Chapter 26

Grant Putnam was starting to worry, Holly had been gone for almost four hours now. Holly had gone out before but had always been back when she said she would. He wandered around the house just trying to pass the time hoping she'd get back soon, he hated having to stay in this house but that was what de Salva wanted. Anna has tucked away in her room so he wasn't worried about her, according to de Salva he still had to keep her alive, and he would for now. Since Holly had helped him escape she had been looking out for him, even if she didn't seem to like him very much. She had been the one that went shopping, that met with de Salva, the only time he had actually left this house was the night they picked up Anna.

Maybe she had gone to talk to de Salva again he thought, maybe he would change his mind and Grant would finally get what he wanted. He thought about what it would be like to finally get what he had wanted for so long, he'd love to have Scorpio there to watch his beloved Anna die. Scorpio would really suffer watching her life slip away while he was helpless to save her, Grant would then make sure he died slowly prolonging his pain, he smiled enjoying his daydream.

Grant walked over to the sliding door that leads to Anna's little room, he thought about going in and torturing her some, Holly wouldn't allow it when she was there, but she wasn't there to stop him. He didn't think she hated them as much as he did, Holly insisted that Anna be left alone unless it was to give her more food or water. He knew Holly didn't want either of them dead but that wasn't going to stop him. He leaned close to the door and knocked, "Anna you won't have to wait much longer, I'll be in to see you soon we might even have a little fun. Well, I'll have fun you might not enjoy it as much." Then he turned and started to laugh as he walked away from the door. He went to the kitchen to get Anna her dinner, while he was in there he picked up a sharp knife and smiled, Holly couldn't stop him from having a little fun this time.

When the door opened Anna stood up, she was hoping it was anyone other than who it was, but it was only Putnam with some food for her. What had he meant by his taunt a little while ago what was he planning? He put the tray down on the little table beside the cot, "I thought you might like something different tonight, I actually warmed up your soup a little," he said as the door closed behind him.

"Gee thanks. Why don't you just leave, you don't have to watch me eat?"

"I like spending time with you, Anna. It's just us tonight, I thought you could use some company."

Anna picked up the bowl and started eating. He wasn't giving her much to eat or drink so she was hungry and wanted to keep her strength up. She wanted to be ready when Robert came for her. While she ate Putnam just sat there staring at her. When she was done Anna looked up at Putnam, "Well I'm done and I think I've had all the company I need tonight. Why don't you let me get some sleep?"

"No, I'll stay here a little longer, I still want to have a little fun."

"What Holly isn't here to talk to tonight?"

"Actually she isn't here to stop me tonight." Then he pulled the knife out that most have been in his back pocket. "What if I cut that pretty face of yours, do you think Scorpio would still want you?"

"The biggest mistake you can make is touching me that thing. I won't stop Robert when he gets his hands on you."

Putnam laughed and looked around, "I don't see him anywhere, what's he going to do to me?"

"You'll pay for what others did to me, and he won't stop till he's beaten you to a pulp." As they were talking Anna thought she heard something in the other room. Putnam had just said they were alone, she had to keep him talking. If Holly wasn't there was it because Robert had found her and he now knows where she is?

...

Robert and Jason were standing outside his old house, the one he had once shared with Holly. Baker and Young were there as well, they would enter the house with Robert and Lewis. Miller and Smith will cover the back while Taylor covers the front. Robert had told Jason there had been a secret entrance so he would go and see if it was still there. If it was Jason would enter the house that way. When they were all in position Robert gave the signal, Lewis kicked in the door then swept the room the others followed him inside. Robert sent Baker and Lewis upstairs while he and Young checked the main floor. They had just come back into the living room when Baker and Lewis came down the stairs, "There's no one up there, anything down here?" Baker asked.

"No," Young answered.

Robert looked towards the far wall, "Just a minute, there's still one room we didn't check." He went over and checked the wall, it looked like it always had. That meant the control panel should still be there. He took down the painting that was hanging there, and there it was. He wondered what the chances were that it was still the same code and tried his birthday. He heard something and looked at the door but nothing was happening, then he realized it was Jason coming through the secret entrance.

"Did you find her?" he asked as he stepped into the room.

"I think they're in the secret room. I just have to remember how to override the code and open the door."

