Remington was eating his dinner- tonight it was actually something halfway appetizing as well as edible, probably due to the "guests" who were even now seated at Jenks' table at the far end of the dining room- when he felt someone take the seat beside him. "I'd like a piece of that," Gabe muttered, picking up his spoon, his gaze locked on the expanse of Laura's leg between the end of her skirt and the boots.
"Know what you mean," Remington grinned. "They visit the farm?"
"Yeah. Jenks is gonna have to put all of us in solitary, looks like. Course, I got a chance to actually *talk* to the lady, bein' a trustee and all," he boasted.
"So did I," Remington informed him, tearing off a piece of bread from the dried out roll on his tray, and nodded at his cell-mate's surprised expression. "Singled me out to talk to in the laundry."
"Lucky stiff," Gabe said, and grinned as he realized what he'd said. "Damn. That's one fine piece. Bet she'd be a tiger in bed."
"Why do you think they're here?" Remington asked, wanting to steer the subject away from Laura.
"No telling. Probably trying to set something up with Jenks to send prisoners here to Evergen. The older guy was asking a lot of questions about the place."
"What about the younger one?" Remington asked.
"Bodyguard. Didn't say a word, just followed us around the entire time. Looks like he's packing."
"Yeah. I noticed."
***
James frowned in frustration, listening to his friends talking about the guests. "I'd like me a piece of that," Carl said with a deep sigh.
Diego, otherwise known as 4680, laughed softly. "You wouldn't know what to do with her, man."
"Who was talking about the girl?" Carl said, watching the dark suited man wearing sunglasses. "I'll take the younger guy. Oh, man."
"I'll take the girl any day," Larry, the third man in Carl's little trio said. "I used to love-"
"Shut up, guys," James snapped, his eyes narrowing as they focused on the group sitting with Jenks. "I know that guy from somewhere. It's been along time-"
"Which one?" Carl asked.
"The older one."
"Maybe he used to work for your father?" Diego asked.
"No. He didn't seem to recognize me."
"It's been a few years, amigo," the man said. "People change."
"I know. And he's changed. His hair's white- used to be- dark. And he was using an English accent- I know where I saw him. At my trial. He was there a couple of days- the days-"He looked back to where Harry was sitting. "Hell!" he hit the table with his fist, making enough noise to attract the attention of everyone else in the dining room- including Warden Jenks and his "guests".
Daniel looked up at the noise and saw James Gardner's dark, angry gaze fixed on him, recognition clearly written in them. He'd remembered Daniel being in court with Harry during the trial after all.
The guards all moved closer to the dining tables, as if to head off any trouble before it could begin, and within seconds everyone was attending to their own business, the outburst forgotten. But Daniel saw James motion to one of the guards and say something to him. The guard nodded and moved away, heading for Jenks' table. James then turned to the three men sitting around him and spoke to them. They all nodded, and Daniel shuddered as one of them smiled.
The guard moved toward the Warden's table and bent to whisper something into Jenks' ear. Jenks listened, looked in James' direction, and nodded. "Tell him I'll see him later." The guard nodded and went to deliver the reply.
Daniel glanced at Laura, seeing that she had noticed James' attention as well. Putting his fork onto the table beside the expensive china plate that Jenks reserved for his guests, Daniel smiled at their host. "Why don't we return to your office, Warden and complete our business?"
"Excellent idea. Captain, you may dismiss the prisoners to their cells," Jenks told the head guard as he and his guests left the dining room.
***
Remington had taken note of James' actions in the dining room, and began replaying those long ago days of the trial over and over in his head. Was it possible that he had connected Daniel to him? Daniel had been dark haired then- most of it due to a bottle of hair dye, of course, but the hair had been much darker. And- he would have only seen Daniel twice, perhaps. Before they tried the con, Harry had been on the outs with Daniel, insisting that he could make it on his own without his mentor's assistance. He kept a close eye on James as they returned to their respective cells.
"Looks like your pal's upset about something," Gabe commented, grabbing his shampoo and soap from the shelf over the sink as he watched James restlessly pacing the cell across the way.
"Look like," Remington agreed.
"Ready for a shower?"
James stopped pacing to watch them leave their cell and head toward the shower area.
***
Upon entering the office, Daniel remained on his feet to face the Warden. "I think you should be made aware, Warden Jenks, that we're here under false pretenses."
Jenks looked worried. "You are?"
"Yes. We're here investigating the kidnapping and possible attempted murder of Remington Steele- I'm sure you're familiar with the name, considering he's one of your prisoners."
