erlestanleygardner.thecaseofthehorrifiedheirs-第25章

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　Tragg　slipped　a　leather　container　from　his　pocket；　held　it　where　the　man　could　see　it。
　The　man　said；　〃Look　up　and　down　the　corridor。　Anybody　there？〃
　〃Not　now；〃　Mason　said；　〃but　a　couple　of　torpedoes　came　up　a　few　minutes　ago。　They　started　down　to　your　room　and　then　turned　back　when　they　saw　I　was　a　witness。〃
　Shaking　hands　fumbled　with　the　chain　on　the　catch　on　the　door。
　The　door　opened。
　〃e　in；　e　in；〃　Fisk　said。
　The　little　group　walked　into　the　room…a　bedraggled　place　with　a　cheap；　sagging　bed；　a　paper…thin　carpet　in　which　holes　had　been　worn　in　front　of　the　cheap；　pine　dresser；　its　wavy　mirror　distorting　reflections。
　There　was　one　cushioned　chair；　one　cane…bottomed；　straight…backed　chair。
　Fisk　said；　〃What　is　it？　You　fellows　have　got　to　give　me　protection。〃
　Mason　said；　〃What　was　the　idea　of　framing　Virginia　Baxter　on　that　dope；　and　why　did　you　go　to　the　Saint's　Rest　and　take　her　car？〃
　〃Who　are　you？〃　Fisk　asked。
　〃I'm　her　lawyer。〃
　〃Well；　I　don't　need　your　type　of　mouthpiece。〃
　〃I'm　not　a　mouthpiece；〃　Mason　told　him。　〃I'm　a　lawyer。　And　here；　my　friend；　is　a　subpoena　for　you　to　appear　in　court　tomorrow　and　testify　as　a　witness　in　the　case　of　Peopie　versus　Baxter。〃
　〃Say；　what　kind　of　a　dodge　are　you　pulling　on　me？〃　Tnagg　asked。　〃Getting　me　down　here　just　so　you　could　serve　a　subpoena。〃
　〃That's　all；〃　Mason　told　him　cheerfully；　〃unless　you　want　to　use　your　head。　If　you　do；　you　can　cover　yourself　with　glory。〃
　〃You　can't　serve　me　with　any　subpoena；〃　Fisk　said。　〃I　only　opened　the　door　for　the　law。〃
　〃How　e　your　fingerprints　are　all　over　Virginia　Baxter's　car？〃　Mason　asked。
　〃Phooey；　you　won't　find　a　fingerprint　on　the　thing。〃
　〃And；〃　Mason　said；　〃when　the　officers　went　to　Virginia　Baxter's　apartment　to　search　it　on　the　strength　of　your　representation　that　there　was　dope　hidden　there；　you　managed　to　fix　the　door　so　you　could　get　back　in　with　the　person　who　did　the　typewriting　on　Virginia's　typewriter。〃
　〃Words；　words；　words；〃　Fisk　said。　〃I　get　so　tired　of　having　people　try　to　frame　things　on　me。　Listen；　lawyer；　I've　been　worked　over　by　experts。　You　amateurs　don't　stand　a　chance。〃
　〃You　wore　gloves　in　handling　Virginia　Baxter's　car；〃　Mason　said；　〃but　you　didn't　have　gloves　on　in　the　Saint's　Rest　Motel。　Your　fingerprints　are　all　over　the　room。〃
　〃So　what？　Sure；　I　admit　I　was　at　the　Saint's　Rest　Motel。〃
　〃And　registered　under　an　assumed　name。〃
　〃Lots　of　people　do　that。〃
　〃And　gave　a　phony　license　number。〃
　〃I　wrote　it　down　according　to　the　best　way　I　could　remember　it。〃
　Mason；　looking　at　the　man；　said　suddenly；　〃Good　heavens；　no　wonder！　There's　a　family　resemblance。　What's　your　relationship　to　George　Eagan？〃
　For　a　moment　the　black　eyes　looked　at　Mason　with　cold　defiance。
