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See part one for the disclaimer.
Faith Healer - Part Four
By
Sue David and Valerie Wells
8/2001
When the service was over and Haley was free again, Bob waved him over to a corner, just as he was headed to the back to visit with Mr. Halliday.
"I finally remembered something from the hospital the other day, Brother," he spoke rapidly, nervous that he had made such a large omission in his details.
"What is it?"
"I'm sorry, Brother. I think it's pretty important. When Halliday was looking for information about Frank, he told the receptionist that he was his partner."
Haley scratched his chin and an angry set came into his eyes. "Yes, that is a big omission. His partner, hm?"
"Yes, Brother. I'm really sorry." Bob looked nervously at the ground. Haley had been known to strike people in anger and he was cringing inside, hoping he wouldn't be hit. The man was big, but he had a slow mind, and Haley could only blame himself for sending a near imbecile to do such important reconnaissance work.
"Let's go to my office, Brother Bob. I have an idea." He ushered the big man out toward the trailer.
Cavanaugh had already left the tent and Hutch was ready to go home. Seeing the minister leaving, Hutch sought out Esther to say goodnight. When he found her, he said, "Sister, I have to go home. I'm tired tonight. I arrived too late for the healing tonight but your brother invited me to a special healing retreat. Please tell him I'm still considering whether I can go. My doctor said it would depend on the results of some recent tests."
"I will. I hope you feel better. Goodnight," she answered as she gave his hand a gentle squeeze.
Haley picked up the phone and dialed the local police department. One of the detectives from the day the dead woman was found had left a card for him in case he remembered anything important. When the switchboard operator answered, he asked to speak with Officer Starsky.
"I'm sorry, sir, Detective Starsky is not in at this time. May I take a message, please?"
"No, thanks. I'll catch him later." He hung up the phone softly.
Captain Dobey and Hutch had covered every angle in protecting Starsky at the hospital. Somehow, neither one of them had thought to tell the switchboard staff at the precinct to deny any knowledge of Starsky.
Esther was approaching the trailer to speak with her brother when she overheard his conversation with Bob through the open window.
"That confirms it. Well, Mr. Ken Halliday is going to be coming with us to our retreat. We'll take care of him at the cabin."
"What about Frank? You want I should go up to the hospital and finish him off, Brother?"
"No, forget about him. I want Halliday. When we're done with him, we can take care of the other one. He'd better already be at death's door."
Esther was shocked by what she heard. She quickly headed back into the tent before either of the men in the trailer knew she had overheard them. The hour was late, but tomorrow morning, she would go to the hospital and make a visit of her own.
She spent a restless, uneasy night. Over and over she asked herself how she could have missed the signs that now seemed obvious -- her brother wasn't the man she'd thought he was. She spent much of the time alternately crying and praying. What would their father and grandfather say if they knew Ben had become a greedy, violent man? Especially after he had been taught all his life to serve the Lord? He'd hardly been more than a boy when he'd preached his first sermon and discovered that he could lay hands on the sick.
And he was her brother. They'd served the Lord side by side for years. How could she betray him? But then she remembered a Bible verse, one that she had read many times but never really understood until now.
"If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters -- yes, even his own life -- he cannot be My disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple."
She remembered the first time she'd read that verse. She was eight years old and appalled that Jesus would command anyone to hate his family. But Grandpa had explained to her that Jesus had meant that God must always come first, and if her family were ever to try to prevent her from serving the Lord or try to lead her away from the Lord, she must not let love for them stand between her and God.
"What if I asked you to leave the church?" Grandpa had asked gently. "I'm your grandfather and I love you, but what if I asked you to do something you know is against God's commandments?"
"I couldn't," she'd said.
"That's right. That's what he meant by carrying your cross. Sometimes it will be light and sometimes it will be heavy, but you must never put it down, child."
She felt comforted, remembering that conversation. Grandpa had been an upright man of God. She knew what he would counsel her to do.
Early in the morning, before anyone else was awake, Esther rose and left for the hospital. It was long before visiting hours, she knew, but if her suspicions were correct, there was no time to lose.
She asked a passing nurse how to find the ICU and then took the elevator to that floor. There was only one nurse at the desk. "I need to see Mr. Frank," she said to her. "David Frank."
"I'm sorry," the nurse said. "He's not allowed visitors."
"This is a matter of life and death," Esther said desperately. "I have to talk to him."
"He's in critical condition, ma'am," the nurse said. "He can't talk. He's not even conscious."
Dobey stepped off another elevator just in time to hear this exchange. He realized who Esther was from having looked at the photos Starsky had taken at the revival. But she didn't know who he was, and he was going to walk right past her and let the nurse handle it, until he heard what she said next.
"Please!" Esther was saying. "My brother -- oh, I can't tell you! I have to tell him or Mr. Halliday. It's dreadfully important they know what's going on!"
Dobey gave the nurse a nod; she knew who he was. Then, he lightly touched Esther on the shoulder. "Miss? I'm a friend of Mr. Frank's. Can you tell me what's wrong?"
She turned and gave him a long, steady look. "Is Mr. Frank a policeman?"
Dobey was glad for his long years of undercover work. They kept him from betraying what that remark did to his heart rate. "Why on earth would you think Mr. Frank is a policeman?"
"Please don't be evasive with me," Esther pleaded. "My brother -- " She had to pause because it was still so difficult to think of it. She wet her lips and continued, "My brother is going to do something to Mr. Halliday. I don't know what. But you mustn't let him go with Benjamin on that retreat. I think -- I think he might plan to -- to -- kill him." Her eyes filled with tears. "And then they're going to come after Mr. Frank, if he's still alive. Oh, you must do something!"
"What makes you think that?" Dobey asked.
"I overheard him talking to one of his assistants," she said. "They don't know I heard them."
"Cavanaugh!" Dobey suddenly bellowed, making the nurse frown severely and make a "shushing" sound. In a moment, Cavanaugh appeared, eyes wide.
"What?"
Esther didn't recognize him, though she thought there was something familiar about him. Hutch's disguise for him had been thorough.
"Get hold of Hutch, now!" Dobey ordered. "I gotta talk to him."
