esg.thecaseofthevelvetclaws-第18章

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　　She　was　still　shaken　and　white。　Dumbly　she　nodded　her　head。
　　〃All　right；〃　said　Mason；　〃now　tell　me　what　happened。　Harrison　Burke　sent　that　message　to　you。　He　wanted　you　to　get　in　touch　with　him。　Then　you　told　him　that　you　would　meet　him　some　place；　and　you　put　on　your　things　and　went　out。　Is　that　right？〃
　　〃No；〃　she　said；　〃he　came　to　the　house。〃
　　〃He　did　what？〃
　　〃It's　a　fact；〃　she　went　on。　〃I　told　him　not　to；　but　he　came　anyway。　He　wanted　to　talk　with　me；　and　I　told　him　that　I　wouldn't；　that　I　couldn't　see　him。　So　he　came　to　the　house。　You　had　told　him　that　George　was　the　owner　of　Spicy　Bits。　At　first　he　wouldn't　believe　it。　Finally　he　did。　Then　he　wanted　to　talk　with　George。　He　thought　that　he　could　explain　to　George。　He　was　willing　to　do　anything　in　order　to　keep　Spicy　Bits　from　going　ahead　with　its　attack。〃
　　〃You　didn't　know　he　was　ing？〃　he　asked。
　　〃No。〃
　　There　was　a　moment's　silence。
　　Then　she　said；　〃How　did　you　know？〃
　　〃Know　what？〃
　　〃About　the　shoes　being　the　code　he　used。〃
　　〃Oh；　he　told　me；〃　said　Mason。
　　〃And　then　the　housekeeper　told　you　about　the　message？〃　she　asked。　〃I　wonder　if　she　told　the　police。〃
　　Mason　shook　his　head；　and　smiled。
　　〃No；〃　he　said；　〃she　didn't　tell　the　police　and　she　didn't　tell　me。　That　was　just　a　little　bluff　I　resorted　to　in　order　to　get　you　to　give　me　the　real　facts。　I　knew　that　you　must　have　seen　Harrison　Burke　some　time　last　night；　and　I　knew　that　he　was　the　kind　that　would　be　trying　to　get　in　touch　with　you。　When　he's　worried；　he　wants　some　one　to　share　his　worry　with　him。　So　I　figured　that　he　must　have　left　that　message　with　the　maid。〃
　　She　looked　hurt。
　　〃Do　you　think　that's　a　nice　way　to　treat　me？〃　she　asked。　〃Do　you　think　that's　being　fair　with　me？〃
　　He　grinned。
　　〃What　a　sweet　angel　you　are　to　sit　around　and　talk　to　a　man　about　playing　fair。〃
　　She　pouted。　〃I　don't　like　that；〃　she　said。
　　〃I　didn't　think　you　would；〃　he　told　her。　〃There's　going　to　be　lots　about　this　you　don't　like　before　we　get　done。　So　Harrison　Burke　came　to　the　house；　did　he？〃
　　〃Yes；〃　she　said　in　a　weak　voice。
　　〃All　right；　what　happened？〃
　　〃He　kept　insisting　that　he　wanted　to　see　George。　I　told　him　that　it　would　be　suicidal　even　to　go　near　George。　He　said　that　he　wouldn't　mention　my　name　at　all。　He　thought　that　if　he　could　go　to　George　and　explain　the　circumstances　to　him；　and　tell　him　that　he　was　willing　to　do　anything　after　he　was　elected　George　would　order　Frank　Locke　to　lay　off　the　publicity。〃
　　〃All　right；〃　said　Mason；　〃now　we　are　getting　someplace。　He　wanted　to　go　see　your　husband；　and　you　tried　to　keep　him　from　doing　it。　Is　that　it？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃Why；〃　he　asked；　〃did　you　want　to　keep　him　from　doing　it？〃
