Ben Pearson,
Harry thought as he faced the man in the security office. Could
things get ANY worse? He shook the man's hand. "Mr. Steele,"
Pearson said in a clipped British voice. "I've heard a great
deal about you."
"And I've heard about you as well, Mr. Pearson," Harry
assured him, wondering how long he was going to be able to keep
up this act of being Remington Steele.
"Mr. Pearson is here to help you guard the gems," Hunter
pointed out.
"What a stroke of good fortune," Harry commented.
"You're aware, of course, of Raymond Kessler and Leo Neff?"
Pearson asked.
Harry pretended to think for a moment. "Ah yes. The two men
who stole the gems and murdered the courier. They've made their
presence known."
"At least we know what to expect from them," Pearson
said. "But I'm afraid there is an unknown quantity involved
in all this."
"Oh?"
"Apparently someone's been impersonating me. He did it in
Paris, and then again in London."
"Really?" Harry asked. "Do you- have a description
of the man?"
"Around my height, general build and coloring."
"It could be anyone, then," Harry said. "Even me,
I suppose." He laughed, but Pearson's expression never changed.
"How can I help, Mr. Steele?"
"You could keep Kessler and Neff busy - "
"Will that allow you to do what you need to do?"
"It should facilitate matters to no end," Harry assured
him.
"Consider it done."
"Let's get this show on the road, then, shall we?" Hunter
asked.
As they left the office, Harry saw Hunter approach Laura as she
paced the hallway.
"Mr Steele is -" Laura began.
"Here," Hunter told her, smiling widely.
"Mr. Steele is- HERE?" Laura repeated.
"Over there," Hunter pointed out. "With Special
agent Pearson."
Laura turned wide eyes toward the security room door where Harry
and a strange man were standing. Since Harry was using the Pearson
alias, Laura decided that the stranger was the one pretending
to be Steele.
*Here it comes*, Harry thought to himself. "I don't envy
you, Mr. Steele," Pearson was saying. "Having to guard
two and a half million in rare gems -" Harry moaned as Laura's
gaze found the two of them. "Are you alright, old man?"
"Just something I ate," Harry said.
"Stress will do that. Good luck."
"You too," Harry said as Pearson moved away and Laura
moved closer at Hunter's side, her gaze on Pearson's retreating
back.
"Well?" Hunter said impatiently. "Don't you have
to get to the airport?" he reminded them.
Harry took Laura's arm and they began to follow Hunter toward
the exit. Laura grabbed his arm. "That man that was with
you -"
"Yes?" Harry asked cautiously.
"He's NOT Remington Steele," she said.
"He's not?" Harry asked, beginning to realize what had
happened.
"No. Please don't tell Mr. Hunter."
"I won't say a word," Harry promised, patting her hand
as they got to the doors. Hunter closed the limo door behind them.
"What did he say?" Laura wanted to know.
"Who?"
"That fake Remington Steele."
"Oh, nothing much. We were simply introduced." He looked
down at her. "Why didn't Hunter realize he was a fraud?"
"Mr. Hunter's never actually MET Mr. Steele," Laura
said. "Mr. Steele was out of town when we took the case -"
"I see. Surely he realizes that he can't hope to carry this
off when the real Remington Steele puts in an appearance."
"He's after the gems," Laura said. "This is wonderful.
Now I have to keep an eye on someone ELSE. It was bad enough when
it was just you and Kessler and Neff -"
"When do you think Mr. Steele might show up?" Harry
asked, ignoring her distrust for the moment.
"That's hard to say, Harry," Laura said hesitantly.
"It's difficult to explain -"
"Apparently," he commented. "What are you going
to do?"
"I can't very well accuse him of being a fraud. It would
destroy Mr. Hunter's confidence in the agency's plan."
"So you're going to let him continue his little charade?"
"At least until the gems are delivered safely," Laura
agreed.
"And then you'll nail the faux Mr. Steele?"
"To the wall, Harry," she said. She placed a hand on
his arm. "I have to trust you not to tell Mr. Hunter about
any of this, Harry."
