Chapter 13
Anna had decided it was time to get back to work. She was tired of sitting around the house and felt like she needed to do more to help with the investigation. Sean was in her office, "I was in there when Barry told him that. Scorpio killed her is what Price was apparently saying."
"That makes no sense," Sean said. "We can't find a connection between Robert and Price, who does he think Robert killed?"
"I have no idea. If Price is as unstable as it seems it might not be Robert he's talking about at all, or he has him confused with someone else."
"That just worried me more. So there is a mentally unstable man targeted Robert because of something someone else did."
"Yeah it doesn't sound good when you actually hear it but I think we have to assume that is a possibility." Anna sat back and ran her hand through her hair. "Sean, Price has to be stopped, I can't lose him again."
"I know. It's a good thing the best team I have ever had is working on this." Sean was happy when Anna smiled back, he hated to think that something could happen to either her or Robert.
...
He had decided it was time to get out of the woods, the cops must know he was still hiding there because at least once a day they came looking for him. He had watched them search the houses and other abanded buildings, they had all but stopped that now. Liam picked one of the small houses, there wasn't any power there but he was sure if anyone saw lights on inside they would call the cops. He had been able to get some more food and was going to lay low for a little while until he knows he could get Eve back. He didn't know what the WSB wanted with her but the longer she was there the more desperate he felt it was to get her to safety.
He had only seen her a couple times since they had taken her and she had a guard with her. He would have to take the guard out if he was going to have a chance to save her. They must have changed what room she was staying in, but he had seen Eve and the female guard go into the Port Charles Hotel the night before last. Whatever he was going to do he had better do it soon or they might move her out of Port Charles all together and then he'd have no way of knowing where they would take her. As for the woman that reminded him of Lynda he hadn't seen her at all but maybe she wasn't that important even if she did seem to be connected to Scorpio somehow.
...
Robert returned to his office after another press conference, of course, there were lots of questions about Price, but it was Shep Casey that bothered Robert the most. When Anna and Holly had both been missing he suggested that Robert was miss using the police force to find them. Now he's trying to suggest that Robert doesn't care if they find Price because Anna and Holly were now safe. What a joke that was, two people are being guarded and two others are armed. He doesn't remember a time that they weren't on an assignment that he and Anna had been armed for this long, neither like to carry a weapon unless it was necessary.
He sat at his desk and started reading over the reports waiting for him. If Price hasn't left town why is it no one has seen him? Someone had to, he's had to have gotten food somewhere. What he had was taken out of the cabin, so someone has seen him. Someone had to have helped him out at some point. "Who is it?" he called when there was a knock at his door.
Guy stuck his head in, "There's a reporter here that says he still has a few more questions."
Before Robert could answer Shep pushed his way into Robert's office. "I just had a few follow up questions."
"I'm done answering questions today, I have work to do."
"Really? It seems like now that your ex-wives have been rescued you don't seem as concerned about where Liam Price is. Why aren't you out there looking for him?"
"I don't have to be on the streets searching, I am using the appropriate manpower to look for him. At the moment we don't have any leads so to avoid being accused of wasting taxpayers money I don't have my people working overtime."
"So you're going to let this man slip through your fingers instead of putting him away?"
"That's enough out of you," Guy said stepping in between them. If he didn't stop this guy he was pretty sure Robert would hit him. "Instead of accusing us of not doing our job why don't you let us did them."
"Fine," Shep let himself be lead out of the door, "You'll be seeing me soon, commissioner," he said as the door closed.
Once he was alone he sat back down, he picked up the top file and started to read through it. He tried to focus but was too annoyed to concentrate. He picked up the phone to call Anna, after talking to her he might be able to get some work done. "Hello Luv," he said when she answered. "I needed to hear your voice."
"Having a bad day darling?"
"Any day I have to deal with Shep Casey is a bad day."
"I had a great time last night," Anna smiled, she could tell he had called to get his mind off of Shep so she wasn't going to ask him about it.
"So did I, I'm picturing you in that little black dress as we speak." Robert leaned back feeling better already. "Anna I'd love to take you out for a late lunch."
Then there was a knock at his door, he looked up as Guy walked in. "We have a problem, Miller was just found in the parking lot of the Port Charles Hotel. It looks like he was hit on the head and left unconscious. Holly is gone."
"Did you hear that?" Robert said into the phone.
