Steele Playing By The Rules - Part XI

    Laura went through the next day in a fog of remembered bliss.  She had a meeting at the office with Murphy at 10am.  When she woke up that morning she was thankful it wasn't earlier.  Waking up next to Remington, in his bed and without a stitch of clothing wasn't as strange as she thought it would be.   There wasn't any major awkwardness, probably because they'd made love again that morning and intimacy like that tended to do away with embarrassment.  Laura felt warmth, acceptance and incredible relief.  Finally, they'd done what had been driving them crazy for so long.  Now that it was over, and the urgency gone, she'd wondered why they hadn't done it sooner.

    "My thoughts exactly."  Remington whispered in her ear.

    She snapped out of her daydream and looked at his reflection in the bathroom mirror.  He was wet from his shower with a towel thrown loosely around his waist.  He looked downright delectable!

    "What?"  Laura said and went back to brushing her hair.

    "You were wondering why it took us so long to reach this level of intimacy."  Remington reached for his toothbrush.

    "How'd you know that's what I was thinking?"   Laura looked amazed.

    He turned her around and pulled her into his arms.   Kissing her on the bridge of her nose he looked down at her and grinned devilishly.  

    "I could see it on your face.  Besides, I was thinking the same thing." 

    "Just a lucky guess."  Laura countered and snatched his towel away.

    Laura rolled it up and would have swatted him with it but he quickly pinned her against the sink and grabbed her wrists in his hands. 

    "Hey, you'd better behave or you'll miss your meeting with bagel boy."  Remington growled into her ear.

    "You'd better not let him hear you say that."   Laura sailed into his bedroom in search of her discarded clothes.

    "Why not?  He's heard me call him worse I assure you."

    "I'll bet."  Laura said dryly.   "So, what time are we meeting at Tulane's?"

    "How about two?  That gives us plenty of time for me to take you to lunch."

    "Lunch?  Sounds great.  Where?" 

    "For me to know and you to wonder about all morning."  Remington teased.

    Laura had finished dressing and was putting on her heels when Remington spoke.

    "Laura, are we...that is - how are we going to handle the recent shift in our status?  Are we going to go public with it or is mum the operative word here?"

    Sitting down on the bed she eyed the floor in thought for a moment before looking up at him.

    "I don't know, I mean, I haven't given it much thought and we didn't exactly plan our change in relationship."

    Remington came over to sit on the bed next to her.  He pulled an errant hair away from her face and sighed.  "I suppose I should ask even though it pains me to do so; was this a one night stand?"

    The thought of not being with him was too great.  She was shaking her head before she'd even pondered the question.

    "No, I mean I don't want it to be.  I don't think I could bear going back to the way things were before.  Could you?"

    Remington released the breath he'd been holding and smiled.  "No, I'd rather not have to go back to dreaming this up instead of living it.  I just wondered if I should refrain from dropping hints whenever Murphy's around."

    "You wouldn't." 

    "Damn right I would.  It's no secret that he thinks I'm not good enough for you Laura."

    "Don't turn this into a testosterone thing.  Let's just play it by ear ok?  I for one think we should sit them down, after the case is over and tell them about us."

    "After the case, why not now?"

    "Because Murphy is going to be floored and you'll try your best to rub it in.  I'd like to ensure everyone is focused on our current case that's all."

    "Fair enough."  Remington conceded.

    Laura kissed him goodbye and told him she'd see him at the office.  Remington heard the front door close and laid back against the bed.  Not telling Murphy that he and Laura were sleeping together would be difficult.  Laura was right; he couldn't wait to drop the bomb on Murphy.  He'd take it as well as a root canal without anesthesia.  Then again that was Michaels problem, not his.

    ###

    "Morning Bernice," Laura said cheerfully.

    "Morning Laura, Murphy's waiting in Mr. Steele's office for you,"

    "Thanks."  Laura said and went in.

    "Hiya Laura, I've got some interesting stuff on our missing man."

    "Really?  Do tell."  Laura said and took a seat on the couch.

    Laura tried to listen to Murphy's briefing but truthfully she was drifting.  She was acutely aware of the faint smell of Remington's cologne on the couch.  As she inhaled the scent her body reacted as though she'd been caressed.  She crossed her legs and felt a tingling feeling wash over her.  This was insane!

    "Laura?"

    "Hmm?  Oh, sorry Murph.  Did you say something?"

    "Uh yeah, I mentioned trailing one woman from Tulane's yesterday, Caterina Rshenko.  She met up with some guy in a non-descript sedan at the park.  She got in and they talk for a few minutes before she left.   I wasn't able to get a good look at him but I got the plate number.  The car is owned by a William Riddley."

