Chapter 24

It had been four days since they had returned from New York and there had still been no sign of Putnam or the dark-haired lady anywhere. When Sean had returned from Albany he had told them that Rodney had been seen at Ravinview the day Putnam had escaped. Now that Marvin Johnston was gone the staff was more talkative, they now knew what day Putnam had gone missing as well as his visitors. Sean had been able to talk to a few employs that thought they had seen Johnston get a rather full envelope from Rodney that same morning. Jonathan de Salva knew what he was doing there had only been a few small mistakes that could lead back to him but so far it looked like this had all been Rodney. They were building a case but so far the most evidence they had was against a dead man, that was why Rodney had been expendable.

They were all working in their home office when Sean said, "I don't know about you two but I think I need a night off."

Anna sat back from her computer and rubbed her eyes, "I think that's a good idea, I feel like I'm just going in circles here reading the same thing over and over."

"How is it that Jonathan de Salva has hidden everything other than the life he wants everyone to know, he did well in school got started slowly running other peoples businesses before going into business for himself. There's nothing about his family other than his perfect wife who helps so many charities. Nothing about his father being in prison, never mind dying there. There has to be a way to find the rest of the information."

"Robert that's why we need a night off, we're going to drive ourselves crazy if we don't take a break," Sean said.

Robert ran his fingers through his hair, "Yeah I guess you're right. It's time to take a break."

"What time is it anyway?" Anna asked.

Robert looked at his watch, "Well that explains why I'm hungry, it's 6:30. I think I'll order some pizza."

"None for me," Sean said. "I've been looking at your faces for way too long. I'm going to call up Mac and see what he's up to. I'm sure you two might enjoy an evening to yourselves as well."

"That sounds like a great idea, how quickly can you be out of our house?" Robert asked jokingly.

"Anna, aren't you going to tell him to play nice with his friends?"

"No he's right, how quickly can you leave? Pizza, beer and a night alone with this guy is just the break I need."

"Oh there's gonna be beer too, I think I might stay here after all," Sean said then started laughing.

Robert and Anna were alone sitting on the couch after they had finished eating, "Do you think he left town?" Anna asked. "I mean it's been four days and nothing, no sightings, no threats. Where is he?"

"This is the first evening we've had alone in two weeks I don't want to talk about Putnam. You're all I want to think about," Robert said and pulled her closer.

"You think I can be so easily distracted?"

"I know you can," Robert said as he started to kiss her neck.

"When's Sean going to be back?"

"Not for a while," then he kissed her earlobe.

Anna pulled his shirt over his head then climbed onto his lap. "There needs to be more nights like this." Robert slowly started removing her clothing. His hands moving over her body Anna let out a low moan then Robert lifted her up and laid her down on the couch. He slowly kissed his way up her body making his way to her lips. Anna kissed him passionately when their lips met.

They both heard the doorbell but tried to ignore it. It rang again then whoever was at the door started knocking. "I don't think they're going to leave," Robert said then kissed her again.

Whoever it was just kept knocking, "You better go answer that, they aren't leaving."

Robert sat up and started handing Anna her clothes, "Here, I need a minute before I can answer that," he smiled at her. "I'll be right there," he called out.

"Send them away we aren't done here," Anna said as she started getting dressed.

Robert picked up his shirt and headed for the door just as the doorbell rang again. "Just a second!" he yelled as he pulled on his shirt, when he got to the door he looked through the peephole. "Oh you have to be kidding me," he muttered then opened the door. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Is that any way to greet me?" Holly looked him over, "Did I interrupt something?"

"I'm in no mood for your games. What do you want?"

"Aren't you going to invite me in?"

"Why would I? What kind of trouble are you in now?"

"Robert let her in," Anna called. He stepped aside and Holly walked in like she was a welcome guest.

Holly looked at Anna who was straightening her shirt. "Oh I did interrupt," then she laughed to herself. Holly walked further into the living room. She looked around then went over and looked at the photos on the mantel, they had added more. One of Robin, one of the three of them that looked like it was taken in this room, they all looked so happy and the last one was a recent one just the two of them dressed to the nines. "Well isn't this nice? You've made a cozy little home here together," she said as she turned to look at them.

Robert was now standing with Anna and said, "You still haven't told us why you're here Holly."

"Can't I just stop in for a visit? I just got to Port Charles and thought I'd come see you." She walked over and put her hand on Robert's chest.

"Well you've seen us, you can leave now," Anna said, as she rolled her eyes she was less than impressed that Holly was there.

"Robert doesn't want me to go," Holly said then touched his cheek.

He pushed her hand away as Anna said, "He didn't want to let you in the house. You didn't come all this way just to ruin our evening so what do you want?"

"I behaved horribly the last time I was here. I thought I owed some apologies."

"Oh right, you had time for that when we were all in the Markum Islands with people that could have died because of your greed," Anna shot back.

"How did you know where we live?" Robert asked hoping to avoid the argument that would soon start between them.

"Well, when I found out I was going to be here it only made sense to look up my old friends."

Anna knew she was lying why would she know they were living here, "Right the first thing you wanted to do was come to my house to exchange insults. I don't buy it, Holly, remember we don't exactly like each other very much."

"Fine, I thought that just Robert lived here and I was hoping we could talk. I just want a chance to talk to you, Robert."

"Anything you want to say to me you can say in front of Anna, it just saves me telling her after. If it's something that you don't think she wants to hear then I don't want to hear it either," Robert insisted.

Holly looked from Robert to Anna then back, "I just want to say I'm sorry for putting Robin's health in danger." That was not what she came to say but she thought it was one of the few things that would make sense and they'd believe.

"You looked up the wrong address, Robin is the one you should be saying that too. Now if that's all you can go," Robert said he just wanted her to leave.

"Fine, I was actually hoping we could maybe spend some time together. I didn't know Anna lived here and we had some good times before she showed up and kicked your ass."

"Didn't you notice what happened as soon as I showed up there? You could have run through that mansion naked and Luke would have been the only one chasing you, well Dillon may have as well."

"Anna kicking my ass was the best thing that could have happened to us, it meant we could start talking. I have done so much healing since you saw me last and that is all because of Anna. Did you even notice or care I was different."

"So you were upset about the antidote and that you had to serve me with divorce papers again."

"Is that really what you thought, that I was just a little upset?" Anna touched his arm and he stopped talking, that had always been her way of saying let me handle this.

"It took me about a minute when I went to talk to Robert alone to realize that he was in a lot of pain, that he was very angry and that he was blaming himself for a lot. In that time he made a joke about drunken brawls and said he was sorry. That was it. Yes, we'd talked with Robin before that but as soon as we were alone I just knew."

"That doesn't mean I couldn't still have feelings for him."

"Feelings, oh what was I thinking you could have feelings for him. You stayed away when you came out of your coma no one forced you to."

"How do you know that?" Holly was shocked.

"Robert and I talk about everything, we tell each other everything. When I finally got my memory back I remembered the explosion that should have killed Robert, it happened right in front of me and the only reason he didn't die was that he was pulled out of the water by the WSB so quickly. I truly believed he was dead or I would have moved heaven and earth to find him."

"Oh you can say whatever you want that doesn't make it true," Holly said dismissively

"As soon as he walked out of the room after talking to Robin and I, she looked at me with a tear in her eye and a smile on lips and asked 'you still love him don't you?' and of course she was right." A smile formed on her lips then Anna said, "I bet you were one of the first people to ask either of us that question. I have loved this man as long as I've known him. I have loved three men in my life but neither of the other two could compare with the love I feel for Robert. Can you say the same thing?"

