One of our Mothers is Missing

The inspiring melody of a Sousa March floated up on the summer evening breeze, providing a festive atmosphere for the two people who reclined in folding lounge chairs on the roof of the office building with a birds eye view of the Capitol lawn. Down below, thousands of Washington area residents enjoyed a Capitol Fourth of July celebration.

On the rooftop Dotty West and her escort, Captain Kurt, enjoyed complete privacy. The bright glare of the spotlights that illuminated the performers on the stage below prevented those on the ground below from seeing them.

Captain Kurt took a long swallow of his beer and leaned forward. "Come on Dot... come with me. We’ll have a terrific time."

"Oh sure, I’ll have a terrific time waiting for you to finish your business meetings," she said.

"No, no. I promise," Kurt replied, "business meetings will take up only a little bit of our time. Think of it...you and me in a private plane, no phones, no neighbors..."

His voice trailed off as he became aware that Dotty was only half listening.

In fact, she wasn’t listening to him at all. Instead, she starred off into the distance with a far away look on her face.

"Dotty?"

Lee Stetson reclined easily on the sofa in Amanda’s family room. "Maybe I'll be able to get Jamie and your mother to warm up to me on this trip."

"Lee, we’ve talked about this before. We’ve got to give Jamie some time to get used the idea of us. He will, I’m sure of it."

"Maybe so, but your mother is different. Does she seem uncomfortable about my going along to you?"

"Mother uncomfortable about you? That's nonsense! She's crazy about you and would be disappointed if you weren't coming. You're just nervous, don't be nervous."

She leaned over and kissed him. Her gentle kiss quickly evolved into something deeper and for the next few minutes only the sound of the Fourth of July fireworks, rumbling and flashing on the nearby television screen could be heard in the room.

When Amanda pulled away from Lee a few minutes later, she continued their discussion without missing a beat. "Besides, mother is just as likely not to notice us anyway, she’s been so distracted lately. I've given up asking her what's wrong, all she says is 'nothing'.

"She probably just needs a little fun. I know we do, Amanda. Lee slid his arm around her waist and tickled her. "We’ve got a long weekend ahead of us, the first one we’ve had in months and probably the last one we’ll get for a long time if things go on the way they have been at the Agency. Let’s just enjoy it."

I'm really worried about her, it's not like her to be so moody," Amanda said.

"Oh Amanda, I'll make a deal with you. I'll stop worrying about the trip, if you'll stop worrying about your mother. We'll all go sailing this weekend and we'll all have lots of fun. I'm sure we'll find out what the trouble is - if there is any trouble - when your Mother is ready to tell us."

"Spoken like a sensible son-in-law." Amanda swung her legs over his lap and reclined against the sofa arm. "All right, you've convinced me." She reached up, began to fiddle with the buttons on Lee's shirt collar, and murmured, "You're getting pretty good at being the comforting husband, you know that?"

"Oh yeah? Well there are other things I'm pretty good at too. If you’re interested I give free demonstrations to select customers," he teased.

Amanda smiled invitingly, "By all means, show me..."

Lee leaned over her, gently brushing a stray lock of hair from her eyes. As he kissed her, Amanda stroked the side of his face with one hand, and reached up over his head to turn off the lamp with the other.

Back at the Capitol celebration, Captain Kurt was trying to recapture Dotty’s attention, when a voice in the dark interrupted him. "Come on you kids, you know you’re not supposed to be up here..."

At the sound of the stranger's voice, Kurt turned. He stood and offered his hand to a security guard. "Good evening officer. What can we do for you?"

The guard moved his flashlight down out of their eyes "Excuse me, folks, I just thought maybe some youngsters had found their way up here with trouble on their minds. I’m afraid you’re going to have to move along. Safety regulations, you know," he explained.

Kurt smiled ingratiatingly. "Officer obviously Mrs. West and I are causing no problems here, and we are no where near the edge of the roof, surely you can overlook our being here for a little while longer."

Before the security guard answered, Dotty joined Captain Kurt and interrupted his conversation with the security guard, "Kurt," she said, " Why don’t we just go on home now?"

Kurt peered at her, surprised and a little disappointed. "You sure you don’t want to stay for the end of the fireworks?"

Dotty shook her head. "I’d really rather just go home, I hope you don’t mind," she answered softly.

At the entrance to the bullpen, Lee poked his head around the corner. As he scanned the crowded room, looking for Amanda, Billy Melrose exploded out of his office, with Amanda at his side. He rattled off instructions as they walked. When Billy paused to answer a question, Lee caught Amanda’s eye. She crossed the room in a flash, her welcoming smile lighting up her face.

"Hi...how long have you been back?"

"Just got in about 10 minutes ago. He smiled and threw a look over his shoulder at the teeming bullpen. Nothing’s changed I see."

Amanda shook her head. "No, it’s still as busy as ever."

Lee watched two analysts walk past them and disappear around the corner of the corridor. I've missed you," he murmured.

As he reached out to take Amanda’s hands in his, Billy came through the doors. He quickly dropped his hands and turned to face Billy.

"Scarecrow, I’m going to need the report on Antigua before you check out tonight. Amanda, Francine is looking for you...Oh and Scarecrow, welcome back," he added as he headed down the corridor.

"Yes Sir," said Amanda to Billy’s retreating back.

Lee sighed, "I guess we’d better get to work. His hand drifted to Amanda’s shoulder. Your place, after lights out?" he asked.

Amanda smiled up at him. "I’ll be waiting."

On a picnic bench in Malibu State Park, Bernice Foxe swung her legs up and leaned back on her arms. She tilted her face up to take advantage of the mid-day sun. "Mmmm... It is so good to be back here Laura," she said. "I’d forgotten how wonderful the California sun can feel."

"Just don’t forget the sunscreen Hon," said Mildred Krebs. "Without it, it’ll make your skin feel and look like the Death Valley Basin in August."

Bernice frowned. "Don’t spoil this moment for me Ms. Krebs. I know that in a couple of weeks I’ll be muttering about the smog and complaining about the traffic, but today I just want to enjoy this."

"So it’s good to be home? asked Laura cautiously.

Bernice sat up again. "Is that where I am, Laura?" She shook her head in wonderment. "I think I’m Alice, and I’ve stepped through the looking glass!" She looked across the lawn at Remington Steele with her daughter, Laura Elizabeth, age 3 1/2, and his and Laura’s Katherine Mildred, age 21 months. He was supine on the ground, with both girls crawling on top of him, squealing with delight as they attempted to subdue him. "Never in my wildest fantasies did I ever imagine that Skeezik there would be in the running for father of the year!"

As his muffled moans and groans grew louder Mildred asked, "You think we should rescue the boss yet?"

Laura considered the two women demolition team carefully. "Nah! He's good for another few minutes yet, let them be. Besides, I’d like to get her completely worn out. He could use a good nights sleep."

"Is she still waking up in the middle of the night?" asked Mildred.

Laura nodded. "Yes, on and off. Mostly on. She seems to think that 2:00 am is a terrific time to play. Luckily, Remington doesn’t seem to mind getting up with her."

Mildred smiled fondly at Remington. "I admit is surprising, but fatherhood has brought out a whole new side to the boss."

"So Bernice," said Laura, "have you made up your mind yet? Please stay! Come work for us again," she pleaded.

"You said it!" Mildred chimed in. "Whatever happens, it’ll never be dull Hon, I promise you that!"