    "William Riddley?"  Does Mrs. Dunlow know him?"

    "No.  I called her and she said the name wasn't familiar.  She checked through Grayson's book and didn't come up with anything.  She said she'd check further and get back to us."

    "Ok.  In the meantime I'll try to get something out of Ms. Rshenko."

    ###

    "We shouldn't be doing this here."

    "Why not?  It seems a perfectly good use of your time and my money."

    "Agency money, Mr. Steele."

    Remington ran his hand over Laura's breast and watched her shiver.

    "Ok so remind me to pay for the next visit."   He kissed her.

    "Hopefully we'll solve this case and there won't be any next visit."  Laura breathed.

    Remington was tracing his finger down her rib cage and grinned lasciviously.  "Pity.  I rather enjoyed our afternoon quickies."

    Laura giggled.  "All play and no work doesn't get this case solved any quicker."

    "Well we could be doing this in your or my office but somehow I think they'd notice."

    "Oh yeah?  Why is that?  You can't be trusted not to moan?"  Laura kissed him.

    "Actually I was thinking about that habit you have of..."

    Laura reached out to swat him but he grabbed her wrist.  "No need to get bashful now Laura, it's actually flattering the way you..."

    This time Laura elevated her knee slightly.  Remington immediately gave up and promised not to say another word about her sexual habits.

    Laura sat up and looked at her watch on the nightstand.   "Hour's almost up Mr. Steele."

    "So it is Miss Holt.  It's been a wonderful time," He winked.

    They both refused to do anything but kiss and cuddle at Tulane's.  Neither one could bring themselves to do more in the middle of a brothel.

    "So, were you able to question Ms. Rshenko?"  Remington sat up and swung his legs around.

    "No, she wasn't in her room and Candace said she called in today."

    "Odd, but I suppose even call girls catch colds eh?"  Remington smiled.

    "Among other things."  Laura said dryly.

    "Were you able to place a bug in her room?"

    "Mmm Hmm.  Everything's all set.  If she's got anything to do with Mr. Dunlow's disapearance, she's bound to talk about it."

    "We hope.  Well darling, I've got to run."  Remington stood up and adjusted his tie.

    "Important meeting with the police commissioner?"  Laura drawled.

    "Good Lord no, much more important than that."

    "Your tailor?"  Laura surmised.

    Remington walked over and kissed Laura soundly.  He looked down at her, his eyes twinkling.  "And who says you don't know me."  He winked.

    "Laura batted him out the door shaking her head all the while.  "That man is incorrigible."

    Remington was about to get into his car when he heard someone call him.  He turned around and saw Caterina Rshenko.  She looked disheveled and her eye looked like she'd been punched.

    "Ms. Rshenko?  Good Lord, what's happened?"

    She almost collapsed in a heap on the concrete.  Remington lunged and caught her before she hit the ground.

    "He's crazy, he's completely lost his mind,"  she said tearfully.

    "Who's lost his mind?  What's this all about?  Who did this to you?"

    "I can't, not safe here,"  she whispered looking around frantically.

    Remington helped her walk to his car and got her inside.  He got into the driver's seat and turned to face her.  Her head was turned to the passenger side window and he could tell she was crying.

    "There, there.  Tell me what's happened.  You can trust me I assure you."

    "It's Bill, he says he'll take care of everything.  I believed him, I trusted him."  She cried.  "I should've known it was too good to be true."  She sobbed.

    "Cat, slow down.  You're not making much sense.  Bill who?"

    "I can't tell you!" She said frantically.  "You don't know what he'd do if he found out I told somebody.  Please, please help me." 

    Cat threw herself into Remington's arms.  He tried to pull her back but she'd wrapped her arms around his neck and held on for dear life. 

    "He's crazy,"  She said repeatedly. 

    Remington was about to assure her he'd help when he felt a prick on his neck.  He grabbed Cat by her shoulders and set her away from him.  He was about to ask her something when it started getting dark around him and deathly quiet.  He looked at her with surprise evident in his eyes and saw her smiling at him.  He tried to lunge at her but wasn't successful.  The world closed in around him, seconds later he was oblivious.

    Cat watched as his eyes closed and his head slumped forward and hit the steering wheel with a dull thud.  She waited a few seconds more to be sure.  She reached into her purse and pulled out a tissue.  She wiped the dark makeup from around her eye and threw it on the seat next to her.  A car pulled up alongside Remington's and a man looked over and smiled.

    "He's crazy...he's crazy." She said to an unconscious Remington.  "Crazy in love with me."  She laughed.

To Be Continued...