Chapter 29
When Robert woke up Anna was cuddled in beside him her left hand on his chest, He smiled and ran his fingers across the rings she is finally wearing again. All those years ago when the WSB told him she was gone and they didn't know where she was he had needed something to hold onto, a piece of her. He would get pictures of Robin but had needed to have something of Anna's so he had asked for her wedding rings. He knew they had taken them off of her when she was getting treatment. He lifted her hand and kissed it.
"Back where they belong."
"Yes they are" he kissed her hand again. "Morning Luv, I didn't mean to wake you up."
"You didn't, I just didn't want to move yet."
"Should we run away for the weekend? I'm not sure I'm ready to share you with other people yet." Robert had set up the most romantic evening for them the night before and she had loved every minute of it.
"I would love that but I'm not sure we can. There is a lot going on right now, you know that."
"I do but that doesn't stop me from hoping." Robert leaned in and kissed her. "Am I making you breakfast or are we going out?"
"Going out, you did more than enough yesterday."
Anna checked her phone before they left, Robin had called but nothing work related so she was happy, she would call Robin a little later. When they were ready they left for Kelly's it was the weekend so they hoped Anna wouldn't get called into work.
...
Luke didn't know what Sonny was up to or why he was so interested in Robert's motives for telling him about Jake Burrows' being Dougy Franks. He didn't really like that Sonny was contacting him so much lately either. He knew what Sonny was and what he did, Luke had even helped him get to where he is today. Whatever he had planned for Robert better not put any one of them in danger. That family had been through enough and Luke wouldn't stand by and let Sonny mess with them.
The call from Sonny last night was still bothering Luke this morning. What had Robert done that had Sonny so worked up? Luke could tell Sonny had been trying to work something out and that it somehow involved Robert but he still didn't know what that was. He was on his way to meet Bobbie at Kelly's so he tried putting all of that out of his head for now. It worked too, right up until he walked into Kelly's and saw Robert and Anna sitting there. He paused for a moment considering going over to talk to them but reconsidered.
Anna was on the phone when Luke walked in so she didn't notice him looking at them but Robert did and while Anna was distracted he became aware of the fact Luke kept looking over at them. "I am so sorry honey. I have to go into work," Anna told him after hanging up.
"Alright, I think Spencer might want to talk anyway." He leaned in and kissed her neck, "Hopefully whatever it is doesn't keep you from me all day."
She smiled seeing the look in his eye. "I will try to get out of there as quickly as I can." Anna kissed him tenderly then got up, "I love you."
"Love you too." Then Anna walked away, Robert took a sip of his coffee sure it wouldn't be long before Luke joined him. "What can I do for you?" he asked as Luke sat down.
"What does Corinthos want with you?"
"I didn't know he wanted me for anything."
"I hardly talk to the man anymore and in just over a week we have talked several times and you seem to be the main reason, so what's going on?"
"I don't know why he's so interested in me suddenly."
"You told him about that guy he has working for him, Franks or whoever. What's going on?"
"I have talked to Sonny Corinthos twice since coming out of my coma you were there for one conversation and he told you all about the other. I'm sure you would know better than me what he's thinking and why."
"He is not the type of man you cross Scorpio," Luke warned.
Robert looked at his old friend, "Have you forgotten? I'm not the type of man you cross either."
Luke knew that very well, "Just watch your back. I don't know what Corinthos is up to but it must have something to do with you."
"He might want my help with something. That's what Duke thinks anyway," Robert finally told him. "Can he be trusted?"
"He is a man of his word. If he tells you he's gonna kill you should believe him."
Robert phone rang, "I have to take this," he said looking at the number. "Scorpio," he got up and walked out of Kelly's.
...
"Sorry to make you come in today Anna," Dante said as he and Nathan followed her into her office.
"It's fine, what's going on?"
"There have been people watching Pete's Marine for a while now. Last night they saw Jake Burrows enter then a short time later he was seen having a heated discussion with a younger man that he walked back out with."
