erlestanleygardner.the.caseofthesulkygirl-第22章

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stops　she　intended　to　make　on　the　way。　She　was　nervous；　and　stopped　in　here　because　she　wanted　me　to　go　with　her。〃
　　　　　　Drumm　said：　〃All　right；　the　police　will　be　there；〃　and　slammed　up　the　telephone。
　　　　　　Mason　turned　and　grinned　at　Nevers。
　　　　　　〃If　I'd　let　them　know　she　was　ing　here　to　surrender　herself；　they'd　have　had　men　parked　around　to　grab　her　before　she　got　here；〃　he　said。
　　　　　　〃Oh；　well；〃　said　Nevers。　〃It's　all　in　the　game。　I　could　stand　another　drink　of　that　whisky　if　you've　got　it　handy。〃
　　　　　　〃I　could　stand　a　drink　myself；〃　said　Fran　Celane。
　　　　　　Mason　shook　his　head　at　her。
　　　　　　〃No；　we're　going　to　be　in　the　middle　of　action　pretty　quick；　and　I　don't　want　you　to　have　liquor　on　your　breath；　Miss　Celane。　You've　got　to　remember　that　every　little　thing　you　do；　and　everything　you　say；　will　be　snapped　up　and　dished　out　to　the　public。
　　　　　　〃Now　remember　that　under　no　circumstances　are　you　to　talk　about　the　case　or　to　lose　your　temper。　Those　are　two　things　you've　got　to　remember。　Talk　about　anything　else；　give　the　reporters　plenty　of　material。　Tell　them　about　the　romance　of　your　secret　marriage　with　Rob　Gleason。　Tell　them　how　you　admire　him　and　what　a　wonderful　man　he　is。　Tell　them　all　about　the　childhood　you　had；　the　fact　that　your　parents　died　and　that　your　uncle　was　the　same　as　a　father　and　a　mother　to　you。　Try　to　get　the　note　of　the　poor　little　rich　girl　who　has　neither　father　nor　mother；　but　is　rolling　in　coin。
　　　　　　〃Give　them　all　the　material　that　they　want　to　write　sob　sister　articles　and　character　sketches；　and　that　stuff。　But　the　minute　they　start　talking　about　the　case；　or　what　happened　on　that　night；　simply　dry　up　like　a　clam。　Tell　them　that　you're　awfully　sorry；　that　you'd　like　to　talk　about　it；　and　you　don't　see　any　reason　why　you　couldn't；　but　that　your　lawyer　has　given　you　specific　instructions　that　he's　to　do　all　the　talking。　Tell　them　you　think　it's　silly；　and　that　you　can't　understand　why　your　lawyer　feels　that　way；　because　you've　got　nothing　to　conceal；　and　you'd　like　to　e　right　out　and　tell　the　whole　circumstances　as　you　remember　them；　but　you've　promised　your　lawyer；　and　you're　not　going　to　break　your　promise　to　anybody。
　　　　　　〃They'll　try　all　sorts　of　tricks　on　you；　and　probably　tell　you　Rob　Gleason　has　made　a　full　confession；　or　that　he　has　told　the　officers　he　has　reason　to　believe　that　you　mitted　the　murder；　or　that　you　made　certain　incriminating　statements　to　him；　or　they'll　tell　you　that　he　has　e　to　the　conclusion　that　you　are　guilty　and　has　made　a　confession　in　order　to　take　the　jolt　so　that　you'll　be　spared。　They'll　try　all　sorts　of　stuff。　Simply　look　at　them　with　a　dumb　expression　on　your　face；　and　say　nothing。　And　for　God's　sake；　don't　lose　your　temper。　They'll　probably　do　things　that　will　make　you　want　to　kill　them；　but　if　you　lose　your　temper　and　fly　into　one　of　your　rages；　they'll　spread　it　all　over　the　front　pages　of　the　newspaper；　that　you've　got　an　ungovernable　temper；　and　are　one　of　these　tiger　women。〃
　　　　　　〃I　understand；〃　she　said。
　　　　　　There　was　the　sound　of　a　siren　drifting　up　through　the　windows　of　the　office。
　　　　　　Frances　Celane　shuddered。
　　　　　　〃Well；〃　said　Nevers　to　the　photographer；　〃get　your　camera　all　loaded　up；　boy；　because　some　of　these　cops　will　want　to　get　their　picture　in　the　paper；　taking　the　suspect　into　custody。　Probably　Carl　Seaward　will　show　up　from　the　Homicide　Squad。　He's　one　of　those　birds　that　likes　to　stick　his　stomach　in　front　of　a　camera　and　put　his　hand　on　the　shoulder　of　the　prisoner；　with　a　photograph　for　the　front　page　labeled：　'Carl　Seaward；　intrepid　investigator　of　the　Homicide　Squad；　taking　the　suspect　into　custody；　marking　the　termination　of　a　case　which　has　baffled　the　entire　police　force　for　the　past　forty…eight　hours。'
