TROUBLE IN THE MEN'S ROOM

by: Lisa Goins

"Hutch, I told ya, this is gettin' ridiculous."

"And I told you, I'm not letting you outta my sight -- you can't even go to the john without getting into trouble."

The two detectives continued to squabble as they rounded the corner and entered the men's room. What they saw there stopped them in their tracks. A young kid held an elderly man at gunpoint as he removed his wallet from his back pocket.

Hutch went for his weapon -- "Police -- drop it!"

At the same time, a second gunman stepped out from behind the bathroom door, shoving Starsky and attempting to make a run for it. Starsky was sent sprawling across the tile floor, but recovered quickly and raced after the fleeing suspect. Hutch cuffed the kid, who had dropped his weapon, and checked to see that the older gentleman was okay, then went to check on his partner. Starsky was just dragging the second kid, also in handcuffs, back through the bathroom door. He entered a stall, used his foot to close the lid, and sat the suspect on the toilet. Hutch did the same with the other hoodlum. He looked at Starsky, shaking his head.

"What?" Starsky asked.

Hutch continued to shake his head.

"What -- you think this is my fault?"

"Starsky, I, you... Only you, Starsk, could pick the only bathrooms in this city where crimes are goin' down." Hutch was still shaking his head in disbelief.

"Just one of my many talents, schweetheart. Now, uh, could I get a little privacy, here? I'd like to do what I came in here to do."

Hutch was still shaking his head as he escorted the two prisoners and the victim out of the bathroom, leaving his partner in the empty men's room to take care of his personal matters.

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