As Harry entered the penthouse, with
Kessler and Neff, Kessler asked, "Where are the plans?"
Harry pointed toward the closet, hoping that Murphy had accomplished
the task he'd set him to. Kessler nodded at Neff, who led the
way to the closet and opened the door, stepping back, frightened,
as he saw Ben Pearson's body on the coat hook. "Blimey, we
left 'im in 'IS room!"
"So you did, gentlemen," Harry agreed as the bedroom
doors opened and several police officers came out, accompanied
by Laura and Murphy. Harry plucked the knife from Neff's surprised
hands and handed it to the police detective. "I believe you'll
find this to be the murder weapon, officer."
Kessler glared at him as he was handcuffed. "Who ARE you?"
he asked
"You crazy?" the police man said. "He's Remington
Steele." Smiling at Harry, he held out his hand. "Thanks.
You're as good a they say you are, Mr. Steele."
"The Remington Steele Agency is far more than one man, officer,"
Harry assured him. "On their behalf, I thank you." He
glanced over at Laura, who smiled at his words.
Once the coroner's people removed Pearson's body, Murphy followed
the men out, pausing at the door to turn back to Laura. "You
gonna be okay?"
Harry turned to look at Laura questioningly. She nodded, and Murphy
closed the door behind him, shaking his head. "I guess you'll
be leaving now," Laura said softly.
"Once the gems are in San Francisco, they should be realitively
easy to get to - since I don't have to worry about Kessler and
Neff getting in my way."
"And what are you going to do with them once you have them?"
Laura asked.
Harry reached up to touch her cheek. "If I thought I could,
I've have them made into a necklace to go around your lovely neck."
Seeing her disapproval, Harry grinned. "Actually, I plan
to return them to the South African government for a generous
finders' fee."
"Daniel said you'd gotten big on finders' fees lately,"
Laura recalled. "When will you leave?"
"Early tomorrow- around the same time as the gems do. I promise
again- I won't go after them until they're out of your jurisdiction,
Laura."
She struggled to ignore the way his fingers on her shoulder made
her feel. "When- When will I see you again?"
"I don't know. Hopefully not as long as it was the last time."
"Well, all things considered, Harry, you made a delightful
Remington Steele- in spite of the things I said earlier."
"If the press of other commitments weren't so severe, I might
consider playing the role on a permanant basis," Harry admitted.
"After all, you know how I am about impossible challenges,"
he reminded her, bringing her hand to his lips. It wasn't enough.
Keeping hold of her hand, he pulled her into his arms. "Looking
at you now, I wonder what ever happened to that little hellion
of a sixteen year old girl with whom I shared so much trouble."
"She's still here," Laura told him. "Still looking
for trouble," she admitted, her dimples appearing. "Harry-
what are you going to tell Daniel?"
"That I've met your Mr. Steele," he said, dropping a
kiss onto her cheek. "And that he shouldn't be worried about
the matter. But I really think you need to tell him the truth."
"I'll probably have to, once the pictures of you this evening
hit the papers."
His lips found hers, and Laura wound her arms around his neck
to return the kiss. "I don't suppose I could convince you
to stay the rest of the night?" Harry asked.
She looked at him. "It's tempting," she admitted. "But
I need more than just a night here and there, Harry."
He looked at her, then nodded. "It's no more than you deserve,"
he agreed. Stepping back, he held out the keys to the penthouse.
"Good bye."
She shook her head. "Au revoir," she corrected him.
"Until the next time."
Harry smiled and left the room, leaving Laura alone- again. Was
she EVER going to get that man into her life permanently?
**********
Murphy was waiting downstairs by the limo when Laura exited the
hotel after conferring with Mr. Hunter and assuring him that the
gems would be safe. Murphy didn't acknowledge her as he told Fred
to take them to her house.
"He gone?" Murphy asked at last.
She nodded. "He's leaving tomorrow morning," she told
him. "Murphy - you have to understand about Harry and me-
"
"I think I understand," Murphy said quietly. "He's
one of your step father's friends, isn't he?"
Laura turned surprised eyes toward him. "Daniel? What has
he got to do with anything?"
"Right after I first met your mother and step father, I got
a little suspicious. Chalmers was too smooth -"
"He's a very charming man," Laura defended. "What
are you trying to say?"
