"I guess I'm a little slow," Mildred was saying as the four of them entered the three room suite, "but how exactly is this going to go down?" "We're going to con the con man, Mildred," Laura said, smiling as she sat down on the sofa and removed her high heels. "And you were wrong about his being ready to reel in." Mildred frowned. "What do you mean?" Remington gave Laura a glance. "Because now it's up to Laura - or should I say Tracey - to set the hook." "I'm totally confused here," Mildred said, sitting down as well. "It's quite simple, my dear Mildred," Daniel assured her. "What good will it do for us to simply give Mr. O'Malley the money he wants and prove that he's a con man? If I'm right, then Mrs. Hughes wants her money back -" Laura nodded. "Before her husband finds out about what happened," she confirmed. "So, we're going to trick O'Malley into giving *us* that money- and more - hopefully enough to pay for this suite and the rental on the jewelry," she commented. "How?" Mildred asked. ********** When Terrance O'Malley arrived for lunch in the hotel dining room, he was surprised to find only Tracey van der Haven waiting for him. "Where is your mother in law?" he asked, worried that he'd lost a pigeon. "She was on the telephone with Nigel and couldn't get away. She'll try to join us in a few minutes. But she told me that if I like your idea, I can invest her funds as well." Terrance looked up as the waitress hovered. "Would you care for something to drink?" he asked, smiling again. "Just some Perrier," Laura told him. "Do you have the pictures? The way Constance was talking to Nigel, I got the impression that they might return to the hotel early today -" Terrance drew out a photograph album, opening it. "Here you go." He watched Tracey closely as she examined the pictures of the island resort. "As you can see, everything is first class. Private saunas and hot tubs for each room - plenty of secluded beach areas-" Laura pointed to a photograph of a blonde Adonis, muscles bulging beneath his white tee shirt with the resort emblem emblazoned across that wide chest. "Who is *he*?" "Oh, that's Hans. He's in charge of the gym. Personal trainer." "I wouldn't mind having a little one on one with him," Laura sighed. She took a drink of her water, then closed the book. "I know what your game is, Mr. O'Malley," she told him evenly, her dark eyes meeting his blue ones. "I beg your pardon?" he asked, suddenly cautious. "I did a little digging after we parted this morning. No one's ever heard of this little *resort* that you're trying to get Constance and me to invest in. Be honest. It doesn't really exist, does it?" Terrance felt the pigeons slipping out of his grasp. "Really, Mrs. van der Haven, I-" She touched his arm. "I thought you were going to call me Tracey," she reminded him. "Look, I know a con when I see one. My father taught me how to spot one a mile away." "Oh, really?" "What would you say if I told you that I can help you make a *lot* more money than you would have gotten from Constance and me, Terrance?" His blue eyes were filled with suspicion. "Why would you want to help me? If I'm what you say I am, then you should be calling the police -" "But I don't have any real proof," Tracey pointed out. "And I want to see Nigel van der Haven brought down a peg." "Your father in law? Why?" "My father was a good businessman. Not world class like Nigel, but he was doing okay. Well enough to send me to private schools and keep me in clothes and cars - until Nigel decided he wanted Daddy's company and systematically drove him into near bankruptcy. Daddy hadn't wanted to sell to Haven Enterprises, but in the end, he had no choice but to accept the offer." "And you were part of the deal?" "No. No, that's the kick in all of this. I really do love James. It's just that his father's business practices leave a *lot* to be desired. But everything the man touches turns to gold." "A real Midas, eh?" Terrance suggested. "Yeah. I just thought you might like to help me spread some of that wealth around." "What have you got in mind?" Terrance asked, deciding it couldn't hurt to listen to the woman. She was far brighter than her father in law and husband gave her credit for being, he suspected. Tracey looked around, then lowered her voice. "I'm sure you've heard the rumor that Haven Enterprises is looking to buy Corrigan Industries." "I might have heard -something along those lines," Terrance admitted, recalling the waitress's words to that effect that morning. "Well, it's true. Nigel and James are going to buy the place and corner the plastics market - " "I'm glad for them," Terrance commented. "But I fail to see-" "If you'll give me a minute and let me finish," Tracey said. "Corrigan stock opened at pennies on the dollar this morning. The place is expected to close its doors any day unless someone like Nigel comes along, and Nigel's been playing this close to the vest. He hasn't let anyone know for certain what he's going to do. But *I* know that they're signing the papers today, Terrance. By tomorrow morning, Corrigan stock is going to shoot to the moon." "You're suggesting that we buy some shares of Corrigan stock?" Terrance asked. "And then sell once it goes up?" "Even with only five thousand shares, Terrance, you could make more than you would have gotten from Constance and me with your little scam. And this would be legal