It was so beautiful when Laura tried it on that she decided to go all out. She bought silver pumps to match, a simple yet elegant sapphire necklace with matching earrings. The saleswoman had been adamant that Laura also buy new undergarments. She chose a strapless bra called silver mist with matching panties, garter belt and stockings. She had even splurged and gotten her hair professionally done. It was piled up on top of her head in loose curls that cascaded down her back. As she looked at herself in the mirror, she was glad she'd spent every penny. She looked unbelievable and she thought she'd never looked better.
A knock on the steel door signaled Remington's arrival. She took a deep breath to quell her nerves. She was excited about Remington seeing her new dress but she was also not sure how she'd react to seeing Felecia tonight, especially after all she'd done to try and destroy their relationship. Going to her mother had been the last straw. If Felecia thought Laura was going to sit by and let her stalk her and show up on her mother's doorstep dripping concern while dishing dirt on Remington she better damn well think again! With that thought Laura squared her shoulders and headed for the door. She pulled the door back and saw a devastatingly handsome and stunned Remington Steele.
They stood eyeing each other for a few seconds but to Laura they felt like minutes. She was pondering if she'd ever get used to seeing him in his formal finery when he finally spoke.
"Laura...you fair take my breath away! You are stunning, absolutely stunning. I don't think you've ever looked finer to me." He said honestly.
Laura knew he'd compliment her but she wasn't prepared for the sincerity in his voice or the admiration in his eyes. There was somethingelse she saw in his expression that she'd never seen before. Her body reacted instinctively to it and she blushed down to her toes. Remington smiled as pulled a bouquet of flowers from behind his back. He also had a bottle of champagne in his hand that Laura was just now noticing. He looked incredible in his tuxedo, everythingelse around him hadn't been important. He was wearing a black tuxedo that was double breasted with the lapels in a darker black satin. As usual his stark white shirt was crisp and heavily starched topped off with a black bow tie. His overcoat was also black but he had a deep blue scarf and matching hankerchief that added a nice contrast to attire.
He moved to the kitchen to open the champagne as Laura went to put the flowers in a vase. When he'd gotten the champagne open and poured into glasses he came back to the living area and handed Laura a glass. She accepted the glass and asked what they were toasting to.
Remington raised his glass and said "To us Laura. To the incredible years we've had together." He said sincerely.
Laura smiled and clinked her glass against Remington's. He had wanted to say more but he didn't want to scare her off. The truth is she did take his breath away. More and more each day that they spent together. He loved spending time with her, sharing meals with her, verbally fencing with her. Mostly he loved making love to her and with her.
Remington put their glasses down and went to get Laura's wrap. It was a beautiful silver wrap that completed her outfit. As he placed it around her he softly kissed one shoulder.
"You are a vision tonight Laura. I can't wait to get you on the dance floor." He said smiling wickedly.
Laura warmed to his words. She would never tire of being in his arms and told him so.
"Careful love, or I may just decide to keep you here and have you all to myself tonight." He said with meaning.
"Ah but Mr. Steele, you'd have to face Mr. Franklin tomorrow." Laura teased.
"After a night of candlelight and making love to you, I'd gladly brave a hundred Mr. Franklin's." Remington said in all seriousness.
Laura thought to herself that she wouldn't miss this opportunity to confront Felecia and her scheming plots for anything, well almost anything. She stood aside as Remington pulled the door open, turned off the lights and ushered her into the hallway.
As they went outside Laura looked for Fred. Seeing her look of curiousity, Remington told her that he'd invited Mildred and Mr. Slocum to the opening and offered them the limo. Really he'd wanted to drive Laura there himself in the Auburn. He had the feeling tonight would be something special. He settled Laura in the passenger seat and hurried around to get in on the driver's side. He'd been glad he'd put the top up. He didn't need them worrying about the night air, not with Laura's coiffured creation. As they pulled up in front of the gallery Laura glanced at Remington and smiled. This would be a night to remember. He got out of the car and handed the keys to the valet parking attendant. He went around and helped Laura out. The front of the gallery was crowded with people already eventhough it was still fashionably early. As they strode into the gallery they were oblivious to the stares they received, they were a striking couple that didn't escape notice.