"Yes, Sean and I will meet you there."
Robert hung up, "Let's get moving." Robert and Guy hurried out of the office.
...
Shep Casey had seen Robert and Guy rush out of Robert's office. He noticed that several officers left with them so he decided to follow them as well. When they got to the Port Charles Hotel he stayed out of sight but watched what was going on. There was a police officer receiving medical attention, other officers were talking to people in the area. Then he saw Sean and Anna arrive, if they were here Shep was sure this had something to do with Liam Price. Maybe he was actually getting the scoop on this story.
Sean and Anna walked over to Robert who was now talking to Miller, "Did you see anything?"
"We had just arrived here, Holly hadn't even gotten out of the car. I had just opened the door and started to get out then everything went black I know I was hit from behind but I didn't see anyone before I got out of the car."
"So they left in your car?" Guy asked.
"Yeah, they must have because the car and Holly were both gone when I started to come around. There were already a few people standing around, one of them must have reported this."
"He'll have to dump that car soon then we can start the search there, Guy,"
"I'm already on it," he turned and pulled out his walkie-talkie, notifying all units to be on the lookout for Miller's patrol car.
"Excuse me, commissioner." Robert looked over as an officer walked toward them. "This woman, Jill Newman, says she saw a patrol car speed out of the parking lot about forty-five minutes ago."
"Yeah I was walking inside when I hear a vehicle that sounded like it was going too fast for a parking lot, but then I saw that it was a police car so I thought they must have been responding to a call. I didn't think much about it until I saw all of this going on. The lights weren't on, so they weren't responding to any call were they?"
"No, I don't think so," Robert agreed. "Did you see anything else, could you see who was driving or if there was more then one person in the car."
Jill thought about it for a moment before responding, "I didn't see their faces but I think there were two people in the car. I didn't really get a good look though."
"That's OK. Did you notice anything before you heard the car race out of here?"
"No, I was just walking inside I've been staying here for about a week and was just heading back to my room."
"Just one more question, did you see which direction the car went when it left the parking lot?"
"Um, yes. It cut off a car and turned left."
"Thank you for your time, Jill. If you think of anything else please let us know." Robert turned to Sean and Anna after she walked away. "So he has Holly again. I really don't think she's working with him."
"No Robert, I think she's afraid of him," Anna told him. "She might not remember what happened but the way her face looked he hit her several times. There were slight bruises on her arms when I got there even if she didn't want to admit it. I 'm sure there were others."
Robert put his hand to his face, "He's hurt her before and now she's alone with him again. We have to find her."
"Oh, so now that one of your exes is missing again you're out here involved in the investigation." They hadn't noticed Shep walk over to them, they didn't know what all he had heard."
"We are conducting an investigation. I do not have to answer to you. If you get in our way I will have you arrested for interfering in a police investigation."
"One that only interests you if it involves your personal life."
Anna stepped in front of Robert and Guy held him back, Sean stepped towards Shep, "If you want to keep your job you will leave right now."
"You can't threaten me, you have no control over my career," Shep shot back.
"You want to complain that the police aren't doing enough to find Liam Price, accuse them of letting a dangerous person roam the city. Then when they finally get a real lead in the case you accuse the police of miss using manpower and the commissioner of only being involved because of a personal connection." Sean got right in Shep's face, "I saw your report earlier. A four-year-old can see you don't like the commissioner and are going out of your way to make him look bad. As for your career, you might want to keep in mind the man you are trying so hard to discredited, maybe even cost him his job just happens to be a very close personal friend of your boss. Maybe I don't have anything to do with your job, but your boss trusts me and will believe me when I tell her about your behaviour here."
"Oh that's right, this is all just one close little group that all have each other's backs."
"This is a group of people that are trying to find a man that you have been reporting about for several weeks. See all those officers taking witness statements, they are doing their job. Guy Lewis and Robert Scorpio are here doing their jobs by coordinating the investigation. If you want to report anything I suggest you try the truth, that the police have a lead and are working to get all the information they can so they can bring in a dangerous suspect that they believe once again has a hostage."
"Why are you and Anna Devane here?"
"We are working with the PCPD to aid them in any way we can. Now I would like to get back to that, so I suggest you stay out of the way." Shep wanted to say more but knew if he did there was a good chance he would end up being arrested.
...