"I- checked him out," Murphy admitted.
"You WHAT? Murphy, you had no right to investigate Daniel."
"I was worried that he might be running some kind of scam
on your mother," Murphy said in defense. "And I was
even more concerned when I discovered that he's got a history
of doing just that. He's a con artist - and ex- con-"
"WAS," Laura said. "He WAS a con man. He's been
out of that life since before he married my mother, Murphy. I
can't BELIEVE you'd do something like this behind my back! What's
next? A check on me?"
"Laura-"
"Daniel and Harry were there for me when I needed them, Murphy.
I owe them both my life. I know EXACTLY what they're capable of
doing. They're not angels - but I love them, and I'll be DAMNED
if I'll let you or anyone else -"
"Hold on," Murphy said, taking her shoulders. "I'm
sorry. I knew it was wrong when I did it. I was just trying to
help you. To keep you and your mother from being hurt."
Laura sat back. When were the men in her life going to figure
out that she could take care of herself? That she didn't need
or want to be wrapped in cotton wool and protected? The limo came
to a stop before her little house, and Laura picked up her purse,
preparing the leave when Fred opened the door. "Good night,
Murphy."
"Laura, we need to talk about this. Why don't I come in,
we can have some coffee -"
She remembered that she and Harry had shared coffee the night
before. "I'm tired, Murphy," she said. "We can
talk tomorrow, after the gems are gone and the case is over."
"Should I turn in my resgination?" Murphy asked.
Laura stopped, looking at him at last. "No. Of course not.
Tomorrow, Murphy."
"Okay. Try to get some rest."
"I will." She opened the front door before the limo
pulled away from the curb, and she entered the house. The telephone
was ringing, and she rushed to pick it up, thinking it might be
Harry. "Hello?"
"Hello, dear," Daniel said. "I hope I didn't wake
you?"
Laura sat down, all of her energy suddenly drained away. "Oh,
Daniel. How did you know I needed to talk to you?"
**********
Laura sat in the limo in front of the hotel the next morning,
waiting for the armoured truck to finish "loading" its
precious cargo. She saw Harry come out and go toward a taxi -
smiling as he saw her. Laura returned the smile, recalling Daniel's
advice in the early hours of the morning.
"You have to let him go, Laura," he'd said. "When
he's ready, he'll come to you. But until then- "
"But I don't want him go, Daniel-"
"I know, dear. But what choice do you have? I know trusting
Harry is something that is difficult for you these days, but if
you can't trust in him, at least trust his heart."
Now, as she watched him get into the limo and leave her life once
again, Laura hoped that Daniel knew what he was talking about.
"LAURA!" Murphy called, stumbling toward the limo, a
hand to the back of his head. "Laura-"
"Murphy, what-"
"Someone blindsided me," he told her, getting into the
limo.
Laura turned to look at the disappearing taxi that was taking
Harry to the airport. "He LIED to me! That dirty- HE LIED
to me!" she ranted as Fred moved to follow the taxi.
Harry saw the limo pull out, but it was several minutes before
he realized that they were following him. Why, he wondered? Why
would Laura be chasing him? Maybe she'd had a change of heart
about letting him steal the gems in San Francisco. "Hurry
it up, will you, driver?" he said. "I don't want to
miss my flight."
At the airport, Harry tossed some money at the driver. "Keep
the change," he said, hurrying into the terminal with Laura
and Murphy right behind. Gordon Hunter was in a doorway, speaking
to reporters about his car, talking about how well recieved it
had been.
Laura and Murphy burst in. "STOP THAT MAN!" she yelled
out. "He's a THIEF!" Murphy grabbed Harry's jacket,
then frowned as he noticed the look of fear on Hunter's face.
Murphy tossed Harry aside and made a run for Hunter, but the automaker
turned and took off, scattering reporters and lights everywhere.
Laura grabbed Harry's arm, pleased that she'd caught him in time,
then frowned as she saw Murphy take off after Hunter. "YOU
didn't steal the gems?" she asked.
"Laura, I promised," he reminded her. "But they're
out of your jursidiction now," he said, turning to follow
Murphy.
"Oh not they're NOT!" Laura called, joining the chase.
