Jessica was no more communicative the next morning. As she
and Tony drove through the fog-bound city in a taxi, Tony turned
to her. "I think we need to talk-"
"About what, Mr. Roselli?"
"About THAT," he ground out. "Mr. Roselli. I was
Antony until yesterday evening. I'd like to know what I did that
was so terrible-"
Jessica remained unmoving, looking at the photograph of the driver.
"I don't like being mistaken for another woman, Mr. Roselli,
that's all. Turn here, driver," she said.
"Another woman?" Tony repeated, totally confused. "What
-" the cab stopped, and Jessica spoke to the driver.
"Wait for us, please." She opened the door and exited
the vehicle, leaving Tony to follow.
"What are you talking about, another woman?" He caught
her arm to stop her. "Jess -"
Jessica stepped away. "I refuse to argue with you on a public
street, Mr. Roselli. We're here to find out who's been leaving
flowers on my father's grave. Are you going to come and watch
with me, or not?"
Tony lifted his hands and followed her to a spot where they could
see Daniel's grave through the fog that was rapidly turning into
a cold mist. He stood with Jessica, then checked his watch. "The
caretaker said she always arrives at seven. It's close to eight."
"I know. Perhaps the weather -"
"Wait," Tony said, peering through the mist. "Someone's
coming." They watched as a young woman dressed in torn jeans
and a sweater, carrying a bouquet of flowers, approached the grave.
She took out the old blossoms, put in the new, unaware that Jessica
and Tony were coming nearer. "Excuse me-"
The girl jumped. "Oh, Cor. Gave me afright, you did. Don't
like deliverin' t'graves."
"Who are you?"
"And why are you putting flowers on my father's grave?"
The girl's eyes widened. "'E was YOUR father?"
"Yes."
"I just work for a flowerier. Go where I'm told."
"Which flowerier?" Jessica asked.
The Porter Street Flowerier appeared deserted when they entered
the shop. "Is anyone about," Jessica called.
"Just a mo'-" a cheery voice called back. A small, birdlike
little woman came from the rear of the shop, wiping dirt from
her hands. "May I help you?"
"We're trying to find someone," Tony told her. "A
woman who's been buying flowers every day for the last few months
-"
She squinted up at him. "Whot's her name?"
"We don't actually know," Jessica told her. "She
usually delivers then herself - but this morning, a young girl-"
"Oh, you must be talking about Mrs. M," she said, her
eyes narrowing in suspicision. "Why are you lookin for her?"
"She's been putting flowers on my father's grave," Jessica
told the woman. "I'd just like to find out the reason."
She lifted a handkercheif to her eyes. "I'm all alone in
the world, you see. And if she's long lost family, I -"
The little woman smiled. "Well, I suppose it couldn't hurt.
She's such a nice lady. And I DO mean a lady. I have her address
here somewhere. Her rheumatism wouldn't let her go out in the
fog, so she asked me to send Dolly. Here it is. Katherine Morgan,
Number 12, Carnation."
In the cab, Jessica lifted glowing eyes. "It must be Remington's
aunt, Antony," she said, smiling.
He didn't question her return to familiarity. "Yeah. Number
12, Carnation, driver."
Carnation Lane was a street of charming, vine covered cottages,
each surrounded by a picket fence. Number 112 was one of the more
attractive houses, and Jessica felt her mouth go dry as she went
up the cobblestone walk. Tony knocked on the door. It was opened
by an attractive woman, her dark hair streaked with silver, and
expensively styled. She leaned heavily on a silver topped cane
as she looked up at her visitors. "Mrs. Katherine Morgan?"
Tony questioned.
She looked uncertain. "Yes," she said hesitantly.
"Katherine O'Hara Morgan?" he clarified.
She didn't answer, but her eyes moved to Jessica. "Do I know
you?"
"It's - possible that you knew my father, Mrs. Morgan."
"Your - father? What is your name, child?"
"Jessica Beecham."
Katherine shook her head. "Daniel mentioned something about
a Lesley Beecham several years ago -"
"Lesley Beecham was my mother," Jessica said quietly.
The blue eyes searched Jessica's face. "So THAT'S why she
left him so suddenly."
"May we come in, Mrs. Morgan?" Tony asked.
Katherine stepped back. "Please. I'll fix some tea."
She indicated a cozy living area. "I won't be a moment."
You could just barely hear the Irish lilt in her voice, Jessica
decided. She must have worked a long time to lose it.
On the tables were scattered several photographs. Jessica found
one of a younger, laughing Katherine and a smiling man- obviously
her late husband. "Jessie-" Tony said, calling her attention
to the photo in his hand. One of Katherine and a handsome, dark
haired man and an even younger woman, who - because of her resemblance,
had to Katherine's sister. "That's Chalmers," he told
her.
Jessica took the frame. "And the other girl must be -"
"My sister, Megan," Katherine informed them, returning.
"Such a lovely child, big blue eyes, a true child of Erin."
"She was certainly very beautiful," Jessica agreed.
"I can she how my father fell in love with her."
"Everyone loved Megan," she told them, indicating that
Tony should put the silver tea service that he had taken from
her on the table. "Please sit down. And what might your name
be, young man?"
"Anthony Roselli," he said.
"Roselli," Katherine repeated. "Were - You were
in Ireland when - Daniel died. He somehow cleared you of charges
that you were a double agent."
"Yes, although the actual plan was -"
"Was thought up by Remington Steele, Mr. Roselli's employer,"
Jessica finished, watching Katherine Morgan closely.
Katherine sat her cup down quickly. "Yes. Mr. Steele. Tell
me, Miss Beecham. Did your mother tell you about- Daniel's son?"
"Yes, she did. I found him, Mrs. Morgan."
Katherine's blue eyes met Jessica's lighter blue ones. "Then
you already know that the famous detective Remington Steele is
your brother - and my nephew."
"It's because of him that we're here, actually."
Her face showed concern. "He's not ill?"
"No, Steele's in perfect health," Tony assured her.
"I simply can't believe that he sent you to find me."
"HE didn't," Tony told her, shrugging as Jessica sent
him a dagger filled glance.
"They why are you here?"
"He needs his family, Mrs. Morgan. He has so many questions
that- Daniel left unanswered. Laura - Remington's wife - believes
you can give him those answers. About his mother- any other family
-"
"There isn't any. My mother died ten years ago- Father ten
years before that. Oh, there are one or two cousins about, but
- no immediate family."
"All the more reason that you should come to Los Angeles
and see him."
Katherine rose, leaning even more heavily on the cane. "I
can't, Miss Beecham."
"Why not?" Tony asked.
"Surely whatever reason you had in the past doesn't matter,"
Jessica said. "Remington knows who he is - Secrecy is no
longer necessary. He needs you, Mrs. Morgan. Except for me, you're
his only family. His one link to a mother he never knew - and
father he only recently discovered."
"She's right, Mrs. Morgan."
Jessica put a hand on the older woman's shoulder. "Please.
Come with us."
Katherine picked up the photo of herself, Daniel, and Megan in
happier days. "Daniel wanted me to meet him again. I suppose-
Remington can't do anything other than order me out of his sight,
can he?"
"Why on earth would he do that, Mrs. Morgan?" Tony asked.
She sighed. "I think that is a story that should wait until
after I've seen him again."