January 25, 2009

Hill-Donely Building

Tiffany closed the door to Belle's bedroom before going into the living room. She found Sean reclining on the couch with coffee in hand.

"Is that the tenth time you've looked in? Is she still sleeping sound and safe?" asked Sean.

"Laugh all you like but after last night and Eve, I can't stop checking on her," said Tiffany.

"I'm not laughing, honey," said Sean. "You're checking for both of us."

Tiffany sat down next to him. Sean wound one arm around her shoulder. "The thought of anything happening to our baby girl makes me physically ill, Sean."

"Same here," said Sean.

"I want to see her go to dances and parties, go to high school and college. I want to see her byline in the paper or on the television screen. I want to be with her while she shops for a wedding dress. I want to see her marry the man she loves. I want to spoil my grandchild rotten someday," said Tiffany. "I want a million things for her that no amount of money can buy. It would … would kill me if she couldn't have those things like Eve with Emma or like my sister, Cheryl, with Lucas."

"Belle will have those things and more, honey," said Sean placatingly. "We have to be optimistic."

Tiffany laid her head against his shoulder. "You and me, we haven't been the purest of people. We've made selfish choices and horrible decisions. Done stupid, foolish things. But none of that is on our miracle child. Every time I see her, I see the best of us, Sean. Belle may have a smart mouth but her spirit is so good and sweet and her heart is brave and generous. I have to pinch myself sometimes to know I'm not dreaming 'cause I never thought my life could be this good."

"Funny how life turns out," said Sean. He kissed the top of Tiffany's head. "I'm happy when you're happy."

"I'm going to make an appointment with an estate lawyer for later in the week."

"What for?"

"For Belle," said Tiffany as if the two words explained everything. "I've got new assets with this building and the real estate development firm. You have the PR firm and the shares in Trident holdings. I want things spelled out to protect Belle."

Sean nodded understanding. "When you're right, you're right. We may not be around so it's best that … that we prepare ahead of time."

"Exactly. We both know how unpredictable life can be," said Tiffany. "I think the two of us together should ask Robert, Anna, Mac and Dianara to be her guardians until she comes of age, you know, if something happens to us."

Sean's voice hardened a little. "Nothing is going to happen to us. Trust me on that, baby."

"Well, you're not god, are you?" scoffed Tiffany. "It's just a precaution, right? I would feel better knowing that there were people looking out for our baby. Please?"

"Mac and Dianara, too, covering all the bases?"

"I admit I had my doubts about Mac as father material a long time ago but he's done an incredible job with the girls - not perfect but he was always there for them," said Tiffany. "Belle is already comfortable with her Uncle Mac. Dianara's a natural with kids. Did you want Connor to be her guardian instead?"

"No, she's not that close to him despite being half siblings," sighed Sean. "One of these days, I have to do something about that."

"So, yes on my four guardians?"

Sean chuckled. "Fine. If it will make you sleep easier, it's okay with me."

"And that brings us to security."

"Security?" asked Sean.

Tiffany sighed dramatically. "Security staff for the building, remember? I assumed you would be arranging all that or using Trident people."

"Oh, right, I haven't forgotten," said Sean. "Um, since this is mostly a residential building and not a fortress, I'd rather keep the security staff local and low key. We can always have the Trident end on reserve if necessary."

"Sounds good so far. What else?"

"I'm going to tap a few retired cops that I know around here and talk to Remy. She must have good contacts from her private investigation business."

"With Andrew coming and going here, are your arrangements going to fit with his, um, security requirements?" asked Tiffany.

Sean paused to consider the options. "Well, Anna will go way overboard on security especially on Andrew's floor. I don't foresee too many problems though."

"Anna? I thought Robert headed Trident."

"He does but family security is Anna's area now apparently," said Sean. "They trade off areas of responsibility so effortlessly. Don't bother trying to keep track of who does what."

"Morning," came Belle's tired voice.

Tiffany sat up and smiled at her daughter. "Good morning, sugar plum. How are you feeling?"

"Depressed," said Belle. "Not for me but for Emma." She slipped into her mother's embrace.

"We're all going to be there to support Patrick and the rest of the family. That's what they need," counseled Sean. "Emma is going to be loved and supported no matter what. We can't change the past you know. But we can try to … to shape the future to be a little bit better. That's doable."

"Emma's happiness is practically a holy mission for Andrew," said Belle. "He's going overboard."

"That's genetic, I think," said Tiffany glancing at Sean.

"Whatever he does, he never thinks it's enough. He sleeps in the Lair now and works at all hours," said Belle. "He's twisting himself in knots about it all."

"That's in the family tree, too," said Sean. "The best thing to do with a Scorpio or a Devane on a mission is to give them some slack. They'll come up with the best results in the end."

"Just don't get 'em mad, no matter what you do," added Tiffany. "I can't decide who'd make a worse enemy - Anna or Robert."

The house phone rang. Sean glanced at the caller ID display. "Speaking of the Scorpios."

"They've been looking for you like crazy, honey," said Tiffany.

