The Haunted Star was packed with people attending the grand re-opening. Luke had decided to make the affair a costume party to give Robert and Holly free reign to move about without being recognized. Robert was dressed as Zorro and even managed to simulate a very bad Spanish accent. Holly was dressed as a belly dancer with scarves covering her entire face except for her beautiful brown eyes. And Luke for his part was dressed as an 1800's riverboat gambler which wasn't much of a stretch for him to pull off.

"Robert" Robert turned to see where his name was being whispered from. His head whirled for like the umpteenth time when he again saw Holly in her belly dancer getup. She was stunning, her body was more beautiful than ever.

"Holly, dammit you are driving me crazy with that outfit. Let's go find a quiet place to um talk"

Holly laughed softly knowing full well how much talking would actually be done.

"Robert, get your mind out of my scarves and back on our mission here tonight" Holly scolded halfway tempted to take him up on his suggestion and find a quiet place to make love.

"I havn't see hide nor hair of Helena or anyone that looks suspicious" Robert ground out in frustration.

"This shindig will soon be over, i'm not sure if we are going to find anything tonight" Robert told Holly while gazing lovingly into her eyes.

"OK, you two better break it up before you draw attention to yourselves" Lukes voice seemed to appear out of nowhere. Robert and Holly both turned toward Luke and immediately took a step apart acting like teenagers who had been caught in the backseat.

"Um Luke we were just discussing Helena or her absense actually" Robert found himself stuttering and feeling like he had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

"Well here's the deal. Luke you go and check out the deck. I will scour the dock and Holly my love you will go and lock yourself into Lukes office and wait for me to return" Robert said while again scanning the room for anyone suspicious.

"Robert, I am a grown woman you can't send me to my room or to Lukes office for that matter , it's my head on the line here and I have every right to help solve this case" Holly said while looking absolutely luscious standing there with her hands on her hips and fire in her eyes. Luke stifled a grin while Robert again had to shake his head to clear the lewd thoughts running rampant in his mind at that moment.

"OK lovebirds why don't we do this" Luke interjected "Robert you and I will split up and check out the deck and the dock and English you stay here and be on the lookout for anyone suspicious"

"OK" both Robert and Holly said in unison

\

"Robert, please be careful" Holly said

"Anything for you Luv" Robert replied while fighting the urge to reach out and touch her.

Robert and Luke left in opposite directions leaving Holly in the relative safety of a crowd of party goers. Across the room stood a man dressed as an executioner in black robes and a hood. His eyes had not left Holly since her arrival. He watched the waiter approach her with the note and smiled to himself as she didn't hesitate to leave the room. The executioner finished his drink and slowly left the room following behind the stunning Mrs.Scorpio.

Meanwhile out on the docks Robert mumbled to himself about wasting his time as he tried to anticipate Helenas next move. There had been too much time go by with nothing happening. Robert felt in his gut that he was missing something in the whole scenario. Why would Helena use Holly and how would she know he was still alive. Helena had always gone after Luke in her quest for revenge so why the sudden switch to aiming her vengeance towards the people that Robert loved. Robert was startled out of his thoughts by footsteps behind him he whirled to find himself face to face with Connie Townley.

"Bloody hell TR733, you wanna give an old man a heart attack?"

"Sorry Robby but I have news on Helena we need to go now" Connie said while averting her gaze.

The hairs on the back of Roberts neck stood on end and he knew Connie was not telling him the truth but the only way to find out what was going on was to go along with the game and see where it led him. He glanced toward the Haunted Star and thanked God that Holly was safe at the party protected by a crowd.

Meanwhile in an abandoned warehouse Cesar Faison stood smoking a cigar enjoyingwatching Holly struggle against the ropes that bound her to the chair she sat in...