Chapter 38
Robert was waiting on the couch in their home office when Anna got home, "What's going on?" she asked as she walked into the office.
"It's happening soon, and I think we need to make a change to the plan."
"What? Why do we need to change anything?"
"If this was still just about catching Julian then I wouldn't suggest this but it's not. Julian wants to control the city, this is about more than just revenge now."
"What do you want to change?"
"We have to let Duke die, or let people believe he died at least."
"Robert I don't like this."
"I know, hear me out." He got up and walked over to her. "To prove Benson is working with Julian, we need to have a trial. Sonny needs to be the one facing charges."
"He's not going to agree to that."
"He might." Robert asked her to seat at the desk, he sat on the edge facing her then played the recording Parker had given him earlier. "After I heard this I got a message to Sonny to make sure there was proof him and Duke were not likely to kill each other. I think they were planning to stage something for Burrows today so hopefully, that plan is already in action."
"Benson will try to railroad Sonny for Duke's murder, once it goes to trail then what?"
"That might be when it comes out there was a WSB investigation going on that has information relevant to the case. I don't know for sure yet. First, we have to make sure Duke will agree to this."
"We don't even know how they are going to attempt to kill Duke. How can we fake it?"
"Do you really think it isn't going to be a shooting? I mean these are all mobsters, Julian will try to make it look like someone else did it but I can't see them planning any elaborate setup."
Anna leaned back in the office chair, "No that makes sense. We need to talk to Duke right away. Do you know where you're going to hide him?"
"Sonny has safe houses, I knew he does. He asked me for help, for this to work he can help with my plan."
Anna knew Robert was right, they had to go after all of them at once. "Have you found out anything more about the night Long was set up?"
"Not much but we now have Burrows talking about setting him up. I know there has to be proof out there of what really happened. We have a little time to find that, but we need to move on getting Duke and Sonny on board with this latest plan."
"How are we going to talk to them? We need to see them both, and soon."
"Tonight you and I are going out for a night of dinner and dancing," Robert said taking her hand.
"Oh are we?"
"Yes, there just happens to a few private rooms on the Haunted Star, Luke told me about them. He also may have told Sonny about it."
"Does Duke know?"
"He will soon, Robin was going to let him know. Luke has decided to throw a little get together tonight, there will be a lot of people on board and no one should notice if we all disappear for a little while."
"Should I be at that meeting? I mean as commissioner, do you want me there?"
"I want Anna Devane there," Robert pulled her up out the chair. "This is our case, Luv. You need to be there."
"Well, I better go get ready for tonight." Not letting go of his hand, she started walking, Robert smiled and stood up and followed her out of the room.
...
When they arrived at the Haunted Star Anna was amazed at how many people really were there, the place was packed and the range of people there should make it very easy for them to slip away and talk to Sonny and Duke. "Luke did all this just to cover up a meeting?" Anna asked leaning into Robert a little as they walked in.
"Luke doesn't really need a reason to throw a party, he must have told everyone he invited to invite friends." They were shown to a table where Robin Patrick Nathan and Maxie were already seated. "Well hello, I see we all got the invite for tonight's festivities."
"Yeah, Luke made it sound like it was going to be quite the party," Robin said as her parents joined them. "Uncle Mac's out of town and Felicia is babysitting tonight or they would have been here too."
"I see," Anna said looking around. Duke was already there, he was over by the bar talking to a few people. A few minutes later she saw Sonny walk in, now that they were all here she wondered when they would get a chance to talk. The more she thought about it the idea of faking Duke's death, it became clear as long as it works it's was better than the alternative. Now they just had to make Sonny and Duke understand this was now bigger than they first thought.
After they had eaten Robert asked Anna to dance. Robert pulled her close and whispered, "You need to talk to Duke, he doesn't know we need to meet."
"After this dance, I'll tell him. Right now I just want to think about where I am."
"You are in the arms of the man that loves you beyond explanation, the arms of the man that will always protect you." He kissed her gently, "I love you, Anna Devane."
Anna slid both hands behind his neck and Robert pulled her closer still, "I love you too."
"I can't wait to get you home," he smiled then whispered in her ear. Anna giggled and tilted her head back. When the song ended, he said, "I have not danced with my daughter in much too long."
"You should," then she kissed him. "I better get over there it looks like Lucy is moving in on Duke."
Anna made her way over to Duke, "Hi, sorry to interrupt," she glanced at Lucy. "Duke, would you like to dance?"
He looked out at the dance floor and saw Robert and Robin, "I'd love to," he said and offered her his arm. Once they started dancing he smiled, "So is this all some elaborate set up so you and I can talk?"
"Not just you and I," Anna told him with a smile. "Talk to Luke he will tell you where to go when the time is right. We have to change the plan and we need you and Sonny in on it."
Duke smiled, even though his head was spinning trying to accept that they felt the need to change the plans. "I wanted to come over and talk to you all earlier but it looked like a family dinner. Are Nathan and Maxie dating?"
"No, just friends. I think he could be interested in her but she is dealing with a lot with Georgie and Spinelli right now. Robin says they're getting to know each other better."
"I hope after this is all over I can get to know Nathan a little more. He is your son."
"I don't think you'll get him to call you Uncle Duke," she said smiling at him.
"No, I bet not," he smiled back.
"But I'm glad you want to get to know him." Anna had told him what she needed now they could just enjoy their dance.
After their dance was done she went back to their table just in time to see Maxie drag Robert back onto the floor, Robin was already dancing with Patrick. She held out her hand and Nathan looked up at her, "You are going to dance with your mom."