money- more or less." "Unless you count something called insider trading," Terrance pointed out. "Pretty risky. What if they don't sign?" "They *will*, I assure you. Once Nigel gets his sights set on owning something, he doesn't back off. We can't wait on this, Terrance. If you want to be in, you'd better make up your mind. Once they sign, it will be too late." Terrance wasn't ready to jump onto the wagon just yet. "What are you going to get out of this?" "Besides the satisfaction that someone *else* made fortune off of Nigel? I'll get to watch him going crazy wondering how someone else *knew* what he was going to do before he did it. He might even realize he's not perfect, like all of us other mortals out here." "Seems to me, I'm the one taking all the risk here," Terrance pointed out. "All right, I'll put in two thousand of my own money," Tracey offered. "You can keep whatever you make from it - " "You're a strange bird, Tracey van der Haven," he commented. "Are you in, or not?" Tracey asked, glancing at her watch. "If you're in, we need to get to the broker's as soon as you can get the money together." "Get the money-?" "The broker I know will only handle this on a cash basis. Don't worry. I know him." "What will you tell your mother in law?" Terrance wondered. Tracey shrugged. "That I decided to find something else to invest the money in." "You are a real piece of work, lady. If I were your husband, I'd watch my back." "Are you in, O'Malley?" she asked. When he hesitated, she said, "You know, I guess I was wrong about you. I thought you were too smart to let the brass ring pass by without at least trying to grab it." She gathered her purse and started to get up. "I have to make a stop to get the money," O'Malley told her. Tracey sat back down. "Where should we meet?" "How about in the lobby, in say- one hour? That will give me a chance to get my part together." "One hour," Terrance agreed. Tracey rose and left the dining room, aware that Terrance was still watching her. "I wouldn't watch my back," he amended, "I'd keep her under lock and key." ********** "Are you gonna tell him or not, Daniel?" Mildred asked. Daniel's gaze moved to the door. "Mildred-" "He's downstairs," she reminded him. "Keeping an eye on Miss Holt. You have to tell him." "I can't risk his shutting me out of his life, Mildred," Daniel insisted. He stifled a cough, bringing his handkerchief up. "Excuse me. Time for my medicine." Mildred watched the other bedroom door close behind him as Remington and Laura returned. "How'd it go, Miss Holt?" she asked. "Wonderfully," Laura said, laughing. "That was fun!" she said. "Where's Daniel?" Remington asked. "He - had to take care of something in the bedroom, Mr. Steele," Mildred said. "What happened?" "O'Malley fell for it hook, line and sinker," Laura announced. "I'm meeting him in an hour to go to meet with my broker friend." "Your broker friend," Mildred repeated. "What broker friend?" "Bernard," Remington said. Mildred's eyes were huge. "Bernard? *My* Bernard?" ********** As he watched Laura and Terrance O'Malley leave the hotel, Remington went to the telephones and dialed a number. "They're on their way," he announced. "Don't worry. Everything will be fine. Just remember to follow Miss Holt's lead." Hanging up, he made another call. "Bring the limo out front, please, Fred. Ten minutes." He went to desk, getting the clerk's attention. "Yes, sir?" "We'll be checking out," he told the man. "If you could send someone up for our luggage -" "Right away, Mr. van der Haven." ********** Once Bernard explained how much Corrigan Industries shares were selling for at the moment, and what the prediction was for *after* any announcement was to be made regarding Haven Enterprises, Terrance placed the briefcase containing his five hundred thousand dollars and Tracey's twenty thousand onto the desk and opened it. "There's a over five hundred thousand here, Bernard," he said. "Whatever that will buy, I want it." Bernard made a show of counting the stacks of bills. Satisfied, he picked up a telephone and made the call, telling his contact to purchase fifty thousand shares of Corrigan Industries stock in the name of Terrance O'Malley. He confirmed the purchase, and the current market price, then wrote Terrance a receipt for the amount, signing the name "Bernard K. Nusbaum" in an illegible hand. "There you go, Mr. O'Malley. As soon as anything happens, I'll give you a call -" "Just hope it's soon," O'Malley confessed to Tracey as they got into the cab to return to the hotel. "I borrowed the bulk of that money, and if I don't have it back in a couple of days, -" "A loan shark, Terrance?" Tracey asked. "Why put so much into this if you didn't have the cash?" "Greed," Terrance admitted. "Pure, unadulterated greed." At the hotel, they got onto the elevator together, and when it stopped on his floor, he held the door open. "You'll let me know as soon as you hear that the contract's signed?" "The very moment," Tracey promised. She took the elevator to the top floor, then got off and took the stairs down to the lobby, going out to curb, where the limo was waiting, having just arrived from retrieving Bernard from the rented office. "We did it!" she said, laughing as Daniel opened a bottle of champagne and poured four glasses. "To success," Remington suggested. "Success!" the others chimed in, clicking glasses together. "You should