Chapter nine
In the last week, there had been more pictures sent to the police station. This time, however, there had been notes left with them. Though they seemed harmless at first glance, it was clear that this person wanted Robert out of office. What was not so clear was why. They had gone over every angle and none of the usual suspects made any sense.
"I am beginning to think these pictures are not blackmail," Robert acknowledges. "Wouldn't we have heard more by now if they were?"
Anna put her arms around Robert and pulled him close. This was starting to concern her as well. When they thought it was just a blackmailer, there had been a simple solution. Now she was beginning to wonder if this person could possibly want more than just Robert's badge.
"What if this is someone you put away Robert," Anna suggested. "What if they want to hurt you?"
He recognizes her concern and kisses her tenderly before pulling her into another hug. He had thought of that too.
"Let's not jump to any conclusions yet Luv. If it was an angry Perp, I think they would want more than just my head on a platter. So far, these pictures are only about you and me. That just makes me think they are using the police station to settle a personal matter with me."
"How do you want to handle this Commissioner, "Guy asked?
"Put these pictures with the others. We need to keep a record of it. If things start to escalate then we are going to need to reevaluate but right now, what do we really have? A couple of pictures that they are hoping will embarrass us. A few statements that suggest I am unfit to be Police Commissioner. None of this suggests anything more than…"
"A Jilted Lover," Anna interrupted. "That's what you are thinking aren't you?"
"It's a possibility that I think we need to consider."
"Who, Robert? Who would do this to us?"
"I wish I knew the answer to that Luv. I am so sorry that you have to go through this too. Your reputation is at stake just as much as mine is. If I could change that, I would."
She caresses the side of his cheek as she looks lovingly into his eyes. "Do not even think of blaming yourself for this sweetheart. I do not regret anything that has happened between us. Do you?"
"You know I don't. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. Loving you is like breathing for me. No matter how hard I tried, I just did not know how to stop loving you. We hurt so many people Annie but you are a part of me. I would not stop loving you, even if I could."
"I feel the same way about you Scorpio. So stop it okay. The only person responsible for this is the bitch who thinks they can separate us. That is not going to happen. Whatever comes next, we face this together. Got it?"
"We always did work better together Luv."
He kisses her tenderly and they turn back to Guy. "I promise you won't have to hold on to this for much longer Guy. Anna and I are going to be telling everyone soon. Robin already knows."
"I bet she is over the moon about becoming a big sister."
"She is a little confused about all the details but she is really excited about the baby and that her daddy is going to be staying with us permanently as soon as we are married."
"You two are getting married?"
"I figured it was time to put a ring on it, don't you think?"
Anna giggled as she kissed him again. "It took you long enough."
There was an awkward silence and they both knew the reason for it. "We told Kate last week. We regret the pain that we caused her but not that we fell back in love. I hope you can understand that."
"I can," he admitted. "Congratulations."
"Thank You. Now get back to work."
They were all smiling when they walked out the door. Guy understood that they were not bad people. They were just bad at pretending that they did not love each other. They deserved to be happy too. Everyone deserved a shot with the person that means the most to them. For Robert and Anna, that person was each other.
It was the day before their engagement party, when Robert picked up the newspaper. He was not expecting to see their pictures gracing the front page.
"Bloody Hell," he yelled. Anna was not going to be any happier about this then he was.
"What is it," Anna asked, as she walked into the room with his coffee.
"You aren't going to like this," he said.
"Just tell me," she said, after handing him his coffee cup.
"It appears that we are front page news again," he states. She peers over his shoulder at the picture of them in the alley. It left no doubt, what they were doing. She dropped her mug.
"It's going to be okay Annie," he promised as he helped her pick up the pieces of the broken mug. Anna went into the kitchen to get a towel and when she came back, there were tears in her eyes.
"It's not me I am worried about," she said. "What are the kids are going to say to Robin now? You know how they are whenever one of our names ends up in the papers and this time it's…"
"Personal," he finishes, taking her into his arms. "Maybe we keep her home today while we figure out what to do. "
"What are we supposed to tell her Robert? I don't want her to see those pictures."
"I don't either," he agreed.
Robin knew what had happened between them but neither of them wanted her to see the pictures. It was bad enough that their friends would.
"Let's go talk to our daughter," he said, putting an arm around her as they walked.
