To Steal a Steele

Part Six

Laura's eyes were closed, and Remington lifted his hand to touch her cheek. "Laura?"
She opened her eyes. "Did he tell you?"
"You had a close call. But you're going to be fine," he told her, taking her hand in his.
"What did Dr. Howe say?"
"That I'm lucky I have such a hard head," he said, and was rewarded with a smile. "He's going to keep me here overnight-"
"But if we're both here, who's going to prove that you didn't kill Felicia?"
"Ssh. We're not going to discuss that right now. What did you find out about our Mary Poppins?"
"She's perfect," Laura told him, smiling at his words. "Everyone of her references checked out."
"Then you're satisfied with her? You think she can take care of the children when we're not around?"
"I know she can," Laura said.
"Then I'll have Mildred call her. Shall I call your mother?"
"I'm supposed to avoid stress, remember?" Laura reminded him. "Besides, she's on the East Coast, visiting some friends. And I think Frances and Donald are at a dental convention in Hawaii this week."
"That's right. I'd forgotten. Must be the bump on the head. Hopefully, you'll be right as rain by the time they return." He brought her hand to his lips, watching the small video screen near the bed. He narrowed his eyes. "Is that-"
"Your son and daughter," she told him.
He watched the monitor in silence for a moment, then said softly. "I'm sorry, Laura. Sorry I caused all of this-"
"You didn't-"
"I promise that once this is over, I'm going to donate every one of those bloody paintings to an art gallery-"
"No, you won't. We'll just have to install a security system in the rest of the house that's half as good as the one in the gallery," she said with a smile. The nurse returned.
"I think they're ready to take you up to your room," he told her. "I'll see you later. Get some rest."
"I'll try," she told him. "I just wish I knew why someone had gone to all this trouble to frame you," she said.
"Later, Laura." He touched his lips to hers. "Later." He watched as they wheeled the bed past Jessica toward the larger elevators.
"She'll be fine, Remington," Jessica said reassuringly.
"I hope so. Where's Antony?"
"He went for some coffee." As she spoke, that man returned. "That was quick," she commented.
"Never got to the machine," he told her. "Lt. Jarvis is in the hospital, Steele. He's looking for you- and he's got a couple of officers with him. It's a sure thing that he's not here to just ask you some questions."
"Then I'll be going back up to Dr. Howe's office," Remington decided.
"A good idea. He can't arrest you if the doctor insists that you need to be hospitalized," Jessica told him. "Antony and I will wait here and see if we can't detain him."
"Don't get yourself in any trouble," Remington warned.
"Nonsense. As your attorney, he HAS to answer my questions as to why he wants to talk to you." She looked down the corridor. "You'd better go, Remington. I see them."
Instead of waiting for the elevator, Remington ducked into the stairway and started the climb toward the third floor.

"Why, Lt. Jarvis," Jessica said. "What a surprise to see you here."
"Miss Beecham. Mr. Roselli. You wouldn't happen to know where I could find Mr. Steele, would you?"
"I believe they're admitting him into the hospital, Lieutenant. The doctor wants to keep an eye on him for the night, at least. He thinks Remington has a hairline skull fracture as the result of a blow to the head."
"A blow to the head. Who's his doctor?"
"Dr.-" she looked at Tony. "What was that name Antony?"
"Not sure I remember."
"Well, it should be pretty easy to find out," Jarvis said. "I'll just check with admissions."
"Why do you want to see my brother, Lieutenant?"
"We just got the ballistics report on the gun that was found in his hand. It's the murder weapon. And the only fingerprints on it are his."
"That still doesn't mean anything," Tony pointed out. "It would have been easy for the real murderer to wipe the gun and put it into Steele's hand after he hit him."
"IF he was hit as he claims."
"He was, Lt. Jarvis."
Jarvis looked around. "Where is Laura?"

