"I'm sure she was," Eileen said, sneering as her gaze quickly scanned the room. "Where is she?"
Harry jerked his head toward the door. "In there. Working on some files, I believe."
"Call her in here, please."
***
"Murphy, this *can* work, but it's going to take all of us. You, me, Harry-" When he sighed, Laura said, "All I ask is that you give him an honest chance. He's good, Murphy. Really. I think with some training-"
"You really think he'll stick around long enough to get it?" Murphy asked.
"Try. We can work together, the three of us."
Murphy looked at her for a long moment before he took a deep breath and answered. "Okay. I'll try. But if I get any hint that the guy is playing us, Laura-"
"Miss Holt?" Harry's voice called out through the door.
"Just a moment," she replied loudly.
"I hate to disturb your *filing*, but could I trouble you to come out here for a moment? I think I've found something that you need to see."
Murphy started toward the door, but Laura grabbed his arm. "Something's wrong," she told him.
"Yeah. He's afraid I'll tell you about his past."
"He told me about his past last night," Laura said, shaking her head, her gaze still on the closed door.
"Miss Holt?"
"Coming!" Laura replied. "Go out through the reception area to my office door and wait for my signal before you open it, okay?"
She waited for him to grab the outer door knob before doing the same to the connecting door. With a nod, she opened the door the same moment that Murphy did, and entered her office. "What did you find, Mis-ter . . ." her voice trailed off as she saw that Harry was seated in a chair in the conference area, about four feet in front of Eileen Markham. And the gun in Eileen's hand was pointed directly at Harry's head. "Miss Markham. I thought you might show up."
"I want that file, Miss Holt."
"File?" Laura asked.
"Mr. Steele stole it from my office at home while you kept me occupied. I'm not in the mood to play games, Miss Holt," Eileen said, drawing the hammer on the gun back. "I'd hate to see such a good team broken up, wouldn't you?"
Laura met Harry's gaze as she moved toward the table where the file's contents was scattered. "I don't see what difference it will make. You're going to kill us anyway."
"At least you'll be together," Eileen countered.
"Why did you do it?" Laura asked, taking her time straightening the papers back into the file. "Why now, after all this time? Your mother had been gone for years-"
"My *mother*," Eileen spat angrily, "never cared about me. She left thirty years ago without a backward glance, killed the only person who *did* care about me. When she called me a few months ago, she said she wanted to make amends, that she had changed."
"You didn't believe her," Laura said.
"No. And I didn't want her bothering Father or me ever again."
"So you decided to kill her. But, why frame your father for her death?"
"He lied to me. All these years. I wanted him to learn that he had to depend on *me* for a change. All my life, I've had to ask him for every cent-"
"The gallery-"
"Barely makes enough to pay the mortgage payment on my house, Miss Holt. I have an image to maintain. I can't do that on the allowance that my father always doled out."
"So you contacted Johnny Dedman and began to set him up to help you kill your mother-"
"No. I needed him to keep Father off balance so that Mother's blackmail would succeed."
"Why was she blackmailing him?"
Eileen's smile sent a shiver down Laura's spine. "I suggested it. I told her that if she helped me get my hands on Father's money I would consider forgiving her for what she'd done. She threatened to go public, to talk to people like Johnny Dedman about what really happened that night. And she said she'd tell them it was all his idea. And she threatened to talk to me."
"So he gave her the money to keep her away from you."
"Exactly."
"Why hire us, then? Why not just let your father be convicted?"
"I didn't want that. I wanted him to suffer for his part in everything, but I needed you and Mr. Steele to prove that Johnny was responsible for the murder instead of Father. For the rest of his life, Father will have to come to *me*, to acknowledge that I saved his life. Enough of this, Miss Holt." She held out her free hand. "I'll take that file now, please."
Laura gave Harry a brief glance, hoping he could read her mind as she cut her eyes to the floor quickly as she stepped toward Eileen, whose back was to the office door. "You don't think our deaths will create more questions?"
"You're detectives. No doubt there are any number of people that either or both of you have put away that would like to get even. They certainly won't suspect me."
"I suppose you're right," Laura admitted. "Here you go," she said, and then dropped the folder onto the floor, surprising Eileen, who bent to pick it up. "NOW!" Laura yelled.
Harry dropped to the floor as the door burst open, sending a shocked Eileen into Laura's arms. Eileen's gun went sliding across the floor- right into Harry's hands.
