"Very nice," Harry commented
as they entered Laura's house. One of the first things she'd done
after starting the agency was to buy it. It somehow represented
a stability that she needed in her life. Hands in his pockets,
Harry glanced into the music room. "I didn't know you played
the piano," he told her.
"It was my grandmother's," Laura explained. "She
taught me to play. Actually, she was my first client. When I was
six, she gave me a quarter to find a missing ring."
"Umm," he nodded, running a long fingered hand over
the smooth dark wood.
Laura felt the walls of the small room beginning to close in on
her as she watched him. "Why don't you wait in the living
room?" she suggested. "I'll make us some coffee and
we can talk." Those blue eyes fixed on her. "And after
we talk, you'll go back to your hotel and check out, and go back
to wherever you came from -" She started past him, only to
find his hand on her arm.
"I can't do that, Laura," Harry said softly. Seeing
the fear in her eyes at his words, he said, "Oh, I'll go
back to the hotel - if that's what you want me to do. But I can't
leave until I know those gems are safely on their way to San Francisco."
"Where you plan to steal them," Laura said.
"At least I won't be jeopardizing your career that way,"
he pointed out. His thumb began to move in a lazy circle on her
arm. "I give you my word, Laura. I won't go after the gems
while they're in your custody. I just want to help."
"Then stay out of my way," she begged. "Go back
to London- visit with Daniel and Mother-"
"And leave you to the less than tender mercies of Kessler
and Neff?" he countered.
"I don't need you to protect me," Laura insisted. "I
can take care of myself."
"Like you did in that carnival the first night we met?"
he reminded her.
"I'm not sixteen anymore, Harry," Laura reminded him.
"No," he agreed, moving closer. "You're not."
Afterwards, he wasn't sure if she'd really moved into his arms
or if he'd only imagined it. But the kiss they shared carried
echoes of those early kisses in London- and memories of their
one night in each others' arms. A night that had almost ended
in tragedy when Laura had fallen - Harry pulled away. "Go
fix that coffee," he told her, smiling gently down at her.
"I'll wait in the other room."
Laura nodded, and crossed to the kitchen, closing the door behind
her. She set about putting the coffee into the pot, turning it
on, then realized that her hands were shaking. She sat down heavily
in one of the chairs at the table, her head in her hands. Dear
God. This wasn't going to be easy. She'd thought she was over
him. That she'd kicked the habit of wanting him. But he was like
a drug that she needed. Oh, she'd managed to bury that need, but
seeing him again had resurrected it full force.
*Come on, Laura,* she told herself. *You CAN do this. You've worked
too long and too hard to let him mess this up now. Take the coffee
out, talk about Daniel and Mother, then send him on his way.*
She rose slowly, finding two cups, then struggled to remember
how Harry drank his coffee.
"Need some help?" he called from the living room.
"NO," Laura said, a trifle too sharply. The LAST thing
she needed was for him to be in her kitchen. It was smaller than
the music room. "I- uh, It's almost ready," she told
him, searching for a tray to take cream and sugar out on.
Harry heard cupboard doors opening and closing, and smiled. Apparently
she still wasn't at home in a kitchen. Abigail had been right
about that, at any rate. The sound of glass breaking and a soft
curse sent him to the doorway, where he stopped short at the sight
of Laura, standing there, a broken cup on the floor at her feet.
"Where's your broom?" he asked.
She nodded to a pantry door. "In there. You don't have to-"
"I want to," he told her, moving to gather the broom
and dustpan as she knelt to pick up the bigger pieces.
"Ouch," she muttered, looking at her hand.
Harry frowned and knelt beside her, taking her hand. "Did
you cut yourself?"
"It's nothing," Laura insisted, trying to pull her hand
away.
He brought the injured finger to his lips and gave it a light
kiss, then released it to sweep up the remaining pieces of crockery.
"Seems I'm forever destined to cause you to hurt yourself,"
he decided, his voice harsh with self directed anger.
Laura stood, watching as he cleaned up the mess. "It wasn't
your fault, Harry. I couldn't remember if you took cream or sugar
in your coffee, and I couldn't find a tray to carry them in on.
I opened a cabinet door and was reaching for a platter -"
She pointed to a shelf just out of her reach. "I guess I
brushed the cup and knocked it off."
