Steele Romance

Part 6

By Nancy Eddy

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Daniel allowed himself a momentary smile before turning a surprised face to Harry. "Harry. This is a surprise." He moved to smoothly pick up his drink. "What are you going here?"
"I might ask you the same question. Didn't take you long, did it?"
Daniel frowned, pretending ignorance. "I'm not sure what you -"
Harry nodded toward the closed door. "Laura?"
Daniel smiled, lifting his glass. "Remarkable young woman." He took a drink, and moved to sit down. "I find her to be quite charming company." He laughed at Harry's disapproving glance. "I DID warn you, Harry, my boy. Since you obviously decided not to take Laura up on her offer -" He shrugged, leaving the rest unsaid.
"I hadn't DECIDED anything, yet, Daniel. And you knew that. You took advantage of my confusion and trip to Monte Carlo to come here and- worm your way into Laura's affections-"
"Nonsense, Harry. I simply wanted to make certain that she was all right. Laura was quite upset when she left London."
"So taking her to dinner and dancing and a concert was simply to build her morale?" Harry questioned in disbelief.
"In part. As I said - I enjoy her company immensely."
"You're old enough to be her FATHER, Daniel," Harry pointed out.
"I don't think that the age difference will matter very much to Laura. Once she agrees to let me take your place -"
Harry shook his head. "Laura might buy that little story about taking it easy, wanting to retire, but I don't. I've heard it too many times. Usually when you're planning to relieve someone of something valuable."
"Harry. Your distrust of me cuts me to the marrow. How could you even THINK that I would-"
"Are you trying to tell me that the thought hasn't crossed your mind that being Remington Steele would give you access to information that you could use for personal gain?"
"The job WOULD include a few perks," Daniel admitted. "Can YOU honestly say that the same thought never crossed YOUR mind?" Daniel countered.
Harry pushed his hands deep into his pockets. "Yes, it did occur to me. But I realized that Laura's trust meant more to me than anything I might be able to get out of it." He picked up the telephone and dialed the desk. "This is Mr. Chalmers' room. Will you please call a taxi to take Mr. Chalmers to the airport? And get his bill ready. Thank you."
"Harry - Laura's on the verge of making a decision-"
"Then we'll just make it easy for her," Harry said, going into the bedroom to retrieve Daniel's packed cases. "I'll give her your regrets, but you're leaving Los Angeles. Now."
"And what about you?"
"I have to talk to Laura." A knock on the door heralded the arrival of a bell hop to take Daniel's cases downstairs. "There," Harry said, pointing to them, then picked up his own small case.
"You've decided to stay on, then?" Daniel asked, following Harry toward the elevator.
"That depends on my discussion with Laura."
"I shouldn't worry too much about it, Harry," Daniel assured his friend as the elevator arrived. "I think the only reason she didn't immediately agree to my offer was that she hoped you would reconsider."

Harry waited in the lobby as Daniel settled the bill, then walked him out to the waiting taxi. "Have a nice trip."
"Keep in touch, Harry."
"I'll call as soon as I know what's going on," Harry promised.
"Good luck. And give Laura my best."
"I will," Harry told him, smiling as he closed the door and tapped the roof of the vehicle. He watched until it turned toward the airport, then hailed another cab to take him to Laura's house.

Murphy sat down the street, watching Laura's house. He was still hesitating over whether to go inside and try to talk to her when a cab drew to a halt at the curb and someone got out. Murphy groaned quietly as he easily recognized that tall, dark haired man who told the cab to leave before turning toward the single story house. And he was carrying his suitcase. The guy had a lot of nerve. "I should have known," he muttered to himself, deciding to stay where he was for the time being.

