As he watched the painting burn, Adam thought, I can’t for the life of me understand whatever possessed me to buy that piece of trash. His eyes shifted to the portrait of his grandfather which had been returned from its temporary exile in the West Wing. A warm glow overcame him that couldn’t be attributed to the scotch. There was a great man, a real empire builder. I can’t let him or my father down. I’ve got to do everything in my power to preserve my heritage. Why did I let myself get so distracted by that tramp? She isn’t the only woman in the world with a great body. I guess I inherited that from my dad’s lust for life, but there will be no more tail chasing. From now on I’m going to be more like granddad.
That last thought bounced around his subconscious for a moment. He was trying to forget about the conflict raging in his life. Adam mixed another drink. The scotch/drambuie combination always relaxed him; helped him gather his thoughts. He settled back in his chair to ponder what his next moves would be.
The first thing he needed to do was name a replacement for Marcia Bloom at Bretton Trading. That wasn’t going to be easy. There were no candidates on the succession horizon. That two-bit whore. I’ll make sure that any monies due her are frozen for as long as I can. We’ll sue her for breach of her employment contract. It’s her word against mine that I threw her out. Maybe we’ll spread some nasty rumors about her taking drugs. A few threatening phone calls wouldn’t hurt either. That bitch will rue the day she messed with me.
The merger of Hampton Industries and Preston Industries was about sixty-five percent complete. Adam decided to take personal charge of the remaining planning, which mostly involved the UNITE organizing effort at a handful of Preston Industry plants and the sale of the British toiletry factories and Italian fashion shoe lines. Only loose ends remained to be handled. That’s another thing. I need to settle the score with that trouble maker Kane Masterson. I think I’ll send an anonymous tip to the media that an audit of Preston’s books showed that Masterson siphoned off millions before he was forced out. When the press comes to me I’ll tell them I can’t comment because of an ongoing investigation. That should be enough to trigger an SEC probe that will keep him tied up for months to come. I want him to stick around so I can see him suffer He and the tramp won’t be going anywhere for a while. It couldn’t happen to a nicer couple.
Adam’s thoughts. shifted toward Daniel McKnight. I know that bastard Daniel was instrumental in Lauren’s divorce proceedings. Then he ups and marries her and parades her around town like one of his sports trophies. It’s very humiliating having them living in the same town. I guess that union ploy wasn’t enough to discourage him. McKnight found ways to circumvent it. Apparently I need to send a stronger message, one that tells him in no uncertain terms that he is no longer welcome in Old Brooking. I know just the thing. Before I’m finished with them, they’ll be happy to say goodbye to this town.
Finally Adam got to his last concern. The admission by his dad that he had fathered another son. Adam picked up the phone and dialed the West Wing. “How’s my father tonight, John?”
“He’s much better , but not fully recovered. Dr. Klein expected him to snap right back from his episode by now, but your father still has some issues. and continues to have difficulty remembering our names. The Doctor is quite sure that in a weeks’ time he’ll be much better.”
“I think that it’s best that I stay away until then, especially since it was probably something I did or said that triggered the episode.”
“That’s probably a good idea, sir. What a shame though, he was making such good progress on that new medicine. Is there anything I can do for you?”
Adam knew very well that his father’s condition was caused by his aggressive questioning about his potential half-brother. The search being conducted by his private investigators was moving much too slowly. I need answers now, even if it pushes the old man over the edge. I can’t wait any longer. There’s too much at stake.
“Actually, there is, John. Would you ask my father if he remembers who ‘E’ is?”
“Excuse me, sir. Did you say just the letter ‘E’, sir? You mean like in Elizabeth?”
“Yes, just ‘E’. Let me know anything he tells you about it.”
“Well, sure, but if it’s all right with you, I’d like to wait until after he takes his medicine.”
“I‘ll leave the timing up to you, John. Just let me know what he says as soon as you can.”
“I’ll do just that, Mister Hampton.”
His mental list being completed, Adam finally relaxed. A memory of his mother flashed into his mind. He didn’t think of her often. His father had gone out of his way to assure that she had little contact or influence over his upbringing. Mom was always nice to me. Even though dad treated her cruelly, she never spoke ill of him. Still, see where her softness got her. She was weak and dad squashed her. Pity, though, she was so soft and gentle. She never found fault with anything I said or did.
Adam finished his third drink and began to feel drowsy. The alcohol and the comforting heat from the fire had a relaxing effect. He needed to escape from all pressures that had found their way into his life. It took only a few more minutes for him to enter a deep sleep.
Chapter 26
“Who is this,” Marcia demanded. “Stop calling here! This isn’t funny any more.”
Once again there was no response, just silence until, in desperation, she finally hung up the phone. It was the seventh call within the past four hours. After the first two, Marcia let the calls go to the tape. She stayed close to the machine listening for the sound of a familiar voice, but there was none. The caller didn’t hang up until the machine beeped and made its request for a recorded message. The caller ID screen showed area codes from multiple locations, all within a twenty mile radius of Old Brooking. It was as though the caller was circling his prey. Marcia finally called Kane’s cell phone. He was in his room at the Belmonte watching TV. When she told him about the harassing calls, he told her to call 9-1-1.
“Look, I’m going to check out of this hotel and move in with you. I know you have tight security in your complex, but that wouldn’t stop a pro. This might just be some kids messing around. I did a lot of that when I was a kid. I can’t recall why I thought it was fun to annoy or even frighten other people, but, anyway I’ll feel a lot better if I’m there with you.”
“You may be right. It’s probably just somebody playing a joke.” As she thought more about it, her mind raced back to the day Adam gave her the Preston assignment. The day he joked about “punking” Kane.
“Why the sudden silence? What are you thinking?”
“I think I know who’s behind the calls. It wouldn’t surprise me if Adam is having someone do it. He’s got that sick kind of mind. Marcia told him about the plan Adam had to embarrass Kane by having an overtly homosexual man accost him in the men’s room at Hampton Industries.
“I see what you mean. It does sound like the kind of thing that his sick mind would dream up. Why can’t he get it in his head that it’s over? With all he has to do with the merger, how can he waste time on such petty nonsense? Now, I’m definitely coming over there. Go ahead and call 9-1-1 and I’ll be there in about thirty minutes. I’ll stop and pick up some wine on the way.”