Chapter 22

"So when did you say your friends were going to get here? It has been way too long since I've had a night out that wasn't for some charity I'm working with," Lisa said to Kate. They were sitting at one of the tables at the Haunted Star.

"They should be here any time now." Kate glanced towards the door. "Oh there's a few of them now," she smiled, "she didn't tell me they were coming too." Kate had seen Anna walk in with Robin and Patrick.

"There are more men coming right?" Lisa asked.

Kate smiled then said, "Yes, I'm sure they'll be here soon." Kate introduces everyone when they got to the table. They ordered a round of drinks then started talking. They were just making small talk but Lisa seemed to be enjoying himself. Robin and Anna were trying their luck at one of the tables when Sean, Mac, and Robert got there.

"I was wondering when you were going to get here, not that I mind being left alone with these lovely ladies," Patrick said when they joined them.

"Aah Patty Cake, we can't let you have all the fun," Robert said and flashed him a smile. Once the men were there the conversation became more jovial, they had Lisa laughing in no time. As the evening went on they all took turns trying their luck, a few of them would always stay at the table with Lisa who seemed to had no interest in gambling. "If this isn't really what you're into I'm sure we can go somewhere else, Kate told us you needed a night out, so we want you to enjoy yourself too."

"I'm having a great time Robert." Lisa flashed him a little smile, then touched his arm. "Where would you want to take me?"

Robert reached for his drink, trying to be discrete about moving his arm. "I haven't been back in Port Charles long enough to know the best places to go, we'd have to ask someone else where we could all go, I'm sure Mac would know."

"Oh, where were you before you came to Port Charles?"

"I'd been away working for much too long, but it's good to be home," Robert told her, he looked around wondering where Anna had gotten to.

Sean and Kate noticed that Lisa had taken an interest in Robert. When Mac and Patrick came back to the table Robert tried to excuse himself but Lisa just kept talking to him. Sean was having trouble not laughing. "I think Anna and Robin must be having quite the run of good luck, they've been playing since before we got here." Then he got up and slowly made his way over to them and said, "So that Scorpio charm works well, even when it's not turned on."

Anna looked up at him, "What, why isn't Mac trying to impress her? That was the whole reason for tonight."

"I think he is, but that's not what I meant. He's not the one that can't get away from the table," Sean told her with a smile, then asked, "Are you two on a roll here?"

Anna understood what he was getting at, "Yeah we are, but I think I've won enough, how's that song go? Know when to walk away. Robin, are you coming too?" Anna asked.

"I might as well, I've never done this well here before and I doubt I'd have to same luck without you." Robin smiled at Sean, she didn't want to miss seeing Anna save Robert from Lisa.

When the three of them got back to the table Robert was relieved to see them, "So how did my girls do?"

"We got on quite the roll but decided to quit while we were way ahead," Anna smiled at Robert.

"Good thing Luke's not around tonight, he'd be over here buttering you up making sure you spent all your winning before you could leave," Mac said and they all laughed.

Anna was now standing behind Robert, she placed one hand on his shoulder, "Did you try your luck yet?"

"No, my good luck charm was busy gambling with our daughter."

"Is that's why we were doing so well?" Robin asked.

Anna smiled, "I must admit I haven't lost here yet, even that night I didn't gamble," she said. Robert smiled, reached up and squeezed her hand that was still on his shoulder.

"Is this another one of those nights that only you two know what you're talking about?" Robin asked.

"You will never hear about Valintine's, and besides you already know a little bit about this other night. Both nights did lead to the same thing," Anna told her, both Robert and Anna were smiling.

"For once I don't think I want to know what you're talking about," Patrick said, they had been told before getting there tonight not to use last names around Lisa. They all started laughing.

Lisa had watched the interaction between Robert and Anna since she had returned to the table, clearly, he wasn't the one she could have some fun with. Not fair that they don't wear wedding rings she thought, she had taken hers off before leaving the hotel. Sean had one on, clearly, Patrick and Robin were together so it looked like Mac was the one she should be getting to know a little better. She knew Katherine had lost her husband less than a year ago and didn't think she was interested in him.

"Mac, why don't you and I go give that roulette wheel a try?" Lisa asked.

"I'd love to," Mac stood and offered her his arm as they walked away together.

Anna sat in the chair beside Robert that Lisa had just gotten out of. "She is definitely looking to have some fun while she's away from home. At least she's chasing the right Scorpio now," Anna said as Robert put his arm on the back of her chair.

"I must say that was very smooth, no big show but you two made it clear you're together. With this one, I'll have to remember how to do that."

"Robin if I flirt now it doesn't mean anything," Patrick said defensively.

"I know that. Dad wasn't flirting, but that doesn't stop women from flirting. So why are we here making sure this Lisa has a good time?" Robin asked.

"Patrick," Anna started.

"I know, I know. I can't repeat anything I hear to anyone. Why doesn't Kate get the warning?" he asked.

"Good we shouldn't have to remind you anymore and Kate's the one that arranged this for us," Robert told him. "Lisa just happens to be the wife of the man responsible for Putnam coming after us."

