esg.thecaseofthevelvetclaws-第24章

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bout　that　Georgia　business？　Anything？〃
　　〃I'm　not　a　detective　or　an　officer。　I'm　simply　a　lawyer。　I'm　representing　Mrs。　Belter。　That's　all。〃
　　The　cage　dropped　them　into　the　lobby　of　the　hotel；　and　Mason　went　to　the　door　and　signaled　a　taxi。
　　〃So　long；　Locke；〃　he　said。　〃I'll　see　you　later。〃
　　As　the　cab　drove　away；　Locke　was　standing　in　the　doorway；　leaning　up　against　the　building　for　support。　His　face　was　pale　and　his　lips　twisted　into　a　frozen　smile。
　　
　　
　　　15。
　　
　　Perry　Mason　sat　in　his　room　at　the　hotel。　There　were　dark　circles　under　his　eyes；　and　his　face　was　gray　with　fatigue。　The　eyes；　however；　were　steady　in　their　calm　concentration；　dominating　the　entire　face。
　　Morning　sunlight　was　streaming　in　through　the　windows。　The　bed　was　littered　with　newspapers。　Headlines　streamed　across　them　news　of　the　Belter　murder；　which　had　developed　enough　interesting　angles　to　betray　to　the　news…skilled　reporters　that　a　major　sensation　was　due　to　break。
　　The　Examiner　carried　headlines　which　monopolized　the　front　page。　〃MURDER　BARES　ROMANCE。〃　Underneath　in　smaller　headlines：　NEPHEW　OF　VICTIM　ENGAGED　TO　HOUSEKEEPER'S　DAUGHTER。　SECRET　ROMANCE　BARED　BY　POLICE。…WILL　CONTEST　FILED　IN　BELTER　ESTATE。　DISINHERITED　WIDOW　CLAIMS　WILL　FORGERY…POLICE　TRACE　GUN　TO　MISSING　MAN…WIDOW'S　CHANCE　REMARK　STARTS　SEARCH　FOR　LAWYER。〃
　　These　headlines　appeared　over　different　articles　on　the　front　page　of　the　paper。　The　inside　page　showed　pictures　of　Eva　Belter　sitting　with　her　knees　crossed；　a　handkerchief　to　her　eyes。　There　were　headlines　with　the　by…line　of　a　well…known　sob　sister；　〃WIDOW　WEEPS　AS　POLICE　QUESTION。〃
　　Reading　the　newspapers；　Mason　had　kept　abreast　of　the　situation。　He　had　learned　that　the　police　had　traced　the　gun　to　one　Pete　Mitchell；　who　had　mysteriously　disappeared　immediately　after　the　shooting；　but　who　had　a　perfect　alibi　covering　the　time　when　the　crime　had　actually　been　mitted。　It　was　the　assumption　of　the　police　that　Mitchell　was　shielding　some　one　to　whom　he　had　given　the　gun。
　　No　names　were　mentioned；　but　Mason　was　able　to　realize　that　the　police　were　getting　close　to　Harrison　Burke。　He　had　also　read；　with　increasing　interest；　about　a　chance　remark　which　Eva　Belter　had　made　which　had　caused　the　police　to　start　seeking　an　attorney　who　had　represented　her；　and　who　had　mysteriously　disappeared　from　his　office。　The　police　were　confidently　predicting　that　the　mystery　would　be　solved　within　another　twenty…four　hours；　and　the　man　who　fired　the　fatal　shot　be　behind　the　bars。
　　Somebody　knocked　at　the　door。
　　Perry　Mason　put　down　the　newspaper　he　was　reading；　cocked　his　head　on　one　side；　and　listened。
　　The　knock　was　repeated。
　　Mason　shrugged　his　shoulders；　walked　to　the　door；　twisted　the　key；　and　opened　it。