As Liam dragged her into the small house Holly's eyes filled with tears. How could this have happened again? She saw Miller hit the ground and before she could react Liam was in the car, with a gun in his hand. Holly wasn't sure where he had taken her, she had been so afraid she hadn't thought to pay attention to what was around her. Another strong pull on her arm brought her out of her thoughts, "Did they do anything to you Eve?"
"Who are you talking about?"
"When they had you did they hurt you? What did they do to you? Were you questioned about us?" Liam pulled Holly into another room. He turned to her, "Let me look at you Eve, the last time they had you I found you covered in bruises."
"I'm fine, no one was questioning me."
"Oh, Eve I was so worried about you. I just knew it was Scorpio that came and took you away. Now that I know you're safe I can take my revenge on him."
Why was he calling her Eve, Holly wondered. Even though she has lived as Eve Piper for years now, when they were alone Liam usually called her Holly. What Barry had told her was running through her mind, Liam has it out for Robert, he thinks Robert did something. "Now that I'm free why do you have to go after Scorpio? Shouldn't we try to get as far away from him as we can."
"Oh Eve, you must have been so scared being there, after what he did to Holly."
Did to Holly? What was Liam talking about? "I'm fine Liam, Robert didn't do anything to me."
Liam put his arms around her, "I'm so glad I got you away from him when I did." Holly really didn't understand what he was talking about, or why he was acting like this, but she knew for her own safety she had better go along with what he was saying.
...
Miller's missing patrol car had been located on Mill St. which was only a few blocks from Oak St. Guy right away thought that Price must have taken Holly back into the woods where they had been searching for him. "We should get our people over there as quickly as possible," Guy said.
"I don't think that's where they are, Mill's not far from Charles St. I think we should start there, I doubt Price will risk taking Holly back out to those cabin's by Oak St. If he has stayed close by he'd have seen the police presence there," Robert told them.
"There are several empty buildings on Charles St," Sean agreed.
"Let's get our people over there. Guy, I want them to approach quietly, no lights no sirens." Robert turned to Sean and Anna. "I want you two with me, once we find them I need to know my team is ready for whatever happens. Both Holly and Barry have said Price isn't acting like the man they know so I don't want to risk him turning on her and Holly getting hurt, or worse."
They nodded and they all left, Charles St had an area of run-down houses. Some people were still living in and they just needed a little work to be nice houses again even some of the empty houses just needed a little work. There were empty houses and empty lots spread throughout this area. Guy was already giving the officers orders when they walked over to them. "I want you to talk to the people living here, find out if they've seen anyone near the empty houses. Find out if they've noticed anything out of the ordinary. Price could either have been staying in this area or he could have scoped it at an earlier time. Make sure the residence know even if they saw him a few weeks ago it could help."
The officers moved out in pairs, there wasn't as many as the night they searched Oak St. and the woods, they didn't want to scare Price. If he was in the area and watching them he might just think they are continuing the search not that they believe he's here already. Sean was talking to Robert and Anna about what could be waiting for them. He had read over Liam Price's DVX file a few times now and he wanted to make sure they all knew just who they were dealing with. Holding enemy agents had been his speciality, although those same skills had been put to use to protect people a few times.
"That's great so does he think he's holding an enemy agent or protecting an ally?" Robert asked and started to pace.
"Did he take Holly because he thought she was in danger or to send a message to you?" Anna said but Robert wasn't really listening.
"I don't think we'll know that until we find him," Sean answered.
"He's close by isn't he?" Anna said looking toward some of the abandoned houses.
"I get that feeling too," Sean agreed.
Robert stopped pacing when four officers came over. "Commissioner, three different people say they've noticed someone over at that little house by the empty lot. One woman was sure she saw two people over there earlier today."
Anna had already been looking at the house they pointed out. "He's there."
Robert and Sean both looked at her then at the little house. "I want the house surrounded then I want a megaphone. I need to let him know we've found him," Robert told the officers.
Once the officers were in position Guy handed Robert the megaphone. "Are you sure he's in there boss?"
Robert looked at Anna and Sean their guts were telling them the same thing as his. "He's in there." Robert stepped closer to the small house. Robert held up the megaphone, "LIAM PRICE. This is the police come out with your hands up."
They noticed movement by one of the front windows, they were close enough to hear someone bang into something inside. "Liam Price, we know you're in there. Give yourself up and no one will get hurt," Robert said into the megaphone.
