Vienna, Austria
A sleek dark Mercedes sedan and a battered Land Rover drew up short within the shadow of the warehouse. The sounds of aircraft take offs and landings could be heard at regular intervals. Raine, Andre, Felicia and Vincent got out of the Land Rover. Heloise and Robert got out of the Mercedes. Vincent scrambled up to the roof of the Land Rover and untied their gear packs and handed them down to the rest of the team.
As if they were all hearing the same timer ticking, they double-timed into the warehouse leaving Heloise, Andre and Robert standing by the Mercedes.
Robert clasped Andre forearm and shook it. "Good luck and thank you."
"Just keep them occupied. We'll do the rest," said Andre letting go of Robert's.
Robert walked towards the warehouse giving the couple privacy for their goodbyes. Inside, he had a quick word with Felicia, Vincent and Raine. As he talked with each one, he collected whatever personal effects they had that could traced to them such as cell phones, wallets or jewelry.
"Did you get a hold of Frisco?" Robert asked Felicia.
"Yeah. I couldn't get Maxie though. No answer," Felicia cinched the last belt around her waist. "Can you check in with Frisco, Robert?"
"Sure."
"Something about his voice was wobbly. He's up to something," said Felicia. "Call it wifely intuition."
"He's always up to something."
"Yeah but he usually gives me a clue. He didn't this time," said Felicia. She looked at her watch. "Robert, you need to get ready. We'll be fine."
"I forgot to tell you something before. I've told the others and it's your turn," said Robert. He leaned close to her ear and whispered.
"I can't do that. No way."
"Your mission ends when you get out. That's it. Nothing else."
"But if you ... if you can't ..."
"Then I can't. Period," said Robert. "No need to tell on me. Anna knows. If not me, it would have been her."
"And you tell me this now because I can't do anything about it?" said Felicia.
"Give us a hug." The two long-time friends embraced.
The ground vibrated under their feet. Andre strode in and called out. "It's here! Let's go!"
WSB Headquarters, New York City
Frisco tapped on his keyboard calling up all known information about one Paul Hornsby. On a clipboard on his desk was one of the pages he had copied from Chase's notepad. Perhaps keeping it in view would jog his memory about where he had seen something similar before.
"Paul, you have been one busy, busy man," said Frisco under his breath as he scrolled through several pages of information. On the surface, he could not find evidence or hints that Hornsby had deviated from the straight and narrow. "Except for meeting with Chase that is. What was that all about?"
He looked up at a knock on the door. He covered his clipboard with a magazine. "Come in!"
Dianara poked her head in. "I'm heading out, Frisco."
"It's nearly rush hour. I'll go with you." He put his jacket on and slid his Glock into his side holster.
"I can take care of myself," said Dianara.
"I know you can. This is an early wedding present. Mac's done a lot for me and Felicia," said Frisco. "The least I can do is make sure his bride makes it to the altar."
"What about your assignment?"
"It's covered. I'll be back here in plenty of time to do airport escort duty and see you back to Port Charles, too."
"How gallant, Mr. Jones."
Frisco grinned. "That me!"
The Book Nook Bookstore, Port Charles
Mac waited until Faison had been carried out of the room by the security team. He closed the door and rounded on Anna.
"What the hell were you thinking shooting him like that?" asked Mac.
"What I had to do," replied Anna.
"You should have known better. He can press charges against you and-"
"He won't!"
"The store could."
"He told the manager it was an accident and not to press charges. You can relax." Anna looked at her watch. "I have to go."
"Relax? Now?" asked Mac. "My daughter was kidnapped and in hospital. Andrew's security teams are running helter skelter all over town and you shoot an unarmed man in cold blood."
"I had no choice, Mac. Just turn a blind eye just this once," said Anna.
"You and Robby promised me when you two came back that there would be no vigilante justice."
"There isn't."
"What do you call what you just did?"
"Well, I didn't kill him. If I had, then THAT would have been justice."
"But why?"
"The only way to get the upperhand on Faison is to catch him by surprise."
"Coming here was the surprise. What were the bullets for?"
"An inducement to converse," said Anna. "He has the answers I need."
"That I understand but I could have hauled him in for questioning which is the reasonable thing to do in cases like this. You remember basic police procedure, right?"
Anna strode to the door. Her hand grabbed at the knob. "Mac, I'm running out of time here. I'll answer your questions later after I talk with Faison again."
"Again?" Mac's eyes narrowed with eyes alight with suspicion. "They're not bringing him to GH are they?"
"No. He's not close to dying yet," Anna pointed out. "Make this easy. Forget we ever had this conversation."
"I know how close to the edge you like to operate but this is beyond the pale even for you." Mac put a hand flat against the door. "I can't let you do this."
