Jones Residence - Temple Court
A large garbage bag was nearly filled to bursting. A shredder hummed as it munched through paper continuously. Frisco flipped through a looseleaf notebook looking for signs of confidential or top secret information that he may have written on the pages and forgot to dispose of.
Frisco tore chunks of notebook paper and fed them to the shredder. "Ah, the glamorous life of a spy. Jones, Frisco Jones. Danger around every corner. Masterminds plotting in smoky rooms. Hot women tempting the dashing agent every which way. A mission to destroy a dastardly machine before it shreds mankind to-"
"Hot women?" asked Felicia entering the study and putting yet another of Frisco's boxes on the desk.
Frisco gave his wife a smile. "Just stories now, sweetheart. For the record, none of them ever held a candle to you."
"I can hear a line a mile off," said Felicia.
"Can we play a round of Bond meets Mata Hari?" said Frisco as he nuzzled Felicia.
"Hmm, sounds good for AFTER the fundraiser."
"That's tomorrow. How about tonight?"
"We're going to have a late night."
"Yeah, really late. Been a while since we watched the sunrise before falling asleep."
Felicia giggled. "We're due at the theater in an hour to help with the preparations. Didn't you read Maxie's schedule?"
"That thing was more complicated than most mission plans I've ever done. It's in fifteen minute increments for crying out loud!"
"Tell her that. She'll love it."
"She will?"
"Honey, I know she puts up a tiny wall with you but your opinion is important to her. She'll never admit it but it is."
"Whatever you say."
Felicia looked stern. "Frisco, our daughter is knocking herself out for YOUR benefit night. She's been supporting it when we haven't been around. What does that tell you?"
Frisco had the grace to look chastened. "That we have a wonderful daughter and I should stop snapping at her and compliment her as much as possible."
"Promise?"
Frisco traced a cross over his heart. "With everything I got. Satisfied?" He read the label on the box that Felicia had brought in. "Ah, that's the one I've been looking for." He took a box cutter and expertly slit the top lid open.
"What's so important?"
"Nothing specific really," said Frisco as he begun to hunt around the box. "This is the most recent stuff I've been working on. The other boxes had things I don't even remember. This box though has to be completely shredded ASAP." Frisco began to empty the box's contents on to the desk. "Start feeding the shredder."
Felicia held up a sheet of paper filled with squiggles and scrawls. "I didn't know you did shorthand."
Frisco looked at the paper and then at Felicia with acute interest. "You can read it? Tell me what it says."
"I can't read the whole thing. It's a type of shorthand. I learned some when I was working with Sean and Anna," said Felicia studying the paper more closely.
"Can you make anything of it?"
"There are numbers, a date I think. Three slash zero eight."
"Any words?"
"The first seems like banque or bank."
"Which is it?"
"Shorthand isn't exact, Frisco. It's more a representation of sounds or short syllables," explained Felicia.
"Okay. So it sounds like bank something," said Frisco. "How about the name of the bank or the type of transaction."
"Why is this important? This is an ongoing case, isn't it?"
"No. Connie ended it." Frisco cleared his throat. "It's a mystery that's all."
"And you're curious?"
"It's probably nothing but the not knowing is killing me."
Felicia smiled. "I can see that."
"Can you make out any more of it?"
"No but I know someone else I've seen write like this."
"Who?"
"Tiffany. I've seen her take notes during interviews and press conferences," said Felicia. "She uses shorthand and it looks like this."
"Fantastic!" Frisco folded the paper and put it in his back pocket. "Tiffany and Sean are supposed to be at Majestic. Let's get over there!"
"I don't think I like your new attitude. You have that look in your eye."
"We're close to solving a mystery. Who wouldn't be excited." Frisco put a kiss on Felicia's nose. "C'mon, let's go!"
Villa Scorpio
In the conference room, Robert, Anna and the senior officers reviewed all the information they had on the Gem Group. Genji and Lars wrote names, dates and locations on the whiteboard. Andre and Heloise joined via video conference.
"I'm not liking this picture much," said Anna. "The connections are disturbing."
"I've got a migraine," said Giles.
"How can this group have been operating for as long as we think they have been and not been noticed? They live and work in the shadows. Nothing in the databases. Our discovering them is ... is pure accident," said Robert. "Where did they come from? Who started them?"
"The past isn't as important as the present. I want to know their link to Sinclair," said Anna. "With Faison off to who knows where, Charlotte and Peter are our primary targets. At this point, everything and everyone else is secondary. I think the Gems can be our way of finding our targets."
