Tangled Web
by Sarah & Lanie
"Oh,
what a tangled web we weave,
When first we practice to deceive!"- Sir Walter Scott
Chapter 1
June 25,
1999
Cory Mansion
Cameron loosened the knot of his tie as he and Amanda walked toward the front door. Amanda opened the door and walked inside ahead of him. He was content to just watch her move. It was the simple things in life that made him happy. Cameron would never stop savoring Amanda's inner and outer beauty. Their love deepened with each passing day. It amazed him how everything had changed, and it further awed him that he had been blind-sided by the whole thing. In hindsight, he wondered how they had ever gotten to this point and thanked God for showing them the way.
Amanda continued on into the living room, leaving Cameron alone in the foyer. She sighed heavily as she looked at the photographs in their various displays. Each photograph evoked a special memory. She picked up a picture taken just a few weeks ago at her own wedding. It was a picture of Cameron, Alli, and her. They had their arms around one another and all of them were smiling. They were not fake smiles formed just for the camera. The smiles and the happiness were genuine. They were a real family now. It was far beyond anything she had dared to dream. Happiness filled her every fiber, and she glowed with barely restrained pleasure.
"Everything is finally falling into place," Amanda said out loud.
She spun around quickly when her statement was met with silence. She raised her eyebrows and smiled slightly when she saw the look on Cameron's face. He was standing in the middle of the foyer with a wide smile, but his eyes looked as if he had drifted a million miles away.
"Cameron. . ." she prompted as she walked toward him.
Cameron mentally shook himself, then grinned. "What did you say?" he asked.
Amanda stopped in front of him. She gently lifted the lapels of his sports jacket, stroking the fabric with her thumbs. "Where have you been?" Amanda asked once again mesmerized by the light in his green eyes. Amanda's own eyes twinkled with mischief as she teased, "For a minute there, I could have sworn you were in another world. Is the newlywed glow fading already?"
Cameron gave her a crooked smile and lifted her hand to his lips. He whispered "Never" against her skin as he placed a kiss there to seal the vow, causing Amanda's heart to race. Cameron looked down at the engagement and wedding rings on her finger, then back up at Amanda.
"It just doesn't seem real sometimes. I can't believe that we're finally together," he admitted as he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her body against his.
"It's real, Sinclair. We're together and we're happy. There is nothing that can tear us apart now."
"Nothing," Cameron agreed with a slight nod.
Amanda looked up at the closed door in the foyer, parental concern slightly furrowing her features. "I wonder when Alli is coming home."
Cameron placed a finger on Amanda's chin to gently turn her eyes back to his. His tone was comforting as he said, "I'm sure she's just fine. Sean seems like a good kid."
"Seems. . yeah. . .I can't believe you let her go off with him. We don't know a thing about him."
Cameron took a step back, dipped his head, and raised one eyebrow. "How did this suddenly become all my fault?"
"You're supposed to keep me from making bad decisions."
Cameron laughed. "Like you ever listen to a word I say."
"I do," Amanda protested in a high-pitched tone.
Cameron grinned as he teased her in a singsong voice, "Whatever you say, dear."
Amanda scowled, clearly annoyed that he was not taking this situation as seriously as she was.
Seeing that his light-hearted approach was not reassuring his wife, Cameron switched back to his original tactic. "She'll be fine. She's a teenager now, Amanda. Things like this are going to happen."
"Yeah, but I don't have to like them. I want you to run a background check on Sean McKinnon first thing tomorrow morning."
Cameron shook his head. "You just don't give up, do you? What do you say I take your mind off things?"
Amanda opened then closed her mouth. "What do you have in mind?" she asked with a Cheshire cat grin.
Cameron shrugged. "It appears we have this house all to ourselves. I was thinking maybe we could find something to occupy us for a while," he said with a gleam in his eye.
"But what about Al. . . ."
Cameron stopped her words by placing a finger over his lips. He shook his head. "Let's go."
Amanda started walking toward the stairs only to find herself swept up into his arms. Cameron took the stairs two at a time with a single purpose in mind.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Cameron leaned up on one elbow and watched Amanda sleeping. Her blonde hair was fanned across the beige satin covered pillow. The moonlight caressed her face. He loved watching her when she was unaware of his scrutiny. Her presence was like therapy for him. Sometimes he still had trouble believing this was his life. He was happy… Cameron Sinclair was happy… settled… content. He had everything he never dared to dream about. He had never known what he was looking for until he met Amanda. She was his life, and he refused to let anyone or anything take her away from him.
