Villa Scorpio

Anna felt Andrew stir. Seated on the Lair's long couch with Andrew's head resting on a pillow on her lap, Anna watched anxiously as Andrew's eyes revealed recognition not madness. His body was encased in an improvised straightjacket. Robert's jacket was slipped over Andrew's front and cinched by several leather belts.

"Mum?"

"I'm here," said Anna. "Hush. Save your strength. Keep control. Alex will be back with a sedative."

Andrew's voice lacked it's usual edge of certainty. "She told you?"

"Yes. Everything."

"She promised not to."

Anna sighed. "Did you expect her not to?"

"No," replied Andrew. "How ... how m-m-murderous is Father feeling?"

Anna's lips thinned. "Your father will have to take a number behind me. Any deals with Faison are done and over with. Void. You understand?"

"Yes, but-" Andrew began to stir. "This is my problem. My responsibility."

WIth her arm across his chest, Anna pressed her son down on the sofa. "Not anymore."

"But-"

"Tom Hardy is on his way. I want you to rest until he gets here."

Andrew shook his head. "How can he help? This is ... isn't a case of programming. I'm conditioned to never fully reject ... to ultimately be unable to hate Faison, ever. This can't be solved via hypnosis. Only I can take care of it. I ... I just need time."

"Don't underestimate Tom. He's a capable and determined man. No better person to have on your side. He has our complete trust, your father and me," said Anna.

"I can do this, mum. I can change. I can," said Andrew desperately. "I know I can."

"I know you can, but you don't have to do it alone."

"What can Dr. Hardy do? None of the research I've d-d-done indicates a straightforward cure," said Andrew. "The older I get, the stronger I'll be. Over time, with willpower, I can change the conditioning."

"I don't doubt that, Andrew. I don't," said Anna. "However, you must realize that doing this on your own has not exactly been successful. How much damage could you have done if Alex were not here? Not just to individuals but to SIMON and all the rest of that?"

Andrew was silent. His mother was right. In a small voice, he said, "Screwed up again."

"You're allowed mistakes. We've all committed our share," said Anna. "This is not something anyone here can help you with. Maybe, Tom can. Will you at least talk to him? Please?"

"I c-c-can do that." Andrew lay quiet. "Is Alex all right?"

"Alex is sporting a large bruise. It's Dimitri you'll have to answer to."

"I know. I will." Andrew closed his eyes.

"I'm so sorry. This should never have happened."

"Not your fault."

"I trusted the wrong man and all my children are paying the price," said Anna.

Mother and son had been so engrossed in their conversation that they paid little attention to Sean studying the Lair and SIMON's tall cylindrical servers intently. He'd followed Anna and Robert from the study when the alarms went off. As he studied and noted everything in the room, a queasy feeling began to be felt in his stomach. Did he dare ask Robert or Anna about SIMON? Because the theories he was developing had a degree of complexity that boggled the mind. Knowing Andrew's influence over the WSB and the DVX in the theoretical sense was one thing. But seeing the actual mechanisms and technology involved was another matter. Potentialities and ideas filled his mind.

Sean's resolve to not involve Robert or Anna in his counter-operation against the Gemini Group grew. He knew he was staring at the future of intelligence gathering and counterintelligence operations. It was a prize the unscrupulous and power-hungry Gems could not be allowed to possess let alone discover.

"You are going to have to be careful, old man," whispered Sean. His gaze went to mother and son. "Anna, where's Robert?"

"Meeting with Giles and Vincent. Did you need something?" asked Anna.

"I ... uh, have to get back to the office. The piles on my desk aren't going to magically disappear," said Sean.

Anna ran a hand through her hair. "Oh, no! The museum exhibit. I'm so sorry, Sean."

"Nothing to be sorry for, Anna," assured Sean.

Anna said with a voice filled with frustration, "The national museum tour of the Ancient One's black pearls isn't a little thing. It's our firm's first huge assignment."

"The tour is starting here and we have plenty of time to iron the details out."

"Well, yes, but I'm not pulling my weight."

"Anna, we have hired top notch people who live and breath this sort of thing. They can handle the details while we focus on the security," said Sean. "When we need you, I'll call you. In the meantime, I can certainly do the advance site inspections."

"It's not fair to you. That's a lot of overnight trips."

"It's fine. I've been desk bound at the Boston PD for ages. I'm looking forward to some out of town work."

"And Tiff and Belle?"

"Are so busy that they will hardly notice I'm gone," replied Sean. "Besides, it's an overnight here and there. No big deal."

"You're sure?"

"Don't worry about me. You've got too much on your plate," said Sean. "I wish I could help with finding Robin."

"We understand, Sean."

"I hate to admit that I'm not the man I used to be. Age creeps up on everyone."

Anna smiled. "I think you just get better as time goes on. Experience counts more and more."

