Alternative Steele 6
Part 1

 
Daniel Chalmers looked up from the newspaper in his hand as he heard Laura's deep sigh. She was standing at one of the windows that overlooked the street in front of the house. "What's wrong, my dear?" he asked.

"Just wondering where Harry got off to," she explained.

"Didn't he mention something about having a mechanic take a look at the Jag?"

"He's been gone for four hours, Daniel," she pointed out. Her fingers wove through the edge of the drape. "Has Harry seemed- different to you, Daniel?"

"Different?" Daniel repeated. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know. Ever since we got back from Paris- he's just seemed- more withdrawn. You haven't noticed?"

In truth, Daniel had noticed. After the return from Paris, the three of them had run a few successful cons, traveling to Rome for one of them. But he'd seen signs that Harry was troubled by something. Now, he folded the newspaper and rose from his chair to join Laura at the window. "He has been a bit- distracted since that visit to Paris a few months ago. He hasn't said anything to you about what's troubling him?"

"He says everything is fine," Laura insisted. "And it was- until he found out that the Lavulite was going to be on display in London-"

Daniel recalled the evening. On a visit to the casino, someone had mentioned the upcoming arrival of the blue gemstones. Laura had wanted to have another go at them. But Harry had refused to consider the idea. For several days, Daniel had lived with more than a little tension between the two young people. "I have noticed a bit of strain between the two of you," Daniel admitted now.

Laura managed a small smile. "A 'bit'? That's an understatement. I know it hasn't been easy for you, putting up with us, has it?"

"Oh, it's been an education, actually."

"An education?" she asked, looking up at him.

"Harry's reaction to that tension has been - something new for him."

"What do you mean?"

"The young man I know would have simply taken off to avoid any- unpleasantness. It says a lot for how he feels about you that he's still here."

Laura looked around the room. "I don't see him here."

"I meant in London. That he hasn't run away to Cannes or any of his other hiding places."

The clock on the mantle struck the hour, and Laura frowned. "Its almost time for dinner."

And Harry had been gone for the better part of the afternoon, Daniel thought to himself. But to Laura, he simply placed a hand on her shoulder. "Why don't you go and change? I'm sure he'll be in any moment. Harry's not one to miss a meal if he can help it."

Laura accepted his light kiss on her forehead. "Thank you, Daniel."

"For what?"

"For not telling me that my best move would be to simply cut Harry loose and go back to Los Angeles."

"Is that what you want to do?"

"No. But I wonder if that's what Harry would prefer. Maybe he's bored again- but this time with me."

"I don't think so. Give him some time. I'm sure he'll be himself shortly. You know Harry and his moods. Don't do anything drastic."

Laura nodded, then left the room, leaving Daniel standing at the window. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Harry's dark Jaguar pull into the drive, then around the corner of the house into the car park. Moving through the entry hall, Daniel glanced up to make sure Laura was upstairs before leaving via the front door.

He rounded the house to watch his son get out of the car, carrying something to the boot. "Let me guess," Daniel said, and Harry straightened, bumping his head on the lid. "A surprise for Laura?"

"Bloody hell!" Harry groaned, putting a hand to his head. "You should know better than to sneak up on a person that way, Daniel," he grumbled, closing the boot before Daniel could get a glimpse of what he'd stowed away.

"Did you get the car looked at ?"

"The car-?" Harry questioned, a blank expression on his face. "Oh, yes," he said. "Just needed a tune up. Nothing serious."

"Harry, how long have we known each other?" Daniel asked as they turned toward the house.

"Over fifteen years. Why?"

"Don't you think that, after all this time, I can tell when you're lying, my boy?"

"Lying?"

"Well, not being entirely truthful at any rate," Daniel said. "I wasn't aware that a simple tune up could take up an entire afternoon. Or did you take the car back to the factory?"

"Daniel, you're more than welcome to call Felix and he'll tell you that he worked on the car."

"But where were *you* during that time, that's the question."

"I had some things to take care of," Harry told him, taking the first step up onto the porch, only to stop as Daniel spoke again.

