erlestanleygardner.thecaseofthehorrifiedheirs-第17章

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　〃I　don't　know；〃　Mason　told　her；　〃but　a　great　deal　depends　on　whether　you've　told　me　the　truth　or　whether　you're　lying。〃
　〃Why　should　I　lie　to　you？〃
　〃I　don't　know；〃　Mason　said；　〃but　you've　certainly　been　mixed　up　in　some　bizarre　adventures；　if　one　believes　your　story。〃
　〃And　suppose　one　doesn't　believe　it？〃
　〃Well；〃　Mason　said；　〃I'm　afraid　the　district　attorney　and　Lieutenant　Tragg　of　the　Homicide　Squad　are　two　people　who　don't　believe　you。〃
　〃Would　you　expect　them　to？〃
　〃Sometimes　they　believe　people；〃　Mason　said。　〃They're　actually　trying　to　do　a　job。　They're　trying　to　do　justice　but　of　course　they　don't　like　to　have　unsolved　homicides。〃
　〃What　about　the　homicide？〃　she　asked。
　Mason　said；　〃George　Eagan；　the　chauffeur；　was　driving　Lauretta　Trent　down　the　coast　highway。　They　were　ing　south　from　Ventura。
　〃Mrs。　Trent　told　the　chauffeur　that　she'd　tell　him　where　to　turn　off；　that　they　were　going　to　a　motel　up　in　the　mountains。
　〃They　approached　the　turnoff　leading　up　to　the　motel　where　you　were　waiting。　So　far　the　facts　seem　to　indicate　that　Lauretta　Trent　was　the　one　who　telephoned　you　and　asked　you　to　wait　for　her　there。〃
　〃She　did；　Mr。　Mason。　She　did。　I　told　you…〃
　〃You　don't　know；〃　Mason　interrupted。　〃All　you　know　is　that　a　feminine　voice　told　you　that　it　was　Lauretta　Trent　speaking　and　you　were　to　go　up　there　and　wait　at　the　motel。
　〃Anyway；　just　as　the　chauffeur　was　preparing　to　make　the　left　turn；　a　car　came　up　behind　him　fast。　He　swung　to　the　right　of　the　road　so　as　to　let　the　second　car　get　by。　However；　that　car　swung　over　and　crowded　the　Trent　car　right　off　the　road　and　over　the　edge。
　〃There　was　an　angry　surf；　and　the　chauffeur；　George　Eagan；　knew　there　was　deep　water　down　there。　He　yelled　to　Mrs。　Trent　to　jump　and　he　flung　the　car　door　open　and　jumped　himself。　He　apparently　hit　his　head　on　a　rock。　In　any　event　he　was　unconscious　for　some　period　of　time。
　〃When　he　came　to；　there　was　no　sign　of　the　Trent　automobile。　The　highway　patrol　was　there。　The　highway　police　got　a　tow　car；　sent　down　divers　and　located　the　Trent　car。　They　got　grappling　hooks　on　it；　used　a　winch；　brought　it　to　the　surface。　There　was　no　sign　of　Mrs。　Trent；　but　the　door　on　the　left…hand；　rear　side　of　the　car　was　unlocked　and　open。　Evidently　she　had　opened　that　door　before　the　car　went　over　the　grade　and　rolled　into　the　surf。
　〃They　may　never　recover　her　body。　There　are　treacherous　currents　there　and　a　terrific　undertow。　Skin　divers　who　went　down　there　looking　around　had　a　hard　time　wrestling　with　the　currents。　A　body　could　have　been　carried　out　to　sea　or　swept　down　the　coast。　There's　a　terrific　riptide　at　that　point。〃
　〃But　why　pick　on　me？〃
　〃The　chauffeur　got　a　quick　look　at　the　rear　end　of　the　car　that　hit　him。　The　description　matches　your　car。　A　man　who　was　two　cars　behind　got　a　look　at　the　last　two　figures　on　the　license　plate　and　they're　the　same　as　yours。〃
　〃But　I　didn't　leave　the　motel；〃　she　said。
　Mason　said；　〃They　picked　up　some　glass　at　the　place　where　the　car　had　been　crowded　over　the　road。　There　were　fragments　of　a　glass　headlight。　Then　the　police　went　up　to　the　motel　where　I　ran　into　you　with　my　car　and　examined　the　glass　up　there。　They　found　a　piece　that　had　broken　out　of　your　headlight。　The　broken　piece　fits　exactly　into　the　lens　on　your　headlight。　Then　the　broken　piece　of　glass　that　they　found　down　where　Lauretta　Trent　was　crowded　off　the　road　also　fits　into　the　piece　of　glass　that　came　out　of　that　same　headlight。　By　putting　the　whole　thing　together；　they　have　patched　up　the　glass　fragments　like　a　jigsaw　puzzle　and　have　virtually　everything。　There　is　only　one　small；　triangular　piece　of　glass　that　is　missing。〃