　　Della　Street　was　in　the　hall。
　　She　pushed　her　way　into　the　room；　slammed　the　door　behind　her；　and　locked　it。
　　〃I　told　you　not　to　risk　it；〃　Mason　told　her。
　　She　turned　around　and　looked　at　him。　Her　eyes　were　slightly　blood…shot；　with　dark　circles　under　them；　and　her　face　was　haggard。
　　〃I　don't　care；〃　she　said。　〃It　was　all　right。　I　managed　to　ditch　them。　I've　been　playing　tag　with　them　for　an　hour。〃
　　〃You　can't　ever　tell　about　those　fellows；　Della。　They're　clever。　Sometimes　they　let　you　think　you've　got　away　in　order　to　find　out　where　you　wanted　to　go。〃
　　〃They　didn't　slip　anything　over　on　me；〃　she　said　in　a　voice　that　told　of　raw　nerves。　〃I　tell　you　they　don't　know　where　I　am。〃
　　He　caught　the　note　of　hysteria　in　her　voice。　〃Well；　I'm　glad　you're　here。　I　was　just　wondering　who　I　could　get　to　take　down　some　stuff。〃
　　〃What　stuff？〃
　　〃Some　stuff　that's　going　to　e　up。〃
　　She　made　a　gesture　toward　the　newspapers　on　the　bed。
　　〃Chief；〃　she　said；　〃I　told　you　that　she　was　going　to　get　you　into　trouble。　She　came　into　the　office　and　signed　those　papers。　There　were　a　bunch　of　reporters　hanging　around；　of　course；　and　they　started　going　after　her。　Then　the　detectives　took　her　down　to　Headquarters　for　further　questioning。　You　can　see　what　she　did。〃
　　Mason　nodded。　〃That's　all　right。　Don't　get　excited；　Della。〃
　　〃Get　excited？　Do　you　know　what　she　did？　She　made　the　statement　down　there　that　she　recognized　your　voice。　That　you　were　the　man　that　was　in　the　room　with　Belter　when　the　shot　was　fired。　And　then　she　pulled　a　fainting　fit；　and　a　lot　of　hysterics；　and　stuff　of　that　sort。〃
　　〃That's　all　right；　Della；〃　he　said　soothingly。　〃I　knew　she　was　going　to　do　that。〃
　　Della　stared　at　him　with　wide　eyes。
　　〃You　did？〃　she　asked。　〃I　thought　I　was　the　one　who　knew　that！〃
　　He　nodded。　〃Sure　you　did；　Della。　So　did　I。〃
　　〃She's　a　rat　and　a　liar！〃　Della　Street　said。
　　Mason　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　walked　to　the　telephone。　He　gave　the　number　of　Drake's　Detective　Bureau；　and　got　Paul　Drake　on　the　line。
　　〃Listen；　Paul；〃　he　said；　〃make　sure　you're　not　tailed；　and　sneak　over　to　Room　518　in　the　Hotel　Ripley。　Better　bring　a　couple　of　stenographer's　notebooks；　and　a　bunch　of　pencils　along　with　you。　Will　you？〃
　　〃Right　away？〃　asked　the　detective。
　　〃Right　away；〃　he　said。　〃It's　eight　forty…five　now；　and　I'm　expecting　a　show　to　start　at　nine。〃
　　He　hung　up　the　telephone。
　　Della　Street　was　curious。　〃What　is　it；　chief？〃　she　asked。
　　〃I'm　expecting　Eva　Belter　to　be　here　at　nine　o'clock；〃　he　said　briefly。
　　〃I　don't　want　to　be　here　when　that　woman's　here；〃　Della　Street　said。　〃I　can't　trust　myself　around　her。　She's　double…crossed　you　all　the　way　from　the　start。　I　want　to　kill　her。　She's　such　a　sleek　little　gutter　rat。〃