Mr. Franklin was a nervous wreck. The man was flittering around and couldn't complete a full sentence without moving to the next topic.
"Steele, Miss Holt. Thank goodness you've arrived. I'm glad you two got here early. I'm sure you'd like a final check before things get started." He said quickly.
Remington shook Mr. Franklin's hand as he assured him that all would go smoothly. As Remington ushered Mr. Franklin off he looked at Laura.
"Coming Miss Holt?" He asked.
Laura smiled at the two and told them she would be there shortly. She wanted to look for Ms. Margaux first. She and Remington exchanged looks for a moment before he told her to be careful. She assured him she would and headed off towards Felecia's office.
Felecia was in the office Mr. Franklin assigned her engrossed in a phone conversation.
"Maxwell relax. I have everything under control." She said calmly.
The voice on the other line wasn't convinced.
"I don't think you do Felecia and that concerns me. The opening's tonight and you haven't kept your end of the bargain. We don't have the codes for those security alarms like you promised. That's going to make our job that much harder." He warned.
Felecia huffed in exasperation. "I told you darling not to worry, everything can't always run according to plan and one must be prepared unforseen occurrences." She explained.
"Not having those codes will delay us, not deter us darling." He assured him.
Maxwell's voice was deadly as he reminded Felecia of the money she'd taken to procure those codes.
"And since we don't have the codes, I would hope for your sake you have the money my boss advanced you." He said slowly.
Felecia was determined not to show how much his words had concerned her.
"Relax Maxwell, I'll have the money after tonight's heist. So if there's nothing else, I bid you goodbye and I'll see you at the appointed time." She hung up without waiting for his reply.
"Damn! How am I going to get that money. Oh damn you Laura for hampering my plans. If it wasn't for you, Michael would give me those codes I'm sure of it! Laura Holt you have caused me problems for the last time." She grated.
"Really Felecia? That's funny, I was just thinking the same thing about you." Laura said quietly.
Laura walked through the doorway and firmly shut the door behind her.
"Oh don't just stand there darling do come in." Felecia said with heavy sarcasm.
"What can I do for you? Somehow I don't think this is a social call." She said serenly.
Laura came further into the room and remained standing.
"You're right there Felecia, this is hardly a social call." Laura warned.
Felecia looked Laura up and down and her faced turned rigid.
"My, my don't you look smashing. Pulling out all the stops to tempt Michael are we?" Felecia said cattily.
Laura's smile was just as frigid.
"Why Felecia this is the most talked about Gala of the art world right now. Since Remington Steele Investigations is covering the security for the art exhibit, you can imagine how much publicity these things generate. I'm here to enjoy myself tonight Felecia which is why I've come to see you first. You and I have come to an impass and I'm here to fix it." Laura informed her.
Felecia looked sceptical.
"Really? And what pray tell is this impass you mentioned?" Felecia asked.
Laura's smile hardly reached her eyes as she spoke.
"You seem to have difficulty letting go of the past Felecia. Namely the past that includes the man now named Remington Steele. I was willing to overlook the history you two had, especially since it's just that. But you don't know when to let go do you Felecia? You don't know how to leave and stay gone." Laura said with meaning as she walked toward Felecia.
"You keep coming back like a recurring bad dream and it's got to stop." Laura said firmly.
Felecia stood up and came around the desk. She leaned against it and eyed Laura with feigned boredom.
"Well Lisa you know the old saying, if at first you don't succeed try, try again! I should never have let Michael go, he knows that as well as I. We've shared some very warm, sensuous memories. We had a passion that few people share in a lifetime. I was a fool to let him go and I am not going to just give up on him now Laura. I'm sorry if that puts a damper on your plans for Remington Steele." Felecia finished with a saccherin smile.
