erlestanleygardner.thecaseofthehorrifiedheirs-第8章

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　〃Go　ahead；〃　Mason　said；　〃tell　me　what　it　is。〃
　〃You'll　probably　laugh　and　think　my　imagination　is　working　overtime。　There's　probably　no　way　on　earth　it　can　be　connected　with　anything　but…Well；　here's　what　happened。〃
　She　told　him　about　Bannock；　the　papers；　about　the　man　who　had　called　on　her；　his　description　and　a　general　but　somewhat　vague　description　of　the　automobile　in　which　he　had　driven　away。　〃A　model　about　two　to　four　years　old；　I　would　guess。　I　think　it　was　an　Oldsmobile；〃　she　said。　〃The　first　figure　of　the　license　number　was　a　zero。　I　tried　to　get　it　but　he　drove　away　very　fast。〃
　〃Where　was　he　parked？〃　Mason　asked。　〃Could　you　see　the　parking　place　from　which　he　drove　his　car？　That　might　tell　us　how　long　he'd　been　waiting。　I　presume　parking　places　right　in　front　of　your　apartment　house　are　hard　to　find。〃
　〃I'll　say　they　are！〃　she　exclaimed。　〃But　this　man　didn't　have　any　trouble。　He　parked　right　in　front　of　the　fireplug。〃
　〃Then　he　hadn't　been　there　very　long；〃　Mason　said。　〃That　means　he　must　have　followed　you　home　rather　than　been　there　waiting。　I　would　think　the　police　would　check　that　fireplug　space　rather　often。〃
　〃They　do！　I　had　a　friend　who　parked　just　long　enough　to　leave　a　parcel；　yet　she　got　a　parking　ticket。　It　wasn't　over　a　minute。〃
　〃You　think　the　first　number　on　the　license　plate　was　a　zero？〃　Mason　asked。
　〃Yes；　I'm　quite　certain　of　that；　and　I　think　the　last　number　was　a　two；　but　I'm　not　at　all　certain　of　that。〃
　〃You're　in　Bakersfield　now？〃　Mason　asked。
　〃Yes。　I　went　out　to　Mr。　Bannock's　brother's　place　to　check　with　him　and　found　that　someone　had　been　out　there；　gone　through　all　the　files。〃
　〃What　do　you　mean　by　'going　through　them'？〃　Mason　asked。
　She　described　the　files。
　Mason's　voice　became　crisp　with　authority。
　〃Now；　this　is　important；　Virginia。　You　say　the　files　were　all　cut　open？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Every　single　bundle？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃And　their　contents　spread　out？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃No　single　bundle　was　intact？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃You're　sure　of　that？〃
　〃Why；　yes。　Why　is　it　important；　Mr。　Mason？〃
　〃Because；〃　Mason　said；　〃it　indicates　a　strong　probability　that　the　person　who　is　searching　didn't　find　what　he　was　looking　for。
　〃In　other　words；　if　you're　looking　for　a　particular　paper　and　you're　in　a　hurry；　you　cut　open　bundle　after　bundle　of　papers　until　you　find　the　one　you　want；　then　you　shove　it　in　your　pocket　and　get　away　from　there　fast。　That　would　leave　some　bundles　that　hadn't　been　cut　open。
　〃But　if；　on　the　other　hand；　all　of　the　bundles　are　cut　open；　it's　a　pretty　good　indication　that　the　person　didn't　find　what　he　was　looking　for。〃
　〃I　never　thought　of　that；〃　she　said。
　〃You're　going　back　to　Julian　Bannock's？〃
　〃Yes；　I'm　taking　some　cardboard　cartons　and　am　going　back　and　I'll　try　to　make　some　semblance　of　order　out　of　those　files。〃
　〃All　right；〃　Mason　said；　〃by　the　time　you　get　back　there；　we'll　find　out　something　about　your　man　who　is　interested　in　the　files。　。　。　。　Now；　tell　me；　Virginia；　what　about　wills？〃
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　〃When　Bannock　would　prepare　a　will　it　would　usually　be　executed　there　in　the　office？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃Who　would　be　the　subscribing　witnesses？〃
　〃Oh；　I　see　what　you　mean。　He　would　usually　sign　as　one　of　the　subscribing　witnesses　and　I　would　sign　as　the　other　witness。〃
　〃And　you　had　a　classification　of　various　wills？　In　other　words；　you　had　a　file　number　designating　wills　that　you　had　executed　in　the　office？〃
　〃Oh；　yes；　I　see　what　you　mean　now。　Files　numbered　five　thousand　to　six　thousand　were　wills。〃
