He went totally still as he looked at her. "Rikki? You named her- Rikki?" he asked, enunciating the name carefully. "Dear God, Laura-"
"I didn't plan it," she assured him. "I didn't have my pills with me- I wasn't - thinking clearly during those three days-"
"No," he agreed, "I don't think either of us were. I should have made sure-" his voice trailed off as he went into her office.
"What are you-?" she followed in time to see him pick up the photograph of her and Rikki. "She loves Disneyland- any amusement park, really."
"Dear God," he said again, sitting down at her desk, the picture still in his shaking hand.
"Would say something besides 'Dear God'?" Laura begged. "Look, I'm not expecting anything from you. No support or anything - "
"Could I - see her? Not to- to tell her or anything. I just want to get to-to see her. To- to get to- know her-"
Laura looked at him sitting there, and could only see Rikki looking up at her, begging her for something extra-special . Had she misjudged him? "Okay. Let me call Maria- my housekeeper. She can bring Rikki here to the office-"
"No. Not here," he said, stopping her before she could pick up the phone. "I'd- just prefer that it wasn't somewhere- public."
"This isn't public," Laura told him. "Rikki thinks of the office as a second home. One week when Maria had to go back to Mexico when her daughter got married, we set up a play area out in reception and we all took turns keeping an eye on her," Laura told him.
"Okay," he said, backing down to look at the picture again. "I didn't see the resemblance. Not to me. I saw your eyes and dimples-"
"I've always thought she looked like you," Laura told him as she dialed the number. "Even just after she was born." He put the picture down and rose to go to the window, his hands in the pockets of what Laura imagined was a professionally tailored- and expensive- suit. "Maria? . . . Could you bring Rikki down here for a little while? . . . There's someone who wants to meet her . . . Yes, I'm sure. It's time, I think . . . How long? . . . Okay. We'll be expecting you." She hung up. "They'll be here in an hour."
"You told her about me?" he asked.
"Maria? Yes. Last night, when I thought I might not see you again. I was worried that I should have told you." She laughed. "You know what she said?"
"What?"
"That if you were meant to know, you'd be back."
"If I had known, Laura-"
"I know that now. And I planned to find you, to tell you, but- I was getting nowhere looking for Richard Blaine. And then one day I happened to turn on the TV when Casablanca was on, and-"
"And you realized that you weren't going to find me using that name. So you invented a father for your child to satisfy your mother's curiosity." He took her hand in his. "Laura- even if you won't let me stay as Remington Steele, I can't leave now. The idea of deserting my child-" he stopped, as if his throat had closed up with emotion. Blinking, he looked out of the window again. "I never expected-"
"Why don't we go back into your office, and we'll try to work something out?" she suggested, smiling when she saw the hope in those eyes at her words. "I'm not promising anything, mind you."
"The press have already accepted me as Steele," he pointed out, leading the way back into the larger office.
"That's not the problem. You won't be doing any real detective work. If we do this, your job will be to glad hand clients, make them believe that you're on the case- but Murphy and I will do the real work. You never involve yourself directly in a case. You function best-"
"In an advisory capacity," he nodded.
"Remember that. Learn it so that you repeat it in your sleep.
The agency will provide an expense account, a place to live, and
an allowance as pay. There's a condo that we used once when we
needed a residence for Remington Steele. The rent's a little high,
but-"
"Sounds fair enough. But why separate maintenance?" he asked. "A child should have both its parents-"
"We don't even *know* each other," Laura pointed out. "We spent three days together- and most of that time was in bed."
"I found out quite a bit about you during those three days," he reminded her, moving closer, slowly backing her toward the door into the reception area. "Such as the fact that you like chocolate-"
"Ch-Chocolate?" Laura repeated, and wanted to bite her tongue.
"Ah, there's that look. I didn't think I'd imagined it. And that you wanted to be a private detective but Wilson didn't approve. That you went to Stanford-" he ran a finger down her arm, causing her to shiver. "And that you make a special little sound when I do this-" his lips found the side of her neck, and Laura fought with herself as long as she could before moaning. He moved back, smiling, as if he'd won the argument.
"I don't know anything about you!" Laura pointed out. "Not even your name."
