Chapter 6

"They could be getting ready to run a big-time scam here and need you distracted," Sean suggested. They were in Robert's office waiting for Anna Monday morning.

"Why would Holly want to do that? She faked her own death, she started a new life with a new name away from me and Port Charles. Do you think they planning on fleecing the Quartermaines for all they've got?"

"So not a con, then why is she here?"

"Could it have more to do with the cousin and the man she's involved with? Something one of them wants or needs and Holly went along with it because of some sense of loyalty."

Sean thought about it for a while, "Her cousin Barry Durban did help her while she was in the coma, and it seems like they've been working together ever since."

"What about the boyfriend, Markus whatever, he could want something from her and felt her past here could help get it?"

Just then Anna walked in, "Morning, what did I miss?"

"Nothing really, we don't seem to be getting anywhere yet," Sean told her. "Have you got anything on Markus Lowe yet?"

"Uh no, I took the weekend off, I didn't think this was a matter of life and death. Have you been tailing the cousin?"

Sean smiled, "OK, point taking. I was going to head out there when we're done here. Robert, did you see Holly at all this weekend?"

"No, I didn't really go out much. I am going to look into what Eve Piper has been up to for the last couple years see just what kind of cons they've been running to see if I can get any ideas about what they might try here. I'm not ready to rule out that's why they're here."

"So we all have plans for the day then, I'll head back to the office to look into Markus Lowe while you two do your things," Anna told them.

"Why don't you stick around for a little while? Let me see what kind of information on what they've been up to I can find, that might give you a better idea where to start," Robert suggested, Anna agreed.

"Well I will leave you to it then, I'm off to watch a hotel room."

"Oh here," Anna handed him a couple pictures of Holly and Barry at the hotel, "It's room 8." Sean thanked her, then he left. Robert got up and walked over to her as soon as the door closed, she smiled, "Good morning."

He took her in his arms, "Good morning. I missed you in my bed last night, I got a little spoiled have you there two nights in a row," then he kissed her passionately.

"Leave them wanting more," she said with a grin. "Are we going to get to work this morning?"

"Yeah, just not quite yet." He held her in his arms a little longer then gave her another kiss, "OK, now I think I'm ready."

She grinned at him then they both went and sat down, "So how are you going to find out what Holly's been up to?"

"I've already put a call in to find out about anything criminal that Eve Piper has been involved or suspected in, I'm just waiting for them to call back. I was thinking that maybe this Markus Lowe could have other aliases so you should keep that in mind when you're looking into him."

"That makes sense especially if he's working with them. I wonder if cousin Barry has any aliases?" Anna decided to look into that as well then they got to work.

...

Holly went to talk to Barry she was growing concerned about Markus' attitude. She wasn't really sure why it was so important to both of them that they know if Cesar is actually dead. She hated that they had made her return to Port Charles, to face Robert and now that she knows he had known all these years about her affair and the baby. She felt like she had hidden from her own life for four years for no reason. She knocked on Barry's door and waited, when he opened the door he looked confused, she pushed past him walking straight inside. "I want answers and I want them now!"

"What are you talking about?" Barry asked.

"Why are we really in Port Charles and what the hell is so important about Cesar Faison? Everything I've done over the last four years was pointless and I want to know why I'm really here."

"You know about Lynda, this is for her."

"Lynda? She's dead she went off and got herself shot while trying to steal something, I know you loved her but what does she have to do with Faison?"

"He was the one that sent her after the confidential documents she had when she was killed."

"So what, we do jobs for other people all the time how was it his fault she got herself killed."

"It just is," he snapped. Barry took a few deep breaths then looked at her, "I can't explain it all and I know you knew him when you were young but he is not a good man, and he hurt a lot of people. Lynda was doing a lot more than just a job. He is the reason she died, that's all that matters."

Holly watched him as he spoke, he truly believed that Faison had sent Lynda to her death. "So there really is a reason to be here, I do need to be here?" he nodded. "You helped me hide, helped me fake my death so I could start over but then you made me come here, I just need to know there really is a reason for that."

"I really thought you would be able to get information from Robert, that he would be happy to see you. I was sure you'd be able to talk to him and find out who that man that died in the boat explosion was. I was wrong, I know that now and I'm sorry."

"We had no way of knowing Robert knew I cheated on him, then I faked my death, of course, he doesn't want to talk to me. I'll still do what I can to help but I don't see Robert opening up to me anytime soon."

"I know, we'll come up with something. I'll get the answers I need."

Holly looked around the room then back at Barry, "Alright you have helped me with so much, I'll do my best to help you with this," then she turned a left.

...

Anna sat back and rubbed her eyes she had been staring at the computer screen all day, "Is it time to call it a day?" she asked.

Robert looked up from the papers he was reading, "I just want to finish reading this."