"OK, why am I here?" Anna asked. She knew this was an important case so there must be more to it than that.
"Earlier this morning that man, Justin Hall, was found beaten pretty badly, he's over at GH now. We haven't heard about the extent of his injuries yet. When an officer talked to him he said he doesn't know what happened but he was kind of out of it at the time."
"So you think Burrows may have had something to do with this? I can't see him actually getting his hands dirty dealing with someone they may have hired for a job." Anna was now pacing, "More than likely he had someone else to do it. We need to get someone inside that can really figure out what's going on there."
"I think we may have found someone that will work. Marcus Anton, he's green but he's the right age and he hasn't worked the docks much so he shouldn't get made as being a cop," Dante told her.
"Alright, brief him on what we want to find out about Pete's Marine then send him in," Anna instructed. "Are there pictures of Burrows and this Justin Hall together last night?"
"I believe so," Nathan said.
"Make sure they are copies with the rest of the file on Hall's assault. Even if it turns out that Burrows had nothing to do with this I want to have those pictures."
Suddenly there was a loud knocking at her door, Dante went and answered it but Duke was already walking in, "Good you're here. Do you know what Robert's up to today?" Duke asked Anna, ignoring the other people in the room.
"No, we were planning on spending the day together but I got called into work. How did you know I was here?"
"I saw Robin, she mentioned that Robert said you were here. Look, I think it's happening today."
Anna knew what he was talking about, "Can you two give us some privacy?" Dante and Nathan both got up and walked out of her office. "What's going on? What's happened?"
"I was talking to Sonny yesterday and he said he would know what his decision was today. Have you heard from Robert today?"
"Not since I left him at Kelly's to come here. He did mention he thought Luke wanted to talk."
"I just need to know what Sonny decides and whether he'll agree to Robert's trims." The look on Duke's face crushed Anna. He knew he had made mistakes and was desperate to make things right.
"I haven't heard anything but I will let you know if anything does happen. I can call you if I hear anything about this," Anna offered but that didn't seem to relax Duke much.
"I just want to know what's going on."
"What are you going to do if Sonny doesn't agree?" Anna asked even though she wasn't sure she wanted to know the answer.
"I'm not sure. I'll have to figure something else out. There might still be a way out of this for me but I don't know."
Hearing him sound so defeated made her so sad, "There's got to be a way. Let's hope Robert has good news about this later."
...
Robert walked into an old building that looked like it was once a little corner store, the windows were boarded up and it looked like it hadn't been open in years. He looked around making sure he wasn't walking into some kind of a trap. This was a large open room and there was nowhere to hide, with only two ways of entering the room. Unless there were a lot of people coming for him he felt he could cover both doors easily. When he first got the call saying to come here Robert had wondered why he wanted to meet here of all places. Robert knew this meeting should not be witnessed.
When he heard someone coming to the main door he drew his gun and waited for them. When Sonny entered there was a gun pointed at his back, he turned looking around the room and slowly put up his hands when he saw that Robert had been behind him. "There's no need for that. We are the only two here."
"Why are we here?"
"I didn't think you and I should be seen talking to each other. I've owned this building for a few years and haven't done anything with it so I thought it would be a good place for us to meet."
Robert lowered his gun, "Should I have called someone so they knew where I was?"
Sonny smiled at that, "No, I just want to talk."
Finally, Robert put his gun away, "Alright, what is this about?"
"Well, I've been doing a lot of thinking about why you would have told me about Dougy Franks. I know you don't approve of my," Sonny paused, "line of work. I also know that if I wasn't Robin's friend you wouldn't hesitate in trying to bring me down."
"You're right there. Except even though you are friends with my daughter don't think I wouldn't put you away if there were a reason and proof." He wanted Sonny to understand that he was not getting a free pass. Robert also wanted to hear Sonny out before even mentioning anything about Duke.