　〃But　that　chauffeur；〃　Virginia　Baxter　said；　〃why　should　they　believe　him　when　he　did　all　those　things？〃
　〃That；〃　Mason　said；　〃is　something　I　don't　understand　myself。　You　told　them　about　the　chauffeur？〃
　〃Of　course。〃
　〃About　his　wanting　to　bribe　you　to　forge　a　copy　of　the　will？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃And　about　the　way　you　made　the　carbon　copies　and　mailed　them　to　yourself？〃
　〃Yes。　I　told　them　everything；　Mr。　Mason。　I　realize　now　that　I　shouldn't　have；　but　once　I　started　talking…well；　I　was　just　。　。　。　I　was　just　scared　stiff。　I　wanted　so　desperately　to　convince　them　and　have　them　turn　me　loose。〃
　Abruptly；　the　door　opened。　District　Attorney　Hamilton　Burger；　acpanied　by　Lieutenant　Tragg；　entered　the　room。
　〃Good　morning；　Virginia；〃　Hamilton　Burger　said。
　He　turned　to　Perry　Mason。　〃Hi；　Perry。　How's　everything　this　morning？〃
　〃How　are　you；　Hamilton？〃　Mason　said。　〃You　going　to　turn　my　client　loose？〃
　〃I'm　afraid　not；〃　Burger　said。
　〃Why　not？〃
　〃She　told　us　quite　a　story　about　George　Eagan；　the　chauffeur　for　Lauretta　Trent；〃　Hamilton　Burger　said。　〃It　was　a　nice　story；　but　we　don't　believe　it。
　〃Lauretta　Trent's　relatives　told　us　quite　a　story　about　the　chauffeur。　It's　a　plausible　story　but　it　doesn't　check　out　in　some　details。　We're　beginning　to　think　that　your　client　may　be　tied　in　with　Lauretta　Trent's　relatives；　trying　to　discredit　Eagan　and　obscure　the　issues；　incidentally；　covering　up　attempts　they　have　made　at　mitting　murder…a　murder　which　was　actually　consummated　by　your　client。〃
　〃Why；　that's　absurd；〃　Virginia　exclaimed。　〃I　never　met　Lauretta　Trent's　relatives　in　my　life。〃
　〃Perhaps；〃　Mason　said；　〃if　you　wouldn't　be　so　hypnotized　by　an　act　put　on　by　that　chauffeur；　you　might　have　a　clearer　understanding　of　the　situation。〃
　〃Well；　we'll　see　about　that；〃　Burger　said。
　He　stepped　to　the　door；　opened　it　and　said　to　someone　outside；　〃e　in。〃
　The　man　who　entered　was　in　his　forties。　He　had　a　shock　of　coal…black　hair；　dark　plexion；　high　cheekbones；　and　intense　black　eyes。
　He　shifted　his　eyes　from　Hamilton　Burger　to　look　directly　at　Virginia　Baxter；　then　shook　his　head　emphatically。
　〃Have　you　ever　seen　this　young　woman　before？〃　Burger　asked　the　man。
　〃No；〃　he　said；　shortly。
　〃There　you　are；〃　Burger　said；　turning　to　Virginia。
　〃Well；　that's　nothing；〃　she　said。　〃I've　never　seen　him　before　either。　He　looks　in　a　general　way　like　the　Trent　chauffeur；　but　he's　not　the　man　who　called　on　me。〃
　〃This；〃　Lieutenant　Tragg　announced　dryly；　〃is　George　Eagan；　the　chauffeur　for　Lauretta　Trent。　。　。　。　That's　all；　George；　you　may　go　now。〃
　He　turned　to　Mason　and　said；　〃George　hit　his　head　when　he　tumbled　out　of　that　automobile。　He　was　unconscious　for　an　undetermined　length　of　time。〃
　〃Now；　just　a　minute；〃　Mason　said。　〃Just　a　minute。　Don't　pull　that　stuff　with　me。　If　he's　able　to　be　out　walking　around　and　e　here　to　identify；　or　fail　to　identify；　my　client；　he　can　answer　a　question。〃
　〃He　doesn't　have　to；〃　Hamilton　Burger　said。
　Mason　ignored　the　district　attorney's　ment；　said　to　the　chauffeur；　〃You　have　a　private　automobile。　It's　an　Olds　and　the　license　number　is　ODT062。〃
　Eagan　looked　at　Mason　with　surprise。　〃That's　my　license　number；〃　he　said；　〃but　it　isn't　an　Olds；　it's　a　Cadillac。〃
　〃You　were　driving　your　automobile　day　before　yesterday？〃　Mason　asked。
　Eagan　looked　at　him　with　a　puzzled　expression　on　his　face；　then　slowly　shook　his　head。　〃I　was　chauffeuring　Mrs。　Trent。　We　drove　up　to　Fresno。〃
　Burger　said；　〃That's　all；　George。　You　don't　need　to　answer　any　more　questions。〃
　The　chauffeur　walked　out。
　Hamilton　Burger　turned　to　Mason　and　gave　an　expressive　shrug　of　the　shoulders；　〃There　you　are；〃　he　said。　〃If　any　attempt　has　been　made　to　frame　anyone；　it's　an　attempt　to　frame　this　chauffeur。　You'd　better　check　the　story　of　your　client　a　little　bit　yourself。
