Abbey Bookstore
Andre parked his car in the alley behind the bookstore. He entered by the backdoor and rapidly made his way to the small apartment on the top floor. He found Robin and Vincent waiting for him.
"Hey, you two," said Andre.
Vincent nodded and pointed at the curtained window. "They are still there."
Andre pointed at a closed wardrobe. "Change your clothes and appearance as much as you can. Take the back stairs to the garage. There's a Mini there. Use that and get on your way out of Paris." He carefully lifted one side of the corner and peeked out. "Vincent, the two men at the cafe one brown and the other in gray both not smoking and sitting up much too upright and wary to be natives. They're the ones following you?
"Yes," replied Vincent.
"I'll take care of them."
Robin already taking things out of the wardrobe. "What are you going to do to them?"
"It depends on the answers they give me," came Andre's laconic reply. "You sure they were only following you, Robin?"
"Yeah. We split up into two different stores. They followed me not Vincent," said Robin.
"There was no attempt at contact or getting close?"
"None. Observation from a distance," said Vincent. "They have to be reporting in. They made several calls."
"Could they be Charlotte's people?" asked Robin.
"Maybe or maybe not. With Helena still in the vicinity, I don't want to take chances," said Andre. As he talked he began to change his appearance. He removed his long coat and turned it inside out. A few tugs on the sleeves and collar changed the appearance and style of the coat completely.
"Cool! Is there a coat like that in this wardrobe?" asked Robin.
Andre chuckled. "Sorry. You're out of luck." He put a wool cap over his shaved head and round dark sunglasses. Overall, he looked respectable if shabbily dressed. He inserted what looked like tiny earplugs into both ears.
"What are those?" asked Robin.
"Things to better hear with," answered Andre. "Tricks of the trade." The last touch was a dab of lotion from a small bottle in his pocket. He rubbed his hands together. "And this is to make my fingerprints more elusive. May I suggest that you two cut the European tour short and head home?"
"We are," said Vincent. "I'll be booking us on a direct flight to New York once we get to the airport."
"Good." Andre fished something out of his pocket. He tossed a key fob on to the bed. "For the Mini." He looked at Robin. "Are you ready to go home?"
"No but I think it may be the best place for me," said Robin. "Safest anyway."
"It will be that. I'm proof that new lives are possible. Better lives, too. Just give yourself time," With that he stepped out of the room.
GEM HQ, Milton Keynes, England
Arnold Vandenberg listened intently to his headset. Chase Masters poked his head into his office and said urgently, "Come on! We have to be in front to greet Sean."
Arnold waved his away. "I'm on something here. You and half of the senior staff should do fine without me."
"This is important, Arn," said Chase. "I expect you down there in fifteen minutes."
Chase closed the door leaving Arnold to stew in frustration. "What the heck makes Sean Donely so special?" He spoke into his microphone and glanced at a grainy picture snapped in Paris minutes ago. "Yes, it's her. Robin Scorpio. I don't have an ID on the man though. Good call to follow her."
"Thanks, Arn," came a voice over the voice IP line. "I couldn't believe it was her. Do you want us to return to the Sorbonne to get her records later tonight?"
"No. I think I've got enough … facts to start piecing together something. Your orders are to keep following at a distance and report in every two hours directly to me and no one else," said Arn. "Your cover holding up?"
"Yeah. A writer out to do a story on Americans at the Sorbonne past and present," said the male voice. "I want to get the records, Arn. We haven't found any firm connections between Scorpio and Sinclair like you wanted us to look for. Her records might have something."
Arnold thought for a minute. Finally, he said, "If she stays in Paris, then go for the records. If she leaves, then skip the records and follow her and the boyfriend. They don't suspect they're being tailed?"
"I don't believe so. They haven't made any attempts to lose us."
"Keep your wits around you. She's a sharp one. She ran rings around Hunter's team."
"About that, Arn, I'd like to request to be on the team that tracks down the responsible party," said the voice.
"We all do. I'll keep you in mind when we're ready to move on that. I'll wait for your next contact in two hours." Arnold hung up the phone. He took his suit jacket out of his office closet and put it on. He headed to the front entrance. His movements were rote. His mind was too busy moving the bits of information he had. He was a born analyst. Eventually, he'd get the right picture.
Latin Quarter, Paris
To most of the patrons and the passersby outside of the cafe, the two men sipping their coffees, reading a paper and chatting non sequitors looked exactly as what they were perceived to be - two businessmen relaxing after a day of work. But Andre saw through their disguise at his first close up glance.