He put his arm around her. "Well, at least you can trust
me about SOMETHING," he said. When she looked as if she might
have said more, he smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry. I won't
say word."
**********
The gems arrived with little fanfare- and as Harry watched Laura
vanish into the security room with a wave of her hand, he sighed
in relief. "Mr. Steele," Hunter said, drunk with the
glow of a successful transfer. "Went off without a hitch."
"So it did," Harry agreed, allowing the man to turn
him toward the elevators.
"Miss Holt is certainly protective of you," he commented.
"That's part of her job," Harry pointed out as they
waited for the lift.
"Yes, but really-. It always seemed like you were unavailable
or out of town - I was beginning to wonder if you even exist."
They got on the elevator, as Steele laughed. He had no idea what
floor Steele's room might be on. So he lifted his hand, hovering,
hoping that Hunter was the impatient type - Hunter leaned over
and pushed the button for the "Penthouse". "What
is this thing you have about secrecy?" Hunter asked.
"Anonymity is an asset in my profession," Harry said.
It was as true for Steele's profession as for his own, after all.
"Yes, but- no photographs, no interviews, never involving
yourself directly in a case. And it wasn't only mine. I spoke
with several people who dealt with your agency and it was the
same story. Plenty of Miss Holt, none of you."
"Well, it's simply easier for me to move undetected if my
face isn't well known."
The elevator doors opened, and Harry lets Hunter go first, following
him to the Penthouse. Patting his pockets, Harry looked distressed.
"Hmm. I seem to have left my key at the desk-"
A maid was passing, and Hunter turned to her. "Would you
let Mr. Steele into his room? He seems to have forgotten his key."
She nodded, unlocking the door as Hunter said, "So, I'll
look for you tonight."
The door barely open, Harry peered into the room, half expecting
Steele to call out as he asked, "Tonight?"
"Yes. The formal unveiling of the Hunter JetStar 6000- and
of course the gems."
"Of course. Wouldn't miss it for the world," Harry assured
him. He waited until Hunter was around the corner, then smiled
at the maid before cautiously entering the room. If nothing else,
he and Mr. Steele might be able to have a little chat - IF he
could convince Laura's employer of his sincerity. He put out the
Do Not Disturb sign, and closed the door behind him. The suite
appeared to be deserted. Whoever Steele was, he seemed to go first
class, Harry mused, spotting a briefcase on the desk. Expensive
leather, Harry noted, opening it. It was empty. Not even a pen
or pencil inside.
In the bedroom, Harry found a $200 suit laid out on the bed, complete
with price tag. Going to the dresser, he discovered that all the
shirts were brand new, still in their packaging. His curiosity
peaked, he moved to the closet, where he found more new clothes,
and shoes that had no marks on them at all.
The bathroom door was open, and he went inside, finding toiletries
laid neatly on the cabinet. Again, they were all new, unused.
A hairbrush lay on the counter, and Harry picked it up, examining
it carefully. Strange. Nothing in the suitcase, brand new clothing
- and not one hair in the brush. Harry smiled, shaking his head
at his reflection in the mirror. So this was Laura's game. Risky
- but at least it meant she was still capable of taking risks.
Well, in for a penny, in for a pound, he decided. Hunter already
thought HE was Remington Steele. And having that gentleman around
might just be beneficial to keeping the gems safe. The only problem
he saw was Laura's reaction- and if he was careful enough, he
might be able to keep her from finding out - at least until all
this was over. Opening the bottle of cologne - which, he noted,
was quite expensive and something he himself might wear anyway,
he poured some into his hand and patted it onto his face as he
smiled again at his reflection.
"Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Steele."
**********
"I knew this was a mistake," Murphy fretted when she
told him about the fake Remington Steele. "We should never
have taken this chance. I KNEW we should have cut Hunter loose."
"Why? He's being watched -"
"By Special agent Pearson?" Murphy questioned. "What
if HE'S a fake too, Laura?"
"You SAID he checked out," Laura reminded him. "Murphy,
nothing is going to go wrong with this. Stop worrying, okay?"
She picked up her purse and hat. "I'm going home to get ready
for the reception."
"Bernice left an hour ago- said something about a beauty
shop appointment."