Hunter led Murphy through a cargo area, finally spotting some
electic carts. He jumped into one and started it, setting it into
motion as Murphy jumped onto the back. Hunter turned a sharp corner,
throwing Murphy, who was still struggling for a hold, into a pile
of boxes.
Harry took the second cart, following Hunter as Laura climbed
on behind him, her arms around his neck. "Hold it steady!"
Laura ordered.
"You're choking me!" Harry told her, trying to pull
her arms from around his neck. She reached down to try and grab
the wheel.
"You're losing him!" she cried.
Hunter glanced back at them, distracted, and his cart ran into
a dumpster. Harry, unable to control his own cart due to Laura's
interference, rammed the rear of Hunter's, sending the man head
first into the dumpster. Harry grimaced. "Did you want to
drive, Laura?"
**********
Once the police were gone - having retrieved the gems from Hunter's
briefcase - Harry watched as Laura saw Murphy into the ambulance.
"I'm fine, Laura," he insisted. "You always said
I was hard headed, remember?"
"I know," she said, holding her friend's hand. "But
it won't hurt for the doctors to check you out. I'll be along."
"Okay."
Harry glanced up as his flight number was called over the public
address system. "That's my flight," he told Laura.
"I'm sorry that I thought-"
"Understandable," he said. "Take care of yourself,"
he told her, taking her hand. There were still reporters hovering
about from earlier, and it wouldn't do any good for Laura's career
to be seen kissing her boss in public.
"You too. And keep in touch."
"I will."
She smiled, that impish little smile that Harry remembered so
well. "Promise?" she asked.
He smiled back. "Promise."
As he walked away, she said, "Oh, I told Daniel the truth.
He called last night."
"Good. I'll call him later," Harry said, approaching
the gate.
Laura watched until he vanished into the walkway, then turned
to go to the hospital and check on Murphy.
**********
Bernice sighed as she looked at the newspaper the next morning
while she and Laura were in the elevator, returning to the office
after going down to the little cafe for a donut and coffee. "'Remington
Steele and unidentified woman'- that's YOU," she told Laura,
"'Rescue Rare Gems'." She shook her head. "Undentified
woman. For the last four years, you've been as visible as any
of us whenever we've gotten publicity on a case. Now they're forgotten
your name."
"It'll pass," Laura said, glancing at the article. "Poor
Mr. Hunter. He wanted to use the gems to finance his car."
"How's Murphy this morning?"
"He's SUPPOSED to stay in bed another day," Laura said.
"But he's not a very good patient. He was trying to convince
the doctor to release him this morning."
"Hard headed."
"Yes, he is," Laura agreed, as they entered the offices
to find a man waiting for them. "May I help you?" Laura
asked
"I'm Lester Giddons. I had a ten o'clock with Mr. Steele?"
Laura glanced at Bernice. "I'm afraid that Mr. Steele's out
of town-" she paused. "San Francisco -" She ignored
Bernice's soft laugh. "But if you'll wait in his office,
I'll be right in." She pointed him toward the door in the
corner, then turned to Bernice. "If Harry should call -"
"You really think he will, Laura?" Bernice asked as
Mr. Giddons' voice reached them.
"Mr. Steele. I thought you were in San Francisco," he
was saying.
Laura's eyes widened, and she dashed for the door, stepping inside
to see Harry sitting at the desk. "I was," Harry said,
rising to come around and close the door behind Laura. "But
there was nothing for me there." He stood at Laura's side,
smiling. "Now, how may we help you?"
Laura smiled up at him, watching as he drew Mr. Giddons problem
out, assuring the man that the agency would be right on top of
things. Laura elicited a few more details that she would need,
things Harry hadn't thought to ask, then she showed the gentleman
out of the office.
"What's going on, Laura?" Bernice asked.
"I don't know, Bernice. But I'm going to find out. Hold all
calls, okay?" She returned to the office to find Harry looking
at the wall over the sofa in the conference area, she said, "NOT
that I'm going to look a gift horse in the mouth, but- what happened
to San Francisco?"
"It's still there- and so are the gems. After what happened
here, the company protecting them there increased security by
at least twice. I was too distracted to be able to concentrate
on overcoming that obstacle."
"Distracted?" Laura questioned.
