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“ Mildred!”…” Mildred”. Mrs Remington Steele shouted across her desk at the secretary in the other room.Mildred Krebs, unwavering secretary, assistant, and detective in training at the Remington Steele detective agency.She started working for the agency as a pure stroke of luck.She was pursuing Mr Steele for missing tax returns and inaccuracies. In her zeal to close the case, she lost her job for dereliction of duty.As luck had it, Laura was looking for a new receptionist; Murphy Michaels and Bernice Fox left a few months prior, pursuing their dreams in other cities.Mildred was then unemployed, so she was offered the job and gladly accepted.It has been nonstop excitement since she stepped into that role.Pursuing would-be murderers or thieves, unraveling embezzlement schemes, hiding in the middle of the night to catch a cheating spouse, or producing proof of some other nefarious activity proved to be both exciting and unnerving. A little less than a year prior, Mildred was the victim of a kidnapping. She tried to help a friend retrieve his dog and became the victim of a deranged Interpol agent on the hunt for a famous thief.As per her nature, Mildred didn’t fuss too much about her sore bones or scrapes and bruises. She refused to go to the emergency room, saying that a good night's sleep and a quiet weekend would suffice.She started having problems sleeping; night sweats began waking her up; she became frightened quickly and started asking the building security guard to walk her to her car every evening.From there, it turned into anxiety during office hours and sometimes panic attacks. She finally decided to see a doctor but kept it from the Steele’s.She was able to attend her appointments during lunch or after work. As time went by, the doctor wanted her to do various tests and ultimately discovered some problems with her heart. As the visits became more frequent, she had to ask for extra long lunches that turned into a no-show on many afternoons. Laura was curious, but when she asked, Mildred denied anything was wrong and promised to be more professional and adhere to her schedule. Laura would have never used any discipline against Mildred, even if she would miss work day after day or slack off at the office as much as her husband. She had become a surrogate mother for both. And she loved them as if they were her children. On the day in question, Laura asked her to have the photograph ready to show to their latest client.It was a relatively straightforward case that only took a few phone calls and one stakeout to resolve.Art Hilth was due to arrive at 2 pm that afternoon to review the evidence against one of his employees at his luxury car dealership in the heart of Beverly Hills. When Mr Steele walked through the door that morning, Mildred greeted him with her usual smile and asked him if she could leave and run some errands before her lunch hour. “ But certainly Mildred… Is Mrs Steele in her office?” “ Yes, Chief… she is on a call with the police about an old case.”Remington walked into his office to hang up his raincoat and immediately opened the connecting door to Laura’s office.She was sitting in her chair facing the window while talking on the phone.He slowly approached her from behind and, with a very delicate hand, moved her long hair away from her neck, where he laid a soft kiss.Laura’s lips turned up into an amused smile.He continued to kiss her neck until she turned around to face him.“ Captain Thomas, may I put you on hold for just one minute?… My husband just walked into my office!”Without waiting for an answer, she pressed the hold button on the telephone.“ Can you please, please be patient? I’m on the phone with the police.Go in your office, and when I’m done, I’ll talk to you…ok?”“ On one condition… one kiss!”He reached down, grabbed her face with his hands, and slowly took her lips. She moved away from that kiss, breathing slightly faster than usual. She kept her eyes on his, then slowly turned to face the window and resume the phone call.“ Sorry about that, Captain.” A few minutes went by, and Laura ended the call.She leaned back in her chair with a worried expression on her face.She stood up and walked into her husband’s office.She went and sat heavily on the couch, causing him to lift his face toward her.She turned her head upward and sighed loudly. “ Remember Wally, the deranged building manager who stalked me a few years ago?”“ How can I forget?… That bloody bugger gave us nightmares for months afterward!”She turned her face toward him.“ Yes, well, that Bugger has escaped from the mental institution he was at in Oregon three days ago. Captain Thomas said that, for now, he is on the loose. “He is on the loose?” Remington said, folding his newspaper and slamming it on the desk.He stood up as a rush of anger took over him.“ What kind of bloody mental institution lets a dangerous psychopath escape?… If he comes near you, I will break his blasted neck.”Laura watched her husband peising back and forth in the large office.She extended her arms and waved him over to sit next to her.He went and sat down, sighing heavily.