Chapter Nine

Truths and Traitors

Richard Barton pressed the pause button on the remote in his hand, as he zoomed in on the image and stared at the now stationary shot of Alan Tracy. It had been captured on CCTV from across the street as Alan left the club. The only light cast around the office was from the large TV screen showing Alan's face and a lamp on the far side of the desk also on which Richard was also sitting. The offices at the top of Barton industries were deserted, but it didn't matter anyway. Richard was lost in the confusion of his own mind by the new information he had just learnt, until he was rudely disturbed.

"You sick son of a bitch!" Jeff Tracy stormed into the office as Richard stood and turned towards the source of the commotion.

Jeff Tracy was overwhelmed with anger and hatred after speaking with his eldest son just after he had left Alan and he had instantly gone to find Barton.

"I swear to god there is going to be nothing left for anyone to find once I am finished with you. Alan is eighteen years old, oh I knew dam well your intentions were not honourable but I never thought you were this sick." Jeff spat with hatred as he grabbed Richard's shirt and shoved him forcefully backwards.

"What are you talking about?" Richard still looked surprised by his visitor as Jeff moved closer again.

Jeff Tracy swallowed his anger and tried to focus on his questions.

"If you have laid so much as one finger on my son I'll kill you." Jeff pushed Richard towards the wall further as he spoke slowly but wrathfully.

"Jeff what the hell are you going on about?" Richard tried to push Jeff away but the elders grip was intense. Jeff shook his head with anger as he held firmly the man against the wall.

"The cars, the gifts, the money, was that your perverted plan? You groom my son into trusting you so you could drug him and use him for sex." The anger overwhelmed Jeff as he spat his words and exposed the horrific idea Scott had uncovered.

Richard Barton stopped struggling and looked with shock at the man before him, but Jeff couldn't hold his annoyance anymore as he threw a punch at Richard and he landed on the floor beside him.

"…You think I'm sleeping with Alan?" Richard Barton held his lip as he laid on the floor, the man above him he believed could easily kill him at this moment.

"Jeff are you crazy? I have never, and never would touch Alan. He's just a kid, where the hell did you get that idea from?" Richard angrily hit back at the concept as he got to his feet.

Jeff Tracy took in the words Richard said, the younger man appeared to look truly disturbed by the accusation but Jeff wasn't convinced, he knew this man well.

"At Ben's club one of the girls told Scott that the management has been selecting young men to entertain them upstairs, and they seem to have a strong resemblance to Alan. This happens to be the same club in which Alan had taken or was given drugs and that you introduced him too. Oh and where you happened to be last night but forgot to mention anything about being there." Jeff spat again, as Richard turned to face his fellow businessmen with a look of disgust.

"I called in at the end of the night after my meeting, Ben said Alan had just left the club so I went straight home that's was when I found Alan. I can't believe you are stooping this low Jeff to get me away from Alan." Richard yelled back as the billionaires stood nearer to each other before Richard indicted to the television screen near him.

Jeff Tracy had a pulsing of anger through his veins he desperately wanted to beat the life out of the man before him, but he turned to look where Richard indicted to see on the screen a paused image of Alan.

"Alan wasn't drugged at the club, he couldn't have been I have seen all the CCTV footage I could get of Alan driving back through the city and on none of them is he driving erratically or showing any sign of being out of control." Richard moved past Jeff and closer to the TV.

"Alan couldn't have driven home normally if he had been given or taken drugs at the club as they would have been influencing his behaviour and his senses before he got home." Jeff took in this information as Barton continued.

"I had Alan's blood sample examined by experts, the hospital found traces of speed but then stopped looking, but when you look deeper there was also traces of a sedative." Richard spoke with passion at the new information he was exposing, but Jeff Tracy only seemed more perplexed.

"What are you suggesting?" Jeff moved his eyes from the screen back to Barton repeatedly.

"The sedative in his blood stream would have made him unconscious almost instantly, he must have been given it just before, or just after he crashed, which means someone else was near Alan at the accident site."

"This again only incriminates you more as you found Alan." Jeff spoke with fury as he moved closer to the screen to examine the recording for himself. Richard Barton exhaled deeply and softened his voice.

"Jeff you may hate me, but god you must at least know I would never hurt Alan." Jeff looked at Richard unconvinced by his words.

"I know that you would do anything to get back at me for Lucy choosing me over you." Jeff's eyes glazed with anger and bitterness for having this man back in his life again.

"Fine, the evidence will have to do then." Richard threw a file in Jeff's direction, and a firm strong tone returned to his words.

