"I'm sorry Edward," said Dr. Morse, "you have
three months at the most to live."
Edward, slender build, white hair neatly
trimmmed, nodded, "Thanks for being straight with
me, Dan. Now should anyone ask, I'm still in
remission from the cancer. I'll tell the family
when they need to know."
"Of course," said the Dr., "and have this
prescription filled. It will take the edge off the
pain. Don't take more that four in a twenty-four
hour period without talking to me."
Leaving the Dr's. office Edwards's light blue
eyes squinted as he stepped out into the bright
summer sunshine. Waiting at the curb, Art his
driver, opened the car door, "Home Sir?"
"No, take the long way home. I've got some
serious thinking do do."
As Art drove through the traffic, Edward
thought about the situation at home. No doubt Greg
would be at the house waiting for the bad news,
which to Greg would be good news. Oh, he'd be
properly sad, in fact down-right upset, with a tear
hastily wiped away. It would be so touching.
Well, Edward knew better. Greg couldn't wait
to get his hands on the inheritance which consisted
of a successful plasticsware company, a large estate
and a lot of money, and oh how Greg needed a lot of
money. He'd already lost most of the fortune
inherited from his father, Edward's brother. "Too
bad nephew," he thought, "but I think I'm gonna rain
on your parade."
Whatever Greg wanted he always managed to get,
one way or another. Now he wanted the Allison
Plastics. Being the only family Edward had he
expected to be Edward's heir. He just didn't want
to wait until his uncle died.
Greg's dark good looks and energy created an
atmosphere of excitement. He raced cars, gambled
and had lived beyond his means. About eight years
ago he married Maggie, the daughter of a race car
mechanic. Never having had much money, the leggy
redhead joined wholeheartedly in the new clothes,
travel, races and parties. A year and a half later
she got pregnant, and it all came to a screeching
halt.
Edward smiled remembering the getting
acquainted period. "I care a great deal about her,
she's the daughter I never had."
Once Robbie was born Greg expected their life
to be as it had been, with Maggie at his side
wherever he went. He wanted her exclusive
attention, but she was unwilling to leave the infant
completely in the care of a nannie. Greg's jealousy
brought out his mean streak.
Six months later Maggie told Greg she'd had
enough, that she and Robbie were leaving. Greg
slipped out with Robbie and disappeared. Five days
later he called a frantic and terrified Maggie, now
willing to promise anything to get her baby back.
From then on as long as she stayed in line Greg
ignored the boy.
To the outside world, and Robbie, Maggie
pretended that everyting was normal. As much as
she could she filled Robbie's life with books and
music, and taught him to swim and ride. Edward
took the place of his grandfather amd often went
with them on their excursions.
Greg took great delight in tormenting her into
spirited battles, and Edward could not help
overhearing them. Maggie could hold her own except
when it came to her son. Edward had offered to
help her, but she felt that Greg, being so
vindictive, might do something really terrible.
Hopefully he would overplay his hand, and Maggie
decided to play a waiting game.
Robbie was a fine boy, and with his mother he
had a chance to be everything his father wasn't.
Edward had recently told Maggie that he planned
for Robbie to be heir to the Allison fortune, but
now Edward thought he knew how to make sure Greg
could not take control.
Edward leaned forward and tapped Art on the
shoulder. "Let's go home."
Edward went directly to his room saying he did
not want to be disturbed until dinner time. He
called Maggie on the house phone, and asked her to
come see him in his room. After she left he called
his lawyer, took a nap, then dressed for dinner.
The dinner table looked festive with candles,
flowers and gifts for everyone, for after all this
was a celebration of life. Once all were seated
Edward said, "I expect to be around a while longer
because of a cancer remission." Maggie smiled in
delight, and Robbie said "Wow". Greg, however,
nearly strangled on his champagne but managed to
congratulate his uncle. Edward, Robbie and Maggie
made plans, laughed and enjoyed their dinner.
Although Greg put on a pretty good act, he said
little, laughed less and hardly touched his food.
