esg.thecaseofthevelvetclaws-第31章

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　　Norma　Veitch　wore　a　tight　fitting　dress；　which　accentuated　the　curves　of　her　figure。　She　seemed　proudly　aware　of　her　ability　to　catch　the　masculine　eye　as　she　stared　from　face　to　face；　with　a　half　smile　on　her　full　lips。
　　Mason　said；　〃We　wanted　to　ask　you　a　few　questions。〃
　　Norma　Veitch　said；　〃Again？〃
　　〃Mrs。　Veitch；　do　you　know　anything　about　your　daughter's　engagement　to　Carl　Griffin？〃　asked　Mason；　ignoring　Norma's　ment。
　　〃I　know　they're　engaged。〃
　　〃Did　you　know　that　there　was　any　romance　there？〃　asked　Mason。
　　〃There's　usually　a　romance　when　people　get　engaged；〃　she　said；　in　her　husky　voice。
　　〃I'm　not　talking　about　that；〃　he　told　her。　〃Please　answer　my　question；　Mrs。　Veitch。　Was　there　any　romance　between　the　pair；　that　you　know　of；　prior　to　the　time　that　Norma　came　here？〃
　　The　dark；　sunken　eyes　shifted　for　a　moment　toward　Norma；　then　came　back　to　Mason's　face。
　　〃No；〃　she　said；　〃not　before　they　came　here。　They　got　acquainted　afterwards。〃
　　〃Did　you　know　your　daughter　had　been　married？〃　asked　Mason。
　　The　eyes　stared　full　in　his　face　without　any　change　of　expression。
　　〃No；〃　said　the　woman　wearily；　〃she　hasn't　been　married。〃
　　Mason　shifted　quickly　to　Norma。
　　〃How　about　it；　Miss　Veitch？　Were　you　ever　married？〃
　　〃Not　yet；〃　she　said。　〃I'm　going　to　be。　And　I　don't　see　for　the　life　of　me　how　that's　connected　with　the　murder　of　George　Belter。　If　you　folks　want　to　ask　questions　about　that；　I　presume　we've　got　to　answer　them；　but　I　don't　see　that　that　means　I　have　to　go　into　my　private　affairs。〃
　　〃How　could　you　marry　Carl　Griffin　when　you　were　already　married？〃　Mason　asked。
　　〃I'm　not　married；〃　Norma　Veitch　said；　〃and　I　don't　have　to　stand　for　these　insulting　ments。〃
　　〃That　isn't　what　Harry　Loring　says；〃　Mason　told　her。
　　The　girl's　face　didn't　change　expression　by　so　much　as　the　flicker　of　an　eyelash。
　　〃Loring？〃　she　said；　in　a　calmly　inquiring　tone。　〃Never　heard　of　the　man。　Did　you　ever　hear　of　a　man　named　Loring；　Mumsey？〃
　　Mrs。　Veitch　puckered　her　forehead。　〃Not　that　I　can　recall；　Norma。　I'm　not　very　good　at　remembering　names；　but　I　don't　know　any　Loring。〃
　　〃Perhaps；〃　said　Mason；　〃I　can　refresh　your　recollection。　He's　a　man　that　lived　in　the　Belvedere　Apartments。　He　had　apartment　312。〃
　　Norma　Veitch　shook　her　head　hastily；　〃I'm　certain　there's　some　mistake。〃
　　Perry　Mason　pulled　the　copy　of　the　summons　and　plaint　in　the　divorce　action　from　his　pocket。　〃Then　perhaps　you　can　explain　how　it　happened　that　you　verified　this　plaint；　in　which　you　swore　on　your　oath　that　you　had　gone　through　a　marriage　ceremony　with　Harry　Loring。〃
　　Norma　Veitch　flashed　one　quick　glance　at　the　paper；　then　shifted　her　eyes　to　her　mother。　Mrs。　Veitch's　face　was　quite　expressionless。
　　Norma　spoke　rapidly。
　　〃I'm　sorry　that　you　found　that　out；　but　since　you　did；　I　may　as　well　tell　you。　I　didn't　want　Carl　to　know　anything　about　it。　I　was　married　and　had　trouble　with　my　husband　and　left　him。　I　came　here　and　took　my　maiden　name。　Carl　met　me；　and　we　fell　in　love　with　each　other　at　first　sight。　We　didn't　dare　to　do　anything　about　announcing　our　engagement　because　we　knew　that　Mr。　Belter　would　be　furious。　But；　after　Mr。　Belter　died；　there　wasn't　any　reason　why　we　should　keep　it　secret。
　　〃I　found　out　my　husband　had　another　wife　living。　That's　one　of　the　reasons　we　separated。　I　talked　to　a　lawyer。　He　said　the　marriage　wasn't　any　good。　He　told　me　I　could　get　an　annulment。　I　was　going　to　do　it　quietly。　I　didn't　figure　that　anybody　would　know　a　thing　about　it　or　connect　the　name　of　Loring　with　that　of　Veitch。〃
　　〃That　isn't　what　Griffin　says；〃　Mason　told　her。
　　〃Of　course　not；〃　she　said。　〃He　doesn't　know　anything　about　it。〃
