- Who Wants to
Steele You?
- Part Five
- Written by
Ulrike Gubelt, 1998,
1999, and 2000
When they were inside the car, Laura said, "That's illogical,
Tony. You want to be with me, so you won't kill me!" Tony
pointed the gun at Danielle. "Maybe you're right. But you
don't really think I would mind hurting this little brat, now
do you?"
Laura begged, "Please, Tony, think twice. You don't really
think this would change my mind?"
"Shut up, and go!" he shouted. Laura felt panic! This
wasn't her first kidnapping. Normally she would wait for a good
moment and jump out of the car. But she couldn't this time since
Danny was in the back seat and she was pregnant! There was no
other way but to do what he told her.
*******************
Remington woke up. He felt much better now. When he looked at
his watch he realized that he slept almost all day. <So Laura's
return wasn't so far away any longer,> he thought. <But
why hadn't she called? She promised.> He got up and went to
the bathroom.
After the shower he went to the phone in the living-room and
dialed Abigail's number.
"Hi Abigail, it's me, Remington. I just wanted to know if
Laura and Danny. Pardon me? Called you? No... no they're not
here... Dr. Burnett... I don't understand. Oh, no... Abigail,
don't worry. I go and look for them... Yes, you will see... nothing
happened. Okay, bye."
He hung up the phone and just stood for one moment. <What
happened?> he wondered. Then from one second to another he
stormed out of the house.
****************************
Remington rushed through the hospital corridors until he met
Dr. Burnett in front of his office.
"Doctor..."
"Oh, Mr. Steele," the doctor greeted, surprised to
see Mr. Steele.
"Where's Laura? What's the matter with her?" Remington
wanted to know, while catching his breath.
"I don't understand? She didn't tell you?" Both men
looked questioningly at each other.
"Your wife was here, this morning. Oh, she was so happy,
Mr. Steele, when I told her that she's pregnant again."
"She's... Laura is pregnant?" for one second his fears
were gone and he smiled. "But she's not here?"
"No, of course not. She wanted to go home to you as soon
as possible and tell you -"
"But she never arrived ."
"That's weird. The nurse told me that you took her home
from here."
"Me? No, I haven't been here this morning. How I wish I
were."
The doctor turned around and called a nurse. "Judy, you
told me that Mr. Steele was waiting here to meet his wife, right?"
"Yes. Poor boy. He almost collapsed when I told him that
he'll soon be a father once again."
Dr. Burnett and Remington looked at each other.
"Judy, this is Mr. Steele."
"But, but..." Judy stammered as she looked at Remington.
"I don't understand. I saw them leave together!"
"Judy, can you tell me what he looked like?" Remington
asked.
Judy thought one moment than answered. "He was tall, brown
curly hair, brown eyes... quite good looking. " Remington
thought. <This description doesn't fit Major Descoine...brown
curly hair...oh, no!>
"Mr. Steele do you know someone who fits to this description?"
"Maybe." he whispered and than suddenly he turned around
and ran out of the hospital.
Dr. Burnett and the nurse stood and looked at each other. "I'm
sorry, Dr. Burnett." "It's okay, Judy. Just pray Laura
is not in danger...."
***********************************
Near Ventura, in the afternoon of the 1stof September
Nervously Laura watched Tony in the mirror. Danielle had been
crying for ten minutes now.
"Tony, please..." she begged " Danielle is hungry...
and she needs a fresh diaper, too."
"Oh, no, not again!"
Laura looked at him angrily. "Tony, she's a baby."
Tony sighed. "Okay, okay. Look, there is a gas station over
there. We'll refuel the car and you can feed her."
Laura sighed and drove her car next to the gas station and parked
the car. Then she turned around and asked, "Tony, where
are we going? I mean we've been traveling round LA. nearly all
day now..."
"Don't worry about my problems, will you?" was his
harsh response. "Now feed her, I can't stand this noise
any longer!"
She caressed Danny's cheek and started feeding her. Laura was
aware of Tony's eyes following everything she did.
Then he asked, "You know what we're doing afterwards?"
She shook her head as she looked at him questioningly. "We're
calling your husband!"
"What?"
"We're calling your husband. I'm looking forward to hearing
you say to him that you've left him. That you're finally with
the man you really love... Me!"
Laura closed her eyes but then she opened her eyes again and
said as vehemently as possible: "No, Tony. I'm not going
to do that."
Tony laughed and pointed his gun at Danny's chest. "Don't
be stupid, darling! And now continue your work. We need to hurry."
What was his plan? Where did he want to go? Laura didn't know.
*****************************************
Remington entered the agency and was surprised to find Mildred
behind her desk. "Mildred, what are you doing here on Saturday?"
"Hello boss, I just had to finish my work from yesterday.
But what are you doing here? I thought you were supposed to stay
in bed all weekend. You look terrible."
"I feel horrible. But it's not my flu... it's Laura!"
"Laura? What's the matter with her?"
"She's not here, by any chance, Mildred?" Mildred shook
her head and destroyed his last hopes. He sighed, sat down on
the couch next to Mildred's desk and covered his face in his
hands. Mildred didn't understand.
"No, of course she's not here. I thought she's visiting
her mother this weekend." Remington looked up again, and
Mildred could see tears in his eyes. Mildred sat next to him.
"Now tell me... What happened?"
"I'll tell you, I promise. But first I need to call Jarvis.
He has to be here as soon as possible." With those words
he stood and went to his office
***********************
"Can't you hurry up a bit?" Tony said impatiently.