"That's not going to happen copper," came the response from the small house.
Holly knew that was Robert's voice, he had found her quickly this time. "Liam, why don't we just turn ourselves in? I don't want anything to happen to you." Holly still wasn't sure what was wrong with Liam but she wanted to keep him calm.
"They'd take you away Eve, I can't lose you like I lost Lynda."
"He said no one would get hurt, you won't lose me." The look in his eyes had her worried the most, there was such anger and hate there.
"That's what they always say, then as soon as I step outside they start shooting. Eve, they want to take you away from me." Liam chanced another peek outside. "There aren't that many of them." Liam looked back at Holly then he started checking his weapons.
Holly just stared at him, she wanted to see who was outside. Was it just Robert and a few officers, would they try to get inside or would there be a shootout? If people start shooting where could she hide there isn't much in here. They know she's in here to right? They wouldn't open fire if they know she's in here, would they? She turned, looking for somewhere to hide.
"Where are you going?" Liam yelled and startled her.
"I want to hide," Holly admitted.
"Eve I won't let them hurt you."
"Then why don't we just walk out of here? We can turn ourselves in."
"No Eve! They will take you away from me."
"Once we talk to them I'm sure we can explain that we didn't do anything wrong." Holly knew she had to keep him calm but really she only wanted to get away from him.
Liam started shaking his head, "No they won't!" He glared at her and she could see the hate in his eyes. "SCORPIO ARE YOU OUT THERE?" He waited then added, "GET SCORPIO, TELL HIM I WANT TO TALK!"
"This is commissioner Scorpio," came the response.
"SEND EVERYONE ELSE AWAY! MY PROBLEM IS YOU SCORPIO!"
"Then send out the woman, she's done nothing."
Liam looked over at Holly, he didn't notice how scared she looked. All he was thinking about was making Scorpio pay.
"Price I'm willing to talk but you need to let Holly go."
Like you did Scorpio, let her go then killed her. Why is he talking about her anyway? Liam looked out the window again.
"Please, Liam let me go."
"No Eve! We can't trust the WSB."
What was he talking about, Holly was quickly realizing she was in more danger than just being his hostage again. He had lost touch with reality. "Those are WSB agents?" she asked not wanting to confuse him.
"Yes, they've found us. I can't let them take me in, the DVX will see that as failure. If I fail to protect you they will make sure I am punished."
"LIAM PRICE," bombed from outside.
"I'M NOT COMING OUT!"
"Then I'm coming in," Robert answered. He thought this was going to happen, Anna and Sean had already moved into position. Even with his officers in position for this plan to work it had to be them that moved in when Robert went inside. He trusted them to do what was needed and not mess this up.
Liam looked out the window again Scorpio was standing there with one other man in a suit and there were two police officers behind them. If he could get Scorpio inside alone it would be easier to do what he wants. He'd have to move quickly after to get away but it could work, he'd been able to lose the local cops already. Eve would have to move quickly but he knows she can do it. "NO TRICKS, COME IN UNARMED!" He watched as he pulled out his weapon and passed it to the man beside him. Then he put up his hands then started walking slowly towards the front door. "Eve get over here." Liam stepped away from the window and pulled Holly close to him. When the door opened he raised his gun and waited for Scorpio to enter.
Robert slowly walked inside, "There's no need for the gun, I'm unarmed. I'm just here to talk."
"I have nothing to say to you Scorpio." He took a few steps back pulling Holly with him.
"Liam I want to talk about what you've been doing here and why."
Liam started to laugh, "The WSB thinks I'll start talking about my mission just because you say hey let's talk."
This was worse than he thought, did he think he was still in the DVX, that Robert was still WSB? "Just let her go. We can talk about whatever you need once she's safe."
"EVE IS SAFE!" Liam seemed a little confused, he first pointed his gun at Robert then Holly then back.
"I don't know why you're so upset but I want to help you," Robert said.
"Why do you think I'm upset? I'm fine you're the one that should be upset." Then he smiled, "How does it feel knowing you are about to die, to pay for your sins."
"My sins, what are you talking about?"
Price held Holly at gunpoint while he yelled at Robert, "You killed her, you sent her away and she lost the baby. You did it and now you're going to pay for all of that."