“ I can still see that…that shrine he had in his apartment. And remember how many nights we spent on the phone because neither of us could fall asleep.” he grabbed Laura's hand.“I remember how you ran into my arms when I arrived at your place. How shaken up you were…I don't like to see you afraid, Laura. I am not going to let him get close this timeLaura leaned her head on his shoulder and took a deep breath. She always felt safe in his arms They stayed in that position until a knock on the door brought both back to reality.Remington stood up and opened the door.“ How can I help you, sir?”He turned his head towards his wife, giving her a confused look.“ Art Hilth… I have a 2 o'clock.”Laura jumped up from the sofa and ran to the door.“ Mr Hilth…come in… our receptionist didn't announce you.”She said, looking at Mildred's empty desk.“ There was no one at the desk…I just assumed you were busy.”“ Mr Hilth, please sit on the couch… would you like something to drink? Coffee, tea, water?”“ Coffee would be great, thank you. “ “ Mr Steele and I will be right back,” and they exited the office.Laura waited until they were in the kitchen.“Where is Mildred?… I gave her an assignment. Now I have a client but not the evidence I need!” said Laura with more vexation than she wanted to convey.“ This morning, she asked to take an early lunch…but she should be back by now,” Remington said, pouring the coffee in two mugs.Laura's eyes narrowed her husband. “ Since you told her it was okay to leave, you got to find me the pictures I need for mister Hilth. Now be a good husband and get us that coffee.”Laura returned to her client while Remington poured the coffee into three mugs in the kitchen area. As he was busy preparing the tray, he heard the phone ring. He continued with his task, ignoring the piercing ring. After about six rings, the phone stopped. He entered his office and set the tray on the coffee table.“ Thank you, dear,” said Laura, mastering her best “ Loving wife” voice.”She gave him a sugary smile.“ Remington dear, would you be so kind as to fetch me those photographs we took of Mr Hilth’s dealership?”He gave her a harsh look, stuffed his hand in his pocket, and, once more, exited the room.He sat at Mildred’s desk, opening every drawer and cabinet. He went through files on the desk and even looked in the waste basket, but no luck. The phone started ringing again, and with a bit of frustration, he answered.“ Steele here!”He straightened himself as the voice on the other end told him about Mildred's whereabouts. He stood up.“ Thank you,” he said, almost in a daze. He stayed still for an eternity, not knowing how to respond.His hand passed through his hair, he straightened his suit and walked into his office.Laura was absorbed in conversation when he entered. He walked in silence toward his desk and lined on it.Laura turned her face, reading herself to ask him for the photos, but noticed his expression.“ Mr Hilth, will you please excuse me?” she said, standing up and reaching her husband's side.She looked at him. His blue eyes were lost in thought.She put a hand on his arm and asked“ What is the matter? Are you ok?” He looked at her and grabbed her hand in his.“ It was the Hospital; Mildred had a heart attack.”Her eyes open wide in disbelief. She brought her hand to her mouth and walked back toward the couch“ I’m very sorry, Mr…amm Mr?” His name completely disappeared from her mind, replaced by images of Mildred. As her gaze slowly went farther away, Remington stepped in.“ Mr. Hilth, we apologize, but we have an emergency and must cut this meeting short, sir. Let me guide you out.”“ But my dealership? What about the thefts?”“ As soon as we can, we will bring the proof to you personally, sir.”He told him, ushering him hastily out the door. Laura remained still, trying to figure out her next move.Remington quickly walked to his desk, grabbed his coat, keys, and wife’s hand, and exited the office. They had Fred called in the lobby so he could pick them up. About thirty minutes later, the limo pulled up in front of the Emergency Department at Cedar-Sinai Medical Center.Laura and Remington walked quickly to the reception desk.Laura approached the window and tried to ask the receptionist about Mildred.“Excuse me… we are here for Mildred Krabbs.“ The middle-aged woman sitting on the other side of the glass slowly looked up at them.She looked at Laura from behind her narrow glasses. “Are you related to the patient?” she asked, with more than a hint of annoyance.“No, she doesn’t have family in the area. We are her emergency contact. “ “ If you are not family, I can’t let you in.” the woman said matter of factly. “The doctor's office called us; we are the only emergency contact she has in the area.” “ I’m sorry, but it is a rule.” Remington was getting agitated.He shoved his hands in his pockets and, with a scowl on his face, lowered his gaze toward the nurse.“Listen here, love!!!