erlestanleygardner.thecaseofthehorrifiedheirs-第2章

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　〃There's　been　some　baggage　trouble；〃　the　man　said　to　Virginia　Baxter。　〃This　is　your　suitcase？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃You're　sure　of　it？〃
　〃Of　course。　That's　my　suitcase　and　overnight　bag　and　I　gave　the　checks　for　them　to　the　porter。〃
　〃Could　you　describe　the　contents　of　the　suitcase？〃
　〃Why；　certainly。〃
　〃Will　you　please　do　so？〃
　〃Well；　on　top　there's　a　three…quarter…length　beige　coat　with　a　brown　fur　collar；　there's　a　checked　skirt　and…〃
　〃That　will　give　us　enough　of　a　description　to　make　sure；〃　the　man　said。　〃Would　you　mind　opening　it　up　just　so　I　can　look　inside？〃
　Virginia　hesitated　for　a　moment；　then　said；　〃Well；　I　guess　it's　all　right。〃
　〃Is　it　locked？〃
　〃No；　I　just　have　it　closed。〃
　The　man　snapped　back　the　catches。
　The　porter　lowered　the　truck　so　the　suitcase　would　be　level。
　Virginia　raised　the　cover　and　then　recoiled　at　what　she　saw　on　the　inside。
　Her　three…quarter…length　coat　was　there；　neatly　folded；　just　as　she　had　left　it；　but　on　top　of　the　coat　were　several　transparent　plastic　containers　and　inside　these　containers；　neatly　wrapped；　an　assortment　of　small　packages。
　〃You　didn't　tell　me　about　these；〃　the　man　said。　〃What　are　they？〃
　〃I　。　。　。　I　don't　know。　I　never　saw　them　before　in　my　life。〃
　As　though　at　a　signal；　a　man　with　a　press　camera　and　a　flash　gun　materialized　from　behind　one　of　the　pillars。
　While　Virginia　was　still　trying　to　pose　herself；　the　camera　was　thrust　up　into　her　face　and　her　eyes　were　blinded　by　a　brilliant　flash　of　light。
　The　man；　working　with　swift　efficiency；　ejected　the　bulb　from　the　flash　gun；　inserted　another　bulb；　pulled　a　slide　back　and　forth　on　the　back　of　the　camera；　and　took　another　picture　of　the　open　suitcase。
　The　porter　had　backed　hastily　away　so　that　he　was　not　included　in　the　pictures。
　The　officer　said；　〃I'm　afraid；　madam；　you're　going　to　have　to　e　with　me。〃
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　〃I'll　explain　it；〃　the　officer　said。　〃Your　name　is　Virginia　Baxter？〃
　〃Yes。　Why？〃
　〃We've　had　a　tip　on　you；〃　the　officer　said。　〃We　were　told　that　you　traffick　in　narcotics。〃
　The　photographer　took　one　more　picture；　then　turned　and　scurried　away。
　Virginia　said　to　the　officer；　〃Why；　of　course；　I'll　e　with　you；　if　you're　going　to　try　to　clear　this　up。　I　haven't　the　faintest　idea　of　how　that　stuff　got　in　my　suitcase。〃
　〃I　see；〃　the　officer　said；　gravely。　〃You'll　have　to　e　to　headquarters；　I'm　afraid。　We'll　have　that　stuff　analyzed　and　see　exactly　what　it　is。〃
　〃And　if　it　should　turn　out　to　be…narcotics？〃
　〃Then　we'll　have　to　book　you。〃
　〃But　that's…that's　crazy！〃
　〃Bring　the　bags　this　way；〃　the　officer　said　to　the　porter；　closing　the　suitcase。
　He　opened　the　overnight　bag；　disclosing　jars　of　cream；　a　manicure　set；　a　negligee；　some　bottles　of　lotion。
　〃Okay；〃　he　said。　〃This　is　all　right；　I　guess；　but　we'll　have　to　look　in　these　jars　and　bottles。　We'll　just　take　both　bags　along　with　us。〃
　He　escorted　Virginia　to　a　plain　black　sedan；　had　the　porter　hoist　the　suitcase　and　overnight　bag　into　the　rear　seat；　put　Virginia　in　the　seat　behind　him　and　started　the　motor。
　〃You're　going　to　headquarters？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　Virginia　noticed　then　that　there　was　a　police　radio　on　the　car。　The　officer　picked　up　the　microphone　and　said；　〃Special　Officer　Jack　Andrews　leaving　the　airport　with　a　female　suspect　and　a　suitcase　containing　suspicious　material　to　be　checked。　Time　is　10：17　A。M。〃
　The　officer　replaced　the　microphone　on　a　hook；　pulled　away　from　the　curb；　and　guided　the　car　expertly　and　swiftly　in　the　direction　of　headquarters。
　There　Virginia　was　placed　in　charge　of　a　policewoman　and　kept　waiting　for　around　fifteen　minutes；　then　an　officer　delivered　a　folded　paper　to　the　policewoman。　She　looked　at　it　and　said；　〃This　way；　please。〃
