Estranged Steele
Episode 4
Remington straightened his cuffs as he came down the stairs after his shower. When the doorbell rang, he called quietly, "I'll get it, Mrs. Hobbs," and crossed the foyer to open the door. "Jessica," he said, giving her a quick hug as she entered. Glancing behind her, he asked, "Where's Antony?"

Jessica's smile didn't quite reach her eyes. "He isn't coming," she said, letting him take her coat.

"Oh?"

"He said he had something that he had to take care of," she said.

"Not a case, surely. I don't recall his working on anything that entailed a stakeout."

"No," she said. "I don't think it was a case. Something- personal," she told him. "Where are the children?"

"Upstairs, getting ready for dinner, I believe," Remington said, his eyes searching her face. Over the last ten years, he'd learned to read Jessica rather well. "There's something you're trying not to tell me, isn't there?"

"I don't know where you would get such an idea," Jessica insisted. "How are they doing?"

"I'm a bit worried about Megan at the moment, but I think they're all right." He turned her gently to face him. "Jessica, what's wrong? Hmm? Did you and Antony have a disagreement?"

"Disagreement," she mused sadly. "You might call it that, I suppose. But I don't want to bother you- you've got troubles of your own-"

"Nonsense," he said, sliding his arm around her shoulders. "Hearing someone else's problem might help me to forget about my own for awhile." He led her toward the living room. "Now, tell big brother all about it."

"I don't think that's a good idea," Jessica said. "Have you heard from Edward yet?"

"No. But I know that he had lunch with Laura today, and I'm sure once he and Mildred arrive he'll fill me in." He sat down and patted the upholstered surface next to him. "Sit down, Jessica."

"I think I'll go and say a word to the children." she said, turning back toward the door.

"Jessica, what are you running from?" Remington asked, stopping her in mid step. "What's going on between you and Antony?"

She looked at him at last, then at her hands. "I know you've never liked Tony," she said. "So you'll be glad to know that it's probably over between he and I."

"What?" Remington rose and went to pull her close to him. "What happened?"

"The reason he couldn't be here this evening-"

"Yes?"

"He's-" she glanced at him. "He's having dinner-" She took a deep breath before finishing. "With an- old friend," she said, meeting his eyes at last.

Remington looked into those eyes and began to shake his head slowly, denying what they were telling him. "Jessica-" His hands went to her shoulders, then he stepped back. "That- bloody bugger. Didn't wait long, did he? I should have known that the moment he found out about Laura leaving he'd be sniffing after her again."

"He tried to tell me that they're just friends," Jessica told him. "He *sounded* sincere, but- "

"I know, Jessica. That's Antony's stock in trade, selling a lie with all the appearance of deep sincerity. Smiling at you while driving a knife into your back. Well, he's not going to get away with it."

"What are you going to do?"

"You sound concerned, Jessica," Remington pointed out. "Surely you aren't still in love with him? After seeing him for what he really is-"

"To tell you the truth, Remington, I'm not sure how I feel at the moment. Tony and I- we've always had such an on again off again relationship that I feel as if I'm-"

"In limbo?" Remington suggested, pulling her into his arms again. "I know the feeling," he said quietly. He tipped her head up to look at her. "We'll get through it together, eh?" Jessica nodded somberly, her eyes damp. The doorbell rang again. "That's probably Mildred and Edward. Come on." He kept his arm protectively around his sister's shoulders as they approached the door which Mrs. Hobbs was just opening.

"Good evening, Miss Krebs. Mr. Holt," the housekeeper said, taking their coats.

"Mildred. Edward," Remington said, joining them as Mrs. Hobbs stepped back. "Thank you for coming. I don't want to make this difficult for you-"

Edward Holt stepped forward and embraced Remington briefly. "Laura might be my daughter, but that doesn't mean that I have to choose between you. Besides, I've got three grandchildren in this house that mean the world to me. And if I can do anything to settle this matter, I'll do it. For their sakes."

"Thank you, Edward. Let's go into the living room, shall we?"

"Uh, Mr. Steele?" Mrs. Hobbs said.

"Yes?"

"Dinner will be ready in ten minutes."

Jessica looked turned to Remington. "I'll go up and tell the children and Agatha."

"Katherine's up there as well, resting. Would you mind waking her?"

"Of course. Excuse me," she said to Edward and Mildred.

"Katherine?" Edward asked, entering the living room behind Remington. "I thought she was visiting friends in Arizona?"

"Apparently Agatha called her this morning and told her what was going on, so she came home."

