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Remington got into the limo without
really looking at the driver, still focused on fastening his shirt
cuffs. Then he patted his pocket to make sure he had the new rings
he was going to surprise Laura with. The door closed and Fred
got behind the wheel. As they cleared the garage, Remington started
to pick up the telephone - until he realized that the car had
turned left instead of right.
"Fred, you made a wrong turn -" The ominous *click*
of the door locks activating sent his gaze to the man behind the
wheel. He knew the moment that he looked at the man that he wasn't
Fred. His hair was lighter, he was taller - "Antony."
The muzzle of a gun appeared over the seat. "Take your hand
away from the telephone," he said. "Just sit back and
enjoy the ride. Especially since it's going to be your last one."
"Where's Fred?"
"Don't worry. Other than a headache, he'll be fine."
"You won't get away with this, Antony. Too many people know
what you've done."
"Ah, but I left town, remember?" Tony negotiated traffic
while keeping one eye on Remington in the rear view mirror. "And
I'll have an alibi if I need it."
"Ah, yes. That 'minor security leak', no doubt." Remington
sat back as if he hadn't a care in the world. "Where are
we going?"
"Someplace nice and quiet where we can finish this once and
for all."
"You really are crazy if you think that Laura is going to
turn to you."
"She will - oh, not right away, maybe. She'll need time to
be the grieving widow. Then, one day, I'll walk back into her
life -"
"And sweep her off her feet? You don't know Laura very well,
Antony. It won't happen. Never in a million years -"
"Shut up! Don't say another word. And keep your hands where
I can see them."
Remington lifted his hands, wondering what Laura was going to
think when he didn't show up.
**********
Murphy paced the road in front of the church, glancing at his
watch, his anger building. Where the hell was Steele? He was supposed
to have been here ten minutes ago - The least he could do was
call if something had happened. Returning to the church, he went
to the telephone and dialed the mobile number. No answer. As he
hung up, Mildred came from the bride's dressing room. "He's
not here yet?" she asked.
"No. And there's no answer in the limo. Could he have changed
his mind? Decided-" he broke off as Mildred shook her head
vigorously.
"Uh-uh. Mr. Steele would be here if he could. Something's
wrong, Murphy. I can feel it."
He looked into her round face and then placed a comforting arm
around her shoulders. She knew Steele better than he did, after
all. She'd been with him for four years. Murphy had only known
him one- in the early days, before the transformation that Laura
had wrought. "Why don't I call the police?" he suggested.
"Have them keep an eye out for the limo? And I'll call the
garage at the Rossmore, too. Maybe he saw them leave."
"What should I tell Mrs. Steele?" Mildred wondered.
"Tell her that they've had a flat and should be here soon.
No reason to worry her until we have to," he said, dialing
the number for the garage first as the woman moved away.
**********
Tony's finger tightened on the trigger as the telephone rang.
"Leave it."
"It's probably Laura, wondering where I am. I was supposed
to be at the church ten minutes ago."
"You're gonna be late," Tony told him, turning a corner
into a construction area, then driving around to the back.
Remington looked out of the windows in distaste. Nasty, dirty
place. Not precisely a spot he would have picked in which to die.
Tony leaned across to pop open the trunk, then opened the driver's
door and got out, the gun still pointing at Remington's chest.
He flipped the door lock switch, and then pulled open the back
door. "Get out. Slowly," he added. "And keep your
hands up." Remington obliged, wondering how he was going
to distract Tony long enough to get that gun away.
**********
Murphy hung up the telephone. "You're frowning, Murphy,"
Laura commented.
He looked at her and his heart caught in his throat. She was wearing
a white satin and lace creation that made her seem fragile, easily
broken. "Laura. You shouldn't be out here -What if -"
"Murphy- what's going on? Have you heard from Remington?"
"No. There's no answer in the limo - I'm sure it's nothing.
The phone is probably just -"
"Something's wrong, Murphy. I sensed it all morning. He's
in trouble."
"The garage attendant said that the limo left on schedule,"
he told her.
"Did you call the police?"
"I was about to. Just to have them keep an eye out for the
car. Maybe they broke down-"
"One of them would have called. And he would have gotten
a taxi -"
Murphy dialed the number for the police.
**********
Concern about Mr. Michaels' call sent Carl from the attendant's
booth in the underground garage and toward the elevators. Mr.
Michaels had been worried. And from what he could recall, the
man didn't rattle that easily. As he neared the spot where the
Steele limo had been parked, he heard someone calling out for
help.
It took a moment for Carl to trace the noise to a utility closet.