Laura handed the struggling, angry woman over to Murphy, then went to Harry. "Are you okay?"
"I think so," he said, handing the weapon to her. "For someone who doesn't like guns, she certainly has no compunction about using them," he commented, rising to his feet.
Laura placed the gun on her desk, then picked up the telephone. "I'm going to call the police. It might be best if you -"
"I can stay, if you'd like."
"I think Murphy and I can handle things," Laura said.
"Okay. Dinner?" he asked. "We need to talk."
Laura ignored Murphy's grimace of distaste as she answered. "What time?"
"Seven? At my place?"
"I'll be there," she promised.
As he moved past Murphy, Harry said, "It looks like I owe you my thanks once again, Murphy."
"For what?" Murphy asked, still struggling to hold onto Eileen.
"You saved my life."
Murphy grinned. "Everyone makes a mistake occasionally. I'll try not to make a habit of it."
Laura shook her head and lifted her gaze toward the ceiling at her partner's words.
***
"I'll see to Markham's release as soon as I get to the station," Lt. Halloran promised Laura. "And I'm still waiting to hear from Steele." He looked around. "Where is he, anyway? Miss Markham told us that he was here--"
Before Laura could respond, Murphy stepped in. "He had a meeting to get to. Out of town." With a glance at Laura, he said, "Denver, wasn't it?"
"Something like that," Laura agreed, giving him a look of gratitude.
"Tell him I'll be expecting his call," Halloran told them.
"I will," Laura replied, watching as he left the office. She turned to say something to Murphy, but Bernice's arrival cut her off.
"What's going on? Was that our client I saw the police putting into a patrol car downstairs?"
Laura smiled as she moved toward her office. "I'll let Murphy explain, Bernice," she said, returning a moment later with her hat and purse.
"Where will *you* be?" Murphy wanted to know.
"I have a date to get ready for, remember?"
"A date?" Bernice asked, curious. "You two are getting to be a real item."
"It's only four!"
"A girl has to get ready," Laura countered, opening the glass doors.
"What about the paperwork on the case?" Murphy asked, trying to delay her departure.
Laura's only response was an cheery wave as she left the office.
"Face it, cowboy, you've lost," Bernice said.
"This battle, maybe," Murphy agreed. "The war's not over yet. Not by a long shot." He ignored Bernice's doubtful expression. "I'll be in my office, doing paperwork."
"Not so fast," she said, following him. "You owe me an explanation . . ."
***
Harry was in his office when he heard the doorbell. Putting the papers on which he'd been writing into the desk, he went to let Laura into the flat. "Hello," he said, smiling as she stood there. "Come in."
Laura entered the apartment, sniffing the air. "Something smells delightful."
"Just something I whipped up," he told her, moving toward the kitchen. "Make yourself comfortable while I make sure things are under control."
While in the kitchen, he poured two glasses of wine, carrying them back out to join Laura. "Thanks," she said, and Harry wondered if he was imagining that nervousness in her voice. When she moved toward the windows, he decided that he hadn't imagined it after all. "Dinner's almost ready." Laura nodded as she looked out at the darkening sky. "Everything taken care of at the office?"
She nodded, not looking at him. "Elliot Markham was released a hour ago. Eileen was charged with two counts of murder."
"I'll have to remember to call on Mr. Markham tomorrow."
"I'm sure he'll appreciate that. Lt. Halloran is still waiting for you to pay him a visit."
"Another call I'll have to make, I suppose." Harry sighed deeply, then turned away. "I'll go check on dinner."
"Harry," Laura said, and he turned to look at her in expectant silence. "We need to talk, but-"
"Why don't we eat first, eh?" he suggested, then gave her a smile. "I've always found it easier to hash out a problem on a full stomach. Won't be a moment," he assured her.
Over dinner, Harry managed to draw Laura out with questions about past cases that she had solved. Before either of them realized it, Harry was picking up the empty plates to carry them to the table. "I'll help," Laura offered, but Harry shook his head. "Take the wine and glasses into the other room. I'm just going to rinse these and put them into the machine."
On his way to the living room, Harry dimmed the lights, causing Laura, who was looking into the dark fireplace, to glance around at him. "Easier to make confessions in the dark, don't you think?" he asked, joining her on the sofa as he picked up his glass.
"I guess it depends on who's making the confessions," Laura replied.
"How about if I start the ball rolling?" he suggested. Staring into his wine glass, he said, "I didn't tell you everything about my life before my grandfather found me, Laura-" Before he could say more, he felt her hand on his as it lay on the fabric between them.