"Okay," Cavanaugh said, sparing a sidelong glance for Esther as he hurried away. He returned a few moments later. "He doesn't answer, Cap."
"Then get over to the safe house!" Dobey bellowed, but at slightly fewer decibels. "Find him!"
"What about -- ?" Cavanaugh gestured vaguely.
"I'm here! I'll stay with him."
"Yes, sir," Cavanaugh said. He hit the down button on the elevator and in a moment was gone.
Dobey led Esther to a small waiting area in the center of the ICU. From there he could see the elevators and the door to Starsky's room. He didn't want to show her Starsky just yet. "Tell me everything," he said in a quiet tone of command.
By the time she finished, the nurse was calling Dobey to the phone. He ordered her to stay put, and she did, but she could overhear his side of the conversation anyway.
"What do you mean, he's not there? Where the hell is he?" There was a pause.
"Get over to that tent and see if his car's still there! And put out an APB on him, now!"
When Dobey returned, he was visibly shaken. "When is this retreat?"
"This weekend," she said. "We rent a cabin up in the mountains and take people up there sometimes for prayer and healing. It's so peaceful...." Her eyes filled again.
Dobey seemed to come to a decision. "Come with me."
She followed him to one of the rooms and was stunned to see Starsky -- Mr. Frank, as she knew him -- lying in bed sleeping quite naturally, one arm bound in a sling, a nasty bruise on his temple, but otherwise looking much better than she had expected. He did not look as if he were dying.
She was certain of it a moment later, when Dobey strode right over to the bed and unceremoniously shook him. "Wake up, Starsky!"
Starsky mumbled and muttered for a moment, but Dobey poked him again and finally he opened his eyes, which widened when he saw Esther.
"We got trouble," Dobey said. "Miss Haley heard her brother planning to take Hutch up to some cabin in the mountains for a 'retreat'."
He didn't have to go any further. Starsky knew that if Hutch went anywhere with Haley, Haley did not plan for him to return.
"Shit," Starsky said, sitting up and swinging his legs over the side of the bed.
"Where the hell you think you're going?" Dobey demanded.
"If you think I'm stayin' here while Hutch is in trouble -- "
"That's exactly where you're staying!" Dobey ordered angrily. "Get back in that bed! Now!"
They were still arguing when the nurse tapped at the door. "Captain," she said. "Sergeant Cavanaugh's on the phone again."
Dobey glared at Starsky one more time and left the room.
"So you are a policeman," Esther said to Starsky.
"Yeah," Starsky said, seeing that it was pointless to pretend otherwise. "We suspect your brother of a couple of murders and we were trying to get enough on him to arrest him. We call it going undercover."
She nodded. "I'm afraid you're right about him," she said. "What I heard him telling Bob -- " She bit her lip. "I'm so sorry about all this. I had no idea -- "
"I believe you," Starsky said. "You came here to warn me, and I owe ya one."
"Is 'Hutch' Mr. Halliday's real name?"
"It's short for Hutchinson," Starsky said. "What happens at these retreats, usually?"
"It depends," she said. "Sometimes it's just intense prayer and study. Sometimes Ben uses snakes -- "
"SNAKES?" Starsky's mouth fell open and he reached out to grab her arm. "What do you mean, he uses snakes?"
Dobey came back in time to overhear that. He froze in the doorway.
"We come from a church that believes in the whole Bible," Esther said, not understanding Starsky's reaction. "It says 'In My name they will drive out demons, they will speak in new tongues, they will pick up snakes with their hands' -- "
"POISONOUS snakes?"
"Of course," she said. "Back home, it was usually rattlesnakes, but sometimes it was cottonmouth or coral snakes and my father even had a cobra for a while."
Starsky was so pale his lips had even gone white, and his eyes were wild. "What do they do with the snakes?"
"They handle them," she said. "Even if you're bitten, those with strong faith won't be harmed."
"What -- what if -- your faith isn't strong?" Starsky's voice was trembling and hoarse.
"People do sometimes die...." Her eyes went wide. "Oh, my Lord! That's what Ben plans to do -- "
Starsky was out of bed this time before Dobey could utter a word. "Where the hell is that cabin?" He caught sight of Dobey. "What'd Cavanaugh say?"
"Hutch's car is still at the tent," Dobey said. "But otherwise the place is deserted."
Hutch had lingered after the service the night before to talk to Stephanie and her family. He knew Starsky would want to know how she was doing, and he was curious himself about her suddenly improved health. They were among the last to leave.
All three of them -- Stephanie, her mother and father -- insisted the private healing service with Brother Haley was the reason she had improved. Hutch did not doubt they believed it, but he didn't, not for a minute.
By the time the family said goodnight and got into their car to go, the parking lot was all but deserted. Hutch turned to go to his car. Now that he knew that Haley had been drugging him, he recognized the crash from the speed high he'd been on. He was so tired and listless he didn't even know if he'd be able to drive home. By the time he reached his car, he felt as if he'd walked miles, and he was distinctly unhappy to see Bob waiting for him.
"Brother Haley wants to see you," Bob said.
"I can't," Hutch said. "I'm beat. I'll call him tomorrow."
"He wants to see you tonight. To arrange for the retreat."
"I can't, I said!" Hutch snapped. "I'm going home."
If he hadn't been so tired, he'd have seen what was coming. Bob raised his joined fists and hit Hutch in the back of the head, knocking him down and stunning him. Before Hutch could react, Bob had clapped a towel over his mouth and nose and Hutch recognized the smell of chloroform. After that, he knew no more.
He woke up in a small, rustic bedroom to the sound of bird songs outside the open window. He looked in that direction and saw trees. When he tried to get up, he realized he was handcuffed to the bed. He struggled anyway, but it was no use.
About half an hour later, Haley came in. "So, you're awake," the evangelist said.
"Where am I?" Hutch asked angrily.
"In a cabin the ministry rents for retreats," Haley said, coming close enough to make sure the handcuffs were secure. "Up in the mountains. No one knows you're here." He took a couple of steps backward and regarded Hutch. "What's your real name?"
"Ken Halliday," Hutch answered.
"No, no, it's not," Haley said. "I know you're a cop. You might as well give up the pretense, Officer. It's not Halliday. What is it?"
