A/N: Thanks for all the reviews. I'm glad so many of you are enjoying this story.
Chapter 52
Felicia and Tiffany were sitting in Anna's room, they had brought her lunch from Kelly's. "You call them Andy and Alex, how do you know which one's which?" Tiffany asked.
"We go with Andy is on the right and Alex is on the left. Andy is a little busier than Alex. Andy kicks harder, usually. Alex is a little more laid back, it feels more like he stretches and pushes to make room."
"Robert must be so excited to be having sons," Felicia said with a big smile.
"We both wanted at least one of the babies to be a boy. Two sons is just us overachieving," Anna said with a little laugh.
"Have you heard from him?"
"Yeah, he called last night and we talked for quite a while. Then he called this morning just to say hi and that he loves me."
Both Tiffany and Felicia smiled. They both knew not to talk about what had taken Robert and Sean out of town. Robert had made it very clear he expected those babies to stay right where they are until he gets back and neither of them wanted to have to call him and say that they had any part of upsetting Anna. "How are you feeling today?"
"Now that I've eaten a nice big lunch I feel much better. Staying in bed until these babies are born is going to be hard but I know that's what I have to do so I will."
"So we are going to be welcoming the news Scorpios into the world as early as a couple of weeks," Felicia said excitedly.
"I think that's going to be the case. They will be early but Dr. Harris feels that will be alright. That's why she really wants me to stay in bed she doesn't want me to start going into labour again. She said they wouldn't be able to stop it again. As it is she told me that there is no guaranty that I won't go into labour again before the two weeks she is hoping for."
Tiffany wanted to ask why Robert willingly left town if the babies could be born at any time but Sean had explained that what they were working on was actually to help Anna remain calm. She knew it had something to do with Duke and the charges he was facing but not exactly what they were hoping to do. "Is there anything we can do to help have the house ready for when the babies go home?" Tiffany asked.
"Oh, I hadn't even thought about that," Anna admitted. "We have the cribs and their room is mostly set up, I think. If you talk to Filomena she'll tell you if there's anything that needs to be done."
"We'll do that. That way all you have to worry about is those little ones."
"Can you make sure Robin gets to do some fun things while I'm stuck in here? Filomena will do her best to make sure she's having fun but I know Robin loves spending time with both of you."
"We'll bring her here to see you as well," Felicia told her, that made Anna smile.
...
"Who are these guys asking questions?"
"A couple of men from Port Charles. One's a PI and the other one had WSB credentials. They are looking into the Olivia St. John murder."
"There's nothing for them to find, so don't worry about it."
"That's easy for you to say. The way my partner talks about them they are like superagents or something. They didn't even want to talk to me when they were at the station yesterday morning."
"That's a good thing, isn't it? You just make sure Lavery stays where he is and I'll make sure you get what you need to convict him of Olivia's murder, I might even be able to get him put away for two murders."
"What are you talking about?"
"You don't need to know that. All you need to know is what I tell you."
"I'm not sure I like this."
"All you should care about is that by working with me you are going to be free of your debt."
"Fine. I take it you'll be in touch."
"I will."
Then the line went dead. Richard hated what he was doing but he knew the amount he owned this man was enough to get him killed. By doing what he wanted an innocent man might go to jail but at least he would stay alive. If only he had picked a few winners, then he wouldn't be in this mess.
...
Robert had spent the better part of the last three days watching Dino while Sean was out doing a little investigating. They weren't sure what they were looking for but felt Dino was at one lead that needed to be followed up on a little better. Sean had gone and talked to the security men that were working the day Olivia was murdered, they didn't know anything so that was a dead end. He had talked to several of the people that worked in the area about if they had seen anything that night. Most of them had already told the police what they knew and it wasn't much.
