The Heritage Foundation, Vienna, Austria

"You MAY have this evidence against me but I'm still not admitting a thing. It's all hearsay until I see proof," said Elena. "However, assuming that it is true, an option I must consider valid, we do have cause to negotiate."

"Glad you're finally seeing things my way," said Robert.

"Every man has his price. What's yours?" asked Elena.

"You're bribing me?"

"You wouldn't be here if you weren't open to a bribe," said Elena. "What is it going to take for you to forget about any evidence you may have?"

"My daughter. Give her back and you can do whatever you damn well please."

Elena was genuinely taken aback. "Your daughter died. I just found out about it."

"My second daughter died. Her name was Eve Montrose. She confessed before she died that she impersonated Robin," said Robert. "Robin is in your hands. You WILL give her back to me."

"That's impossible. I don't know anything about her," protested Elena.

"Your friend Sinclair knows. He worked with Robin in Paris. He created her double using a variation of Compound X. Ask Sinclair," said Robert. "Because if you don't, I am prepared to submit all our evidence to several global authorities. They may not shut you down immediately but they will be breathing down your neck. Public opinion will turn. No more funding. Too much media scrutiny. No more Foundation."

"This is preposterous. You're ... you're crazy with grief," said Elena. "You can't accept that she's dead."

"Look at me! Does this face look like I'm kidding or out of my head?" said Robert leaning as close to Elena as the handcuffs allowed him to. "You know me really well. Ask yourself if I would do all of this if I wasn't sure. Am I a liar?"

Elena's answer was swift and knowing. "No, you're not. Stay here while I ... I verify your story."

"You'll call Sinclair?"

"Yes, of course."

"Then, here's another tidbit to convince him or you. He had a patient in SkyView Sanitarium named Tessa Quayle," said Robert. "Tessa was the cover name of Anna Devane, Robin's mother. He was testing some amnesia drug on her at the time. As you can imagine, Anna and I are doubly motivated in finding our daughter."

"Tessa is Anna? He ... he never said anything about her," spluttered Elena.

"Interesting. What else hasn't he told you? Do you know his cousin is your old mentor Cesar Faison?" asked Robert. "Information like that though, well, it takes trust to share it, doesn't it? Maybe he doesn't trust you enough?"

"You stay here," said Elena turning her chair. "I'll get to the bottom of this."

"Elena, I'm sorry," said Robert.

Elena stopped at the door. "For what?"

"For what you're about to hear. Some truths are extremely painful to face," said Robert.

"Why do you care?"

"Because I was an idealist once. I know what can change a person into something ... someone else," said Robert.

"Thank you for that," said Elena. "I ... I may not see you again."

"Planning your getaway already?"

Elena laughed. "You were always such a good adversary. You kept me on my toes all the time. The guards outside have their orders but you expected that. Your coming here is serving my ends very nicely."

"How so?"

"You hear it all the time on the news. Terrorists plotting against the innocent," said Elena. "In a few hours there will be an event here. An event that will pull at the heartstrings of people everywhere. And, the blame will be entirely on you and your underlings. I'm sure they're in the building somewhere doing your dirty work. We're both planners, you and I. It takes one to know one, right? You had your one chance to fool me. I'd be twice the fool to be taken in again."

"Elena, you're making a big mistake. Talk to Sinclair."

"Oh, I will, but that won't change what's already in motion. Goodbye and farewell, Robert." Elena left the office.

"Elena!" Robert yelled after her. He tugged at the handcuffs. "Listen to me! Elena!"

On the stairway ascending from the subcellar, Felicia and Raine paused hearing footsteps running down the stairs. Felicia signaled Raine to warn Vincent and Andre who were still in the cellar. Felicia held on to hope that the footsteps would stop a few floors above but they didn't. Their sound got louder, nearer.

Finally, Felicia ducked into the celler. The room was as empty as they had found it.

"Felicia, over here," called out Vincent from behind the door of the nearest cell. Andre and presumably Raine was in the opposite cell.

Felicia had barely closed the cell door behind her when they heard someone enter the cellar. Gun at the ready, VIncent stood by the door. Felicia crouched low opening the cell door a crack to see what the intruder was doing.

After a few minutes, Felicia looked up stricken at Vincent. She mouthed the word "problem" to him. They heard a loud beep and then the intruder left the cellar.

