"I think things went rather well this evening, don't you?" Remington asked Laura as they entered their bedroom after saying goodnight to the children.
Laura looked at him. "Then why do I feel as though I've walked into an Alfred Hitchcock remake of the "The Philadelphia Story"?" she asked.
Remington looked thoughtful. "Very good, Laura. It does fit, I suppose. Only Jessica and Antony were never married."
Laura turned her back to her husband for him to unzip the dress she was wearing before stepping out of it. Remington was unfastening his shirt and removing cufflinks. "You know that Philip's aware that we know something," she pointed out. "He has to know that I was with Tony at the motel earlier, and you were with him at the bank."
"Hmm. But you wouldn't have known it, would you? The man's very good at hiding his feelings."
"You played poker with him, remember? Weren't you the one who told me that he had the best poker face you'd ever seen?"
"It bothers me that I didn't notice anything. I thought I was a better judge of character-"
"Same here," Laura agreed. "He had us all fooled. He's just very good at hiding behind a mask." She touched his cheek. "But I think you were blinded by the prestige of your sister being involved with someone with his reputation as well."
"Reputation," Remington mused.
"He's a con-artist, just like you were," she pointed out. "Maybe a bit more successful-"
"Really, Laura. I could have been just as successful if I hadn't cared who I hurt and what I dealt in. I had *some* scruples, after all," Remington told her.
Laura picked up her hairbrush and moved toward the windows overlooking the garden and the grounds beyond. "I guess Tony's turned in. There's no light in the garage apartment."
"I doubt he's sleeping," Remington nodded, moving to stand behind her, wearing only the bottom to the silk pajamas- Laura was wearing the top. "He was - shaken after seeing Jessica this evening." He placed his hands on her shoulders. "I haven't really had a chance to ask since this afternoon, Laura, but - you and Antony-"
She took a deep breath and turned to look up at him. "There is no *me and Anthony*," Laura said firmly. "There never was."
Remington pulled her into his arms and closed his eyes. "I love you."
"And I love you." They kissed, then Laura resumed brushing her hair. "I was thinking, maybe I should ask Mother to take the children- just until Christmas. I'd hate to have them here if something happens."
"I think you'd have a time convincing Megan to go," Remington said. "And if she wouldn't go, Daniel wouldn't go. They'll be fine. Agatha's here."
"I suppose I'm just worried about what Philip Cameron might do to silence us."
"We'll see what Sid came up with tomorrow. Maybe he managed to locate something that would clear this whole thing up."
"And tonight?" Laura asked, sliding her arms up his chest to link behind his neck.
"Oh, I have plans."
"Another plan?" Laura teased.
"Um hmm. And this one is all mine," he promised, lowering his head to hers.
***
Jessica was getting dressed the next morning after a mostly sleepless night when she heard the knock at the door. She started down the circular steps from the bedroom, one shoe in hand, and then paused, her heart beginning to pound at the thought that her early morning visitor might be Tony.
Balancing on one foot to put on the shoe, she called out, "Who is it?"
"Delivery, ma'am!" the voice replied. Frowning, Jessica moved across and undid the lock to slide the door open. A deliveryman was holding a long white box. "Miss Beecham?" he asked.
"Yes."
"This is for you," he told her, handing her the box.
"Thank you," Jessica said, taking the box as the telephone began to ring. She apologized to the deliveryman and turned toward the telephone, opening the box to reveal the dozen red roses inside. Picking up the telephone, Jessica said, "Hello?"
"Good morning, Jessica," Philip said.
She put the flowers down, smiling. "Good morning."
"I just wanted to see how you were. I didn't sleep very well last night."
"Neither did I," Jessica admitted. "But I'm all right, really. It was just- such a- shock." She fingered the soft red petals. "The flowers are lovely."
"Flowers?" Philip questioned in a soft voice.
Jessica froze, and then began looking for a card inside the box.
"Jessica?"
"I really have to get to the office, Philip," she said. "Early appointment."
"Are we still having lunch?"
"Yes," she said, lifting the small white envelope from the box. "Of course."
"I'll pick you up at noon, then."
"I'll be waiting. Good-bye," she said quickly, hanging up the telephone and opening the envelope.
"I'm not giving up. I love you. Tony."
