When Anna phoned, she told him that, because space was tight, he'd be sharing Detective Falconeri's desk. Dante would be out until later that morning collecting evidence; when he returned to the station he'd promised to find Robert and bring him to her office. She wanted Robert there while she reviewed the security videos.

He arrived at a decent hour (certainly not at 7:00; he didn't remember going to the office before 8:00 when he was police commissioner, and wondered what the hell the world was coming to) and got to work. Falconeri's work space was neat, pristine; Robert spread his papers out over the surface of the desk. His first two calls went straight to voice mail, lulling him into a false sense of security, lulling him into thinking the morning would be a respite from the stress of interviews. The third call, to a New York number, was answered on the second ring, leaving Robert a bit startled and unprepared. "Hello, Elizabeth Beaty speaking. How may I help you?" Her voice was rich and full, but strange: Robert would be hard-pressed to describe it. It wasn't honey, it wasn't syrup, it was something else entirely. Maybe it was umami, he thought to himself—that strange savory mouth-feel flavour everyone talked about but couldn't really explain. Her voice was warm beef broth, roast chicken dinner.

"Hello, Ms. Beaty. My name is Robert Scorpio. I'm calling on behalf of the Port Charles Police Department. I'm a consultant hired by the department to look into the unsolved disappearance of Carolyn Thompson. I understand that you were a friend of hers."

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line. "Carolyn. I haven't thought about her in years. Yes, I was her friend. Why are you investigating this case again now, Mr. Scorpio? I thought the police had concluded there was no evidence of foul play. Have you found something to suggest otherwise?"

Robert cleared his throat. "We have some new information, yes, but the choice to re-open the investigation was largely administrative. The DA simply wants fresh eyes on old cases that were never solved. Ms. Thompson's disappearance is one of a number of investigations we're looking into again."

Another pause. "Mr. Scorpio, as luck would have it, I'm travelling to Port Charles tomorrow on business. I'm meeting a client in the morning, but my afternoon is open. I'd prefer to meet face-to-face to discuss Carolyn with you. Would you be free at 2:00?"

Robert said he would, and they arranged to meet for coffee at Kelly's, a place she told him she knew well. Robert's senses were tingling, but he wasn't sure why. He might be about to uncover a new lead, or he might simply have been affected by that voice. The feeling was exciting but not entirely pleasant.

Falconeri came and found him shortly after 11:00. To his credit, Robert noted, Dante only raised his eyebrows slightly when he saw Robert's fat lip and the state of the desk.

"Was your hunting and gathering expedition productive?" Robert asked.

A muscle in Dante's jaw twitched. "Let's just say I'm glad I won't be going into her office alone. The commissioner won't be happy with what I've got to show her."

Dante picked up his phone, made a call. "Lucky us," he said; "we can go right in. She's been waiting for us all morning."

There were no formalities once they entered. Anna sat on the edge of her chair, elbows propped on her desk, eyes expectant. "So," she asked, "what did you find?"

Dante presented her with a stack of notes. "We canvassed twelve businesses, six in the immediate vicinity of the warehouse, the other six located along routes we thought someone not wanting to be observed might take to get to or from there."

"And what did you find?"

"Very little," Dante grimaced. "It's all documented in the reports. Six businesses told us pretty much exactly the same thing: that they erase their security footage every twenty-four hours if there hasn't been a break-in or act of vandalism. They told us in no uncertain terms that they aren't paying for security systems to help the PCPD do its job, and that all they care about are property crimes—namely, crimes against their own property—nothing else."

"Charming," Anna muttered. "What about the others?"

"Three other businesses were happy to show us their footage, which was all complete. We saw nothing, no one, just the occasional known street person doing his rounds."

"Okay, nine strikes. What about the last three?"

"Two businesses offered to share their video with us, but when we looked for the footage with the time stamps we'd targeted, in both cases it was blank or compromised in some way. There were simultaneous 'fails', even though the two security systems weren't linked. We're either looking at a huge coincidence here, or someone interfered with both."

Anna's eyes were dark, narrow. "And the last remaining business?"

Dante's shoulder twitched. "This was one of the businesses we targeted because it's on a dark and quiet route to the warehouse. Here we have a 'hit.' We see someone walking toward the warehouse just when we'd expect, and someone leaving again after the shooting was, we assume, over."

Anna sat up straighter. She turned her computer monitor so all three of them could see. Dante gave her a USB drive, which she inserted. She opened the video.

It was surprisingly clear. Dante instructed, "Go to time signature 9:59." Anna did. The alley was empty, dark outside the halo of a security light. From the left side of the screen, a figure approached, passed just inside the spot of light, and exited again to the right. There could be no mistaking who it was. Duke Lavery.

"I'm sorry, Commissioner," Dante said. "Could there be a mistake? Could Duke have been in the neighbourhood for some other reason?"

Anna stared at the monitor. Robert spoke for her. "Mr. Lavery's probable involvement isn't entirely a surprise, Detective. However, the existence of this video evidence is."

Anna looked down and rubbed the bridge of her nose—a subtle gesture that wouldn't be noted by anyone but Robert. It was her signal, an old code sign, to say nothing further. Robert was quiet.

"Dante," she spoke wearily, "I've recently come to suspect that Duke is working for your father. The evidence, including this tape, is circumstantial but to my mind extremely convincing. I haven't been hiding anything from you, and I want you to document the evidence of his involvement in your file. Thank you for your work on this. Please, write up your report; I'll sign off on it when you're finished. I need to speak to Internal Affairs; obviously I can't allow the PCPD to be or appear to be compromised by my relationship with Duke."