"Understood," Sonny had to respect the man. He is in law enforcement and putting away people that break the law is what he does. "I think I have come up with a way to deal with Julian Jerome. I will need your help to make it work the way I see it playing out." Robert slowly nodded but didn't say anything. "I want to let Burrows take false information back to Julian, information that would lead them to believe that Duke and I are at odds. Enough that they might think they could wipe out one of us and set up the other for it." Sonny went on and explained what all he had thought of and why he knew he would need Robert's help to put them away at the end.
"That does sound like it could work. Why do you think I would be willing to help you?"
"I think you would rather have me in the position I'm in than Julian Jerome. You want Julian Jerome behind bars just like I do."
"If those are my only two options, then yes."
"So will you help me?"
"What do I get out of this?"
Sonny was a little surprised Robert would expect something from him. "Julian Jerome in prison."
"Do you think I need your help to do that?"
Sonny realized Robert was already thinking of something he wanted. "What would you need from me?"
Robert took his time before answering, "It sounds like you want Duke to be their target. That it will be his life on the line if something goes wrong with your plan, not yours. What does he get in return? Have you even told him about this little plan of your?"
"He knows about it. Duke was the one that told me this would have to be done on the up and up if you were going to help me."
"I heard you've been asking around about me. Now I guess I know why." Robert moved a little closer to Sonny. "I have one requirement that has to happen, if it doesn't I won't help you."
Sonny thought for a moment, "What do you want?" he asked suspiciously.
"Duke Lavery walks away from your organization when this is over. It's his life you want to put on the line so when this is over it should be his life again. You can not do anything to keep him working for you. If you can agree to that then I can agree to help you."
Sonny wasn't sure he liked this. Duke may have spent a long time in that Turkish prison but he still knew how this business works. Duke had learned a lot from Angus McKay, and there was still a lot Sonny could use him for. Of course if Julian was successful Sonny wouldn't need anyone's help with anything. "I think that sounds like a reasonable request."
"This is not a request. Duke walks. There will be no changing your mind at the last minute."
Sonny realized Robert wasn't messing around about this. "Duke will be free to do whatever he wants when this is done," Sonny held out his hand.
"We have a deal then," Robert said as he shook Sonny's hand. "Work the kinks out of your plan then let me know when you start putting it into action. I have somewhere to be." Robert turned and left without another word.
...
Robin had called Anna to see what they were up to and was surprised to hear she was still at the office. Anna smiled when Robin knocked and walked in followed by Maxie a short time later. She got up and hugged them both, "When did you get back Maxie?"
"Yesterday, it is so good to see everyone. Oh, and I got to met your son last night."
"Nathan," Anna smiled, "he is definitely a surprise. Did Robin explain what happened?"
"Yes, she did. If my parents were anyone other than Frisco and Felicia Jones I think I'd have a much harder time believing what happened," she told Anna with a warm smile.
"Are you going to be here all night?" Robin asked.
"No I'm just waiting for a report then I can leave. What's going on?"
"I just wanted to come see you, find out how your day went yesterday," Robin said with a smile. "I tried calling both you and dad a few times last night. Nathan told us you left work early."
Anna smiled beaming with happiness, "It was a wonderful day."
"So what did you and dad do yesterday?" Robin asked with a big grin, everything seemed to be going so right for her family lately.
Anna's eye sparkled thinking about their day, "I don't think you really want to know the answer to that," she told her with a grin. Both Robin and Maxie giggled at that.
"It feels like I left town just when everything got interesting here," Maxie said with a little laugh.
Anna waved her hand at Maxie dismissively, "Robert and I aren't that interesting."
Robin and Maxie saw it at the same time, "What was that?" Maxie asked.
Robin just reached out and grabbed her mother's hand, Anna let her hand be turned. "Are these your actual wedding rings?" she asked looking at the rings on Anna's left hand.
"They are," Anna beamed with happiness when she answered. "I had no idea what had happened to them. Robert had requested them from the WSB shortly after they lost track of my whereabouts." Anna wiped away a tear that was threatening to fall, "We put our rings back on each other yesterday, as a symbol of our love and commitment to each other. We haven't talked about marriage, but we have committed to being together until the end."