… Mildred is like a mother to me…a mother I have never met. She has saved both my and my wife’s lives several times. So you can understand our insistence in wanting to see her.” The nurse raised her head slowly, meeting his deep blue gaze. She was taken aback for a few seconds by his handsome, chiseled features, then answered.“ I’m sorry, as I already explained to your wife, no visitors outside of Ms Krebbs's family are allowed.”Remington grinned at her, turned his face toward his wife, and pulled her away from the desk.“We are not getting anywhere with this woman, Laura. Let me oil the system a bit…You distract her, and I’ll get us in.”Laura looked up at him with a stern expression.“ Don’t do anything that will get us kicked out for good.”He kissed her cheek, smiled, turned around, walked out of the entrance door, and quickly found a point of entrance. Next to the ambulance entrance, there was a door propped open to allow the janitors to roll in carts filled with laundry.The short man wearing blue scrubs was too busy trying to push and pull carts taller than him to see Remington making his way in the door behind him.He walked down the left corridor; the secret was to look like he belonged there.He passed several office doors, but none looked like a good place to hide while gathering some details for his plan.“ Mr Steele!… Remington Steele?” said a man behind him.Remington turned his head to answer the stranger. “ Do I know you?… Wait…Yes! Dr Robinson.”Remington treated him with his most charming smile.“ what are you doing down here? This is a restricted area?” Dr Robinson said.Remington ponders his response, the ideas scrambling into his head.For some reason, he was having a heck of a time trying to come up with a plausible justification for his behavior. He was distracted. He put a hand on the man's shoulder.“ We are here as emergency contact for Mildred!Remember Mildred, our receptionist? She had a heart attack this morning. They didn't let us in at the main desk, so…”The Dr looked confused at first, then amicably slapped Remington on the shoulder.“ Say no more…come with me!” Dr Robinson had been a client of the agency a few times.Laura and Remington had to investigate, first a nurse of his for stealing narcotics, then his wife for having an affair with said nurse.He has always been very grateful to the Steele’s for saving him enormous money from a nasty divorce. The two men walked to an elevator inside the emergency department.“ Dr, my wife is still at the nurse's desk…can you let her in, please?The doctor approached a large set of fire doors and punched a bottom to open them.“ Mrs Steele!” he shouted to get her attention.“ Nurse…is ok. They are allowed in.”He waved his hand toward Laura to come in.Remington grabbed his wife's hand and held it. They came to a room with a wall of glass sliding doors completely open. The muffled sound of alarms from multiple monitors around Mildred’s bed surprised anyone who approached. Laura entered first, keeping a tight grip on Remington's hand.The sight of Mildred lying on her back with thin tubes entering her nose and arms left Remington speechless.The rhythmic sound of the respirator was a toon with the heart monitor. A soft alarm indicated the low fluid level in a bag hung high on an IV pole behind the bed. Laura let go of Remington's hand, approached the bed, grabbed Mildred’s hand, and laid her cheek on it.The feeling of being powerless caught her by surprise Remington stood still at the foot of the bed. He had his hand in his pocket and kept his eyes trained on the monitor that showed Mildred’s heart rhythm.His eyes were wet with tears that struggled to come out. With all he had seen and experienced before, this was the hardest thing to watch.His Mildred, the woman who had stormed into his life and had worshiped the ground he walked on, and even after finding out that he was a fraud, she still called him “boss.” She had become the mother he never had. After his painful revile, she talked him out of making a terrible mistake with Daniel. She had saved the agency from being audited. She had been an invaluable help to Laura and an absolute delight to know as a person. A wave of raw emotion washed over him. He sighed heavily and walked toward the window. Leaning on the windowsill, he switched his gaze to his wife. She was still sitting next to the bed, with her head softly leaning against Mildred limp hand.He saw her emotions on the verge of spilling over in bitter tears.He grabbed a toothpick from his pocket, put it between his teeth, and continued looking out the window at the passing clouds. In the years, He had seen Laura cry only three times. One was for an old journalist she first met in college, the second for the bombing of her house, and the last when they were running from Major Descoin.And here they were again…those tears that pulled at his heartstrings. Voices that were coming from the hallway woke them up from their reveries.A tall woman in a white lab coat walked Into the room, followed by three younger people, all scribbling on clipboards. “ Mildred Krebbs…56 years old female,”Steele, standing behind Laura at this point, addressed the woman. “ Are you the doctor?”