Jenks' face took on an ugly cast. "You've no proof that I did anything."
"No? I doubt we'll have to dig very long to find out that you took money from Nathaniel Gardner in exchange for imprisoning an innocent man simply because that man testified against James Gardner fifteen years ago."
"First, you have to get Steele out of here," Jenks reminded them.
Daniel looked at Murphy, who pulled his gun and pointed it at Jenks. "I think this will accomplish that," Murphy said, speaking for the first time since their arrival.
Jenks didn't look at all concerned. "You'd never make it off the island alive," he said. "My men would kill all of you before you reached the airstrip."
Murphy pulled the small transmitter from his pocket. "Do you know what that is, Jenks?" Laura asked in her normal voice. "It's a transmitter that will signal the pilot of our plane. The moment he gets that signal, he'll take off without us and return to Los Angeles to report that we are being held hostage at Evergen, along with Remington Steele. So if I were you, I'd think seriously about letting us go."
"Think about it, Jenks," Daniel said. "If it comes out that you're responsible in any way for the kidnapping and eventual death of Remington Steele, what chances do you think you'll have of any of your customers ever sending you another dime to take a prisoner, hmm?"
"I made an agreement with Mr. Gardner," Jenks reminded him. "I can't simply go back on that."
"I think it's preferable to the alternative, don't you?" Murphy asked, raising his hand to point the gun at Jenks' head. "Hard to spend all that money you've put into a numbered Swiss account over the years if you're dead."
***
Remington finished putting on a clean uniform and was about to leave the dressing room when he heard a noise behind him. Gabe grunted and fell to the floor as Remington turned. Diego was standing over Gabe with a length of pipe that he'd obviously smuggled into the room at some point. He slapped the pipe into his hand, grinning at Remington as Carl, Larry, and James joined him.
"Looks like your protector isn't going to be able to help you, Harry," James said, giving the unconscious Gabe a nudge with his foot.
"The guards," Remington began, but Carl giggled.
"The guards won't bother us either," James assured him as they slowly backed Remington toward the wall. Carl's giggle seemed to echo ominously through the room.
"Look, James, give it up. You know they're onto this. There's no way you can get away with killing me."
Larry grinned. "What're they gonna do? Put him in prison?" He and Carl and Diego all laughed at the joke.
"No," Remington said, his eyes locked with James'. "He'll be dead. Daniel'll kill you, mate. Just like your father is trying to kill me."
"Won't matter," James said. "Cause you'll be dead, and I'll have had my revenge." He drove a fist into Remington's stomach, knocking the wind out of him. "Or maybe I won't kill you- if you're willing to tell the authorities that you lied fifteen years ago- that you killed that girl."
"Won't happen," Remington managed, and paid for it with another fist to his stomach.
"Don't hurt him, James," Carl whined. "You said I could have some fun-"
"Sorry, Carl," James said, and backhanded Remington. Remington felt blood on the inside of his mouth, and saw stars as his head contacted with the wall. "Maybe next time. I don't have time to let you get your jollies." He pulled Remington's head up. "Want to change your mind?"
"Never," Remington said, and managed to focus enough to see the flash of dim light on a home made knife that appeared in James' hand. He braced himself.
James ran his fingers over the edge of the knife. "This little baby won't cut clean. Tears you up inside. Especially when you twist it," he made a twisting motion with his hand. "Painful, I would guess."
"As Gabe's former cell mate found out first hand, eh?" Remington asked.
"Had to get him out of the way- and he looked so much like you- it was almost like killing you. A dress rehearsal, so to speak."
"Always good to get in a little practice," Remington muttered. "If you're gonna do it, then do it. Stop talkin' about it. Or are you still all talk and no action?"
James' eyes flashed with rage and he pulled back his hand, ready to deliver a killing thrust- but before he could finish the move, the door burst open. James grabbed Remington and pulled him around before him, the knife to his throat as he saw the Warden, Daniel, Laura, Murphy and several guards enter the room.
Larry, Carl and Diego backed away, hands in the air as the guards trained their guns on the trio. "Get them back to their cells," Jenks ordered. "And put everyone in lock down. Now!" All but Jenks, Remington's friends, Captain Morgan and one guard left the room, two of them carrying, dragging Gabe. "Is he alive?" The guards nodded. "Take him to the infirmary."
Once they were gone, Remington managed a half smile in the direction of his friends. "Took you long enough to get here," he said, then went still as James' knife touched his skin.
