Chapter 7
They went downstairs ready to play their charade and crashed with the surprise that the room where they were kidnapped wasn't officially occupied by any guest. It was free. There were no clues to follow there. They returned to their suite, and tried to locate Mildred. Maybe something happening in LA would be useful to disentangle the mystery there. Although it was mid afternoon and Mildred would be out of her house for sure, Laura made the call. Nobody answered the phone as they guessed. They tried calling the office, just in case, but nobody responded there as well.
They decided to go to the Endless Chapel, to retrieve a copy of their marriage license. Time was running, and the document must be at Miss Becker's desk as soon as possible. Laura was the driver this time, sending the rented Ford's speed right to top a racing car.
"Laura, do you think it is smart to speed this unstylish American vehicle like a Jaguar?" he asked her holding his body straight to the seat. "Perhaps it would be wise to remain under the speed limit."
"We are in a hurry Mr. Steele. Besides, I don't think there could be a cop hidden behind a giant advertisement in the middle of the desert. That happens only in the movies…"
Just at the moment she finished her statement, the sound of a siren took their attention to the back of the road. Mr. Steele noticed a cop on a motorcycle gesturing to them to stop. "Only in the movies, eh Laura?" he asked her with a hint of sarcasm in his voice. "Come on, change seats, quickly." He ordered her.
"What? The car is moving. Are you crazy?"
"You don't have any ID to show to the cop. We'll end in jail if he caught us, and then say goodbye to our plan."
Mr. Steele put his foot on the pedal, while Laura tried to pass her leg over his.
"Careful Laura. The shift doesn't look friendly…"
"I know. Wait a second. The skirt is on the way. I'm almost there."
"The skirt is always on the way. For once you are aware of the feeling…"
They were both twirling to find a place to move, when he had a chance to grab the steering wheel with his left hand, and helped Laura up to get entirely out of his seat. The switch was already done.
She was trying to make herself presentable still struggling with her clothes, "Why do I suspect one of the important items hidden under the wastebasket was a spare ID…" sarcasm was again in her voice.
"Because you know I'm always prepared against any contingency, Laura."
"Such a boy scout you are…"
The police officer got down from his motorcycle, put his gloves off and started to walk towards them.
Her face was stoned. "Police officers… always at the wrong place at the right time…" she whispered.
"Poker faces Laura. It never fails. Try to behave, love. The last thing we need is to end our afternoon in jail. My wrist is still sore from our last handcuffs session; the same as yours as I presume."
"Don't tell me how to behave in front of a cop, Mr. Steele. And don't worry. Remember I'm the decent one supposed to deal with the Police maturely and responsibly."
"That's why I'm worried, Laura. All your maturity and responsibility disappear in a snap when you are stressed behind the steering wheel."
"Don't you dare to criticize my driving, Mr. Steele. Besides, I'm not the one behind the steering wheel anymore…"
The cop interrupted them asking Mr. Steele for his Driver's License. He showed it to the policeman, and after receiving the penalty, he asked the officer about the right way to the Endless Chapel. The agent showed them the shortest detour, and after giving them a piece of advice to slow down the speed, they returned to the route, with a more careful Mr. Steele on the steering wheel.
They arrived at the chapel sound and safe with Mr. Steele as the driver, and Laura still fuming because of the previous situation. The main door was closed. After ringing the bell for the third time, they were sure nobody was going to open it. They decided to try with the neighbors next-door.
"Excuse me," said Laura in her kindest voice to the woman behind the door. "We got married last night at the Chapel, and we need to see the Minister. Do you know where we can find him?"
"Oh! I think he is at the Police Station. There was a theft at the Chapel last night, and as some official documents are stolen, he ran there to let the Police know take matters in it. Maybe if you give me your name I can tell him once he returns back."
"It's okay; we are trying to find him at the Police Station. Thank you," answered Laura after giving a brief gaze to Mr. Steele.
They returned to the car and once there, Mr. Steele told her, "Somebody wants me deported out of the country, Laura. And as for how sudden the facts are delivering, I can figure it wants it to happen fast."
"You are not going anywhere alone by yourself soon. Your next time out of the country will be with me on our honeymoon, once we have this situation solved. Besides, I'm not going to make it easy for you to run away from me. We are stuck together, Mr. Steele," she told him looking straight into his eyes. "Infinity, remember?" she raised her left hand showing him her ring.
"I barely remember something about a plan…" he told her approaching his face dangerously close to hers."Maybe if you don't mind refreshing my mind, Mrs. Steele… "
"Maybe I can give you some clues…"
"Show me…"
Once their plan was reminded enough, Mr. Steele started the engine, and they headed to the Police Station. They found the Minister there still giving his statement about the theft. There were some items stolen from the chapel, but the most important one was the Marriage License Book. Nobody at the Police Station could figure out an explanation about that; nobody but the two detectives.
They returned to their hotel, and once there they made another try to find Mildred, as useful as the last one.
"Why is that woman is always only a step away from us when we are necking, but the only one time we really would have welcomed an interruption, she is nowhere able to be found?" asked an annoyed Mr. Steele.
"Maybe because we are not a challenge anymore; she must have lowered down her efforts to catch us after knowing we are living together," answered Laura.
"Are you saying we don't represent a challenge anymore? We should try to upgrade our behaviors, Laura. The great detective Remington Steele should always exhale a mystery. How do we expect to survive in the market if we are not capable of maintaining some of our private life into a mystery? Don't tell me we are starting to act as predictably as a police detective…"
Laura stared at him seriously.
"You know what I was talking about Laura. No need to be aggressive yet. We married only yesterday…"
She continued staring at him, her serious gaze still undecipherable for him.
"We can't be acting predictably yet, can't we?"
"I think you've found something, Mr. Steele."
"Oh, yes?" He asked her not believing his good luck but entirely lost about Laura's idea.
"We acted as predictable as it was expected. Remember Miss Becker told us at the office that your case started at the beginning of the week, at the Police Station?"
"I do remember, Laura."
"And she told us that the usual solution to avoid deportation was to marry an American citizen. I think somebody at the Police Station pulled some strings to start your issue with the INS on porpoise. And we foolishly followed the plan with detail. We ran away from the office and got married in a blink."
"I'm not following you, Miss Holt."
She looked at him challenging him to make an effort.
"Mrs. Steele…Sorry, I'll get it eventually…"
"Better you do, Mr. Steele. Back to our subject, we are in this mess because somebody with access to the Police Department pushed some bottoms. We only have to figure out whom and why did it. Maybe if we go back to LA to see Jarvis, he can help us to follow the origin of your case inside the Police Department."
"Come on Laura! The man is always ready to blame us for everything. He was even eager to blame Mildred as well the last time. Why would he be ready to help us this time?"
"He is our last possible allied."
"Allied? Who needs enemies with allies like that one…?"
"Let's go. Get your things ready, Mr. Steele…and don't forget the valuable ones under the wastebasket…"
"I think I will be too much predictable hiding things there in the future."
Approaching to him she said, "I like when you feel you're predictable. It turns on your mind to surprise me," she smiled at him.
"Maybe I could feel predictable later. Would you like that, Mrs. Steele?"
"Try me…"