He nodded. "So I thought I might give being Remington Steele
a try. If you're willing to take me on, that is."
"You mean, you want to stay? Here, in Los Angeles?"
"I suppose so. I guess if Daniel can stick to the straight
and narrow, I can do it, too."
Laura threw her arms around his neck. "Oh, HARRY."
"And the perks might not be too bad, either," Harry
commented, lifting her off of her feet for a moment.
Laura slid to the floor, then placed her hands on his chest. "There
would have to be some ground rules," she told him.
"Rules?" he asked, wary. "I'm not very good with
rules, Laura-"
"Number one, you won't be directly involved in cases. You
function best in an advisory capacity. You're here basically to
reassure the clients that the great Remington Steele is on the
job. That's it. No talking to clients without either me or Murphy
present-"
"Agreed," Harry said pleasantly. "I'm simply playing
a role."
"For which you'll be amply paid," Laura told him. "Room,
board," she straightened the handkerchief in his pocket,
"clothing allowance, use of the limo - in exhange for which
you'll take care of the Agency's PR. Attend various banquets,
luncheons - I'll write the speeches for you -"
Harry looked a bit less certain now, but he said, "Agreed
again."
"And no mixing business with pleasure," she said, stepping
away from him as he would have pulled her close. "This is
going to be hard enough to pull off without that kind of complication,
Harry."
"You might be right," he said, surprising her with his
agreement. "Perhaps you and I need to make a fresh start.
After all, it's been several years since we last saw each other
- " he said, moving to the window, knowing that Laura was
watching him closely. "We need to get to know each other
as we are now - without all the baggage that a physical relationship
would bring." He turned to look at her. "I need to earn
your trust again."
"I DO trust you, Harry," Laura insisted. "If I
didn't, I would even CONSIDER this. I'm putting the agency on
the line doing this. You make too many mistakes, and it's the
end for all of us." He had agreed too easily, Laura decided.
He was planning something. Just because she trusted him, didn't
mean that she had accept everything he said at face value. "Besides,
I WON'T have people think I slept my way into my job if they found
out we were -"
"Seeing each other?" Harry finished. He held out a hand.
"Come here, Laura," he said, and waited patiently as
she considered the advisability of doing so. "Come on. I
won't bite."
Laura smiled as she took his hand and was drawn to his side. "There
was a time when you couldn't have said that."
"Whatever happened to that young woman who didn't give a
fig about what other people thought about her?" Harry asked.
"Maybe she grew up. Realized that we have to keep up appearances
- " she hesitated as she felt Harry's breath on her forehead.
"That what we do affects the way others see us."
Harry touched her forehead with his lips. "Can you honestly
tell me that you and I can work here, day after day, together,
and that you'll be able to maintain control of this feeling?"
Laura swallowed heavily. "Harry-"
His lips moved to her eyes, her nose. "Or that we won't even
be able to have dinner together- or see a movie-"
"Harry-" Laura said again.
"Just think how happy Daniel and your mother would be to
know -"
"HARRY," Laura said, finally getting his attention.
She smiled. "Shut up and kiss me."
"You're the boss," he told her, lowering his head.
"Just remember that, Harry," she murmured into his lips,
revelling in the way he had of making her feel so - alive again.
She hadn't felt like this in too long.
"What about your concerns?" Harry asked, once the kiss
ended, his arms still around her, her head on his chest.
"I think we can come to SOME kind of arrangement," she
told him.
The sound of Murphy clearing his throat brought them both around.
"Excuse me, but can I ask a question?"
Harry released Laura. "Murphy, you're supposed to be in bed-"
"Right. After I saw the paper, I realized that if -HARRY
went to San Francisco and got caught, WE'D be up a creek. I came
here to see if you'd thought about that."
"What was your question?" Laura asked.
"Have you gone out of your MIND? He's NOT Remington Steele,
Laura. He's a con man and who knows what else- "
"I know everything I need to know about Harry, Murphy -"
Laura insisted.
"That's another thing. Harry. What will you do if you slip
up and call him 'Harry' in front of a client?"
Laura shrugged. "That's easy. I invented him, wrote his official
bio. I can easily add a middle name."
"Middle name?" Harry asked.
