Realizing he was getting nowhere with Sean, after all, he was WSB-trained as well, Robert left him, with a warning that he would rue the day if he was responsible for anything happening to Holly. He made his way to Kelly's to be nearer the people Holly loved: Ruby, Bobbie, Jake, Frisco, Felicia, Tony, Tania, and Grant. Oh, how he missed the times they jogged together, until Luke called and embroiled him into the mess he's in now. Even as he missed jogging with Grant, it hurt him too much to think about it, as memories flooded his mind of the early morning jogs with Holly. They often would return home and get a relaxing sauna, and more. He remembered the first time she rode his exercise bike in her ridiculous, tied-up robe, and he teased her about a "beautiful bottom". It was about this time that he first realized that his feelings for her were changing from friendship into something so much more. He also remembered her incessant, insatiable need to be involved in his work. He often called her his "Nora Charles." He remembered bouncing ideas, theories, and situations off her and her insightful responses in almost every case. He remembered his aggravation and fear when she insisted on inserting herself in his more dangerous cases such as the Prometheus Disk, in which she was kidnapped and he feared for her life, and the joy when she returned completely free of the past, to the Dance Scam, in which her stubbornness to see it to its conclusion, led to egg on his face as she literally "got her man", or rather, men.
"Robert...Robert?" He could almost hear her calling his name, until he realized the voice was unmistakably male. Dragging himself into the present, he saw Grant standing next to his table. "May I sit down?" "Yeah, sure." "You looked like you were a million miles away. I didn't know if I should interrupt you or not." "It's okay, mate. I'm glad you did. What's up?" Robert stated flatly, while rubbing his face with his hands. "Listen, I'm sorry. If this is a bad time, I could talk to you later." "It wouldn't help. How can I help you?" "Robert, I'm sorry. I just heard about you and Holly. If you need someone to talk to, I'll be here. I know exactly what you're going through. That brings me to the reason I'm here. May we talk privately, maybe at your house...unless, of course, you don't want to go there?" No, it's alright; I'll need to go there sooner or later anyway. Let's go.
Entering the townhouse, he paused, and then led Grant into the house with an energy he did not feel. "What's up?" "Robert, I need to tell you something you need to know." "Can't it wait? I'm up to my ears with this case I'm working on." "It wouldn't happen to be the Aztec treasure case, would it?" What would you know about it?" "Because I'm involved." Robert looked at him in disbelief. "Haven't you learned your lesson, yet? What are you thinking, getting involved in something which could jeopardize your citizenship status?" "Guilty, but I wasn't thinking clearly. I thought I could win Celia back if I was able to afford to keep her living in a manner in which she was accustomed. Fool's dream, I know, but I was desperate." "So why are you here now?" "I overheard a heated exchange between Jimmy Lee and Edward that may be relevant. I needed a medical case file from the storage shed at the cottage, and since I no longer have a key, I went up to the house to get one. Stella showed me to the living room while she went to get the spare from the kitchen. While there, I heard Jimmy Lee and Edward in the study arguing over the Quartermaine fortune. Jimmy Lee was angry over not being involved in more of the day-to-day operations of ELQ. He said he had a plan to get the seed money necessary for a hostile takeover of the entire Quartermaine fortune, the Long Island Quartermaines included...Celia's family. Jimmy Lee had already brokered a deal with Donely for 10% profit from the proceeds of the hospital ship. I'm wondering, after hearing that argument, if maybe he didn't find out Sean had the treasure, and was planning on getting a piece of that action as well. I'm ashamed to admit it, but I had already stolen the treasure from under Sean, but I anonymously called him and tipped him off where it could be found." "So that explains it," Robert said under his breath. "What?" "Never mind. Go on." "I love Celia too much to see her broken over gold-digging, philandering, playboy Jimmy Lee's thirst for power. I was hoping we could work together to nab them both. I don't expect I'll regain Celia's love, but I couldn't stand to see her hurt that way." "You may be on to something. Give me a couple of days, and I'll be in touch. So much has happened these last few weeks, I'll have to get my head screwed back on straight if I have any hope of resolving this case and freeing myself to find Holly and beg for her to give our love another chance." "Again, I'm sorry, Robert. Call me if you need anything."