Holly stared at Anna but didn't say anything, of course, she'd loved him but she had loved others as well. They had been happy when they were together but she had been happy in her other relationships as well. Robert took Anna's hand then said, "I can. I've been lucky enough to have loved three very special ladies, but I'm sorry Holly, I've never loved anyone else like I love Anna."

"Maybe this wasn't the right way to try to talk to you. I'm going to be in Port Charles for a few weeks and I would like to talk again." Holly turned her head to wipe the tear from her eye. "This is a lovely home by the way. Maybe we can still be friends at least, goodnight," then Holly quickly turned and left their house. As she walked back to her car Holly started wondering what she had really thought was going to happen. She already knew they were calling themselves husband and wife, had they really gotten remarried already? Had she really thought just showing up at their house was going to do anything to change that? What did she want anyway, did she actually want Robert back? Why had Anna done so much talking anyway, she had wanted to talk to Robert? She hadn't gotten what she wanted, and would have to find another way to talk to Robert by himself. She still cared enough that she wanted to warn him.

Robert locked the door after Holly had left, then joined Anna again, "What could have brought her to Port Charles?" Anna asked.

Robert put his arms around her, "I have no idea, and now with everything else going on I think we get to put up with unexpected visits from Holly while she is here as well."

"I don't mean to be rude to her, it just happens. If I'm in a bad mood when I see her I don't know how mean I might be to her."

"Well as long as you don't go too far. I'll try to separate the two of you if it gets out of hand, just don't hit me," Robert told her with a smile. "What can I do to take your mind off our unwanted visitor?"

"Oh, I don't know. Why is she here?"

"We're done talking about her for tonight. What if I take you upstairs and run a nice hot shower. I'll take my time washing your beautiful body. See where the evening goes from there."

Anna smiled at him, "Well, what are you waiting for Scorpio?"

...

Two days had passed since Holly's unexpected visit, but they hadn't heard from her so it had mostly been forgotten about. Mac had come to talk to them, now they were all in the office talking and drinking coffee. Mac and Sean sat on the couch while Robert was at his desk. Anna couldn't seem to stop moving, she would move from place to place as they were talking. "Has Jonathan tried to contact Lisa since she's been here?" Anna asked Mac.

"No, not once, she's told me he'll go weeks without talking to her now. Lisa doubts he even noticed she didn't come home after the concert. Once we know he's here she'll call him and says she's back at home," Mac told them.

"It's only a couple days before Jim said they wanted to come back here isn't it?" Sean asked.

"Yes, I'm going to have some plainclothes officers watch the airport. I want to know the minute they get back here," Mac informed them.

"I'm willing to bet Corinthos will do the same, Jonathan de Salva shouldn't slip into town without us knowing about it," Robert added.

"Are you sure you can trust him?" Mac asked, he didn't know how he felt about this.

"We made it clear we want to stop a common threat and nothing more. He seems to want the same thing as us. Sonny hasn't asked for any other information, and hasn't offered up anything that could be used against other people," Anna told him. "If Robin didn't trust him I would never have agreed to this."

"I think I may have come up with a way to mess with de Salva's head if we can find out where he's staying, or maybe get a message to him when they arrive here," Robert told them all. "I'd just need someone to discreetly slip a note to him."

"Give it to me and I'll make sure there's someone's in place at the airport to get that done," Mac assured him. Robert nodded then quickly wrote a note and handed it to Mac.

"Has Lisa been able to give you much information?" Sean asked.

"Well, she wasn't able to add much to what she had already told you. She did positively ID Pauly Munro as one of Jonathan's employees but couldn't think of what he actually does for him, she knew he doesn't work at the clubs or restaurant."

"That's actually good then, she knows he works for her husband but not what he does. At least now we have photos of the people we're looking for," Anna leaned against her desk. "Putnam must be waiting for de Salva to return, that must be why he hasn't been seen anywhere."

"You don't think he might have skipped town?" Mac asked.

The other three all shook their heads, "No he will want what he thinks of as his reward," Sean said. "He's not done with our friends here."

Just then Anna phone went off, she looked at it, there was a text message, "Oh we'll have a visitor in a few minutes, Robin's just leaving the hospital and she's on her way here."

"Well let's wrap this up, have we covered everything?" Robert asked.

"That we're still playing the waiting game. Yeah, we got it," Sean answered, then he and Mac left the office.

Robert got up and walked over to Anna who was still leaning on her desk. "Are you alright?" She didn't say anything just leaned forwards and put her head on his chest. "What's bothering you."

"I hate not knowing when they're going to come after us again. We know it's going to happen, Putnam could try something at any time, de Salva may have come up with another way to get to us that doesn't even involve Putnam. There's too much we don't know then to top it all off Holly shows up here. What is she doing here and when is she just going to show up again? I could deal with her any other time but right now I just don't want to have to think about her."

"We haven't heard from her since the other night maybe she's busy with whatever brought her here."

"That doesn't mean she won't be back, it's just one more thing we don't know when it's going to happen."

"Why don't we think about what we do know Robin will be here right away, and I love you."

Anna smiled and finally looked up at him, "I love you too." Then he kissed her, "I think you should take me out for dinner tonight, just to show me how much you love me."

He smiled at her, "I think that can be arranged." Then they left the office together. When they entered the living room he looked at Sean and said, "You're on your own for dinner tonight."

Sean looked over at Mac who was already smiling, "Yeah you can hang out with me."

When Robin arrived she walked in without knocking, "He is driving me nuts!" she exclaimed as soon as she saw them. "I am spending almost all of my time in the lab, there are people with me when I am working on other things. I'm making sure people know where I am and where I'm going. I am doing everything you have asked me to, but it's still not good enough for Patrick. Oh no, he still thinks I should leave Port Charles until this is all over."

Anna walked over and put her arm around Robin's shoulder, "It's because he cares. Robin, he's worried about your safety."

"I know that. Everyone in this room is worried about that as well, but none of you have tried to order me to leave. It is really hard to love the guy when he's being such an ass."

"Oh sweety I know, I have some experience with that," she looked over at Robert who was trying to look innocent. "Try to explain your point calmly and get him to hear you."

"And if that doesn't work?"

"I usually just smack him if he pisses me off enough."

Robin smiled she knew Anna was telling her the truth, "Well he knows I'm here and wants me to meet him at the Metro Court later, so if it's alright I'll just stay here for a while I need a break from his childishness." Anna looked over at Robert again.

"That is not my fault," Robert said defensively. Then Anna and Robin went to the kitchen, Robert looked up at Sean and Mac, "That boy better get his act together, somehow I get in trouble when he pisses off Robin." He saw the looks they were giving him, "don't even start with that he's so much like me, crap."

Sean decided to give him a break this time, "So where are you and Anna going tonight?"

"Something tells me it's going to be the Metro Court, and I bet it's now a double date. At least now Anna will have somewhere to direct her frustration, poor Patty Cake." He smiled and shook his head thinking about what Patrick was in store for tonight.

"You're just happy you aren't in the line of fire," Mac laughed.

"Well yeah, but if he makes them both mad I'm in trouble anyway." Then they all started laughing knowing he was right.

Sure enough, Robert had been right, they were indeed meeting Patrick at the Metro Court. When Anna and Robin stopped to talk to Bobbie who was on her way out Robert went ahead to try and warn Patrick. When Robert saw him at the bar he walked right over to him. "If you know what's good for you, you'll let up on telling Robin she has to leave town. She had spent the last two hours venting to Anna about you and how unreasonable you're being. Now order Robin a drink you know she likes and start kissing some ass. I have done nothing wrong and I don't want to be in trouble because of you." Robert then ordered drinks for Anna and himself.