"What, are you all crazy? How on earth did you arrange this," Patrick asked.

"It just kind of fell into our laps. I met Lisa a few years ago, and I wanted to try and find out a little personal information about her husband and after a few phone calls here we are," Kate told them.

"We have a couple more nights to try and get her to tell us something, then we're going to New York for the concert. I don't think she'd be around after that so we may have to get her liquored up to see if she'll talk," Robert explained.

"Just remember to appear to drink more than you are, we want her to let things slip not us," Sean added.

"I am learning so much if I keep spending time with all of you I could become a doctor spy," Patrick joked.

"Oh come on you freaked when all I did was tail Putnam, if anyone is going to be a spy it's me," Robin joked back and they all laughed again.

They stayed at the table a while longer watching Mac and Lisa, and talking about what they were hoping to learn from her and how to do it. Robin and Patrick were the first to leave since they both worked early the next day. When Mac and Lisa returned it was clear Mac's charm was working. Robert and Anna excused themselves next, now that Lisa was getting a little tipsy a smaller group could talk about more personal things, Sean would know how to direct the conversation in their favor.

...

"I know we were excited the other day when Putnam actually said Jonathan de Salva's name but what else do we have?" Anna asked, they were sitting in their office.

"I guess not much we can actually prove, not yet anyway," Robert admitted. "Hopefully we'll hear something useful about him from Lisa."

"Do you really think she'll tell us anything about him?"

"From what we saw last night Lisa de Salva is less than happy in her marriage. I would think she'd like to tell someone about what may be causing those problems, or if she is actually upset enough to leave him she'll have no problem telling his dirty secrets."

"Are we really hoping to break up their marriage, have we stuped that low?" Anna asked.

"No, I would never want to break up a marriage, but if he's the man we think he is she should know about him if she doesn't already. I thought we were hoping to get some personal information to help us find out more about him then what he puts out there for the world to see."

"I know," Anna sat back in her chair, "she seems nice and I just don't want to hurt her. Did Sean say anything before he left this morning?"

"Not about last night, he said there was a possible DVX connection in Marvin Johnston's past."

"Does he think he was once in the DVX?"

"No, I don't think so. It sounds like it was more likely a connection to an agent," Robert explained.

"Like de Salva, that might even be how they know each other. I don't want to get too excited but we're getting there slowly."

...

Miami

"No, if two of my clubs were burnt down, that was a hit from a rival not just random acts of arson. Don't even try to convince me of anything else Jim."

"I'm not, these people were pros, we can't even get anything from our surveillance. There are people coming and going but no one that looks suspicious."

"Who here that wants to come after us, I thought we had understandings with the other families?" Jonathan asked.

"I've talked to them, they are all claiming to know nothing about what happened. They couldn't even say if someone came here to do this."

"Corinthos then, he must be behind this." Jonathan got up and started pacing.

"I thought you said there was no way he could connect you to what happened in Port Charles. Besides wouldn't we know if one of his associates were here or had been. I know we want to take him down, but we can't ignore a threat here if there is one, just to get his territory." Jim had never seen Jonathan like this before.

"No, you're right. When's Pauly coming back?"

"Are you sure you want him back here? I mean we won't have anyone you truly trust in Port Charles if he comes back?"

Jonathan turned and glared at him, "Yes I'm sure! I need him here getting answers. Corinthos has no idea it was us that hit him and there is no way he can find that out. Pauly will get the information out of people here a lot faster than any money you offer will. Do not doubt me, Jim."

"He's scheduled to leave on the 10:30 flight from New York. I have some phone calls to make, do you need me for anything else right now?"

"No, go do what you have to."

As Jim walked out of the office he started worrying again, clearly, his boss was starting to come a little undone. It would be nice if Lisa was still here, she might have been able to take Jonathan's mind off this for an evening at least. Jim knew that Jonathan has been shutting her out more and more lately and ever since he decided to go after Corithoes that is all he has thought about. Whoever was behind these fires couldn't have picked a better time to come after Jonathan. Was there someone close to them that was leaking information? He knew Jonathan hadn't even thought of that yet and Jonathan's too angry right now to even mention it to him right now. If Jonathan's right and it isn't Corinthos or Scorpio coming after him that's really the only thing that makes sense.

...

"Oh Katherine I love this cottage, it's so quaint." Lisa looked around, "So this is where you come to practice?"

"Yeah sometimes, it's been in my family for years. I've been coming here since I was a child. I wasn't really planning on coming here this time but I really wanted to visit my friends I haven't seen them in such a long time. I rent my townhouse out but keep the cottage empty for times just like this when I just need to get away," Kate told her as they sat down with coffees. Kate had invited Lisa to her cottage at the end of their evening. There was lots of flirting going on between her and Mac but Kate wasn't sure if he was going to actually get any information out of her.

"It's sad to think of this place sitting empty, especially in the summer."

"Well it was getting used this summer at least, Robert and Anna stayed here for a while when they came back to Port Charles."