Robert wasn't sure what Price would do next but knew he couldn't risk upsetting him any more than he already was. "Liam, I didn't kill you sister I didn't even know her."
"Faison killed Lynda! I know that Scorpio. You killed Holly, you killed your own wife."
"No he didn't I'm right here," Holly said her voice shaking with fear.
"Eve, this isn't about you." He pulled her closer and forced the gun harder into her back. "I'm leaving here after I've dealt with you, and Eve is my ticket out of here."
Robert knew now that their suspicions had been right, Price had lost touch with reality. "What happened when your sister died, you must have really loved her?" Price looked at him, Robert wasn't sure but he thought he might be able to get through to him even just a little. "I have a past with him too you know. Faison destroyed my family. I left my wife because of him. I didn't know I had a little girl for years because of him."
"Lynda changed because of him. He made her into someone else."
Did Price just relax some Robert wondered? "I thought my wife betrayed me but she was only trying to save my life. Faison and another man planned to break us up, they took my family away."
Price loosened his grip on Holly some, "Lynda was in love, she was going to get married and have a baby. She never even got to tell the father. Then Faison came into our lives, I wish he had never seen her with me."
"Is that how he found her, because of your work with the DVX?"
"I didn't know him, but he watched me, he liked to see who the new agents were. Then he saw Lynda." He lowered the gun but didn't let go of Holly. "It all changed after that."
"What changed Liam, what happened to your family?" Robert knew if he could keep him talking then Anna and Sean might get a chance to come in and get Holly out if he would only let her go.
"He came to her and talked her into joining the DVX. She wasn't the same after that, it broke my mother's heart. Lynda got an abortion and only did what Faison wanted. She left Barry and never looked back. Then we found out she had been killed. Less than a year after meeting that man she was dead." Finally, Price let go of Holly, as he sat on the edge of the small table. She took a few steps away from him but was too afraid to move much further than that.
"Her death was more than your mother could take, wasn't it? Faison killed your sister and destroyed your mother didn't he?"
Suddenly Price stood back up and pointed his gun at Robert, "Don't talk about them, Scorpio."
Holly gasped, she was sure he was going to shoot Robert, then and hand went over her mouth. "Shhh, walk backwards slowly," was whispered in her ear.
Robert saw Anna grab Holly and start leading her out of the room, he had to keep Price distracted long enough so they could get out of here. "I don't mean to be disrespectful, I lost the love of my life because of Cesar Faison. He used her like he used Lynda."
"No you killed Holly, you sent her away, you didn't want her."
"That is not true, I didn't send her away, she left me. I did love Holly, but I was putting other people and work before her. I made mistakes but I did not kill her."
Robert saw Anna and Holly turn in the doorway and rushed out of sight, "Eve told me all about you. Scorpio the WSB agent, turned police commissioner."
"Holly and Eve are the same person. Holly left me and had her baby, she gave him up and started her new life as Eve Piper. Holly isn't dead, you understand that don't you?"
"NO! You killed her Scorpio! Just like Faison killed Lynda. I made him pay, he couldn't hide forever pretending to be some author. I killed him and now I'm going to kill you."
Robert's hands were still up, once Holly was safely out of the house Sean should make his move so now Robert just had to keep Price talking. "You don't have to do that, Holly is fine. I thought she was dead for years but she's not. Liam, you brought her here, you're the one that had kept her safe for all those years. The woman you're calling Eve is Holly."
"No, I had Eve in a safe place but you took her."
"Why did you take Anna? Did you think she was in danger?"
"Anna? NO! No, it was Eve I had to get her away from whoever had hurt her. Then the other one came. The one that didn't like being in my protection. She was dangerous, she would have hurt me if Eve hadn't warned me. She might have looked a little like Lynda but she is very dangerous." He lowered the gun a little but still had it pointed at Robert.
The room started to get a little smokey, that meant Holly was safe. Did Price really not remember that he was the one that had hurt Holly and the one that had taken Anna? As long as Price still had his gun pointed at him Robert had to keep him talking. No one was going to risk moving until the gun was lowered. He couldn't see anyone but knew they were waiting to take Price down. "Liam, you took Anna. She didn't want to be there, to be away from her daughter."
"Who is this Anna you're talking about?" Liam started to look around, where was this smoke coming from? "Is this some WSB trick? What are you up to Scorpio?"