　〃All　right；〃　Mason　said；　〃when　you　go　back　take　a　look　at　the　five　to　six　thousand　'will'　file。　See　how　intact　it　is。　Tie　that　file　up　and　bring　it　here　just　as　fast　as　you　can　make　it。〃
　〃Why　that　file　in　particular？〃　she　asked。
　Mason　said；　〃Bannock　has　been　dead　for　a　few　years。　Most　of　the　agreements　and　things　that　he　had　drawn　would　no　longer　be　important；　but　if　some　relative　wanted　to　find　out　what　was　in　a　certain　will…〃
　〃I　get　you；〃　she　interrupted　excitedly。　〃Why　didn't　I　think　of　that。　Of　course；　that's　what　it　is。〃
　〃Don't　jump　to　conclusions；〃　Mason　warned。　〃This　is　just　a　thought；　but　I　think　we'd　better　take　precautions。〃
　〃I'm　going　right　back；〃　she　promised；　〃and　I'll　keep　that　file　of　wills　with　me。　I'll　leave　the　other　papers　for　a　later　trip。〃
　Mason　said；　〃If　anything　else　happens　that　is　in　any　way　out　of　the　ordinary；　give　me　a　ring。　In　the　meantime；　I'm　going　to　find　out　something　about　this　visitor　of　yours。〃
　Virginia　promised　to　report　anything　new　that　happened；　hung　up　the　telephone；　went　to　a　supermarket；　secured　two　cartons　and　then　returned　to　Julian　Bannock's　place。
　She　found　Bannock　apprehensive。
　〃What's　the　matter？〃　she　asked。　〃Did　something　else　happen　about　those　files？〃
　〃You　hadn't　been　gone　five　minutes；〃　he　said；　〃when　a　fellow　showed　up　here　who　fitted　the　description　you　had　given　me　of　the　man　you　thought　was　here。　He　was　in　his　late　forties　or　early　fifties；　had　a　mustache　and　eyes　that　were　so　dark　you　couldn't　see　any　expression　in　them。　It　was　like　looking　at　a　pair　of　black；　polished　stones。〃
　〃That　was　the　man　all　right；〃　she　said。　〃What　did　he　want？〃
　〃Said　his　name　was　Smith；　and　he　asked　about　my　brother's　files。〃
　〃What　did　you　do？〃
　〃I　told　him　that　we　weren't　letting　people　look　at　those　files。　He　said　it　was　important　and　I　told　him　that　he　could　sit　right　here　and　wait；　that　my　brother's　secretary　was　going　to　be　here　in　an　hour　or　so　and　that　he　could　wait　for　her。〃
　〃What　happened？〃
　〃That　gave　him　a　jolt…knowing　that　you　were　ing　here。　He　said　he　couldn't　wait。〃
　〃Were　you　able　to　get　his　license　number？〃　she　asked　eagerly。
　〃No；　I　wasn't；〃　Julian　said；　〃because　he'd　plastered　mud　all　over　it。　There's　a　place　up　here　where　irrigating　water　sometimes　runs　over　the　road　and　there　was　quite　a　puddle　up　there　that　he'd　gone　through；　but　it　wasn't　mud　that　would　cover　a　license　number。　I　think　he'd　got　out　and　deliberately　plastered　mud　on　the　license。〃
　〃Well；〃　Virginia　said；　〃I'm　going　to　get　at　those　files；　tie　them　up　again　and　I　think　I'd　better　take　some　of　them　with　me；　if　you　have　no　objection。〃
　〃Take　them　all　if　you　want；〃　he　said。　〃I　can't　be　here　all　the　time　and　if　there's　anything　important　in　those　papers；　people　could　sneak　in　while　I'm　out　in　the　fields　someplace　and　get　hold　of　them。〃
　She　asked；　〃Have　you　ever　heard　of　Perry　Mason；　the　attorney？〃
　〃I'll　say　I　have。　I've　read　a　lot　about　him。〃
　〃Well；〃　Virginia　said；　〃he's　my　lawyer。　He's　advising　me；　and　I'm　going　to　get　in　touch　with　him　and　do　exactly　as　he　says。
　〃I　was　going　to　clean　up　all　these　files　and　put　them　in　boxes；　but　I　don't　have　time　now。　I'm　just　grabbing　this　file　with　these　numbers…let's　look　around　and　see　if　there　are　any　more　of　these　files　here　that　have　numbers　between　five　thousand　and　six　thousand。〃
　Virginia　scooped　up　a　number　of　filing　jackets　that　were　all　together　and　had　numbers　between　five　and　six　thousand。　Then　she　and　Julian　made　a　hasty　search　for　any　other　papers　numbered　within　those　brackets。
　〃They　seem　to　have　been　all　together　in　that　bunch；〃　Julian　said。
　〃All　right；〃　Virginia　told　him。　〃Now；　I'm　going　to　rush　these　in　to　Mr。　Mason's　office。　I　want　to　get　in　there　before　lunch；　if　possible。　Will　you　do　the　best　you　can　to　see　that　these　others　aren't　disturbed　while　I'm　gone？〃
