House of Steele
Part Seven
Tom Bennett led Remington through three greenhouses and one arbor before Steele caught up with him, landing them both on the ground with a flying tackle. Although younger, Remington was no match for Bennett's upper arm strength. Both wound up on their feet, and Remington was unprepared for the other man's hard right fist in his stomach. While Remington was still recovering his breath, Bennett ran out toward the pickup truck that Harley was just putting the last bag of mulch into. He paused, trying to decide where to go, when he heard Laura Steele's voice call out, "Harley! Stop him! He killed Miss Lily!"
Harley, bigger and stronger, easily subdued Tom Bennett. "Why?" he demanded to know, his hands tightening on the man's throat. "Why did you kill her? Why did you kill Miss Lily?" His hold was tightening as his anger grew.
Remington approached, still gasping for air, so it was Robert who said, "Release him, Harley. He won't go anywhere, will you, Tom?"
"No," Tom said when Harley let him go. He rubbed his bruised neck. "No place to run," he realized as a police car pulled into the compound.
Laura went to make sure Remington hadn't suffered any real harm. "Are you all right?"
"I'm getting too old for this," he said ruefully, still fighting for air.

Robert watched them put Tom Bennett into the car, after Tom admitted to Lily's death. Robert looked at Harley. "Why don't you go get your things, Harley?"
"Be-right back," he promised, the barest trace of a stutter.
"He's never been angry about anything. Never lost his temper. I think he's going to be all right." He sighed. "I'll have to find another place for him now, I suppose."
Laura turned to Remington, saw that he had just had the same thought. "Why? We're going to need a good gardener. And Harley is VERY good. If he wants to stay-"
"Why don't you ask him?" Robert suggested.
Harley got into the limo while Fred put his case into the the trunk. "Harley, Mr and Mrs. Steele are going to buy the house."
Harley nodded. "I-guessed."
"Would you be willing to stay as gardener, Harley? Keep taking care of Miss Lily's garden?" Laura asked.
"Yes."
She smiled. "Then it's settled."

At the house, Remington sent Fred on, as Robert told Harley to go to his old rooms over the garage, and to let Mrs. Hobbs know he was home. Robert turned to Remington and Laura. "Are you certain you can't come in?" he asked as they moved toward Laura's car.
"We really have to get to the office, Robert, for a while, at least," Remington apologized.
"I understand. You WILL be at the funeral tomorrow?"
"Of course we will," Remington told him. "And if you need to talk, Robert-"
"I have your number." He smiled. "Thank you both for all you've done. I don't know how I'll ever repay you."
Remington looked up at him. "I think we'll find some way, Robert. Not to worry. Ready, Laura?"

Jessica was sitting in the reception area with Mildred when Laura and Steele returned. "What happened?" Mildred wanted to know. "Lt. Jarvis called. He said that Mr. Brandon had been cleared-"
"And Robert Brandon called ME not ten minutes ago," Jessica told them, "and asked me to find someone to represent -Tom Bennett?"
"Lily Brandon's killer," Remington supplied.
"Tom Bennett -Harley Grange's father? Why would HE kill her?"
"To claim his son after 28 years," Laura said, following Remington as he went into his office, loosening his tie and removing his dirty jacket. The other two women followed, curious.
"My suspect was Harley," Remington admitted. "But when we went to talk to him, he denied killing Lily, and told Laura that his 'friend' Tom had paid him a visit last night."
Laura explained. "Lily had arranged for Tom to take Harley once she was gone. When Tom came by and saw how distraught Harley was, he went in to see Lily. She asked him to do what Robert and Harley couldn't. Tom agreed, killed Lily, then went home to wait for Robert's telephone call."
"Robert also asked if I would attend the service for Lily tomorrow," Jessica told them.
 