"Why don't you go on as well?" Laura suggested.
"No. I think I'll wait here for awhile- the photo of Pearson
that his supervisor was sending is supposed to be here any minute.
I'll meet you there once it arrives."
She nodded. "Okay." When that photograph arrived, Laura
thought to herself, she was going to HAVE to tell Murphy the truth
about Harry. She only hoped Murphy gave her the chance to explain
before involving the police.
**********
Harry was waiting for her at the entrance to the reception hall,
wearing a tuxedo. Laura's breath caught in her throat at the sight
of him. He smiled at her. "You're late," he said, offering
her his arm.
"Murphy and I needed to compare notes about our ersatz Mr.
Steele," Laura explained.
"Where is Murphy?" Harry asked, his blue eyes examining
her appearance.
"Waiting on a photograph of Special Agent Benjamin Pearson,"
she told him.
"I see. Then you haven't told him -"
"No. I didn't want to involve him that deeply. But I might
not have a choice to keep him from going to the police."
They moved through the crowd. "Where IS our fake Mr. Steele,
anyway?"
"Last I saw, he was with Kessler and Neff," Harry told
her.
"I wonder if they're working together?" She mused.
"I doubt it." When Laura sent him a curious glance,
he smiled. "I mean that he seemed to be a loner when we spoke
earlier." He pulled out her chair for her, then sat down
beside her as Gordon Hunter came to the podium near the covered
vehicle that was the focal point of the room.
"Ladies and gentlemen, if you would take your seats, I think
it's time to begin. But before I show you the Hunter JetStar 6000,
I'd like to take a moment to thank the Remington Steele Agency
-"
Laura smiled, leaning closer to Steele. "Great PR,"
she told him. "This could really be a boost to the agency."
Harry smiled nervously, suddenly worried about what Hunter was
going to do.
"Transporting and protecting the most precious gems in the
world requires brilliant planning, daring execution, and plain
old street savvy. So, without further ado, I would like to introduce
to you to the person responsible for the safety of the Royal Lavulite."
Laura blushed, keeping her head down, for which Harry was greatful
as he became more uncomfortable. "This is so embarrassing,"
Laura muttered. "I wish he'd stop."
"Wait," Harry said sternly, wishing there was some way
he could warn her about what was coming.
"An absolutely astounding human being," Hunter finished,
"Ladies and gentlemen-" Laura started to rise, but froze
as Hunter completed the introduction, "Remington Steele."
She looked around the room, expecting to see the man who had been
with Harry earlier. But he was nowhere to be found- and Harry
was rising to his feet, a worried expression his face.
"Years from now," he told her softly, "When you
talk of this- and you will--please, be kind. Deborah Kerr to John
Kerr, "Tea and Sympathy", MGM, 1956," he said,
seeing her eyes widen in realization as he turned to approach
the podium.
Laura watched him go, breathing deeply, trying to control her
anger. She wanted to scream out that he was a fraud- that he WASN'T
Remington Steele. He'd LIED to her. The only reason he could possibly
have for this pretense was that he really WAS planning to steal
those gems. Well, she promised herself, he wouldn't get away with
it. She'd stop him. Somehow.
**********
"Murphy?" Bernice asked, entering the offices to find
Murphy sitting at her desk, looking at something in his hand.
"I thought we were supposed to meet Laura?"
"We will," Murphy told her. "I was just waiting
for something."
"What?" She took the manila envelope and photograph
that he held out. "Who's this?" she asked.
"Special Agent Benjamin Pearson," Murphy told her. "He
fits the description Laura gave me of the man who's supposedly
"pretending" to be Remington Steele."
"But if HE'S Pearson, then who is -?"
"Yeah. That's what I need to ask Laura." Murphy took
the photo, and picked up his jacket. "Let's go."
Bernice frowned as he hurried her from the offices. "Why
have you got to ask Laura?"
Murphy's expression was grim as he closed the car door. "I
have a feeling that Laura already knows about it, Bernice,"
he said. When Bernice's eyes widened, he told her, "And if
so, she's got a lot of explaining to do."
To Be Continued---