"Of course she did," Mildred said. "She's your aunt. I would have come home, too."

"I know, Mildred," Remington said. "Edward- How is she?"

The sound of the children's voices drew Edward's attention. "Why don't we wait until after dinner for this, Remington?" he suggested. "Once the children a tucked away in their beds-?"

***

Tony knocked on the door to Laura's room and waited for her to open it. "Hi. Ready to go?"

"Let me get my purse," she told him, picking it up from a nearby table. She glanced at him, then stopped. "You're sure you still want to go?"

"Yeah," Tony said, forcing a smile onto his face. "Been looking forward to it."

"Why aren't I convinced of that?" Laura asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Come on. Let's go get that pizza," Tony said.

"Uh-uh. We're not going anywhere until you tell me what's wrong."

"Wrong? Nothing's wrong. I thought we were going out-"

"You and Jessica had a fight, didn't you? You told her you were seeing me, and she-"

"Look, I told you that I can handle Jess, okay? She just needs a little time to understand-"

"What did you tell her, Tony?"

"Just that I was having dinner with an old friend. She kinda figured out the rest."

Laura opened the door. "Let's go."

"Now you're talking. I know a little pizza place near here-"

"I meant let's go to see Jessica. Maybe if I talk to her and explain-"

Tony hesitated. "I don't think that's a good idea, Laura."

"Why not?" Laura asked, turning to look at him.

"Jess is having dinner with - Steele and the kids this evening."

Laura exhaled loudly and closed the door. "Damn! And she probably told HIM that you were coming to meet me." She shook her head. "Oh, Tony. The last thing I wanted to do was come between you and Jessica. You know that he's not going to be happy with you tomorrow, don't you?"

"I can handle Steele, Laura."

"The way you 'handled' Jessica?" she asked. Opening the door again, she said, "Come on. Might as well get something to eat while we come up with a way to get you back into her good graces."

***

The telephone rang as they were leaving the dining room, and Remington answered. "Hello? . . . " his blue gaze flickered toward Megan. "I'm afraid she'd grounded from the telephone for the next week . . . " Embarrassed, Megan chewed on her lower lip as he continued. "I'm sure she'll explain the reason tomorrow . . . Yes, I'll give her the message." He hung up and looked at his daughter. "That Carrie. She said she would see you at school tomorrow."

Megan nodded, avoiding the curious expressions on the other adult faces around her as she gave each of them a good night hug and kiss. "Night, honey," Edward said.

"Night, Grandpa. Come on, Patrick."

The boy said their good nights as well, then went upstairs, after receiving a promise from their father to come up and tuck them in later. "What's all that about, Remington?" Jessica asked, following him into the living room, where Mrs. Hobbs was putting a tray with coffee on the table. "You mentioned something earlier about Megan, but I-"

Remington tugged at his ear before answering. "She- stole an apple today- because someone dared her to."

"Sounds like her mother," Edward pointed out.

"Hmm. She's going to pay for it tomorrow and she's grounded from the telephone and television for the rest of the week." He picked up the cup of coffee that Katherine poured. "Thank you. Now, Edward. About your daughter."

Edward stirred his coffee before looking over the cup at his son-in-law. "She's well. She didn't tell me where she's staying- I think she was afraid I'd tell you."

"Did she say what set her off, Edward?" Katherine asked. "I know she's been acting a bit out of sorts lately, but-" Remington frowned. He hadn't noticed that Laura was "out of sorts". Yet his aunt had made that statement as if it were a forgone conclusion.

"Now that, she did tell me. The meeting she attended last night-?"

"A Professional Women's group of some kind," Remington told him. "They wanted to present an award of some kind to the Agency. Laura thought she should go, and I agreed."

"That would make sense, wouldn't it? But the women were just a little disappointed that you weren't there," Edward told Remington.

"You're joking."

"No. Laura tried to tell them about *her* experiences as a professional woman, as a private investigator, but when she opened the floor for questions, all they wanted to ask about was *you*."

"That's what I told you, Boss," Mildred said. "Remember? And she was pretty upset when that story came out last week about how we solved the Brandenburg case. You and she were both in that photograph with Lt. Harris as he congratulated you- but she was the-"

"Unidentified female," Remington recalled, shaking his head in frustration as he recalled having teased her about that article. "And it was Laura who broke the case. I TOLD the reporter that. Is it MY fault that he obviously didn't hear me and wrote that *I* solved the bloody thing?" He rose to pace the room. "I don't know what else I can to divert the limelight away from me and onto her. I could retire, I suppose,- or-" he stopped pacing as an idea struck him.

