Steele Working It Out Part 4

Steele Working It Out Part 4 By Kristen McNeil
Disclaimer: See part 1 Author's Notes: See part 1

*****
Carl Wentworth opened the door allowing the three men with him to pass through it before entering the bar himself. Nervously, he and his companions headed toward the back room to deliver their update on the mission they'd been given. The nervousness was due to the fact that the news wasn't good.

Dale Silver turned his head as the four men entered, a hopeful smile on his face. It dropped to a frown when he didn't see what he wanted.

"Where is he?" He demanded. "I told you to grab Chalmers' son. I don't see a detective with you."

"We tried boss, we really did." Carl argued looking to the other men, Al, Frank and Paul who were all nodding in agreement. "First he went to Patterson's wife's place. Then he went to some dingy old motel room. We were about to grab him when he came out into the parking lot, but that detective you hired and some woman I guess was his partner were with him so we decided to hold off. I don't know what he's doing with that Murphy Michaels character, but it's gonna make it that much tougher to get our hands on him."

"Micheals is here?" Silver echoed. "In London? That must mean Chalmers is in London! I bet the hotel Steele was at was Chalmers' place. He won't be there for long. Frank and Paul, I want you two to follow the Micheals and that woman he's with. Micheals never mentioned a partner in his firm, but maybe she's just there for show or something. See where their leads take them. If they find Chalmers I want you to tell me as soon as you can."

"Will do." Frank promised as he and Paul Stevens exited the back room. Meanwhile, Carl and Al Craylick still remained.

"I'll have to stay here in my place for a while." Silver mused to himself. "I can't go out somewhere and risk running into Murphy Micheals and his associate."

"I don't get it Mr. Silver." Al said in a tone that clearly implied he was confused. "You hired a detective to find Daniel Chalmers and..."

"Andrew Styles hired a detective Al. To Murphy Micheals, Dale Silver doesn't exist. Andrew Styles is known to be a respectable man. I can't sully his reputation. That's the whole point of getting that video tape. Without it, my run for Governor could land me in jail if Chalmers isn't stopped."

"Shouldn't you be in the States though? Unless Micheals attempts to call you with information on his fake case?" Carl questioned.

"I gave him the number to my cell phone." Silver replied smoothly. "If he contacts my campaign headquarters my secretaries have been instructed to inform any callers that I'm unavailable at the present time. Don't get me wrong gentleman, I'm not enjoying being Dale Silver. It's too dangerous. I'm just here to clear up certain 'matters' that could possibly destroy my career as a US politician and then I'm closing the bar and going back to the States. I just need Chalmers' son in my grasp to bargain with!"

"I'm sorry it didn't work out today Mr. Silver. We will get another chance though." Carl informed him. Silver's eyes lit up.

"When?"

"Well, we heard Murphy's associate, I think her name was Laura, arguing with Steele. Apparently the two of them were involved. Anyway, they set up a date in a couple of days at a well-known coffee shop. We left right after hearing that because someone else was watching us from the shadows. We could only assume Micheals had more than one operative working for him." Al told him.

"I want you two to grab him before he gets to that coffee shop. Do whatever it is you have to do, even if it means taking the woman and any other employees he may have as well, but get him! Once Murphy finds Daniel for me, I'll know where to send the ransom note. Think you can handle this without screwing it up?" Silver looked to Carl and Al administering a very threatening gaze.

The two of them took it at face value and knew that their lives literally depended on it. Nodding, Craylick and Wentworth exited the back room to prepare for their mission.

****

"So Harry, you've seen the error of your ways and have left Lorie and the detective business to come back with your old friend Daniel is this it?"

"It's Laura." Harry replied, his expression deadpan. "What's going on Daniel?" Scrunching up his nose in disgust, Harry sat down on the creeky old bed while Daniel sat in a wooden chair that looked as if it would give out beneath him at any moment.

"Whatever do you mean Harry?" Daniel asked. Playing innocent was not one of his talents.

"I mean what's with the dirt cheap motel room in the worst part of London?" Harry asked him. "I know you Daniel, the only time you skimp on luxury is if you're in trouble and don't have any other choice. I've had one hellish time since I arrived in London and as of right now I don't understand a bit of it."

"Why are you in London Harry?" Daniel wondered. Harry knew what Daniel was doing. He was trying to change the subject and stall for as long as he could. That was OK. He could wait.

"I'm here for personal reasons Daniel." Was his evasive reply. "It has to do with Laura and I."

"You left her and wouldn't tell her why." Daniel supplied. "I heard you two in the parking garage."

"Yes, I did." Harry admitted. "I'm not proud of my actions but that really isn't the point here. If you heard my conversation with Laura then you obviously heard that the two of them think you're responsible for stealing money from their client's home."