"Let's see what they want," Sean stretched to the side table and picked up the phone. "Donely, here."

"Sean! I … we need to talk to you privately," said Robert over the phone.

"About what?" asked Sean in a flat tone.

"Old family business," replied Robert vaguely. "Can you come out here before I leave for the airport?"

"Sure. Be there within the hour," said Sean. "Do I need to bring anything - Valium, my lucky rabbit's foot, a silver bullet?"

Anna's voice came over the line. "We need to pick your memory about a Doctor Trigano. By the way, have you heard from Frisco or Felicia?"

"No, why?"

Robert said, "According to Connie, Frisco filed for a vacation period after Jacques' funeral in Paris. No one has heard from them since."

"It's called a vacation for a reason, Robert," said Sean. "I'm sure they'll surface soon."

"That's what I keep telling Robert," said Anna. "See you in a bit, Sean."

Sean stood up and returned the phone to its cradle. He made sure to keep his back turned from Tiffany and Belle. He couldn't let them see his suddenly haggard and withdrawn expression at hearing a name from his infamous past.

"What's the newest fire drill about?" asked Tiffany.

"Old business. Not everything is in computers these days." Sean began to walk towards the bedroom. "I said I'd head over there."

"Another exciting day for the Donelys," declared Tiffany. She coaxed Belle to her feet. "While Daddy gets ready, I'll join you for breakfast and you can tell me what's going on at school."

Belle followed Tiffany into the kitchen. "School is boring, Mama. I'd rather talk about the station."

"School was never boring for me at your age," said Tiffany. "We had sleepovers and dances and movie nights and football games and -"

"There's the Valentines Dance coming up. I have to get a dress for that."

Tiffany looked sharply at her daughter. "A dress? You're going?"

"I have to go to at least one this year. Why not this one and get it over with," said the ever-practical Belle. She opened the refrigerator and took out the milk carton.

"It's your first dance. We have to find the perfect dress. And make sure the boy knows the color so he can get the right corsage," said Tiffany. "Who asked you to go? Is it the … the Emerson boy or is it Pamela's son Billy? I thought he was sweet on you. Or, are you waiting for someone you like to ask?"

Belle poured her milk into her cereal bowl. "Oh, Mama, please, that is not a problem. I have a … an escort."

"Well, naturally, you're beautiful. I bet a dozen boys asked you."

"No one did."

"No one?"

Belle shrugged. "I'm not popular at school like you were, Mama. I just asked him."

Tiffany was momentarily speechless. "You are definitely your father's daughter. Sweetie, sometimes it's a good idea to wait for the boy to do the asking."

"But, Mama, I can't wait around for a boy to make up his mind," said Belle. "Besides, it's nothing special."

"Of course it is! It's your first formal," protested Tiffany. "It's something you're going to remember the rest of your life."

"I don't think so," replied Belle as she ate her cereal.

"We have a little over three weeks to get ready. We'll go shopping after school," said Tiffany. "Tell me who the boy is and I'll call up his mother and we'll sort out the transportation details."

"Andrew will take care of all that. I just to have to show up."

"Andrew as in Andrew Scorpio?"

Belle nodded. "In exchange for doing the analysis on the ELQ stocks, he agreed to take me to the dance."

Tiffany crossed her arms. "Houston, we have a problem, a big problem."

Vienna, Austria

"Phone! Phone!" exclaimed Felicia. "Where is it?" Not bothering to wait on Frisco, she reached over and pulled his phone from his pocket. Her fingers activated the link to SIMON. "Simon! Verify! Felicia Jones."

A few beeps and SIMON's mellow tones said. "Verified. Welcome back, Mrs. Jones." A message flashed in red on the display - "STANDBY"

The screen changed abruptly and Robert's image appeared. "Felicia! Where the hell have you been? Is Frisco with you?"

"I was infiltrating the Foundation," said Felicia innocent as an angel.

"I told you to lay off. Never mind that! I'm flying into Paris today. I need to fill you in," said Robert breathlessly. "Robin's missing and -"

Felicia nodded excitedly. She held the data disk for Robert to see. "I might have a clue where she is."

"You do?" asked Anna coming into the picture display.

"Robert, do you know someone named Therese Curic? It's a long shot but I thought instantly of you and -"

"I knew someone by that name. She died a long time ago," replied Robert. "What does that have to do with Robin?"

"Did you teach Therese how to sing Waltzing Matilda and give her this?" Felicia held up the scrap of cloth. She described Therese's hair, height and eye color.

Robert's faced drained white. He sagged backwards. Anna clutched at his arm, worried. He asked hoarsely, "How could you know? You've seen her?"

"I sang with her. I tended to her. I put her to bed." said Felicia. "She's at the Foundation, Robert. She's alive right now. But we have to get her out before they kill her." Her voice cracked. "They'll kill all of them. They've done it before and they'll do it again."

