Special Operation

Chapter 4

Jacques walked down the steps at Wyndemere towards Faison's study. He just got news that Robert Scorpio left the country and thought that his boss would for sure like to hear about it. With the piece of paper that confirmed it in his hands Jacques walked into the study to find Faison sitting behind his desk smoking his signature cigarettes.

"Faison" Jacques said, handing the man the paper "Brennen sent a message from the mainland"

Faison took the piece of paper and read it silently, after a puff from his cigarette he spoke "So Scorpio is out of the country… Find out where he's gone"

"Any ideas? Before I start" Jacques asked

Faison held a finger to his chin giving Jacques a small grin "Just one, if I'm right all our deals are off"

Anna was on her way to Sean's room to work on getting more information about Faison when she saw Kate exit his room. She sighed, earlier today she'd seen Kate at Kelly's and Kate had given her the cold shoulder. She even turned down her invitation to have a cup of coffee together.

Anna knew exactly why Kate was acting the way she was. This is why she'd been so adamant that Robert spend more time with his fiancé, because just like everyone else in this town Kate was beginning to suspect something more than friendship between herself and Robert. And if Robin wasn't exaggerating yesterday about Kate's facial expression when she mentioned Italy, Anna knew she had to do damage control before she inadvertently caused a rift between another one of Robert's relationships

"Hi" Anna said to Kate "You following me around?" she joked

"Um no" Kate said barely looking up to greet Anna

"Could we maybe have that chat now?" Anna asked her, wanting to talk about Robert and everything that was going on

Kate shook her head looking for an excuse "Uh no I really didn't think I was going to spend so much time…"

"Could we do that please?" Anna interrupted her before she could continue

"Alright"

"Robin said that you two had lunch together and that she'd mentioned Italy and San Remo and that she thought perhaps you were upset and I was just wondering if there was a problem" Anna explained to Kate

"Well let's see" Kate said sarcastically "Robert mumbled that name in his sleep along with your name and the words together forever, so yeah I guess you could say I'd have a problem with that"

Anna didn't know what to say, she hadn't been aware of that piece of information "Oh Kate I'm sorry" was all she could mutter

Kate waved her off "You know what it's okay, it's good that I find these things out now rather than later" she said before she started to walk off

"You know it's easy to misunderstand something like that" Anna said trying to minimize the situation

"No I don't think I misunderstood anything" Kate said turning back toward Anna "In fact I think that Robert- No I know that Robert is still very much committed to you"

"Well yes of course he is" Anna said before she had a chance to process the words in her head but after seeing the look on Kate's face she continued "But that doesn't mean that the two of you can't be happy together"

"Oh please that's exactly what it means" Kate scoffed

"Look as soon as he gets back from his trip you two are going to set about your life together, he wants that more than anything"

"I'm sorry but I can't help noticing that the two of you are even beginning to sound alike" Kate said

"Because it's the truth Kate" Anna insisted

Kate shook her head "You know what I think is the truth? I think Robert wants his family back, You and Robin."

"Katherine it isn't, Robert is just finding the best way that he can to deal with this. I know it's difficult but you've got to understand" Anna said "I am his past you can't change that, but you you're his future"

Kate turned to walk off again but stopped short "I can't live my life this way, and I won't build my future with a man who's living in the past"

Both Sean and Anna sat on opposite ends of Sean's hospital bed going over file after file on Faison, They'd been going over them for over an hour and Anna was beginning to get frustrated with this whole mess

"Okay, here we go" Sean said while passing a piece of paper to Anna "One more nail in Faison's coffin"

Anna looked up and took the file "Can't we just cremate him?" she half joked

Sean chuckled "What are you working on?"

"Oh I'm still on '77" she said

"Oh good, that was a vintage year for him, go over that one with a fine tooth comb" When Anna didn't say anything he looked up to find her with her head thrown back and her eyes closed "What's the matter?" he asked

"Oh I'm just tired that's all" she said before getting up and starting to pace back and forth "I can't concentrate on this, Kate is upset at me and Frisco is mad, everything is just a mess"

"Oh will you stop this" Sean said getting up too

"And it's my fault you know it's me-"

"Well so what, so it's you so what. How many times did we go over this? You're not the only one okay" Sean tried reassuring her

"Doesn't make me feel any better"

"Look it is nothing compared to what I did to you and Robert, and nothing is going to be good for anybody unless we nail this guy, so we have to keep going alright?

Anna sighed "Yeah, yeah you're right"

"Of course I'm right" Sean said "Now if you keep thinking about that past you're never gonna be able handle the present or the future"

"I know that"

"Okay, so our job right now is to move fast and neutralize this guy before he starts making moves of his own"

Faison moved silently across the length of his study waiting for news about Robert Scorpio's whereabouts. He was almost certain that Scorpio had flown to Banncock to look into Desiree's death, and when he got the confirmation that Scorpio had broken their deal, he would be free to do as he pleased.

Jacques walked into the study once again, but this time with a small smile on his face "You were right, Scorpio was spotted by our people in Banncock"

Faison grinned and nodded "Banncock, yeah Scorpio is in Banncock to investigate Desiree's death, it's a clear breech of our bargain that is very unwise of him"

"Have you thought about your next move?" Jacques asked

"You know me Jacques, expect the worse and you're better off, if Scorpio chooses to break our bargain then I guess I'm allowed to do the same" Faison said as he was handing a letter to Jacques "Make sure this letter gets delivered".