Anna got up and wandered over to his desk, "What were you able to find out?"

"Not much, Eve Piper has been suspected in a few cons but there was never enough proof, the same with Barry Darbun. Markus Lowe's name doesn't even show up," then he looked back at the paper he was reading.

"I didn't get much either, I wasn't able to find an alias for Darbun yet, but I think Markus Lowe might actually be the alias. I haven't found too much on him either but I still need to do more digging."

Robert looked up to see Anna leaning on his desk looking at him, a little grin on her face. "Yeah, maybe it is time to call it a day." He got up and walked over to her, "What are your plans for this evening?"

"I was hoping you'd come over for dinner." There was a knock at the door just as Robert was about to take her in his arms, "Dinner?"

"Yes," he smiled, "I'll come over," he gave her a quick kiss then turned towards the door, "Come in."

Sean came in looking very tired, "I would rather tail a guy that actually does something, he never left his room once all day. Although Holly did go see him earlier today, she didn't stay all that long, she seemed upset when she got there but was calmer when she left."

"I wonder what they're up to," Robert said mostly to himself. "Anna and I didn't get very far either, but we both have a few more things that we want to look into tomorrow. Are you going to keep tabs on him again tomorrow?"

"I have other business that will need my attention but I can the day after," Sean told him.

"That should be fine, I don't think he's been doing much since he got here anyway. We were about done here for the day, why don't you walk out with us?" The three of them left together still talking about the three people they are now investigating.

...

Holly was awoken early the next day by loud banging on her door, she grabbed her robe and went to answer it, still mostly asleep. She was surprised to see Markus there, he had refused to spend time with her since he had gotten to Port Charles she didn't even know where he was staying but for some reason, he's here now. Holly let him in, "Why are you here so early?" she asked and yawned.

"I need to speak to you, I need answers now and I'm tired of you giving me excused about not being able to get anything out of your husband. You are going to go and talk to him today and find out if it really was Cesar Faison that died, do you understand me?"

Holly had never seen Markus like this before, "I've told you he isn't going to tell me that, he doesn't even want to talk to me, and he is no longer my husband."

"Then you make him talk to you! Am I making myself clear?" he yelled.

For the first time Holly felt a little scared of him, "Fine I'll go talk to him this morning."

"Good, and you better get me the answers I need!" then he turned and left without another word.

Holly stood there in disbelief, what had brought that on she wondered. She looked over at the clock it was almost six in the morning, she decided to go have a shower, she wouldn't be able to fall asleep again now.

...

Robert and Anna had decided to use Sean's computer to try and get the answers they want, he was going to be gone all day but had let them in before he and Tiffany left for the day. They were having a little more luck but it was still very slow going. Anna had been right that Markus Lowe was actually the alias and his real name was Liam Price, once she had found that out she discovered that he had worked for the DVX for a short time during the '70's. She wasn't finding much information about him only that he hadn't been with them long and he left shortly after it was believed that Faison had died.

A deeper search into Barry Durban's life had suggested that if he used an alias it was most likely Terrence Meyers, there were a few small crimes connected to that name, Anna couldn't be completely sure it was him but that name had been connected to Markus Lowe a few time.

Robert, on the other hand, wasn't having much luck at all finding out what Holly had been up to. She had not used her real name at all since she had been declared dead even when she was in the hospital she had been listed as Eve Piper. He had been able to find out that Barry had told the medical staff that she was in hiding and didn't want her abusive husband to find her. That had been why it had taken Sean some time to find her. As for the crash in the outback that she was believed to have died in, there had been a plane crash but he now knew she was nowhere near it and that someone had paid a lot of money to have it reported she had been on the plane at the time of the crash.

He was reading a printout when Anna came over and started rubbing his shoulders, "Break time," she said.

"Good, I could use one." He put his head down enjoying the massage, "I haven't found anything that's going to help us find out why they are here."

"The only interesting thing I got was that Liam Price AKA Markus Lowe worked for the DVX for a short time."

"That might be something to look into more." Robert turned his chair and pulled Anna into his lap, "Holly and Barry are con artists but as far as I know, they never had anything to do with the DVX."

Anna put her arms around him, "I'm waiting for a better report on what Liam Price did while he was with the DVX." Then she kissed him, "We're all alone here remember."

Robert kissed her back passionately, "You should come over to my place tonight so we can really have some time alone. We have no idea when Sean or Tiffany might come back." Anna stayed on his lap, they just held each other.

"Yeah, I can come over. Does that mean we have to get back to work?" she asked and checked the time.

He kissed her then started playing with her hair, "Yeah we better get a little more done here."

She smiled as he ran his fingers through her hair, then he kissed her again, "Aren't we going back to work?"

"Oh right," then he kissed her again. Eventually, Anna got up and they went back to what they had both been working on.

...

