"I'm glad we found those photos of the place in another magazine," Laura said as they drove up to to Jonas Webster's Hyde Park home. The house was built of cut stones, and looked like a castle - complete with a round turret where the two wings of the house came together. "I'm not sure I would have believed it."
"You've seen castles in Europe," he reminded her.
"Yes. In Europe. Not here in New York State." She slipped the horn-rimmed glasses onto her face, sticking a pencil into the bun of hair that she had hastily tied onto the top of her head, while Harry grabbed several cameras out of the back seat of the car. "Are you sure about where he keeps his private cache?" she asked in a quiet voice.
"We'll see." He went around the car to open the trunk, taking a camera case from it, and Laura heard the sound of air hissing. She paused, moving a few things around before wandering over to the side of the car away from the house while looking at her notebook. "Ready?" he asked, closing the trunk, and she nodded. "After you, Miss Groggins."
She led the way to the front doors, lifting the brass knocker. A middle-aged man dressed in a black suit opened the door. "May I help you?" he asked in an officious tone.
"I'm Myrtle Groggins," Laura said. "With "New England Homes"," she continued, handing him the fake ID Harry had had made. "Mr. Webster's expecting us." She saw the man's glance at her companion. "This is my photographer, Luke Abernathy." Harry nodded, pretending to be busy with one of the cameras around his neck.
"Who is it, Jenkins?" a woman called from inside.
"The reporter and photographer that Mr. Webster mentioned, ma'am," he replied.
"Well, ask them in!" the woman demanded in a tone that meant she was used to being obeyed.
Jenkins stepped back, opening the door wider. "Come in, please."
The woman standing across the foyer was leaning heavily on an ebony walking stick. Her white hair was elegantly coiffured, and she was wearing several rings and bracelets that flashed with each movement. The dress she was wearing was likely one of a kind, made of chiffon and silk. She smiled, extending her hand. "I'm Mrs. Webster," she informed them. "Thank you, Jenkins. If you would bring coffee into the sun room, please?"
"Yes Mrs. Webster," the butler confirmed, but he remained where he was as Laura took the woman's hand.
"I'm Myrtle Groggins, Mrs. Webster," she said. "This is Luke Abernathy."
"A photographer," Mrs. Webster acknowledged. "We'll go into the sunroom. Jenkins?"
"On my way, ma'am," he said, finally leaving the entry hall toward a doorway under the stairway landing.
"He's far too protective of me, I fear," the woman confided as she turned toward the room behind her. "Come along."
"This house is amazing, Mrs. Webster," Laura said as they walked through the dark paneled drawing room to another set of doors into a room filled with light from two walls of windows.
"Thank you. My late husband's family have lived here for over a hundred years. This is my favorite room, however. "Being on the south side of the house, it's warm even in the deepest winter." She sat down at a round table, indicating the other chairs. "Please. Make yourselves comfortable."
"So Mr. Webster is your son," Laura said.
"I thought you knew -"
"No. We've only contacted him by letter and telephone - I only spoke to him directly once, to confirm our arrival today."
"And you no doubt thought I was his wife," she realized, laughing softly. "Oh my. No, my son hasn't given me a daughter-in-law, so I'm the only Mrs. Webster in his life, more's the pity. Jonas prefers to stay in his penthouse in the City. But he comes up at least two or three times a week to have dinner with me, so I shouldn't complain, I suppose. Ah, here's Jenkins with our coffee," she declared as the butler appeared carrying a tray with what had to be a sterling silver pot and bone China cups and saucers.
He sat the silver tray on the table. "Shall I pour, ma'am?" he asked, hovering over the tray. The movement revealed the fact that he was wearing a shoulder holster, Harry noted.
"No, I think I can manage, Jenkins. Thank you."
"Will there be anything else?"
"No," she said again, and the man left the room.
Having poured the coffee, she said, "I'll leave it to you about cream and sugar," as she helped herself to generous portions of both in her own cup. "I really don't like coffee, but it's a habit that I can't seem to break. Now, Jonas said that you're here to take photos of the house for a magazine article?"
"That's right," Laura told her. "We're doing a different photo layout each month on a home in New York. Next year, my editor wants to do a series on houses in the other states."
"How did he happen to choose this house? Most people have never heard of the Manor."
"He didn't tell me that," Laura answered. "I suppose it wasn't something that I needed to know. He simply said, 'Go get the details and take pictures', so here I am."
"As soon as we finish our coffee, you might as well begin. I've told Jenkins that you'll have access to the entire house, so go where you will. The East Wing is closed - it hasn't been used since the turn of the century. I wish I could accompany you, but I can't manage above the second floor these days. Jonas installed the stair lift for me after my injury, but walking any distance is painful," she told them.
"You were injured?" Laura asked.
"A year ago," she nodded. "I broke my hip and it simply hasn't healed properly."
"I'm sorry."
"Thank you. Now, where are you from? I can usually identify accents, but yours escapes me."
"I was raised in California," Laura answered honestly.
Mrs. Webster nodded. "I thought as much." She turned her grey eyes toward Harry. "And you, young man? Do you talk or just take photographs?"
"I talk," he confirmed. "When I have something to say."
The woman's eyes narrowed slightly before she spoke again. "England," she declared. "With a hint of-Ireland." The smile extended to her eyes now. "Am I correct?"
Harry grinned. "You are."
She laughed again. "I knew it!"
"That's remarkable, Mrs. Webster," Harry told her.
"I've always been able to do it," she explained. "Would either of you care for more coffee?"
"I think we'd better start earning our keep, Mrs. Webster," Laura told her.
"Very well. Take notes, and I'll answer any questions you have once you're done."