Hutch refused to answer that. "Is this the way you treat all your congregation?"
"No," Haley said, pulling up a chair. "I treat my congregation quite well. It's nosy cops I treat badly. What is your name?"
"Why do you care?" Hutch finally demanded. "You intend to kill me, don't you?"
Haley smiled. "Yes. But I like to know who it is I'm killing."
"Hutchinson," Hutch said. "Detective Sergeant Kenneth Hutchinson."
Haley nodded. "Good. We're making progress."
"I guess you haven't read the commandment about 'thou shalt not kill'," Hutch said sardonically.
This time, Haley actually chuckled. "Oh, yes, I have. But I am an instrument of God, Officer Hutchinson. Or shall I call you 'Ken'? There are many instances in the Good Book of the Lord commanding His people to smite His enemies. When the Children of Israel took the Promised Land, for instance. You are His enemy."
"I'm not His enemy," Hutch said. "I don't swindle people in His name and I don't kill people who get in my way and I don't twist the Bible to suit my own purposes!"
Haley gave a shrug. "Think anything you like," he said. "It won't matter soon. Bob, are we ready?" he called into another room.
"Yes, Brother." Bob appeared in the door. "Everything's all set."
"Good." Haley produced a key. "We're going to hold a healing service, Brother
Ken," he said to Hutch. "An old-fashioned service like my dear old Grandpa used to hold back home in Tennessee. We're going to drive the demons out of you for good."
Hutch tensed, ready to fight as soon as his hands were free, but Bob casually produced a gun and laid the barrel against his temple.
"One wrong move," Bob said, "and I'll send you straight to hell."
Hutch had no choice but to allow Haley to free him, drag him roughly to his feet, and into the other room. There were wooden boxes lined up across the front wall of the room and Hutch heard an ominous rattling sound coming from one of them. Haley pushed him into a straight chair and replaced the handcuffs, locking him to the chair. Bob stood by, still aiming the gun at Hutch.
Haley left Hutch in Bob's hands and walked toward the boxes. He closed his eyes, raised his hands, and began to sing. Hutch didn't recognize the tune, but the words were in that "heavenly language." Bob began to sway in time, but the gun never wavered from its position.
Haley sang for several minutes, growing steadily more sweaty and louder as he did, until he reached behind him, opened one of the boxes, and withdrew a copperhead. Hutch's heart began to beat faster.
Haley lifted the snake over his head lovingly, caressing it, letting it wind itself around his arm. He swayed and chanted and sang, while Hutch's eyes never left the snake. Haley bent again, and reaching into another box, withdrew a rattlesnake, already annoyed enough to shake its rattles. This one, too, he lifted over his head, gazing into its eyes, twirling slowly and chanting. He repeated this process until he was holding half a dozen snakes, draped all over him.
The sight sickened and terrified Hutch. He was trembling so hard the chair shook under him. The copperhead fell off Haley's arm and slithered toward Hutch, who tried to scoot the chair backward but was stopped by Bob and the gun.
Haley knelt and raised his hands, with snakes still draped over his body, and prayed, "Oh, Lord, smite this Thine enemy who has dared to interfere with Thy holy works."
Hutch's mouth was dry and his heart was beating harder than it did even under the influence of the speed. Haley released the rest of the snakes, and they started slithering around the room, some toward Hutch, others aimlessly wandering. Haley rose to his feet. "Those with faith in the true God will not be harmed," Haley said to Hutch. "Now we will see who is His servant and who is not."
Haley beckoned to Bob, and they left the cabin. Hutch heard the door lock and a few moments later, he heard a motor start up and drive away. He was alone and helpless with six deadly poisonous snakes. And no one knew where he was.
Trying to sit as still as he could, Hutch knew he was in serious trouble. All he could do was hope the snakes would slither away from him and leave him alone if he didn't move. They did seem to be moving away from him, except for the beautiful red, yellow, and black one. Hutch watched with lurid fascination as the usually shy coral snake headed straight for him. The preacher and his goon had taken Hutch's shoes, socks, and pants. Sitting in that chair in just a shirt and boxers, he had little protection from the venomous creatures. Wishing Haley had at least opened the curtains so he could better see what was probably going to kill him, he allowed himself a small chuckle as he said aloud, "Could be worse. Coulda gone commando today."
"All right, Starsky, these are the rules, you can go with us, but you're not gonna go running around causing yourself to have a relapse. You're not even supposed to be out of the hospital." Captain Dobey was standing firm. His hand on Starsky's shoulder and the serious look on his face conveyed his determination to make sure the dark-haired man didn't make himself worse by joining the cavalry party. The only reason he had agreed to allow Starsky to come was to keep an eye on him. He had no doubt Starsky would leave the hospital on his own one way or another as soon as Dobey and the other officers left him.
"Whatever it takes, Cap, let's just get started." Starsky had already dressed and negotiated his release with Dr. Bradley. The doctor was not pleased, but he agreed as long as Dobey promised to return Starsky to the hospital if he showed any deterioration in his condition. Bradley had planned to release him in another day anyway.
Esther gave the police directions to the cabin. She even agreed to ride in a squad car, in case she needed to help negotiate Hutch's safe release from her brother.
Captain Dobey had arranged for a snake handler to accompany the group of officers heading for the cabin. The captain helped Starsky into the passenger seat of his car. Starsky wanted to take the Torino, but Dobey refused. They would ride along behind the black-and-whites, and a paramedic unit Dobey had requested as a precaution followed them. The situation was not what Starsky wanted, but he had no choice. He sat worried, sullen, and in pain – leaning heavily against the door. The captain was right when he pointed out that Starsky was not in any shape to be up front with the officers who would most likely charge into the situation. He was limping badly, his head pounded, and his right arm was still useless in its sling.
Jack and Sean were at the front of the small procession. Esther rode in the back seat of their car. When she wasn't giving directions, she was fervently praying in silence for Hutch's safety and her brother's salvation.
Captain Dobey had sent Simmons and Babcock over to stake out the revival tent. About forty-five minutes into their journey up to the cabin, Dobey's radio crackled with a message from the two detectives.
"We have Haley and the other man, Bob Reynolds. They showed up here a few minutes ago and the uniforms are running them down to Metro now," Babcock said.