　　Mason　shook　his　head。
　　〃No；〃　he　said。　〃You　see；　Griffin　has　confessed。　We're　trying　to　check　up　on　his　confession；　trying　to　find　out　if　you're　criminally　responsible　as　an　accessory　or　if　you　were　just　the　victim　of　circumstances。〃
　　Sergeant　Hoffman　moved　forward。　〃I　think；〃　he　said；　〃that　right　here　is　where　I'm　going　to　stop　the　show；　Mason。〃
　　Mason　turned　on　him。　〃Listen　for　one　more　minute；　Sergeant；〃　he　pleaded。　〃You　can　stop　the　show　then　if　you　want　to。〃
　　Norma　Veitch　looked　swiftly　and　nervously　from　one　to　the　other。　Mrs。　Veitch's　face　was　a　mask　of　weary　resignation。
　　〃What　happened；〃　said　Mason；　〃is　that　Mrs。　Belter　had　an　argument　with　her　husband；　and　fired　the　shot　at　him。　Then　she　turned　and　ran；　without　waiting　to　see　what　had　happened。　Woman…like；　she　supposed；　of　course；　that　because　she　had　shot　at　a　man；　she　had　hit　him。　As　a　matter　of　fact；　at　that　distance；　in　her　excitement；　the　chances　were　very　strongly　against　her　hitting　him。
　　〃She　turned　and　ran　down　the　stairs；　grabbed　a　coat；　and　went　out　into　the　rain。　You；　Miss　Veitch；　heard　the　shot　and　you　got　up；　dressed；　and　came　to　see　what　the　trouble　was。　In　the　meantime　Carl　Griffin　had　driven　up　to　the　house；　and　had　e　in。　It　was　raining　and　he　had　put　his　umbrella　in　the　rack；　and　went　upstairs　to　the　study。
　　〃You　heard　Griffin's　voice　and　Belter's　voice；　and　listened。　Belter　was　telling　Griffin　about　how　his　wife　had　shot　at　him；　and　that　he'd　uncovered　proof　of　her　infidelity。　He　mentioned　the　man's　name　to　his　nephew　and　asked　his　nephew　what　should　be　done　about　it。
　　〃Griffin　became　curious　as　to　the　shooting；　and　got　Belter　to　stand　in　the　door　of　the　bathroom；　just　as　he'd　been　standing　when　Mrs。　Belter　shot　at　him。　When　Griffin　had　him　in　that　position；　he　raised　the　gun　and　shot　Belter　through　the　heart。　Then　he　put　the　gun　down；　ran　down　the　stairs；　out　through　the　front　door；　jumped　in　his　car；　and　drove　away。
　　〃He　went　out　and　got　himself　good　and　tight；　so　that　he　could　put　up　a　better　front；　let　the　air　out　of　one　tire；　so　as　to　account　for　his　delay　in　getting　here；　and　drove　up；　after　he　knew　the　police　had　arrived。　He　pretended　that　it　was　the　first　time　he'd　returned　since　he　went　out　in　the　afternoon。　But　he　forgot　about　his　umbrella　which　was　in　the　hallway；　and　he　overlooked　the　fact　that　he'd　found　the　door　open　when　he　came　in；　and　had　put　the　night　latch　on　it　when　he　went　upstairs。
　　〃He　shot　his　uncle　because　he　knew　that　he　was　going　to　inherit　under　the　will；　and　he　realized　that　Eva　Belter　thought　she　had　shot　him。　He　knew　that　the　gun　could　be　traced　to　her　and　that　the　evidence　was　all　against　her。　The　purse　in　which　Belter　had　found　the　incriminating　evidence；　which　connected　her　with　the　man　who　was　trying　to　keep　his　name　out　of　the　scandal　sheet；　was　in　Belter's　desk。
　　〃You　and　your　mother　talked　over　what　you　had　seen；　and　decided　that　it　was　a　fine　opportunity　to　make　Griffin　pay　a　good　price　for　silence。　So　it　was　agreed　that　he　was　to　have　his　alternative　of　being　convicted　of　murder；　or　making　a　marriage　which　would　be　advantageous　to　you。〃
　　Sergeant　Hoffman　scratched　his　head；　and　looked　puzzled。
　　Norma　Veitch　flashed　a　swift　glance　to　her　mother。
　　Mason　said　slowly；　〃This　is　your　last　chance　to　e　clean。　As　a　matter　of　fact；　you're　both　accessories　after　the　fact；　and；　as　such；　you're　liable　to　prosecution；　just　as　though　you　were　guilty　of　murder。　Griffin　has　made　his　statement；　and　we　don't　need　your　testimony。　It　you　want　to　try　to　keep　up　the　deception；　go　ahead。　If　you　want　to　cooperate　with　the　Police　Department；　now's　your　time　to　do　it。〃
　　Sergeant　Hoffman　interrupted。　〃I'm　just　going　to　ask　you　one　question；〃　he　said；　〃and　that's　going　to　stop　this　business。　Did　you；　or　did　you　not；　do　what　Mason　says；　or　substantially　what　he　said？〃
