Steeling a Dream:
Part 3: House of Steele (R)
Part 3: House of Steele (R)
Steeling a Dream:
Part 3: House of Steele
Part 3: House of Steele
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Steele Holting On
Chapter Four: Decisions
Wednesday evening, 8 June 1988 -- 11 weeks, 6 days
Siobhán concentrated on breathing and walking confidently as her governess had taught her, doing her
best not to stumble in her weariness. Her itchy eyes reminded her that she’d hardly slept in the last two
days, unable to rest as she wondered what would happen to her.
She glanced up at the building they walked toward and took in the noisy cars and the little bar down the
way. Since Housekeeper had awoken her--maybe three, four days ago--she’d seen more of the world
and heard more amazing accents and languages than in her previous fifteen years.
She stuffed her hands into her jacket to conceal her nervousness as she, Mr. Buchanan and Mr. Roselli
rode the elevator. Mr. Roselli told her that the Steeles lived in an apartment on the top floor. Visions of
a tiny, cramped flat sprang to mind, and she wondered how they’d make room for her. Maybe they
would send her to boarding school instead. Having spent most of her life around adults, she was
frightened by the thought.
Mr. Buchanan had been nice to her, but she could tell he was ready to pass her off to someone else. The
Interpol agent had told her that her dad was going to be in jail for a long time. Johnny had told her to
stay with the Steeles and that Mr. Steele was her cousin. She hoped he was nice.
When the elevator opened to a glass and wood foyer, at least that fear was allayed. A woman with long,
dark reddish-brown hair and freckles scattered over her face was waiting. She didn’t seem too much
older than Siobhán--this must be her cousin’s wife. A blonde woman, older and a little on the round side
with a big smile, stood next to her. She wondered if this was her new governess.
“Hello, Siobhán. I’m Laura Steele. This is Mildred Krebs. She’s a very good friend of ours and wanted
to meet you. Come. Your cousin is in the living room, and he’s quite nervous about meeting you. He’s
afraid he won’t make a good impression.” Laura smiled, as if to reassure her, and led her through the
foyer to where a man waited in the living room.
Siobhán skimmed a quick look over the penthouse, noting the piano in the living room with surprise, the
pretty décor and the lights of the city outside the window. She turned to take her first good look at her
cousin. For a moment, she knew she stared rudely, for the resemblance between her cousin and Johnny
was incredible. “You … my dad.” Tears started and she blinked them back. “You look like my dad.
Only … darker--dark hair, deeper blue eyes. That’s why he calls you ‘Ciarán.’ ”
*****
Remington froze in place for a heartbeat and then a lifetime of training kicked in. Much more cynical
hearts than Siobhán’s had fallen for his charm and at an innocent fifteen, she had no defense for that sort
of thing. Deliberately, he let the Irish touch his voice. “Far be it for me to cross your father, Siobhán.”
He touched her shoulder. “I’m only here to help.”
The touch of home in his words must have taken apart what fragile restraint she had. The teen threw
herself into his arms and sobbed copiously onto his shoulder.
His eyes sought out Laura as he held the slight young girl. She directed the two agents to take their seats
in the living room and returned with a pair of tissues.
“Siobhán?”
The girl looked up and gratefully took them from her. “Thank you.” She glanced at Remington and
blinked several times to regain her composure. “My … my apologies for … for getting your shirt wet.”
He smiled down at her. “It’s not the first time that has happened. Better?” She nodded as she pressed
the tissue to her face. “Then would you like some tea? I’ve water hot already.” She nodded again.
“Then go with Laura and I’ll bring you a cup.”
She nodded a third time and let Laura lead her to the living room where they sat side-by-side on the sofa.
Mildred sat on a chair between them and the agents, giving the teen a thorough, if discreet, perusal. The
resemblance between the girl and Mr. Steele was uncanny. Already taller than Laura, the slim teen had
high cheekbones, full lips and winged brows. The strong jaw line he carried was softened in hers. But
whereas he had dark hair wavering between the deepest of browns and blacks, hers was light brown--
lighter than Laura’s auburn--with eyes that could only be described as the clearest of grays--nearly silver.
Mildred saw Tony and Buchanan exchange a quick glance as they too noted the resemblance.
When Remington returned with tea, he sat on Siobhán’s other side. He saw the exchange between the
men and wondered what it implied. He ordered, “Now, gentlemen, where do go from here. Let’s get
this business settled so that Siobhán has the answers she needs.”
With eyes wide again, the teen sipped from her cup.
Laura turned to the girl. “Do you understand what is happening here?”
Siobhán nodded and in a soft voice offered, “Johnny’s in a lot of trouble. He’s done some things he
shouldn’t have and he’ll be in jail for a very long time. I … need guardians since he can’t be here. Mr.
Buchanan explained it all to me.”
Laura nodded. “Johnny has asked us to be your guardians. He’s even given us the option of legally
adopting you so that we can be your parents in every way.” She touched the teen’s hand. “We are quite
willing to do that, but we want to know what you want to do. You won’t be able to go home again
because of Johnny’s problems. Everything he owns is now in the hands of a judge until they determine
what he owns legally and what was obtained illegally. Once they make that determination, then you
might have some other options--but it will take years, Siobhán.”
The girl looked away, blinking back tears before nodding in understanding.
Taking care to demonstrate his concern, Remington asked, “Do you have someone you are especially
close to in Ireland? We want to give you a home here, but we don’t want to take you away from
someone you love.”
Siobhán shrugged. “No. I like my governess, but she hates living at Johnny’s. She was planning to
leave in the next few weeks anyway. She found a job with a family in Dublin. And Housekeeper has
her own family.”
“Do you think you can handle living here with us?” Remington carefully watched her expression as he
indicated the apartment. “It’s a bit smaller than Johnny’s place.” He retained vague memories of the
enormous house Carlisle kept and they came to mind as he spoke.
Surprised, the girl looked up at him. “I’d live with you? Not at boarding school?”
Laura only chuckled. “Boarding schools aren’t very common in the United States, Siobhán. We’ll find a
good school here in the city and you’ll be with us.
Siobhán sipped her tea and nodded again. Very softly, she said to them, “I’ll stay if you don’t mind.
Johnny told me I should, and I … I don’t really have anywhere to go.” She dropped her head to stare
into her cup.
Laura met Remington’s look over the girl’s head. By the set of his jaw, she could see the determination
in his face. Giving in to the inevitable, she laid a hand on Siobhán’s again. “Would you like to see your
room?”
Siobhán nodded, and Laura led her down the hallway, motioning Mildred to come with them.
Laura picked up Siobhán's small suitcase and carried it into the guest bedroom. Trying for a light tone,
she began, “This furniture came from the loft apartment I had before I married your cousin. If you don’t
care for it, we can change it.” She glanced at the little case. “We can go shopping tomorrow and get
whatever you need. Mildred, would you like to go with us?”
Mildred raised her brows and sat on the edge of the bed. “Of course. Sounds like a lot of fun. Who
doesn’t like shopping for clothes and shoes?”
Siobhán looked up and shrugged helplessly. “I don’t know. Johnny wouldn’t let me go anywhere.”