have seen Bernard here," Laura told them, as the young man blushed beneath her praise. "He was brilliant." "Thank you, Miss Holt," he said. "Could I ask you to drop me back at my *real* office? I have an appointment for this afternoon -" "Of course, Bernard, of course," Remington said. "Fred, Bernard's office, please." "Yes, Mr. Steele." Laura picked up the telephone. "Who are you calling, Miss Holt?" Mildred wanted to know. "Mrs. Hughes. I think she'll be relieved when we tell her we've recovered her money." Remington took the telephone from her hand and hung it up. "That can wait, surely, Laura," he said. "We still have to celebrate. I'll make reservations at Che Rive for the four of us- you will join us, won't you, Mildred?" Mildred looked at Daniel before answering. "I wouldn't miss it, Mr. Steele," she told him. "But-" Laura insisted, reaching for the telephone again, only to have Daniel stop her this time. "Harry's right, my dear. Time enough tomorrow to worry about such mundane matters. Tonight is reserved for celebrating the successful resolution to your case. Relax, Laura," he said softly. "Relaxation isn't one of Laura's strong suits, Daniel," Remington pointed out, his gaze on Laura's hand in Daniel's. "All though I had *hoped* we were making progress on that little problem." Mildred smiled as she listened to them begin the light back and forth banter that meant Laura had taken his bait. "At least I know when it's time to work," she countered. "Unlike some people who don't show up at the office until after ten and leave four hours later." Remington grabbed the telephone and dialed the number for the restaurant. "Claude? Remington Steele here . . . Yes, as a matter of fact . . . Four." He glanced at his watch. "Oh, around eight?. . . Thank you." He hung up. "That should give everyone more than enough time to get ready." ********** When he didn't hear from Tracey by five, Terrance found himself pacing in the lobby. Finally, he picked up the telephone and pulled the slip of paper with Bernard's number out, dialing the number. There was no answer, and Terrance hung up. Turning to the desk, he asked the clerk, "Excuse me, but could you tell me if Tracey van der Haven is in?" The clerk frowned. "I'm sorry, but the van der Havens checked out this afternoon, Mr. O'Malley." "Checked out? They- left?" "Yes, sir. Mr. van der Haven mentioned something about his business here not going as well as he'd hoped." Terrance felt a cold chill go down his spine. He moved stiffly to the lobby, sitting down in a chair. Someone sat down across from him, opening an evening edition of the newspaper. One of the headlines brought Terrance to the edge of his seat. "Corrigan Industries Closes Doors." Jumping to his feet, Terrance found a newsstand and slapped a quarter into the attendant's hand, grabbing a paper as he went out to flag down a cab. Giving the driver the address of Bernard's office, Terrance read the article three times. There was no mention of Haven Industries, nothing about a possible last minute buy out. Corrigan had closed the plant, laying off the entire work force, and would sell the property, which would no doubt be used to construct condominiums. Bernard's name was no longer on the door of the office, and the door was unlocked. There was no sign that anyone had been using the place, Terrance realized. Someone passed in the corridor, stopping to ask, "You looking for an office?" "No, but I was looking for the man who was here today- Bernard-" He found the receipt. "Bernard K. Nusbaum? He was a stock broker-" "Sorry, pal. Never heard of him. This place has been empty for six months." When Terrance sat heavily in the single chair in the room, the man frowned in concern. "You okay?" "No. No, I'm not." He'd been taken. Terrance Patrick Shaunessy O'Malley had been taken by a little slip of a girl - and he didn't even know her real name. But she was good. A half million dollars, gone - and most of it not even his. Terrance was on his feet and out the door again, knowing that he had to get out of Los Angeles while he still had the chance. Before the loan shark he'd borrowed the money from got wind of the news about Corrigan. ********** It was almost time for Remington to pick him up when Daniel realized that he needed a refill on one of his medicines. Sighing, he picked up the offending bottle and headed downstairs to the pharmacy that was located within the hotel. As he waited for the vial to be refilled, he missed seeing Remington cross the lobby and slap the elevator button. Remington knocked on Daniel's door, frowning when there wasn't any response. Daniel was expecting him- they had agreed to meet here then go on to gather Laura. Mildred had decided to drive herself to the restaurant, not wanting to inconvenience the others. Pulling the leather pouch from his pocket, he quickly worked the lock and entered the room. "Daniel?" he called, closing the door behind him. The living area was empty- as was the bedroom. "Daniel?" he called again, "It's Harry." He noticed that the bathroom door was open, and peeked inside. There were several pill bottles on the counter beside the sink - all with Daniel's name on them. Remington realized that Daniel's cough was much more than he had let on, and he kept one of the bottles as he returned to the living area to sit down on the couch to wait for Daniel's return. To Be Continued----
