Chapter 10

Remington and Laura rode to the office, discussing what little they knew about the case. Remington did his best to fill Laura in on Vic's past jobs as he knew them. On more than one occasion, Laura would interject with questions for clarification. As they rode the elevator to their office, a thought struck Laura. She reached out and grabbed Remington's arm as she uttered, "Why didn't Vic wear gloves?"

Remington scratched his chin, tipped his head to the side, and asked, "What was that, Laura?"

"Vic. I don't understand why he didn't wear gloves. I mean, he had to know the police could trace his fingerprints," she observed.

Together they stepped out of the elevator. Remington tugged his ear twice and politely said hello to the couple walking by them. He held the door open and waved to Bernice with, "Good morning, Ms. Wolfe." He called into Mildred's open office door, "Good morning, Mildred." Without waiting for a reply from either woman, he escorted Laura into his office and dropped down onto the couch. Laura chose to settle herself onto one of the overstuffed chairs across from him.

"Well?" she prompted. She rested one elbow on her knee and waited for his reply.

Remington smoothed his hands on his pant legs and pursed his lips. "Vic was a good thief, don't get me wrong, but when it came to cracking a safe, he never quite got the hang of it with gloves on. He, ah, he used to pull his gloves off, spin the dial, then wipe it all down when he was done," he explained.

"So, he didn't pick up your skillset, in other words," Laura teased with a smile.

"Laura, you cut me to the quick. I spent years mastering that one particular skill, and not everyone can get the knack of it. Vic… well, Vic has other traits better than mine." Remington clutched at his chest dramatically.

Laura gave him a crooked grin. "Why, Mr. Steele, are you admitting you might not be the master criminal I thought you were?"

"On the contrary, Mrs. Steele, I'm merely pointing out the difference in our strengths and weaknesses," he replied with a huff.

Laura raised her eyebrows playfully and asked, "And what weakness might that be?" She leaned forward to get closer to her husband.

Remington sensed his wife was now teasing him and leaned forward to meet her halfway. "Laura, my love, the only weakness I seem to have lately is you," he assured her before he slid his hand along her jawline and pressed his lips to hers. Before he could deepen the kiss, they heard Bernice cough from the doorway. Remington gave her a glare, sat back slowly, and asked, "Ms. Wolfe, what can we do for you?"

Bernice propped her hand on her hip and announced, "The military is here to see you."

"Me?" Remington gasped. "The military?" He looked at Laura, panic written all over his face.

"Did they say what they wanted?" Laura questioned.

Bernice pointed in their direction and stated firmly, "You."

Laura turned her attention back to Remington. She stood slowly and held her hand out for him to join her. "Let's see what the military wants with us," she declared.

Remington nervously scrubbed his face before he rocked to his feet and placed his hand on the familiar spot on her lower back. He straightened his tie nervously, cleared his throat, and exhaled loudly, "All right." He held his breath as the man dressed in full military uniform entered his office. As soon as they made eye contact, he released his breath and smiled at the familiar face. "Sergeant Sanders!" he called happily. "How nice it is to see you again!"

Sergeant Eli Sanders nodded in Laura and Remington's direction, "Well, it's under much better circumstances, I can assure you." He reached his hand out to shake Remington's offered one.

"Thank you, Bernice. We can take it from here." Laura smiled at her long-time friend.

Bernice raised an eyebrow and sized up Sergeant Sanders. "Are you sure? I could stay… just in case you need someone to… watch your back… or his... "

Laura threw her head back and laughed loudly as she gently prodded her friend out of the room. "We'll be safe, I promise." She closed the door and turned back to the men. "What have we done to deserve this visit?" she inquired.

"Please, call me Eli. Now that everything with your father has been resolved, we don't need to be so formal," Eli requested.

Remington swept his hand toward the sitting area. "Care to have a seat, Eli?" Once he was reclined on the couch, Remington sat in one of the chairs. Laura leaned against the arm of the chair and placed her arm around Remington's shoulder.