"Why don't we begin in this room?" Laura suggested to Harry. "A photo of our gracious hostess would be perfect, don't you agree, Luke?"
Harry lifted the camera and began to snap photos, beginning with Mrs. Webster, and moving around the room before following Laura into the drawing room. Laura made notation in her notebook about various artwork and furnishings as Harry made use of the camera, pausing slightly at the far end of the room to whisper, "Jenkins is armed," while continuing to take pictures.
"He's obviously more than a butler," was Laura's reply. "I think we're finished in here - why don't we move on?"
The rest of the afternoon flew by as they toured the house. They had barely finished the second floor sitting room and bedrooms when the sound of a car engine drew Laura to the window overlooking the front of the house. "I think Jonas Webster just arrived," she told Harry, who came to the window.
"I suppose that's our cue."
"We haven't finished taking pictures," she reminded him.
"We'll finish tomorrow," he told her. "You did tell Mr. Webster that it might take a few days, remember?"
"Since we were going to be getting such a late start today," she nodded, giving him a smile. "But the late start was worth it."
"Steady on, Miss Groggins," he murmured as a voice reached them from the hallway.
"Hello? Miss Groggins?"
Laura went to the doorway as a blonde-haired man in his mid-thirties wearing a three piece suit turned a corner. "In here!" she called back, smiling. "You must be Mr. Webster," she said, extending a hand toward him. "Myrtle Groggins, New England Homes. And this -" she indicated Harry as he came up behind her, "is Luke Abernathy."
"Pleasure to meet you," Jonas said, shaking Harry's hand after Laura's. "Mother told me that you were still up here exploring."
"We've finished the second floor," she told him. "We still have the third floor and the attic - and the cellar," she added, almost as an afterthought.
Jonas' light blue eyes narrowed. "The third floor rooms aren't used," he told her. "And the attic is full of cobwebs and junk. There's a wine cellar in the basement, but other than that - there's not much there.
"Are the rooms above not maintained?" Laura asked.
"No, they are - they were used for servants back in my grandparents' day-"
"They're part of the house - and I'm sure our readers would be very interested in what were servants quarters. As for the attic and cellar, we'd like to at least get the photos. My editor always gives the homeowners the option not to publish anything they don't want -"
"Okay, okay," he sighed. "You'll have access to the attic and cellar tomorrow morning - how much longer do you think it will take?"
Laura gave Harry a questioning glance. "Luke?"
"Another day and we should be done," he answered, "Since Mrs. Webster said that we couldn't get into the East Wing."
"That's going to disappoint my editor," Laura sighed, "but I'll think of something to tell him."
"I'll ask Mother about it," Jonas told her. "I haven't been in there since I was a little boy." He took her elbow, leaving Harry to follow them. "I used to sneak in and pretend I was lord of the manor," Jonas said. "There was an old suit of armor over there, and a real sword that was almost as big as I was. I fought all kinds of ruffians and bandits - until the day I broke a window with the sword and Mother found out where I'd been."
"She didn't approve?"
The smile disappeared for a brief moment. "My mother approves of very little that I do." The smile returned, "but I love her. That's why I drive up here during the week to see her. That reminds me, she asked me to tell you that you're welcome to stay and share dinner with us." He glanced behind them. "You, too, of course, Mr.-"
"Just call me Luke," Harry said.
"I'd hate to intrude on your time with your mother," Laura said. "And we need to be up early tomorrow so we can get finished -"
"Okay," he said, clearly disappointed by her decision.
After telling Mrs. Webster that they would see her tomorrow morning, Laura and Harry left the house - escorted by Jonas. Or, rather, Laura was escorted by Mrs. Webster's son. Harry was left to his own devices, juggling the cameras and camera case.
"I regret that I won't be here tomorrow," Jonas was telling Laura while Harry opened the back door and stowed the cameras and exposed film, then went to open the trunk. "I have to leave around seven to get back to the city for a meeting. How long will you be in the area?"
"Once this job is done, I'll be going back home," she told him. "California."
"I'd like to call you - I sometimes go to the West Coast on business -"
"I'll leave my number with your mother," Laura said, fully aware that he was starting to lean toward her - probably with the intention to kiss her.
"Oh, blast!" Harry blurted out, causing Laura and Jonas to turn toward where he was on the other side of the car.
"What's wrong, Luke?" she wanted to know.
"We've got a flat tire!" he announced, indicating the back left wheel.
"We have a spare, don't we?" she asked, coming around to the trunk as he opened it again.
"It's flat," he told her.
"I'll go call the rental car company," Laura said, looking at Jonas. "May I use your phone?"
"Of course." He led her back into the house, showing her the telephone in the study as Harry returned to the house as well, waiting in the foyer.
"Jonas?" Mrs. Webster appeared in the drawing room doorway, looking surprised when she saw that he wasn't alone. "Is there a problem?"
"Their car has a flat tire - and the spare's flat, too, Mother," Jonas explained. "Miss Groggins is calling the rental car company on the telephone in the study."
"Those idiots!" Laura was saying as she came back out to join them. "It will be sometime tomorrow morning before they can get anyone up here," she told Harry.
"And what are we supposed to do in the meantime, eh?" Harry asked. "I mean, I needed to develop what I can of the pictures I took today -"
"I'm sure we can find a room for you to use as a dark room, Luke," Jonas assured him. "And there are more than enough rooms where you can sleep - right, Mother?"
"Of course. And tomorrow, if the rental company can't help, I'll send someone in to town to get another tire for your car."
"That won't be necessary, Mrs. Webster," Laura said. "We're already putting you out by having to put us up for the night."
"I insist, Miss Groggins," she stated in a firm tone. "Jenkins!"
The butler appeared from below stairs. "Yes, Mrs. Webster?"