One of the corner stores that had been opened that night Sean felt he might actually get something from. Marcel, the man that had been working, said he had seen a dark haired man that night. He had come in a bought a few things, he couldn't remember what they were though. He only remembered the man because he had been getting ready to close when the rude man came in. Sean described Duke but the man said that didn't sound like the man that came in. When Sean asked what time the man had come in, he was told it would have been a little before nine since that was what time the store closes on Saturdays. When Sean asked other than being rude if there was anything else about the man he remembered. Marcel told Sean it seemed like the man was in a rush. He had come in grabbed what he wanted and basically through the cash at him before rushing back out the door.
Sean wasn't sure why the police hadn't followed up on this more, but when he asked the man told him the police hardly asked him any questions at all. The detective had left Marcel his card but he had never bothered calling him because he hadn't thought anything of the man that had come in. Rude people came in all the time. "What was the detective's name?"
Marcel picked up the card that was sitting by the cash register, "Detective Richard Barter. Young guy, I think he thought very highly of himself," Marcel told Sean.
"I know the type. Thank you for talking to me."
As Sean started to head back to where Robert was watching the warehouse he started to wonder about the man that had been in the corner store. Was that the man that the witness apparently saw in the area of the gallery? How many other dark-haired men could have passed through that area in an hour? There weren't all that many places open at that time of night close to the gallery but it was New York and people could pass by there to get to the restaurants and clubs that are just a few blocks over. Sean felt sure no judge would convict Duke of murder on such weak evidence. Knowing Jake Meyer was representing him, Sean felt sure that Duke would not see a day in court.
Sean joined Robert watching the warehouse without saying a word. After only a few minutes a man walked out of the warehouse. "Are you coming with me? That's Dino," Robert said as he got up.
"Dark haired man around six feet tall, hell he could have been the person seen by the gallery."
Robert paused, "That is a very good point. Let's get moving, I want to see where he's going."
Today was different than the last couple days Robert had followed him. Sean and Robert followed Dino to a little convenience store a couple of blocks from the warehouse. From there they followed him to an old rundown apartment building. As much as they wanted to follow him inside they knew they had to be careful. They watched him go inside then Robert entered the building and watched the elevator to see what floor it stopped on. The sixth floor, after five minutes Sean came in and they made there was up to the sixth floor. No one else had entered or left the building since Dino arrived so they were sure they knew what floor he had gone up to.
When they got up to the sixth floor they found that there was just one hallway leading away from the elevator. Robert walks down to the far end while Sean waits close to the elevator. They would watch for Dino leaving then move in to see who he was coming to visit here.
They had been inside the apartment building for about forty-five minutes when Dino finally exited the apartment he had been inside. Robert noted which apartment he left while Sean passed him in the hall his head down slightly, stopping to knock at the first door on the left. Dino didn't even give him a second glance, he walked straight to the elevator, got on and was gone.
Robert walked right to the door Dino had just walked out of, Sean quickly joined him. "Do we knock?"
"Might as well, for all we know it's his grandma's apartment and he was here for his weekly visit," Sean suggested.
"For some reason, I don't think that's going to be the case." Robert knocked and they waited but no one answered the door. "This isn't his listed address."
"No, but he did bring food here. Someone must be staying here," Sean concluded. "Maybe it's not of their own free will."
Robert was already pulling out his lock picking kit. "Keep an eye out." Sean watched for anyone entering the hall while Robert worked the lock, quickly he had it opened and they stepped inside. Looking around it didn't look like anyone was living here. The place was a mess but they noticed that one side of the apartment had had a lot of work done to it. There was what looked like a room build in the middle of what should have been the living room. The walls of that connected to the existing apartment walls. There was a padlock on the door, as soon as they saw that Robert and Sean knew there was someone being kept in that room. "I'll get this lock as well."
"Be ready in case whoever is inside tries to escape. They don't know we're here to help."
Once the lock was off, Robert opened the door. There sitting on a cot was a young woman. A young woman they both knew. "Robert! Sean! What are you doing here?"
"Rescuing you. Are you alright can you walk?" Robert asked.
