As soon as she heard the door lock
behind them, Laura moved to where Harry was laying on the floor.
"Are you all right?" she asked, straining, trying to
free her hands. Flynn's men had pushed them into this windowless
cubby hole without regard for any injuries they might have inflicted
on Harry the previous evening.
Harry nodded, grimacing as he sat up. "You?"
Laura sat beside him. "Angry as hell, but other than that,
I'm fine."
Noticing her attempts to free herself, he moved out from the wall.
"Get behind me. Let's see if you can't get these ropes off."
He let Laura try first to free his wrists. "If you get a
chance to run, I want you to take it."
"I'm not-" she paused, concentrating, "leaving
without - you, Harry," she told him.
He felt the rope loosen, turned to untie Laura's bonds. "There
we go," he said, watching her rub her chafed wrists. His
blue eyes were serious. "Laura, this isn't a game. Flynn's
dangerous. He doesn't know who you are-"
"Yes, he does, Harry," Laura insisted. "He called
me 'Holt's daughter'." She stood up. Harry frowned. He had
been hoping that she hadn't picked up on that. "Which brings
me to wonder how someone like Flynn would know my father. And
what was that comment about not conning a con man?"
Harry shot her a quieting glance. "There's probably a guard
out there," he reminded her, sitting back down, wincing as
his bruised ribs reminded him of their existence. "Besides,
this isn't exactly the time for this, Laura." His eyes moved
over the small room, silently noting the lack of windows, and
the fact that the only door was made of metal and opened out-
and that there was no way to open it from inside. They were in
a warehouse storeroom of some kind, he reasoned, looking up at
the dim bulb that provided scant illumination of their cell.
"I think it's the *perfect* time," Laura declared. "We
seem to have plenty of it." She stood there, hands on her
hips, looking down at him. "Is that all you're going to to
do? Just *sit* there?"
"What would you suggest?" He held out his hand, and
when she ignored it, he patted the floor beside him. "Sit
down like a good girl."
"I don't *want* to sit down," she told him. "I
want *out* of here. I want someone to answer my questions-"
"Well, maybe if you didn't ask so many of them, someone could,"
Harry said, only half teasing.
Laura gave a frustrated sigh and slid down beside Harry. "At
the moment, I just want to know how Daddy's mixed up in all this,"
she said miserably.
Harry put his arm around her, focusing on the far wall as he weighed
his options. If he told her the truth, and they got of this alive,
Mitchell would in all likelihood kill him. On the other hand,
Laura was up to her pretty little neck in this mess- and whether
or not she survived just might depend on the information she had
at hand.
Harry's arm tightened around her as he made his decision. "I
want you to listen to me. Let me tell you the entire story before
you start asking questions, okay?"
Laura nodded. "Okay."
"There's a lot about your father that you don't know, Laura.
He wasn't always just a security man." When she opened her
mouth to speak, Harry shook his head. "Uh-uh. The first time
I met your father, I was thirteen, I think. And he'd known Daniel
for a few years already." Laura drew her knees up to rest
her chin on as she listened. "According to Daniel, Mitchell
was what's known as a 'retriever'." Seeing the curiosity
in her eyes, he explained, "A retriever is someone who finds
and returns stolen or lost items to their owner for a reward -
even if he has to steal them again." She frowned at the idea
that her father might have done something illegal. "Most
of the time, they're free agents, hiring out to whoever has the
money to pay their price. Mitchell was on the payroll for your
government." He smiled when her eyes widened in surprise.
"He would go in whenever state secrets were stolen, artifacts-
even a person or two, I believe. And he was very good at it. Daniel
said if he'd ever decided to jump the fence, Mitchell could have
been better than anyone he'd ever known."
Harry looked down at her. "You'll have to ask the two of
them the details of their first meeting. But apparently Mitchell
and Daniel decided to break into the safe of someone high in the
Eastern European scheme of things. And they did it on the same
night, unknown to each other. Mitchell caught Daniel in the act,
so to speak." Harry thought Laura might burst as she struggled
with her curiosity. "No questions," he reminded her.
