The silent figure makes its way quietly down the hallway, following the sound of a child’s laughter as it heads for the church nursery. The nursery is a room off the main parish hall and today the building itself is quiet, except for the laughter of children as the classroom used as a nursery draws closer. Quietly the figure opens the door, prepared for to face several children and a few adults to get what it wants, the figure quietly draws a gun and pushes the door open.

And looks in puzzlement at the empty room with the lights off.

“No, you’re not imagining things,” Robin Scorpio’s voice cuts across the quiet of the room. “You did hear children laughing.” She holds up a tape player. “You didn’t think I would risk the lives of real children, did you?”

“This isn’t what you planned, is it? You didn’t want to kidnap Michael, that is who you are here for, isn’t it? But when you realized that Johnny had failed in his mission, I’m assuming that you had meant a quiet assignation, not a hostage taking drama, you saw it as a blessing. Every WSB agent in the place had their attention on Emily and Johnny. No one would notice you separate from the crowd. AJ and the rest of the Quartermaines weren’t going anywhere until they knew Emily was okay. So you figured you had time to slip in, take Michael, and leave.”

“Only by now my partners have taken care of Johnny and that leaves me to take care of you.” Robin says softly. “I have the tape recorder. You wouldn’t want to make this easy on both of us by just making a taped confession and then letting me arrest you for the murder of Edward Quartermaine, the attempted murder of Emily Quartermaine, conspiracy to commit treason, and all the other bad things you’ve been up t o lately.” Robin suggests softly.

“I have a better idea why don’t I kill you instead.”

“I think I like my idea better,” Robin says softly as she turns on the light behind her and looks up into the murderer’s face directly her gun drawn so that their barrels were aimed at each other.

“You see Carly,” Robin said softly her voice calmly laced with steel. “Lying and cheating in a pathetic attempt to hold onto a guy who doesn’t even love you, that desperate. Killing someone and ordering the attempted murder of someone else, that’s a criminal act. Something that you will go to jail for. Something that all of Jason’s lawyers can’t prevent. You committed an act of domestic terrorism. You murdered one of the most influential men in the United States, someone who was a personal friend of the President. You were responsible for the death of innocent bystanders. I don’t see how you can get out of this one, “Robin finished softly. “Not that that won’t stop you from trying.”

“You can’t prove anything.” Carly said her whole attention focused on the person she hated most in the world sitting opposite her.

Robin almost giggled. “Honestly Carly, would I be here if I couldn’t prove everything I said. I’ve been a WSB agent for almost three years now, I don’t make accusations that I can’t prove. Of course I can prove what you did. In fact,” Robin checked her new watch, “my guess is that at this moment the Attorney General has just received my report and is probably issuing a warrant for your arrest. In a few hours your face will be number one on the FBI’s ten most wanted. But it’s not the FBI or the Justice Department you should be worried about, it’s me.”

“And what are you going to do? Run to your boyfriend and complain about how mean I’m being? No wait. That was what you used to do with Jason, wasn’t it. Poor little St. Robin lowering herself to mingle with the masses.” She looks around. “Where is Michael anyway? Jason’s men saw him arrive.”

“Grow up Carly,” Robin kept her gun even on Carly and ignored the question about Michael. “For your information, Frisco is my fiancée not my boyfriend. And why should I go running to Frisco, I’m perfectly capable of killing you myself.”

Carly flinched. “You wouldn’t dare?”

Robin looks at her expressionlessly. “You wouldn’t be the first person I’ve had to kill since joining the WSB. You would just be the one I’d get the most pleasure out of.” She clicked the safety on the pistol in her hand and raised it until she aimed right at Carly’s forehead.

“You wouldn’t dare? WSB agents don’t murder.”

“How many WSB agents have you met?” Robin scoffed. “I thought so. You see in many ways the WSB can be as ruthless as the organization your loving husband runs.”

“You couldn’t kill me. You won’t kill me.”

“Don’t presume to know what I am or am not capable of. Killing someone in cold blood can’t be that hard if you did it.” Robin continues. “You had me kidnapped. You killed Edward Quartermaine. You did everything you could to try to arrange for Emily’s death. Do you think either Frisco or Lucky or Mac or anyone is going to argue too much if I tell them you tried to shoot me first? Who do you think has more credibility in this town, me or you?” Robin’s voice turns deadly. “I think its time that you paid for all that you have done to hurt people in this town.” She pulls back the trigger of her gun.

Carly looks at Robin as if she is looking at a stranger. She lowers her gun. “What do you want ?”

“Some answers. You see I think I’ve got most of it figured out, just speak up if I get any of the details wrong. When they realized that murdering the Holden family wasn’t enough to stop the plant from being built, the rebels in Bolivia knew that they needed to take care of ELQ and Edward. Hence the threats. But when they realized that Edward couldn’t be scared away, they knew that they needed someone to take care of Edward for them. The WSB and the FBI were in full pursuit after the Holden family was killed, so having one of them cross into the US to do the job was impossible. So they went under the theory of an enemy of my enemy is my friend and they came looking for Jason. My guess is that Jason was reluctant, but you weren’t. You’ve hated Edward Quartermaine bitterly for years, you wouldn’t think twice about killing him. So with Johnny’s help, you approached an old friend. Javier Sanchez.”