Jessica sighed and put the cover back onto the box. She'd toss it into the trash bin downstairs. Tony wasn't going to do this to her again. She went back up to the bedroom to get her jacket. The telephone rang again, and with a sigh she picked it up. "Hello?" she said cautiously. "Oh, Brenda," she sighed as she heard her secretary's voice. "No, I haven't forgotten. I was just walking out the door . . . He is?" she glanced at her watch. "Ask him to wait. I should be there in fifteen minutes." She hung up the phone and left the loft, forgetting all about the long white box on her coffee table and the card lying beside it in her haste to get to the office and the waiting client.
***
"So far, Mr. Steele, I haven't found anything," Sid apologized to Remington as Laura and Tony stood nearby. "But I'm still looking. Mary's searching through the archives as we speak. The woman's a whiz at it."
"Let us know the moment you find anything, Sid," Laura said. "It's very important."
"First thing," Sid promised, and then left the office as Mildred came in.
"We have a problem," she announced, a printout in her hand. "I was running my regular monthly account checks when I found a ghost account."
"A ghost account, Mildred?" Remington questioned.
She held out the paper in her hand. "This says it's been there for almost a year. But I'd never found it until today."
Remington examined the printout and handed it to Laura, who opened her eyes wide at the amount in the account as Tony looked over her shoulder.
"Whoa," Tony exclaimed. "Where'd the money coming from?" he asked Mildred.
"Straight from a private account held by Philip Cameron," Mildred announced.
"Damn," Remington sighed. "The man's setting us up!" he declared. "Making it impossible for us to blow the whistle on him without looking dirty ourselves!"
Laura took the printout again, scanning it. "The payments seemed to have started six months after Jessica started seeing Cameron." A thought occurred to her. "Mildred, run a check on Jessica's accounts, please. I'd be willing to bet you'll find something very similar."
"You got it, Hon," Mildred said, moving toward the door as someone knocked and opened it. "Jessica."
"Hello, Mildred," Jessica said, her smile faltering as she spotted Tony standing with Remington and Laura.
"Excuse me," Mildred said, continuing toward the door. "I have some- research to do."
"I rather thought I would find out here, Antony," she said.
"Yeah, well, renewing old acquaintance," Tony said.
"May I speak with Antony alone?" Jessica asked.
"Hmm. Uh-" Remington began, but Laura grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the door.
"We have to discuss the Stapleton case," Laura told him.
"The Stapleton case?" Remington questioned. "I don't-"
"Of course you do, dear," Laura insisted, pulling him out of the office and closing the door.
Tony stood there, looking at Jessica as the silence began to drag on, filling the room with an oppressive atmosphere. "What did you want to talk about?" he asked at last.
"I wanted to let you know that I received your flowers this morning-"
Tony smiled. "Spur of the moment. I was looking through the phone book-"
"Don't send anymore," Jessica said. "Please."
"Jess-"
"It's over, Antony. We can't go back- no matter how much we might want to. You have a life in New York now. A business to run. I have a future-"
"With Cameron?" Tony finished for her, and then shook his head. "I can't accept that, Jess. I just want one more chance," he said. "We spent ten years-"
"Yes, we did. And at the end of that ten years you confirmed my worst fears. Go home, Tony," she suggested.
"I am home. I don't like New York. It's cold and wet and dirty. I've decided that I'm moving back to LA."
"Tony-"
"So you're not going to get rid of me that easily."
"Remington and Laura won't hire you-"
"You're sure about that?"
"You're bordering dangerously close to obsession here."
"Maybe I am. But I can't give up on us."
"There *is* no *us*!" Jessica said firmly.
Tony moved quickly to grab her arm as she turned toward the door. "You're sure about that?" he asked, pulling her into his arms to give her a long kiss. She struggled for a moment, and then yielded, molding her body against his. "Oh, Jess," he sighed, placing kisses along her neck. "I've missed you so much. I don't want to throw this away."
"But you did," Jessica said, looking up at him. "Without a second thought."
"What do you call the ring?" he asked. "And the ton of flowers I sent?"
"You felt guilty. It wasn't about me. About us. You felt guilty because you'd made a mistake in pursuing Laura when she was still in love with Remington. If she hadn't gone back to him-"
"I gave you that ring before she went back," Tony pointed out.
"And if she hadn't made it clear that she loved him? Can you honestly tell me that if she had given you the slightest bit of encouragement that you wouldn't have stayed with her and forgotten all about me?"
