esg.thecaseofthevelvetclaws-第27章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　Atwood　waved　his　hand　in　the　direction　of　his　client。　〃Mr。　Griffin；　of　course。〃
　　〃I'm　not　representing　Griffin；〃　Mason　answered　curtly。
　　Atwood's　eyes　now　joined　in　the　smile　of　his　lips。
　　〃That；　of　course；　is　true；〃　he　said；　〃at　the　present　time。　However；　I　may　state　candidly；　that　my　client　has　bee　very　much　impressed　with　the　rare　ability　which　you　have　shown　in　this　matter　and　with　the　spirit　of　fairness　which　has　characterized　you　throughout。　It　is；　of　course；　a　painful　and　embarrassing　bination　of　circumstances　all　around。　It　es　very　much　as　a　shock　to　my　client。　However；　there　can　now　be　no　question　as　to　what　happened；　and　my　client；　in　carrying　on　the　business　of　the　estate；　will　require　plenty　of　petent　counsel；　if　you　understand　what　I　mean。〃
　　〃Exactly　what　do　you　mean？〃　Mason　asked。
　　Atwood　sighed。
　　〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃if　I　must　speak　frankly；　or　I　might　say；　crudely；　inasmuch　as　we　are　all　here　together；　just　the　three　of　us；　it　is　quite　possible　that　my　client　will　find　that　the　operation　of　the　publication；　Spicy　Bits；　is　something　which　will　require　very　specialized　attention。　I；　of　course；　will　be　busy　representing　the　balance　of　the　estate；　and　he　has　suggested　to　me　that　he　might　like　to　secure　the　services　of　some　petent　attorney　to　advise　him；　particularly　with　reference　to　the　publication。　In　fact；　to　take　over　the　publication　during　the　period　that　the　estate　is　in　probate。〃
　　Atwood　ceased　speaking；　and　gazed　significantly；　with　his　beady；　glittering　eyes；　at　Perry　Mason。　Then；　as　Mason　said　nothing；　he　went　on；　〃The　matter　would　call　for　some　expenditure　of　time。　You　would　be　well　pensated；　very　well　pensated；　indeed。〃
　　Mason　was　blunt。　〃All　right；〃　he　said。　〃Why　mince　matters？　What　you　want　me　to　do　is　to　dismiss　the　contest　all　the　way　along　the　line　and　leave　Griffin　in　the　saddle。　He'll　see　that　I　make　some　money　out　of　it。　Is　that　the　proposition？〃
　　Atwood　pursed　his　lips。
　　〃Really；　counselor；　I　would　hesitate　to　mit　myself　upon　so　blunt　an　expression　of　policy；　but；　if　you　will　think　over　the　statement　that　I　made；　I　think　you　will　find　that　it　keeps　within　the　bounds　of　professional　ethics；　and　yet　is　sufficiently　prehensive　to　cover　the　case。〃
　　〃To　hell　with　all　that　hooey；〃　Perry　Mason　said。　〃I　want　a　plain　understanding。　I'll　talk　plainly　even　if　you　won't。　You　and　I　are　on　opposite　sides　of　this　fence。　You're　representing　Griffin；　and　trying　to　get　control　of　the　estate；　and　keep　control　of　it。　I'm　representing　Mrs。　Belter；　and　I'm　going　to　throw　that　will　out　of　court。　It's　a　forgery；　and　you　know　it。〃
　　Atwood's　lips　continued　to　smile；　but　his　eyes　were　cold　and　hard。
　　〃You　can't　get　away　with　that；〃　he　said。　〃It　doesn't　make　any　difference　whether　the　will's　a　forgery　or　not。　She　destroyed　the　original　will。　She　admits　that　in　her　confession。　We　can　prove　the　contents　of　that　destroyed　will；　and　take　under　it。〃
　　〃All　right；〃　said　Mason；　〃that's　a　lawsuit。　You　think　you　can。　I　think　you　can't。〃
　　〃Moreover；〃　said　Atwood；　〃she　can't　take　any　of　the　property　because　she　murdered　him。　It's　against　the　policy　of　the　law　for　a　person　to　inherit　property　from　one　he　or　she　has　murdered　regardless　of　any　will　or　other　instrument。〃
　　Mason　said　nothing。
　　Atwood　exchanged　glances　with　his　client。
　　〃Do　you　question　that？〃　he　asked　of　Mason。