"I hope I didn't step on any toes last night, I didn't realize they were together. Just because my marriage is falling apart I don't want to cause problems for anyone else, especially your friends

"Oh don't worry about that you aren't the first person to flirt with Robert, I'm sure Anna gets hit on as well, they took it all in stride." Kate took a sip of her coffee trying to figure out how to start a conversation about Lisa's marriage.

Lisa smiled at her, "All I'll say is if he was my husband I'd make sure he didn't leave the house without his wedding ring on, all though I noticed she wasn't wearing one either."

Kate wasn't about to explain the lack of rings but saw this as an opening, "I noticed you aren't wearing yours either."

Lisa rubbed her bare ring finger, "Oh you noticed that. Yeah, I thought I wouldn't feel as guilty hitting on other men if I wasn't wearing them."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

She took a sip of coffee and thought about it, "Maybe I should." Lisa didn't really have any real friends, she knew lots of people and worked with many of the same women on different committees but no one she could really talk to about her personal problem.

"I don't want to push, but if there's anything you want to talk about I'm willing to listen," Kate offered.

"How long have you known everyone we went out with last night?" Lisa asked she wasn't ready to talk about herself.

"Well, Mac and Patrick I only met a few days ago, when I got here. The rest of them though, it must be eighteen or nineteen years now, Robin was only 10 or 11 when I first met her."

"So do you trust them?"

"Yes, why did something happen last night?" Kate wasn't sure why Lisa was asking about them, was she really here working for her husband trying to get information on her friends.

"No nothing like that, it's just I was less then subtle last night and if they find out I'm married I would hate for that to somehow get back to Jonathan."

"None of them would say anything, besides why would they go out of their way to find your husband just to tell him you were flirting with other men."

"I guess you're right, but if Robert was single I'd be trying to do a lot more then flirt," Lisa admitted with a big smile.

"Lisa!"

"What, like you've never thought about it?" Lisa asked Kate just smiled. "Mac's good looking too, and he's fun to flirt with, maybe he'd be fun in other ways too," they both laughed.

When they had stopped giggling Kate asked, "Has it really gotten that bad at home?"

"Katherine, he doesn't even see me anymore, it's like I have a roommate that's there once in a while. I don't know when the last time we had sex was. All he cares about is his business, he spends all his time in meetings with his partner Jim Conners. He left Miami over a month ago, something about business meeting in New York. In all that time he called me twice just to check in, then after the clubs burnt down and he had to come back he didn't want to see me or talk to me. No he just stayed at his office talking to Jim." Lisa exhaled deeply then sipped her coffee.

"You don't think he has a girlfriend do you?"

Lisa laughed a little, "No, not unless he and Jim have something going on. Ever since his father died he has been so driven to be even more successful. When I first meet him that was one of the things I admired about him, his drive. Now he has become obsessed, I don't even know what all he's working on. There's more than just the nightclubs and restaurants, but he doesn't tell me anything anymore."

"Was he close to his father, or was he always pushing Jonathan to do better like he was a disappointment? I'm just wondering why Jonathan would have changed so much after his death?" Kate asked.

"I never even met his father, so I don't know. Ronald was arrested and put in prison when Jonathan was still a young man, but I think he always wanted his father to be proud of him. I know he wanted to make sure when his father finally got released he wouldn't have to do anything that would find him back in prison, but he died a few months before he was going to be released. That was a couple years ago and that's when Jonathan started to change."

"Lisa I'm so sorry. You were so happy when we first met, I hate that you've lost that."

"Yeah, I can't help thinking now that it was all just too good to be true, that it was all a lie. That I don't even really know who he is. There have been times I've walked in on meeting that I know I wasn't meant to know about, and the people he was meeting with weren't your typical businessmen. Very serious men, some very large scary looking men."

"Are you saying what I think you are Lisa?" Kate asked a look of concern on her face.

Lisa bit her lower lip wondering if she should say anything more, "I think he might be involved with criminals, maybe even the mob," Lisa admitted. "There are things I've seen and heard, things that can't be explained as club business."

"Are you serious?"

Lisa thought before answering, "Yes, I hate to admit this but I actually think he's one of the top men if not the boss." Lisa lowered her head. "I have no idea how to get out of this," then Lisa started crying.

Kate moved closer and put her arm around her shoulder. When Lisa had pulled herself together, "If you want, I can make a phone call. I know people that will know how to help you."

"How would you know people that could help me?" Lisa looked up, tears still in her eyes. "I tell you I think my husband's a mob boss and suddenly you know people that can help me, come on Katherine you're a concert pianist," Lisa laughed nervously.

"I know people that will know what to do with any information you have, that have connections that can keep you safe." Kate took her hand, "Trust me."

"You actually believe me?" Lisa wondered. "I could be totally wrong and you're ready to help me."

"Of course I want to help you. My friends might be able to help you find out if you're right about your husband."

"Really and how are they going to do that?"

"These meetings you walked in on did you ever hear what they were talking about, even just a name? They could use that information to get some answers for you."