"It would be my pleasure," he said taking her hand. If anyone was watching them it would seem they were all out enjoying themselves and nothing more. "Is something going on?"
"Small change in plans, a meeting will happen later but nothing to worry about." Anna smiled up at him, "I just want to dance with you, not talk about any of that."
"I can do that."
After another half an hour Luke nodded to Robert. When he looked around the room he saw that both Sonny and Duke were nowhere in sight. He was sitting beside Anna who was talking to Maxie. Robert leaned in and kissed her bare shoulder, "Can I steal you away for a few minutes?"
Maxie smiled at them, seeing them be affectionate didn't bother her at all, she loved that they were back together and happy like her mom and Mac were. "I think you should take him up on that. I happen to know the view from the deck is amazing at night," she said smiling at them.
"Well I guess I will," Anna said, then she and Robert excused themselves. Anyone watching them would think the same as Maxie, that they just wanted to be alone for a little while.
They walked down a private hallway that leads to the room where Duke and Sonny were already waiting. As soon as they walked in Robert said, "We don't have a lot of time but we need to talk." Anna went and sat in one of the chairs in the room while Robert addressed the other two men. "I have information that would indicate that what Julian is involved in is a lot bigger than wanting you dead and to take control of the city from you." Robert had stopped trying to make it sound like Sonny wasn't a mobster. "When Julian goes after Duke I want people to believe he is dead. Sonny that means that you are going to be the PCPD's prime suspect."
"There is evidence that's we've agreed to let this go," Sonny told them.
"That's good, and we will need that. I believe Julian may already have at least one powerful person in his pocket. I want to use the plan we already have in motion to take care of that problem as well."
"So I have to play dead?" Duke asked.
"Yes, it shouldn't be long we've already started building the case against them. Sonny, I want you to use one your safe houses to keep Duke out of sight while he's dearly departed."
"Who says I have a safe house?"
"I don't want to know where it is I just want you to keep Duke there."
"Fine, and I won't go to jail for this?"
"No one is going to die, you can't be found guilty if no one's dead," Anna added from where she was sitting.
Robert smiled over at her, "All we're really changing is that instead of an attempted murder, we want people to believe there was a murder." Robert went on to explain a little more about what had to happen and how they were going to get Duke to the safe house afterwards. It was a short meeting and once everyone had said their piece they started to leave, Sonny first then Robert and Anna lastly Duke. When they returned to their table both Robert and Anna were more relaxed, they had done what they needed now they could really enjoy the rest of the evening.
...
It had been a long day, Anna found now that she knew it was only a matter of days before Julian made his move she was just waiting for the call to come in. When she got home Robert was in their office. He had been working there a lot over the last week. He was watching something on the computer so she walked over and smiled, she moved his arm and sat in his lap. He put his hand on her hip, "Watch this," he said.
Anna turned and looked at the screen. He was watching Thomas Long talk to a man at a bar, a few minutes later a woman walks over to them they all talk for a while then the man and woman help Long stand up, then they all left together. During that time Long only had one drink. "Where did you get this?"
"There actually was a back up of the surveillance from that night, I just had to ask the right people."
"Can you play that back, I want to get a better look at the other man's face."
Robert runs it back some, "He came over and joined Long after his friend had left and he'd moved to the bar."
Anna tapped Robert's hand so she could control the mouse, she froze it on the man's face then enlarged it. "I might be wrong but I think that is Justin Hall. He was seen having a heated discussion with Burrows the night before he ended up in the hospital after being severely beaten."
Robert put his other hand around her waist, "That is interesting, a little bit at a time this is all coming together."
"I don't want to work on this tonight, I want to go get our granddaughter, take her out somewhere fun and just forget about this for a little while."
"Then you should call her while I get this all put away."
...
Julian knew it had to be this weekend, weekdays Duke seemed to be hiding himself away. There would be no need to lure them to the same place, Duke would die while Sonny was meeting a business associate that just doesn't happen to show up, ensuring he has no alibi. He knew Dougy wanted to be the one that got the honours of killing Duke but he didn't want Dougy anywhere near Duke when he gets shot. The plan was simple, Duke will meet his end while walking down by the docks. There would even be a witness that heard the gunshot, to bad they aren't going to get a look at the gunman Julian thought with a smile.
After Duke is out of the way JB can get to work putting Corinthos behind bars, there should be a nice case against him. By the end of summer, Julian will be in control and the DA will make sure he doesn't see any jail time for any future discretions he may be a part of. It has been much too long in coming but he was finally going to get what he had always wanted.
...
Duke knew if the plan was going to work he had to make himself visible so they had a target. He trusted that Robert and Anna had thought of the risks and knew what they were doing as well. He was taking longer walks in the evening, he would go down to the waterfront and just look out at the water, he hadn't done that very often, not like when he'd had his club down there. They all believed he would be shot, that it made the most sense. He had not gone anywhere without his vest on since Robert had sent it over, even if it was just getting a bite to eat in the Metro Court restaurant he had it on.
As he looked out at the water tonight he couldn't help but think about another night that was meant to change everything. He had given his testimony and was back in Port Charles to reunite with Anna and Robin then they were going to go into protection. That night hadn't gone like planned, it was Jerome's men that had made sure that night didn't go like planned. That couldn't happen this time, it had to work this time.
Bang! Bang! Duke felt the pain in his back, in his arm, then was falling forwards, he stumbled then fell into the water.