"Laura-"
"Remington- HARRISON Steele," she said. "How's
that?" Harry grinned, and Murphy groaned.
"This is NEVER going to work, Laura. You're asking for trouble."
"I don't have to ask, Murphy," Laura said. "It
usually comes looking for me. But I think we can handle anything
they try to throw at us. If we all work together, that is."
She looked at her associate. "Murphy? Can't you at least
give it a try?"
"A trial period. Six months."
"Six months it is," Laura agreed, smiling as Harry's
arm went around her shoulders. Looking up at him, she said, "Why
don't we go find you someplace to stay?" she suggested.
"Excellent idea," Harry agreed, putting on his sunglasses.
"And what am I supposed to do while you're gone?" Murphy
asked.
"Go home and get some more rest," Laura told him. "I
have a feeling that we're going to be VERY busy as the result
of that last case." She looked at Harry. "Let me get
my purse and hat from my office. Meet me out front."
Harry nodded, watching her go, then started for the door, but
Murphy stood there, blocking his way. "Just so you'll know,
I'm going to be keeping my eye on you, HARRY."
"Glad to know you're so interested, Murphy."
"And if you do ANYTHING to make Laura unhappy - or hurt this
agency -"
"I won't, Murphy. But it's nice to know that you'll be there
looking out for me." He made to pass again, but this time
Murphy grabbed his jacket.
"She's too good for you."
"You're right. She is." He removed Murphy's hand, his
eyes serious. "I care more about Laura, Murphy, than I've
ever cared about anyone - even myself. All I want to do now is
be with her, help her as much as I can. Hurting Laura is the LAST
thing on my mind."
Laura came from her office, her smile fading as she saw Harry
and Murphy in the doorway, facing off like two combatants. "Really,
you two. I leave you alone for two minutes - ready, Harry- Mr.
Steele?"
Harry held out his arm. "Ready, Miss Holt." He winked
as she laughed.
"We'll be in the limo if you need us, Bernice," Laura
told the receptionist.
"Yeah, sure." Bernice watched them go, then looked at
Murphy. "I'd give it up if I were you, champ."
"What are you talking about?"
"You never had a chance before, but now, you're so far out
in left field, she's never going to find you."
"Thanks, Bernice. That kind of support I can do without."
He moved to the doors.
"Just calling it as I see it," Bernice said with a sigh.
"Murphy, did you happen to NOTICE the look on her face? She's
happy. For the first time since I've known her, Laura is really,
and truly happy. I can't begrudge her that."
"I don't begrudge her that, Bernice," he said, turning.
"I just don't think he can be trusted to take of her. He's
a -"
"I know. A con man - a thief - Laura and I had a long talk
about him yesterday. She's in love with him. And I think- no,
I know. He's in love with her."
"And where does that leave me?" Murphy asked.
"As Laura's friend," Bernice reminded him. "And
she's going to need that friendship if she's going to pull this
off."
"I'll give it six months," Murphy said. "I told
her I would."
"And after that?"
"I don't know. My head hurts."
"Then go get some rest. I'll see you later."
**********
Laura watched as Harry looked around the penthouse apartment on
Rossmore. She'd rented it once before when they'd needed an address
for Remington Steele. Seeing him here, in this room, with its
art deco air, she realized that she'd liked it because it reminded
her of him. "Well?" she asked. "Do you like it?"
"I think so," Harry answered. "I think I could
be comfortable here. And the view-" he opened the balcony
door and went out, knowing that Laura was behind him.
"Nice, isn't it?" she asked, letting him wrap his arms
around her waist from behind.
"VERY nice," he agreed.
She smiled up at him. "I'm glad you're here, Harry."
"Are you? Let's just hope you still feel that way the first
time I make a mistake as Remington Steele and you have to clean
up the mess."
She turned into his arms. "Why don't we go inside and check
out the rest of the apartment?" she said. "You barely
glanced at the kitchen," she reminded him. "And as for
the bedroom -"
"Why, Miss Holt," he said, grinning. "You wouldn't
by chance trying to get me into bed, would you? And it's only
the shank of the day."
"Let's live dangerously," Laura said, pulling him toward
the door and to the bedroom.
"You're the boss," Harry said, following her, closing
the door behind them.
The End----?