"Or?" Katherine prompted.

"Jessica, what kind of legal fallout could we expect if I were to go public with the truth?"

"Remington-" Edward said warningly.

"Boss!"

"Really, Danny," Katherine sighed.

"The truth?" Jessica repeated. "That you weren't really, legally Remington Steele until almost ten years ago?"

"Well, no. Not *that* much of the truth," he agreed, and the others relaxed a bit. "Just that I allowed Laura to use my name to start the Agency, but that it was really her that ran it and solved the cases."

"That you were just a front man?" Jessica asked.

"Something like that. Just a name for Laura to use to get clients in the door."

Jessica sipped her coffee, thoughtful. "I suppose it would depend on how it was done- and whether or not the public were willing to believe that you and Laura weren't trying to defraud them."

"Every client who came through that door got what they paid for," Remington insisted. "Their case solved, precious gems or artwork protected."

"It would be taking a big risk, Mr. Steele," Mildred told him. "I mean, what if some of those creeps you and Miss Holt put away decided to try and use that information to get a new trial?"

"Mildred's right," Jessica confirmed. "A good lawyer could possibly get a conviction overturned if you ever presented yourself to their client as a licensed Private Investigator."

"So you wouldn't recommend that route, then?" Remington mused.

"Only as a last resort."

"Then I'll have to find another way to get Laura back."

"Why not just let her prove whatever she has to prove?" Edward asked, then sighed as everyone turned to look at him. "I know, it's not what you want. You want her home. But I think we all know how- stubborn my younger daughter can be when she sets her mind to something."

"Stubborn is a bit of an understatement," Remington sighed. "Resolute, intractable, dogged . . ." his voice trailed off. "Part of her charm. So your suggestion is that I simply leave her alone to- follow her own path and hope that path leads her back here to me and the children?"

Edward's gaze lowered to his cup. "What's that old saying, Boss?" Mildred asked, "About if you love something you should let it go?"

Remington nodded slowly. "If it returns, then it all well and good. If it doesn't, then it was never yours to begin with." He looked at Jessica, who stood looking out into the garden. "Hmm. Looks as though I haven't much choice, do I?"

"What about the children?" Katherine asked. "They need their mother. Especially Megan."

"Would you be willing to let Laura spend some time with them, Remington?" Edward asked.

"Of course. They *are* her children as well as mine. I'd never do anything to deny them the opportunity to see her. *If* she wants to see them."

"I'll ask her tomorrow. We're supposed to have lunch again," he explained.

"Let me know what she decides."

"I will."

***

Remington said goodnight to Jessica, the last of his guests, and locked up as he always did before going up to his bedroom. For a moment, he considered abandoning the room, with its memories of Laura, but that seemed cowardly. Laura had taught him not to run from his problems- he snorted. Too bad she hadn't learned the lesson herself, he thought, removing his clothes and putting on his pajamas.

Laying down, he tried to get comfortable, sat up and punched his pillow into shape, then lay down again. Grabbing Laura's pillow, he was disappointed when he realized that Mrs. Hobbs had changed the sheets. Instead of Laura's scent, his nostrils filled with the smell of the fabric softener the housekeeper used. He flipped over onto his back, arm over his head as he stared at the ceiling much as he had the night before and sighed. But sleep wasn't coming. He needed to get some rest if he was going to confront Antony about his traitorous actions tomorrow.

He heard the door open, and turned to look as three small bodies appeared in the dim light from the hallway. "Daddy?" Megan said softly.

Remington reached out and flipped on the light beside the bed, sitting up. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"Can we- sleep in here with you?" Patrick asked slowly.

Looking at the faces of the three children, Megan's tear stained cheeks, Daniel's red rimmed eyes, and Patrick's tight grip on his siblings, Remington opened his arms. "Come here," was all he said. All three children descended on the bed en masse, snuggling against him and each other. Remington pulled the covers up around all of them and settled back. "Good night," he said.

"Night, Dad," Daniel said in a quiet voice. "I love you."

"And I love all of you," Remington said, turning off the light to leave the room bathed in the glow of the moon beyond the balcony windows. "Now go to sleep."
 
With the children surrounding him, Remington's own eyes closed and he drifted off to sleep himself.

***

Jessica entered the loft, sliding the door closed behind her. She was tired, emotionally exhausted by the events of the evening. She removed her coat and turned on the light, went still as Tony spoke.

"Hello, Jess. We need to talk."

To Be Continued . . .
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Original content ©2001 by Nancy Eddy