"Yes." Daniel said with a sigh. "I didn't steal anything though."

"I believe you Daniel." Harry assured him. "What is going on? Why would you be their main suspect?" Daniel looked at him nervously.

"I was set up to be a suspect."

"Come again?"

"Lisa..."

"Laura."

"...and Murphy Micheals were hired simply to find me. An old adversary of mine is after something I have in my possession. Something that could ruin him....something he would kill to get." Daniel finally admitted.

"Who is it Daniel?" Harry asked softly. "Who hired Laura and Murphy to find you?"

Daniel looked torn. He wanted to tell Harry the truth, but that would mean telling the man that after 20 years of friendship, Daniel was actually Harry's father. He was afraid of how he would react to that. His relationship with his son was so close. Not as close as he would have liked it to be but that was his fault, not Harry's. Telling him everything would only hurt him and put him in danger.

"I can't tell you." Was his final reply.

"Dammit Daniel this isn't a game!" Harry exclaimed. "Someone has already died over this...someone we both know."

Daniel's face immediately went white.

"Who?" Daniel demanded. Harry allowed his demeanor to soften slightly before he delivered the bad news.

"Dicky Patterson." He told his mentor. "A night or so ago." Harry suddenly realized that he no longer had any concept of time. Everything was happening so fast. "He was supposed to meet me to deliver some information on....on a case I was working on, when he was jumped in an ally way and beaten to death. They took the information off of him and left. Whatever it is that this man is after you over, he has already killed once. He will do it again. Tell me who it is."

Daniel stood up from the room and began pacing the floor, unable to believe his friend had been killed and all so that bastard Silver could locate him and that blasted video tape!

"He probably thought I slipped the package to Dicky." Daniel murmured to himself, lost in his own world. "Dicky, I'm sorry."

"Daniel..." Harry prompted gently, eager for a response to his questions.

"Does Anabell know?" Daniel questioned, his eyes genuinely pained and remorseful.

"I told her this morning." Harry replied. "Who is it that's after you? You have to tell me. I'm in this just as deep as you are."

"Andrew Styles." Daniel finally said with a resigned sigh.

"The man who's running for Governor?" Harry echoed incredulously.

"It's not his real name." Daniel continued. "Dale Silver is his real name but like you and me he's no stranger to an alias. He's using this Andrew Styles name to run for governor, but I have video-taped proof that he's a crook."

"That's why he's after you? The video tape?"

"I'm afraid so Harry my boy." Daniel replied with a weary sigh. "I'm afraid it's a long story as to how I got it, but rest assured giving the tape to him is out of the question."

"Daniel he wants you dead!" Harry exclaimed. "Why else do you think he hired a detective to track you down? Once they find you, and knowing Laura, they will, he'll have you right where he wants you. Are you really willing to die over a videotape?"

"You don't understand Harry." Daniel told him stubbornly. "I don't have a choice." How could he tell Harry that if he handed the videotape over to Dale Silver, nothing would stand in the way of him going after his only living relative...his son. Silver had already killed someone he loved a
long, long time ago. Daniel shook that thought from his head. No, he wouldn't think about her.

"Daniel there's more to this you aren't telling me." Harry declared. "Look, whatever you've gotten yourself into I can see is your business and you intend to handle it the way you see fit. You're not the only one involved any more though. Laura is here and in this just as deep as you are. I don't want to see what happened to Dicky happen to her and by God if anything does happen to her Daniel..." He trailed off, stood up from the bed and turned from Daniel so that his mentor wouldn't see the fear in his eyes.

"You love her." Daniel said. It wasn't a question however, it was a statement. All Harry could do was nod his head and turn back to face Daniel.

"Yes. I do." He paused, then took a deep breath. "Please Daniel." He pleaded. "Tell me why you can't give Silver the videotape."

"Look Harry, Dale Silver and I go way back. It's a long story."

With that, Harry sat back down and fixed Daniel with a determined gaze. "I have all the time in the world."

****

"Mildred I found him!"

"Who?" Mildred's excited voice came loud and clear over the hotel telephone. Murphy had gone down to the lobby for a moment so Laura had used this time to call Mildred and fill her in on the day's events.

"Mr. Steele." She replied, not even sure of emotions her own voice was conveying. Was it relief? Sarcasm? Excitement? Anger? Laura didn't know. "He's here in London."

"Doing what?" Mildred wanted to know.

"I don't know Mildred he wouldn't tell me. He said he couldn't. I'm so confused right now."

"Miss Holt listen." Mildred said in a concerned tone. "I know you aren't too keen on trusting him again, but I think that if he tells you he had a good reason but he can't fill you in on the specifics, maybe you should just take it at face value."

