"Have
you called the real estate agent yet?" Laura asked Remington
as they started up in the elevator.
"Haven't had time," he replied. "Besides, I'm thinking that it might be a good idea to wait until we're certain Mr. Davis' charity showing goes off without a hitch before we start spending his money, don't you agree?"
Laura sighed and turned to look at him. "Not trying to weasel out, are you, Mr. Steele?"
"Wouldn't dream of it, Miss Holt. Simply trying to look ahead. After all, one of us has to."
She smiled, placing a hand on his chest. "Why worry about tomorrow? After all, tomorrow IS another day."
"Okay, Scarlet," Remington sighed. "I'll call the realtor when we get back to the office. But I refuse to list the condo until after this is settled."
Laura's hand began a slow slide up toward his shoulder. The elevator stopped on the sixth floor, and Laura's hand fell as she moved to stand beside Remington. When the doors opened, a couple of women, both wearing exercise shorts and tops got on. "Going UP, ladies?" Remington asked.
"To the twelfth floor," the blonde told him. "We work at Ligerton and Harcroft."
"Ah," Remington nodded, at a loss to identify the company.
"Lawyers," Laura whispered.
"Oh, we're just secretaries," the red haired woman explained. "We just climbed up six flights of stairs for our daily exercise, thought we'd take the elevator the rest of the way."
"You CLIMBED up six flights?" Remington questioned.
"We do it every day," the blonde told them. "We started doing one floor a for a week, then two- "
"Building slowly," Laura nodded. "Sounds like a good idea. I wasn't aware that anyone was doing something like that in the building."
"Sure. There are several of us that do it. Every day at lunch, we meet downstairs. You're welcome to join us," the redhead said.
"Thanks. I'll keep it mind. If I find the time."
The blonde whispered something to her friend. "You're that detective, aren't you?" she asked. "Remington Steele?"
Remington straightened his tie upon being recognized. "Yes. I am."
"You know, you'd be more than welcome to join us as well. We have a couple of guys who climb with us-"
Remington smiled. "Um-" he barely stopped himself from jumping as he felt Laura's hand behind him, touching his slacks covered bottom. "But- I prefer to get my exercise in- other ways," he told them with a suggestive smile.
"Sounds interesting," the blonde replied. "Maybe you could show me some of your- moves sometime?" she asked boldly.
Laura's eyes narrowed as she would have spoken, and, as much as he wouldn't have minded seeing Laura put the blonde in her place, Remington was certain that it would completely ruin Laura's reputation in the building. Her next words only confirmed his fears. "He already has a-work out partner," Laura told the blonde. "So he's not interested." In other words, "Back off," Remington mused.
To Remington's relief, the elevator stopped and the doors opened again. "Our floor, I believe," he told the women. "Good luck with your climbing. After you, Miss Holt."
Laura, head held high, proceeded him out of the car, and then glanced back once as the doors closed. "Secretaries," she said with a shake of her head. "If they had any brains-"
Remington lowered his head to speak quietly. "You realize that it's going to be all over this building by five o'clock that you and I are- um- 'work out partners'?" he questioned.
Laura looked up at him with a smile. "And your point is?"
"Laura-"
She stopped in the corridor. "You act like you're ashamed for people to know that we're-"
"Of course I'm not," he insisted. "But YOU are the one who's always been insistent that we keep our personal relationship out of the spotlight, as it were."
"That was the OLD me," Laura told him.
"I see." They were receiving strange glances from passersby, so Remington placed a hand on her arm. "I hardly think a corridor is the best place for us to discuss this. Let's continue this somewhere a bit less,- public, shall we?"
"Whatever you say, Mr. Steele," Laura agreed, smiling.
Remington was trying to think of some way to get through to Laura as they entered the office, some way to make her realize what she was doing- but the problem was resolved for him when Laura saw Daniel Chalmers standing before Mildred's desk, a cup and saucer in hand.
"YOU!" Laura said, moving forward to confront Daniel. "I want a word with you, Chalmers!"
"By all means, my dear," Daniel agreed pleasantly. "Consider my time yours."