Patrick looked at him a little confused then ordered their drinks, he was about to ask Robert a question when he saw Robin and Anna walk in. He noticed they both looked amazing but they did seem to look a little annoyed as well. "Good evening ladies, our table will be ready soon," then he handed Robin her drink.

Anna smiled at Robert as he handed her a drink as well. She leaned in close and whispered, "Kir Royale, are you trying to butter me up."

"I'm just hoping you remember I have nothing to do with Patrick and his pig-headedness," he whispered back then kissed her cheek.

They were distracted from their private conversation by Robin's voice, "I am not leaving Port Charles and that is final!" Robert hung his head as Anna turned to face them.

"Robin I'm not saying you should leave, I understand that you aren't going anywhere." Robert looked back up, had he actually listened to him? "I don't want to fight with you anymore, I'm just worried about your safety and I don't know what I can do to stop that."

"Oh don't stop worrying," Anna cut in, "Sorry, there is a difference between being concerned and being overprotective."

"Mom's right I don't mind that you're concerned about my safety, I think it's sweet. You telling me how to live my life on the other hand in completely out of line," Robin told him. "Are you actually done trying to force me into leaving?"

"Robin I don't want to fight with you anymore. It's clear you aren't going to leave, but you're following their instructions about telling people where you are, working in the lab, I just wish there was more I could do. Robin, I don't want anything to happen to you."

"That means a lot too, and I know you care. We don't even know if I'm a target but your overprotectiveness is driving me crazy."

"OK I will do better, no more telling you to leave, but I might still follow you home at night."

Robin smiled, she could live with that, "OK I think we have a deal."

Anna turned back to Robert who was smiling again. She'd ask him later what he had told Patrick but for now, she was just happy they were all out together and happy. They went to their table when it was ready and Robert ordered them a bottle of champagne, he wanted them all to enjoy themselves tonight. Even though he hadn't brought it up Robert was happy just to be with Anna and Robin tonight. October had been almost as hard as Christmas for Robert to get through for all those years. They had spent a little time with Robin on her birthday and Anna's was only a few days away. He didn't want to make a big deal about it but inside he was full of joy even though there was still a threat out there. A part of him knew that with de Salva coming back to Port Charles soon they might not have another night like this for some time. Robin also seemed to have relaxed a lot now and their conversation stayed away from the potential threat hanging over them.

While they ate they didn't notice Holly come in. She sat at the bar watching the room but she mostly pays attention to their table. Did they ever go anywhere without the other she wondered. "Is there a reason you're watching the Scorpio table so closely?" Holly looked up to see who was talking to her. "Sorry I don't mean to intrude, you've just been staring at them for a while. I'm Carly by the way."

"Holly, nice to meet you. I didn't mean to stare I was just wondering if Robert ever goes anywhere without Anna."

"Not lately, some crazy guy escaped from the hospital about a week ago and I don't think I've seen them alone since."

"Is that the guy that's been on the news?" Holly asked.

"Yes, apparently he has some sort of grudge against them, I don't know the story though," Carly explained.

"Oh, so Robert has gone into protection mood for his precious Anna." Holly had been so angry since hearing Robert actually admit Anna was the love of his life. They'd had a wonderful life together why was Anna so special to him?

Carly noticed the bitterness in her voice, "I take it you have some history with them."

"You could say that. My life was never quite the same after I met Anna. Finding out my husband had been married before and had a child was bad enough. The fact Robert would run to protect them at a moments notice was more then I could handle." Holly looked over at their table again, "My over exaggerated death opened the door for them to finally remarry."

"It sounds like you like Anna about as much as I like Robin, little miss high and mighty never knows when to keep quiet."

"So much like her mother," Holly agreed. "Can I buy you a drink? I think you and I could be friends."

"Why not I don't have plans tonight." Then Carly took the seat beside her.

Having finished their meals and a few bottles of champagne, they were all a little intoxicated. Robin had even all but forgotten about why she had been upset with Patrick. When she looked towards the bar she couldn't believe who were sitting together, "What are those two doing here?" she slurred a little.

The others all turned to see who she was talking about. Anna let out a loud sigh when she saw them, "Would you believe it, Holly showed up at our house the other night?" Anna leaned in to say it but hadn't really whispered like she had meant to. "We were getting it on and she wouldn't stop banging on the damned door."

Robert and Patrick both laughed, "Mom I don't need to know that," Robin said then started to laugh as well. "Speaking of getting it on I am not driving home tonight Patrick."

"That's a good idea and you two aren't driving either." Patrick hadn't drunk as much as the others but even he was feeling no pain.

"It's a good thing we came in Robin's car then. Oh no, they're coming over here, you two try to be nice," Robert said then started laughing again.

Anna reached out and patted his cheek a couple times, a little harder then she meant to. "Darling I'm always nice, well almost." She smiled then looked up at Carly and Holly who were now at their table. "Good evening ladies," Anna said trying to sound normal.

Carly smiled realizing they were all half ripped, "I see you're all enjoying yourselves tonight."

Not giving Robin or Anna a chance to answer Patrick spoke up, "Yes we're having a fine time, I didn't know you two knew each other."

"Oh we just met tonight actually, we found out we have a few things in common," Holly told him.

"What, that you're both bitches?" Robin asked, then she and Anna started laughing.

"You'll have to excuse Robin, we've all had a little too much to drink tonight."

"I'd say I've had just enough thank you very much Patty Cake," Anna informed him.

Robert started laughing, "See it's a good name for him."

"Oh it is, I like it," she giggled. "Robin and Patty Cake, you know you can't be a player with a name like that. Could you imagine hitting on a woman and telling her your name is Patty Cake." Anna looked up again, "Oh right you're here, why are you here Holly?"

"I came in for a drink, is that not allowed?"

"I don't mean here. I mean here, Port Charles why are you here? Actually wait I don't care, we are having a wonderful evening and you aren't going to ruin it."

"Oh like I did the other night?" Holly asked smugly.

"You ruined nothing just delayed what we'd started, I thoroughly enjoyed our evening after you finally left, thank you very much."

Robert leaned towards Patrick, "Do something man, make them leave. Our ladies don't like those ladies."

"And how do you suggest I do that?" Patrick whispered back.

"I don't know. Just do it."

"Don't worry Robert we were just leaving. I hope none of you are driving."

"No Carly they aren't, we've already covered that," Patrick answered.

As Carly turned to leave she grabbed Holly's arm to make sure she followed, once they were a little bit away from the table, "Come on they're drunk and I don't need a scene in here."

"I didn't really want to see them anyway, they were just here when I got here. Carly, I think we should get together again sometime."

"I think we should, it was nice talking to you."

Once Patrick had seen them leave he asked, "Well do we want one more drink or should we call it a night?"

"I think we need one more drink, we can drink to a wonderful evening," offered Robert.

...

Like Robert had expected the officers watching the airport weren't the only ones there, a few of Corinthos' men were waiting for de Salva as well. They all knew de Salva and his men could be arriving anytime, it had been twelve days since Jim Conners had called Lisa. Between the undercover officers and Sonny's men, there was no way Jonathan de Salva or his men were going to sneak back into Port Charles unnoticed no matter what names they were traveling under. The officers had all familiarized themselves with the appearance of de Salve, Conners, and Munro. They didn't have enough evidence to arrest any of them yet so the orders were that when de Salva arrived he would be approached as if he had dropped something then the note would be planted on him or in his bags. The names they were all traveling under would be checked to find any previous movement under those names. If they use the same aliases they had the last time they came to Port Charles they should be able to prove they were there when the attacks occurred.

