From behind the lens of a camera,
Harry watched the young woman arrive at the hotel with the man
responsible for bringing the gems to Los Angeles. He hadn't seen
her in person since her college graduation, and even then, Harry
had remained at the rear of the auditorium until she had walked
across the stage before leaving San Francisco for Rome.
She didn't look any different, really. Harry could still see the
sixteen year old in that face beneath the brim of a hat that reminded
him of the one he'd bought her years ago. He continued to snap
photos, ostensibly of the woman and children that he'd asked to
pose for him. To anyone watching he would simply look like a tourist
taking pictures of his family. But in reality, the lens was focused
on Laura. What was her plan, Harry wondered idly, seeing her touch
the brim of her hat and glance in the direction of a linen truck
and its driver who was unloading his cart. Harry snapped a couple
of photos of the man, wondering if he might be Laura's impossibly
perfect Mr. Steele.
Once Laura turned to go inside, Harry paid the woman, his mind
racing. He had to find a way to convince Laura to let him help
her. To trust him. He could always simply pay a visit to her place
of employment, claim to be her cousin by marriage. But that wouldn't
guarantee a meeting with Remington Steele - or that he'd be able
to keep an eye on the gems. And that was just as important. He
hadn't seen Kessler or Neff, but he was certain they would be
there. Those two wouldn't pass up any opportunity to reclaim the
prize for which they had already killed once. No, he had to find
another way. And hope that Laura wouldn't blow his cover.
**********
He entered the offices of Remington Steele Investigations cautiously,
half expecting Laura to pop out of an office. The reception area
was empty, and he could hear voices coming from behind the door
in the corner. Even muffled, he could make out Laura's voice,
as well as that of a man and another woman.
". . .we'll be able to do away the red ink-permanently,"
Laura was telling them as he called out.
"Hello? Anyone here?" he asked, taking a deep breath
before opening the door before him.
Laura recognized that voice instantly, and then she found herself
gazing into those blue eyes. HARRY. *Damn* she thought. *Just
what I DIDN'T need.*
He smiled. "Sorry, there was no one about-" Hand extended,
he approached the man. "Mr. Steele."
"Mr. Steele's out of town," the man said, smiling suspiciously.
"I'm his associate, Murphy Michaels."
Laura moved stiffly to stand at Murphy's side, wondering what
Harry's game was as he glanced at her then away as if they had
never met. She wanted his attention back, so that she could try
to read his eyes - "Laura Holt," she said, about to
ask what he wanted, when Bernice spoke.
"Bernice Fox," she told the man in a breathless voice.
Harry smiled slightly. "Busy office to have so many secretaries,"
he commented, glancing again at Laura, seeing her jaw tighten
in anger. He had the feeling he would pay for that remark.
Her dark eyes flashed. "I'm a licensed private investigator,"
she said.
"Of course," he replied.
"Bernice, why don't you go make some coffee?" Laura
suggested, her voice sharper than she intended it to be as she
watched the way Bernice was practically drooling over the tall,
dark haired man.
"Good idea," Bernice said, her gaze still on Harry.
"I'll go brew a fresh pot," she decided, then paused.
"Or, perhaps you'd prefer tea?" she asked. "I'll
make some fresh water," she assured him, slinking out the
door slowly, trying to make sure Harry got the full view.
At least he had the grace to look a LITTLE uncomfortable, Laura
thought, watching as he tugged at his ear before glancing at Murphy,
checking the other man's reaction to Bernice's rather obvious
come on. "What can we do for you, Mr-?" Laura asked.
Might as well let him play this little game out, she decided,
find out what he's up to. * You KNOW what he's up to*, her little
voice insisted. *He's after those GEMS.* But it wouldn't hurt
to keep an eye on him, she decided.
Harry pulled out a wallet and opened it for them to read. "Benjamin
Pearson," he informed her, finally looking at her, his eyes
begging her not to blow the whistle, to play along.
"Special agent," Laura said, reading the fake ID card.
"For want of a better title," Harry agreed. "I
represent the South African government. Those gems you're guarding
- they're stolen." This part was easy enough. He'd played
it twice before, in Paris and London, with success. And he didn't
think Laura would squeal on him now. It would make her look bad
in front of her colleague. She'd let him go too long.
