8^TH JUNE 1932

The Los Angeles platform at Union station was already crowded with waiting passengers when Franklin J Hart arrived, pushing a heavily laden luggage trolley. He was a tall, elegant man with neatly styled grey hair and eyes the colour of brightly polished sapphires.

"Hey Frank, wait for me!"

Franklin reined in the luggage trolley and waited for his travelling companion to catch up. Charlie Frieson couldn’t have been more of a contrast with Franklin if he’d tried. At 5ft 6in (to Franklin’s 6ft), he was short and bespectacled. His round, wire framed spectacles made him look like an owl. He was also congenitally accident-prone.

"For God’s sake Charlie," sighed Franklin as his friend crashed headlong into the luggage trolley. "Will you please try to stay in one piece long enough to get on the train!"

Charlie grinned sheepishly. "I’m sorry, I guess I must’ve put too much polish on my shoes this morning!"

Franklin stared at him incredulously. "Sometimes, you really worry me!"

Charlie clambered off the pile of luggage and straightened his spectacles. Giving him a sidelong glance, Franklin continued along the platform until he came to an empty bench. Parking the trolley, he sat down and Charlie followed suit.

Franklin ran slim fingers through his slate grey hair. "Well Charlie boy, I actually went and did it! I told my wife about Pearl and Jonathan!"

"How did she react?"

He smiled ruefully. "Actually, she was pretty calm under the circumstances!"

"Did you ask her about the…er…divorce?"

Franklin nodded. "She said that she won’t contest it. I’m going to set the wheels in motion as soon as I get to Los Angeles."

Further along the platform, a scruffily dressed young man leaned towards his companion and pressed something cold and metallic into his hand.

"See those two men on that bench over there? The one on the left is Franklin Hart…he’s a powerful man in the city. He’s also our target!"

Franklin took a fob watch from his waistcoat pocket and checked the time. Sighing heavily, he returned it to his pocket.

"I wish our damn train would get a move on!"

Charlie grinned. "I bet you’re looking forward to seeing Pearl again…I know I can’t wait to see Ellie!"

Franklin glanced casually at his friend. "I’ve already proposed to Pearl and she’s accepted!"

Charlie reached across and vigorously shook his hand. "Well, you sly old dog! Congratulations!"

"We’re going to start making plans within the next few days, but there is one thing you could help me with. Would you be my Best Man?"

Charlie smiled broadly. "I’d be honoured!"

The conversation was interrupted by a commotion further down the platform. Franklin stood up to get a better view of what was happening. Two young men were arguing loudly, their faces contorted with rage. Suddenly, without warning, one of the men threw a punch, hitting the other squarely on the jaw. Within seconds, the argument degenerated into a brawl.

Franklin glanced at Charlie. "I guess I’d better intervene before this situation gets out of hand!"

Charlie grabbed his arm. "Leave it…if those two thugs want to beat each other to a pulp, let them do it!"

Ignoring his friend’s plea, Franklin walked briskly in the direction of the fight. With a natural air of authority, he took the situation in hand, pulling the two men apart and standing between them.

"I don’t know what the problem is between you two and I don’t want to know, but whatever it is, violence won’t resolve it!"

The man standing on his left suddenly pounced on him, grabbing his arms and pinning them behind his back. The other man then sprang into action, producing a shiny metallic object from his jacket pocket.

Franklin’s eyes widened in horror. "Please…for the love of God…!"

With lightening speed, the attacker brought his arm down in a deadly arc and plunged it into Franklin’s chest. As he crumpled to the ground, the two men fled and were quickly lost in the sea of humanity, which ebbed and flowed through the station.

Charlie skidded across the platform and fell to his knees next to the motionless body of his best friend. Fighting back tears, he took off his coat and laid it across Franklin’s chest as a makeshift blanket.

"Everything’s going to be alright, old friend!"

Franklin’s eyelids flickered open. "When you see Pearl, tell her I love her…and no matter what happens, she’ll always be my special girl!"

Tears began to stream down Charlie’s face. "You can tell her yourself, when we get to Los Angeles!"

"Charlie Boy, you’re one hell of a guy…don’t let anyone tell you different!"

Charlie managed a weak smile. "I won’t!"

Franklin smiled back. "I want you to promise me two things. Firstly, that you’ll look after Pearl and Jonathan for me. Secondly, for God’s sake, make an honest woman of Ellie! That girl is crazy about you, though heaven knows why!"

Charlie nodded, a lump forming in his throat. "I promise, but you have to be my Best Man, OK? Frank? Talk to me…say something…please!"

A sleek, black limousine glided through the early evening traffic; its VIP passengers shielded from the unwanted attentions of other road users by heavily tinted windows. Jonathan Hart was resplendent in a black tuxedo, the epitome of male elegance. Jennifer Edwards Hart, his beautiful wife, was also wearing black. Her full-skirted gown was tastefully low cut, revealing a delicately freckled cleavage.