Bernice shook her head. "You promised me I could have the month to decide, Laura, and I’m going to hold you to it. When you three come back from your vacations, I’ll give you my answer."

Mildred looked at her watch. "Speaking of which, I’ve got to get going or I’ll miss my plane."

As Mildred and Bernice gathered the last of the picnic debris and tossed it away, Laura called to Remington, "Time to get a move on Mr. Steele!"

Remington rolled over, captured both little girls in his arms and rose unsteadily to his feet. "Coming Mrs. Steele, he called as they headed toward the picnic table where the ladies waited.

As Remington came up to them, Bernice said, "I still can’t quite believe that you really close the office for an entire month to take a vacation! I can see that Remington isn’t the only one who’s changed."

"Well," said Laura, " that’s the best thing about being self-employed. You can set your own rules. "

"Oh Ho!" mocked Remington. "Don’t be taken in Bernice. Lest you think otherwise, Laura has not yet joined the ranks of the idle rich. No Indeed, while I might enjoy such things, she will not, he teased. "It took the combined efforts of Ms. Krebs and me twisting her arm to get this set up. And even so, at least half of the next four weeks will be work for my lovely wife."

Laura shot him a withering look. Bernice looked at her quizzically. "Senate Hearings in Washington DC," she finally admitted.

Bernice chuckled. "I’m glad to know that everything hasn’t changed Laura."

Just after dawn, in the gazebo, Amanda and Lee embraced. Reluctantly, Amanda broke away from him. "You better go," she whispered. "Mother and the boys will be up soon."

Lee groaned. "I know, I know...it’s going to be another pressure cooker at the Agency today. We probably should go in early anyway. See you at lunch?"

"Of course you will, but it’ll be over the table at NSA remember? We’re supposed to meet Branderhorst."

"What else is on the schedule?" Lee asked.

Amanda ticked off the list for him. "Billy’s expecting the Pacific report by 10:00, then the all-staff meeting after lunch...it’ll probably last straight through until 5:00. And I’ve got to leave right after, because Jamie’s play rehearsal starts at 6:00 and I promised I’d be there, and Oh my gosh! I forgot! Philip has soccer practice until 7:00. He’ll need a ride home and it’s mother’s bridge night - I think. Lee, could you..."

"Pick up Philip? Yes, I’ll pick him up," Lee said. "He and I will even get take-out for supper if you want."

"It’s a deal!" Amanda agreed. She leaned in to kiss him quickly.

From the house, Dotty called to her. "Amanda, are you down yet?"

"I’m out here Mother!" she called. Straightening Lee’s tie, she grabbed the bouquet of flowers from the potting bench, and pushed him toward the gate. By the time she entered the house through the family room doors, Lee was pulling away from the curb.

Across the river in DC, in suite 527 of the Hays-Adams Hotel, Laura Holt-Steele wakened slowly, and stretched luxuriously. Beside her, Remington still slept soundly. She watched him intently for a moment. Then, picking up her journal from the bedside table, she leaned against the headboard and wrote in it.

"We are in DC, again. This time on business for a client other than us, thank goodness. For a change, no one has been kidnapped or arrested. I’m waiting for Katie to wake up. Remington is asleep still and hogging the bed, the rat. Still it's worth it just to not wake up alone. I love him more each day, sometimes especially when he's sleeping - that sounds horrid - it's just that he's most appealing when he's stripped of all the posing and posturing that comes with being Remington Steele. I suppose it's the mystery of him then that gets me - isn't that what always gets me? When he is asleep, I imagine I can see the little boy and the man he might have been if he'd been given half a chance, instead of the one I created for him. He thinks he owes everything he is to me but I know better. I know how strong and loving he really is, I just wish he knew it. God, I want to wake him up and... I wonder if I'll ever not want to... I wonder if Frances still feels that way about Donald? OOPS! I hear Katie; she always wakes up like a three-alarm fire...so much for thoughts of love. As Remington says, we'll deal with my lust at a more appropriate time...

Laura slipped out of bed quietly and went to little Katherine. She picked her up and comforted her, talking in low tones while she changed her diaper. By the time Remington appeared a short time later, she was already feeding Katie her cereal.

Fresh from the shower and dressed for the day, he padded across the room and kissed Laura gently on her cheek. "You'd better get a move on Laura. We're due at Senator Wilson's office by 8:30."

"Don't worry, it's not even 6:30 yet, and Katie is just about finished with her breakfast. The sitter should be here in half an hour, which should give as time for a quick breakfast of our own before we meet Senator Wilson."

Remington paced the room. "Laura are you sure this sitter service is a good idea? I don't like Katie being left with a total stranger all day long. What if they're not as reliable as the hotel claims? We should have brought Mildred along to..."

"This is Mildred's vacation time, remember?" Laura said firmly. "And Mildred is not our personal geisha! The sitter service comes very highly recommended. Frances used it when she and Donald were in DC three years ago. If it's good enough for my sister, I'm certain our little Katie will be in the very best hands."

Laura offered Katie the last of her cereal. "I'm ready to be relieved here, Mr. Steele." Lifting Katie out of the high chair, she deposited her in Remington's arms. "Here daddy, keep your daughter company while I get dressed." She walked into the bedroom. "I hope the navy sheath is cool enough for today. I don't want to be distracted by the heat."

"And another thing, Laura. This whole town is one big bureaucratic jungle...at the rate things happen in your government, we'll still be here, sweating profusely, when Katie celebrates her third birthday."

Katie distracted her Father, momentarily, reaching for his watch chain. "Daddy...mu'ic?" she lisped.

He untangled her fingers from his vest and beamed down at her. "Maybe I'll be used to the weather here by then, Hmm Katie Darlin'?"

"Courage Camille, you won't melt," answered Laura. "Besides, we made a promise to RJ, and I'm going to do my best to honor it."
"Honoring a promise is all well and good Laura. I just wish it didn't have to be done in a city with weather somewhat less comfortable than a Turkish bath!"

Laura poked her head out of the bedroom as the door chime sounds. "That's probably the sitter now." She ducked back into the bedroom. As Remington answered the door he called, "Let's go Mrs. Steele, don't dawdle."

At 9:45 am, Laura and Remington joined RJ Stonewell at the doors to the hearing room. Smiling and confident, RJ shook Remington's hand. "Well, here we are again, day number two. You think we'll get our chance to kick some tail today?"

Laura grinned. "We’re scheduled, whatever that's worth," she said as they filed into the room.

RJ leaned over, "I hope you brought me that good stiff boot." They all faced the front of the room as the chairman called the session to order.

Amanda closed the door to Jamie’s room quietly. Both he and Philip were sleeping soundly. As she walked down the corridor toward the stairs, she listened for sound from her mother's room. Satisfied that she was also asleep, Amanda left the house and drove the short distance to Lee’s northwest Washington apartment.

Lee was stretched out on the sofa half asleep, when she entered the room. He sat up quickly and stretched. "Hi, what time is it?" he asked.

"A little after 1:00," she replied.

He stretched his arm out to her, "Help me up." She pulled him to his feet, and they walked hand in hand to the bedroom.

As they climbed into bed, Lee winced. "Ouch ! Watch the bruises, Amanda!"

"Sorry," she apologized. "Roll over and let me put some liniment on them."

She disappeared into bathroom for a moment and returned with lotion, which see rubbed on her hands. She began to massage his back and shoulders. "My gosh Lee, they look awful! What on earth were you doing anyway? You were only supposed pick up Philip, not go three rounds in the ring with the heavyweight champ," she chided.