"Mitchell needed to retrieve the documents that the man was
going to pass on to his superiors, and Daniel was there for the
diamonds the man kept in the safe. They each took what they came
for, and left together. After that, Daniel learned to keep an
eye out for Mitchell - usually arriving just after Mitchell got
the safe open for his cut."
"I'm sorry, Harry. I have to ask: Why didn't Daddy turn Daniel
in?"
"Too much publicity," Harry reminded her. "And
Daniel knew what Mitchell was up to, remember? Daniel wasn't above
a bit of blackmail to retain his freedom." He saw Laura frown.
"But they developed a rather curious partnership just the
same. Daniel could get the two of them in anywhere - your father
could open any safe he got his hands on. And Mitchell never touched
a dime of what Daniel took." Harry looked at the far wall
again. "Then the bottom fell out. They got inside, got the
safe open, but things went sour. Someone was waiting for them,
stole the documents that your father was supposed to retrieve.
Those documents caused the death of several government agents,
and it appeared for a few months as though Mitchell had sold them
out. He went back to Los Angeles on the advice of his bosses until
it got straightened out." Laura thought back. Her father
*had* been home for a long time a few years ago. Said he'd taken
some vacation time he'd accumulated to spend with the family.
Of course, he'd spent most of it with *her*, since he and her
mother had argued so much.
"Daniel somehow helped clear Mitchell's name- said he owed
it to the man. I think, the night the documents were stolen, Mitchell
saved Daniel from being shot by the thief. As I said, I don't
know all the details. Anyway, once things were cleared up, Mitchell
was offered his job back - but he refused. He and Daniel came
up with the security idea. Seeing as how your father had managed
to circumvent so many alarm systems, he knew exactly how to set
them up so that they *couldn't* be circumvented."
Laura frowned. "So how does that explain Flynn knowing Daddy?"
"Your father's known by most of the people on this side of
the fence, Laura. He's well respected by most of us. And we know
that he would *never* compromise his values by betraying a client's
security. Apparently Flynn wanted your father to give him the
security layout for a job he was planning a few years ago. Mitchell
had set up the system- knew it by heart. When he refused to help,
Flynn went ahead with the job and was caught."
"And where does Mr. Chalmers come into this?"
"He was with Flynn. Daniel got away - Flynn didn't."
Noticing Laura's look, he assured her, "Daniel had no idea
that Flynn had gone to your father or threatened him. Daniel knew
better than to do something like that. He didn't even want to
do the job with Flynn- but the payoff was too good to pass up."
"Evidently Daddy's system *wasn't* fool-proof, or Mr. Chalmers
wouldn't have gotten in and out."
"Daniel's good, Laura. Almost as good as I am -" He
looked at her, carefully watching her expression.
Laura rose to her feet to pace the floor. "I can't believe
this. Daddy was a thief? That's what it boils down to, you know.
Even *if* he was doing it for national security or something,
the was *still* a thief. And now he - "
Harry stood. "Laura, I only told you so that you could understand
what's going on here. Because it might save your life. I didn't
mean for you to start doubting your father -"
"I don't," Laura said. "But I've got to think about
this."
He put an arm around her shoulders. "It's a lot to take in.
I know. But you'll handle it. You know, he could have gone over
the fence. The one thing I've always respected about your father
is his sense of integrity - he's got a code of honor that just
won't quit."
"Code of honor that lets him work for and protect thieves
and con men," Laura muttered. "The same kind of people
that I always imagined chasing down and putting in jail."
"Well maybe you'll get your chance to put one in jail, anyway,"
Harry told her. When she looked up at him, he said, "Flynn.
Of course, that depends on whether or not Daniel and your father
can get us out of here."
Laura shuddered. "Do you think they know we've been kidnapped?"
she asked.
Harry glanced at his wrist, then remembered that Flynn's men had
taken his watch. It was probably well after time for them to have
returned for dinner. "They will. Flynn will take great delight
in letting them know." He pulled her into his arms, pressing
her head against his chest. "Things will work out, Laura."
She looked up at him, eyes shadowed, filled with uncertainty.
