Steele Hanging On

Part Three

Remington entered the house, giving Laura a brief kiss, smiling at her and Jessica as he went to pour himself a glass of whiskey. That smile changed to a nervous grimace as he saw both women watching him closely. "Sorry it took so long."

 

"You mentioned something about a snag?" Laura questioned, signaling Jessica to let her do the talking as Remington turned toward a chair and loosened his tie.

 

"Uh, yes. A snag. Antony’s in a bit of trouble, I’m afraid. Seems someone murdered Conchita using his gun," he told them, loosening the top button of his shirt.

 

"SOMEONE?" Jessica asked at last, unable to remain silent. "Any ideas about who?"

 

"He’s going to make some calls," Remington told his sister. "See if it might be someone from his past out to settle an old score." He sighed tiredly. "He wants you to stay out of it, Jessica. And I agree with him."

 

"Then you HAVE seen him," Jessica said. "Where is he?"

 

"If I tell you, then as an officer of the court, you’d be required to report his whereabouts to the police. He doesn’t want to put you in that position, Jessica," Remington said.

 

"She’s ALREADY in that position, Remington," Laura said, drawing his attention. "The police called her answering service, wanting to know if she had seen Tony all evening. The fact that you’ve seen him and she knows that puts her in the middle."

 

Remington sighed again. Tony had been most specific about keeping Jessica out of this mess. "You’re certain that you want to see him, Jessica?" he asked at last.

 

"Where is he, Remington?" his sister asked again.

 

Remington refilled his glass, then lifted his arm in the general direction that would lead her to Tony. "In Harley’s apartment." He avoided meeting Laura’s eyes, aware that she was staring at him in disbelief.

 

Jessica gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you," she whispered, then left the room.

 

"He’s HERE?" Laura questioned. "You brought a wanted man HERE? I thought we had agreed not to do things like that. That the days of our giving shelter to clients were overwith."

 

"He's not just a client, Laura, he works for us. He's a friend. Laura, the man needed help," Remington said. "What was I supposed to do? Drop him on a street corner? Turn him over to the police? Besides, I seem to recall a time when you were most eager to help Antony when he asked for help."

 

Laura’s face grew warm as she recalled that incident. She’d thrown herself into Tony’s arms to keep the London police from discovering that he was on the train they were on. "Okay. But that was different," she said.

 

"Why? Because you took the initiative instead of me? Because it was YOUR idea?"

 

"Our family wasn’t at risk," she reminded him. "By bringing him here, you endangered the children. Not to MENTION the Agency’s license!"

 

"That’s the real problem, isn’t it?" Remington accused. "It’s not the children you’re worried about," he told her. "It’s the bloody agency! Always the bloody agency!" Laura turned on her heel and left the room. Remington put down his empty glass, following her. The door to the garden was just closing as he saw it, and he went out, catching up with her near the gazebo. "Dammit, Laura, don’t walk away from me like that."

 

She pulled her arm out of his grasp, and wrapped her arms around her waist. "That was unfair, and you know it," she said.

 

Remington took off his jacket and slipped it over her shoulders. "You’re right. And I’m sorry. It’s just been a hell of a day, Laura. I’ll find another place for Antony to hide," he said, but Laura shook her head.

 

"He’s here now. Might as well let him stay. But next time- if there IS a next time- ASK first, okay? Call or something?"

 

"It’s a deal," he said, then pulled her close to him, leading her toward the gazebo.

 

"How much trouble is Tony in?" Laura asked.

 

***

Tony hung up the telephone with a frustrated sigh. There wasn't much more he could do until tomorrow. Another name popped into his head, and he started to dial again, only to stop as he heard someone coming up the stairs toward the apartment. Steele? He wondered. Or had Cohen's men managed to tail him here? Very carefully, he hung the telephone up and moved to the wall beside the door.

 

In the dim light, he saw the knob turn slowly, then the door opened. Tony never thought to wait, he simply grabbed the wrist, noticing that it was too fragile feeling to be a policeman's, and pulled the intruder into the room. "Oomph!" a feminine voice muttered as she fell heavily into a nearby chair, and Tony froze.

 

"Jess?" he asked.

 

She gathered what little dignity she had left to answer as she rose to her feet once again. "If you didn't want to see him, Antony, you could have told Remington."

 

"I thought I DID tell him," Tony pointed out. "He wasn't supposed to tell you where I was." He looked at her. "Did I hurt you?"

 

"Only my pride," Jessica said, rubbing her wrist.

 

"Jess, we need to talk," he began to say, only to see her hand go up.

 

"Let's figure a way to get you out of this mess first, then we can talk."

 

"Jess," he tried again, but she wasn't listening. She was pacing around the small room.