Again Lisa thought before answering,"Yeah OK,' Lisa agreed. "I would need to think about it, to try and remember what I've heard."

"You think about that, I'll make a phone call. I'll get my friends here to listen to what you have to say."

"Can you trust these friends?"

"Lisa, I trust them with my life."

A little while later Lisa was pacing around the cottage, she hadn't been able to sit still since she agreed to talk about what she suspected. She jumped when she heard the bell, "It's OK Lisa, there's nothing to worry about," then Kate went to answer the door.

When Robert and Anna walked in Lisa stopped, "What are you doing here?"

"We came to Listen to what you have to say, ask you a thing or two. We want to help you make sense of your suspicions," Anna told her.

"What's going on here," Lisa wondered nervously, "you two are the friends with connections?"

"When we first met Kate, I was police commissioner, Anna and Sean were private investigators. The three of us met when we worked for the WSB so yes we have connections including the current commissioner of police," Robert explained.

"I don't even know if I'm right about my suspicions, I'm not ready to go to the cops."

"That's why we're here, we aren't cops," Robert reassured her.

"So what do you want to know?"

"First off do you mind if we record this," Anna asked, "it will just make it easier to review later if you do know something."

"Yes, please do."

"You told Kate that you suspected your husband might be involved with the mob because of some meeting you walked in on is that right," Anna asked.

"Yes, these were meeting with men I didn't know, Jim Conners his business partner would be there and this other guy that works for him, Paul Munro, Pauly I think they call him."

"So you knew these men, but not the others is that right?"

"Yes, they gave me a bad feeling, like they weren't good people. Like it wasn't safe for me to have seen them there."

"Did you ever hear anything they were talking about?" Anna asked.

"I remember they were talking about territory once and it made no sense to me, it was something like needing northern territory. Then a few months later Jonathan and Jim went to New York on business, that's northern from Miami but what does a nightclub owner need territory for?"

"Did you ever hear any names? Maybe, people, they were working with or even someone they might consider competition?" Anna was still asking all the questions.

"There was one name in heard in that meeting, I can't think of what it was. I think he would have been competition just by how they were talking about him."

"I'll give you some time to think about it, the name might come to you."

"There was another time I could hear yelling in Jonathan's home office, I didn't go inside I just stood by the door, I think it was just him and Jim inside. Jonathan sounded so angry about what these two people had done."

Anna looked at Robert then asked, "Did he say what that was?"

"No I don't think so not that I heard, but it must have been bad, he was so angry. He was talking about sending someone after them, that was when I really started to think he was involved in the mob, who else talks like that?"

"Do you remember what those names were?"

"Yeah, Devane and Scorpio, I remember those name for sure. I can still hear him, Devane and Scorpio will pay."

Kate took a shape breath and covered her mouth, Robert led her over to the counter talking quietly to her. He got her a glass of water then went back over to Anna and Lisa. "You didn't hear what they had done though?" Anna asked.

"No, I didn't. I listen a little longer but they were talking about how Rodney had let himself be seen by them and that they confronted him. Then Jonathan and Jim were talking about how useless he was. I don't know who Rodney is though."

Robert put his hand on Anna's shoulder, "We know who Rodney is," he told Lisa.

"Wait, what, how can that be?"

"If you can tell me one more thing, then we can answer some of your questions. What is Jonathan's father's first name?" Anna asked.

Lisa was even more confused now, "Ronald. He died in prison a couple of years ago."

Anna inhaled sharply, "Oh god Robert, I was right."

"You told me I would get answers what's going on, is my husband a mobster or not?"

"We believe he is yes. First of all, we never told you our full names, I'm Robert Scorpio, and this is Anna Devane."

"You're Devane and Scorpio?"

"Yes we are and if you give us a chance we will explain what we know," Robert told her.

Lisa got up, "What is going on here?"

"Early in my career with the WSB, I arrested Ronald de Salva, a known DVX agent with an outstanding warrant. I got a tip on his whereabouts and brought him in, that was it. I didn't even remember him until we started our investigation, but that's how I'm connected to this," Anna explained. Lisa just listened, trying to understand what she was being told.

"My involvement is more resent. While I was away working it wasn't really by choice and I had to do things that went against my better judgment. I have certain training, certain skills and there are organizations that require these skills. I didn't know the targets or the reasons I was needed, but if I didn't do what was asked of me the people I love most would have been killed," Robert told her and put his hand on Anna's shoulder. "Do you remember the name of your husband's business partner before Jim?"

"You mean Fred Robson? Yeah, he and Jonathan were like brothers," Lisa told him. "He died while on vacation six years ago."

"He was on a business trip and he died in an explosion at a cocaine packaging facility, along with five other other members of their organization. My mission was to plant the explosives, and that's why you husband wants revenge against me."

Lisa stared at them in disbelief. "This was all some kind of set up, wasn't it? Do you even know Katherine or is she just being used because we know each other?" Lisa stood up not sure what she wanted to do.