　　She　said　slowly；　〃I　was　afraid　that　he　would　mention　my　name。〃
　　〃Did　he？〃　asked　Mason。
　　〃I　don't　know；〃　she　said；　and　then　suddenly　added：　〃That　is；　of　course　not；　he　didn't　see　George　at　all。　He　talked　with　me；　and　I　convinced　him　that　he　mustn't　talk　with　George。　And　then　he　left　the　house。〃
　　Perry　Mason　chuckled。　〃You　thought　of　that　trap　just　a　little　bit　too　late；　young　lady。　So　you　don't　know　whether　or　not　he　mentioned　your　name　to　George；　eh？〃
　　She　said　sullenly：　〃I　told　you　he　didn't　see　him。〃
　　〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃I　know；　but　the　fact　is　that　he　did　see　him。　He　went　upstairs　to　his　study　and　talked　with　him。〃
　　〃How　do　you　know？〃
　　〃Because；〃　he　said；　〃I've　got　a　theory　about　this　thing；　and　I　want　to　run　it　down。　I've　got　a　pretty　good　idea　of　what　happened。〃
　　〃What　did　happen？〃　she　asked。
　　He　grinned　at　her。
　　〃You　know　what　happened；〃　he　told　her。
　　〃No；　no；〃　she　said；　〃what　was　it　that　happened？〃
　　His　voice　was　a　steady；　expressionless　monotone。　〃So　Harrison　Burke　went　upstairs　and　talked　with　your　husband；〃　he　droned。　〃How　long　was　he　up　there？〃
　　〃I　don't　know。　Not　over　fifteen　minutes。〃
　　〃That's　better。　And　you　didn't　see　him　after　he　came　down？〃
　　〃No。〃
　　〃Now；　as　a　matter　of　fact；〃　he　inquired；　〃was　there　a　shot　fired　while　Harrison　Burke　was　up　there；　and　then　did　he　run　down　the　stairs；　and　out　of　the　house　without　saying　anything　to　you？〃
　　She　shook　her　head　emphatically。　〃No；〃　she　said；　〃Burke　left　before　my　husband　was　shot。〃
　　〃How　long　before？〃
　　〃I　don't　know；　perhaps　fifteen　minutes。　Perhaps　longer。　Perhaps　not　quite　so　long。〃
　　〃And　now；〃　he　pointed　out；　〃Harrison　Burke　can't　be　found。〃
　　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　　〃Exactly　what　I　said。　He　can't　be　found。　He　doesn't　answer　his　telephone。　He　isn't　at　his　residence。〃
　　〃How　do　you　know？〃
　　〃I　kept　trying　to　get　him　on　the　telephone；　and　I　sent　detectives　out　to　his　residence。〃
　　〃Why　did　you　do　that？〃
　　〃Because　I　knew　he　was　going　to　be　implicated　in　the　shooting。〃
　　She　widened　her　eyes　again。　〃How　could　that　be？〃　she　asked。　〃Nobody　knows　that　he　was　out　at　the　house　except　us。　And　of　course　we　wouldn't　tell；　because　that　would　make　the　situation　that　much　worse　for　everybody。　He　left　before　the　other　man　came；　who　fired　the　shot。〃
　　Perry　Mason　held　her　eyes　in　a　steady　gaze。　〃It　was　his　gun　that　fired　the　shot；〃　he　said；　slowly。
　　She　stared　at　him；　her　eyes　startled。
　　〃What　makes　you　say　that？〃　she　asked。
　　〃Because；〃　he　told　her；　〃there　was　a　number　on　the　gun。　That　number　can　be　traced　from　the　factory　to　the　wholesaler；　from　the　wholesaler　to　the　retailer；　and　from　the　retailer　to　the　man　who　bought　the　gun。　It　was　a　fellow　named　Pete　Mitchell；　who　lives　at　thirteen　twenty…two　West　Sixty…ninth　Street；　and　was　a　close　friend　of　Harrison　Burke's。　The　police　are　rounding　up　Mitchell；　and　when　they　get　him；　he'll　have　to　explain　what　he　did　with　the　gun。　That　is；　that　he　gave　it　to　Burke。〃