　Virginia　followed　her　to　a　desk。　〃Your　right　hand；　please。〃
　The　policewoman　took　Virginia's　right　hand　before　she　realized　what　was　happening；　then　grasping　the　thumb　firmly；　rolled　it　over　a　big　pad　and　placed　it　on　a　piece　of　paper；　rolling　out　a　fingerprint。
　〃Now；　the　next　finger；〃　she　said。
　〃You　can't　fingerprint　me；〃　Virginia　said；　pulling　back。　〃Why；　I…〃
　The　grip　on　the　finger　tightened。　〃Now；　just　don't　make　it　hard　on　yourself；〃　the　policewoman　said。　〃The　index　finger；　please。〃
　〃I　refuse！　Good　heavens；　what　have　I　done？〃　Virginia　asked。　〃I…Why；　this　is　a　nightmare。〃
　〃You're　privileged　to　make　a　telephone　call；〃　the　woman　said。　〃You　can　call　an　attorney；　if　you　wish。〃
　The　words　clicked　in　Virginia's　mind。
　〃Where　is　a　telephone　directory？〃　she　asked。　〃I　want　the　office　of　Perry　Mason。〃
　A　few　moments　later；　Virginia　had　Della　Street；　Perry　Mason's　confidential　secretary；　on　the　line。
　〃May　I　speak　with　Perry　Mason；　please？〃
　〃You'll　have　to　tell　me　what　it's　about；〃　Della　Street　said；　〃perhaps　I　can　help　you。〃
　〃I'm　Virginia　Baxter；〃　she　said。　〃I　worked　for　Delano　Bannock；　the　attorney；　during　his　lifetime　and　up　to　his　death　a　couple　of　years　ago。　I've　seen　Mr。　Mason　two　or　three　times。　He　came　to　Mr。　Bannock's　office。　He　may　remember　me；　I　was　the　secretary　and　receptionist。〃
　〃I　see；〃　Della　said。　〃What　is　the　present　problem；　Miss　Baxter？〃
　〃I'm　arrested　for　having　narcotics　in　my　possession；〃　she　said；　〃and　I　haven't　the　faintest　idea　of　how　they　got　there。　I　need　Mr。　Mason　at　once。〃
　〃Just　a　minute；〃　Della　said。
　A　moment　later；　Perry　Mason's　deep　but　well…modulated　voice　was　on　the　line。　〃Where　are　you；　Miss　Baxter？〃
　〃I'm　at　headquarters。〃
　〃Tell　them　to　hold　you　right　there；　if　they　will；　please；〃　Mason　said。　〃I'm　on　my　way。〃
　〃Oh；　thank　you。　Thank　you　so　much。　I　。　。　。　I　just　haven't　any　idea　how　this　happened　and…〃
　〃Never　mind　trying　to　explain　over　the　telephone；〃　Mason　told　her。　〃Don't　say　anything　to　anyone　except　to　tell　them　to　hold　you　right　there；　that　I'm　on　my　way。　How　are　you　fixed　for　bail？　Could　you　put　up　bail？〃
　〃I　。　。　。　if　it　isn't　too　high。　I　have　a　little　property；　not　much。〃
　〃I'm　on　my　way　up；〃　Mason　said。　〃I　want　to　demand　that　you　be　taken　before　the　nearest　and　most　accessible　magistrate　immediately。　Just　sit　tight。〃
　
　CHAPTER　FOUR
　Perry　Mason　invaded　Virginia　Baxter's　nightmare　and　tore　aside　the　web　of　unreality　and　terror。
　〃The　magistrate　has　fixed　bail　at　five　thousand　dollars；〃　Mason　said。　〃Can　you　raise　that？〃
　〃I'd　have　to　draw　out　all　of　my　checking　account　and　withdraw　money　from　the　building　and　loan。〃
　〃That　would　be　better　than　waiting　in　jail；〃　Mason　pointed　out。　〃Now　then；　I　want　to　know　exactly　what　happened。〃
　Virginia　told　him　the　events　of　the　morning。
　〃You　were　on　the　plane；　ing　from　where？〃
　〃From　San　Francisco。〃
　〃What　had　you　been　doing　in　San　Francisco？〃
　〃I　was　visiting　my　aunt。　I've　been　to　see　her　several　times　lately。　She's　elderly；　not　at　all　well　and　she's　all　alone。　She　likes　my　visits。〃
　〃What　are　you　doing？　Are　you　working　for　a　living？〃
　〃Not　steadily。　I　haven't　been　regularly　employed　since　Mr。　Bannock　died。　I　have　taken　a　few　odd　jobs。〃
　〃I　take　it；　then；　you　have　some　ine？〃　Mason　asked。
　〃Yes；〃　she　said。　〃Mr。　Bannock　had　no　relatives；　other　than　the　one　brother。　He　remembered　me　in　his　will。　He　gave　me　a　piece　of　real　property　in　Hollywood　that　produces　an　ine　and…〃
　〃How　long　had　you　been　with　Bannock？〃
　〃Fifteen　years；〃　she　said。　〃I　started　working　for　him　when　I　was　twenty。〃
　〃You've　been　married？〃
　〃Yes；　once。　It　didn't　take。〃
　〃Divorced？〃
　〃No。　We're　separated；　have　been　for　some　time。〃
　〃Friendly　with　your　husband？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃What's　his　name？〃