"Yes, we know Kate and have for years. When she came here to visit us we had no idea she even knew you. We trust her and were talking freely in front of her about a problem we have been dealing with. It was when we mentioned your husband's name that she told us she knew you" explained Robert. "We were hoping to find out your father-in-law's first name to confirm Anna's connection. Maybe something else that could help us find information on him to prove he's involved in illegal activity."

"He's a nightclub owner," she said doubting her own words, "apparently, on paper anyway." Lisa now wanted to know what else they knew or if she could trust them.

"I said we know who Rodney was. Just let us explain him then you can decide if you want to trust us," Robert offered. Lisa nodded then sat down again. "Anna and I were staying here when our daughter Robin told us she had noticed someone watching her. She had seen him a few times but he never approached her. Our friend Sean confirmed this, he'd see him as well. We were starting to wonder if someone had been sent here to find us. One night we were walking in the park and noticed we were being followed, we confronted the man who denied he was following us of course. We told him to stay away from us and Robin, then he quickly walked away. We followed unnoticed and overheard a phone call in which he was told to leave Port Charles that night. Eventually, he did he returned. When we first found out he'd returned, he actually ran away from us. I spotted him a few days after that and was following him because we wanted to talk to him in connection with our investigation. He entered a warehouse and was killed when an explosion went off inside, the body was identified as Rodney Blake."

"That must have been what Jonathan and Jim were talking about when you confronted him in the park. Now he's dead, but why?"

"We believe the explosion was actually a trap meant for someone else. There was a meeting scheduled to take place there about an hour after the blast occurred. We feel that because I was following him, he was sent inside the warehouse and eliminated, if they had waited about 30 seconds longer I could have been killed as well," Robert explained.

"You think Jonathan was behind that?"

"Yes, the intended target is a local mob enforcer, the businesses of the man he works for have been targeted over the last month, also destroyed by explosions."

Lisa was sitting there trying to understand but it was all just too much to take in. Had they really just confirmed her suspicions about Jonathan? When she first started thinking he could be a part of the mob she didn't want to believe it could really be true.

Anna stopped recording then, "I think we should let you think about all of this, Robert and I will go for a walk and when we return we can talk some more." Anna got up and started to leave

Lisa didn't say anything but when they walked towards the door Kate stopped Robert, "Where are you going? Is she going to be OK?"

"We're just going to go for a little walk, Lisa needs a little time to think. That was a lot for her to hear all at once Katie." He gave her a kiss on the cheek, then they left the cottage.

"Do you want another cup of coffee?" Kate offered when they were alone.

"I would love something stronger," Lisa said, she was now watching Kate. "I think I need to get good and drunk. I'm married to a mobster Katherine."

Kate went and got the bottle of brandy and two glasses, "Will this do?."

"Yeah, that's fine thank you." They sat in silence for a while sipping their drinks. Then Lisa asked, "Are they sure about this Katherine, do they have proof?"

"Call me Kate please, you'll notice everyone here does. I don't know what kind of proof they have, just that they are building a case against him."

"How are they connected to the other guy, the one I can't remember the name of?"

"If we don't know who he is I can't answer that."

"Right of course." She took another sip, "If they aren't cops how can they help me? Are the special agents of some kind?"

"Not anymore, Anna told me they've both been deputized by the PCPD. They are good people and they want to help."

Lisa poured another drink, "When I came here I thought I might hook up with some guy, have a little fun. I'm just so tired of being a ghost in my marriage, but I really wasn't expecting to have my fears confirmed."

"When I invited you here I could tell you weren't happy and thought you could use a few nights out with friends, but I had no idea about any of the other stuff going on."

"Can you imagine being married to someone that would hurt or even kill people to get what they want?"

Kate knew it was a rhetorical question, but she could imagine that and almost had married that kind of man. "At least he didn't murder your entire family," then Kate got up to get herself another cup of coffee. She was still standing by the counter lost in thought when Robert and Anna came back in.

They noticed the confused look on Lisa's face, "Are you still trying to wrap your head around everything we've told you?" Anna asked her.

She didn't answer right away, she looked over at Katherine then back at them. "I think I might have said something that brought up some bad memories. What happened to her family?"

Anna looked over at Robert, he nodded and turned to go talk to her. "Don't worry about it, Robert will deal with that. How are you? I know that couldn't have been easy, learning all that about your husband."

Lisa was looking past her watching Robert and Kate, without saying a word he put his arms around her, Kate leaned into him and put her head on his shoulder. Anna had sat down across from her, Lisa looked back at her then leaned closer and quietly asked, "Who murdered her family?"

"That is a long twisted story. It was a man she was engaged to and when she broke it off he took her prisoner. He was planning a murder-suicide but Robert and Sean found them. Paul killed himself before Robert could arrest him, and he managed to find Kate just in time or she would have died as well. She didn't know the truth about her family until after he had taken her prisoner."

"That's why she trusts you all so much." Lisa took another sip then asked, "Am I going to need protection now?" She now felt she could trust them as well.

"Well you could request it, but I don't think you need it at this point. What you told us we can use to get more information on your husband and continue to build our case against him, but you're his wife so can't be made to testify against him. Why don't we talk about something else now, I'm sure you don't want to think about this anymore right now."