"Are they talking?" Dobey asked.
"No. They claimed not to know anything about a missing officer or a Ken Halliday. They demanded to see a lawyer."
"Terrific," Starsky muttered.
"Thank God Esther knows where that cabin is," Dobey replied.
"Well, I just wish they'd go a little faster. If Hutch gets bitten, who knows how much time he'll have before the venom gets him? We don't even know for sure how long he's been up there." Starsky was starting to feel panic. Dobey picked up the radio mike and ordered the procession to pick up the pace a few notches. At least they knew the cabin would most likely be deserted except for Hutch. Esther told them that she thought Bob would have been the only other man with her brother.
When they turned up the dirt road, the bumps and dips in the surface registered painfully on every one of Starsky's injuries. He was nauseated and his head was spinning. Though Dobey stole frequent looks his way to check on his status, Starsky did his best to hide his distress. He wanted to be there when they found Hutch.
They pulled up outside the cabin and stopped, dust flying all around the rescue caravan.
Dobey turned to his passenger and said, "You stay put. You look worse than what the cat dragged in and I don't want you making yourself worse."
Starsky started to protest, but Dobey said, "Don't argue with me, Dave. Stay here. I'll let you know as soon as we find him. Don't make me cuff you to the steering wheel."
"Yeah, yeah," Starsky said in obvious frustration. His pale face convinced the captain he would stay in the car.
Dobey climbed out and headed for the front porch behind the uniforms. A quick search of the perimeter revealed that no one was around and no sound came from inside the cabin. Sean and his partner were on the front porch, both men standing beside the door with their backs against the cabin.
"Police!" Sean shouted. "Open up!"
Nothing. Esther exited the lead car and stood beside it, calling softly up to Sean, "Be careful. Snakes."
Sean and Jack nodded. Jack was on the side with the doorknob. The door was locked. Holstering his gun, Jack reached for his wallet and pulled out a credit card. He carefully slid it between the door and the strike plate. Sean smiled at him when he saw him turn the knob slowly and push the door open a cautious inch.
"Good thing you're not one of the bad guys, Jack," he said with a smirk.
The partners were greeted with the sound of snakes rattling. Jack pulled the door almost shut again and called for the snake handler.
This situation was tricky. Ordinarily, Hill and Cavanaugh would not allow a civilian to enter an unsecured area, not even a paramedic, much less a snake expert. In this case, they had to do it.
Chris Johnson had worked for the county for twenty years. He specialized in snakes, especially pit vipers like rattlers. He came up on the porch; uncomfortable in the flak jacket Dobey had insisted he wear. He had a handling stick and several burlap sacks to put the reptiles in when he caught them. Esther had told them there could be as many as six snakes of various types in the cabin.
When Starsky saw Johnson head up to the porch, his breathing and heart rate climbed. He was about to break his promise to Captain Dobey. Rationalizing that he hadn't really promised, he had only agreed, helped.
Johnson nodded as Jack opened the door a crack again. The snake handler waved his hand to indicate Jack should step back the few paces. Then he slowly opened the door as the two cops pointed their guns at ground, ready for anything that slithered past the handler. Sean looked up and saw the sweat beaded on his partner's upper lip. He said, "I don't think I was this nervous the last time we busted into a holdup."
Jack silently agreed with him, never taking his eyes off the door or the figure of the snake handler as the dark front room swallowed him. Listening intently, Sean heard the sound of rattling, and the sound of Chris snagging the reptiles fearlessly with his handling stick.
Sean said, "That guy sure has brass ones, huh? I hate snakes." He shivered.
"Me, too," Jack answered.
After several agonizing minutes waiting, Dobey called up to them, "Well? What's going on in there?"
Jack held up his hand, signaling Dobey to wait. The captain was too busy to notice that Starsky had climbed out of the car. The maneuver was painful and difficult for the man with his right arm in a sling. Starsky tried to walk forward, but the uneven surface was working against him. When the snake handler stepped out onto the porch and yelled that they'd better get a paramedic in there, Starsky tried to move too fast, without paying attention to the ground. He stepped down with his heel in a small chuckhole, causing him to painfully wrench his injured knee. Sharp pain and increased dizziness rushed through him, and he blacked out – collapsing just in front of Dobey's car.
The paramedics rushed up the porch steps and followed Hill and Cavanaugh inside. Jack opened the curtains, flooding the front room with light. No one noticed when Chris returned to the room and put the bags of snakes into the boxes underneath the windows. Their attention was completely focused on the unconscious man cuffed to a wooden chair. Sean quickly got out his handcuff keys while the paramedics started to look over their patient.
"Dammit!" Sean exclaimed. "These aren't police issue and my keys don't fit."
One of the paramedics looked up at him with eyes that meant business. "You've gotta get those off of him. He may not have much time."
Hutch's breathing was already compromised. The paramedic called the snake handler over to look at the small bite wound he had found on Hutch's leg, just above his knee. "Can you tell which one of those slimy critters did this?"
The wound looked more like a series of scratches than a snakebite. The man nodded. "Yeah. See the semi-circular pattern? That's from a coral snake."
"Thanks."
Sean and Jack were carefully lowering Hutch and the chair to its side on the floor. The paramedics were helping to ensure Hutch was all right. Sean shielded Hutch as best he could while Jack kicked at the wooden chair where the cuffs were locked. At least they could get Hutch free from the chair that way.
"Hurry up," one of the paramedics urged. "We need to keep his heart above this bite." His partner was carefully wrapping Hutch's thigh with an Ace bandage a few inches above the bite while the man urging Jack to hurry listened to Hutch's heart and breathing. Hutch's shirt was covered with vomit, and he was sweating profusely. His eyes were dilated, his pulse weak, and his blood pressure was dangerously low.
When Jack succeeded in breaking the chair away from Hutch, the paramedic said, "Get out to our van. We have a large pair of bolt cutters in the left rear compartment." He pointed at the linkage between the cuffs. "If these things aren't professional issue, maybe we can cut them apart."
Jack ran for the door as Dobey and Esther stood aside to let him pass. He tore around the side of the ambulance and started rifling through the rear compartment. He didn't find them, and decided maybe they were really in the other side. When he ran around the back of the unit, he saw Starsky lying on the ground next to Dobey's car. "Shit!" he exclaimed. He quickly located the bolt cutters in the other compartment and ran them back into the house.
