Written in 60 minutes.

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Harborview Towers: Lobby

Robin’s smile was quick and friendly as they approached the guard behind the desk. “Wally! I can’t believe you’re still here!” She looked to Patrick. “He’s worked the desk down here since I was with Stone.”

“It’s good to see you, Miss Scorpio—” Wally paused. “It’s Doctor now, though, isn’t it? Dr. Scorpio.” He opened a manila envelope. “I have everything you need here. Keys for the penthouse, access cards for the elevator and for the parking garage—” He slid each item across to them.

“The hospital has less security,” Patrick said, even as he picked up his set of keys and cards. “That’s not a criticism of this place, but of our employer,” he added. He looped a duffel bag over his shoulder, then picked up the suitcase Robin had packed for herself.

“Thanks, Wally,” Robin called as she and Patrick headed for the elevators at the other end of the lobby.

Wally watched them until they were safely on the elevator then sat back down at his desk, reaching for the phone to let Jason know that they’d arrived safely. He glanced up at footsteps, furrowing his brow at the man standing there . “What are you doing here? We didn’t schedule anything did we?”

“Last minute call from Greystone.” Ben Davis rested an elbow on the desk. “Wanted to audit the security system and make sure no one has access who isn’t supposed to. I guess they’re getting nervous about this guy.” He shrugged. “I don’t think Mr. C has to worry about the ex. No one’s stupid enough to go after Mrs. C.”

“She’s not the one they’re worried about,” Wally said. “You can add two names to the access list unless Mr. C or Jason already told you. Penthouse 4. Robin Scorpio and Patrick Drake.”

“Penthouse 4? The boss’s old place?” Ben scratched out a note. “What’s that about? It’s been empty for almost two years.”

“I guess they’re shaken up after Sam McCall at Kelly’s. Dr. Scorpio and Miss Webber found her body. I think Jason’s worried they might be targets.” Wally shook his head. “It’s a shame after what they’ve been through, losing his sister.”

“Goes to show you no one’s really safe,” Ben murmured. He straightened. “I’ll take care of it, and report back to Mr. C.”

Ben left the security guard behind the desk and hummed a little as he headed for the Towers’s security room. It was really a stroke of luck, he thought, as he stepped inside the room and saw the wall of screens at the far side. He found the elevator to the fifteenth floor without problem and watched Robin step off with the doctor.

If he’d had any doubt about Robin and Elizabeth being his final set of girls, the ones that would fix all the mistakes, well hadn’t the universe given him a sign? Pretty Robin was now just across the hall from Elizabeth.

He’d have to live with a few adjustments to his process, but at the end of the day, the results mattered, and Ben had mistakes to correct.

All he had to do now was wait.

Harborview Towers: Hallway

As soon as Wally had called up to let them know Robin and Patrick had picked up their security information, Jason and Elizabeth headed across the hall to check on them.

“I really appreciate this,” Robin said, closing the door behind them. “Dad’s worried, and so was Patrick—” She glanced over at her boyfriend, examining the windows. “It’s weird being back here. It looks just like it always did.”

“Yeah. We left it empty in case Sonny needed it—” Jason folded his arms. “I talked to Francis about getting you a guard, but I don’t know if you still want it. They won’t let them in the hospital.”

“No, I remember. Elizabeth told me—” Robin exhaled slowly. “It’s just…it’s a little overwhelming. This just happened last night, and it feels like everything is going so fast—”

“He waited less time,” Patrick said, coming back to them. “Six weeks, then three. I still think you should ask for time off from the hospital. Both of you,” he said to Elizabeth.

“We don’t know for sure he’ll still come after us,” Elizabeth said, but her protest was only half-hearted. “But I’ll call Epiphany and see if we can rearrange shifts. I’ll volunteer to work some nights.”

“And I can see about doing some work at home. If you’ll round on my patients,” Robin told Patrick. “But locking us up in here can’t be a permanent solution.”

