esg.thecaseofthevelvetclaws-第30章

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　　〃He　was　all　right；〃　Mason　mented；　〃but　he　just　forgot　to　tell　you　a　couple　of　things。　He　probably　was　in　a　hurry；　and　excited。〃
　　〃Yes；〃　Loring　admitted；　〃he　seemed　excited　all　right。〃
　　They　took　him　down　to　the　car；　and　Mason　said；　〃We'll　go　to　the　Hotel　Ripley；　Drake。　It's　conveniently　located。〃
　　Drake　said；　〃Yeah；　I　understand。〃
　　They　drove　in　silence　to　the　Hotel　Ripley；　where　Mason　was　registered　under　the　name　of　Johnson。　He　approached　the　clerk　and　said；　〃This　is　Mr。　LeGrande　from　Detroit；　my　home　town。　He　wants　to　get　a　room　here　for　a　few　days。　I　wonder　if　you　can　give　him　one　on　the　same　floor　that　I　have？〃
　　The　clerk　consulted　a　card　index。　〃Let's　see。　You're　in　518；　Mr。　Johnson？〃
　　〃That's　right；〃　Mason　said。
　　〃I　can　give　him　522。〃
　　〃That'll　be　fine；　and　there's　some　baggage　to　take　care　of。　I'll　speak　to　the　porter　about　it。〃
　　They　went　up　to　the　room　with　Loring。
　　〃Okay；〃　Mason　said　to　Loring。　〃Now　you　stay　right　here；　and　don't　go　out。　Be　where　you　can　answer　the　telephone　if　we　should　give　you　a　ring。　We've　got　to　make　a　report　to　Headquarters。　Then　it　may　be　that　they'll　want　to　ask　you　a　couple　more　questions。　But　it's　going　to　be　all　right　now　that　we've　got　your　written　statement。　You're　in　the　clear。〃
　　〃That's　fine；〃　Loring　said。　〃I'll　do　just　what　you　say。　The　lawyer　said　to　municate　with　him　as　soon　as　I　got　located。　Should　I　do　that？〃
　　〃No；〃　said　Mason；　〃that's　not　necessary；　because　you've　municated　with　us。　Don't　municate　with　anybody。　Just　stay　right　here　and　wait　until　you　hear　from　us。　You　can't　do　anything　until　after　we've　reported　to　Headquarters。〃
　　〃All　right；〃　agreed　Loring；　〃whatever　you　say。〃
　　They　went　out　of　the　room　and　closed　the　door。
　　Drake　turned　to　Mason　and　grinned。
　　〃Boy；　what　a　break！〃　he　said。　〃What　do　we　do　now？〃
　　Mason　strode　toward　the　elevator。
　　〃Now　we　pull　a　grandstand；〃　he　said。
　　〃Let　her　go；〃　Drake　told　him。
　　Mason　stopped　in　the　lobby　and　called　Police　Headquarters。　He　asked　for　Sidney　Drumm　in　the　Detective　Bureau。　After　a　minute　or　two；　he　heard　Drumm's　voice　on　the　wire。
　　〃Drumm；〃　he　said；　〃this　is　Mason。　I've　got　another　development　in　that　Belter　case；　but　I've　got　to　have　some　cooperation　on　it。　I　gave　you　a　break　on　the　arrest　of　the　woman；　and　I　want　you　to　give　me　a　break　now。〃
　　Drumm　laughed。　〃I　don't　know　whether　you　gave　it　to　me　or　not。　I　walked　in　on　it；　and　you　came　through　to　save　your　own　bacon。〃
　　〃Well；　there's　no　use　arguing　about　it；〃　Mason　said。　〃I　gave　you　the　dope；　and　you　got　the　credit。〃
　　〃Okay；〃　said　Drumm；　〃what　do　you　want？〃
　　〃Round　up　Sergeant　Hoffman　and　meet　me　at　the　foot　of　Elmwood　Drive。　I　want　to　go　up　to　Belter's　house　with　you。　I　think　I　can　show　you　something　up　there。〃
