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"Did you happen to stop in to
see Mrs. Hobbs, Remington?" Robert asked when they returned
to the house.
"As a matter of fact, we did," Remington said. "She's
still unable to recall anything about who attacked her- but she's
on the mend." He smiled. "She's well enough to be concerned
about who's messing about in her kitchen, at any rate."
Everyone laughed at his words. "She's always been very protective
of her domain," Robert agreed. "In fact, you're the
only person I can recall receiving her blessing to trespass."
"Well, I assured her that the only people who would be in
there until she gets home will be either Jessica or myself."
Laura smiled at Jessica's reaction to his words. "It was
the only way she would agree to stay in the hospital another day
once Remington told her about your all being here."
"I suppose that's my cue, then," Jessica said, rising
from her place beside Katherine. "I'll go and find something
to feed this starving crowd."
Remington frowned. "Jessica, I didn't mean for you to-"
"Well, my dear brother, SOMEONE has to cook - and since you
and I are arguably best suited to the task-"
He shook his head ruefully. "I'll help you," he said
as she grabbed his arm.
"Good," she said, pulling him toward the door. "I
was hoping you would offer. I would have hated to have been forced
to dragoon the host into assisting me."
"Hold on a minute, Jessica," Edward said, his eyes on
Laura. "My daughter promised me an explanation for something
she said at the hospital."
All eyes turned toward Laura as Katherine asked, "What did
she say, Edward?"
"She convinced the surgeon to allow her five minutes with
Agatha so that she could give Agatha a reason to get better soon.
A very GOOD reason, I believe she said."
"That DOES sound interesting, Laura," Robert agreed.
Jessica's eyes widened. "Laura?" she said. "Are
you-"
Laura nodded. "I am."
**********
After dinner, which Laura still had trouble believing that Jessica
and Remington had simply "thrown together", Katherine
excused herself. "It's been a long day," she explained.
"I think I'll go to my room."
"I think I'll turn in too," Mildred announced. "If
I'm going to listen for the twins tonight, I'm going to need some
sleep while I can get it." At the hospital, while waiting
for word on Agatha's condition, Mildred had decided to use the
nanny's room so that the children wouldn't be upset if they woke
during the night and couldn't find anyone.
"They usually sleep straight through, Mildred," Remington
said.
"And when they wake up at night, they usually come into our
room," Laura added.
"Well, I'd just as soon be close anyway," Mildred said.
"The house is so unsettled with all these accidents. Sometimes
kids pick up on these kind of things without anyone realizing
it."
Tony stood up. "I think I'll go take a walk about the place
before going to the garage," he said. "Just to make
sure Jarvis placed those men like he said he would."
"Would you like some company, Antony?" Jessica asked,
rising to his side.
"I guess so-"
"It's not a walk in the park, Jessica," Remington reminded
his sister. "There's the very real possibility that an attempted
murderer might be lurking out there."
Jessica placed a hand on Tony's arm. "Then it's lucky that
I'll have Antony out there to protect me, isn't it?" she
responded. "Besides, I need some fresh air. It's amazing
how quickly the air can turn stuffy in a room.," she commented
pointedly. "Shall we, Antony?"
Tony glanced once at Remington, then allowed Jessica to precede
him from the room. "But who's going to protect HER from HIM?"
Remington muttered.
Robert had watched the exchange through concerned eyes, and now
said, "Could I have a word with you, Remington? Alone?"
His grandson looked at him, hearing something in that voice that
reminded him of the way Daniel had sounded just before his mentor/father
would take him to task. "Why don't we go to the study?"
he suggested. Smiling at Laura, he said, "I won't be long."
"Don't be too sure of that," she warned him, having
heard the same thing that he had.
Edward watched them go, then smiled. "How about a walk in
the garden before bed?" he suggested.
She returned his smile. "Sounds like a good idea to me, Daddy."
**********
In the study, Remington poured two glasses of brandy- and handed
one to his grandfather. "Robert-"
"I think, Remington, that this is one time that YOU need
to listen to me. I can't help but notice your- I hesitate to say
'dislike' of Tony Roselli. You don't dislike him, do you?"
"Antony's a fine detective," Remington said. "He's
been a big asset to the Agency-"
"Perhaps the word I'm looking for is 'mistrust'," Robert
decided.
