“John, the other day you asked me about “E”. I think I know how to find out who it is, but I will need to talk to my attorney, Nelson Platt. He knows things that no one else knows. Attorney privilege will prevent him from disclosing anything to anyone other than me, so I must have a private meeting with him. I’m sure that if I could have a few minutes with him we could clear up this “E” thing right away. Will you arrange it?”
John was quick to respond. This was the break they had been waiting for. “I will have to clear that with your son, but I don’t see why he would object. He seems a bit anxious to help you find out who “E” is.”
“Do the best you can, John. I want to help as much as I can.”
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.
“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.
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,
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