Holly had gone to the police station twice and both times Guy had told her Robert was working on a case away from the office today but he wouldn't tell her where he was. She knew she'd be hearing from Markus sometime tonight and was actually worried about not having anything to tell him. She had never seen him behave like he did this morning, Barry had known him a lot longer then she had but she doubted that he had seen this side of him before either. When there was a knock on her door she was hoping it was Barry but when she opened the door it was Markus. "Before you even start I went and tried to talk to Robert twice but he was not in the office today and they would not tell me where to reach him, I was just about to go down to Delafield's and demand that he talks to me," she told him. She wasn't really going to do that but thought it would keep him happy.

"I told you I was tired of your excuses Holly, I want answers and I want them now." He roughly grabbed her arms, "I'll be back tomorrow night and you had better have an answer for me, or you will regret it." He shoved her sending her back onto the bed then turned and left.

As soon as the door closed behind him Holly started to cry, how could she have thought she loved that man? She thought about going to Delafield's again to wait for Robert to come home but it hadn't worked yet so why would it be any different tonight. Holly thought maybe she should just leave town not tell anyone just leave, but then she would be completely on her own. She took a deep breath and pulled herself together she will go down to the station tomorrow and stay there until he talks to her.

...

True to her word Holly went down to the police station the next day. When Guy told her that Robert was going to be in court all morning she wondered if he was telling her the truth. He was out of the office all day the day before and now apparently will be out of the office all morning. "Has he told you to send me away any time I come here?" Holly asked.

"No, he is actually in court this morning, he should be in his office this afternoon. I did tell him you had wanted to see him yesterday," Guy insisted.

"So if I come back at one o'clock, Robert will be here and I will be able to talk to him."

"If you come back then, he should be here. I can set up an appointment so that you will be the first one to see him this afternoon."

"Then that is what you are going to do. I'll see you this afternoon," then Holly left.

When she returned Guy told her she was welcome to wait but Robert was still in court and he didn't know how long he would be there. Holly spent the entire afternoon there waiting but at six o'clock decided to try going to his place to talk to him. When she got there Katherine told her she hadn't seen him yet but Holly got the impression that Miss Delafield didn't really care for her and didn't know if she should believe Katherine so she went and sat at the bar to wait it out.

...

When Robin invited her dad over for dinner she wasn't sure he'd come over since he had been there just the other day but he had agreed. She loved cooking for both her parents because they let her experiment on them and would eat whatever she made them. Robin had decided she wanted to make sure they got to spend time together and would keep doing things like this until they finally realized that they belong together.

"When is dad going to get here?"

"He was in court all day, I'm sure he'll be here soon. What are you making us tonight"

"That's a surprise," Robin told her with a smile then turned and went back into the kitchen.

A short time later the doorbell rang and Anna went to answer the door. She greeted Robert when he got there with a quick kiss then they walked into the living room together. "I don't know what we are being served but Robin is very excited that you were coming over again tonight."

"I think our daughter is playing matchmaker," Robert said with a smile.

Anna smiled back, "She's a little late for that." They stepped together and put their arms around each other. "I'm not ready to tell her yet, I like this just being about us for now."

Robert gave her another quick kiss, "So do I. I think we better sit down before she comes out and catches us then." They went and sat down on the couch and waited, they told each other about their day, flirted with each other, and talked about any progress made in finding out why Holly was in Port Charles.

They were laughing when Robin finally came out of the kitchen, she had heard him arrive but wanted to give them some time alone. They were sitting together, Robin noticed that Robert's arm was behind Anna but not really around her. She had planned a nice romantic evening for them, there would be wine, candlelight, soft music, and they would be alone she had already eaten and was planning on hanging out in her room tonight. She said hi and made a little small talk while she set the table sneaking glances at them trying to read what was going on between them. They seemed happy and relaxed with each other, she wondered why they didn't see how happy they could be together.

Robert got up and noticed she had only set two place setting, "Which one of us doesn't get to eat?"

"I already ate, this is for you and mom," she told him. "I wanted to do something nice for the two most important people in my life. You both work so hard and you need to be happy." Then she turned and put on some music before leaving the room again.

Robert turned and looked at Anna who was still sitting on the couch smiling, "She is determined."

"I wonder where she got that from. Are we playing along tonight?"

"I won't waste a romantic evening, even if we have a chaperone in the next room," Robert told her with a little grin.

They enjoyed the meal Robin had prepared for them, drank wine and talked. It was a nice evening that ended with them cuddled on the couch watching a little TV. Anna walked him to the door and they kissed goodnight, then just stood there holding each other, "I want more evenings like this," she told him.

"So do I, I also want evenings that don't include me leaving." She smiled up at him then they kissed again. "I better get out of here." When he got home he went in the back way again, it was easier to avoid people he didn't want to talk to that way.