"I believe he's talking to the mayor," Laura said, peering through the crowd. "Yes, there he is." Laura thought again how handsome her husband was, and how well he looked in a tuxedo. Every other woman in the room had cast covetous looks in his direction, but he hadn't given any of them more than a smile in return. Except for now, when he had been summoned to talk to the mayor, he had been by Laura's side. He glanced in her direction, his smile reflecting how much he loved her.
Tony held out a glass. "Ginger ale," he said.
"Thank you. Have I mentioned how nice you look this evening, Tony?"
"Not that I recall. Of course I can't compete with most of these guys," he responded, running a finger around his shirt collar.
"Nonsense, Antony," Jessica quickly reassured her escort, slipping a arm through his. "I haven't seen any other man tonight except for you."
"Sure. I don't know why I ever agreed to come here. I don't belong at a fund raiser with all these millionaires and power brokers. I'm just a private detective."
"So are Remington and I," Laura reminded him.
Tony shook his head. "Who just happen to have a private income of what? Six figures?" His glance shifted to Jessica. "And DON'T try to convince me that you're just a poor attorney who has a soft spot for hard-luck clients with no money."
"I wouldn't think of saying any such thing. Having a sufficient income allows me to help those who would normally be unable to find a good attorney."
"Almost SEVEN figures," Tony muttered, emptying his glass of wine. "I need a beer."
Remington slid an arm around his wife's expanded waistline, his eyes on the glass in her hands. "I hope that's ginger-ale."
"Of course it is. What did the mayor want?"
"He's considering forming an anti-crime commission and asked me if I might consider heading it up."
"Remington, you didn't-"
"I told him I'd think about it," Remington said. Seeing her expression, he smiled. "I had no choice, my darling. He refused to take no for an answer. Don't worry. I'll call him next week and tell him that the press of work and the imminent birth of our children make it impossible for me to accept."
"Speaking of imminent birth- do you think we could find somewhere to sit down?"
"I was going to suggest that we leave. I made reservations at Che Rive for nine. It's going on eight thirty."
"Are Katherine and Robert still going to meet us there?" Jessica asked her brother.
"I believe so. I'll get our coats."
Claude, the maitre d' at Che Rive greeted them warmly. "Madame, Mr. Steele. Mrs. Morgan and Mr. Brandon are already seated at your usual table. May I say how radiant you look this evening, Mrs. Steele?"
"Thank you, Claude," Laura said, following the man.
Remington lowered his lips to her ear to say, "I told you, didn't I? You were the most beautiful woman in that room this evening."
"I still feel as big as a house."
Robert rose when he saw them, giving Laura and Jessica each a kiss. "How was the party?" he asked.
Remington sat down. "Boring. These things usually are."
"There was at time when you didn't think so," Laura reminded him, not looking up from the menu.
"Oh, that seems ages ago. Perhaps I've outgrown the need for such things."
"Oh, yes," Jessica agreed. "You should have seen him, Katherine. Shaking hands, enjoying the attention. He certainly looked bored to me," she teased.
A man paused beside the table. "Jessica? Is that you?"
Six pairs of eyes focused on the elegantly dressed man. He was as tall as Remington, with blonde hair and green eyes, and was several years older than Remington.. "Nicky?" Jessica said. "What are you doing in Los Angeles? You were on a tear about how much you loathed the states, as I recall."
"Alas, business called, insistently, and couldn't say no. I never expected to find you here. Although I did hear that you'd left England."
She nodded. "After Mother died, I discovered the only family I had left was here."
"Well, it certainly couldn't have been that reprobate father of yours, since he's dead. Don't tell you found your brother?"
"Really, Nicky," Jessica said. "I think I should introduce my companions. Antony Roselli, Katherine Morgan, Robert Brandon - my paternal grandfather- and my brother and sister in law, Remington and Laura Holt Steele."
Nicky sent them an apologetic smile. "I seem to have put my foot in it. Allow me to apologize for my critical words."
Remington made no move to accept the offered hand, but Robert covered elegantly. "Are you a friend of Jessica's, Mr-"
"Oh, my. Nicky - Nicholas Radikin," Jessica said, embarrassed herself.
Katherine's elegant brow lifted. "The Earl of Trowbridge?"
"The same, Madame," Nicky said, bowing. "And to answer your question, sir, I've known Jessica since she was- six, I believe."
Jessica laughed softly. "The first time we met, I was defying Grandfather and climbing a tree in the garden. Nicky came out to have a smoke, and I fell almost on top of him."
"Even at six, dirty and disheveled, I fell irrevocably in love," Nicky vowed. "But, unfortunately, she never saw me as more than a friend of her mother. Perhaps our meeting here is fate, Jessica. Another chance for me, eh?" his words were light, teasing, but his eyes were serious. TOO serious for Tony's peace of mind.
"How long are you planning to be in Los Angeles, Mr. Radikin?" Tony asked.
"Long enough to finish my business- and to convince Jessica to return to London with me."
"And if you can't convince her?"
"I think I shall." He smiled at Laura. "Laura HOLT Steele? Tell me, Mrs. Steele, do you know an Edward Holt?"
Laura felt herself go pale. "Why do you ask?"
"I met the man several years ago. He made quite an- impression on me."
"How long ago was this?" Laura asked woodenly.
"Oh, almost seventeen years ago now. Yes. I was in Germany on business when we met. Do you know him, then?"
"Edward Holt is my father's name."
"How extraordinary. Do you know how I might get in touch with him?"