The airport had been under surveillance for about twelve hours when they finally spotted their targets. The officers jumped into action, two approached de Salva and slipped the note into his coat pocket. Two others started talking to the staff about the flight they had arrived on. They arrived on a flight from New York, under the names Ron Cummings, Jake Burton, and Roger Manning. Even though they had gotten the information they wanted at the airport no one managed to tail them when they left there.

...

Even though it was late when they got back to the apartments they were using in Port Charles Jonathan wanted to get right to work. Ever since the fires had destroyed his clubs Jonathan had become more determined to see his plans succeed He'd become almost obsessed with wiping out Corinthos' organization. The need to eliminate Scorpio and Devane was a close second. He was hardly sleeping anymore and the only people he was really talking to were Jim Conners and Pauly Munro. Now that they were back Jonathan was more determined that the first thing they had to do was take out Jason Morgan, he would be looking for whoever destroyed their business and could be ruthless when people crossed them. The faster they could get Morgan out of the way the happy Jonathan would be. They hadn't gotten any more information about who had set the fires at their clubs but Jonathan wouldn't let that stop him from getting what he wanted in Port Charles.

"Where the hell did Pauly get to? We just got back here what could he be doing?" Jonathan asked.

"He said something about talking to some of his contacts here. He's had people watching Corinthos and Morgan while we were in Miami," Jim answered.

"That's good, we'll need that information." He started pacing thinking about what their next move here was going to be. They had decided a sniper would be the best way to handle Morgan, Jim had started looking into that, he was looking for someone they could trust that had the skills for the job. "Jim, where's my phone?"

"Have you used it since we got here?"

"No." Jonathan grabbed his coat and checked his pockets, as he pulled out his phone a piece of paper fell out onto the floor. He noticed he had a message, so he checked that first. As he was doing that Jim picked up the paper. He hung up and said, "So apparently Lisa is back in Miami at least we don't have to worry about her trying to find us in New York. Jim, I want that name, who did you say we could use?" he looked up waiting for Jim to answer. "What do you have there?"

"I don't know, it fell out of your coat pocket," Jim told him as he handed the piece of paper to him.

Jonathan had no idea what the paper was so he opened it. He read the note once, then read it out loud not sure he was really reading this, "Jonathan, why are you wasting time and energy going after Devane and Scorpio? That would be like Corinthos going after your explosives guy. Do better." He looked up at Jim, "Where the hell did you get this?"

"I told you it fell out of your pocket when you pulled your phone out," Jim answered. "What does that mean, who could know all that?" That note worried Jim a lot. He had already been wondering if Scorpio and Devane were really as involved in Jonathan's past as he thought they were. This note seemed to suggest they weren't. Also, who knew they had been the ones that had bombed Corinthos's business.

"This has to be from whoever set those fires, I knew there was a third party involved, but who? They must have slipped this in my pocket just before we left Miami, we might have seen them," Jonathan suggested as he sat at his desk.

Jim thought about that for a while, they themselves had tried to go unnoticed when they left Miami and he really didn't remember who had been around them. "If we did I doubt I'd remember, the airport here was the least busy, and even here I don't remember faces," Jim admitted.

"No me either, this guy was close enough to slip this into my pocket though. How does he know what we've been working on? Who the hell is this guy?"

"I don't know. It must be someone that knows you, knows our business. Could it be someone in our organization?" Jim wondered.

Jonathan banged his fist on the desk, "I think it has to be Jim, who the hell would do this?"

"I don't know, I thought we could trust the people that knew about our plans here," Jim started to pace now. "What did they mean about Scorpio and Devane, why would they compare them to Jay?"

"That's just their way of messing with me," Jonathan insisted then he looked up at Jim. "What if this is Jay?"

"How could it be? He came here to do a couple jobs for us that was it. He didn't know anything about your side projects here, I don't think he ever heard their names." Jim couldn't believe Jonathan was thinking like this, he wasn't making sense at all. Whoever this was, knew more then anyone hired for a job would, even if they had overheard anything. Had Scorpio and Devane just been hired to do a job as well? If they were, who had actually wanted Ronald in prison and Fred dead? Could whoever that was, actually be behind setting fire to their clubs, and would they be coming after Jonathan next? That note could be a warning and Jonathan isn't seeing that.

Jim was brought out of his thought when Jonathan asked, "Do you think it could be Pauly, he's known our plans all along?"

"Jonathan that doesn't make any sense, why on earth would Pauly want to destroy our business? Besides he was here when those fires were set. He's very loyal to us you know that." What is wrong with him, Jim wondered, would he be the next one Jonathan suspects. Was Jonathan trying to do too much all at once, was the pressure starting to get to him? Jim knew one thing for sure no matter what, he had to make sure Jonathan didn't think he could betray him in any way, or he might be the next one to wind up dead.

...

Mac phoned Robert as soon as he received word that de Salva had arrived in Port Charles. He explained that no one managed to tail them but they did now have the aliases they had been traveling under. Robert told him they would meet him at headquarters in the morning. When he hung up he passed on the information Mac had just given him to Anna and Sean. "I'm going to give Tiffany a call then call it a night I think we might have a very long day ahead of us tomorrow."

"All right Sean say hi for us, and see you in the morning," Anna said, then she gets up and stretched. "What about you Scorpio, ready to call it a night?"

"Yeah, I think so I'll head up in a minute. I'll just tidy up here first."

"OK, I'm heading up."

As soon as Anna was out of sight Robert quickly cleaned up then grabbed a few things including a small package out of one of the cupboards in the kitchen. Then followed her up to their room, he could hear her getting ready for bed in the bathroom so he quickly got to work, setting up candles, he put out glasses and a bottle of champagne and put the small package on the corner of the bed. He was standing by the window when Anna entered the room. "What's all this?"

"I was going to do this tomorrow but like Sean said we could be very busy." Anna walked over and joined him. "I know you don't really like to make a big deal about your birthday, but I wanted to do something just for us. Actually, it may even be more for me than you," he smiled as he told her that.

"Celebrating my birthday is for you?" Anna looked at him suspiciously.

"Yes," he smiled. "For the first time in years, I am actually looking forward to Christmas. Instead of being sad remembering how happy we had been just before Faison took you from me, I actually get to celebrate with my family and friends. Not being with you and Robin on your birthdays or even just getting to call you for all those years was almost as bad. After several years I found I was actually angry on your birthdays. This year I got to see Robin and give her a gift, and I get to spoil you on yours."

"Spoil me, I like the sound of that."

Robert smiled and took her hands, "It was going to be all about you tomorrow, you'll still get breakfast in bed don't worry. I wanted to spend the day just showing you how much you mean to me, how amazing you are and how much I truly love you. There was going to be roses in here to go with the candles, then I was going to give you that little box."

Anna looked over at the bed and the small package sitting there, "What's in there, is that my gift?"

"No you're gift comes with breakfast." He led her over to the bed, "I can't believe how much my life has changed since you've come back into it, I was so lost without you. I have opened up to you completely, there is no one else that knows me like you do."

"I've done the same Robert you know all my secrets, and still love me."

"I never want to be without you again, in this box are the symbols of our love for each other." He picked up the box and handed it to her. "I know what we've said but I'm not sure if it's the right choice, open it please."

She opened it to find five gold rings inside, their wedding bands and her engagement ring "How do you have all of these?"

"I was given yours when they said they were treating you, I've carried those three rings since. I ask Mac about the first two and he had no idea they were even in his house. I found them right where we'd left them, in the safe of the secret room. I'm glad Mac never sold that house."

"You kept our wedding rings with you all this time?"