"Harry - I'm scared -"
He brushed her dark hair back, framing her face with his hands.
"Trust me." As he looked into those eyes, Harry was
never sure who made the first move. But suddenly his lips were
on hers, a light touch, meant only to reassure her. But it shook
Harry to the center of his being, and he drew her into his arms,
her head against his chest again. He'd get her out of this. Even
if it meant giving up his own life to keep her safe from Flynn.
**********
Mitchell looked at the clock, then back out of the window that
overlooked the drive. "Where *are* they, Daniel?" he
asked for the tenth time.
Daniel finished his drink. "I think it's time we go look
for them, Mitchell," he said at last. "It's not like
Harry to do something like this. He gave his word that they would
be back by five - "
"With Flynn out there, I don't know why I agreed to let them
go *anywhere*. Let's go."
As they left the house, Daniel told Mary to keep Laura and Harry
there if they returned. "We'll try the Tivoli first,"
Daniel decided. "That's where he was taking her -"
"I've got a bad feeling about this, Daniel. I've had it ever
since last night."
"Flynn couldn't know that Laura's your daughter, Mitchell,"
Daniel said.
"It wouldn't be hard for him to find out," Mitchell
returned grimly.
Daniel's foot pressed on the accelerator, speeding the car down
the road. As he turned on to the street where the theatre was
located, Daniel's frown deepened. "Harry's car is still here,"
he told his friend. It was the only one left on the street, and
he parked beside it. Daniel found the spare key under the dash
and started the car. "They didn't have car trouble,"
he told Mitchell.
"You take the car back. I'm going to check around the area
for them."
"We'll both check," Daniel told him. "But if we
don't find anything in a half hour, we'll go home and I'll make
some calls. Find out if anyone's seen them.
Mitchell nodded, and they moved down the street.
Half an hour later, they entered the house after finding no sign
of the young people. Mitchell poured himself a drink as Daniel
placed a hand on the telephone. "What's this?" he asked,
picking up a package on the table beside the instrument. "Mary!"
The woman entered. "You didn't find them?" she asked,
disappointment and worry evident as she looked around the room.
"No. No one's seen them since earlier this evening,"
Daniel told her. "Where did this come from?"
"It was delivered soon after you and Mr. Holt left. The man
said it was for both of you."
There was no writing on the manila envelope, and with a frown,
Daniel removed it, then opened the flap to remove two items: Harry's
watch, and the charm bracelet that Laura had been wearing. "It
appears, Mitchell, that Flynn has kidnapped Laura and Harry."
**********
Laura snuggled closer to Harry, wondering if he'd fallen asleep.
She knew he'd only kissed her to make her feel better, but she
doubted that he knew what else being in his arms made her feel.
And she knew too, that if her father ever found out that he'd
kissed her, Harry would pay dearly. "Stop fidgeting,"
Harry muttered. "If we're going to get out of here, we need
to rest."
"Sorry," Laura replied. "I was just thinking."
"At least you weren't asking questions," Harry said.
Laura smiled. "I wonder what Daddy would do if he knew you
kissed me?" She felt his breath stop for a moment.
"Laura - " He sat up, wincing slightly again. "You
wouldn't -"
She focused on the denim fabric covering her legs. "I imagine
he'd be pretty angry - if I told him about it."
Harry's eyes narrowed into deep blue slits. "What are you
playing at, Laura?"
"I'm not playing at anything. I just - want you to kiss me
again."
Harry's eyes fell to her lips, and he was tempted. *Very* tempted.
But at last he shook his head. "I don't think that would
be a good idea, Laura."
She slid her arms around his neck. "Why not? It's just a
kiss- what harm can it do? I mean, it's not as if I've never been
kissed before."
Harry smiled slightly. "You have?"
Laura nodded. "I had a boyfriend or two back home."
"A boyfriend. There's a lot of difference, Laura -"
"Why? Because you're older than they were?"
"Because you're still sixteen- I know, almost seventeen.
Still young - *too* young. I can't-"
"I won't tell Daddy," Laura promised. "He'll never
know. Please, Harry?" She ran her long fingers through the
hair on the back of his head.