"Don't try that smarmy charm on me," Laura ordered. "Mr. Davis was here this morning-"
"Really? Pleasant, intelligent man, I thought," Daniel told them. "Quite concerned about his art collection. And from what I hear, he has reason to be. I'm amazed that someone hasn't made an attempt to steal at least a portion of it."
"Whatever possessed you to tell him that you were an associate of MY agency?!" Laura asked.
"I only did it to protect you and Harry," Daniel informed her equably.
"To PROTECT-? I think you're going to have to explain that, Chalmers," Laura declared.
"Why don't we go into my office?" Remington suggested. "Sit down, try to discuss this calmly and rationally?"
"Excellent idea, Harry," Daniel agreed. Emptying his cup, he looked at Mildred. "Could I get another, Mildred?"
"I'll bring it in," she told him. "You and Miss Holt want something, Chief?"
"Tea," Remington told her.
"Someone's hide," Laura muttered, turning around and going toward Remington's office.
Remington looked at Daniel. "How did things go this morning?"
"They won't have any results until later," Daniel said.
"CHALMERS!" Laura yelled.
"Sounds almost back to her old self, don't you think?" Daniel smiled. "I don't think we should keep her waiting, do you?"
Laura was pacing like a caged tiger, only to stop as Daniel and Remington entered the office. "Okay, Chalmers, I want an explanation, and it had better be good."
Daniel sat down on the sofa as if he hadn't a care in the world. "It's quite simple, really, my dear. Davis was going to fire YOUR agency after your little stunt of yesterday afternoon. So I told him that I was a part operative for the Remington Steele Agency, specializing in security systems for art and jewel collections."
"More likely in DEFEATING those systems," Laura said with a snort of disbelief.
"Always quibbling over minor details," Daniel sighed. "The Earl of Claridge DID offer me a position of as head of security," he reminded her.
"A position which you turned down," Laura replied as Mildred brought the tea in, then lingered.
"Purely for health reasons," Daniel said. "Laura, if Davis had fired you and Harry, word would have no doubt gotten out as to the reason, don't you think? It would have looked very bad to future clients, and ultimately hurt the two of you."
"So you decided to pass yourself off as a security expert and offered to SUPERVISE me with no other thought in mind except to help Remington and me?"
"What other reason could there possibly be?" Daniel asked her.
"Gerald Davis' collection is one of the largest, most impressive in the world. You wouldn't by any chance by planning one, last, big score, would you?"
"Laura. And jeopardize your and Harry's future? I'm deeply hurt by your implication. Deeply hurt. My only thought in all of this has been to insure that the two of you are settled and happy."
Remington stood back, letting Laura conduct her little inquisition as he watched Daniel. Sometimes what a man said wasn't as important as HOW he said it. Especially someone like Daniel. At that moment, Daniel looked at Mildred, and Remington thought he caught something in that look which made him turn and glance at the woman. As if realizing that he was looking at her, Mildred smiled and returned to the reception area, but left the door open.
Daniel WAS up to something, Remington was certain of that much. Laura glared at Daniel. "Well, it worked. Mr. Davis agreed to retain the Agency- on the condition that you're on the scene to supervise my every move," she spat.
"Don't worry, Laura. I'll only be along as- window dressing. Much as Harry was during those first few years as Remington Steele. I won't get in your way, or cause any trouble."
"Trouble follows you around like a puppy dog, Chalmers," Laura pointed out. She turned her attention to Remington. "You've been awfully silent, Remington. Don't you have anything to say about all of this?"
"Just that- I think we'd better make sure Daniel knows the details of Mr. Davis' case before you and he go out there, eh?"
"That's ALL you have to say?" Laura prompted.
Remington sighed, wishing he could find a way to talk privately to Daniel for a moment. But asking that would only serve to increase Laura's suspicions. "May I have a word alone with you, Harry?" Daniel asked, causing Remington's head to lift toward his mentor in surprise at the request. "With- Laura's permission, of course."
"Don't you have to call Miss Gleason, Laura?" Remington asked.