"I think that's a good idea, do you want to have a drink with me? I've already had a couple." Anna went and got two more glasses, Lisa poured. "Did you know Katherine lost her husband recently?"

"Yes, I never met him but we have been talking a lot lately and she's told me all about him."

"He was such a nice man, and they clearly loved each other. She had told me she has only loved two men, to think one was such a sweetheart and the other was a murderer."

Anna choked on her drink just a little. "I met Paul that's not the other man she meant, she was never really in love with Paul."

Just then Lisa's phone rang, she looked at the number and wondered why he would be calling her. "Hello, Jim... Oh, well alright... Yes, I am thank you... When do you think that will be?... OK, I'm sure I'll see you before then, bye." She hung up and looked at Anna, "My husband's business partner just called to tell me Jonathan won't be able to join me for the concert. The bastard can't even take five minutes to call me himself. Apparently, they have some business that will bring them to New York in 12 days."

"Are one of these for me?" Robert asked as he and Kate joined them, Anna handed him a glass. "What are you two talking about?"

"Jim Conners just called Lisa, we have just under two weeks before de Salva's returns. Should we warn Sonny?" Anna asked.

"Yeah we better, he should know his property and maybe his life could be in danger again soon." Robert agreed.

"Sonny Corinthos," Lisa cut in, "that's the name I couldn't remember. That's who he wants territory from. Are you working with him?"

"I do not work with mobsters," Robert insisted a hint of anger in his voice.

Anna put her hand on his arm, "We have an agreement to share information to stop a threat to his business, and our lives." She looked over at Kate, "Let's talk about something else, I think we need a new topic. Kate, were you done practicing for today?"

"Yeah, I was done before Lisa got here. Is anyone hungry I could cook us some dinner?" Kate offered.

"Katie you don't have to do that, we can all go out later. Have you learned any rock and roll yet?" Robert asked, giving her a playful grin, he knew she could still use a distraction.

Kate smiled at him, "No rock and roll, some contemporary, I'm still very good at classical. I could play you some Bach."

"Not Bach anything but that," Robert said pretending to be in pain, and Kate started to laugh. "Anna, save me don't let her play Bach."

Katherine gave him a playful shove, "That's enough out of you Scorpio." When she stopped laughing she gave him a little hug and said, "Thank you, Robert."

Lisa leaned closer to Anna, "You know it's always the wife that thinks they have nothing to worry about that finds out their friend took her man."

"That is not what you're seeing. You don't know much about us but really, I don't have to worry about them."

When Robert's phone rang he excused himself and Kate joined the others, she sat beside Anna. "I'm glad the goofiness is still there. The first few times I talked to him he sounded too serious, he was clearly dealing with a lot of painful issues at the time."

"There was a lot to deal with pain, anger, loss. He was quick with humor using it as a kind of a shield, now he's happy again and humor is genuine. Thanks again for letting us use this place, we worked through a lot of very emotional subjects here."

Kate smiled at her, "I hear it in both of you, there's been a lot of healing, and I'm glad I could help even in such a small way. Robin told me you struggled after getting your memory back. That you didn't even come back to Port Charles until they were both here."

"No, I didn't. I didn't miss him until I remembered him and I didn't know how much I need him until I saw him again." Anna quickly wiped away a tear, Katherine noticed and gave her a hug.

"Sean got it, it's a DVX connection. Sean found what he needs to get Marvin Johnston to talk. He didn't give me all the details but he is confident Johnston will have no choice but to talk now." Robert was smiling when he joined them. "You OK Luv?"

Anna smiled at him then at Kate, "Yeah."

...

Miami

"Why the hell did you phone my wife?" Jonathan asked angerly.

"Were you going to? You just get back here then you sent her away, I really don't care if your marriage is over that's your business. I just thought she deserved to know that you wouldn't be joining her in New York. Now she won't be phoning you and bothering us when we have more important things to deal with," Jim told him. If Jim was totally honest, he thinks Jonathan must be crazy if he lets Lisa get away, she is an amazing woman and he had always thought she was beautiful.

"Right, yeah that makes sense. I don't need the distraction right now. What did she say?"

"I told her we had to stay here and wouldn't be back in New York for at least 12 days, she said OK and that she would probably see us before we left."

"Good, she can stay there for now. I hate those charity events she drags me to. Has Pauly found anything yet?"

"He's only been back a couple hours but so far all he's learned that the fires were set in the same way, a timer that ignited at a preset time that caused a small explosion spreading flammable liquid quickly, and leaving little to no evidence of the device."

Jonathan turned and glared at him, "I already knew that! He better not be out there just wasting time. I need answers now." Then he went and sat at his desk, he picked up a few files, "What's happening with Putnam?" he asked as he started looking through the papers.

"He's still in the hospital, apparently Scorpio and Devane go back every few days, so by that schedule, they should be going again tomorrow. The visits are usually short and Grant is always agitated when they leave. In connection to that Marvin Johnston did call, apparently there has been someone at Ravinview asking questions, he got out of there quickly. He went to some conference at the last minute, just to get out of there without having to talk to the guy."