　　He　put　his　hand　on　her　shoulder。　〃Sit　down　and　take　it　easy；　Della。　There's　going　to　be　a　show…down。〃
　　There　was　a　sound　at　the　door。　The　knob　turned；　the　door　opened；　and　Eva　Belter　walked　in。
　　She　looked　at　Della　Street；　and　said；　〃Oh；　you're　both　here。〃
　　〃Apparently；〃　Mason　said；　〃you've　been　doing　some　talking。〃　He　gestured；　as　he　spoke；　toward　the　newspapers　which　were　piled　on　the　bed。
　　She　walked　over　to　him；　ignoring　the　other　woman；　placed　her　hands　on　his　shoulders；　looked　up　in　his　eyes。　〃Perry；〃　she　said；　〃I　never　felt　so　rotten　about　anything　in　my　life。　I　don't　know　how　I　happened　to　say　it。　They　got　me　down　at　Headquarters　and　barked　questions　at　me。　Everybody　shrieked　questions。　I　never　saw　anything　like　it。　I　didn't　dream　that　it　would　be　anything　at　all　like　that。　I　tried　to　protect　you；　but　I　couldn't。　It　slipped　out；　and　just　as　soon　as　I　made　the　first　slip；　they　all　started　piling　on　me。　They　made　threats；　and　told　me　they'd　name　me　as　an　accessory。〃
　　〃What　did　you　tell　them？〃　asked　Mason。
　　She　looked　in　his　eyes；　then　went　over　to　the　bed；　sat　down；　took　out　her　handkerchief　from　her　purse；　and　started　to　cry。
　　Della　Street　moved　two　swift　steps　toward　her；　but　Mason　caught　her　arm　and　pushed　her　back。
　　〃I'm　handling　this；〃　he　said。
　　Eva　Belter　continued　to　sob　into　her　handkerchief。
　　〃Go　ahead；〃　said　Mason。　〃What　did　you　tell　them？〃
　　She　shook　her　head。
　　〃Never　mind　that　sob　stuff；〃　he　said；　〃it　doesn't　go　over　so　big　right　now。　We're　in　a　jam　and　you'd　better　tell　me　what　you　said。〃
　　She　sobbed。　〃I　just　t…t…t…told　them　that　I　heard　your　v…v…v…voice。〃
　　〃Did　you　say　it　was　my　voice？　Or　some　one　that　sounded　like　me？〃
　　〃I　t…t…told　them　everything。　That　it　was　your　voice。〃
　　His　tone　was　hard。　〃You　knew　damned　well　it　wasn't　my　voice。〃
　　〃I　didn't　intend　to　tell　them；〃　she　wailed；　〃but　it　was　the　truth。　It　was　your　voice。〃
　　〃All　right。　We'll　take　it　that　way；〃　Mason　said。
　　Della　Street　started　to　say　something；　but　stopped　when　he　turned　on　her　and　fastened　her　with　level…lidded　eyes。
　　There　was　a　silence　in　the　room；　broken　only　by　the　faint　rumble　of　noises　from　the　street；　and　the　sobs　of　the　woman。
　　After　a　minute　or　two　the　door　opened；　and　Paul　Drake　walked　in。
　　〃Hello；　everybody；〃　he　said；　cheerfully。　〃Made　time；　didn't　I？　I　got　a　break。　There　was　nobody　who　seemed　to　have　the　slightest　interest　in　where　I　was；　or　what　I　was　doing。〃
　　〃Did　you　see　anybody　hanging　around　the　front　of　the　place？〃　asked　Mason。　〃I'm　not　entirely　certain　that　they　didn't　shadow　Della。〃
　　〃Nobody　that　I　noticed。〃
　　Mason　waved　his　hand　toward　the　woman　who　sat　on　the　bed　with　her　legs　crossed。
　　〃This　is　Eva　Belter；〃　he　said。
　　Drake　grinned　and　looked　at　the　legs。
　　〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃I　recognized　her　from　a　picture　in　the　paper。〃