"I would never have gotten rid of them, just like we both held on to our first rings all that time we were apart." He turned to face her, "Anna you are the love of my life and I never want us to be apart again."

"We won't be, I have you back and I will never let you go again."

Robert stood up then reached for her hand, she stood up as well, Robert lead them back over to the window. "I want to look out at this view with you for the rest of my life, I want to sit on our loveseat in front of the fire with you in my arms. Everything I want you're a part of." Then he turned and picked up a bottle of champagne she hadn't noticed before. As he opened it she actually looked around their room he must have been planning this for a while, there were so many candles he must have had them stashed away in here. He'd said he had meant to have flowers as well, and now champagne. She smiled thinking about all that he was doing for her. She took the glass he held out to her, "At this point, I was going to ask you how you enjoyed your day as we sipped our champagne, then I was going to make a toast to the most important person in my life."

"I think we could still do that, but let me start. Robert, I never thought I would be this happy again even with everything going on, the fact I am sharing my life with you I know I will never be alone again. I love you."

"Anna you are my everything, here's to you having a wonderful day tomorrow, I love you." They clinked glasses then looked out the window into the night. When he had finished his glass Robert put it down and waited for Anna to finish hers. He took her glass when she had finished and turned and refilled them but when he turned back he wasn't holding them, "Anna I have wanted to ask you something for sometime now, but I'm not sure I'll like the answer." He gave her a little smile, "Anna I want to marry you, I'm not saying we should rush out and do it, I'd wait as long as you want." Before she could say anything he pulled out a ring box, "I know we're committed to each other, that I have you in my life. I already think of you as my wife and that's not going to change no matter what your answer is. Anna Devane, will you marry me one last time?"

She took the ring out and admired it, "This is a beautiful ring Robert, you have great taste." Then she slid it onto her ring finger, "It looks great on my finger as well, and it fits," she smiled up at him. She held up her hand and showed him, "What do you think?"

"I think I'd like an answer."

"Yes I bet you do, but look at this ring."

"I've seen the ring before Luv."

"Yes of course you have." Anna smiled at Robert knowing she was torturing him, then looked at her hand again. Was this really happening, she hadn't thought they would ever have this conversation. As she looked at the ring a tear rolled down her cheek, she knew it was a tear of joy. "You know where this ring would really look amazing?" Anna took a step closer to him, "It would look amazing running through your hair as you kiss me passionately because I've just said yes to your proposal."

"Anna is that your answer?" he asked as he took her in his arms.

"Yes, I'm saying yes, now kiss me."

...

Robert was all most done making breakfast when Sean came down the next day. "You're up early this morning."

"Yeah we are going to be busy today and I want to do at least one of the things I had planned for today. Coffee's on and yes I made enough for you."

"Take your time, I'll head down to headquarters and let Mac know you'll both be there after you've taken care of a few things here," Sean knew it was Anna's birthday and that Robert had been planning a few things for her.

"Thanks Sean," Robert picked up the tray he had prepared and left the kitchen. When he got to their room he found Anna still asleep, he went to the bed and placed the tray beside her. He brushed the hair off her face and smiled, "Good morning Luv."

A smile formed on her lips before she opened her eyes, "Good morning." Anna slowly opened her eyes, to see Robert smiling back at her. "I'm glad you weren't kidding about breakfast in bed. I find I'm rather hungry this morning," she said with a grin.

"We don't have to rush this morning, Sean is going to tell Mac we'll be in later."

"Then I think you better get back under these covers with me." Robert put the tray across her lap then crawled into bed beside her. "That's better, is this my gift?" Anna asked holding up an envelope.

"Yes, are you going to open that before you eat?"

"It's my birthday I make the rules today," she smiled then started to open it. She pulled out what appeared to be plane tickets and another sheet of paper. She put the tickets down and read the paper, "These are the tickets for our trip to Italy, I will go where ever you want as long as we're together." When she was done reading she looked up at Robert, "This isn't a joke we are actually going on the trip?"

"Of course we are, and it's a month-long trip, we can visit lots of places or just find a nice little place and lock ourselves away the entire time, that's completely up to you. Happy birthday Luv." He leaned over and kissed her then said, "Let's eat."

...

Sean had already been in Mac's office most of the morning when James Lewis brought in a report about the travel history of Ron Cummings, Jake Burton, and Roger Manning. Mac started to read through it and then a smile formed, "I think it was a good thing no one was following de Salva when they left the airport. This way he will still think we're all clueless about him. If we can get our hands on their fake passports we can place them here when Corinthos Coffee was destroyed. They travel under their real names to New York then change names and continue on to Port Charles." Mac held the paper out to Sean, "Look they did it last time as well."

"That's perfect one more piece of the puzzle, I wish this case was coming together faster but we're getting there."

"Do you think we should expect Putnam to reappear now that de Salva's back?"

Sean thought about that before he answered, "We don't believe he left town, and he was still talking about having a job to finish here, but I don't think we'll see him tell he's ready to strike."

"So that means Anna's in more danger now doesn't it." Mac sat back in his chair, he hated that this was happening to them. "Is that why they haven't come in yet Robert doesn't want to let her leave the house?"

"Well he might not want to leave their bedroom yet, but that has nothing to do with any threat. We've never been allowed to make a big deal about it, but it's Anna's birthday and Robert wanted to do something special for her today. Let them enjoy this before they dive back into this case again."

"Yeah, that's a good idea, with everything going on they need some happy distractions." Mac looked through a few papers on his desk then back up at Sean, "Do you have any ideas what de Salva's next move could be, I mean if he came back he clearly hasn't finished what he started."

"I think getting Corinthos' territory is still his main goal here, so I think they could be in danger. That's not to say de Salva and Putnam won't make moves close to the same time again."

"It'll be the people around him that get hurt, it always is." Mac thought about all the people that had been hurt or even died because of their connection to Sonny.

"That's it, Jason Morgan," Sean said. "If de Salva wants to eliminate Corinthos, he'll want to take out Morgan first."

"That makes sense, I don't think there's anything the police department can do to protect him though."

"Have you gotten any further on finding out who helped Putnam escape?" Sean asked. "Someone must have seen her there before the night he got out. Personally, I'm more concerned about him then whatever de Salva has planned."

"Nothing new, a few people remember seeing a dark-haired nurse but didn't talk to her and couldn't say for sure who she was. Whoever she was she hasn't been back either."

"Sounds like that's a dead end."

"Yeah unless she decides to return to GH for some reason. Sean, I know Lisa says she doesn't know who the woman is, but I still think she has to be working for de Salva."

"Yeah I agree, she was probably just hired to help Putnam escape. Once the job was done she most likely left Port Charles."

A knock at the door interrupted their conversation, "We've got a little more information on those aliases de Salva and his men were using."

"When did you two get here?" Mac asked, as Robert and Anna walked in.

"A while ago, we've just been out in the squad room," Robert told him. "First, de Salva hasn't rented any place to stay under any of their real names or aliases. We were able to find out that the only other time any of those names were used was when Ron Cummings and Jake Burton aka de Salva and Conners went to Albany about a month before Putnam started making trouble here."

Sean found that very interesting, "If they went to Albany, I would bet they did go and meet with Johnston, they might have just gone to his house though it would be hard to prove anything there."

"They spend the night so if we're able to find where they stayed and they could ID de Salva or Conners as the men using these other names, it would show there was an opportunity to meet with Johnston. We might be able to match the dates of the phone calls with them traveling there. I know it's just more circumstantial evidence but anything we get can help our case."

"You're right Anna, I'll send Clayton and Lewis there to ask around," Mac offered.