Laura tied the belt on her robe, wishing Daniel would call and at least let her know what had happened. She jumped as there was a knock on her door. Had Daniel decided to come over instead? she wondered, going to the window to look outside. Her palms became sweaty, her heart started beating faster. HARRY. She took a deep breath and opened the door. "Hello."
His smile seemed uncertain. "Hello."
She wished she still had her makeup on. Without it, the dark circles under her eyes were clearly visible. But Harry's eyes were smudged by the same finger, it seemed. He looked tired. She was about to say so when the telephone rang. "Excuse me - come in -" she invited as an afterthought, picking up the phone. "Hello?" Her eyes flickered towards Harry as he put his suitcase just inside the door, then away. "I see. . . No, -Yes. You're a little late-. . .That's right." Harry moved to a spot behind the sofa, where he could see her clearly. "All right . . .Thanks . . I will," she said, smiling gently. "Yes, I promise." She hung up and slowly met his gaze.
"That was Daniel, wasn't it?"
"From the airport," Laura admitted slowly. "He said that he had some - urgent business in- Majorca." She couldn't find anything to do with her hands that didn't involve touching him. "I could make some coffee," she suggested, turning toward the kitchen.
"No," Harry said, quickly moving between her and the kitchen doorway. They stood there, inches apart, yet miles away from each other it seemed. "I'm sorry, Laura," he said softly. "Can you ever forgive me for being a stupid fool who almost tossed away the best thing that's ever happened to me?"
Laura took a few deep breaths, her gaze locked on his dark tie. "It depends."
"On what?" he asked cautiously.
"On where we go from here. On whether you plan to stay around- on whether I can trust you not to just take off for Monte Carlo or Cannes - or Majorca."
Harry lifted her finger under his chin, lifting her face to look into her eyes. "I'm here, Laura. And I've no intentions of doing anything except staying right here and trying my best to become the Remington Steele that you invented."
Laura leaned toward him, and he toward her . . .

Outside, Murphy tapped the steering wheel impatiently, debating on whether to go in and break whatever was going on in there up. He started to open the car door when he saw a shadow round the corner of Laura's house, pausing by the window, apparently trying to see inside. Moving quickly and quietly, Murphy approached the peeping tom, jumping him from behind, sending them both into the wall -

