esg.thecaseofthevelvetclaws-第7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！


　　〃Why　didn't　you　put　the　ad　in　the　Examiner？〃
　　〃They　wanted　too　much　money。　They　seemed　to　think　I　was　going　to　play　Santy　Claus。〃
　　〃They　knew　it　was　important；〃　she　wailed。　〃There's　a　lot　at　stake。〃
　　Mason　said　nothing。
　　The　woman　sobbed　silently　for　a　moment；　then　raised　her　eyes；　and　stared　in　mute　anguish　at　Perry　Mason。
　　〃You　should　never　have　threatened　him；〃　she　said。　〃You　should　never　have　e　to　the　house。　You　can't　do　anything　with　him　by　threats。　Whenever　he　gets　in　a　corner；　he　always　fights　his　way　out。　He　never　asks　for　quarter；　and　he　never　gives　any。〃
　　〃Well；　what's　he　going　to　do　about　it？〃　asked　Mason。
　　〃He'll　ruin　you；〃　she　sobbed。　〃He'll　find　every　lawsuit　that　you've　got；　and　accuse　you　of　jury　bribing；　of　suborning　perjury；　and　of　unprofessional　conduct。　He'll　hound　you　out　of　the　city。〃
　　〃The　minute　he　puts　anything　about　me　in　his　paper；〃　said　Mason；　grimly；　〃I'll　sue　him　for　libel；　and　I'll　keep　on　bringing　a　suit　every　time　he　mentions　my　name。〃
　　She　shook　her　head　with　tears　on　her　cheeks。
　　〃You　can't　do　that；〃　she　said；　〃He's　too　smart。　He's　got　lawyers　who　tell　him　just　what　he　can　do；　and　just　what　he　can't　do。　He'll　get　around　behind　your　back；　and　frighten　the　judges　who　are　sitting　on　your　cases。　He'll　make　the　judges　give　adverse　decisions。　He'll　keep　under　cover　and　fight　you　at　every　turn　of　the　road。〃
　　Perry　Mason　drummed　on　the　edge　of　his　desk。　〃Baloney；〃　he　said。
　　〃Oh；　why；〃　she　wailed；　〃did　you　e　out　there？　Why　didn't　you　simply　put　an　ad　in　the　paper？〃
　　Mason　got　to　his　feet。
　　〃Now　look　here；〃　he　said。　〃I've　heard　enough　of　this。　I　went　out　there　because　I　thought　it　was　good　business　to　go　out　there。　That　damned　paper　tried　to　hold　me　up；　and　I　won't　be　held　up　by　anybody。　Your　husband　may　be　ruthless；　but　I'm　pretty　ruthless　myself。　I've　never　asked　for　quarter　yet。　And　I　won't　give　any。〃
　　He　paused　to　stare　down　at　her　accusingly。　〃If　you'd　been　frank　with　me　when　you　came　in　here　this　thing　wouldn't　have　happened。　You　had　to　go　and　lie　about　the　whole　business；　and　that's　the　thing　that's　responsible　for　the　present　mess。　It　rests　on　your　shoulders；　not　on　mine。〃
　　〃Don't　be　cross　with　me；　Mr。　Mason；〃　she　pleaded。　〃You're　all　I've　got　to　depend　on　now。　It's　an　awful　mess；　and　you've　got　to　see　me　through。〃
　　He　sat　down　once　more　and　said；　〃Don't　lie　to　me　then。〃
　　She　looked　down　at　her　knees；　adjusted　the　hem　of　her　dress　over　her　stocking；　and　plaited　little　folds　in　the　garment　with　the　tips　of　her　gloved　fingers。
　　〃What　shall　we　do？〃　she　asked。
　　〃One　of　the　first　things　we'll　do；〃　he　said；　〃is　to　begin　at　the　beginning；　and　e　clean。〃
　　〃But　you　know　all　there　is　to　know。〃
　　〃All　right　then；〃　said　Mason；　〃tell　me　what　I　know；　so　that　I　can　check　up。〃
　　She　frowned。　〃I　don't　understand。〃
　　〃Go　ahead；〃　said　Mason；　〃spill　it。　Tell　me　the　whole　business。〃
　　Her　voice　was　thin　and　helpless。　She　continued　to　fold　the　cloth　of　the　skirt　over　the　top　of　her　crossed　legs。　She　did　not　look　at　him　as　she　talked。
　　〃Nobody；〃　she　said；　〃ever　knew　George　Belter's　connection　with　Spicy　Bits。　He　kept　it　so　much　under　cover　that　nobody　ever　suspected。　Nobody　at　the　office　knew；　except　Frank　Locke。　And　George　could　control　Locke。　He's　got　something　terrible　on　him。　I　don't　know　just　what　it　is。　Maybe　it's　a　murder。
　　〃Anyway；　none　of　our　friends　have　ever　suspected。　They　all　think　that　George　makes　his　money　out　of　playing　the　stock　market。　I　married　George　Belter　seven　months　ago。　I　am　his　second　wife。　I　guess　I　was　fascinated　by　him　and　his　money；　but　we've　never　got　along　well　together。　The　last　two　months　our　relations　have　been　strained。　I　was　going　to　sue　him　for　divorce。　I　think　he　knew　it。〃
