Harry rolled over in bed, intending
to pull Laura close to his side. But his hand encountered cool
sheets and an empty bed. "Laura?" he called out, but
the room echoed back only silence. If it weren't for the indentation
on the other pillow, he would have begun to wonder if she'd been
there at all or if he had simply dreamed being with her again
after so long.
Running his hands through his hair, he sat up. What had he done?
Taking advantage of her that way was unforgivable. Of course,
he didn't remember her trying to stop him. She'd responded to
him as a drowning woman being thrown a lifeline. But that didn't
make it anymore right, and he knew that. "Damn," he
muttered in self-directed anger. Glancing at the clock, he realized
that he was supposed to be at Lucas Hepplewhite's in two hours.
He had to focus on the case, get it finished without making any
more mistakes.
But how the HELL was he going to face Laura after last night?
Carlos met Tony at the airport. "Where is she?" Tony
asked, tossing his bags into Carlos' Chevy that had seen better
days.
"Well, she left the hotel around four this morning,"
Carlos told him. "She didn't look real happy, either. I put
Miguel on to watch Chalmers. Last he reported in, Chalmers was
still at his hotel."
"Where did Laura go?" Tony wanted to know, not liking
the idea that she'd stayed almost all night in "Chalmer's"
hotel room.
"Back to her place, then to the office. She was there last
time I checked. But something's going on. I think she's got an
important case she's working on."
"Thanks. Drop me off at the Wilshire Arms, okay?"
"You're the boss."
Laura hung up the telephone and looked up at Mildred. "The
jet just took off from Mexico City. It should be here in a couple
of hours. You need to leave for the Customs office before that."
"I'll be there, hon, don't worry," Mildred assured her,
watching her closely. "What's wrong?"
"Wrong? Nothing's wrong."
"Hey, this is me you're talking to, remember? You look as
if you didn't get much sleep last night."
"I didn't," Laura admitted, refusing to dwell on the
reason she hadn't slept. Those few hours in Harry's arms had been
wonderful. Until he'd fallen asleep and reality had fallen in
on her like a ton of bricks. How had she ever let herself fall
back under the spell of those blue eyes and smarmy charm? She
should never have gone to see him, should have kept her distance.
At least until after today, after the gems were safe. Once he
had the gems, he'd be gone again. She was certain of that. He
couldn't stay in one place for more than a few years. Hadn't he
proved that when he'd left twelve years ago? The reasons he'd
given had been nothing but an excuse for him to return to his
former profession, to leave Laura and everyone here behind.
"Laura?"
She saw Mildred's concerned look and tried to smile. "I'm
fine, Mildred. Just spent all night worrying about today, that's
all."
"You know, I think you need a vacation," Mildred told
her. "You haven't taken ANY time off in over a year."
"I went to Connecticut at Christmas last year," Laura
reminded her.
"That doesn't count. We ALL went somewhere at Christmas.
I'm talking about some time away from the agency and everything.
Time just for you."
"I wouldn't know where to go, Mildred," Laura sighed.
"And it's far too busy for me to just pick and go."
"After today, I think I can handle whatever comes up for
at least a long weekend, honey. You can take Friday and Monday-
why not go to Acapulco? Or Reno? You could do some skiing."
"No, thank you, Mildred. But I'll think about it. I promise.
You'd better get going, okay?"
Mildred nodded. "I just have to finish a couple of things
in my office first, and then I'm outta here."
Laura had turned to look out of the window, and Mildred frowned
deeply as she closed her office door. Something was wrong, and
she had a good idea what the problem was. She picked up the telephone
and dialed the number for the Wilshire Arms, asking for Harry's
room. "Hello?" he answered, as if worried about who
might be calling.
"Good morning, Harry," Mildred said, and heard the relief
in his sigh. "Thought I'd call to see how you were doing
this morning."
"Fine, Mildred," he assured her quickly. TOO quickly,
she thought. "Just fine. Uh- tell me, - you haven't seen
Laura today, have you?"
"Yes, I have. She's just in the next office. And she's not
in any better shape than you are, by the sound of it. What's going
on, Harry?"
"Going on, Mildred? She didn't tell you?"
"All she told me was that she didn't sleep because she was
worrying about today."
"Ahh. I see. That's understandable. I had the same problem.
Couldn't sleep a wink. Tossed and turned 'til dawn." Mildred
heard a knock on the door. "I've got to go, Mildred, I think
breakfast is here. See you later, okay?"