Detective Falconeri left the office. Robert leaned over Anna's desk and they shared a knowing look. "He's being set up," Anna said, speaking what they both were thinking. Robert nodded. "It's been Corinthos' intention all along that I'd discover Duke's involvement. Every time we were together he'd be called away; now the only damning footage we recover from that night shows him skulking about in an alleyway. To what end, Robert?"

He considered. "Don't forget that Sonny also raised Duke's suspicions about us. I'd say Corinthos wants the two of you split up."

"It makes sense. If I ended my relationship with Duke, or he ended his with me, certain people would wonder why."

"Exactly. Certain people who might make assumptions based on past experience. You and Duke split years ago over his involvement in the mob."

"So Sonny wants the Jeromes to know that Duke is working for him. He's making him a target."

"Or he's using Duke as bait. Corinthos is fishing. When Jerome bites, Sonny will reel him in, chop off his head, and gut him."

"What do I do, Robert?" Anna looked dejected. "I can't compromise myself as commissioner by warning Duke. I doubt he'd listen to me right now anyway, given what he knows about us."

Robert corrected her: "Given what he suspects. He thinks you cheated on him with me."

Anna shook her head. "I have betrayed him, more than he even suspects. He thinks I just slept with you, but I've done something far worse." She was quiet for a moment. "You'll have to warn him for me. Tell him to watch his back. And tell him I'll be at Kelly's at 1:00 tomorrow for lunch. That I'd like him to run into me there 'accidentally,' to sit down and talk. I want to apologize and explain."

Robert frowned. "He's the one who should be apologizing and explaining, Luv."

"Tell him I don't want things to end this way. But it's his choice. I'll be there waiting."

Robert left the office shortly after 3:00. He used his private cell phone to call Lavery, who, unsurprisingly, didn't pick up. Not wanting to compromise Anna, Robert didn't leave a message. He'd have to track Lavery down and speak to him in person. Robert asked himself where he would be if he were a not-so-slick slickster Scotsman on the take, and was delighted to discover he had absolutely no idea. Robert couldn't put himself in Lavery's shoes, which he considered a very good thing.

He wandered the seedier sections of the waterfront, hoping he might find Duke drowning his sorrows at some sad bar, but no luck. He strolled three or four times past Corinthos' coffee distribution centre, keeping a wary eye on both the front and back doors as he circled. Nothing. He ambled past the site of Duke's new club. He watched the comings and goings of various workmen, electricians, plumbers, observed the delivery of tables and chairs. Duke was nowhere to be found.

Robert finally stumbled upon him by pure, blind luck. Cold and tired, he ducked into a random coffee house to buy something to perk himself up, and there he spotted Lavery installed at a table, coffee in hand, a newspaper spread out around him. Robert felt triumphant, but would still be wary. No sense aggravating the man unduly. After all, he had a wicked right hook.

"Duke," Robert addressed him. Lavery looked up.

"Robert. Good lord. What happened to your face? No offense, but you look like hell. I hope you gave as good as you got."

"Don't worry," Robert smiled. "The other guy looks worse than me—mind you, I can't really take any credit for that. Is it okay if I sit?"

Duke, with obvious distaste, waved a hand toward the empty chair across from him. "What can I do for you?"

Robert sat down. "Actually, Duke, this is more about what I can and will do for you." He lowered his voice. "I'm here to warn you that Corinthos is setting you up. He misrepresented to you what happened between me and Anna, and he's very carefully arranged clues for her to find that connect you to his business. You're being played."

Duke put down his paper and stared at Robert. "I don't believe a word you say. Get out."

Robert shrugged his shoulders. "I tried to warn you. You're a chump, Lavery, and you're going to take a fall. Last thing: for some reason I cannot comprehend, Anna wants to see you. She'll be at Kelly's tomorrow at 1:00. This is not, I repeat, this is not an appointment. If you decide to show up, remember that you are running into her, that this is purely a chance encounter. If you feel the slightest bit of guilt after lying to her and dealing with the devil behind her back, do not compromise her further. The PCPD have connected you to Corinthos and she can't be seen intentionally fraternizing with the enemy. She told me to tell you that she wants to explain, wants to apologize (although god only knows for what), and probably wants to try to talk some sense into you. If you don't meet her, you're an idiot."

Robert rose. "Are we clear?"

Duke scowled.

Robert went to the counter, ordered his coffee, smiled at Duke, and left.

When Anna called, Robert was on his way back to his hotel room. "Message delivered to target," he told her. "Lavery looked none-too-happy. I don't know if anything I said about Corinthos sunk in, and I have no idea if he'll show up tomorrow. But I promise you I tried. I even managed to be more-or-less civil."

"Thank you, Robert," she said. Her voice sounded tired.

"Can I buy you a drink? Some dinner?" he offered.

"Actually, I'm calling to tell you we've been invited to Robin's for supper. Can you make it?"

Robert hesitated. "Of course. But how do I explain the fat lip? Any suggestions? What should be our story?"

Anna's laugh was more weary than amused. "I don't know. Why don't we try the truth? We're going to be facing awkward questions anyway. Robin tried to invite Duke but he hasn't been answering her calls. She knows something's up."

"You know I love our daughter," Robert began, "but I'm becoming a bit desperate to spend time alone with you. I need more than a short appointment in your office, more than a quick visit in my hotel room. When can we be together, Anna?"

Anna sighed. "I don't know. Let's say tomorrow night. I promise not to make any other plans. You do the same. And I'll pack an overnight bag. Sound good?"

Robert thought it did. He went back to his room to change.