“Nowhere at all?” Mildred asked. She patted the bed, encouraging the girl to sit next to her.
Siobhan shook her head as she sat. “The only time I went anywhere was if he escorted me … and he
spent most of his time in London. My governesses would bring me whatever I needed.”
Mildred touched the teen's cheek. “It’s going to be different here, kiddo.”
Confused, Siobhán asked, “Are you … my governess?”
Both of the women laughed good-naturedly and Mildred answered her with a smile. “Technically, I
work for the Steeles at their office, but I’ve been around for a long time and I consider both of them my
‘kids.’ If anything, I stand in for your cousin’s mom. He’s crushed when I scold him.” She said this
with a gleam in her eye. In full-on “Mom” mode, Mildred suggested, “Laura, why don’t you tell her
about yourself.”
As she sat on the other side of Siobhán, Laura nodded. “I have two sisters, both married, and my
mother, Abigail. My mother, my sister Frances and her husband Donald live not too far from here.
They have three children--two girls and a boy. The oldest, Danny, is just a little younger than you. My
twin sister Kathleen and her husband Murphy have eighteen-month-old twin boys. They live in Denver,
Colorado.”
The teen’s lips parted in surprise. “You have a whole family?”
Chuckling, Laura said, “That’s about your cousin’s reaction to all of them too.” She eyed the girl again.
“Are you hungry?”
“No. Mr. Buchanan took me to dinner before we came. But …” she trailed off and shook her head.
“But what?” Laura asked.
Overwhelmed by the past few days, Siobhán covered her face and began to sob silent tears.
Laura gathered her close while stroking her hair. “It’s going to be okay. You’re safe.” Her own heart
wrenched open, making room for the frightened young girl. She had no idea how they would make
things work, but it would take a harder heart than Laura’s to refuse to help.
Eventually, the two women encouraged Siobhán to lie down and rest. In moments, she slept, betraying
her exhaustion. Laura twitched the covers over her one last time and left the door open a few inches as
they returned to the living room.
Remington rose to his feet. “Siobhán?”
“She’s sleeping,” Laura replied, taking his outstretched hand. Turning her attention to the two men, she
asked, “Where do we stand?”
Tony nodded. “We’ll give Siobhán a few days to adjust; then I’ll come back. That will give you a
chance to discuss guardianship versus adoption with her. If … if it isn’t working at all, we can make
other arrangements at that time.”
Remington’s eyes cooled again, but he didn’t say anything. As Laura had walked his cousin to the
bedroom, he realized that he hadn’t given his wife much say in the situation. Over dinner earlier, they’d
had a long discussion that didn’t really include the idea of not making a home for his cousin. He intended
to have an honest talk with her tonight, but she surprised him in her next move.
“I don’t think that will be necessary, Tony. For her sake, as well as ours, I hope that we can convince
her to let us adopt. It will make explanations easier.”
“Yes,” Tony agreed. “It’s going to be hard on you, Laura.”
She nodded. “I know. But we’ve dealt with the press before and we’ll do it again. I can handle it.”
Remington looked at both of them in confusion. “The press? What are you two talking about?”
Tony crossed his arms, apparently enjoying the chance to needle him. “Siobhán is Irish and fifteen. No
one will believe that Laura is her mother. But we can pass her off as yours, Steele. Since you just came
back from Ireland, we can easily manufacture a background and a story as to why she hasn’t lived with
you until now. It’s the best way to protect her.”
Irritated at the implications, Remington retorted, “I would never abandon a child of mine, Roselli. I will
not have it put about that I didn’t care for my own daughter.”
Tony leaned against the arm of the couch, nodding. “Oddly enough, Steele, I get that. Which is why
we’ll make it clear you’ve been providing for her all along and this was the opportune time to bring her
home. It will cast Laura in a more sympathetic light as well if it’s made clear she’s known the situation
and has been protecting both of you. Quite frankly, Siobhán looks enough like you that no one will
believe she’s not your daughter--so we don’t have many choices.”
Not for the first time in the past few weeks, Remington resented having the limelight shining on him.
The very role he’d perfected was now a stifling one. He could see how bringing home a nearly grown
daughter at the same time Laura’s pregnancy became obvious could cast a shadow over his reliability and
hence, the agency's. Irritated by the whole scenario, his accent was clipped. “Thank you, gentlemen. I
believe the rest of this is up to the three of us to determine how we proceed.”
Buchanan dropped a sheaf of papers on the coffee table. “I’ll need you to sign this to give you
temporary custody. It will go to the Irish government. Carlisle’s already put his name on it.” He handed
them a pen. “We need something permanent in the next few days--either you need to go public or we
need to find a different way to hide her. Right now our best asset is the fact that few people know her
name, and fewer still know that she’s Carlisle’s daughter. The faster we build a different story for her,
the harder it will be for someone to track her down. We’ve kept any mention of her out of the Bahama
papers so if we’re lucky, no one will know she came this way.”
The Steeles nodded and signed the forms.
When they were done, Laura rose and began pacing. “Now that we have that settled--James, Tony,
we’re going to have a little talk.”
Roselli quipped, “Is this the kind where I need a bottle of beer?”
“It’s the kind that will get you one broken over your head if I ever find bugs in my agency again.” She
turned her attention to Buchanan. “I’m amending what we’ve agreed on so far. First, we’re not taking
any trainees under the present circumstances. Siobhán needs our attention for a while and neither Mr.
Steele nor I can afford the distraction of a new intern whom neither of us can trust.
“Second, your interns will not have any access to the security side of our business. I’m not handing
Interpol the blueprints to our agency or our home. Mr. Steele informed me that you’ve been attempting
to break into his systems. I won’t have it, Buchanan. If you want our expertise for your new agents,
you’re going to have to start by trusting us. Right now, I have every reason to believe that the only
reason you want an intern here is to spy on Mr. Steele.
“I won’t have it,” she repeated. “Our agency is on sound financial footing and while bringing a trainee up
to speed could be fun, we don’t need either the money or the headache.”
Roselli and Buchanan exchanged opaque glances.
Buchanan leaned forward again. “Can I have that beer?” He wasn’t exactly blindsided by this
conversation, but it was one he’d hoped to avoid. Since the meeting with Carlisle, he’d worried that the
situation with Siobhán would cause problems with the agreement he and Mrs. Steele had worked out.
Discovering she was pregnant added a whole new layer of complexity, and he began to worry that the
whole training program he’d carefully nursed through Interpol protocol would fall apart. If she was
anything like his wife when she was carrying, she was prone to overreacting to what she perceived as
personal attacks.
Mildred spoke up again. “I’ll get 'em.”
No one spoke until she returned with a bottle for each of the agents. Laura sat on the arm of the sofa
near Remington--guarding him as it were.
Remington wasn’t surprised at Laura’s tirade. She’d fumed over it a time or two since last Friday and
he’d seen the irritation building in her throughout the day. She’d played bad cop; now it was time for
him to step in and play the good one.
“Now, Laura, we’ve talked about this. I’m certain it’s standard procedure. And you must admit my
background isn’t exactly stellar.” His voice was soothing as he took her hand.
