Hampton Manor (23 page)

As he left the room, John replied, “I will. Thanks for telling me about it.”

John went immediately to Adam’s den to fill him in on this latest development.“He wants to speak with his attorney. He says that Nelson Platt can help him remember who “E” is. He seemed pretty sure that that would work.”

Adam thought for a moment before responding.
Now what do I do? Nelson Platt, of all people. He fought me tooth and nail during the competency hearings. I threw him out of the Manor and threatened him with disbarment if I ever saw his face anywhere near my dad. This is an unforeseen predicament. I don’t like the idea, but Chuck doesn’t seem to be making any progress with his investigation. I guess I’m going to have to take a chance with Nelson Platt .I don’t see any downside in it.

“
I’ll handle it from here. Tell my father that I’m looking into it. Thanks again for your discretion, John. These are difficult times. I wish we knew how to really help dad.”

“No problem, I just want what is best for your father.”

“As do I, John, as do I.”

His father worked on the rest of his plan. He chose the bathroom in the West Wing where there were no video camera, to construct a note that he planned to smuggle to Nelson Platt. He was confident that the carrot he was dangling in front of his son would be sufficient to give him that opportunity. He wasn’t sure if the ultra-sensitive microphones in the bathroom could isolate the sound of a pen or pencil against paper, but he wasn’t going to take any more risks than necessary. If his attempt at freedom was discovered, he knew that they would return to daily medication aimed at pacifying him.

He chose as his paper, a blank page from the back of a novel, one that he selected with his body blocking the overhead cameras while he performed the dissection. His writing instrument was a felt tip pen that one of the nurses had carelessly left behind during his last physical exam. These were the only tools he would need.

The message required some thought.
How do I convince Nelson that my note is not the ramblings of a senile old man? There is no love lost between Adam and him, but still, Nelson is a realist. I’m sure he wouldn’t expose me, but he may choose to ignore my appeal for what he would view as my own good. Still, he’s the last chance I have. I’ll make it as short as I can and avoid any sign of desperation.
He wrote the message, folded the paper into quarters and put it into his back pocket. He flushed the toilet and pushed the pen in between the tank and the wall in case he would need it at a future time
.

Much to Adam III’s surprise Nelson Platt agreed to come to Hampton Manor for a meeting the next day, at noon. Pratt was in his late seventies and had been retired for several years. Time did little to diminish his stature. He was six-four, lean and lithe. A shock of gray hair surrounded a jet-black mane, giving him a very distinguished look. He hadn’t changed much since Adam had seen him last.

He greeted him at the front door and escorted him to his den. “Can I get you something to drink?”

“I’ll pass. I’m anxious to meet with your father. Adam was a client, but I always considered him a friend as well. I was happy to hear that he wanted me to visit.”
 

“We’ll get to that in a minute. First I would like you to scan the results of his latest physical exam. It’s important that you understand his condition before you see him. He’s making some progress, but occasionally he has episodes which set him back. Try not to make any promises to him without clearing them with me first.”

“I agree.” The attorney spent several minutes looking over the report, before he spoke, “It looks as if he has made some significant progress of late.”

“Yes, but there are still some issues that he is struggling with. That’s why I asked you to come. He’s trying to remember something in particular which seems to be a missing link for him. It goes back to the ’70’s and has something to do with someone he met several times. Someone he remembers only as “E”.

Platt showed no signs of recognition, but his instant recall immediately flashed the name Evelyn Littleton onto his memory screen. So this is what this is all about.

Adam continued, “I realize that there may be an attorney/client privilege involved here, so I won’t ask you if that initial means anything to you. My father wants to meet with you and I will honor his request.” That said, Adam rose, escorted Platt to the den in the West Wing and returned to his own den to await the results. He would find out everything he need to know later, when he reviewed the tapes of the meeting. He thought to himself,
I sure hope this works. I need to get to the bottom of this mystery heir business.

When Adam II entered the den, he made immediate eye contact with Nelson that the attorney recognized as a warning sign to be careful of what he said. Platt greeted him with a big hug. Adam whispered softly as soon as he was close enough. “I have to whisper. They have microphones everywhere. When we shake hands later, I’m going to slip you a note. Please believe everything that’s in it. When I ask about “E”, tell me that you recall the actress Eleanor Bentley in the early ’70’s. This is important to me, Nel.”

They broke the hug and took chairs opposite one another. Platt spoke first, “It’s really great to see you again, my friend. How are you feeling, my friend?”

“I’m feeling better. I still have a problem remembering some things, but the doctor say that my condition is much improved.”

“I’m so glad to hear that. I retired two years ago and regretfully I’ve lost touch with many of my good friends. I especially miss you. I inquired a few times, but that son of yours wouldn’t allow any visits. After a while I stopped trying. I would have really enjoyed sitting with you reminiscing about the old days. You really kept me hopping.”

Adam smiled. “It’s funny you should mention the old days. Part of my recovery is based on my recalling events in my life. Occasionally I hit a brick wall, like the other day. The letter “E” came up. Apparently, in my mind, I’m blocking the name of someone whose first or last name starts with ‘E’. I don’t know if it was a business associate, a lover or what and I can’t figure out why, in my mind I reduced the name to a single letter. What am I trying to hide from myself? Can you help me jog my memory?”

As an attorney, Nelson Platt had a flair for the dramatic. He smiled and shook his head. “Adam, I know you had a lot of women in your lifetime, but I can’t believe you forgot Eleanor that easily. Eleanor Bentley, the actress. You had a fling with her that I had to fight tooth and nail to keep out of the papers. She was a real looker, that one. She used to sweep into town for a few hours at a time disguised as young man. You used my apartment for your little affairs.” He smiled again, seemingly recalling the times. “I sure envied you, but at least I was able to buy a new ‘74 Mercedes with the fees you paid me to keep everything hushed up. Don’t you remember anything about those days? I don’t see how you could ever forget Eleanor.”