"Would you please tell Cook that there will be two more for dinner? And then make sure the Green bedroom and the Gold bedroom are ready to be used. Miss Groggins and Mr. Abernathy will be staying the night."
"Yes, ma'am," he acknowledged, returning the way he'd come.
"The Green room has a lovely walk in closet that used to be a dressing room," Mrs. Webster told Harry. "It should be perfect as a dark room - do you have everything you need?"
"It's all in the car - I didn't want to leave it at the hotel in case one of the maids there didn't know what it was."
"You can bring it in after dinner," she decided as one of the maids appeared to announce that dinner was ready to be served.
***
"I'm glad your car had a flat," Jonas told Laura as he walked her upstairs to what his mother had called the Gold room.
Laura turned to look at him, a surprised expression on her face. "Why?"
"It gave me a little more time in your company," he explained, practically backing her against the closed door of the room. "You're very attractive. But I'm sure lots of men have told you that."
"A few," she agreed, slowly finding the doorknob with her hand.
"Why don't I come into your room and you can write down your number for me?" he suggested, leaning even closer to her. "And maybe we could - talk for a few minutes?" His question ended with his lips almost on hers.
The door across the hall opened, and Harry appeared, a towel slung over his shoulder. "Excuse me," he apologized. "I was going to the bath to wash up -"
Jonas sighed, putting some space between himself and Laura. "Goodnight, Myrtle."
"Goodnight," she replied, hoping that she at least *looked* as though she was as disappointed as he seemed to be by Harry's interruption.
"G'night, Mr. Webster," Harry called after him, and Jonas didn't bother to look back as he turned a corner on his way to his own room. "Must not have heard me," Harry murmured, turning to look at Laura.
"Thank you," she said. "That was close."
"I thought it might be a good time to intervene," he told her.
"Do you have the dark room set up?"
"I do. I might need a bit of help - there's a lot of film to process," he told her, leading the way into his room.
"You're not going to develop all of the film, are you?"
"I need to do as much as possible," he told her, entering the darkroom. "You'll need enough to keep Mrs. Webster occupied while I'm working."
"Were you able to talk to the maid who showed you up here?" Laura wanted to know.
"She was most cooperative," he assured her with a cheeky grin.
Laura lifted the edge of the towel that was still over his shoulder and wiped his cheek. "I'm sure she was," she said, showing him the trace of what appeared to be lipstick on the towel.
"It *was* on my cheek," he pointed out, turning to take her into his arms for a long kiss. Once it was finished, he reached out and turned off the overhead light, leaving the room bathed in a red glow. "We talked about secret passageways and rooms - she confirmed that she knows of one in the library, in the corner. One of the bookshelves moves back to give one access."
"Has she been inside?"
"No, but the library is the one room that Jonas makes a point to visit every time he comes to visit his mother."
"That fits with what Daniel's friend told you, doesn't it?"
"It does. So while you're getting more details from our hostess tomorrow, I'll make my way to the study and library on the premise of needing to take more photos due to a bad roll of film."
"I almost hate doing this," Laura sighed as Harry set to work. "Jonas is going to be angry once we're gone - he might blame her."
"I don't think he would do anything to hurt her, love. It's easy to see that she rules the roost around here."
"I'm not so sure. He appears to be a Mama's boy, but - after what he just tried to do - I think he's capable of anything."
He paused to look at her. "Do you want to give it up?"
"No. We've come this far - we need to finish it."
"That's my girl. Would you get the next canister ready?"
***
"You're very good, Luke," Mrs. Webster declared the next morning as she looked at the photographs. "These are excellent. The lighting, the composition -"
"Thank you. I enjoy my work."
"And it shows." She picked up the one of her. "Oh, I'd like a copy of this one. It's not often that I like photos of myself, but this one is -"
"You can keep that one," he told her. "I'll make another copy for the article."
"Thank you, young man."
Laura took a sip of coffee. "You'll notice that there aren't any of the study," she pointed out.
Mrs. Webster looked through the photographs, frowning. "Why not?"
"Apparently it was a bad roll of film," Harry said. "It doesn't happen often, but it does happen. So I'll have to take more photos in there today."
"Well, I have the key to the attic - and the East Wing. I will warn you that I haven't been in either place for years - so I can't guarantee their condition."
Jenkins appeared in the doorway. "Excuse me," he said.
"Yes, Jenkins?"
"I believe the truck is here to replace the tire on Miss Groggins' and Mr. Abernathy's car."
"I'll go talk to them," Harry said. "Excuse me, ladies."
"He's a very nice young man," Mrs. Webster stated as he left the room.
"Yes, he is."
"Have you worked with him very long?"
"On and off for the last five years."
"My son raved about you this morning at breakfast," the older woman told her.
Laura gave her a look of embarrassment. "Oh my," she sighed. "I hope I didn't give him the wrong idea about me."
"I shouldn't worry too much. My son's attention span is quite short when it comes to an attractive woman. Usually one date, and he's ready to move onto the next conquest."
"He sees women as a battle to be fought?"
"A battle to be won," Mrs. Webster corrected her. "Jonas doesn't like to lose." She smiled, placing two skeleton keys on the table. "Here are the keys I mentioned. I've no doubt you and Luke will want to get started once he comes back inside."
Laura took the keys. "Thank you. Which is which?"
"The one with the larger blade is for the East wing. It hasn't been used recently, so you might have to force it to work."
***
After Harry returned from the car - which now had four good tires *and* a spare with air - he and Laura went back upstairs to his bedroom, ostensibly to grab more film and another camera. Inside the room, Laura asked, "Which camera has the duplicates?" she asked.