"I know, I know. I got to the field a little early, and they asked me to join them for a practice round. God, Amanda, these kids were vicious! They could teach the Dr. Pain a few moves, let me tell you! If Philip hadn't blocked for me, I think they'd have killed me!"

"You could have said no."

"With Philip looking at me like I was Pele'? He smothered a yawn. "Not on your life!" He yawned again and rolled over on his side.

Amanda sighed, slid down beside him, and yawned back at him. "We're a fine pair aren't we?" she whispered. "Both of us too tired to do anything but yawn."

"I'm sorry Amanda, it's not that I'm not interested, it's just..." he muttered.

"I know, I know..." she replied, snuggling next to him. It's been too crazy lately...the Agency, home...it's all right."

"Are you sure you don't mind? Aside from work we haven't spent much time together in the past month..."

She silenced him with a brief kiss. "Joe's taking Jamie and Philip for two weeks, starting tomorrow morning so the home front will be calmer," she whispered. "We'll have plenty of time..."

"Mmmm."

Amanda stretched slowly. "Lee? Are you asleep?" He didn't answer. "Good!" she murmured. In a few moments, she too was asleep.

When the alarm buzzer jerked Lee out of sleep, he groaned and rolled over. For a split second, he expected his hand to touch Amanda’s sleeping form, but his hand brushed only his empty bed. That woke him up completely. He stretched experimentally, and was pleased to note that most of the ache from yesterdays soccer match had faded. He sat up, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. "This is getting really tiresome, Lee Stetson," he muttered. A familiar melancholy feeling washed over him as he staggered to the shower. What we need a long vacation, together, he thought.

He hated living like this, apart from Amanda, but as the hot water tumbled over his shoulders, he told himself that living this way was the only sensible way for Amanda and him to handle their special situation.

By the time he finished his shower, the melancholy mood had dissipated. He lathered his face for a real old fashion blade shave, and smiled as he read the note taped to the mirror.

Dearest Lee,

I didn't have the heart to wake you, you looked so peaceful. Skip the calisthenics this morning for my sake, Big Guy and please, please eat something more substantial than coffee for breakfast. See you in the Q Bureau at 9:00 sharp!

I love you!

Amanda.

"Lee Stetson you are a lucky man; you have absolutely no reason in the world to feel sorry for yourself," he murmured as he finished his shave.

Thirty minutes later, while he guiltily ignored the banana bread Amanda had left in the refrigerator, he drank his coffee and skimmed the news headlines.

Dotty stood at the bottom of the staircase, "Jamie, Philip...get a move on boys, your Dad will be here in a few minutes and you’d best be ready!"

Philip came clattering down the stairs, "We’re nearly ready, Grandma."

Hey Phil, catch!" Jamie tossed a flotation device down the stairs aiming for Philip, narrowly missing his grandmother.

"Hey! I thought I told you boys that Grandma is neutral territory," Dotty said. Jamie ducked under his grandmother’s arm. "OOPS! Sorry, Grandma."

Dotty grabbed Jamie as he skimmed past her and hustled him to the into the kitchen. "Try eating a little breakfast instead of making me crazy," she ordered.

"Yeah birdbrain," said Philip sliding into his chair at the table.

Amanda emerged from the utility room on the run, attaching her earrings as she moved. "Philip, do not call your brother birdbrain. I swear, I don't know if I ought to let you two out of my sight."

She turned to Dotty. Mother, why on earth did you let me sleep so late?"

"Because you looked exhausted Amanda. Whatever film you're making can certainly wait til a decent hour," Dotty declared.

Amanda chose not to respond to that remark. Instead she asked, "Mother, have you seen my yellow blazer?"

"In the hall closet I think, dear." Coming back into the kitchen a moment later, wearing her yellow blazer, she walked over to the table, sat down across from Philip and Jamie, picked up an orange and started to peel it. Dotty put a large cup of coffee and a dish of oatmeal down in front of her. "Thank you Mother..."

Between bites of cereal and orange slices, she put on her best disciplinarian's face, and lectured the boys. "Listen, I want you fellas to promise me that you'll behave yourself while you're gone. Nothing but your absolute best behavior, hear me? Carrie is still new to wilderness camping, and I think it would be nice if she survived the experience. Can I count on you?"

"Sure Mom, no problem!" the two boys said in unison.

"Now they say 'no problem'. So how come they need a mediator with the skills of Henry Kissinger at home?" asked Dotty.

She picked up Philip's duffel bag and tugged it closed. "Amanda darling, if you don't mind, I think I'll go up and visit your Aunt Minnie for a few days. I hate to leave you alone but - what am I saying - you won't be alone will you? I imagine you'll be working late with Lee Stetson..."

"Mother please, we've been over this ground before. You promised me you wouldn't press me about Lee."

"Press you? Who's pressing Amanda? I merely made an simple observation."

"Mother..." Amanda said, warningly.

Dotty sighed. "Anyway, as long as you don't mind my being gone, I'm flying up to Minnie's this afternoon."

"Flying! I thought Captain Kurt was away on business for the month."

"He is. I'm flying up alone. He was kind enough to give me permission to use the Piper Cub."

"Are you sure you're ready to handle such a long flight alone? What if something goes wrong? You don't have that many hours of flight time logged..."

"Amanda darling, I'm a very good pilot and it's only a short flight. I'll only be in the air for a few hours. Who's pressing now?" Dotty asked.

At that moment, Joe King entered through the rear utility room door. He winked at Dotty. Feigning toughness, hands on hips, he barked, "Hustle everybody!! Philip, Jamie aren't you guys ready yet? Time's a wasting, let's go!" The boys instantly abandoned their breakfasts and scrambled to get their gear together.

Amanda turned away from Dotty at the sound of Joe's voice. "Oh my gosh, look at the time! If I don't get moving, I'm going to be late...Joe, hi! Boys, let's go, your Dad's waiting."

She gulped her coffee and kissed her Mother on the cheek. "Mother, please be careful, and call me as soon as you get to Cabot Cove."

She followed Jamie and Philip to their Dad's car. "Jamie did you remember your retainer? Philip don't forget what I said about behaving yourself! Joe, don't let them run roughshod over you...'bye now. Take lots of pictures for me...have a good time, I love you!"

As Joe and the boys pulled away from the curb, she waved once more, and then got into her own car, backed quickly into the street and headed toward the District.

Dotty closed the door behind the family, and sighed with relief. As she turned toward the kitchen and the breakfast dishes, the phone rang. She stopped in mid-step and answered it. "Hello...this is Dorothea West..."

"These hearings are adjourned and will reconvene on Monday at the hour of 10:00 am," announced the senator from Ohio. The buzz of conversation instantly rose, as people began filing out into the corridor.

"So RJ, what are your plans for the weekend? asked Remington. "Will you join us for some sightseeing?"

"No, actually I’ve decided to skip the rest of the hearings. I’ll see you two back in LA for a final report."
"I have a good feeling about this, RJ," said Laura. I have every intention of bringing back good news."

RJ extended her hand to Laura, "Well then I’ll leave things in your capable hands."

As she left them and they moved off down the corridor, Laura looked up at Remington. "Well Mr. Steele, it seems we’re on our own for the weekend. Shall we do a little sightseeing?"

Remington linked his arm through Laura’s and replied, "That sounds like a capital idea Mrs. Steele."

Laura groaned. "Really Remington! You ought to be able to do better than that!"