Sitting at a table nearby, Andre eavesdropped on the phone call one of his quarry was having. With his left hand, Andre adjusted the ear plug in his left ear - the one closest to the two men's table. The ear plug was a receiver and surveillance tool in extreme miniature. One hand was inside his coat pocket manipulating his IPhone through which SIMON was tracing the call and amplifying both ends of the conversation for Andre's benefit. Based on what he was hearing, Andre was convinced that the two men belonged to the Gem group. There was no question of what needed to be done.
Andre shuffled to the trash to deposit his empty drink. He adjusted his coat and the gray-tinted spectacles he wore. They dulled the distinctive blue of his eyes. With a flick and twist of both wrists, two needles were released from the cuffs of his coat and on to the palm of his hands. Effortlessly, he slid the needles to rest between his second and third fingers. He moved to pass behind their table.
The two men kept their attention on the front entrance of the Abbey Bookstore across the street. They did not see Andre moving behind them. But they did feel the sting of sharp needles as they pierced through the exposed flesh of their necks.
The men did not raise a hand to defend themselves. Neither did they make a sound. They couldn't do anything.
Andre leaned close and whispered in accentless French, "The two individuals you are following are under my direct protection. Cease your surveillance or I shall demand to know why. The paralysis will wear off in time. Until it does, I suggest you think about the quickest way to leave my city. If you don't, the next time we meet, you won't see me coming and you will feel much more than you do now."
"As for who I am, ask Arnold Vandenberg to research this." Andre put something small and heavy on the table top. He turned and left the two men staring at a small silvery disc much like a coin with an engraved letter 'S' on it.
Villa Scorpio
In the Barn, Anna held her granddaughter in her arms. Emma cooed and stared at Anna ignoring all the brightly colored mobiles and adornments on the walls of her own customized Emma Merriment Zone (EMZ). Emma's little arms reached up towards Anna. Equally besotted, Anna made faces and delighted at her granddaughter's precociousness.
"You've grown an inch or two," said Anna softly. "Wait until I tell grandpa how much."
All around her the Scorpio intelligence team was milling about her executing her recently issued orders. Genji and Edgar left to put away their gear and prepare for the upcoming team briefing. The air crackled with urgency. Andrew had disappeared to his lair down below. Dani escorted Ava and Nina Korolev to the Big Barn suite where they would be staying. Frisco and Nestor had transported the injured Ivan to the same suite.
"And you've gotten more beautiful. I've missed you so much, sweetheart."
"I think she's missed you all, too," said Raine seated next to Anna. She was Emma's designated nanny for the early evening. "She's been fussy for days until now."
"I'm staying around. I don't want to miss a minute of Emma growing up." Anna looked at Raine. "How's Patrick holding up?"
"He seems all right on the surface. He's coping well enough. Noah and Matt have been there for him. There is one thing though."
"What?"
"Patrick knows Robin is returning. He feels it would be unwise for him and Emma to be around here so much or using the Cottage on weekends," said Raine. "He's thinking of selling his house and getting a place at Temple Court."
"This is the safest place for this little darling. He knows that," said Anna. "It's seeing Robin I suppose. Being reminded of … of Eve. Has he made a final decision?"
"Not that I'm aware of."
"I'll talk to him. Thanks for the heads up," said Anna. "What time is Patrick due in?"
Raine consulted her watch. "In one hour."
"That gives me a little time to figure out how to change his mind."
Raine left to attend to some things needed for the team meeting.
Frisco strode inside. "Felicia's on her way over to pick me up." He saw Emma and grinned, "Is this the cutie you're nuts about?"
Anna smiled proudly. "Yes." She held out Emma towards her longtime friend. "Miss Emma Grace, this is Uncle Frisco."
Frisco accepted Emma with some awkwardness. "It's been a long time since I've held a baby. Hopefully it all comes back." Emma cooed and with rapt eyes studied this new stranger. Her lips quirked. "Look, she's smiling at me!"
The hidden door to the lower levels slid open on soundless tracks. Giles came up the stairs.
"Anna, Andre has checked in. He said to expect Robin and Vincent to arrive within the next twenty-four hours," said Giles.
Anna's brows furrowed in concern. "What's happened?"
"Details are vague. Andre intercepted a surveillance team targeting Robin and Vincent. He has, um, sent them on their way with a warning to stop or else."
"I knew it! I knew Charlotte was up to something," said Anna.
"It's not her," said Giles. "We have call recordings. It was our recent acquaintance Arnold Vandenberg and the Gem Group."
"That's VERY interesting," said Anna.
Frisco came to full alertness at hearing mention of the group. "Who's Vandenberg?"
"Never mind, Frisco," said Anna.