"I can but I'm chained to the cot so I can't reach that door. That man has been holding me here for a while now."
"We just watched him leave, how often does he come here?" Sean asked.
"I think every five days or so. He leaves me food and then leaves again."
"Alright we're getting you out of here," Robert said as he walked over to release her.
After a few minutes, Camellia was out of the room, she was now searching the rest of the apartment. "Camellia we should get out of here. We need to go talk to the police," Robert told her.
"We can't go to the police yet. We need to find the gun."
"What are you talking about?" Sean asked. He didn't understand why she was refusing to leave the apartment.
"I know what happened to Olivia. I know they are trying to say Duke did it but he wasn't there. He didn't shot her."
"You sound very sure of that," Robert noted.
"Of course I am. We need to find the gun, it's the gun that killed Olivia."
"Did Dino kill her?"
"Is that his name? He never told me, so I thought that meant he might actually let me go eventually. He didn't kill her either but he saw what happened."
"Did you see what happened? Do you know who shot Olivia?"
Camellia nodded, "I do. We need to find the gun so we can take it to the police like I planned to do that night."
"So you were there?" Robert continued to ask the questions while Sean started looking around the apartment for a gun.
"I was there. I went to talk to Olivia. I felt certain that she was lying about being pregnant. I had seen her with the man that's been holding me prisoner here. She was drinking a martini that day, so that made me start to wonder. Then Duke told me things that made me even more sure there was no baby. Why didn't she know when her due date was and if she did why was she refusing to tell Duke? I know enough about her to know she wanted more power in her father's line of work and I think she thought Duke was the ticket to get that. Did he tell you he was thinking about ending things with her until she told him about the baby?"
"Good timing if you ask me." Sean looked over at Robert then added. "You were right, Olivia wasn't pregnant."
"Then I didn't kill an innocent child," Camellia said as she put her hand over her heart.
"Did you just say you killed Olivia?" Robert asked.
"It was an accident. She pulled the gun after we had been arguing. I didn't know what to do so I tried to get it away from her. The gun went off then the gun and Olivia fell to the floor. I knew I had to call the police so I picked the gun back up and started walking towards the office she had come from. I heard something that was when that man came at me he hit me with something then the next thing I knew I was here. At first, he had me gagged and tied up. That was while he built that room."
"And you've been here since?" Robert asked.
"No, the same day I woke up here he took me to a pay phone not far from here. He made me call my place of work, I hoped someone would realize I didn't have an aunt and would come looking for me."
"When Duke finally heard that, he was the one that figured out you were missing," Robert told her.
"You see why we have to find that gun. It was her gun, we need to be able to prove that. They won't believe me, not after all this time."
"Camellia even without the gun the police will listen to you. They may hold you for a little while but with what you've told us I think we have enough to back up your story."
"Are you sure Robert?"
"By going to the police now you will secure Duke's release. There will be an investigation and you will be named as the person responsible for Olivia's deaths. If it happened like you say the police should be able to prove you acted in self-defence." Robert put his hand on her shoulder, "Olivia you need to go to the police now. They will arrest Dino for abduction and then they will search for the murder weapon."
"Alright, I understand. Are you sure the gun isn't here?"
"I've looked everywhere, but the police will search it again. If it's here it will be found," Sean told her.
"Then I think it's time you take me to the police so I can tell them what happened." With her head down Camellia walked with Robert and Sean out of the apartment she had been a prisoner in.
...
Barter didn't understand the latest call, why had he been ordered to get down to the police station. If it had been Molini that had made the call it would have made sense. His partner was always calling him to join him to follow whatever his latest lead was. What had happened? Everything was going as planned, it was only a matter of time before his problems would have been behind him. Now the very man forcing him to bend the law in his favour was ordering Barter to go to work.
When Barter walked into the station and saw Molini sitting in one of the interrogation rooms with Lavery's lawyer, a young woman and the two men from Port Charles he was even more confused. He barged in, "What's going on in here."