　　She　put　a　hand　to　her　throat。
　　〃How　can　they　trace　guns　like　that？〃
　　〃There's　a　record　kept　of　everything。〃
　　〃I　knew　that　we　should　have　done　something　with　that　gun；〃　she　said　almost　hysterically。
　　He　said；　〃Yes；　and　then　you　would　have　put　your　head　in　the　noose。　You've　got　yourself　to　think　of。　Your　own　position　in　this　is　none　too　pretty。　You　want　to　save　Burke；　of　course；　if　you　can。　But　the　thing　that　I'm　trying　to　bring　out　is；　that　if　Burke　did　the　thing；　you'd　better　e　clean　and　tell　me。　Then；　if　we　can　keep　Burke　out　of　it；　we　will。　But　I　don't　want　you　to　get　in　the　position　where　they　build　up　a　case　against　you；　while　you're　trying　to　shield　Burke。〃
　　She　started　to　pace　the　floor；　twisting　her　handkerchief　in　her　fingers。
　　〃Oh；　my　God！〃　she　said。　〃Oh；　my　God！　Oh；　my　God！〃
　　〃I　don't　know　whether　or　not　it's　ever　occurred　to　you；〃　he　said；　〃but　there's　a　penalty　for　being　an　accessory　after　the　fact；　or　for　pounding　a　felony。　Now；　we　don't　either　one　of　us　want　to　get　in　that　position。　What　we　want　to　do　is　to　find　out　who　did　this　thing；　and　find　it　out　before　the　police　do。　I　don't　want　them　to　frame　a　murder　charge　on　you；　and　I　don't　want　them　to　frame　one　on　me。　If　Burke　is　guilty；　the　thing　to　do　is　to　get　in　touch　with　Burke；　and　get　him　to　surrender　himself；　and　rush　the　case　through　to　a　trial　before　the　District　Attorney's　office　can　get　too　much　evidence。　I'm　going　to　take　steps　to　see　that　Locke　keeps　quiet；　and　call　off　this　blackmail　article　in　Spicy　Bits。〃
　　She　stared　at　him　for　a　moment；　and　then　asked；　〃How　are　you　going　to　do　that？〃
　　He　smiled　at　her。　〃In　this　game；〃　he　said；　〃I'm　the　one　that　has　to　know　everything。　The　less　you　know；　the　less　you　stand　a　chance　of　telling。〃
　　〃You　can　trust　me。　I　can　keep　a　secret；〃　she　told　him。
　　〃You're　a　good　liar；〃　he　said　judiciously；　〃if　that's　what　you　mean。　But　this　is　once　where　you　won't　have　to　lie；　because　you　won't　know　what's　going　on。〃
　　〃But　Burke　didn't　do　it；〃　she　insisted。
　　He　frowned　at　her。
　　〃Now　listen；〃　he　said；　〃that's　the　reason　I　wanted　to　get　in　touch　with　you。　If　Burke　didn't　do　it；　who　did？〃
　　She　shifted　her　eyes。　〃I　told　you　some　man　had　a　conference　with　my　husband。　I　don't　know　who　he　was。　I　thought　it　was　you。　It　sounded　like　your　voice。〃
　　He　got　to　his　feet；　and　his　face　darkened。
　　〃Listen；〃　he　said；　〃if　you　go　trying　that　kind　of　a　game　on　me；　I'll　throw　you　to　the　wolves。　You've　tried　that　game　once。　That's　enough。〃
　　She　started　to　cry　and　sobbed。　〃I　c…c…can't　help　it。　You　asked　me。　There's　nobody　listening。　I　t…t…t…told　you　who　it　w…w…was。　I　heard　your　v…v…voice。　I　won't　t…t…tell　the　p…p…police；　not　even　if　they　t…t…torture　me！〃
