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.For a moment, Also Brubaker flashed back into his mind.Why would he want a private meeting that he would prefer not to be mentioned to anyone else? But then his thoughts returned to Harry and he dialed his home number a second time.He heard Annie's voice on the end of the line."Have you heard?" she asked."Yes," said Fletcher, "I've just spoken to Jimmy.I thought I'd go directly to the hospital so we could meet there." "No, it's not just Dad," said Annie."It's Lucy, she had a terrible fall when she was out riding this morning.She's concussed and has broken her leg.They've put her in the infirmary.I don't know what to do next." "I blame myself," said Nat."Because of the takeover battle with Fairchild's I haven't been to see Luke once this term." "Me neither," admitted Su Ling."But we were going to the school play next week." "I know," said Nat."As he's playing Romeo, do you think the problem might be Juliet?" "Possibly.After all, you met your first love at the school play, didn't you?" asked Su Ling."Yes, and that ended in tears." "Don't blame yourself, Nat.I've been just as preoccupied with my graduate students these last few weeks, and perhaps I should have questioned Luke more closely about why he was so silent and withdrawn during term break." "He's always been a bit of a loner," said Nat, "and studious children rarely gather a lot of friends around them." "How would you know?" asked Su Ling, glad to see her husband smile."And both our mothers have always been quiet and thoughtful," Su Ling added as she drove onto the highway."How long do you think it will take us to get there?" asked Nat as he glanced at the clock on the dashboard."At this time of day, about an hour, so I expect we should arrive around three o'clock," said Su Ling, as she took her foot off the accelerator, once she'd touched fifty-five."Three, oh hell," said Nat, suddenly remembering, "I'll have to let Murray Goldblatz know that I won't be able to make his meeting." "The chairman of Fairchild's?" "No less, he requested a private meeting," said Nat as he picked up the car phone.He quickly checked Fairchild's number in his phone book."To discuss what?" asked Su Ling."It has to be something to do with the takeover, but beyond that I haven't a clue." Nat pressed the eleven digits."Mr.Goldblatz, please." "Who shall I say is calling?" asked the switchboard operator.Nat hesitated, "It's a personal call." "I will still need to know who it is," the voice insisted."I have an appointment with him at three o'clock." "I'll put you though to his secretary." Nat waited."Mr.Goldblatz's office," said a female voice."I have a three o'clock appointment with Mr.Goldblatz, but I fear I am going." "I'll put you through, Mr.Cartwright." "Mr.Cartwright." "Mr.Goldblatz, I must apologize, a family problem has arisen and I won't be able to make our meeting this afternoon." "I see," said Goldblatz, not sounding as though he did."Mr.Goldblatz," said Nat, "I'm not in the habit of playing games, I have neither the time nor the inclination." "I wasn't suggesting you did, Mr.Cartwright," said Goldblatz curtly.Nat hesitated."My son has run away from Tail and I'm on my way to see the principal." "I'm so.so.sorry to hear that," Mr.Goldblatz said, his tone immediately changing."If it's any consolation, I also ran away from Tail, but once I'd spent all my pocket money I decided to go back the following day." Nat laughed."Thank you for being so understanding." "Not at all, perhaps you'd give me a call and let me know when it's convenient for us to meet." "Yes of course, Mr.Goldblatz, and I wonder if I might ask a favor." "Certainly." "That none of this conversation is reported to Ralph Elliot." "You have my word on that, but then, Mr.Cartwright, he has no idea that I planned to meet you in the first place." When Nat put the phone down, Su Ling said, "Wasn't that a bit of a risk?" "No, I don't think so," said Nat."I have a feeling that Mr.Goldblatz and I have discovered something we have in common." As Su Ling drove through the Tail gates, memories came flooding back to Nat: his mother being late, having to walk down the center aisle of a packed hall when his knees were knocking, sitting next to Tom, and twenty-five years later, accompanying his son back on his first day.Now he only hoped his boy was safe and well.Su Ling parked the car outside the principal's house, and before she had turned the engine off, Nat spotted Mrs.Henderson coming down the steps.He felt his stomach churn until he saw the smile on her lips.Su Ling jumped out of the car."They've found him," Mrs.Henderson said."He was with his grandmother, helping her with the laundry." "Let's both go straight to the hospital and see your father.Then we can decide if one of us should go on to Lakeville and check up on Lucy." "Lucy would be so sad if she knew," said Annie."She has always adored Grandpa." "I know, and he's already begun planning her life," said Fletcher."Perhaps it would be better not to tell her what has happened, especially as she obviously won't be able to visit him." "You may be right.In any case, he did go and see her last week." "I didn't know that," said Fletcher."Oh yes, those two are plotting something," said Annie as she drove into the hospital parking lot, "but neither of them is letting me in on the secret." When the elevator doors opened, the two of them walked quickly down the corridor to Harry's room.Martha stood up the moment they walked in, her face ashen.Annie took her mother in her arms as Fletcher touched Jimmy's shoulder.He looked down at a man whose flesh was drawn and sallow, his nose and mouth covered with a mask.A monitor beeped beside him, the only indication that he was still alive.This was the most energetic man Fletcher had ever known.The four of them sat around the bed in silence, Martha holding her husband's hand.After a few moments she said, "Don't you think one of you should go and see how Lucy is getting on? There's not a lot you can do here." "I'm not moving," said Annie, "but I think Fletcher ought to go." Fletcher nodded his agreement
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