"They know that we know who they are. Won't they think twice about causing problems?" asked Genji.
"They're back for seconds it seems," said Shane.
"Intimidation was ineffective," said Lars.
"Whatever reason they have is important to them. Find out the reason and we have leverage. Simple," said Anna.
"All right. We knock on their hotel room door and just ask them," said Robert.
"Sounds a bit desperate," said Andre.
"Perhaps a trade between equals?" suggested Heloise.
"No deals. But nothing says we can't be sociable," said Anna.
"Sociable? With the people who hunted down our daughter?" asked Robert.
"They want to meet us. Let's make it happen," said Anna. "Drop off an invitation to the fundraiser. Make the message discreet but very memorable, Lars. If they attend, we'll talk."
"And surveillance?" asked Lars.
"I said we would talk. I didn't say we have to be nice," said Anna. "We're stretched thin on staff with the fundraiser, the dance and this place. Stop all surveillance on the Vandenberg party."
"Why? They'll think it's there anyway," said Genji. "They'll be expecting it."
"It will drive them batty seeing surveillance everywhere," said Robert. "I like it, luv. It's always better when the bad guys make the mistakes all by themselves."
South Warehouse Number 15
Gathered around a square table were several citizens of Port Charles notable for their long association with the murkier depths of society. They were runners of contraband, purveyors of drugs, owners of notorious sleaze clubs and creative launderers of money, big and small. They had two things in common. First, they all hated Sonny Corinthos. Secondly, they were all ambitious.
Dino Venturi went around the room greeting each one by name. He introduced Paulie as he went along. Franjo kept a watchful eye on the proceedings like a silent sentinel.
His circuit done, Dino addressed the group. "Once more, thank you for coming. I'm going to let you in on a secret. We will be making history today. Not the history that's written in the books but the kind that's etched in blood. That's put into songs, even the dirty ones."
The group gave a collective laugh.
"Together, we will wipe the memory of the Corinthos Organization from the face of the city. It will be a mere footnote in very tiny print," said Dino.
This got another laugh.
"Grand plans are nice but it has to stand in the light of reality. How are we going to achieve our dream?"
"Kill him?" asked one.
"And Morgan, too," added another voice.
"That's the old way. Let me show you a different way. A real way," said Dino. "If you do exactly what I tell you to do and follow the plan as a group, we will succeed. The plan is simple. Do want to know what it is?"
"Yes!" roared the group.
"A python will patiently squeeze its much larger prey until every major bone is broken or crushed. Then it will swallow the animal whole. We are going to squeeze Corinthos until he squeaks soprano," said Dino.
Titters and guffaws filled the room.
"We will squeeze his revenue stream until it's a mere trickle. We will squeeze his operation creating pressure that will implode from within," said Dino. "We will be smart! We will be united! We will succeed!" Dino pulled a brown bag from a large carton. "This will be our first weapon. Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to Fly!"
Dino motioned for Johnny to stand up. "Fly has been in a testing period for the past six months. A small laboratory was set up here in Port Charles to manufacture Fly. This lab was run by our own Mr. John Zacchara. Let me make one thing clear. This test was done without the direct knowledge of the Corinthos organization. I want to publicly commend Mr. Zacchara for his work and foresight. I know it's not easy going against the status quo. But he did and did it well. Bravo!"
The sentiments echoed throughout the room. Johnny basked in the approval and praise like a cat stretching in front of a fireplace.
"Fly is a hit! It's the safest and cleanest drug in existence. It's potential is unlimited," said Dino. "Manufacturers up and down the Eastern seaboard want to get their hands on this. Buyers on the West coast and the midwest are more than ripe for the taking. Unlike other drugs, we are not dependent on other parties in other countries for our supply. No! We will have no middlemen either. Why not? Because I am the sole supplier stateside. And I am looking to share the wealth. Will that be with you?"
"Yes!" roared the group once more.
Standing behind Franjo under a brown wig and wearing sunglasses, Arielle watched Dino win the group with wit and charm. Dino was the most charismatic man she had ever met. She also found him to be quite attractive.
"I believe I'm looking forward to marriage for the first time," murmured Arielle.
"What was that?" asked Franjo.
"Nothing. Just dreaming," replied Arielle. "By the way, Franjo, I've received word that the shipment will be arriving tomorrow. Be ready for it."
"It's the largest shipment so far," said Franjo. "I'll make arrangements."
