esg.thecaseofthevelvetclaws-第15章

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o　reason　on　God's　green　earth　for　throwing　any　mud　at　her。　George　Belter　wasn't　worth　a　damned　thing　to　her　dead。　He　was；　to　this　guy。　This　guy　es　drifting　in　with　an　alibi　that　won't　stand　up　and　starts　taking　cracks　at　my　client。〃
　　Griffin　protested　hotly。
　　Mason　kept　staring　at　Sergeant　Hoffman。　〃By　God；　you　can't　convict　a　woman　with　a　lot　of　loose　talk。　It　takes　a　jury　to　do　that。　And　a　jury　can't　convict　her　until　she's　proven　guilty　beyond　a　reasonable　doubt。〃
　　The　big　sergeant　looked　at　Perry　Mason　searchingly。
　　〃And　you're　looking　for　a　reasonable　doubt；　Mason？〃
　　Mason　pointed　his　finger　at　Carl　Griffin。
　　〃Just　so　you　won't　shoot　off　your　face　too　much；　young　fellow；〃　he　said；　〃if　my　client　ever　goes　before　a　jury；　don't　think　I'm　dumb　enough　to　overlook　the　advantage　I　can　get　from　dragging　you　and　this　will　into　the　case。〃
　　〃You　mean　you　think　he's　guilty　of　this　murder？〃　asked　Sergeant　Hoffman；　coaxingly。
　　〃I'm　not　a　detective；〃　said　Mason。　〃I'm　a　lawyer。　I　know　that　the　jury　can't　convict　anybody　as　long　as　they've　got　a　reasonable　doubt。　And　if　you　start　framing　anything　on　my　client；　there　sits　my　reasonable　doubt　right　in　that　chair！〃
　　Hoffman　nodded。
　　〃About　what　I　expected；〃　he　said。　〃I　shouldn't　have　let　you　sit　in　on　this　thing　in　the　first　place。　Now　you　can　get　out！〃
　　〃I'm　going；〃　Mason　told　him。
　　
　　
　　　10。
　　
　　It　was　nearly　three　o'clock　in　the　morning　when　Perry　Mason　got　Paul　Drake　on　the　telephone。
　　〃Paul；〃　he　said；　〃I've　got　another　job　for　you；　and　it's　a　rush　job。　Have　you　got　any　more　men　you　can　put　on　the　case？〃
　　Paul's　voice　was　sleepy。
　　〃Gee；　guy；〃　he　said；　〃ain't　you　ever　satisfied？〃
　　〃Listen；〃　said　Mason；　〃wake　up　and　snap　out　of　it。　I've　got　a　job　that's　got　to　be　done　in　a　hurry；　and　you've　got　to　beat　the　police　to　it。〃
　　〃How　the　devil　can　I　beat　the　police　to　it？〃　asked　Paul　Drake。
　　〃You　can；〃　Mason　told　him；　〃because　I　happen　to　know　that　you've　got　access　to　certain　records。　You　represented　the　Merchants　Protective　Association　that　kept　duplicate　records　of　all　firearms　sold　in　the　city。　Now；　I　want　a　Colt…32　automatic　placed；　with　number　127337。　The　police　are　going　to　dig　into　it　as　a　matter　of　routine；　along　with　a　lot　of　fingerprint　stuff；　and　it'll　probably　be　some　time　in　the　morning　before　they　feed　it　through　the　mill。　They　know　it's　important　but　they　don't　figure　there's　any　great　hurry　about　it。　What　I　want　you　to　do　is　to　get　the　dope　in　advance　of　the　police。　I've　simply　got　to　beat　them　to　it。〃
　　〃What　happened　with　the　gun？〃　asked　Paul　Drake。
　　〃A　guy　got　shot　with　it　once；　right　through　the　heart；〃　said　Perry　Mason。
　　Drake　whistled。　〃Is　that　in　connection　with　the　other　stuff　I've　been　looking　up？〃