"I received this from the private investigators I've got on the case an hour ago. The GPS recorded Alan's car stopped at the accident site for nearly twenty minutes before the signal was lost. At the same time it showed Alan car was stopped I was driving back from the city to the house, I was exactly about five minutes from Alan' s location when Alan's GPS stopped recording." Richard moved towards the DVD player and fast forwarded the disk before pausing it to show Jeff and image of his car stopped at a red light.

"Look at the time Jeff. If you really want to find out what happened to Alan then you are going to have to look past me and use the evidence." Richard spoke angrily and his eyes met Jeff's and the elder billionaire backed down before he continued to examine the documents before him.

"What are you trying to say?" Jeff couldn't hold his impatience any longer, as he shifted his steel gaze back to Barton.

"The disk I got sent is the recording of Alan arriving and then leaving the house again in the early hours after he visited the club." Richard moved and picked up the disk from the table and held it out to Jeff.

Jeff Tracy took hold of the DVD before him and looked again at a man he didn't trust for an instant, but for the moment he was willing to tolerate this idea. The elder moved towards the player as Richard picked up the remote again.

The clock in the corner indicted the time and date of what was being viewed, as both billionaires watched intently.

"That's Alan leaving for the club." Richard spoke to confirm the evidence as Jeff recalled Gordon left his home around a similar time.

"Fast forward some hours." Jeff spoke sternly but his eyes never left the screen.

"Stop, rewind a bit." Richard did as Jeff asked as both saw a normal calm Alan pull up on the drive and approach the camera to enter the house, however not before the blond paused to pick something up.

"His watch I had it delivered to him that night, that's what he his picking up." Realisation dawned on Jeff's face, but Barton only looked at him with curiosity.

"What watch?" Richard observed with interest as a glimpse of relief appeared for a minute or two on the ex-pilots face.

"Never mind, look at the clock Alan must have only been in the house a few minutes as when he called me he was definitely driving." Jeff took the controller and fast forwarded the disk until Alan re-appeared only minutes later but looking more troubled and hurried. The young man's jacket was in his hand, as Alan approached the Mercedes Jeff paused the image and approached the screen.

"He's wearing his watch." Jeff zoomed in on the image of his son's left wrist, and on it clearly was a large watch.

"So what? He put a watch on in the house, what's more important is the fact he couldn't have had the drugs concoction yet as he his still behaving normally." Richard Barton looked troubled both by the new evidence and by a piece of information he knew nothing about which seemed to easy the troubles of the billionaire he disliked so much.

"No it's important. The hospital told me the only thing Alan had on that they had removed was a ring; he left wearing a watch now but got to hospital with no watch on." Jeff's eyes seemed menacing again as he looked at his companion again.

"Did you take his watch off him before I got there?" Richard looked disgusted by the suggestion and raised his voice also.

"Jeff I was a little busy pulling Alan from a burning car, and making sure he was alive to notice or even bother taking a watch off him. I didn't even know it was from you until now. I would never hurt Alan he is the best thing in my life." Richard moved away from the billionaire and shook his head at the idea and the unpleasant memory of seeing Alan like that.

"All I know is what I have just shared, but the last piece of evidence to help us may come from Alan's car. I have a team working on the car now to see what caused the crash. When I found Alan I was terrified that he was dead. When I held him and dragged him from the car he was so lifeless I was scared to even touch him in case he wasn't breathing. I care about Alan more that you can ever know Jeff, and the allegation that I drugged Alan for sex, is not alone disgusting but also now clearly false. I didn't give Alan speed or anything else. Whatever Scott found in the club has nothing to do with me, it's Ben's club anyway…. Ben."

Richard spoke but the emotions from his early words were drained to dread and disgust by his realisation. Jeff Tracy looked troubled by Richard's change in expression and by his words.

"What? Did you just mean Ben James is the one who is entertaining these young men?" Jeff moved his head slightly and he took in Barton's fury as the younger man snatched his keys from his desk and moved past Jeff, but Jeff held him back.

"Are you telling me you have let Ben James be around Alan when you knew he had been showing an interest in Alan?" Jeff's ferocity returned as did the sickening feeling about what he had just learnt.

"I didn't know anything about his relationships with them; I've been trying to find out what happened to Alan." Richard yelled.

"Trust me he is never going to see Alan again." Richard spoke as he pulled himself away from the elder man, before he stopped due to noticing Jeff's expression turned to horror.

"…I just left Ben James with Alan. I just came from you house Alan was unconscious…" Richard looked with disbelief and disgust before both headed for the elevator.

"He won't hurt Alan." Richard spoke as both stepped in the lift and waited to arrive at their destination.