Despite their formal attire, the Harts were engaging in some very informal behaviour. They were locked in a passionate embrace, which had started almost as soon as the limo had pulled out of their driveway. As the embrace became more intense, Jonathan slid his hands up Jennifer's skirt, caressing her thighs.

"Darling, no!" She pulled away as if he’d just given her an electric shock.

"What’s wrong?"

She quickly rearranged her skirt. "We can’t do it in front of Suzanne and Louise!"

Jonathan glanced across at the seat opposite, on which two Moses baskets were secured. In each basket lay a sleeping baby, dressed in pink pyjamas and wrapped in a matching blanket.

Jonathan groaned. "Fatherhood is seriously restricting my lovelife!"

Jennifer smiled sweetly. "You should have thought of that before you went and got me pregnant!"

He gazed longingly at her ample cleavage. "I’m thoroughly overstimulated now!"

She moved closer, resting her chin on his shoulder. "When we’ve dropped the twins off at your mother’s, it’ll just be the two of us in this huge limousine…for at least half an hour!"

Jonathan grinned lasciviously. "Hubba Hubba, Goodyear Rubba!"

Pearl Baker and Ellie Frieson had been preparing for the arrival of Pearl’s grandchildren all afternoon. Several packs of disposable diapers were stacked on the kitchen table and two cribs had been erected in the guest bedroom.

The two women had only recently moved into the little beach house, but already the atmosphere was warm and welcoming. The cosy livingroom housed a gallery of framed photographs, which covered every available surface, and a baby grand piano stood in one corner of the room, next to a window which looked out over the Pacific ocean. Pearl and Ellie had turned the little house into a home.

Pearl went into a state of near panic when she heard the car pulling into the driveway.

"Do we have enough diapers? What if we run out of formula? Where did I put those spare bottles? Oh my God, I forgot the sterilising liquid!"

Ellie placed a comforting arm around her. "Everything’s going to be fine!"

Pearl took a deep breath. "I suppose I’d better answer the door…I can’t keep my family waiting!"

She opened the door to Jonathan, who was carrying a Moses basket under each arm.

"Hi Mom!"

Pearl kissed him and stood back to allow him to enter the room. She then greeted Jennifer warmly, embracing her and leading her into the livingroom.

"You look beautiful! Where is my son taking you?"

"He won’t tell me…it’s a surprise!"

Ellie stepped forward to embrace Jennifer. "I’ll bet it is!"

After placing the baskets containing his twin daughters in a safe place, Jonathan rejoined the other adults.

"I’m afraid we’ll have to hit the road, Jennifer’s surprise won’t wait!"

Pearl laughed. "Well, just you make sure that you’re back in time to pick your Aunt Rose up from the airport!"

Jennifer took Pearl’s hand. "Don’t worry, I’ll make sure we’re there bright and early!"

Pearl and Ellie watched from the front porch as Jonathan and Jennifer returned to their limousine.

Ellie sighed. "Boy, he certainly is handsome! If I were twenty years younger…!"

Pearl elbowed her playfully in the ribs. "In case you haven’t noticed, my son is a happily married man!"

"Yeah…what a bummer!"

15^TH JUNE 1932

Pearl leaned heavily against Charlie as they walked along the winding pathway to Franklin’s gravesite. A small group of people was already gathered there, talking quietly among themselves as they waited for the burial ceremony to begin.

As Charlie, Ellie and Pearl approached, a hush fell and heads turned in their direction.

"I can’t believe Frank’s ‘little friend’ turned up!"

"She’s got some nerve, I’ll say that for her!"

"She’s brought the kid with her!"

"Some people have no shame!"

Pearl tried to ignore the comments, instead devoting her attention to her son who was wrapped in a shawl, which had been tied around her shoulder to form a makeshift sling.

"So you’re Frank’s mistress!"

Pearl looked up, scanning the sea of faces in front of her to try and identify the person who’d just spoken.

"He’s certainly left you in a pretty pickle and no mistake!"

Pearl fixed the elegant blonde woman with a disdainful stare. "No wonder he came to me for it…when he was married to such a cold fish!"

The blonde smiled. "Don’t flatter yourself honey! You were just a little something for him to ‘do’ when he was in Los Angeles!"

Pearl laughed. "I suppose that’s why he was planning to divorce you!"

The mourners gradually dispersed after the burial service, leaving the cemetery in a convoy of shiny black limousines. Pearl remained standing beside the open grave, sobbing quietly as she carefully took a single gardenia from her hair and dropped it onto the polished wooden casket. Turning to leave, she paused for a last look at Franklin Hart’s final resting-place before whispering farewell to the man she loved.

