Alternative Steele5-1

Alternative Steele5/1

With a loud "POP!" Daniel Chalmers released the cork from the bottle of champagne and poured three glasses of the effervescent wine. "To sweet success!" he declared, lifting his glass.
Laura eagerly clinked her glass to his, her face still flushed with the glow of a successful con. "Success," she echoed.
Harry didn't repeat the toast, and only half heartedly raised his glass before drinking. Seeing that, Daniel's smile dimmed slightly. "What's wrong, Harry, my boy? You should be on top of the world after today. Instead you look as if you would rather crawl under a rock somewhere."
"Or into my bed," Harry clarified. "I'm just tired, Daniel," he explained. "It's been nearly 48 hours since I had any sleep." He drained his glass and put it down. "I think I'll go upstairs. You two continue your celebration."
Laura put a hand on his arm as he passed. "Harry?"
He smiled, lifting her hand to his lips. "I'll be all right." Daniel moved to watch as Harry climbed the stairs. "He's not himself this evening."
"I know," Laura agreed, sitting on the edge of the sofa, worry clouding her eyes as well. "He hasn't been for some time."
"He hasn't said anything to you about what might be wrong?" Daniel wondered.
"Nothing definate. I sensed that he wasn't really into this job, though- and he's been talking about buying a villa near yours in the south of France."
"He knows that he's more than welcome to use mine anytime he wishes."
"I got the impression that he wants to live there permanently."
Daniel nodded. "I've been worried that I was seeing the signs."
"Signs of what?" Laura questioned.
"Harry is bored."
"Bored? Daniel, we just pulled of a two million dollar con and he's bored?"
Daniel smiled. "You've been with him for almost three years, Laura, and you still haven't realized that Harry needs a challenge to keep his mind occupied. He's very good at these little cons and scams, but his real talent lies in the planning and carrying out of a virtually impossible heist-"
Laura recalled how focused Harry had been during his planning of their theft of the Maquesi diamond three months earlier and had to agree. "You might be right, Daniel. What we have to do is find something that will get his attention."
Daniel smiled even wider. "I already have, my dear. Do you think you could convince Harry to take you to Paris?"


Laura gave the driver instructions, then sat back to find Harry smiling at her. "You're French is improving."
"Only in self defense," Laura told him. "After that little chat you had with that man in Cannes a few months ago-"
Harry chuckled softly as he lifted her hand. "All he said was that you are a lovely young woman, and that I should count myself lucky to have you."
"So you said at the time. But I KNOW there was more said than that," she insisted, her suspicion confirmed as he grinned.
"Where are we going?" Harry asked, looking outside the cab in an effort to change the subject. There HAD been more to the conversation. But he wasn't ready for Laura to hear the rest of it just yet.
"I told you, it's a surprise. It was Daniel's suggestion, really."
"You and Daniel have become quite - chummy, haven't you?"
"We have a very important interest in common," she said. When his brows lifted in silent question, she smiled up at him. "You."
He put his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. "It wouldn't be difficult for me to become a bit jealous of your relationship with Daniel, you know."
Laura kissed his chin. "You don't have anything to worry about, Harry, and you know it. Daniel's old enough to be my father."
"It wouldn't be the first time some young thing has taken a liking to Daniel."
"I DO like Daniel. And I suppose I see him as a bit of a father figure-" she grinned.
"Although I seriously doubt that my REAL father would approve."
"Probably not," Harry agreed as the cab stopped before a small, private gallery. "What are we doing here?"
"I told you-"
"It's a surprise." He gave the driver the fare, then took her hand to keep her from rushing
headlong into the museum. "Laura -"
"Just come inside, Harry. You'll understand once you've done that."
Shaking his head, Harry followed her into the small building, automatically noticing the depth of security, other faces in the room. Inside the foyer, the announcement for the exhibit was on display. "Rare gems of the world," Harry read, lifting his gaze toward
Laura. Scanning the list of gems, he stopped, smiling, pulling her close. "You said this was Daniel's idea?"
She nodded. "Let's go inside."
"Follow my lead, okay?"
"Don't I always?" Laura asked.