Cameron paused in his musings when he heard the door close downstairs. Even though Jordan Stark was gone and the threat to this family was behind them, his senses were still on alert. He did not trust Carl, which did not help his sleep patterns. Cameron was attuned to every noise in this house, and he knew this particular sound as well.
"Must be Alli. . ." he pondered out loud.
Cameron gently moved from the bed and pulled on his sweat pants and a T-shirt. He would make sure everything was all right with Alli. That would make Amanda feel better. Cameron quickly opened and then closed the door quietly, careful to not wake Amanda. He sat in the chair in the hall waiting for Alli to make her way toward her room. He observed her unnoticed for a few seconds. She had removed her shoes and was tiptoeing toward her room.
"How were the ducks?" Cameron asked with a small smile playing about his lips.
Alli jumped, startled by the sound of his voice. She narrowed her eyes as she fixed them on Cameron. "Are you waiting up for me?" she asked with a little irritation in her voice.
The smile he had been trying to hide broke into a full-fledged grin. "Not really. I just thought I'd check on you since I was up."
"He didn't hurt me, if that's what you want to know. See, no cuts or bruises," she told him as she held out her bare arms for him to look at.
Cameron shrugged. "I can see that, but you might want to make sure you tell your mom about it. She's a little worried."
"How did you know I was home?"
"I heard the front door close," he told her matter-of-factly.
"How could you hear the door from up here? Is something going on?" she asked.
Cameron heard the anxiety in her voice. Jordan Stark had left his scar on Alli as well. Cameron stood up and walked to her. He hesitated for a moment, then placed his hands on her shoulders. "We're safe, Alli. No one is going to hurt you or this family ever again. I won't let them."
Alli relaxed instantly. "I trust you," she told him. "It took me a long time to realize it, but I know now. You would do anything to keep us safe, even the bratty step-daughter who made your life miserable when you tried."
Cameron was about to reassure Alli that she did not need to keep apologizing to him when she yawned broadly. Instead he just angled his head toward her door. "Go to bed. I'll see you around noon," he teased.
Alli smiled. "Good night," she said, then disappeared inside her room.
Cameron looked around. He would make one last security check, then turn in for the night. He would rather know they were all safe than worry about it. Cameron would not admit it to Alli, but he could not go to sleep until he was sure she was safely tucked away in her room. Cameron walked down the hall to check the other wing, and then he would be able to sleep.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Two Days Later
Amanda sipped a glass of iced tea as she leafed through the evening paper. She breathed deeply as the cool breeze floated through the open terrace doors. The summer had started off sweltering and the cool air was a welcome intrusion. She looked up as Cameron came jogging into the living room. He stopped in the middle of the room and leaned forward, placing his hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath.
"Are you going to take a shower now?" Amanda asked, scrunching her nose at the perspiration on his shirt.
Cameron looked down at his shirt. "Yeah, I think I will."
"You do remember that we are meeting Gary and Josie at the Harbor Club for dinner?"
Cameron smiled. "I didn't forget. This is the third time you've reminded me today."
Amanda smiled back. "I just. . . ."
Amanda did not finish as the sound of the phone ringing interrupted her thoughts. Cameron looked at her then walked to the desk. He picked up the phone.
"Hello."
"Cameron Sinclair. . ."
"Yes, but how did……How can I help?……I understand what you're saying. Send me the information and I'll be in touch."
Cameron's eyes fixed straight ahead as his entire body tensed. He clenched his fist tightly as he listened a little while longer, then hung up the phone. He stared off into the distance.
"Who was on the phone, Cameron?" Amanda asked.
Cameron did not turn around. "Just a tele-marketer," he told her as he closed his eyes and clenched his jaw. "I need to run out for a second. I promise I'll be back before we have to meet Josie and Gary."
"Where are you going?" Amanda asked.
Cameron did not look her in the eye. "It's a case I've been working on. I won't be gone long."
"What's wrong, Cameron?" Amanda asked, concerned by the tense set of his jaw.
"Nothing. I've got to go," he said quickly, then disappeared outside.
Amanda watched him go with a concerned frown.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Cameron jogged down by the docks. He looked warily from side to side. In his mind, he recalled the phone conversation he had earlier.