　〃You　want　me　to　put　them　in　boxes？〃　Julian　asked。　〃I'm　sort　of　busy　this　time　of　year；　what　with　irrigation　and…〃
　〃No；〃　she　said；　〃just　leave　them　the　way　they　are；　if　you　can。　But　put　a　lock　on　the　door…you　know；　a　padlock。　Try　to　keep　anyone　from　ing　in　the　barn。
　〃If　anyone　should　try　to　get　in；　be　sure　to　get　his　license　number　and　make　him　give　you　proof　of　his　identity。　Ask　to　see　his　driving　license。〃
　〃Will　do；〃　Julian　said；　grinning。　〃You　don't　want　to　go　in　the　house　and　change　into　jeans　and　blouse？〃
　〃No；　there　isn't　time。　I'm　on　my　way。　I　hope　I　didn't　get　too　dusty。　Goodbye。〃
　〃Goodbye；　ma'am；〃　he　said；　and　then　added；　〃I　know　how　much　my　brother　thought　of　you　and　I　guess　he　sure　was　a　good　judge　of　character。〃
　She　flashed　him　a　smile；　jumped　in　her　car；　placed　the　carton　with　the　five…to…six　thousand　classification　in　the　back　seat；　and　took　off。
　
　CHAPTER　NINE
　It　was　shortly　after　noon　when　Virginia　reached　Perry　Mason's　office。
　Gertie；　the　receptionist；　said；　〃Hello；　Miss　Baxter；　they're　expecting　you；　but　I'd　better　give　them　a　buzz　and　let　them　know　you're　here。〃
　Gertie　buzzed　the　phone；　and　a　moment　later　Della　Street　came　out　and　said；　〃Right　this　way；　Virginia。　We　have　some　news　for　you。〃
　Virginia　followed　Della　Street　into　Mason's　private　office　to　find　the　lawyer　frowning　thoughtfully；　〃We've　traced　your　mysterious　visitor；　Virginia；〃　Mason　said。　〃The　one　who　gave　you　the　name　of　George　Menard。　Ve　traced　him　through　his　parking　at　the　fireplug。　We　went　through　all　the　parking　tickets　issued　by　the　officer　who　patrols　that　district。　There　were　three　fireplug　parking　tickets。　One　of　them　was　for　a　license　number　ODT　062。　That　car　is　registered　to　a　man　whose　description　is　very　similar　to　that　of　the　man　who　called　on　you。〃
　〃Who　is　he？〃
　〃His　real　name　is　George　Eagan；　and　he　is　employed　as　a　chauffeur　for　Lauretta　Trent。　So　we　did　a　little　checking　and…〃
　〃Lauretta　Trent？〃　Virginia　exclaimed。
　〃You　know　her？〃　Mason　asked。
　〃Why；　we　did　some　legal　work　for　her　and…Why；　yes；　I'm　quite　certain　we　made　at　least　one　will　for　her。　I　have　rather　a　vague　memory　that　it　was　an　unusual　will。　The　relatives　were　given　rather　small　amounts；　all　things　considered；　and　there　was　an　outsider　who　got　the　bulk　of　the　estate。　It　may　have　been　a　nurse…or　a　doctor。　Heavens！　It　could　have　been　the　chauffeur！〃
　Mason　said；　〃We've　found　out　some　rather　interesting　things。〃
　〃About　the　chauffeur？〃
　〃About　Lauretta　Trent。　She　has　recently　had　three　attacks　of　so…called　food　poisoning。　The　hospital　records　describe　them　as　gastroenteric　upsets。〃
　Virginia　said；　〃I've　got　all　the　old　copies　of　wills　locked　in　my　car　down　in　the　parking　lot；　Mr。　Mason；　if　it　would　help　any。　。　。　。〃
　〃It　will　help　a　lot；〃　Mason　said。　〃I'm　going　to　introduce　you　to　Paul　Drake；　our　detective。　He　handles　all　our　investigative　work；　he's　head　of　the　Drake　Detective　Agency；　which　is　on　this　floor…Give　him　a　ring；　will　you　please；　Della？〃
　Della　Street　asked　Gertie　for　an　outside　line。　Her　fingers　flew　over　the　dial。　After　a　moment；　she　said；　〃Paul；　Della。　Perry　would　like　to　have　you　e　to　the　office　right　away；　if　you　can。〃
　Della　smiled　and　hung　up。　〃He'll　be　here　within　a　matter　of　seconds。〃
　And　it　was　only　a　matter　of　seconds　before　Paul　Drake's　code　knock　sounded　on　the　door。
　Della　opened　the　door　and　let　him　in。
　〃Paul；〃　Mason　said；　〃this　is　Virginia　Baxter。　You　probably　don't　know　it　but　she's　the　client　whom　I've　been　representing　and　is　the　reason　you　have　been　doing　this　investigative　work。〃
　〃I　see；〃　Drake　said；　smiling　at　Virginia。　〃Pleased　to　meet　you；　Miss　Baxter。〃
　Mason　said；　〃She　has　some　papers　locked　in　her　car　down　in　the　parking　lot。　Could　you　help　her　bring　them　up？〃
　〃How　heavy？〃　Drake　asked。　〃Do　I　need　anyone　to　help　me？〃
　〃Oh；　no；〃　she　said；　〃it's　a　bundle　of　papers　probably　tw