He examined every case carefully, letting Laura ooh and ahh all she wanted over the diamonds and rubies and emeralds as they worked their way through the small group to the back of the room where the focal point of the show was on display.
As they approached, Laura could see his eyes scanning, already planning. When at last they stood before the case, Laura gasped softly. "I've never seen anything like them," she whispered with awe. She glanced at Harry, saw the blue of his eyes. "Well, maybe a certain pair of blue eyes," she amended.
"Royal Lavulite," he said, his voice a bit breathless. Smiling at her, he moved her back toward the entrance. "We've dinner reservations, and I'd hate to be late," he said just loudly enough for others to hear.
Back in another taxi, Laura sighed. "Daniel said that they're called "pieces of the sky"?" she asked as he read a paper he had picked up in the foyer as they arrived.
"Yes. I saw them two years ago on a visit to Johannesburg. They were on display at the national museum there, were due to be loaned to a museum in London -"
"But the courier was in the employ of theives, and stole them," Laura recalled. "I remember you and Daniel talking about it when it happened."
"Ah, but the question is, how did they manage to wind up here in Paris?"
"Daniel saw something in the Times about a legal battle over ownership. The courier sold them to a private museum in Rome, who's loaning them to the one here. The museum owner is claiming that he is the rightful owner."
"Tell me, is the South African government still offering a reward for their return?" Laura smiled. "They are. A very hefty reward."
Harry's smile mirrored hers. "We have some research to do," he told her.
"Research?"
"I'll tell you about it over dinner."
Laura snuggled against him, smiling. Her old Harry was back. That light in his eyes was a dead giveaway. Getting those gems was the best challenge Daniel could have thought of for him.

"I'm not certain we should make an attempt here in Paris," he told her over the excellently prepared meal. "It will depend on how long they'll be here."
Laura glanced at the paper. "It says here they will be in Paris for another week before going to London for another week showing. From there, to Los Angeles, San Francisco-"
"Nice of them to print an itenerary, wasn't it?" Harry grinned, refilling their wine glasses.
"I can get back into that gallery with no problem. You, however-"
"Me? I'm just a bored American tourist, with an interest in rare gems. I think I can probably strike up a conversation with the gallery's owner," she informed him with a smile. "I hate it when you smile like that," he said.
"Why?
"Because it usually means you're going to do something reckless."
Laura's eyes widened in mock dismay. "ME? Do something reckless? NEVER," she shook her head. "Well, not unless it's called for, anyway."
Harry shot her a look. "On this one, Laura, we have to make certain that everything is exactly right."
"We will, Harry," she assured him, reaching out to take his hand. "We will."

The next day, Laura returned to the museum alone, to wander aimlessly from one glass case to the other. She was about to give up when someone spoke in her ear. "Lovely, aren't they?"
She turned to look at the man who had spoken with a British accent. He was almost Harry's height, with blonde hair and light blue eyes and simply exuded charm. "Yes. I could look at them all day."
"You very nearly have, I think," he told her. "You're American."
"On holiday. Nothing to do at home, thought I'd come over here and bum around a little."
"Then you're not with anyone?"
"No. I prefer it that way, usually. No arguements about going to stare at a bunch of boring rocks."
He nodded. "How long are you going to be in Paris?"
"I haven't decided. Until there's nothing to keep me here, I suppose," she said, her gaze moving to the reception desk that was visible behind her new friend. Harry had arrived and was talking to the young blonde woman sitting there.
"I need to speak to Mr. Davenport," Harry said earnestly as the blonde slowly melted under his blue gaze.
"Do you have an appointment?" she asked in accented English. Danish, he guessed.
"No, but it's a matter of some urgency, Miss-"
"Halverson," she said. "Ingrid Halverson," she repeated, straightening her shoulders to show him more of her already obvious charm. Not Danish. Swedish.
Harry smiled. "Would you mind going to find Mr. Davenport?" he asked. "I'd be - most grateful."
She smiled as well. "I'll be right back," she promised, rising to move slowly away from him, giving Harry a good look at the way her- his eyes lifted and saw Laura's on him, assessing his interest in the receptionist.

"You've never seen anything like the Royal Lavulite, I'd guess," Davenport was saying. "There's nothing else like them in the world."
"They're from South America, aren't they?" Laura asked. "I remember reading about them somewhere."
"Yes. It's the only place they've ever been found."
"Excuse me, Mr. Davenport?"
He sighed. "Yes, Ingrid?"
"There's a man here who wishes to speak to you. He says it's very important." Davenport kissed the back of Laura's hand. "Until later, Miss-"
"Lord. Tracy."
"I shouldn't be long. Probably another reporter wanting an interview about those gems. Don't go anywhere, okay?"
"Okay." She pretended an interest in the gems as she watched him approach Harry. The view from back here wasn't too bad, she thought, then caught the gleam in Harry's eyes before he turned his attention toward Davenport.

"May I help you?"
"Mr. Davenport?"
"Yes."
Harry showed him the identification he had purchased. "Is there a place where we might talk undisturbed?"
Davenport, eyes narrowed in suspicion, indicated that they should go toward the other side of the reception foyer to a door marked "Manager". As he opened it, he told Ingrid, "Hold my calls, Ingrid."
"Yes, Mr. Davenport," she said, sighing as the door closed behind them.