"It was pretty awful wasn’t it Laura. Must be losing my knack..."

Dotty spotted the taxi before it actually came to a stop and ran down the front path. "Randie!

"Dot!" called her visitor. "My Lord girl it’s good to see you! Has it really been thi..."

"Randie Jane, don’t you dare say it aloud!" said Dotty. "Amanda laughs at me...she thinks I’m being silly, but I still make it a rule never to admit to anything that reveals my age. Think young and be young, is my motto."

Randie laughed, "Sounds like a good way to live to me. Oh Dot, I’m so glad you haven’t changed. I’ve missed you, you hear?"

"Come on into the house. I want to hear just everything about, well just everything. What on earth are you doing in Washington? And what took you so long to come visit?"

"...I tell you Dotty, I couldn’t believe it. After so many years to just run into her on a Los Angeles street."

Dotty chuckled. "If it had happened to anyone but you, Randie, I wouldn’t believe it," she said. "But you always did have the knack."

"Now if I could only locate Diana..."

"Well for pity’s sake Randie you don’t need to look for Diana at all! I know exactly where to find her," Dotty said with a triumphant smile.

"Dotty are you serious? I mean are you sure? If I could actually reunite the two of them..."

"Of course I certain Randie, said Dotty. "Listen, I’m flying up to Maine to visit Minnie for a few days, why don’t you come along? We can contact Diana from there. Minnie’s won’t mind a bit I positive..."

Lee and Amanda strode down the hall toward the Q Bureau. "I tell you Amanda I’ve just about had it with this assignment. We’re supposed to be intelligence agents, not public relations representatives. If the ambassador’s aide asks once more if..."

"Now Lee, let’s just forget all about security arrangements and ill-tempered diplomats. We have the entire weekend and the whole house to ourselves. Let’s just go home and enjoy it."

"Sounds like a plan to me," he agreed.

Within minutes, they were heading toward Arlington in Lee’s silver Corvette.

By the time Lee pulled into the driveway of Amanda’s home, the rain that had been threatening since Wednesday had finally begun. Lee turned off the ignition and opened his door. At that instant, the moderate rain became a downpour. He jerked the door shut. The downpour continued, beating furiously on the rooftop of the Corvette.

Amanda looked at the sheeting rain on the windshield and then at Lee.

For a minute, he looked as if he were going to say something and then he dropped his head forward so that it rested on the steering wheel.

"Lee?" she asked cautiously.

"Yes Amanda?" he answered in his most deadly monotone.

"We could just wait this out here, or we could...neck."

Lee’s head snapped up and he met Amanda’s eyes. She looked back at him with utter innocence. He began to laugh, and she grinned.

"Actually," he admitted, I’d love to but not here." Let’s make a run for it. After all it’s only a little rain, right?"

A moment later they dashed into the house, laughing and not caring about the rain that soaked them.

Lee slipped out of his sport jacket and shook some of the water off it.

"Do you want something to eat?" Amanda asked him.

"No, I'm too tired to eat, let’s just call it a night, shall we?" He stretched and headed for the stairs.

When Amanda didn't follow him immediately, he stopped. "Hey lady, aren't you coming?"

"I'll be right there darling. I just want to see if mother called." She crossed the room to the answering machine and ran the tape back.

Lee groaned. "If there are any messages on that thing from Billy, you don't know him Amanda!"

"I won't even listen to any other messages. I just need to make sure mother got to Aunt Minnie’s safely."

"Amanda, just got into your Aunt Minnie's a few minutes ago and we're having a nice chat. Don't worry about me, and don't work too hard. I'll see you Sunday, I love you. 'Bye darling."

Before she could turn the machine off, another message began.

"Steele here, and I do mean that literally. Laura and I are in Washington, staying at the Hays-Adams, suite 527. We’ve been trying to catch both you and your partner for several days without much luck...aren’t you ever home?"

There was a brief pause and then the message picked up again, this time in Laura Holt-Steele’s voice

"Sorry about that. Remington didn’t mean to sound so cranky. If you two have the time, we’d love to see you. Let us know anytime. See you soon."

Amanda snapped off the machine and said, "How nice! I’ll call her back in the morning. Won’t it be fun to see Laura and Remington again?"

"Amanda, I hope you're not going to plan a big reunion with them. I don't get to see enough of you as it is. I'm not crazy about spending what precious time we have this week with out-of-town visitors - even visitors as nice as the Steele's."

Amanda started up the stairs. "Relax Sweetheart, I'm looking forward to our time alone as much as you are! We can't ignore them completely though, that would be rude. We'll just keep it to drinks, I promise. But right now Big Guy, why don't you come upstairs and I'll let you see as much of me as you want."

She bounded up the stairs ahead of Lee, who followed quickly, taking the steps tow at a time, his fatigue apparently forgotten.

The following Wednesday afternoon, the Senate Hearings adjourned for lunch at 1:00 PM.

Laura and Remington returned to their hotel suite. While waiting for room service to deliver their lunch, Laura began writing up her notes for the case report while Remington amused Katie. They had barely finished eating when Lee Stetson called and asked to meet her and Remington for coffee.

A short time later, Remington and Laura were sitting at a table in Stevan’s Restaurant on Pennsylvania Avenue, waiting for Lee and Amanda to arrive.

Lee entered the restaurant and spoke briefly to the hostess who took his raincoat, and directed him to the Steele’s table.

Laura stood a welcoming smile on her face. "Lee hi...where’s Amanda?" she asked, reaching up to give him a quick hug.

Remington flagged the waiter. "Another coffee for my friend here," he said as Lee sat down next to him.

Lee accepted the coffee from the waiter, poured cream into it, and stirred it with unusual concentration.

"Lee where’s Amanda?" asked Laura again.

"Thanks for making the time to meet me on such short notice, he said. "I only have a few minutes between meetings so I’ll have to make this brief. I want to hire you."

Laura exchanged a startled look with Remington, who had stopped in mid-action, his coffee cup momentarily suspended in mid-air.

"Did you say you wanted to hire us?" asked Laura. "As in a client hiring an investigator?"

Lee smiled grimly. "You heard me right. I, that is Amanda and I, want to hire you. Amanda’s mother, you remember her don’t you, Dotty, flew up to Maine to visit her sister, last Thursday. She should have been back here on Sunday, but she never showed up. In fact, she seems to have disappeared."

"Are you sure Mrs. West didn’t just extend her visit? She may not have wanted to risk flying in the rain," observed Laura.

"No. We thought of that right away of course. The phone lines up there were downed in the storms, but as soon as we could get through, Amanda called. Minnie wasn’t even home.

Finally Amanda reached a neighbor, who told us Minnie had gone to Topeka to visit another sister, after Dotty had left Cabot Cove early on Sunday - long before heavy rain moved into the area. She should have made it back here by Sunday afternoon easy," he said.

Remington cleared his throat nosily. "I assume you alerted the authorities about the possibility of a downed plane."

"Naturally," Lee answered. "No planes were reported down by NCAP or any other agency along the entire Northeast Defense Corridor. Her original flight plan from here to Cabot Cove was on file but..." He broke off, the strain showing in his face, and sat watching rain pelt the windows for a minute.

"Listen," there’s more to this than I have time to go into now. Can you meet us at Amanda’s tonight? That is if you’ll take the case?"

Laura clasped Lee’s hand in hers. "Consider Remington Steele Investigations at your disposal," she said. "Special discounted rates too," she added.