　　〃I　don't　know　as　I　can　get　the　Sergeant。　He　may　have　left　already；〃　Drumm　protested。　〃It's　late。〃
　　〃If　he's　left；　round　him　up；〃　Mason　told　him。　〃And　I　want　you　to　have　Eva　Belter　out　there。〃
　　〃Gee；〃　said　Drumm；　〃that's　a　big　order。　If　we　take　her　out　now；　it'll　attract　attention。〃
　　〃It　won't　if　you　sneak　her　out；〃　said　Mason。　〃Bring　along　as　many　men　as　you　want；　only　don't　make　any　noise　about　it。〃
　　〃I　don't　know　how　the　Sergeant　will　look　at　this　thing；〃　Drumm　protested；　〃but　I　don't　think　there's　a　chance　in　a　million。〃
　　〃Well；〃　Mason　said；　〃do　the　best　you　can。　If　he　won't　bring　Eva　Belter；　get　him　to　e　himself。　I'd　like　to　have　her　there；　but　I've　got　to　have　you　two。〃
　　〃Okay；〃　said　Drumm。　〃I'll　meet　you　at　the　foot　of　the　hill；　unless　something　goes　wrong。　I　can　get　him　to　go　if　he's　here。〃
　　〃No。　That　won't　do。　You　find　out　first　whether　or　not　you　can　make　the　arrangements；　and　then　wait　there。　I'll　call　you　back　in　about　five　minutes。　If　you　can　go；　I'll　meet　you　at　the　foot　of　the　hill。　If　you　can't　there's　no　use　going　on　a　wild…goose　chase。〃
　　〃Okay；　five　minutes；　then；〃　Drumm　said；　and　hung　up。
　　Drake　looked　at　Mason。　〃You're　biting　off　a　pretty　big　mouthful　there；　guy。〃
　　〃That's　all　right。　I　can　chew　it。〃
　　〃Do　you　know　what　you're　doing？〃
　　〃I　think　I　do。〃
　　〃If　you're　trying　to　work　up　a　defense　for　the　jane；　it　would　be　a　whole　lot　better　to　work　it　up　without　the　police　being　there　so　that　you　could　spring　it　on　them　as　a　surprise。〃
　　〃This　isn't　that　kind　of　a　defense；〃　said　Mason。　〃I　want　the　police　there。〃
　　Drake　shrugged　his　shoulders。
　　〃It's　your　funeral；〃　he　said。
　　Mason　nodded；　walked　over　to　the　cigar　counter；　and　bought　some　cigarettes。　He　waited　five　minutes；　and　then　called　Drumm。
　　Drumm　said；　〃I've　got　Bill　Hoffman　sold　on　the　idea；　Mason；　but　he　won't　take　Eva　Belter　out　there。　He's　afraid　you're　laying　a　trap　for　him。　There　are　two　dozen　reporters　hanging　around　the　jail；　and　we　couldn't　move　her　any　place　without　having　that　bunch　trailing　along。　Hoffman's　afraid　you　might　get　him　out　there；　and　pull　a　fast　one　that　the　newspapers　could　play　up；　and　he'd　be　in　a　sweet　spot。　But　he's　willing　to　go　himself。〃
　　〃Okay；〃　Mason　said；　〃that　may　work　out　just　as　well。　Meet　me　out　at　the　foot　of　Elmwood　Drive。　We'll　be　waiting　there　in　a　Buick　coupe。〃
　　〃Okay；〃　said　Drumm。　〃We're　leaving　in　about　five　minutes。〃
　　〃See　you　later；〃　Mason　told　him；　and　slipped　the　receiver　back　on　its　hook。
　　
　　
　　　19。
　　
　　The　four　men　pushed　their　way　up　the　steps　of　the　Belter　Mansion。
　　Sergeant　Hoffman　frowned　at　Mason。　〃Now　listen；　no　funny　business。　I'm　trusting　you　on　this。〃
　　〃Just　keep　your　eyes　and　ears　open；　and　if　you　think　I'm　uncovering　something；　go　ahead　and　follow　up　the　lead。　Any　time　you　think　I'm　trying　to　give　you　the　double…cross；　you　can　walk　out。〃
