Douglas Wellman - Boxes: The Secret Life of Howard Hughes:

Boxes: The Secret Life of Howard Hughes 2015. Second Edition. Mark Musick and Douglas Wellman. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, digital, photocopying, or recording, except for the inclusion in a review, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Published in the United States by WriteLife Publishing

(An imprint of Boutique of Quality Books Publishing Company)

www.writelife.com

Printed in the United States of America

978-1-60808-139-4 (p)

978-1-60808-140-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015951093

Book design by Robin Krauss, www.bookformatters.com

Cover design by Ellis Dixon, www.ellisdixon.com

DEDICATION

A loving thank you goes to Susan, my wife, and Bradley and Michelle, my children, for not thinking I was crazy as I worked over a decade on this history-changing story.

Also, to Eva McLelland for trusting me enough to tell me about the secrets she had kept for over thirty years.

Mark Musick

To my beloved wife Deborah, who has spent over a decade watching me dash from place to place working on one thing or another. She doesnt always know what Im doing, but at least she knows where I am. I lovingly appreciate her unending patience and support.

Douglas Wellman

FOREWORD

Boxes is the story of Eva McLellands husband, Nik, a famous man in the twentieth century, who spent the waning years of his life hiding from the international spotlight of his former life.

The first time I heard Evas story, it was hard to understand and even harder to accept. It was like a fairytale, albeit bittersweet. Without knowing where it would lead, I began to research her story and her husbands previous identity. Piece by piece, Evas tale checked out and, strange as it was, aligned with many of the books written about this man.

When we were able to visit, personally, I relayed to Eva how her stories wove into her husbands public life. She had never heard these aspects of his life before, yet they answered countless questions shed held in her heart for many years. During a visit with her in the summer of 2006, it finally hit me; her crazy stories were absolutely true.

After nearly a decade researching and chronicling Evas life, many aspects remain a mystery. Maybe they will always remain unknown, or someone, who also knows the truth, will come forward and fill in the gaps.

Not everyone will believe the story that follows. Nevertheless, it is an intriguing tale. Not long ago, I asked Eva if Nik would approve of this story becoming public.

She replied, Yes, he would be proud. After all, he fooled the world.

Mark Musick

PREFACE

Had Elizabeth Taylor, Ava Gardner, or Katharine Hepburn wished for this dream, it would have been granted to them, but I was the chosen one!

Just imagine a combination of all the multiple personalities a person can possess, switching rapidly and seamlessly from one to the next. During my thirty-one years of marriage to Nik, I saw them all, hundreds of times, sometimes all at once. He was a hidden, naked recluse, and I fronted for him in business dealings, socially, and in every way that might necessitate a personal appearance. I seemed to be the only person alive who was able to understand his personality.

My insight had its inception at the beginning of our relationship. During our courtship, I was struck by his winning traits. The very next day after our wedding, in a shocking and unexpected outburst of temper, he exclaimed that I did not love him and snatched the wedding and engagement rings right off my finger!

Even though I was aware of Niks shortcomings at the time I married him, I thought he was as near the presentation of the second coming as any earthly human could be. I fell in love with his humility and gentle ways and very quickly learned to love his genius. It was quite obvious from the beginning of the marriage that I was to become enslaved by his possessiveness. For years, his true identity was a mystery to me, but slowly everything became clear.

Despite frequent stormy times in the marriage, there were numerous occasions of merriment when we had veritable laughing parties, and Nik seemed unable to stop giggling hysterically about something I said or told him. Some of his childhood stories were quite amusing. Many times, I saw him laugh so hard he ended up crying.

I loved and respected him and never revealed his true identity to anyone. I felt it my duty to front for him with true loyalty. As my husband is now long since gone, and I myself am very near the end of my time, I feel it would be a grave injustice to the world for me not to share the long-kept secret of my experiences with him. Therefore, I give my permission to publish this true story and its secrets, which I loyally guarded for him. It is my duty to inform the world of the truth about this great man.

I expect no financial gain through the release of this book. Many times, Nik expressed grave concern about his insufficient financial resources to support himself. I always responded by telling him if I could hold on to my own small retirement benefit, I would be okay. I really was not worried about what he would or would not leave me.

I feel blessed and honored to have dedicated nearly half of my life to the love, care, and companionship shared between us. I shall always treasure the wisdom he relayed to me from his ninety-six years of life. I helped him keep his secret for years, never revealing the truth to anyone prior to his death. Now I feel justified in sharing with the world the honor it was to be married to the most brilliant and knowledgeable man I have ever known. If I had my life to live over, I would take care of him to the end, again.

Many times, I asked Nik, Do you think they will ever believe me?

His consistent response was, No, they never will.

Eva Renee McLelland

Eva in 2003, at the time her book of poetry, Restless Winds, was published.

Eva Renee McLelland died in 2009 at age ninety-three while living in the southeastern United States. Just prior to her passing away, she spoke of her excitement to finally tell the story she kept secret for so many years.

INTRODUCTION

If you set out to write a controversial book about a controversial figure you have to expect to encounter a certain amount of skepticism, particularly if that book appears to stick its finger in the eye of the historical record. The authors were fully prepared for this. They expected their critics to pose three possible alternative theories. The first theory is that the authors are lying opportunists. This isnt a bad theory in the sense that the book is about a deceased person unable to speak out against anyone who might distort the facts about his life. Since the subject is Howard Hughes, it becomes even easier to create a fantasy life for him because he did half of the work himself. The entire latter part of his life is obscured by his self-created matrix of false trails, rumors, and outright deception. One more lie would likely be as plausible as any of the others.

Then there is the theory that Eva was mentally unstable. Critics could point to the fact that Eva was in her late 80s when she told her story to Mark and that its not uncommon for elderly people to have faulty memories or some form of mild to severe dementia. This theory is easily dismissed, however, since Eva had friends that not only attest to her sanity, but to her high intellect. She spent her last years in an assisted living facility because she could no longer live on her own, but the staff can verify that she had neither signs of dementia nor a propensity to lie. Both authors grilled Eva at various times about her story and it never wavered one bit. On a few occasions, Mark would be discussing something with her and if he made the slightest mistake in the details, she would stop him immediately and correct him. Two weeks prior to her death she was still answering questions exactly as she had five or six years earlier. There was most certainly nothing wrong with her memory.