Chapter 8

After hearing about how badly the WSB had handled the entire situation with Robert and Anna back in 1992. Sean felt a trip to Paris was warranted and left the day after the meeting in Mac's office. Had it been incompetence or intentional interference by way of halting the investigation before it could even start that had led to them being gone for so long? He didn't know, Sean didn't like not knowing.

The main reason for the trip, Sean wanted to make sure they still had a man in custody in Paris. Seeing if Hans had anything after he finds out that his brother is dead was the other reason for the trip. There was too much coming to light that made him uneasy about some of his colleagues. One could never be too careful even when you're apparently working for the same side. Sean didn't want to start getting all worked up again so he told himself, get this out of the way then go enjoy the rest of the day. Before he left Port Charles, Sean told Anna and Robert he would check in on Robin for them. Spend a little time with her and bring back a few more of Anna's things.

As the cab stopped in front of the WSB building he took a deep breath, time to go talk to that piece of scum. Sean Donely was a man on a mission when he entered the WSB office in Paris. Matteau Bourque was waiting for him. "Hans is already in the interrogation room," he said and turned as they started walking together.

"Thanks, Matteau. I trust you but I'm starting to feel like that might not be the case with everyone in the WSB." Matteau looked over at him considering what he'd just said, there had to be more behind that statement. "Scorpio and Devane were purposely left out in the cold by some of our fellow agents. I'm not taking chances now." Sean saw the look of disbelief on Matteau's face. He felt there were still a few agents he could trust but that list was getting shorter all the time, thankfully he felt Matteau was still one of them.

Since the last time Sean had been here Matteau had done a little digging of his own and had learned of the new investigation being conducted, fully by agents that had been with WSB no more than three years. Matteau has heard that there are already four agents under review for their conduct in 1992. He didn't know what had gone on when Scorpio and Devane were declared dead but it looked as if people were finally going to pay for their parts in that debacle.

"No one knows your friend is even here and it will stay that way. He'll be fine right where he is while the team finishes this investigation."

Sean looked over at him and gave him a nod. He knew Matteau was one of the good ones."That's good. Make sure it stays that way. Someone already knocked off his brother."

"I heard about that, Frisco actually called to make sure Hans was still alive and well about four days ago."

"We all need to get answers and we know there is at least one person out there that's already trying to cover their tracks. Tie up loose ends like our friend here."

"I understand." They were now at the door to the interrogation room. "I'll let you handle this on your own." Matteau opened the door and let Sean enter before turning so he could watch through the two-way mirror.

Sean sat down across from the man cuffed to the table. The man looked up an angry snarl on his lip. "Are these really necessary?"

"You are a prisoner in WSB custody, so yes Hans, they are necessary." Sean was in no mood for any lip from this dirtbag.

"Fine, why are you back here? It's only been that French guy comin' to talk to me lately."

"Agent Bourque is who looks in on you for me. Has he told you any news about your brother?"

Hans just shook his head, "Na," sure this was some kind of trick.

Sean cleared his throat, "I regret to inform you your brother, Mattias Sohlmann, was found murdered in Spain. He was shot and had been dead for about three days before his body was discovered in a vacant lot."

Hans tilted his head as he stared at the man across from him. "No, you lie!" Even as he said it Hans knew that could be exactly how either of their lives would end. A violent death then left to rot like trash.

"I would never lie about something like this. Your brother is dead." He offered no condolences, he showed no sympathy.

Hans studied Sean's face, he didn't think this man was lying after all. His brother must be dead, he put his head down not wanting this man to see any hint of pain in his eyes. "Thank you, for telling me. Is that why you're here?" he asked after a moment.

"Partly, partly to make sure no one had gotten to you. I have been assured you are very safe here. I also thought it was time to see if you might have changed your mind and wanted to talk to me after all."

"I have nothing to say to you."

"That's what I thought the case would be. We'll be seeing each other again soon."

Sean stood back up and turned to leave. He will be speaking to Hans before returning to Port Charles but that can wait. Today, he would let him grieve for his brother. After another quick conversation with Matteau, Sean excused himself. He had lunch plans with his goddaughter to keep.