　　Hoffman　said；　〃That's　fair。〃
　　〃Let's　remember　one　or　two　things　before　we　start；〃　cautioned　Mason。　〃I　met　Mrs。　Belter　at　the　drug　store　down　at　the　foot　of　the　hill。　We　came　up　together。　She　didn't　have　her　keys　with　her；　and　she　didn't　have　her　purse。　She'd　left　the　door　unlocked　when　she　came　out　so　she　could　get　back　in。　She　told　me　that　the　door　was　unlocked。　When　I　tried　the　door　it　was　locked。　The　night　latch　was　on。〃
　　Drumm　said；　〃She's　such　a　liar；　that　if　she　told　me　a　door　was　open；　I'd　know　it　was　locked。〃
　　〃That's　all　right；　too；〃　Mason　said；　doggedly　insistent；　〃but　remember　that　she　didn't　have　her　keys　with　her；　and　she　went　out　in　the　rain。　She　was　bound　to　figure　on　getting　back　in　some　way。〃
　　〃Maybe　she　was　too　rattled；〃　Hoffman　pointed　out。
　　〃Not　that　baby；〃　Mason　remarked。
　　〃All　right；　go　on；〃　said　Hoffman；　interested。　〃What's　next？〃
　　〃When　I　went　in；〃　said　Mason；　〃there　was　an　umbrella　in　the　stand；　which　was　wet。　There　was　a　pool　of　water　which　had　drained　down　from　it　on　the　floor　underneath。　You　probably　noticed　it　when　you　came。〃
　　Sergeant　Hoffman's　eyes　narrowed。
　　〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃e　to　think　of　it；　I　did　notice　it。　What　about　it？〃
　　〃Nothing；〃　said　Mason；　〃yet。〃　He　reached　out　his　finger　and　pushed　the　bell　button。
　　After　a　few　minutes　the　door　was　opened　by　the　butler；　who　stared　at　them。
　　〃Carl　Griffin　home？〃　asked　Mason。
　　The　butler　shook　his　head。　〃No；　sir；〃　he　said；　〃he's　out。　He　had　a　business　appointment；　sir。〃
　　〃Mrs。　Veitch；　the　housekeeper's　here？〃
　　〃Oh；　yes；　sir；　of　course；　sir。〃
　　〃And　her　daughter；　Norma？〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　〃All　right；〃　said　Mason；　〃we're　going　up　to　Belter's　study。　Don't　say　anything　to　anybody　about　the　fact　that　we're　here。　Do　you　understand？〃
　　〃Yes；　sir；〃　said　the　butler。
　　Hoffman　stepped　inside　the　door；　and　looked　searchingly　at　the　hall　stand　in　which　the　umbrella　had　stood　the　night　of　the　murder。　His　eyes　were　very　thoughtful。
　　Drumm　was　whistling　nervously　in　a　low；　almost　inaudible　note。
　　They　climbed　up　the　stairs；　and　went　into　the　suite　where　Belter's　body　had　been　found。　Mason　switched　on　the　lights　and　began　a　minute　search　of　the　walls。
　　〃I　wish　you　folks　would　take　a　look；〃　he　said。
　　〃What　are　you　looking　for？〃　asked　Drumm。
　　〃A　bullet　hole；〃　said　Mason。
　　Sergeant　Hoffman　grunted　and　said；　〃You　can　save　your　time　on　that。　We've　gone　over　every　inch　of　these　rooms；　and　had　them　photographed；　and　mapped。　A　bullet　couldn't　have　gone　through　here　without　leaving　a　hole　we'd　have　seen；　and　there'd　have　been　plaster　chipped　loose。〃
　　〃I　know；〃　said　Mason。　〃I　made　a　search　before　you　got　here　looking　for　the　same　thing；　and　couldn't　find　it。　But　I　want　to　make　one　more　search。　I　know　what　must　have　happened；　but　I　can't　prove　it；　yet。〃