　　〃Hell；　yes；〃　said　Mason；　〃but　I'm　not　going　to　argue　it　with　you　here。　I'll　do　my　arguing　when　I　get　in　front　of　a　jury。　Don't　think　I　was　born　yesterday。　I　know　what　you　want。　You　want　to　be　assured　of　convicting　Eva　Belter　of　first　degree　murder。　You　think　I　can　help　you　show　premeditation　by　giving　proof　of　a　motive。　If　you　can　convict　her　of　first　degree　murder　she　can't　take　any　of　the　property。　That's　the　law　a　murderer　can't　inherit。　But　if　she's　not　convicted　of　murder；　even　if　she　should　be　convicted　of　manslaughter；　she　could　still　inherit。　You're　after　the　property　and　you　want　to　bribe　me。　It　won't　work。〃
　　〃If　you　persist　in　this　course；　counselor；　you　may　find　yourself　in　front　of　a　jury。〃
　　〃All　right；〃　said　Mason；　〃what's　the　English　translation　of　that；　a　threat？〃
　　〃You　can't　keep　us　out　of　the　saddle；〃　said　Atwood。　〃And　when　we　get　in　the　saddle；　we　will　have　several　important　decisions　to　make。　Some　of　them　may　affect　your　activities。〃
　　Perry　Mason　got　to　his　feet。
　　〃I　don't　like　this　business　of　talking　around　in　circles；〃　he　said。　〃I　e　out　and　say　what　I　have　to　say。〃
　　〃Well；〃　said　Atwood；　still　speaking　suavely；　〃exactly　what　do　you　have　to　say？〃
　　〃No！〃　snapped　Mason；　explosively。
　　Carl　Griffin　coughed　apologetically。
　　〃Gentlemen；〃　he　said；　〃perhaps　I　might　say　something　which　would　simplify　the　situation。〃
　　〃No；〃　said　Atwood；　〃I'm　doing　the　talking。〃
　　Griffin　smiled　at　Mason。
　　〃No　hard　feelings；　counselor；〃　he　said；　〃it's　a　matter　of　business。〃
　　〃Please；〃　said　Atwood；　his　eyes　staring　steadily　at　his　client。
　　〃Oh；　all　right；〃　said　Griffin。
　　Mason　motioned　toward　the　door。　〃Well；　gentlemen；　I　guess　the　conference　is　over。〃
　　Atwood　tried　again。　〃If　you　could　only　see　your　way　clear　to　dismissing　the　applications；　counselor；　it　would　save　time。　As　it　is；　you　must　admit　that　we　have　a　perfect　case；　but　we　didn't　like　the　time　and　expense　necessary　to　present　it。〃
　　Mason　stared　at　him　stonily。　〃Listen；〃　he　said；　〃you　may　think　you've　got　a　perfect　case；　but　right　now　I'm　in　the　saddle；　and　I'm　going　to　stay　in　the　saddle。〃
　　Atwood　lost　his　temper。　〃You're　not　in　the　saddle　firmly　enough　to　stay　twenty…four　hours！〃
　　〃You　think　not？〃
　　〃Permit　me　to　remind　you；　counselor；〃　Atwood　remarked；　〃that　you　might　be　considered　an　accessory　to　the　murder。　The　police　would　doubtless　be　guided　by　our　wishes　in　the　matter；　since　my　client　is　now　the　legal　heir。〃
　　Mason　moved　over　toward　him。　〃Any　time　I　need　you　to　remind　me　of　where　I　stand；　Atwood；　I'll　call　you　up。〃
　　〃All　right；〃　said　Atwood；　〃if　you　want　to　be　disagreeable　about　it；　we'll　play　that　kind　of　a　game。〃
　　〃That's　fine；〃　Mason　told　him；　〃I　do　want　to　be　disagreeable　about　it。〃
　　Atwood　signaled　to　his　client；　and　both　men　walked　to　the　door。
　　Atwood　strode　through　it　unhesitatingly；　but　Carl　Griffin　paused　with　his　hands　on　the　knob；　acting　very　much　as　though　he　had　something　he　wanted　to　say。
　　Mason's　manner；　however；　was　not　encouraging。　Griffin　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　followed　his　attorney　out　of　the　office。
　　When　they　had　gone；　Della　Street　came　in。
　　〃Did　you　reach　some　kind　of　an　agreement　with　them？〃　she　asked。
　　He　shook　his　head。
　　〃Can't　they　beat　us？〃　she　asked；　avoiding　his　eyes。
　　He　seemed　to　have　aged　ten　years。　〃Listen；　Della；　I'm　fighting　for　time。　If　they'd　given　me　a　little　time；　and　some　elbow　room；　I'd　have　worked　this　situation　out　all　right。　But　that　woman　had　to　go　and　drag　me　into　it　in　order　to　get　herself　out。　That　left　me　with　only　one　alternative…to　get　her　in　so　that　I　could　be　on　the　outside；　where　I　could　do　some　good。〃
　　〃You　don't　need　to　explain；　chief；〃　she　told　him。　〃I'm　sorry　if　I　seemed　to　criticize　you。　It　was　all　so　unexpected；　and　so　totally　unlike　you；　that　it　surprised　me。　That　was　all。　Please　forget　it。〃　But　her　eyes　still　avoided　his。
　　〃Sure；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　going　down　to　Paul　Drake's　office。　You　can　reach　me　there　if　it's　anything　important；　but　don't　tell　anybody　where　I　am。〃
　　