…

Anna walked into their living room, a smile on her face. Robert was up and working on making their breakfast. She loved that they were already developing a morning routine. Their life, still carrying on, getting back on track, as they uncover the mysteries of their past.

It had been two days since their meeting with Agent Miles. They spent the first evening going over everything Miles had given them. Why had all of that been buried? Why had Ross and whoever he was working with not felt the need to look into what happened to them? The other three agents whose names were on that report they didn't even know. Why had the WSB just accepted that report and never re-examined it, not a single part of it? The moment Faison reappeared alive and well an investigation should have been opened.

Knowing there was evidence and leads to investigate that was never followed up on. Knowing that if a small group of people had acted differently they might have been found sooner. Knowing that did not help them. It just made them angry. Because of that, they had agreed that neither of them could let the other one focus on what they had learned about that night. It happened, it can't be changed. If they are lucky there will be justice but they know even that is a long shot.

Last night, once they were sure they had learned everything they could from the file they had been given, they put it away and agreed that for now, that had to be put aside. They knew they had been royally screwed over and it can't be changed now so it wasn't worth the energy. Then last evening Robert had taken Anna out for a romantic dinner. Knowing why they had both been left for dead, no declared dead, didn't help find out who was behind what was done to Robert. However, it did make them both wonder what else had been going on back then. Could someone in the WSB have helped whoever took Robert? Could there be a connection to whatever had been happening in Port Charles back then?

Anna sighed as she walked over to get herself a cup of coffee with those questions once again running through her mind. She didn't want to start thinking about all of that again. They'd agreed, they had to stay focused, they could not let themselves keep dwelling on what Ross and those other agents' actions cost them. Today is a new day she told herself.

Robert smiled watching her walk towards him. "How are you feeling this morning?"

"Wonderful," Anna answered as Robert's arms went around her. "A romantic evening followed by a night of passion," she grinned "you outdid yourself last night. What more could a girl want?" She let out a little laugh looking up at him.

He leaned in and kissed her tenderly, "A good breakfast with the man that loves her," he offered.

"Yeah, that sounds good too." She smiled again and gave him another quick kiss before going and sitting at their table. "Do you think Sean has seen Robin yet?" Anna asked once she was seated.

Robert checked his watch, "He did mention they had lunch plans today. So they might even be together at this moment."

"I hope so." Anna's smile changed slightly as she thought about their wonderful daughter. "I miss seeing her every day. Living with Robin was one of the few things that felt normal for me. Working in law enforcement and spending time with our daughter. The rest of it, sometimes, ah. Sometimes I just didn't know where I belonged," she said with a sigh. Anna loved having someone to talk to now. Someone that not only understood her but understood what she went through getting her memory back. What it feels like to re-enter your own life but to still feel lost at the same time.

"Do more things seem normal now?" he asked her with a softness in his voice. She would talk about the time before he returned but after she remembered her life sometimes while they laid in bed. He could always hear the sadness in her voice when she'd describe how hard seeing old friends could be. He was grateful to have her there by his side.

"Yes, but it's not only normal, it's right. I have what was missing. What was wrong has been corrected." She looked up at Robert, he was smiling back at her then he turned to continue cooking.

Robert liked knowing she had missed him while they were apart. Not that she had been lonely or sad because of that, that wasn't it. He knew she had tried to move on with her life and that he couldn't hold that against her. It was knowing that she felt as wrong without him as he does without her that he liked knowing. It made him aware of how much they both actually needed the other one in their life. When their breakfast was ready he brought their plates over to the table where Anna was now seated.

"I know how lucky I am to have you back. I know you had a hard go of it. That you struggled but I also know you are a strong independent woman that will never give up and I am incredibly lucky to have you love me." Anna looked up as he was speaking. He leaned in and kissed her tenderly.

She smiled and touched his cheek, "Thank you for being here and being you." It is truly wonderful having him back in her life. .It had only been a few months now but it was like the time before really didn't matter now

Their eyes met and held the others' gaze for a moment, then he grinned. "Eat up." She smiled and picked up her fork feeling truly happy with her life.

