Later that night, Frisco reviewed the list of missing data. He lay back in bed and recalled the first time he'd ever heard of the Venezuela operation.
Mexico City, 1992
Frisco slipped into the backroom of the noisy cantina. As he closed the door, his smiling demeanor changed into an impassive mask. Three men waited for him. Hands on hips, he faced the agents.
"You do realize that you've just endangered my cover here," said Frisco.
"We probably did," said Martin Ross.
"It's taken me nearly a year to … to be accepted by the locals. Thanks, Ross," said Frisco.
"Look, Frisco, I wouldn't be here if it wasn't important," said Ross. "I have a job and you're the only man who can do it."
Frisco looked left then right. "Who me?"
Ross' jaw flexed. "You have no idea how much it pains me to admit that."
Frisco crossed his arms across his chest. "All right. What is it?"
"I need you to hunt down two people."
Frisco shook his head. "Not my specialty."
"You don't have a choice." Ross took out a thick envelope from his pocket. He handed the envelope to Frisco. "Head to Venezuela with a team I've hand-picked for you. We've blackboxed two individuals. They're on the run. Your assignment is acquisition - dead or alive."
"I'm not an assassin. Choose someone else," said Frisco.
"Open the envelope. I think you'll change your mind."
As Frisco opened the envelope, Ross continued to speak, "You'd be ideally placed to make sure they're taken alive and-"
Frisco stared at the document he unfolded. "This … this is a joke. No way is this true."
"Our job is to carry out orders not debate them."
"What are … why were they boxed? They haven't done anything!"
"That we know of," said Ross. "Months ago we suspected that Scorpio was under the influence of Faison. Now, we've found out that Devane's past association with Faison was … is a lot more sinister than we'd believed it was."
"Anna and Robert are the victims here. They put Faison away. YOUR people screwed up and allowed him to escape."
"Faison got lucky," Ross bristled. "A chance in a million that someone looked away at a … a crucial moment. Faison is not the issue."
"He's the source of … of everything. I know it and you know it but you've never believed me about him."
"For god's sake, you wave Faison around like some unkillable boogeyman. He's just one man who's smart enough to make opportunities happen."
"Yeah and people die when he does." Frisco stuffed the document back into the envelope. "You want Robert and Anna alive just have the agents put their guns down. Robert's not one to shoot first."
"He's gone rogue. He's not the same man-"
"Well, of course not! His wife's been kidnapped. I've been in his position. He won't let anything get in the way of getting her back. Heck, I'd help him if I could."
"That's what you'd be doing by taking the assignment," said Ross.
"There has to be a catch somewhere. With you, there always is."
"Our first option is to capture them alive. Maybe work a deal in exchange for rescinding the blackbox orders. They'd still be an asset to us," said Ross. "Our second option is out of our hands."
"What do you mean?"
"I tried to lift the blackbox orders on both of them, Frisco. Believe me, I tried everything I could think of. If it were up to me, I'd only have the first option but it's not," said Ross. "Regulations and rules exist and we have to follow them. Per our chief director, option one has one, only one, chance. If it fails on the first try, then orders are to kill both of them."
"Do they know about this?"
"Robert knew about Anna's blackbox status. We think that's why he left in such a hurry," said Ross. "I don't know if he knows about his blackbox order. It doesn't matter. He's gone to ground. We don't know where he is."
"Then why Venezuela?" asked Frisco.
"Because a reliable source has informed me that Faison and Anna are in the area. Scorpio is bound to be on the same trail," said Ross. "You're my last resort, Frisco. We haven't had much luck in tracking either of them. But you know them and the way they think. You can find them."
"I'm more inclined to not find them at all."
Ross sighed. "Whatever you might think of me, I'm trying to do you and them a good turn."
"Really? Because of you losing Faison, you were passed over for promotion. That must have rankled. Then this year they offered Robert the top job."
"Yes, they did and he hadn't given them an answer one way or the other before he disappeared. That's why you get one chance to get them back alive. They want to see if Scorpio can be salvaged from this mess," said Ross.
"What about Anna?"