She narrowed her eyes and followed along. “Your background is exactly why they want you. The effort
of this agency is part of the reason why the Dublin Six is going down like a house of cards. I’d expect
that they would appreciate us more instead of treating us like suspects.”
Buchanan interrupted in an attempt to gain control of the conversation. “You’re not suspects. You’re
right, Steele; it is standard procedure. This is an unusual opportunity for both of us and quite frankly, the
higher ups want to know as much as possible. What can I say? We’re Interpol. It’s our job to find
information.”
As if to confirm his earlier thought, Laura shot back, “Who is doing whom the favor here? I’ll be happy
to drop the deal here and now.”
Remington laid a hand on her knee. “Laura, love, we do owe them.”
Fuming, she crossed her arms. “Owe them? I think they owe us. No. Either they play by our rules or
the deal is off.”
He patted her leg and threw a helpless look to Buchanan, shrugging as if he didn’t know what else to do.
Anxious to keep her happy and the training program intact, Buchanan folded. “What can we do to
salvage the situation, Mrs. Steele?”
Flicking a piece of invisible lint off her skirt, she clasped her hands and laid them in her lap. “No more
picking at our security. Full immunity from Interpol’s interference. If you want our skills, then you’re
going to have to trust us. We haven’t built our reputation through being careless or stupid. If we
discover an intern spying on us just once, the deal is off and we sever the agreement.”
Buchanan nodded, thinking his boss was going to have a conniption when he discovered the last part.
Laura stood again. “Get it to me in writing by tomorrow afternoon. I’m not interested in waiting around
while you change your mind. And I’m serious about the security part. We will not disclose proprietary
secrets.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Excuse me, gentlemen. I need a minute.” Laura stalked out of the room in apparent irritation. In
reality, she needed the restroom and danced a little wiggle of glee when she closed the door. Leaning
against it, she appreciated again why she and Mr. Steele made such a fabulous team. He’d neatly
countered her arguments in such a way to ensure that Buchanan was alarmed she would call a halt to the
whole program.
While Laura privately celebrated her victory, Mildred took the opportunity to say her goodbyes,
reminding Mr. Steele that she would be by tomorrow to go shopping with Laura and Siobhán. He
escorted her to the door and kissed her on the cheek. The twinkle in her eye when she patted him on the
side of his face told him she’d seen exactly how they’d double-teamed the Interpol agent.
When Laura returned, Buchanan and Roselli rose to depart as well.
In the elevator, Roselli smirked as he leaned against the wall. “I didn’t think you’d fall for the good
cop/bad cop routine so easily. Been out of the field for a while?”
For any kind of spy, the last remark was a biting insult and Buchanan bristled, even as he replayed the
conversation in his head. “Bloody hell. I did fall for it. I thought she was overreacting because she’s
pregnant. I should have known. I saw how they worked individually; I should have known they’d be
even better as a team.”
Tony snorted. “One thing I’ve learned in the time I’ve known the Steeles is that you have a better
chance of surprising an honest reaction out of him than you do her--and that’s not saying much. She
never says or does anything without knowing exactly what kind of response it’s going to get. They read
you like a book with notes in the margins.”
Buchanan looked the other agent up and down. “You got all that out of one interview and the
conversation this afternoon?”
Judging it was safe enough to disclose his past association with the Steeles, Roselli admitted, “I’ve known
them for a couple of years. I had some trouble with a double-crossing British agent, and I ran into Laura
in a jungle outside Manzanilla in Mexico. I set them up to go to London and blackmailed Steele into
helping me uncover the leak. He had all the skills I needed and a big problem that needed to be
resolved. At the time they weren’t acting much like a team, but they kept me alive. Steele arranged it so
that I could get off clean. By the time I was in a position to fix his problem, he’d already handled it.”
They walked out to Buchanan’s government-issued black car. “So you owe him.”
“No. I don’t think so. I think both of them would be happy if I never darkened their doorstep again.
See--I had a crush on Laura before I realized what a conniving little sneak she can be. Steele knew how
I felt, and we’ve crossed fists over it a time or two. Now I’m damned grateful she told me to take a
hike. I get enough of lies and politics at work. I don’t need it when I come home. No--I’d rather have a
sweet wife that warms my bed, adores me for who I am, and that I can be comfortable with. I don’t
need sparks flying at home. The best way I can repay them is to make sure this damned adoption goes
through. Since that’s my job, I’m square with it and them.”
“So what’s your take on them?” James asked curiously as he started the car.
Tony shrugged. “Strange as it sounds, you can trust them. They’ve got a fairly soft spot for someone in
trouble. You should have seen her infiltrating the Russian embassy in Ireland when she was trying to
help me. You would think the Communists would have the tightest security in the world, but she waltzed
right through it--twice, in fact. I kind of think Steele has his hands full dealing with her. And frankly, I
think it’s funny. He’s an expert at running a con, and she might be the one person he can’t bamboozle.”
“She would have been a hell of an operative.”
“Yeah, but she’s the kind that probably wouldn’t have a very long life span. The brilliant ones willing to
take outrageous risks usually don’t last more than a few years before they catch a stray bullet. Steele
thinks a little too much of his own hide to get involved in that kind of situation.”
James didn’t say anything. He rather thought Roselli’s analysis might be on target. The other agent had
good instincts. He’d known about Tony’s association with the Steeles when he’d requested him. A
quick scan of the MI6 database had revealed the Steeles’ dealings with the American agent. Buchanan
had wanted someone who would be wary of the couple; Roselli seemed to fit the bill. In any case, notes
of this conversation would go into Interpol’s files. Information. It was all about information. And
eventually, the right kind of information could fill in all sorts of gaps.
*****
When they were alone in the penthouse, Remington turned to Laura while rubbing the back of his neck.
“I … ah … my apologies, love. I realized this evening that I haven’t given you much of an opportunity
to refuse. This is a great deal to ask, especially with our own child on the way.”
Laura raised her brows and took a deep breath, her expression light and thoughtful. “It is. Care for a
glass of wine?” Surprised by her easy manner, he nodded. She retrieved the bottle he’d opened for
dinner, pouring him a full goblet and herself an inch or so before carrying the two glasses to the terrace.
She gave him one when he leaned against the railing and sipped from her own. “Would you like to hear
my thoughts?”
He nodded, curious of her assessment of the situation. He trusted her instincts as much as his own.
“Yes, of course.”
Pacing a few steps away, Laura reflected on her conversation with Siobhán. “James is right. Siobhán is
terrified. And very, very lonely. She doesn’t call Carlisle ‘Dad’ or ‘Father’; she calls him ‘Johnny.’ She
said she almost never leaves the house unless he personally escorts her somewhere, which I gather isn’t
often. And unless she’s a better con artist than you, I think she’s very naïve and would be thrown to the
lions in a group home. Boarding school for her would be a disaster. She’s not like us, Rei.” Laura
shook her head. “She’s probably fine with adults, but other kids her age? They’ll eat her alive.”
Remington abruptly realized he was completely out of his element here. He had no idea what it was to
be a normal teen in Southern California. “So … what is it you think we should do?”