"I thought we'd settled that. Remington Steele."
"Your *real* name," she countered.
"What's in a name?" he asked, shrugging. "If you don't like that one, pick another. I've probably used it."
"I know you're a jewel thief and a con man-"
"Reformed," he promised, a hand to his chest as if taking a solemn oath. "From this moment onward. For Rikki's sake if nothing else."
Laura's eyes widened. "Rikki. I have to tell Bernice that she and Maria are on their way. If I don't, she's liable to try and keep you from seeing them," she said, jerking open the door and stepping through. "Bernice, I'm expecting Maria and Rikki. When they get here, send them in."
Bernice looked uncertain that she'd heard right and pointed toward Remington with her pencil. "You're going to let *him* meet Rikki?"
"Yes," Laura replied in a tone that brooked no further discussion of the matter. "Has Murphy called in?"
"No."
"He's not due until after lunch. See if you can get him here around eleven for a meeting. Is there anything on the schedule for this morning?"
"One or two- Mr. Hacker at ten-"
"See if you can reschedule for this afternoon. What else?"
"Mrs. Templin at eleven."
"She wants us to find her old college friends for a reunion," Laura recalled. "See if she can reschedule as well."
"Whatever you say," Bernice agreed.
"And from now on," Laura said as she turned back toward Steele's office, "if anyone wants to meet Mr. Steele, we no longer say no."
Bernice shook her head as she picked up the telephone to dial Murphy's number, convinced that Laura had finally gone off the deep end. "Hello, Murphy? It's Bernice. I think you'd better get down here pronto . . ."
***
Bernice met Maria and Rikki when they entered the office. Seeing the older woman's worried face, she said, "Are you okay?"
"What is he like?" Maria asked, removing the light pink jacket that Rikki was wearing as she spoke in a quiet voice.
"Charming," Bernice said. "Too charming for his own good, if you ask me. I'll let you decide for yourself. She said to send you right in when you got here."
Maria nodded and held her charge's hand as they approached the door. She knocked, and a second later the door was opened by Laura, who knelt to give her daughter a big hug. "Hi."
"Hi," Rikki replied, then showed her the bear she was carrying. "I brought Pooh."
"So you did." She straightened the child's dress and smoothed her hair, then rose, keeping hold of her tiny hand to face Remington. "Maria, this is Remington Steele. Remington, Maria Delgado."
He came forward, smiling nervously as he took her hand. "Maria. Laura's- told me about you."
"She's told me about you, too, Señor," the woman said.
"Well, I hope some of it was good, anyway," he replied, and saw her attempt not to smile in return. Then he took a deep breath and turned to the little girl at Laura's side. "And who have we here?" he asked, dropping down to eye level with the child.
"I'm Rikki," she told him. "Who are you?"
"I'm-" he hesitated, remembering his promise to Laura not to tell her who he really was. "I'm- your mommy's boss," he told her at last, struggling against the tears that threatened to overwhelm his vision. "You're a very pretty little girl."
She grinned at him. "Thank you." Holding out her yellow bear, she asked, "Do you want to hold Pooh?"
Remington took the yellow bear from her. "What a nice bear. Doesn't he have a friend who's a tiger or something? Bounces around on his tail, I think?"
Rikki giggled. "Tigger."
"That's right. What a wonderful name for him, don't you think? Tigger?"
"Uncle Murphy promised to get me a Tigger for my birthday," she informed him, and Remington looked up at Laura.
"And when is your birthday? Can you tell me?"
Laura looked at Maria. "Could you- leave us alone for a few minutes, please?"
"Sí. I'll be right outside."
"Her birthday is October 10th," Laura informed him, watching as he led Rikki over to the conference area.
"And how old will you be?" he asked
She held up five fingers. "Five," she announced.
Remington laughed. "Such a smart little girl," he said, returning Pooh to her arms with a little dance on the sofa en route. Rikki laughed, delighted.
Suddenly the door to the office opened, and Murphy burst into the room. "Laura-"
"It's okay, Murphy," she assured him as Remington's eyes met Murphy's over her head.
Murphy took in the sight of Rikki sitting beside him on the sofa and shook his head. "Bernice was right. You have gone crazy."