“I am Dr. Gonzales, chief of cardiology; you must be Mildred's family?”Steele stood up and shook the doctor's hand, followed by Laura, who stayed uncharacteristically silent.“ A well… yes, in a matter of speaking. I am Remington Steele, and this is my wife, Laura.Hm…doctor, please tell us about Mildred condition!.”“ Yes well…As you know, she suffered a massive heart attack. She is lucky to be alive.She was technically dead in the ambulance. The paramedic brought her back to life but her heart took a severe beating…A quarter of her heart was damaged irreparably. There is a new procedure where we install a pacemaker that will help Mildreds heart function correctly.I have to warn you…it a very dangerous and lengthy surgery. But if we don't intervene now, Mildred will not survive Laura turned to face her husband and sat back on the chair as tears started to show on her cheeks.
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“Fred, drop us off at the office; we will drive our cars home from there.”Says Laura, sitting in the back of the old Limousine.The doctor told the couple that the surgery would happen only after Mildred's vital signs improved. Her blood pressure was too low, and her breathing too shallow.Remington decided to go home and return the next day.They walked the white and sterile hallway to the exit in complete silence.The outside welcomed them with the bright colors of an LA sunset, quickly giving way to the dark and starry blanket of the night.Remington noticed Laura shivering in the evening's light, cool breeze. He wrapped his jacket around her shoulders and gave her a warm hug.He held her in silence, sensing his wife's tough exterior cracking under the weight of that awful day.The Limo pulled up in front of the Century building, and the couple exited.“ Thanks, Fred. Have a good night, mate,” Remington said, giving their driver the all-clear to go.The two of them walked up to the elevator. Remington put his arms around his wife in a firm hug.She kept her gaze downward, embarrassed by the tears she couldn't hold back.He lifted her chin, as usual, to look into her eyes.He wanted to see her emotions, usually kept under lock and key.For a woman who demanded “ words” from him, she was not using much of her own.“ Do you want me to go up with you, Laura?”She didn't respond right away, and she still avoided his eyes.“ Laura, everything will be ok…scouts honor. “She looked into his eyes at the sound of those words and smiled at that off-the-cuff remark. His blue eyes, paired with that incredibly bright smile of his, constantly broke down her barriers.“ No, I will be much quicker if I go alone. Go home; I’ll be along shortly.”With those words, she kissed Remington and entered the elevator. She punched the button for the eleventh floor and closed her eyes as she lined against the wall.He waited for her to disappear behind the polished doors and went to the car garage. As he reached the Auburn, he checked his pockets for the car keys and noted an extra key chain in his hands. “Laura’s keys!”He made a quick U-turn on his heels and returned to the main lobby. He pushed the call button for the elevators and impatiently awaited for it to arrive.As the doors opened, he quickly entered and pushed the number for his floor.Laura arrived at the agency doors and noticed the security guard heading her way.“ Good evening Ralph, I’m glad you are still here. I have some work to finish in my office. Would you be so kind as to open the door for me? I think I left the keys with Mr Steele.”The man approached her with his usual bright smile.Over the years, he came to expect an encounter with, as he calls her, “his favorite detective.” More than once, he had to help her to get in the car or let her in the office late at night for an urgent case. He was genuinely happy to hire about the merrier between the elegant Mr Steele and Ms Holt; he made it a point to deliver flower tonLaura’s office the moment they returned from their honeymoon.“ A Mrs. Steele, of course, I’ll open the doors, and when you're done, we will walk down together to your car…By the way, I didn’t see Mildred this evening. Did she leave early for her bowling league?”Laura hesitated at first, then, taking a deep breath, told the man what had happened.He seemed genuinely concerned.“ I didn't know…I’m very sorry…she has become a dear friend.”She smiled at him and patted him on the shoulder.As she entered the agency lobby, she turned towards the guard and distractedly said“ Ralph, you don’t have to trouble yourself to accompany me back to my car; I’ll manage.”