Part 8 : Laura and Remington go to the
ballet and there the pursuit of the suspects begins.
The theatre was filled. From the box, Laura, with binoculars,
tried to locate in the pit, the couple they were supposed to follow
and discover if they were selling information to a competing company
or another country. She inspected the people, seat by seat, with
great attention, while Remington watched her and thought of how
beautiful she looked in that blue dress which had always had a
great impact on him. Suddenly, Laura interrupted his thoughts,
saying, "Look, look, there they are, they just entered the
third row."
Remington, somewhat annoyed at having to watch and pretend to
be interested in the case, took the binoculars and tried to show
he was interested and observant. "Mmm, yes, it seems they
are in the heat of romance, don't you think?"
"Well, OK, we could approach them in intermission to see
if they make contact with someone. This is a good place to exchange
things, in front of everyone, without anyone suspecting since
there are ambassadors and officials here. You see important people
and nobody is surprised."
"OK, Laura, you're right, now let's enjoy the ballet."
"Before that, just let me see who's next to them." Remington
gave her the binoculars. When Laura sets out to do something
she is tremendously tedious, she leaves nothing to chance,
he though.
"Hmm, isn't that the Secretary to the Russian Embassy?"
"No, I don't think so, I think you're confused. If memory
serves me correctly, at the last ballet, the ambassadors and diplomats
were in the pit on the other side."
While the lights were dimming, Remington took Laura by the shoulders
and smoothly removed the binoculars, "Miss Holt, didn't we
say we were going to try to mix business with pleasure?"
"Yes, I believe that's what we said but we have to do our
work so that then we can dedicate ourselves to pleasure, don't
you agree Mr Steele?"
"It seems we can now enjoy the ballet, those two aren't going
anywhere right now! What do you think Miss Holt," he said,
moving closer to her, whispering in her ear and placing his lips
against her neck.
Laura trembled slightly and sweetly acceded and moved her head
so that he could continue kissing her neck.
He took her by the hand while the overture of Prokofiev's Romeo
and Juliet began . . .
The main hall was filled with all types of people. While Remington
went to the bar to look for two glasses of champagne, Laura tried
to locate the couple so that she could stick close by.
"Good Evening Mr Steele, here is your champagne, as usual."
"Thank you Jacques. There are more diplomats here than usual,
no?"
"Yes, Mr Steele.. It's because the lead ballerina is Russian
and it's the first time she has danced here in the United States."
"Ah, I see, thank you Jacques."
Remington went back to Laura thinking, Right, today all these
diplomats had to come. This is going to put Laura into a very
changed frame of thinking, about international conspiracy and
surely at this very moment she has already detected various possible
diplomats who would make these types of transactions. What bad
luck that something always complicates matters!!
Indeed, his fears were not in vain. When he approached Laura
she was making gestures for him to approach quicker. "Finally
Mr Steele, look, today half the Russian Embassy is here, don't
you think that's suspicious, that this happened today?"
"Yes, indeed, Miss Holt, but I consulted with our specialized
informant, Jacques, and he told me that the Lead Ballerina is
Russian and it's her first time in the United States."
"Yes, that's right, but this lets our, you know, our couple,
come right to them, don't you think Mr Steele?"
"Yes Miss Holt, completely. Where are they?" He said,
taking a sip of champagne.
"Right in front of me. You didn't think I'd lose sight of
them, did you?"
"No, I never for a moment suspected that you would lose them!"
"There they are, kissing one another and caressing all the
time. They don't seem very concerned about looking for someone
with whom to communicate. It seems the only communication they
are seeking is with each other, hmm?"
"Yes Miss Holt," he said before Laura did it, "It
could be a way of hiding ones true intentions. And incidently,
why don't we do the same to try and hide our intentions a little?"
he said slyly.
"What are you referring to Mr Steele, hide what?" she
responded, also slyly, trying to intimate that she hadn't understood
what he was suggesting.
"Well, Miss Holt," he said, approaching her and taking
her by the waist, "I was referring to something like this,"
as he caressed her cheek and his lips descended towards hers.
"But Mr Steele, that wouldn't be very professional, don't
you agree?" she said, responding to his kisses with a smile.
While they were kissing and hugging, the couple they were watching
began to move to another part of the hall. Laura abruptly broke
off their embrace to follow them, "Come on Mr Steele, we
don't want to lose sight of them!"
With a resigned face Remington followed, thinking to himself,
Great, it was you who invented the game, now you have to play
it to the end.
The couple went to the entrance of the pit and were directed to
their seats, "Laura let's go back to the box, we can see
them from there."
"You go to the box Mr Steele, I'm going to try and see the
pit a little more closely."
They separated and Remington went directly to the box, praying
that Laura's proverbial efficiency wouldn't discover the plan
too quickly. Once in the box, he observed Laura walking unenthusiastically,
observing each movement of the couple, sweetly and absolutely
absorbed from the rest of the world. When the lights began to
switch on and off, announcing the end of intermission, Laura hurried
back up to the theatre box, somewhat disappointed by not having
seen any suspicious movement or any contact with other people.
How strange, she thought while returning to the theatre
box, they seem like a couple SO in love, not like a spy or
something. It doesn't seem like they were involved in something
obscure or unusual.
She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she was surprised
when, on entering the box, Remington took her in his arms to kiss
her passionately.
"Mr Steele, what are you doing? Why aren't you watching our
suspects so that they don't escape us?" And she released
herself quickly from his embrace in order to sit in the box and
be able to continue observing the couple.
"OK," Remington sighed in resignation, he sat and prepared
to enjoy the second part of the ballet.
"Don't you think it's weird??" she whispered in his
ear, "It wouldn't be some sort of trap or something to divert
our attention would it? There's something that won't let me close
in on all of this."
Remington swallowed, thinking, How difficult it is to deceive
Laura, her sense of smell is already telling her that there's
something going on behind all of this, she won't be convinced
so easily!!
"It's OK," he said, "Perhaps we're mistaken
and this is just a business sale to another company and not to
another country and in reality the transaction will take place
over dinner. Perhaps they're also taking advantage of the opportunity
to mix business with pleasure, don't you think?"
"It could be, but..." The occupants of the neighboring
box asked them to be quiet and they both fell silent and paid
attention to the ballet.
No sooner had the ballet finished than they both left quickly
to wait for the couple and follow them to the restaurant. Their
limousine was at the door waiting for them. They saw the couple
get into a car and began to follow them.
To Be Continued . . .