House of Steele

Part Five

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"What did Estelle have to say, Chief?" Mildred asked when he returned.
"She wants Laura and I be married - again."
"Oooh. Mrs. Steele will never agree to that."
"We'll see. Anything on those names?"
Mildred followed him into his office as she read, "Murial Hobbs is a widow, has worked for two families other than Robert and Lily Brandon. She's been with them for ten years, since the original housekeeper and gardener were killed in an automobile accident. Nothing of any interest."
"How did her husband die?"
"Vietnam."
"I see. What about Pamela Craig?"
Mildred again consulted her notes. "Private care nurse, graduated at the top of her class. Specializes in the care of patients who haven't long to live. Came to work for Lily Brandon one year ago."
Remington sat behind his desk, put his feet up, his hands behind his head. "Any reports that she might've - helped a few of her former patients to the other side?"
"Not a one."
"How about the last name on the list?"
"The computer's still working."
"Where is Antony?"
"He had an eleven thirty with Mr. Malcom, then was going to meet Miss Beecham for lunch."
Remington stood up. "I'd better get out to the Brandon house. Call me there as soon as that last information comes in."
"Will do."

Laura was in Lily's room, looking around. She hadn't had the chance the previous evening. The roses on the stand beside the bed were reasonably fresh. Going out into the hall, she saw the housekeeper. "Mrs. Hobbs, when were the flowers in Lily's room last changed?"
"I took the old ones out yesterday, right after Pamela went into town, Mrs. Steele. Why?"
"Just curious," she said, turning as she heard Remington's voice.
"There you are," he said, coming upon them. How is Robert today?"
"About the same," Laura told him, noticing Mrs. Hobbs' approving smile as he kissed her cheek. "He's in the garden. Miss Craig said he wanted to be alone there for a while."
"I was just on my way to try to convince him to eat some lunch," Mrs. Hobbs told him, "but I think I'll leave that to you, Mr. Steele. You'll likely have more success than I would."
"Why do you say that?" Remington asked.
"Well, Mr. Steele, besides your being able to charm the birds from the trees, Mr. Robert thinks very highly of you. There's not many I could say that about."
Remington smiled at the woman. "We'll bring him in. Oh, Mrs. Hobbs, I'm expecting a telephone call from the office-"
"I'll let you know the moment it comes in, Mr. Steele," she promised, her plump face creased with a smile.
Once she was out of earshot, Laura commented, "You've certainly won her over."
"It would appear that way, wouldn't it?" He looked at her. "Have you found out anything?"
"Robert sent Harley off to live with a local landscaper- a Mr. Tom Bennett. He left this morning just as I was arriving. Both Mrs. Hobbs and Pamela Craig swear that Harley would have done ANYTHING Lily Brandon asked him to do."
Remington's look was thoughtful. "And you think he-"
"It's a possibility," she told him.
"Why don't we go find Robert?" he suggested. "Wouldn't want to make Mrs. Hobbs angry, now, would we?"
Laura glanced up at him as they moved toward the garden. "How did your meeting with Estelle Becker go?"
He pretended an inordinate interest in a rose bush. "Quite well, really. We'll have to hire a gardener, I suppose, once we move in-" he said, wanting to get her mind off of Estelle Becker.
Laura smiled. "And a housekeeper," she agreed.
"Why not retain Mrs. Hobbs?" he suggested. "She knows the house-"
"But would she be willing-" she looked into this eyes. "You've already asked her, haven't you?"
"We- discussed the possibility over a cup of coffee early this morning when I brought Robert home."
"An idea of which I heartily approve," Robert said as they came upon the gazebo. "Murial is a gem- but she can be a bit of tyrant when she wants to."
"How are you, Robert?" Remington asked, shaking the man's hand.
"Surviving, Remington. It's all any of us can do, after all."
"Mrs. Hobbs sent has lunch ready. We promised to bring you in to have something to eat."
"Well, we mustn't keep her waiting, then. She's also an excellent cook. Lily was a bit jealous that I preferred Mrs. Hobbs' coffee over hers." He stepped out of the gazebo at Remington's side.
Remington noticed that Laura hadn't moved. "Are you going to join us, Laura?"
"Yes. I was just- admiring the view again. It's such a lovely setting," she said.
"Lily planned the garden so that you could see almost every part of it from that gazebo," Robert told them. "She and I hoped that if we had been blessed with a child, then he or she would have been married here. Unfortunately, it wasn't to be." His comment caused Remington pause and look at the scene himself, an idea taking shape.
"You and she never had any children?" Laura questioned, not noticing her husband's distraction, moving between the two men.
"Lily was unable to have children," he said.
"I'm sorry-" she said.
"Don't be," he told her, patting her hand. "We both accepted that we would never be able to raise a child of our own. We- compensated."
"By taking in lost souls?" Remington questioned.
"Lost souls, strays- Mrs. Hobbs is no doubt waiting."
"Was Harley Grange one of those- lost souls?" Laura asked as they fell back into step.
"In a way," Robert admitted. "We hired Mark and Dena Grange when we bought the property. Their only child, Lisa, grew up here- she was such a lovely child- blonde hair, green eyes. She was seventeen when Harley was born." They entered the dining room, and Robert gallantly held Laura's chair for her, then seated himself. Remington sat across from Laura. As if on cue, Mrs. Hobbs entered the room with their meal.
"It's about time," she scolded. "Lucky it's nothing that had to be kept hot." She served the food, then vanished back into the kitchen.
Robert's dark eyes twinkled. "I warned you."
"So you did, Robert."
"Let's see. What were we talking about? Ah, yes. Lisa. Her father told Lily and I that Lisa was going away for awhile, but Lisa begged Lily not to let them send her away. That she wanted to stay here- and keep her baby."
"What about the father?" Laura asked, watching Remington's face as he withdrew slightly. This was a subject the didn't like to talk about, and she knew it.
"She wouldn't tell any of us who the father was. Not even Lily. Lily convinced Mark and Dena to let her stay. I think she believed the father would change his mind and marry her."
"What happened to her?"
"She- died when Harley was five. Until that time, he'd been a normal, wonderful child. Smart as a whip. He could already count, read a bit- then one day, without warning, Lisa--" He paused as the pain of that day returned. "She cut her wrists with a razor. Harley found her."
"Oh my," Laura said. "Is that when he-"
"Began to stutter? Yes. He couldn't remember things he'd already learned. The doctors said it was psychological. Mark tried everything to help him- nothing was working. Until one day Lily found him in the garden and asked him to help her with it. He had a real talent for the work- and he liked being with plants -"
"Probably because they couldn't tease him about his stuttering," Laura said. "So when his grandparents died, you kept him on."
"He had no where else to go. And he was so dependant on Lily-"
"He must have been devastated by what happened to her."
"Quite, Laura," Robert said.
"Did he come in to see her last night while you were with her?" she asked.
Robert's gaze fell to his plate. "No. No one came in."
Short of calling him a liar, Laura didn't know what to do. "Why did you send him away this morning?"
"It was all arranged quite soon after Lily became ill, my dear. She was worried about what would become of him once she was- gone and the house sold. The local nursery owner was here delivering some things-"
"Tom Bennett?"
"Yes. He's known Harley all of his life. And Harley's learned quite a bit from him. Lily arranged that Tom would hire Harley as his assistant when the time came- he has a house next to his nursery-"
The telephone rang, and a moment later, Mrs. Hobbs opened the door. "It's for you, Mr. Steele. A- Mildred Krebbs?"
"Why not use the telephone in my study, Remington?" Robert offered.
"Thank you." He folded his napkin. "I won't be a moment."