“ No trouble, I am a bit bored this evening. I have a young man who was just hired, and he has been a real busy bee…I’m left with just double-checking after him…Well, if you need me, hauler. Good evening, Mrs Steele.”Laura opened the doors to her office, distracted by a hundred different thoughts.She circled her desk, leaning her hip to one of the corners, and looked outside her window at the shimmering lights of the city and the ones more softly over the hills.She took a deep breath, dried the tears that wet her eyes, and sat before the paperwork that she said: “Needed to be completed.”She knew it was an excuse to be left alone.For some reason, a little sliver of her wild side remains with her even after marrying the man who turned her world upside down and, to this day, left her speechless with his ability to drive her crazy while making her feel loved, needed, and cherished.She did not want to hurt his feelings by telling him she wanted to spend a few hours alone.She felt responsible, in some crazy way, for Mildred’s health.It was silly thinking that she could have caused her harm, but logic played no part in this equation at that moment.She looked around her desk to try and make sense of some of the mess left there that afternoon when she noticed an envelope in her inbox out of the corner of her eye.When she left the office, she was sure it was empty. She reached for it, opened it, and, to her surprise and shock, found the pictures she had been looking for that afternoon to show Mr Hilt.She had gotten so angry when she couldn't find them that she let her temper rise and decided to talk sternly with Mildred.But now, all that was mute. The pictures had always been available…it was she who had not been thorough enough and assumed the worst.She threw the pictures down and leaned her head, banging her fists on the desk.As she lifted her head, she noticed a person standing outside the glass doors in the hallway, looking in.She stood up quickly to see who that was, but by the time she got to the door, whoever that was had disappeared. She stood in the hallway for a few seconds to ensure she didn't just imagine it, then returned to her desk.The day had worn on her, so she decided to pack up and go home to her husband, who undoubtedly had cooked her dinner and poured her a glass of wine.While filling her briefcase with photos and other documents, she heard her name being called from the lobby.“ Laura, baby, it’s me…I have your car keys. You might need them to come home.”When she heard his unmistakable musical Irish accent, she dropped what she was doing and walked over to his harm“ I thought I needed time tonight, but I was wrong; I need you close now.”“ Laura, darling, did something happen?” he said, tightening his arms around her.“ The durn pictures, they were in my office this whole time…I feel awful.She could die, and the last thing I said to her was to get her work done…The work was done…she always did her job…I’m an awful person, Remington.” Laura said, borrowing her face in his chest.“ Laura, don't be silly, she had a heart attack…come on, let's go home, we can watch the all-night revival marathon of the horror cult classic mute film “The hunchback of Notredame” RKO picture 1939… Laura… no one can beet Moreen O’Hara’s look of pure terror at the sight of the poor disfigured Quasimodo played splendidly by the inimitable Charles Laughton…What do you say, Mrs Steele?“ As enticing as the offer is, I’ll let you fall asleep in front of the tube, and I’ll just work a bit…diel? “Laura walked back into her office to retrieve her briefcase.Remington was standing with his back to the open door of the agency when a strong hand grabbed him from behind and, covered his mouth with a handkerchief laced with chloroform and dragged his limp body away.The assailant laid Remington's body just inside the stairwell.“ Congratulations are in order, Mr Steele. You finally married a lovely girl…Dad would have wanted to be here to tell you how pleased he was for you two love birds, but unfortunately, he passed away in that Rutten hospital.You know, he spent the last two years in that insane asylum, mainly thinking of you.”The figure, dressed entirely in black, stood and walked by the door.“Walter, the ball is in your hand; see Mrs Steele.”“ I have told you time and time again,” the other assailant said, pushing the first one against the wall. “ Don’t say my name out loud.”His hand tight around her neck, unwilling to realize its grip,“ Ok, Ok…let’s just get a move on. Mr. Steele is going to wake up soon.”Right at that moment, the radio hummed into life.“ Smith…come in, Smith…do you copy?”“ Yes sir, I copy,” the man said, cursing silently to IHimself.“I need you downstairs right away. One of my keys broke. I need to get in the office.”“ Right Away, Ralf,” he answered, quickly putting his radio back in the holster.He looked up at his partner and waved dismissively before walking out into the hallway.“ Tonight is off; I’ll contact you. “Then he turned the corner toward the elevators.Laura searched her pocket for the keys that had just been given to her. She put her paperwork under one arm, the bag by the handle, and closed the office door.She stopped in her tracks“Hon, I’m going to use the restroom she said without waiting for his answer.Remington woke up with the flavor of dirt on his tongue and a very pronounced sense of nausea, which was accentuated by his struggles to stand up.Getting to his knees, he reached around to feel the wall under his fingers.He stood up and leaned against the door in front of him. He took a deep breath and opened the door to the empty hallway.With an unsteady gait, he arrived in the agency lobby when Laura was about to lock his office door.