"I trust him," Remington insisted. "He's saved
mine and Laura's lives on more than once occasion-"
"Ah, but it's not Laura or your lives that you don't trust
him with, is it?" He fixed his gaze on Remington. "It's
Jessica- you're worried that he'll hurt her somehow - break her
heart."
"I suppose it's my own past coming back to haunt me,"
Remington said softly, staring down into his glass. "When
I first met Antony, he claimed to be an archeologist - and he
made no secret that he was attracted to Laura. Then, here in Los
Angeles, he was with Immigration. And in London, he was involved
in espionage. Even knowing that the last was his true profession
all along, doesn't change the fact that he used me AND Laura to
get what he wanted."
"But he did he get what he wanted?"
"No, only because Laura told him she wasn't interested-"
"And because you asked Jessica to keep him occupied, which
threw them into each other's company - is it so hard to believe
that they might really care about each other, my boy?"
"Robert, she's my sister.-"
"And you, having come so late to having ANY family- are overplaying
your hand, I'm afraid. Yes, she's your sister, and it's perfectly
normal for you to want to protect her, but she's a grown woman,
Remington. She would no more appreciate your telling her what
to do than Laura would. She doesn't need your blessing on her
relationship with Tony." He grinned. "Besides, as head
of the family, that duty would fall on me, not on you -"
Remington returned his grin - a grin which froze as Robert continued.
"And I've already given it to Tony."
"You- what? Are you telling me that he's talked to you about-"
"Not in the way you think. Do you recall that evening about
a month ago? When we were all here for dinner, and you insisted
that Fred drive Jessica home instead of Tony doing it?"
Remington remembered. Laura had taken him to task for his insistence,
reminding him that Tony had BROUGHT Jessica, so he should have
driven her home. "Yes. I remember."
"While you were walking her out to the limo, Tony stalked
off into the garden, and I followed. He asked me if I might know
why you were so against his seeing Jessica."
"He KNOWS the reasons, Robert," Remington said.
"I don't think he does. He certainly didn't sound that way
to me. Anyway, I told him that it really wasn't any of your business
WHO Jessica saw, and that the only person he had to worry about
was her grandfather. That's when I told him that I believed Jessica
could do MUCH worse than him - and that if the two of them finally
reached an agreement, they would have my blessing."
"I see."
Robert finished his brandy, then placed a hand on the younger
man's shoulder. "All I'm asking is that you let Jessica and
Tony find their way without any interference caused by your past
differences with the man. Is that so difficult?"
"I'll try, Robert," Remington said.
"Thank you. Now, I think I'll go to bed. Good night, my boy."
"Good night, Robert."
**********
"We haven't spent much time with each other lately, have
we?" Edward asked Laura as they approached the gazebo in
the center of the garden.
"Things have been so hectic- and when things HAVE been slow-
you seem to prefer Mildred's company to mine these days."
She smiled at him. "Not that I'm complaining, mind you. I
think you're good for Mildred."
"She's certainly good for me," Edward said. "How
do you feel about having another child?" When she started
to talk, he said, "And I want the truth. Not that little
scene you played inside."
"That scene IS the truth, Daddy," Laura said. "Oh,
I was worried about it when I first found out- I guess that's
why I didn't tell anyone else-"
"And swore poor Mildred to secrecy?"
"I hated to do that. I think I really expected that she'd
break and tell SOMEONE - keep me from having to make the announcement."
"She certainly never gave ME any indication that she knew
what was troubling you. But you're all right with it now?"
"I'm not looking forward to telling Mother," she admitted.
"She already thinks I'm a terrible mother because I don't
stay at home and bake cakes and cookies for Daniel and Megan -"
Edward sat down beside her in the gazebo. "You'd hate that
and you know it. There's not much excitement in baking-"
"You haven't seen ME in a kitchen," she said, only half
joking.
"I have an idea that you're going to be fine. Daniel and
Megan adore you- and they know that you love them. That's what's
important. Having them grow up loved and wanted in a secure environment.
You and Remington have done your best to provide that for them."
He sighed. "As for your mother, if she gives you any problems
over this, send her my direction."
"Be careful. I might just do that."
They heard gravel beneath a shoe and looked up to see Remington
approaching, hands in his pockets. "Here you two are. I was
wondering where you'd got off to."
"Just having a little father-daughter chat," Edward
said, giving Laura a kiss on the cheek before he stood up. "Good
night, honey."
"G'night, Daddy. And thanks."