Cautiously, they left the cells. Raine and Vincent drew level against the door making sure no one else was coming into the cellar. Andre and Felicia looked down on the object with dismay.

"Now we know what changed," Andre frowned at the timer counting down sitting on top of a large mass of plastique. "We have two hours before this blows unless someone knows how to disarm it."

"If Anna were here, she could do it," said Felicia.

"They're willing to take all these people down to cover up their sins. Unbelievable," said Vincent.

"Yeah, she would try to wouldn't she?" said Andre. "Schedule has been altered for us. Vincent, find some way, I don't care how, to let Nyssa know. She has to get the extraction team here and let Robert know about the change, if she can. Felicia, figure out a new exit plan without the extraction team. We can't rely on them. Raine, look around the ward for Robin and get Therese ready to go." Andre looked at the bomb. "I can't disarm this but maybe I can convince the man who put it here to turn it off. I'm going after Roger Barrett."

Nyssa nearly fell off her branch when the unexpected flashes of red light came from the rooftop.

FLASH. LONG FLASH. FLASH. FLASH. LONG FLASH. FLASH. FLASH. LONG FLASH. FLASH.

"Damn, what now?" she muttered. It was the signal for immediate contact and the red color meant emergency. She returned the signal and began a series of exchanged signals.

In a short time she had gotten the picture from Vincent. It was not pretty. She took out her IPhone and risked a text message to Edgar. It read:

SNAFU. Need extraction 90 min loading dock.

While she waited for a reply, Nyssa scanned the wreckage of the burned out Mercedes in the front driveway. If they were getting out via the loading dock, they would need some kind of distraction.

She made a call to Robert's mobile. There was no answer.

Villa Scorpio

In Robert's study, Anna watched the late local news with Alex. Her twin poured tea for both of them.

"No word from the Vienna team must be good news," said Alex.

"Yeah, I suppose," replied Anna.

"The news about Faison will die down. The press will move to another big story soon enough."

"His funeral?"

"If you had only aimed higher and forgot to call the ambulance."

"I know," said Anna. "I've never been able to kill someone in cold blood though. Not to their face anyway. And Andrew was there. Robert was right. I had him where and how I wanted him and I ... I couldn't do it. I couldn't kill Cesar."

"How is Andrew handling things?"

"He seemed fine throughout. He was in control. I'm sure of it."

"Tom told me that he was researching a method to put Andrew into a deeper trance to try to deprogram whatever is in his head," said Alex.

"Deprogramming worked on me and Robert but would it work on Andrew?"

"Tom knows he has to get in deep. The big unknown is just how hard Andrew's mind will fight him," said Alex. "Tom believes, and I agree, that Andrew has more capabilities than he lets on he has. Or, perhaps, he truly doesn't know himself."

Anna shook her head. "On some level he knows because ... he fights so hard to not use those skills. I remember his face when I asked him to probe Hans for me. He shut down, Alex. He simply would not contemplate the idea on ethical grounds but I sensed something else. Then today with Faison he didn't hesitate at all. Quite a contrast."

"You told me that Faison didn't believe he could do it," said Alex.

"Yeah. But it only took a few words and he was inside his head. It was scary and amazing to watch," said Anna finishing her tea. "Andrew said that Faison wouldn't fall for the same trick again and he's probably right. I don't think Faison will allow Andrew that close to him again."

"Good riddance then," Alex pointed at a few scones on the tray. "Have one. You probably haven't eaten all day."

Anna took her twin's advice. As she broke the scone apart, she said, "Robin used to make the best cookies. When we first moved into the house, Mac's house now, she and her friend Jodie, mostly Robin though, cooked a delicious dinner for Robert and me. I remember that she made Filomena's cookies that Christmas. Then last year, she said that she didn't know how to make them, Eve I mean."

"Anna, don't start this," warned Alex.

"I should have picked up on something!" cried out Anna. "When I moved to Paris, Robin rarely cooked at home. Simple meals but she used to make multi-course meals. Robert and I would eat anything she put in front of us. Why? Why didn't I see some difference?"

"Torturing yourself like this is not going to change anything," was Alex's rational advice.

"She can hate me for not finding her. But just once I want to hold her. Touch her face. Look into her eyes. Hear her call me Mom. I'll be happy with that."

"This is Robin. She won't hate you or anyone. She's out there and we will find her," said Alex.