"How do you know that?" Jeff looked over to Barton as he ran his hands through his hair, wishing he hadn't left Alan.

"He knows I would kill anyone who hurt Alan."

Jeff Tracy drove back the route he had just come from, again with a troubled panic in his mind over Alan's safety.

"Alan!" Jeff Tracy spoke breathlessly as he opened the door to see his youngest son alone in the bedroom.

"Alan" He repeated again just as worriedly as he moved on to the edge of the bed and brushed back his son's flaxen locks. Alan responded by breathing deeply and adjusting his body position.

"Jeff he's just asleep, he's fine." Richard whispered from next to him, relieved himself by the idea.

"I don't want him here, being with you has caused nothing but trouble for us." Jeff quarrelled as he looked at the billionaire, Alan had settled again and fell back into an undisturbed sleep

"Come on Jeff, the kid's asleep at least leave it until he's awake." Jeff examined his son again and moved closer to him.

"Fine, but I'm not leaving." Jeff removed his jacket and pulled out his cell phone as Richard turned to leave the room, but glancing at Alan again before leaving.

"Where are you going?" Jeff quizzed.

"To deal with a problem." Richard didn't turn around and left quickly.

"Scott it's me." Jeff Tracy moved across the room to speak to his eldest son as he watched Barton leave. The billionaire was still not certain what was fact or fiction and how much Barton was influencing events. The evidence he had seen tonight seemed to answer some questions but also create more unanswered ones.

Ben James walked around his boss's office in Barton industries headquarters impatiently, as he waited for his call to go to voicemail before he spoke.

"Rick it's Ben, you said to meet you at seven this morning but your not here, you do know it's a Saturday right?"

"Oh I am well aware of that fact." Ben shut his phone and turned around as he heard his boss entering the room.

"Hey, what's going on?" Ben lent back on to the desk as he noticed the anger and annoyance in Richard's face.

"Oh I think the question is what sick idea have you been imaging would happen with Alan." Richard was used to being inches away from his lover's face but this time Richard's face was burning with rage.

"What?" Ben's exterior remained unfazed but his eyes shifted slightly and his boss saw it.

"If you have touched him Ben I swear they will be finding your body parts all over New York for the next thirty years." Richard held the younger man's shoulders with force.

"Alright just calm down Rick, I haven't touched Alan okay…" Ben's face glazed with a smirk and a malicious gleam.

"…But come on, it's not like we both haven't enjoyed the idea of having some fun with that pretty young blond." Richard exploded with anger as he punched Ben hard in the face so that he fell backwards on to the desk.

"He's a kid, and despite what you and Jeff may think, I love Alan like my son and nothing more. I can't believe I was so stupid to think that Alan being barely legal was enough to stop you going after him." Richard spat as he watched Ben move blood from his cheek.

"If I had had any idea of what you have been up too at your clubs do you really think I would let you within a thousand miles of Alan." Ben looked over to were his boss was pacing with annoyance.

"I think your overreacting, so I thought Alan was a really nice piece of eye candy but that's all, nothing has ever happened. At least I'm not the one fooling myself; I'm at least being honest about my intentions with Alan unlike you. I know you have other reasons behind wanting Alan in your life; I wonder what Jeff would think of that." Ben spoke with confidence as he moved to walk around the desk and stood behind his boss's chair.

"Trust me it is very fortunate for you that you have never tried to lay a finger on Alan, because if I find out that you have, I think you are well aware of what I am capable of Ben." Richards gaze penetrated Ben James attitude slightly, and Richard's darker side shone through.

"But you're right I do have other reasons for wanting Alan in my life and treating him as I do, but those reasons are none of your concern so stay out of it, and stay the hell away from Alan." Richards's voice was raised and emendating a dangerous threat.

"Oh I get it; it's none of my concern then." Ben James moved his head slightly as he commented on his partner's words.

"Rick before Alan was in your life, we were a team. I helped you build Barton Industries; we have worked together for over fourteen years. We are partners, but now you're risking everything because you want to play daddy. I know Alan is a great guy, but you're being ridiculous and your risking everything we had planed ,for Alan. Don't you want more money and power than you ever dreamed possible? You're my business partner and I have a plan that is going to make that all happen."

Richard Barton noted the darkness in his partner's eyes and something about them made him uneasy. Ben James had an unpleasant desire for total power and control, which would make him a dangerous enemy to anyone.

"Ben you have been well rewarded for any business you have helped me with, but your deals are with the wrong people and are nothing that I'm interested in. Illegal arms dealing, drug smuggling, and having terrorists steal and destroy all to line your pockets with dollars is nothing I want. I have no business having that in my life Ben." Ben James eyed his partner with surprise, as Richard returned to move behind his desk as he noted the look of realisation on Ben's face.

