t slap me around – that’s the deal, right?”

“Say it, say it, you son of a bitch.” John glared at the guy leaning in the cab window, trying to will him to say what they needed to get on tape. “Come on…”

“No.”

“No?” Dave looked up at the guy, surprised to find the money still in his hand. “What? You gonna beat me up anyway?”

“Listen. We’ll let tonight go.” Motioning for the two men on the other side of the cab to get back in their car, the guy patted Dave on the shoulder. “We’ll talk again.”

“But – “ He watched as they walked back to their cars and drove off. “Well that didn’t work worth a shit.”

“Damn it!” John put his gun back. “All they had to do was say yes and take the money!”

“Think maybe they spotted us?” His partner ran a hand through his hair. “Maybe they spotted the tail?”

“They wouldn’t have stopped him if they had.”

“Well, hell.” Dave looked around, trying to spot the car John was in. “I guess I just go on back to the station now?”

John flashed the lights at him, letting him know he’d heard him and was agreeing.

“All right then.” Starting the cab, he headed for the cab station. “It’s been a fun evening here on the Dave Starsky Variety Show. Please tune in tomorrow night for another exciting evening.”

“The kid’s a comedian.” John’s partner said. “He oughta join the force.”

“That’s a thought.”

“I was kidding.”

John smiled.

“Here we go again, ladies and germs.” Dave said as a familiar dark sedan pulled out in front of him. He stopped and glanced up in the rearview mirror. No second car. “The other guys – where the hell are they?”

John was wondering the same thing. “Everybody stay sharp.”

“Hey, kid.” The guy from the night before walked back to the cab and leaned in the window.

“Nice night. You come here often?”

“Park the cab.” The guy walked back to his car.

“Park the cab?” Dave shrugged and eased the cab over to the curb as the sedan pulled up out of the way. “Not the response I was looking for. Though I suppose it coulda been worse. The you come here often line might have gotten me an indecent proposal.”

“What the hell are they doing?” John watched nervously as Dave got out of the cab. His partner shrugged.

“Come on, kid, I ain't got all night.” The guy opened the back door of the sedan. “Get in.”

“No!” John scrambled to get out of the car.

“We going somewhere?” Dave walked up to the car, trying to not let his nervousness show. His knees were wobbly and his heart was pounding so loud that John could probably hear it through the wire. “Usually I get dinner and a movie before I go home with a date.”

“Just shut up and get in, kid. The boss wants to talk to you.”

“A command performance?” Hoping his laugh didn’t sound too nervous, Dave got in the car. He forced himself to look forward. John had promised a tail and he had to keep the faith. “So early in my career, too.”

The door closed and the guy got back into the front seat.

“John!” His partner grabbed at him. “Get back in the car!”

“David!” John watched the sedan pull away. “Damn it!”

“Get back in the car!” The other man ordered again. “We’ve got three cars – we can tail him!”

“Oh, Jesus…” Getting back in the car, John pulled out to follow the sedan. Dimly he could hear the other two units checking in. One slip up – if they were spotted – David could get his brains blown out before they could get to him. “Tell them to be careful!”

“I am.” His partner assured him. “The kid will be all right, John. He’s a sharp one. If it starts going bad, he can handle himself.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of.”

Dave hadn’t been this nervous since the flight out of Vietnam. He’d kept waiting for it to turn back. All the way back to the States he’d kept waiting for someone to say there’d been a mistake and he had to go back to the war.

“So, you boys from New York?” He waited and nobody answered.

Folding his hands in his lap, he concentrated on relaxing as much as he could. He’d just come back from a war zone – sitting in a comfortable car shouldn’t be half as nerve wracking. Except he was on his way to meet with a mob boss and wearing a wire. Dave swallowed hard.

I wish I was somewhere nice. Sitting down to a family dinner like a normal person.

Duluth

“Kenneth, dear, not that I don’t love having you home for dinner, but you really should let me know when you’re coming.”

“Sorry, Mother.”

