Chapter 62
It might only be seven o'clock in the morning but that didn't mean Anna was peacefully sleeping in her bed. She and Robert had arrived at police headquarters about an hour ago. There was no room for error here and they wanted to be there personally to see Peter lead off with the WSB escorts. Frisco was telling Robert about his evening over at Maxie's. Anna had been listening as well until she noticed Liesl Obrecht walk in.
Whatever she was there for must be important, the desk sergeant was getting an ear full from her. Anna turned and walked over to them when Liesl yelled, "I WANT TO SPEAK TO PETER AUGUST!"
"What are you doing here," Anna asked through gritted teeth.
"I am here to speak to the man who killed my son!"
"Faison killed Nathan! Peter has been arrested on other charges."
Liesl turned to Anna, "What charges?" she insisted. That man shouldn't even still be breathing. She should have killed him while she had the chance.
"I don't think that's any of your business."
"My son is dead because of him. You don't know what that feels like. I will get answers. There needs to be revenge."
"Excuse me?" Anna's demeanour changes, now ready to attack. "You took my daughter from me! You and Faison let me believe Robin was dead! For almost two years I believed I had lost my daughter! Thanks to you, I know exactly how you feel!"
"What's going on over?" Robert asked, stepping up behind Anna.
"She thinks we should let her confront Peter because of Nathan," Anna said while still glaring at Leisl.
"That's rich. Besides you already got to torture him for that. Do you want the WSB to take a closer look into what happened to him while he was held prisoner last summer, by who was that again? Oh on second thought, ya, go in there and confront him. It might encourage him to bring that up when he talks to the WSB and tries to cover his own ass."
Leisl turned to Robert, "I do not regret what I did to him. He is the reason my son was murdered! Cesar wanted to kill him! It should have been Peter that died."
There was no pity in Robert's response. "You have caused more than enough pain in our lives to have earned some of your own!" The bitterness in his words was clear and cut deep, Leisl couldn't respond before Anna started in on her.
"You took Robin from me. You tried to kill Duke. You tried to kill Robert and put him in a coma for almost a year. Do you know how much all of that hurt me and my family? How much you have hurt me! Why should I let you in there to talk to our prisoner?" Anna didn't care that she was yelling. That people might hear them. She was finally letting this all out and it felt wonderful. "Even once we found out where Robin was and came for her you still kept her from us. She was still in danger. All you cared about pleasing Faison. Hoping Faison would love you. You were the one that wanted that monster in your life, not me. You welcomed him, you loved him! He was a part of your life by your choice."
"Cesar never would have killed Nathan if it wasn't for Henrick!"
"Well, that probably is true," Robert admitted.
"You should just be grateful that there will be justice for your son," Anna said a little more calmly. "You going in there and threatening Peter won't serve any purpose, it won't help anything."
"It would help me!"
"I don't care!" Robert told her bluntly. "Did you care when you plunged a syringe into my chest? When you were about to murder my daughter!"
Leisl was saved from having to answer when there was a commotion in the squad room. "What the hell is going on down there?" Mac, who is the acting commissioner, asked as he hurried towards several officers.
"Peter August just attacked Shiloh," one of the officers told him.
"Were either of them injured?"
"Nothing serious. August attacked him after a loud discussion between the two is what the guards have reported."
"Fine, take Peter into one of the interrogation rooms. I don't want anything strange happening with this prisoner."
Jordan came over as well, "I thought this was under control."
"It is and you should be at home. There are just a lot of people that want to see that justice is served this time." Mac looked over Obrecht, "She was causing a bit of a scene. I think Shiloh must have told Peter about the deal he made. They had a bit of a dust-up down in the cells."
"Alright, as long as you have this under control. I have other matters to deal with."
"I'll handle the handoff with the WSB. You should really be at home."
"Fine." Jordan was still trying to catch up on what all had happened and the charges Peter was facing and wanted to go over what the WSB had shared with her. "I'll go home in a little while."
"Fine, but let us handle this."
"Yeah, I will." Then she turned and walked away from them.