"What, you don't think that I have been keeping my eye on you? You may have armies of men to do your dirty work and hide behind a code name but that does stop you showing the darkness you have inside of you Ben.

What is it they say, 'Keep your friends close but your enemies' closer'; I have been tracking your deals for over a year. Having you right by my side meant I could follow the paths of your dealings, and find out about your terrorist employees. Did you really think I had no idea who you really were Ben? You got way out of control and someday you are going to come across people who are going to stand up against your threats and demolish your plans." Richard Barton noticed a smirk appear on Ben's face, but his eyes still echoed terror.

"Well done I underestimated you Rick, but knowing all this puts you in an uncomfortable position doesn't it?" Ben moved to approach Richard.

"It's over Ben. I was waiting to find out what the big plan you had was and why you have been searching for some of the most wanted men on the planet, but I think I have enough evidence against you now to have the FBI more than interested." Alan's influence over Richard had affected him greatly, this was no business he wanted any involvement in and Ben was a danger he was going to erase.

"I doubt it Rick, I could have you killed with in the hour, well maybe two, and what about Alan. Do you really think I wouldn't go after him if you come good on that threat?" Ben circled the billionaire; his voice was quiet but menacing.

"Hand over any evidence you have on me, and we can go are separate ways. I'll leave you and Alan alone, and you keep your mouth shut, win win I make it." As the sun rose through the grey skies of New York and lit the room, Richard turned to face is companion and smiled.

"I'm handing everything over to the FBI, I will never let you threaten either of us, get out Ben before you have the world's police force hunting you down. No matter who you pay, or who you buy there will always be people willing to stand up for the right things, and against men like you and the fear you cause." Richard knew what he had set in motion here and that this would now forever scar his life, but also without his knowledge determine Alan's future.

Ben James looked into the eyes of Richard Barton and knew they were now on opposite sides, the smirk reappeared and a glint of revenge glimmered in Ben's eyes as he lent towards Richard to speak.

"Watch your back Richard because you were right to keep me as a friend before. If anyone thinks they can stand in my way I will destroy them." Ben raised his head and smirked before heading for the door to the office, Richard Barton waited until he had left to pull out his cell phone and make an urgent call.

"I think to quote Lady Penelope accurately it goes 'Penny for your thoughts?'" Virgil Tracy moved into the room at the very top of the Tracy residence and placed himself on the end of the bed in it.

"Can you see through me that easily these days? I think we need to spend some time apart little brother." Scott Tracy gave a sad smile from his position in the small window seat across the room from the door. The pilot's choice of view however was not of the beautiful Tracy gardens below but of the room he was in.

"I don't think that's going to happen so much when dad's plan comes into force, and don't dodge the question Scott. I feel our littlest brother is much of the focus of your thoughts." Scott gazed Virgil's way and met his eyes.

"Wow Virg, and here I was thinking you were doing training in medicine not psychology." The sarcasm was evident; Scott sometimes hated how well Virgil could understand him.

"Well it isn't exactly complicated Scott, this was Alan's bedroom." Virgil moved his gaze around the room but nearly every trace of Alan's presence was gone.

"It still is Alan's room. Not that I really think he was that comfortable in it, he hated having to move from the outhouse to here after Rachel died. Anyway a couple of posters, model cars and motoring magazines don't really allow me to reminisce much.

Virgil moved off the bed and sat on the desk chair as he moved through he noticed something in the corner of his eye.

"Virgil I don't know what were going to do." Scott Tracy sighed and rubbed his head. His father had called last night to say he was staying with Alan at Barton's home and that Alan was asleep but fine.

"Dad actually seemed pretty convinced that Barton wasn't the one interest in Alan like that…" Both brother's shared a worried glace at even the idea.

"That doesn't stop me wanting to know who is destroying this family through, some how between leaving Barton's house and dad finding Alan, Alan had a sedative and speed in his body." Scott Tracy slammed his hands down on to the wooden seat and lowered his head. Virgil Tracy emphasized with his brother and walked over to him after picking up a small object.

"What if Alan was upset by something dad wrote in his card that was with Alan's watch? What if he took drugs himself and then crashed because of it? That's not even the worse thing; Virgil I don't know what is going to be able to heal this rift between dad and Alan." Virgil moved to sit on the closest side of the bed nearer to his brother.