"Goodbye Sweet Prince…may flocks of angels wing you to your rest!"

Pearl found herself a quiet corner in the crowded livingroom and sat down, focusing all her attention on the tiny infant, nestled in his makeshift sling. He was sleeping soundly, blissfully unaware of the commotion his presence and that of his mother was causing. Pearl glanced across the room at the ornate fireplace. Above it hung a portrait, in oils, of Franklin Hart, his sapphire blue eyes gazing down at the assembled gathering. Pearl felt comforted, almost as if she was in the presence of the man himself.

"Just what do you think you’re doing in my house?"

Pearl’s heart sank as the icy blonde walked across the room and stopped in front of her.

"Charlie said I had a right to be here!"

"Well, I don’t give a damn what Charlie said, I want you out of here now!"

"Leave her alone!"

Both women turned to look at Pearl’s defender, a pretty, dark haired young woman with piercing blue eyes.

"Frank loved her, he’d want her to be here!"

The blonde leaned close to the brunette, so their noses were almost touching, and hissed threateningly.

"Just keep her out of my sight!"

Pearl watched the blonde stalk away and smiled. "Thanks!"

"Don’t mention it!"

Pearl extended her free hand. "Pearl Baker, Frank’s ‘Bit On The Side’!"

The brunette took Pearl’s hand and shook it vigorously. "Rose Hart, Frank’s ‘Baby Sister’!"

Pearl unfastened the sling, which contained her sleeping son, and gently handed him to Rose.

"This is your nephew!"

Rose cradled him in her arms. "He’s beautiful…just like Frank said!"

"He told you about us?"

Rose smiled wistfully. "He told me he’d met a girl in Los Angeles and he was crazy about her. I was so happy for him, because I knew how miserable he was with Jane!"

Pearl reached across and squeezed her hand. "I want you to always be a part of Jonathan’s life. He needs to know his father’s family!"

Jennifer sat up as the limousine pulled up next to the ‘Arrivals’ entrance of LAX Airport.

"Darling, we’re here already!"

Jonathan looked through the tinted window as he pulled up his trousers and fastened the zipper.

"That was one helluva ride!"

Jennifer looked at him, an expression of sheer panic on her face. "I can’t find my panties!"

Jonathan grinned wickedly. "The last time I saw them, they were around your ankles!"

Jennifer glared at him. "You’re a great help!"

Jonathan gave her rear end a playful slap. "I’m always glad to be of service!"

Jonathan and Jennifer scanned the people entering the ‘Arrivals’ Lounge, who had just flown in from San Francisco. Among them were a number of smartly dressed businessmen, a group of nuns and a couple who were married, but not to each other.

Jonathan shrugged. "I can’t see her."

Jennifer rummaged in her purse for the slip of paper on which she’d written the flight details. "Maybe she took a later flight?"

Rose pushed the luggage trolley in front of her as she entered the ‘Arrivals’ Lounge. She knew she was late, thanks to the overzealous young customs officer who’d insisted on searching through all her luggage. She looked at the sea of faces, searching for her nephew, and spotted him straight away. Like his father, he stood out in a crowd.

"Jonathan!"

He glanced in her direction and smiled. "Aunt Rose!"

They embraced, allowing Rose to get a better look at the handsome man she’d last seen when he was four months old.

Jonathan helped Jennifer and Rose into the Limo and climbed in himself. Rose stretched out across the plush leather seat, making herself comfortable for the journey ahead. As she ran her fingers across the upholstery, they connected with something, which had become trapped in the gap behind the armrest. Curiously, she removed the object for inspection.

Jennifer felt colour rushing to her cheeks as she recognised her missing underwear. Fortunately, Jonathan had also spotted the embarrassing item and he quickly sprang into action.

"I’m so sorry Aunt Rose, I’ve no idea how those got in here!"

Rose laughed. "Some poor girl must be feeling pretty chilly down below!"

Jennifer blushed beet red and pulled the hem of her skirt down as far as it would go.

Rose cradled the tiny infant in her arms. Louise Tobin Hart was sleeping peacefully, wrapped in a yellow blanket, which had been knitted by her Great Aunt.

"She’s just beautiful," cooed Rose, gently stroking Louise’s wispy auburn hair.

Jonathan sat next to her, to allow her to get a better look at her other Great Niece, who was nestled in his arms.

"Aunt Rose, this is Suzanne Jennifer Hart!"

Suzanne, like her sister, was a redhead. She yawned and opened her eyes, which were the same sapphire blue as her father’s.

Jonathan drained his teacup and placed it on the table in front of him. "Aunt Rose…what do you remember about my father’s death?"

She took his hand. "I remember thinking that they must’ve been mistaken. My big brother couldn’t possibly be dead! They told me that he intervened in some sort of dispute between two young men…one of them had a knife…somehow Frank was stabbed! They said it was a tragic accident, but I never believed that!"

