The Reason For The Delay.

He checked his watch again, calculated the time in London, took a deep breath and phoned Daniel. "Daniel, it's me. Slight delay. Won't be back this week."

"But you got the gems?" said Daniel.

"Technically, yes."

"You didn't get the gems?"

"I ended up helping to rescue them from a thief."

"Harry, do we have to go right back to the beginning so I can explain to you what a thief does?"

Harry sighed. "It's complicated, Daniel."

"What about Steele? Is he as good as you'd heard?"

"Oh, better. Much better."

"Then come home. Take no chances. Forget the lavulite."

"I have. It's beyond my reach now." said Harry.

"Then why the delay?"

"Other goals present themselves."

"I see. Does she have a name?" said Daniel.

Harry laughed and was a little worried by how fake the laughter sounded. "You know me better than that, Daniel. You know I'm not the type to succumb to a pretty face. As you said, there are pretty faces everywhere, many of them rich, gullible pretty faces. I'm not staying for any soft-headed, romantic reason."

"Harry, I told you before, sound convinced, then you'll be convincing. Are you saying there's no woman involved?"

He hesitated, wishing Daniel wasn't quite so perceptive. Eventually he said, "There is a woman, but I'm not staying for her. She's not my type."

"Not attractive, you mean?" said Daniel.

Harry smiled. "Oh, she's attractive! Beautiful brown eyes! Could be quite captivating, if it weren't for her faults."

"What faults?"

"She's clever, Daniel, probably cleverer than I am, and honest, too."

"Ah, the lure of integrity!"

"No lure at all, Daniel. I don't trust integrity. You know where you are with the seven deadly sins. Once people turn honest, there's no knowing what they'll do."

"You're right to avoid women like that. Intelligent women can sink their hooks deep into a man. The effects of beauty vanish when you close your eyes, but intelligence is there all the time and if a woman intrigues you, an intelligent, honest woman, you're lost."

"Are you speaking from experience?"

"Me? Harry, you know me."

"I sometimes wonder if I do." said Harry.

"So, if it's not for this woman, why are you suddenly so eager to stay in LA?" asked Daniel.

"I have a part to play here. Great place to live, good clothes, very nice lifestyle. I thought I'd take it easy for a while. No work, no worry, just living in quiet luxury at someone else's expense."

"Sounds good." said Daniel.

"Does, doesn't it?" said Harry, "I'll stay until it gets boring, then see you in a few months."

"A few months? That long?"

"Believe me, there's a lot of potential here. Besides, I like the climate."

"And this woman of yours, this ... "

"Laura." said Harry.

"Charming name!"

"Not your type, either, Daniel."

Daniel laughed. "She really is attractive, isn't she?"

"Daniel, stop trying to make it sound as if I'm some lovesick fool! My interests here are purely financial."

"Purely?"

"Absolutely."

"That's better, Harry. You managed a lot more conviction just then."

"Daniel, stop it!" said Harry.

Daniel laughed, "Well, sorry to call your bluff, Harry, but, if it's money you want, I have a plan to get at five million pounds."

"Pounds? Not dollars?"

"Pounds." said Daniel, "There's no immediate rush, if you need time to put anything to bed over there, but, if you're solely thinking of the finances, that's a pretty good offer. So, are you coming home?"

"Soon, Daniel, soon." said Harry.

The End.