Laura pursed her lips and shrugged. “Think you can redesign the apartment next door to include a
bedroom and bathroom for her, in addition to what we talked about?”
He blinked at her and set the goblet of wine on the table before taking her free hand. “We’re keeping
her?”
Laura smiled. “Well, she’s not a puppy, Mr. Steele. We’ll let her decide if she wants to stay. She might
change her mind after she’s had a decent night of sleep. And it won’t be easy, you know.”
“No?” he echoed, still amazed by her calm acceptance of the situation.
She laughed and recited, “School, boys, homework, rules, plus we’ll have to work out our schedule so
that she’s not alone too much after school. We’ll lose a great deal of our privacy--sex will have to be
confined to the bedroom--and you’ll be cooking for three, not two. Thank God she’s not driving; I don’t
think I could handle that just yet.” She stopped to enjoy the look of astonishment on his face. “I lived in
a house full of girls all the way through college, Rei. Now if you had brought home a fifteen-year-old
son, I might have panicked.”
He sagged against the rail and just looked at her. “Now I might panic. I hadn’t thought about anything
beyond giving her a home.”
Laura put her glass down as well and pressed her body to his as she put her arms around his shoulders.
“And that’s what we’ll do.”
He thought for a long while as he held her on the terrace with city lights flashing across the way. “He set
me up, you know. He didn’t really need my help going under.”
“I know. Carlisle pulled out every trick he had to work on your emotions. He had to have known that
there was only a slim chance of actually getting away with taking Siobhán with him, but if he hadn’t
come here first, you wouldn’t have considered taking her in. He must have known he’d be followed.”
“He’s damned savvy. But why me, Laura?”
She smiled and picked up his wine glass again to hand it to him. “From his perspective, you’ve built a
nice little empire of your own out here--and a perfectly legal one in, well, most respects anyway.
Compared to Siobhán’s other options, apparently you looked pretty good.”
Blinking in astonishment, he quipped, “Now that is a rather frightening thought. I wonder if he realizes
how much you have to do with it.”
“Probably not, but I’m used to that by now. In this case, it’s best that he doesn’t realize it. Carlisle
respects money, influence and ability--and little else. As long as he thinks you have all three, he won’t
want to cross you. And since his daughter is now in your care, you have the upper hand.”
Remington sipped his wine before sitting down with it at the table and playing with the stem. “I don’t
like passing her off as mine. Good Lord, I would have been what--nineteen? Twenty? I wasn’t even in
Europe then.”
Laura joined him at the table as he spoke and reached for his fingertips to play with them. “Logically, it
would make sense for her to stay with her mother if you two were that age and didn’t marry.”
“Damn it, Laura. Anyone who knows me well--and there aren’t many, I’ll grant you--will know that
leaving a child would have been an impossibility for me.” He pulled his hand away from hers and ran it
through his hair in frustration.
Leaning back in her chair, Laura crossed her arms and tilted her head to the right. “Rei, there will be
those people who will think I’m an idiot for allowing you to bring your daughter to live with us while we’
re expecting our first. We can’t let what other people think stop us from doing what is right.”
Unable to muster anything other than a spurious argument, he changed tactics. “What about your family,
Laura?” Remington asked with a great deal of concern.
She put a hand to her forehead and scrunched up her eyes as she thought about it. Finally, she lifted that
same hand and gestured. “We’ll tell them the same thing we tell the media--that she’s yours. If any of
them are smart enough to ask questions, we’ll be honest but until then, the story will stand. Mother won’
t question it, although I’m sure I’ll hear about it.” Laura sighed. “I’m not looking forward to that
discussion … but I doubt Frances and Donald will argue. Kate might ask, and Murphy is going to give
you hell. How much you tell him is up to you.”
Remington rubbed the back of his neck. “I’d rather not lie to your family, Laura. It doesn’t seem right
to keep them in the dark.”
“Rei, my mother is the biggest gossip in Southern California. If you tell her the truth, it will be in the
newspapers by the next morning. Besides, if Siobhán lets us adopt her, we won’t be lying about being
her parents. Look at it this way: if you tell everyone that Siobhán is your cousin, the first questions
people will ask are ‘Who are her parents?’ and ‘Why did you get custody?’ The answers can only lead
straight back to Carlisle and O’Callaghan, if anyone starts digging. If you tell everyone that she’s your
daughter and that her mother passed away recently--and that we went to Ireland to get her three months
ago--then the only question anyone will have is why we didn’t mention her in all the rounds of interviews
we did. But the reasonable answer to that is that you wanted to protect her after having lost her mother
and the fright of nearly losing her father so soon afterward.”
Admiring her sensibility, his expression lightened. “Once again I see how you pulled off ‘Remington
Steele’ in the beginning.” He’d always appreciated her audacity in pulling off such an enormous
deception.
She gave him a wry grin. “Come now; you know it’s all about the initial presentation. In a few months,
no one will even think of questioning us. With our names as Siobhán’s parents and the records sealed, it
will cut the paper trail short if anyone tries to investigate. Siobhán will know the truth. Anyone who
wants to know more will have to ask one of us or her. And in ten years none of this will matter, and she
can be as public as she wants to be about her background.”
“True.”
Deciding she was finished, Laura rose again and leaned out on the terrace, enjoying the night breeze and
thinking that life with Remington never ceased to be interesting.
He followed, surrounding her with his arms and laying his cheek against her hair, wondering how they
were going to deal with this too. It had only been a handful of days since he’d begun to let go of the guilt
and anger over what he’d done to her and here already, something else appeared out of his past to
threaten the happiness they’d finally found together.
Two years, he thought. Was that all they were going to be given? He knew he didn’t deserve even that,
but Laura, on the other hand, deserved a lifetime of happiness. Inadvertently, he squeezed Laura a little
too hard and she looked over her shoulder in surprise.
“What is it?” She could see he was upset and turned to brush her fingers through the lock of hair that fell
over his forehead. “Remington?”
His jaw clenched and he pressed his lips to her forehead. “I ask too much of you, Laura.” Closing his
eyes, he could only clutch her to him.
He then opened them in surprise when she chuckled, low and long. Meeting his eyes, she smiled again.
“Yes, well, it’s not as if I haven’t ever demanded anything of you. You changed your profession, your
name and your marital status for me.”
His lips twitched. “Laura, bringing in a fifteen-year-old cousin that we are going to pass off as my
daughter doesn’t compare.”
“She’s just an innocent kid caught up in a bad situation, Rei. Would I have asked for this situation
yesterday? No. Will I turn her away? Absolutely not.”
“But you’re pregnant, Laura. I can’t ask this of you.”
“Why not, damn it?” She shook her head in irritation. “We said we were ready to start a family. What
does it matter if we have a baby or a teen or both? We know changes have to be made--both at home
and at the agency. So what if we have to make them sooner rather than later?”
Remington was utterly astonished at Laura’s attitude. Letting go of her, he leaned against the railing in
wonder while he stared at his wife. Her rock-solid confidence wasn’t a sham. He could see it in the easy
way she held herself and the relaxed expression on her face. Slowly, one corner at a time, his mouth
turned up. “Well then, perhaps we’ll make the best of it.”
