erlestanleygardner.thecaseofthehorrifiedheirs-第16章

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　〃That's　right。〃
　〃Well；〃　she　said；　〃if　you　want　me　as　a　witness　you　just　call　me　any　time。　I'm　going　to　call　the　highway　patrol。〃
　〃That　won't　be　necessary；〃　Mason　said。　〃It　was　my　fault。　I　accept　the　responsibility。〃
　〃I'll　say　it　was　your　fault。　You've　been　drinking。　You　aren't　staying　here；　are　you？〃
　〃I　would　like　to　see　about　getting　a　room。〃
　〃Well；　we　don't　have　any　rooms　left。　And　we　don't　cater　to　drinking　parties。　You　wait　right　here　and　don't　try　to　move　those　cars。　I'm　calling　the　police。〃
　The　manager　turned　and　marched　back　to　the　office。
　〃What　in　the　world；〃　Virginia　Baxter　asked；　getting　Mason　to　one　side；　〃were　you　trying　to　do？〃
　〃Insurance；〃　Mason　told　her。
　〃Insurance？〃　she　exclaimed。
　〃Exactly；〃　Mason　said。　〃Now　if　anyone　asks　you　how　your　car　got　smashed　up；　you　can　tell　them。　Moreover；　you　have　witnesses　to　prove　it。　You'd　better　go　to　your　friend；　the　manager；　and　see　if　you　can　borrow　a　broom　and　we'll　sweep　this　broken　glass　out　of　here；　borrow　a　dustpan　and　dump　it　all　in　a　trash　barrel　somewhere。　You　have　one　headlight　and　I　have　one　headlight。　It　looks　very　much　as　though　we're　going　to　spend　the　night　here　unless　I　get　busy　and　have　a　rental　car　delivered　to　me　here。　In　which　event；　I'll　give　you　a　ride　home。〃
　〃And　our　cars？〃　she　asked。
　Mason　smiled　and　said；　〃After　the　police　e；　we'll　try　and　get　yours　back　to　the　parking　lot。　As　far　as　mine　is　concerned；　I　think　I'll　have　the　garage　tow　it　away。〃
　
　CHAPTER　SIXTEEN
　Harry　Auburn；　the　traffic　officer　who　was　summoned　by　the　manager；　was　very　polite；　very　efficient　and　very　impersonal。
　〃How　did　this　happen？〃
　〃I　was　ing　out；〃　Mason　said；　〃and　this　young　woman　was　ing　in。〃
　The　manager　said　belligerently；　〃He　flagrantly　violated　the　traffic　rules　of　this　parking　place。　There's　a　sign　over　there　that　says　Exit　in　letters　two　feet　high。〃
　Mason　said　nothing。
　The　traffic　officer　looked　at　him。
　Mason　said；　〃I　will　report　the　facts。　I　was　driving　out　of　the　parking　place。　I　was　ing　out　to　the　road　through　this　opening。　The　young　lady　was　ing　in。〃
　〃Didn't　you　see　this　sign　Entrance　Only？〃　the　traffic　officer　asked。
　Mason　said；　〃My　insurance　pany　has　instructed　me　that；　in　the　event　of　any　accident；　I　am　not　to　say　anything　that　would　admit　liability　in　any　way。　Therefore；　I　will　have　to　advise　you　that　I　am　adequately　insured　and　that　the　facts　speak　for　themselves。〃
　〃He's　been　drinking；〃　the　manager　said。
　The　officer　looked　inquiringly　at　Mason。
　〃I　had　a　cocktail　before　dinner　some　two　hours　ago；〃　Mason　said。　〃I　have　not　had　anything　since。〃
　The　officer　went　to　his　car；　produced　a　rubber　balloon。　〃Mind　blowing　this　up？〃　he　asked　Mason。
　〃Certainly　not；〃　Mason　said。
　He　blew　up　the　rubber　balloon。
　The　traffic　officer　took　it　over　to　a　testing　machine　and；　after　a　few　minutes；　returned　and　said。　〃You　don't　have　enough　alcohol　to　register。〃
　〃He's　drunk；〃　the　manager　said。
　Mason　smiled　at　her。
　〃Or　he　may　be　drugged；〃　she　said。
　Mason　handed　the　officer　one　of　his　cards。　〃You　can　always　locate　me；〃　he　said。
　〃I　recognized　you；〃　the　officer　said；　〃and；　of　course；　checked　your　name　on　your　driving　license。〃
　〃I　think　that's　all　that　needs　to　be　done　here；〃　Mason　said。　〃I　will　need　a　tow　car。〃
　〃I'll　phone　for　one；〃　the　officer　said；　then　moved　over　to　his　automobile；　climbed　into　the　seat；　picked　up　the　microphone　of　his　radio　and　called　a　number。
　After　a　while；　a　voice　came　over　the　radio　speaker。　The　officer　turned　down　the　volume；　raised　the　windows　on　his　car　so　that　the　voice　was　inaudible　outside　of　the　car。　He　talked　for　some　two　or　three　minutes；　then　he　hung　up　the　phone　and　came　back　to　Virginia　Baxter。
　〃Where　have　you　been　this　evening；　Miss　Baxter？〃　he　asked。