"Secret rooms, secret passages, this is quite the house," Jason observed.

"WSB agent slash police commissioner I had my reasons." Robert knew there was a code that was like a reset, but more importantly, it would open the door. Just then they heard a loud grown from the other side of the wall. "I knew she was in there."

Lewis came over to Robert, "Can I look at that, there might be a way to hotwire the door for lack of a better term."

"Are you sure? I don't want something to go wrong and have her locked in there."

"I won't do anything unless I know it will work, it depends on the color of the wires."

"You're sure about this? That's been there longer then you've been alive."

"That's why I think it will work. You try to remember the code while I check it out." Robert agreed then went and stood in front of the door with his gun drawn in case Lewis did get it opened. Baker, Young, and Jason were all standing behind him. After a moment, "Red to black should override the lock and the door should open," Lewis told them. "Here goes."

...

"Scorpio will find your dead body but he won't lay a hand on me. Once I'm done with you Scorpio dies next," he threatened.

"You can't do that yet, you have to wait for your orders. You are nothing but Jonathan de Salva's little bitch, you can't do anything without his permission. Until he has taking Sonny Corinthos out you have to keep me alive, we both know that."

Putnam lunged at her and pointed the knife at her throat, "Listen to me bitch, I can do whatever I want." When he thought he'd made his point he stood up straight and lowered the knife. As he did Anna did a leg sweep and he fell to the floor. He groaned as he hit the floor and the knife fell out of his hand. He was on his feet again quickly then spotted the knife and picked it up. "That was really stupid."

"No, I just don't like having knives in my face." Anna knew she could defend herself some if she had to but she really wanted to get that knife away from him. There had been an odd sensation that ran through her when it had been at her throat, it was a mixture of fear and hate and she didn't think it had anything to do with Putnam.

"Well, that's too bad, because I think I want to see you bleed a little." There was a crazy look in his eyes as he came towards her waving the knife in front of her. "Where do you think I should start, I could cut your face, slice up your arms, maybe a nice slit across your neck not deep enough to kill, just scar you?"

"Stay away from me."

"Or what?" he asked. "You can't stop me," then he leaned closer. As he raised the blade the door opened.

Putnam heard someone yell drop the knife as a body slammed into him, he was on his back being punched in the face before he figured out it was Scorpio beating on him. "ROBERT STOP!" Anna yelled. She looked at the other men, "Do something." Jason and Baker came in and grabber Robert pulling him off of Putnam, as soon as he was close enough to her, Anna sat on the floor beside him. "He didn't cut me Robert, I'm Ok. Look at me Robert." She stroked his face with her free hand as she spoke.

"You're OK?" He looked her in the face then took her hands and really looked at her. "You're OK there's no new cuts?" Then he looked at Baker, "Check his pockets for the key to these cuffs."

Putnam was laying on the floor both Jason and Baker standing over him pointing their guns at him, he knew he wasn't getting away, "They're in my front right pocket," Putnam told them. "I want to press charges he attacked me."

"Putnam you were holding a knife on a woman you're holding prisoner and have abducted twice before. If it was me I would have just shot you and been done with it." Baker told him. Once the key was out of his pocket Baker cuffed him and lead him out of the room.

When Robert got the cuff off Anna's wrist she crawled into his lap, she needed to be close to him. "I thought you were going to kill him," Anna admitted.

"When I saw that knife I wanted to, but when I heard you and felt them pull on me I knew I didn't have to, he wasn't the one that tortured you. I want to kill the man that scarred you, that hurt you to control me, not Putnam."

"Don't even talk like that. I'm fine and I don't remember any of what was done to me."

"But I do, they made sure I knew."

She kissed him, "I'm fine Robert let's not talk about that now. Get me out of here, please."

Jason hadn't meant to overhear them, but he had and he wondered just what they had gone through, he kept hearing little bits of their story and it sounded like they had both suffered greatly. He watched them as they walked out of the room, "Is there anything else you need me for?"

"No, thanks for your help Jason. I just want to get Anna home." The three of them walked out together, Baker and Young had already taking Putnam to the police station. "There's no need for you to stick around here. You should go check on Sonny, see if anything else has happened there." Jason agreed then left.