"I don't really care about your past, Harry. Not that part of it, anyway. As long as you didn't kill anyone or spend time in jail-"
"I can promise that much, anyway. But-"
Laura stood up as she said, "You were right about where I went this morning. The 'client' wasn't a client at all."
"Felicia." She nodded. "What did she tell you?"
"Oh, just that you and she have played this little game out more than once."
"What game?"
"Your telling her it's over, breaking it off because someone else had gotten your attention. But that once the 'new' wore off, you were right back at her door."
"That-" Harry's fingers squeezed the wine glass until he realized that he was a hair's breath from cracking the fine crystal. "I'll break her bloody neck." He saw the alarm on Laura's face and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Laura. But sometimes that woman can be-"
"Was she telling the truth? Are you- easily bored, as she put it?"
"There was a time when that description might - and I stress *might*- have been applied to me. But that was before I fell under the spell of a pair of dark eyes in the face of an angel."
"How long have you known Felicia?"
Harry shrugged. "Oh, six years, I suppose. Daniel introduced us right after Grandfather died- yes, six years. Why?"
"And you never married her."
"You're curious as to why. While I'll always be grateful to Felicia for seeing me through some difficult times, I'm not in love with her. Besides, she wouldn't have said yes if I'd asked."
"Why not?"
"She's not the marrying kind. My grandfather once told me that there are women who are meant to be wives, and others who are meant to be mistresses. Felicia falls into that latter category." Harry put down the glass and moved to stand before her. "Laura, I give you my word, Felicia and I are through. Whatever we had is finished."
"On your part, maybe. On hers-?"
"She'll find someone else. Believe me, Felicia's not the type to want for company. I know of several gentlemen who would have gladly taken her off my hands if I'd said the word."
"You make her sound like she belonged to you- as if she was a piece of property-"
"I don't mean to." He smiled at her. "I suppose it's my grandfather's influence. You have to remember that I had two major influences in my life. Grandfather-"
"And Daniel."
"And Daniel," he agreed. "Neither were the best role models, admittedly. The next time I start spouting off like some character out of a bad Victorian novel, kick me, okay?"
"Gladly," she replied, finally smiling as well.
"My point is that Felicia's options are wide open, and she's aware of that fact. I've no doubt that she's already set her sights on her next conquest."
"And you won't decide that you're bored with playing detective and run back to London?"
"No. The next trip I make to London, I'm hoping you'll agree to join me. And besides, who says I'm 'playing' detective? I thought we agreed that you were going to teach me how to do the job?" He grinned. "And I can't think of a more delightful teacher. Might even convince me to do a bit more for extra credits," he said suggestively, touching his hand to her face before sliding it beneath the heavy curtain of her hair. "I'm not going anywhere, Laura," he promised, his lips close to hers. "Not without you."
Laura slid her arms around his neck and returned his kiss. "And whose influence was that?" she asked breathlessly.
"Ah, my dear Miss Holt, you don't really want to know *all* my secrets, do you?"
***
Felicia was just getting into a taxi when she heard a voice hail her. "Felicia! What a surprise! Coming or going?" Daniel Chalmers asked.
"I'm just getting back from Los Angeles," she told him, noticing his own suitcases being pushed through the doors. "And where are you off to?"
"The States as well. Business."
"Business, Daniel? I'm at a bit of a loose end at the moment. Anything I might be interested in, by chance?"
"Not this time. Actually it's quite legitimate this time. An old friend who wanted something returned for a rather sizeable fee."
"Are you planning on stopping in to see Harry?" Felicia wondered.
"I haven't quite decided yet. We were getting along better last time we met, but- well, you know how things are."
"Yes," Felicia agreed. "I certainly do. Daniel-"
The loudspeaker announced a boarding call, and Daniel blew her a kiss. "That's my flight. I'll look you up when I get back, hmm?"
"I'll be expecting it," Felicia called back, watching as he disappeared through the terminal doors. With a sigh, she lifted her elegantly clad shoulders in a shrug, wondering if she should have warned Daniel that his son mightn't be pleased at all to see him.
The cab driver cleared his throat. "Ready, miss?" he asked, clearly ready to be off.
Felicia smiled at him. "I think so. Kensington, if you please," she said, getting into the vehicle, her smile widening as she wished she could be a fly on the wall when Harry saw his father again. The fireworks were certain to be splendid . . .
The End of "Entitled to be Steele 2"