He picked up the receiver. "Steele here," he said automatically, as his eyes fell on the two photographs on Robert's desk.
"Chief. I have that information about Harley Grange that you wanted."
Remington wasn't listening. One of the photos was of Robert and Lily, obviously taken a few years ago. The other was of two young men dressed in rough mining togs, arms linked in laughing camaraderie, looking into the camera.
"Mr. Steele? Are you still there?"
"Yes. Yes, Mildred. What did you find out?"

His eyes searched Robert's face when he returned to the dining room before Laura gained his attention. "What did Mildred what?"
"I asked her to find out some things -" Remington forced the photograph to the back of his mind. There would be time later to ask about it. "Tell me, Robert, was Tom Bennett a frequent visitor here?"
"I suppose you could say so. Mark met him when Tom first opened his nursery and contracted with him for plants, fertilizer, that sort of thing. He was here at least once a month- sometimes more often."
"You haven't mentioned a MRS. Bennett."
"Felice Bennett died of a life long heart condition six years ago."
Remington chose his next words carefully. "Had Tom Bennett the- opportunity to spend time with Harley's mother?"
"Lisa? I- suppose. I recall that he used to drive her into town on occasion. Remington- you don't think that-"
"According to the birth certificate on record with Los Angeles County, a T.R. Bennett is listed as the father of one Harley Grange. The record was sealed until only recently."
Robert paled. "No." He rose and went to the windows that lined the room, overlooking the garden. "It's unthinkable. Tom would never have betrayed Mark's trust- or mine-"
"But is IS possible," Remington said, pressing the issue. "He had the opportunity-"
"Yes, yes, of course."
"I think Laura and I should have a talk with him, Robert."
"I'm going with you," the older man said.
"Robert -" Laura objected. "You've been under a lot of stress. It's not necessary-"
"But it is, my dear. Tom Bennett owes me some explanations." He looked from one to the other. "Don't fight me on this. I'm going to talk to him. With-or without you." In the face of such dogged determination, Remington rose again. "I'll have Fred bring the limo around."

 

To be Continued----

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