　　
　　　17。
　　
　　Paul　Drake　sat　at　a　battered　desk　in　a　cubbyhole　of　an　office　and　grinned　across　at　Perry　Mason。
　　〃Pretty　clever　work；〃　he　said。　〃Did　you　have　that　up　your　sleeve　all　the　time；　or　did　you　just　pull　it　on　her　when　the　going　got　rough？〃
　　Mason's　eyes　were　heavy。　〃I've　had　an　idea　what　happened　but　getting　an　idea　and　getting　proof　are　two　different　things。　Now　I've　got　to　save　her。〃
　　〃Forget　it；〃　said　Drake。　〃In　the　first　place　she　isn't　worth　it；　and　in　the　second　place；　you　can't。　Her　only　chance　is　self…defense　and　that　won't　work　because　she　admits　he　was　across　the　room　from　her　when　she　shot。〃
　　〃No；〃　said　Mason。　〃She's　a　client。　I　stay　by　my　clients。　She　forced　my　hand；　and　I　had　to　make　the　play　I　did。　Otherwise；　we'd　both　have　been　in　a　mess。〃
　　〃I　wouldn't　give　her　any　consideration　whatever；〃　Drake　said。　〃She's　just　a　two…timing　little　tart　that　saw　a　chance　to　marry　money；　did　it；　and　has　been　giving　everybody　the　double…cross　ever　since。　You　can　talk　all　you　want　to　about　your　duty　to　a　client；　but　when　the　client　starts　framing　a　murder　rap　on　you；　that's　different。〃
　　Mason　surveyed　the　detective　with　heavy　eyes。　〃That's　neither　here　nor　there。　I'm　going　to　save　her。〃
　　〃How　can　you？〃
　　〃Get　this　straight；〃　said　Perry　Mason。　〃She　isn't　guilty　of　anything　until　she's　convicted。〃
　　〃She　confessed；〃　said　Drake。
　　〃That　doesn't　make　any　difference。　The　confession　is　evidence　that　can　be　used　in　the　case　against　her；　that's　all。〃
　　〃Well；〃　said　Drake；　〃what's　a　jury　going　to　do？　You'd　have　to　save　her　on　the　ground　of　insanity　or　self…defense。　And　she　hates　your　guts。　She'll　get　another　lawyer　now。〃
　　〃That's　just　the　point；〃　said　Mason。　〃There　might　be　any　one　of　several　different　methods　by　which　she　might　be　saved。　I'm　not　talking　about　methods　now。　I'm　talking　about　results。　I　want　you　to　get　everything　you　can　on　that　Veitch　family　from　the　present　time；　back　to　the　year　One。〃
　　〃You　mean　the　housekeeper？〃　asked　Drake。
　　〃I　mean　the　housekeeper　and　the　daughter。　The　whole　family。〃
　　〃You　still　think　that　housekeeper　is　keeping　something　back？〃
　　〃I　know　it。〃
　　〃Okay；　I'll　turn　the　men　loose　on　the　housekeeper。　How　did　that　Georgia　stuff　suit　you？〃
　　〃Swell。〃
　　〃What　do　you　want　me　to　find　out　about　the　housekeeper？〃
　　〃Everything　you　can。　And　about　the　daughter　too。　Don't　overlook　a　single　bet。〃
　　〃Listen；〃　said　Drake。　〃Have　you　got　something　up　your　sleeve；　Perry？〃
　　〃I'm　going　to　get　her　out。〃
　　〃Do　you　know　how　you're　going　to　do　it？〃
　　〃I've　got　an　idea。　If　I　hadn't　had　an　idea　how　I　could　get　her　out；　I　wouldn't　have　got　her　in；　in　the　first　place。〃
　　〃Not　even　when　she　tried　to　put　a　murder　rap　on　you？〃　asked　Drake；　curiously。
　　〃Not　even　when　she　tried　to　put　a　murder　rap　on　me；〃　said　Mason；　doggedly。
　　〃You　sure　as　hell　do　stick　up　for　your　clients；〃　said　Drake。
　　〃I　wish　I　could　convince　some　other　people　of　that；〃　the　lawyer　said；　wearily。
　　Drake　looked　at　him　sharply。　Perry　Mason　went　on；　〃That's　my　creed　in　life；　Paul。　I'm　a　lawyer。　I　take　people　who　are　in　trouble；　and　I　try　to　get　them　out　of　trouble。　I'm　not　presenting　the　people's　side　of　the　case；　I'm　only　presenting　the　defendant's　side。　The　District　Attorney　represents　the　people；　and　he　makes　the　strongest　kind　of　a　case　he　can。　It's　my　duty　to　make　the　strongest　kind　of　a　case　I　can　on　the　other　side；　and　then　it's　up　to　the　jury　to　decide。　That's　the　way　we　get　justice。　If　the　District　Attorney　would　be　fair；　then　I　could　be　fair。　But　the　District　Attorney　uses　everything　he　can　in　order　to　get　a　conviction。　I　use　everything　I　can　in　order　to　get　an　acquittal。　It's　like　two　teams　playing　football。　One　of　them　tries　to　go　in　one　direction　just　as　hard　as　it　can；　and　the　other　tries　to　go　in　the