“I know, but—” Patrick grimaced, looked at Jason. “Your people are safe, aren’t they? I mean, you’ve vetted them.”

“The best we can. Most of the guards assigned to the Towers have been with us for years,” Jason told him. “But I’m headed over to Sonny’s now to go over a few things. There’s a few more security upgrades we can do. And there’s always the island.”

“But that’s a last resort,” Elizabeth said, more to Jason who just sighed. “I promise Robin and I don’t want to make any stupid decisions, but how long are we supposed to do this?”

“Until we catch this guy.” Jason brushed his lips against his forehead. “I won’t be long, okay? I’ll be back before you have to put the boys down for the night.”

“You could come over,” Elizabeth suggested as Jason pulled open the door. “Start your internship early—”

“I think we’re going to unpack and settle in.” Robin wrapped her arms around her torso. “Thank you. Seriously. I know my dad feels a lot better knowing I’m here.”

“I feel better,” Elizabeth said. She hugged Robin, then followed Jason out.

“I really just want this to be over,” Robin murmured. Patrick wrapped his arms around her, pulling her back against his chest. “They have to be close to catching him, don’t they?”

“I hope so.” He tightened his hold on her, as if it alone could keep her safe.

Spencer House: Kitchen

“All right, let’s see what we’re working with,” Robert said, spreading his files across one end of the table, casting a dubious glance at Lucky with nothing more than a notepad and a laptop. “I know our guy is on this list. Talk me through the ones you like best.”

“All of them match average height and build,” Lucky said, “so they could be the guy on the camera from Georgie and Chelsea’s dorm. And from the hospital. The security company covers both places, and these guys were assigned to both at various times this last year.  No criminal record—” He tapped a few keys. “Except for the owner of the company. No convictions, but he’s been questioned a few times and was on Taggert’s radar for a few jewelry store heists. He opened the company five years ago, supposedly went legit—”

Lucky stopped when his email dinged. He picked up his phone to scroll through it. “Subpoena for the security company’s client list finally came through—”

“The hospital, and the campus, right? What about Kelly’s?”

“No, Sonny and Jason handle that,” Lucky said almost absently. “Since Sonny married Carly—” He stopped. “The company handles security for Corinthos & Morgan Coffee and the Towers.”

Robert straightened. “What?”

“The company. It’s…I didn’t realize—” Lucky set his phone aside, tapped a few more keys, his  heart pounding in his ears. “It’s the front for Sonny and Jason. Their guards work for this company. Francis Corelli, Dougie Barone — that’s who was with them the other night. Max and Milo Giambetti — they’re all listed as employees.” Lucky exhaled slowly. “None of them have ever worked the hospital or PCU.”

“Sonny and Jason, do they own this company?”

“No, no. Not on paper anyway. If their money is funding it—I don’t—” Lucky tapped a few more keys, typed in a few names. “But none of our guys is on the shortlist for the Towers or Kelly’s. They’ve never been assigned there. That doesn’t mean anything—”

“But the owner of the company. He would know all of that, wouldn’t he?”

“Yeah. He would.” Lucky looked over at Robert. “Ben Davis. He’s the registered owner.”

Morgan Penthouse: Living Room

Elizabeth tried to keep her mind occupied with other things. She fed her boys dinner, managing a smile when Spinelli dug into the dinosaur-shaped nuggets with the same enthusiasm as her toddler.

“I bet you’re ready for Thanksgiving break,” she said to Spinelli as she carried Jake out to the living room after dinner, Cameron trotting after the teenager. “You’re done with that paper, aren’t you?”

“The Jackal is still in the throes of conclusions.” He dropped onto the sofa with a sigh. “The Blonde One says I must finish with a fancy flourish but I must admit, I lack the flourish. And the fancy.”

“Don’t look at me for that.” Elizabeth shuddered. “The thought of writing papers—I barely managed in high school.”

Cameron dug into his toys and began to build with his blocks. Elizabeth set Jake in the playpen, and wondered how to keep herself busy. Maybe she could give the boys’ a bath — that would definitely—

The knock at the door jarred her from her thoughts. Elizabeth headed over, smiling when she saw Robin at the threshold. “Hey.”