Recently manicured fingernails ran across the newspaper headline. It read "Unlawfully Exposed." There were other headlines thumbtacked to a bulletin board. Robert's life chronicled from the earliest to most recent, pictures of other women sliced out of the photographs.
Robin had just finished getting dressed when there was a knock on her bedroom door.
"What's wrong," she asked, when Robert and Anna entered. She could tell by their expressions that something was not quite right.
"Come sit," Anna said, motioning towards the bed. Robert put a hand on Anna's back as Robin sat.
"We are going to keep you home from school today sweetheart," Anna began. "Just until we figure out what to do about this."
Robin nodded. She knew what this meant. "You are in the papers again, aren't you?"
Robert takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. This was going to be much harder for Robin. This time it was personal.
"I'm so sorry Robin," Robert starts. "This is about me."
"This is not your fault Robert," Anna states as she rubs his shoulder. "We did this together."
"Is this about your baby," Robin asks bluntly?"
"Sort of, "Robert admits. "There were pictures taken that never should have been taken."
"What kind of pictures?"
"The kind that invade a person's privacy," Anna explains. "And they shared them with the public."
"I can't believe this," Robin complains. "You two were caught having sex. Is that what you are telling me?"
Anna and Robert looked at each other and then back at Robin. This was not easy for any of them. Robin was almost a teenager now. This had to be the most confusing for her.
"I know this must be a lot for you to take in Robin. I mean we just told you that we hurt a lot of people in order to be together and that your mother is now pregnant with my child."
"And I was excited about that Dad. I was."
"But?"
"Couldn't you and mom stick to embarrassing me in private? Did it really have to be all over the news?"
"Robin, we're sorry," Anna says, as she wraps her arms around her. "But this is not your dad's fault. Someone is trying to paint him in a bad light and we do not know why. "
"Are you going to lose your job daddy?"
"It's a possibility Robin. My private life really would not matter to anyone if I were not in a public office but some people are going to say that if I cannot be trusted to stay faithful then I cannot be trusted to run the city. "
"But that's crazy. All you did was follow your heart. Why should people care about that if you are still doing your job well?"
"You think I'm a good Police Commissioner?"
Robin stands up and wraps her arms around her dad. She did not like what was happening but she did not blame him either.
"Of Course I do. You really care about people daddy. That's what matters."
"Thank you sweetheart. I love you."
"I love you too daddy."
He kisses her forehead and then he and Anna leave her room. They would give her time to deal with this and then they would see if she wanted to spend the rest of the day with them. They went into their bedroom and Anna curled up next to him on the bed.
"You are the greatest man I know Scorpio. This is all going to work out. I am not going to let anyone come between us again, you hear me. I cannot wait to be your wife again. "
"And I can't wait to be your husband. I love you so much."
"Back at you sexy. You still planning on resigning?"
"I'm not sure yet. See how the city reacts I guess."
"You are the best thing that has happened to this city. I have your back Scorpio. You don't have to step down."
"I can't let them take the whole station down with them Annie. If this is about me, then come after me."
"Alright. Well if you decide to step down then you can always come work with me. I'm sure Sean would step in for you while we deal with the bitch who wants my husband."
"You are so sexy when you get territorial."
"Oh yeah… You like that. What about this?"
She loosens a few buttons on his shirt and runs her fingers down his chest.
"Oh Annie," he moans. "You are driving me crazy here."
"That's kind of the point Scorpio," she purrs.
He kisses her deeply as he holds her in his arms.
"One thing First," he says. "How do you know it's a woman?"
"You really want to talk about this now," she asked, kissing his neck.
"I think we better. Robin could be coming in here any minute."
"And considering what happened, we can't afford that right?"
"Don't worry baby, tonight I am all yours."
"You better believe you are."
She pauses as she gives him a pretend pout. "I hate it when you are right."
He kisses her tenderly and they put their arms around each other.
"She wants to get you fired Robert. She wants to embarrass you. If this were a man, we both know those notes would be more threatening. Whoever she is, she is hoping to take away the things that are important to you. In her mind, if she takes your job then she will ultimately take me away from you. She wants you Robert. She wants you as humiliated as she thinks she is."
"Then maybe we ought to give her what she wants?"
"What does that mean?"
"Maybe I should make her think she is winning. Maybe I ought to resign."