Laura sat at the table and reached for her skimpy glass of wine before giving him a wide smile. “We
will."
29 October 2009
Chapter Five: Discoveries
Wednesday evening, 8 June 1988 -- 11 weeks, 6 days
Siobhán concentrated on breathing and walking confidently as her governess had taught her, doing her
best not to stumble in her weariness. Her itchy eyes reminded her that she’d hardly slept in the last two
days, unable to rest as she wondered what would happen to her.
She glanced up at the building they walked toward and took in the noisy cars and the little bar down the
way. Since Housekeeper had awoken her--maybe three, four days ago--she’d seen more of the world
and heard more amazing accents and languages than in her previous fifteen years.
She stuffed her hands into her jacket to conceal her nervousness as she, Mr. Buchanan and Mr. Roselli
rode the elevator. Mr. Roselli told her that the Steeles lived in an apartment on the top floor. Visions of
a tiny, cramped flat sprang to mind, and she wondered how they’d make room for her. Maybe they
would send her to boarding school instead. Having spent most of her life around adults, she was
frightened by the thought.
Mr. Buchanan had been nice to her, but she could tell he was ready to pass her off to someone else. The
Interpol agent had told her that her dad was going to be in jail for a long time. Johnny had told her to
stay with the Steeles and that Mr. Steele was her cousin. She hoped he was nice.
When the elevator opened to a glass and wood foyer, at least that fear was allayed. A woman with long,
dark reddish-brown hair and freckles scattered over her face was waiting. She didn’t seem too much
older than Siobhán--this must be her cousin’s wife. A blonde woman, older and a little on the round side
with a big smile, stood next to her. She wondered if this was her new governess.
“Hello, Siobhán. I’m Laura Steele. This is Mildred Krebs. She’s a very good friend of ours and wanted
to meet you. Come. Your cousin is in the living room, and he’s quite nervous about meeting you. He’s
afraid he won’t make a good impression.” Laura smiled, as if to reassure her, and led her through the
foyer to where a man waited in the living room.
Siobhán skimmed a quick look over the penthouse, noting the piano in the living room with surprise, the
pretty décor and the lights of the city outside the window. She turned to take her first good look at her
cousin. For a moment, she knew she stared rudely, for the resemblance between her cousin and Johnny
was incredible. “You … my dad.” Tears started and she blinked them back. “You look like my dad.
Only … darker--dark hair, deeper blue eyes. That’s why he calls you ‘Ciarán.’ ”
*****
Remington froze in place for a heartbeat and then a lifetime of training kicked in. Much more cynical
hearts than Siobhán’s had fallen for his charm and at an innocent fifteen, she had no defense for that sort
of thing. Deliberately, he let the Irish touch his voice. “Far be it for me to cross your father, Siobhán.”
He touched her shoulder. “I’m only here to help.”
The touch of home in his words must have taken apart what fragile restraint she had. The teen threw
herself into his arms and sobbed copiously onto his shoulder.
His eyes sought out Laura as he held the slight young girl. She directed the two agents to take their seats
in the living room and returned with a pair of tissues.
“Siobhán?”
The girl looked up and gratefully took them from her. “Thank you.” She glanced at Remington and
blinked several times to regain her composure. “My … my apologies for … for getting your shirt wet.”
He smiled down at her. “It’s not the first time that has happened. Better?” She nodded as she pressed
the tissue to her face. “Then would you like some tea? I’ve water hot already.” She nodded again.
“Then go with Laura and I’ll bring you a cup.”
She nodded a third time and let Laura lead her to the living room where they sat side-by-side on the sofa.
Mildred sat on a chair between them and the agents, giving the teen a thorough, if discreet, perusal. The
resemblance between the girl and Mr. Steele was uncanny. Already taller than Laura, the slim teen had
high cheekbones, full lips and winged brows. The strong jaw line he carried was softened in hers. But
whereas he had dark hair wavering between the deepest of browns and blacks, hers was light brown--
lighter than Laura’s auburn--with eyes that could only be described as the clearest of grays--nearly silver.
Mildred saw Tony and Buchanan exchange a quick glance as they too noted the resemblance.
When Remington returned with tea, he sat on Siobhán’s other side. He saw the exchange between the
men and wondered what it implied. He ordered, “Now, gentlemen, where do go from here. Let’s get
this business settled so that Siobhán has the answers she needs.”
With eyes wide again, the teen sipped from her cup.
Laura turned to the girl. “Do you understand what is happening here?”
Siobhán nodded and in a soft voice offered, “Johnny’s in a lot of trouble. He’s done some things he
shouldn’t have and he’ll be in jail for a very long time. I … need guardians since he can’t be here. Mr.
Buchanan explained it all to me.”
Laura nodded. “Johnny has asked us to be your guardians. He’s even given us the option of legally
adopting you so that we can be your parents in every way.” She touched the teen’s hand. “We are quite
willing to do that, but we want to know what you want to do. You won’t be able to go home again
because of Johnny’s problems. Everything he owns is now in the hands of a judge until they determine
what he owns legally and what was obtained illegally. Once they make that determination, then you
might have some other options--but it will take years, Siobhán.”
The girl looked away, blinking back tears before nodding in understanding.
Taking care to demonstrate his concern, Remington asked, “Do you have someone you are especially
close to in Ireland? We want to give you a home here, but we don’t want to take you away from
someone you love.”
Siobhán shrugged. “No. I like my governess, but she hates living at Johnny’s. She was planning to
leave in the next few weeks anyway. She found a job with a family in Dublin. And Housekeeper has
her own family.”
“Do you think you can handle living here with us?” Remington carefully watched her expression as he
indicated the apartment. “It’s a bit smaller than Johnny’s place.” He retained vague memories of the
enormous house Carlisle kept and they came to mind as he spoke.
Surprised, the girl looked up at him. “I’d live with you? Not at boarding school?”
Laura only chuckled. “Boarding schools aren’t very common in the United States, Siobhán. We’ll find a
good school here in the city and you’ll be with us.
Siobhán sipped her tea and nodded again. Very softly, she said to them, “I’ll stay if you don’t mind.
Johnny told me I should, and I … I don’t really have anywhere to go.” She dropped her head to stare
into her cup.
Laura met Remington’s look over the girl’s head. By the set of his jaw, she could see the determination
in his face. Giving in to the inevitable, she laid a hand on Siobhán’s again. “Would you like to see your
room?”
Siobhán nodded, and Laura led her down the hallway, motioning Mildred to come with them.
Laura picked up Siobhán's small suitcase and carried it into the guest bedroom. Trying for a light tone,
she began, “This furniture came from the loft apartment I had before I married your cousin. If you don’t
care for it, we can change it.” She glanced at the little case. “We can go shopping tomorrow and get
whatever you need. Mildred, would you like to go with us?”
Mildred raised her brows and sat on the edge of the bed. “Of course. Sounds like a lot of fun. Who
doesn’t like shopping for clothes and shoes?”
Siobhán looked up and shrugged helplessly. “I don’t know. Johnny wouldn’t let me go anywhere.”
“Nowhere at all?” Mildred asked. She patted the bed, encouraging the girl to sit next to her.