"You aren't needed for this, Barter. We're just taking a witness statement. I'll fill you in after."
"Who is she? What case does this involve?"
"You don't tell me about your sources. You don't need to know about mine. Now if you don't mind this is none of your business at the moment and you should leave."
Reluctantly Barter turned and left the interrogation room. He walked over to his desk to wait for his partner. Was whatever was going on in that room the reason Dino wanted him to come here tonight. While he was sitting at his desk it started to make more sense. Two uniformed officers walked in, Dino was between them, clearly, his hands were cuffed behind him. Their eyes meet and Barter understood he was here to get Dino out of whatever mess he was in.
It had started as a few bets on some college games, he's won enough to get cocky and that was when it all went downhill. He started making bigger bets, then he started losing. Before he knew it he was 100 grand down and Dino wanted his money. That was when the deal fell into his lap, do what he could to have Lavery go down for murder. Don't make it obvious and eventually he would have the evidence to seal the case and he would be the new hotshot detective that everyone was talking about. What was he going to have to do now?
Sean hadn't liked the way Barter had barged into the interrogation room. He had seemed annoyed that he was somehow not involved. When he had called Molini to tell him they were bringing in Camellia, Sean told him he had already called Jake and he was on his way to the police station. It was only going to be those two in the room with them when Camellia gave her statement. She was still scared and didn't want a bunch of people there. What had lead Barter to showing up at the station this late and why did he barge in like he had? Sean had followed him out and watch him while he sat at his desk. Something was bothering Barter. He was upset about something that was happening but maybe he didn't fully understand what was going on either.
Sean smiled when he saw Dino being lead in. It hadn't taken long for them to find him. Oh, what was that? There had been a look. Sean was sure of it. There had been a look between Dino and Barter. Barter was trying to act like he wasn't watching Dino be lead into another interrogation room by those officers. When he got up from his desk Sean quickly turned towards the coffee machine but continued to watch Barter out of the corner of his eye. Barter was definitely interested in what was going on with Dino and unless Sean was very wrong he had pressed the intercom button so he could listen in.
Sean turned and walked back past the interrogation room, sure enough, Barter was listening in. He walked back into the other room and looked at Molini. "You can not share any of this with your partner. I might be wrong but I think he's connected to Dino. He sure is interested what's being said in the next room. Dino was just brought in and I think that was why he showed up here."
"Do you think Dino was the one feeding him the information he said he had on Duke?" Robert asked. "If he has the murder weapon it could have been what he was planning to eventually hand over."
"We need to find that weapon before Barter can talk to his boy then," Molini said. He had listened to Camellia's entire account of what had happened and he believed everything she had said. "So he's over there listening to what Dino's saying?"
"Yeah, and I think Dino knows he is so he might be giving him clues without the other officers realizing it."
"You said you searched the apartment Camellia was held in and you didn't find the gun."
"That's right."
"Then I want you to go back there with Barter and go over that place from top to bottom. That will give us time to get a warrant to search Dino apartment and place of work. If he's there with other officers he can't make up some story about how he found it if the gun is there," Molini said.
"Alright." Sean got up and left the room again. He walked over to Barter, "Hey, we have a lead on where the murder weapon from the St. John case is. Molini wants me to take you to where we found that witness and help you look for it. A couple of uniform officers are coming along as well."
"Yeah alright, let's go." Barter wasn't sure what Dino had been talking about. He hadn't said much but what he had said was about Duke and how much he hated him and his family. If Dino was going down for something maybe it was better to not be around when he does. He went and grabbed his jacket then followed Sean out of the station.
Robert Jake and Molini were all still sitting in the interrogation room with Camellia. Jake had already agreed to represent her, now they felt it was best to keep it quiet she had admitted to the shooting until after there had been a search for the murder weapon. Robert got up and started pacing, it was getting late and he wanted to call Anna but Camellia still seemed very scared and he didn't want to leave her.
