 Robert and Luke were thrust into another episode of world intrigue when David Gray, the rightful heir to the throne of a fictional kingdom of Malkuth, was revealed to have arranged for Laura Spencer's disappearance in exchange for Helena's financing his coup.David Gray was killed in a sword fight with Luke, and Robert was left to console his friend when it was believed that Laura had drowned at sea.Luke and Robert next became involved in an oil scam orchestrated by Holly Sutton's crime family, the Durban's, but they managed to stop them as well from succeeding in their scheme to fleece the residents of Port Charles.