"I don't know what you're talking about. I have been here talking to you I haven't done anything."
"Then where is this smoke coming from?" Liam turned away from Robert slightly, his gun a little lower.
Robert thought it was worth risking messing with him now. "What smoke?"
Liam looked around, he was so distracted by the smoke that was now filling the room he didn't notice that Holly was no longer there. As soon as he looked away from Robert they heard gunshots. Robert dropped to one knee, while Price scanned the room trying to find where the shots were coming from. "Whose out there? Why are they shooting at us?"
"The DVX found out you killed Faison. They aren't pleased and they're coming after you. It's a bonus if they kill me in the crossfire."
The room was getting very smokey now and it was hard to see clearly, Liam didn't notice Robert pull the gun from his ankle holster. More gunfire and Price spun around wildly looking around the room, then he started shooting. Robert stayed low he could see well enough to know that Price wasn't aiming at him. He just had to wait him out. Sure enough, Price emptied his weapon, Robert knew he'd have more than one gun so he had to move quickly before Price could pull the other one. Robert sprang up and charged at Price knocking him backwards they landed on the small table breaking it under their weight. The impacted winded him and before Liam knew what had happened there was a gun pointed at his forehead. Through the smoke, he noticed more armed people in the room all of them pointing their weapons at him. An officer moved in quickly and cuffed him, he didn't bother trying to get away.
...
Shep had followed the police when they left the parking lot, he watched as they went door to door and he noticed that Scorpio was definitely in charge. Maybe he had been giving the guy a harder time then he needed to. Shep stayed out of sight when the officers all moved in on one small house he got a little closer hoping to get more for his story. When Scorpio willingly went inside that small house he was amazed that he would risk his own life to take down the suspect. Once he had gone inside Shep got a little closer again, He didn't want to miss anything, but didn't want the cops to see him there either.
...
Anna had pulled Holly out the back door and they had moved to the far side of the empty lot, Anna knew she had to keep her away from anything that was happening now. They couldn't risk Price seeing her outside and she couldn't be sure what would happen once he realized she was gone. When they heard the first gunshots, Anna knew it was just a recording. Holly tried to run out of their hiding spot, Anna held on tightly to her arm. "Stay here," Anna told her angerly. "Do you want to mess this up?"
"There's gunshots!"
"No there isn't. That's just to mess with Price. Do you see the smoke? That's just part of our plan as well."
"What?"
"We knew Robert was most likely going to have to go inside, I was to get you out. Once we were clear Sean started the next part of our plan. We know what we're doing, and as long as they're allowed to carry out the plan no one will get hurt."
Holly jumped when the second round of gunfire started but looked at Anna who didn't even flinch. Clearly, this was part of their plan, she took a few deep breaths and continued to watch the small house. Now she could see some smoke coming out of the windows, then more gunshots. This time she is thrown to the ground.
"Those are real, stay down."
When the shooting stops Holly hears yelling and noticed movement, "What's going on?"
"I'm not sure but if there's no more gunfire then I think they've arrested him."
"Who was shooting then?"
"Most likely that was Price, they let him empty his weapon then moved in on him."
"Are you sure?"
"No, and we won't know until we see people come out. We just have to wait." Anna was kneeling beside Holly now and let her sit up.
Holly looked over at Anna, she seemed much too calm. They didn't know what had just happened, they don't know if anyone was injured. She looked back at the house in time to see Liam lead out in handcuffs by an officer. They watched as he was put in the back of a patrol car, then they both stood up. As they walked back towards the group of officers Holly noticed Anna wasn't talking at all. Guy came over, "Holly we'll need a statement from you. Would you follow me, please?" She followed him but was looking around for Robert and Sean neither of them had come out of the house yet.
Anna stood there alone staring at the house, a few officers had gone inside after Price had been lead out. No one seemed to be in a panic so she was sure no one had been hurt, she just needed to see him. Had Robert really called her the love of his life? Did he say that just to get through to Price? Anna realized she couldn't move, her feet felt like they had grown roots. Where was he, what were they doing that he hadn't come out yet? Finally, she saw Sean, then Robert followed him out still talking to someone inside, but she still couldn't get her feet to move. She watched as they walked over to Guy and Holly, Robert talked to them briefly, gave Holly a hug then looked around. Anna noticed that her feet seemed to be working again and she slowly started moving towards him.