　　〃I　don't　think　so；〃　Mason　said；　〃but　the　police　may。　I've　got　to　be　in　a　position　to　protect　my　client。　I　want　you　to　get　the　information；　and　get　it　before　the　police　do。〃
　　〃Okay；〃　said　Drake。　〃Where　can　I　call　you　back？〃
　　〃You　can't；〃　Mason　said。　〃I'll　call　you。〃
　　〃When？〃
　　〃I'll　call　you　again　in　an　hour。〃
　　〃I　won't　have　it　by　then；〃　protested　Drake。　〃I　couldn't。〃
　　〃You've　got　to；〃　Mason　insisted；　〃and　I'll　call　you　anyway。　Good…by。〃　And　he　hung　up　the　telephone。　He　then　called　the　number　of　Harrison　Burke's　residence。　There　was　no　answer。　He　called　Della　Street's　number；　and　her　sleepy　〃Hello〃　came　over　the　line；　almost　at　once。
　　〃This　is　Perry　Mason；　Della；〃　he　said。　〃Wake　up　and　get　the　sleepy　dirt　out　of　your　eyes。　We've　got　work　to　do。〃
　　〃What　time　is　it？〃　she　asked。
　　〃Around　three　o'clock；　or　quarter　past。〃
　　〃Okay；〃　she　said。　〃What　is　it？〃
　　〃You　awake　all　right？〃
　　〃Of　course　I'm　awake。　What　do　you　think　I'm　doing；　talking　in　my　sleep？〃
　　〃Never　mind　the　cracks；〃　he　told　her；　〃this　is　serious。　Can　you　get　some　clothes　on　and　get　down　to　the　office　right　away？　I'll　order　a　taxi　to　be　out　at　the　house　by　the　time　you　get　dressed。〃
　　〃I'm　dressing　right　now；〃　she　answered。　〃Do　I　take　time　to　make　myself　pretty；　or　do　I　just　put　on　some　clothes？〃
　　〃Better　make　yourself　pretty；〃　he　answered；　〃but　don't　take　too　long　doing　it。〃
　　〃Right　now；〃　she　said；　and　hung　up　on　him。
　　Mason　telephoned　a　taxi　pany　to　send　a　cab　out　to　her　apartment。　Then　he　left　the　all　night　drug　store；　from　which　he　had　been　telephoning；　got　in　his　car；　and　drove　rapidly　to　his　office。
　　He　switched　on　the　lights；　pulled　down　the　shades；　and　started　pacing　the　floor。
　　Back　and　forth；　back　and　forth　he　paced；　his　hands　behind　his　back；　his　head　thrust　forward；　and　slightly　bowed。　There　was　something　of　the　appearance　of　a　caged　tiger　in　his　manner。　He　seemed　impatient；　and　yet　it　was　a　controlled　impatience。　A　fighter　who　was　cornered；　savage；　who　didn't　dare　make　a　false　move。
　　A　key　sounded　in　the　door；　and　Della　Street　walked　in。
　　〃Morning；　chief；〃　she　said。　〃You　sure　do　keep　hours！〃
　　He　beckoned　to　her　to　e　in　and　sit　down。　〃This；〃　he　said；　〃is　the　start　of　a　busy　day。〃
　　〃What　is　it？〃　she　asked；　looking　at　him　with　troubled　eyes。
　　〃Murder。〃
　　〃We're　just　representing　a　client？〃　she　inquired。
　　〃I　don't　know。　We　may　be　mixed　up　in　it。〃
　　〃Mixed　up　in　it？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃It's　that　woman；〃　she　said　savagely。
　　He　shook　his　head　impatiently。　〃I　wish　you'd　get　over　those　ideas；　Della。〃
　　〃That's　right　just　the　same；〃　she　persisted。　〃I　knew　there　was　something　about　her。　I　knew　there　was　trouble　that　was　going　to　follow　that　woman　around。　I　never　did　trust　her。〃