"Do you think there will be an attempt to steal the gems,
Mr. Pearson?" Laura asked, her eyes on his, asking if HE
was the one who would be making that attempt.
"They are the rarest gems in the world. Royal Lavulite. More
precious than diamonds because there are so few of them. The only
known deposits reside in my country. Yes, Miss Holt, I think there
WILL be an attempt." Time enough later to inform her of Kessler
and Neff's probable attempt. " That's why I'll need to be
fully apprised of your security measures."
Murphy asks, "You don't mind if we check you out first."
"Not at all," he says, his gaze mostly on Laura. "Quite
frankly, I would be rather disappointed if you didn't. It would
indicate a certain laxity on your behalf that would not be very
reassuring to my government."
"I'll take care of it, Murphy," Laura assured her colleague,
watching Harry as she spoke.
Murphy's eyes narrowed as he watched Laura and Pearson. It wasn't
like Laura to volunteer to do a background check. She usually
left things like that to HIM. What was so special about this case?
he wondered.
"Will we see you again, Mr. Pearson?" Laura asked pointedly.
"Count on it, Miss Holt," Harry said, shaking Murphy's
hand, and turning quickly to the door. As he got to the door,
Bernice returned with the tea. "Delightful aroma," he
commented, then left.
Bernice looked disappointed, but she sent Laura a look that Laura
easily recognized. She'd worn it herself for too long. "Are
you sure you want to make that call, Laura?" Murphy asked.
"I thought you'd want to get to the hotel and reassure Gordon
Hunter that Mr. Steele will be here."
Laura hesitated. Harry was good at what he did. He wouldn't set
up an alias if there was a chance it would backfire on him. "You're
right, Murphy. Go ahead and make the call. I'll be at the hotel
- I want you to meet me there later . . . "
**********
Harry had half expected Laura to chase after him with questions,
but when she hadn't appeared, he returned to his hotel room to
develop the photos he'd taken. Laura wasn't going to trust him
enough to give him the information he would need to help her,
so perhaps the pictures would reveal something of her plan to
keep the gems secure. He took out his room key and placed it in
the lock, opening it a little as he sensed danger.
Hearing sounds from within, he pulled the door closed just as
quickly as he'd opened it, finding a deadly looking knife blade
thrust through the wood. Doing a quick count, he pushed the door
open, trapping the knife wielding assailant against the wall and
rushing into the room to grab him and toss him down. He wasn't
counting on a second assailant- and he should have been. He felt
a fist in his back, and went to his knees as Raymond Kessler stood
over him, holding him by his tie. "Who are you?" he
asked, dropping Harry to the floor.
Loosening his tie with a slight grin, Harry responded, "Just
a happy go lucky tourist, out to see a bit of the world."
Leo Neff, the knife man, dropped some passports on his chest.
"That why you got five dif'rent passports from five dif'rent
countries with five dif'rent names?"
"I keep trying for a good picture," Harry said.
Kessler said, "Those gems belong to us."
"I was under the impression that they belong to the South
African government."
"We have a proprietary claim. After all, the courier who
smuggled them out of the country initially worked for us."
"Only he got greedy and sold them on his own," Harry
recalled.
"He's been properly chastised for his indiscretion,"
Kessler informed him. Yes, Harry thought. The man was dead. Brutally
murdered by Neff.
"May I get up now, or do you prefer me in the groveling position?"
Kessler extended a hand to help him, which Harry released as soon
as possible, not trusting the man. "Each time we try to reclaim
those stones you get in our way. First in Paris, then London.
Here you are again."
Harry smiled. "We must have the same travel agent."
Neff, standing behind him, said, "I'm 'ungry. Let's kill
'im and get somethin' t'eat."
"That won't satisfy anything but your appetite," Harry
warned him. Neff jabbed him in the back with the closed knife
held at ready. "I admit that we may have been at cross purposes
up to now. Perhaps it's time we joined forces." The only
way to get rid of these two and keep them from Laura and the gems
was to trick them, Harry decided. A double-cross was tricky, but
he might be able to use their greed against them.
