PRECARIOUS by Robert F. Clifton (knowledgeable books to read txt) 📕

find out that you’re if nothing else, unfaithful to your wife.”

“I’m sorry, truly sorry,” he said.

“I don’t want to hear it. Not now anyway,” said Barbara as she turned and walked into the living room with tears in her eyes.

****************

Weeks went by and the relationship now between Robert and Barbara were strained, but they remained cordial. She continued doting over the children and her charities. He immersed himself in work. His parents moved into their new home in Florida and Harry Wilson dropped dead of a heart attack at his home in Chestnut Hill. Robert did his best to comfort his wife. At Harry Wilson’s viewing Sayer sat beside his wife as people paying their respect first viewed the body in the casket then went to Harry’s widow and Barbara to offer their condolences. One was Helen Benson. Barbara went through the motions not wishing to make a scene. She released her anger on the drive home with her husband and children.

“Can you believe the nerve of that bitch!”, she said loudly.

“Maybe she just wanted let you know that she was there out of respect for Harry.”

“Respect? She doesn’t even know what the word respect means.”

“Calm down. It’s over. She won’t be at the funeral tomorrow.”

“How do you know? Have you been talking to her? Did you know that she would show up tonight?”

“Of course not.”

“Then why are you so sure she won’t be at the funeral?”

“I don’t actually know. It’s just a feeling I have. Trust me.”

“It’s a little late for that, wouldn’t you say?”

“Then call her and tell her to stay away. It won’t be the first time you called her is it?”

Robert drove the rest of the way home in silence.

**************

James Hogan finally made contact with Robert and after making himself comfortable in the law office sat back, opened his note book and began telling Sayer what he had found.

“It seems that the divorce was caused by infidelity. Her infidelity,” said Hogan.

“With who?”, asked Robert.

“It’s hard to say. As far as I can tell she had many partners. However, at the same time by talking to people who know her she seemed to have changed from the loving wife and dedicated mother to something else.”

“What else?”

“I would say that she gradually had an increasing mental problem.”

“I see. What else?”

“She moved out of Wildwood and settled in Somers Point.”

“Atlantic County, that’s strange.”

“Really? I wouldn’t know. Anyway, right now she’s living in the Admiralty Apartments, Unit 227.”

“That’s it? Nothing else?’

“She’s held menial jobs, working in Seven Eleven and places like that. Evidently she loses these jobs either by not showing up for work or because of erratic behavior”.

“I see. Where’s she working now?”

“In a place called Danny’s. It’s located on the circle between Somers Point and Ocean City.”

“I know where it is. OK, how much do I owe you?”

“Here’s my bill including expenses.”

“By the way, do you know the hours she works?”

“Yes, the morning shift. She does breakfast and lunch. Seems her day off is Monday.”

Robert looked at the bottom figure, reached into his desk drawer and removed his personal checkbook . He then wrote out the amount due, signed his signature and handed the check to Hogan.

“Nice work. Stay loose. I’ll be in touch with you in a week or two,” said Sayer.

“Yes sir.”

When Hogan left the office Robert leaned back in the high back chair. Deep in thought he searched mentally, then asked himself questions as to what he should do. “There is only one answer. I have to go there, see her, learn her condition. Once I have done that, then I can determine the next move,” he thought to himself.

That weekend, he drove down the Atlantic City Expressway.

He told Barbara that he had to attend to a legal problem which might necessitate petitioning the New Jersey courts. He wasn’t lying. Since his parents had sold the house in the Inlet and had moved to Florida he now had to rent a room in a motel. He chose one in Somers Point.

The next morning he parked the Mercedes in the parking lot of the diner, got out and locked the doors to his automobile and made his way inside. A hostess holding several large menus asked him if he would like a booth. He chose the counter. Once seated he looked briefly at the large, plastic covered menu then placed it back where it had stood upright in a metal stand. He then held his breath as Janet appeared walking out of the kitchen. He looked at her, studied her, remembering how she looked when they had been together. She hadn’t changed that much. She still wore her hair in the page boy style. Naturally, she had changed, but so had he. She appeared to be a bit thinner and instead of the constant smile she use to maintain it had been replaced with a look of sorrow. She walked up to him, looked at him and said, “What would you like this morning?”

He felt the shock and disappointment when he realized that the woman he had loved and kept in his reverie over the years now didn’t seem to even remember him. “Bacon and eggs. Eggs over easy and toast. No potatoes. I’ll have a cup of coffee now please,” he said.

When she brought his breakfast to him Robert decided to engage Janet in conversation hoping that it would shake her memory. “How long have you been a waitress?”, he asked.

“Actually, too long,” she replied.

“You appear to be an intelligent woman. I’m sure you could do many other things other then being a waitress.”

“Maybe, but I enjoy being a waitress. Would you like me to refill your cup?”

“No, thank you.” He watched Janet turn and walk away still with no idea who she had been talking- to.