Dr. Mitch Howe looked at the police detective. "I'm sorry, Lt. Jarvis, but I can't allow you to question my patient. Mr. Steele has a concussion- the result of a blow to the head. I've scheduled several tests to check for permanant damage-"
"I've already talked to Mr. Steele," Jarvis pointed out. "He didn't seem 'damaged' to me."
"Ah, but you're not a doctor, are you, Lt. Jarvis?"
"Look, Dr. Howe, I've got a murder on my hands, and at the moment, Remington Steele is my only suspect. And even if he's NOT guilty, he's a material witness. So even if he stays here, I'm going to leave an officer on duty outside his room."
"That's your choice. But my professional opinion is that Remington Steele was unconcious for some time after being struck. And I've already forwarded a copy of the examination report to your superiors."
Jarvis turned to one of the officers with him. "Sweeney, park yourself outside of Mr. Steele's door. No one enters or leaves without permission. And if Steele tries to leave, let me know."
"Lieutenant, Mr. Steele's wife was admitted earlier to the obstetrics wing. She needs reassurance right now. And Mr. Steele's presence when she needs him is imperative to her recovery. I've already given Mr. Steele permission to go to the fourth floor to visit her."
"You're to accompany him everywhere he goes, Sweeny," Jarvis said. "Happy now, Doctor?"


Mildred was bent over her computer terminal, reading something when Tony and Jessica returned. "How's Mr and Mrs. Steele?" she asked.
"Laura's resting comfortably," Jessica assured her. "Remington was having a test of some sort when we left, and then he planned to go and sit with her for awhile."
Tony perched on the edge of the desk. "Found anything?"
"I keep getting stonewalled on the information you brought back from Harwood Electronics," she said. "But I did a thorough check on all of the help that worked that party last night. All of them checked out- except for one." She typed something into the computer and a photograph of a pretty, blonde girl appeared. "Louise Grubeck. She only hired on with Domestic Temps two days before Mr. Steele had me call them. The address she gave is false, so is the drivers liscense number and social security number."
"Did she report for work this morning?" Jessica asked.
"Nope."
"Didn't the agency check her out?"
"She was supposedly highly recommended."
"By who?"
"You're gonna love this. Charles Harwood."
Jessica sent Tony a look. "I think it's time to have a little chat with Mr. Harwood, Antony."
"Yeah. He avoided me all morning-"
"But you're sure he was there? He wasn't at the Savoy-?"
Tony shook his head. "I kept an eye on his office the entire time. He never left."
"This doesn't make any sense. Remington told us that Felicia was frightened of a man, not a woman."
"He said that Felicia said 'they'. " Tony pointed out.
"Maybe a man put this Louise Grubeck up to stealing the painting," Mildred suggested.
Tony stood and started for the doors. "Where are you going, Antony?"
"To talk to Charles Harwood," he told her.
"Mildred, call Katherine and Robert, let them know about Laura and Remington," Jessica said, following Tony. "Antony, wait-"
Mildred picked up the telephone and dialed Katherine's number as she typed another search into the computer. She had the feeling that she'd seen Louise Grubeck somewhere before. And she was determined to find out where.


"May I help you, young man?" the old woman asked.
Lt. Jarvis showed her his badge. "Lt. Jarvis, LAPD. I'm trying to find some information about a gun that was pawned here and recently purchased."
"A gun, Lieutenant? I do hope no one was hurt. I've tried to convince my Bernie- that's my son, that he shouldn't sell those things, but he insists that they make money."
"Well, yes. This isn't about Bernie-you son's firearm license, ma'am. I just want to know if he sold a twenty-two caliber pistol recently- serial number-" he read the number from his notes.
"A twenty two? Let me see. I seem to recall-" she flipped through the file cabinet with knarled fingers. "What was that number again, Lieutenant?" He reread it for her. She drew a paper out of the cabinet. "Oh, my. I sold that gun just this morning."
"YOU sold it?"
"The young man who bought it was so charming, so handsome. I just didn't have the heart to turn him down-"
"Who bought it, ma'am?"
She looked again at the paper. "His name was - Remington Steele," she told him.
"May I see that paper?"
"Of course. I hope he's all right. He seemed quite upset. I know I probably shouldn't have sold the gun to him, but he told me that someone was threatening his wife, and he was worried about her. He didn't do anything-foolish, did he?"
Jarvis responded absently. "He might have, ma'am. He just might have."
After Jarvis left, the woman waited until she was sure they were gone, then turned to the door to the back room., removing the mask she had been wearing, then the white wig to reveal a much younger woman. She handed the man who was there some money. "Thank you. And remember, if they come back and ask to talk to your mother, she's gone to visit her sister in Canada, and you can't get in touch with her."
The man counted the money. "For this kinda money, honey, I'll say she went to the moon."