"Who was this guy?"

"Marvin didn't know, he only knew he was asking about Grant Putnam's escape. So I'm sure it's someone working for Scorpio and Devane," Jim speculated.

"You're probably right. At least Marvin was smart enough to get out of there before talking to the guy. We can't afford to have him talk though, he could say too much about both of us."

...

"Oh, this is the kind of place I needed to go to. Lots of people, great music, dancing and more drinks," Lisa said, smiling as she looked around.

"Patrick and Robin brought us here a little while ago, we had a great time," Anna told them. They'd already gone out for dinner but Lisa wasn't ready to go back to her hotel. Robert had gone to meet with Sean to talk about what he had found out, then Sean was going to go home for a couple days. He would meet them in New York with Tiffany for the concert. "They serve dinner here as well, it doesn't compare with Duke's or Delafield's mind you but it was very good."

Katherine smiled thinking about her short time as a nightclub owner. "I loved running the club, it kept me busy and it was exciting to perform a different type of music. Working with Frisco was always so much fun, he taught me a lot."

"Frisco Jones, the singer? I remember him, he quit music way too soon."

"Yeah, when he stopped touring and I grabbed him up. He had other interest too, being a cop and starting a family," Kate told her.

"He was a cop too?" Lisa was impressed she hadn't known that before.

"He was a rookie when I was chief of police here. He was always torn between the two careers, in the end, the spy game won."

"Port Charles seems like a quiet little place but the more I hear about it, this must be an exciting place to live."

"It has its moments," Anna smiled. They had found a table close to the dance floor, Lisa gladly agreed to dance when men would ask her. Kate and Anna had agreed to dance a couple time but were happier to just sit and talk. There was one persistent man that they were both getting very annoyed with. He just didn't want to leave them alone. Anna had already called Mac to join them, but since he had arrived he had mostly been keeping Lisa company. Anna hoped Robert would get there soon, but they still needed someone else to join them so this guy would leave them alone.

"I couldn't help but notice you lovely ladies are here alone tonight and my date just got called into work. Is this a girls night out or can I join you?"

This was perfect timing, "Noah hello, we would love you to join us, please have a seat," Anna offered, glad to have him there but she was wondering what was keeping Robert? This guy Ray was becoming a pain now, he just wouldn't leave her alone. As soon as Noah had joined them all he wanted to do was talk to Katherine, leaving Anna to deal with Ray on her own. He had too many questions and he wanted Anna's full attention and that made her uncomfortable. Why was he so interested in her? This was more than just a guy in the bar taking an interest in her.

The meeting with Sean had taken longer then he thought it would but at least Robert was now sure Sean had the information needed to get the answers from Marvin Johnston they needed. Sean had uncovered that Marvin had once been recruited to the DVX by Ronald de Salva. Before he could start his training though, Ronald had betrayed Faison. Jonathan had known him then, they had both been young and were looking forward to joining the DVX. That had all changed after Ronald's arrest and neither of them was wanted in the organization.

When Robert entered the club he looked around tell he spotted them. He was happy to see that Mac and Noah had joined them, the third man with them he didn't recognize. Robert made his way over to their table and stood beside Anna, "May I have this dance?"

Anna smiled up at him but before she could answer the man he didn't know spoke, "Move along gramps we're having a perfectly wonderful time here." Robert didn't bother responding he just offered his hand to Anna. As she reached out to take Robert's hand Ray pushed her hand away. "Look, buddy, we're having a good time here and don't want to be interrupted."

"I'm not looking for trouble, I just want to dance with my wife."

"Your wife, whatever old man, just move along." Then Ray stood up, stepping right in front of Robert.

Mac sat watching, wondering if Robert's temper would flair but he was amazed to notice that he actually looked amused by the man now standing in front of him. "You know I really like this song and you're making us miss it," Robert told him with a little smile.

Anna was now standing as well, "Excuse me, I'd like to go dance with my husband."

"I don't think so," Ray said and pushed Anna back into her chair.

Then Mac saw the flash of anger and couldn't believe how quickly Robert moved. Before anyone knew what had happened Ray was bent over the table his right arm twisted painfully behind his back. "You never lay a hand on a woman," Robert said angerly.

"You're crazy, get your hands off off me! I'm going to charge you with assault," Ray threatened his face still pressed into the table.

"You assaulted my wife, I used reasonable force to stop you. Well within my legal rights. If you want to question that, ask the man right in front of you who just happens to be the police commissioner."

Mac smiled at him, "My brother's right, and he actually just saved you from an ass-kicking because my beautiful sister-in-law wouldn't have been so nice. You've been annoying her since I got here, now take a hike." Robert let him up, Ray was rubbing his shoulder as he walked away. "Well, Robby if I've learned anything since you've returned from the dead, it's don't touch Anna or Robin."

"It was never a good idea," Robert told him, then turned his attention to Anna. "Did he hurt you?"