As he handed the tool to Sean, Jack stood up quickly and ran back out the door, calling over his shoulder, "Starsky's in trouble out here!"
Seeing that Hutch was in good hands, Dobey decided he'd better go with Jack. His already chilled heart nearly stopped when he saw Starsky lying in the dirt. "Damn!" He went down the steps and hurried toward Jack and the unconscious detective.
Kneeling to help Jack gently turn Starsky over, Dobey said, "I should have cuffed him to the steering wheel."
Meanwhile, inside the cabin, Sean had successfully cut the handcuffs apart. One of the paramedics went out to the ambulance with Sean to retrieve the stretcher. They needed to get Hutch to the Emergency Room immediately. The snake expert said Hutch's symptoms indicated he could have been bitten hours ago. By the time the two men returned with the stretcher, the blond detective was intubated. His swelling throat had interfered with his breathing too much. The men put Hutch on the stretcher and headed for the ambulance with him.
Jack ran up to them, pointing back at Dobey and said, "Sorry. You've got another patient over there." He helped load Hutch into the ambulance while one of the paramedics went to check on Starsky. They wound up hurriedly putting Starsky in the ambulance with his partner. Then they rushed both men to Receiving Hospital.
The caravan pulled solemnly away from the cabin. Dobey was worried about both of his detectives and also a little angry with them for always staying right on the edge. He knew that was what made them such good cops, but the consequences were sometimes dire.
The paramedics had radioed ahead so the team in the emergency room knew what they were getting. When the partners were both installed in their treatment rooms, the emergency teams scrambled to treat them. Hutch was in bad shape, his breathing rapidly deteriorating. Starsky's situation was not life threatening so he was triaged behind his partner. A nurse put some ice on his swollen knee and Dr. Bradley gave him some pain medication in his IV line that was sure to keep him out long enough for them to figure out what to do about his partner.
Captain Dobey sat waiting for news on his two men. Since the case was over, he called Huggy to let him know what was happening. "Snakes?" Huggy had said in complete disbelief. "I think I've heard it all now. Be right there."
A few hours later, Dr. Bradley was explaining everything to the two black men. "Detective Hutchinson was fortunate. Because that woman died from a coral snake bite a little while ago, we ordered some antivenin in case someone else turned up bitten. We've administered it and will be watching him to make sure he doesn't have a bad reaction. That's the good news on him."
Huggy said, "Well, that sounds like there's bad news, too."
"The bad news is that your snake expert was correct. He was probably bitten hours ago. Mr. Johnson says that the snake may have latched on and pumped more venom into him than we might expect from a different kind of snake. He's on a respirator and will probably remain that way for a few days. The neurotoxic effects of the venom have left him paralyzed."
"Paralyzed?" Dobey asked in shock.
"Don't worry, the condition should be completely reversible. We'll have to monitor him closely, but I anticipate a complete recovery over the next week. He's still unconscious now. When he wakes up, he is probably going to be frightened."
"What about Curly, Doc?" Huggy asked.
"Detective Starsky?" The doctor snickered at the nickname.
"Yeah, sorry."
"He'll be all right. His little escapade today did set him back a bit. Also, I'm afraid he may have torn the Anterior Cruciate Ligament in that knee."
"Is that serious?" Dobey asked.
"If he has torn it, he might need surgery. He'd be non-weight bearing on it for at least eight weeks, then rehab. We'll do some tests to see how bad it is. He must have twisted it when he collapsed out there."
Dobey sighed. "Is he awake?"
"Nope. He's out, too. Quite a pair, those two. I'm having him sent upstairs to a regular room. Hutchinson is going to the ICU."
The Captain shook his head and said, "I know it's irregular, and we've already had him in the ICU when he didn't need to be there, but isn't there some way you could put him in with his partner? I'm afraid you might need to sedate him or have to restrain him to keep him away from Hutch otherwise."
"I'll see what I can do," the doctor replied amiably.
Starsky woke up in darkness, every muscle he had hurting, and an even greater pain in his knee. His head hurt most of all. He groaned softly and ran his hand over his eyes. A soft whooshing sound made him look to his left and he froze when he saw Hutch in the other bed, attached to machines, pale and still in the little light that fell on his face from a light bar over his bed.
My God...the snakes! Starsky struggled up and into the chair between the beds, wincing but not really noticing the pain as he put his weight on the bad leg. "Hutch? Hutch, can you hear me?"
There was no response.
"H-Hutch?" Starsky's voice trembled. He'd never, never seen his partner so white and so still. Not even a twitch answered him. He reached out his shaking left hand to touch Hutch's hand, lying on the sheet. It was cold, and Hutch gave no sign that he could feel Starsky's touch or was aware of his presence. The respirator continued to whoosh in and out, the heart monitor beeped -- too slowly for Starsky's taste, and he'd unfortunately seen enough of them for that to frighten him. The sheet covered Hutch up to his waist and he was wearing a hospital gown. He had to have been bitten, Starsky knew. He pulled the sheet away and saw a bandage low on one leg. Around the bandage, the leg was slightly swollen and a bruise peeked out from underneath it. "Oh, God, buddy," Starsky whispered, forgetting his own aches and pains. "How bad is it?"
He sat there for what seemed like hours in the silence that was only broken by the sounds of the respirator and heart monitor. Finally, a nurse came in and gave a gasp, startled to see him in the chair.
"What are you doing out of bed?" she scolded softly. "You're not even supposed to be awake."
Starsky turned to look at her, the anguish in his eyes sharp even in the dim light. "How bad is he hurt?"
Her manner softened immediately. "He's going to be all right," she said. "It looks much worse than it is, really it does. Coral snake bites are very nasty, but we got the antivenin into him in time."
"What's this for?" Starsky asked in a low, shaking voice, indicating the respirator.
"Side effect of the venom," she said, coming closer and picking up Hutch's white, cold hand to check his pulse. She laid a hand against his forehead and cheek and glanced up at the monitor. "We don't want him to have to struggle to breathe. He needs his strength to heal."