　　　　　　〃Maybe　I'd　better　get　in　this　picture　too。　I　wonder　if　my　hair　is　on　straight。　I　can　pose　as　the　STAR　reporter　who　assisted　the　police　in　locating　the　suspect。〃
　　　　　　And　Nevers　struck　a　pose　in　front　of　the　camera；　grinning。
　　　　　　Frances　Celane　surveyed　him　in　scornful　appraisal。
　　　　　　〃Show　a　little　leg；〃　she　said。
　
　
　　　　　　CHAPTER　SEVENTEEN
　
　　　　　　PAUL　DRAKE　perched　on　the　edge　of　Perry　Mason's　desk　and　shook　tobacco　from　a　cloth　sack　into　a　brown　paper　which　he　held　expertly　between　cigarette…stained　fingers。
　　　　　　〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃we've　got　our　contact　with　Mrs。　Mayfield。　But　it　isn't　getting　us　anything。　We　had　one　devil　of　a　time。　The　police　had　her　in　custody　as　a　material　witness　for　a　while。〃
　　　　　　〃Have　you　worked　the　rough　shadow　business　on　her　yet？〃　inquired　Mason。
　　　　　　〃Not　yet。　We're　building　up　to　it。　We've　got　a　woman　operative　who's　posing　as　a　woman　who's　been　abroad　as　a　governess；　and　is　now　out　of　work。　We've　checked　back　on　Mrs。　Mayfield　and　found　all　about　her　early　associates。　We　managed　to　run　one　of　them　down　and　got　all　the　dope　from　her　about　the　names　of　the　people　she　knew；　and　all　that　sort　of　stuff。〃
　　　　　　〃This　woman　is　getting　across　all　right？〃　asked　Mason。
　　　　　　〃I'll　say　she's　getting　across。　She's　got　Mrs。　Mayfield　confiding　in　her；　all　of　her　troubles　with　her　husband；　and　all　that　sort　of　stuff。〃
　　　　　　〃But　she　hasn't　said　anything　about　the　murder？〃　asked　Mason。
　　　　　　〃Not　a　peep　so　far。　That　is；　of　course；　she　mentions　that　she　was　taken　to　the　District　Attorney's　office　and　held　for　awhile　as　a　material　witness　until　they　got　a　signed　statement　out　of　her；　and　a　lot　of　that　stuff。　But　she　isn't　going　into　details。　All　that　she's　telling　is　simply　a　rehash　of　what　she's　told　the　newspapers。〃
　　　　　　〃How　about　Don　Graves？〃　inquired　the　attorney。　〃How　are　you　getting　along　with　him？〃
　　　　　　Paul　Drake　put　the　finishing　touches　on　the　cigarette。
　　　　　　〃We're　making　some　real　progress　there；〃　he　said；　〃We've　got　a　young　lady　operative　who　has　contacted　him；　and　Graves　is　falling　for　her　like　a　ton　of　brick。　He's　telling　her　everything　he　knows。〃
　　　　　　〃About　the　case？〃　asked　Mason。
　　　　　　〃About　the　case；　about　everything。　He's　turning　himself　inside　out。〃
　　　　　　〃This　woman　must　be　good；〃　said　Mason。
　　　　　　〃I'll　say　she's　good；〃　explained　Drake　enthusiastically。　〃She'd　knock　your　eye　out。　She's　got　one　of　those　confiding　techniques　that　snuggles　up　and　looks　at　you　with　big　eyes；　and　seems　to　listen　all　over。　You　just　naturally　ache　to　tell　her　things。　My　God；　every　time　I　go　out　with　that　broad；　I　sit　down　and　start　telling　her　all　of　my　troubles；　about　the　girl　that　jilted　me　in　my　childhood；　so　that　I　never　got　married；　and　all　that　stuff。
　　　　　　〃You've　seen　a　guy　when　he's　about　nine…tenths　drunk；　going　around　and　weeping　on　the　necks　of　total　strangers　and　telling　all　of　his　private　affairs？　Well；　that's　just　the　way　this　jane　works。　She　affects　the　fellows　just　about　like　nine…tenths　of　a　drunk。　They　fall　all　over　her　and　spill　everything。〃
　　　　　　〃That's　fine；〃　said　Mason。　〃What　have　you　found　out？〃
　　　　　　〃So　far；　just　stuff　you　don't　want　to　hear；〃　said　the　detective。　〃It　don't　help　your　client　a　damn　bit。〃
　　　　　　〃All　right；〃　said　Mason；　〃give　me　the　lowdown；　and　don't　try　to　put　a　sugar　coating　on　it。　Give　me　the　facts。〃
　　　　　　〃The　facts　are；〃　said　Drake；　〃that　this　Celane　girl　had　on　a　pink　negligee　the　night　the　murder　was　mitted。　Graves　was　sent　by　Edward　Norton　to　ride　up　with　Judge　Purley　and　Arthur　Crinston　to　get　some　documents。　He　kept　looking　back　toward　the　house　as　they　went　around　the　curves　in　the　road　and　when　they　got　to　the　point　in　the　road　where　he　could　look　up　at　the　window　in　Edward　Norton's　study；　he　saw　somebody　standing　back　of　Norton；　who　was　seated　at　his　desk。