　　He　took　her　by　the　shoulders　and　slammed　her　down　on　the　bed。　He　pulled　her　hands　from　her　face　and　stared　at　her　eyes。　There　was　no　trace　of　tears　in　them。
　　〃Now　listen；〃　he　said；　〃you　didn't　hear　my　voice；　because　I　wasn't　there　at　all。　And　cut　out　that　sobbing　act…unless　you've　got　an　onion　in　your　handkerchief！〃
　　〃Then　it　was　somebody　whose　voice　sounded　like　yours；〃　she　insisted。
　　He　scowled　at　her。
　　〃Are　you　in　love　with　Burke？〃　he　asked。　〃And　trying　to　put　me　in　a　position　where　you　can　throw　me　over　in　case　I　can't　square　the　thing　for　Burke？〃
　　〃No。　You　wanted　me　to　tell　the　truth；　and　I'm　telling　it。〃
　　〃I'm　tempted　to　get　up　and　walk　out　on　you；　and　leave　you　with　the　whole　mess　on　your　hands；〃　he　threatened。
　　She　said；　demurely；　〃Then；　of　course；　I'd　have　to　tell　the　police　whose　voice　it　was　I　heard　in　that　room。〃
　　〃So　that's　your　little　game；　eh？〃
　　〃I　haven't　any　game。　I'm　telling　the　truth。〃　Her　voice　was　sweet；　but　she　didn't　meet　his　eyes。
　　Mason　sighed。　〃I　never　went　back　on　a　client　yet；　guilty　or　innocent；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　trying　to　remember　that。　But；　by　God！　It's　a　temptation　to　walk　out　on　you！〃
　　She　sat　on　the　bed　and　twisted　her　handkerchief　about　her　fingers。
　　In　a　moment　he　began　to　talk；　〃On　my　way　back　down　the　hill；　after　I'd　left　your　house；　I　stopped　to　talk　with　the　clerk　in　the　drug　store　where　you　telephoned　to　me。　He　was　watching　you　when　you　went　in　the　telephone　booth；　which　was　only　natural。　A　woman　in　evening　clothes；　with　a　man's　coat　on；　who　is　sopping　wet；　and　goes　into　a　telephone　booth；　in　an　all　night　drug　store；　after　midnight；　is　naturally　going　to　attract　some　attention。　Now　this　clerk　told　me　that　you　called　two　telephone　numbers。〃
　　Wide…eyed　she　looked　at　him；　but　she　said　nothing。
　　〃Who　did　you　call　besides　me？〃　he　asked。
　　〃Nobody；〃　she　said；　〃the　clerk's　mistaken。〃
　　Perry　Mason　put　on　his　hat　and　pulled　it　low　down　over　his　forehead。　He　turned　to　Eva　Belter　and　said　savagely；　〃I'm　going　to　get　you　out　of　this　somehow。　I　don't　know　just　how。　But　I'm　going　to　get　you　out　of　it。　And；　by　God；　it's　going　to　cost　you　money！〃
　　He　jerked　open　the　door；　went　out　into　the　hall；　and　slammed　the　door　behind　him。　The　first　light　of　dawn　was　coloring　the　eastern　sky。
　　
　　
　　　12。
　　
　　The　first　rays　of　the　early　morning　sun　were　gilding　the　tops　of　the　buildings；　when　Perry　Mason　got　hold　of　Harrison　Burke's　housekeeper。
　　She　was　fifty…seven　or　eight　years　old；　heavily　fleshed；　filled　with　animosity。　Her　eyes　were　sparkling　with　hostility。
　　〃I　don't　care　who　you　are；〃　she　said；　truculently。　〃I　tell　you　that　he　isn't　here。　I　don't　know　where　he　is。　He　was　out　until　around　midnight；　then　he　got　a　telephone　call；　and　went　out　again。　After　that；　the　te