"I can't Mildred!" Laura replied, exasperated. "Believe me, I'd like to but every time I open my mouth to say 'I'm sorry' or 'I do trust you', it comes out the exact opposite. All I know is that I knew from day one he was a con man and deluded myself into thinking he would evolve from that. Obviously I was wrong."

"Give him a chance Miss Holt." Mildred all but pleaded. "Are you going to see him again?" Laura gave a bitter laugh.

"If he doesn't decide to take off again! He's going to meet me in a coffee shop a couple days from now and if he doesn't give me some answers that I'm satisfied with, I'm out of his life....for good." Laura drew a shuddering breath as the image of life without Mr. Steele flashed through her mind. She loved him so much, although she'd never told him that. She was just so afraid sometimes, not only of him but of herself as well. There were times with Mr. Steele that all she could think of was giving herself over to him, body and soul forever. Then she'd remember how that had worked out with her father and Wilson and that wall she'd built around her vulnerable heart would get that much higher. Still, somehow Steele managed to break through it at times and that unnerved her more than she cared to admit.

"Miss Holt think about what you're saying OK?" Mildred said gently. The last thing she wanted was to see 'her kids' unhappy. They were happiest together. If only she could make them see that.

"I will Mildred." Laura promised. "Look, I'll call you later and fill you in on the case OK?"

"I hope every thing turns out, Miss Holt." Mildred told her gently before hanging up the phone. Laura knew what she had just said had nothing to do with the case.

"So do I." Laura whispered to herself, conjuring up an image of Mr. Steele flashing that famous devil-may-care grin of his, his deep blue eyes twinkling wickedly. A faint blush crept across her face as she remembered what it felt like to be held and caressed by him. "Mr. Steele," she sighed.
"Don't let me down....please."

****

Murphy sighed as he picked up some miscellaneous items from the souvenir shop in the lobby. The truth was, he wasn't really into what he was buying. He was too busy thinking of Laura and that fink Remington Steele.

He still didn't understand in the slightest, why she would consider meeting him with him. After all he had done to her, in no way did he even deserve a second chance! This was Murphy's opinion however, and obviously not Laura's.

She had always been way to forgiving when it came to Steele. Murphy was afraid he'd never understand it. The worst of it was, that he himself was in love with her, yet she never seemed to notice. Life was cruel like that sometimes.

"Excuse me sir, can I get by you?" An elderly woman asked. Murphy suddenly realized that he'd been taking up the entire isle, lost in his thoughts. Moving out of the way, he mumbled an embarrassed apology to the old woman. She looked at him curiously.

"You look just like my Robert when he has a problem." She stated.

"Is Robert your son?" Murphy wondered. The woman nodded.

"I'm Edith Kenal." She said kindly. Murphy found himself liking this lady already. She reminded him of his own grandmother. "It's a woman isn't it?"

"How did you know?" Murphy questioned in surprise. Edith gave him a conspiratorial wink.

"I told you, my Robert looks just like that when he's having problems with his wife." She replied. "What is it? A fight? You're wondering whether to propose? She's in love with someone else?"

"It's that one." Murphy said sourly. "The guy's all wrong for her, but she just can't see it. We used to be partners, but all she ever saw me as was a friend."

"Does she know you have feelings for her?" Edith asked gently. Murphy shrugged.

"I don't know," Murphy sighed. "She might. There have been a few instances where she might have guessed. We recently just reunited after a few years and I don't know any more what's between us. Maybe she forgot. She's having problems with this other guy and expecting me to be supportive. I just can't though and I'm afraid that I'm pushing her further away because of it."

"That is a tough problem." Edith said compassionately. "You want my advice? Tell her how you feel. You may be pleasantly surprised by her reaction, you may not. If not, try to be her friend as best as you can. Make sure she knows how you feel about this guy so that there are no misunderstandings and never, ever, say I told you so if something goes wrong. Women hate that."

Murphy laughed as he pictured Laura's face every time he said something to that effect.

"Tell me about it." He agreed.

"Good luck." Edith told him warmly. "I wish you all the best."

Murphy left the souvenir shop deeply in thought. He must have really hit rock bottom for him to pour all his problems out to some stranger the way he did but he had to admit it felt good.

Maybe he'd take Edith's advice and tell Laura he loved her. What was the worst that could happen? She could turn him down and break his heart, that was the worst that could happen. Still, if he did have any sort of chance, it was better to speak up when she and Steele were at odds. Maybe then she could see Murphy more objectively.

He'd sat on the fence and watched her slip away from him for far too long now. It was time to do something about it.

"Tomorrow." He murmured to himself as he stepped into the elevator. "Tomorrow I will take Laura out to dinner and tell her how I feel. I'll tell her, that I love her."

He just hoped that she could find it within herself to love him in return.

End of Part 4
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