Once they were done eating and ready for the day Anna walked over and picked up her purse. "I will meet you and Guy at Mac's later."

"Alright." Anna gave him a soft kiss then left. She had a doctor's appointment and didn't want to be late.

…

Anna found Guy and Robert going over a case file in the den when she arrived at Mac's that afternoon. They believed they were starting to make the connection in these cases that had been overlooked at the time. There are four different cases they think might actually be connected. Guy has already offered to go back even further through PCPD files if needed. Whoever was behind this could have been planning something even longer than they imagined.

"Hi, how's it going here?" Anna walked over and ran her hand along Robert's back when she entered the room.

"Good, we have connected Ted Jackson to these three cases. I don't know who he is but his is the only name coming up again and again."

"That's good then right?" Anna looked down at the papers for a second then looked over at Guy. "I just need to borrow this one for a moment. Then you can explain this a little more to me." Then she started pulling Robert behind her. He just grinned at Guy then let her pull him out of the room.

"I take it there is something you want to tell me about your doctor's appointment," Robert said with a grin as they sat got to the couch in the living room.

Anna sat down beside him. "I do. Now I know we aren't quite ready yet but I wanted to get a little better idea of what we will be facing." Anna paused then grinned.

She had gone for a check-up, what are they facing? He gave her a quizzical look, then it started to dawn on him. Anna laughed a little seeing the wheels already turning.

"I went ahead and asked some questions. I also had a physical. I wanted to know," she paused, biting her lip slightly as she grinned. She could tell he knew what she was talking about now. "I should be able to get pregnant but my age." Anna looked down at her hand.

"If we are going to do this we can't put it off too long is what you're saying." He was smiling now, she had looked into their other little project for them. Like getting a home of their own, talking about a baby and if that could happen was part of that life. "Just a little longer. I need some answers first."

Anna nodded that she understood, "I know, but knowing what we're facing when we're ready."

He was now holding her hand. "You're excited about this, of course, you want to know what might happen. Are there any concerns?"

"Not really, my age would be the main one. If I got pregnant I would need to be monitored closely as the pregnancy progressed." She looked at their hands. "What happened with Leora doesn't mean there will be those kinds of complications. There is no guarantee I will get pregnant either."

He nodded slowly as his other hand rubbed her upper arm. "Then in a few more months, when we are ready to make a baby, if you still want that, then we will try. I don't want to wait much longer either."

She looked up and saw such tenderness in his eyes, "I'm glad to hear that and we will talk about this again." Then she grinned, "I am enjoying all the practicing we've been doing."

"Oh trust me, we will continue to practice." Robert smiled, it felt nice thinking about this. It was like their apartment. These are the important parts of the life they want a chance at. This business about what was done will be put behind them. They are building their life again and that is what's most important.

"And we will get to live a beautiful life." She leaned in a little closer. "The one we have already started." She kissed him tenderly, then sat back. "Alright, let's get back to work." Anna got up and started walking towards the den.

He watched her walk away, "Yes boss." She glanced over her shoulder to see Robert smiling at her, Anna smiled back then disappeared into the den.

…

After another four days of digging, three cases had been connected and two more from 1989 had been added to the list of possible connections. Whatever this was, it had been going on for years by 1992.

Different officers had made the arrests. Different investigations closing the different cases and never finding these little connections. Several of the same people involved, some of the same companies. It was all in the same fifteen block area of the city. What had been the point? What was the end result they were looking for? There had to be one main group or one person that was behind this. One party that could have seen all of this as defeat after defeat.

They all knew they were making progress but so far none of that felt like it was actually getting them closer to the answers they were looking for. Who would have wanted to break Robert in the way they tried?

Anna walked into the den, "I'm calling it a day for all of us. I just got off the phone with Janet, Guy if you are not home within the next forty-five minutes."

He stood up quickly at the mention of his wife's name, "Don't even finish, I'm already leaving."

Anna grinned as he got his things together and left. "Mac the girls are going over to Bobbie's and you are joining us for dinner at our place. We all need a change of scenery."

