The tangled web part three- Let the games begin
The third part of the trilogy that began with 'not the way it's supposed to be" followed by 'the phantom skater'.
As the international skating competition looms closer both Dan and Simon will find themselves in deadly danger. As an investigation begins secrets and lies will be revealed that leads to shocking discoveries.
Can both Dan and Simon survive what is to come?
Rated M- not a story for young children contains some non graphic violence
Chapter one- Rising tensions
He glanced up at the clock and tensed, very soon Dan would be late. Forcing his eyes back down to the horse in his care Bill Regan tried to stay calm. "If I wanted to take him I'd already have done it", the words of the unpleasant surprise that had descended upon him rang through his head.
They'd been spoken by Simon Saunders, official coach to the U.S. skating team, Dan's skating coach, his deceased sisters boyfriend. Boyfriend, that was not really the correct term for Simon, after all he'd lived with Bills sister Patty for 6 years, so that made him a lover. But what else was he? Not a man who was willing to face commitment as he'd never married Patty. This worried Bill deeply as it indicated that perhaps Simon had not been that dedicated to the relationship. He was worried that Simon may just abandon Dan at any moment leaving him to pick up the pieces
But Dan was too blinded by his obvious affection for the man to see this abandonment as a possibility. The rest of Sleepyside was aware of Dan's connection to Simon but seemed unconcerned about anything else. Simon was in their eyes almost as famous as a movie star and they lavished gifts and cards upon the coach. So it was up to him to make sure the man behaved appropriately toward the teen.
"Where is he", Bill demanded standing up straight and eying the clock again. "I'm sure practice is just running late", Jim Frayne soothed, "Mr Saunders would have rung if there was a problem". A problem thought Bill, like Dan being kidnapped. It had almost happened once, for no apparent reason and Bill was still terrified it would happen again, but maybe not by strangers this time. Footsteps approached and Bill looked up to see his nephew approaching with Simon Saunders and Sandra Anton. Bill hurriedly intercepted the trio, "Where the heck have you been", he demanded his eyes focused not on his nephew but on Simon Saunders.
"Uncle Bill", Dan began, "I wasn't talking to you Daniel, Bill interrupted harshly, "I was talking to him", Bill pointed at Simon.
Simon Saunders could see tension written all over Bill Regan's body and began to get worried. "I'm most sincerely sorry Bill", he hurriedly stated, "we actually finished on time but got delayed by autograph hunters and fans", Simon kept his tone mild.
Bill'seyes still flashed dangerously and he spoke in an angry tone, "Dan is due to take his medication soon, Mr Saunders and any delay for whatever reason could be quite serious. Now you may not be concerned but…"Excuse me, that is rather uncalled for", despite himself Simon interrupted Bills accusation, "Dan has extra medication at the stadium and if he was going to be any later I would have seen to it that he took it", Simon retorted firmly. His voice wasn't quite angry yet, but he was now maintaining his calmness with effort.
Bill puffed out his chest and stretched himself to full height and glared at the coach.
Simon tried to still his thumping heart and look calmly back at Bill, he could actually make him back of if he really wanted to but was well aware of the fact they had an ever increasing audience. Bill though seemingly was unaware that the remaining Bobwhites as well as Mathew Wheeler were all anxiously eyeing the pair and hoping there was not going to be trouble.
"I believe we had an agreement Mr Saunders about the times of Dan's training. I need to be notified if there are any changes", Bill told him.
Simon frowned, "there are no changes Bill, I told you we were just delayed".
Dan standing by Simon eyed his angry looking Uncle, "come on Uncle Bill it wasn't his fault", he insisted. His Uncle's eyes snapped toward him, 'Dan I'm talking to Mr. Saunders", he retorted crossly. Simon heard the angry tone and couldn't really help the next words out of his mouth, "do you mind not talking to him like that",he insisted. Bill went redder, "he is my nephew and I can talk to him how I like", he replied pointedly. Simon raised his eyebrow, "well I sincerely hope you're not always that rude or inconsiderate", he remarked calmly. Bill Regan gritted his teeth and he stepped forward moving toward Simon. Simon did not step back even though he now recognized that Bill was probably angry enough to hit him. "I think I see the press coming", interupted Matt Wheeler loudly. Bill hurriedly looked around, as did every one else. There was no sign of any reporters but the interruption was enough to make him actually think about what he was doing. "Alright Saunders", he growled, "I accept that you were late, but if it continues to happen, I may have to reevaluate my consent about having Daniel on the team. Dan's eyes widened at the comment and he moved closer to Simon, "No Uncle Bill" ,he pleaded.
Bill Regan stared at him and put his hands firmly on his hips , "then Saunders better listen to me", he stated firmly.