All hell broke loose, and Harry looked heaven ward, wondering why they were so often interrupted while kissing. "What the hell?" Laura asked, heading for the door.
"Laura-!" Harry called, following, not liking the idea of her going out there alone -
"Murphy!" Laura exclaimed, seeing the blonde man holding another against the wall. "What's going on?"
"I saw this creep sneaking around your house," Murphy told her, hoping she wouldn't ask why he'd been there himself.
Laura noticed the man's camera and disheveled appearance. "Who are you?"
"I'm a reporter," he stammered, his eyes moving behind Laura to Harry. "I got a tip that Remington Steele was back in LA, and thought I'd see if I could get a picture of him - didn't realize I was gonna get two for one," he said, giving Laura a suggestive smile.
Laura took his camera and handed it to Harry, who easily opened it, removed the film, and then returned the camera to its owner. "Who gave you the tip about Mr. Steele being in town?" she asked.
"Don't have to tell you that," he said. "Gotta protect my sources."
"It could have been anyone, Miss Holt," Harry suggested. "Even the cab driver who brought me here."
"You're right, Mr. Steele," she said with a frown. "What paper do you work for?"
"I'm free lance," he said with a belligerent frown.
Which meant tabloids, Laura thought. "Where's your press card?" she wanted to know. When he handed it over, she frowned even more. "Let him go, Murphy," Laura said.
"But Laura -"
"Let him go."
Murphy released the man, wanting to wipe his hands. The felt dirty. "If I were you, I'd get out of the neighborhood," he warned. The man glanced at Murphy, then at Harry before scrambling away toward the street. "And don't come back!" Murphy warned.
"Freelance," Harry muttered.
"Tabloids," Laura confirmed angrily, turning back toward the house with Harry and Murphy behind her. The two men got to the door at the same time, and Murphy was forced to let Steele enter first. They found Laura pacing the room. "Just perfect. At least we got the film, - IF he took any pictures," she said, looking at Harry.
"He'd taken a couple, from the look of the film," he confirmed. "Sorry, Laura. I had no idea -"
"It was probably that little clerk at the Sheraton," Murphy decided. She picked you up as Remington Steele right off the bat."
"Possibly," Harry agreed.
Laura turned around to look at Murphy. "You were at the hotel this evening?"
"I was worried about you, Laura," Murphy tried to explain. "After the state you came back from London in- and then that old man -"
"That OLD MAN is a friend, Murphy," Laura informed him. "And WHEN will you get it through your head that I don't need taking care of? I'm a big girl, remember? A licensed Private Investigator."
Harry stood back, glad now that he hadn't voiced his concern about her going outside alone. "It wasn't that, Laura," Murphy insisted. "I was concerned about YOU. As - a friend." Harry's eyes narrowed. He'd heard that hesitation. But had Laura?
Apparently not. She began to pace again. "Right now, we have to find some way to shut that guy down. His ID said his name is John Hawkins. I want you to run a check on him tomorrow, Murphy. Find out what tabloids he sells to."
"First thing- what about Mrs. Crandall?"
"Mr. Steele and I will meet with her and let her know what's going on -"
Murphy's jaw dropped. "Mr. Steele? Laura-! You can't mean- You can't be seriously considering-!"
Laura sighed. "It's very late, Murphy, and we're all tired. We can discuss this tomorrow morning."
Murphy took a deep breath. "Oh, believe me, we'll discuss it all right." He turned toward the door, then stopped, looking back at "Steele". "Can I drop you somewhere? Back at the hotel, maybe?"
Harry looked at Laura, leaving the decision up to her. "Mr. Steele can call a cab later, Murphy. He and I have some things to discuss before tomorrow."
He didn't buy it. Not for a second. But Murphy knew he had no choice, so he opened the door. "I'll see you both tomorrow. I just hope you know what you're doing, Laura." He closed the door behind him.
"He's right, you know," Harry said. When Laura turned toward him with a frown, he explained. "I'm going to need a place of my own- "
"I guess you're right. We'll find something tomorrow."
"And tonight?" he asked, watching her as she locked the door, and turned off the light before she came to him.
"What do YOU think, Mr. Steele?" she asked, unfastening the tie on her robe and letting it fall open to reveal the peach teddy that clung to her body. He leaned toward her, then paused, waiting a moment. "What are you doing?" she whispered.
"Making certain that no one interrupts us," he said, only to feel Laura's hand on the back of his head, bringing it down to hers. Harry slid the robe from her shoulders to let it drop to the floor, burying his face in the fragrant softness of her hair. "Oh, Laura. The last two days have been hell -"
"I know," she agreed. "I didn't sleep at all last night-"
"Neither did I."
She concentrated on slipping his tie loose then unfastening the buttons. "Harry - why did you change your mind?"
"There were a couple of reasons. Daniel made sure I knew that I was passing up a golden opportunity to start a new life - make something of myself."
"And the other?" She asked, pressing kisses to his chest, burying her fingers in the dark hair.
He smiled. "Monte Carlo."
She looked up at him, confused. "What?"
"I've never lost as badly as I did last night. And it didn't take me long to realize that the reason for it was that you weren't at my side."
"You mean you came back because you LOST at baccarat?" she asked, as Harry lifted her into his arms. She slid her arms around his neck.
"Something like that," he replied teasingly, moving in the direction that she pointed toward. He started laughing. "But the main reason," he assured her, lowering her to her feet beside the bed, "is that I couldn't imagine never seeing you again." He framed her face in his hands, looking down into her eyes. "You managed to do something no one else has ever done, Laura. You got so deeply under my skin that you're a part of me."
She smiled up into those blue eyes, then pushed him onto the bed. "You still talk to much, Harry," she told him, joining him on the bed . . .