"I think this is perfect for you and dad, you've always done things your own way."
"We don't feel like we need a ceremony or a piece of paper to tell us we are committed to each other."
"I agree with Robin, this is perfect. When do I get to see Uncle Robert?"
"Look behind you."
Maxie turned and smiled seeing him standing there. They hugged each other, then he kissed Robin on the cheek then made his way to Anna, hugging her close leaning in to kiss her. As he did he whispered in her ear, "Duke will be free when this is over."
Anna hugged him even tighter, that was wonderful news. "I'm glad you're here." She didn't need any details right now that could wait for now. "The girls noticed I'm wearing my wedding rings again."
"That's a coincidence so am I," he said with a silly grin as they moved apart.
"So is June 28th the day we're using as your anniversary?" Robin asked.
"That's the date that goes with this set of rings, so it works for us," Robert told her.
Anna smiled, "We're husband and wife, that's what we consider ourselves and that's all that matters."
"I think we should go have dinner together. I want to hear about everything that has happened since I left," Maxie said.
"I'm still waiting for a report," Anna reminded them.
"Not any more, I believe this is what you're waiting for," Nathan said as he walked into her office. He glances over at Maxie and smiled as he walked by.
"Thank you, Nathan. Robert this might interest you," Anna said as she opened the folder.
As they looked over the report about the assault on Justin Hall Robin took Nathan's arm and lead him back out of Anna's office, Maxie followed them as well. "What are you doing this evening?" Robin asked.
"I didn't have any plans, I wasn't sure how long I was going to be here."
"You are joining us then," Maxie said giving him a little grin. "I already told Aunt Anna I want to visit with them tonight."
That night no one talked about the case, they all went back to Robert and Anna's. Patrick came over, he had both Emma and Georgie who were both happy to see their moms. Maxie explained that Spinelli had agreed to Maxie bringing her for a visit and that they were still working on a custody agreement that worked for them both. As the night went on Anna noticed Nathan would watch Maxie for a little while then look away, a few time she thought he looked a little disappointed as he looked away.
After the others had left Anna went to find Nathan and Robert who were in the office. They had vanished about an hour before. "What are you two doing hiding in here?" A few times now Anna had noticed that they would slip away to talk alone and loved that they were really getting to know each other.
"We just wanted to talk," Nathan told her. Nathan loved talking to Robert about anything, he couldn't get enough of the WSB stories or the tails of his time as commissioner. He had realized that Robert didn't like to talk about the time he was believed to be dead, more accurately what he had to do during that time. More then the stories about Robert's work Nathan liked hearing about their family, he knew if the four of them hadn't been torn apart it would have been amazing growing up with them all together as a family. Robert would also get Nathan talking about himself. He knew Robert wanted to know everything about him. He hadn't had a father figure growing up and he wasn't going to waste the fact that he now had his real father in his life.
"Nathan, can I ask you something?" Anna asked sitting beside him.
"Of course you can."
"Are you interested in Maxie? I noticed the way you would look at her but then there was almost a hint of sadness when you'd look away."
"Anna!" Robert started.
"You shush!" Anna waved her hand at Robert then turn to face Nathan more. "I think I know what might be bothering you and I'd like to clarify something. It might help you it might not matter but you should still know." Nathan nodded then Anna went on. "I am Maxie godmother, Mac basically raised her along with her sister Georgie and Robin but she is the daughter of Felicia and her first husband Frisco Jones. She is not a blood relative. I just thought that might be something you'd want to know." Anna glanced over at Robert giving him a look saying she had said all she needed, he just shook his head slightly and grinned.
"Thanks for clearing that up," he said with a smile. Nathan didn't even know if he wanted to ask Maxie out. At least knowing she isn't his cousin now he didn't have to feel strange about thinking she is very attractive.
She turned and smiled at Robert, "I'm going to go soak in the tub before bed don't stay up too late."
"I'll be up to help you dry off," he said with a smile, then she left them alone again.