The interruptions had helped Anna relax a little more, she didn't want to scream at Liesl any longer. She turned to Robert, "I'll let Frisco know Peter is being brought up." Then she walked away as well.
Liesl watched her leave then looked at Mac. "I am officially requesting a visit with Peter August."
"No."
"I have a right to speak to him."
"No, you don't. The WSB agent in charge has made it very clear, only people with clearance will be allowed to speak to the prisoner."
"That man took my son from me."
"I am sorry about your loss, Maxie may never get over this. You are not the only one that has lost people they love. I wouldn't wish the kind of pain you've caused my family on anyone. You should leave now and just be happy that Peter is facing a very long time in prison."
She didn't look like she was going anywhere and Robert was done talking to her. "I have work to do," Robert said then walked off in the direction Anna had gone.
"We all have work to do here. I can't force you to leave but I know you will not be allowed to see Peter." Mac walked away leaving Liese standing there fuming.
Anna was waiting by the interrogation room. Peter was already inside so she was watching him. "That little scrum left him with a black eye and a fat lip." Then she turned to Robert who had walked up behind her, "I wonder what Shiloh told him."
"Most likely that he told us all about what Peter had him do. That we now know Peter was the mastermind behind Drew Cain's abduction."
Anna let out a sigh as Robert's arms went around her. "Who else would he have used to get what he wanted?"
"Don't think like that. We've stopped him."
"I know. I just can't stop thinking, if he did that to Alex what would he do to the people he didn't claim to care about."
"Let's watch him sweat for a while then will go see if he wants to tell us what happened down in lock up."
Peter was seated at the table, one hand cuffed to it. He ran his free hand through his hair. Everything he had done to cover up his activities in Afghanistan and now Shiloh, Hank fucking Archer has turned on him. He should have killed him too. Slamming his first down, "AHHH!" He picked up the coffee cup and threw it against the wall. He wanted to yell and scream but knew he was being watched. The fact it was a paper cup and didn't even break, just made him more frustrated after throwing it. This can not be happening? There is no way he can be facing life in prison. He had been so careful, so methodical. He had covered his tracks at every turn, with every move. How was this happening? Anna Devane! "I should have killed her."
He looked up at the two-way mirror, who was out there watching him? Who is waiting for him to snap and start yelling for someone to come in and talk to him? Was it his aunt, maybe it was Scorpio. It didn't matter, he wasn't going to give them that satisfaction. He knew this was the time to let them show their hand. Find out what they think they know then use that to his advantage.
After watching Peter fume for about twenty minutes Robert and Anna turned and walked back over to where Frisco was. He was on the phone at the moment, most likely checking and double-checking the arrangements for the transfer.
The energy in the squad room was different today. It wasn't just that the WSB was involved. Peter August had made himself a member of the community, he was a business owner. That meant besides the media outside there were people showing up trying to find out anything they could about what was going on. It was still early but that didn't seem to make a difference. "I'm glad Alex didn't want to be here for this. I don't think she would have been able to stay here."
"Did she ask about coming?" Robert wondered.
"No, but I would have understood if she had felt the need to be here." Anna wrapped her arms around herself. "Ah, I don't know what she must be thinking right now, what she must be feeling. How do you separate the instinct to protect your child from the fear of what that person is capable of?"
"I'm glad that will never be something we have to worry about." Robert noticed Alexis and Finn walk in. "What is he doing here?"
Anna looked over, "Robert be nice. Peter used him as well, of course, Finn wants to know what's going on."
"And he brought a lawyer just as a precaution?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"They're friends. I'm sure that she's here."
"I've heard that before. We're friends, remember," he said, making her smile.
Alexis and Finn walked over to them. "What are you two doing here? Can I help?" Anna offered.
Finn looked at Alexis before answering. Ever since Peter was arrested he'd been wanting to come down here. He wanted to know for certain that Peter was going to prison. He hadn't expected it would be Anna and Robert that greeted them when they arrived. "Um, I have a few questions actually." Finn paused, "That wasn't you with Robert yesterday at the Metro Court, was it?"