He indicated the one he was taking out of the camera case. "This one," he told her, opening the back of the camera to reveal a collection of green glass figurines. The color was a close match to the jade figures that they were destined to replace.
"Do you really think Jonas will accept them as the originals?"
"Lucy told me last night that he only comes up here on Monday, Wednesday and Friday - so we'll be away before we find that out." He took the elephant figurine from her and returned it to the camera before closing it up again. "Now, where are we going first?"
"Since we're up here, I thought we'd hit the attic first," she said, "take a few pictures, there, then the third floor rooms before heading to the East Wing."
***
Mrs. Webster was studying the photographs from the previous day when they returned to the sun room. She looked up as they entered. "I've been enjoying these immensely," she said. "I haven't been in most of these rooms in ages. So how was the East Wing?"
"All things considered," Laura began, sitting down across from their hostess, "not too bad. Some of the wallpaper is starting to peel, and there are cobwebs everywhere, but if those and the dust was cleaned up, most of the rooms look like they could be lived in."
"Really?"
Harry nodded. "Even the furnishings are in decent shape," he informed her. "Oh, there are pieces here and there that would probably need to be replaced, but as Myrtle said, all in all, it's in remarkably good condition."
"Jonas will be pleased to hear that," Mrs. Webster stated. "He's been putting off going back over there to check it. He mentioned a few months ago that he might consider making it a separate residence for himself so that he could have visitors and not have to worry about disturbing me. I suppose you saw the entrance that's much like this one but on a smaller scale?"
"We did," Laura confirmed with a nod. "It was fascinating."
"I'm looking forward to seeing the photographs that you took there," Mrs. Webster told Harry.
"As soon as I get them developed," he promised. "Right now, I'm going to try to get the study photographed again, if you'll excuse me."
"I'm sure that Myrtle and I will find something to do," she replied.
"I thought we might go through the pictures from yesterday and I could make more detailed notes about any stories you remember, Mrs. Webster."
"I think that's the perfect idea!" she declared, picking up the top photograph as Harry left the sunroom. "Oh, this is an interesting room," she began. "One of the Presidents stayed in this room…"
***
Harry saw Jenkins hovering in the entry hall, pretending to cleaning the frame of a portrait with the feather-duster he was holding. But as Harry entered the study, he saw the butler coming closer and turned to meet him in the doorway.
"May I ask what you're doing here, Mr. Abernathy?"
"My job, Jenkins," Harry stated, indicating the cameras that were around his neck.
"I thought that you took photos of the study yesterday?"
"I thought so, as well," Harry told him. "But when I was developing the roll of film that I used, I discovered that a large portion of it was defective, so I have to take them again."
"I see. Very well. But I must caution you that Mr. Webster doesn't like people in his study. I'm the only one allowed in."
"I'll be careful not to touch anything," Harry informed him. "Wouldn't want to contaminate it, now, would we?" he asked with a grin.
Jenkins' reply was a grunt as he stepped back from the doorway, allowing Harry to close the door and begin taking photos, making his way across the room to the Library.
It was a square room, with floor to ceiling bookcases on three of the walls. The fourth wall had the same, but the door sat in the middle of that wall, with the shelves around it. In the middle of the room sat a sofa, chairs and tables, two of which had lamps on them to provide light to read by.
Laura had fallen in love with the room, telling Harry that they needed a place where she could do something similar. "But on a smaller scale, of course."
He'd countered her enthusiasm by reminding her that with their work, they probably wouldn't have much time to spend in "bookish pursuits", but he had tucked the idea away, along with the idea of combining a music room with a library.
Now, he quickly verified that the door into the study was still closed, then closed the library door before going to the far left hand corner, where he searched for three book titles. The first, "Moby Dick", was located directly in front of him. The second, Tolsty's epic "War and Peace" was to his right, while the third tome, "Alice in Wonderland" was midway between the other two on the shelf above. Daniel's contact had said that it didn't matter in which order they were pulled out to release the shelf they were on to move back into the hidden room.
When the shelf began to move, Harry stepped back, putting his hand on the faux camera before he stepped through the opening and into a room about the same size as the library, but instead of books, these shelves held treasures of every kind. Figurines, carvings, jewels - Harry recognized most of the items from his scrapbook - there were easels circled in the center of the room with paintings that nearly took his breath away. It was a veritable treasure trove.
Every piece was priceless - and all had been stolen in the last twenty years - most from their legitimate owners - never to be seen again. He was sure that those owners would no doubt pay handsomely to regain their baubles, but at the moment, he was only here to retrieve one: the Highmore Jade figurines.
Harry opened the camera, carefully gathering the originals out of the circle in which they had been placed for display, then put the copies in their place, using a handkerchief to wrap the originals before putting them into the camera and closing it up. He took a few photographs of the room's contents, then turned to return to the library, pausing as something on the threshold caught his attention. Kneeling, he noted what looked like the mark left by a walking stick that appeared on the carpet of the library. Following the path the mark led, he realized they crossed the room almost directly from the study door to the hidden gallery.
"Damn!" he muttered, pushing the books back in to close the room again.
***
"Excuse me, ma'am," Jenkins said as he entered the sunroom as Laura was about to ask about another photograph.
"Yes, Jenkins?" Mrs. Webster asked.
"You asked to be notified at the proper time."
Laura heard the words and frowned, trying to figure out what he meant as Mrs. Webster nodded. "Thank you, Jenkins. That will be all."
"Are you certain that you don't need my assistance, ma'am?"
"Nonsense! I'm perfectly capable of taking care of it myself," she declared, waving her hand imperiously. "You're dismissed."
"Am I keeping you from something, Mrs. Webster?" Laura asked.