Jonathan and Jennifer exchanged glances.

16^TH JUNE 1932

Heads turned as Pearl entered the wood panelled office. As Frank’s ‘Other Woman’, she was of great interest to the assembled group of his friends and relatives. Ignoring ‘The Grieving Widow’, who was playing the role to perfection, Pearl took an empty seat between Charlie and Rose.

Before Pearl had time to say anything to her friends, the office door opened and a tall, thin man entered. His grey hair was slicked back and a pair of half-moon spectacles was perched on his rather large nose.

"That’s Frank’s Lawyer, Morgan Grant." Charlie whispered.

Grant sat down at his desk and surveyed the assembled group before opening a manila folder and taking out a sheaf of papers.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, we are gathered here today for the reading of Franklin Hart’s Will."

Charlie leaned across to Pearl. "Don’t worry, Frank left you well provided for!"

Grant cleared his throat and read from the top paper in the sheaf.

Charlie leaped to his feet. "This is all wrong!"

Morgan Grant peered over the top of his spectacles. "Is there a problem, Mr Frieson?"

"Frank made another Will shortly before he died! I saw it…I signed it as a witness!"

Grant smiled benignly. "Where is this document?"

Charlie’s face reddened. "He told me you had it! He gave it to you for safekeeping!"

Grant adjusted his spectacles. "I’m afraid I have no idea what you’re talking about, Mr Frieson. The only Will in existence is the one I have right here!"

Charlie began to tremble with anger. "Frank left everything to Pearl Baker and her son…their son…Jonathan Franklin Hart!"

Morgan Grant held up the piece of paper he’d just been reading from. "Not according to this!"

Jonathan ran long, thin fingers through his slate grey hair. "Are you sure about this other Will?"

Ellie nodded. "Charlie and I both signed it as witnesses. Frank was adamant that everything should go to you and your mother!"

"Yeah! He thought it would be safe with Morgan Grant, but he was wrong!"

Jennifer almost choked on her cup of coffee. "Not another Grant! The last one we had a run in with tried to kill Jonathan and move in on me!"

It was Rose’s turn to nearly choke on her coffee. "Morgan Grant married Frank’s wife two months after the reading of the Will. A year later, they had a son…Owen!"

Jonathan and Jennifer sat in front of the large stone fireplace, in which a fire was merrily burning. They were relaxing at the end of a day of incredible revelations about Jonathan’s family history.

"Darling, maybe we’re not talking about the same Owen Grant…there must be thousands, maybe even millions, of Owen Grants in this country!"

Jonathan stared into the fire. "It’s the same guy alright!"

Jennifer moved closer to him and unfastened the top two buttons of her blouse. "Darling, what do I have do to get your mind off Owen Grant and on to me!"

Jonathan grinned wickedly. "You just did it!"

The Hart family were up bright and early the next morning. Jonathan had decided that there was only one way to find out the truth about Owen Grant. He needed to speak to the man himself.

"Darling, are you sure that’s such a good idea?" Jennifer was seated at the kitchen table, breastfeeding baby Suzanne.

Jennifer squeezed Jonathan’s hand tightly as they entered the Prison visiting room. Like the rest of the building’s interior, this room’s walls were painted a depressing shade of grey. Along one wall ran a row of tables at which the inmates sat, separated from their loved ones by a sheet of bullet-proof glass. Communication was via telephone handset and prison guards monitored all conversations.

Jonathan and Jennifer watched as the prisoners entered in single file. Owen Grant was near the back, his hawk-like features immediately recognisable to the Harts. His haughty expression never wavered as he walked across to the table and sat down.

"Jonathan and Jennifer, what a pleasure it is to see you!"

Jonathan glared at his old adversary. "Let’s forget the pleasantries and cut to the chase!"

Jennifer put on her sweetest smile, despite the fact that Owen Grant made her skin crawl. "Owen, we need some information from you about your father!"

"My father?"

Jonathan leaned close to the glass partition. "What was his name?"

Grant smiled. "Morgan."

"And your mother?"

"Jane."

Jonathan fought to retain his composure. "Did your father ever mention someone called Franklin Hart?"

"Yes…Mr Hart was married to my mother, until he left her for a night-club singer! Apparently, he was killed in a tragic accident…I guess that’s what they call poetic justice!"

Jonathan stood up and bellowed into the telephone handset. "Franklin Hart was my father, you son-of-a-bitch! I know his death was no accident and I know your parents hand something to do with it!"

Grant laughed. "Prove it!"

Pounding his fist on the table, Jonathan shouted, "I will!"

Jennifer opened the manila envelope and removed a folder with the words ‘Police Report: Franklin Jonathan Hart’ printed on the front. As she leafed through the folder’s contents, two pieces of paper caught her eye.