"I represent an organization that is instrumental in relieving political tension in oppressed countries abroad. We collected over 5 million dollars last year from generous benefactors such as you. Our goal this year is to double that. I'm sure you'll agree that ours is a noble objective, one that you will have no choice but to support."
"How can I help?"
"Our organization is simply asking for a reasonable contribution from you, Mr. Sinclair. We will send you a copy of our latest newsletter so that you can see how your money is being expended. You must realize that this strife is a particular danger to democracy throughout the world. Our cause is particularly urgent right now with the situation in Bosnia. Would you like to be the first person in Bay City to contribute to this essential effort?"
"I understand what you're saying. Send me the information and I'll be in touch."
"This is First Street," Cameron said to himself.
He looked around apprehensively. There was something very sinister about this place. He was about to continue on his way when someone grabbed him from behind. Cameron struggled against his unseen assailants, but he was outnumbered. He kicked at them, but could not loosen their grips. He spun around as they pushed him inside an abandoned warehouse. The door slammed shut and the lock clicked in place from outside. Cameron pulled and twisted the doorknob as he beat on the door, but it was too late.
Cameron looked around still angered by his abduction. The building was empty except for a few wooden crates. He noticed that the windows had been painted either to block the light or, more likely, to keep people from looking inside. His senses were on full alert as he surveyed his surroundings, keenly attuned to any noise or movement coming from the darkness. Cameron stared at a light at the far end of the building as he slowly walked toward it.
Cameron cautiously looked from side to side, knowing he was not alone. He was not surprised when a man in a navy blue turtleneck and trousers stepped out of the shadows.
Cameron stopped and glared at the man in undisguised anger.
"What the hell is going on?" he demanded with the hostility that he felt emphasizing each word. "I thought this was finished."
"Think again, Sinclair," a voice responded from behind.
Cameron spun around, stunned by the sound of the voice. His eyes opened wide in shock. He was rarely caught off guard, but the appearance of this man surprised him. Cameron composed himself once again, then narrowed his eyes.
"Very nice message," he spat. "How bad is it?"
"What makes you think it must be something bad?" the man asked.
"Because you're here, Hawk."
Cameron and the man called "Hawk" continued to stare at each other. Hawk nodded slightly. It was so subtle that only someone who knew him well would have noticed it. With that slight gesture, Cameron's shoulders slumped. The other man moved from the shadows to join Hawk and Cameron. Cameron looked at him.
"Why would they send you, Scout?" Cameron asked.
Scout's face was very serious when he answered. "I knew that it would take both of us to convince you. I know that you've finally gotten your life in order."
"So you've come to ruin it? That's what happens, isn't it?"
Scout looked into the distance, focusing on nothing. "It seems that way, Maverick. It seems that way. . ."
"Devlin sent us here," Hawk told him.
Cameron's entire body tensed at the mention of the name "Devlin". His mouth twisted slightly, and his nostrils flared in irritation. Cameron sighed heavily as he shook his head.
"Great," Cameron said in disgust. "Just what I needed. So why are you here?"
"Patience, Maverick, patience. Have you forgotten everything I taught you?" Scout asked.
"You didn't answer my question," Cameron reminded the man in his most serious tone.
Scout bristled slightly. "I didn't realize you were expecting one. You know why we're here."
Cameron stared at him. He did not want to think about the possible reasons Scout and Hawk were standing before him at this very moment. Nor did he want to consider the repercussions this meeting might have on his life and the people in it. The idea of losing the world he was only just starting to build with Amanda terrified Cameron. It terrified him more than any situation he might end up in as a result of this encounter.
"Things are different now," Cameron told them, his tone infusing a wealth of meaning into the simple words.
Hawk moved forward, placing his hand on Cameron's shoulder. "I know," he told him with empathy echoing through his tone. "But you've always known the terms, Maverick."
Cameron looked away. When he turned back, his eyes were cold. "How long am I a puppet. . . .a pawn on a chess board used at their convenience?" Cameron demanded as his voice rose in anger. "I want out!"
Scout walked to them. "You know the answer to that as well. You know what you have to do. And you know that you only get 'out' when they say, not a moment sooner."
Cameron stared at the floor as he collected his thoughts. When he looked up, his eyes were once again filled with anger.
"Don't you understand?! I'm married now. I have my family. I can't do the things I used to. I won't. . . Before. . .I had nothing and no one to live for but now. . . "
". . .you have everything you never allowed yourself to dream about," Scout finished.