　　Eva　Belter　took　the　handkerchief　down　from　her　eyes；　and　stared　up　at　Drake。　She　smiled　ingratiatingly。
　　Della　Street　snapped；　〃Even　your　tears　weren't　genuine！〃
　　Eva　Belter　turned　and　looked　at　her；　her　blue　eyes　suddenly　grown　hard。
　　Perry　Mason　whirled　on　Della。　〃Listen；　Della；〃　he　said；　〃I'm　running　this　show。〃　He　looked　over　at　Paul　Drake。　〃Did　you　bring　the　notebooks　and　pencils；　Paul？〃
　　The　detective　nodded。
　　Mason　took　the　notebooks　and　pencils；　and　passed　them　over　to　Della　Street。
　　〃Can　you　move　the　table　and　take　down　what's　said；　Della？〃　he　asked。
　　〃I　can　try；〃　she　said　in　a　choked　voice。
　　〃All　right。　Be　sure　and　get　what　she　says；〃　and　he　jerked　his　thumb　in　the　direction　of　Eva　Belter。
　　Eva　Belter　looked　from　one　to　the　other。　〃What　is　it？〃　she　asked。　〃What　are　you　doing？〃
　　〃I'm　going　to　get　the　straight　of　this；〃　Mason　told　her。
　　〃You　want　me　here？〃　asked　Paul　Drake。
　　〃Sure；〃　Mason　told　him。　〃You're　a　witness。〃
　　〃You　make　me　nervous；〃　said　Eva　Belter。　〃That's　the　way　they　did　last　night。　They　had　me　in　the　District　Attorney's　office；　and　they　had　people　sitting　there　with　notebooks　and　pencils。　It　makes　me　nervous　to　have　people　take　down　what　I　say。〃
　　Mason　smiled。　〃Yes；　I　should　think　it　would。　Did　they　ask　you　anything　about　the　gun？〃
　　Eva　Belter　widened　her　blue　eyes　in　that　stare　of　innocence　which　made　her　seem　so　young　and　helpless。
　　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　she　asked。
　　〃You　know　what　I　mean；〃　Mason　persisted。　〃Did　they　ask　anything　about　how　you　happened　to　have　the　gun？〃
　　〃How　I　happened　to　have　the　gun？〃　she　asked。
　　〃Yes；〃　said　Mason。　〃Harrison　Burke　gave　it　to　you；　you　know；　and　that's　the　reason　you　had　to　telephone　him…to　tell　him　that　it　was　his　gun　that　had　been　used　in　the　shooting。〃
　　Della　Street's　pencil　was　skipping　rapidly　over　the　page　of　the　notebook。
　　〃I'm　sure　I　don't　know　what　you're　talking　about；〃　Eva　Belter　said　with　dignity。
　　〃Oh；　yes；　you　do；〃　Mason　told　her。　〃You　telephoned　Burke　that　there　had　been　an　accident　or　something；　and　that　his　gun　had　figured　in　it。　He'd　had　the　gun　given　him　by　a　friend　named　Mitchell；　and　he　drove　right　around　and　picked　up　Mitchell。　The　two　of　them　ducked　under　cover。〃
　　〃Why；〃　she　exclaimed；　〃I　never　heard　of　anything　like　that！〃
　　〃That　line　isn't　going　to　get　you　anywhere；　live；〃　Mason　told　her；　〃because　I　saw　Harrison　Burke；　and　I　have　a　statement　signed　by　him。〃
　　She　stiffened　in　sudden　consternation。
　　〃You　have　a　statement　signed　by　him？〃　she　asked。
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃I　thought　you　were　representing　me。〃
　　〃What's　wrong　with　representing　you　and　having　a　statement　from　Burke？〃　he　asked。
　　〃Nothing；　only　he's　Iying　if　he　said　that　he　ever　gave　me　that　gun。　I　never　saw　it　in　my　life。〃
　　〃That　makes　it　more　simple