Anna smiled, "No, that was Alex," Anna confirmed.
He turned to Alexis, a knowing look on his face. "See, what did I tell you."
"Fine, you were right. Besides, I already bought you lunch."
Finn turned back to Anna, "I know this might not be something you can tell me but I want to know what is going to happen to him now."
"I can fill you in if you would like, Director Frisco Jones," he offered as he held out his hand. "You're Dr. Hamilton Finn, is that correct?"
"Finn is fine," he answered, shaking Frisco's hand.
"Aren't you Alexis Davis? There was no reason to bring an attorney."
"I'm just here as a supportive friend, not as legal representation."
"Well, I have a little time before my other agents arrive. Finn, if you want I am willing to answer your questions."
"Ya, thank you. I'd appreciate that." Frisco then led them to a quieter place to talk.
"How many people do you think are going to show up here wanting answers?" Anna asked Robert, they were now standing by themselves.
"Or revenge," Robert offered.
Anna thought about the people that could show up yet. "Yeah, that too. I really think the faster Peter is out of Port Charles the better for everyone involved."
"People might relax a little with him safely locked away in the Hagg."
"Come on, let's get a coffee. I can't stand around just waiting." Anna took Robert's hand then they walked off together. They weren't leaving the police station until after the transfer was complete but that didn't mean they had to stay in the squad room.
…
Anna had waited as long as she could. "You want to go in there, don't you?" Robert asked, watching her fidget just outside the interrogation room.
"Yeah, I thought I could let him leave and not talk to him but no. I have to confront him."
With his hand on her back, "Frisco said we could go in and talk to him."
Anna nodded, "Yeah. Are you coming with me?"
"Only if you want me to."
"I want you there. I might need someone to keep me from hurting him."
"You might want someone else in there then." Anna laughed, that was what he hoped would happen. "Come on, let's get this over with."
When they walked into the room Peter looked up, a smirk on his face. "Which one do you have with you today, Scorpio? Or can you even keep them straight?"
"Is that really the best you've got? The WSB has you dead to rights and all you can do is mock me about not being able to tell the difference between someone I've known for over forty years and your mother who I met a matter of months ago. Yeah, that's a hard one for me."
"Speaking of Alex, where is my mother?"
"Your mother doesn't want to see you," Anna told him. Anna took a seat across from him. "I take it you didn't like what someone had to tell you a while ago," Anna said, noting his black eye. Peter sat back in his chair but said nothing. "You really are just like your father. Do whatever it takes to get what you want, no matter the cost to other people. You believe you can never be bested. Even right now your mind is working, you still believe you are going to get out of this."
"Get out of what. I don't care what that Agent Jones thinks he has on me. None of that is going to stand up in court."
"You're just proving my point. There is a rock-solid case against you and you are so delusional you think you are going to be a free man again. Henrick Faison, you are going to spend the rest of your life in prison."
"DON'T CALL ME THAT!"
"Relax, junior."
Peter stood up ready to attack, forgetting he was cuffed to the table. "I am not like him!"
"You forget how well we know Faison. How many times he tried to destroy our lives." Anna wasn't going to let his outbursts slow her down. "You have hurt your last victim with one of your plans. Your scheming days are behind you."
"Now the best you can hope for is scheming with your cellmate."
Peter glared at Robert, he hated that they were in here. Until now he could be angry, he could believe that there was still a way to get himself out of this situation. His attempts to contact associates have failed. People from his past are turning on him. How can this be happening? How had everything gone so wrong? Them! It had to be them! It had to be Scorpio interfering where he didn't belong. "If you'd just stayed out of it, my plans would have worked!"
"See that right there proves you were always going to fail," Robert told him with a smirk. "Even your father knew I was always a facture to take into consideration. I will always be there for Anna. I will always be there to protect my family."
The door opened and Mac and Frisco walked in. "I think you should take a seat, August," Mac said, hoping to deescalate the situation. Anna stood up and grabbed Robert's arm leading him to the other side of the room.
"Do you have anything to say before you are transferred?" Frisco asked.
"I have nothing else to say to anyone in this room."