Unlocking it, he looked inside to find the Steeles' chauffeur.
"Fred? What happened?"
"Someone hit me over the head," he said as Carl untied
his hands. Stumbling to the door, a hand to the back of his head,
Fred looked around. "Where's the limo?"
"They left half an hour ago," Carl said. "I thought
you were driving."
"I've got to call Mrs. Steele," Fred said, his hand
finding a concrete pillar as he fought a wave of dizziness.
"And then you're going to call an ambulance to take you to
the hospital," Carl insisted.
"I'll be fine. Where's the phone?"
**********
Abigail joined Laura, Murphy, Monroe and Mildred. "Any word?"
she asked.
"Nothing, Mother," Laura said.
"It's getting late, dear. The minister says he has to start
the ceremony soon- he has a funeral to attend later."
Laura looked at Murphy, then jumped as the telephone rang. "Michaels,"
he answered. "Fred. Where are-" He looked at Laura,
then quickly away, making Laura's stomach clench in fear. "I
see. Did you get a look -Of course not. I'll call them. You get
that head seen to. I will." He hung up.
"Murphy? What's happened? What's wrong with Fred?"
He put his hands on her shoulders. "Apparently someone hit
him on the head before Steele got to the limo - and then locked
him in a closet."
"Tony," Mildred said.
"That-" Monroe began, only to think better of it as
Laura responded.
"He left town," Laura reminded them, trying to convince
herself more than anyone else.
Mildred came to pull Laura away, taking her to the dressing room
with Abigail in tow. "Mrs. Steele, he tried to kill that
guy, remember? Thought he was Mr. Steele? He's loony."
Murphy picked up the telephone to call Lt. Jarvis, his eyes meeting
Monroe's concerned gaze. It was time to start worrying.
**********
Tony nodded toward the rear of the car. "Move."
Turning around, hands still up, Remington said, "The trunk,
Antony? I gave you more credit than that. Not very imaginative."
"I considered tossing you into a vat of concrete - but then
your body wouldn't be found. I want Laura to know that you're
dead. So that she can get on with her life. If you just disappear,
she'll always be looking for you -"
"And that wouldn't suit your plans at all, would it, Antony?"
"No. It wouldn't."
"Are you going to shoot me in the back?"
"Get into the trunk."
Remington shook his head, turning to look at him. "You don't
seriously expect me just to climb in there so you can shoot me,
do you?"
"Doesn't really matter much one way or the other," Tony
said, his finger tightening on the trigger.
Remington braced himself for the bullet he knew was coming, hoping
that Laura would know how much he loved her - when the Fates intervened.
A police car, siren blasting, passed the site on its way to another
call, distracting Tony, and giving Remington the opening he needed
to bring his arm up into the one holding the gun. The weapon flew
across the ground, coming to rest near one of the many mud holes
scattered about the site.
Tony countered, his fist connecting with Remington's stomach,
momentarily knocking the wind out of him. Remington ducked the
next punch, coming at Tony to grab him around the waist, bringing
them both to the ground. He heard fabric rip as they rolled in
the dirt, felt the muddy water soak to his skin as they found
the mud left from the previous night's light rain.
Tony's hands found his neck and closed, tighter and tighter. Remington
struggled for air, then finally gave up in trying to remove his
hands and his fist connected solidly with Tony's chin, loosening
his grip, stunning the man. Seeing an advantage, Remington backed
Tony against a wall and threw punch after punch. They *should*
have finished this in Ireland he decided. If they had, Tony wouldn't
be here now. And Manny would still have a chance, and Max Grumby
would still be alive.
Tony wasn't putting up any resistance, he realized, and Remington
threw one last punch that sent to man to his knees with a grunt.
Retrieving the gun, Remington grabbed the front of Tony's mud
and blood soaked shirt and hauled him to his feet. "I warned
you that I'd finish it, mate," he said as they got back to
the car. "Get in," he said, indicating the still open
trunk. Tony's knees collapsed again as he lost consciousness,
and Remington sighed as he lifted the man into the trunk and closed
the lid.
Getting behind the steering wheel, he started the engine and turned
the car toward the church, picking up the front telephone to ask
the mobile operator to dial the number for the church. Murphy
answered on the first ring. "Murphy. Where is Laura?"
"Worried sick about you. Where are you?"
"Had a bit of trouble," Remington said, smiling at the
understatement. "But it's been resolved. Tell her I'm fine-
and I'm on my way. Should be there in - ten minutes. Oh- and tell
her that I love her."