Remington stood with Lee, as he prepared to leave. He shook Lee’s hand as he said, "We’ll be there at 8:00."

He and Laura watched Lee leave the restaurant, not responding at all to the friendly greeting of the hostess as he retrieved his raincoat.

"There goes one unhappy man," observed Remington,

Laura nodded thoughtfully. "He certainly isn’t the same man we had drinks with on Saturday night."

"Back to the hearing room Laura?"

She stroked his hand. "Right now I have an overwhelming desire to hug my daughter. Let's dump the hearings, pick up Katherine, and do a little more sightseeing. Amanda tells me the walk around the Tidal Basin is beautiful, even in the rain." She threw some change on the table and headed for the door.

"Laura, wait!" Remington hastily paid the check and hurried after his wife.

Amanda had opened the French doors in the family room as soon as it had begun to clear off, and by 8:00 that evening when the Steele’s arrived, moonlight streamed into the room.

Laura and Remington sat in matching wing chairs, opposite Amanda and Lee on the couch. Lee’s arm curved around Amanda’s shoulder protectively.

"...So that's the way it is right now," he explained. "Ever since we put Dr. Smyth out of business, and since our little adventure with Simon Kelley, the Agency has been under Congressional Investigation. And that, unfortunately for us, means Congresswoman Faber. I don't dare use Agency resources to conduct the search for Amanda's Mom, without absolute proof of an Intelligence tie in." His face colored in embarrassment as he continued.

"That barracuda would like nothing better than to hang my hide on the wall of her den."

"The Congresswoman is positively enamored with your colorful past, Sweetheart. Think what pleasure you give her!"

She smiled thinly, and continued in a bright, brittle tone, "Putting my husband's randy past aside, we can use all the brilliance you two can muster. We've come up with exactly nothing alone." Her face lost its animation, as sadness overcame her natural optimism.

Laura smiled reassuringly at Amanda. "People don't just vanish from the face of the earth. There has to be a logical, rational explanation. We've just got to dig deeper to find it. So, you're both certain it can't be Agency related...are you certain your mother wouldn't just run off? If she were depressed as your Aunt Minnie suggested..."

"No," protested Amanda. "Believe me, dependability in people is one of mother's favorite character traits!"

"Besides, despite what Minnie says, my mother has no history of 'running off'. She's just never forgiven mother for running back to the farm when she was a little girl, because she hated living in the city with Aunt Minnie and Uncle George. She's really very level headed." Amanda looked at Lee, who nodded in agreement.

"Amanda's right. Mrs. West would never leave without some message for her. And she is very level headed. Even the couple of times she's run afoul of Agency business, she's handled herself really well. What’s more, I don't agree with Minnie. She hasn't been depressed lately, more distracted I'd say."

"Amanda," said Remington, "this is without a doubt the best coffee I've had in an age. Might there be enough for one more cup?" Amanda refilled his cup, and he took a long drink of his coffee, before he spoke again. "Well then, if we rule out deliberate disappearance, that leaves only one option: Mrs. West is being prevented from returning against her will, either because of an accident or because someone is stopping her."

Lee shook his head. "You can rule out accident. The Civil Air Patrol has been searching since Monday night for evidence of a downed plane. I've been out three times myself with one of the teams. We were very thorough. If she had gone down, we'd have found something."

Amanda jumped up and started clearing away the coffee things. "This is just so crazy! Who would want to harm my mother? She hasn't got any enemies!"

Laura went to Amanda’s side and took some of the dishes from her, putting them in the sink. "Easy Amanda. We'll find her, I promise. We're really pretty good at this."

Amanda sighed. "That is why we hired you isn't it?" she admitted. "I'm just not used to letting someone else do the searching I guess."

"Billy has agreed to take us both off the active duty roster for now, so as long as nothing critical breaks, we can work with you. So, what's the next step?" asked Lee.

Laura returned to her chair. "Next step is we all get some sleep."

"Isn't there anything we can do tonight..." began Amanda.

"It won't do Mrs. West any good if the two of you are dead on your feet," cautioned Laura. "First thing in the morning we'll start running a skip trace her in DC and call on all of Mrs. West's friends.

Amanda we'll need to know as much about your mother's habits as you can recall."

Remington interrupted, "We'll cover more ground if we split up. Laura you don't need me to help with the routine legwork. Lee you and I can take a run up the coast to Cabot. Cove in the morning and check out the lay of the land."

Amanda immediately agreed to help Laura, "I'll go mad if I just sit and brood."

"Sounds reasonable to me," said Lee. "Amanda, you and Laura can drop us at the airport tomorrow morning. Remington and I will fly as far as Portland and rent a car there for the drive to Cabot Cove."

The Steele's collected their daughter from the bedroom and left, promising to return at 6:00 am.

"...Now Laura, don't get peeved."

"I'm not peeved, I'm exasperated. You just couldn't resist could you, one more chance to duck out on the routine legwork. In case you've forgotten, we are supposed to be working here."

"We will be working, in fact we'll be working much faster by splitting up. After all, the airport in Cabot Cove does need to be checked out, and you have Amanda to help you here. We can accomplish twice the work in half the time. And I absolutely insist on taking Katie with me tomorrow so you don't have to worry about her."

Laura leaned toward him threateningly. "Is this what we've come to? You think I'm so easy that simply volunteering for child care duty will take the heat off...?"

Remington put his palms up in a pacifying gesture. "I assure you my darling, you are never easy! Challenging, stimulating, irritating, and completely captivating yes, but never easy."

Laura abruptly grabbed his wrists, and pulled him to her. They kissed, and she released him reluctantly sighing in resignation, "...and so it will. I just wish you had consulted me before you committed us to a plan of attack. We're partners, remember?"

"Laura I admit I should have asked you first about going to Cabot Cove. I was just so caught up in the situation and more than a little concerned about our clients. You know, I could feel the tension tonight as if it were another physical presence in the room." He twisted around and lay his head in Laura's lap. She absently stroked his forehead.

"I know. I think the stress of their secret life is taking a pretty big toll on them. And no wonder. They hide their work from the family, and the marriage from everybody. This thing with Dotty may just be the proverbial straw that breaks the camel's back. You know for just a second when Lee said he wanted to hire us, I was afraid it would be...a domestic case."

Remington sighed. " I'm relieved to know I wasn't the only one who thought so. Laura, do you seriously think they could break up..."

"Like my parents? I doubt it," Laura murmured.

"Even now, with the fragmented life they have, Lee and Amanda are more together than my parents ever seemed to be. Besides, I haven't a clue to the real cause of my parents split, my Father won't talk remember?"
She looked at her watch. "Come on, we'd better take our own advice and get some sleep. 5:00 am will come pretty early."

Lee drove the red Pontiac sedan into the empty gravel parking lot outside a small air terminal building in Camden, Maine a few miles away from Cabot Cove, and he and Remington got out.

"According to that sign," Lee indicated the faded wooden sign near the front of the building, "this is Camden Airport." They walked toward the door.

"Not exactly a booming concern is it?" observed Remington.

Lee kicked at the dirt and muttered, "I hope to HELL Dotty ran her own maintenance check before she took off."

Remington shifted Katie to his other shoulder and reminded Lee, "If she actually did take off from here."

Lee pulled the door open and held it for Remington. "Umm," he grunted. "Right now I think I'd prefer she didn't leave from here."