"She's a special case. She's a potential liability because of Faison. What has she told him about us and our activities?" said Ross.
"You're reaching, Ross. Anna is no more disloyal than Robert is."
"All the evidence points to her having gone with Faison willingly. To me that says a whole lot about where her loyalties lie. It may be better to leave her where she is with Faison."
"Then why is she being given a first option?"
"Because we suspect she's pregnant."
"What?"
"A woman matching Anna's description has been admitted to a hospital in Venezuela. She's in the maternity ward," said Ross. "If it was Faison's child I doubt Robert would be pursuing them so hard. A baby would be good leverage for our side on Robert."
"If she is pregnant, you can count on it being Robert's. Trust me, Anna wants NOTHING to do with Faison."
"I know Robert is a big boy and can take of himself but he can't keep an eye on Faison, rescue Anna and the baby and save himself. Can he do all that by himself? No one is THAT good," said Ross. "You're their daughter's godfather, aren't you?"
"Leave Robin out of this."
"It was only a casual mention. Nothing more," said Ross. "If Anna is pregnant, it cuts down on her effectiveness as an agent. She'll need help and so will Scorpio. You can be that help and finally get your revenge with Faison for kidnapping Felicia years ago. One chance. Make it count."
Frisco swallowed hard. He gripped the envelope hard before putting it inside his jacket. He left the cantina and got a taxi for the airport.
Caracas, Venezuela 1992
Frisco sprinted down the long alley. He could hear the sounds of gunfire in the distance. His own clothes reeked of perspiration and powder burns. Finally, he reached an intersection that he judged was the right one.
He turned right and was soon proven right. Crouched behind a bullet-riddled car, he could see Robert and a stranger. They were taking turns returning fire.
"Robert," whispered Frisco as he got closer.
Robert whirled around, "Frisco?"
Frisco slowed and crawled towards the car. "Yeah, who else were you expecting? Santa Claus? You haven't been a good boy I hear."
Robert tapped Andre on the shoulder. "Frisco, remember this fellow?"
Recognition was instant. "Grant? Grant Andrews?"
"That guy is long dead. It's Andre Garnier." Andre extended his hand and the two men shook hands.
"Are you part of the pack of dogs out there? Call them off," demanded Robert.
"No can do. They're all Ross' people. If I stop the mission, I'm as good as dead," said Frisco. "Do you know where Anna is?"
"We may," said Andre.
"Is she pregnant?"
Robert nodded. "According to hospital records, she delivered a … a baby. I don't know if it's a boy or girl though."
Frisco grinned. "That's great."
"I'd like to be able to bring them home in one piece."
Andre fished around in his vest and took out a grenade. He pulled the pin and launched it. "That should buy us some time."
"Robert, the Bureau wants you back. Let's end this standoff," said Frisco. "They're willing to stop the blackbox order."
"On Anna, too?" asked Robert warily.
"On you, yes, but Anna's … she's a problem," said Frisco. "The baby should be fine though."
Robert snorted. "Did Ross think of those terms? No deal."
"Robert, we can play for time. Time to figure out what to do with Anna. In the immediate moment, you need help to get her back," argued Frisco. "My team is ready to assist."
"We don't need any help," came Andre's confident reply.
"I want to help," said Frisco urgently.
"I know you do," said Robert. He placed a hand on the younger man's shoulder. "I appreciate the information but it's better you distance yourself from me. Better for your health."
"You should have contacted me when you left to find her," said Frisco. "My hands are tied now."
"Listen, I want a favor."
"Name it."
"Let them continue to think that Anna's still pregnant. They'll hesitate to shoot first," said Robert. "Force them to take her alive."
"Okay. What else?"
Robert leaned in close to Frisco and whispered into his ear. "You think you can do that?"
"No."
"Frisco, Anna and I know we're expendable in this scenario but our child isn't. If you are in a position to get our child home, I'm asking you to do it."
"You're asking me to stand by and watch you both die. I can't do that."
"Faison won't let them go and I won't stop trying," said Robert.
Andre peered over the car's hood. "We got more company. Two new squads in play."