Anna assured Robert she was fine and that she just wanted to go home. He agreed and called Sean to asked him to bring Robin to their house. She would want to see Anna and if there was anything wrong with Anna she would know. Robert told Lewis they were leaving and if anyone needed to talk to them they would be at home. He was sure Mac would come by that evening anyway.

...

In his apartment, Jonathan waited to hear more about what had gone wrong when his men went to take out Jason. He knew at least one of his men was dead and one had been arrested after being wounded. No names had been released and he hadn't heard anything from the other two men yet. He was getting desperate to take him out but he didn't want a turf war and that was what it looked like was happening. His men hadn't even gone up to the penthouse where Jason lived they got into a gunfight in the lobby, what had they been thinking?

Suddenly there was a commotion at the door, when he went to see what was happening he saw Pauly leaning on Jim his left side covered in blood. "What the hell are you doing here? If you were injured you weren't supposed to come here, what if someone saw you?"

"Should I have bled to death in the car instead?" Pauly asked sounding very annoyed with his boss.

"You should have gone to the other address, not come here. What the hell happened?"

Jim was already helping Pauly get his jacket off, "He's been shot, what do you think happened?" Jim then looked at the other man that had come in with Pauly, "Maurice there's a first aid kit in the bathroom, go get it."

"What happened at the penthouse?" Jonathan asked.

"That idiot Rick happened, as soon as he saw the guards he pulled out his gun and started shooting. That's who got killed, Tommy got hit and went down I don't know how badly he was hurt, we got out of there as soon as we heard the cop cars."

"That was hours ago, where have you been?"

"Well Mo was good enough to stop and pick up some stuff to try and stop the bleeding, he thinks the bullet went right through, but I bleed a lot. We hide out for a bit while he patched me up then we slowly made our way to the place the woman has Putnam stashed away at. It's not good, the cops were there."

"What?" Jonathan was furious, "What the hell were they doing there?"

"It looked like they were rescuing that Devane woman again. We got there about ten minutes before they brought Putnam out in cuffs."

"How do they keep finding him so quickly?" Jonathan wondered.

"I think we may have another problem," Pauly told him then grimmest in pain as Jim started cleaning his wound. "I don't know for sure but I think Morgan was helping Scorpio. After they had already taken Grant away, I saw them walk out of the house together. Scorpio was holding onto Devane, him and Morgan were talking, then they got into their cars and left."

"Yeah, I'm sure Morgan was there helping them," Mo added from behind Jim.

"That doesn't sound good Jonathan," Jim said as he continued to work on Pauly.

"Maybe not, but it might just have been him helping because he and Sonny are friends with their daughter," Jonathan suggested.

Jim couldn't believe how crazy that sounded, was Jonathan's need for success clouding his judgment that badly, "The same day there's a shooting at his home he's going to go out and help the cops find his little friend's mommy. Come on Jonathan you're not thinking straight, there's more to it than that."

Suddenly Jonathan backhanded Jim across the face, "Never talk to me like that again!"

The other men couldn't believe what had just happened, Jim had just said what they were all thinking. Jim got up and got right in Jonathan's face, "I was behind you wanting to expand north, we needed the port to really control what we could move into the country, I was even fine with you wanting to get revenge on people that you think had cost you so much. What I'm not OK with is you risking everything to get both. You are going to get us all killed."

"You don't know what you're talking about."

"Yes, I do. Do you remember telling me how formidable a foe Scorpio or Devane were on their own, and how much more dangerous they would be as a team? They've shown us that over and over but you keep going after them, and why?"

"They killed my father and my best friend!" Jonathan shot back.

"But did they really, I've been looking into that? I found the records for your father's arrest, and the only place Anna Devane's name shows up is as the arresting agent. She had nothing to do with building a case against him she had nothing to do with his trial, she arrested an enemy agent that had an outstanding warrant. That was it!"

"That's not true!" Jonathan insisted.

"Yes, it is! I have the proof," he insisted. "As for Scorpio, yeah he planted the explosives that killed Fred and the other men, but did you know that for over ten years he was working a deal to keep his family alive? I talked to a few people here that know them and they told me about the sacrifices of their former police commissioner, they seem quite fond of him down at that little diner, Kelly's."

"What are you talking about?" Jonathan asked getting annoyed with Jim again.

