A STEELE IN CARMEL

Disclaimer:

Remington Steele and its characters are owned by MTM. No copyright infringement intended. For entertainment purposes only.

Set after Season 4. Bonds of Steele and Season 5 are not in my universe

Chapter 1:

It would be definitely, an interesting week. The call, right before the end of the workday, was unexpected and drove a lot of thrilling but not entirely happy feelings into her.

"…We are going on a trip to Carmel. A sudden case requires our presence there for the rest of the week. Just be ready at 5.00am. Fred will pick us up, and we'll be developing strategies during the trip. Bikinis and tank tops must be your day's attire. Warm days, daiquiris and a beach experience await. I'll let you guess what you should bring for the night. That's up to you…" Then, the line went off. She was not able even to say a word after "Hello…"

Creep! What does he think he is doing? He's not the boss. He doesn't own the agency. He doesn't even drive our cases. The only thing he's committed to is to put all of us under a terrifying tension every time he makes a move. And such a move was this one. Traitor! Who'd guess he was going to do that to Laura Holt, who'd think he was going to do that to Remington Steele! How dare him!

But he was going to have his punishment. A hard and painful punishment. Her mind started to work in overdrive. The annoying fictional boss was going to be hitched in his own web, with his own treacherous tricks.

She started the ending daily routine, stashing solved cases on his desk just to be signed, getting everything ready for the next morning… The next morning: it was going to be a difficult one. She took the agency gun and put it in her purse. Bullets weren't often in it, but she didn't bother to look for them. She turned off the lights of his office and went to her desk.

Maybe a stroll around Ted's would be a good idea. A shot of tequila would help her to plot her devious plan. Grabbing her purse, she closed the door of Remington Steele Investigations, put the key into it, and started her way to the Pub.

The short detour ended with a bit more tequila than what it was prudent to a Monday night. But the happy hour was just starting when she arrived, and one thing led to another. When she looked at her watch, she noticed it was really late. And she wasn't keeping her alcohol like a pro. Time to go home, she thought.

Yet, luck was on her side, because she'd driven to a bar near her final destination. No need for a cab to get home. Only a few steps; then turn the corner and she was there. Just the searching for the door key in her purse turned out to be a very complicated task. Not to mention putting it into the lock. If only she 'd just have a little knowledge about that easy thing of picking locks, or opening doors without the need of a key… but that was his specialty.

After some difficulty, she got finally into the house. Standing right there for a moment, leaning on the back of the door just to reset herself, she turned on the lights, and with a dizzy step, walked herself to the bedroom to start the packing.

T-shirts, shorts, undergarments, sandals, toiletries,…bikinis…Taking a look at the suitcase on the bed, with the attire he'd suggested, she couldn't stop the repeating of the phone call in her mind. The man was unbelievable!

"Maybe I could fake an illness, and stay out of the situation," she thought. But knowing him, he would make a counterattack, and it would be worse for everyone. The guy has such a nerve!

Once the last items were packed, she closed the suitcase and made an exhaustive review of her next moves. She had all settled in her mind. The plan would start in the limo, right at the moment he'll try his first approach. Right now, the pillow was the best friend to connect the dots and seal the strategies. Without thinking, she tumbled onto the bed and fell asleep in an instant.

She awoke the next morning at the sound of the alarm, a headache hammering her head. She turned off the torture device, and got out of the bed, or tried to. The suitcase stashed on the floor, was on her way to the bathroom. It reminded her of the ugly moments that were waiting for her.

Once she was presentable, and her baggage was ready, and near the front door, she poured a cup of coffee, and sat down on the couch. Fury was the new feeling. In the middle of her reverie, she was startled by the doorbell.

"OK. It's time," she said to herself. She stood up, put the cup in the sink, collected her belongings, and started her way to her target.

The sun was just peeking over the horizon. She made her way to the limo, and there he was, standing outside the car in his entire splendor, looking great as always. A huge grin on his face.

"Good morning," he said, putting his hand on the handle to open the door for her, staring at her all the while.

"Hello," she coldly answered, giving the suitcase to Fred to put in the trunk.

"I never thought you'd dare to do this," she told him.

"I allow myself to do a great many things you'd think are dangerous," he responded. "Even including the Agency staff," he added. And opening the car door, he gestured to her to get into the limo.

She did that, and just when she was sitting down, ready to start with her plan, she heard a voice from the front seat:

"Good morning Bernice!" said Laura, without taking her eyes off of the file she was reading. "I can't believe he was ready that early," she added.

At that very moment, Bernice started to realize what was happening.

"Did you receive the message about the attire we'd need?" asked Laura, while Mr. Steele accommodated himself beside Bernice, giving her a gaze full of curiosity.

"We have to be working undercover at the beach until Friday, while Mr. Steele plays his role at the hotel. There have been a series of thefts in the rooms, while the guests are out, and we are trying to find if there is a connection between the surf instructor and the hotel staff, because the thefts happened while the clients were having their surfing lessons."

"I'd never guess you would be taking me on fieldwork with you two," said Bernice, readjusting herself in an attempt to hide her own bewildered surprise.

"Well," said Laura, "two girls on the beach in California, taking surfing lessons from a handsome surfer…I wouldn't call that work, exactly, Bernice. I thought you'd agree."

"You know I absolutely agree. But I'm just curious, why did you let him make the call? "

"Oh, that… We met Mr. Benson at Malibu beach. I was trying to maintain a professional conversation with the client, and Mr. Steele was being awfully distracted with the bikinis at the beach. Realizing it was going to be a bit "awkward" if he'd have to answer a question or make a suggestion to Mr. Benson, I suggested him to go the limo and make the arrangements to the trip with you."

"And what about Murphy? And the Agency?"

"Murphy will deal with the paperwork and background investigations." She looked back through the rearview mirror acknowledging Mr. Steele's reaction to her next words. "We need someone "responsible" to be the front of Remington Steele Investigations, while we are out." She wanted him to feel a bit underrated on purpose.

"So, how are we going to play this one?" asked Bernice

"That Touch of Mink?" was Steele's quick answer, "Doris Day, Cary Grant, Universal Pictures, 1962 … A rich businessman and a young woman are attracted to each other, but he only wants an affair while she wants to save her virginity for marriage…" He made an abrupt stop, feeling he was slipping into dangerous territory

"I think the early hour is getting to you, Mr. Steele," Laura told him, giving an amused look back to Bernice.

"On the contrary, Miss Holt, I think the extraordinary effort I've made to be on time in this car, with my loyal associate and our capable secretary, is clearing my mind to put up some new strategies, and to enjoy work with pleasure during this week. I'll play the Cary Grant role… The rich, sophisticated character, as I am already familiar with that," he stated with a smile.

"I can play the Doris Day role then," said Bernice with a wince, just regretting the chastity part. "But only if you promise that I'll catch a rich and handsome guy to have fun with."

Laura took her eyes off of the files for an instant, and with a smile, she turned back and said, "I think I'll play Laura Holt, California girl, PI, undercover."

He leaned forward to the front seat, and with a seductive voice, looking straight into her eyes, said, "Miss Holt, if that implies you wearing a bikini for the rest of the week, I think that's the best role, you can play, indeed."

With that, he returned to his position on the back seat, wearing a satisfied grin, enjoying the moment.

The rest of the trip passed with them reading files and getting involved with the details of the thefts. While Laura and Mr. Steele's mind were immersed in the case and exchanging strategies, Bernice's was on the content of her purse. She had to think of her own strategy: where to hide the agency weapon safely away from the thief's hands, to leave her free to spend the rest of the week on the hunting for the perfect wealthy, handsome businessman that would lay his feet on Carmel's beach.