Sean returned the smile. "Flatterer!" He cleared his throat. "Has, um, Eve said anything more about how she was … was changed into Robin?"

"From what she said it's a kind immersive sensory treatment augmented by cosmetic surgery and gradual acclimation." Anna looked at Sean. "In our business, we know that those techniques are used-"

"But not as effective as what happened with Eve. Maybe it was a fluke, an accident."

"It happened. How isn't so important to me right now as much as who," said Anna. "I look into her eyes and I KNOW she's not lying. And, I know it's not the same person that met me at Wildwind. I can tell a difference now."

"What's different?"

Anna ran a hand through her hair. "The way she looks at me. The love is there. It's just not the same. I can't explain it." She sighed. "But that doesn't matter. In our hearts and minds, she's our daughter. We are her family. No one will ever say otherwise."

Behind the Lair, lay a series of ultra secure underground vault rooms plus functional living quarters suitable for a short stay in the event of a siege or disaster. in the vault, Robert held an impromptu meeting with Giles and Vincent.

Robert fingered the locket that Vincent had returned to him. He had given it to Anna on their second honeymoon. She in turn had given it to Robin to keep safe until she returned. Problem was, he and Anna had been presumed dead decades ago setting off a chain reaction of events that continued to ripple into the present day. Gently, he placed the locket inside a small vault case. He pushed the case in, locked it shut and applied a digital password with voice print authentication.

He turned to the two younger men. "I have to leave for the airport in a few hours. Are you two clear on your assignments?"

"I'm to catalogue, examine and do a preliminary investigation on every item in Faison's curiosity boxes no matter how insignificant," said Giles. "And keep an eye on Andrew. Pry all information out of him that I can about Faison's collection or library."

Robert nodded. "Everything leads to Faison. I'm getting really tired of being blindsided. I don't want to ... to use your friendship with Andrew, Giles, but I don't have much choice here."

"Understood," said Giles. "There's a lot we don't know about Faison and Andrew. You peel back one layer only to find another one under that. Maddening."

"And I am to return to London and search Faison's house thoroughly," said Vincent. "Meet up with Raine and Edgar at some point."

"Yes. Use that contact I gave you in Scotland Yard. He's a discreet chap," said Robert. "Will I need to speak to your superiors about this?"

Vincent shook his head. "No, I've taken a ... a leave of absence. Consider me on my own time. I still can't believe about ... Eve."

"You're the last person to be with Robin. Think back. Any detail could be crucial," said Robert.

"I wondered why she had refused my calls. She returned my letters, too. Now I know why," said Vincent. "I remember her talking about attending a symposium in London and have a small holiday afterwards. I wanted to meet her there my mission ran long and I could not meet her. That's where she was taken. It must be."

"And stashed in Faison's London base," concluded Robert. "For how long we don't know. Andrew found entries in the Library in an appointment book of all things that could be about Robin and Peter Krieg. The locket confirms that Robin WAS at that house. That combined with the dates in the book gives as a good starting point time wise."

"The trail is ... is cold, Robert," said Vincent.

Robert's expression was bleak. "I know. So does Anna. Today, I bury one daughter. Then I'm off to search for another daughter. I won't be able to rest until I find the truth about both of them."

"And Faison? Helena?" asked Giles. "They're running loose in the world, Robert."

"It's when, not if, when it comes to Faison. I'm on a collision course with him no matter what I do," said Robert. "As for Helena, she's not down for the count. She'll come out of hiding. Her and Spencer."

"Luke Spencer?" asked Giles puzzled.

"Never mind. That one is uniquely my own problem," said Robert. "I'm giving him a little slack to hang himself with. For now. Operationally, it's Elena, Helena and Faison, in that order."

"Hard to believe he could do all he's done to Andrew," said Giles.

"I have no illusions about what that man is capable of," said Robert. "But he never does anything without a purpose. Why did he prepare Andrew this way? He made Andrew believe that it was to ... to make him stronger, smarter. That was just a smokescreen. There had to be another reason." Robert took a deep breath. "But that has to keep for another day. My focus is on Robin. I can't let myself get distracted from that as much as I want to take Faison's head off right now."

"Robert, given Anna's personal connection to Faison, do you want me to go over everything? There may items of a … a very personal nature."

"Yes. Anna's got her hands full right now. But report all your findings to her. She's in the Club in case Jacques hadn't filled you in," said Robert.

"Ah, that makes a difference," said Giles.

Robert looked at Vincent. "You didn't hear that."

"Hear what?" asked Vincent innocently.

A steady stream of flower and gift delivery trucks had stopped at the Villa's gates. There were also persons who wanted to pay their respects in person. They had to be turned away hurt and disappointed.

On the opposite side of the road, a lone figure sat parked in his car in silent vigil. The gate guards kept a close eye on Jason Morgan. They had orders to admit no one. They had turned Morgan away the first few times he had tried to persuade and bully his way in. Now, they simply watched him.