　〃Colton　Baxter。〃
　〃You　go　by　the　title　'Miss'？〃
　〃Yes。　I　think　it　helps　in　secretarial　employment。〃
　〃Now；　you'd　been　to　see　your　aunt。　You　got　aboard　that　plane。　What　about　the　baggage？　Anything　unusual　about　the　checking　of　the　baggage？〃
　〃No…Wait　a　minute；　I　had　to　pay　excess　baggage。〃
　Mason's　eyes　showed　swift　interest。　〃You　paid　excess　baggage？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Do　you　have　your　receipt？〃
　〃It's　attached　to　my　ticket。　That's　in　my　purse。　They　took　my　purse　away　from　me　when　I　was　booked。〃
　〃We'll　get　it　back；〃　Mason　said。　〃Now　then；　you　were　traveling　alone？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Remember　anything　about　the　person　you　were　seated　next　to？〃
　〃He　was　a　man　of　about　thirty…two　or　thirty…three；　rather　well…dressed　but…Well；　now　that　I　stop　to　think　of　it；　he　was　。　。　。　well；　there　was　something　peculiar　about　him。　He　was　cold；　rather　crisp　in　his　manner；　not　like　the　ordinary　passenger　you　encounter　on　those　trips。　It's　hard　to　explain　what　I　mean。〃
　〃Would　you　know　him　if　you　saw　him　again？〃　Mason　asked。
　〃Yes；　indeed。〃
　〃Could　you　identify　him　from　a　photograph？〃
　〃I　think　so；　if　it's　a　clear　photograph。〃
　〃You　only　had　the　one　suitcase？〃　Mason　asked。
　〃No；　I　had　a　suitcase　and　an　overnight　bag；　an　oblong　bag　containing　cosmetics。〃
　〃What　became　of　that？〃
　〃They　took　it。　The　suitcase　came　through　first。　The　porter　picked　it　up　and　then　picked　up　the　overnight　bag。　At　that　moment；　a　man　stepped　forward　and　showed　me　his　identification　card　and　asked　me　if　I　had　any　objections　to　his　taking　a　quick　look　in　my　suitcase　because　there　had　been　some　trouble。　Since　my　baggage　had　been　delayed　ing　off　the　plane；　I　thought　that　was　what　he　referred　to。〃
　〃What　did　you　tell　him？〃
　〃I　told　him　what　was　in　the　suitcase　and　that　it　was　all　right　for　him　to　look。〃
　〃Can　you　remember　anything　more　about　the　conversation？〃
　〃Yes。　He　asked　me　first　if　that　was　my　suitcase；　and　I　told　him　it　was；　and　he　asked　me　if　I　could　establish　my　ownership　by　identifying　the　contents。　Then　I　described　the　contents；　and　he　asked　if　it　was　all　right　to　check。〃
　Mason　frowned　thoughtfully；　then　said；　almost　casually；　〃Your　baggage；　that　is；　the　two　pieces　together　weighed　more　than　forty　pounds？〃
　〃Yes。　They　weighed　forty…six　pounds　taken　together；　and　I　paid　excess　baggage　on　the　six　pounds。〃
　〃I　see；〃　Mason　said　thoughtfully。　〃You're　going　to　have　to　exercise　a　lot　of　self…control；　and　you're　in　for　a　disagreeable　experience；　but　perhaps　we　can　work　things　out　one　way　or　another。〃
　〃What　I　can't　understand；〃　she　said；　〃is　where　the　stuff　came　from　and　how　it　could　have　been　placed　in　my　suitcase。　Of　course；　it　was　late　ing　off　the　plane；　but　one　wouldn't　think　anyone　could　tamper　with　it　out　there　on　the　field　going　from　the　plane　to　the　baggage　counter。〃
　〃There　were　several　places　it　could　have　been　tampered　with；〃　Mason　said。　〃After　you　checked　the　suitcase　and　before　it　was　put　on　the　plane；　someone　could　have　opened　it。
　〃We　don't　know　where　it　was　stored　aboard　the　plane　in　the　baggage　partment。　We　don't　know　whether　anyone　could　have　tampered　with　it　in　there。
　〃Then；　of　course；　when　it　was　taken　off　the　plane；　there　was　this　delay。　That　means　that　the　suitcase　was　probably　placed　on　the　ground；　waiting　for　another　truck　to　e　along　to　pick　it　up。　Now；　the　way　those　planes　are　built；　the　baggage　es　out　on　the　other　side　from　the　side　which　has　the　passenger　entrance。　While　the　suitcase　was　there　on　the　ground；　it　wouldn't　have　been　too　difficult　for　someone　to　have　opened　it　and　inserted　these　packages　of　narcotics。〃
　〃But　why？〃　she　asked。
　〃There；〃　Mason　said；　〃is　the　rub。　Presumably　someone　was　trafficking　in　narcotics。　He　knew　there'd　been　a　tip…off　and　his　baggage　was　going　to　be　searched；　s