She woke to find herself alone, and heard noises coming from the direction of her kitchen. Smiling, Laura moved to the living room, picking up her robe and putting it on as she went to the kitchen door. Harry was muttering to himself as he searched for something. "Something you need?" she asked.
He turned around, his shirt still half buttoned, his feet bare. "A spatula. Honestly, Laura-"
She came to pull the elusive utensil from a jar on the counter. "How about this one?" she asked, sliding her arms around him as he took it and turned back to the stove.
"If we're going to finish breakfast before going to the office, Laura, then I suggest you behave yourself." He turned slightly, putting his arm around her shoulders and drawing her to his side. "Although, spending the day in bed with you sounds better at the moment," he told her, dropping a quick kiss onto her lips.
"Nervous?"
"Well it's certain that Murphy's not going to welcome me with open arms. And as for Bernice-"
"She'll just be glad that I don't look like a ghost anymore," Laura assured him. "I guess we do need to talk about this, though." She smiled. "What are you making?"
"Omelets. Its the only thing I could find the ingredients for in that empty refrigerator."
"I'm not much of a cook," she told him.
He moved away to pour her a cup of coffee. "Then it's a good thing that I AM, isn't it?" he said, steering her toward the table, then returning to slide the eggs onto plates. Laura watched him with envy. She'd NEVER been any good in the kitchen. Putting the plate before Laura, Harry sat down across from her. "Now. What do we need to discuss?"
"We've always told everyone that Remington Steele never involves himself directly in a case," she said.
Harry nodded. "I function best in an advisory capacity," he finished. "I remember." He picked up his fork. "Eat."
She took a bite, and looked surprised. "This is GOOD," she told him.
"Did you doubt me?"
Laura shook her head. "Never, Harry. And that's another thing. Get used to being Mr. Steele. Because in the office - it's strictly business."
"I understand," he told her, keeping a straight face. "Anything else?"
"Until you start learning the ropes, it might be best if you don't talk to any clients without either myself or Murphy there."
"Understood. About Murphy, Laura- "
"Don't worry about Murphy. I can handle him. He won't like it, but he'll accept it. After all, it IS my agency."
"You're a hard woman, Laura Holt," Harry said.
"That's not what you said last night," she reminded him, smiling at his surprised expression. She glanced at the clock. "We're going to be late if we don't get a move on," she realized, finishing her omelet.