 

"The first order of business is for you to turn yourself in."

 

"Turn myself in? Jess, are you crazy?"

 

"I can't help you as long as you're a fugitive, Antony. If you turn yourself in, we can post a bond, secure your release- perhaps in Remington's custody."

 

"On a murder charge?" Tony questioned. He shook his head. "Besides, I don't want you involved in this."

 

"I can take care of myself," she insisted. "But you're going to need an attorney, and since I'm here, and you do still work for the agency-," she was saying as Tony grabbed her shoulders and turned her to face him.

 

"Jess, listen to me. Whoever set this frame up doesn't care who he has to hurt to get to me. I don't want him to take you out by mistake."

 

"What about Remington?" she asked. "Or Laura?"

 

"It's their job," he reminded her.

 

"You're not going to stop me from helping you, Tony," she said softly.

 

Tony. She NEVER called him that-unless she was trying to get him to do something she knew he wouldn’t like to do. "It won't work this time, Jess," he told her. "You don't know what the people I used to work with are capable of."

 

"I have a pretty good idea." She sat down in a chair, turning on the lamp on the table beside it. "Now, I want you to tell me everything that happened this evening from the time you left the agency."

 

He took a deep breath, thinking to himself that this woman was just a stubborn as Laura. "I drove back to the apartment . . ." he began.

 

***

 

Laura rested her head on Remington's shoulder. "This is nice," she sighed.

 

"I agree," he said, his lips close to her ear, sending tiny shivers down her spine. "Cold?"

 

"No. Have you noticed that we seem to be- arguing even more than usual lately?" she asked at last.

 

"It's- crossed my mind," he admitted.

 

"Mildred thinks it's because we need some time alone."

 

Remington smiled into her hair. "Remind me to discuss the possibility of a raise for that woman with you," he said. "Because I agree. When was the last time you and I went away together?" he asked.

 

"Well, we went to Reno last month-," she reminded him.

 

"On a case."

 

"Oh. I don't know. Since- before Patrick was born, I suppose."

 

"And then you were five months pregnant. I mean just the two of us- no case, no children." She turned to look at him, her expression curious. "Laura, I adore the children. You know that. But there are times when you and I need time to be together, just us." He pulled her close again. "Think about it. No telephones, no one shooting at us, nothing to come between us. A roaring fire, wine, good food-."

 

"Sounds wonderful," Laura sighed. "Anyplace specific in mind?"

 

"Why don’t you choose?" he suggested. "Anyplace in the world that you want to go."

 

"Feeling generous, are we?" she questioned, her smile widening to reveal her dimples.

 

"As long as we're together, I don't care were we go."

 

"How about - Paris?"

 

Remington looked at her. "Paris?"

 

Laura wound her arms around his neck. "You never did give me that weekend you promised me, remember?"

 

"Ah, but if I recall, that was part of a wager we made regarding that case at Murphy's alma mater. One year of my life for one weekend of yours, I believe?"

 

"Care to make good on that, Mr. Steele?" she asked.

 

"Once we're in Paris," he promised, "I'll tell you anything you want to know," as his lips found hers.

 

"Then it's settled," Laura said, pressing kisses along his jaw. "As soon as we clear Tony, we leave for Paris."

 

"You talked me into it, Mrs. Steele," he said, then settled back. "First thing tomorrow, Mildred can check on Conchita's status with immigration."

 

"You don't think she was here legally?"

 

"Most likely not. But even if she was, she mentioned something to Antony about a sponsor who got her a job here. And you and I will pay a visit to Sheldon."

 

"Sheldon?"

 

"Sheldon Quarry. The answer man?" he reminded her. "Red hair dye?"

 

"I know who you're talking about. Why Sheldon?"

 

"Tony's ex-CIA. Covert, yes, but perhaps our former client can help us save our current one."

 

Laura smiled. "You know, if I didn't know better, I'd say you were starting to like Tony- just a little bit."

 

Remington lifted an eyebrow. "Really, Laura. The only reason I'm concerned is because my sister- for some reason I can't fathom- thinks she's in love with the man. I mean, how would it look, for the man my sister is- involved with to wind up in jail and my not lift a finger to help him? Hmm?"

 

Laura laughed softly. "You're just an old softie at heart, Mr. Steele," she teased gently.

 

"We'll see just how soft I am," he warned her, pulling her close to him, only to stop as he heard the summons for the front gate. "The sooner we get to Paris, the better," he muttered, standing up and pulling her with him. "Let's go see who wants in at this hour of the night, shall we?"

 

***

"Yes?" Remington said into the speaker.

 

"Lt. Cohen, Mr. Steele. I need to speak to you."