Back at the motel Robert lay fully clothed on the bed deep in thought. “She’s not the same woman I knew before. She seems to be able to function in society, but not as the original Janet Campbell. Now, she’s someone else. Something has changed her, taken control of her. Hell, I’m no psychiatrist but I’m willing to bet that whatever has happened it’s a dual personality thing. The question is, how to protect her without her knowing? At the same time how to get her treatment, treatment over her objections.”

He got up off of the bed, packed his suitcase with the soiled clothing he had worn the day before. At the motel office he paid his bill and checked out. Then he drove back to Philadelphia.

Entering the law firm building in the late morning he said hello to the security guard on duty in the lobby. After taking the elevator to the fifth floor he entered his office and walked to the rear wall where he kept his legal library. He looked carefully then selected a book on New Jersey Statutes. He carried the book to his desk, sat down and after opening the book turned the pages. He stopped turning when he found, “Quality of Laws:D.

Taking a white, company envelope he used it for a bookmark and closed the volume. Robert stood up walked to the elevator and took it down to the lobby. There he said good by to the same guard, went to the garage, entered his automobile and drove home.

On Monday morning Robert Sayer sat looking at the closed law book on his desk. As he sipped a cup of coffee he again began to concentrate on the situation. “Should I do this? All I have to do is say, Hey! This isn’t my problem. When she was normal she rejected me, not only me, but my love. Yet, here I am. Like some damn fool acting like a school boy fawning over a woman that I don’t even know any more or recognize. Still, after all of these years I have to sit back and ask myself would I give up everything if she and I could be together. Everything? Barbara, the kids, position, wealth? Would I give it all away? I must admit. I don’t really know anymore. Ten, fifteen years ago I would have jumped at the chance. Now, I ask myself, what good would it do?

However, there is some good that I can do.” He reached over and opened the law book.

Using the intercom Robert said to Ann Peterson, “Ann,

see if you can find the number for A lawyer named Adam Beckman. His office should be somewhere in Atlantic County, New Jersey. If you find it, place a call. I wish to speak with him.’

“Yes, Mr. Sayer.”

Fifteen minutes later Ann buzzed n the intercom and said,

“Mr. Beckam on line one sir”.

Robert picked up the receiver and said, “Adam. Bob Sayer here. How have you been?”

“Not bad. Not as good as you, but I’m getting by. I haven’t seen you since law school. What’s on your mind?”

“I want you to represent me in court.”

“Why? As I recall you’re a member of the New Jersey Bar.”

“It’s rather complicated. Are you familiar with New Jersey Statute S 30:4-27.16. ?”

“Not off hand.”

“It deals with the court having the ability to set the criteria for need-for-treatment for the mentally ill.”

“Oh yeah.”

“Good I want you to go into court, operate under that statute and make me either the guardian or advocate for one, Janet Campbell. I’ll have my secretary type up and send you all the information you might need on this person. Alright?”

“Sure. No problem.”

“Make sure you send me your bill. Send it here to my office.”

“OK. Talk to you later.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Nine

Doctor Mano

 

The years went by quickly. To assure himself that Janet was well taken care of, he, through the contacts of James Hogan, hired a security firm to watch her. They were to watch her from a distance and only to interfere with her life if and when she was in danger. From someone or herself. Robert made sure that she was observed from a distance by female security personnel.

In 1978 gambling casino’s were allowed to open and operate in Atlantic City. The partners of Pratt, Pratt, Parlin And Sayer

elected to see if they could acquire a retainer from one or all of the casino’s. Since Robert was the home town boy he was sent to meet with the casino operators.

On a Tuesday afternoon Robert sat in the office of Gregory Hasson. As he did he carefully appraised the man in silence, saw a well groomed middle aged man who was beginning to lose his hair. “So, Mr. Sayer, let’s get down to business. We both know why you are here. I’ll save you some time. We, naturally have our own corporate lawyers. You see, this isn’t our first venture into the casino business. We’ve been operating for several years both in the islands, and Europe. At the same time, as the new kid on the block, so to speak, here in Atlantic City, we feel that it would only be correct to use local attorney’s. When I say local attorney’s I mean those from Atlantic City.”

“I see. Thank you for being candid. I appreciate it,”said Robert.

After leaving the casino and it being a Tuesday, Robert looked at his watch, noticed that it was only eleven thirty in the morning. He then decided to drive to Somers Point and see Janet.

When he entered Danny’s Diner he headed for the counter, took a seat and waited for her to appear. Instead a rather plump,

gray haired waitress waited on him. “Yes sir? What can I bring you?”, she asked.

“A cup of coffee and a ham and cheese sandwich on rye,”

he replied. Then he asked, “Where’s Janet? Isn’t she working today.?”

“Janet? No. She’s no longer with us”, said the woman.

“Why? Was she fired or did she quit?”

“I have no idea. I just know that she left.”

“Alright, thank you,” he said, disappointed.

Back in Philadelphia he made a late afternoon telephone call to James Hogan. When Hogan answered Robert said, “Did you know that Janet Campbell no longer works in the diner in Somers Point?”

“Really? No,