Harry closed his eyes, trying to regain some control of the situation.
"Laura, I'm not one of your high school boyfriends. I -"
"I *know* that. What possible harm can one little kiss do?"
"You'd be surprised," Harry murmured. One little kiss.
If she only knew what she was asking, he thought. After his reaction
to that brief caress earlier, he wasn't sure if he could stand
further contact. Or if he could trust himself to *keep* it at
just 'one little kiss'. He looked down at her again. "You've
no idea what you're asking, Laura."
"So show me," Laura goaded softly, her eyes shining.
"You said yourself that we might not get out of this. If
we don't -"
"We'll get out. And I need to be able to look your father
in the eye when we do."
Laura sighed and pulled away. "I guess I can't compare to
your friend *Felicia*," she said bitterly.
Harry put his head back against the wall. "It's like the
difference between day and night," he admitted. Reaching
out a hand, he touched her cheek. "And you're the day, Laura.
All goodness and light, and everything I left behind me a long
time ago. I don't want to bring any of that darkness to you, Laura-"
Laura turned her face to place a kiss into his palm. "I don't
care about any of that, Harry," she insisted. "I just
want -I just want you to hold me, and never let me go."
Harry pulled her back into his arms. "I wish I could do that,
too, Laura." She lifted her face to him, and Harry fought
for a long moment, resisting the impulse to lower his head. But
something about those shining eyes, filled with trust, drew him
closer, like a moth to a flame. As their lips met again, Harry
felt Laura's arms slide around his neck, and decided, with a brief
flash of anger, to teach her a lesson. To show her that she wasn't
dealing with one of her high school boyfriends. He deliberately
deepened the kiss, forcing his tongue between her lips, past her
teeth.
He expected her to withdraw, to pull away, frightened by his aggressive
approach. But he was surprised when she opened to him, returning
his aggression with an equal measure of her own. Both drew back
out of breath, shocked by the depths they had found within each
other. "Wow!" Laura sighed, trying to gain her breath
to say more. She reached out a hand and placed it over Harry's,
only to have him pull sharply away and rise to his feet, turning
away from her. "Harry?" Laura scrambled to her own feet,
watching him.
Harry ran his hand through his hair, taking big gulps of air to
clear his mind. Dear God, this child - and she *was* a child.
He had to keep reminding himself of that. Fat lot of good it would
do to save Laura if he couldn't return her to Mitchell untouched.
He didn't turn around as Laura placed a hand on his back, but
every muscle in his body tensed at her touch. "Get some sleep,
Laura," he told her gently. "I have a feeling it's going
to be a long night." A *very* long night, he told himself.
**********
Daniel answered the telephone on the first ring. "Hello?"
"Chalmers," Flynn said shortly. "Did you get the
package?"
"I did. How much do you want to let Harry and Laura go?"
Flynn gave a mirthless laugh. "Shoe's on the other foot now,
isn't it, Chalmers? It's going t'take more than money t'get those
two back."
"What do you mean? I can get you half of the take from the
job - It's what we agreed on-"
"That was before I found out that Holt was here. If he'd
cooperated with me, then I wouldn't have gone to prison."
"The only reason you got caught, Flynn was bad luck. Holt
had nothing to do with that."
"Well, we're going to see if Holt's luck is any better,"
Flynn returned.
"What do you mean?"
"Philip Bryce. Do you know the name?"
"Diamond merchant, known to keep large quantities of gems
in his safe at home," Daniel rattled off.
"And Holt set up his security system. You and Holt are going
to break into that house and steal the new shipment he just received
today, Chalmers. Once you've done that, I'll be in touch. You
have twenty four hours."
"Wait a minute- what guarantee do I have that Harry and Laura
are even still alive?"
"I'll call you at ten tomorrow morning - you can talk to
them then. And I wouldn't suggest that you involve anyone else
in this, Chalmers. Not if you want to see either of them alive
again." The line went dead.
Daniel looked across to where Mitchell had been listening on the
entry hall telephone. "Looks as if you're going to come out
of retirement, Mitchell."
To Be Continued----