"You messed with our family. Do you think any one of us is going to take that laying down? You messed with my daughter's feelings after your actions cost her, her husband. You are not getting off on these charges. It's time you accept that." Frisco was only inches from Peter's face. "I personally will be escorting you. There will be no mistakes made, there will be no chances for any of your associates to try an escape plan." Frisco reached down and a little more roughly then needed, he removed the cuff from the table and cuffed it to his own wrist. "The rest of your escort detail is waiting for us. Time to go, August."
Frisco led him out of the interrogation room and after a moment Robert Anna and Mac followed them. They wanted to see this, they all needed to know Peter was no longer in Port Charles, that he could no longer hurt anyone.
…
Finn was grateful that Frisco had taken the time to explain the charges and made sure he understood that there was little to no chance of Peter ever being free again. It had been a better pat of a day since he had left the police station. Again he had found himself wandering in a confused state but at least this time he did have answers. He had found his way to Kelly's and had phoned Chase to meet him.
It had felt nice to have a response to the questions that had been running through his head. There was still some uncertainty about what came next for him. For a short time, he had thought about leaving Port Charles, maybe starting over somewhere new. That hadn't lasted long. Now he wanted to get to know his brother. He couldn't know how that missing relationship has affected either of them over the years but Finn had decided that was something he wanted to change. He didn't have much family and if his brother was here willing to make the effort to have a relationship then Finn felt he owed it to both of them to try and be closer.
"Hey, Finn. Glad you called."
"Hi, Chase. Yeah, I thought we could hang out."
Chase smiled, he liked this change in his brother. There has been a lot going on in Finn's life over the last few months. Now it seems like he has finally started to put that behind him. "Yeah, I'd like that and since we're here I think that starts with you buying me dinner."
"That was kind of the idea," Finn told him with a slight grin.
"Good." Chase patted his back then they walked inside together. "Did you actually get to talk to Peter yesterday?"
"No, that wasn't really why I went there. I don't think I even would have known what to say to him. I think I needed answers and having them come from someone that wasn't Anna helped." It was easier to hear what he was telling me because there weren't all those emotions that come out when I try to talk to Anna about all of this."
"Are you comfortable saying Anna is your past now?"
"Yeah," Finn said with a nod. "I think the best thing I can do for myself is to just move on now. I need to find out what comes next in my life."
"I'm glad to hear that. I want you to find happiness again." Then Chase grinned, "I think you are happy so now you need to find someone to share that happiness with."
"I'm not sure there's another special someone out there for me."
"Oh come on, Finn. Don't talk like that. You'll find someone else, or better yet maybe she'll find you."
"Oh right, some random woman is just going to walk in and change everything for me."
"I don't know. It happens for some people, why not my brother?" Chase let out a little laugh seeing the look on Finn's face. "Fine, I'll drop it for now. Tonight I just want to have a little fun with my brother. Whatever it is that Hamilton Finn actually finds fun," he teased.
Finn actually laughed at that. "That's enough out of you. Let's just order."
...
It had been three days since Peter had been arrested, two since he had been escorted out of Port Charles. Now Alex was getting ready to leave as well. She looked around the room she had been staying in for close to a month. Here, she had slowly come to terms with what had been done to her. What her own son had done to her. She let out a sigh thinking about what she had lost over the years. How many relationships in her life had been tainted by Peter's involvement. Who had she turned her back on, who had she kept out of her life because of him? There was sure to be a few but the only one that mattered was Demitri.
She knew for a fact Peter had been behind her leaving him. Alex hated that Peter had somehow twisted her love for him so much so that he could use that against her. That he had used that as a way to isolate her from the people in her life that cared for her. First, her Aunt Charlotte had tried to control her life, turn her into her own twin sister, now her son has been using mind control to have her do his bidding. Could this all finally be behind her? Could this finally be when she gets to live her life on her terms?
Alex picked up her suitcase, her plane left soon and she needed to get to the airport. When she got downstairs she put her suitcase by the door then went to say goodbye to her sister. She smiled seeing Robert and Anna standing together. They were looking out the window watching the light rain come down, speaking quietly to each other. "Hi, sorry to interrupt."