Kessler uncertain about trusting him, asked, "Why?"
"It certainly beats the alternative," Harry pointed
out
.
Kessler, apparently satisfied, turned to go. Neff followed him,
opening and closing the knife as he reminded Harry to, "Keep
in touch."
Harry thoughtfully scratched his cheek with the passports. Even
if he couldn't protect the gems, he had to keep those animals
away from Laura. She tended to rush in where angels feared to
tread. If she knew about those two, she'd be right in the middle
of things - and end up hurt. That was the LAST thing Harry wanted
to happen to her. He still had nightmares about her falling from
that building when she was eighteen while trying to stop him from
stealing the Rajah's Star.
**********
Laura informed Gordon Hunter that Mr. Steele would be arriving
late that night, then went to the hotel bar to watch for Murphy's
arrival. All the while her eyes scanned the crowd of people for
a pair of blue eyes and dark hair. He was HERE. He wouldn't be
far away from where the gems were going to be. She knew that much.
The waiter set up an ice bucket containing a magnum of champagne,
then began to remove the cork. "Excuse me," she told
him. "I didn't order this."
"The gentleman wishes to buy you a drink," the waiter
informed her, nodding across the room to where Harry sat, glass
of champagne already in his hand. He smiled and rose to approach
her as the waiter poured a glass for her.
"Still doing things on a grand scale, eh, Harry?" Laura
asked.
"You know how I get when I'm aroused," he said, watching
the blush that crept into her cheeks before continuing, "with
curiosity." He sat down at her table.
"I thought curiosity was MY bailiwick."
"I wasn't aware that you had a corner on the market."
He took a sip of his wine. "So, has it fulfilled all your
fantasies?" he asked, causing Laura to almost choke on her
own champagne.
"I beg your pardon?"
"Being a private detective. Is it everything you hoped it
would be?"
"I suppose it would be- if people would just learn to look
past the fact that I happen to be a woman."
"Still encountering resistance, ey?""
"They still think that because I'm a woman I'm not equipped
to do the job. They see me and think I'm just a secretary-"
she reminded him, her eyes flashing.
Harry grimaced. "I rather thought you'd tell me about that
one. What was I supposed to do? Walk in there and just GUESS that
you were a private investigator?"
"You MIGHT have simply introduced yourself as Harry. Or hadn't
you thought of that?"
"Yes, I thought about it. And I dismissed it. I couldn't
accomplish what I want to do as Harry."
"You're after the gems," she said.
Harry shook his head. "I won't deny that I had intended to
make a try for them here - until I discovered that you - or rather,
your employer, was in charge of security. I take it sex isn't
a problem for Remington Steele?" Again Laura almost choked
as her eyes widened. "Yours, I mean."
Laura sat back, a smug smile on her face. "On the contrary.
He's the most generous, understanding, supportive man I could
imagine," she said, drinking a toast to her boss.
"He seems to have rather large shoes to fill," Harry
commented, his eyes on hers.
"Few would be foolish enough to try."
"Unless, of course, one enjoyed impossible challenges."
He took a drink. "Will he be involved tomorrow?"
Laura smiled again. "Mr. Steele's presence will be felt rather
than seen." She shook her head. "I'm not going to give
you any information, Harry. You should know that. I won't turn
you in - not unless you're foolish enough to try and steal the
gems on my watch."
"As I said, my plans have changed. Now, I simply want to
make sure that the gems leave Los Angeles safely and continue
to their next stop."
"I don't need your help, Harry," Laura told him, her
eyes widening as she saw Murphy entering the hotel with a cart
full of suitcases. "I have to go. Thanks for the champagne,
Harry. And the- curiosity."
He smiled at her departing back. The photos he developed earlier
had revealed Murphy had been driving the laundry truck. Harry
was almost certain that he knew Laura's plan- and it was a good
one- IF he could find a way to get rid of those other two- As
if on cue, Kessler and Neff took a chair on either side of him.
Kessler smiled as he poured a drink of champagne into Laura's
glass.
"Very clever, getting on team with Steele's associate."
"Just sowing seeds, gentlemen, just sowing seeds."
"And when can we expect the harvest?" Kessler asked.