Eli studied their faces and began, "Mr. and Mrs. Steele, I've come to ask you for help."

"Help? You need our help?" Laura responded immediately.

"Yes. You see, I'm getting deployed to the Middle East next week, and well... I've come to ask you to do something for me," Eli continued. He yanked nervously on the sleeves of his uniform jacket.

Remington cast his eyes upward in Laura's direction before he nodded. "I'm sure Mrs. Steele would agree to help. After all, you did keep her father safe for how many years? What is it you need us to do?"

Eli clasped his hands together and explained, "I know I mentioned when we first met, Harry was going to be retiring soon, and your father's case was most likely going to be the last mission he was assigned to."

"That's right. How is Harry?" Laura smiled and tilted her head.

"He's good. Fully retired and ready to live the life he deserves. That's why I'm here," Eli offered. Remington crossed his legs and sat back. He lifted his hand and gestured for Eli to continue. "Harry… he's a good dog… follows commands without delay, did everything that was asked of him, no matter the danger. But for some reason, when he was around you two, I don't know how to explain it…" Eli paused. He held his hand up and suggested, "It's like the instant you met, he took to you. Like he was supposed to be with you."

Remington gave him a crooked grin and stated, "Well, we appreciated the attention he gave."

"That's just it. He wasn't commanded to do that. When you sat down, I tried to call him off, but you insisted he was fine. And then when Mrs. Steele and John went outside, Harry was commanded to stay with John," Eli insisted.

"And when I started running…" Laura's voice trailed off as the memory rushed back. It was a moment she would never forget. She remembered running across the small isle, crying, after her father told her he wanted to be a family again. Those were words she'd waited fourteen years to hear, and when the moment became too overwhelming and she took flight, running as fast as she could, Harry right on her heels. And when she stopped, Harry was there.

Eli nodded, "Exactly. Harry wouldn't back off. He's never left a command before."

Remington thumbed at his nose for a moment before adding, "And he was doing his damned best to be sure my wife was all right. Didn't like it too much when I asked him to back off a little." He chuckled softly, "Aw, Harry, the look on his face."

Eli relaxed against the back of the couch and stated, "Now you understand why I came to you."

Laura studied his face, confused, "Eli, I'm not sure I follow you. You mentioned you need our help… but you haven't explained with what."

Eli stared up at her, and with a solemn look, he requested, "I need you to take Harry. Give him the life he deserves. I don't have enough time to interview families before I leave. I know you'll do right by him."

Laura rested her hand on her chest. "I don't know what to say."

"Please say you'll take him. He's supposed to be with you. I know he is. He's still got a long life ahead of him, and I would hate to see him end up in a home where he didn't fit right," Eli pleaded. His eyes clouded with tears when he added, "It's just been him and me… and this mission I'm heading out on… I might not come back. I need to know Harry is going to be taken care of the right way."

Remington placed his hand on Laura's knee and gazed at her. Blue eyes met brown ones, and a silent agreement was made between them. Laura blinked at Eli and comforted him, "Harry will be in good hands. I just hope he doesn't mind living in an apartment for a few months. We don't move into our new house until just before Thanksgiving."

"Harry's lived in everything from a tent to a studio to the barracks. He'll adapt," Eli nodded gratefully. He stood quickly and asked, "Can I bring him by tomorrow? I need a few days to pack up my things, and I think it would be easier all around if Harry didn't have to see that. I don't want him to become stressed, thinking I'm leaving without him. At least if he's with you, he'll be distracted with settling in."

Laura reached out and patted his shoulder, reassuringly, "We can't wait." They escorted Eli to the door and said their goodbyes.

Once Eli was gone, Remington put his arm around Laura's shoulders and announced, "A new house, a baby, and now a dog. I think it's official."

"What's that, Mr. Steele?" Laura questioned with a tilt of her head to look at him.

"I've become positively domesticated," he declared with a grin. "And I can't think of anything else I'd rather be."