"I'm fine Robert, I would still like that dance." Anna took his hand and lead him to the dance floor. Once they were dancing she asked, "Are you alright? I saw that flash of anger."

"I'm absolutely wonderful now that you're in my arms."

Anna touched his cheek, "Thank you for getting rid that guy."

He gave her a quick kiss, "Who the hell was he?"

"I don't even know, some guy named Ray that took an unwanted interest in me."

"Do you think he's connected to de Salva?"

"I don't think so he wasn't paying attention to Lisa at all."

Back at the table, Lisa was watching them dance, then looked at Mac "OK, I have a few questions. Are you really the commissioner and his brother?"

Mac nodded, "Quilty as charged, Mac Scorpio, police commissioner of Port Charles."

"OK, I've also heard a few odd things today. Robert was apparently dead and did Anna really lose her memory? What happened to them?"

"Well, 15 years ago they were both believed to have died in a boat explosion. I'm not going to explain it all because it would take too long and it's a very messed up story. Anna only regained her memory about six years ago. While Robert was forced to stay away and we only found out he was alive about nine months ago. That's all I'm going to tell you. They aren't going to want us sitting here talking about all of that, we're here to have fun and that's what we should do."

"You're right. Mac, I want you to know I will do whatever I can to help them. Everyone has been so wonderful to me here," Lisa smiled as she talked. "If you ask me nicely I'll dance with you again." Mac happily led her to the dance floor. Katherine and Noah joined them on the dance floor shortly after that, they enjoyed the rest of their evening uninterrupted.

...

Last night Lisa had agreed to meet them at police headquarters, but when she got there she started to wonder what she was doing. She had just walked up to an officer to ask where the commissioner's office was when she heard, "We've got this Taylor."

"Sure thing boss."

Lisa turned to see Robert and Anna standing behind her. "I'm glad you're here, I was just starting to question why I'm here."

"You're here to help us, and find out the truth about what your husband is actually doing," Anna reminded her. "Come on, I'm sure Mac is waiting for us."

Robert knocked and they walked in, Mac looked up. "Oh good you're all here, Lisa thank you for agreeing to come down here and talk to us. We have a few pictures for you to look at, but that can wait a few minutes. Robert, how did your visit with Putnam go today?"

Robert sighed, "It was a total waste of time, he kept talking about his other visitor and how he would rather see her again than either of us."

"Who else has been to see him?"

"Maybe the officers that are guarding Putnam would know," Robert offered.

Mac picked up the sarcasm "Yeah thanks. We don't need someone else interfering with him."

"No, we don't. We recorded the conversation but I don't know if there's anything useful on it. Have the other conversations been transcribed?" Anna asked.

"Yes, and we still have the digital copies as well. There are names from those conversations that Lisa has now told us as well. I really believe we're on the right track here."

"Good, I just don't want to lose anything we get from him. That man should never be free again."

There was a knock at the door, "Excuse me, Lucky dragged Sonny Corinthos in again and now Sonny's asking to talk to the chief."

Mac looked at Anna, "Why would he want to talk to you?"

"I guess I won't know unless I go see him. Where is he?"

"He's waiting in interrogation room two, we can record the conversation if you want," the officer answered.

"No that's all right, Robert will come watch us. If he starts telling me anything useful Robert will start recording." Then she and Robert got up and left Mac's office.

When Anna entered the room, Sonny watched the door to see who else was going to join them. "We can talk openly, Robert's in the next room watching us to making sure no one else is listening."

"Good I saw you come in and wanted to pass on some information. Pauly Munro left Port Charles yesterday morning."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, we have people in place watching the airport in case de Salva returns. Munro was spotted leaving early yesterday."

"That's good, he must have been called back to Miami. That means there aren't any trusted members of their organization here. We have found out they're planning to return here in about a week and a half."

"How on earth can you know that?" Sonny asked.

"Just trust that we do and take measures to prepare for what might happen when they're back here."

Suddenly over the intercom, "company's coming," Robert said.

"Sonny I'm tired of your little games. I have more important things to do then waste my time talking to you." The door had opened while Anna was talking.

"Yeah and I'm tired of being dragged down here. I'm the victim in all of this."

"Is everything alright in here?" the officer asked.

"Yeah we're done here," Anna said and left the room. Robert joined her in the hallway and they walked back to Mac's office.

When they entered Lisa was looking at photos, Mac looked up at them, "What was that about?"

"Pauly Munro left Port Charles yesterday."

"Sonny asked for a meeting with you so he could tell you that?"

"Yes, we have an agreement to share information with each other," Robert told him. "We want to stop any further violence and we have some information they don't and vice versa. We come to you first with everything we find out, and only share relevant information with them. We have made sure not to be seen together to keep all of us safe."

"So I can assume you told him something today."

"Yes, I warned him that de Salva is returning in about a week and a half."

"He'll come after Jonathan, he'll kill my husband," Lisa suddenly yelled.

"We can't prove it and he won't admit it, but we believe he has already retaliated for the loss of his businesses here," Anna reassured her.

"The fires," she concluded. Anna just nodded.