Once they were alone, Laura sat down on the sofa beside Remington. "You were really very good with Harley today, you know."
He shrugged off her praise as usual. "Just common sense," he said.
"It was more than that, and you know it." She placed his hand on her abdomen. "You are going to be WONDERFUL father, Remington."
"You think so?"
"I know so."
"I hope you're right, Laura. There are times when the idea of being a father absolutely terrifies me. And then I look at you, and I know that I can get through anything as long as you're by my side."
She smiled. "What a nice thing to say. Thank you."
He turned her into his arms. "Why don't I reserve a table for us at Che Rive? I don't feel up to cooking tonight."
"You think they'll be able to seat us? It's very late?"
"Claude would never say no to me, Laura," he insisted, reaching behind her to pick up the telephone.
"He's not the only one," Laura said, her lips on his jawbone as he spoke to the ma'tre'd of their favorite restaurant.
"Remington Steele here," he said. "I need a reservation for this evening-" He smiled. "That will be quite acceptable. Thank you." He hung up and smiled down at her. "Six o'clock," he told her, starting to sit up. "OOOh. Tom Bennett has a punch like a mule kick," he said.
"What ever happened to the Kilkenny Kid, Pride of the Pampas?" Laura asked, her expression playful.
"Retired permantently," Remington promised. "Either that, or I start going to workout." He grimaced in distaste at the thought.
"You could install a gym at the house," she suggested. "Nothing elaborate-"
"It's a thought. I'd rather decide which room I'm going to put the art collection in."
"WHAT art collection?"
"The one I mentioned yesterday. I've got a line on the first painting I'm going to buy-"
She stood and pulled him to his feet, ignoring his overacted groan of pain. "You can tell me all about over dinner. Let's go home and change clothes, shall we? Unless you intend to be seen at Che Rive in THIS jacket-"
He shook his head at the torn pocket and stains. "Nonsense, Laura. Consider my reputation." He opened the door for her.
"We'll be at Che Rive for dinner, Mildred," Laura said, 'And then at home for the rest of the evening."
"Have fun," Mildred called after them.

After the brief service the next morning, Pamela Craig approached Robert where he stood surrounded by Remington, Laura, Jessica, and Tony. "I'll be going now," she told him.
Robert held her hand in his. "Have you another patient already?"
"No. I'm-I'm going to take some time off. A few weeks vacation. I need some time. I just wanted to tell you that- of all the patients I've had- I'll never forget Lily.
He gave her a hug. "Thank you. If you ever need anything-"
"You've been more than generous. I have to go-" she insisted, turning toward her car.
Robert turned to his new-found friends. "Mrs. Hobbs has insisted that I invite you all back to the house for lunch-"
"I would," Jessica said, glancing at her watch, "But I'm due in court in half an hour."
"Feel free to drop by later."
Jessica smiled. "I might do that."
"I've got to drive her to the courthouse," Tony told him. "And then I have to meet with a client."
"The invitation stands for you as well, Mr. Roselli."
He watched as they went toward the white VW Rabbit, the looked at the other couple. "Laura? Remington?"
"I think we can-" Laura was saying, but Remington cut her off.
"Why don't you and Laura take the limo back? I have something to attend to in town. I'll meet you at the house in an hour."

Robert ushered Laura into the study. "Can I offer you some spring water, Laura?" he asked, pouring himself a small measure of brandy. "For medicinal purposes," he quickly assured her.
"Thank you. Spring water will be fine." She moved toward the book shelves, then stopped, self conscious about prying.
"Don't be self conscious, my dear. The house will be yours soon. Feel free to look as you wish."
"I didn't really have a chance to look around the other day," she admitted, thinking how strange that it had only been two days ago that she had first met this man and fallen in love with his house.
"The view of the garden from the windows is excellent."
She went to the many paned window. "I see what you mean. It's strange. Outside, the house is typically Mexican. But inside, you'd almost swear you were in an English manor house."
"Lily didn't want me to be homesick for England. She redid the entire house after we bought it. It was mess for months. Couldn't walk without running into something."
"It's amazing," she said, her gaze falling on the photograph on the desk. The one of Robert and Lily was dismissed. The but second- Laura picked up the framed photograph, frowning. "Is this- No, it's not you, is it?"
He smiled. "How did you know?"
"The clothes. They're rough, dirty, and there's something about this one-" she indicated the taller young man with the laughing eyes.
Robert took the photograph. "That's the only photograph I have of my son, Laura," he told her.
"Your-son? But, you said that you and Lily had no children."
"He wasn't Lily's. His mother was a house maid that I became- involved with during those wild, early days I told you about. I-" Robert's attention was caught by something outside. "Remington's here. He's in the garden-with a woman."
Laura tore her eyes from the photograph that he had placed back onto the desk. "Katherine Morgan. She's his aunt." Why would Remington bring Katherine Morgan here now? She looked again at the photograph. He had taken the call from Mildred here. Had he seen the picture? And if he had, did he suspect- But how could he? she wondered.
"Why don't we join them?" Robert suggested, leading a still distracted Laura out of the room.
To be Continued----


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