"If Munro had this other passport why didn't he use it when he went after Johnston?" Sean wondered aloud.

"I was wondering the same thing," Robert admitted. "Or even a third ID, why send him there to do that job and not try to cover his tracks?"

"So he can be the scapegoat," Anna answered. "If Munro was ever picked up, it could be held over his head to make sure he stays quiet."

"Yeah, I'm starting to think Jonathan de Salva believes people are expendable. If he thinks they have become a liability it's easiest just to silence them," Sean told them. "Jim Conners is in real estate, he could have gotten them a house or apartment under different names or a business, and that's why we haven't found them yet."

"Mac the next time you talk to Lisa can you ask her if there have been people that just suddenly stopped working for her husband, there could be earlier crimes that weren't covered up that well," Anna suggested.

"I will be seeing her later this evening, is there anything else I should ask her?"

"Nothing that comes to mind," Robert answered. They spent the rest of the afternoon going over the information they had, putting together a timeline of de Salva and all his men's activities over the last few months. Between travel records and phone records, their case was starting to come together. Just before six, Robert reminded Anna they had plans with Robin that evening, she wasn't going to let Anna's birthday pass unnoticed this year either.

...

Jason had just returned to Sonny's, he had spent most of the day looking for leads as to where de Salva was staying. He hadn't had any luck finding them but he now knew Munro was around. A part of him was actually happy that they were back here, he had waited long enough and now he wanted to get his hands on them. Sonny asked if he'd had any luck and Jason explained what he had learned. Pauly had been seen the night before and again around midday down on the docks. He had been asking around about both Sonny and Jason, and offering cash to anyone that would give him any information. The people Jason had talked to all agreed to let him know if Pauly came around again. "What did he want to know about us?" Sonny asked after Jason had debriefed him.

"He wanted to know how often we're down there, and where we are most commonly seen," Jason explained.

"This just got very personal, they're planning a hit on one or both of us," Sonny concluded. Jason nodded in agreement. "That's it, no one just strolls in and tries to take us out. We need to find them now and stop them before they try anything else.

"We'll find him. I've got men in place even if only Munro shows himself, we'll know and that will lead us to the rest of them," Jason assured him.

"I'm tired of these games. Jonathan de Salva wants to come here and take over my territory but he wants to do it all from the shadows. He's nothing but a coward."

"You don't go out without protection, and all cars should be checked before going anywhere," Jason insisted.

"I'll take the precautions you want but I want him gone, Jason."

"What about Scorpio?"

"What about him? If they survive I guess he can have them but I'm not feeling all that generous."

...

Since none of them had felt like going out Robin and Patrick had just brought over dinner. Anna didn't even mind that Robin made a bit of a fuss about it being her birthday and was actually happy when she brought out a cake. Shortly after Robin had arrived she had noticed something new but no one was making a big deal about it and she wasn't even sure anyone else had noticed. So she would just have to wait for her chance to talk to her mom on their own.

After they were done eating Sean came and sat beside Anna, he handed her a small package, "This is actually from Tiffany and Ann, they picked it up for you in New York." Anna smiled as she took the gift and opened it, inside was a beautiful bracelet.

"Thank you Sean, you get their hugs since you're the only one here," she said and hugged him tightly. Anna was actually very happy today. It wasn't that her birthday made her sad or upset her, it was just that from a young age she often felt very alone on them. Not this year though, she has her family with her and is madly in love with Robert again. She had also decided to let herself be happy, no matter what was going to happen she had to enjoy her life.

"Uncle Sean, I'd like to talk to my mom for a few minutes alone, do you mind if I steal her away from you?" Robin couldn't wait any longer, she looked over at Robert and smiled, he smiled back seeing the happiness dance in her eyes, he was pretty sure he knew why she wanted to talk to Anna.

"No, go right ahead."

Anna got up and followed her into the kitchen, "You've done enough already, I haven't even complained or anything?"

Robin turned and looked at her, "Really, you're going to pretend you don't know why I want to talk to you."

"Oh that, I knew you would notice, I've been around men all day and none of them seemed to." Anna held out her left hand and showed Robin the ring.

"Mom it's beautiful, congratulations" Robin smiled, then hugged Anna. "What happened to never getting married again?"

Anna was beaming with happiness, "Oh, I don't know if either of us actually meant that, Robert said it as a joke and I loved the idea of it, so we went with it. I will be with him until the end vows or not, whether I said yes or no nothing was going to change between us."

"Yeah but you're engaged now, doesn't that mean that you'll be getting married soon?"

"This is just for us, yes I agreed to marry him but we aren't in any rush for the wedding. We aren't making a big deal of it this time but we aren't running out and doing it on a whim either. When we're ready we'll plan what's right for us."

"People are going to notice your ring and ask questions."

"I have been wearing this since last night and you're the first one to notice. The people that likely will notice are our friends and if they ask I'll tell them what I told you, yes we're engaged and that we are in no rush for the wedding."

"Oh mom this is so exciting," then Robin hugged her again.

"Do I get one of those?" Robert asked as he entered the kitchen.

Robin turned a big grin on her face, "Of course you do," then gave him a big hug as well.

They were all smiling, Robert and Anna had wanted Robin to know if no one else. "I'm amazed you held out as long as you did before dragging Anna off to talk. We were sure you noticed during dinner."

"I did and I almost spit out my drink when I saw it. So you haven't told anyone?"

Robert wrapped his arms around Anna, and she leaned back into him, this might be one of the best birthdays she's ever had. "No, we haven't told anyone. Like I said this is for us," Anna said unable to stop smiling.

"We are fully committed to each other vows or not, but that doesn't mean I don't want to marry my Annie. When we're ready to get married we will."

Robin had always known they loved each other, growing up she'd always wanted them together and she had even gotten that dream once before. They had been living together for some time now but Robin couldn't be happier that one day her parents would be married to each other again. "Can I tell Patrick?"

"Speaking of Patrick maybe we should head back into the other room, they are waiting out there for us remember," Robert suggested.

Sean saw the smiles when they all came back, and grinned to himself. He knew Robert had wanted to make Anna feel special today but had not expected to see a ring on her finger when they showed up at the police station. They hadn't said anything so he hadn't either. When Robin had asked to talk to Anna he knew why and now that they were back he could make a toast. "I think everyone should have a glass in their hand," Sean said as he stood up. "Don't worry Anna I won't make a fuss." Once they all had a glass Sean started, "Patrick you'll catch up in a minute or two. I knew no matter what you both said it was only a matter of time before I would get to make this toast. Congratulations Anna and Robert, I know this time nothing will get in the way of your happiness. Cheers." Then he looked right at Anna and smiled, "Did you really think I didn't notice that rock on your finger?" She just smiled back at him, of course, Sean would notice. He went and hugged his oldest friends, "Robert, you didn't even hint that you were planning anything this morning."

"That's because I asked her last night," Robert told him and patted his back. "There isn't going to be any big announcement or anything and we are in no rush to start making plans."

"Robert's right we don't want to make a big deal about this and when the time is right for us, we'll get married again."

Patrick watched the others share this happy news and wondered if it was time he finally told Robin how he really felt about her. He's loved her for some time now and was sure she loved him too but neither of them would actually say the words. He shook Robert's hand and hugged Anna. When he first met them he didn't know what to think about them, but as he got to know them he couldn't help but like them. Which was a good thing because one day he wants to marry their daughter, he smiled when he realized that thought no longer scared him. He loves Robin Scorpio and wants to spend his life with her, now if he could only say that to her.