"Not at all. Why don't we go find your friend, Miss Holt?" Laura's eyes widened. "That *is* your real name, isn't it? Lisa Holt?"
"I'm not sure what you're talking about, ma'am," Laura insisted. "My name is -" She fell silent as a gun appeared from underneath the light blanket that had been across her lap.
Mrs. Webster rose from her chair, still leaning on the ivory-topped walking stick, the gun in her hand. "Now, get up, please."
"This is all some kind of mistake, Mrs. Webster," Laura insisted.
"Your mistake - and your friend's - perhaps. Did you really think that you could simply come into my home and steal my newest acquisition?"
"My mistake was in thinking that you were a sweet, innocent old woman who had no idea about what her son has been doing."
"Jonas has no real interest in art of any kind. But he is a loving son, who gets me whatever I ask for. All I have to do is mention something that I've read or heard about, and he brings it to me."
"If you know so much," Laura said, finally giving up any pretense, "why won't you say my 'friend's' name?"
"Strangely enough, the person who told my son that you and he would be arriving didn't choose to tell us his name. But she was clear about you: an American woman named Lisa Holt. I got the impression that she doesn't like you very much, my dear. Jealousy, perhaps? Your friend is very attractive -"
"A woman, you say?" Laura asked as they entered the study, meeting Harry on his way out.
"What's going on here?" he wanted to know, catching sight of the gun in Mrs. Webster's hand.
"She knows why we're here," Laura told him.
"Why we're -? To take pictures of the house," he insisted.
"Forgive me if I don't believe you, young man." She motioned with the gun. "Back into the study, please."
Harry backed up as she and Laura moved forward until Mrs. Webster closed the door behind them. "I want to apologize, Mrs. Webster," Harry said, meeting Laura's gaze.
"For what, precisely?" she asked.
"For this!" he declared, grabbing Laura's hand to pulled her aside as he pushed the old woman backward onto the floor, his hand covering her mouth as Laura grabbed the gun. "Please be still Mrs. Webster, I don't want to hurt you." To Laura, he said, "Find something to tie her hands and feet and make a gag -"
"Where's your handkerchief?" she asked.
"It's being used elsewhere at the moment," he told her. "The drapery cords -" he nodded, and she put the gun onto the desk then went to grab the velvet cords and yanked, pulling them down. "Tie her feet and hands first," he said, wincing.
"What's wrong?"
"She's biting my hand," he grimaced. "Don't bite," he told the woman as Laura made short work of securing hands and feet. "Double the other cord and tie a knot in the middle and we'll use it as a gag -" Suddenly Mrs. Webster clenched her teeth, tightening her jaw. "Fighting til the end, eh, Mrs. Webster?" he questioned, then told Laura, "put the knot against her mouth," he instructed, then used thumb and forefinger to close the woman's nose, finally forcing her to open her mouth to breathe - giving Laura the second she needed for the rope to slip into her mouth so that it could be tied behind her head. Harry patted Mrs. Webster's cheek. "I really am sorry about this, but you've more than enough in that room to admire. You won't miss the Jade."
"How are we going to get out of here?" Laura asked as they went to the study door and opened it to look around. "Jenkins isn't going to just let us go."
"Maybe we can trick him into giving him a few more minutes," he said, keeping the door closed enough so that no one would be able to see inside as he said, "It's been a pleasure, Mrs. Webster," then looked at Laura.
"Yes," she agreed. "Thank you for your hospitality! We'll send those photographs as soon as Luke gets them developed! Goodbye!"
"Goodbye!" Harry echoed, firmly closing the door.
Jenkins was standing the entry hall, his eyes narrowing as he saw them. Harry smiled. "Oh, Jenkins, Mrs. Webster asked us to send you in to her. Said it was important. She's in the study, waiting."
As soon as the butler turned in that direction, Laura and Harry made for the front doors, then sprinted to the car. Harry started the engine, and Laura turned to see Jenkins throw open the front door and take aim. "Burn rubber, Harry!"
He took her at her word, squealing the tires as he floor the accelerator pedal, sending the car down the drive.
Laura kept watching behind them, and finally gave up. "No one's following us," she told him.
"Good. We'll drop the car at the nearest rental agency, and get another under our married name."
"Did you get the Jade?" she wanted to know.
"I did." He started removing cameras until he got to the fake one. "I made the switch and was headed back out - how did she find out that we came to steal them?"
"Someone called Jonas and told him. It could have been the person who stole the collection for them."
"I heard Mrs. Webster mention something about Lisa Holt?"
"That's what whoever it was said that my real name was," Laura told him.
Harry glanced at her, then his features hardened in anger. "Felicia. She's stolen things for them before. I saw at least two items in that room that she told me that she'd stolen. I'll call Daniel tonight -"
"No," Laura insisted, certain that Daniel would confront the woman as soon as possible if he knew what she had done. "Let's not bother him about it. We can - deal with the problem when we get back to London," she suggested, opening the camera and pulling out the handkerchief. Opening it, she gasped in delight. "They're so lovely."
"So are you," he told her, putting his arm around her to pull her close.
She carefully wrapped the Jade figures again, returning them to the camera. "We're going north. Why are we heading north?"
"I told your mother that we were going to Niagara Falls," he reminded her. "I'd hate to start off our married life by telling Abigail a lie."
"But our suitcases are back at the Inn."
"I asked them to have them taken to our hotel up there," he informed her.
"What about the Jade?" she asked.
"We can call the insurance company tomorrow and let them know that it's in our hands, and when we expect to return. Now, any other questions, Mrs. Steele?"
She smiled, shaking her head. "Only one: are we there yet?"
***
After two nights in a luxury hotel near the Falls, Harry and Laura returned to London. Their first stop was at the insurance company's office to return the Jade and collect their fee.