"Scott, dad and Alan have got big problems but I know no matter what Alan has done dad will always love him, he's just scared to show it. And as far as are baby brother is concerned I wouldn't give up on him yet, Alan's running from being a Tracy but that doesn't mean that he won't ever come back to us." Virgil smiled at his brother before opening his brother's hand and placing in it a small red toy car.

"He didn't forget this Scott, he left it here, he wants to be part of this family Scott I just don't think he knows his place here." Virgil left the room leaving his brother staring at the model car knowing that would help his brother his memories.

"I miss you Alan." Scott examined the tiny car; he was surprised the cheap little toy's wheels could still turn the amount his baby brother had played with it. It was a little present Rachel had gotten Alan when he was five and she was looking after a sick Gordon while Jeff was on business. The idea was to keep the child amused for ten minutes, over twelve years later Alan still loved this little car. Scott smiled as he remembering Alan used to carry this toy everywhere, even drawing out a track to practise driving around it using the car. After Rachel died Alan playing with the toy in the middle of the night for months according to his father. Alan just couldn't cope with the reality of Rachel's death and so just played with a tiny silver and red car wanted to escape reality and the pain he felt.

Alan Tracy stood above his red and silver Mercedes McLaren car; he loved this sport and the thrill of the speed and the danger of the race, but he knew he was missing something he just didn't want to admit it. The thought broke the young man from his dreams and he opened his cerulean eyes but was surprised by what he saw.

"Alan are you okay?" Jeff moved back on to the bed as he heard his son stir from his slumber.

"What?..What are you doing here?" Alan confirmed he was at his room at Richards's home as he spoke by scanning the room.

"I was worried about you." Jeff looked calm and attempted to reach out to hold Alan's face but the boy moved predicting the attempt.

Jeff sighed and moved back his hand from his son, before taking a deep breath.

"I have to ask you something, Alan this is important promise me you will tell me the truth no matter what it is?" Jeff considered how to ask his questions as he noted the confusion and annoyance on his son's face.

"I don't know why you came back but just leave before Rick comes in." Alan cast aside his fathers request and attempted to get out of bed.

"Alan, he knows I'm here." Jeff held his son's arm to stop him from moving.

"After I left last night did anything happen?" Jeff ignored the disgust he was feeling and looked closely at his son's expressions.

"Yeah, I when to sleep." Alan tried to move again.

"Alan this is serious, Ben James…did he do anything to you?" Jeff stuttered a bit and looked straight at his awfully confused son.

"Do anything to me? Dad he left and I fell asleep, what are you talking about?" Alan got more agitated as spoke, and Jeff once again held him in his position.

"Alan has either Richard Barton or Ben James ever touched you? Have they ever tried to get you to have sex with them?" Alan could never have expected his father say those words, and checked the sincerity of them before speaking.

"What?" Alan stared blankly at his father.

"Alan just tell me?" Jeff moved to hold Alan's arms with both his hands.

"Are you out of your mind? I know you hate him, but I never thought you would stoop this low." Alan threw off his father's grip and moved off the bed angrily.

"Alan."

"No, neither of them have ever tried anything on with me, and I can't believe you think they would." Alan yelled from across the room back at his father.

"Alan Ben James's personal entertainment at his clubs are specially selected young blond kids, I wanted to know you were okay and to get you away from here." Jeff noted Alan slight surprise but he was still very annoyed.

"Whatever you think Ben's up to it has nothing to do with me, and I really don't think you should be throwing allegations like that around." Jeff lowered his head; relief that Alan hadn't been involved filled his veins.

"I want you to leave." Alan pulled on a clean t-shirt and turned around to show his dominance of the suggestion.

"I want you to come with me." Jeff moved over to Alan and his voice pleaded with the young man.

"You really think I'm going to leave with you?" Alan raised his head with disbelief but both Tracy's turned to look at the door, before Jeff could reply.

"I think you should go with him Alan." Richard Barton couldn't really decide who looked more shocked by his suggestion, Alan or Jeff.

"What?" It voice came from Jeff.

"Alan he's right, you need to go with him." Richard approached the blond and continued to explain as the amazed look on Alan's face hadn't ceased.

"I just heard from my people who are examining your car, Alan you may have crashed but the car was torched with petrol and set alight independent from the accident. Alan you must have been given a sedative and the drugs by someone to stop you leaving the car before it was set alight. Alan there someone else involved." The idea send anger down the two elder men's spines and both shared a glance.

"Someone tried to kill you and make it look like an accident." Alan shook his head slightly and sat back down on the edge of the bed. The idea of relief at finding out what happened two nights ago was gone, replaced by feeling truly disturbed by the idea.

Alan glanced up at his boss before shifting his eyes on to his father.

"But who?" Alan asked.