Dan looked at his angry uncle and felt cross. Deliberately turning his back on his uncle he enfolded Simon in a hug, "I'll see you tomorrow", he told Simon firmly.
Simon kept his eyes down toward Dan intentionally not looking at the angry face of Bill Regan. If he did look he knew he'd say something he'd probably regret later. So he returned the hug firmly and stated", see you tomorrow Daniel". Daniel finally moved out of the hug and walked to his Uncle, Simon said something in Irish over his shoulder as he left. With a smile Dan moved toward his Uncle. "What did he say", Bill demanded. Dan looked at him, "just an Irish blessing", he remarked. Bill looked unconvinced certain that Simon Saunders parting remark had been against him personally. But seeing his nephews unhappy look he decided to say nothing.
"Come Dan, there are things you need to do", he said instead. Dan moved off with his uncle leaving a small group of relieved people in his wake. "For a minute there, I thought Regan was going to hit him", Brian Belden remarked. "He would have been stupid to do it", Matt stated, Saunders could have had him for assault." "I don't think Regan actually thought of that", Jim remarked ruefully. "No I doubt , he did", Matt acknowledged. "I think I might speak to him later about his contact with Mr Saunders. If he does say or do anything stupid against Mr Saunders then it might hurt him if there ever is a custody battle", Matt stated wisely. Trixie and Honey exchanged worried glances . "Do you think Mr Saunders would go for custody of Dan", Trixie asked . Matt looked sober, "I don't think he initially intended to, but if Bill keeps acting like that he might change his mind."
Trixie swallowed Dan had been through so much lately and didn't need any more problems. "I hope they both calm down then", she stated worriedly.
It was late but he couldn't sleep. Turning over onto his right side Bill found his mind wandering back to the conversation with Matthew Wheeler. "Bill I think we need to have a serious chat about Mr Saunders," Matt had stated. Bill looked pensive, "Look that display shouldn't have happened in front of an audience", he remarked, "I just got carried away." Matt nodded, "Bill half the town already knows how you feel about Saunders. I think you should be careful. If he did go for custody of Daniel there could be some damaging testimony coming from some of the town members."
Bill's eyes blazed, "I kind of hope he does, go for custody Matt, at least I might be able to legally get him well away from Dan." Matt sat down beside him his eyes serious, "don't underestimate him Bill", he stated. Bill shook his head, "I'm Daniels Uncle a blood relative by right, he's just a….damn bastard who never committed to my sister and now still wants to have contact with Dan", he blurted angrily. Matt put a hand upon his shoulder, "I know having him turn up was a shock Bill, it was to all of us. But the man did live with Patty for 6 years. He's been part of Dan's life longer than you have," Matt pointed out. "So, he still didn't marry her", Bill retorted. "Although that might hurt him in a court case I don't think it would entirely knock him out of the running. " I'm just thinking of the courts reluctance in naming you guardian Bill.
They were worried about your relatively young age, your financial circumstances and your lack of experience with teens. Now although he is still young, Saunders has 10 years on you, as an international coach, he's got to be well off, plus he has a good extended family network. Then there's the fact that he's worked with a lot of children and teens", Matt concluded soberly. Bill felt himself go pale, "are you telling me that if he went for custody, that he might win", he pleaded. "Bill I'm just saying don't be stupid, if you go around with a hot headed temper making threats against him and he doesn't respond in kind then it'll be your reputation that will suffer. The court could say that you are short tempered and abusive, not a stable guardian for Dan", Matt remarked calmly. Bill closed his eyes, "I will not lose Dan to that man", he stated firmly.
Matt nodded, "at the moment Bill, he's not demanding anything too much but be careful that your attitude doesn't force him to change his mind, he paused. "You must also consider Dan, he obviously cares a lot for Mr Saunders , I don't really think he needs to go through a custody battle on top of everything else," Matt stated wisely.
Bill had to reflect on the fact that it was good advice and decided he'd at least attempt to keep things civil between himself and Simon Saunders.
Simon also tossed in the large double bed. Sighing and opening his eyes, he turned on the light. Staring at him on his dresser was the photo of him Dan and Patty taken just weeks before her death. "Honey, what am I supposed to do", Simon pleaded as he looked at the photo. "I can't tell the truth", one tear rolled out of his eye and he knocked it away. "This is the way, it has to be", he stated. "I need to be strong".
He turned the light off again, "I can do this", he stated. But he still laid awake wondering with he was just deluding himself, could he really stand by if Bill Regan decided to go for full custody of Dan. No he probably wouldn't, he would have no choice but to reveal the truth. It would hurt everyone, Dan and Bill especially.