"But if I wasn't here, you wouldn't have been looking for
a tray, makeshift or otherwise," he said. "And you wouldn't
have cut your finger -"
"I said it was nothing," she reminded him, holding it
up for him to see. "See? It's not even bleeding. I think
I'll live."
Harry returned the broom and dustpan to its place with careful
deliberation, then turned to face her again. "Maybe I'd just
better go. I'll see you tomorrow-"
"That's right. Just walk away. That's your style, isn't it?"
"I'm not the one who left London," he reminded her.
"Oh, and I was supposed to stay and watch you play your little
games with Felicia?" Laura countered. "No thank you.
It worked out for the best, anyway. I came home, grew up - outgrew
my silly schoolgirl fantasies -"
Harry's expression gave nothing away as he closed the short distance
between them and lifted her face for his kiss. Laura's arms slid
around his neck as she returned the kiss, opening herself to him.
She never wanted the kiss to end, she decided. All they seemed
to do when they weren't kissing was argue.
But at last the need for oxygen brought them both to their senses,
and Harry lifted his head. "Oh, Laura. I didn't expect to
feel this way -"
"Neither did I," she admitted. "I don't WANT to
feel this way. I can't."
He looked down at her, framing her face in his hands, his thumb
moving over her swollen lips. "Is there someone else?"
"No," she admitted.
"Not even your perfect Mr. Steele?"
She smiled at that. "No. I'm not- involved with Mr. Steele."
"Good. I'd hate to have to fight him to get you."
"Fight him to-? That makes it sound like I'm some kind of
prize. A possession."
"I didn't mean it that way," he told her. "I simply
meant that I'm relieved that I don't have any competition."
That didn't sound any better, and he knew it. But she seemed mollified
by his statement as she turned to get another cup and poured the
coffee. "I'll have it black," he told her.
They moved back to the living room. "So," Laura asked.
"What have you been up to since Mother and Daniel's wedding?"
"Nothing you really want to hear about, I'm sure," he
said. "Of course, I know all about what you've been doing.
Daniel and Abigail can barely wait until I'm in the door before
they start talking about what a success you've become, how proud
they are of you."
"You know, Mother never seemed to understand my wanting to
be a detective until she met Daniel. It was as if he worked some
kind of magic on her and she changed."
"I think it's called love," Harry told her. "And
she's worked the same magic on him. He's positively staid and
boring now. A proper English squire." They both laughed at
that image of Daniel. "Speaking of staid and boring, what
happened with your banker? Winston, was it?"
"Wilson," Laura corrected him. "As you well know.
I'd really rather not discuss it, if you don't mind. It just-
ended."
"Abigail was certain that you'd marry him eventually, then,
the next time I saw her and Daniel, you and he had split up -
and you were running your own agency."
"We made a mistake," Laura said, looking down into her
rapidly cooling coffee. "Nothing more to say. It wasn't the
first time I'd been mistaken about the man in my life," she
said.
"No, I suppose it wasn't."
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that -"
"But you're right. You and I weren't right for each other.
Not then, anyway."
Laura went still. "And now?"
"I don't know. But I think I'd like the chance to find out."
He put down his coffee cup, watched as Laura did the same thing
before sitting back against the cushions of the sofa. His hand
was near her shoulder, close enough to take a strand of her dark
hair in his fingers. Harry leaned toward her, pulling her across
to his side. "There. That's better, don't you think?"
"Umm," she agreed. "Much better." She turned
to look at him, and then they were kissing again. She felt his
fingers on the buttons of her blouse, then on her heated flesh.
Laura moved to his tie, sliding it from his neck to toss it across
the room before unfastening his shirt. When her fingers at last
tangled in the dark hair that covered his chest, Harry groaned
softly. "God, woman, what are you doing to me?"
"The same thing you're doing to me," Laura said as he
pushed her back onto the sofa, covering her body with his. She
kissed his chin. "You're not going to leave me and go steal
those gems, are you, Harry? Like the last time? Because if you
are-"
Harry's eyes met hers and he slowly levered himself off of her.
She still didn't trust him. Oh, she wanted him, but without her
trust, Harry couldn't do this. "No, Laura. I'm not going
to steal those bloody gems," he told her. She sat up, frowning
as he began to button his shirt again.
"Harry?"