"Tonight," Harry told them, an idea beginning to form.
"She's going to show me the route the gems will take."
"Nat'r'ly, you're gonna share that little tidbit with your
new associates."
"I want you to follow us." He rose, as did they. "Of
course, if you're not interested, gentlemen- I'll make the trip
alone. Excuse me." He started down the corridor after Laura.
Kessler and Neff caught up with him, and he held out some car
keys. "Take my car. Blue Mercedes." He started to give
them to Kessler, but he pointed them toward Neff. "And for
god's sake, don't loose us," he said, leaving them to follow
as he approached Laura.
Laura was about to get into the limo when she heard Harry call
out. "Miss Holt! I wonder if I might impose on you for a
lift?"
Laura hesitates a moment, then smiles. "Certainly."
After all, they DID need to finish talking - perhaps he would
slip up and tell her why he was REALLY in Los Angeles.
Harry smiled at the chauffeur and got into the limo, as Kessler
and Neff ran to his car.
Inside, Harry looked around. "Plush."
"Mr. Steele graciously allows me to use it when he's out
of town," she explained.
"Your Mr. Steele sounds almost too good to be true,"
Harry told her, glancing behind them.
Seeing his concerned glance, Laura does likewise, then frowns.
"What's wrong?"
"You don't by any chance pack a rod, do you?"
She smiled at the reference. "No, I don't pack a rod. I've
never found the need for one. Why?"
"I'm not the only one after those gems, Laura. The two men
who brutally murdered the courier who originally smuggled those
gems out of South Africa are in that blue Mercedes behind us."
He reached for the mobile phone. "May I use your phone? It's
a local call-" Laura turns back, concerned. "Mobile
operator? This is T-7328. I'd like the police." Laura slid
down in the seat as Harry looked at her. "Yes, it's an emergency."
Laura leaned closer, speaking softly. "Why are they following
US?" she asked, suspiciously.
"Police? I'd like to report a stolen vehicle. Blue Mercedes
380SL. License number-" he couldn't recall it, so he turned
to read it from the car as Laura covered her face. "1DRO373.
The last time I saw it, it was traveling-"
"East on Sunset," Laura informed him, "just past
Dougheny."
"East on Sunset, just past Dougheny," Harry repeated.
"Please hurry. I had some medicine in the back seat for my
grandmother-" Laura turned to stare at him. "If she
doesn't receive it-" He smiled. "Bless you." He
hung up, taking note Laura's expression. He shrugged. "Everyone
needs a little added incentive now and then."
"Why are they following us?" she asked again. "Because
they're your partners in this little venture?"
"You know me, Laura. I work alone these days. And even if
I didn't, Kessler and Neff would be the last two I'd bring in
as partners. They'd as soon stab you in the back as to look at
you. I think, considering their presence, you might want to change
your plans. Use a decoy to get the gems into the hotel."
Laura looked up at him, as if trying to find out how much he knew
about her plan. "Have I read your mind?" he asked.
"Let's just say - it's been considered."
"I'm sure you'll want to inform Mr. Steele about this latest
development."
"Oh, I will," Laura assured him. The flash of lights
from behind them caused them to turn, and Harry smiled as he watched
as the Mercedes was cut off and forced to the shoulder of the
road by the police. "Rather restores one's faith in the local
constabulary, doesn't it?" he asked Laura.
"Where can I drop you?" she asked.
"Wherever you're going," Harry suggested. When she turned
to look at him, he said, "So we can talk. Catch up on old
times. After all, it's been a few years, hasn't it?"
"I was going home," she told him.
"Perfect. After all I've heard from Daniel and Abigail about
your little house in the suburbs, I can't wait to see it."
Short of telling Fred to stop the car and pushing Harry out, Laura
knew she had no choice. She just hoped she was strong enough to
resist that charm that seemed to ooze from every pore of this
man's body. He'd been drop dead gorgeous when she was eighteen.
Now, he was even more charming, more attractive. She'd fix some
coffee - and then she'd make it clear to him that she wasn't interested
in letting him share anything about her life - and especially
not her bed.
Laura only hoped she could stick to that decision as she saw his
smile when she leaned forward. "My house, Fred."
To Be Continued ---