"I feel like we're running in a maze and we keep hitting dead ends," said Anna with a deep sigh. "I'm so tired, Alex. I got into it with Sean. I stepped over the line with Faison. Without a flicker of remorse, I got Andrew to violate his own ethics and put him in the same room as Faison. What am I doing?"

"You're not losing control. Don't even think it," said Alex. "Anyone in your position would throw caution to the wind and do exactly what you're doing. It's not like you to brood and overanalyze, Anna."

"It's more a Robert thing to do I know. I think he and I have switched around some."

"How so?"

"If anyone would think of impulsively going to Vienna and shaking the truth out of Elena, it would have been me. Running an organization like this is more in his line than mine," said Anna. "He has a natural knack for it. I'm learning as much as I can in my spare time."

"I still say you should join him in Vienna."

"I can't. My duty is here." Anna stifled a yawn.

"What duty?" At Anna's suddenly blank expression, Alex added, "Fine. I know that there are some things you haven't told me and this has something to do with that, right?"

Anna nodded.

"I should stop butting in?"

"It would be better to not ask too many questions."

"You will tell me someday?"

"I think there will come a time that I will have to," said Anna. "I don't want to keep this from you but it's safer that I do."

"But Robert knows? He's part of it?" asked Alex. "Does Andrew know?"

"Yes, yes and no."

"I think I see. I shall refrain from idle curiosity."

"That would be for the best," said Anna.

The Heritage Foundation, Vienna, Austria

After midnight, the ward was quiet. There seemed to be even fewer staff than before. Felicia and Raine snuck into Therese Curic's dim room. Raine closed and locked the room. They couldn't afford to be found out now.

Felicia took out a small scrap of fabric from her pocket. With her other hand, she began to stroke Therese's hair and softly sing the words to Waltzing Matilda.

Therese woke with a start. Her head turned in all directions. She stared wide eyed and very much awake. Felicia held up the fabric as she continued to sing. Raine joined in the singing and held Therese's hand trying her best to radiate warmth and goodwill. Therese smiled and began to bob her head in time to the singing. The two women smiled back.

They had Therese on their side. How to get her out?

Vienna Safe House

Edgar looked with open alarm at his phone "SNAFU?

"What happened?" asked Shane.

"Sounds like trouble," said Nestor.

"Call everyone together, Nestor, get them loaded in the van. We'll have a meeting enroute," said Edgar. "Shane, can you duplicate the electromagnetic pulse effect like before to disrupt their electronics?"

Shane shook his head. "I haven't charged up the armada's batteries enough for that sort of load. The pulse generator I got from DigiMaze is a prototype. I don't dare use it again."

"Because Andrew will kill you when he finds out what you liberated from the store," added Nestor softly. "You know how he is with prototypes."

"Too right," said Shane.

"Whatever little tricks you've got left, pack it up for maximum explosiveness. In fact, the more lights and noise the better," said Edgar. "Do an inventory and tell me if you have something that can get their attention at the front doors. Something spectacular. Nestor, we have some time. See if you can hack into the Foundation's system. Maybe there's a clue to why there's been this change."

"Shouldn't we drop radio silence and contact base? They have access there," said Nestor.

"I don't think so. Not yet."

"But-"

"Listen, one thing I've learned is that it is far easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. We stay on radio silence." said Edgar. "I'll tell Heloise personally. You both have your orders. Get to them."

Shane didn't bother with a witty rejoinder. He ran after Nestor.

"One mission to go perfectly. That's all I'm asking for," muttered Edgar.

The Heritage Foundation

Elena Cosgrove dug her nails into the armrest of her wheelchair as she listened to Peter on her phone.

"You lied to me. Admit it!" she yelled.

"He's the one lying," said Peter. "My love, it's late. You're overtired. Let's talk about this tomorrow morning."

"We will talk about this now. When I showed you that picture of Robin and Anna, you recognized Anna as Tessa, didn't you?"

Peter sighed. "Yes. That's in the past, Elena."

"The past is now being dealt with downstairs. Scorpio's corpse will be found in a strategic place. How apropos that he'll be the instrument to hide our ... accomplishments," said Elena. "He says you have his daughter Robin."

"How can you believe him?"

"Because I know him. Far better than I know YOU," said Elena. "Where is she, Peter?"