"I'm sorry, Laura. It's too soon for this. I need your trust.
As much as I want- as much as need YOU, I need that just as much."
He picked up his jacket. "I'll see you tomorrow."
She nodded, putting her arms around her waist, but she didn't
speak as the door closed behind him. She wasn't sure how long
she sat there in the dark room, but at last she rose and went
to take the empty cups to the kitchen. Her stockinged foot fell
on something and she looked down to find Harry's tie on the floor.
Laura picked it up and held it against her cheek. "Oh, Harry,"
she sighed. "If only I could believe that you're being straight
with me on this."
She continued to the kitchen, where she rinsed the cups and turned
off the coffee pot before going to her solitary bed and staring
at the ceiling for the rest of the night.
**********
Harry went back to the hotel, his anger at Laura beginning to
grow. Damn the woman anyway. It would serve her right if he went
ahead and stole the bloody gems just to spite her. After all,
it's what she expected him to do, wasn't it? Might as well be
damned for the action as for the thought, he mused. He picked
up a piece of paper and began to make sketches of the hotel security
office, and various escape routes as well.
He'd show Miss Laura Holt that she'd been right about him, that
he couldn't be trusted at all. But as he worked, Harry remembered
something that Daniel had taught him. "Never do a job out
of an emotion such as anger, Harry. It's a sure ticket to a jail
cell."
Harry sighed. He'd sleep on it- give himself some time to cool
off. Perhaps in the morning, he'd see things more clearly that
he did at the moment. Opening the desk drawer, he put the plans
inside, then got ready for bed. As he hit the pillow, he wondered
if Laura was sleeping any better than he was.
He doubted it.
**********
Laura woke up to the sound of the radio announcer saying, "It's
eight o'clock. And let's have a look at traffic this morning .
. ."
"Eight?" Laura asked, blinking. The last time she'd
looked at the clock it had been almost six. She'd planned on being
at the office early - to finalize the plans for Mr. Steele's "presence"
at the hotel. She jumped out of bed and into the shower. Damn
Harry. He'd probably slept like a baby.
And she had to warn Murphy about Kessler and Neff. As much as
she preferred to stay away from guns, it might be a good idea
for him to carry one today when he transported the gems.
**********
Harry was awakened by the telephone ringing. Picking it up, he
kept his eyes closed. "Whoever this is, you'd better have
a good reason to be calling so early."
"Really, Harry," Daniel said. "I would think you'd
be out of bed by now."
"Daniel? Is something wrong?" Harry asked, sitting up,
awake now.
"No. I was just wondering how things were going."
"Not very well, I'm afraid. There's a major trust problem
where Laura and I are concerned."
"Hang in there. Have you managed to meet Steele yet?"
"No. But he's apparently in the hotel, so I'm hoping to get
the chance today when the gems arrive. Kessler and Neff are here
as well."
"Have you warned Laura about them?"
"I did. But I think she believes they're my partners and
I'm only trying to distract her so they can get the bloody things.
To tell you the truth, Daniel, I'm not sure this was such a good
idea. It might have been better if I had just stuck to my original
plans."
"And destroyed Laura's career?" Daniel reminded him.
"I know. I promised her last night that I wouldn't touch
them. But she didn't believe me. I'm supposed to meet her this
morning -"
"Good luck."
"I have a feeling I'm going to need it," Harry said.
"Give Abigail my best."
"I will. Good bye."
"Good bye." Harry sat there after he hung up the phone,
thinking. He wouldn't use those plans in the desk. Daniel was
right. It would only hurt Laura- drive them further apart. The
best thing he could do was keep an eye on her, so that she could
do her job. Even if she didn't want his help- she was going to
get it.
He got out of bed and went toward the bathroom to have a shower
and shave. At least Kessler and Neff were in jail for stealing
that car - with luck, they would stay there until after the gems
had arrived.
**********
Bernice looked up as Laura entered the office. "You're cutting
it a bit close, aren't you?"
"Late evening," Laura said, hoping Bernice would let
it drop.
"With who? I want details," Bernice insisted.
"HIM," Laura admitted.
The receptionist's eyes widened. "Spill it, Laura. Tell me
everything."
"He started by buying me a magnum of champagne-" she
began as they entered Mr. Steele's office and Murphy joined them.
"WHO bought you champagne?" he asked.