That night Edward heard an angry Greg taking
out his frustrations on Maggie. She blew up,
packed a bag and left saying she was getting a
divorce. As Edward expected, Greg forcibly kept
her from taking Robbie with her. "You'll be back,"
Greg yelled as she drove away. Upset and scared
Robbie ran to Edward's room and stayed with him
that night. Greg told Edward, "If she tries to come
take the kid, I'll have her arrested."
In the next few weeks Edward spent all of his
time with Robbie. They read stories, played games,
and even went on a fishing trip. Each day he told
the boy, "Don't worry son, you mother will be back,
and everything is going to be just fine." Greg
came and went, but rarely spoke to anyone.
For several years Greg had spent most of his
time gambling, all on the expectation of his
inheritance. The problem now, Edward in remission
could possibly live another ten years. Greg knew
that Donelly, a big time gambler, had no intention
of waiting for the money Greg owed him. On one
occasion two of Donnelly's men came to the house.
Edward heard them tell Greg he'd better get the
money soon or they'd rearrange his body parts.
Six weeks after Maggie left, and after a final
visit to his lawyer's office, Edward felt good about
his personal affairs. However it became more
difficult to hide the intensity and more frequent
episodes of pain. He would be happy to go anytime,
and to help him along no doubt Greg would find a
way. Now how much longer would Greg wait?
Edward had just settled into bed that night
when Greg walked in. "Ask and ye shall receive,"
muttered Edward.
"What?" asked Greg.
"Nothing," replied Edward, his voice low and
tired. "What is it you want?"
"I need cash," said Greg, "and I need it now.
It'll be mine soon anyway. All you need to do is
write a letter of credit."
"No Greg. I've told you over and over - NO!"
said Edward in an angry voice.
Greg picked up a bottle from the night stand,
"these your sleeping pills?"
"What if they are," said Edward, knowing Greg
wouldn"t bother to read the name or directions on
the label.
Greg opened the bottle and poured all the
pills onto the bed. He told Edward, "maybe it would
be better if you just end it now old man." Doubling
up his fist as if to hit Edward he said, "take
them!"
After swallowing five of the pills Edward, too
weak to hold the glass, spilled some of the water.
Greg took the glass and insisted he swallow three
more pills. Within minutes Edward became limp.
Greg waited impatiently for close to fifteen
minutes, then felt for a pulse. "No pulse, it's
done," he thought.
After wiping his figerprints off the pill
bottle and the glass, he wrapped Edward's fingers
around the bottle and left it in his hand. The
glass he put in Edwards other hand, then let it roll
to the edge of the bed. As Greg left the room he
glanced back. He didn't think much about it at the
time, but it looked like a small smile on Edward's
face.
After the funeral Paul Carter, the Allison
lawyer, came to the house for the reading of the
will. Maggie arrived with Inspector Bell from the
police department. Greg glared as she hugged
Robbie, "What does the police have to do with the
reading of the will?" he asked.
"He's here to protect Robbie's and my rights,"
Maggie answered.
Paul Carter asked everyone to join him in the
library, then got right to the point. "Edward's
will states that his daughter, Maggie Burke Allison,
inherits everything."
"She's not his daughter, and I'll break that
will."
"No Greg," said Carter, "his daughter. Edward
legally adopted Maggie two months ago. He signed
the final papers, and made a new will three weeks
ago. He also left a letter saying he was not in
remission, he only had a short time to live. You
should have waited."
"It's not true. I don't believe it," said
Greg, his voice rising in panic.
"In his instructions," Carter continued, "he
ordered an autopsy. The coroner found more than
enough of the narcotic pain pills to kill him.
Someone would have had to help him. Edward didn't
commit suicide."
"You can't prove anything," cried Greg backing
out of the room.
"One other thing Greg,"Carter went on, "Edward
had a video camera installed in his room some time
ago. You're on tape."
Greg started out the front door, but seeing
Donelly and his men waiting in the driveway, he
turned back, and came face to face with Inspector
Bell. The Inspector's eyes were cold, but he smiled
as he asked, "would you care for an escort Mr.
Allison?"
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