Anna turned to look around Robert, "You're not interrupting. Are you all ready to go?"
"Yes. I have everything packed. My plane ticket is in my purse. Now all I need is the courage to go and do this."
"Alex I really believe you are doing the right thing. You will never know how Demitri will feel about all of this if you don't go and tell him what happened. Tell him how you still feel."
"It isn't that easy, Anna."
"Tell me about it. Some people can be so stubborn," Robert said, earning himself an elbow in the side.
"You still have feelings for him, don't you? You want him to know the truth. Until that happens you will never know what kind of relationship you can have in the future with Demitri."
"If he even wants to see me. There is no reason for him to listen to me. I hurt him so very much when I walked out on our marriage."
"You'd be surprised what a guy could be willing to do for the woman he loves. Even if she has broken his heart." Anna turned and smiled up at him.
"Do you really think he'll hear me out?" she asked Robert hopefully.
"I can only speculate. I am willing to bet Demitri will want to know why you are there if nothing else. If he hears you out, be honest. Let him decide if he wants to hear everything you have to say."
"How did you get so smart?" Anna asked him with a playful little grin.
"I have been in love with the same woman for most of my life. It still surprises me what I'll do for her."
Alex saw the mischievous smiles on both their faces. She missed that. Getting caught up for just a second on a private little moment. She smiled again, Demitri has the most wonderful smile. Hopefully, she'll get to see that smile again.
"When is your ride getting here?" Anna asked.
"Any minute. I came in to say goodbye actually."
Anna walked over and they hugged each other. "I want you to stay in touch. No going off playing bad guy."
"No, I am putting that behind me for good. I just want to be a doctor and to have love and happiness in my life."
Robert came over and gave her a hug and kiss on the cheek. "I wish you the best. I know he'll listen if you try."
"Thank you, Robert." She gave him another hug then turned and walked to the door, Anna taking her arm as they walked.
"Remember, we are here to help if you need it. Now go see what the future holds."
Alex smiled and hugged her once more, Robert then handed her her suitcase. Then Alex turned and walked out into the night. At least the rain had slowed some as she walked.
After the door was closed Anna asked, "Do you think Demitri will forgive her?"
"I don't know. What I do know, is sometimes amazing people do things they regret. I also know if you're lucky enough to have a Devane love you then that is something to cherish." Robert then leaned in and kissed her tenderly.
"I love you."
He took her hand and they walked back into the sitting room. Alone for the first time in almost a month. "Now what are you and I going to do? I have time off according to Frisco." He paused and looked in Anna's eyes. "We both know I'm nearing that age." They had talked about this a few times before this. The WSB is going to force Robert to retire because of his age and there was really nothing they could do about it.
"They should make an exception in your case. You have more knowledge in your little finger than these new agents do."
"Anna, I've known this was coming. At least they let me finish this last case."
"It's not official yet, is it? That isn't what Frisco said was it?"
"He didn't really have to. We both know I don't have time off coming up, they are just trying to figure out the best way to tell me I'm being put out to pasture."
"Robert."
"Anna it's alright. I'm gonna be fine and now I won't have to leave on assignment. You're gonna have me around all the time."
Anna smiled, "Are you sure you'll be fine?"
"Yeah, I have you and now I get to figure out what comes next. For right now, for tonight that's good enough. I'll figure it out. Right now I want to plan a couple of trips."
"Oh, do you? What trips?"
"I want us to visit the family, see Robin and Patrick, spoil the grandkids. I need a little time with my little buddy. Then I want to go visit Sean. I'd like to stay there for a few weeks this time."
Anna hugged him, "That sounds perfect. We'll make our travel arrangement in the morning. Tonight I want to open a bottle of wine, sit by the fire and just enjoy being here all alone with you."
Robert leaned in kissing her tenderly. "I'll get the wine." Tonight they both finally let out that breath, they could finally relax and put this entire Peter mess behind them. It was time to start living their life and that starts tonight.