"Jess-" he said as she slipped out of his arms.
"You can't deny it, can you?" she asked, watching him with incredibly sad eyes.
"I love you, dammit! Laura was a - a pipe dream. A fantasy. But my eyes are open now, Jess. And the only thing in them is you."
She paused, her hand on the doorknob. "I can't do this again, Tony. I'm sorry. But I can't. Let me be happy with Philip. Don't do anything to spoil it."
"I guess this means we're not having lunch, hmm?" Tony asked, trying to make her smile.
"I'm having lunch with Philip, " she told him. "Good bye, Antony."
As she left the office, Mildred came from her office, waving a paper toward Laura and Remington. "Okay, Laura, you were right. There is another ghost account in Miss Beecham's name-" her voice trailed off as she saw Jessica standing in the open doorway. "Oops," she winced, giving Remington and Laura an apologetic look.
"What are you talking about, Mildred?" Jessica asked. "A- ghost account?"
"Uh, I- was doing a check on the accounts," Mildred explained. It was a viable excuse, she thought, since Mildred handled most of Jessica's accounts, just as she did Mr. Steele and Laura's. "And I- found one that I'd never seen before."
Jessica extended a hand for the printout. "May I see that, please?"
Mildred looked at the others for some sign of what to do. "You might as well let her see it, Mildred," Laura said.
Taking the printout, Jessica looked at it. "You mentioned something about 'another' ghost account?" she recalled, pinning Mildred with a look that had sent veteran judges to quaking.
"She found one in my name as well, Jessica," Remington said, watching her. "Paid from an account held by Philip Cameron."
Jessica looked up at her brother and his wife, then around to Tony. "Philip? What does he have to do with this? Is someone trying to run some kind scam or-?"
"We need to have a talk," Remington said, placing his arm around Jessica's shoulders to turn her back toward his office. "I know you're not going to want to believe any of what we're going to tell you, Jessica. But I want you to promise to at least listen before you tell us we're insane."
***
Philip Cameron interrupted his stroll through the park to watch a group of children kicking a soccer ball around the grass. Nearby, a man wearing a rumpled overcoat sat on a bench, finishing off a cigarette.
"Any news yet?" Philip asked without looking at the man.
"No. But he's at Steele's office today. Not sure how he got there. Didn't see him arrive."
"Indeed?"
"And I've checked the motels. No one answering to his description has checked in."
"Steele has a garage apartment on his property. The gardener lives there, but I believe I heard someone mention that he's out of town for the holidays. Rather convenient, wouldn't you agree?"
"I'll check it out."
"Hurry it up. I've already put things in motion to keep Steele quiet. Roselli is a loose end that I can't afford at the moment."
The man stood up and dropped his cigarette onto the ground before crushing it. He walked away toward the parking area, leaving Philip standing, watching the children continue to play.
***
"Can I say it now?" Jessica asked, after having listened to Tony, Laura, and Remington.
"Jess-" Tony began, but she tossed the file folder onto the coffee table between them.
"You're all crazy. Philip Cameron would never be involved in anything so - shady. He's a wonderful, trustworthy man who suffered terribly after his wife's death. To even intimate that he had anything to do with that death-"
"Jessica, please-" Remington began, only to be cut off.
"Where is the proof?" she asked. "If you took this into a court of law, you would be laughed out of the room. It's all hearsay. The word of a frustrated mid level accountant who probably wanted more money when he didn't deserve it and decided to get even with Philip by creating a packet of lies."
"The evidence was there, Jessica," Laura insisted. "But Cameron removed it before we could get to it."
"How do you know that it existed in the first place?" Jessica asked. "Because Antony's client said it did?"
"If it wasn't there, Jessica," Remington said. "Then why did Cameron's lawyers clean out that safety deposit box out? What did they have to hide? Why did someone take a shot at Laura and Antony yesterday and cut the brake line on my car while we were in the bank?"
"None of that says it was Philip. It could have been anyone." Tony turned around, running a hand through his hair.
"Come on, Jess! Think about this with your head. You're too smart to-"
"I know what this is about, Antony," she said. "You're so desperate to stop me from marrying Philip that you'll try anything. I even doubt that this Pete Mitchell existed at all."