"If we work together, we will succeed. Not as individuals but as one group. The group that tears down the Corinthos empire brick by brick, man by man. We will take back what was taken from the Carters, the Smiths, the Jeromes, the Zaccharas, the Alcazars, everyone!" said Dino. "We will share the risks, the rewards and the glory. We will ALL win!
"Tonight, each of you will get your plans. Over the next few days, prepare your people. When I give the word, begin your part of the plan," said Dino. "Remember, every single one of you is important, vital to the plan. If one goes down, we all go down like dominoes. We're in this together. I will tolerate no infighting. You have a problem, you come to me. Or you let Paulie or Franjo know you want to see me. Simplicity works best."
"This is enough talk for now." Dino gave a nod in Arielle's direction. "Ms. Honeywell has arranged a delicious lunch for us. Let's go enjoy it. We'll talk business afterwards."
The meeting broke up. Dino and Paulie led the way into the other room where a buffet lunch was set up along with several tables. It was a lively lunch.
Roadway Inn off the highway
The room was cramped but clean and well-maintained. The decor was spare but tasteful. For this sort of an establishment that was more than one could hope for. Vincent positioned an armchair closer to the bed. He greeted Monica as Robin led her in. Monica sat in the armchair while Robin and Vincent sat at the foot of the bed opposite Monica.
"Give it to me straight, please," said Robin.
"I need some background first. When do you think they started the treatment?" asked Monica.
"I can't be absolutely sure. Early in 2002, I noticed how erratic my periods had gotten. I was always regular and suddenly I was skipping a month or sometimes two. There were other changes ... physical changes but I thought it was due to my situation," said Robin. "Finally, I asked Peter Sinclair, the man who held me, if I was being given something besides my HIV meds. He admitted that he had been putting something extra in my food. He said it was something to keep me calm."
"That's rather excessive."
Robin grinned. "Once I recovered my strength, I didn't make life easy for him or the guards. I tried to escape every chance I got. They couldn't hurt me but I didn't have the same ethics."
"So, giving you the drug was his best way to control you?"
"Yes. At first, I wasn't too worried about it. I was told it was a mild sedative. With my HIV, I felt sure that they would be careful about what they gave me. I didn't think much about it until I started noticing other ... symptoms. I lost the urgency to escape. I was feeling more content. I rarely got angry. I'd never been sex-obsessed but I wasn't a nun either. I had a normal libido until that changed."
"You tested yourself?"
Robin nodded. "I felt nothing. I had the ... the desire but ... but no ... no satisfaction. At all. I began to record everything I did, ate and drank. Once I figured out what food it was in, I tried to avoid it. That worked for about a week then they switched to injections. What did you find? Did they do to me what I think they did?"
Sitting beside Robin, Vincent gently took Robin's hand in his.
"Your lab work showed me a few things, Robin. Your hormone levels, all of them, are far below what would be normal for a young woman of your age and your liver enzymes are low. I had the lab run a few extra tests to be sure. There were traces of a drug called cyproterone acetate. It's not used here but it is widely used in Europe. One of its uses is," Monica paused and seemed to gather her strength. "Cyproterone acetate is used in concert with other drugs as part of chemical castration treatment for male inmates. It can also be used on females, though. In small doses, the drug lessens the immediacy of sexual desire so the person has less of a reason to act on his or her desires. In larger doses, the effects are more, um, physical while still reducing the libido."
Robin closed her eyes and looked down. Vincent's expression was grim.
Monica continued, "I know what a strong and determined person you can be, Robin. I suspect that they used a higher than recommended dose to keep you docile."
Robin asked in a quiet voice, "It's still in me? That's what you mean?"
"You've been exposed to it for seven or eight years. That's a lot of time for the drugs to collect and build up in your tissues. It's going to take time to clear out but it will."
"How long?"
"I can't say for sure because your case is unique."
"Months? Years?"
"My best guess is a few more months maybe six."
"I've waited this long. I can wait six months."
"Robin, that's my best guess for the drug to leave your body but the effects may not go away that easily," said Monica.
"I'm damaged? Permanently?" asked Robin.
Monica's eyes grew troubled. "The current research indicates that the effects of this particular drug stays in the system for some time after treatment has stopped. But as I said I suspect they gave you a higher daily dose. There's no ... no research on the effects of cyproterone acetate on someone who's HIV positive. Your body could begin to return to normal slowly or it may not. You will be able to feel pleasure but it may not be the same as before. It would likely be reduced."
Robin sprang from the bed. She stalked to the window and looked out. Her face was mask-like except for her eyes which were mirrors of despair.