**********
"That's all he said?" Laura asked, looking up at her
old friend.
"That, and that he loves you."
Abigail went into action. "Ten minutes. We'd better finish
getting you ready, Laura. Out, Murphy," she ordered.
Murphy returned Laura's smile as he joined Mildred in the entry.
"Want to wait with me?" he offered, opening the door.
"Try and stop me."
**********
Ten minutes later, Remington pulled the limo to a stop in front
of the church as Lt. Jarvis and his men arrived. As Remington
got out of the car, he thought he heard Murphy sniggering, but
turned to the police lieutenant, holding out the keys. "There's
a little present for you in the trunk, Jarvis."
Mildred hurried over at Murphy's side. "Mr. Steele. We were
so worried. What happened to you?"
Jarvis' men pulled a still groggy Tony from the trunk. "*That*
happened, Mildred," he explained. "Are we ready to begin?"
Murphy's snigger was threatening to erupt into a full blown guffaw,
and Remington looked at him. "Something amusing, Murphy?"
he asked.
"Not a thing, Steele. Not a blessed thing. I'll just go-
tell them you're on your way." He turned and escaped, his
shoulders shaking suspiciously.
Mildred surveyed Remington with worried eyes. "Oh, Mr. Steele.
You look - "
"How about absolutely awful?" he suggested, a twinkle
in his eyes, as he attempted to return the torn pocket to its
proper place, then gave up and stuffed it into the lining. "Think
anyone will notice?"
**********
"He's back," Murphy told Laura.
"Is he all right?" she asked. "Maybe I should go-"
"No -" Murphy began, and found himself backed up by
Abigail.
"Not on your life, Laura. You go on, Murphy and take your
place."
Laura stopped him. "Murphy, wait." She pulled off her
ring. "He's supposed to have this -"
"I'll give it to him." The door closed behind him.
"Come on, Frances, let's get her veil on. Mindy, go find
your father and tell him we're almost ready."
**********
Murphy met up with Remington and Monroe outside the side door
to the sanctuary. He'd at least tried to wash his face, and had
managed to find a comb, but he still looked an absolute mess,
Murphy thought. "Laura gave me this, said you were supposed
to have it-"
Remington took the ring, then patted his jacket pockets. Then
he patted them again. "Don't tell me I lost it in the fight,"
he muttered.
"Lost what, Mick?" Monroe asked, aware that Murphy knew
all about his former boss.
"The new rings I bought for Laura- " He sighed with
relief as he brought out a ring box. "Here it is. Got into
the lining." He opened the box for them to look at it.
"That's a nice ring, Steele," Murphy commented. "Almost
nice enough for Laura."
"Not nearly good enough, I'd say," Monroe added. "Putting
up with you qualifies her for sainthood in my book."
Murphy held out his hand to Monroe. "I knew there was something
I liked about you, Monroe."
Remington's brows lifted as the minister joined them. "They're-
Mr. Steele?"
"Good morning, Reverend," Remington said brightly. "Beautiful
day, isn't it?"
The man blinked once. "Uh, yes. Yes, it is. As I was saying-
they're ready to begin -" he opened the sanctuary door and
led the way inside.
Remington heard the surprised gasp that went up from those assembled,
caught sight of Abigail's horrified expression, then all of his
attention was focused on the doors at the end of the carpeted
aisle as the processional began. Danny Piper came solemnly down,
carrying a heart shaped satin pillow with light blue lace and
two symbolic rings, smiling broadly as he caught sight of his
"Uncle Remington". Remington winked as the boy moved
to stand between himself and Monroe. Laurie Beth followed, strewing
dyed blue rose petals along the carpet. Then Mindy Piper entered,
looking all grown up in her light blue dress with dark blue trim.
To give her credit, she hid her surprise even better than Laurie
Beth had. Frances hesitated a step, lifting her eyes toward the
heavens before continuing.
Through it all, Remington merely smiled as if his present appearance
was the norm. He watched the now closed doors, hands at his sides,
waiting. The doors opened, the guests rose, and Donald entered
with a radiant Laura on his arm. He saw her nearly stumble and
smiled encouragingly.
Laura froze, and only Donald's gentle tug sent her down the aisle.
Toward Remington. But this couldn't be *her* Remington. Not this
ragged, bruised man in the muddy, torn suit. It couldn't be the
not-one-hair-out-of-place, tailored suit Remington Steele.
Joining him at the altar, she placed a hand on his arm and risked
a look into those eyes - and had to fight back a laugh. It was
*her* Remington, all right. No amount of dirt and grime and shoddy
clothes could hide those eyes. She settled for a smile instead
of the laugh as he smiled back at her.