“O my goodness, what happened to you?”She ran to him, grabbing his face with her hands. His eyes were still puffy, and he could not entirely focus on his wife.His hair, usually perfect under any circumstances, was messy and ruffled.“ I think I was assaulted, knocked unconscious with something, and left in the stairwell. When I came too, I was alone with my face to the ground.”“Chloroform, I can smell it?” she said to him, trying to comb his hair as best she could.“ Yeah, I think so. I still have a sweet taste in my mouth and the smell of dry cleaner in my nose.”Laura grabbed the phone and dialed the number to reach Ralph.“ Ralph, Laura Steele here.. “But Remington's hand stopped her.“ Laura…I’m ok, but I don't want to spend the next three hours telling and retelling my story to the police. Let’s have Ralph escort us to the car and go home.Laura felt uneasy; her brain was telling her to take the assault seriously and have her husband seen by a doctor.But her body was tired and stressed, and that little voice in her head often put her in dangerous situations.(Laura, don't be silly; you don't need the police you can solve this on your own)She grabbed Remington by the arm and had him sit on the couch.She then sat next to him and tried to decipher whether her husband was okay or just trying to keep her calm.“Are you sure you are feeling ok? Chloroform can make you feel sick for a while.”Remington's hand rose to caress his wife's cheek, and he lowered his lips to hers.“ Let’s go home; I promise that if I don't feel well, you can tell me I Told You So!”Laura pressed her fingers to her temple and nodded in agreement. Then, she stood and walked to the desk to pick up the phone.“Ralph, please meet Mr Steele and me by the roof door. I need to check something out.Mrs Steele…give me ten minutes, and I’ll be up there.”“ You said that you woke up in the stairwell?”Laura grabbed Remington's hand and led him to the emergency exit door, opened it, and started to examine the space around herShe was hoping to find any clue as to who could have attacked her husband.Remington felt a slight dizziness and slowly leaned against the door frame.Laura turned and went to stand next to him, holding him by his arm.“ Well, to be thorough, we should check every floor of this building, but considering your present state, we will just go up to the roof.Ralph and I will quickly look around, and then I’ll take you home…let’s have you sit on the bench while we wait for the elevator.”She worried about him; over the years, he had sustained an enormous amount of injuries, and per every incident, he was probably the world's worst patient. Several Head wounds, no doubt accompanied by concussions. Broken legs and arms. Cuts, bruises, broken ribs, and a very nasty injury caused by an iron fence in London a year prior. She almost lost him then; he was skin and bones and hadn't slept much while running after and from his past.She thought often about the fact that he would have probably died if she didn't find him when she did.The simple ride up on the elevator caused him some discomfort. He started feeling dizzy again and leaned against the wall, letting out a bated breath.Laura stepped next to him and grabbed his right hand.“ your hand feels clammy.” Looking at his eyes now kept shot“We will just be a minute, and then I’ll take you home.I will call Dr Diaz and see if he can come to the house to see you.”As soon as she finished her sentence, the elevator stopped, and the big heavy door opened.Laura stepped out into a dark and cavernous space. There were no offices, doors, or defined rooms. It was a waste of perfectly viable living space, she thought.A soft yellow light blinked erratically above the elevator's doors.She reached into her purse and extracted the trusty flashlight.“ Sit here and wait for me. I won't be but a minute,” she said, helping him to rest on a bench at the base of the stairs.She kissed his cheek softly, gently moving a wild lock of hair from his forehead.She started up the stairs, waving the flashlight side to side, making sure she saw everything.“ Laura?” Steele's voice echoed in the ample space.