Chapter 7:
The stimulating coffee smell awoke all the sensitivity in her brain. Opening her eyes, she knew she was alone again. He'd be up making breakfast, the same as the day before. She went to the bathroom, poured some water over her face, brushed her teeth, and went to meet him in the kitchen. "You woke up early again! Now that you are in charge, you seem to be picking up my habits…" But he wasn't there. "Mr. Steele? Where are you?" She peered through the kitchen door, but he wasn't there… She noticed there were now three boxes on the counter. "Mr. Steele, please don't…" she begged to herself. She approached the boxes, and beside the new one, was a note. His note, this time. She took it in her shaking hands, and read it: "Laura: I found the box at the door this morning. As I told you yesterday, I am the target, but you are the one capable of disentangling this mess. The last thing I want is to put you in danger because of me. I know we work better together, but this time I am in charge. I have the decision. We'll work together, but from separate fields. You will know about me. I promise. P/S: I have something I have to confess: I have your golf glove, Laura. I have it with me. I took it from your back pocket while you were studying your last shot last Saturday. It was my last chance to have a date with you that Saturday. Sorry about that. I'll return it to you on our pending dinner. Promise me you'll be my date next Saturday. Take care. Remington Steele."
"You didn't have to do that," she sadly whispered to herself. "We will have a date, Mr. Steele. I promise." She took the note from the box, and read it: "He looked exactly the same as when he was alive, only he was vertical. The picture's over. Now I have to go and put it on film."
It looked just like a death warrant. That was why he'd left. He didn't want her near him. He didn't want her in danger by being at his side. He needed her solving the case, but safe. He cared about her. She reclined herself on the counter and closed her eyes. "Just behave, Laura. He is in charge, and he asked you to stay focused." She would do it. They would get out of this mess.
The morning at the office started the same as every day. Mildred was already there when Miss Holt arrived. "Good morning, Mildred," Miss Holt while walking straight to her office. She closed the door behind her.
"This is not a good start," thought Mildred, noticing that something was missing. Not something, but someone. Mr. Steele didn't arrive with Miss Holt. They were supposed to be together, just for precaution. Miss Holt's face had been different from the day before. She looked worried, but at the same time, she looked tired and sad. Mildred didn't waste a minute and went to Laura's office to ask her about Mr. Steele's whereabouts. She knocked but didn't receive an answer. Then she opened the door. Laura wasn't there. The connecting door was opened, and Miss Holt was at his desk, staring at all the papers sprawled through the desktop. "Miss Holt, Laura, why did you arrive alone? Where is the boss? You two were supposed to be together. Did anything happen last night?"
Laura lifted up her eyes from the papers to the secretary, and trying to find some strength, she told her about the note. "Another box arrived this morning, Mildred. But this time, to Mr. Steele's home. I slept there last night because it felt safer than staying at the loft. He woke up earlier than me this morning, found the box, and read the message. Then he left. He wrote a note telling me that he was the target and that he didn't want to expose me unnecessarily to any danger. He left but told me to stay focused on the case, and that with both of us working together but from separate locations, we will find the solution to this mess..."
"Well, he must have had a good reason to do what he did, Miss Holt. You know that I am here with you for whatever you need. I'll bring you your coffee, and we will be ready to start our work with all these papers."
"I know, Mildred. Thank you."
Mildred left a thoughtful Laura looking at the message she had in her hand. It was the last one. She put it on the desk, and with a sigh, went to her office to hang her coat and to get ready to start the day. They didn't have any time to lose. There were a lot of things to work out.
Mr. Steele reclined on his sofa, waiting for the movie to start. He hadn't left Rossmore. He'd hidden at the balcony until she'd gone. He saw her when she woke up and saw her back when she was in the kitchen reading the note. At some point, he feared she would be angry with him. It was the second time he was leaving her for her own good after promising not to do that. But she hadn't been angry, she'd looked resigned. The plan had worked as he'd thought. After a brief moment in the kitchen, Laura'd stood up and had walked to the bedroom with decision. That was the Laura he was expecting to see. He'd never thought he would be grateful to see her in a professional mode under such pressure while leaving him behind her. But he was.
His next step would be to find the movie quoted in the last message… He was thinking about The Trouble with Harry. He didn't have a copy of this one, but after a brief call to the video store, the movie was delivered, and he was ready to start it. It was another Hitchcock movie, but almost a black comedy. The titles appeared on the screen, and all his attention was focused on the case.
Laura was reading the files Mildred had brought the day before. She was working with the building owners list. For the second time, the name Selznick took her attention. She remembered with a sad smile the funny chat they'd shared the previous day about Gone with the Wind, and about Mildred's thoughts. And about how peculiar life was, because at that moment Mildred was the one in front of her, and he wasn't. Laura asked the secretary to investigate the name. Maybe David O. Selznick was the key to solve the case. Mildred did as she was told, and half an hour later she had a complete report about the man. He was a Hollywood producer, and he'd worked in some of Alfred Hitchcock's films. They didn't get along together, and after one of their movies, Selznick won an Oscar competing against a Hitchcock movie for best movie. He got all the credit, and Hitchcock ended with his hands empty. This situation, among others, ended their association. Several years later, they'd seemed to be in good terms again because they'd made more films together.
It was time to make a visit to Selznick Productions, thought Laura. "Mildred, I'm going to make a visit to this company. Hold down the fort until I'm back. Maybe Mr. Steele is sending a message at any point. And please, be careful."
"It's ok, Miss Holt. I'll call you to the limo if I have any news to share."
Laura arrived at the building and went directly to the company's floor. Once there she asked for the director. It was Samuel Selznick, David's son. After she gave some explanations to the secretary and mentioned the name of Fairbanks, the woman finally agreed to announce her. Mr. Selznick received her at his office, and after she'd explained as fast as she could, why she was there, he put himself at her disposition. Mr. Selznick told her that his father association with Hitchcock had been a difficult one. They'd had their ups and downs, but in the end, they'd made a lot of films together. He told her he had been under the impression that Hitchcock never forgave his father for winning the Academy Award for best movie. He felt his films were his masterpieces and was very possessive about them. They talked for some time about other matters, but they didn't seem relevant to Miss. Holt.
Once the visit was over, Laura returned to the office. She asked Mildred to run a search about Alfred Hitchcock. It was the name that was popping up at every step of the way, after all. She wanted to know everything about that mystery man.