"At least we're here, Harry," Daniel told him. "Better late than never, hmm?"
Jenks looked at James. "Let him go."
"No. I can't do that. I've waited to long to have my revenge for what he did to me."
"And what did he do, Gardner?" Daniel asked, his eyes on Remington.
"He betrayed me! Turned me in to the authorities. I'm not the one who killed that girl, it was him!"
Remington started to shake his head. "You know that's not-"
"Shut up!" James yelled, pressing the edge of the knife against his skin.
"Give it up, James," Laura said in a quiet voice. "It's over."
"Not yet," James insisted. "Not until he's dead."
Jenks told the Captain and guard- "Kill him."
"You let them kill me, Jenks, my father will kill you," James warned. "You'll all be dead. He'll hunt you down like animals."
Jenks looked nervously toward the Captain, clearly frozen with fear at the idea of Nathaniel Gardner's wrath. Morgan and the other guard seemed just as frozen.
Murphy pulled his own gun and pointed it toward the two men, eyes narrowed, looking the part of the cold blooded killer even without the dark glasses. "Then I'll do it," he said, his gaze sliding from Remington to James Gardner. "I'm not afraid of your father. He's a two bit gangster who should have been taken out years ago. Once I kill you, I'll find him before he can find me."
Jenks looked ready to cave in, but Daniel held up the transmitter that he'd taken from Murphy in the office. "I wouldn't, Jenks," he warned. "One press of this button, and you won't have anyplace to hide.
Jenks motioned for his men to back off, but they kept their automatic rifles at the ready.
"Now, Gardner," Murphy said. "Let him go."
"No."
"I won't ask again."
"You can't kill me without killing him. I don't think you'll risk that."
"Murphy's a crack shot," Laura said, partially to erase the look of concern in Remington's eyes.
"You shoot me, I cut his throat."
"Not if I'm fast enough," Murphy said.
Remington's head lifted as he felt the knife dig slightly into his skin. His eyes met Murphy's. "Do it, Murphy." He felt a warm trickle of blood on his skin beneath the blade, and looked at Laura for what he thought would be the last time. Her hand was on Daniel's arm, and he saw the ring on her finger. She'd found it- and was wearing it. At least he would die knowing that she would have said yes. Would have finally trusted him.
He saw the flash from the muzzle of Murphy's gun and pushed against the arm that held him with all of his strength as he heard the bullet fly past his ear and slam James into the wall behind them. As James slid down the wall, Remington dropped to his knees. Laura got to him first, kneeling beside him and giving him a hug. "Are you okay?" she asked, kissing his face several times before finding his lips. "Thank God we found you."
Murphy moved to examine James' body. "He's dead," he said, unnecessarily, since his bullet had hit the other man squarely between the eyes. It wasn't a pretty sight, and he looked up at Remington, who nodded, his arms still around Laura.
"Thank you," Remington said.
"Don't mention it," Murphy told him, holstering his weapon. "Let's get out of here."
"What about me?" Jenks asked nervously. "When Mr. Gardner finds out about his son's death, he'll kill me."
Daniel looked at the little man as he helped Murphy pulled Remington to his feet. "The solution is simple, Jenks. Testify against Gardner in court."
"But- but they'll put me into prison for helping him."
"I'm sure if you cooperate with the authorities," Laura said, "they'll go easy on you- with Remington's recommendation." She smiled as she saw Remingtin's reaction to her usage of his first name.
"Of course, if you choose to remain here and take your chances-" Daniel began, as they turned toward the door.
"No," Jenks said, turning to Morgan. "Captain, you're in charge of Evergen until I return."
"Yes, *sir*, Warden," Morgan said, clearly surprised and delighted by the turn of events.
Laura slipped under Remington's left arm as Murphy moved away, pulling Jenks with him. Remington glanced down at her attire. "I like the outfit," he told her with a leering grin. "But don't you think you were taking a chance coming here, dressed like that?"
"We a needed a distraction," Laura told him. "It worked once- I figured it would work again. Just don't get used to the skirt. It's going into the trash tomorrow."
"Such a pity," Daniel sighed, and Remington looked at him as they moved toward the doorway into the yard, where Murphy and Jenks had a jeep waiting.
"Thank you, Daniel."
"I couldn't very well leave you here, could I, Harry? Not after I worked so long and hard to-" Remington saw the glance that passed between Laura and Daniel before Daniel continued. "To reclaim you from the streets of Brixton." Laura frowned, and Remington wondered what she was upset about.