“ I’m here; what is going on?” she answered, raising her already tight shoulders to an upright position“ Just. Checking, “ he answered, laying his head backward to rest on the wall. As he closed his eyes, a strained grin formed on his lips. Forever mischievous, Mr Steele.Laura couldn't help but smile at that remark, which was typical of the man behind the unflappable Remington Steele.She had learned that it was his way of keeping control of a situation that seemed grim at best at the moment.She continued in her search.Arriving in front of the big metal door that opened out to the roof, she looked and touched the hinges. The old door hadn’t been used much, but the years left indelible marks on the paint and that field, and it cracked in all places.She looked down and noticed a white paper wedged between the door and the floor.She bent down to grab it, but it was stuck.The elevator doors opened, and Ralph and his new apprentice walked out.You check the floor while I open the door to Mrs Steele.The younger man reached for his flashlight and walked toward the dark space, ensuring Remington could not see his face.Wally Donovan had grown a beard and colored it black. He shaved his head and always wore a cap.He knew Steele never really met him or had time to remember his features.He quickly walked away towards the light switches.He turned on all the lights at once, making Remington flinch.The migraine pounding in his temples would not tolerate all that light.“ Mrs Steele,” called out Ralph as he started walking up the stairs.“It's good you're here. Can you please open the door? But be careful! A piece of paper is stuck at the bottom; make sure it doesn't fly away…I want to look at it.”Ralph did as he was asked.He slowly opened the door, but the friction from the wind made the task a bit difficult.“ Hurry, Mrs Steele, or the wind will catch it before you.”Laura quickly dropped to her knees and, by the skin of her nose, was able to catch the piece of paper.~HOLT INVESTIGATIONLaura Holt~“ Would you still like to check the roof, Mrs Steele?”Laura's brow furrowed, and the little vain on her temple that her Mr. Steele enjoyed teasing and her temper was now evident.She brought her two fingers to the bridge of her nose before looking up, and without answering the old guard, she walked out onto the hot roof.The wind was mighty strong and most likely had blown away any physical clue.She took a few quick steps toward the roof's edge and quickly decided it was a waste of time.She stepped inside, looking straight ahead at the brightly illuminated space.“ Thank you, Ralph, we are leaving now.”She rushed down the stairs to find her husband, who was covering his head with his arms.“ Are you ok? We can go home now.Why are you covering your head?”“ That bloody light, Laura…my head is going to explode.”Laura gently grabbed his arms and made him stand up.“Come on… just keep your eyes closed. I’ll drive us home,” she said while kissing him.She turned her head to look behind her. She saw Ralph walk toward the other guard and waved at them, wishing them good night.They entered the elevator, and Steele immediately grabbed the metal handlebar, leaned against the wall, and closed his eyes again.Laura pushed the button marked garage. As exhaustion started to creep in, she leaned her head on Remington's strong shoulder and stared at the business card in her hand.“ What is that you're holding, Laura? Asked Remington, having opened his eyes when he felt Laura’s head touch his shoulder.“A business card from the first agency I had ever opened.” She answered, her eyes never moving away from the rectangle of paper.At 6:30 a.m., the Century City offices started to see the first of many employees rush in to start the day. The guards for the morning shift took their posts while Ralph and Wally ended the long night.Wally Donovan stopped his car in front of Steele’s new residence.He started at the dark windows of the residence from inside his vehicle.He was holding a photo of a young, newly appointed detective, Laura Holt, in his hands.He kept looking up at the windows and back at the photo, getting more and more agitated as the thoughts of the last time he had seen her filled his deranged mind.“ This time, I will not fail Ms Holt.” He said out loud as a crazy smile was growing on his face
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The wobbly headlights of a black sedan made their way through an old industrial complex. It was barely out of LA city limits, well known for the hordes of homeless drug addicts that gather in the area at dusk. The car pulled into a would-be garage. Wally closed the car door behind him and went up the stairs to his house, If it can be called that. The abandoned building was designed to host a variety of businesses and apartments. As soon as he arrived in LA before he moved into at the address where Laura lived, he searched and found a private place where he could be alone with his demons. He found the ideal place, rent-free and abandoned. After escaping the Oregon mental hospital, he headed straight for his current residence. He’s always been good at fixing things; his mother made sure he would grow up knowing how to fix everything, from electrical to plumbing to carpentry; he could fix it all. The photos of Laura returned to cover an entire wall in front of his bed. He would talk to Laura if she were there every evening. He would get dressed for work and kiss her goodbye like it was normal. The pictures Laura found in his apartment a year ago or so prior were immediately destroyed after Remington convinced Detective Jarvis to get rid of them. The police wanted to keep them as evidence, but Remington was more than a little troubled by their existence. They made a special trip to see the detective even