"But I just did babysitting duty with Chase Masters. He's the head of the Gem Group. We should compare notes, Anna."
"You're out of the Bureau, Frisco. You need to be with Felicia and Maxie," said Anna.
"But-"
"No buts. Felicia will be cross with me if I gave you any sort of … of distraction right now."
"After the dinner I'll come right over and-"
"No way."
"Your family should be your only focus."
"It is but-"
"Pretend you never heard about the Gem Group. You're home after how many decades?"
"Too many," said Frisco in a quiet voice.
"Exactly. Look up old friends. Simply enjoy being back," advised Anna. She looked at Emma. "TIme flies so fast. Waste as little of it as you can."
Frisco's expression was mulish but accepting. "All right. I know when you're not to be pushed. Do me a favor. Remember that I'm unemployed. If you need any help, you call me."
"I promise," said Anna. Her crossed fingers held behind her back told a different story.
GEM HQ, Milton Keynes, England
Chase was angry. Arnold was concerned. Both men listened intently to the babbling operatives on the call.
"He knew YOUR name, Arn," said the first operative. "He said you … you had to research this thing. I sent you a picture of it. Do you know what it is?"
"Yes. You have to give me more than that," said Arnold. "What did he look like? I need details."
"They're calling our flight home. Have to go!" The line went dead.
"You pulled me out of a meeting with Sean for THIS?!" asked Chase. "Two agents who blew their cover and op!"
"I consider the Scarecrow a higher priority than our aging founder, yes!" Arn shouted back. "My head is in the present not in the past like yours."
"If you don't know the past, you're bound to make the same mistakes," retorted Chase.
The two men stared daggers at each other for a full minute before their shoulders sagged and their postures relaxed. They had worked together for too long and been friends for even longer to let a disagreement come between them and their jobs. They both had a point and they'd both made it.
"If the Scorpios are under the Scarecrow's protection, then so must be Donely and his family," said Arnold.
"All the more reason to treat Sean with kid gloves and cultivate a mutually beneficial arrangement," said Chase.
"You're not even questioning his loyalty."
"Why should I? He hasn't done anything to make me suspicious."
"He's close to Scorpio and Devane. He could have told them about us."
"I think they know about us because of your fact finding mission in Port Charles," said Chase. "You had that encounter at the airport warning you off. You said you felt you were under surveillance. Now this. It all adds up to … to … "
"To what, Chase?"
"I don't know! I can't think about this right now," said Chase.
"How is the Scarecrow and the Scorpios connected?"
"Wasn't the Scarecrow and his handler Abelard always assumed to have their own bonafide sources of information? I remember my father saying that they did. They always knew the truth of something before anyone else did."
"My dad thought they could read minds. They say that no one could lie to the Scarecrow's face," added Arnold. "Sinclair, Scorpio and now the Scarecrow. I don't like it. Not one bit. I feel nauseaus."
"There is one thing we DO know."
"And that is?"
"They're warning us off. That's all. Maybe it's a kind of professional courtesy. You stay out of our yard and we'll stay out of yours," concluded Chase. "This thing in Paris was bad timing on our part."
"It's not, Chase."
"You're obsessed with them. I think it's clouding your judgment."
"We've been successful because we know the lay of the land. We know our enemies inside out. And we never accept anything at face value without our own verification," said Arnold. "You can't tell me that you feel all that comfortable about Robert or Anna or Sean, for that matter."
"I am watching Sean's every move. So far, he's been nothing but helpful. For more than twenty years, he's said nothing about us to anyone. He hasn't broken that habit and certainly not to the Scorpios."
"You don't know that."
"I have the facts, Arn. They all retired from the service. They lived normal lives. None of them has ever crossed our path."
"Until now."
"And that's because WE not them initiated hostile action," said Chase. "We have no one to blame but ourselves."
"You mean me?"
"No. I don't blame you. I blame Sinclair. He kidnapped their daughter and we helped him try to get her back. How stupid was that! We painted the targets on our own backs," said Chase. "Arn, your gut instincts are nearly infallible so there must be something we need to look into. But I think we need a change in strategy."
"Sean Donely?" said Arnold.
"He's the key to all this. I know he is," said Chase. "We need to work with him."
"Has he committed to anything?"
"Nothing beyond reviewing our general plan. I want him to see our labs and understand our vision then I'll ask him."
"Are you sure about this, Chase? Really, really sure?" asked Arnold.
"He created us. He set us on the right direction. We're at a crucial turning point. We need his help," said Chase. "I'm going to ask him to take my place and become our leader. It's the right thing to do. I hope he says yes."