"You'll get no argument from me," Mac said with a grin. She was right, they could all use a break. "When's Sean do back?"

"I talked to him earlier. He's going to try talking to Hans again tomorrow then he is stopping for a visit at home before heading back here in a few days."

"Oh, that's good," Anna said. "He needs to spend time with his family."

Robert smiled, glad for Anna being here making sure they are still having a life. That they all are. "Luv, let's get out of here. We're having a guest for dinner."

"What should I wear, how formal of a dinner, is this?" Mac asked as both he and Robert started to laugh a little seeing the worried look on Anna's face.

"Pants are a must. This isn't some late-night kitchen raid," Anna added as a playful warning making the brothers laugh again. She wanted to enjoy a nice evening at their place with Mac and it looks that that meant the kidding around was starting early.

…

The things he was hearing, the pride he knew this disgusting man felt. What kind of twisted man, men had been holding Robert for all those years? Did this man think this was some kind of counselling session? Why was he talking about what he used to like doing to small animals? Sean wondered in disgust. That just means he had been twisted most of his life. Sean put his hand to his head not sure he could listen to him much longer. Hans has been talking for a couple of hours already this morning.

"Mattias, he saw my skills as a way to support us. He told me I would get to make a living doing what I love." Hans' sick smile made Sean's skin crawl. "I got to hurt people, I got to make them bleed. Oh, I love the smell of burnt flesh. Oh and how they scream." He suddenly put his hands on the table. "Not your friend, not him. He wasn't a screamer. No matter how hard I tried I never got that satisfaction from him."

"You never broke him. Scorpio was your prisoner for almost twelve years and even with everything you tried he was stronger than you. Didn't he break your nose a couple of times?" Sean asked with a smug grin.

"Only because I had to play by someone else's rules," Hans shot back.

Since Sean had arrived this morning Hans had been in a very talkative mood. It started with the early life of the Sohlmamn brothers. How young Hans honed his skills on small animals. He'd talked about the military training he and his brother both had. It was after that time his older brother came up with the idea for their business venture.

"The person that hired you wouldn't let you cause brain trauma. You had to break him, not damage his mind with force." Sean already knew this but wanted Hans to confirm it.

"Yes, we could not just injure him in that way. I got bored with hurting him. It got old and he was just so weak, there was no fight, no life. Who wants to beat a dead horse?"

"That's not quite the saying but I believe I understand what you mean. Robert Scorpio wasn't weak and he never stopped fighting. He knew you weren't going to stop hurting him. He knew he had to protect the one thing you wanted to take away. His mind. Scorpio never let you break him, as long as he could hold on to them you were never going to break him." Sean had been a little skeptical when Matteau called him to say Hans had requested to talk. He had not expected him to talk so openly. His brother's death must have spooked him enough to loosen his lips.

He has been talking openly about holding Robert prisoner, about what they had done to him. There were times it was very hard for Sean to not start beating on him for what he had done to his friend. Sean hated the man sitting across from him but knew he had to let him keep talking. This entire conversation was being recorded so the more Hans says the better chance he'll incriminate himself more, possibly in other crimes as well. "What would he have to hold onto, he had nothing?" Hans scoffed.

"You're right, in that hole he had nothing. Now he has everything back. Robert Scorpio has already reclaimed the life you were trying to make him forget. He is home with his wife, he has reunited with his daughter. You might be a sick twisted bastard that likes to hurt people, that gets some sick pleasure from that but you didn't break him." A chill ran through him, as a scary thought entered his mind. If the DVX had ever gotten their hands on this guy he would have trained to do exactly what had been wanted of him. Sean shook his head, he didn't even want to think what he might have been capable of if that had happened.

This guy performed the service. He's the muscle, not the brain. It must have been his brother that knew who they were looking for and that was more than likely why he was now dead. Sean knew he had to sit here and let him finish talking so he could continue incriminating himself. All he wanted to do was head home visit Tiff and Mae to recharge then get back to the investigation. Whoever had hired this guy to hurt his friend had to be stopped.