"Don't you have to take some of this to your friend Aldi?" Laura asked, studying the piles of money in the briefcase, not seeing the glance he sent toward the driver at the mention of Aldi's name. The man had contacts everywhere.
"I do," he confirmed. "I'll drop you off at Daniel's first."
"Why can't I go with you?"
"Brixton's no place for someone like you, love. It's dark, dirty, and dangerous."
"I can take care of myself, Harry," Laura insisted. "Besides, you'll be with me."
"And I suppose if I leave you at Daniel's, you'll find a way to follow me down there." Seeing the answer in her eyes, Harry sighed. "We still have to stop off."
"Why?" she wanted to know. "Hoping that Daniel will convince me not to go?"
"No, to drop most of that -" he nodded toward the now-closed briefcase, "-off. It wouldn't be a good idea for us to take all of it down there. More than one person would be willing to slit our throats for what's inside," he informed her in a quiet voice.
"I suppose you're right about that," she agreed, looking outside. "We're almost home anyway."
"Home," he mused. "Is it London that's home now or Daniel's?"
"A little of both, I suppose. But I do think we need a place of our own."
"'ere we are," the driver announced as he pulled into the driveway and put the car into park before getting out to open the door for them.
Harry saw the speculative glance at the briefcase, and slipped the man some cash. "Just leave the luggage on the steps, please."
The driver took a second to check out what he'd been given before giving him a wide grin that revealed at least one gold tooth. "Thank ya, sir!" he said, tipping his cap as he went to open the boot and retrieve the luggage as Harry followed Laura into the house.
***
Mary greeted them with a smile and hugs. "Thank you for the cake - it was delicious!"
"I'll make sure to tell my sister you said so," Laura told her, looking around. "Is Daniel here?"
"No, he said something a meeting with an old friend. Should be back soon."
Harry glanced up the stairs. "How about Felicia?"
Mary grimaced at the name, shaking her head. "No, haven't seen that one since while you were all gone for the weddin'. Let me tell you, she wasn't at all happy to hear about it. Lit out of here as soon as she was able. She did call Daniel the other day, but he was out. She mentioned something about stayin' on in Rome for awhile." She must have noticed the look that passed between them, because she frowned. "Is there somethin' wrong?"
"Not at the moment, Mary," Harry answered. "Laura and I have to go back out for a little while," he said. "Is the Bentley in the garage?"
"No, Daniel took it, I believe," she told him as he and Laura started up the stairs. "But the Jaguar is here."
"We'll take it, then, I suppose," Harry called back before they disappeared onto the landing.
Mary went to the door as there was a knock, surprised to see a man holding several pieces of luggage. "Yes?"
"'e said I could leave 'em on the steps, but with what he gave me as a tip, I figured 'e deserved special service," he explained.
Smiling, she stepped aside. "Just leave them over there. I'll see that they get where they belong. And thank you."
***
As soon as Laura locked the door, Harry opened the case and counted out the amount that he owed to Aldi, then unlocked the wall safe, depositing what was left with what was already there. As he put the five hundred in his inside coat pocket, Harry looked at his wife. His *wife*, his mind repeated, and he smiled.
"What are you smiling about?" Laura asked, placing the Fedora she'd removed downstairs back on her head.
"Nothing important - only my good luck in finding you. Are you certain that I can't convince you to let me go meet Aldi on my own?"
"Very certain."
Harry sighed, then pulled her close for a long kiss. "Let's go."
***
As he had on the last visit, Harry quickly located the best candidate to watch the car and handed the young man a twenty. "Keep it safe, and there'll be another for you when we get back," he said before placing a hand on Laura's back to guide her toward the pub.
Laura had visited some of the seedier parts of New York City and Los Angeles, but nothing had prepared her for Brixton. Harry had been right. It was indeed dark, even though the sun was shining, it didn't seem to reach the rubbish-strewn streets. And the air of danger was palpable. She'd been only slightly surprised when Harry had given that young man money to guard the Jag - and wondered if Harry had once been in that boy's shoes.
Clearly her expression revealed her curiosity, because as they entered the pub, he leaned down to say, "One of the ways I survived down here was keeping watch on a toff's fancy wheels."
The dimly-lit interior of the pub was similar to those she'd visited elsewhere. Upon their entrance, conversation seemed to pause and she felt several pair of eyes studying her. She shook off the unease, and stood a bit straighter as Harry guided her toward the bar. "Is he in, Betty?" he asked the amply-endowed barmaid.
Betty's wide smile upon seeing him dimmed somewhat when she noticed his arm around Laura. "His usual spot, luv," she replied, jerking her head toward the back of the room. "Been expectin' ya."
At that moment, Aldi's voice rang out. "Mick!" Laura was surprised when their host rose from the dark booth. She was taller than him by at least an inch, and his girth was almost a match to his height. His dark, beady eyes moved to look her up and down as a speculative grin split his round face. "And who is this pretty?"
"Laura," Harry answered, pulling her closer to him, and to Laura, the intent was clear: he wanted to make sure that Aldi and anyone else in the pub knew that she was with him.
"Let's go to my office," Aldi suggested, extending an arm toward the booth. "Betty!" he called, and the woman appeared. "What can we get for you two? Whiskey?"
"Nothing for me," Laura said before Harry could speak.
"Same here," he told Betty.
"You can refill my glass," Aldi told the woman.
As she moved away, Harry pulled the five hundred from his pocket and slid it across the table toward Aldi. "For services rendered, old friend."
The dark eyes lit up as he picked up the cash. "I suppose you found your jade, then?"
"I did. Unfortunately, we weren't able to agree on a price."