 

Remington exchanged a look with Laura. "It's awfully late, Lieutenant," he said. "Mrs. Steele and I were just about to turn in. Surely whatever it is can wait until-"

 

"I'm afraid it can't, Mr. Steele. I got a tip that Tony Roselli was here."

 

"Uh, Lt. Cohen-," Remington began, but the policeman broke in.

"I DO have a warrant to search the property, Mr. Steele," he said.

 

"We don't have any choice," Laura whispered. "Let him in."

 

"I'll meet you outside, Lt. Cohen," Remington said. "And I'll want to see that warrant."

 

"Of course."

 

Remington closed the circuit. "Get over to the garage apartment," he told Laura. "Tell Antony to get out of there."

 

***

Remington was smiling as the unmarked police car and two black and white units pulled up beside Jessica's car. "Ah, Lt. Cohen. You said you got a tip that Mr. Roselli was here? On my property?"

 

"Not only that, Steele," Cohen added, "But that he was seen entering the gates in YOUR car." He held out the search warrant.

 

After glancing through the document, Remington nodded. "Fast work. Must have had to wake the judge up to get this."

 

"You do what you have to do," Cohen told him, sending a couple of men around the sides of the house.

 

"What I have to do is protect my family from being disturbed by your men," Remington told him. "My children are upstairs, sleeping. I'd appreciate it if you wouldn’t -"

 

"You could help if you'd just tell us where he is, Mr. Steele."

 

One of the officers who had been at Tony's earlier came back around the corner. "Lieutenant, didn't your report say that the gardener was out of town?"

 

"That's right, Logan. Lives in the garage apartment."

 

"There's a light on the garage apartment," Logan told his boss.

 

Cohen shot Remington a look. "Care to explain that, Steele?" he asked, turning in that direction.

 

"Uh," Remington said, following, trying to think of a plausible explanation. "Timer. Harley worries about people breaking into the place, so he set up a timer to come on around this time every evening." The light went out. "And to go off a few minutes later," he finished lamely.

 

"Come on," Cohen told his men. "Let's go."

 

***

Tony frowned as Laura rushed into the room and switched the lamp off. "The police are at the gate," she explained. "They have a search warrant. Someone told them that you were here."

 

"Damn," Tony cursed. He turned toward the door, only to be stopped by Jessica's voice.

 

"Tony, don't go. Don't you see that this it the best chance you'll have to turn yourself in?"

 

"Turn himself in?" Laura repeated. "I know you think you know what you're doing, Jessica, but-"

 

"I DO know, Laura. This is MY area, remember? His only chance is to turn himself in and try to get out on bond."

 

"But if he's found HERE," Laura hissed, her eyes widening as they heard steps on the stairs. "Damn!" she said, going to the window. "There are cops everywhere down there!"

 

"Is there a back door?" Tony asked.

 

"No," she told him, as there was a knock on the door.

 

"Antony," Remington called out through the wood. "There are some gentlemen down here who want to see you."

 

Tony looked once again at Jessica, gave a resigned sigh, then opened the door. "Okay," he said, then louder, "Okay, I'm coming down!" he called out, lifting his hands above his head as several weapons were pointed in his direction.

 

"I told you he's unarmed," Remington said to Cohen, following Tony down.

 

"You also told me that you didn't know where he was," Cohen reminded him. "I'd be expecting a call from the licensing board, Steele. They frown on people harboring fugitives."

 

"He turned himself in, Lieutenant," Jessica pointed out, coming out of the apartment, ignoring her brother's agitated frown.

 

"I would have thought that you'd know better than to try and hide him, Miss Beecham," Cohen said, as his men led Tony away.

 

"We weren't hiding him," Jessica insisted. "He simply wanted to speak to his attorney before turning himself in. How soon can we get bail set?" she asked.

 

You'll have to talk to the judge, Miss Beecham, like everyone else," Cohen told her as he moved toward his car. ""Hope you're not planning on getting him released in the Steele's custody. After tonight, I don't think that will happen," he told her, getting into his car.

 

Jessica glanced into the back of the car where Tony was sitting, trying to ignore the "I told you so" expression on his face. "I'll take care of things, Antony," she promised. "You'll be out tomorrow."

 

She was still standing, watching the gates close, when Remington and Laura joined her. "I guess you were right, Laura," she said with a sigh. "He should have run after all."

 

Remington put an arm around his sister's shoulders. "There, there, Jessica," he cooed in a soothing tone. "Things will work out. I feel sure of it." But the look he sent Laura said just the opposite.

 

Tony was in it up to his neck, and the Agency wasn't far behind.

 

To Be Continued . . .

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Original content ©1999 by Nancy Eddy