Chapter 6
Remington stopped at the video store and purchased the 1967 movie, "Point Blank", before he picked up their dinner order and headed to the apartment. He found Laura asleep on the couch, a file slowly sliding off her lap. As silently as he could, he placed their pizza into the oven, set the temperature to warm, and placed their salads in the refrigerator. He quietly crossed the room and gently closed the folder before he lifted it off her and placed it on the coffee table along with the movie. Laura only shifted slightly with a quiet snore, drawing a small grin from Remington.
Remington pulled at his tie as he headed into the bedroom before he stripped off his suit. He pulled on a pair of track pants, a simple white t-shirt, and a matching jacket. Padding barefoot back into the kitchen, he started the water to make tea. He heard Laura calling out to him groggily several minutes later, "Rem? Are you home?"
He poked his head out of the doorway and called back softly, "I'm here. Just making some tea. How are you feeling?"
Laura brushed her hair off her face and blinked several times, "Better, I guess."
"Tea?" Remington asked earning a small nod in return. He ducked back into the kitchen and several minutes later he returned carrying two piping mugs of tea. Laura moved her feet to give him space to join her on the couch before she graciously accepted the hot drink. She sipped it slowly as he made himself comfortable beside her.
"How was the client meeting you had?" Laura asked between sips.
As Remington nodded, he bounced his teacup, dribbling it down his chin. He raised his hand to swipe at the droplets as he said, "Good. He's looking for a key to a safe deposit box."
"Oh? And does he have any idea where to look for this key?" Laura asked, her curiosity piqued.
Remington reached forward and lifted the movie case off the table. "He said the clues are in this movie," he replied with a lopsided grin.
"He did, did he?" Laura questioned. Her mind began swimming with all the reasons Remington could have had to actually watch the movie, none of with included clues to a new case.
Remington took another sip of his tea and nodded enthusiastically, "He did. He received a letter from an old friend that stated the clues could be found in the movie. So, would you like to eat while we watch for a change or sit at the table and watch after?"
"Let's eat while we watch. It's been so long since I've seen it, I'm not even sure I remember the plot," Laura admitted.
"Well, let's see… Point Blank, Lee Marvin, Angie Dickinson, MGM, 1967. Walker is a lone gangster who is double-crossed and left for dead. He tries to retrieve the money that was stolen from him by the rest of the gangsters and he enlists the help of his wife's sister. And if memory serves me correct, there is a death scene that was filmed in the LA River basins. An assassination gone wrong," Remington rattled off slowly.
"That's right! That's how I knew about the tunnels," Laura stated enthusiastically.
Remington's head snapped to the side as he demanded, "That's how you knew about the tunnels? From a death scene filmed for a movie?"
Laura chuckled, her voice cracking as she stuttered from a laugh to a cough, "No, no, no. My father…" She immediately sobered as the reality of what she was saying hit her.
"Your father what?" Remington pressed, genuinely interested in what she had to say.
Laura looked down and tore at the tissue in her hand, "My father was the one who brought me down there when I was a kid. It became a fun place to play, running through the tunnels, hide and seek, that kind of stuff."
Remington stilled her hand with his, "And let me guess, you never told your mother, did you?"
"Mother? She would never have allowed it," Laura declared. "No, that was our place, my father and I."
Remington pressed his lips together before he scrubbed his face with one hand, "Laura, if you think this case is going to drudge up old memories, maybe we shouldn't take it."
"No, I'm a professional. I can put my personal feelings aside for a case. Now, Mr. Steele are we going to watch the movie and see what clues we can glean from it or not?" Laura stated.
Without a word, Remington peeled the plastic wrapping off the movie and pushed it into the VCR before he continued into the kitchen. As the previews for other movies ran, he retrieved the pizza from the oven and their salads and carried everything into the living room. He went back into the kitchen and got two bottles of sparkling water along with two glasses. He settled himself again and opened the pizza box.
Laura inhaled and hummed happily, "Pepperoni, pepper and sausage, Mr. Steele?"
"Ah, your sense of smell is slowly returning. A good sign," Remington commented before Laura took her first bite. "And your appetite too, it appears," he teased.
Laura chewed the large mouthful of pizza slowly as he handed her a napkin. "Thank you," she mumbled around the food in her mouth. "This is so good," she declared once her mouth was finally cleared.
Remington smiled in her direction just as the opening credits of the movie began. They watched the ninety-minute movie carefully, each making mental notes as to what clues they could possibly find. When the movie was over, Remington turned the television off. He sat back down and sighed, "So, what do you think?"
Laura pushed her empty dish onto the coffee table and declared, "I'm stuffed."
Remington couldn't hide his laughter before he asked again, "What do you think about the case, Laura?"
"Oh. Well, there's not much to go on other than the idea the tunnels and basin might have something do to with it. I mean, most of the movie wasn't even filmed in Los Angeles. So, my guess, is we start near the 6th Street bridge and go from there," Laura stated.
"6th Street bridge, eh? Alright, I'll let Mr. Clark know we've agreed to take the case and we will do our best to find this key he's searching for," Remington agreed.
Laura sighed sleepily, "Good, we'll start first thing in the morning."
Remington stood and gathered their dishes as he stated, "Not quite, Mrs. Steele. The weather forecasters are predicting some pretty nasty weather for the next few days. You don't need to get sick all over again after you're just beginning to feel better. We'll start Monday."
"Monday?!" Laura exclaimed.
"Yes, Monday. This will give me time to contact Mr. Clark once more to confirm and for you to rest another day or two," Remington insisted.
Laura rolled her eyes and groaned loudly, "You know, if it wasn't for the fact that I'm exhausted, I'd say we head over there right now."
Remington shook his head, "Which is exactly why we are not heading over there. So, I'd say another nap is in order for you, love, while I take a run to the dry cleaners before the weather turns."
"Fine," Laura grunted. She settled herself back against the pillows, knowing it wasn't going to do her any good to argue with him. She sighed loudly once more before she closed her eyes. Remington disappeared into the bedroom and returned several minutes later, carrying a dry-cleaning bag. He found Laura already asleep. He kissed her forehead softly, immediately noticing she didn't feel as warm as she had the previous days, and with a smile, he slipped out the front door.