　　Sergeant　Hoffman；　suddenly　suspicious；　said；　〃Look　here；　Mason！　Are　you　trying　to　clear　that　woman？〃
　　Mason　turned　and　faced　him。
　　〃I'm　trying　to　show　what　actually　happened；〃　he　said。
　　Hoffman　frowned。　〃That　doesn't　answer　my　question。　Are　you　trying　to　free　the　woman？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃That　lets　me　out；〃　said　Hoffman。
　　〃No；　it　doesn't；〃　said　Mason。　〃I'm　going　to　give　you　an　opportunity　to　get　your　pictures　all　over　the　front　pages　of　the　papers。〃
　　〃That's　what　I'm　afraid　of；〃　said　Hoffman。　〃You're　clever；　Mason。　I've　looked　you　up。〃
　　〃All　right；　if　you've　looked　me　up；　you　know　I　never　go　back　on　my　friends。　Sidney　Drumm　is　a　friend　of　mine。　I　got　him　in　on　this。　If　it　had　been　any　kind　of　a　frame…up；　I'd　have　got　somebody　I　didn't　know。〃
　　Sergeant　Hoffman　admitted　grudgingly；　〃Well；　I'm　going　to　stick　around　a　little　while；　but　don't　try　any　funny　stuff。　I　want　to　know　what　you're　getting　at。〃
　　Mason　stood　staring　at　the　bathroom。　There　were　chalk…lines　on　the　floor；　marking　the　position　in　which　the　body　of　George　Belter　had　been　found。
　　Suddenly　Mason　laughed　aloud。
　　〃I'll　be　damned！〃
　　〃What's　the　joke？〃　asked　Drumm。
　　Mason　turned　to　Sergeant　Hoffman。
　　〃Okay；　Sergeant；〃　he　said；　〃I'm　ready　to　go　ahead　and　show　you　something。　Will　you　send　for　Mrs。　Veitch　and　her　daughter？〃
　　Sergeant　Hoffman　looked　dubious。　〃What　do　you　want　with　them？〃
　　Mason　said；　〃I　want　to　ask　them　some　questions。〃
　　Hoffman　shook　his　head。
　　〃No；〃　he　said；　〃I　don't　think　I　want　you　to…not　until　I　know　more　about　it。〃
　　〃This　is　on　the　level；　Sergeant；〃　Mason　insisted。　〃You　sit　and　listen　to　the　questions。　Any　time　you　think　I'm　getting　off　the　reservation；　you　can　stop　me。　Hell's　fire；　man！　If　I　wanted　to　slip　over　a　fast　one；　I'd　run　you　in　front　of　a　jury　and　then　pull　my　stuff　as　a　surprise。　I　certainly　wouldn't　go　out　and　take　the　police　in　on　the　ground　floor　of　what　my　defense　was　going　to　be。〃
　　Sergeant　Hoffman　thought　a　minute。
　　〃That's　logical；〃　he　said。　He　turned　to　Drumm。　〃Go　on　down　and　round　up　the　two　women；　and　bring　them　up　here；〃　he　said。
　　Drumm　nodded　and　left　the　room。
　　Paul　Drake　stared　at　Mason　curiously。　There　was　not　the　faintest　trace　of　expression　on　Mason's　face；　nor　did　he　say　anything　during　the　few　minutes　which　elapsed　after　Drumm　left　the　room　and　the　time　when　shuffling　steps　were　heard　outside　of　the　door。　Then　the　door　opened；　and　Drumm　bowed　the　two　women　into　the　room。
　　Mrs。　Veitch　was　as　sombre　as　ever。　Her　dull　black　eyes　stared　incuriously　at　the　men　in　the　room。　She　walked　with　her　peculiar；　long；　flat…footed　stride。
　　Norma　Veitch　wore　a　tight　fitting　dress；　which　accentuated　the　curves　of　her　figure。　She