"Then you understand," Cameron stated with hope.
Scout closed his eyes for a moment before answering, then nodded. "Do you have to ask? You know I do."
Cameron hopes sank with those words. "Then you know I can't live that life anymore."
"You don't have a choice," Hawk reminded him. "None of us do."
Cameron looked into his eyes, seeing the wisdom and sadness there. Cameron opened his mouth to speak but Hawk lifted his hand, indicating he should save his breath.
"I have been instructed if we fail to persuade you, that you are to be reminded about where you came from and where you can be returned to."
Cameron did not like the thinly veiled threat. He would not take his anger out on Scout and Hawk. They were simply following orders. Those orders came from Devlin and only there would he get his answers.
"Where is Devlin?" Cameron asked, intending to find Devlin and end this whole fiasco before it began.
"Who knows?" Scout responded with a shrug. "But you can bet that it won't be long before Devlin shows up."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Cameron rushed through the garage at the Cory mansion. He knew Amanda would be furious. The whole meeting had taken longer than he had expected. His intention had been to cut his ties with them and get out. But that had not worked. As long as they had something to hold over him, he would always be at their beck and call. They made sure of that.
He hurried down the back hall and into the living room, hoping Amanda would be there waiting on him. Instead of Amanda, he found Carl. He turned as Cameron walked into the room.
"Hello, Cameron," he said with a small smile.
Cameron did not smile or acknowledge his greeting. "Where is Amanda?" he asked.
"She left. She was quite upset."
"Left? How?"
"By car I would imagine," Carl responded, finding some amusement in his cryptic answer. "She had the car brought around, and she left. She said to tell you that she would be waiting on you at the Harbor Club. I think you shall have some explaining to do when you get there. I would hurry along, if I were you."
Cameron clenched his jaw, then nodded. He wanted to respond to that last statement but somehow managed to restrain himself. He turned around and walked toward the stairs.
"Cameron, I had hoped we were past this awkwardness," Carl stated as he walked toward Cameron.
Cameron spun around, pinning him with his eyes. "There is nothing 'awkward' about this situation, Hutchins. I don't trust you."
"So I see. I meant what I said about wanting us all to be a happy family. Don't you think we can work on that?"
Cameron was very mistrustful of the olive branch Carl was extending. "You and I have a history together, but I am willing to look past that for Rachel's sake. I don't trust anyone until they earn it."
Carl nodded. "Fair enough. I admire your candor. Maybe there will be a way that I can earn your trust. I see this conversation as our first step. You better run along, Cameron. You can't keep Amanda waiting."
Cameron nodded still a little on edge from the impromptu conversation. He did not have time now to wonder about Carl's motives. He had an angry wife to deal with.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The Harbor Club
Amanda, Gary and Josie were all seated. Amanda was dressed in a simple black dress with a shrug jacket, which was adorned with tiny sequins. A small diamond in the shape of a star hung on an illusion necklace around her neck. Her hair hung loosely about her shoulders.
Josie had on a short ice blue dress. Her hair was pulled away from her face in small clips shaped like dragonflies. Gary wore a charcoal gray sports jacket and sapphire blue shirt.
Gary and Josie watched Amanda, noticing her obvious agitation at Cameron's tardiness. Gary placed his hand on her arm, causing Amanda to look at him.
"I'm sure he'll be here in a minute," Gary reassured her.
"He better be," Amanda replied more than a little waspishly.
Gary smiled. "So does this mean the honeymoon's over already?"
Amanda's eyes shot to him again. She started to give him a scathing remark, but then saw that he was joking with her. She returned his smile as she shook her head.
"No, I don't think it is," she admitted. "I never thought we could be this happy. Everything is out in the open. There are no 200-year-old men chasing us. Alli and Cameron are getting along better than I ever could have imagined. Other than this moment I would say everything is as near perfect as it can get."
Cameron walked quickly through the doors at the Harbor Club. He spotted the three of them immediately. He smoothed his black jacket and gray shirt, then steeled himself for the reception his was about to receive. As he walked up to the table, Amanda finished her sentence. He leaned over her shoulder, kissing her cheek.
"I hope you still believe that," he said as he took his seat. Cameron looked around the table, noting the questioning gazes. "I'm sorry I'm late. The meeting took longer than I anticipated."
Amanda looked at him with knowing eyes. She could sense the tension in his body. It was the way he had been when he had run out of the house earlier. She placed her hand on his arm, and he looked at her.