The minister cleared his throat and began the simple ceremony
that Laura had held her ground on. Nothing fancy, no long sermon.
Just a simple, brief ceremony. "Do you, Laura Holt, take
Remington to be your lawful wedded husband?" he asked.
"I do."
"And do you," the minister consulted his book. "Remington
Harrison Steele, take Laura to be your lawful wedded husband?"
"I do," he promised.
"Do you have the rings?"
Remington took the new ring from Monroe as Laura took the ring
she'd gotten for him from Frances. "Remington, place the
ring on Laura's finger, and repeat after me. With this ring I
thee wed -"
**********
"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your
bride now."
The chaste kiss was a promise of more- much more- later, and they
moved down the aisle, pausing for Laura to give her mother a rose
from her bouquet, then to give one to Mildred, kissing and hugging
each before leaving the sanctuary. In the entry way, Laura turned
to him, her eyes shining with a mixture of laugher, and love and
remembered worry. "What happened to you?"
"Antony. He cracked Fred over the head and kidnapped me."
When she would have asked more questions, he placed a hand over
her lips. "Later. I'll explain everything later," he
promised, lifting her hand to his lips.
Laura looked at the rings on her finger. "When did you get
these? I thought we agreed to use -"
"I wanted something new,"he told her, bringing her left
hand to his lips. "Not something I bought for someone else."
Abigail joined them, eyes blazing.
"How dare you do something like this to Laura's wedding-"
"Mother- it was *his* wedding too, remember," Laura
reminded her.
"Abigail, believe me, if there had been time to change, I
would have. But I was already late - due to circumstances totally
out of my control."
"I didn't mind, Mother," Laura assured her. "In
fact, it's almost poetic justice."
"I don't understand, Laura," Abigail said.
"As bad as Remington looks now, I looked twice as bad the
first time." She reached up to touch his darkening chin.
"That looks like it hurts."
"Not yet. But it will," he said.
"There's no way we can take wedding pictures -"
"Of course we can, Abigail," Remington insisted, "Is
the photographer ready?"
"But-" she turned to Mildred. "Can't you do something
to stop him?"
"Sorry, Abigail. When Mr. Steele makes up his mind - "
She smiled as the woman turned to follow the bride and groom back
into the church.
**********
Fred came through the reception line later, a white bandage around
his head. "Just wanted to let you two know that I'll be outside
waiting," he said. "And to apologize to you, Mr. Steele,
for letting you down."
"Nonsense, Fred," Remington insisted. "I'm just
amazed that the doctors didn't insist that you stay in the hospital."
"They wanted me to, but I wasn't about to miss this wedding,
sir."
Laura stopped him as he would have left the reception. "Have
a glass of champagne, Fred, and some cake."
"Thank you, Mrs. Steele."
Sometime during the reception, the couple became separated, and
Laura found herself talking to Murphy. "You realize, of course,
this just adds to the legend," he said, watching Remington
talk to the governor and the mayor, regaling them with the story
of his epic struggle to arrive at his own wedding.
"What do you mean?"
"By the time that story gets told and retold, he'll be fighting
ten men twice his size with his bare hands to get to your side."
He lifted his glass. "But it's where he belongs."
"Do you mean that?"
"Laura, I'd be blind if I couldn't see how much that man
loves you. I guess I just never wanted to see it before. And for
*him* to be willing to go on with this wedding, looking like-
like *that*, well, if that's not love, I don't know what else
to call it."
"I think it was part of my wedding present," Laura told
him. When Murphy frowned, she grinned. "Why don't we sit
down and I'll try to explain?"
Remington managed to extricate himself from the mayor and the
governor, then saw Abigail heading in his direction. Not wanting
another scene, he looked about, trying to find Laura, but she
was in a discussion with Murphy. "Remington," she called,
forcing him to stand where he was and face the music.
He gave her a charming smile. "Abigail. What can I do for
you?"
"You an accept my apology. Mildred explained what happened.
And why it was so important for you to go through with this looking
like- like-" she paused, searching for the right words.
"Like something the cat dragged in?" he suggested.
Abigail nodded. "Exactly. I hope you're not angry with me-"
He smiled. "Never, Abigail. I understood why you were upset.
Have you met the Governor yet?"
"Well, no. I've been so busy -"
"Then we have to rectify that immediately." He took
her arm and led her to where the man was talking to some of the
other guests, introduced her, then wandered off to find Laura.