"What?" asked Robert and Frisco at the same time.
"They're not mine," said Frisco.
"It's time to leave the party, Robert," said Andre.
"Yeah, I've had enough of hide and seek," said Robert.
Frisco watched wide-eyed as Andre calmly rigged a small block of plastique explosive to the car's chassis effectively turning it into a large firebomb when detonated.
"Since when do you carry around an arsenal?" asked Frisco.
"I've always liked to be prepared," replied Andre. "Ninety seconds, gentlemen."
Frisco got to his feet. "I better get back. Robert, I can promise that I'll do what I can to save all of you."
"I'll take it." Robert hugged Frisco. "Good to see you. We'll do lunch."
They all began to sprint down the block.
In between breaths, Robert asked Frisco, "How did you know Anna was … was pregnant? We haven't told anyone not even Robin, Sean or Mac."
"Ross told me," replied Frisco.
The car exploded sending plumes of fire into the bright skies.
Ross told me. Ross told me. Ross told me.
Frisco sat up in bed with the words echoing in his mind. "How did Ross know if no one else did?"
He took his IPhone and reviewed the pieces of information that were missing from SIMON's repository. There was no mention of Anna being pregnant. He looked through it a second time with the same result. No one in the WSB had knowledge of Anna's condition prior to Venezuela.
Lastly, he checked the formal declaration of the black box orders. Robert was to be taken alive but not Anna. Anna had never had a first option. She was to be terminated on sight.
He rose and padded over to the window. "Robert knew. Anna knew. Faison knew and he told Ross. Ross had to keep Anna alive. He got me to carry it out keeping his own hands clean. It all fits. Damn it all!"
He called Connie. "I need to see you. Right now."
"I'm at Lionel's house for dinner," replied Connie.
"Perfect. I need to talk to him too."
"Frisco, what's all this about?"
"I found your smoking gun. The spatter zone is going to be … be enormous."
"Get over here," ordered Connie. "Tell us everything."
The Scorpio Ranch, Australia
Robert leaned against the wall of the dining room watching Robin and Anna set the table. He had run the conversation with Charlotte repeatedly in his mind. Now that the initial outrage and shock had worn off, he could see the situation more objectively and a few things were making him twitchy. One of them was his daughter.
"Robin?" he began.
Robin put the napkin down, "Yes, Dad?"
"You can't give the formulas back. God only knows what they'll use it for."
"I'm giving them the notes that I brought with me not the real formulas," said Robin.
"Aren't they one and the same?" asked Anna.
"Well, no," said Robin. "Not on a chemical level."
Anna sat down on a chair. "I feel a headache coming on. Explain please."
"When I first began to reverse engineer the process, there were about seven different base formulas. I memorized each one," said Robin. "As I told you before, I changed the formulas stabilizing them. But I also changed the formula entries in the computer."
"So, what they actually had on their system is a copy and not the original?" asked Anna.
Robin nodded. "Peter wrote lots of notes but he never organized them. It was … easy to get rid of them without anyone noticing. As far as I know the original formulation isn't available any more. It's only in my head."
"But, Robin, they'll still be able to use these formulas for the same purposes as before," said Robert.
"No, they can't." Robin took a seat. "You see in the beginning, I had a lot of access. Before my last escape attempt, a failed one, I systematically changed every formula in the database. Small changes like a different chemical ratio here and there or changing the order of a step in the development plan. I made random changes whenever I had access to the systems. By now, except for five or six, none of the formulas are identical to the original."
"You took an incredible risk. If anyone found out-" began Anna.
"I had to do something, Mom. The risk of discovery was minimal because only a handful were ever put into production. Once a production process was set, the database wasn't accessed much afterwards. I made sure the production recipes worked as expected but I made them less aggressive in the initial application. The rest of the formulas were … were reference recipes. If Peter tries to use them standalone or as a base foundation for something else, the results will be less than satisfactory."
"Sabotage from within, brava!" said Robert. "And your notes? What's in them?"