Robin and Patrick left about an hour later, he'd asked her to come back to his place for the night. If he was going to tell her what he felt it might as well be tonight. Once they were in his room he took her hand and lead her to the couch and sat down. "I know when we started all of this it was a no strings attached just sex arrangement. That was before you helped me deal with getting stuck with an infected needle and before we spent all this time as a committed couple. Robin, I think you feel the same as me and I want to change the arrangement."

Robin wasn't sure if this was a conversation she wanted to have. Was he breaking things off, was he afraid to admit he might have feelings for her? "What do you mean by, change the arrangement?"

"Robin this stopped being just about sex a while ago for me, and if you were honest you know it changed for you as well. I realized something tonight, I have been afraid of what I feel for you. At times I want to keep you at arm's length protect my heart but then something happens and all I wanted was to make sure you were close to me and safe."

"Don't say it, it will ruin everything." Robin now understood he didn't want anything to end he wanted to make it real. If he tells her he loves her she'll lose him.

"No Robin it won't, the two of us are afraid of the pain love can cause, but I'm not going to hide from what I feel anymore. We need to embrace the joy, the happiness, and there's no one I want to be with more than you. Robin, I love you and I have for months."

Oh no he said it, "I love you too." Oh no, what had she just done she thought? Of course, she loved him but she didn't want what they had to end. She covered her mouth as soon as she said it.

Patrick smiled at her, "It's OK it didn't hurt when I said it I think you'll be fine."

"Patrick I don't want this to change, I'm happy I don't want to lose this."

"We won't, we admitted what I think we have both felt for some time now, nothing is ending. Robin tonight after Sean had made that toast to your parents I had a thought that usually would have scared the shit out of me, instead I found myself smiling thinking about it. I'm glad I like your parents, because if I'm going to marry you someday I should get along with them."

"Wait! Marriage, where did that come from? We aren't there yet." Inside Robin was freaking out, part of her couldn't be happier and the other part wanted to get up and run out of the room as fast as she could.

"Yet, that's right. I'm not ready for that either but I am ready to tell you I love you and that after my six month wait is over I won't go back to my old lifestyle no matter what my results are. Robin, I am in this relationship completely I don't want to be with anyone but you."

"Patrick are you sure? If you tell me all of this just to walk away when your test come back negative,"

"Robin I'm not walking away, you are annoying and bossy and the most amazing woman I have ever known." He smiled then said, "Maybe it's a good thing I'm so much like your father, I'll have to be to keep up with someone so much like your mother. You are going to be a challenge and I'm up for it."

"Oh really, you're ready for all of this?" she smiled and pushed him backward. "I'm not sure you can handle all of this big boy," she said as she climbed onto his lab.

"I like a challenge," then he kissed her passionately.

...

Sean meet Robert and Anna at Kelly's they had been following a lead that Pauly Monro had been seen down on the docks but none of them had any luck finding him. Jonathan's little group had been back in Port Charles for Three days and so far other then a few Munro sightings on the docks nothing had happened. "I take it since you're here you didn't have any luck either," Sean said as he sat down.

"No he's good at staying out of sight," Robert agreed.

"I talked to Jason while I was out there, he told me they believe there's going to an attempted hit on one of them maybe both," Sean shared.

"Did you tell him we think he'd be the first one targeted?" Anna asked.

"Yeah, and after I explained why I think he might have agreed with us. I don't want it to get to that point I want to stop them before anyone else can be hurt."

"We want that too Sean," Robert agreed. He looked up and saw Holly walk in, "Why is she even here?"

Holly smiled when she spotted them and walked over to their table, "Robert would you have a few minutes to talk to me?"

"I told you before you can say whatever you need to in front of Anna."

Anna touched his arm, "Just go talk to her."

Robert looked at her to make sure she meant it then got up and walked over to the counter with her. "Have a seat," he said as he sat down. "What is so important that you have to talk to me?"

Holly looked back at Anna, "Why are you with her? We could have so much fun."

"What you found out Luke's too busy to pay attention to you so you thought you come bother me again?"

"What is it with you men and your first wives? We were good once, we could be again."

"Holly that will never happen I love Anna. I need her in my life."

"Robert you should leave Port Charles it would be good for you, just get away and enjoy yourself."

"I've spent more than enough time away. I live here, this is where my family is and this is where I'm going to stay," Robert insisted.

Holly sighed, "What about the next big adventure Robert? It's not going to come here looking for you."

"You'd be surprised," he said under his breath. "There's more than enough excitement here for me. I'm happy here."

"I wish you'd reconsider." Holly was interrupted by her phone, she looked at the number and said, "You'll have to excuse me I need to take this," then she hurried out of Kelly's. "Hello... No this isn't a good time... I know that, OK, I can meet you someplace... Fine, I'll be there in half an hour." When Holly hung up she thought about going back inside to talk to Robert again but realized she had better be on time for this meeting, she didn't really know the man she was working for and got the feeling he didn't like to be kept waiting.

Robert watched Holly leave Kelly's then saw her walk away after she was done her phone call, he went back over to their table confused by what had just happened. "So what did she want and why did she leave so quickly?" Sean asked.

"I think she wants me to run away with her, but maybe she just wants me to leave Port Charles. I'm not really sure. Then she got a call and took off." Robert stared at the door still not sure of what had just happened.

...

Jonathan de Salva couldn't be happier, he stood at the bar in his apartment pouring himself a drink. The man they hired to take care of Morgan was going to arrive in Port Charles in the morning. Blaine reputation preceded him, within 48 hours Jason Morgan will no longer be a problem. Pauly had gotten enough information about Morgan's movements that they were sure Blaine would have no problem carrying out the hit. Then once Corinthos was all alone he would make himself know, not a moment before. Right before he dies Sonny will know who had wiped out his little empire.

He turned and walked to the window, after his latest meeting he knew for sure where Putnam was and that he would soon go after Anna Devane again. Once he had dealt with Corinthos, Jonathan could turn his full attention to them. He didn't care what Jim said they had to pay for their past sins against him. Why had one little note shaken Jim so much? Now he wanted to rethink if Scorpio and Devane were the right targets. Jonathan had known Jim for about ten years and had never doubted him but he didn't like this sudden change in his attitude. With everything going on he didn't like doubting his closest friends but someone in his organization had to have betrayed him and he had to be very careful now.

He was brought out of his thoughts by a knock at the door, Jim walked in followed closely by Pauly. "What brings you two here?"

"I get the feeling my presence down on the docks is being reported back to Corinthos and possibly the cops," Pauly told him. "I have a few trusted sources down there and it seems Morgan usually shows up shortly after I've been there, the cops are down there a lot more right now too. I think I better stay away from there while Blaine's here. I don't need to be linked to his activities."

"That's probably a good idea," Jonathan agreed. "After we've talked to him initially I don't think any of us should talk to him. Let him do his job and leave."

"I couldn't agree more," Jim added.

"Oh, at least you agree with me on somethings."

"Jonathan, don't start on that again. I simply wondered why whoever wrote that note compared Scorpio and Devane to Jay, an expert hired to do a job. I know you don't see my point, but I would hate to find out that there is someone else out there just waiting to make a move against you."

Jonathan thought about that for a moment, maybe he was being too hard on Jim after all. "Alright, you're usually the one that thinks of things like this so let's just keep that possibility in mind."

"Thank you, that's all I wanted. How did your meeting go?"

"It was fine, Putnam is being kept under wraps and once I give the orders he will be let loose on Devane again. Scorpio and his brother will be so busy looking for her, we could wipe both Morgan and Corinthos out and no one would care." Again Jonathan was feeling extremely confident about his plans.

...