Adam sat quietly, ruminating over Platt’s revelation. “Eleanor, of course. Now I remember. God, I used to enjoy making love to her. She was so open; so willing to try new things. We only got together about a half-dozen times and then it was over, almost as soon as it began. She couldn’t tell me to my face. She just called me at the office one day, said we were through and hung up. Her manager wouldn’t let any of my calls to go through to her.” He hesitated for a moment, “I wonder why I suppressed her name.”

“That’s easy. It was one of the few times that the great man had been rejected. You never did take defeat very gracefully. I don’t mean that critically, but as I remember the situation, you took it pretty hard.”

“I remember. I was devastated, but, eventually, I did move on, even if it did hurt a lot. She was such an exciting woman; so energetic, so passionate ”

Platt grinned as he said, “Yes you did. You always were a ladies’ man, Adam. I don’t mind telling you that I was so jealous of you. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been married to Virginia for forty-nine years now and I’ve never strayed, not even once. I guess if I have any regrets at all, it’s that I didn’t sow a few more wild oats before I settled down, but that’s water under the bridge.”

“Nelson, I’m so glad you were able to help me with my missing link. You can’t imagine how frustrating it is knowing that buried somewhere in your head is stuff that you once knew like the back of your hand. But, it was so long ago and with all the medications that I’ve had to take, I guess some of the circuits have been destroyed. I don’t see how it’s going to help, but my son feels that every connection to the past that I can uncover is relevant to improving my health I hope he’s right.”

“I’m glad I could help, Adam.” He looked at his watch. “I’m afraid I have to cut this short. I have to meet my wife at the club in a half hour, but if your son will allow it, I would like to come back another time and spend a more time with you.”

“I would like that, too, Nelson. There’s a lot of people around here, but it isn’t the same as a dear friend. Don’t be so hard on Adam, he means well. It’s not easy to take care of a demented old man when you have a billion dollar business to run. He’s up to his armpits with snakes, from what little I hear. He’s doing his best under the circumstances and he always makes sure that I have the best of care here. Thanks so much for coming to see me.”

Adam got up and extended his hand to Platt. As they shook hands, Adam drew Platt close enough to shield the exchange that took place.

John met Nelson Platt as he left the den and escorted him to the front door.

“Thanks for coming, sir. I’m sure Mister Hampton enjoyed your visit. Have a good day.”

Adam III reviewed the tapes, wrote “E’s” name on a pad and returned to his den.

He dialed Chuck Meredith’s office. “Chuck, her name is Eleanor Bentley.

Apparently she was an actress back in the early 70’ s. I don’t know if she was in the movies or the stage. They met at his lawyer’s apartment five or six times, then for some reason she stopped it. Neither my father nor his lawyer appeared to know the reason why. Find out everything you can about her and make it quick.”

“That shouldn’t be too hard to check. I’ll get right on it. Thanks for the lead.”

Three hours later, Adam had an answer, but not the one he expected.

“I found out everything I could about her, but you aren’t going to like it.”

“What do you mean? Get to the point, damn it.”

Eleanor Bentley was born in 1943 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Her real name was Eleanor Ford. I guess she thought the name Bentley was classier. In her twenties she migrated to Hollywood and got noticed right away. She made ten grade ‘B’ movies, mostly playing a blond femme fatale. She even got nominated for a supporting role in 1973. I spoke to her agent and he swears that he never knew much about her private life. He said she was a handful to manage, disappearing for months on end. She never married and never had any children, as far as anyone knows. She must have paid cash when she traveled to hide her identity. I can’t find any credit card or bank records. She died in August, 1974 from cervical cancer. She’s buried in Lancaster. The tombstone just has her name and dates. There was nothing about having a husband, a son or any child for that manner.”

“That’s it? That’s all you could find out?

“That’s all!”

Adam slammed the phone down and mixed a drink.
Now what the hell am I supposed to do? We’re out of leads. We’re never going to find this mystery heir.

Adam let his mind go blank as he sat back and enjoyed the Rusty Nail. Then a thought came into his head.
What if that old man is jerking me around? I’m spending a fortune hunting for a half-brother that may not even exist. Could he have recovered enough to plot something that devious?

Adam’s reverie continued.
All this business with Nelson Platt, that convenient seizure. It may all be a act. That new medicine could be restoring his competency. He may be looking for ways to get the estate back. I can‘t let that happen; I’ve got too much invested in this.
That thought frightened him.
John will follow orders. Maybe I’ll have him switch the pills so my father’s improvement comes to a halt. I’m just not sure what to do. Once I do that all hope of certainty about a step-brother will be lost.

His reason returned.
Then again, what if he’s telling the truth? That’s an entirely different threat. Then there might be two of them trying to take over Hampton Industries. I need to know. Once I find out for certain, I can make sure he won’t be in the way. In the meantime, I guess I’ll just have to play along with his little game.

No,
I have to find out now. I have to make him tell me the truth. I’ll offer him a choice. He’ll either tell me who my half-brother is or he can be a vegetable for the rest of his life. It’ll serve him right for messing with me .I’m tired with this run-around.

Okay, I’ll let him enjoy his latest ploy until I find out what I need to know. Nelson Platt, of all people. Was I supposed to quake in my boots? That pompous shyster is no match for me. Well, I hope my father enjoyed having a visitor, because no matter how this works out it’s the last one he’s ever going to have. That old man is pushing me to my limits, but I will rise victorious.

It was decision making time for Adam. He picked up the phone and dialed Chuck Meredith. “Chuck, I’ve decided to shut down the investigation. Destroy all of your personal paperwork. Repack my father’s records and return them to our storage center.