"Yeah. Later," Mildred agreed, shaking her head as she
hung up. Time to get the show on the road. SOMEthing had happened
between those two last night- and neither one wanted to talk about
it. Well, once this today was finished, she'd get the truth out
of them, even if she had to handcuff them together to do it.
"Just a second," Harry called out, hanging up the telephone
as the knocking sounded again. He was going to have to speak to
the bellhop about the tie between patience and generous tips,
he supposed, wincing as he worried that the wood of the door might
give way beneath the force of the blows. "Coming, coming,"
he said, opening the door at last with a smile. "In a hurry
today, are we?" he asked jokingly, only to have his smile
freeze and fade away as Tony Roselli pushed past him into the
suite. "Come in, Antony. Make yourself at home."
Tony, as usual, didn't bother with pleasantries. He was barely
in the room when he turned and shoved a finger into Harry's chest.
"What the HELL are you doing back here, Steele, or Chalmers,
or whatever you're calling yourself now? Laura was just getting
over you, over what you did to her when you left her like you
did. And now there's no telling how long it's gonna take her to
recover from this little 'visit'."
If Mildred hadn't told him that Tony was still sniffing around
after Laura, Harry might have been surprised to see the man here.
But she had, and he was determined to keep his temper in check
where the man was concerned. It wouldn't do anyone any good for
the two of them to finish what they'd started in an Irish village
thirteen years ago. He closed the door softly. "Hello to
you, too, Antony. You're looking well, all things considered,
I suppose." There was another knock on the door. "Ah,
that will be my breakfast- care to join me?" he asked, opening
the door and stepping aside for the bellhop, then signing the
ticket. "Thank you," he said pleasantly.
"You haven't changed at all, have you? Still playing the
high roller, letting that huge ego call the shots. You've lost
Laura, Steele," Tony said. "You lost her the day you
left twelve years ago."
"I wouldn't be too sure about that, Antony," Harry said,
pouring a cup of tea for himself. "And the name's Chalmers
now. Harry Chalmers. I've got a birth certificate to prove it.
So if you think you're going to cause problems with immigration,
go ahead and try. But I'm sure you've got better ways to spend
your time."
"Yeah. Like protecting Laura from you." He looked through
the doorway, and then headed in that direction. Harry followed,
watching as Tony drug a suitcase from the closet and began throwing
clothes into it.
"What do you think you're doing?" he asked, lounging
in the doorway.
"Escorting you to the airport and onto a plane back to London,"
Tony informed him as he worked.
"I've a place in Ireland, actually," Harry informed
him.
"Fine. Then we'll send you to Dublin. As long as you leave
Los Angeles, I don't care." He fastened the latches on the
case and stood up.
"Sorry to disappoint you, Antony, old boy, but I'm not going
anywhere. I've got business to finish before I leave. Then, it
will be Laura's decision whether or not I go. Not yours."
Tony grabbed the case in a tighter grip, then placed a hand on
Harry's arm. "I don't give a damn about any business. You're
going. Now."
Harry easily turned Tony, pressing him back against the other
door, arm at his throat. "I don't think so." Tony dropped
the case and pulled at Harry's arm. Harry released him just enough
to turn Tony's arm behind him, twisting it as he led his visitor
to the door. "Now, I really hate to end our reunion, mate,
but I've got things to do. We'll talk later, I'm sure."
"Yeah. I'm sure we will, Chalmers," Tony agreed angrily
as Harry shoved him into the hallway and closed the door. "Just
watch your back, Chalmers," he called out, then stalked off
down the corridor, rubbing his aching shoulder.
Laura sighed as she typed a search into the computer. He'd sounded
so certain last night that he was operating a legitimate business.
Maybe if she could find something to refute that claim, it would
help.
"Miss Holt," Clarice said through the intercom, "You
have to be at the airport in half an hour."
"Call Fred with the limo, please," Laura said, her eyes
on the screen as the search progressed. The machine beeped, letting
her know it was finished. "Dear God," she breathed.
Not only was HC Retrievals well known, the company had pulled
in almost six million in American dollars last year alone. Home
office in Dublin, other offices in London, Paris, Rome, Hong Kong-,
Laura lifted her brows at that one. Twelve full time employees,
varying numbers of part time as need arose. Wholly owned and operated
by Harrison Chalmers of Glen Carey, Ireland. He'd been telling
her the truth. Even the French police endorsed the operation.