"What's bothering you Scorpio? I think you and Sean just solved this case," Molini asked.
"I was only here for one reason and I'm sure that reason is waiting to hear from me."
"That's right, congratulation Robert. Duke told me you and Anna were expecting," Jake said.
"Thank you, we are and she got so upset the other day the babies almost got here a month and a half early."
"Oh no what happened," Camellia asked.
"Anna's blood pressure had been too high lately because of the stress on top of being pregnant. When she heard Duke was most likely going to be charged with your murder as well she got very upset and because her stress level has been up for far too long she started to go into labour. Our doctor was able to stop it but now Anna has to stay in the hospital. Our doctor wants the babies to stay put for a little longer."
"Go call her. I don't think I'm in danger in here with these men."
Robert smiled at her, "I'll be right back."
"Use the phone at my desk."
"Thanks, Molini." Robert walked out of the room a smile on his face. Even if it took a couple of days to wrap this up he knew that he would be home in time to see his boys come into this world.
He knew it was a little late but felt sure Anna would be waiting for him to call. "This had better be my husband."
Robert smiled as soon as he heard her voice, "Hello Luv. How are you?"
"Better now that I'm talking to you."
"What did you do today? Did you have lots of visitors?"
"I slept a lot between visitors. Robin and Filomena brought me dinner and stayed for a nice long visit this evening. I thought you would have called earlier."
"I would have but I was kind of busy. All I will tell you is things are going good and with any luck, I will be seeing you soon."
"That is the best thing I've heard all day."
"We found a major clue tonight so, things are looking very good here. Now that is all the work talk I will be doing."
"I don't need to hear anything else. Thank you for doing this."
"You don't have to thank me, I'm doing it as much for me as you. How is Robin?"
"She's good, she's excited that school is almost done. She told me that this summer she doesn't want to go on any trips because she wants to be home with her brothers."
"I want them all home together, our family. I can't wait, Luv."
"Well, you better. I am doing my best to do what Dr Harris tells me."
"You tell Andy and Alex I will be home soon and that I expect them to still be where they were when I left."
Anna started to laugh, "I'll tell them. I love you so much, Robert."
"I love you too, Anna." I should let you go. I'll call you in the morning alright."
"Alright, bye hon."
"Bye Luv."
...
When Sean and Barter had gone back to the apartment two other officers had gone with them. So far they had tagged and bagged basically everything in the apartment. Barter was working with them, if he had known Dino had been holding Camellia here he was doing a great job hiding that fact. Sean had left out who had been holding Camellia here, only that this was where he and Robert had found her. If he could, he was going to keep Barter here for the rest of the night. By the time the search warrants were issued for Dino's apartment and warehouse office Barter should be beat from spending so much time here.
Sean was starting to hope his gut feeling about Barter somehow being involved with Dino was wrong but he also knew his gut was right more often than not. It was well after three in the morning when the officers wrapped up their search. Police tape was put up and they made their way back to the police station. It had been a long night but it had paid off. Camellia had been found and they now knew what had happened the night Olivia had died. There were still a few more questions that needed to be answered but Sean knew it wouldn't be much longer before this case was wrapped up. There was one more thing he was going to do before heading back to Port Charles. Sean was going to go back and talk to his buddy Marcel at that little corner store to see if Dino was the dark haired man he saw the night Olivia was murdered. Once they can place him in the area around the time of the murder it should back up Camellia's story about what happened that night.
As they walked back into the police station Sean was hit with the realization that in just a matter of days he and Robert had all but solved a case that the NYPD had been struggling with. It wasn't that he thought they were better than the officers working the case. Sean was now even more sure that there had been someone on the inside trying to shape this case so it would come to a certain outcome. That there was someone that had wanted Duke to end up taking the wrap. After he had gotten some sleep he would talk it over with Robert, then if he still felt that way they would bring that to the attention of some of the higher up here. For now, all he wanted to do was get some sleep.