　　　　　　〃More　than　that；　he　says　that　he　saw　the　man　swing　a　club　down　on　Edward　Norton's　head；　and　Norton　collapsed　across　the　desk。　He　says　that　he　saw　the　arm；　shoulder　and　head　of　a　woman；　and　that　he　thinks　he　is　positive　of　the　identity　of　both　the　man　and　the　woman。　The　woman　had　on　a　pink　negligee。〃
　　　　　　〃He　made　that　statement　to　the　District　Attorney's　office？〃　asked　Mason。
　　　　　　〃Yes；　he's　made　it；　and　subscribed　and　sworn　to　it。〃
　　　　　　〃That　isn't　the　statement　he　made　the　first　time；〃　Mason　pointed　out。　〃When　they　were　making　their　first　investigation；　Graves　said　that　he　saw　the　man　in　the　room；　who　struck　the　blow；　and　didn't　see　anyone　else　except　Norton。〃
　　　　　　〃That　won't　help　you　any；〃　said　Drake　casually。　〃You　can't　prove　that。〃
　　　　　　〃They　took　the　statement　down　in　shorthand；〃　said　Mason。
　　　　　　Drake　laughed。
　　　　　　〃Those　notes　have　been　lost。　I'm　just　telling　you　in　the　event　you　don't　know　it；〃　he　said。　〃I　made　it　a　point　to　ask　one　of　the　newspaper　reporters　to　inquire　of　the　shorthand　stenographer　who　took　down　the　statements　there　that　night。　Strange　as　it　may　seem；　something　happened；　and　the　notebook　had　been　misplaced。　It's　disappeared。〃
　　　　　　He　grinned　at　the　lawyer。
　　　　　　Perry　Mason　stared　down　at　the　surface　of　his　desk；　his　brows　in　straight　lines　of　frowning　concentration。
　　　　　　〃The　dirty　crooks；〃　he　said。　〃The　D。A。　always　howls　to　high　heaven　about　the　crooked　criminal　lawyers　who　manipulate　the　facts。　But　whenever　the　D。A。　uncovers　any　evidence　that　gives　the　defendant　a　break；　you　can　bet　something　happens　to　it。〃
　　　　　　The　detective　shrugged　his　shoulders。
　　　　　　〃The　D。A。's　want　convictions；〃　he　said。
　　　　　　〃Can　your　operative　get　into　Mrs。　Mayfield's　room　in　Norton's　residence；　Paul？〃　Mason　asked。
　　　　　　〃Sure。　That's　a　cinch。〃
　　　　　　〃All　right；　I　want　her　to　make　a　report　on　every　dress　that's　in　there。　In　other　words；　I　want　to　see　if　there's　a　pink　dress　or　a　pink　negligee　in　there。〃
　　　　　　Paul　Drake　squinted　at　the　lawyer　significantly。
　　　　　　〃It　wouldn't　be　such　a　hard　job　to　put　one　in　there；〃　he　said。
　　　　　　〃No；〃　said　Mason；　〃I'm　going　to　play　fair。〃
　　　　　　〃What's　the　use　of　playing　fair？〃　asked　Drake。　〃They　didn't　play　fair　with　you。〃
　　　　　　〃I　can't　help　that；〃　said　Mason。　〃I　think　I've　got　an　out　in　this　case；　and　I'm　going　to　play　it　fair　and　square。　I　think　I　can　beat　the　rap　if　I　can　get　a　decent　break。〃
　　　　　　〃Listen；〃　said　Paul　Drake；　drawing　his　feet　up　to　the　desk；　and　sitting　cross…legged　on　the　corner　of　it；　〃you　haven't　got　an　out　in　this　case。　They've　got　your　client　as　good　as　convicted　right　now。　Look　what　they've　got　on　her。　She's　the　one　that　would　have　benefited　by　the　old　man's　death。　In　fact；　with　that　marriage　hanging　over　her　head；　she　either　had　to　kill　him；　or　lose　an　estate　that's　worth　a　big　bunch　of　money。
　　　　　　〃This　fellow；　Gleason；　may　have　married　the　woman　because　he　loved　her；　or　he　may　have　married　her　because　he　wanted　her　money。　Nobody　knows　which；　but　he　gets　all　the　credit　for　marrying　her　for　money。　The　theory　of　the　prosecution　is　that　when　he　found　out　about　the　trust　provision；　he　and　the　girl　tried　to　reason　with　Norton。　When　Norton　wouldn't　listen　to　reason；　Gleason　made　up　his　mind　he'd　bump　him　off。　They　had　a　big　squabble。　He'd　have　killed　Norton　right　then　if　it　hadn't　been　for　Crinston　ing　to　keep　an　appointment。　So　Gleason　waited　around　until　Crinston　left；　then　jimmied　a　window　to　make　it　look　as　though　burglars　had　broken　in　from　the　outside。　Then　he　cracked　down　on　Norton's　head。
　　　　　　〃He　probably　hadn't　figured　on　any　robbery　at　the　time。　He　just　wanted　to　make　it　look　li