though he was still recovering from his injury. Jarvis resisted a little, but he could not argue when Steele mentioned Laura's difficulty coping with the incident. As usual, she played it cool but refused to stay alone in her apartment for almost a month. Remington stayed on her couch until she felt comfortable being alone again. Still, the nightmares didn't hesitate to make themselves known, and Laura reacted by driving to The Rossmore and climbing into bed with Remington. He was still recovering, and the pain meds made him docile and innocuous, sort of! His harm, habitually, ended up enveloping her during the night. The first night this happened, she struggled; everything in her told her to run, except that his warm embrace kept away the nightmares and the thought of Wally. She woke up that morning, turned to face him, and watched him sleep before sliding out of bed and off to the agency. He had never asked or hinted that he knew. And so another two months passed before she could return to sleep in her bed, but not before purchasing a gun and pepper spray to keep in her apartment under her pillow. She also went as far as getting one for herself and Remington and insisted they would be professionally trained. She worked hard to keep the demons of Wally away from her day-to-day life. As soon as she and Remington married and made love in Ireland the nightmare dissipated as long as her husband held her in his warm embrace. Wally Donovan, on the other hand, rarely slept unless sedated by pharmaceuticals. After finishing his overnight shifts, he would return home, change out of his uniform, and wander the abandoned buildings nearby. More disturbingly, he sometimes lured homeless addicts or runaways to his lair, promising food or a place to sleep. Once inside, he attacked them and disposed of their bodies. That morning, frustration gnawed at him after a failed attempt to see Laura the previous night. Throwing caution to the wind, he drove to his old apartment and parked nearby. His victim that day was a jazz singer out for a jog. He followed her, waiting for the right moment to strike. Using a taser, he incapacitated her and stuffed her into the trunk of his car. The singer was new to LA, with family overseas, ensuring her disappearance wouldn’t be noticed for weeks. Back in his lair, Wally tied her to a chair. When she regained consciousness, she flinched, her muffled screams useless against the gag he’d secured around her mouth. He sat across from her, silent, watching. As she woke fully, he let out a deep sigh, picked up a syringe filled with a lethal mixture of fentanyl and dirty heroin, and jabbed it into his own arm first. The small dose took him to the edge of oblivion. Then, savoring every second, he injected the rest into her. Later that day, an exhausted Laura unlocked the door of the Spanish-style house she now shared with Remington. She helped him inside and onto the new couch he had insisted on buying—an “abomination” in her eyes, though she secretly appreciated its comfort during his movie marathons. She hurried to the bathroom to fetch a warm compress for his eyes, then glanced at the blinking answering machine. Several messages had piled up. The first was from Mildred’s sister, updating them on her travel plans. The next two were from the gardener and electrician. The last was from Mildred’s former partner at the IRS, Bumpers Harrison. “Uh, yes, hello. This is Harrison Bumpers. Mildred and I were supposed to grab dinner, but she didn’t show up, and I can’t seem to reach her. Let me know if everything’s okay.” The warm sting of tears caught Laura off guard. She quickly wiped her face, whispering, “Pull yourself together, Laura. For goodness’ sake.” Taking a deep breath, she called Dr. Diaz, their trusted physician. “Mrs. Steele,” he said firmly, “chloroform inhalation is no joke. He should be at the ER. There could be lasting effects.” “I agree, Doctor, but you know how stubborn Mr. Steele is. Please come take a look at him. If you think he needs the hospital, I’ll make him go.” Dr. Diaz sighed. “Laura, I can’t say no to you. I’ll be there in forty-five minutes.” True to his word, Dr. Diaz arrived promptly with his assistant in tow. “Remington, how are you feeling?” the doctor asked, examining him thoroughly. “My bloody head’s splitting, my throat’s sore, and my eyes feel like they’re on fire,” Remington grumbled. “Not surprising,” Dr. Diaz said. “I’ll give you something for the pain and some drops for your eyes. Plenty of fluids—and by that, I mean water, Mr. Steele.” Laura smiled, gently squeezing Remington’s hand. “We hear you, Doctor.” After the doctor left, Laura dimmed the lights, lowered the bedroom temperature, and ensured her husband was resting in a cool, dark room. Then she returned to sit beside him, carefully straddling his lap. “Laura,” he groaned weakly, “as much as I always want you, I can’t… perform… my husbandly duties right now.” “Remington,” she said with a smirk, “shut up.” Her hands moved to his temples, massaging the pain away as the day finally drew to a close.