　　〃Okay；〃　Mason　said　wearily。　〃Now　forget　that；　and　get　your　instructions。　I　don't　know　what's　going　to　happen　here；　and　you　may　have　to　carry　on　if　anything　happens　that　I　can't　keep　the　ball　rolling。〃
　　〃What　do　you　mean；〃　she　asked；　〃that　you　can't？〃
　　〃Never　mind　about　that。〃
　　〃But　I　do　mind；〃　she　said；　eyes　wide　with　apprehension。　〃You're　in　danger。〃
　　He　ignored　the　remark。　〃This　woman　came　to　us　as　Eva　Griffin。　I　tried　to　follow　her；　and　couldn't　make　it　stick。　Later　on；　I　started　a　fight　with　Spicy　Bits；　and　tried　to　find　out　who　was　really　back　of　the　sheet。　It　turned　out　to　be　a　man　named　Belter　who　lived　out　on　Elmwood　Drive。　You'll　read　about　the　place　and　the　chap　in　the　morning　papers。　I　went　out　to　see　Belter　and　found　he　was　a　tough　customer。　While　I　was　there；　I　ran　into　his　wife。　And　she　was　none　other　than　our　client。　Her　real　name　is　Eva　Belter。〃
　　〃What　was　she　trying　to　do？〃　asked　Della　Street。　〃Double…cross　you？〃
　　〃No；〃　said　Mason。　〃She　was　in　a　jam。　She'd　been　places　with　a　man；　and　her　husband　was　on　her　back　trail。　He　didn't　know　who　the　woman　was。　It　was　the　man　he　was　after。　But　he　was　exposing　the　man　through　the　scandal　sheet；　and　eventually　the　identity　of　the　woman　would　have　e　out。〃
　　〃Who　is　this　man？〃　asked　Della　Street。
　　〃Harrison　Burke；〃　he　said；　slowly。
　　She　arched　her　eyebrows　and　was　silent。
　　Mason　lit　a　cigarette。
　　〃What　does　Harrison　Burke　have　to　say　about　it？〃　she　asked　after　a　little　while。
　　Perry　Mason　made　a　gesture　with　his　hands。
　　〃He　was　the　guy　that　kicked　through　with　the　money　in　the　envelope；　the　coin　that　came　into　the　office　this　afternoon　by　messenger。〃
　　〃Oh。〃
　　There　was　silence　for　a　minute　or　two。　Both　were　thinking。
　　〃Well；〃　she　said　at　length；　〃go　on。　What　am　I　going　to　read　about　in　the　papers　tomorrow？〃
　　He　spoke　in　a　monotone。　〃I　went　to　bed；　and　Eva　Belter　called　me　sometime　after　midnight。　Around　twelve　thirty；　I　guess　it　was。　It　was　raining　to　beat　the　band。　She　wanted　me　to　e　out　and　pick　her　up　at　a　drug　store。　She　said　she　was　in　trouble。　I　went　out；　and　she　told　me　that　some　man　had　been　having　an　argument　with　her　husband　and　shot　him。〃
　　〃Did　she　know　the　man？〃　Della　Street　inquired　softly。
　　〃No；〃　said　Mason；　〃she　didn't。　She　didn't　see　him。　She　only　heard　his　voice。〃
　　〃Did　she　know　the　voice？〃
　　〃She　thought　she　did。〃
　　〃Who　did　she　think　it　was？〃
　　〃Me。〃
　　The　girl　looked　at　him　steadily；　her　eyes　not　changing　their　expression　in　the　least。
　　〃Was　it？〃
　　〃No。　I　was　at　home；　in　bed。〃
　　〃Can　you　prove　it？〃　she　asked；　tonelessly。
　　〃Good　Lord；〃　he　said；　impatiently。　〃I　don't　take　an　alibi　to　bed　with　me！〃
　　〃The　lousy　little　double…crosser！〃　More　calmly　she　asked；　〃Then　what　happened？〃
　　〃We　went　out　there；　and　found　her　husband　dead。　A　32…Colt　automatic。　I　got　the　number　of　it。　One　shot；　right　through　the　heart。　He'd　been　taking　a　bath；　and　somebody　shot　him。〃
