Laura sat in stunned silence as Daniel confirmed her suspicions that he was the father of the man she called Remington Steele. She picked up the pocket watch and opened it, listening to the tinkling music. "Why haven't you ever told him, Daniel?" she asked, closing the cover with a soft "Snap!" Daniel looked at the ceiling, then back at her. "Absolute, utter terror that his knowing the truth would send him away from me," he told her. "I spent almost ten years looking for my son, Laura. Once I found him - Do you recall that evening in his apartment just after you and I first met?" "You and my mother were having dinner - " she recalled. "And you and I danced as I told you what I knew about Harry?" Laura nodded. "I told you that he'd been an angry young man, filled with violence. Most of that anger and violence was directed at the memory of his father - a man that- to his knowledge, had simply abandoned him to his life and never looked back." "I know he was bitter -" Laura began, but Daniel's dry laugh silenced her. "Bitter? He once swore that if he ever found his father, he'd likely cut out his heart - and at the time, Harry was very good with a knife - that talent kept him alive on the streets for some time before I stumbled onto him." "You have to tell him, Daniel," Laura insisted. "He deserves to know-" Daniel rose to his feet to pace the room. "I can't." Seeing her disapproval on her face, he sighed. "Laura, I don't know how much longer I've got. I won't risk spending these last few months, or years estranged from my son again." "You don't know that he still feels the same way," Laura insisted. "He might be glad to find out the truth." "Not bloody likely," Daniel muttered. "Has he ever given you any indication otherwise?" "No. He doesn't talk about his past much," she admitted with a wry grin. "He never has, really. What little I know I've managed to piece together from various comments over the years -" "I thought as much -" "But he *did* go to Ireland to try and find out something when he got this," she reminded him, holding up the watch. "And he went to England to look further - " Daniel nodded. "When he traced the watch to the Earl." "Does the Earl know - that Mr. Steele is your son, I mean?" "I believe he suspects the truth. He's aware that I have a son who is unaware that I'm his father - but beyond that, we haven't really discussed it." "If you don't intend to tell him the truth, or that you're ill, why are you here?" "For a visit," Daniel said. When Laura gave him a look of disbelief once again, he sighed. "You have a nasty habit of being able to see through me these days, my dear." "Let's just say I've had a lot of practice with your son." "I simply want to reassure myself that Harry's settled - that his future here is secure. That he's happy." "I see," Laura replied thoughtfully. "As far as I know, Mr. Steele is happy here -" Daniel shook his head, causing her to frown. "What?" "You're *still* calling him 'Mr. Steele'," he pointed out. "Because I still don't have another name for him." A thought occurred to her. "Unless- you said you had taken to calling him 'Harry' out of self defense. Why choose that name?" Daniel simply looked at her, allowing her to continue. "It's because it's his *real* name, isn't it?" "It's the name his mother gave him," Daniel confirmed. "After a fashion, at any rate." "Why did you leave them, Daniel?" Laura asked softly. "I made a poor decision, and Harry paid the highest price for it. Laura, I know you're full of questions, but I'm a bit worn out - would you mind if we continued this at a later time?" Laura saw the lines of exhaustion on his face, knew that he was telling her the truth. His illness would require he rest, she supposed. She nodded, rising to her feet. "I have to get back to the office, anyway." ********** Remington Steele glanced around the hotel dining room of the Bonaventure, frowning when he didn't see Laura or Daniel at one of the tables. He'd left the luncheon at City Hall early, having nearly been bored to tears by the droning speeches. Crossing to the desk, he asked the clerk if he knew where Mr. Chalmers had gone to lunch. The clerk smiled at him. "He hasn't gone anywhere, sir. He ordered lunch served in his room." "His room," Remington repeated. "Yes, sir. For two." Remington nodded, moving toward the elevators. So Daniel and Laura were enjoying a nice, intimate little luncheon in Daniel's hotel room, were they? Well, he'd just see about this- he decided, entering the lift and pressing the third floor button. ********** He was nearing the room when the door opened, and he ducked behind a potted palm as Daniel kissed Laura's hand. "You won't forget your promise? I really think it best that we keep this from Harry for now." Laura retained hold of his hand. "I think he should be told, Daniel- but I won't say anything for the moment." "Thank you, my dear." She leaned forward to kiss his cheek, and then turned toward the elevators, causing Remington to duck quickly to avoid her seeing him. Daniel returned to his room, and Laura entered the elevator. Remington emerged into the corridor, batting at a stray palm frond, his expression decidedly angry. What game was the old fox playing? he wondered. ********** He got to the limo as Laura was looking around. "Sorry," he apologized. "I was in the dining room, looking for you and Daniel," he told her truthfully. "We didn't have lunch there," Laura said, getting into the dark car. "Oh?" "Daniel ordered lunch in his suite," she explained as he joined her and Fred closed the door. The car was silent for a moment as the car pulled into traffic. "I've been thinking, Laura," Remington began, "Perhaps it's time we discussed where our relationship is heading - I mean, where we go from here." "And just where is here, - Remington?" Laura asked, pretending not to notice his surprise at her calling him by that name. "Four years is a long time to invest in a relationship," he pointed out. "By most, it would be a sign of commitment on the part of the two people in question." "I suppose it would," she agreed. The telephone rang, and Remington gave the device a pained look as he picked it up. "Steele here." His eyes moved to Laura. "Yes, Mildred?" Laura laughed softly, causing Remington to shake his head. "I see. Good work, Mildred," he praised. "We're on our way back to the office now. We'll discuss it then." He hung up. "Mildred's got a lead on Mrs. Hughes' con man." ********** Mildred stood before them, computer printouts