"After I was no longer allowed to use the computer, they gave me a journal. Every day I wrote down everything I did in the lab, what I ate, when I took my medicines and other things like that. Each time I got a new journal, I would be allowed to transcribe by hand from the computer the reference recipe of the formulas I was working on," said Robin. "When I left this time, I ripped out the transcribed pages. It's those pages which I'll be handing over."
Robert began to chuckle. "Nearly all with the wrong data!"
Robin smiled. "It was …"
"Devious," said Anna. "What did you do to the computer system?"
"Nothing destructive. I used the pass card of my assistant and changed the directory path of the formula inventory on the network. The data is still there but the program can't find them."
"That is truly machiavellian," said Anna.
Robin shrugged. "It was the simplest thing I could think of at the time. I wasn't even sure if it would work. I just wanted to cause as much confusion and delay as possible."
"But it did work and now you've got them backed up against the wall and they don't even know it," said Robert. "It's brilliant. I don't feel as bad about this deal as I did before. You're in effect giving them nothing useful."
"I've made it very difficult for Peter to replicate his product. Once the antidote is done, he's finished," remarked Robin. "It doesn't make up for all the past test subjects but it's the best I could do."
"You've gone beyond what could have been expected, luv," said Robert. "Don't have regrets on that."
"Let's do the exchange, even up the scales and then …" said Anna.
"Then what?" asked Robin.
Anna smiled. "They'll be OUR problem, your father's and mine, sweetheart. You've done more than enough."
"I'm still working on the antidote. That's non-negotiable," said Robin.
"She reminds me so much of you, Anna," muttered Robert. "Clever and determined to get her way."
"As it happens, darling, we have a fully equipped lab at home. You can invent and experiment to your heart's content safely. Via SIMON, you and Alex can work together seamlessly," said Anna. "And the suite is ready for you and … and Vincent, too. The piano is still there. Jack is going to love the other dogs. You can tramp through acres of land with complete privacy. We have our own boat. It can take you to Boston or Manhattan. And, Robert brought Baby over. You can ride on the country roads anytime you want."
"I'm not committing to staying permanently, Mom."
"No, no, I'm not assuming that at all. I thought I'd just mention the benefits that the Villa has for you."
"Right, Mom, you're just sweetening the honey trap as much as you can."
"Ooh, a hit! You know your mother so well," said Robert.
"You want her to stay as much as I do," said Anna.
"True but I intend to do my groveling openly, shamelessly in fact," said Robert.
Mega Yacht Callisto Star
Charlotte hit the Enter key with some relish. She turned in her seat towards Arielle and Helena sitting in the middle of the salon.
"It's done," said Charlotte.
"I don't like giving up an advantage and this is what you've done," said Arielle.
"That's a valid objection and you're right. Once their divorce is finalized, we've lost any leverage over the Scorpios that we could have used. However, I believe that the long term gains will prove more beneficial," said Charlotte.
"And those gains are?"
"There is one less reason for the Scorpios to see us as foes."
Helena added, "Attacks on their children bring out the worse in them."
"I doubt that our organization is off their radar, but, most likely, we are not at the top of their list," said Charlotte. "This buys us time to regroup and rebuild our network and strength. Lastly, if we are not in the forefront of their attentions, it gives us the ideal camouflage for our own strategy. Out of sight and out of mind."
"They have shown a tendency to act with impunity should they feel just cause. That is both a weakness and a strength," said Helena.
"In other words, we're hiding out like cowards," declared Arielle.
Helena's eyes held a predatory gleam. "Not at all. We are neither surrendering or retreating from the field. Consider us to be at rest."
"Let's all admit it. We underestimated Anna, Robert and the resources they have at their disposal. We've learned from our mistakes this round," said Charlotte. "We shall do better."
"Our focus must be on rebuilding. We have ample funds thanks to Pompey's … generosity," said Helena.
"Killing him was the only option?" asked Arielle.
"He could not withstand the pressure being applied by Thanos D'Ercy and turned his back on ME! I do not take such slights lightly. Ties of blood should never be forgotten," said Helena. "Charlotte's idea to blame it on the Scarecrow was inspired."