She was sitting in a corner, talking to Estelle Becker, and didn't
see his approach. "Do you really think it would help, Estelle?"
"I'm sure it would, Laura. It might clear a lot of things
up. And if what you say is true, then-" She lifted her gaze
and saw Remington, and her smile alerted Laura.
Laura turned around. "Remington." Her eyes searched
his face, trying to decide how much he'd heard.
"I see someone I need to talk to," Estelle decided.
"Excuse me."
Remington pulled Laura to her feet, searching her face. "What
were you and Estelle discussing?" he asked.
"Oh, nothing important - just some ideas to help convince
her bosses that they can close your case."
He didn't believe her for a moment, but he pulled her into his
arms, ignoring the fact that the drying mud on his ruined tux
rubbed off onto her white gown. "I don't know about you,
Mrs. Steele, but I'm ready to get out of here."
"So am I," she told him.
**********
Laura was about to get into the limo when Frances yelled, "The
bouquet, Laura! Throw the bouquet!"
Her sister tossed the flowers into the air- and they fell directly
into her mother's hands. Abigail gasped, shrugging, and smiled,
insisting that it meant nothing at all, blowing a kiss toward
Laura as she got into the car and Fred closed the door.
"Home, Mr. Steele?" Fred asked.
"Home, Fred."
**********
Arriving at the new house, Fred opened the door for them. "See
you Monday morning, sir," the man said.
"Bright and early, Fred," Remington agreed, following
to the house. Laura wasn't surprised when, after unlocking the
front door, Remington picked her up and carried her over the threshold.
"You did this already, remember?" she teased.
"But you didn't know it was for real that time," he
said, setting her back on her feet and locking the door behind
them before turning toward the stairs, shrugging out of the remains
of his jacket, and unfastening his vest.
Laura stood there. "Where are you going?"
He was halfway up the curving stair. "To take a shower,"
he called back. Pausing, he looked down at her. "Care to
join me, Mrs. Steele?"
Laura smiled and climbed the stairs to take his offered hand.
As they entered the bedroom, Remington paused. "What on-"
An ice bucket containing a bottle of champagne, two glasses at
the ready. But it was the manila envelope resting against the
bucket that drew Remington's attention. A manila envelope with
an Irish postmark and return address. He glanced at Laura, only
to find her smiling nervously. Picking up the envelope, he asked,
"Mildred's travel brochures?"
"Oh, it's much more than that, Harry," she assured him.
"Open it," she invited.
Giving her an uncertain look, he slipped the two pieces of paper
from inside. "These are-"
"The oldest one is your original birth certificate, with
the name that your mother gave you-"
"My - mother," Remington repeated, sitting on the edge
of the bed, uncaring that he left dried mud on the clean spread.
"Daniel Harrison Chalmers," he read in a soft voice
that was choked with emotion. "Mother- Megan Harrison, Father,
Daniel Chalmers." He touched the name of his mother with
a finger tip. "So her name was Megan." He drew a deep
breath, then read the second one. "Remington Harrison Steele?"
He looked up in confusion. "Laura?"
"Don't look at me. It was changed two years ago- legally,
I might add- by your father."
"Daniel- changed my name to -?"
"Remington Steele." Laura sat down beside him. "I
guess he wanted to make sure you had a reason to remain here,
with me."
"I didn't need a reason, Laura," he told her, putting
an arm around her. "When did you and Mildred decide to do
this?"
"Just after Daddy died," she informed him. "You
always said that it was important to me that I know your real
name. But I thought it was even more important to you." She
reached into the drawer of the nightstand and pulled out another
paper. "Mildred stopped by the office early this morning
and did some research on Megan Harrison's family -" Remington
took the report and returned it to the drawer without a word,
rising to pull Laura into his arms as he sputtered- "But,
I thought that you - You're not going to read it?"
"Not now. Maybe not ever. Laura, haven't you figured out
yet that I don't need to know who I *was*- because I know who
I am *now* and that's what matters?"
"You do?"
"I'm Remington Steele," he told her. "Your husband.
And I love you with all of my heart and my soul - and I never,
ever want to lose you. Because it would be like losing a part
of myself- the best part."
Laura met his kiss eagerly, feeling his hands at the back of her
gown as they slowly lowered the zipper, then slipped the dress
from her shoulders. She stepped back, allowing it to fall with
a soft rustle to the carpet. "Did you say something about
a shower, Mr. Steele?" she whispered, her fingers on the
buttons of his stained silk shirt.
Remington Steele smiled down at his wife and led her toward the
bathroom. "I *do* like the way you think, Mrs. Steele."
The End?