　　Della　Street's　eyes　widened。　〃Then　she　got　you　out　there　before　she　notified　the　police？〃
　　〃Exactly；〃　said　Mason。　〃The　police　don't　like　that。〃
　　The　girl's　face　was　white。　She　sucked　in　her　breath　to　say　something；　but　thought　better　of　it　and　remained　silent。
　　Perry　Mason　went　on；　in　his　same　monotone：　〃I　had　a　run…in　with　Sergeant　Hoffman。　There's　a　nephew　out　there　that　I　don't　like。　He's　too　much　of　a　gentleman。　The　housekeeper's　concealing　something；　and　I　think　her　daughter　is　Iying。　I　didn't　get　a　chance　to　talk　with　the　other　servants。　The　police　held　me　downstairs　while　they　made　the　investigation　up…stairs。　But　I　had　a　chance　to　look　around　a　little　bit　before　the　police　got　there。〃
　　〃How　bad　was　your　trouble　with　Sergeant　Hoffman？〃　she　asked。
　　〃Bad　enough；〃　he　said；　〃the　way　things　are。〃
　　〃You　mean　you　have　to　stick　up　for　your　client？〃　she　asked；　her　eyes　suspiciously　moist。　〃What's　going　to　happen　next？〃
　　〃I　don't　know。　I　think　that　the　housekeeper　is　going　to　crack。　They　evidently　haven't　gone　after　her　very　hard　yet。　But　they　will。　I　think　she　knows　something。　I　don't　know　what　it　is。　I'm　not　even　sure　that　Eva　Belter　gave　me　the　full　facts　of　the　case。〃
　　〃If　she　did；〃　said　Della　Street；　savagely；　〃it's　the　first　time　since　she's　been　in　here　that　she　hasn't　concealed　something；　and　lied　about　something　else。　And　that　business　of　dragging　you　into　it！　Bah！　The　cat！　I　could　kill　her！〃
　　Mason　waved　his　hand；　depreciatingly。　〃Never　mind　that。　I'm　in　this　now。〃
　　〃Does　Harrison　Burke　know　about　this　murder　business？〃　she　asked。
　　〃I　tried　to　get　him　on　the　telephone。　He's　out。〃
　　〃What　a　sweet　time　for　him　to　be　out！〃　she　exclaimed。
　　Mason　smiled　wearily。　〃Isn't　it？〃
　　They　looked　at　each　other。
　　Della　Street　took　a　quick　breath；　started　speaking　impulsively。
　　〃Look　here；〃　she　said；　〃you're　letting　this　woman　get　you　in　a　funny　position。　You　had　words　with　this　man　who　was　killed。　You　were　fighting　his　paper；　and　when　you　fight；　you　don't　do　it　gently。　That　woman　trapped　you　to　get　you　out　there。　She　wanted　you　to　be　there　when　the　police　came。　She's　getting　ready　to　throw　you　to　the　wolves；　if　it　looks　as　though　her　precious　hands　were　going　to　get　soiled。　Now　are　you　going　to　let　her　get　away　with　that？〃
　　〃Not　if　I　can　help　it；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　won't　go　back　on　her　until　I　have　to。〃
　　Della　Street's　face　was　white；　her　lips　drawn　into　a　thin；　firm　line。　〃She's　a。。。〃　she　said；　and　stopped。
　　〃She's　a　client；〃　insisted　Perry　Mason；　〃and　she's　paying　well。〃
　　〃Paying　well　for　what？　To　have　you　represent　her　in　a　blackmail　case？　Or　to　take　a　rap　for　murder？〃
　　There　were　tears　in　her　eyes。
　　〃Mr。　Mason；〃　she　said；　〃please　don't　be　so　damn