“That way I can be sure that Cook makes enough.”

There was enough food on the table to feed six people – or more. Ken smiled at his mother. “I’ll call next time.”

“That’s a good boy.” She went back to her crab salad.

“Roger Wheaton stopped in today.” His father said. “He and Cheryl would like for us to come out for dinner this weekend.”

“I hope you made an excuse for us?” A look of distaste crossed her face. “They’re both so… well… not people I want to associate with.”

“I understand, dear.” His tone held the same distaste as her expression. “However, he is one of my best clients. Don’t worry, dear, we’ll spend just enough time to satisfy politeness.”

“If we must.”

His parents continued to talk about various upcoming social events and other safe topics. There was no talk of business at the table, unless it was a particularly good victory or something of that nature.

“Kenneth, how is school?” Leaning back, she allowed the butler to remove her salad plate.

“Everything is fine.” He smiled at Walters and the man ignored him as if he were part of the furniture. It was hard to tell who was snootier around here, the staff or his parents. That’s what you got for hiring an English butler.

“Remember to keep your grades up.” Lawrence took a drink of his wine. “You belong on the Dean’s list.”

“Uh, yes, well…” That wasn’t happening this semester, and he’d live with the fallout all summer. “One of my friends, Lewis, he uh… he got a draft notice the other day.”

“Kenneth.” His father gave him an irritated look. “We don’t discuss the war – especially at the table.”

“I was just wondering what would happen.”

“You shouldn’t worry about it. I know Lewis’ father.” Walters set a plate in front of Lawrence, and he picked up his dinner fork. “That boy won’t be going anywhere.”

“But why?”

“The deferment is easy enough to get. The boy is in law school, after all.”

“The veal is dry.” Vivian sighed. “I gave strict instructions on how it was to be cooked.”

“What – what if I get one?” Ken ignored the look his mother sent his way.

“You won’t.”

“And why is the asparagus limp?” She lifted a green stalk with her fork.

“B – but – “ The words were trying to back up in his throat like they used to do. “How do you know?”

“Kenneth, you’re upsetting your mother.”

Ken looked at his mother – she was frowning at her plate. She wasn’t upset with him, she was too busy criticizing the meal as she always did. “Father, did you fix it somehow?”

“Don’t worry. My son won’t be going to Vietnam. You’re too important.” Lawrence smiled slightly. “Let someone else go.”

“Someone else?” He dropped his fork. “How am I more important than anyone else?”

“Kenneth, you’re a young man from a good family with a bright future.”

“I agree with your father.” Vivian finally spoke up about something besides the food. “This way some boy with no future can have a career in the military instead of being a general laborer.”

“If he doesn’t die first?”

“Kenneth!” His mother gasped and laid a hand to her throat. “Really!”

“Kenneth, enough of this, you’re upsetting your mother over nothing.”

Picking up his fork, Ken began to eat. The only thing that would upset his mother was if he weren't there for the annual mother and son fashion show at her garden club.

The rest of the meal passed in silence.

“Give me a Jack Daniels and coke.”

“Give me an ID.”

“For God’s sake – “ Ken pulled out his driver’s license. Will I always have a baby face? I’ll be fifty and still getting carded. He laid a five dollar bill on the bar. “Just keep them coming.”

The bartender handed the license back. Setting a glass on the bar, he filled it with ice, poured a shot of Jack Daniels over it and then filled it with coke.

The first two went down quickly, and Ken nursed the third. He didn’t feel like going back to the campus and hitting the hangout where everyone went for beer. He wanted to be alone for a while.

Somewhere between numbers four and five, someone walked up and leaned on the bar beside him.

“Ken Hutchinson?”

“That’s me.” Turning, he saw a man about his father’s age. Please don’t let him be hitting on me.

“Luke Huntley.”

The name rang a bell. “You know my father?”

“Right. We went to school together.”

“That’s right.” Now Ken remembered meeting the man a few years ago. “Sit down.”

“Thanks.” He waved at the bartender. “Get me a beer, will ya?”