After spending the morning down on the docks talking to people about Putnam, Robert and Anna returned to police headquarters. They went right to Mac's office hoping both he and Sean would be there. When they walked in they found both men there. "We have a problem and Jason is in a lot of danger," Robert told them as soon as the door closed behind them.

"We knew that already," Mac said looking up from the file he was reading.

"Yeah we knew he was a target, but unless I'm wrong there will be an attempt on his life within the next 48 hours. Does the name Blaine mean anything to you?" Robert asked.

Mac thought about it but wasn't coming up with anything. Sean sat up straight in his chair, he knew that name. "He's a hitman, his favorite and most accurate method is with a sniper rifle. He's long gone before anyone has had time to even figure out what direction the shot came from."

"Yes, and he is in Port Chuck. There aren't many photos of him but you can look him up and then try to find him but that would be a waste of time. I have actually met Blaine before and it was definitely him we saw about an hour ago."

"We've already talked to Robin and she is trying to contact Jason to let him know about the situation. Hopefully, he'll listen to her," Anna explained.

Mac was very concerned now, "You're sure he's here to take out Morgan?"

"It makes the most sense to take him out before going after Corinthos. Who else is walking around with a big target on themselves right now?" Robert asked.

"You mean besides the two of you," Mac questioned.

"He's a pro he's not going to let me see him if he was here to knock me off." Robert went on to explain what they had told Robin to pass on to Jason. They could only hope he would take their advice. "Has Lisa come up with any names of former employees of her husbands that might not be around anymore?" Robert asked.

"Names no, but she does think there could be at least two men that just stopped coming to work. It was about three years ago, they both worked at one of Jonathan's clubs, and they were in their mid to late twenties. Lisa remembers them because one of them would always flirt with her, she thought his name was Jack, but couldn't think of his buddies name. They were good workers and the ladies like them both so she thought it was very strange that they would both stop showing up for work at the same time," Mac explained.

"That's not much to go on and it would most likely be a waste of our time. We need to stick to what's going to make our case," Anna insisted.

"Anna's right we need to focus on everything happening here," Sean agreed. "We're building a case but we still need a lot to actually put any of them away. What we really need is someone that will come forwards against de Salva, someone that doesn't wind up dead."

"Did I tell you Clayton and Lewis found the hotel they stayed at when de Salva and Conners were in Albany," Mac offered. "They were going to talk to Johnston's widow and then head to Ravinview and talk to the staff there again. They have pictures of de Salva, Conners and Munro, with any luck someone will remember one of them."

"That's good, hopefully, they find someone. When should they check in again?" Robert asked.

"Whatever they find out Clayton will check with Baker this evening," Mac answered.

"Well I think we should get out here let you get some more work done," Robert said as he headed for the door.

"I'll see you at the house later I have a few more things to look into here," Sean told them.

Anna walked towards the door as well, she told Robert, "I want to go over the statements about the night Putnam escaped, there might be something there we've missed."

"We'll go take over Clayton's desk and go through them," Robert offered.

...

Even though Jason had been busy all day he felt like he hadn't accomplished anything. Every time he got word that Pauly Monro was out he would always be gone by the time he got there, and when he stayed down there Munro never showed up. As if he didn't have enough to worry about he had Robin calling him earlier telling him to come see her. Since de Salva had returned he had been spending all his time trying to find out where they were staying. He wasn't just going to wait for them to come after him or Sonny, he had to find them and soon.

He'd decided it was time to head back to his penthouse, he didn't think Munro was going to show up tonight anyway. He got on his bike and pulled out onto the street, just as he accelerated he was hit in the chest hard enough to get knocked backward off his bike. He hadn't heard the gunshot but he knew he'd just been shot.

Jason didn't remember the ambulance picking him up, but as soon as he got to the hospital he wanted to leave. When they brought him in Robin was waiting, "I'm glad you took my advice," she said as he was wheeled into the ER.

"This isn't necessary, I'm fine."

"The vest stopped the bullet but that didn't stop your head from hitting the pavement. Just let Patrick have a look at you before you leave alright," Robin insisted.

"OK." It was the least he could do if Robin hadn't passed on the warning from her father about a sniper he would be dead right now. The pain in his chest told him it had been a kill shot and he was lucky to be alive.

As soon as the report of the shooting came in Robert and Anna left for the hospital. They got to GH just before the ambulance and entered the exam room with Patrick. Jason was surprised to see them, "Thank you, I understand you spotted the snipper earlier today."

"Yes I did, he's someone I've met before. Now I need you to stay in here for at least an hour, two would be better but I'm told you don't like being kept here."

"If there's nothing wrong with me I should be out there looking for who did this."

"No, you are giving him time to leave Port Charles, before de Salva can learn you weren't killed. I will make a phone call and the assassin won't come back to finish his job. He owes me that much, even if he won't come forward about who hired him," Robert explained.

"How can you be so sure he'll stay away just because you call him?" Robin asked.

"I saved his ass big time. I know he saw me today so when I call he'll know it isn't some sort of trick. So I need you to stay here in critical condition until I've made contact, understood?"

"Alright, I'll stay here."

"If we're right this should rattle de Salva. When the assassin refusing to come back and finish the job he'll be livid. He doesn't like failure and he'll see this as a betrayal," Anna explained. "We need him to start making mistakes to be almost desperate to get what he wants."

"I'm going to go head off Sonny and Carly they should be showing up here anytime," Robin offered.

"I'll come with you I have a call to make," Robert said and followed her out.

"Is Scorpio really sure this guy will stay away just because he tells him to?"

"Robert doesn't like to talk about it but he was basically in that line of work for many years. If he says that man owes him then he does." Jason considered what Anna said, he wanted to trust them and hoped they were right. Now that he had agreed to stay there for a while Patrick started examining his head.

Robert saw Robin was still waiting when he was done his call, "They haven't arrived yet?"

Robin looked towards him, "No, but it's only a matter of time. Were you able to get ahold of who you needed to?"

"Yes and like I said he will not be coming back to finish his job here. I think your mom and I should get out of here though, just in case de Salva's men are snooping around."

"OK dad, are you going straight home?"

He smiled, "Once Anna is out here we will go straight home," then he gave her a hug. He loved that she was looking out for them now. Anna joined them as Sonny and Carly walked in, "I told Robin we would head home and I don't want to be seen talking to Sonny."

Anna gave Robin a hug then looked back at Robert, "Well take me home then." They walked past Sonny and Carly without saying a word and left.

Carly glanced over her shoulder at them then stopped with Sonny to talk to Robin. "I need to talk to you both," Robin said. "First thing Jason is fine."

"Then I want to see him," Carly demanded.

"That has to wait, my dad recognized the hitman and had me warn Jason, he was wearing a bulletproof vest when he was shot. There is a plan in place but we need time, so Jason has agreed to hang out in an exam room, while we make it seem like we're worried about him."

"Isn't he in danger as long as that assassin is out there?" Carly asked.

"I told you there is a plan."

"And who came up with this plan?" Carly snapped.

"Just let Robin talk."

"Thank you, Sonny. My father came up with this plan because he needed time to make sure the assassin gets out of town and de Salva can't find him. Even if de Salva orders him to return here he won't, he owes my father for saving his life."

"Just how does your father know this assassin?" Carly asked.

"He's been an international spy for over 30 years, I don't question how he knows people."

"So is he really alright and how long do we need to stay out here?" Sonny asked.

"He hit his head pretty good when he hit the pavement, Patrick is in there with him now but he seems fine. He'll have a good size bruise where the bullet hit him but that's the only damage the bullet did," Robin explained. "We want him to stay out of sight for at least an hour, de Salva will have someone here sniffing around for information on Jason and we want him to get the wrong information for now."