　〃I　drove　from　my　apartment　to　the　motel　here。〃
　〃Make　any　stops　along　the　way？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Where　is　your　apartment？〃
　〃The　same　address　that's　on　my　driver's　license422　Eureka　Arms　Apartments。〃
　〃Have　any　trouble　along　the　way？〃　the　officer　asked。
　〃Why；　no。　Why　do　you　ask？〃
　The　officer　said；　〃There's　been　a　pretty　bad　accident　down　on　the　coast　road。　George　Eagan；　a　chauffeur；　was　driving　Mrs。　Lauretta　Trent；　going　south；　when　a　car　veered　out　of　control；　crowded　the　Trent　car　off　the　road；　struck　the　rear　fender；　sent　the　car　into　a　spin　and　into　the　ocean。　Eagan　escaped；　but　the　car　went　over　the　road　into　the　ocean。　Lauretta　Trent　was　drowned。　They　haven't　as　yet　recovered　her　body。
　〃The　description　of　the　car　that　caused　the　accident　matches　the　description　of　this　car…You're　sure　you　haven't　been　drinking？〃
　〃Give　her　a　test；〃　Mason　said。
　〃You　any　objection　to　taking　a　test？〃　the　officer　asked。
　She　looked　at　Mason　with　wide；　frightened　eyes。
　〃Not　in　the　least；〃　Mason　said。
　The　officer　didn't　even　turn　but　kept　his　eyes　on　Virginia　Baxter。
　〃No；〃　she　said；　〃I'll　take　a　test。〃
　〃Blow　up　this　balloon；〃　the　officer　said。
　Virginia　Baxter　blew　up　the　balloon。　The　officer　again　retired　to　his　automobile；　again　talked　for　a　while　into　the　microphone；　then　returned。
　〃You　been　taking　any　drugs　today；　Miss　Baxter？〃
　〃Not　today。　I　took　a　couple　of　aspirin　last　night。〃
　〃And　that's　all？〃
　〃That's　all。〃
　〃What　time　did　you　leave　your　apartment？〃
　〃Well；　let's　see；　it　was　about　。　。　。　well；　probably　three　hours　ago。〃
　〃And　you　came　directly　here？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃How　long　have　you　been　here？〃
　〃You　can　check　the　time　of　registration；〃　Mason　suggested。
　The　manager　said；　〃We　don't　keep　a　time　record…only　the　date；　but　I　think　she's　been　here　for　。　。　。　well；　say　an　hour　and　a　half　anyway。〃
　〃But　I've　been　here　longer　than　that；〃　Virginia　said。
　〃Well；　I'm　willing　to　swear　to　an　hour　and　a　half；〃　the　manager　said。
　The　officer　looked　thoughtful。
　〃May　I　ask　how　they　got　a　description　of　the　Baxter　car？〃　Mason　asked。
　The　officer　regarded　him　thoughtfully；　then　said；　〃A　motorist；　ing　along　behind；　saw　the　accident。　The　car　turned　off　on　the　road　that　came　up　here。　He　got　a　description　of　the　rear　of　the　car；　and　a　part　of　the　license　number。〃
　〃Which　part？〃　Mason　asked。
　〃Enough　to　make　a　pretty　good　identification；〃　the　officer　said　shortly。
　Virginia　Baxter　suddenly　burst　out　angrily。　〃All　right；〃　she　said；　〃I've　taken　all　I'm　going　to　take。　This　is　just　another　frame…up！
　〃I　didn't　have　any　accident　along　the　road；　I　didn't　run　into　Lauretta　Trent's　car；　and　as　far　as　that　chauffeur　is　concerned；　he's　a　plain　liar。
　〃He's　been　after　me　to　make　a　forged　will　for　Lauretta　Trent　and…〃
　〃Easy；　easy；〃　Mason　interrupted。
　〃I'm　not　going　to　take　it　easy；〃　she　stormed。　〃This　chauffeur　paid　me　to　make　a　forged　will。　He's　been　planning　murder　and…〃
　〃Shut　up！〃　Mason　snapped。
　Virginia　turned　indignant　eyes　on　him。　〃I　don't　have　to　keep　quiet　and…〃
　〃You　let　me　do　the　talking　for　a　minute；　Virginia。〃
　The　officer　said；　〃You　representing　this　woman？〃
　〃I　am　now；〃　Mason　said。
　The　traffic　officer　went　over　to　his　automobile；　picked　up　the　microphone。　This　time；　he　left　the　door　open　so　they　could　hear　what　he　said。
　〃Auburn；　at　Car　two…fifteen。　I'm　reporting　from　the　scene　of　the　accident　at　this　motel。
　〃You　can't　tell　a　thing　about　the　condition　of　this　car　Virginia　Baxter　was　driving　because　Perry　Mason　slammed　into　it　with　his　automobile。　Apparently；　Perry　Mason　is　representing　her　as　her　attorney；　and　she　says　George　Eagan；　the　Trent　chauffeur；　paid　her　to　make　a　forged　will　and　has　been　planning　a　murder。
　〃That's　her　story。〃