Laura could feel her anger coming to a head but she tried to quell the need to slap the smile off Felecia's face.
"I'm sure you two shared some great memories Felecia. Actually I recall Remington mentioning one that comes to mind. It was the one where you abandoned him, left him to fend for himself while you took the jewels and ran." Laura finished with a smug look.
Felecia was shaking with fury.
"I didn't abandon him because I wanted to! I left because I had no choice. He was getting too good at his craft, he stepped on a few too many toes, some very important toes to be exact. There was a man that wanted him out of the picture and was going to kill him. This man approached me and made me a proposition I couldn't say no to. Either get Michael out of the picture of he'd kill him. What could I do? I loved him! I didn't want to see him dead so I intervened. Michael was close to only three people back then, Daniel, Monroe and myself. I couldn't ask Daniel or Monroe to get talk to him, he wouldn't have listened. Besides if Michael did get caught by the cops it would be better than being dead! I knew Michael well enough to know he stood a good chance of escaping on his own. So you see Lisa, I didn't leave him because I didn't love him. He means everything to me and I'm going to prove it!" Felecia said vehemently.
Laura stood there for a moment. She slowly began clapping her hands.
"Oh Felecia you are good aren't you. I don't think I've enjoyed a performance more. But it won't work on me. You left him because you are a selfish bitch! You don't give a damn about him. If you did why didn't you make amends after you sold him out? You had years to make up for your betrayal. You only decided to pour on the victim act when you found out he had become Remington Steele. Spare me the damsel in distress act Felecia. I see right through it and so does Mr. Steele." Laura sneered.
Felecia came up to Laura and shook her finger at her.
"I'm a selfish bitch? I'm not the one that used him all these years to save face. I'm not the one who couldn't make it on her own and needed a man to show the world how incompetent she was as a private detective on her own. You are the selfish one Laura Holt." Felecia spat.
"When you catch wind that Michael finds you attractive, though Lord knows why, what do you do? You play the holy virgin act to make sure he stays around. How creative Lisa, holding out is the oldest trick in the book, though I can't say I blame you. With looks like yours, you need all the help you can get keeping a man like Michael around." Felecia laughed.
Laura's eyes narrowed to slits as she shoved Felecia's hand away.
"You know nothing about me Felecia. All you care about is what's on the surface, all you see are a person's looks. You think that's all that keeps someone around and that's pathetic. You are narrow minded and can't see past the rouge on your face. You sell Remington short if you think that sex, or lack thereof is what kept him around all these years. But then that's the only thing you and he had between you isn't it? Just a physical attraction. He and I share so much more than that and you can't take that can you? He and I love each other and have for years. I'm hear to inform you Felecia that your days of meddling into our lives is over. We are together now and it will take something more powerful than your jealousy to break us apart. He loves me Felecia. ME, Laura Holt. He is here because what we share is not based on just physical pleasure, although we have that in plenty." Laura finished with meaning.
That meaning wasn't wasted on Felecia. She gasped as she realized what Laura was saying. Felecia's composure dropped away as she lunged at Laura. Laura sidestepped her and grabbed Felecia by the hair. She twirled her around and slammed her up against the nearest wall. Felecia pushed Laura backwards. Laura lost her footing and fell to the floor. Felecia jumped on her and slapped her across the face. Felecia's eyes glinted with fury as she let out all her anger.
"You are mistaken Lisa. Michael is mine and he's going to stay mine!" Felecia grabbed Laura by the neck and attempted to strangle her.
Laura could feel the breath leaving her body as she struggled for air. Laura placed her hands on either side of Felecia's face and boxed her ears. Felecia shrieked as Laura pushed her to the left and scrambled up from under her.
There was a gasp at the door. Both Laura and Felecia turned to see one of Mr. Franklin's assistants.