They took in the deserted room at a glance. On the wall behind a small counter a sign read:

Charter Service Available

Hot Air Balloon & Chopper. No distance too short, no party too small. Hangar rent by the week, month or year. Service by appointment.

Through the window behind the ticket counter, they saw a couple of hangars, and one or two small planes parked nearby. As Lee scanned the room looking for some sign of life, a man entered through a door in the rear of the building. He wore mechanics coveralls and carried a battered tool chest. He stopped short when he noticed Remington and Lee.

Lee smiled cordially. "Mr. Fred Stillwell?"

The man brightened, "If you're looking to charter for the weekend, it's too late. All booked. But I'd be happy to set something up for next week..."

"No, sorry we're not here to book anything, we..."

"If you're selling I'm not interested, and if you're FAA looking to poke into my records..." he said suspiciously.

"Actually we are looking for some information..."

"Sorry Sonny, I don't sell information, just Hangar space. Library's two blocks North on Main. Folks up here keep pretty much to themselves. I just keep the runways clear and my tools clean. Gave up all the cumbersome record keeping when all the scheduled flights went over to Rockland for the weekenders."

Lee stepped forward, "Look we're not with the government," he said, which caused Remington to nearly choke, as he swallowed a chuckle.

"Right," drawled Stillwell, and if I believe that, it'll cost me half a years wages in fines."

"Mr. Stillwell," said Lee, "when did you last see anybody from the FAA make his rounds with a baby for company?"

Stillwell eyed Remington and Katie for a moment. "I guess you got a point at that," he admitted. Remington took the conversational initiative, "Did you see a woman fly out of here last Sunday morning, in a..."

"Piper Cub," supplied Lee.

"A pretty woman, in her mid-fifties, blond, brown eyes. She never showed up at her destination. We fear something happened to her. But we hope she only changed her flight plan."

Stillwell actually looked concerned. "Family member?" he asked.

"My mother-in-law," said Lee.

"Well now, Sunday was a peculiar day. You see you got to understand, we don't have full facilities here...no tower, no instrument flying, no night flying. Basically nobody uses the airstrip except on the weekends, and then maybe only two or three locals at that. I know most of them...most times I carry a receiver in my tools in case anybody gets into trouble, but even if they did, I couldn't do more than guide them over to Rockland or hope to God they can do a belly landing. But last Sunday I was over to Augusta, visiting my daughter, so folks were on their own."

"Surely you keep flight plans." said Remington.

"Sure, sure. If folks choose to leave 'em. Never have had to use them though. I keep them filed over there."

He pointed to two filing cabinets against the far wall of the room. "You’re welcome to go through them. Sure hope they can help you."

Back in Arlington, Amanda and Laura were interviewing her neighbors.

"Amanda dear, it's so good to see you. Please come in and keep me company, I'm envelope stuffing."

She led Laura and Amanda into her living room. An old typewriter dominated the table in front of the couch, and boxes and piles of envelopes and flyers filled every corner of the room.

"Laura this is mother’s friend and bridge partner, Lucy Ramsey. Lucy, this is Laura Holt-Steele, a very good friend of mine," Amanda said.

"Mrs. Ramsey, nice to meet you," replied Laura as she sat in the rocking chair, while Amanda sat next to Lucy on the sofa.

"I was just saying to your mother last time we played bridge that we really missed you at the League of Women Voter's strategy meetings, and here you are today of all days, with a friend too - just in time to help with the registration drive mailing."

Amanda smiled at Mrs. Ramsey, "I wish we could stay Lucy, but actually we're on kind of a tight schedule. We really just need to ask you a couple of questions."

"Something to do with that film company you work for I'll bet," said Lucy eagerly. "Your mother speaks of it often...she tells us you're practically indispensable to them."

"I'm afraid mother exaggerates the situation. And no, this really has nothing to do with IFF. It has to do with mother actually. Lucy, last time you talked to mother, did she mention that she was going anywhere special?"

"No, I don't...Oh dear!" gasped Lucy. "I knew there was something wrong, she's been acting so odd lately. There is something wrong isn't there?"

Laura and Amanda exchanged dismayed looks. "How do you mean odd Mrs. Ramsey," asked Laura. "Please be as specific as you can. Anything Mrs. West said, anything at all, no matter how small or insignificant it might have seemed, may be the clue to finding her."

"Well," answered Lucy, "she's missed bridge dates, and even when she's with you she's not - if you know what I mean. And then there's the company she's been keeping lately. I was with her once about two weeks ago and she absolutely insisted on visiting this old reprobate who lives down by the waterfront on the river. She said he was an old friend of your daddy's."

Amanda shrugged her shoulders. "I haven't got a single idea who..."

"She been talking a lot about your Father too, Amanda, and her old friends in Fredericksburg. That's kind of odd because she's never been one to dwell on the past. She hardly ever talks about Philip - never has since I've known her. Oh! I just remembered something else! She kept talking about needing some jewelry appraised - even asked me if I knew a good broker, for heavens sake! I mean Amanda, if you and your family are having financial troubles I'd be happy to help, but of course, Dotty made a joke of it when I told her so."

"What is mother doing?" Amanda demanded. "We're not having any financial problems, at least none that I know about."

Laura rose to her feet, putting her hand on Amanda's arm to reassure her. "Mrs. Ramsey, do you know the name of the man you visited with Mrs. West?"

"Now let me see, it was Jenks, or Jacks or something like that...no it was Jessup, Harry...Harvey Jessup. I thought he was a most unlikely person for your mother to be talking to, believe me."

As Laura and Amanda left the house, Lucy added, "Please call when you've talked to Dotty, Amanda. I'm dying to know what she's up to this time!"

On the road to Portland, Lee and Remington discussed the information they’d managed to find in Camden.

"Well," said Remington, "that was a singularly unfruitful trip. Our sole bit of information consists of a copy of Mrs. West's original flight plan from Camden to DC filed on Sunday."

"Oh no," muttered Lee, "we also know the so called 'airport' in Camden is a joke. Face it, Dotty could have taken off from there three times in a row and Fred Stillwell would never have noticed. I've half a mind to sic the FAA on him..."

Laura and Amanda talked to several more of Amanda’s neighbors. None of them had any new information to add to what they had found out from Lucy, but several of them had agreed with her observations.

After a final meeting with one of Dotty’s friends who volunteered at the Washington Arboretum, they strolled the grounds.

"...When I was a little girl, this was one of my favorite places. Mother is quite a flower buff and we came here often to see the special exhibits This place is one of the first things she and I shared - I mean other than her being a room mother or something. It was a nice feeling, you know, being on almost equal terms with a grown up." She sighed. "I always hoped I'd bring my own children here - but boys, you know - can't be bothered with flowers. Instead I perfected my curve ball and hook slide."

"You're very close to your mother, aren't you?" asked Laura.

"Yes, I guess I am. Sometimes I worry that we're too close. You know, with her living with me, and taking so much responsibility for running the household, neither one of us has much of a separate private life. It makes it tough on Lee too - but on the other hand, I couldn't handle working at the Agency without her."

At about the half way point between Camden and Portland Katie Steele woke from her nap and started to fuss. Remington looked in the rearview mirror at his daughter. "Lee take that bag on the seat and get the bottle of formula out of the side pocket and give it to Katie will you?"

"Give it to her?" Lee's expression clearly showed he had no idea how to approach such a delicate task.

Remington grinned. "Sure, just hold it out to her, she won't bite you."

Lee did as Remington asked. "How about that!" he exclaimed when the maneuver was complete.