Bernice sat down at her desk, frowning. Murphy was in a terrible mood this morning. He'd been here when she had arrived, already a work, but he'd refused to do more than nod or point in response to her questions. She sighed. Between him and Laura lately, this job was becoming a real drag. Maybe some fresh coffee might improve his disposition, she decided, starting a new pot.
She went to her desk to finish for it to brew, but halfway there she stopped as Laura entered the offices. But she wasn't alone. HE was with her.
"Good morning, Bernice," Laura said brightly, her smiled wider as she saw the surprised look that crossed the woman's face.
"Good- Morning?" Bernice repeated automatically, some things becoming a bit clearer. Maybe HIS being here explained why Murphy had been acting so unlike himself.
"I think you remember Mr. Steele," Laura commented smoothly.
"Mr.- Steele- uh, yes. Of course."
Harry smiled at her. "Nice to see you again, Miss-" He froze. He'd gone blank. "Fox?" he guessed, hoping he was right.
"Yes."
"If anyone asks, Bernice," Laura said, "Mr. Steele got back into town late last night, Bernice. Is Murphy in yet?"
"He was here when I got here," Bernice told her, trying not to stare at Mr. Steele. "He's been on the phone most of the morning. And he's NOT in a good mood," she added, silently asking if either of them knew the reason.
Laura glanced at Harry, then stepped toward Murphy's office door, tapping twice. "Murphy?"
The door opened quickly, and Murphy glared past Laura to where Harry stood before asking, "Yes?"
"I think we need to talk. Mr. Steele's office. Now." She turned to lead the way. "You, too, Bernice. It's going to take all of us to pull this off."
"I'll get some coffee, and water for tea," Bernice said, slipping past Harry.
Laura opened the office door. "NOW, gentlemen," she said, looking from Harry to Murphy. Harry entered the room ahead of her, going to the window behind the desk to look around. Nothing had changed. He turned, and stared at the blank wall above the conference area. It needed something, he decided. Some pictures, perhaps. Photographs -
"MURPHY!" Laura's voice broke into his thoughts as Bernice sashayed into the room carrying a tray. Laura pointed at the conference area as Murphy entered the room.
"I don't like this, Laura. I don't think it's gonna work-"
"Let's just talk about it, Murphy. Please?"
He looked at her hand on his arm, then up to where Steele stood. "Alright, I'll talk." Against his better judgment, though, he added silently, moving to sit down on the sofa.
Laura indicated that Harry should sit down in the chair before her as Bernice came into the room carrying a tray. Laura remained standing. "Alright. In case you haven't guessed, Bernice, Mr. Steele's going to be around the office quite a bit - when he's not attending mayor's luncheons and such -"
"Laura-" Murphy said again. "He'll slip up. Someone will ask him a question about a case and-"
"Which is why I'm going to have him start reading some of the case files." When Murphy would have objected again, she raised her hand. "Just enough so that he'll be able to at least recognize a name and what the case was about." Harry sat back, silent, watching her closely. If he hadn't already known how passionate Laura could be, he would have become aware of it now, as she discussed the agency's future. "Murphy, you know as well as I do how difficult it's been lately, assuring everyone that Mr. Steele is involved in their case. How many of our recent clients have held back simply because they've wanted to actually MEET Remington Steele?"
Murphy shrugged, disliking having to admit even this much. "A few."
"And how many have we had to turn down because they insisted on a face to face meeting?"
"Two - "
"No, three," Bernice corrected him. "The Halburton case. Mr. Halburton refused to deal with anyone except Remington Steele himself."
Laura nodded. "And that case alone would have generated almost as much good PR for the agency as the Hunter case did. Not to mention how many bills it would have paid. What we need, Murphy is a - a front man," she said.
Murphy frowned. "Sounds like you're working his side of the street, Laura. Running a con."
"Ah, but she is, Murphy," Harry said smoothly. "All of you are. Oh, not for the same reasons I might have run a game, but it's a con none the less. And every good con needs someone up front to draw the attention of the mark's away from the runners."
Murphy shook his head, and Laura frowned. "Murphy, he's right. If we want to keep this thing going, we HAVE to be able to present someone to the public that they can identify as Remington Steele. Someone who can charm the clients, reassure them that you and I are going OUR jobs - with his advisory input, of course."
"You really think it will work?" Murphy asked. "You really think you can trust him not to steal something that WE are supposed to be guarding the first time the opportunity presents itself?"
Harry put down his cup, sitting forward. "I gave Laura my word, Murphy. And it's good enough for her."
"Maybe it's good enough for Laura, but not me, pal. I'm gonna be watching you like a hawk. And if you put ONE foot out of line -"
"I'll consider myself properly warned," Harry nodded.
Laura sighed, wondering how long she could keep the two men away from each other's throats. "Then you'll go along with this, Murphy?"
"What choice do I have? It's your agency, Laura. You can do as you please."
"But we're a team," she reminded him. "I have to know that you're both okay about this before we go forward."
Bernice hesitated, waiting for Murphy to respond. "Well I think it's fine," she said, smiling at Harry.
"I said I'd do it, Laura. But don't expect me to like it."
"If that's the best I can do -" she said. "What did you find out about our reporter friend from last night?" Laura asked, as Bernice returned to her office.
"Only that he tried to sell a story about Steele to the LA Observer - but since he didn't have any pictures to back it up, they turned him down."
Laura shivered. The Observer was a dirty little rag of a newspaper that specialized in gossip and innuendo - but always backed up with photos that had usually been taken without the subject's knowledge. "Of all the rags in this city-"
"Yeah. Might be a good idea if you two don't see each other away from the office," Murphy suggested, grinning as Harry frowned at the idea, then his moved toward the blank wall behind Murphy, and an idea began to form.
"I don't think that will be necessary," Harry said, drawing both of their gazes. "He wants photos of Remington Steele - why not let him take them to his heart's desire?"
Laura looked curious. "What are you suggesting, H- Mr. Steele?"