Scotland Yard was more reserved, but as long as Harry notified
them about his work, they tended to look the other way.
"Laura, we gotta talk," Tony said, drawing her attention
away from the computer.
Laura blinked as she looked up to see him standing before her
desk. "Tony. I thought you were on an assignment?"
"I was. Till I found out that HE was back."
"Miss Holt, Fred's waiting downstairs," Clarice told
her.
"Thank you, Clarice, tell him I'll be right there."
Laura picked up her coat, purse and hat. "I can't talk now,
Tony, I'm working on a case. We'll talk later."
"Laura-," Tony insisted, frustrated at being put off.
"Clarice, see that Mr. Roselli gets some coffee, please.
He looks like he could use it."
"I don't want coffee," Tony told her, following her
from the office. "I want to talk. Have you seen him?"
"Seen who?" Laura asked as the elevator doors opened.
"You know who," Tony said, aware of the others in the
car with them.
"Yes, I have. We- talked. Last night."
Tony waited for the elevator to stop in the garage and got out
with her. "Just talked?" he asked.
"Look, Tony, I really have to go," she insisted. "Mr.
Hepplewhite's expecting me."
"Hepplewhite? You mean Lucas Hepplewhite?"
It was Laura's turn to look confused. "Yes. Why?"
"You're working for Hepplewhite? What are you doing?"
Laura glanced at her watch. "Making sure some gems he bought
gets to his house."
"Gems?"
Laura pushed him into the car ahead of her. "Mr. Hepplewhite's
Fred," she ordered. "And don't worry about the tickets
today, okay?"
"Yes, Miss Holt."
She looked at Tony again. "Now, WHAT is wrong with Mr. Hepplewhite?
He seems a harmless, lonely little old man who probably spends
more than he should on valuable art and gemstones."
Tony sat back. "Look, I don't want to talk about Hepplewhite
right now. I need to know what's going on between you and Steele."
"He's not Remington Steele anymore, Tony," Laura said.
"His name's Harry Chalmers."
"Yeah. So he says. Answer the question."
"I will- once you tell me about Lucas Hepplewhite."
By the time the limo picked up Lucas Hepplewhite, Laura was alone
in the back seat. She smiled warmly at her client, assuring him
that all was going according to schedule. Lucas frowned as he
glanced at the driver. "That's not the same chauffeur as
you had before, is it, Miss Holt?"
"No," Laura admitted, ready for this question. "My
regular driver was ill today. This is his brother. Tony."
Tony pulled the cap farther down on his face as he nodded and
started the engine. Lucas eyed him curiously. "Well, I suppose
I can't say very much. As long as you've checked him out, that's
what matters."
"Oh, believe me, Mr. Hepplewhite. Tony's VERY trustworthy.
I've known him for years."
"Is Miss Krebs at the airport?" Lucas asked.
"She arrived moments ago and is waiting for the jet to land.
She'll probably be leaving as we're arriving. I was wondering,
Mr. Hepplewhite," she began, but Lucas placed a hand over
hers.
"Lucas, please, my dear."
Laura met Tony's eyes in the rear view mirror, and smiled. "Lucas,
do you have anyone available to authenticate the Lavulite once
we get it to the house? Just to make sure that we've succeeded."
"Strange that you should ask, but the representative from
the insurance company arrived yesterday to inspect the house."
"Really?" Laura questioned. "I wish you'd mentioned
it to me, Mr. - Lucas," she amended, noticing that Tony glowered
everytime she used the man's first name. "I would have liked
to have checked him out."
"I checked with the insurance company myself," Lucas
assured her smoothly. "They assured me that Mr. James was
indeed in their employ and gave me an accurate description of
the man."
"Mr. James?"
"Yes. Stuart James. Seems a bit on the reserved side for
an insurance man, but he appears to be more than competent. And
he's an expert gemologist. He'll be waiting for us at the house
when we return."
Laura sat back. Stuart James. James- Stewart. It had to be Harry.
"I'll look forward to meeting him," she said, ignoring
Tony's glare in the mirror. So that was his plan. Pretending to
be an insurance agent, and once he got his hands on the Lavulite,
no doubt he would switch them for fakes and keep the real ones,
declaring the fakes to be the real gems.
And it was her job to stop him. The problem was, after hearing
Tony's story about Lucas Hepplewhite, she wasn't sure she WANTED
to stop him anymore.
TO BE CONTINUED>>>