　〃That；〃　Mason　said；　〃is　something　we　can　check。〃
　Fisk　seemed　to　grow　smaller　inside　of　his　coat；　〃All　right；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　his　half…brother。　I'm　the　black　sheep　of　the　family。〃
　〃And；〃　Mason　said；　〃you　switched　license　numbers　with　Eagan's　automobile　and　of　course　Eagan　didn't　notice…that　was　just　in　case　anyone　tried　to　identify　you　through　the　license　number。〃
　〃Got　any　proof？〃　Fisk　asked。
　〃I　don't　need　it；〃　Mason　said。　〃By　the　time　I　put　you　on　the　witness　stand　tomorrow　and　the　newspapers　publish　your　picture　and　the　history　of　your　activities　as　a　stool　pigeon　and　double…crosser；　the　underworld　will　take　care　of　you　a　lot　better　than　I　can。　e　on；　folks；　let's　go。〃
　Mason　turned　and　started　to　the　door。
　For　a　long　moment　Fisk　stood　there；　then　he　grabbed　Mason's　coat　sleeve。　〃No；　no！　Now；　look；　look；　we　can　square　this　thing。〃
　He　turned　from　Mason　to　Lieutenant　Tragg。　〃I've　given　you　folks　the　breaks；〃　he　said。　〃You　folks　can　help　me　out。　Get　this　mouthpiece　off　my　neck。　Get　me　out　of　town。〃
　Tragg；　studying　the　man　intently；　said；　〃You　tell　us　the　whole　story　and　we'll　see　what　we　can　do。　But　we're　not　buying　anything　blindfolded。〃
　Fisk　said；　〃Look；　I've　been　in　trouble；　lots　of　trouble；　lots　of　times　in　trouble。　George　had　to　get　me　out　of　it　once　when　I　was　in　bad　trouble。〃
　〃Who's　George？〃　Tragg　asked。
　〃George　Eagan；　Lauretta　Trent's　chauffeur。〃
　Mason　and　Tragg　exchanged　glances；　then　Tragg　turned　to　Fisk　and　said；　〃All　right；　e　on；　what　happened？〃
　〃Well；　I　lost　out　with　the　police　and　lost　all　my　connections　and　I　was　up　against　it。　That　was　when　this　woman　came　to　me　who　had　helped　out　before。〃
　〃What　woman？〃
　〃The　nurse；　Anna　Fritch。　I'd　dated　her　once　or　twice　and　I'd　furnished　her　with　dope　over　a　period　of　years。〃
　〃Go　on；〃　Tragg　said。
　〃She　was　teamed　up　with　Kelvin。　Kelvin　thought　he　was　going　to　get　the　bulk　of　the　Trent　estate…he　and　his　brother…in…law；　and　their　wives；　of　course。　So　he　got　this　nurse　to　hurry　the　old　gal　over　the　divide。
　〃They　made　three　passes　with　arsenic。　They　didn't　dare　to　kill　her　with　arsenic；　but　she　had　a　bad　pump　and　the　idea　was　that　all　the　upchucking　from　a　small　dose　would　make　the　pump　give　out。
　〃Then　while　the　old　dame　was　being　sick　the　last　time；　Kelvin　found　the　will。　He　damn　near　dropped　dead　from　the　shock。
　〃So　he　had　to　change　the　will。　They　tracked　down　the　lawyer's　typewriter。　The　nurse　was　a　good　typist。　If　she　had　plenty　of　time　she　swore　she　could　make　a　forgery　they'd　never　detect；　but　she　needed　the　lawyer's　typewriter　and　stationery。
　〃That　meant　they　wanted　not　only　to　get　Virginia　Baxter　discredited　so　she　couldn't　spill　their　apples　if　she　remembered　the　terms　of　the　real　will；　but　they　wanted　her　in　the　cooler。
