This story is intended for amusement purposes only. This story is not meant to infringe on the names of Remington Steele, Laura Holt or anything that would cause MTM productions or anybody else to sue me. This story is the property of Lisa Watson ã 2001.
Mildred Krebbs walked in to Suite 1157 with an arms laden with boxes. She gasped when she saw Remington Steele sitting at her desk.
"Chief! What are you doing at my desk? I didn't call in sick so you can't be filling in." Mildred observed.
"I don't think I'm capable of filling your shoes Mildred. Good morning luv, here let me help with those," Remington said and quickly relieved Mildred of her burden.
"What's all this eh?"
"It was so gloomy and rainy out I decided to bring in a treat this morning, you know sort of perk us up. I've got bear claws for me, bran muffins for Miss Holt and fresh out of the oven croissants for you," Mildred said handing him a small bag.
Remington opened the bag and inhaled slowly. He fixed Mildred with a warm smile of gratitude at her gesture.
"Mildred, your thoughtful gesture is greatly appreciated this morning, especially since I haven't eaten yet." Remington grinned.
Remington almost ran to the coffee room to get his pot of tea to go with the croissants. Mildred deposited Laura's muffins on her desk and went to make the morning coffee. She looked at the freshly brewed coffee and then suspiciously at her boss.
"Ok chief what gives? You're in earlier than anyone, perched in the reception area and you've made coffee for the office. Something is going on so fess up."
"Mildred, I'm wounded," Remington said putting a hand to his heart.
"Have you gone over your credit limit again?"
"No."
"Rack up Fred's overtime?"
"No."
"In trouble with Miss Holt?"
"When am I not?" Remington said dryly. "But no, that isn't it."
"Then what because I KNOW it's something," Mildred said eyeing him intently.
"Is it so hard to believe that I just wanted to do something nice for a change? Ok that didn't exactly come out right." Remington said quickly.
"Relax Chief, I get your meaning. Still don't buy it but I get your meaning," Mildred chuckled and grabbed a cup.
**************
Laura closed her eyes and sighed as she popped the last bite of muffin into her mouth. It was a great surprise finding the muffins waiting for her on her desk and she'd thanked Mildred profusely.
"And just how do you know it wasn't me?" Remington said indignantly.
"Because I didn't see a bill next to the bag," Laura immediately replied.
"She's got you there Chief," Mildred laughed heartily.
Remington raised an eyebrow at both women before he went back into his office and shut the door behind him. The door hadn't shut good before he heard them roaring with laughter. A smile spread across his face too as he went to his desk and sat down. A few seconds later Laura appeared at the connecting waving a plain, white piece of paper like a flag.
"Is it safe to come in?" she asked seriously.
"Surely you realize it's never safe for you to enter," Remington leered at her from behind a case file.
"Oh no you don't, don't go giving me that James Bond look. I got that dig in fair and square so don't even resort to..."
"To what?" Remington said as he walked slowly around his desk, stood in front of Laura and leaned against his desk to watch her intently.
"To that!" Laura accused.
"He slowly pulled her toward him and encircled her waist with his hands.
"That?" he whispered softly against her ear. "Just what is that?"
Laura inhaled the powerful, dibilitating scent of his cologne and felt her breath quicken.
"You're...trying to get back at me by using...sex appeal and it won't work," Laura said unconvincingly.
"Laura, I don't know what you're talking about. I'm just finishing a conversation we had last night remember?" He said nibbling on her ear.
"The hell you are," Laura said as she devoured his mouth with hers.
The force that Laura kissed him almost propelled him back onto the table but he quickly recovered himself and returned her kiss with equal ardor and promise.
Neither one responded to the buzz on the intercom or the quiet knock at the door and it wasn't until Mildred was inches away from them clearing her throat loudly that they broke apart.
"Put the pheremones back in the bottle kids we've got a client."