“Hey. Uh, Patrick got called in for an emergency surgery.” Robin twisted her fingers together. “And I was going out of my mind with boredom. Is Jason back? Does he have anything from Sonny? I mean—”

“No. Not yet. I’m going a little crazy myself—” Elizabeth glanced over her shoulder, making a face when she realized Cameron had abandoned his toys and was creeping closer. He’d taken to listening to conversations, and the last thing she wanted was for him to hear talk about a serial killer. “Cam, why don’t you ask Spinelli to help you with that video game? I’m gonna go talk to Robin in the hallway.”

“Sure. Come on over, Little Dude.” Spinelli was always happy to have a reason to avoid schoolwork, and Cameron was obsessed with the video games Spinelli showed him.

“I’m sorry,” Robin said as they stepped into the hallway. Elizabeth closed the door behind them. “I shouldn’t—”

“No, it’s fine. I just—I don’t want Cameron to—” she sighed. “I guess I’m trying to ignore it all. Because if I think about it, I think about how scared I am that they’re all right, and somehow we’re in this guy’s crosshairs—” Elizabeth fisted her hand. “And I hate it. I really do.”

“I—” Robin paused when they heard the elevator. “Oh, maybe that’s Jason.”

“I hope so. Maybe he has something—”

But it wasn’t Jason who stepped around the corner. It was someone Elizabeth only vaguely recognized and didn’t know by name. “Is there something wrong?”

The man smiled, and the hair on Elizabeth’s neck stood up. She reached for Robin’s arm, instictively wanted the pregnant woman behind her. And cognizant that just behind the door, her babies were blissfully ignorant. “Who are you?”

“I’ve been waiting so long for this moment.” His smile deepened, but his eyes were cold. Dead. Empty. “For my girls to be just where I wanted you. It was supposed to be you last night.”

Could she get them both inside and lock the door before he reached them? Oh, God. No. Maybe if just one of them ran—

But the boys — they were just inside —

Elizabeth opened her mouth, but nothing came out. Beside her, Robin was tense, her dark eyes burning.

“You killed Georgie,” Robin breathed. “And Emily. And Leyla and Chelsea—All of them—”

“My girls,” the man said with a proud smile, a horrible contrast to his dead ends. “All of them so perfect in their own way. But you, my dear Dr. Scorpio, have been a challenge.” He wagged a finger at her. “Now, it’s time for you come with me and fix the problem you created.”

“I’m not going anywhere—”

The man reached inside his suit jacket and drew out a pistol. The smile remained, but it was sharper, thinner. Meaner now. “You can come with me now or I can go inside the penthouse.” In his other hand, he dangled keys. “I can go anywhere in the building, Dr. Scorpio. Miss Webber.”

Her name on his lips jarred Elizabeth’s memory. “You work for Jason. You—you’re part of their security.”

“I am their security. I’m sorry that you had to be my final girl, Miss Webber. But you can blame Dr. Scorpio. She sent that nurse with Emily that night.” He shook his head. “So then I needed a nurse to complete the set.”

“The set,” Elizabeth repeated numbly. “We’re a set?”

“Yes. It’s very important to make sure it matches. That you fit. I didn’t want to hurt Jason. He’s been very good to me,” the man continued, “but he’ll move on. He always does, doesn’t he? And maybe—” His eyes lit up. “Oh, this is perfect. It will all match now! Sam belonged to him. No more mistakes.”

He raised his brows. “You can come with me now so I can do this right, or I can go inside and take someone else that belongs Jason. Maybe a new pair—”

“No, No.” Elizabeth swallowed hard. “You can take me. Leave Robin. You wanted a pair, didn’t you? Sam and I can be your pair. She’s already gone. We’re Jason’s fiancées. That’s a pair. Robin—”

“She has to go, Miss Webber. You both do. Now, what’s it going to be?”

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