Bernice looked up as Murphy came from the office, shaking his head. "On top of everything else the man's got an ego the size of Texas," he told her.
"What do you mean?"
"Never mind. I'll be in my office finishing some paperwork."
"Murphy, can't you see how much happier she is now?"
"All I see is that crook in there checking out how much he can scam out of this little game."
"I think you're selling him short, Murphy."
"Not you too, Bernice. You know he's never going to even LOOK at you as long as Laura's around."
"That's fine with me," Bernice assured him as Mrs. Crandall entered the office.
"Good morning, Mrs. Crandall," Murphy said in greeting.
"Mr. Michaels. Miss Holt called yesterday and promised me an update on my case."
Bernice picked up the telephone. "I'll let her know you're here," she said. "Mrs. Crandall is here," she said. "All right." She hung up. "She'll be right out, Mrs. Crandall," Bernice told the fur clad woman.
Murphy nodded. "If you'll excuse me, Mrs. Crandall,-"
"Of course." He closed the door of his office as Laura opened the main office door.
"Mrs. Crandall. Please come in. There's someone here that wants to meet you."
"To meet me?" the woman asked, moving toward the doorway. She entered the office and immediately saw the man sitting behind the desk rise to his feet, a welcoming smile on his handsome face.
"Mrs. Crandall," he said, coming forward to take her hand in his. "Remington Steele. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Mr. Steele," Mrs. Crandall repeated, her eyes growing wide. "I asked Miss Holt if I could meet you - she said you were out of town-"
"Mr. Steele returned late last night," Laura explained. "And when I explained your request to him, he insisted on meeting you."
The middle aged woman took a deep breath as Steele led her over to the conference area. "Miss Holt has brought me up to date on your case, Mrs. Crandall," he said. "It's a shame about your statue having been stolen. Mr. Michaels interviewed the young woman that you believed to have taken it-"
"She MUST have," Mrs. Crandall insisted. "No one else in the house had any reason to do something like that."
"There's no evidence to support that idea-" he lifted his hand, smiling as she would have spoken again. "But we're still watching her just in case. What Miss Holt would like- and I agree with her - is for you to tell us once more precisely what happened on the night that the statue was stolen. Could I - convince you to do that?"
Laura sat down, watching as Mrs. Crandall almost giggled like a school girl under that blue gaze. "I suppose I might as well," she said. "It was a Wednesday evening. I remember that because I had just been looking at the Buddha with Bitsy Cole from my bridge club."
Laura saw him frown and turn his eyes slightly toward the file on the table before him. He hadn't actually read the pages, she remembered. She had filled him in on the case during the ride to work. The file was only for show - She turned her attention back to Mrs. Crandall's narrative.

 

Murphy was just handing some papers to Bernice that needed retyped when the door to Steele's office opened and Mrs. Crandall appeared with Steele and Laura. "Do you really think you can help, Mr. Steele? It's not only that the statue is valuable monetarily, you know. My husband bought it for me in the Far East the year we married - "
"I can assure you that the Remington Steele Agency will do everything within its power to locate you missing statue," Steele said, walking to the door with her as Laura stood by Bernice's desk.
"Thank you, Mr. Steele. I certainly have more hope now that I know that you're on the case personally."
Steele patted her hand, then opened the door for her. "We'll be in touch, Mrs. Crandall."
Murphy shook his head in mild disgust as Steele turned toward them. He looked at Laura. "She give you anymore information?"
"Nothing substantial. There WAS a repairman that she hadn't mentioned before," Laura told him. Steele saw that they weren't paying any attention to him, and moved thoughtfully back toward his office. He wanted a closer look at the file. "But she swears that he was never in the same room as the statue."
"Do you have a name?" Murphy asked. "I'll check him out."
She wrote it on a note pad and handed it to him. "She described him as a pretty rough looking character."
"I'll get right on it." He turned and went back to his office, and with a smile at Bernice, Laura went to Steele's office. Seeing him sitting at the desk, the file before him, she frowned. "What are you doing?"
He looked up at her. "I think I may know who stole Mrs. Crandall's Jade Buddha, Laura," he said evenly.

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