"What are Daddies for if not to help?" he asked. "Good
night, Remington."
"Edward." He stood there, kicking a few pebbles around
after his father in law had gone inside.
"What did Robert have to say?" Laura asked, knowing
that was probably the reason for his sulking expression.
"That I should back off where Jessica and Antony are concerned,
give them some space."
"Your grandfather is a very wise man," Laura commented.
He looked at her. "Did you know that he's given Antony his
blessing to pursue the relationship?"
"No, but I'm not surprised that he has." She held out
her hand and waited for him to join her on the bench. "WHY
do you disapprove of Tony so much?"
"Laura, if I disapproved of him, would I let him back me
up on a case? Or-"
"Yes, you would. Because you don't disapprove of him as a
detective- but as a person."
"You can't separate the two, Laura-"
"YOU apparently can." She took his hand. "Does
it- does it have anything to do with - Tony's saying that he was
in love with me?" she asked at last.
"That might be part of it," he admitted. "I mean,
he comes back here intending to break us up, and inside of two
days is chasing after my sister like -" he caught himself
up when he saw her expression. "Well, you know what I mean.
And he's yet to explain that rather attractive little piece of
'lint' that I found under our bed in Las Hadas."
"Have you asked him about her?"
"No," he admitted.
"Then you should. The longer you keep trying to pull those
two apart, the more Jessica's going to dig in her heels and refuse
to budge," Laura told him. "Not that I think they SHOULD
be apart, mind you, but she's just as stubborn as you are-"
"Stubborn?" he questioned. "ME?"
"As a mule," Laura confirmed. "Once you get something
in that head of yours -"
"I've always thought that I was rather flexible, extremely
amenable-" He put an arm around her, pulling her closer.
"YOU, on the other hand -"
"We're not discussing me," she reminded him, sliding
her arms around his neck.
"What do you say we continue this discussion upstairs, Mrs.
Steele?" he asked, nibbling gently on her neck.
"Excellent suggestion, Mr. Steele," Laura said approvingly.
"Considering that you can see the gazebo from Daddy's room."
Remington lifted his eyes toward the window on the second floor.
The room was dark. "I don't think he's there," he said,
returning to his task. "But our bed is a trifle more comfortable
than this bench," he said, standing up, pulling her with
him. "Shall we, my love?"
"Lead on, Mr. Steele," Laura said, her smile wide. "Lead
on."
**********
"Evenin, Captain," the uniformed policeman said as the
window was rolled down on the unmarked police car.
Jimmy nodded toward the Leonard estate. "Anything going on?"
"Not a peep. A light came on around dark, went off at ten,
and since then, nothing."
The homicide captain nodded thoughtfully. "Send someone over
the wall- I want to know EXACTLY where he is in there, Craig."
"Yes, sir." He turned to his radio. "Hagerstrom,
Lowell, get inside - do a discreet check. Let me know where subject
is."
"On our way," Hagerstrom's voice replied through the
static.
"Has the lady ID'd the guy, Captain?"
"Not yet. She's still to heavily medicated to get a good
identification. I'll show her the picture tomorrow morning, and
then come have a little talk with Mr. Leonard."
"Sergeant!" Hagerstrom's voice came over the radio,
sounding urgent.
"Yes, Lou?"
"He's not here."
"What?"
"There's a timer in the room where we saw the light earlier.
Set to go on at dusk, off at ten. The light is plugged into it.
We've done a search of the rooms that show occupation. Leonard's
flown the coop."
Jimmy picked up his mobile phone and asked the operator to dial
Steele's number. "I want that house searched, Sergeant,"
he ordered. "I've got a warrant, but I was waiting to serve
it tomorrow when I talked to Leonard." He held out a paper
as the telephone rang for the fourth time. "No answer,"
he said, starting the engine and picking up his radio. "Merchant,
this is Jarvis. Do you copy?"
"Yes, sir, Captain. What's up?"
"Leonard's escaped surveillance. Any sign of him?"
"No, sir. None of us have seen anything except Tony Roselli
and Mr. Steele's sister."
"I tried calling the Steeles, there's no answer -"
"The lines are down," Merchant informed him. "A
cut in the cable toward town."
"Damn. I'm on my way out there- keep your eyes open."
"Yes, sir."
Jimmy pressed harder on the gas pedal, urging his car to go faster,
hoping he wouldn't be too late.
To Be Continued - - -