"But he's so -- " Starsky trailed off helplessly, his voice threatening to give out completely.
"I know it looks bad," she said. "Let me get the doctor. He can explain so much better than I can."
Starsky nodded and took Hutch's hand in his own again.
Bradley came in a few minutes later and repeated the nurse's actions of checking Hutch's pulse and looking at the monitors. Then he turned to Starsky with a stern face but gentle eyes. "You two," he said, shaking his head, "have got to be the most challenging patients of my career."
Starsky didn't smile or relax. "The nurse said you'd explain."
"And I will," Bradley said. "But first, get your can back in the bed or I'll call for restraints." His twinkling eyes belied the words.
Starsky got back in bed, holding on to the chair to keep the weight off the bad knee. The doctor made a "tsking" sound as he examined that knee.
"You've got a nasty sprain here," he said to Starsky. "I thought earlier you'd torn a ligament, but I think all you really did was wrench it. Stay off of it, will you? We'll get you some crutches if you insist on getting out of bed, but I catch you putting any weight on it and I'll make good on that threat of restraints."
"I wanna hear about Hutch," Starsky said, refusing to be sidetracked.
"He's going to have to be on the respirator for a few days," Bradley said. "He's temporarily paralyzed -- "
Starsky made a strangled sound.
"Temporarily," Bradley repeated with emphasis. "An effect of the venom. Reversible, Sergeant, I promise. But you'll need to be alert and tell him that when he wakes up. Otherwise, he's going to be frightened and that'll raise his heart rate and we don't want that. Okay?"
Starsky nodded and tried to force his own heart rate to slow.
"In a week or so, he should be almost as good as new," Bradley said. "He had a close shave there, though. And you, Sergeant, are going to stay off the knee completely for at least two weeks. Got that? No weight on it AT ALL. After that, we'll see how you're doing."
"I can't use crutches with this," Starsky said, indicating his arm in the sling.
"That'll be better in a couple of days. You aren't going anywhere until then. If you do, I'll dislocate the other one."
Starsky gave a weak chuckle.
"There. That's better," Bradley said with a broad grin. "Now, I'd like to go home to bed. I've had a long day. Can I trust you to behave and to take care of this guy until tomorrow sometime?"
"Yeah."
"Good. I'm going to tell the nurses to give you your head, within reason. You'd do what you wanted, anyway." Bradley gave a mock salute, patted Starsky on the shoulder and left the room.
There was no point in trying to sleep. Starsky was too afraid Hutch would wake up and find himself paralyzed and freak out. So he lay there, watching him, until it began to get light outside and Starsky began to think he couldn't keep his eyes open another minute.
Finally, Hutch's eyes fluttered a little and he gave a low moan.
Starsky was instantly wide-awake. He scrambled out of bed again, careful not to step on his bad leg. He got to the chair without incident and grabbed Hutch's hand again. Then he moved his hand to touch his partner's face in case the paralysis also meant he wouldn't feel Starsky's pressure on his hand.
Hutch gave another moan and tossed his head feebly back and forth.
"Sshh, buddy. Easy. I'm right here," Starsky said gently.
Hutch made a face as if he were in pain and it was several more long, long seconds before he opened his eyes and tried to focus on Starsky. He couldn't speak, because of the respirator, but Starsky saw groggy recognition in his eyes.
"You're gonna be okay," Starsky said. "Do you understand? You're gonna be fine."
Hutch moved his head once in the affirmative.
"You got bit by a coral snake," Starsky went on. "The respirator's to help you breathe so you won't have to work so hard. And you can't move because the venom has -- now listen, Hutch -- TEMPORARILY paralyzed you. It's only temporary. Do you understand?"
Hutch's eyes widened with shock and fear and Starsky quickly made a "shushing" sound.
"It's okay, buddy. It's only temporary. I talked to the doc earlier. He said you'd be good as new in a week. You just gotta lay here and let the pretty nurses take care of you till then." Starsky stroked the pale cheek. "You're really gonna be okay, babe. Honest. You know I can't lie to you."
Hutch's eyes fastened on Starsky and held his so long that if it had been anyone else, Starsky would have been uncomfortable. As it was, he held Hutch's gaze steadily until the blue eyes drooped in surrender.
Starsky let out his held breath. "Do you need anything? Should I get a nurse?"
Hutch made a sound in his throat that Starsky recognized as an attempt at "huh-uh."
"Wanna go back to sleep? Or should I sit here and talk to you?"
Hutch met his eyes again and this time, he was obviously evaluating him. After a moment, Hutch gave Starsky a pointed look, moved his eyes to Starsky's bed and back to Starsky. There was no mistaking what he meant.
"I'm not tired, honest, I'm not," Starsky said.
Hutch repeated the action.
"But what about you?"
Hutch frowned as fiercely as he could, all things considered, and Starsky couldn't stop the grin.
"Okay, okay. I'll get some sleep. You sure you'll be okay?"
Hutch gave a single nod, and Starsky gave the golden hair one last stroke. Then he climbed back into bed and was out like a light almost as soon as his head touched the pillow. If he hadn't been, he'd have seen the loving look his partner gave him, a look he'd never see so obviously expressed in any other situation.
Within a few days, Hutch was weaned off the respirator. The detectives were moved into a regular room and when Hutch's voice was back somewhat, he had lots of questions for his partner. Still hoarse, he asked Starsky, "So, what the hell were you doing out there?"
Starsky shook his head and looked at the floor. "I was coming to help rescue you. Snakes, Hutch. Esther said there would be SNAKES!"
Hutch shook his head and weakly put a hand up toward Starsky. "Can't let you out of my sight for a minute. You could've made yourself a lot worse."
Taking his hand and squeezing it gently, Starsky said, "What about you? I'm stuck in here a few days and you get yourself nabbed by snake loving nut cases. You're the one who can't be trusted out of his partner's sight, buddy. Who was supposed to be watching you anyway?"
"Sean. Not his fault though. We couldn't leave together. I was supposed to take off right after he did. Guess I screwed up that one."
They had to agree; they were about even in the "needing a good butt-kicking from my partner" department. Both men laughed a little at how they had cheated death again.
Jack and Sean walked into their room and were pleased to see their friends were mending.