"She's dead. They're delusional."

"Scorpio doesn't think so. Once he's gone, his partners will come after us - Devane and Donely. They will not leave us alone. Trust me on that," said Elena. "Tell me where she is and we'll hand her over."

"She's too important to my ... our work!"

"With Scorpio's death on my hands, they'll never stop looking for me. A life for a life is a code they'll understand," said Elena. "Robin for her father."

"We're protected by friends in high places. Let's not forget that. They can't touch us. No one can."

"Scorpio knows too much already! Where is she? Is she there with you?"

Peter did not answer right away then said, "Let me explain, Elena. Don't make any hasty decisions."

"Scorpio's an honorable opponent. I respect him for that," said Elena. "His death is dishonor."

"Once a spy, always a spy," said Peter.

"The DVX and the WSB are more alike than different. They draw the same kinds of people. You wouldn't understand."

"I understand that you're facing an extreme amount of pressure. I wish I could be there to help you. I do," said Peter.

Elena shook her head. "Lies on top of lies. It's deja vu all over again."

"Whatever lies I told you was said to make our dream a reality, Elena."

"But you did lie to me. Were you doing it for us or for yourself?"

"H-how could you think that!" exclaimed Peter.

"Too easily. Goodbye, Peter." Elena ended the call. She fished out the walkie talkie that lay nestled in a side pocket of her wheelchair. She pressed a key and said, "Roger?"

"Yes, Elena?" came Roger Barrett's voice.

"Progress?"

"Four planted to detonate in thirty-five minutes. Two large ones to follow in sixty minutes."

"Thank you, Roger."

"The van will be ready for you in ten minutes."

"I'll be down in twenty minutes. I have some things to pack."

"Me, too. Anything you want from the lower level? From Peter's rooms?"

Elena sniffed. "No, I want nothing from Peter. I just ... just want to get away. Malaga, Roger?"

"I thought we were going to our second location."

"No. I need time and space to think. I want to try a warmer climate this time," said Elena. "Wait. If you have time, can you get the laptop in his rooms. I'll need some files on it."

"Will do."

"Thank you, Roger. You've been there for me whenever I needed you."

"Of course, what are friends for?" said Roger. "Go and pack. Get out of here before the fireworks really start."

Vincent gave a series of knocks on Therese's door. Raine opened it.

Looking at his watch, Vincent said, "Extraction is set for one hour at the loading dock."

"And the team?" asked Felicia.

"We can assume that Heloise and Edgar will be there. We have a problem," said Vincent.

"The building is nearly deserted with skeleton staff only. We were counting on confusion and people running around. Now, it would be too obvious to wheel her out of her on a gurney or a wheelchair," explained Vincent. "I've found a place we can wait close to the dock but we have to get her and us there undetected."

"Therese can walk. Raine and I can take a hand and support her," said Felicia. She began to take off her uniform. "I can make her seem like a staff member."

The overhead lights flickered. Therese whimpered.

"Can you be ready to move in thirty?" asked Vincent.

"Twenty," said Raine as she took off parts of her uniform.

"I have to get some ... supplies. Meet me by the rear maintenance elevator in twenty minutes." Vincent left and closed the door.

Robert was dragged up to his feet by a burly guard. Two more guards stood around him. His handcuffed wrist pulled at the chair's armrest.

"Let's talk this over, huh," cajoled Robert.

The burly guard issued instructions to the other two. One end of the handcuff was removed from the armrest. The guard began to attach the cuff to Robert's free hand. He never completed the task.

In controlled yet vicious movements, Robert elbowed the guard in the solar plexus doubling him over then launched a slashing cut that caught the guard on his left by surprise. He slammed a backhand blow across the face of the last remaining guard.

Robert searched the guard's pockets. He pocketed guns, keys and card keys. He took out his phone and called Nyssa.

"I'm going solo. Robert out."

"Wait!"

"What?"

"Extraction is now in one hour via the loading dock."

"What happened?"

"No clue. Edgar and Heloise will be in position. We're still figuring out what to do with the front doors."

"Therese? Robin?" asked Robert.

"Therese, yes. No time to search for Robin."

"Leave ... leave Robin to me. Execute extraction and don't look back."

"I'm coming in to link with you in-"

"Negative. Get out with the extraction. That's an order," barked Robert before ending the connection. "Elena, here I come."