It seemed like a waste of time. She knew how Robert felt about Jason, but she felt like it was worth a try. Jason had been unwilling to talk about his reappearance or the shooting, and then he had asked her if he could talk to Robert.

His secretary had merely nodded at her as she passed, so she knew he was in the office and not on the phone. She knocked once and then cracked the door and looked around it.

He was standing at the window with his back to her, but he turned at the sound of the door.

"Robert," she said, "do you have a minute?"

"For you? Always," he said with a small smile. "What can I do for you Luv?"

She stepped up to him, placing her hands on his upper arms and giving him a kiss on the cheek.

"You act like I only talk to you when I want something."

He raised his eyebrows and said nothing.

"Oh shit," she said. "Am I that bad?"

He laugh aloud and then took her hand. "You know I'm happy to help if I can."

She half turned from him as she spoke. "You won't like this. Jason Morgan asked if I could get you to come and see him. We're holding him for the shooting of Dante."

Robert chewed his lip for a moment. "If you're going to have a case against him I shouldn't… What does he say?"

"He hasn't said anything. Sonny doesn't want Diane to represent him. He hasn't asked for a lawyer, but Carly might arrange something, or we'll get him a public defender."

"He hasn't said anything except that he wants to talk to you."

Robert took a deep breath and sighed. "I don't know why he would want to talk to me, but okay, I'll go see him. Are you headed back to the station?"

"I am. We could walk over together."

"Good enough," he said, and took his jacket from the back of the door. She held it for him as he slipped it on.

At least if I show up with you he might believe I'm interested in what he might have to say," Anna said.

They arrived at the station. Jason was still in the interrogation room. John Cates sat across the table from him. Neither man was speaking but Anna could see, through the observation window, that Cates looked tense, while Jason seemed relaxed and disinterested.

Robert went to sign into the logbook at the desk while Anna let herself into the interrogation room.

"John, I need a chance to talk to Jason," she said.

Cates got up looking irritated and turned toward the door.

"I'm working on the paperwork to get him transferred into my custody ASAP, so get what you can from him. You won't have him for long."

The agent opened the door to the room and slammed it behind him as he left.

Anna looked across the table at Jason's impassive face.

"Robert is here."

Jason met her gaze.

"Thank you," He said quietly.

The door opened and Robert slid into the room.

"Okay I'm here. What do you want?"

He looked at Jason with a hint of impatience. "You sure pissed off Cates. Not sure that is your best strategy."

Jason looked at Anna.

"I'd like to talk to Robert."

There was a pause.

"Alone please."

Anna sighed. She looked at Robert who rolled his eyes and nodded.

"Okay," she said, resting her hand briefly on Robert's arm before opening the door and stepping out.

Robert watched her go before turning back to look at Jason.

"Okay, so what do you want?"

"May I have a piece of paper and a pen?" Jason asked quietly.

Robert took a pad of paper from the shelf by the door, and a pen from his pocket, and handed them to Jason. Jason stared at them for a moment before picking up the pen and drawing the letter Y on the paper. He added a tail to the upright and to the end of one of the arms and pushed the tablet across the table towards Robert.

Robert felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up but did his best to keep his face passive.

"Okay, so what is this supposed to be?" he asked in a slightly annoyed tone.

Jason looked up at him and they locked eyes.

"Lambda," he mouthed with a whisper.

Robert could feel the blood pounding behind his eyes. He leaned forward and placed his hands on the edge of the table closing his eyes and concentrating on just breathing.

When he opened his eyes and looked up at Jason, he saw a pain there that he knew all too well.

Robert stood up straight and turned to the panel beside the door, flipping the switches that turned off the microphones and tape recording equipment, a provision that ensured that lawyers could speak confidentially with their clients. He stared at the panel for a moment, gathering himself before turning back to Jason.

"The program was disbanded. If you are trying to use it to manipulate me, you have another think coming."

"It was reinstated after Jones was replaced as head of the Bureau," Jason said. "They brought back Phillips to run it again."

Robert closed his eyes again until Jason continued.

"When the Bureau picked me up after the cave-in and realized they could leave me 'dead', they started in with the threats to coerce me into doing what they wanted."

Robert's eyes burned with tears that wouldn't fall. "Son of a bitch." He looked hard at Jason. "What, or rather who, was their leverage?"

"Sam, Danny, Carly…" said Jason as though the words themselves hurt him.

Robert stared at him, memories flooding back. The helplessness, the frustration, the rage.

"Two years," he asked, "how many operations?"

"Six, and then this," answered Jason.

Robert was silent. He had turned and was staring intently at the clock, trying to slow his pounding heart by watching the steady movement of the second hand.

Jason looked at him, suddenly seeing him with fresh eyes.

"How many years for you?" he asked.

There was a pause before Robert answered. "Ten."

Jason gave an involuntary shudder and looked down at his hands.

A few minutes had passed in silence. Suddenly Robert pulled out a chair and sat down across from Jason.

"Okay, just tell me the truth."

Jason nodded.

"Did you fire a gun at Sonny?"

"No."

"Did you shoot Dante?"

"No."

"Where is the shooter?"

"Dead."

"Where is the body?"

"In the harbor." Jason paused and looked at Robert. "The tide was coming in. He may be under the piers."

"Will the Bureau come after you?" asked Robert.

"I don't know," Jason replied, "but Cates knows more about this than he is telling you."

Robert raised his eyebrows and rubbed his chin with his hand.

"Okay. Anything else?"

Jason shook his head.

Robert stood and turned for the door. He reached his hand up to turn the microphones back on, and then he paused.

"What did they call you?" he asked.

Jason looked up. "Juba," he said.

"What about you?"

There was a pause. Robert closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Shaula," he said, "Shaula."

The door opened and closed and Jason was alone again in interrogation, his mind spinning.

Robert crossed the squad room and opened the door to Anna's office without knocking. She looked up, half startled, and found herself confused by the expression on Robert's face.

"Robert..," she began.

"Okay, so I believe him. He was not the shooter, but you need to get a recovery team to look for a body. It is probably under the piers west of the site of the shootings. That will be your gunman. I'm going home."

He turned for the door.

"Robert," she exclaimed, "what's going on? Are you alright?"

"Not even a little bit," he said flatly, and the door closed behind him.