Steele Alone for the Holidays - Part VI

   Laura yawned and tried to to dislodge her passport.  Her pocketbook, tote bag, magazine and leftover snack were teetering precariously in her arms.  The customs officer stamped her passport and turning it back over, handed it to her.

    "Enjoy your stay Miss Holt."

    "Thank you," Laura offered the man a brief, tired smile.

    Minutes later she'd retrieved her bags and was walking toward the exit when she spotted an elderly gentleman holding a cardboard sign with her name on it.  Shaking her head, she walked toward him and stopped short of running him over.

    "Hello Daniel."

    "Ah Lisa, welcome to London.  You're looking in the pink."

    Laura noted her semi-rumpled blouse, wrinkled skirt and what was sure to be disheveled hair.  "I'm too tired for you not to get my name right," she warned.

    Daniel nodded to a liveried man and he stepped forward to retrieve Laura's bags.  "Sorry my dear, habit and all that.  So Laura," he stressed.  "Your flight was without incident?"

    Laura followed Daniel.   "Yes, thank you."

    They didn't talk again to after they'd been comfortably settled in Daniel's limo.  He poured her a glass of wine and offered her caviar on buttery, exquisite crackers.  Laura closed her eyes in bliss.

    "This is heavenly," she murmured between bites.

    "Stellar accomodations and superlative cuisine are the least I can do for you traveling this far on such short notice," Daniel smiled.  "And without the thorough explanations you usually require."

    "Daniel," Laura said after she'd cleared her mouth of food.  "I can see where HE gets the ability to expound on the english vernacular until it's almost post-mortem."

    "Ah Laura," Daniel smiled.  Laura noted it was genuine.  "I can see why he's so enamoured of you.  You are positively enchanting."

    "I'm glad you like me Daniel, now tell me why you've flown me all the way to London?"

    Daniel shifted against the leather seat.  "Laura, I'm not being presumptuous when I say that you and I are the closest thing your Remington Steele has to a family."

    "I'd agree with you there," 

    "Right now he's searching for a link to his past, anything that could give him the knowledge he's always desired."

    Laura nodded.  "To locate his real birth parents?"

    "Exactly.  But I'm afraid there may be those from his past that would do him more harm than good.  The places he's lived, the people that called themselves family; they aren't the sort that would help him or wish him well in his quest.  I'm concerned that he could be unknowingly placing himself in danger."

    Laura was instantly alert.   "Where is he?"

    ###

    Remington signaled the bartender to fill his shot glass again.  The uniformed man nodded and replenished his glass with a dark, amber liquid.  Remington downed the drink in one gulp, clearing his throat loudly.  His insides burned and his tongue was numb, he was oblivious.   He heard the raucous around him but it didn't touch him.  Nothing did, except the alcohol coating his stomach and the site of the people he'd just seen again.   They hadn't changed.  Still sluggards, the lot of them. 

    "Penny for your thoughts luv?" 

    Remington blinked several times before looking up.  A curvaceous woman standing next to him smiled seductively.   Her God given talents displayed in all their glory with almost nothing left to the imagination.  Remington smiled kindly, but shook his head.

    "I'm thinking it's time I got out of here."

    She smiled triumphantly and leaned closer, putting her hand on his shoulder.  "I couldn't agree more.   It's far too crowded in here.  Why don't we pop round to my flat and get - better acquainted?"

    Standing, Remington pulled money out of his wallet and placed it on the counter.  Thanking the bartender, he turned and gave his full attention to the woman at his side.  "While I'm flattered at the offer, I'm afraid I'll have to decline.  Believe me, it's nothing personal."

    She looked at him oddly for a few seconds before smiling.  "Sure, no problem.  Thanks for not getting shirty about it.  Most gents wouldn't you know?"

    Remington pulled his overcoat on and walked out of the pub.  Her eyes followed him out the door before she turned her attention to the man that just occupied his chair.

    ###

    Looking around, Laura noted the unobtrusive elegance.  Daniel's taste was polished and expensive, but in a subtle way.  She liked it.  It reminded her of Mr. Steele.

    "Your house is amazing Daniel.  If I can call it a house.  With this square footage, shouldn't it be a mansion or something along those lines?"

    Daniel chuckled as he swirled his cognac in the glass snifter.  "A house is fine Laura, I've made myself a comfortable living doing what I do best."

    "Conning people out of their ill-gotten gains?"  Laura offered.

    "Something like that.   I'm not proud of everything I've done in my life Laura; I've made a great deal of mistakes along the way.  Have hurt those that I loved the most, through ignorance and folly.  Some damage I've been able to repair, some I haven't."

    Laura looked confused.   "Why are you telling me all this Daniel?  Where is this leading?"  

    "It's leading to a young boy; a troubled boy that is now a troubled man.  He's had to carry a lot of burden on his shoulders.  None of which he put there himself.  The past mistakes and bad choices of his parents hanging on him like a mantle.  Others might have collapsed under the pressure of such a burden.  Not him.  He's taken all the knocks life has given him and still he's standing."

    "You're talking about Remington aren't you?"  Laura said softly.

    Daniel nodded.   "It's time Laura, I can see it in his eyes, hear it in his voice, the way he carries himself.  That responsibility is becoming harder to bear.  He's buckling under the pressure of un-enlightenment.  I've been concealing it far too long."

    Laura swallowed hard.   Whatever it was, she'd handle it.  "What?"   

    Daniel smile was laced with sadness.  "The truth."    

To Be Continued...