　The　voice　that　came　over　the　intermunicating　system　was　loud　enough　for　everyone　to　hear。　It　was　a　crisp　voice；　filled　with　authority。　It　said；　〃This　is　the　chief　investigator　of　the　D。A。's　office。　Bring　that　girl　in　for　questioning。　She'll　probably　be　charged　with　first…degree　murder。　But　let's　get　the　story　before　Mason　mixes　up　any　more　of　the　evidence。〃
　〃Very　well；　sir；〃　the　officer　said。
　〃Start　now；〃　the　crisp　voice　manded；　〃and　I　mean　now！〃
　〃Shall　I　give　her　a　chance　to　get　her　things　and…〃
　The　voice　interrupted。　〃Now。〃
　Mason　said　in　an　undertone；　〃This　is　just　what　I　was　afraid　of；　Virginia。　You're　mixed　up　in　some　sort　of　a　plot。　Now；　for　heaven's　sake；　keep　quiet。　Don't　tell　them　anything　unless　I　am　present。〃
　〃That's　going　to　make　it　look　all　the　worse；〃　she　whispered。　〃They'll　find　that　registered　letter　I　sent　myself　and…〃
　The　officer　interrupted；　〃Right　in　this　car；　Miss　Baxter；　please。〃
　〃I'm　certainly　entitled　to　get　my　things；〃　she　said。　〃I…〃
　〃Under　the　circumstances；〃　the　officer　interrupted；　〃you're　under　arrest。　If　I　have　to；　I　can　put　handcuffs　on　you。〃
　〃What's　going　to　happen　with　this　driveway　blocked？〃　the　manager　asked。　She　had　been　standing　as　an　openmouthed　spectator　but　had　finally　gotten　her　breath　restored。
　〃We'll　send　a　wrecking　car；〃　the　officer　said。　〃In　the　meantime；　I　have　other　things　to　do。〃
　He　slammed　the　door　of　the　car；　started　the　motor；　skidded　out　of　the　exit；　hit　the　highway；　turned　on　his　red　light；　and　the　manager；　Della　and　Mason　listened　to　the　scream　of　his　siren　vanishing　in　the　distance。
　Mason　surveyed　the　wreckage　ruefully。　〃Well；〃　he　told　Della；　〃we　are；　for　the　moment；　immobilized。　The　first　thing　to　do　is　to　arrange　for　transportation。〃
　
　CHAPTER　SEVENTEEN
　It　was　ten　o'clock　in　the　morning。　Mason　paced　the　attorney's　room　at　the　jail　impatiently。
　A　policewoman　brought　Virginia　Baxter　in；　then　discreetly　withdrew　out　of　earshot。
　Mason　said；　〃I　understand　you　told　the　police　everything；　Virginia。〃
　She　said；　〃They　kept　after　me　until　way　late…it　must　have　been　nearly　midnight。〃
　〃I　know；〃　Mason　said　sympathetically。　〃They　told　you　that　they　wanted　to　clear　you　so　you　could　go　home　and　go　to　bed；　that　if　you'd　only　tell　them　the　truth　they'd　investigate　it　and；　if　it　checked　out；　they'd　release　you　immediately；　that；　of　course；　if　you　refused　to　say　anything　that　was　your　privilege　but；　in　their　own　minds；　it　would　show　them　that　you　were　guilty　and　they'd　stop　trying　to　clear　you。　In　that　event　they'd　go　home　and　go　to　bed　and　leave　you　in　jail。〃
　Her　eyes　widened　with　surprise。　〃How　did　you　know　what　they　said？〃　she　asked。
　Mason　merely　smiled。　〃What　did　you　tell　them；　Virginia？〃
　〃I　told　them　everything。〃
　Mason　said；　〃Hamilton　Burger；　the　district　attorney；　and　Lieutenant　Tragg　told　me　they　wanted　me　here　this　morning；　that　they　were　going　to　ask　you　some　questions　that　they　thought　I　should　hear。　Now；　that　means　something　pretty　devastating。　They　evidently　have　some　unpleasant　surprises　for　you。
　〃It　also　means　that　you　finally　told　them　you　wanted　to　get　in　touch　with　me　and　they　then　plied　with　the　law　by　putting　through　a　call　to　my　office。〃
　〃That's　exactly　what　happened；〃　she　said。　〃I　told　them　everything　last　night　because　they　said　they'd　investigate　and；　if　I　was　telling　the　truth；　I　could　go　home　and　go　to　bed。
　〃Right　after　I'd　told　them　everything；　they　simply　got　up　and　said；　'Well；　Virginia；　we'll　investigate；'　and　started　to　walk　out。
　〃I　told　them　that　they　said　I　could　go　home　and　go　to　bed；　and　they　said；　Why；　of　course　I　could；　but　not　tonight。　It　would　be　the　next　night…that　it　would　take　a　day　to　investigate。〃
　〃Then　what？〃
　〃I　didn't　sleep　hardly　a　wink…being　behind　bars　for　the　second　time…Mr。　Mason；　what　is　the　matter？〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　Mason　told　her；　〃but　a　great　deal　depends