"How can I help you, Mr. Pearson?" Davenport asked, sitting behind his desk. "If you're here to claim the Royal Lavulite for your government -"
"Not at all, Mr. Davenport," Harry quickly assured him. "My government is aware that the ownership of the gems is in the baliwick of the courts. They merely wanted me to make certain that your security measures are adequate for such a valuable item. If the gems are stolem now, then it wouldn't really matter who they belong to, would it?"
Davenport smiled. "I suppose you're right. I do need to verify your identity, however-"
"Be my guest," Harry said. This was the tricky part of the plan. "If you'll excuse me, I'll just go and have a look at the gems while you take care of that."
Davenport nodded, then dialed a number as Harry left the room. As he passed the reception desk, Ingrid smiled at him. "Is there something I can get you? Some champagne or wine-?"
"No, thank you," he said. Laura was near the entrance, to all appearances involved in examining a display of sapphires. But Harry knew she was listening. "Have you worked here very long, Miss Halverson?"
"No. Only for a few months. Mr. Davenport was kind enough to give me a job so I could stay in Paris until I can become a model."
"You're not one already?" Harry asked, thinking that with her long legs she'd be a success.
"I am hopeful," she told him.
Davenport's office door opened, and the manager came into the foyer, heading straight for Harry. "I'll show you whatever you like, Mr. Pearson," he said, but he wasn't happy about it.
"Excellent. Do you have an outside agency handling security, or-?"
"No. It's all in house." He smiled as he noticed Laura. "Why don't you go on inside and check out the display? I'll join you in a moment."
"Very well," Harry said, moving ahead as Davenport paused beside Laura.
"You did stay. I was afraid you'd be gone. And I've no idea where you're staying."
"I've got a little place-"
"Is there a telephone there?" he asked. "I'd really like to see you again."
"I'll be here again tomorrow," she told him.
"Have dinner with me this evening."
Laura laughed softly. "Mr. Davenport-"
"Niles. I'll tell you all about the Royal Lavulite," he offered as an incentive.
"With an offer like that, how could I POSSIBLY refuse?" Laura said, smiling. "Where
shall I meet you?"
"I have to stay here until eight," he told her. "I could be at your place by ten-"
"Why don't I meet you here?" she suggested. "It would save time."
Davenport took her hand. "Until this evening, then," he said, bowing over her hand to kiss it. "The wait will seem interminable." Laura saw Harry roll his eyes before turning away.
"Good bye," she said, moving out of the gallery.
Davenport watched her leave, then turned to find Harry also watching her. "You have excellent choice in women, Mr. Davenport," Harry told him.
"Thank you. But that remains to be seen. I'll you know tomorrow. Now. About the security system-"

Laura was dressed and ready to go out when Harry returned to the hotel. "What did you find out?" she asked him as he went into the bathroom to change clothes himself.
"The security system's a piece of cake. But I don't think we're the only ones casing this job."
"You saw them too, didn't you?" she asked. When he looked at her, she shrugged. "A tall man, American, I think, mustache, dark hair. The other one was short, dark hair, but spoke with a Cockney accent."
"Kessler and Neff. They're the men who originally stole the gems- or set the courier up to steal them before he sold them on his own in Rome. I noticed them hanging about as well. We'll have to keep an eye on those two."
She noticed he was putting on his tuxedo. "Where are you going?"
"To dinner," he told her, dropping a kiss on her lips before moving to tie the bowtie.
"All this for a solitary dinner?" she asked.
He looked her over, pausing on the slit in the hem of the ankle length dress that went nearly to her hip. "Who said I was dining alone?" he inquired.
"That little blonde bimbo from the gallery. Inger or something-"
"Ingrid. I thought since you were going to be occupied with Davenport, I might as well see what information I could get out of his secretary."
Laura made a show out of straightening his lapels, then slid her arms around his neck.
"Just don't forget where you belong, Harry."
"Never, love. Never." He gave her a long kiss. "You just don't forget either, eh? And be careful. I don't think Davenport's interested in your mind, if you get my drift." He brought her hands to his lips. "You might want to refresh your lipstick- oh, and by the way, you look delightful."
She turned a pirouette. "Do you really think so? I bought it after I left the museum." The dark material had threads of silver and gold in it, causing it to shimmer at every movement. Of course, there wasn't much TOO move, Harry thought. Strapless, and with that slit- He pulled her close to him again. "Why don't we cancel our engagements and just have a quiet evening? Just the two of us."
"And what about the gems?" She asked him. "Davenport just might let something slip that will help us get them."
"You're right. As always, my darling. Just promise me you'll be careful, okay?"
"As always," she told him, cupping his cheek with her hand. "Have fun."
"You too. But not TOO much fun."
She picked up the gold lame wrap that went with the dress, and waited for Harry to put it over her shoulders, then left the room to hail a cab to take her back to Davenport's museum.

To Alternative Steele5 Part 2

|| Back || Home || Casebook || E-Mail || Next ||
Original content ©2001 by Nancy Eddy