Siobhan shook her head as she sat. “The only time I went anywhere was if he escorted me … and he
spent most of his time in London. My governesses would bring me whatever I needed.”
Mildred touched the teen's cheek. “It’s going to be different here, kiddo.”
Confused, Siobhán asked, “Are you … my governess?”
Both of the women laughed good-naturedly and Mildred answered her with a smile. “Technically, I
work for the Steeles at their office, but I’ve been around for a long time and I consider both of them my
‘kids.’ If anything, I stand in for your cousin’s mom. He’s crushed when I scold him.” She said this
with a gleam in her eye. In full-on “Mom” mode, Mildred suggested, “Laura, why don’t you tell her
about yourself.”
As she sat on the other side of Siobhán, Laura nodded. “I have two sisters, both married, and my
mother, Abigail. My mother, my sister Frances and her husband Donald live not too far from here.
They have three children--two girls and a boy. The oldest, Danny, is just a little younger than you. My
twin sister Kathleen and her husband Murphy have eighteen-month-old twin boys. They live in Denver,
Colorado.”
The teen’s lips parted in surprise. “You have a whole family?”
Chuckling, Laura said, “That’s about your cousin’s reaction to all of them too.” She eyed the girl again.
“Are you hungry?”
“No. Mr. Buchanan took me to dinner before we came. But …” she trailed off and shook her head.
“But what?” Laura asked.
Overwhelmed by the past few days, Siobhán covered her face and began to sob silent tears.
Laura gathered her close while stroking her hair. “It’s going to be okay. You’re safe.” Her own heart
wrenched open, making room for the frightened young girl. She had no idea how they would make
things work, but it would take a harder heart than Laura’s to refuse to help.
Eventually, the two women encouraged Siobhán to lie down and rest. In moments, she slept, betraying
her exhaustion. Laura twitched the covers over her one last time and left the door open a few inches as
they returned to the living room.
Remington rose to his feet. “Siobhán?”
“She’s sleeping,” Laura replied, taking his outstretched hand. Turning her attention to the two men, she
asked, “Where do we stand?”
Tony nodded. “We’ll give Siobhán a few days to adjust; then I’ll come back. That will give you a
chance to discuss guardianship versus adoption with her. If … if it isn’t working at all, we can make
other arrangements at that time.”
Remington’s eyes cooled again, but he didn’t say anything. As Laura had walked his cousin to the
bedroom, he realized that he hadn’t given his wife much say in the situation. Over dinner earlier, they’d
had a long discussion that didn’t really include the idea of not making a home for his cousin. He intended
to have an honest talk with her tonight, but she surprised him in her next move.
“I don’t think that will be necessary, Tony. For her sake, as well as ours, I hope that we can convince
her to let us adopt. It will make explanations easier.”
“Yes,” Tony agreed. “It’s going to be hard on you, Laura.”
She nodded. “I know. But we’ve dealt with the press before and we’ll do it again. I can handle it.”
Remington looked at both of them in confusion. “The press? What are you two talking about?”
Tony crossed his arms, apparently enjoying the chance to needle him. “Siobhán is Irish and fifteen. No
one will believe that Laura is her mother. But we can pass her off as yours, Steele. Since you just came
back from Ireland, we can easily manufacture a background and a story as to why she hasn’t lived with
you until now. It’s the best way to protect her.”
Irritated at the implications, Remington retorted, “I would never abandon a child of mine, Roselli. I will
not have it put about that I didn’t care for my own daughter.”
Tony leaned against the arm of the couch, nodding. “Oddly enough, Steele, I get that. Which is why
we’ll make it clear you’ve been providing for her all along and this was the opportune time to bring her
home. It will cast Laura in a more sympathetic light as well if it’s made clear she’s known the situation
and has been protecting both of you. Quite frankly, Siobhán looks enough like you that no one will
believe she’s not your daughter--so we don’t have many choices.”
Not for the first time in the past few weeks, Remington resented having the limelight shining on him.
The very role he’d perfected was now a stifling one. He could see how bringing home a nearly grown
daughter at the same time Laura’s pregnancy became obvious could cast a shadow over his reliability and
hence, the agency's. Irritated by the whole scenario, his accent was clipped. “Thank you, gentlemen. I
believe the rest of this is up to the three of us to determine how we proceed.”
Buchanan dropped a sheaf of papers on the coffee table. “I’ll need you to sign this to give you
temporary custody. It will go to the Irish government. Carlisle’s already put his name on it.” He handed
them a pen. “We need something permanent in the next few days--either you need to go public or we
need to find a different way to hide her. Right now our best asset is the fact that few people know her
name, and fewer still know that she’s Carlisle’s daughter. The faster we build a different story for her,
the harder it will be for someone to track her down. We’ve kept any mention of her out of the Bahama
papers so if we’re lucky, no one will know she came this way.”
The Steeles nodded and signed the forms.
When they were done, Laura rose and began pacing. “Now that we have that settled--James, Tony,
we’re going to have a little talk.”
Roselli quipped, “Is this the kind where I need a bottle of beer?”
“It’s the kind that will get you one broken over your head if I ever find bugs in my agency again.” She
turned her attention to Buchanan. “I’m amending what we’ve agreed on so far. First, we’re not taking
any trainees under the present circumstances. Siobhán needs our attention for a while and neither Mr.
Steele nor I can afford the distraction of a new intern whom neither of us can trust.
“Second, your interns will not have any access to the security side of our business. I’m not handing
Interpol the blueprints to our agency or our home. Mr. Steele informed me that you’ve been attempting
to break into his systems. I won’t have it, Buchanan. If you want our expertise for your new agents,
you’re going to have to start by trusting us. Right now, I have every reason to believe that the only
reason you want an intern here is to spy on Mr. Steele.
“I won’t have it,” she repeated. “Our agency is on sound financial footing and while bringing a trainee up
to speed could be fun, we don’t need either the money or the headache.”
Roselli and Buchanan exchanged opaque glances.
Buchanan leaned forward again. “Can I have that beer?” He wasn’t exactly blindsided by this
conversation, but it was one he’d hoped to avoid. Since the meeting with Carlisle, he’d worried that the
situation with Siobhán would cause problems with the agreement he and Mrs. Steele had worked out.
Discovering she was pregnant added a whole new layer of complexity, and he began to worry that the
whole training program he’d carefully nursed through Interpol protocol would fall apart. If she was
anything like his wife when she was carrying, she was prone to overreacting to what she perceived as
personal attacks.
Mildred spoke up again. “I’ll get 'em.”
No one spoke until she returned with a bottle for each of the agents. Laura sat on the arm of the sofa
near Remington--guarding him as it were.
Remington wasn’t surprised at Laura’s tirade. She’d fumed over it a time or two since last Friday and
he’d seen the irritation building in her throughout the day. She’d played bad cop; now it was time for
him to step in and play the good one.
“Now, Laura, we’ve talked about this. I’m certain it’s standard procedure. And you must admit my
background isn’t exactly stellar.” His voice was soothing as he took her hand.
She narrowed her eyes and followed along. “Your background is exactly why they want you. The effort
of this agency is part of the reason why the Dublin Six is going down like a house of cards. I’d expect
that they would appreciate us more instead of treating us like suspects.”