"I'm not going to let him con you into-"
"He's not going to con me into anything, Laura," Remington assured her as he opened the door to her office. "I'm sure Miss Gleason is waiting anxiously by the telephone to hear that you've located the proof she needs to convince her grandfather that he's being bilked."
Laura's dark gaze moved from Remington, to Daniel, then back to Remington, before she went into her office. "I won't be long," she told them.
"Take your time. Mr. Davis isn't expecting you until three." He closed the door, then turned to look at Daniel. "Okay, mate. What's going on?"
"Going on?" Daniel repeated as if he didn't quite understand the question. "Whatever do you mean, Harry?"
"I saw you with Marty yesterday afternoon."
"You did? Oh, that's right. Your tailor is that area, isn't he? I simply wanted some background on Gerald Davis, that's all. If I'm going to be helping on the case-"
"Marty got the impression that you were planning something. And Mildred said that you pumped her for information about Davis as well. I called the loft, didn't you get my message?"
"It was rather late when I returned from dinner- I hated to disturb you at that hour." Daniel rose from the sofa. "Harry, do you really think that I would do anything to jeopardize your future here now? I'm hardly in any condition to be planning a robbery, don't you think?"
"I don't have much choice but to trust you, I suppose," Remington said at last. "Not if I want to keep the client happy and this agency's doors open. Not to mention buying that house that Laura's got her heart so set on."
"So she convinced you to take the plunge, hmm?" Daniel asked.
"Yes. Daniel, if I find out that you're lying to me later- Laura's not the only one who'll be taking it out of your hide, mate."
"I understand, Harry. Believe me."
Remington sat on the edge of his desk and picked up the phone. "I told Laura I'd call about the house, let them know that we're interested in it and see what can be worked out."
"I think I'll go and have a quick word with Mildred while you do that," Daniel told him.
"Don't take her to task, Daniel," Remington warned.
"Wouldn't dream of it, my boy. Wouldn't dream of it."
Remington watched the door close behind Daniel, his expression thoughtful. Daniel wasn't being entirely truthful about all of this. He just hoped that he and Laura would be able to nip whatever his plan was in the bud. "Ah, yes," he said into the telephone when it was finally answered. "Remington Steele here. Is Mr. Douglas in? . . . Thank you . . ."
***
Once Laura and Daniel were gone, Remington turned to look at Mildred, who seemed inordinately busy for some reason. "Um, Mildred, could I see you in my office for a moment?"
"Your office, Mr. Steele?" she asked, seeming a trifle worried about something.
"Thought we might have a little chat."
"A chat? I've got a lot of filing to catch up on," she began, but Remington shook his head.
"Mildred, the day that you get behind in the filing is the day we'll close the doors of the Agency. Make us a pot of tea, will you?"
"Sure thing, Boss," Mildred said, turning toward the coffee room, her shoulders slumped.
Remington had a feeling that whatever Daniel was planning, Mildred knew more than she was telling.
***
As they approached the front door of Gerald Davis' mansion, Laura said, "Now remember, I'M the one in charge. You're just here as window dressing. To calm Mr. Davis' frayed nerves. Nothing more."
"I'm entirely in your hands, my dear," Daniel assured her.
An elderly butler opened the door. "Yes?" he said in a disapproving tone.
"Laura Holt and Daniel Chalmers to see Mr. Davis," Laura said. "He's expecting us."
The man stepped back, allowing them entry into the house. "Wait here. I will inform Mr. Davis of your arrival."
Laura watched Daniel closely as he moved to a painting on the wall. "Good Lord," he sighed. "It's a Gainsborough. Original, if I'm not mistaken. Worth-"
"Spare me the appraisal, Daniel," Laura muttered, joining him. "And try to remember that you're supposed to be here to PROTECT the man's artwork, not to drool over it."
"Ah, admiring my Gainsborough, I see," Gerald Davis said as he joined them. "It's one of the less valuable pieces in my collection."
"Then I'm looking forward to seeing the remainder of it," Daniel commented, and Laura, seeing the avaricious gleam in his eye, sighed. It was going to be a long afternoon . . .
To Be Continued . . .