Laura didn't respond but closed the second sticky tape of the
diaper and said, "Finished."
"Finally!" Tony moaned.
Tony took Danny on his arm and left the car. "Where are
you going?" Laura wanted to know.
"I'm waiting here with your daughter while you fuel the
car!" Laura gave him a mistrusting glance.
"Oh, Laura, don't worry, I'm a good babysitter. Go now...
and remember I see everything you do over there. So don't do
anything foolish, otherwise...." He pointed the gun once
more at Danny and smiled a crazy smile. That smile frightened
Laura the most. This wasn't the man she'd met in Mexico.
She blinked once more at them and then drove the car to the gas
station. What could she do? Sure, she could drive off with the
car now, but Danny.... If she returned with the police he'd probably
kill her. He was mad and he wouldn't hesitate to harm Harry's
child, Laura assumed. She refueled the car and went to the attendant.
"Hello," he greeted her, but Laura was still thinking
about how to manage this situation. She just tried to smile a
little bit.
"Cash or credit, Lady?"
<That's it!> Laura thought. Maybe that was the idea to
get out of this mess. Starting to hope she smiled at the man.
"I... I'll pay with a credit card!"
************************
"And you think that little Italian gigolo... He kidnapped
Laura?" Mildred asked shocked.
"I've nothing to proof that until now. Only the description
the nurse gave me..."
"What did Laura do at Dr. Burnett's office? She's not..."
Remington smiled. "She is? Oh, boss that's fantastic!"
"Yes, Mildred, it is. And if this situation weren't so scary
I surely would be in heaven."
"So tell me about your scary situation, Steele." A
male voice asked.
"Jarvis. You're here already?" Mildred asked.
"Steele sounded really worried, so here I am. What's the
matter?"
********************************
Laura returned to the car. Danny had fallen asleep again, but
Tony was still pointing his gun at her small chest. "What
took you so long?" he wanted to know.
"I had to pay with a credit card," Laura explained
when she took her seat again. She wanted to start the engine,
but Tony said, "Stop, we're not ready yet. We need to call
your husband, remember?"
Laura sighed. Tony jumped out of the car and grabbed Laura by
her arm, pointing the gun into her back. "So come on, darling,
and don't forget your text."
************************************
Jarvis looked at Remington. "That's not very much, Steele.
Maybe she just went shopping , or to her mother's."
"No, Jarvis. The doctor told me she wanted to go home to
me directly, to tell me the news."
"I just wanted to say that you don't have to worry so soon.
There might be a simple explanation. Maybe she's at home already,
waiting for you."
"No, Jarvis, I feel it. Something happened -" The phone
rang, and Remington picked up the receiver. "Laura?"
His eyes widened, and Mildred and Jarvis looked at each other.
"Where are you? What? I." Mildred watched her boss
getting more pale by the second.
"Laura, please... that can't be true. You... Laura? LAURA?"
he yelled, but then the line was dead. He sank onto his chair
and starred at nothing. No, he didn't believe one single word
Laura just said. She swore this morning that she'd be back tomorrow
night. She and Tony... well, he knew she was attracted to him,
but after she found out about Tony and Murphy, he thought....
No, Laura was lying... maybe she was forced by someone to do
this. And he knew quite well who this someone was.
"That bastard!" Until now he hadn't recognized Mildred's
hand on his shoulder. Worried she looked at him. "What did
she say, boss?"
"That she left me."
Mildred hold her breathe. "What?"
Jarvis looked down at his feet.< Just another couple that
seemed to be so happy destroyed! It's a pity> he thought.
"But, boss... I can't believe it. Say that it's not true.
She would never... no!" Mildred said shocked.
"Don't worry Mildred. I don't believe it, either. But that's
what she said: I'm tired of you. I'm going to live with Tony.
He's the one."
"The one who kidnapped her!" Mildred ended the sentence.
"I'm more and more sure about it that he's the one. Yes."
Both looked to Jarvis, who cleared his throat and said "I
guess there's no need for me anymore, is there?"
Remington went to him. "Of course there's something for
you to do. My wife and my daughter have been kidnapped!"
"But that's not my..."
"I thought you were a friend of Laura and me. If kidnapping
is your business or not doesn't matter. With your connections
you can help us locate Laura and Tony."
"Ehm, Steele. I meant... Are you sure... well, Laura might
have left you for this Tony character without any kidnapping
at all. What makes you so sure?"
Remington looked angrily in Jarvis eyes. "We're in love,
Jarvis. She told me this morning. She's my wife, we've got a
wonderful daughter, and we'll be parents once again very soon.
We're a happy family. That's what makes me sure! Tony kidnapped
her. Okay? Now will you help us?" he screamed losing his
temper.
"Even if it's like you said... I can't. Where would we start
looking? Los Angeles is so big, maybe they left LA...."
Harry sighed and tried to talk in a softer voice, "Jarvis,
Laura and Danielle are all I have on this earth and I'll look
for them all over the world if necessary. Do you get me?"
The phone started ringing again and Mildred answered it.
"Remington Steele Investigations yes.... In Ventura? Okay,
we're coming." Jarvis and Remington watched her curiously.
"Boss, that was a man from a gas station in Ventura. He
met Laura and a man five minutes ago...." Remington looked
back at Jarvis, who went to the telephone and said, "I'll
call my colleagues in Ventura. They'll look for your wife and
the car. We'll put up street barricades. Don't worry, we'll get
them!"
"Thank you, Jarvis." Remington answered already heading
for the door.
To be continued..
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