protected function _genericReturn($key, $type)
    {
        $listName = $this->_getCorrectList($type);

        switch (true) {
            case !$key:
                return $this->$listName;

            case array_key_exists($key, $this->$listName):
                $list = &$this->$listName;
                return $list[$key];

            default:
                return null;
        }
    }