Buchanan interrupted in an attempt to gain control of the conversation. “You’re not suspects. You’re
right, Steele; it is standard procedure. This is an unusual opportunity for both of us and quite frankly, the
higher ups want to know as much as possible. What can I say? We’re Interpol. It’s our job to find
information.”
As if to confirm his earlier thought, Laura shot back, “Who is doing whom the favor here? I’ll be happy
to drop the deal here and now.”
Remington laid a hand on her knee. “Laura, love, we do owe them.”
Fuming, she crossed her arms. “Owe them? I think they owe us. No. Either they play by our rules or
the deal is off.”
He patted her leg and threw a helpless look to Buchanan, shrugging as if he didn’t know what else to do.
Anxious to keep her happy and the training program intact, Buchanan folded. “What can we do to
salvage the situation, Mrs. Steele?”
Flicking a piece of invisible lint off her skirt, she clasped her hands and laid them in her lap. “No more
picking at our security. Full immunity from Interpol’s interference. If you want our skills, then you’re
going to have to trust us. We haven’t built our reputation through being careless or stupid. If we
discover an intern spying on us just once, the deal is off and we sever the agreement.”
Buchanan nodded, thinking his boss was going to have a conniption when he discovered the last part.
Laura stood again. “Get it to me in writing by tomorrow afternoon. I’m not interested in waiting around
while you change your mind. And I’m serious about the security part. We will not disclose proprietary
secrets.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Excuse me, gentlemen. I need a minute.” Laura stalked out of the room in apparent irritation. In
reality, she needed the restroom and danced a little wiggle of glee when she closed the door. Leaning
against it, she appreciated again why she and Mr. Steele made such a fabulous team. He’d neatly
countered her arguments in such a way to ensure that Buchanan was alarmed she would call a halt to the
whole program.
While Laura privately celebrated her victory, Mildred took the opportunity to say her goodbyes,
reminding Mr. Steele that she would be by tomorrow to go shopping with Laura and Siobhán. He
escorted her to the door and kissed her on the cheek. The twinkle in her eye when she patted him on the
side of his face told him she’d seen exactly how they’d double-teamed the Interpol agent.
When Laura returned, Buchanan and Roselli rose to depart as well.
In the elevator, Roselli smirked as he leaned against the wall. “I didn’t think you’d fall for the good
cop/bad cop routine so easily. Been out of the field for a while?”
For any kind of spy, the last remark was a biting insult and Buchanan bristled, even as he replayed the
conversation in his head. “Bloody hell. I did fall for it. I thought she was overreacting because she’s
pregnant. I should have known. I saw how they worked individually; I should have known they’d be
even better as a team.”
Tony snorted. “One thing I’ve learned in the time I’ve known the Steeles is that you have a better
chance of surprising an honest reaction out of him than you do her--and that’s not saying much. She
never says or does anything without knowing exactly what kind of response it’s going to get. They read
you like a book with notes in the margins.”
Buchanan looked the other agent up and down. “You got all that out of one interview and the
conversation this afternoon?”
Judging it was safe enough to disclose his past association with the Steeles, Roselli admitted, “I’ve known
them for a couple of years. I had some trouble with a double-crossing British agent, and I ran into Laura
in a jungle outside Manzanilla in Mexico. I set them up to go to London and blackmailed Steele into
helping me uncover the leak. He had all the skills I needed and a big problem that needed to be
resolved. At the time they weren’t acting much like a team, but they kept me alive. Steele arranged it so
that I could get off clean. By the time I was in a position to fix his problem, he’d already handled it.”
They walked out to Buchanan’s government-issued black car. “So you owe him.”
“No. I don’t think so. I think both of them would be happy if I never darkened their doorstep again.
See--I had a crush on Laura before I realized what a conniving little sneak she can be. Steele knew how
I felt, and we’ve crossed fists over it a time or two. Now I’m damned grateful she told me to take a
hike. I get enough of lies and politics at work. I don’t need it when I come home. No--I’d rather have a
sweet wife that warms my bed, adores me for who I am, and that I can be comfortable with. I don’t
need sparks flying at home. The best way I can repay them is to make sure this damned adoption goes
through. Since that’s my job, I’m square with it and them.”
“So what’s your take on them?” James asked curiously as he started the car.
Tony shrugged. “Strange as it sounds, you can trust them. They’ve got a fairly soft spot for someone in
trouble. You should have seen her infiltrating the Russian embassy in Ireland when she was trying to
help me. You would think the Communists would have the tightest security in the world, but she waltzed
right through it--twice, in fact. I kind of think Steele has his hands full dealing with her. And frankly, I
think it’s funny. He’s an expert at running a con, and she might be the one person he can’t bamboozle.”
“She would have been a hell of an operative.”
“Yeah, but she’s the kind that probably wouldn’t have a very long life span. The brilliant ones willing to
take outrageous risks usually don’t last more than a few years before they catch a stray bullet. Steele
thinks a little too much of his own hide to get involved in that kind of situation.”
James didn’t say anything. He rather thought Roselli’s analysis might be on target. The other agent had
good instincts. He’d known about Tony’s association with the Steeles when he’d requested him. A
quick scan of the MI6 database had revealed the Steeles’ dealings with the American agent. Buchanan
had wanted someone who would be wary of the couple; Roselli seemed to fit the bill. In any case, notes
of this conversation would go into Interpol’s files. Information. It was all about information. And
eventually, the right kind of information could fill in all sorts of gaps.
*****
When they were alone in the penthouse, Remington turned to Laura while rubbing the back of his neck.
“I … ah … my apologies, love. I realized this evening that I haven’t given you much of an opportunity
to refuse. This is a great deal to ask, especially with our own child on the way.”
Laura raised her brows and took a deep breath, her expression light and thoughtful. “It is. Care for a
glass of wine?” Surprised by her easy manner, he nodded. She retrieved the bottle he’d opened for
dinner, pouring him a full goblet and herself an inch or so before carrying the two glasses to the terrace.
She gave him one when he leaned against the railing and sipped from her own. “Would you like to hear
my thoughts?”
He nodded, curious of her assessment of the situation. He trusted her instincts as much as his own.
“Yes, of course.”
Pacing a few steps away, Laura reflected on her conversation with Siobhán. “James is right. Siobhán is
terrified. And very, very lonely. She doesn’t call Carlisle ‘Dad’ or ‘Father’; she calls him ‘Johnny.’ She
said she almost never leaves the house unless he personally escorts her somewhere, which I gather isn’t
often. And unless she’s a better con artist than you, I think she’s very naïve and would be thrown to the
lions in a group home. Boarding school for her would be a disaster. She’s not like us, Rei.” Laura
shook her head. “She’s probably fine with adults, but other kids her age? They’ll eat her alive.”
Remington abruptly realized he was completely out of his element here. He had no idea what it was to
be a normal teen in Southern California. “So … what is it you think we should do?”
Laura pursed her lips and shrugged. “Think you can redesign the apartment next door to include a
bedroom and bathroom for her, in addition to what we talked about?”