in hand. "This guy's a real piece of work," she told them. "He's got more names than you do, Chief," she said, "and he's run this scam on more than one woman in Southern California. But he's managed to stay one jump ahead of the bunco squad." "Is there a pattern to the woman he targets, Mildred?" Laura asked. "Usually late forties to early fifties, wives of relatively wealthy men who tend to think they're helpless little things, unable to handle more than their monthly allowance. He contacts them, builds them up, telling them that they'd probably be just as good a making money as their husbands, given the chance-" "And then he offers them the chance," Remington suggested. "And once he has the money, he vanishes, leaving the poor woman to face her husband and admit he was right." "You got it." Remington put his arms behind his head, sitting back. "What name is he using now?" "Terrance O'Malley," she said. "And he's still in Los Angeles - At least, he was still booked into the Plaza yesterday." Laura looked through the report as Mildred sat down. "How are we going to do this, Mr. Steele?" "We'll figure some way to get Mr. O'Malley's attention," Remington began, only to be interrupted by Laura. "I think we're going to need some help on this, Mr. S-" She paused. "Remington." Mildred set a surprised look toward that gentleman, who smiled and shrugged in response. "Some help? What kind of help?" he asked. "The best way to get Mr. O'Malley's attention is to give him something he can't possibly pass up. And at the same time, someone to stay with Mildred who knows what to look for." "And what do you suggest?" "That we ask Daniel to help- to pose as Mildred's wealthy husband." "Daniel? *You're* suggesting that Daniel ?- He won't be here very long," Remington reminded her, obviously surprised by her idea. "I think he'll extend his visit if you ask him to," Laura insisted. "Why don't you fix one of your gourmet delights and we'll have dinner at your place? You can ask him then." Mildred busied herself with picking up the coffee cups. "I suppose I could- care to join us, Mildred?" At least she would even out the numbers, Remington thought. And if Daniel *did* agree to help, he and Mildred would have to get to know one another a little better. "Uh- I," she hesitated, as if trying to decide how best to answer. "I guess so." "If you have other plans, Mildred," Laura began - "Oh, nothing that can't be changed," Mildred assured her. "Excuse me, but I have to make a call -" she bustled out of the room, leaving Laura and Remington staring after her. "She's acting very strange, don't you think?" Laura asked Remington. "Probably had bowling date," he suggested. He looked at her thoughtfully. "You're acting strange yourself." When Laura turned to look at him, he returned her gaze. "Suggesting that Daniel help on a case. That's not like you." "Everyone deserves a second chance, Remington," she said, sitting down beside him, picking up the report again. He dropped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her back to sit close beside him. "I had hoped for a nice, quiet dinner, just the two of us, so we could continue our earlier conversation." "Earlier conversation?" Laura questioned. "About the future," he prompted, knowing full well that she knew precisely to what he was referring. "Oh. We can do that after dinner," she suggested, pretending to be interested in the report. "O'Malley *always* targets married women," she said. "No, wait. Once, he targeted a wealthy widow whose son controlled the purse strings - He didn't get much from her, though. Apparently the son wasn't as generous with her allowance." "We can always use that as Plan B," Remington said. "In case Daniel decides that he can't help." "I think he will," Laura said. "You know, it might not be so bad, having him in Los Angeles- why don't you try to convince him to move here for awhile? -" "Daniel would never consider living in Los Angeles, Laura." "You never know until you ask, Remington," Laura returned. "And speaking of asking-" she said as she picked up the phone. "You'd better call and invite him to dinner tonight." Frowning, he took the phone and dialed the hotel number. "Daniel?" "Harry, my boy. What is it?" "I was wondering if you might consider coming to my place for dinner this evening-" "Wonderful idea," Daniel quickly agreed. "What time shall I be there?" "Seven?" Remington asked. "Seven it is. Shall I bring anything?" "Just yourself." He hung up, staring at the telephone. "What's wrong?" "I had the feeling that he was expecting my call," Remington said. Shaking his head, he smiled. "I was probably mistaken," he decided, taking the report from her to read for himself. Laura nodded as the telephone rang. She waited a moment, knowing that Mildred would answer it, then transfer it in here if necessary. When the intercom didn't go off, she glanced toward the door. "I need to talk to Mildred about something," she told him. "I'll be right back." Going to the door, she quietly opened it, then closed it just as quietly behind her, moving closer to the desk. "I'll see you at seven, then," Mildred was saying. "Yes, after dinner. Good bye." "Who was that, Mildred?" Laura asked, causing the older woman to jump and turn around quickly. "Oh, Miss Holt. That was - " she paused, trying to come up with something convincing. "Yes, Mildred?" Seeing the worried look, Laura moved closer. "It wouldn't have been Daniel Chalmers, by any chance, would it?" Never able to lie comfortably to Laura, Mildred swallowed. "Well, - " "Is *that* who you had to call earlier? To cancel your - previous engagement?" "Miss Holt- I - " Laura moved around to give the woman a comforting pat on the shoulder. "I understand, Mildred. Daniel can be almost as charming as our Mr. Steele, can't he?" "You're not going to tell Mr. Steele, are you, Miss Holt? I mean, Daniel didn't want him to know -" "Why not?" "I'm not sure. Before he left this morning, Mr. Chalmers asked if I could keep a secret, and then invited me to dinner tonight." "Well, you're still having dinner with him, only you'll have to wait until later for him to tell you his secret." They both looked up as Mr. Craig entered the office. "Miss Holt." "Mr. Craig. Mr. Steele's waiting for us," Laura told him, leading him to the office. Mildred sat back, as the door closed, relieved that Mr. Craig's arrival had distracted Laura- and more than a little pleased with herself. She might just learn to be a good liar yet. To Be Continued----