“Didn’t you move to California?”

“Bay City.” Nodding, he took a drink of the beer the bartender set in front of him. “I’m here to pick up a prisoner.”

“Prisoner?” That sounded intriguing.

“A guy who killed a woman in Bay City was arrested here. I get to be the lucky guy to take him back.”

“You’re a cop.” Now, Ken remembered his father introducing him to Luke. The two of them had grown up and gone to school together. That was before Luke’s father made ‘some poor business decisions’ according to his father. “My father said you were going to be a lawyer and then – “

“And then my old man made some mistakes.” Luke laughed. “It’s okay, kid, I can imagine what your father told you.”

Ken’s face grew hot, and he knew he had to be blushing. He took another sip of his drink to cover his embarrassment.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Nothing’s wrong.”

“Ken, I read people for a living.” Luke set his beer bottle on the bar. “I can tell something’s on your mind.”

“It’s just school. You know how it is.”

“You know, Ken, I’m not family or a school buddy or a teacher. You can tell me whatever you want – I’m not going to judge you.”

Luke’s eyes were kind and understanding, and Ken found himself pouring out the whole story. School and the contradictions between the law and justice. About his father’s law practice and how they were twisting and perverting the law for their clients. And now the issue of the draft.

“I’m only too aware of how people use the law for their own purposes.” Luke said when Ken finished. “And I can’t say I’m surprised by your father. When we were in school, we used to argue about the right way to do things.”

“He’s always wanted me to be a lawyer – join the firm.” Ken pushed his drink back. “I thought that maybe if I were a lawyer that I’d be helping people. But it looks like I’d only help the people for the right fee.”

“If you want to help people – if you really want to help people – you should consider becoming a cop.”

“What are you, crazy?” Imagining his parents’ reactions, Ken laughed. “I’d have to be crazy.”

“No, seriously. Listen.” Luke leaned on the bar. “This guy I’m here to get, he was a pimp and he started using. Then he started dealing drugs to help support his habit.”

Ken found himself leaning forward and listening eagerly as Luke told how the guy’s life had spiraled out of control until one night he slit the throat of one of his girls when he found her sneaking into his stash.

“The guy has a brother here, so it was a simple matter of tracking him down.” Luke finished. “Back in Bay City, he’ll get life. That’s the end of his career as a pimp, pusher, junkie – and murderer.”

“That’s – that’s exciting. I mean – “ Ken tried to imagine the feeling of taking someone like that off the street and putting them in jail. Forever. “And that’s helping – that’s really helping. That’s not twisting the law around to keep someone out of jail that deserves to be there.”

“Ken, if you’re really serious about wanting to help people, if you want to do some good in this world – “ Luke pointed a finger at him. “Become a cop.”

“I – I don’t know – “ He laughed nervously. The idea was intriguing as hell, but there was no way he could do that. “I don’t think I could do that.”

“Listen, you ever come out to Bay City, I’ll write you a letter of recommendation for the Academy.”

“You don’t even know me.”

“Don’t I?” Smiling, Luke dropped the money on the bar to pay for his beer. “Listen, kid, like I said, I read people for a living – and I can read you like a book. You want to help people and you want to do what’s right. You’d make a hell of a cop.”

“My father would never let me.” Ken sighed. It had been a fun fantasy, but that’s all it was.

“You’re what? Twenty two? Twenty three?” The kid had a baby face, but Luke was pretty sure he was at least twenty two.

“Twenty two.”

“Twenty two.” He looked Ken square in the eye. “It’s time you made your own decisions. It’s your life, Ken – not his.”

Luke walked out of the bar, leaving Ken sitting and wondering if he was right.

Could he stand up to his father and walk away from the life his parents had planned out for him? What would it be like to arrest someone and take them off the streets so they couldn’t hurt anyone again?

I wish I was somewhere dirty and gritty. Getting ready to take some piece of scum down.

Chapter 3: Good Deeds Done Dirt Cheap