The delivery truck sped down the little used road headed for the highway junction. Inside, Felicia and Frisco held a tense video conference with Anna and Robert. On the IPhone's screen, Felicia could see Robert slumped into his chair looking out perhaps towards a window. Anna leaned on the desk half in and half out of the display screen.

"Let's regroup a bit here," said Anna. "You're sure that her name is Therese Curic?"

Felicia recalled what had memorized from the patient files. "Therese Curic with patient identification number 9411CX53."

"Simon, analyze and match the name Therese Curic against the files previously acquired from the Foundation. Felicia, Frisco, how safe is your location and persons at this moment? Any pursuit?"

"Felicia left them something to keep them occupied," chuckled Frisco.

"It won't be for long and -" begun Felicia.

"Match confirmed. Therese Curic File number 9411CX53. Classification is long term patient with unspecified chronic condition," said SIMON.

In his study, Robert took a deep breath then said, "Information request, Simon. Date of birth, place of birth, nationality, date of admission."

Simon rattled off the request. With each piece of data, Robert's expression grew more and more grave. His eyes filled with remembered pain. Anna extended a hand to him that he took gratefully. As the admission date was given, his hand squeezed her so tightly it was painful. He said, "It could be her."

"But we need to be sure before we get the Austrian authorities involved," cautioned Anna. "The Foundation has a great deal of political influence in Europe."

Robert opened a drawer and took out his old album. "A picture. Felicia can confirm that." He began flipping through the pages.

Felicia said, "About Robin, she's missing?"

"Ah, er, it's a long story. You've been out of the loop since Jacques' funeral," said Anna. "Where do I start?" Anna composed her face. "First, the person that we've known as Robin isn't OUR Robin. Sometime in 2001, an impostor took over. Her name is … was Eve. Our Robin is … is lost somewhere."

"What?" exclaimed Frisco whose voice was heard on the phone but did not appear on the screen.

Felicia knew better than to doubt what Anna was saying. Her expression transitioned from disbelief to shock then anger. She fingered the data disk. Her mind was going a mile a minute. "Wait! You said was."

Anna continued, "It gets worse. Eve died from AIDS and AIDS-related complications. Her burial is later today."

Felicia shook her head. She said softly, "My God, what about Emma? Patrick?"

"Maxie, Andrew, Belle and Judy, the nanny, are taking turns caring for Emma. Patrick is ... is hanging in there. Barely."

"What … what do you want us to do?" asked Felicia misty-eyed.

"Anything at all!" yelled Frisco.

"We have done the best we can for Eve in the time we had. Now, our priorities are focused only on Robin," said Anna. She looked straight at Robert who had been waiting patiently while holding a picture. "I understand that Therese and dealing with Elena and the Foundation are priorities but I can't … I won't allow anything to come before finding Robin."

Anna turned to look at the screen and Felicia. "By now, most of the team have arrived in Europe and following up on certain leads and background investigations. I want you two to get to Paris HQ. Stay there. Andre and Heloise have their hands full with Jacques' final request but I know that they have feelers out for more information on Robin. Salim is looking into his contacts, too. Robert's leaving in a few hours."

At a nod from Anna, Robert stepped into view and held the picture up for Felicia to see. "This was taken almost two decades ago. Is this the woman you met at the Foundation?"

Felicia blurted out, "Yes! That's her. She's thinner, older but the bone structure, the eyes, the nose. It's Therese."

Robert opened his mouth but no words came. He looked at Anna willing her to read his mind and speak what he could not say.

"The files that Simon matched against were for patients that, based on the case notes, seem to have been used for … for questionable medical tests and treatments," said Anna. "Treatments that leave the patient in a sub-normal condition. How … how was Therese? Her behavior?"

Felicia's brows furrowed as she took in Anna's words. "She was physically healthy. She was walking on her own. Mentally she was like … like someone who's autistic. There but not really there." She closed her eyes. "Her chart said things like repetitive behavior, strong cognitive impairment and mild dementia."

Robert walked out of view and stood by the window. The rigidness of his back told Anna all she needed to know of his emotional state. He was undoubtedly blaming himself for Therese's fate. It had supposed to have been his mission but he was unable to fulfill it. Therese had taken his place and been captured. Robert, in his alter-ego of terrorist Leo Jarvil, had thought her dead. So did her very much alive brother Franjo Curic.

"Felicia, you said that you had something about Robin?" Anna told herself to stay calm even as her hands knotted into fists. "Is she or was she a patient there?"

Felicia's head turned towards Frisco then back at the screen. She bit her lower lip. "The document I found was dated 2002."

Anna's eyes were imploring and sad. "Was she a patient? Is … is she still alive?"

"The document doesn't show Robin Scorpio as a patient. She's listed as a … a medical researcher at the Foundation. The document is a scanned copy of notes she made in her own handwriting. She wrote her name herself. I KNOW it's her signature and writing."

"A researcher?" asked Anna. "Could you tell what the context was? What was she doing for them?"

Felicia's eyes widened and turned dark. "Anna, I think she was working on the drug. The one given to Andrew and … Eve and maybe the same as Helena's drug."