　〃They　also　wanted　to　either　get　Bannock's　carbon　copy　of　the　real　will　or　else　scramble　things　so　no　one　could　ever　get　to　first　base　by　going　to　the　old　files…but　they　didn't　think　up　this　angle　until　later　when　I　raised　the　question。
　〃Anyhow；　first　thing　was　to　get　this　Baxter　woman　in　the　clink　and　get　her　convicted　of　a　dope　charge。
　〃Well；　I　did　what　I　was　supposed　to。　I　bribed　a　guy　to　let　me　out　to　the　plane　to　get　my　baggage　on　the　ground；　that　it　was　an　important　shipment。　I　spotted　the　broad's　bag　as　soon　as　it　came　off　the　plane；　then　said　I'd　lost　my　tags。　They　told　me　I　had　to　identify　the　contents；　so　I　got　the　suitcases　opened　and　then　said　I'd　made　a　mistake　and；　in　the　confusion；　managed　to　plant　the　stuff　I　was　to　put　in　the　suitcase。
　〃I　thought　that　was　all　I　was　going　to　have　to　do。
　〃But　that's　the　way　it　is　with　a　broad。　You　get　tangled　up　with　them　and　they're　always　on　your　neck。　So　I　had　to　take　this　girl's　automobile　and　wait　until　George　came　along　and　then　ram　the　car。　I　hated　to　do　it；　but　George　had　been　high…hatting　me　of　late　and…Well；　a　guy　has　to　live。〃
　〃All　right；〃　Tragg　said；　〃what　did　you　do？〃
　〃I　did　what　I　was　told　to；〃　Fisk　said；　trembling。　〃I　was　to　give　it　a　good　sideswipe。　I　didn't　know　it　was　going　out　of　control　and…I　thought　I　was　just　framing　a　hit…andrun。　。　。　。　Well；　that's　the　truth　and　now　I've　got　it　off　my　chest。〃
　〃That　was　Virginia　Baxter's　car　you　were　using？〃　Mason　asked。
　〃That's　right。　I　was　told　she'd　be　up　at　the　Saint's　Rest　and　given　the　license　number　of　her　automobile。　She　hadn't　much　more　than　got　into　her　room　and　got　settled　down　than　I　left　my　car　and　took　hers。　Then；　as　soon　as　I'd　done　the　job；　I　came　back　up　and　parked　her　car　and　took　mine。
　〃The　parking　stall　her　car　had　been　in　had　been　taken　by　somebody　else；　so　I　had　to　park　the　Baxter　car　in　a　new　stall。　I　was　told　to　be　awfully　careful　with　that　car；　to　give　the　Lauretta　Trent　car　a　shove　with　the　front　end　of　the　car；　but　to　hit　it　hard　with　the　back　end　so　the　Baxter　car　would　run　all　right。〃
　〃And　how　much　did　you　get　for　that？〃　Mason　asked。
　〃Promises。　I　was　hot。　I've　got　enemies　and　I've　got　to　get　where　they　can't　take　me　for　a　one…way　ride。　This　broad　promised　me　twenty…five　hundred；　and　she　gave　me　two　hundred　in　cash。　I　don't　know　how　you　found　out　about　me；　but　。　。　。　by　God；　if　you　put　me　on　a　witness　stand　and　the　newspapers　publish　this　stuff；　my　life　won't　be　worth　a　snap　of　my　fingers。　。　。　。　Hell；　they're　gunning　for　me　right　now。　。　。　。　You　said　there　were　two　torpedoes　that　came　up　the　stairs？〃
　Mason　nodded。
　Fisk　held　out　his　wrists。　〃Take　me　into　custody；　Lieutenant；〃　he　said。　〃Give　me　all　the　protection　you　can。　I　stand　a　chance　of　beating　a　rap；　but　you　can't　beat　the　big　boy's　torpedoes。〃
　〃Who's　the　big　boy？〃　Tragg　asked。
