Remington and Murphy are again at odds with each other  over  who truly holds Laura's affections.

Candid Steele - Part I

Remington Steele walks into his tailor's shop and takes his sunglasses off as he looks around for a second.  Before his eyes have a chance to locate his tailor the little man pops up from out of nowhere and fixes Remington with a huge grin.

"Good afternoon Mr. Steele, right on time as usual.   I must say your punctuality is as impeccable as your taste in clothes."   Henri said as he waved his hand toward the circular mirrors toward the back of the shop.

"Coming from you Henri, I am not all together sure how to take that.  Are you trying to soften me up again?  Don't tell me my suit isn't ready yet."  Remington said with his eyebrow arched in question.

"Oh no, no.  Nothing like that Mr. Steele, merely an observation I assure you.  As a matter of fact everything is laid out and waiting for your approval.  May I be presumptuous and tell you that you will be quite pleased Mr. Steele."

Henri took the jacket Remington was wearing and hung it on a wooden hanger.  He then stood to the side and waited patiently while Remington went in to the changing room and tried on his newly made suit.  Remington came out and stood in front of the mirrors for a few seconds while Henri picked imaginary lint off the jacket and smoothed the material out over Remington's shoulders.    He fussed over Remington like an anxious mother on prom night, missing nothing with his trained critical eye.   Remington turned a few times looking at himself at all angles before he turned to see a patient Henri waiting with pencil and pad in hand.

"Really Henri, no need to go through the motions for my benefit I promise you.   I am, as you well know, most pleased with your handiwork."

Henri beamed under Remington's praise as he snapped his fingers to gain his assistant's attention.

"Renee, please bag this up and take this out to Mr. Steele's limo."

Renee hurried to take care of his assignment as Henri and Remington walked over to the counter.

"Would you like this billed to your account Mr. Steele?" 

"No Henri, I will be paying for this outright ok mate?"

"Of course sir."  Henri said as he took the proffered gold card and rang up Remington's purchase.

Remington looked at his watch and frowned slightly.  He always dreaded going with Laura and Murphy to meet a client.  Murphy always made it a point to try and make him feel like he was a complete idiot at every viable opportunity.  He would never do so in front of a client but he made sure his not so subtle innuendoes and observations were never out of Remington's earshot.  Remington didn't mind on most occasions, he was quite proficient at giving as good as he got.  He enjoyed seeing Murphy seethe when he used every opportunity of his own to remind Murphy just how unwordly and inexperienced he was.  He doubted Murphy could manuver his way out of some of the sticky situations Remington had found himself in over the years if his life depended on it.  Remington knew a competitor when he saw one and as long as he and Murphy were after the same goal, Laura's affections, he doubted they would ever be friends.  Cordial to each other when necessary yes, friends no.

Fred swung the limo out front of Century Plaza and waited.  Remington waited until he saw Laura and Murphy coming before he got out and held the door for Laura.  Laura thanked him and Murphy glared at him as he got in to the limo.  Remington smiled to himself as he slid in behind them and shut the door.

"Been shopping I see."  Murphy said sarcastically as he eyed the expensive looking suit in the heavy plastic garment bag.  "Must have set the agency back a pretty penny."  Murphy said as he looked toward Laura as if he felt sorry for her.

Laura eyed Murphy but refused to acknowledge his comment.  She wasn't about to put herself in the middle of another heated debate between the two.  Remington quirked an eyebrow and surprised Laura by not taking the bait.

"It did actually but don't work yourself in to a lather old chap, I paid for it myself, without agency funds."  Remington added as he reached into his pocket and retrieved his sunglasses.  He put them on and looked out the window without elaborating further.

Murphy refused to let it go.  "What?? You mean there is actually something in your closet that wasn't bought by company funds?"  Murphy snickered.   "Will wonders never cease?"

"Murphy."  Laura said tiredly as she willed him silently to lay off.

"What?"  Murphy asked innocently.  As he looked at her and then at Remington.

Remington eased his sunglasses down slightly and fixed Murphy with an icy glare.

"Contrare to popular belief Murphy, I was not some impoverished wastrel when you first met me a year ago.  I actually do have a few shillings to rub together."   Remington said pointedly as he raised his sunglasses back over his eyes and returned to looking out the window.

"Well I suppose you must, I'll bet stealing paintings pays quite a salary."   Murphy laughed.

"Gentlemen, can we please change the subject?  I for one don't want to arrive at our client's office with the two of you barely being civil to one another."   Laura said as she looked from Murphy to Remington and back again.

Murphy withdrew into his corner and remained silent the rest of the ride.  Laura glanced at Remington and noticed he was still staring out the window.  She wondered why he was so withdrawn.  It wasn't like him to be so subdued.  He usually talked a mile a minute about everything under the sun.  She wondered if he was annoyed with her about their date a few days ago.  Remington had invited her out for dinner and dancing.  She knew she should have said no but she just couldn't help herself.  She was glad she went because it had been a wonderul outing.   Remington was an attentive host that made her feel better than she had in a long time.  The trouble was, she felt too good when she was around him.  She didn't like how much she enjoyed just being near him.  She'd told Bernice countless times how surprisingly attracted she was to him.  She didn't understand it one bit.   He was everything she usually steered clear from, more like ran like hell from!   Her inner voice corrected.  She recalled her conversations with Bernice and laughed to herself.  Bernice was a fly by the seat of her pants type of girl.   She did what felt right and asked questions later.  Truth was, Laura used to be like that before the insistence of others had necessitated a change.  Oh well, she wasn't going to dwell on that.  She'd beat that dead horse too many times and she refused to do it again.

An hour later they were all in their client's office discussing their newly acquired case.  Remington was back to his normal self.  Bright, chipper and full of famous quotes and anecdotes.  He was simply poetry in motion Laura thought as she watched him interact with their client.  Murphy also watched the exchange but he was far from in "awe" of him.  The more Remington laughed and conversed, the more Murphy bristled.  He noticed how entranced Laura was with the con man and he didn't like it one bit.  While he knew exactly what Laura saw in him, he didn't know how she could allow herself to fall for the guy when he was apt to leave her high and dry trying to explain what happened to the illustrious Remington Steele.

"Ok, now everyone clear on their parts?  Murphy you and Bernice tail Mr. Marshall's daughter and let us know the moment she leaves the house and heads to her boyfriend's apartment.  Mr. Marshall said he dropped enough hints about the shipment he was expecting at his house tonight so if Brad has a hidden agenda,  he will make some excuse to ditch Jennifer and make a move tonight.  If he does, you two call Mr. Steele and I and we will be there to nab him."  Laura said as looked around her to make sure nobody had questions.

Since nobody spoke up she went to her office to get her things.  Bernice left the office leaving Murphy and Remington alone. 

Murphy glared at Remington and couldn't let the opportunity go by to voice his concerns.

"I suppose you will use the opportunity to try and make a move on Laura but I'd reconsider if I were you."  Murphy said with confidence.

"Oh? And why is that Murphy."  Remington asked with interest.

"Because Laura will see right through your flimsy attempts to hit on her."  

"Really?  Well, consider me warned, Murphy.  But let me make one thing perfectly clear.  Nothing I do is ever lacking solidity or as you so eloquently put it, flimsy.  That is especially true where Laura is concerned, but I'm sure you've surmised that haven't you Murphy and that is what has your ire up isn't it mate?  That she just may prefer me over you.   Believe me, that notion is far from inconceivable wouldn't you agree? " 

Remington didn't wait to hear his retort. He simply grabbed his jacket off his chair, walked by Murphy and out the door.

To be continued...

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