"Hi, Uncle Murphy," Rikki said, beginning to frown as she sensed the tension between the adults in the room.
"Hi, Cupcake," he said, deliberately using his nickname for her.
Laura grabbed Murphy's arm. "Let's go out here for a minute-"
He tried to pull his arm out of her hold. "And leave them?"
"Out, Murphy," she ordered, then smiled at Rikki. "Mommy and Uncle Murphy have to talk about business, okay? I'll be right back."
Rikki nodded, her expression somber as the door closed. "Uncle Murphy is mad," she said, tracing the red shirt on her bear.
"He's just a little upset, that's all. And not with you," Remington assured her. "He doesn't know me very well, and he- he's afraid you might like to spend time with me instead of him. Would you like that? Spending time with me?" She scooted closer to his side, and Remington placed an arm around his daughter's tiny shoulders. "I bet you like going to Disneyland, don't you?"
Her eyes lit up with pleasure at the idea of her favorite place. "Yes."
"Well, we're going to spend lots of time there. How about circuses? Do you like those?"
"Giraffes," she told him.
"Ah, I like the giraffes, too. I bet you like the zoo."
Another nod. "Wonderful!" Remington said.
***
In the reception area, Laura was admonishing Murphy to keep his voice down. "There's no need to yell," she told him. "You've already upset Rikki-"
"*I*'ve upset Rikki? What do you call what you're doing?"
"She's not upset. I think she liked him. Murphy, he *is* her father."
"I know, Laura, but- just to have him drop into her life this way after four years- "
"He really seemed to be sincere to me, Señor Murphy," Maria assured him. "He made her laugh."
"What's this about his being Remington Steele?" Murphy asked, realizing he was outnumbered.
"We'll discuss that after Rikki leaves," she told him. "But it's true."
"Oh, Laura- this guy's bad news."
They heard Rikki's laughter through the door. "You think so? You really think that anyone who can make her laugh that way is bad, Murphy? I'm going back in there. You can either stay and we'll talk later- or you can leave. It's up to you." Laura opened the door and had to fight to keep from laughing herself at the sight that presented itself.
He was on the floor, on all fours, and Rikki was sitting on his back. "Giddy-up, horsie," she was saying. "Giddy up."
"Having fun?" Laura asked, closing the door and standing there.
"Oh," Remington said, standing up and lifting Rikki in his arms at the same time. "We were playing horsie," he explained.
"So I gathered," Laura said with a smile.
"Uncle Rem is taking me to the zoo, Mommy," Rikki said.
"Oh, really?"
Remington shrugged. "I thought we could go this weekend," he told her.
Laura adjusted Rikki's dress over his arm as she reminded her daughter, "I thought you and I were going to the amusement park?"
The little girl got a stubborn look on her face that Laura recognized only too well. "I wanna go to the zoo with Uncle Rem."
"We'll talk about it," Laura told them both. "Rikki, would you like for Uncle Remington to have dinner with us tonight?" she asked.
Rikki nodded, and threw her arms around his neck. "Please, Uncle Remin-ton," she stumbled over the name, and Laura winced, but Remington just smiled.
"Uncle Rem will do," he told her in a quiet voice, obviously enjoying her hug. "I couldn't possibly refuse dinner with the two prettiest girls in the world," he promised, including Laura in his glance. "What time?"
***
Once Maria and Rikki left, with the child giving Remington another hug around the neck and a somewhat more reserved one to Murphy, Laura stood between the two men as they glared at each other. "Murphy-"
"I don't like it, Laura. This guy waltzes in here after five years and suddenly thinks he can pick up where he left off!"
"I didn't have anything to "leave off" from," Remington pointed out. "Can I help it if my daughter *likes* being with me?"
"You can't trust him, Laura," Murphy insisted, following her into Steele's office. "He's a con man-"
"Reformed," Remington assured him. "And I'd appreciate you directing your comments to me about this, Murphy. Let's leave Laura out of it, shall we?"
"Okay, let's do that," Murphy agreed, finally confronting Remington. "I'm the one who's been there for Laura after the mess you left her life in-"
"I didn't leave her life in a mess," Remington pointed out.