***
Once the small jet was airborne, Remington sat back and let Laura attend to his neck. "How bad is it?" he asked.
"You've had worse," Laura told him. "It's shallow." She picked up the antiseptic from the first aid kit and cleaned it. "You'll probably need a tetanus booster when you get back to LA."
Murphy came back from the cockpit, and Daniel looked up at him. "Did you contact Lt. Jarvis?" he asked, handing Laura a bit of gauze for a bandage.
"He'll be waiting for us at the airport," Murphy confirmed. "And he's contacting the London authorities to arrest Gardner for kidnapping and conspiracy to commit murder."
Jenks wrung his hands, moaning. "I hope they find him. If he escapes, he'll kill us all."
***
But Jarvis had good news for them upon their arrival at Valley Airport. "Nathaniel Gardner was taken into custody half an hour ago. They've already started extradition proceedings to bring him here to stand trial. Good to see you, Steele. Lots of people are going to be surprised to find out you're still alive."
After hearing Laura's recital of how Gardner had pulled off the kidnapping, Steele wasn't surprised by Jarvis' statement. "Pleasantly surprised, I hope," he said. "Mr. Jenks here is a material witness in the case- I hope you'll be able to insure his safety until the trial?"
"I think we can find a suitable place for Warden Jenks," Jarvis agreed, nodding his head and indicating that two uniformed officers come forward. The men grasped Jenks's arms and led him toward a waiting police car.
"I'll need to talk to you, Steele, about what happened-"
"Can it wait until later, Jimmy?" Remington asked. "Right now, I just want a hot shower, my own clothes, a decent meal and a few hours sleep in a bed that doesn't feel like it's filled with rocks."
"Gotcha. Tomorrow morning will be soon enough. I doubt Gardner will be here much before the end of the week." He smiled at Laura. "Bet you were a hit in that at Evergen."
"Had the inmates chomping at the bit," Remington confirmed, squeezing her hand before handing her into the limo. "Especially one." Sinking back into the seat, he sighed. "It's good to be home again."
***
At the apartment, Remington went to take that long shower and change while Daniel worked in the kitchen. Murphy had left them downstairs, telling Laura that he needed to get back to Denver. "But I'll be back for the trial. And if you need me for anything-"
Laura nodded. "I'll call. And you stay in touch, okay?"
"I promise."
"Glad you're okay, Steele," he said, shaking Remington's hand.
"I want to thank you again."
"I did it for her," Murphy told him. "To make her happy."
"Well, I'm still grateful. And if there's anything I can ever do to return the favor-"
"I'll keep that in mind," Murphy replied, and then nodded at Daniel before getting back into the limo.
Now, Laura wandered into the kitchen, watching Daniel work. "You're as much at home in the kitchen as he is, aren't you?"
"I suppose I am," he confirmed.
"When are you going to tell him?" she asked, filching a piece of lettuce from the salad he was making as she leaned on the counter.
"Tell him?" Daniel asked.
"That you're his-"
Daniel's eyes moved toward the door. "Laura-"
"He's in the shower," she reminded him. "I can hear it running. You have to tell him, Daniel."
"I know. But perhaps- later. Once he's had time to recover a bit-"
"Now," she said, taking the spoon he was using out of his hand and pulling him toward the doorway. "You'll go into the bedroom and wait for him to come out of the shower, and then tell him the truth for a change."
"I really don't think he's up to it," Daniel protested.
"He's up to it, it's *you* that's not ready. But I'm not going to let you put it off any longer." They were passing the front door when the buzzer went off. "Stay there," Laura told Daniel and went to answer it. Mildred stood there, red eyed, anxiously scanning the apartment as she entered.
"Where is he, Miss Holt?"
"Taking a shower," Laura said, "Daniel was just-" she looked around and discovered that he was nowhere to be seen. "Darn that man!"
"What is it, Miss Holt?" Mildred asked, following her toward the kitchen.
Daniel was at the stove, stirring something when they entered. "Ah, Mildred. Harry's going to be delighted to see you-"
"And he *will* see her- as soon as you and he have a little chat," Laura finished for him. "Come on."
"But- dinner-"
"Mildred can finish it. She and Remington are always discussing recipes. Right, Mildred?"
"Uh, right. She's right, Daniel. He needs to know."
Daniel straightened his shoulders, his expression set. "Very well, then. I can see that I'm not going to get out of this. But the results will be on your heads."