"No," Laura said quietly. "No, I don't, Mr. Radikin." She lowered her eyes to the table. "I'm sure it's a different Edward Holt. My father was in the insurance business. He never went to Germany - or anywhere else in Europe for that matter." She felt Remington's hand cover hers beneath the table. The gesture comforted her.
"Odd coincidence, don't you think?"
Laura stood with surprising grace. "Excuse me." She moved away toward the restroom.
At Remington's glance, Katherine picked up her purse. "I think I'll join her. Excuse me."
Remington had risen, along with Robert and Tony when Laura had, and now he turned to Nicholas Radikin. "Mr. Radikin, it may have escaped your notice, but my wife is expecting a child shortly and becoming upset is not recommended for a woman in her delicate condition."
Nicky lifted his shoulders. "I was simply inquiring about an old friend, Mr. Steele."
"He's right, Remington," Jessica pointed out. "How could Nicky possibly know that Laura would become upset by his innocent question?"
Remington sat down again, his eyes on the doorway. Nicky sighed, as if sensing that he had committed a serious faux pas. "I'd better be going, Jessica. May I see you again before I leave the city?"
"Call me tomorrow." She opened her purse and drew something out. "Here's my card. Where are you staying?"
"The Hilton." He kissed her hand. "Until tomorrow then. Gentlemen."
He had just gotten into the foyer when Tony turned to Jessica. "You're not going to see him," he said, half statement, half question.
"Why shouldn't I?" Jessica asked. "He's an old friend. I've known him FOREVER."
"I seem to recall that Radikin's father was involved in some sort of gambling scandal that led to his taking his own life," Robert said.
"Nicky's father gambled away the family fortune and most of the property," Jessica explained. "All that was left was the title. When it was revealed that the old Earl had sold government secrets to try and restore his fortune, he committed suicide. Nicky's had to live that down for almost thirty years. I think I'll go and see how Laura's doing. Excuse me."
Alone, the men stared into their drinks in silence until Tony said, "I don't trust him."
"Nor do I," Remington agreed. "The odds against his happening to run into Jessica and then knowing Laura's father are too great."
"It's unanimous, then," Robert added. "He seemed a bit too- slick, too ready with the answers."
Remington nodded. "I'll have Mildred run a check on him tomorrow." AND ON EDWARD HOLT AS WELL, he added to himself.
Jessica found Laura and Katherine sitting in the powder room lounge. "Are you all right?"
"Yes. I know it was silly of me to become so upset-"
"No, I understand. But Nicky didn't mean anything with his questions -"
"When did you last see him, Jessica?" Katherine inquired.
"When - at Mother's funeral. In fact, Nicky went with me afterward to the security box where my birth certificate had been kept. And it was he who pointed out the newspaper interview with Remington about Daniel.
"Did he know that you were coming to Los Angeles?" Laura asked.
"Not that I recall. He left on business the next day- before I decided to try and find my brother."
"What sort of business is he in?"
"I've never really asked. Some sort of import export, I believe."
"Does he still use his title?" Katherine wanted to know.
"It's his by right. Why shouldn't he? But he doesn't trade on it. Really, Katherine, you sound as suspicious as Remington. Are we ready to rejoin the men?"
Remington saw Laura seated, then asked, "Are you all right?"
She smiled reassuringly. "I'm fine. Why don't we order? I'm starving."
"You're always starving."
"I can't help it. I AM eating for three, after all."
The remainder of the evening passed pleasantly, with no further mention of Nicky or of Laura's father.
Tony opened the sliding metal door of Jessica's loft. "Will I see you tomorrow?" he asked.
"I imagine so. I have to be in court at nine. And if Nicky calls-"
"Do you HAVE to see him, Jess?"
"He's an old family friend, Antony. Is there some reason why I shouldn't see him?"
Tony's eyes searched her face. "No. No, I guess not." Without warning, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her hard, feeling her response before ending the kiss. "Pleasant dreams, Jess," he said, taking the stairs two at a time, leaving a bemused Jessica to enter her loft and close the door.
At the office the next morning, Remington waited until Laura was safely at work in her office before going out to Mildred. "I need you to run some names through your computer, Mildred."
"Sure, Chief," she said, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. "Shoot."
"Here's a list," he said, handing her a piece of paper.
"Nicholas Radikin, Andrew Radikin- and- Edward Holt?" She lifted surprised eyes to him. "Mrs. Steele's father? What's going on here?"
"Curiosity. It might be best if we don't mention this to Laura. For the time being, at least. You know how the mere mention of her absent parent upsets her."
"You got it. I'll let you know when I come up with something."
Remington was turning back to his office when Tony stalked into the office, obviously not in a good mood. "Anything going on this morning?" he asked.
"Nothing pressing. Mostly paperwork, I believe-"
"Good. I need a few hours to contact some old friends to get some information about Jess's friend Radikin."
"Who IS this guy, Chief?" Mildred asked. "What does he have to do with your sister?"
"He's an old friend of her grandfather and mother who just happens to be in town on business," Remington explained.
"And, who just HAPPENED to be at Che Rive last night while we were there," Tony added. "Got to be at least 40," he muttered.
Mildred's computer began to print something, and she turned to look at it. "Make that 45. Nicholas Radikin, Tenth Earl of Trowbridge, only child Andrew and Margaret Radikin. Educated private schools, never attended university. Travels frequently-"
"What kind of business is he in?"
"It says here import export, that he had contacts with several Eastern Block countries- never been married-" she looked up at them. "Need anymore?"
"Check the others," Remington said, taking the printout. "Antony, why DON'T you contact those friends of yours? I'm curious as to how strong his ties to Eastern Europe are."
"That makes two of us," Tony admitted, frowning.