"I'm talking about the fact Scorpio worked as a hitman in exchange for his family's safety, as long as he did what the WSB wanted him to do they wouldn't kill his wife and child. I doubt he even knew who Fred was or what he was doing down in Columbia. Fred was just another assignment. That's what that note meant, you're wasting your time going after the wrong people. Devane and Scorpio aren't the ones you should be mad at, you need to find out who was behind their action and go after them, they're your real enemy. You might start by finding out who torched your clubs."

Jonathan just stared at Jim, he couldn't be telling him the truth. He had hated Devane and Scorpio for so long, and now Jim's trying to tell him that he was wrong about them. "You're wrong!"

"I can prove it, I've been looking into this for a while now and have a nice little file on them."

"Fine, for now, we stop going after those two but you won't stop me from going after Corinthos."

"That's what I want, let's take him out and make this our territory, we need to focus on that. Then after that, if you still need to take out Scorpio and Devane be my guest, just look at what I've found on them first."

"Deal, now get back to patching Pauly up, I don't want to lose him." Then Jonathan turned and walked out of the room. The three men looked at each other in silence, none of them wanted to say anything that might bring their boss back into the room. They had never seen anyone stand up to him like that but were glad it had finally happened.

...

Robert and Anna were sitting on the couch together, Anna didn't want to talk she just wanted Robert to hold her. She knew it wouldn't be long before Sean and Robin got there so she just wanted a little quiet time before the questions started. Robert had mentioned the shotting at Harborview Towers and Anna had questions about that but they could wait.

When they heard the door open neither of them moved, Robin rushed into the living room and joined them on the couch, she threw her arms around Anna as tears of happiness started to fall. "Are you sure it's alright that you just came back here?" Sean asked when he came into the room.

"I don't care what anyone wanted other than Anna, besides I knew there would be a doctor here to see her and I'm sure the top cop will be along soon enough."

Sean smiled, Robert was right and Anna didn't look any worse for ware. "Mac said once he's done with Putnam he'll come here, no special cell for him, he's going down to lockup. He won't be getting out this time."

"That's good, I wonder if he'll finally tell us anything about de Salva?" Robert asked. He was now sitting with one arm around Anna's shoulder while she and Robin sat cuddled together.

"We can hope but who knows, something tells me Holly is going to. I only talk to her for a short time but I got the feeling she's regretting her part in all of this."

"She can tell us everything about de Salva's organization right down to everyone's shoe size and I won't forgive her for this," Robin informed them. "She might not like you, mom, but she should never have been a part of this."

Then Robert remembered something else, "You'll get your necklace back soon, would you believe she had it in her pocket when she got brought in this afternoon?"

"That's what she picked up, I saw her grab something from the ground just before losing consciousness. She drugged my tea, probably with the same stuff she drugged the guards coffee," Anna told them.

"Wait she had Anna's necklace with her?" Sean asked.

"Yeah, at one point she was getting something out of her pocket and it fell out. As soon as I saw it I knew what it was and when Mac read it he had her arrested," Robert explained.

"I'm glad you made me leave the office before she got there, if I had seen mom's necklace I would have kicked her ass. I don't know how you kept it together through all of that," Robin admitted.

"With great effort. Once we were in the interrogation room and I'd heard enough of her crap I tore into her. I may have said a few things that weren't very nice but I never lost control of my temper."

"Mom you should be very proud of dad, he kept it together. Even when he was yelling at Uncle Mac it was just dad yelling, you know grumpy dad," then she let out a little laugh.

"I'm not grumpy," he insisted.

"Sometimes you are," Anna told him with a smiled. If he had kept his temper in check through this maybe he was finally past the rage he had fought to control for so many years. "Did Holly tell you why she did it? Was it really just for the money, did she really have a price she thought my life was worth?"

"She was convinced you weren't in danger, it was like she figured they would just let you go after a while. She told me it was because she wanted to make me suffer like she had," Robert explained. "Even after we told her over and over that Putnam wanted to kill us both she didn't seem to believe you were in danger. The only time she even reacted was when I told her how Robin was always the one that suffered the most no matter what it was. It came down to me asking her just how much she hated you both and saying that if anything happened to you Robin would never be the same and would turn her back on love."

Robin thought about what he had just said and realized he was completely right, "If we lost mom, you're right I would have walked away from Patrick. I would have tried to save you but I think I would have lost you too and I would have been devastated." The thought of it brought tears to her eyes.