"We'll take the chance," Laura said, escorting him from the kitchen to Remington's closed bedroom door. The shower was no longer running, so Laura knocked once.
"Yes?"
Daniel took a deep breath and opened the door. "Harry- may we talk for moment?"
Remington paused as he pulled a clean shirt from the closet. "Of course, Daniel."
Daniel paced the floor for a moment as Remington put the shirt on and buttoned it. "Feel better?"
"Much. The showers at Evergen leave a lot to be desired."
"Prison showers are that way. Never seem to get you clean. You've never really had to deal with that before. Something I've always been grateful for."
He fell silent again, and Remington frowned as he found some socks and a pair of shoes. "Daniel, what's wrong?"
"Wrong? Nothing. What makes you think that-"
"You're pacing, for one thing. And you're not usually this hesitant."
Daniel laughed softly. "You certainly know me well, don't you?"
"I've known you for twenty years-."
"Have you? Do you really know me at all, Harry?"
"I suppose there are a few things about your life before we hooked up in Brixton that I don't know about, but I always figured if you wanted me to know, you'd tell me-"
"There was a very good reason why I didn't talk much about those days, Harry," Daniel said at last, standing at the window to look out over the street. "It would have meant shattering the illusion."
"The illusion?" Remington questioned.
Daniel nodded. "An illusion that I've taken great pains to create and maintain for the last twenty years. It took believing you had died without knowing that truth for me to face it for the first time in all those years."
"What are you talking about, Daniel?" Remington asked.
"I wanted to tell you, of course," Daniel said. "So many times. But you were always so angry, so filled with the need for revenge that I hesitated. And finally, it just became easier to live with the lie than to tell you the truth."
"What truth?"
Daniel turned to look at him. "Are you still interested in finding your father, Harry?" he asked.
"You know I am, Daniel. Just because the Earl wasn't my father doesn't mean that I gave up. I'll keep looking until I find him-"
"You can stop looking," Daniel said in a quiet voice, and the room suddenly felt too small to Remington. Smaller than that tiny cell on Evergen, even.
He shook his head, trying to deny what he'd just heard. "I don't understand."
"It's quite simple. I'm your father."
Remington went still, then shook his head, still in denial. "What kind of game are you playing at, Daniel?"
"No games, Harry. Not anymore. The last few days raised the stakes higher than I ever wanted them to be. I can't risk something happening to either of us and your not knowing the truth."
Remington felt as if his chest was going to explode. He couldn't breathe against the rage that was building up inside. "Dear God, Daniel. Why not tell me before? Why let me go all these years, let me go to Earl- Why, dammit!?" he demanded, his voice rising as he stood there, facing the man he'd known for twenty years- and yet didn't know at all, apparently.
Daniel didn't flinch, didn't back down. Once he'd started down this path, he'd known there would be no going back, no retracing his hesitant steps. "Do you remember what your first words to me about your father were, Harry?"
"That if I ever found the bloody bastard, I'd stick a knife into his black heart," Remington said, sounding very much like that fourteen year old once again.
"And you meant it."
"Of course I meant it! Then! But it's twenty years. I've been trying to *find* my father for the last three of those years. You *knew* that. And yet you stood by- right beside me- and didn't say a *word*!"
"Harry, I can explain- perhaps, once you're calmer, we can talk-"
"I don't want your explanation, Daniel. I'm grateful for your helping Laura to get me out of Evergen, but for the moment, I'm not sure I can be around you without-" his fists clenched tightly as he stood there, taking shallow breaths.
"I understand, Harry. I have to stay in town for the trial- but - I'll stay out of your way. If you change your mind, Laura will know where to contact me." Daniel left the room to find Laura and Mildred standing there, their worried expressions revealing that they had heard the confrontation. "I'll be at the Belvedere, if he wants to talk," he told them.
"Daniel-" Laura began, a hand on his arm, but he shook his head.
"He needs some time get over the shock. I just hope he does." He picked up his jacket from the sofa and went to the door. "He needs you right now more than he needs me."
As the door closed behind him, Laura turned to Mildred. "Go with him. Don't let him leave town."
"You don't think he would, do you, Miss Holt?" Mildred asked.
"Daniel Chalmers has made a habit of not staying around to face the consequences of his actions, Mildred. He'll run from this if he gets a chance. Do whatever you have to- find his passports and hide them if necessary. But keep him here."
"What are you going to be doing?"
Laura looked toward the bedroom. "Trying to talk some sense into his son."
To Be Continued---