"What If he refutes the kill?"
"He disappeared years ago. All that remains is a legend," said Helena. "Phantoms do not worry me. Now, we must turn our efforts towards our new associates - Peter and Dino."
"I know my assignment - exert control by any means necessary over Dino's operation," said Arielle. "Once we make landfall, I shall return to the states and begin my assignment."
"Helping Dino secure the Alcazar network in Port Charles will solidify his support," noted Charlotte. She stood up, got her cane and limped towards the others.
"I am SICK of Port Charles!" ranted Arielle. "What makes it so special? Even Larry is absurdly fond of the place. I hate it."
Helena laughed. "On the surface, there is nothing noteworthy about the place. It is underneath where its value lie. Historically speaking, the city has been a favorite among smugglers due to its proximity to international trade routes and one unlikely element - underground caves and catacombs. The city is built on top of them. Some of the most successful crime families began as smugglers during Prohibition. They used the catacombs to transport and store liquor and other contraband. Stories say that the tunnels are so vast that whole sections of them could hold years of supplies."
"Underground storage is not unique," said Arielle.
"No but whole distribution networks, honed over time to polished efficiency, are worth a great deal. Where do you think the Corinthos crime family derive their influence from? They control the network and exact a … a toll for every item that comes through. Sonny Corinthos keeps his hands relatively innocent while profiting exorbitantly on all traffic - drugs, counterfeit goods, arms even the rare human organ exchange."
"I've been studying Helena's notes. They are illuminating," said Charlotte taking a seat in the armchair and propping her leg on the ottoman.
"On one end are the ports, the catacombs in the middle and the ports, airports and roads at the other end. Overseeing the traffic is Corinthos. Is that right?" asked Arielle."
"Yes. Sonny has systematically taken over key families - the Zaccharas, the Alcazars, the Carters, the Smiths. He then makes sure that his control over the families' networks is absolute. To keep the peace, he allows the crime bosses to use this consolidated network in any way they want as long as they pay the toll," said Helena. "It's quite an elegant and exceedingly lucrative setup. But the cost is … is a wild west of crime in the city as goods flow in and out with only the restraint of money."
"However, there are cracks that appear now and again in his overall operation," said Charlotte. "There are rivals who attempt to take over and Corinthos deals with them in time-honored fashion - intimidation and assassination courtesy of one Jason Morgan. The Yakuza is the only organization that is on par with Corinthos but they use their own network in the thriving Asian Quarter of the city."
"If they are so formidable, what chance of success do we have?" asked Arielle.
"Ah, but Corinthos' hold is established through fear not respect. The families do not respect him and he knows it. To them, he is simply a ruthless opportunist," said Helena. "He was a small-time hood running protection rackets and prostitution rings who got lucky."
Arielle refilled her wine glass. "Enter Dino."
Helena nodded. "Corinthos may be wealthy because of the network but his influence is confined to a small area. Dino, on the hand, has the potential to be so much more. His people are fanatically loyal to him and to his vision. Over the last few years, he has met with the old crime families on both sides of the ocean and gained their trust."
"That could not have been easy," commented Charlotte.
"He's been a loyal friend to Etienne and me," said Arielle. "I value my friends."
"Loyalty and trust are no longer fashionable but they do endure," said Helena. "Those that command them from others will hold power and gain respect. Leave Peter and the Scorpios to Charlotte and myself. Concentrate on Dino. Become invaluable to him. Marry him. If there is love, so much the better. Discover the best ways we can help him and that is what we will do."
"Your assignment is the most difficult and the most important, Arielle, but it will require time, patience and meticulous planning," said Charlotte. "Can you do it?"
Arielle's expression became solemn. "For Etienne and revenge, I can do anything."
"No! Mourn your brother for that is right. But this, this future, is for you," advised Charlotte.
"This will give you what you've always wanted, my dear, respect and influence," said Helena. "But you have to want it more than anything else."
Arielle tilted her chin defiantly. "I do." She drank all of her wine in one swallow. "Mrs. Dino Jerome. Mrs. Arielle Jerome. I like how that sounds."