"Hey no thinking like that, you are all here and safe and that's how it's going to stay," Sean told them. "We now have two of de Salva's men in custody, Putnam, and Holly. The case against him is coming together, with them all facing jail time at least one is going to talk. Then there's Lisa, she can help collaborate some of the things we've found out. We're going to stop de Salva and put him away."

There was a knock at the door so Sean went to answer it, "I hope you guys are hungry, I brought lots," Mac said as he walked in.

"Is it something we can eat in here?" Sean asked then gestured towards the couch, "Those three haven't moved since we got here."

"I'm starving," Anna said and sat forward we can eat around the coffee table, do we need plates?"

"No everything should be in the bag," Mac told them. Then they all got comfortable and dug in, Sean told them more about what had happened at the Harborview Towers, then Mac filled them in on Putnam and Holly. "Putnam wouldn't tell me anything, including who beat on his face, but looking at your knuckles Robby I think I got the answer."

"He had a knife and was threatening Anna with it, I was hitting him before he realized the door had opened," Robert admitted. "He told Baker he wanted to press charges, but he might have changed his mind when Baker told him he would have just shot him."

Mac smiled at the thought of Putnam laying there bleeding then being told he should be happy that he wasn't shot. "Holly cried a lot after you left, but I think she'll be willing to work with us. I haven't offered her any deals yet. I thought she could use a little time in lockup." They also talked about de Salva's men and whether they thought either of them might talk and how much they might know.

Once they had eaten Anna realized she was very tired, "I think I better call it a night."

"You head up, Mac and I will clean this all up," Sean offered.

"Robin, is there any way I could convince you to stay here tonight?" Anna asked. Even though Anna had never given up on Robert finding her, she also knew Putnam could have killed her at any time. Now that she was home she just wanted Robin close to her.

"I wasn't planning on leaving, besides my things are still upstairs." Anna gave her a hug, "I wanted to be here, but I'm not sure if was to be here for dad or because I needed him to make me feel safe."

"I'm sure it was both," Anna told her. "Let's go get ready for bed, then maybe you could humor me and let me tuck you in."

"I'd love that," then they walked upstairs together.

After they had left Robert looked at Mac, "If you don't need us at the station tomorrow I want to stay here with them. I don't think their ready to leave each other's side yet." Robert got up, he was tired too, "I'm heading up as well. Mac, stay as long as you want."

He was laying in bed when Anna came in, "I thought I heard you come up, I'm so glad she's here. It feels good knowing she's right there and not in any danger."

"Did she tell you Jason brought her to the station yesterday morning and she hasn't gone home since?" he asked as she climbed into bed.

"Yes and that she could only travel with you or an uncle. Just the fact she agreed to that shows she was more scared then she wants to admit. I don't want her to leave yet."

"I told Mac we are all staying here tomorrow, now come here I want to hold you."

...

Anna was in a strange room she didn't recognize, the walls were an odd shade of green and she was laying on a small bed. It was mostly dark but there was a little light coming from the doorway and window of another small room. She knew there were other people in the room with her but she didn't know who they were, they were in the shadows and she couldn't see them. One of the men walked towards her, "Where is he? Where's my husband?" she asked as the man got closer.

"He won't be coming here, he can't"

"I need my husband, tell me he's not dead!"

"He's not and as long as he's a good boy you won't be either," then he started laughing.

Anna shot up in bed, she had been dreaming. She looked over and Robert was right beside her, he was moving a little but she hadn't woken him. Where had that come from? She had never had a dream like that before, and it had bothered her. She looked at Robert again then laid back down, she cuddled up close to him and kissed his neck. She ran her hand over his bare chest then start kissing him along his jawline.

Without saying a word he found her lips and kissed her back, his hand moving over her body quickly removing her nightgown. They made love slowly, cherishing each other. When they were finished, Robert said, "You can wake me up for that any time you want."

She smiled, "I'll keep that in mind." She didn't tell him about the dream she'd had, it was strange but she didn't think it meant anything. "I think we should get some more sleep though, I want to spend some more time with Robin in the morning before she heads home."

He smiled and kissed her, "I thought you might." Robert pulled her close and they fell asleep in each other's arms.