Sean said, "Geez, Hutch, you sure gave us a scare. How're you guys feeling?"
Starsky smirked at him. "Way to look out for my partner, Sean."
Blushing, Sean said, "Sorry about that, Starsk. He was supposed to be right behind me. Shoulda waited around the corner or something, I guess." He hung his head a little, hoping Starsky was going to forgive him.
Hutch said, "Don't let him get to you, Sean. You did fine. I just stepped in it this time."
Jack said, "Want to know what's happening with the case, guys?"
"Sure," Starsky said. He smiled at Sean, who started to relax as he pulled up a chair.
Sean started, "Big Bad Bob turned into a puddle when we threatened him with two counts of Attempted Murder of a Police Officer. He's going to testify against Haley."
Jack added, "Haley has asked for a conference, but he won't do it until you are out of the hospital, Hutch. His lawyer got the judge to agree. He says he'll only give his statement to you."
Starsky immediately became protective. "Well, he can rot in hell then. Hutch's not going anywhere for a while."
"Starsk...." Hutch started.
"Don't you start with me, Blondie. I'm calling the shots on this case until you're completely, well... back on your feet."
Jack and Sean looked at each other and shrugged. "Dobey said you'd be able to come down there in a few days."
"He did, did he?" Starsky said.
Just then, Dobey walked in and heard the last comments. "Yes, he did. How are you feeling, boys?"
Starsky said, "Hutch isn't up to going down there with that preacher, Cap."
"Starsky, I'll be okay in a few days," Hutch protested.
Dobey looked at both men and said, "I'm sure you and your partner want the pleasure of wrapping up that turkey so he can go away for a nice, long time in the state pen."
That point was difficult to argue. Starsky looked at Hutch inquisitively, seeing how much he wanted it. "Okay, Cap. We'll be there." Not that there was either an option or a question, but sometimes the captain knew he needed to let his men feel like they were the decision makers, even when they weren't. Starsky and Hutch had been through a lot with this case and he thought this was one of those times.
"That's good. I'll let the judge know. What are you doing out of bed, Starsky? I thought you were supposed to be resting that knee," Dobey said, giving the dark-haired man a critical stare.
"I'm bein' good. Not putting any weight on it, just like the doc said."
Hutch added, "Don't worry, Cap. I'm watching him."
The men stayed and talked about the case and how things had gone for a long time, until a nurse came and shooed the other officers away so her patients could rest. Starsky was released the next day and he split his time at the hospital and down at the precinct giving his statement on the case. Dobey agreed to send someone to the hospital for Hutch's statement and the two detectives worked on their report together. The captain wisely realized this was an excellent way to ensure that Starsky gave his knee time to heal. He didn't want the man running around and making it worse.
Gary Detchel asked Starsky to work on the article, so he and Hutch did that while Hutch continued to improve. The editor was impressed with Starsky's photos and the article was coming along nicely.
Sean's photos were as bad as he thought they would be, but they did make great evidence for the fraud being perpetrated on the people of Bay City. The man in some of Sean's photos did turn out to be the same one Starsky captured on two other evenings in various stages of disability and wellness.
After Hutch was released from the hospital, he and Starsky decided to stay at Venice Place while they finished recuperating. They had to climb stairs at both places and Starsky wanted Hutch to be as comfortable as possible.
He had informed Hutch, "I figure you might get better faster if you have your jungle and your music around you."
The day after Hutch was released, they went to the precinct to meet with Haley, Dobey, and Haley's attorney. The detectives made quite a pair, showing up for the meeting with Starsky on crutches still and Hutch using a cane. He still had numbness, tingling, and burning as alternating sensations in the leg that was bitten by the snake. The partners were wearily looking at two weeks' desk duty while they completed their convalescence. Dobey had mused that it was for the best, giving them the opportunity to finish reports, tie up loose ends, interview witnesses, and help prepare the evidence they would need to convict Haley. While they were at it, they would attempt to find what they needed to pin a murder charge on the evangelist for the death of the woman at the beginning of the investigation.
When they were all seated, Captain Dobey introduced the two detectives using their real names to Haley and Doug Emma, his attorney. Though Haley hadn't asked for Starsky, he insisted on being there, unwilling to allow his partner to go into the meeting without him.
Hutch started the conversation, "You wanted to make a statement, Haley, and you insisted that it be given to me. Why?"
"You were the instrument of my destruction, Brother Ken. I thought we should walk this last part of the journey together." Haley's eyes flashed with menace. Starsky felt uncomfortable, even though he knew the man was no longer a danger to his partner.
Haley continued, "How does it feel to have taken such a large part in the interruption of the Lord's service?"
Emma said, "Ben, we talked about your attitude toward the detective. Don't say anything you'll regret."
"I regret nothing, Douglas." Haley bore an icy gaze directly at the blond cop. "I really wished to speak with the detective alone though. I hear your partner refused to allow that, Brother. Well, Mr. Emma here refused, too. I understand my attorney's motivations, but does your partner control all of your actions?"
"What's that supposed to mean, Haley?" Starsky was angry and not hiding it well.
Dobey said, "Starsky...."
Haley turned toward Starsky and said, "Oh, I don't blame you. You're one of the chosen people. So Esther tells me. A man as yet to see the light."
Hutch said, "What did you want to tell me, Haley? You can leave my partner out of it."
"What I want is for Esther. I've been told that Brother Bob is going to testify against me. He will receive a reduced sentence for his betrayal. Judas committed suicide. That would be a pity."
Starsky said, "Whatever you want to say, spit it out, Preacher. My partner still isn't well after your attempt to drive his 'demons' out. That's right, he told me about that. What do you want?"
"I will save everyone a lot of trouble and plead guilty, but I want something in return. Esther is completely innocent. She knew nothing of my actions and was unaware that Bob was working with me on my, shall we say, special projects."
Dobey looked at him and said, "We were preparing to press charges against her for accessory. What's in it for us not to do that?"
"What's in it for you, Captain Dobey, is saving your department, these two gentlemen, and the citizens of Bay City a lot of expense and trouble. Mr. Starsky here would not have to worry about me spending any more time with his partner."
Interrupting, Starsky said, "That's DETECTIVE Starsky, and I'm not worried about it. You're done."