"What's going on in here? You can hear the noise from down the hall." She warned.
Felecia straightened her clothes, Laura did the same.
"Nothing to worry about Cynthia." Felecia assured the girl. "Just a slight difference of opinion that's all. Now if you both will excuse me, I have a job to do." Felecia went out into the hallway.
Laura quickly followed and caught up to Felecia. She turned her around to face her.
They glared at each other for awhile until Laura spoke up.
"Stay away from my family Felecia. If you go near my mother again you'll answer to me." Laura said with menace. Felecia shook Laura's hand off her arm and glared at her. "Is that a threat Lisa?" She scoffed.
"A word to the wise Felecia. I do hope you fall into that category. And if I were you, I'd forget about this plan you have to steal Franklin's art collection. It won't suceed." Laura assured her.
Felecia looked at Laura with contempt.
"Exactly how do you know that Laura? I am always prepared for a snag in my plans. You are that snag and I have no problem taking care of anyone that gets in my way." She vowed.
Laura wasn't moved by Felecia's warning.
"Like Remington got in your way Felecia? You have strange ways of showing love for the ones you supposedly care about." Laura said with derision.
Laura left Felecia in the hallway and made her way to the ladies' room. Once there she assessed the damage to her appearance. It wasn't as bad as Laura had thought. She redid her makeup and smoothed out her dress. There was a noticeable mark darkening on her face where Felecia had slapped her but there wasn't much she could do about it. She hoped with the added blush nobody would notice. She fixed her hair and left the bathroom in search of Remington.
Remington was talking with Mildred and Brett Slocum as she approached. Remington took one look at her and knew something had transpired between her and Felecia. He decided he'd act as if nothing was amiss until he could get Laura alone.
"Ah Laura there you are. I was wondering where you'd got to." Remington said casually.
Laura appeared as if nothing was out of the ordinary. Mildred looked at her and didn't buy that rouse for a minute.
"Miss Holt, I'd like you to meet Brett Slocum. Brett, Laura Holt." Mildred said beaming.
Brett shook Laura's hand and they exchanged pleasantries. Meanwhile Remington and Mildred were discussing Felecia and her plan.
"Mildred, I hate to put you to work, especially at such an elaborate function, but we need to find Felecia and stop her from doing something utterly foolish. This exhibit is trussed up tighter than a Thanksgiving Day turkey and there are plain clothes police all around the place, they don't stand a chance." Remington whispered.
"You got it chief." Mildred said as she moved back to Brett's side.
"Mildred, Mr. Slocum, would you excuse Miss Holt and myself please?" Remington asked.
"Sure Boss, Brett and I will go check out the dance floor." Mildred said pulling Brett with her.
Remington put a hand at Laura's back and ushered her to the back of the gallery. He led her to an empty office and shut the door behind them. He turned Laura to face him.
"Laura what the bloody hell happened during your conversation with Felecia?" He stormed.
Laura looked down at the floor and contemplated telling him everything. Remington put a finger under her chin and raised her eyes to meet his own.
"Laura, I want to know what happened between you two and I want the truth. I know you too well, you are too quiet and your makeup has gone through a drastic change from when I saw you a half hour ago." Remington said pointedly.
Laura met Remington's gaze and sighed. "We got into a fight."
Remington looked stunned.
"You did what!?" He roared.
"I went in bent on just talking with her. I wanted her to leave us all alone once and for all. She said some very nasty things to me, accused me of being a selfish bitch, not giving in to you just to keep you around. I wouldn't take the bait and assured her that there is real passion between us. She caught my innuendo, freaked out and lunged for me. She slapped me and we went at it. One of Mr. Franklin's assistants heard the noise and came running in. That broke up the fight and Felecia left. I warned her to stay away from my family or she'd have to deal with me and I meant every word of it." Laura said hotly.
Remington took Laura in his arms and held her.