　〃We'll　arraign　her　at　eleven　o'clock　this　morning　if　that　meets　with　your　convenience；　and　we'll　have　her　preliminary　hearing　at　any　time　you　suggest。　We　want　to　give　you　ample　opportunity　to　prepare。〃
　〃That's　very　nice　of　you；〃　Mason　said；　〃under　the　circumstances。　We'll　have　a　preliminary　just　as　soon　as　the　judge　can　get　it　on　the　calendar…tomorrow　morning；　if　possible。〃
　Burger's　smile　was　frosty。　〃You　may　catch　us　unprepared　on　some　points；　Perry；　but　you　won't　catch　us　with　our　wearing　apparel　disarranged。　This　is　one　case　where　you're　on　the　wrong　end。　Your　client　is　a　shrewd；　scheming　opportunist。
　〃I　don't　know　yet　who　she's　teamed　up　with。　I　don't　know　who　administered　the　poison　to　Lauretta　Trent；　but　I　do　know　that　it　was　your　client's　car　that　crowded　her　off　the　road；　and　your　client　has　told　enough　lies　to　make　her　exceedingly　vulnerable。
　〃At　least　we'll　get　her　bound　over　while　we're　looking　for　the　other　conspirator。
　〃And　now；　we'll　leave　you　alone　with　your　client。〃
　Burger　nodded　to　Lieutenant　Tragg；　and　the　pair　walked　out；　closing　the　door　behind　them。
　Mason　turned　to　Virginia　Baxter。
　She　said；　〃There's　been　a　horrible　mistake　somewhere；　Mr。　Mason。　That　man　has　the　general　physical　characteristics　of　the　chauffeur…I　mean；　the　man　I　talked　with；　the　one　who　gave　me　the　name　of　Menard。　。　。　。　Of　course；　you　were　the　one　who　told　me　he　was　Lauretta　Trent's　chauffeur。〃
　〃That；〃　Mason　said；　〃was　on　the　strength　of　the　physical　description　plus　the　license　number　of　the　automobile　he　was　driving。　You're　sure　it　was　an　Oldsmobile？〃
　〃Yes。　It　wasn't　a　new　Olds　but　I　certainly　thought　that's　what　it　was。　。　。　。　Of　course；　I　could　have　made　a　mistake　in　the　license　number；　that　is；　I　could　have　been　wrong　on　the　last　or　something　like　that；　but　the　first　figure　was　a　zero。〃
　Mason　shook　his　head；　〃No；　Virginia；　that　would　be　too　much　of　a　coincidence。　But　you　could　have　been　victimized　by　someone　who　inveigled　you　into　doing　his　dirty　work　for　him。　Suppose　you　try　telling　me　the　truth　for　a　change。〃
　〃But　I　have　told　you　the　truth。〃
　〃_I'll_　tell　you　something；〃　Mason　said。　〃If　you　insist　on　telling　that　story；　you're　going　to　be　bound　over　for　trial　on　a　charge　of　murder；　and　if　someone　is　using　you　as　a　cat'spaw　and　you　don't　give　me　an　opportunity　to　get　you　into　the　clear　by　telling　me　exactly　what　happened；　you're　in　very；　very　serious　trouble。〃
　She　shook　her　head。
　〃Well？〃　Mason　asked。
　She　hesitated　a　moment。
　〃I've　told　you　the　truth；〃　she　said　at　length。
　Mason　said；　〃If　it's　the　truth；　someone　with　a　diabolically　clever　mind　has　carefully　inveigled　you　into　a　trap。〃
　〃It's　。　。　。　it's　the　truth；〃　she　said。
　Mason　said；　〃I'm　your　attorney。　If　you　nsist　that　a　story　is　the　truth；　no　matter　how　weird　or　bizarre　it　sounds；　I　have　to　believe　you　and　not　show　the　slightest　doubt　when　we　get　to　court。〃
　〃But　you　don't　really　believe　me？〃　she　asked。
　Mason　regarded　her　thoughtfully。　〃If　you　were　on　a　jury　and　a　defendant　told　a　story　like　that；　would　you　believe　her？〃
　Virginia　Baxter　started　to　cry。
　〃Would　you？〃　Mason　asked。
　〃No；〃　she　sobbed；　〃it　sounds　too　。　。　。　too…just　too　much　of　a　series　of　improbable　things。〃
　〃Exactly；〃　Mason　said。　〃Now　then；　you　have　one　defense　and　only　one　defense。　Either　tell　me　the　absolute　truth　and　let　me　take　it　from　there；　or　stay　with　this　improbable　story。　If　you　do　that；　I'm　going　to　have　to　adopt　the　position　that　some　shrewd；　diabolically　clever　individual　is　deliberately　framing　you　for　murder。　And　the　way　events　have　been　taking　place；　he's　very　apt　indeed　to　have　you　convicted。〃
　She　looked　at　him　with　tearstained　eyes。
　〃Of　course；　you　realize　my　predicament；〃　Mason　said。　〃Once　I　adopt　the　position　that　you're　being　framed；　if　even　the　slightest　part　of　your　story　turns　out　to　be　false；