"What is it, Cameron?" she asked with concern.
"Nothing. Don't worry about it."
Gary also noticed his brother's body language. He did not like what he was seeing. It concerned him. If he did not get the truth out of him tonight, he would as soon as they were alone. Gary glanced at Josie. He could tell she was picking up on Cameron's demeanor as well.
"So what case were you working on?" Gary inquired.
"It's one I took when you were gone," Cameron responded quickly, hoping to change the subject. It was not a lie, but it was not the whole truth, either. It tugged at him. He did not want any secrets or lies between any of them. Why did this have to happen now?
Gary sensed by Cameron's tone that he would say nothing else about the case. He was certain that Cameron was hiding something. Even though he did not have a clue what his brother was concealing or why, Gary silently vowed that one way or the other he would get to the bottom of it.
After they finished their appetizers, Josie and Amanda excused themselves. Gary seized the small window of opportunity their absence gave him.
"What are you working on?" Gary asked.
Cameron inhaled sharply. "I told you. It's a case I took while you were gone."
"If it's just a case, why are you so on edge? I know you, Cam. There's more to this than you're saying."
Cameron cursed to himself, wishing Gary could not read him so well. He looked at his brother with firm resolve. "I can handle this, Gary. Don't worry about it."
"So that's it. That's all you're going to say about it and the subject is closed? Maybe this is something I can help you with. I have been at this a little longer than you," Gary reminded him.
Cameron looked at him sharply. "No, I don't need your help. This is my case, and I'll be the one to finish it."
Gary could tell Cameron was through discussing it. That did not set well with Gary. He leaned back in his chair, watching his brother with irritation.
Cameron looked up at a new arrival at the restaurant. His jaw clenched, and he looked down at the tablecloth quickly.
Gary was instantly on alert, noticing his brother's response. He looked around the room, trying to figure out who or what had triggered the response. Gary could not identify anything out of the ordinary or anyone who might pose a threat. He looked back at Cameron, noticing that his brother was still very tense.
Cameron closed his eyes. This was not good. He could not even have supper with his family without them intruding in his life. Without excusing himself, Cameron stood up. He glanced back at Gary as he bolted out the terrace doors.
Cameron walked to the edge of the terrace and leaned on the railing overlooking the bay. He inhaled deeply as he looked at the stars, but he was not really looking at them.
"Why are you here?" he asked as he continued to gaze into the distance.
"Why do you ask questions you already know the answer to?" a husky voice asked from the shadows.
The hair on the back of his neck stood up at the sound of the voice. He stared coldly into the darkness, forcing himself to remain where he was.
"Why do you always answer a question with a question?" Cameron responded with irritation.
"Touché."
Cameron spun around, looking back into the Harbor Club, yet searching the shadows out the corner of his eye. He zeroed in on the movement immediately and looked in that direction. A black clad form stepped to the edge of the shadows. Cameron stepped forward, continuing his cold perusal. The person in the shadows returned Cameron's cold gaze, then smiled with some amusement.
Cameron shook his head slowly, then inhaled quickly. "I smell trouble."
The dark figure laughed loudly, thoroughly amused by Cameron's observation. "You never change, Mav. . . .same attitude. . .different city."
"Yeah. . .there's one thing you need to know, Devlin. . .I'm finished with all of this."
Devlin's smile disappeared. "No, you're not.....not by a long shot."
Cameron took a step toward Devlin.
"Cameron? Cameron. . ."
Cameron spun around when he heard Amanda calling his name. He stood very still as Amanda walked toward him. Behind him he heard a very faint shuffling. Cameron forced himself to keep his eyes on Amanda. Amanda smiled slightly as she stopped in front of Cameron.
"Who were you talking to?"
Cameron stepped forward, enfolding her in his arms. He hugged her tightly, burying his face in her neck for a moment, then leaned his chin on her shoulder. Amanda leaned her head against his.
"So who was it?" Amanda asked, refusing to let him distract her from her question.
"I thought I heard someone, but I guess it must have been something down on the docks," Cameron told her, kicking himself for the lie that rolled so easily off his tongue. That was one of the many things they had taught him how to do - Lie convincingly, without hesitation. At the moment, Cameron hated them for it. Almost as much as he hated himself.
Devlin watched and listened from the cloak of the inky black night, forming a plan. Devlin smiled wryly. Cameron might wish that this was the end, but it was just the beginning.