　Fisk；　shivering　with　apprehension；　said；　〃I've　never　ratted　on　him。　Always　the　little　guys　and　always　the　outsiders；　but　if　it　es　to　a　showdown　and　I　have　to；　I　have　to…Get　me　in　a　cell　where　I'm　by　myself；　give　me　protection　and　a　chance　to　take　it　on　the　lam　and　I'll　tell。〃
　Tragg　looked　at　Mason；　said；　〃Well；　it　seems　there's　butter　on　both　sides　of　your　bread。〃
　
　CHAPTER　TWENTY…THREE
　Mason；　Della　Street　and　Paul　Drake　returned　to　the　lawyer's　office　shortly　before　midnight。
　The　assistant　janitor　who　operated　the　elevator　after　hours　said；　〃There's　been　a　woman　trying　to　see　you；　Mr。　Mason；　says　it's　a　matter　of　great　importance。　I　told　her　that　you　said　you'd　be　back；　no　matter　how　late　it　was；　and　she　said　she'd　wait。〃
　〃Where　is　she？〃
　〃I　don't　know。　Walking　around　somewhere。　She's　been　back　four　or　five　times　and　asked　if　you'd　returned　yet。　I　told　her　'no；'　and　she　said　she'd　be　back。〃
　〃What　does　she　look　like？〃　Mason　asked。
　〃Rather　aristocratic…looking。　Sixty…odd。　Gray　hair。　Nice　clothes。　Quiet　voice…not　a　crook；　but　something　is　sure　worrying　her。〃
　〃All　right；〃　Mason　said。　〃I'll　be　up　in　the　office。　I'm　going　to　be　there　long　enough　for　Virginia　Baxter　to　join　me；　then　we're　calling　it　a　day。〃
　〃And　what　a　day！〃　Paul　Drake　said。
　〃Virginia　Baxter！〃　the　elevator　operator　said。　〃You　mean　the　girl　they're　trying　for　murder？〃
　〃She's　being　released；〃　Mason　said。　〃Lieutenant　Tragg's　delivering　her　here　in　a　police　car。〃
　〃Well；　what　do　you　know？〃　the　operator　said；　appraising　Mason　wonderingly。　〃You　got　her　out；　eh？〃
　〃_We_　got　her　out；〃　Mason　said；　grinning。　〃Let's　go。〃
　The　elevator　shot　up　to　Mason's　floor。
　Drake　said；　〃Okay；　I'll　duck　into　my　office　and　button　things　up；　Perry。　What　are　you　going　to　do　about　that　nurse？〃
　Mason　grinned。　〃Our　friend　Lieutenant　Tragg　is　taking　the　initiative　there。　You'll　be　reading　in　the　papers　about　Tragg's　brilliant　deductive　reasoning；　probably　that　Tragg　gave　Perry　Mason　an　opportunity　to　acpany　him　when　he　uncovered　the　key　witness　in　the　Trent　murder　case。〃
　〃Yes；　I　suppose　he'll　grab　all　the　credit；〃　Drake　said。
　〃Tragg　won't；　but　the　department　will。　That's　the　way　the　game　has　to　be　played。　See　you　in　the　morning；　Paul。〃
　Mason　took　Della　Street's　arm　and　led　her　down　to　the　office。
　He　fitted　his　key　to　the　door　of　his　private　office；　switched　on　the　lights；　yawned　prodigiously　and　walked　over　to　the　electric　coffee　percolator。
　〃How　long　will　it　be？〃　Della　Street　asked。
　〃Shouldn't　be　over　ten　or　fifteen　minutes；〃　Mason　said。　〃Tragg　will　have　her　out　of　there　and　leave　it　to　me　to　keep　her　out　of　circulation。　Tragg　doesn't　want　anything　interfering　with　his　big　story　that'll　hit　the　papers。　He…〃
　A　timid　knock　sounded　on　the　corridor　door。
　Mason　went　to　the　door　and　opened　it。
　A　tall　white…haired　woman　said；　〃This　is　Mr。　Mason？〃
　〃Yes；〃　Mason　said。
　〃I　couldn't　wait　any　longer；〃　she　said。　〃I　had　to　e　to　you。〃
　She　turned　toward　Della　Street　inquiringly。
　〃My　se