"Good Lord Laura, if I had of thought for a second that you and Felecia would be sparring with each other, I would have gone with you. She's dangerous when she's cornered Laura. I want you to stay away from her. I don't want you alone with Felecia again alright?" Remington said concerned.
Laura went on the defensive.
"I can take care of myself Remington." Laura said stiffly.
Remington could feel his patience slipping.
"Yes Laura, we all know that you can but you matter too much to me to see you hurt unecessarily. I won't take that chance Laura no matter how annoyed at me you become." He said firmly.
Laura smiled at Remington in an attempt to sooth him.
"I'm fine Remington really. Now enough about me. Felecia is planning to go after the paintings tonight. I overheard her talking to a guy named Maxwell. She assured him that she had a plan to get the paintings without having the codes to your security system." Laura informed him.
"She doesn't stand a chance Laura, we've got everything covered. Let's get back the the ball shall we?" He smiled confidently.
Remington kissed Laura lightly and pulled her with him as he left the office and headed back to the party.
Mr. Frankin's exhibit was a huge success. Everyone that was anyone was at there and Remington and Laura had there share of guests come up to discuss additional work for their agency. Things were going smoothly and they hadn't seen Felecia all night. Remington and Laura were on the dance floor when Laura commented on Felecia's dissapearance.
"Maybe she's decided to give it up." Laura said.
Remington wasn't convinced.
"I don't think so Laura, I know Felecia, she is always working on a contingency plan." Remington replied.
Laura nodded.
"She said as much earlier but what is she up to?" Laura questioned.
Remington spun Laura around once more and headed off the dance floor.
"I don't know Laura but lets take a tour around the place shall we?" He said grimly.
Laura and Remington made their way through the crowd to the upper level of the building.
They spotted Mildred and made their way over to them. Mildred and her date were checking out a triptic display.
"See anything unusual Mildred?" Remington asked.
"Nothing yet chief. All seems to be quiet up here." Mildred said.
Thanks Mildred, we'll keep in touch." Remington smiled.
Remington and Laura headed back the way they'd come when Remington stopped. Laura looked at him in question. He pulled Laura with him and headed to the back of the building.
"I know where she is Laura." Remington said by way of an explination.
They ran through a warehouse and up some back steps. Remington pulled Laura with him over a catwalk that put them on the other side of the gallery.
"Remington where are we going?" Laura asked as she followed close behind him.
"To the circuit box in the electrical room Laura. I've a feeling Felecia's thinks that cutting the power to the gallery will deactivate the system. I don't think she knows that the system isn't running off of the same power line as the gallery." Remington informed her.
They made their way toward the electrical room when Remington tripped over something on the floor.
"What the..." Remington said startled.
He looked down into the face of Felecia's accomplice Maxwell. He'd been shot twice in the chest at close range. Remington felt for a pulse but he knew he wouldn't find one. Laura stopped short as she came up behind Remington and saw the body.
"Maxwell?" Laura asked.
Remington nodded. Laura looked grim.
"Felecia said she'd had a back up plan put I didn't think she'd murder her partner." Laura said astonished.
Remington's expression was tight.
"Felecia is dangerous Laura, especially when her back is up against a wall." Remington said seriously.
Laura maybe you should go back to the gala and wait for me there." Remington said quickly.
Laura was shaking her head before he'd finished his sentence.
"Forget it Remington. I'm not leaving you here alone to find her. We are in this together remember? Partners." Laura said firmly.
Remington knew that edge of determination in her voice meant she wasn't taking no for an answer.
"Alright Laura but stay behind me ok?" Remington replied.
Remington bent down to pick up the gun laying near Maxwell and pressed on.
He made his way to the electrical room. He opened it but found it empty.
"Laura she hasn't made it here yet. I think we should double back and check out the AC ducts over the main floor of the gallery. She may be escaping through there." Remington said."Laura?" Remington called again as he turned around. Laura wasn't behind him.