"He's right, Murphy. That was unfair."
"But the fact still remains that I've been here. I'm the one she's turned to for help and support for the last five and a half years-"
"If I'd known what was going on, that wouldn't have been necessary," Remington informed him smoothly. "But I didn't."
"Only because you didn't tell her your real name," Murphy accused. "Why were you Acapulco, anyway? Running a con? Plotting to steal something?"
Laura had had enough. "Okay, neutral corners, guys," she said, stepping between them and pushing them apart. "Murphy, nothing's going to change between you and Rikki, okay? You're still her god-father and her Uncle Murphy. But - Remington has the right to get to know his daughter. This isn't why I called you in early," she told him.
"Laura-" Murphy began, but she lifted a hand to silence him.
"The two of you can settle this later. Right, we have business to discuss."
***
"And I can assure you, Mrs. Templin," Remington said in a sincere tone as he held the matronly woman's hand, "that this agency will do whatever it takes to locate your former classmates and bring them together for a reunion to end all reunions."
The woman smiled up at him with glowing eyes. "Thank you, Mr. Steele. You can't imagine how much better I feel knowing that you're going to be looking for my old friends."
"Now, if you'll just go with Mr. Michaels and give him the pertinent information, we'll get started immediately on your case," he said, escorting her toward the reception area door as Murphy opened it. "With any luck, you shall have your guest list firmed up by next week."
"Oh, thank you, Mr. Steele," Mrs. Templin said again.
"This way, Mrs. Templin," Murphy said, glaring at Remington before modifying it into a bland smile toward the client.
Remington turned toward Laura, who was sitting in the conference area. "How did I do?"
"Splendidly. But don't you think you laid it *just* a bit thick? The poor woman was practically in a puddle on the floor!"
"You said to turn on the charm," he reminded her. "Too bad that charm doesn't seem to work with you anymore."
"Maybe I'm just immune from having to put up with that same charm from your daughter."
"Really?" he asked, and straightened his tie. "You mentioned something about an apartment or such-"
"Let me clear the rest of the afternoon with Bernice and we'll go have a look at it."
But he stopped her as she passed him and looked at her. "Thank you."
"For what?"
"Rikki. For giving me a chance here- a chance to turn it around- to get to know my daughter. You have no idea how much that means to me. And I'll try not to get in the way too much- or take up too much of Murphy's time-"
She sighed. "Murphy was there when Rikki was born. He backed me up, helped keep my career on track. He even found Maria for us. He's my best friend, and I couldn't end that if I wanted to. He's just- concerned about Rikki. Afraid she'll prefer you over him and she won't need him around anymore."
"I can understand that," he agreed. "But she is my daughter, Laura."
"I know that. So does he. He just needs time to adjust to things having changed, that's all. I'm sure that once he does, you and he will be friends."
"You really think so?" Remington asked, doubtful. Murphy wasn't just jealous of his attention toward Rikki. Laura was included in that as well. He doubted that was going to change anytime soon.
"I'm sure of it. Come on. Let's go look at that apartment."
Remington followed her out of the office as Murphy told Mrs. Templin good bye and reassured her that they would get right to work on the case. Turning, his eyes found Remington and his face took on a sour expression. "I'll start tracing these names," he told Laura. "Where are you going?"
"To find Remington an apartment. I thought I'd let him look at that place on Rossmore-"
Murphy gave Remington a considering look. "It'll suit him. Guess that means that you're planning on sticking around, hey, *pal*?"
"I'm in for the long run, Murphy," Remington assured him. "So you might as well accept it and give in gracefully."
"Oh, I'll give in, but I won't give up." When Laura cleared her throat in warning, Murphy sighed. "Looks like I don't have much choice in the matter. But I'm gonna be watching your every move," he warned.
"Good to know I have you as backup," Remington replied, slipping his sunglasses on to his face as he took Laura's arm. "Shall we, my dear?"
"One of these days," Murphy muttered as the door closed behind them.
"Give it up, champ," Bernice warned. "You can't possibly hope to win."
Murphy gave her a smile. "Oh, but the war's just starting, Bernice. And I haven't even begun to fight."
The End
Stay tuned for "Steeled in the Act 2". Coming soon
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