*************
"Why do we always have to do stakeouts? I abhor stakeouts. You know Laura I think we're lucrative enough now to afford to out-source this part of the agency's duties out to a third party,"
"Have you noticed you get wordy when you're grousing?"
"This isn't funny and I'm freezing. Besides what criminal in their right mind would be out on the coldest night in the history of Nevada weather?"
"It's a desert Mr. Steele. I hardly think tonight is any colder than any other night in desert country," Laura said sarcastically.
"You use that tone again and I'll be forced to get creative in my efforts to keep warm," Remington warned.
"Save that thought till later Mr. Steele, I don't think we're alone," Laura said quietly when a non-descript sedan pulled up 100 yards from their hiding place.
Remington and Laura crouched down behind a rock and Laura pulled out a pair of binoculars with night vision. She slowly inched up the rock until she could see the dark car through the view finder. They were parallel to the car so she couldn't make out the license plates.
"There are two men in front but the windows are too dark to see who's in back. See if you can get the license plate number." Laura whispered to Remington.
"Oh sure, no problem." he whispered dryly as he got down and crawled along the dirt on his forearms and knees. It may be dark but he wasn't taking any chances.
Suddenly a second car drove up. Laura got back behind the rock and whispered a warning to Remington. She thought she heard him answer but wasn't sure and didn't think it wise to talk any louder, it was a still night and the sound would travel and give their position away. From behind her hiding place Laura could hear elevated voices in what she knew was an argument. Using her binoculars Laura watched as two men stood by the cars arguing. One man reached in his pocket and threw a small package to the ground. The other retrieved it wordlessly, got in his car and left. Laura watched the second car drive away and then expelled the breath she'd been holding. Laura shook her head in wonder; after years of surveillance, dealing with criminals and being near death more times than not, her job still gave her goosebumps. Footsteps approaching brought her back from her reverie and she peered into the darkness until she saw Remington's form.
"Please tell me you got pictures," Laura said standing and hitting the dirt from her jeans.
"Quite a few actually. We've got the whole exchange on film and enough proof for our client to prove his partner has been cozying up with the competition."
"Perfect now let's get going, I think I've lost all feeling in my behind," Laura muttered.
"Really? Well let's get you home shall we? I've got just the thing to help you. A remedy that's centuries old," Remington said gathering up their equipment.
"I'll bet you do," Laura laughed.
******************
"Good morning kids. How was the stakeout?" Mildred smiled.
"Enlightening Mildred. Mr. Madison has the proof he needs to implicate his partner." Laura informed her.
"Yes and we've got a nice bonus for our trouble," Remington grinned.
"Didn't you say last night that we should out-source any future stakeouts?" Laura reminded him.
"That was before the fringe benefits were so...beneficial." Remington replied lasciviously.
Laura rolled her eyes and Mildred almost choked on her coffee. Lucky for Mildred she wasn't a woman that blushed easy. Since Laura and Remington had become intimate Mildred couldn't count how many clinches, double entendres and smoldering lookes she'd been privy to. It warmed her heart knowing that the two people she loved most in the world had finally discovered and acknowledged the love she knew they shared. The telephone rung and Mildred ended her reflections to answer it.
"Remington Steele Investigations, uh yes she is, hold on please," Mildred said pushing the hold button.
"Honey there's a woman on the line for you. She sounds very distressed," Mildred said with concern.
Laura arched an eyebrow and said she'd take it in her office. Remington looked at Mildred and she shrugged in answer to his silent question.
Laura picked up the phone at her desk. "Laura Holt speaking. Francis? Is that you? What's the...WHAT?!" Laura screamed.
Remington was in her office in an instant. He took in her ashen face and shaking hand and was at her side in two strides.
"Laura? What is it?" he asked with concern.
Laura dropped the phone and collapsed. Remington dropped to the floor beside her and picked up the phone.
"This is Remington Steele, who is this? Francis? What is it? What's happened?"
"Oh Remington, it's mother, she's...she's dead."