"Oh, well, such is life." Betty returned with his drink, and Laura felt those eyes focusing on her again. "Where did you find this one, Mick? Even without talking to her, I can tell she has class all the way up to her-"
"Careful, Aldi," Harry warned. "The lady does have claws. They're well-hidden, but they're there."
"And very sharp," Laura added with a smile. "Trust me, he has the scars to prove it, eh, love?"
She saw the quickly hidden surprise on Harry's face as he smiled, nodding. "I do indeed." He leaned down to give her a kiss, then moved his lips to her ear. "Be careful. You're playing with fire."
Laura's response was to place her fingernail against his cheek, as though threatening him with it, before allowing it to trail along his jawline and eventually to the collar of his shirt.
Aldi was sitting back, watching them, and Harry smiled. "If you'll excuse us, this little tiger needs taming."
"Good luck, my boy," Aldi said. "I've found that most tigers are untameable. It's usually better to send them back into the wild."
"Perhaps you've just never found out how to make a tiger purr," Laura said.
"Come on, Tiger," Harry said, standing up and pulling her with him. "Thank you for your help, Aldi."
"You're welcome. And thank you. It was a delight to meet you, Laura. Keep him on his toes."
Laura smiled at his comment as Harry's hand found her back once more and almost pushed her out of the pub back into the murky daylight outside.
Harry unlocked the Jag, opening the passenger door for her, then handed the guardian more money and saying something to him before getting in and starting the engine before turning to look at her. "You are going to pay dearly for that."
Her eyes widened in faux innocence. "Did I do something wrong?" she asked.
"You knew exactly what you were doing, woman. Every man in that bloody pub -" he stopped and took a deep, calming breath as Laura spoke up.
"Every man in that pub was wishing they were you," she told him, her hand falling on his thigh. "Even Aldi."
Harry reached over and slid his hand behind her head, pulling her across the center console for a long kiss. "I love you."
"And I love you," she echoed. "Let's go home."
***
"Where is the Jaguar, Mary?" Daniel was asking as they entered the house, and the housekeeper gave a grateful sigh.
"We had it, Daniel," Harry announced. "So you can stop brow-beating the poor woman."
Daniel turned, clearly glad to see them. "Harry! Laura!" he said, giving Laura hug. "I didn't expect the two of you back for at least another week."
"We needed to get the Jade back to London," Laura told him. "And Harry owed Aldi some money for the tip about Jonas Webster."
"Is that where you were? Harry, you didn't take Laura with you, I hope."
"She insisted on going," Harry said.
"Let me go apologize to Mary - I take it that you asked her not to tell me that you were home?"
"We wanted to surprise you," Laura said.
"You certainly succeeded in that. I'll be right back." Harry and Laura drifted into the parlor, with Daniel returning almost immediately.
"That didn't take long," Laura observed.
"I barely walked into the kitchen when she said that she forgave my snipping at her," he said. "She told me that she would have the tea ready in a moment. So, I take it you retrieved the Jade?"
"We did," Harry confirmed. "Turns out that it wasn't stolen for Jonas Webster at all -"
"It wasn't?"
"No," Laura answered, picking up the thread. "He had them stolen for his mother. She's the art enthusiast."
"You should see what she has in her private gallery, Daniel. Remember the Tryptic?"
"Indeed? I believe there's still a reward offered for it's return."
"I took photos of most of the items. Once I get the film developed, Laura and I will start researching rewards - and likely report the Websters to the authorities to make the recoveries."
"You can't go back?"
"Someone burned us, Daniel," Laura said, and saw him frown.
"Mrs. Webster played along until I'd replaced the Jade with the fakes we had made, then told us that the person who stole the collection for them had called to warn us that someone was going to attempt to retrieve them."
"It was Felicia, Daniel," Harry informed him.
"Did she say that it was Felicia?"
"No," Harry had to admit. "But you and I both agreed that she had been the most likely to have stolen the collection."
"I find it difficult to believe that Felicia would do something like that," Daniel insisted. "Why would she? She's been paid for the job, your retrieving it couldn't be pushed onto her."
"Who else do we know that still calls me 'Lisa'? As for why: she came back here after we all left London for the wedding. Mary said that she wasn't at all happy to hear the we were actually going to be married."
Daniel's eyes narrowed. "What happened? They wouldn't have simply let you go with the Jade -"
"Mrs. Webster was going to kill us and take the Jade back," Laura said quietly. "But we managed to escape."
"Felicia only named Laura, Daniel. She just said that I was Laura's friend."
"But it risked both of your lives," Daniel stated, and Laura began to wonder if telling him about this hadn't been a mistake. "The next time I see that little -"
"Why not let us handle it, Daniel?" Laura suggested, placing a hand on his arm. "Mary told us that she called a few days ago and said that she would be in Rome for a few more days."
"I recall the message."
"Do you know where she might be?" Laura wanted to know. "And can you call her, asking her to come back here?"
"I suppose that I can, but - the idea of having to talk to her, knowing what she tried to do - What should I tell her?"
***
"Daniel!" Felicia purred into the telephone as a masseur did his work. "You must be psychic, darling! I was going to try calling you again later this evening."
"Have you heard from Harry, by any chance?" he asked without preamble.
Why, no. I doubt that I would. I'm sure little Lisa has laid down the law with the poor boy. I still don't understand what he sees in her."
"They're missing," Daniel said, glad that she wasn't able to see his reaction to her words. As it was, his fingers clenched the telephone receiver.
"Missing? Oh, Daniel. Michael's taken off on tears before. You know how he is. I'm sure he'll show up sooner or later."
"They were supposed to call me after finishing the job in the States. According to the plan, they should have called yesterday. And Laura hasn't called her mother, which she had promised to do."