"Well you handled that with great style, Mate."

"I thought you had to feed a baby that small yet, I mean by hand or something," said Lee.

Remington shook his head. "No, as a matter of fact, she doesn't drink from a bottle much anymore. Laura is trying to wean her off them. I already miss the feedings. It's a great feeling to hold your child in your arms." He glanced at Lee. "You don't have much experience with children do you?"

"If it's experience you want, I've had a ton of it - in hand to hand combat, intelligence analysis, even in political gamesmanship," answered Lee. "But with parenthood, I'm a total novice. You're looking at a guy who was raised on a succession of military bases by one of the world's most confirmed bachelors. My Uncle preferred assignments that other families in the military didn't want to take. To me, children of any age were a rarity to have around, and babies were an alien race..."

"You're lucky to be so close to your mother," Laura said. "My mother and I always seem to be at odds over something. I worry that I'll do to Katie what my mother did to me."

"What do you mean?" asked Amanda.

"She was always after me, entreating me to be more sociable, more feminine...more like my sister Frances. She was certain I'd never get married, that I'd scare all the men away."

"Well, see, you've proven her wrong. You have a beautiful little girl, and a terrific husband - and I think you're a very good mother It's just that we always expect more of the people we love than we do of anybody else."

"True," mused Laura, "I just hope I remember that when Katie is going through her teens."

"I'll bet you'd go after anybody who threatened your Mom, no holds barred though, wouldn't you?" Amanda said.

"Of course," said Laura without hesitation. "Ah mothers and daughters...what a strange bond we share." She squeezed Amanda's hand. "Don't worry, Amanda. We'll find your mother. When Remington and Lee get back here, we'll pay a call on this Harvey Jessup character. Maybe he'll know something."

"...And they totally mystify me," Lee finished.

"Well that's easy enough to remedy I should think," said Remington. "You should do exactly as I did. You and Amanda should have a baby of your own. There's nothing like it, believe me, absolutely a wonderful way to gain experience."

Lee jumped as if he'd been poked. "I'm not sure we're ready to do anything so...drastic. I'm perfectly happy doing the stepfather bit with Philip and Jamie - not that I'm particularly good at it - I envy Amanda sometimes. She can sense what her boys are thinking. When I ask her how she does it she just shrugs and says, 'I'm their mother' "

"Don't let it throw you, you're not alone," Remington replied.

"It's the mother - daughter thing. It's beyond me. I don't even remember my own mother; I was only five when she died. Once in a while, if I close my eyes and concentrate really hard, I can smell her perfume... I think. My lack of experience is making it hard for me to understand Amanda's panic over her what's happening. I mean, I care about Dotty, and I'm worried of course, but I just don't have that visceral connection."

"I can't say I can be of any help to you either," said Remington. "I never even knew my mother I'm told she died when I was born. But I had plenty of bad experiences with foster mothers before I took off for good. Until I met Laura's mother, I rarely saw an example of a 'normal' mother and child relationship - and Laura claims that she and her mother are not typical."

He smiled fondly at Katie in the rearview mirror. "When I see Laura with Katie I think I understand a little, and then Laura will do something completely out of character, and I know I'll never understand it."

Lee sighed, "I've never been much for understanding anyway. That's Amanda's strong suite. I prefer action. Speaking of which, where do we go from here?"

"For pity's sake Randie, will you please sit down? I’m getting tired just watching you pace. The train isn't going to get here any faster if you wear a hole in floor you know."

Randie sat down and tried without much success to compose herself. "Dot...are you sure we're doing the right thing? What if we do more harm than good?"

"Of course we're doing the right thing!" Dotty replied. "I always say, Randie, it's never the wrong time to make someone's day a happy one. And believe me, I know that Diana will be very happy once the shock wears off."

"It's the shock part I'm worried about," said Randie "I've waited so long to make things right, I just couldn't bear it if something went wrong."

"Well we're about to find out. There goes the whistle," said Dotty. Rising, the two women rushed out of the waiting room as the train from New York pulled in at the platform.

Laura, Remington, Lee, Amanda and Harvey Jessup crowded into his bait and tackle shop. Harvey was a small man, about eighty years old, and bucking the stereotype, clean-shaven.

He shook his head decisively at Amanda. "I don't believe your mama has disappeared Missy, not anymore than I'm really an old salt" - he winked conspiratorially - "I just do that for the tourists. Anyway I didn't always run a bait and tackle shop. Thirty-five years ago my late wife and I were living in Fredericksburg."

He looked closely at Amanda. "Your mama and daddy were our neighbors, Miss. Of course we didn't live so close by as folks do here in DC Most of us had half to a quarter of an acre around our homes, but we were as close as kinfolk just the same. As a matter of fact, it was my Evie who used to sit with you when your parents went out at night. You remember her?" her asked.

"Well gosh, Mr. Jessup no. I was pretty young...Mr. Jessup, about my mother's visit two weeks ago, what was it she wanted? It's really important," Amanda urged him on.

"Oh yes. Of course it is, Miss. Well, she was here jawing about the old days you see. She wanted to know if I still had contacts in the jewelry business. I used to sell jewelry wholesale," he explained.

"Anyway I gave her the name of a reputable broker and wished her well - I was real sorry to hear that Phil was gone already. Seems a shame, him being the sensible one in all the troubles, not living to see how things worked out."

Remington interrupted him with a question. "What troubles are you referring to Mr. Jessup? Is Mrs. West in some kind of danger?"

"Don't get all heated up now. Miss Dorothea is not in any kind of trouble I know of. She's just taking a walk down memory lane and recalling how bad blood came between some of the neighbors in our circle way back 35 years ago, and how her Phil kept his head through it all."

"What kind of bad blood, Mr. Jessup?" asked Laura.

"I don't expect I should say anymore - not my place. If you want the true scoop you've got to find Randie Taggart - or I guess her name's Stonewell now - Randie Jane Stonewell. You hear me now; I'll bet Randie Jane will know where Miss Dorothea is off to. Those two were real close."

"Stonewell? As in Stonewell Aircraft?" exclaimed Laura.

Mebbe, but I wouldn't know about that. When I knew her, she was a nurse. But she was crazy about pilots that's for sure. What happened in Fredericksburg is really her story. I think you'll have to ask her."

The following morning in the Steele’s hotel suite, Laura brought Lee and Amanda up to date. "I can't locate RJ Stonewell. She apparently didn't go back to Los Angeles after all. So I took a chance, called Camden, and asked Fred Stillwell a few more questions. We just got this fax from him."

"Pretty shocking to find Camden Maine even has fax machines," growled Lee. "What does he have to say?"

"Quite a lot actually. It seems Dotty did file a new flight plan, which his nephew and part-time assistant misfiled. According to Stillwell, Amanda, your Mom planned to fly into Montpelier, Vermont."

Lee looked at his wife with a puzzled frown on his face. "Why on earth..."

"Wait," said Laura. "It gets better. It seems his nephew was at the field on Sunday, and saw Dotty before she took off. She wasn't alone - he identifies pictures of Dotty and a companion - RJ Stonewell."

"It looks as though Jessup was right," observed Remington. "Mrs. West and RJ are together and apparently headed for Vermont."

Lee repeated his previous question, "Why would Dotty want to go to Vermont Amanda?"

"The only reason I can think of for her to visit Vermont is my Uncle Chester..."