　　She　paused　to　stare　at　Perry　Mason；　and　saw　no　sympathy　in　his　eyes。
　　〃I　was　friendly　with　Harrison　Burke；〃　she　went　on。　〃I　met　him　about　two　months　ago。　It　was　just　a　friendship。　Nothing　more。　We　were　out　together；　and　that　murder　took　place。　Of　course；　if　Harrison　Burke　had　to　divulge　my　name；　it　would　have　ruined　his　career　politically；　because　George　would　have　sued　me　and　named　him　as　correspondent　right　away。　I　simply　had　to　hush　it　up。〃
　　〃Maybe　your　husband　would　never　have　found　out；〃　suggested　Mason。　〃The　District　Attorney　is　a　gentleman。　Burke　could　have　disclosed　the　facts　to　the　District　Attorney；　and　the　District　Attorney　wouldn't　have　called　you　unless　you　had　seen　something　that　made　your　testimony　absolutely　necessary。〃
　　〃You　don't　understand　how　they　work；〃　she　told　him。　〃I　don't　know　all　of　it　myself。　But　they've　got　spies　everywhere。　They　buy　pieces　of　information　and　run　down　odds　and　ends　of　gossip。　Whenever　a　man　gets　prominent　enough　to　attract　attention；　they　go　to　a　lot　of　trouble　to　get　all　the　information　they　can　about　him。　Harrison　Burke　is　prominent　politically；　and　he's　ing　up　for　re…election。　They　don't　like　him；　and　Burke　knows　it。　I　heard　my　husband　telephoning　to　Frank　Locke；　and　I　knew　that　they　were　on　the　trail　of　the　information。　That　was　why　I　came　to　you。　I　wanted　to　buy　them　off　before　they　had　any　idea　of　who　it　was　that　was　with　him。〃
　　〃If　your　friendship　with　Burke　was　innocent；〃　said　Mason；　〃why　don't　you　go　to　your　husband　and　tell　him　what　the　situation　is？　After　all；　he'd　be　dragging　his　own　name　through　the　dust。〃
　　She　shook　her　head；　vehemently。
　　〃You　don't　know　anything　at　all　about　it；〃　she　warned。　〃You　simply　don't　understand　my　husband's　character。　You　showed　that　in　the　way　you　handled　him　last　night。　He's　savage　and　heartless。　He's　a　fighter。　What's　more；　he　is　money…mad。　He　knows　that　if　I　bring　suit　for　divorce；　I　will　probably　get　some　alimony　and　a　lot　of　money　for　attorneys'　fees；　and　suit　money。　All　that　he　wants　is　to　get　something　on　me。　If　he　could　get　something　on　me；　and　at　the　same　time　drag　Harrison　Burke's　name　through　the　courts；　it　would　be　a　wonderful　break　for　him。〃
　　Perry　Mason　frowned　thoughtfully。　〃There's　something　funny　about　that　high　price　they　fixed；〃　he　remarked。　〃It　seems　to　me　that　it's　too　high　for　political　blackmail。　Do　you　suppose　that　your　husband　or　Frank　Locke　suspects　who　it　is　they're　after？〃
　　〃No；〃　she　said　firmly。
　　There　was　a　moment　of　silence。
　　〃Well；〃　said　Mason；　〃what　do　we　do？　Do　we　pay　their　price？〃
　　〃There　won't　be　any　price　any　more。　George　will　call　off　all　negotiations。　He'll　go　ahead　and　fight。　He　figures　that　he　can't　afford　to　give　in　to　you。　If　he　does；　he　thinks　that　you'll　hound　him　to　death。　That's　the　way　he　is；　and　that's　the　way　he　thinks　everybody　else　is。　He　simply　can't　give　in　to　anybody　It　isn't　in　his　nature；　that's　all。〃
　　Mason　nodded；　grimly。　〃All　right；　if　he　wants　to　fight；　I'm　perfectly　willing　to　go　to　the　mat　with　him。　One　of　the　first　things　I'll　do　will　be　to　file　suit　against　Spicy　Bits　the　first　time　they　mention　my　name；　and　I'll　take　the　deposition　of　Frank　Locke　and　force　him　to　disclose　who　actually　owns　that　paper。　Or　else　I'll　have　him　prosecuted　for　perjury。　There　are　a　lot　of　people　who　would　like　to　see　that　sheet　put　where　it　belongs。〃
　　〃Oh；　you　don't　understand；〃　she　told　him；　speaking　rapidly。　〃You　don't　understand　the　way　they　fight。　You　don't　understand　George。　It　would　take　a　long　while　for　you　to　get　a　libel　suit　to　trial。　He'll　work　fast。　And　then；　you've　got　to　remember　that　I'm　your　client。　I'm　the　one　you're　supposed　to　protect。　Long　before　any　of　that　happens；　I'll　be　ruined。　They'll　go　after　that　Harrison　Burke　business　hammer　and　tongs　now。〃