"Oh, he existed, Jess," Tony said, moving closer to press her back against the cushions of the sofa. "You can call New York. He was killed on 15th in front of Mack's Coffee Shop. We'd just spent fifteen minutes inside having coffee and were leaving when a dark sedan drove by and opened fire. Mitchell took two shots in the chest. I was lucky. Knew to duck behind a car. The sedan continued around the corner and Mitchell gave me the key to the safety deposit box before he died."
Remington grabbed Tony, forcing him to back off. "Neutral corners, mate," he said, watching Tony head toward the window. "Jessica, can you really just ignore the possibility that Antony might be right? How else do you explain those accounts that suddenly turned up the day after Antony's arrival in New York?"
"I don't know. But I'm not going to simply assume that Philip is behind it. He has a great many people working for him. Any of them could be behind this."
"You're grasping at straws, Jess," Tony insisted.
"And you're sounding like a very desperate man," she countered.
Tony threw up his hands in surrender. "I give up," he declared, crossing the room and jerking the door open before leaving the office. Stalking past a confused Terri Carson, he pushed open the glass doors into the corridor.
"Tony!" Laura called after him. "Remington, he's in danger-"
"Go after him. Get him back up here," Remington told her.
"You really are crazy," Jessica said, shaking her head. "Sending her after him."
"I trust Laura," Remington reminded her. "Antony's a friend. I know- we haven't always been on the same side- or sure of each other. But I'm not about to let him get himself killed just to prove that he's right."
"You're being melodramatic, Remington."
"Am I? Are you certain about that?" Remington sighed. "Antony didn't know you were engaged to Philip Cameron until he got here and Laura told him, Jessica. This isn't about you and Philip." At her look he shrugged. "Perhaps in a peripheral way, yes. But the bottom line is that Philip Cameron ordered Pete Mitchell's death- and probably Antony's- and he's got Laura and me in his sights as well."
Jessica turned, going to the door. "Where are you going?" he asked.
"Back to work. I have clients to see- even if it is Christmas."
Remington stood there in his office, frustrated, and then recalled Laura following Tony out of the offices.
***
Laura caught up with Tony at the elevators and tried to calm him down. "Come back-"
"She won't listen, Laura. That guy's got her so blinded that she *can't* see what's right in front of her."
The elevator doors opened, and he stepped inside. Laura grabbed the doors to stop them from closing. "So what are you doing? You know that Cameron's got people looking for you. You set foot on the street and you're a target."
"Maybe that would prove it to her," Tony suggested, smiling as someone else got into the car. "Excuse me, Laura. I have an appointment."
Laura released the doors, wanting to stomp her foot in frustration at his attitude. Not that it would do any good, of course, but it might make her feel better. She looked toward the corner, trying to make up her mind whether to follow him or go back in and try to talk some sense into Jessica.
When Jessica appeared, Laura moved toward her. "There you are. -" She stopped as her sister in law held up a hand.
"I don't want to hear anymore about it, Laura," she said, pressing the button to summon the elevator to take her up.
"Where are you going?" Laura asked.
"To work."
"Jessica-"
The elevator opened again, and this time Laura didn't try to stop it from closing, but she pushed the button to call the elevator. She had to keep an eye on Tony- as the doors opened, she stepped inside, only to grab the doors upon hearing Remington call out. "Hold, please!" Seconds later, he joined her in the car. "I thought you went with Antony?" he questioned as the doors closed and the car started down.
"He went without me," Laura told him. "I think he's setting himself up to take a fall to prove to Jessica that he's right."
"Damn."
"I gather you didn't have any better luck talking to her as a big brother."
"No. She's not willing to listen. Not without proof."
"Then we'll just have to get the proof," Laura decided, and Remington gave her an uncertain look.
"I don't think I like that look. It makes me nervous.What are you planning?" he asked.
"The first thing we're going to do is find Tony and get him back under wraps."
"And then?"
"I don't think Philip Cameron would keep the evidence we need at his office, do you?"
"No," Remington agreed slowly, starting to shake his head as he realized where she was going.
"That leaves his house. The three of us are going to do a bit of housebreaking this evening."
Remington leaned back against the wall of the car as it came to a stop, sensing disaster ahead.
***
Downstairs, Tony got into the first cab that came to a stop and asked the driver, "You know whre the Cameron Building is?"
"Sure," the man responded.
"Get me there." Tony was tired of playing games. It was time to face the lion in his den . . .
To Be Continued---