Lee cut her off mid sentence. "You mean all this has been a wild goose chase, that all she's doing is visiting another relative? Agh! Amanda I swear I don't believe this!" he shouted.

Amanda's voice rose a pitch in response. "Of course not!" she snapped. "Nothing short of disaster would make mother visit Uncle Chester. She hasn't been on speaking terms with him for years, not since daddy died anyway. She always thought he was a terrible old grouch, and only put up with him for my Father's sake."

Laura and Remington exchanged a worried look, certain they would be in the middle of a full-scale battle in a moment, but little Katie diffused the crisis neatly by crying. .

Amanda, who has been holding Katie on her lap, immediately stopped to comfort her. "There, there Katie. It’s all right really. We’re not really as angry as we sound - or are we Lee?"

Lee glanced down at Amanda and Katie and apologized, "No of course not. I’m sorry Amanda...everybody."

"Here, Amanda let me take her," said Laura, reaching for her daughter. "It’s time she had a nap anyway."

After Laura retreated to the bedroom with Katie, Remington spoke. "Amanda I think you should call your Uncle Chester and see if he knows your mother’s whereabouts."

Amanda hung up the phone dejectedly after she got the second busy signal. "Well at least we know somebody is home," she said.

She looked hopefully at Lee. "I can’t just sit here and keep calling! I want to see mother in the flesh if she’s with Uncle Chester.

Can we go up there?"

"Only if you take us with you," said Remington. "I have to hear the end of the story."

Laura grinned. "RJ is our client, after all."

"...So you see Amanda, the whole thing, going back more than thirty years, was a silly misunderstanding. Your Mom and Dad and I were real close back then, and RJ here was, my girl. When she went to Korea to be a nurse in an EVAC hospital, she got pretty involved with the locals." Chester paused, and smiled at RJ, who picked up the story.

"I'll say I did! Your Aunt Diana was just a skinny little 15-year-old then. I got her into the States by having your Uncle Chester here sponsor her. I was also trying to get her mother, this wonderful lady here," she pointed to an elderly Korean woman, who bobbed her head in acknowledgment, "out of the war zone and into the States. But, the plan fell through. Mrs. Ko disappeared behind enemy lines, and there was nothing more I could do for her."

Dotty continued the narrative. "Needless to say, we here at home didn't take the news too calmly, and when RJ wrote to say she'd fallen for a pilot stationed over in Korea with her, some pretty nasty things were said."

Chester cleared his throat noisily. "What your mother is trying to cover up nicely for you Amanda, is that I behaved like a jerk. She tried to defend her girlfriend, and I just couldn't accept it, and took it out on her. That pretty much busted up our good times."

Especially when, a few months later, Chester here, decided to marry your Aunt Diana - who was what - all of 17 at the time?" said Dotty. "I was wrong, but I thought he was only doing it to spite RJ, and that Diana would end up being hurt."

Laura turned to RJ and asked, "How on earth did you happen to hook up with Mrs. West again after all these years - or was that in your plans from the beginning?"

"Well no, actually. I was bored. Had several hours to kill before my plane left, and thought I'd visit my past while I was in DC. I found a listing in the Arlington phone directory for Philip West, and took a chance.

"I was telling Dot all about meeting Mrs. Ko in Los Angeles, before these hearings came up, and how I'd been working on her for a couple of months, to get her to let me find her daughter, and Dot told me she knew exactly where I could find Diana!

Anyhow, we decided to take matters into our own hands and surprise everyone - we just didn't dream we'd end up surprising you kids too."

"Yes, Amanda, Lee, all of you. I never intended to frighten anybody! Believe me, when I talk to Captain Kurt, I'm going to give him what for! He was supposed to call you and let you know I'd changed my plans.

As for the rest, I guess I've been missing your daddy too much lately. You and the boys are gone so often these days I don't have enough to keep me occupied sometimes and I feel sorry for myself."

"Now it all makes sense of course, but mother, I have just one more little question that needs answering; why are you trying to sell your jewelry?"

"I'm not trying to sell any jewelry darling, I‘m trying to find a good broker for the charity fund committee to use this fall. Lucy Ramsey just can't take a joke that's all!" She smiled. "Your Father always did say my sense of humor would get me in trouble someday, I guess he was right!"

"I just worry so much about you mother, you've been acting so strange lately. And then when your friends all agreed with me, well, I was just frantic."

Dotty eyed Amanda closely, "Well now you see Dear, it's just like you're always telling me, perfectly innocent, nothing wrong..."

"All right mother, I get the point, said Amanda hastily.
Chester, noticing his niece's sudden blush said, "Now that we've all confessed our sins, what do you say we stop wallowing in the past and see to the needs of the present? I'm starved! Diana, let's get some food going!"

Amanda flashed him a grateful grin as they start putting out a barbecue on the patio.

At dusk, Chester turned the outdoor lights on, lighting the patio area with soft lanterns that cast shadows over the lawn. Laura and Amanda sat apart from the others, and Amanda held Katherine in her arms once again. She played with Katherine as she and Laura talked.

Across the lawn, Lee and Remington walked the property and smoked rare after dinner cigars.

Remington looked over at Laura and Amanda. "I don't know Lee, but that you may have to change your mind about how ready you are for parenthood soon." He nodded his head in Amanda's direction.

Lee looked up sharply. "Huh? Oh that. There's nothing new in that. Amanda has motherhood carved on her bones. When she sees a child, she has to mother it. Doesn't mean a thing."

Nevertheless, he headed toward the women determinedly, as if he were afraid to leave Amanda alone under these circumstances.

As the two men approached the spot where Laura and Amanda sat, Diana West came out of the house and called, "Mr. Stetson! There's an important call for you." Lee jogged across the lawn to answer the phone, while Remington joined Laura and Amanda.

"You're making your poor husband very nervous you know."

Amanda looked puzzled, "I'm making Lee nervous? How do you figure that?" She looked for Lee and spotted him coming rapidly out of the house. "He doesn't look nervous to me."

"Oh yes, he's very nervous every time he sees you with Katie. I personally think it makes an absolutely charming picture, but for some reason it makes your husband extremely jumpy."

Remington’s meaning finally dawned on Amanda, and she chuckled. "As well it might, if I were really thinking what he thinks I'm thinking," she said. "But I don't think that we could take on even one more tiny responsibility, not even a dog, let alone a baby, right now. Our lives are too darned complicated as it is."

"Yes we've noticed that," said Laura dryly. "Listen, if you should change your mind though," she teased, "we've got this great loft..."

"Yes," said Remington, "the Holt sisters can certainly testify from personal experience just how uh, fertile a place it is for romance."

Amanda looked at Laura. "He's not kidding is he?" she asked.

Laura laughed, "No, he's not. You remember my little niece Melissa don't you?" Amanda nodded.

"Both she and Katie..."

At just that moment, Lee returned. "Billy’s put us back on the duty roster, Amanda. Something big is brewing, and he wants us back in DC right away."

Amanda turned to Laura and Remington. "I don’t know how to thank you both, for everything you’ve done for us."

"All a part of the service when you hire Remington Steele and Associates," Laura answered with a grin.

Amanda winked at Laura and Remington as she hugged Katie. "Good-bye little one. I wish I could take you home with me, we'd have so much fun...!" She sighed loudly for effect and handed Katie off to Laura. Lee’s consternation is apparent as Remington salutes him over Amanda's shoulder.

"I guess I'll just have to wait until..."

"Amanda...." he said warningly as they headed toward the house to say their good-byes.

END