Thank you to my reviewers: DramaQueen161, hybridwolf10, SnowWhite213, iftheyonlyknewthetruth (BTW, I agree completely!), Nataliegirl1214, RYnRISSluv4eva (I like to know what people are thinking in stories – and you're right, it doesn't seem to happen enough sometimes), xSmile, Duckygirl, and JeniRose.
Nataliegirl1214 – I know, Haley is a bit much at the moment. She'll calm, though – and she does have some justification, after all!
JeniRose – unfortunately, no Deb/Haley/Nathan conversation is planned at this point, although I'll definitely explain what happened (it may take a while).
I'm surprised I've managed to keep this story up as long as I have, but I'm actually really enjoying writing it, which is good. Having said this, I realise my postings have slowed down. Don't be concerned about this – I am still writing, I'm just trying to figure out a few logistical issues, which are slowing me down a little.
Also, I've been sick this week, which hasn't helped. It's just gone winter here, and things are suddenly cold! So, of course, I've been sniffly and disgusting.
I hope you like this chapter. It may be a little confusing, but don't worry, everything will be explained shortly.
Dan Scott knew that it was only a matter of time before somebody came to him, but he didn't care. Deb had gone off somewhere – God knows where: probably to tattle – and that gave him time to set everything in motion. He might be going down, but he would take everyone else down with him.
That girl would never be a Scott.
Neither girl.
So Dan twirled the dial on his safe, and opened the door, staring in to the darkened depths, a malicious smirk twisting his mouth. Reaching in, he pulled out a brown envelope, and retreated to his desk, shutting the safe behind him.
He might be going down, but there was no point in being foolhardy.
Placing the envelope, unopened, on the clear surface of his desk, he eyed it with a considering – and very malicious – expression, and then reached for the phone.
"Pete? I have a story for you. What's your email address and fax number?"
May 23, 2005
Nathan's eyes narrowed as he surveyed the man who had fathered him, seated at his chair behind the president's desk at Dan Scott Motors. Exactly why Dan had requested this meeting was a mystery to him, and not one he was particularly interested in solving. He had enough going on with his life right now, what with Haley gone with that wannabe rockstar Chris Keller. Nathan was concerned that his life was collapsing around him, and he wasn't interested in whatever scheme his father had going.
"So, Dad. Why the summons?"
"Can't a father just want to spend time with his son?"
Nathan eyed his father with cynicism.
"A father? Sure. You? I don't think so. Give it up, Dad. Just tell me what you want to tell me, so that I can go."
"And what exactly are you going to, son? Your apartment? Alcohol? Or has Haley come back?"
Nathan shook his head at his father.
"No, Dad. You're not doing this to me right now. If that's what this is about, I'm leaving."
He stood and turned rapidly toward the door, just wanting to get away, to get out, to be on his own.
"Oh, Nate, hold up just a bit, won't you? I've got something to share with you."
Pausing, Nathan did not turn around, but he did wait for his father to continue. Instead of going on, he felt his father moving behind him, and flinched when he felt the large hand land on Nathan's shoulder.
"And I think you'll want to see this."
With that, Dan inexorably led his son back to his seat in front of the large desk, pushing him down with just enough force to land Nathan securely in the chair there once more.
Nathan said nothing, just eying his father in annoyance as he retreated behind the desk, reaching down to retrieve something from a lower drawer. Drawing out a large manila envelope, he threw it onto the desk, directly in front of Nathan.
"Go ahead, son. Take a look."
Nathan looked down at the envelope, and then back at his father with scepticism.
"Again, Dad, why?"
Dan chuckled and nodded towards the envelope, an unholy gleam in his eyes. Clearly he wasn't going to let Nathan out of the room until he'd looked at whatever was in that envelope. Nathan wanted to get out.
Surveying his father's grinning face with some misgiving, he reached for the envelope and opened it slowly, drawing the contents out as Dan's grin widened. Looking down, his face registered shock.
"Where did you get these?"
"Why are you asking that, son? Surely you know I'm just looking out for you?"
Nathan snorted, reaching down for the photographs and scanning them closer, as if hunting for a reason to disbelieve their contents.
"You'd have to be spying on me to get this sort of photograph, Dad."
"Spying, looking out for you. No real difference to me, there, Nate." Still grinning, Dan considered his work with some sense of achievement. This was what he had wanted out of the day. Sure, Nate was hurt, but he'd get over it.
"Anyway, son, the cars won't sell themselves. I'm going to get out to the yard and see how my salespeople are doing. You can show yourself out."
Clasping his son on the shoulder on his way to the door, Dan threw out his parting shot.
"Oh, and feel free to keep the pictures. They're just copies, I have the originals."
As the door closed behind his father, Nathan couldn't draw his gaze from what laid in front of him.
Haley.
Utter devastation in his face, Nathan traced the lines of her face in the photographs he held. The face of the woman he loved. The face of the woman he clearly could no longer trust.
He sat there, staring blankly at the photographs, until each of the six shots Dan had handed him in that inoffensive envelope was burned onto his retina, and then he closed his eyes. He couldn't take any more of this.
And he wouldn't take them with him. Instead, he stood, turned, and walked out the door, away from his father, away from the life he had had before, and away from the colourful photographs scattered across the top of his father's desk.
Dan smiled when he saw him leave.
He'd finally broken his son.
December 3, 2011
Dan smiled with satisfaction as he fed the cover sheet into the fax machine in his office. Beyond the office, he could hear noise, and he knew what was coming.
But at least he'd had time to do this.
Feeding in the first photograph, and then the second, Dan looked up in feigned shock when a three men and a woman burst into his office.
"To what do I owe the pleasure?" He asked, as the third photograph was fed in. His eye strayed to the computer screen, and he grinned as he saw the message there. Mail sent.
The intruders stepped towards him, drawing out identification.
"Dan Scott, we're with the F.B.I. We are authorised to take you for questioning in the matter of the kidnapping of Faith James Scott."
Dan raised his eyebrows, shock in every line of his expression.
"Faith? My granddaughter? And you think I have something to do with it?" He chuckled as the fourth photograph was fed into the machine. Sure, the faxing was just a backup, but it was definitely satisfying.
"Well, whatever I can do to help, officers." With that, he cast the remaining photographs aside, scattering them on his desk.
The female officer's gaze followed his movement, and her eyes narrowed as she saw the contents of the pictures Dan had cast aside. Her eyes locked with his, and she read the malice in his expression.
He'd definitely done something.
And those photographs might be part of it.
Drawing a piece of paper from her pocket, she smiled.
"Thank you for that, Mr Scott," she said, unfolding the paper with fingers gloved in rich brown leather. "We would appreciate your accompanying us to the police station, where the officers have kindly made a room available. Also, we have a warrant here," she waved the sheet of paper "to search your premises."
Bending forward, she reached for the photographs.
"These could be of interest."
4 December 2011
The day after Dan Scott was taken for questioning in Faith's kidnapping, a story burst, with shocking force, in the world of tabloid journalism.
Reason for James-Scott Split?
The kidnapping of Faith James Scott, and her recent recovery by the FBI, has eclipsed the story of a teenage marriage between Grammy Award-winning Haley James and star Lakers player Nathan Scott.
What has been clear is that neither is talking about the reasons they split before their daughter was born.
In photographs received yesterday from a party close to the couple, an idea of exactly what the reason for this estrangement has emerged.
See photographs on pages 3 and 4.
On the front page of virtually every tabloid for a week, the same photographs ran. Pictures of Haley James Scott, smiling, happy, apparently in love.
And with Chris Keller.
Kissing Chris Keller.
In love with Chris Keller.
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