She almost smiles at Carly’s startled gasp. “ Yeah I know about your “friendship.” You used a different name when you were picked up as part of that gun smuggling ring he ran, but you haven’t changed much since you were seventeen. The records were technically purged when you were a minor but when it comes to known terrorists the WSB doesn’t always follow technicalities. My guess is you met him in Miami, things get smuggled back and forth between South America and the US through there all the time. Sanchez was young, good looking, and who knows maybe he convinced you that he was a warrior and not just a cowardly terrorist. Whatever, you knew him and when Jason said no you sent Johnny to South America to say yes. You agreed to eliminate Edward Quartermaine and Sanchez agreed to give you enough money for you and Michael and maybe Jason to live on for the rest of your lives. But it wasn’t all about money and revenge for you was it?”

“Why don’t you tell me about it. You seem to have all the answers.”

“It’s not like it wasn’t that hard to figure out. I made the mistake of thinking this was about business or money, but it was really a lot more personal than that. It was all about Michael. You see, AJ’s custody hinged on his ability to provide Michael with a safe and stable home. If you could prove to a judge that AJ was in a position of danger because of the threats against ELQ, there was a good chance that a judge would give you Michael back. Or at least enough of a chance that you thought it was worth the risk. And then there was the idea that if you could get guardianship of Michael, than you would have control of the stock Edward left him in his will. It wasn’t much though, was it? Was that what made it easier for you to agree when Sanchez demanded that Emily be killed too? You’d never liked Emily, you probably blamed her for your little plan with AJ failing and AJ getting custody. You didn’t think Jason would mind too much, after all Emily had supposedly betrayed him the same way I supposedly betrayed him. You probably imagined that Jason wouldn’t blink an eye if something happened to Emily. I did some checking, Emily made out a will a few years ago. Nothing unusual about it, except that she split her stock between Brooke and Michael. Of course she was only seventeen at the time, she had no way of knowing that her stock would be more than half of ELQ. Of course the attempts on Emily’s life weren’t supposed to succeed at first.. You needed to convince Sanchez that you were serious about killing Emily, double crossing an international terrorist is never a good idea, but you also knew that the pay off for you would be greater if Emily died after Edward died. The shooting at the Outback, was meant to prove that you were serious. Not to mention that the more you terrified Emily, the more unsafe things looked for Michael with AJ. After you killed Edward, than it was time to kill Emily. If Johnny had been successful at the garage last night, it would have been okay but truth to tell, you’d rather have her killed at a public event like this. What could be more unsafe than a murder at a funeral.”

“You think you have it all worked out, don’t you?”

“Am I wrong?” Carly remains silent. “I didn’t think so.” Robin continues. “I just want to know how much Jason knew?”

“Why don’t you ask me?” Jason Morgan says as he steps into the nursery, his pistol raised. “I suggest you lower your weapon.” His voice is flat and emotionless and Robin, staring into his frozen blue eyes, realizes that she is seeing for herself the Jason her Uncle Mac and everyone else saw all those years ago.

Robin lowers her gun, but she doesn’t flinch or back up or in any way indicate that she has lost control of the situation. She looks at Jason evenly, trying and failing to see some sign of the man she once loved in the ice cold stranger standing in front of her.

“Carly?” Jason questions his wife but doesn’t look away from Robin or move his gun. “Take her gun.” He orders. Carly moves forward to do so, a smug expression on her face.

Robin shakes her head. “I would never have thought you capable of hurting Emily. Edward yes. Even me. But Emily.”

Jason grimaced. “Emily was an unfortunate complication. She just needed to be scared a little.”

“Scared a little?” Robin shifted. “My God Jason if she hadn’t been wearing a bullet proof vest last night there would be two bodies to entomb in the family crypt. Were you always such a cold bastard and I just didn’t see it?”

Jason’s eyes narrowed. “What attack last night?”

“The one that happened...” Robin turns to Carly as the pieces begin to click together. “You didn’t tell him about your plans to assassinate Emily. Does he know about the little drama that’s going on in the church right now? He doesn’t, does he? My God Carly is there anyone you won’t lie to? Anyone you won’t use? You kidnapped me, you ordered Emily’s death, what kind of person are you?”

“Carly? What is she talking about? You said Emily needed to be scared a little so that she would back ELQ off from the Bolivian project. You said killing Edward would be enough. That’s why I killed him for you. With Edward dead, we could get Michael back. Emily was never supposed to really be hurt. And what the hell did you do to Robin?”

“Jase, I ...” Carly began. “I just wanted the three of us to be together. To be a family. You, me, and Michael. The way it was supposed to be. You didn’t give a damn about Emily. She was the one who told AJ our plan. She and Robin are the reason our son isn’t’t with us.”