　　Norma　Veitch　said；　in　a　low　voice；　〃Yes。〃
　　Mrs。　Veitch；　roused　at　last；　whirled　on　her　with　fury　snapping　in　her　eyes。
　　〃Norma！〃　she　screamed。　〃Shut　up；　you　little　fool！　It's　a　bluff！　Can't　you　see？〃
　　Sergeant　Hoffman　moved　toward　her。　〃It　may　have　been　a　bluff；　Mrs。　Veitch；〃　he　said　slowly；　〃but　her　statement　and　your　ment　have　spilled　the　beans。　Go　ahead　and　tell　the　truth。　It's　the　only　thing　left　for　you　to　do；　otherwise　I'm　going　to　figure　you're　accessories　after　the　fact。〃
　　Mrs。　Veitch　ran　her　tongue　along　the　line　of　her　lips；　and　burst　out　furiously；　〃I　should　have　known　better　than　to　trust　the　little　fool！　She　didn't　know　anything　about　it。　She　was　asleep；　as　sound　as　a　log。　I　was　the　one　who　heard　the　shot　and　came　up　here。　I　should　have　made　him　marry　me；　and　never　taken　my　daughter　into　my　confidence。　But　I　thought　it　was　a　break　for　her；　and　I　gave　it　to　her。　That's　the　gratitude　I　get！〃
　　Sergeant　Hoffman　turned　and　stared　at　Perry　Mason。
　　〃This；〃　he　said；　〃is　a　hell　of　a　mess。　What　happened　to　the　bullet　that　missed　Belter？〃
　　Mason　laughed。　〃Sergeant；〃　he　said；　〃that's　what　had　me　fooled　all　along。　That　wet　umbrella　in　the　rack；　and　the　locked　door　bothered　me。　I　kept　figuring　what　must　have　happened；　and　then　I　couldn't　figure　out　how　it　could　have　happened。　I've　been　over　this　room　carefully；　looking　for　a　bullet　hole。　And　then　I　realized　that　Carl　Griffin　had　sense　enough　to　know　that　he　couldn't　have　pulled　the　crime　if　there　had　been　that　bullet　hole。　Therefore；　there　was　only　one　thing　which　could　have　happened　to　that　bullet。　Don't　you　see？
　　〃Belter　had　been　taking　his　bath。　It's　an　enormous　bath　tub；　and　holds　over　two　feet　of　water　when　the　bath　water　is　drawn。　He　was　furious　with　his　wife　and　was　waiting　for　her　to　e　in。　He　heard　her　e　in　when　he　was　in　his　bath；　and　jumped　up　and　flung　on　a　bathrobe；　yelling　for　her　to　e　up。
　　〃They　had　their　fight；　and　she　shot　at　him。　He　was　standing　in　the　door　of　the　bathroom；　just　about　where　the　body　was　subsequently　found。　You　can　stand　over　there　by　the　door　and　figure　the　line　of　fire　by　pointing　your　finger。　When　the　bullet　missed　him；　it　went　into　the　bath　tub；　and　the　water　stopped　the　force　of　the　bullet。
　　〃Then　Carl　Griffin　came　home；　and　Belter　told　him　what　had　happened。　That's　when　he　unwittingly　signed　his　own　death　warrant。　Griffin　saw　his　opportunity。　He　got　Belter　to　stand　in　just　the　position　he　had　been　when　the　shot　was　fired；　and　then　Griffin　picked　up　the　gun　in　his　gloved　hand；　pointed　it　at　Belter；　fired　one　shot　through　the　heart；　picked　up　the　second　empty　shell；　which　had　been　ejected；　put　it　in　his　pocket；　dropped　the　gun　and　walked　out。　That　was　all　there　was　to　it。　It　was　that　simple。〃
　　
　　
　　　20。
　　
　　Morning　sun　streamed　through　the　windows　of　Perry　Mason's　office。　He　sat　at　his　desk；　his　eyes　blood…shot　from　lack　of　sleep；　looking　across　at　Paul　Drake。
　　〃Well；〃　said　Paul　Drake；　〃I　got　the　low…down　on　it。〃
　　〃Shoot；〃　Perry　Mason　told　him。
　　〃He　caved　in　about　six　o'clock　this　morning；〃　the　detective　said。　〃They　worked　on　him　all　night。　Norma　Veitch　tried　to　go　back　on　her　story　when　she　saw　that　he　was　going　to　sit　tight。　It　was　the　housekeeper　that　broke　him　down。　She's　peculiar。　She　would　have　hung　out　until　the　end　of　the　world　if　her　daughter　hadn't　cracked　and　spilled　the　beans。〃
　　〃So　she　worked　against　Griffin　finally；　eh？〃　asked　the　lawyer。
　　〃Yes；　that's　the　funny　part　of　it。　She　is　all　wrapped　up　in　the　daughter。　When　she　thought　there　was　a　chance　to　make　a　good　alliance　for　the　daughter；　she　did　it。　Then；　when　she　realized　that　Griffin　was　in　a　trap　and　that　there　wa