Anna lost her temper. "I'm past the edge, Mac. That's a fair warning. Now, get out of my way."
"I'm not going to allow this to - ow!" Mac found his right arm held and twisted against his back.
Anna twisted Mac's wrist none too gently. "Warning has been given. There won't be another one."
"Just tell me why?"
"If I get answers out of him, then Robert may not have to ... we may get clues to Peter's whereabouts which could lead to finding Robin." With her other hand, Anna opened the door. She released Mac's arm. He stumbled forward.
"What's that about Robby?" Mac turned around but Anna was gone. "Anna?"
Vladivostok, Russia
In the tiny second floor flat that was her hideaway, Robin tossed and turned in her sleep. She awoke and sat upright with her heart racing and her skin feeling cold and clammy. She wrapped the blanket closer around her.
"Haven't had a nightmare like that in forever," said Robin. She'd dreamt she was running and running from some unknown and unseen force through a landscape of faces from her past - her family, friends, people she'd worked with, neighbors.
She tried to calm herself and settle back to sleep but she could not. She was not cold for the blanket was warm and the flat was insulated from the bitter cold outside. She wasn't hungry. In fact, she felt nauseated from fear not illness.
"Must be the sleeping pills or the lack of them. I'm not taking them anymore. They must suppress dreams."
She padded to the side window. From a sharp viewing angle, she could see out yet remain unseen by passersby. The street was dusted with a carpet of unbroken snow. The sky was clear save for the shining half moon.
Robin stood there for some time just looking out. Little by little her weariness returned. She returned to her makeshift nest in the living room and laid down. Her anxiety abated a little overcome by her body's need for rest. In a few hours it would be dawn and she had a busy day planned.
Majestic Theater, Port Charles, New York
Anna rushed into the Majestic Theater. Andrew was waiting for her by the lobby doors. Even before the doors closed, he held out his phone.
"Mum, call Father," said Andrew.
"After Faison is secured," said Anna walking past him heading for the auditorium and backstage.
Andrew dogged her steps. "He's been trying to contact you all day."
"I said I'll call him," said Anna. "He hasn't been sedated has he? Are you sure you want to do this? Are all the precautions in place?"
"Forget Faison. Call." Anna wasn't stopping so Andrew put a hand on her forearm.
Anna stopped midway down the aisle. She glared at her son.
"I know the operation over there is dangerous. The less I know the more anxious I get. My anxiety level right now is off the scale. For my peace of mind, Mum, please call."
Anna closed her eyes. Her lips moved as if she was mentally counting from five to one. She probably was. She breathed in and out slowly as she took her phone and initiated a call to Robert. She began to speak even before his greeting. "Robert, I have Faison. He's secure and motivated to answer my questions."
Robert cleared his throat. "Define motivated."
"Two gunshot wounds."
"You shot him? For real?"
"One on the thigh and one on the calf. Enough to incapacitate yet keep him conscious for my purposes," explained Anna.
"Time's ticking, luv," said Robert.
"That's what I've been trying to explain to our son here and your brother earlier but will they listen to me?" Anna arched a brow at Andrew. "Edgy team leader, concerned wife and aggravated mum that's all I am."
"I didn't know it was urgent. Sorry," said Andrew.
Anna patted her son's shoulder. "I know, darling. Go and make sure Faison's secure. I'll be right there."
Andrew sprinted down the aisle and up the stage muttering to himself. "If people would only tell me what's going on, I wouldn't be making an ass of myself would I? I HATE being out of the loop."
Anna lengthened her stride down the aisle. "The Portland trip paid off. I have absolute proof that Peter created the compound and that he and Faison were working together. Faison DID arrange Peter's so-called death and they still have some form of communication going on today."
"You got all that? That's unbelievable!"
"I didn't get anything on Robin. Faison denies knowing anything about abducting her in London or questioning her."
"He's lying through his teeth!"
"If I can get information on Robin's location, then you can stop at Plan A. Leave Plan B for another day," said Anna. "What's my minimum window?"
"One hour and maximum is one hour thirty."
"I'll get something, Robert. I don't care if he bleeds out on the floor," said Anna. "Buy me some time."
"No can do. Ops is a go. If I don't hear from you within the next hour, I can't call it off. Radio silence will be in effect. The team is all in no matter what. Andre and I will be on Plan B."
"I know," said Anna softly. Her finger traced around Robert's image on the phone display. "I wish I was there."
"Well, I don't. If you were, we would both be going in. No fun in that," said Robert. His voice gentled. "Remember one thing, Devane. I love you."
"Love you more," said Anna.
Anna reached the closed door of the large dressing room currently used as Faison's cell. She didn't bother to knock. She slammed an open palm on the door, pushed and walked in. "Cesar! Let's get started shall we?"