“Reality check, Carly,” Robin said quietly as she moved a few inches. “Michael is AJ’s.”

“Shut up you bitch,” Carly waved Robin’s gun that she picked up at Robin. “How does it feel to be on the other side? How does it feel to be the victim?”

“I was never your victim,” Robin said smoothly. “And I wouldn’t be getting so cocky if I were you. By now the little show down in the church is over, Frisco has figured out where I am, and this place is swarming with WSB and PCPD. What are you going to do Jason? Shoot your way out of here.”

“All I want is my son.” Jason said.

“Right, like I didn’t have that figured out three years ago. Did anyone ever suggest to you that this obsession over other people’s children is unhealthy? I’m pretty sure Carly must have the number of some good therapists you can call.” Robin quipped.

“Shut up.” Carly’s voice is on edge and Robin can tell she is losing control. “Why aren’t you scared?”

“Why should I be scared?” Robin counters. “Yeah I’m facing the two of you and you are both armed. But you don’t frighten me. If you want to shoot me, shoot. The worst that can happen is that I die. I came to terms with that possibility a long time ago. Besides which, the way I look at the two of you are the ones who should be scared.” She shakes her head. “You hurt me and there is no place you can hide where Frisco won’t be able to find you.”

“Your little boyfriend doesn’t scare me.”

“Fiancée. He’s my fiancée,” Robin shrugged. “And if he doesn’t scare you, than maybe that accident did more damage than people thought.”

“That’s it,” Jason moved forward to grab Robin. “We’re getting out of here and you are helping us. Then we’re getting Michael and getting out of this town.’

“Don’t be stupid Jason,” Robin says evenly. “That’s Carly’s department. If you can get out of here, if the WSB doesn’t stop you, do you really think Sanchez is going to let you live? Is this what you want Michael to remember about his mother?”

“Michael won’t have to remember his mother. He will be with his mother.” Carly spat out.

“Right. I forgot Carly Benson, mother of the year,” Robin mocked. Carly took the butt of her gun and hit Robin in the jaw. Robin flinched but made no other move, just stared at Carly with pure hatred in her brown eyes.

Jason yelled at Carly but didn’t let go of his grip on Robin. “Cut it out. Now shut up and do what I tell you to do and we might get out of here.”

He looked at Robin who was holding her jaw.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured as he used her own handcuffs to lock her hands behind her back. DAMN Robin moaned inwardly as the pain in her jaw blinded her. He looked at her again. “I really am sorry.”

No you’re not, Robin thought inwardly. But you will be. I’ll make sure of that.

But she said nothing as she let Jason began to lead her out of the hallway.

In the church

Emily sat shaking on a bench, Lucky’s jacket around her shoulders. Johnny’s corpse still uncovered in her line of sight. Lucky saw where she was looking.

“Can someone cover that damn thing?” Lucky yelled as a field agent took a cloth from the vestibule and covered the body.

“How are Taggert and Lark?” Emily stammers in a shaky voice.

“The EMT’s are with them. We had them standing by just in case.” Lucky says.

“Just in case,” Emily repeats the words dully.

Lucky is about to say something. although he has no idea what, when Frisco comes up. “Have you seen Robin?”

“Not since we cleared the church,” Lucky says, not removing his eyes from Emily’s pale withdrawn face. “Is she outside?”

“I can’t find her.” Frisco lowers his voice. “No one has seen Carly or Jason either.”

“Damn.” Lucky mutters.

“All right,” Frisco says softly. “I’m going to go check the other church buildings.” He looks at Emily. “You stay here.”

“What about my father?”

“We have him in a back room. I don’t think there will be any charges, but I want him out of the way until we have Jason and Carly taken care of.”

“He saved her life” Lucky murmured.

“Yeah he did.”

Emily stood up and Lucky went to her side. “I want to see my family.” She murmured in a disconnected voice.

Lucky and Frisco exchanged glances before Frisco nodded. “They are probably in the parking lot still, although most of the guests have started to leave.”

With Frisco in the lead, the three move away from the crime scene towards the back of the church to head out to the street below. Emily blinks uncomfortably in the daylight. The parking lot is filled with agents, police, the Quartermaines, and maybe a dozen or so close family friends including Nikolas who walks up to Emily.

“Emily? Are you all right?” Nikolas asks in his soft and cultured tones.

Emily shakes her head but doesn’t answer, heading instead for her grandmother. Once at her grandmother’s wheel chair, Emily quietly lowers her head and then herself so that she is kneeling in front of her grandmother in silence. Lila’s eyes glisten with tears as she gently touches Emily’s head.

Lucky moves to go to Emily, but Frisco gently stops him. “She needs to be with her family.”

Lucky wants to protest, to exclaim that he is her family, but he instead falls silent. Then his eye catches the door to the parish hall opening and he swears. Frisco looks up to see what he is looking at and goes pale.