High Life, Low Life summary

Private investigator, Nat Marley, met old woman, the homeless Annie Clayton, at Grand Central
station, New York. She suffered a heart attack while theyre talking on the street. Marley
administered emergency resuscitation. Annie was taken to Bellevue Hospital and later she told
Marley she wished to make a will. The next day, Marley was summoned to Mrs Whittaker, an
elderly widow, at the opulent Century Apartment on Central Park. When she read the story of
Marley saving Annies life, she wanted to make him sole beneficiary in her will. This incurred the
displeasure of her spooky maid, Martha. Marley wanted no part in this.
Annie asked her friend Leona to take Marley to collect a box from her underground home. At the
hospital, Annie showed Marley a photo of her lost son Jackie as a teenager, asking Marley to find
him before she dies. Later, Marley learnt more about the Whittaker family. Marley was the
spitting image of the late Tom Whittaker. Mrs Whittaker led a reclusive life and she has alienated
her son and daughter. Marleys colleague, Joe Blaney, discovered the old lady was besotted with
Marley.
The search for Jackie took Marley to the East Village, where he learnt that Jackie used to work for
a taxi business run by Mr Wiseman, which Joe Blaney discovered to be a cover for a stolen goods
operation. Jackie was in hiding from his old boss. Journalist Ed Winchester showed Marley an old
story about Ernst Weissmann (Wiseman) and Jackie Clayton being acquitted of handling stolen
goods. Marley tip off Captain Oldenberg at police headquarters about Wiseman Cabs.
Marley was called to Whittakers apartment. Mrs Whittaker has died. Marley was struck by
Marthas indifferent attitude to her dead employer. Marley was suspicious but he couldnt prove
anything. Marley met the son, Charlie Whittaker and explained that he didnt wish to be the
beneficiary of his mothers will. Meanwhile, Stella, Marleys personal assistant, had located
Jackies workplace in Chelsea, but it was an abortive attempt.
The next day, Charlie Whittaker summoned Marley. Martha had disappeared with Mrs Whittakers
money and she had trashed the apartment. Marley was sure that Mrs Whittaker had been
murdered, and the police were called. Charlie hired Marley to find Martha. Meanwhile, Marley
found a home address for Jackie. Marley and Joe finally cornered him and took him to the hospital
to be reunited with his mother. At Century Apartments, Marley found clues indicating Martha
could have been gambling with Mrs Whittakers money in Atlantic City.
The autopsy results on Mrs Whittaker were inconclusive;: verdict- natural death. Marley needed a
confession from Martha. She was found in a casino, where she confessed to murder under
pressure from Marley. Later that night, Annie finally died. Oldenberg asked Marley to approach
Jackie-the deal would be a clean record if he testified against Wiseman. Martha wasnt charged
with the murder for lack of hard evidence, but was charged with left.
At the reading of Annies will, it transpired that Tom Whittaker was actually Jackies father. Thus,
Jackie Clayton, Charlie Whittaker and his sister, Betty Osborne, were related. Annie had kept a
gift of stock certificates from Tom Whittaker, which prove valuable. The story ended a year later
with the opening of the Annie Clayton Center in Harlem, a safe refuge for homeless women,
jointly funded by Charlie Whittaker, Betty Osborne and Jackie Clayton, in memory of their
mothers.