"Well, I can't speak for Lisa, of course, but as I said, Michael always shows up. Maybe they had a row and he's licking his wounds before coming back to London."
"I hate to ask this, but - would you be able to come here? I'm going crazy in this empty house. We were planning a party for their return -"
"I'll be there tomorrow morning, darling," she replied. "Don't do anything foolish - such as go looking for him. You know how he hates that."
"I'll make sure that Mary has your room prepared. And Felicia -?"
"Yes, Daniel?"
"Thank you."
He hung up the telephone, shaking his head as he looked at Laura and Harry. "She'll be here tomorrow morning."
"What do you want to wager, Daniel, that she's calling Jonas Webster as we speak to verify that we were there - and what happened when they confronted us?"
"I don't think I'll take that wager, Harry," Daniel told him. "What's *our* next step?"
***
"Daniel," Felicia said as she entered the house the next morning. "Have you heard anything?"
"Harry came in very late last night - or rather, a cabbie dropped him off. He'd been drinking - I'm honestly not sure how he managed to get back to London - they don't usually let someone on a flight if they're inebriated."
"So I was right? Lisa took off?"
"Not quite. Harry hasn't been making very much sense, but he insists that she's dead - that she was shot when they were making their escape from the Webster home."
"Dead? Surely he's wrong, Daniel. Where is he? I'll speak to him -"
"He's in the parlor," Daniel told her, nodding in that direction, then following her in.
Harry was half sitting, half laying on the love seat, a glass of something in his hand. "Michael, darling," Felicia said, perching on the edge, taking the glass from him and letting Daniel take it from her. "What's this that Daniel tells me about -"
"She's dead," Harry said, slurring the words. "Laura's dead! Bastards shot her!"
"Then where is she?"
"Tried to find a doc-tor. But we were too late. Doc wanted me to talk to police, I ducked out. Coward. Couldn't even get justice - Laura. I'm sorry."
Daniel joined them. "Harry, what happened?"
"Treachery," he muttered. "Someone called Webster. Told him we - we were coming. Mrs. Webster sent Jenkins after us -" he managed a sharp laugh. "Thought - thought we'd made it, until I realized Laura wasn't talking."
"Why didn't you tell the doctor who had shot her, Harry? At least they might have arrested -" Daniel suggested.
"No! I'll - I'll do it," Harry declared. "Once I sober up -" He sat up, burying his face in his hands. "Laura. Oh, Laura. I shouldn't have taken you away from your safe life. My fault."
"Nonsense," Felicia insisted. "She made the decision to come here with you, didn't she? And it *was* her idea to go chasing around, retrieving things, meddling in things she had no idea about. If she had simply left well enough alone, then the butler wouldn't have had to shoot her."
Harry went still, lifting his head from his hands to meet her eyes. "How did you know it was the butler, Felicia?" he asked, his voice now completely sober - and angry.
"Well, I - Didn't you mention -?" she started to stand, but Harry grabbed her arm to keep her where she was.
"Laura," Harry called.
"He didn't mention that Jenkins was the butler, Felicia," Laura stated as she entered the room.
"You're not dead."
"No thanks to you - but you made a tactical error, Felicia - Mrs. Webster was planning on killing both of us - not just me."
"I thought that Michael would talk his way out of it - possibly return the Jade to her in return for his life -" Felicia insisted, then turned to look at him. "I didn't want you hurt, darling. You *must* know that."
"All I know is that you were willing to sacrifice Laura. And that's something that I can't forgive."
"But, after all we've been through, Michael - surely that counts for something -"
Harry released her arm, pushing her off of the settee as he rose and stood beside Laura. "No, it doesn't." He and Laura exchanged a kiss. "I believe Mary was saying that breakfast was ready, my love?"
"Daniel?" Laura asked as they paused in the doorway.
"I'll be along," he answered, waiting for them to leave the room. "You'd better go."
"Don't you see, Daniel? I did it for Michael - and for you -"
"No, you didn't. Your motives were purely selfish. But I will tell you now - that if you ever try anything like this again - well, I wasn't always the urbane gentleman you see today. I won't be responsible for what happens to you." He was gratified to see the flash of fear in her eyes before he went to the front door and opened it. "Goodbye, Felicia." He waited until she sailed out of the door, then closed it firmly before going to join Harry and Laura for breakfast.
***
"I still can't believe that cake," Laura said as she got into bed. Mary had made a traditional wedding cake for the party, with five layers. The only piece left was the top layer, which Mary had promised was already in the freezer for their first anniversary.
"I'll let you in on a little secret," Harry told her. "Daniel helped her with the cake."
"What? I mean, I know that Daniel says he can cook, but I've never seen him do it."
"He did back in the old days, after he pulled me out of Brixton. It was one of the reasons that I stuck around," he admitted, smiling at the memory. "I mean, growing up like I did meant that I didn't get any cordon bleu meals. Back then, it was take whatever was offered when it was offered." He pushed that old memory aside as he continued. "Daniel's the one who taught *me* how to cook," he informed her.
"Another case of the student learning more than the teacher," she suggested, and Harry chuckled.
"Maybe."
"How did Mary come into the picture?"
"After we'd made good on several jobs, he moved away from that four room flat, and that's when he hired Mary to cook for us. Said that he couldn't keep up with my growing appetite."
Laura smiled. "It was a nice party, wasn't it?"
"You know the best part?" Harry wanted to know, putting his arm around her and pulling her closer.
"What?"
"This. You and me, here. Together."
"Mmmm," Laura murmured, looking up at him. "I agree, Mr. Steele."
"You know, I think I'm getting used to that name, Mrs. Steele," he told her, capturing her lips as he reached out to turn off the light.
The End