Dobey held up a hand toward the angry detective and said, "Go on."
Emma stepped in and said, "We want you to go to the District Attorney. The pastor will plead guilty to fraud, and assault instead of standing trial for fraud, attempted murder of two police officers, and assault with a deadly weapon."
Hutch was unhappy with that proposal. "You tried to have my partner killed, Haley. No way."
Starsky nodded. "Not to mention the attempt on Hutch's life. You almost succeeded with those snakes. You're going down."
Haley sighed. "I don't want to argue, gentlemen. Even with Bob's testimony, some of those charges will be hard to prove."
"He's an eyewitness with complicity, Haley. You're nailed," Starsky said.
The minister looked at his attorney, who nodded at him. "Very well. If you promise not to press charges against Esther, I'll help you solve a certain unsolved murder that may or may not involve my ministry. I'm sure you're familiar with the case, gentlemen. Brother Bob won't be able to help you with that case, I assure you."
The cops looked at each other. If Haley confessed to the first murder, they could wrap this case up and be done with it. "Your sister had no involvement?" Dobey asked.
"None. She is an innocent, a messenger of God. Esther wants to continue the ministry, the way she believes our father would have wanted. She has some notion about saving the family name. I want her to have that chance."
Dobey could tell his men were agreeable. "All right. We'll talk to the D.A."
Hutch asked, "Why, Haley?"
"Why what, Brother? Why help my sister? I love her. She's my sister."
"Not that. Why did you do it? Why pervert the work of God? Why use His name to further your own ends?"
Haley smiled in a self-satisfied way. "I had it all, Brother. If you and your partner here hadn't interfered, the ministry would have been rich beyond reason in another several months – all in the name of the Lord. Don't get me wrong. I believe. But the Lord cheated me. He deprived me of His healing gift. I believe He owes me a few personal successes, even financial ones, in return for my service spreading His word."
"Even at the cost of breaking the law, Haley?" Starsky asked.
The minister replied, "But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He? Romans 3:5."
Starsky hissed at him, "Somehow you make the words of the Bible twist to your own meaning. That can't be right. God doesn't 'owe' you anything. How can you call yourself a man of God and of faith?"
"My works are proof of my faith," he replied coolly. Turning back toward Hutch he asked, "How about you, Brother? You nearly succumbed to that snakebite. Where does the proof of YOUR faith lie?"
Starsky sat forward at the table, preparing to say something in Hutch's defense, when the blond put a hand on his arm, clearly communicating to him that he should be still. "Sola Gratia – Lutherans believe in salvation through grace, Haley. 'For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.'"
"Ephesians, 2:8-9. Ah, yes, the Lutherans. How very reform of you, Detective."
Hutch continued, "The way into heaven is free. No man should charge for that which God gives us through His mercy. It's not supposed to be about money or power, but the love of God. Guess you lost sight of that somewhere."
Dobey and Starsky stared at Hutch, impressed by his ability to handle the preacher and by his knowledge of the subject.
Haley and Hutch glared at each other, neither man willing to back down from his position. Emma cleared his throat uncomfortably and said, "Well, Captain Dobey, if you'll let me know when we can meet with the D.A., I'd appreciate it. I believe this meeting is over, gentlemen."
~~~~~~~~~~
Huggy brought dinner to Hutch's house that night. After the meal, the three men sat out in the greenhouse enjoying some conversation before Huggy had to get back to the bar.
Starsky said, "I was pretty worried about you for a while on this case, partner."
"Yeah, Curly here was afraid you'd gotten yourself sucked in by the dog and pony show," Huggy added.
"I know. Sorry I made you worry. Haley was good at his act. I guess it's not that I believed him so much as it was that I didn't want to believe a man who called himself God's servant could be so perverted."
"How'd you memorize so much from the Bible so fast?" Starsky asked.
"I didn't have to memorize too much. My folks made us spend a lot of time at church when we were kids. Youth group, Bible camp, the whole thing. My mom's really into being a Lutheran."
Huggy stood, gathering their empty beer bottles and said, "Well, amigos, I have a store to mind. Best get to it."
"Thanks for dinner, Hug. Both of us being the walking wounded isn't too conducive to making meals," Hutch said, limping along behind him into the kitchen while Starsky struggled up onto his crutches.
"You think you boys can stay out of trouble for a while?" Huggy asked.
Starsky looked innocently at him. "How much trouble can we get into ridin' a desk?"
"Oh, please. Trouble has a way of finding you, Starsky. Just be sure a filing cabinet don't fall over on you or something, okay? My hospital flower budget is blown for a while."
The two cops heard their friend's unspoken concern for their safety. They both smiled at him as he left. Starsky settled onto Hutch's couch and said, "Who knows? Maybe the next case will be something nice and sedate."
"That'll be the day," Hutch replied.
"At least, I hope it doesn't involve no more of Starsky's writing," Huggy said with a wicked grin, reaching under his jacket and producing a copy of The Pulse. Starsky pounced upon it.
"Look, Hutch! Here's my story!" He paged through the paper excitedly, pointing out his photos to Hutch and reading snippets of his article. It only took a few moments for him to notice that someone had edited it. "Hey! I didn't say this! Or this! And where's my great description of Haley's preachin'?"
Hutch took the paper away from him and smiled at the headline: "Rogue evangelist in Bay City tent show." He skimmed the article. He recognized most of it as Starsky's inimitable style, but he could also see the places where the editor had toned it down. "Editing is what editors do, moron," Hutch said to his partner. "It's their job to -- uh -- rein in enthusiastic writers."
Starsky made a harrumphing sound and glared at Huggy, who wasn't bothering to hide his grin. "It ain't funny."
"Aw, come on, Starsk," Huggy said. "You got the article, they printed your terrific pictures -- and they are terrific, m'man -- and there's your byline." He pointed to the bold print: "Story and photographs by David M. Starsky for The Pulse."
"That's true," Starsky said, somewhat mollified.
"I bought ten copies," Huggy said. "They're at The Pits." He left them with a wave.
Both men relaxed and enjoyed the rest of their evening, knowing that their two weeks of desk duty might just be the calm before the next storm. Whatever the storm, the two men would face it together.
THE END