"And then we went for a drive- and that's when things really
got strange." She carried a stool over to retrieve the agency
gun from its hiding place. "Where are the bullets."
"WHO BOUGHT YOU CHAMPAGNE?" Murphy asked again. "I
thought you didn't like champagne."
"Where are the bullets?" Laura asked Bernice.
"Laura-"
"Special Agent Ben Pearson," Bernice told Murphy.
"You went joy riding with someone who could be an axe murderer?"
Murphy accused as Bernice brought the bullets back. "Laura,
that's not like you."
Laura looked at him. "Didn't he check out?"
"Yeah, he checked out. But he wasn't supposed to arrive until
today. So they're sending a photo by wire." He frowned. "What
are you doing?" he asked as she loaded the gun.
"I think you had best carry this, Murphy-" she told
him, handing it to him. If he got that photo of Pearson, she'd
have to tell him the truth about Harry. But she couldn't think
about that at the moment.
"Why?"
"Because this isn't going to be the piece of cake we thought
it would be. The two men who originally stole those gems are here.
They followed us last night." She hesitated for just a second.
"Ben took care of them brilliantly-" he HAD, after all.
The telephone call to the police had been inspired, "but
I'd feel safer if you were armed."
"Laura-" he said, watching as she started for the door
again.
"Bernice, page Mr. Steele in exactly-" she checked her
watch. "27 minutes just to keep his presence alive. I'll
tell Hunter that Mr. Steele has already left for the airport."
"Good luck," Bernice called as the door closed behind
her.
"Sounds like he got a lot for his lousy bottle of champagne!"
Murphy said, not liking this at all. There was something about
Pearson that he didn't like. And he was certain it had nothing
to do with the way the man looked at Laura.
Bernice smiled dreamily. "It was a MAGNUM," she reminded
him.
**********
As Harry crossed the lobby, waiting for Laura to arrive, he saw
Neff approaching him. He turned to find Kessler as well. "Gentlemen,"
Harry said. "I was beginning to think you weren't going to
make it."
"You know the nice thing about Los Angeles?" Kessler
asked. "They have twenty four hour bail bond service."
Neff moved to stand behind Harry. "I told you. We should
'ave killed 'im straightaway."
"I do hope you're not blaming me for your unfortunate brush
with the local authorities, gentlemen," Harry insisted.
A page girl began calling, "Remington Steele. Telephone call
for Remington Steele."
Kessler looked at Harry. "We're going to end our partnership,-dear
boy." They turned toward the elevators, and Harry began to
wonder how he was going to get out of this as the girl passed.
"Remington Steele, telephone call for Remington Steele-"
Harry had one chance. Hoping that Laura would forgive him, he
turned. "Miss?"
"Mr. Steele?" she asked.
"You've found me," Harry assured her.
He smiled nervously at Kessler and Neff, following her to a telephone.
"There you are, sir."
"Thank you." As he picked up the phone, Neff jabbed
the closed switchblade into his back in silent warning, causing
him to grunt. "Steele here."
"Who? Where?!" an obviously shocked Bernice asked.
"Can't talk now Miss- Wolfe?"
"Fox."
"I knew it was some sort of primitive creature," he
said. "Sorry to be abrupt, but I've got to run-" he
hung up and started to turn and run as Gordon Hunter appeared
with several security guards on tow.
"Mr. Steele." Harry shook the man's hand. "I certainly
feel safer with you here."
"My sentiments precisely." Harry agreed, smiling nervously
at Kessler and Neff.
Hunter put an arm around his shoulders to steer him. "Come
with me. There's someone I want you to meet in the security office."
Moving away, Harry smiled at Kessler and Neff's frustration. "Security
office? Sounds very- secure."
Hunter smiled. "You know, somehow I thought you'd be older."
"Oh, I can age on demand," he assured Hunter, glancing
back at a very angry Kessler and Neff.
He'd go with Hunter and maintain the charade for as long as he
could- at least until Laura arrived. While she hadn't blown his
cover as Pearson, she would hardly stand still for his masquerading
as her perfect boss, Harry mused as he and Hunter approached the
security office.
As they entered the office, Harry saw a third man there waiting
for them. Hunter smiled widely. "Remington Steele, may I
present Special Agent Ben Pearson from South Africa."
To Be Continued---