"How much of a chance that ... that the damage is permanent?" asked Vincent.
"We are only in the preliminary stages of diagnosis. We need to run more tests. I'll be talking to some colleagues who may have experience with this sort of thing. We may be able to devise a ... a treatment to either reverse the effects over time or to restore a portion of the sensory experience that you've lost," said Monica. "I know the news is very negative right now. But I have to caution you, both of you, to not think this is the end. It's not. If we knew more of what's been done to you like the dosage, frequency and any other drugs they may have given to you, we could reverse engineer cause and effect and begin a new treatment cycle."
"I don't know any of that. Peter would never discuss it and I didn't want to learn any more," said Robin. "It was too depressing."
"I will contact some people in Interpol to see if they could give me a name of an expert in this field. There must be one," said Vincent.
"Refer them to me, Vincent. That would be a good start."
"Mom is already suspicious that I'm hiding something. How long can I hide this?" asked Robin. "They'll blame themselves more. I don't want that. If they knew, Peter would go up to the first of their most wanted list. And Alex keeps track of all my medical records. There's no hiding this especially if I start treatment."
"They must be told but not soon," said Vincent. "We will tell them when you are ready."
"I won't let anything slip. In fact, I think we will conduct treatments from Mercy Hospital. Let's not over think this. Not yet. You have a lot to think about and you have the time to think. Take it," said Monica. "There's more I need to let you know about. Beyond the effects on your sexuality, Robin, there are the implications for your overall health and fertility."
Robin made her way back to the bed. She sat down next to Vincent. "I've pretty much given up on the idea of having a child of my own."
"These kinds of drugs work to counter the natural rhythms of our bodies by affecting your hormones. Long term manipulation can impact a woman's health in two areas that we know about - bone and liver health. Your bones may now be not only prone to osteoporosis, you may already have it. And your liver could also have some damage based on your liver enzyme levels," said Monica in the gentlest of tones. "I'm so sorry to have tell you this."
Robin leaned her head on Vincent's shoulder and said nothing.
"I feel that it is best that we know the truth about what Robin has or does not have. Not knowing and speculating will only distress her," said Vincent. "How soon can more tests be done."
"We need to wait at least two weeks. Robin's system is now in a state of flux as the drugs leave her body and her hormones are free to do what they usually do."
"Flux?" asked Vincent. "That means confusion right?"
"It means I'm going to be sexless, weepy, gluttonous and crazy!" said Robin.
"Robin's description is essentially correct. Hormones are powerful. It can help us survive, stay healthy and have children but they can play with our heads and our emotions," said Monica. "Robin will experience symptoms that a woman in menopause or pregnancy would be having - hot flashes, extreme and frequent changes in mood, water retention, general irritability, cravings, forgetfulness, that sort of thing."
"How severe will these symptoms be?" asked Vincent
"We'll have to wait and see. Her hormone levels are so low that they have a ways to go to come up to normal levels. That gap will determine her symptoms, Vincent."
"I see. I think," said Vincent. "What can be done to minimize the effects?"
"Let me add impossible to live with to my list," murmured Robin.
"Avoid stress, maintain good nutritional habits and have moderate exercise. I don't want to put Robin's system under more stress by over-medicating. She's going to need your help, Vincent."
Vincent nodded. "She always has that."
"Avoid stress? You're have to be kidding," said Robin.
"Let me rephrase that to manage your stress levels better," said Monica with the first trace of a smile since their talk had begun. "These next weeks will be the hardest I think as your body returns to normal. You're young and strong, Robin, there's no telling that your body won't return to full health in every way. It may take more time than we believe. You have to be patient."
Vincent put an arm about Robin and said, "I will have more than enough patience for the both of us." He looked at Robin. "You should stop worrying. Let me do that."
"Remember you said that," said Robin with a smile. "Is there anything else, Monica?"
Monica shook her head. "No. That's all I have." She looked at her watch. "Look at the time. I have a hair appointment to get to. I suppose I won't be seeing you two at the fundraiser."
"I have to get working in the lab but Edgar will be there," said Robin.
"The team has made sure that he will be there," said Vincent.
"I would understand if there was an emergency and-" began Monica.
"Oh, no, no. He has several days off and Robert does not want to see him at the villa for that time," said Vincent.
"Oh," said Monica.
"You should dance the night away. I hear he's a good dancer. All spies are I think," said Robin.
A faint smile danced across Monica's lips. "I've heard the same thing."