"Laura's thinking about going back to Los Angeles, Harry," he said in a quiet voice. When Harry turned to look at him, he added, "She seems to think that you're gotten bored having her around."

"That's- crazy. But maybe it would best for her," Harry added. "I mean, what do I have to offer, eh? Just putting her life in danger- almost getting her killed-"

"When?"

"In Paris. Kessler and Neff could just as easily have killed her when they killed Davenport-"

"You're in love with Laura, aren't you, Harry?"

Harry smiled, looking up into the canopy of trees. "For all the good it does, yes."

"Does she know?"

Yes, she knows. I told her how I felt in Paris- Laura- Laura's skittish of that kind of commitment, Daniel. Her father's desertion hurt her deeply."

"She cares, Harry. More than you realize. She made the decision to come here- and stay here- on her own, remember? There was no coercion involved. God forbid if something happened to you- or to her, at least you'd have the memories of your time together to see you through the times ahead."

"You sound as though you're speaking from experience," Harry noted, looking at him curiously. "You've never talked about your youth, Daniel-"

"I was once very much in love, Harry," Daniel admitted, unable to look at his son as she spoke. "It ended- badly. But there's not a day that goes by that I don't remember the happy times. Some days, it was all that got me through. Now, what are you up to?"

Harry smiled. "I don't know that I should tell you. You might tell Laura- and I want her out of this."

Realization struck Daniel almost like a blow. "You're going after the Lavulite, aren't you?"

"Alone, this time. No risk to Laura, that way. I'm not going to let those two animals anywhere near her again."

"And what about you? Aren't you at risk?"

"I can take care of myself," Harry insisted.

"Then tell Laura what's going on. All sorts of things are going through her mind." But Harry was already shaking his head in refusal. "Harry-"

"Look, Daniel, if Laura finds out that I'm going after the gems, she's going to want to help. I refuse to put her in that much danger-"

"She can take care of herself," Daniel reminded him. "I'm surprised that she hasn't decided to try for the Lavulite on her own, if truth be told."

"She knows that she's not ready for something like that. Daniel, could you help me? Not with the theft, just keep Laura occupied for another day or so? Maybe suggest that you and she go over to Cannes? Spend a few days at the villa?"

"She'll want to know why you're not joining us."

"Let me handle that. I just hope that she doesn't take it into her head to go back to Los Angeles instead of going with you."

"Knowing Kessler and Neff's reputation, I'll agree, Harry. But be aware that it's under protest. You're going to owe me, my boy, for forcing me to spend time along in Laura's company."

"I thought you liked Laura?"

"Let me put it this way, Harry, if I were about twenty years younger, I'd make sure she forgot all about you."

"I'll count my blessings, then," Harry said, slapping Daniel on the back as the front door opened and Mary's voice called into the gathering darkness.

"Daniel? Supper's on th'table."

"We're on our way," Daniel called back. He looked at Harry. "What's your idea about how to proceed with this little game?"

###

Laura was just coming down the stairs when the door opened to admit Daniel and Harry. "Well. The prodigal finally came home," she drawled. "Where did you go to have the car looked at? Stuttgart?"

"Mercy Street Garage, actually," he told her, meeting her on the stairs to give her a quick kiss on the cheek. "I'm going to change for dinner. Don't wait for me. I'll join you in the dining room."

Daniel watched him as Laura continued down the stairs. "Shall we go on in?" he suggested, extending an arm toward her. "You know how Mary is about serving dinner while it's still hot." When Laura took his arm, he said, "You know, I've been thinking that a trip to Cannes might be in order. A change of scenery might do us some good."

"Cannes?" Laura questioned as Daniel pulled out her chair. "Did you mention this to Harry?"

"Not yet. I was saving it as a surprise. And if you don't fancy Cannes, we can go elsewhere- Hong Kong, perhaps. You've never been there, have you?"

"No," Laura admitted.

"Oh, you'd love it," he declared as Mary brought their meal into the room.

"Where's Harry?" she asked, frowning at the empty chair in which he usually sat.

"Changing," Daniel told her. "He'll be along. Just leave the plate."