He blinked at her and set the goblet of wine on the table before taking her free hand. “We’re keeping
her?”
Laura smiled. “Well, she’s not a puppy, Mr. Steele. We’ll let her decide if she wants to stay. She might
change her mind after she’s had a decent night of sleep. And it won’t be easy, you know.”
“No?” he echoed, still amazed by her calm acceptance of the situation.
She laughed and recited, “School, boys, homework, rules, plus we’ll have to work out our schedule so
that she’s not alone too much after school. We’ll lose a great deal of our privacy--sex will have to be
confined to the bedroom--and you’ll be cooking for three, not two. Thank God she’s not driving; I don’t
think I could handle that just yet.” She stopped to enjoy the look of astonishment on his face. “I lived in
a house full of girls all the way through college, Rei. Now if you had brought home a fifteen-year-old
son, I might have panicked.”
He sagged against the rail and just looked at her. “Now I might panic. I hadn’t thought about anything
beyond giving her a home.”
Laura put her glass down as well and pressed her body to his as she put her arms around his shoulders.
“And that’s what we’ll do.”
He thought for a long while as he held her on the terrace with city lights flashing across the way. “He set
me up, you know. He didn’t really need my help going under.”
“I know. Carlisle pulled out every trick he had to work on your emotions. He had to have known that
there was only a slim chance of actually getting away with taking Siobhán with him, but if he hadn’t
come here first, you wouldn’t have considered taking her in. He must have known he’d be followed.”
“He’s damned savvy. But why me, Laura?”
She smiled and picked up his wine glass again to hand it to him. “From his perspective, you’ve built a
nice little empire of your own out here--and a perfectly legal one in, well, most respects anyway.
Compared to Siobhán’s other options, apparently you looked pretty good.”
Blinking in astonishment, he quipped, “Now that is a rather frightening thought. I wonder if he realizes
how much you have to do with it.”
“Probably not, but I’m used to that by now. In this case, it’s best that he doesn’t realize it. Carlisle
respects money, influence and ability--and little else. As long as he thinks you have all three, he won’t
want to cross you. And since his daughter is now in your care, you have the upper hand.”
Remington sipped his wine before sitting down with it at the table and playing with the stem. “I don’t
like passing her off as mine. Good Lord, I would have been what--nineteen? Twenty? I wasn’t even in
Europe then.”
Laura joined him at the table as he spoke and reached for his fingertips to play with them. “Logically, it
would make sense for her to stay with her mother if you two were that age and didn’t marry.”
“Damn it, Laura. Anyone who knows me well--and there aren’t many, I’ll grant you--will know that
leaving a child would have been an impossibility for me.” He pulled his hand away from hers and ran it
through his hair in frustration.
Leaning back in her chair, Laura crossed her arms and tilted her head to the right. “Rei, there will be
those people who will think I’m an idiot for allowing you to bring your daughter to live with us while we’
re expecting our first. We can’t let what other people think stop us from doing what is right.”
Unable to muster anything other than a spurious argument, he changed tactics. “What about your family,
Laura?” Remington asked with a great deal of concern.
She put a hand to her forehead and scrunched up her eyes as she thought about it. Finally, she lifted that
same hand and gestured. “We’ll tell them the same thing we tell the media--that she’s yours. If any of
them are smart enough to ask questions, we’ll be honest but until then, the story will stand. Mother won’
t question it, although I’m sure I’ll hear about it.” Laura sighed. “I’m not looking forward to that
discussion … but I doubt Frances and Donald will argue. Kate might ask, and Murphy is going to give
you hell. How much you tell him is up to you.”
Remington rubbed the back of his neck. “I’d rather not lie to your family, Laura. It doesn’t seem right
to keep them in the dark.”
“Rei, my mother is the biggest gossip in Southern California. If you tell her the truth, it will be in the
newspapers by the next morning. Besides, if Siobhán lets us adopt her, we won’t be lying about being
her parents. Look at it this way: if you tell everyone that Siobhán is your cousin, the first questions
people will ask are ‘Who are her parents?’ and ‘Why did you get custody?’ The answers can only lead
straight back to Carlisle and O’Callaghan, if anyone starts digging. If you tell everyone that she’s your
daughter and that her mother passed away recently--and that we went to Ireland to get her three months
ago--then the only question anyone will have is why we didn’t mention her in all the rounds of interviews
we did. But the reasonable answer to that is that you wanted to protect her after having lost her mother
and the fright of nearly losing her father so soon afterward.”
Admiring her sensibility, his expression lightened. “Once again I see how you pulled off ‘Remington
Steele’ in the beginning.” He’d always appreciated her audacity in pulling off such an enormous
deception.
She gave him a wry grin. “Come now; you know it’s all about the initial presentation. In a few months,
no one will even think of questioning us. With our names as Siobhán’s parents and the records sealed, it
will cut the paper trail short if anyone tries to investigate. Siobhán will know the truth. Anyone who
wants to know more will have to ask one of us or her. And in ten years none of this will matter, and she
can be as public as she wants to be about her background.”
“True.”
Deciding she was finished, Laura rose again and leaned out on the terrace, enjoying the night breeze and
thinking that life with Remington never ceased to be interesting.
He followed, surrounding her with his arms and laying his cheek against her hair, wondering how they
were going to deal with this too. It had only been a handful of days since he’d begun to let go of the guilt
and anger over what he’d done to her and here already, something else appeared out of his past to
threaten the happiness they’d finally found together.
Two years, he thought. Was that all they were going to be given? He knew he didn’t deserve even that,
but Laura, on the other hand, deserved a lifetime of happiness. Inadvertently, he squeezed Laura a little
too hard and she looked over her shoulder in surprise.
“What is it?” She could see he was upset and turned to brush her fingers through the lock of hair that fell
over his forehead. “Remington?”
His jaw clenched and he pressed his lips to her forehead. “I ask too much of you, Laura.” Closing his
eyes, he could only clutch her to him.
He then opened them in surprise when she chuckled, low and long. Meeting his eyes, she smiled again.
“Yes, well, it’s not as if I haven’t ever demanded anything of you. You changed your profession, your
name and your marital status for me.”
His lips twitched. “Laura, bringing in a fifteen-year-old cousin that we are going to pass off as my
daughter doesn’t compare.”
“She’s just an innocent kid caught up in a bad situation, Rei. Would I have asked for this situation
yesterday? No. Will I turn her away? Absolutely not.”
“But you’re pregnant, Laura. I can’t ask this of you.”
“Why not, damn it?” She shook her head in irritation. “We said we were ready to start a family. What
does it matter if we have a baby or a teen or both? We know changes have to be made--both at home
and at the agency. So what if we have to make them sooner rather than later?”
Remington was utterly astonished at Laura’s attitude. Letting go of her, he leaned against the railing in
wonder while he stared at his wife. Her rock-solid confidence wasn’t a sham. He could see it in the easy
way she held herself and the relaxed expression on her face. Slowly, one corner at a time, his mouth
turned up. “Well then, perhaps we’ll make the best of it.”
Laura sat at the table and reached for her skimpy glass of wine before giving him a wide smile. “We
will."
29 October 2009
Chapter Five: Discoveries