Robert said nothing as he walked toward her, as they got closer they both grinned slightly then wrapped their arms around each other. "All in one piece?" she asked as she leaned back in his arms and ran her hands along his chest.
"All in one piece, he was aiming outside when he was shooting."
"Robert, what you said to him," Anna was interrupted by a commotion on the far side of the small house. She and Robert both looked over as officers rushed over to someone walking out of the row of trees between houses. "Who is that?"
"It looks like Shep Casey," Robert answered and they both started walking toward the commotion. When they got closer they could see that there was blood on his shirt. "Bloody hell, did that fool get himself shot?"
"He must have followed us here hoping to get a scope for tonight's news."
"Great, that's just what I need. The reporter that's going out of his way to make me look bad gets shot during a police operation." Holding Anna's hand he walked over to Shep, he was getting looked at and an ambulance was on the way already. "How bad is it?"
"He got shot in the shoulder, no exit wound."
"What were you doing here? I had just warned you about interfering with a police investigation, then you go and get yourself shot. You might notice none of my people were injured because we all knew what was going on."
Anna put her hand on his arm, "Robert he is injured."
"He shouldn't have been here in the first place. No civilians should have been in the area."
Shep looked up at him, "Sean Donely and Anna Devane were."
"They are private investigators working with the PCPD, who just happen to be former WSB agents. What training do you have?" For once Shep didn't have a comeback. "Were you aware of the plan that was in place? Were you told what to do if and when Price started to fire his weapon? No! That's why you should not have been in the area."
The paramedics came over so Robert stepped out of the way, he didn't have anything else to say anyway. The officer that had looked at Shep's shoulder was ordered to go with him to the hospital to get his statement about why he was in the area and how he ended up getting shot.
"I didn't need that," Robert said as he turned to walk away. "I want this to be over. Now I have to deal with a reporter getting shot while we took down a perp."
"I think that he'll tell the officers how and why he got shot. If he wants to keep his job he will. I know Tiffany will not let him turn this to make it look like the PCPD or you were in the wrong in any way," Anna said.
"She's right. By the time Shep's out of the hospital the real story of what happened here will have been reported and I'll make sure all the reporters know just how the tool got himself shot," Sean offered.
"Yeah, I'm sure you're both right. It still doesn't change the fact that it was Shep Casey that got shot and that he is set on making me look bad."
"That won't happen, when it comes out he got himself shot by interfering in your investigation, I think people are going to know anything he says about you or the PCPD is because he made a fool of himself," Sean told him.
"Yeah, you're probably right."
"I'm going to go call Tiff to tell her what happened." Then Sean walked away from them.
Several officers came over and Robert started talking to them, giving them all instructions about what had to be done. Anna stayed out of the way she could wait to talk to him. He was fine, that was all that mattered. After about ten minutes Holly and Guy walked back over to him. Guy had taken her statement about what had happened and she was ready to leave. "Robert do I still need police protection?" Holly asked.
"No, Price is in custody. There shouldn't be a threat now."
"So I'm free to go?"
"Yeah, I can have an officer take you back to your hotel."
"Thank you." Holly started to turn, "Robert we both heard what you said to him. I think we all know who you were talking about when you said you lost the love of your life. I think maybe I've known that as long as I've known about her. Don't let her get away again." She kissed his cheek then wiped a tear from her eye. "Goodbye, Robert." Sam Wells came over and offered to give Holly a ride and they walked away together.
He watched them walk away, then turned to Guy. "Can you handle this?"
"Yeah boss," he smiled. "Go take care of what you need to."
Robert turned and looked around where was she, where had she gone? Then he saw her standing by his car alone. He walked over to her, "Anna."
She turned to look at him, he wasn't standing there. Robert was already down on one knee, Anna covered her mouth, was this really happening? "I love you, Anna. I have wasted too much time. I should have forgiven you so much soon. I want a life with you. I want the life we started years ago. Anna Devane, will you marry me?"
Anna inhaled and started nodding, her hands still over her mouth. "Yes!" She dropped her hands, "Yes Robert, I'll marry you." He stood up and took her in his arms, kissing passionately. They heard the cheers from the officers that were still there so stopped kissing and put their foreheads together.
"The love of your life, eh?"
"Yes, you are."
"Good, you're my once in a lifetime love. I love you too. Let's go tell our daughter."