"Please Bill don't be an idiot", he stated to the darkness. "Please my darling don't you be an idiot", he seemed to hear a soft feminine voice saying. "Oh Patty why did you have to die", he pleaded to the darkness.
Not too far away Dan opened his eyes and clamped his mouth shut to stop a yell escaping. That horrible nightmare had woken him again. It was the one where he saw the car accident that he'd believed killed his mother and Simon. He now knew Simon was alive and well living no too far away. Dan calmed his beating heart, maybe the dream still happened because things weren't as they should have been. He was here lying in the bed in a house that didn't belong to either Simon or Bill Regan but to a man that was until recently a complete stranger. Then again his Uncle had been a stranger as well until recently. But not Simon, he been part of Dan's life for years.
Why the death of his mother had changed so many things, Dan thought.
Click, the light turned on and suddenly the worried face of Walter Maypenny was looking down at him. "You alright Dan", he asked softly, eyes scanning Dans face.
Dan shrugged then when he saw Maypenny frown deeper hastens to ensure him that physically he was fine. "Uncle Bill almost hit Coach today", he sighed softly. Walter Maypenny nodded in understanding. He knew Bill Regan has a fiery temper. Bill also tried his best with Dan but sometimes Walter had to acknowledge that he went the wrong way about handling certain situations. Then again to be fair he doubted that Bill Regan had ever imagined he'd be faced with a man who had lived with his sister for several years. Walter sighed, it'd be easier of course if Simon Saunders was not a personable man. But the fact was that most of the citizens of Sleepyside liked the coach as he was friendly, approachable and caring. He certainly had a more even temperament than Bill Regan. Walter had to admit to liking the Coach but he wouldn't take sides between the two men. "I suppose Bill doesn't really know what to say or think about Mr Saunders", Walter stated. "He hasn't tried to get to know him", Dan accused. No," Walter had to admit that was true, Bill kept his distance from the Coach with the two only really talking about Daniel. "He's scared Dan", Walter told the young man. "He's worked hard to make a life for you and to try to get to know you.
Now he's faced with a man who's been in your life a lot longer than he has. He's scared that you'll go off with him", Walter stated candidly. Dan looked down, "I guess I want it to be like it was me, mum and Simon. But because Simon and I both thought each was dead a different pathway began for me, one that led to discovering Uncle Bill. While I'm happy that happened it seems to be leading me away from Simon", Dan looked at the man who he'd come to respect and admitted,
" I want to go with Simon, but I can't upset Uncle Bill", a small tear leaked out of Dan's eyes. 'I never imagined that it'd be like this", he stated. Walter bent down and held him, "It'll all work out Dan you'll see", Walter soothed. Yet as he held Dan, Walter couldn't think of a happy solution to this mess. All he could see was that a day of reckoning was coming.
In the farm house Peter Belden was also awake. "Did Trix tell you what happened up at the stables", he asked his wife. Helen turned over and looked at him. "Yes', she stated. Peter sighed. Helen looked at him, "Simon should have married her Peter, all this difficulty has come about because of that one fact." Peter looked down, "I shouldn't break a confidence Helen but Simon did share something with me that time he took me to meet the baseball team. Helen remembered her husband's excitement on being invited to join Simon at a lunch for his favourite baseball team. This had happened barely a day after they'd met the coach so Helen had been worried that the extremely good looking Simon would also be going out to flirt with single women and would drag Peter along with him. She'd implored Peter to find out more about the coach before he decided to make him a firm friend. Turning back to Peter she saw sadness in his eyes and gasped as her husband told her, "they were going to get married Helen". Peter shivered, ' when we were sharing information about our lives he told me he lost his fiancé and her son in an accident ,of course at that stage he never mentioned any names and it never occurred to me he would be talking about people we know. I still remember the pain in his voice Helen, he was about one step away from breaking down. Probably would have if he'd known me better, Peter reflected. "He loved her Helen, never doubt that", Peter whispered. Helen was quiet for a moment before asking, "why wait so long before asking her to marry him". Peter shrugged, "I don't know Helen and I'm not going to ask. He hides it well but he still misses her terribly. I don't think Bills attitude is helping any either.' Helen nodded, "Bill cares for Dan Peter, he doesn't want to see him hurt." Peter looked at Helen, "Simon cares for Dan also Helen". His wife snuggled closer, "I know Simon has become a good friend Peter, but we can't take sides in this. If Bill tries to block Simons custody then we need to offer support to the person it'll hurt the most and that will be Dan."
Peter knew that was true, "I hope Bill won't be stupid Helen", he stated. Helen nodded, "I hope Simon won't either", she acknowledged.