　　Mason　drummed　on　his　desk　again；　and　then　said；　〃Look　here。　You've　hinted　at　some　information　your　husband　has　that　holds　Frank　Locke　in　line。　Now　I　have　an　idea　that　you　know　what　that　information　is。　Suppose　you　give　it　to　me；　and　I'll　see　if　I　can't　crack　a　whip　over　Frank　Locke。〃
　　Her　face　was　white　as　she　looked　at　him。
　　〃Do　you　know　what　you're　saying？〃　she　said。　〃Do　you　know　what　you　are　doing？　Do　you　know　what　you're　getting　into？　They'll　kill　you！　It　wouldn't　be　the　first　time。　They've　got　affiliations　in　the　underworld　with　gangsters　and　gunmen。〃
　　Mason　held　her　eyes　with　his。
　　〃What；〃　he　insisted；　〃do　you　know　about　Frank　Locke？〃
　　She　shuddered　and　dropped　her　eyes。　After　an　interval；　she　said；　in　a　tired　tone：　〃Nothing。〃
　　Mason　said；　impatiently：　〃Every　time　you　e　here　you　lie　to　me。　You're　one　of　those　baby…faced　little　liars　that　always　gets　by　by　deceit。　Just　because　you're　beautiful；　you've　managed　to　get　by　with　it。　You've　deceived　every　man　that　ever　loved　you；　every　man　you　ever　loved。　Now　you're　in　trouble；　and　you're　deceiving　me。〃
　　She　stared　at　him　with　blazing　indignation；　either　natural　or　assumed。
　　〃You've　no　right　to　talk　to　me　that　way！〃
　　〃The　hell　I　haven't；〃　said　Mason；　grimly。
　　They　stared　at　each　other　for　a　second　or　two。
　　〃It　was　something　down　South；〃　she　said；　meekly。
　　〃What　was？〃
　　〃The　trouble　that　Locke　got　into。　I　don't　know　what　it　was。　I　don't　know　where　it　was。　I　only　know　it　was　some　trouble；　and　that　it　was　down　South　somewhere。　It　was　some　trouble　over　a　woman。　That　is；　that's　the　way　it　started。　I　don't　know　how　it　finished。　It　may　have　been　a　murder。　I　don't　know。　I　know　it's　something；　and　I　know　it's　something　that　George　holds　over　him　all　the　time。　That's　the　only　way　George　ever　deals　with　anybody。　He　gets　something　on　them　and　holds　it　over　them；　and　makes　them　do　just　as　he　wants。〃
　　Mason　stared　at　her；　and　said；　〃That's　the　way　he　handles　you。〃
　　〃That's　the　way　he　tries　to。〃
　　〃Was　that　the　way　he　made　you　marry　him？〃　asked　Mason。
　　〃I　don't　know；〃　she　said。　〃No。〃
　　He　laughed　grimly。
　　〃Well；〃　she　said；　〃what　difference　does　it　make？〃
　　〃Maybe　not　any。　Maybe　a　lot。　I　want　some　more　money。〃　She　opened　her　purse。
　　〃I　haven't　got　much　more；〃　she　said。　〃I　can　give　you　three　hundred　dollars。〃
　　Mason　shook　his　head。
　　〃You've　got　a　checking　account；〃　he　said。　〃I've　got　to　have　more　money。　I'm　going　to　have　some　expenses　in　this　thing。　I'm　fighting　for　myself　now　as　well　as　for　you。〃
　　〃I　can't　give　you　a　check。　I　don't　have　any　checking　account。　He　won't　let　me。　That's　another　way　that　he　keeps　people　under　his　control；　through　money。　I　have　to　get　money　from　him　in　cash；　or　get　it　some　other　way。〃
　　〃What　other　way？〃　asked　Mason。
　　She　said　nothing。　She　drew　out　a　roll　of　bills　from　the　purse。　〃There's　five　hundred　dollars　here；　and　it's　every　cent　I've　got。〃
　　〃All　right；〃　said　Mason。　〃Keep　twenty…five　and　give　me　the　rest。〃
　　He　pressed　a　button　in　the　side　of　the　desk。　The　door　to　the　outer　office　framed　the　inquiring　features　of　Della　Street。
　　〃Make　another　receipt；〃　said　Mason；　〃to　this　woman。　Make　it　the　same　way　you　made　the　other　one；　with　reference　to　a　ledger　page。　This　is　for　four　hundred　and　seventy…five　dollars；　and　it's　on　account。〃
　　Eva　Belter　passed　the　money　over　to　Mason。　He　took　it　and　gave　it　to　Della　Street。
　　The　two　women　maintained　toward　each　other　that　air　of　aloof　hostility　which　characterizes　two　dogs　walking　stiff…legged；　one　around　the　other。
　　Della　Street　held　her　chin　high；　as　she　took　the　money；　and　returned　to　the　outer　office。
　　〃She'll　give　you　a　receipt；〃　said　Perry　Ma