"Humph," Mary said, putting the plate down as Daniel told her to do before disappearing back into the kitchen.

"Where was I?" Daniel asked, picking up his fork.

"Telling me how much I'd like Hong Kong," she prompted.

"Ah, yes. There's an air to the city that's unlike any other. It fairly bristles with opportunity. Fortunes made and lost in the blink of an eye. And the people-"

"What people?" Harry asked, still fastening his cuffs as he entered and took his seat.

"Daniel was just telling me about Hong Kong," Laura said. "But I'd much rather hear what you were up to all afternoon."

"Getting the car repaired," he told her, placing his napkin into his lap and concentrating on his meal. "I'm famished," he announced. "Pass the salt, please, Laura?"

With deliberate movements, Laura picked up the salt shaker, then put it down in front of Harry. "What was wrong with the car?" she asked.

"Oh, it needed a tune up and few other things."

"Your mechanic must be very thorough to take so long repairing it."

"He's a good man," Harry agreed through a mouthful of food.

"I was just suggesting to Laura that we take a trip to Cannes or Hong Kong, Harry," Daniel told the younger man.

"Hong Kong?" Harry repeated, and Daniel was secretly pleased that he'd thrown his son for the proverbial loop. "You have something going?"

"No, I just thought that we could all use a holiday."

"Why don't you and Laura go on, then?" Harry said. "I'm not really in the mood to go anywhere at the moment." He continued to eat as Laura dropped her fork onto the china plate, her suspicious gaze on the man seated next to her.

"Then we won't go, either," she announced.

"Nonsense. Daniel's looking forward to it, aren't you, Daniel?" Harry said. "No reason that the two of you shouldn't take a holiday just because I don't feel like going."

"Daniel can go if he wants," Laura said. "I'll stay here with you-"

"Maybe I need some time alone, did you ever consider that?" Harry asked.

Daniel winced at Laura's expression, and found himself close to telling her what was really going on. She rose from her chair. "Well, maybe I should just leve you alone, then," she told Harry. "I'm sure I can get a flight back to Los Angeles . . ." she said as she turned toward the doors.

With a concerned look in Daniel's direction, Harry was immediately on his feet and moving to follow her. "Laura," he said, grabbing her arm to stop her from going upstairs, "please. I know I've been a bear the last couple of weeks. It's just that- just have some things that I need to get sorted out. A bit of solitude might help me do that." He smoothed her hair. "With no- distractions, as it were."

"And I'm a distraction?" Laura questioned, beginning to smile in response to his tone.

"A major one. Look, go to Cannes with Daniel. I'll be along in a few days, once I've gotten my head on a bit straighter."

"You promise?"

He placed a hand over his heart. "I give you my word. And then," he continued, placing am arm around her to turn her back toward the dining room, "we'll take a trip out to Hong Kong. Just the two of us."

Daniel smiled at that promise, and went back to his own chair. He'd known that Harry would take that bait. Daniel knew fully well that Harry enjoyed showing Laura around new places.

###

Harry saw Laura and Daniel off the next morning, waving until the taxi cab turned onto the street and disappeared. Then, he retrieved the canvas bag he'd placed in the boot of his car the previous night. Carrying it to the house, he told Mary that he'd be in Daniel's study until lunch, looking over a few things.

###

Daniel took hold of Laura's hand as she strained for one last look at Harry. "He'll be fine," Daniel promised, hoping he sounded more certain of that than he felt. "You should know by now that Harry can be a bit moody at times."

"I know. I just have this- feeling. I can't explain it, but- Harry seemed to be sincere, but-" she placed a hand to the back of her neck. "The hair on the back of my neck is standing up. And that usually means that there's something that I've missed." Daniel decided to let her words go without comment. He smiled when she spoke again. "You know, I'm actually looking forward to this trip. The streets of Cannes are wall to wall with sheep to be fleeced this time of year. I hope you're up to a bit of shearing, Daniel."

This was going to be a most interesting holiday, Daniel decided.

To Alternative Steele 6 - Part 2


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Original content ©2001 by Nancy Eddy