esg.thecaseofthevelvetclaws-第9章

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m　out。　Most　of　my　cases　never　e　to　court。
　　〃If　you　look　me　up　through　some　family　lawyer　or　some　corporation　lawyer；　he'll　probably　tell　you　that　I'm　a　shyster。　If　you　look　me　up　through　some　chap　in　the　District　Attorney's　office；　he'll　tell　you　that　I'm　a　dangerous　antagonist　but　he　doesn't　know　very　much　about　me。　If　you　look　me　up　through　a　bank　you　won't　find　out　a　damned　thing。〃
　　Burke　opened　his　mouth　to　speak；　then　thought　better　of　it　and　was　silent。
　　〃Now　maybe　that　information　will　cut　down　the　amount　of　time　you're　going　to　take　to　look　me　up；〃　went　on　Mason。　〃If　you　call　up　Eva　Belter；　she'll　probably　be　sore　because　I　came　to　you。　She　wants　to　handle　it　all　by　herself。　Or　else　she's　never　thought　of　you。　I　don't　know　which。　If　you　call　her　up；　ask　for　her　maid　and　leave　some　message　with　the　maid　about　a　dress　or　something。　Then　she'll　call　you　back。〃
　　Harrison　Burke　looked　surprised。
　　〃How　did　you　know　that？〃　he　asked。
　　〃That's　the　way　she　gets　her　messages；〃　said　Mason。　〃Mine's　to　tell　about　a　dress。　What's　yours？〃
　　〃About　the　delivery　of　shoes；〃　Harrison　Burke　blurted。
　　〃It's　a　good　system；〃　Mason　said；　〃providing　she　doesn't　get　her　wearing　apparel　mixed。　And　I'm　not　so　sure　about　her　maid。〃
　　Burke's　reserve　seemed　to　have　melted。
　　〃The　maid；〃　he　said；　〃doesn't　know　anything。　She　simply　delivers　the　message。　Eva　keeps　the　code。　I　didn't　know　that　she　had　any　one　else　who　used　that　sort　of　a　code。〃
　　Perry　Mason　laughed。
　　〃Be　your　age；〃　he　said。
　　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；〃　said　Harrison　Burke；　with　dignity；　〃Mrs。　Belter　called　me　on　the　telephone　not　over　an　hour　ago。　She　said　that　she　was　in　serious　difficulties　and　had　to　raise　a　thousand　dollars　at　once。　She　wanted　me　to　help　her。　She　didn't　say　what　the　money　was　for。〃
　　Mason　whistled。
　　〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃that　makes　it　different。　I　was　afraid　she　wasn't　going　to　make　you　kick　in。　I　don't　care　how　you　e　through；　but　I　think　you　should　help　carry　the　load。　I'm　working　for　you　just　as　much　as　I　am　for　her；　and　it's　a　fight　that's　running　into　money。〃
　　Burke　nodded。　〃e　back　in　half　an　hour；〃　he　said；　〃and　I'll　let　you　know。〃
　　Mason　moved　toward　the　door。　〃All　right；〃　he　remarked；　〃make　it　half　an　hour　then。　And　you'd　better　get　the　money　in　cash。　Because　you　won't　want　to　have　any　checks　going　through　your　bank　account；　in　case　there　should　be　any　publicity　about　what　I'm　doing　or　whom　I'm　representing。〃
　　Burke　pushed　back　his　chair；　and　made　a　politician's　tentative　motion　of　extending　his　hand。　Perry　Mason　did　not　see　the　hand；　or；　if　he　did；　he　did　not　bother　to　acknowledge　it；　but　strode　toward　the　door。
　　〃Half　an　hour；〃　he　said；　on　the　threshold；　and　slammed　the　door　behind　him。
　　As　he　put　his　hand　on　the　door　catch　of　his　automobile；　a　man　tapped　him　on　the　shoulder。
　　Mason　turned。
　　The　man　was　a　heavy…set　individual　with　impudent　eyes。
　　〃I　want　an　interview；　Mr。　Mason；〃　he　said。
　　〃Interview？〃　said　Mason。　〃Who　the　hell　are　you？〃
　　〃I'm　Crandall；〃　said　the　man。　〃A　reporter　for　Spicy　Bits。　We're　interested　in　the　doings　of　prominent　people；　Mr。　Mason。　And　I'd　like　an　interview　with　you　as　to　what　you　discussed　with　Harrison　Burke。〃
　　Slowly；　deliberately；　Perry　Mason　took　his　hand　from　the　automobile　door　catch；　turned　around　on　his　heel；　and　surveyed　the　man。
　　〃So；〃　he　said；　〃that's　the　kind　of　tactics　you　folks　are　going　to　use；　is　it？〃
　　Crandall　continued　to　stare　with　his　impudent　eyes。
　　〃Don't　get　hard；〃　he　said；　〃because　it　won't　buy　you　anything。〃
　　〃The　hell　it　won't；〃　said　Perry　Mason。　He　measured　the　distance；　and　slammed　a　straight　left　full　into　the　grinning　mouth。　Crandall's　head　shot　back。　He　staggered　for　two　steps；　then　went　down　like　a　sack　of　meal。
　　Passing　pedestrians　paused　to　stare；　and　collected　in　a　little　group。
　　Mason　paid　no　attention　to　them；　but　turned；　jerked　open　the　door　of　his　machine；　got　in；　slammed　the　door　shut；　stepped　on　the　starter；　and　pushed　the　car　out　into　traffic。
　　From　a　nearby　drug　store；　he　called　Harrison　Burke's　office。
　　When　he　had　Burke　on　the　line；　he　said；　〃Mason　talking；　Burke。　Better　not　go　out。　And　better　get　somebody　to　act　as　a　bodyguard。　The　paper　we　talked　about　has　got　a　couple　of　strong　arm　men　sticking　around；　ready　to　muscle　into　your　business　in　any　way　that'll　do　the　most　damage。　When　you　get　that　money　for　me；　send　it　over　to　my　office　by　messenger。　Get　somebody　you　can　trust　and　don't　tell　them　what's　in　the　package。　Put　it　in　a　sealed　envelope；　as　though　it　might　be　papers。〃
　　Harrison　Burke　started　to　say　something。
　　Perry　Mason　savagely　slammed　the　receiver　on　the　hook；　strode　out　of　the　telephone　booth　and　into　his　car。
　　
　　
　　　7。
　　
　　A　storm　was　whipping　up　from　the　southeast。　Slow；　leaden　clouds　drifted　across　the　night　sky；　and　bombarded　the　ground　with　great　mushrooms　of　spattering　water。
　　Wind　was　tugging　at　the　corners　of　the　apartment　house　where　Perry　Mason　lived。　A　window　was　open　only　about　half　an　inch　at　the　bottom；　but　enough　wind　came　through　that　opening　to　billow　the　curtains　and　keep　them　flapping。
　　Mason　sat　up　in　bed　and　groped　for　the　telephone　in　the　dark。　He　found　the　instrument；　put　it　to　his　ear　and　said；　〃Hello。〃
　　The　voice　of　Eva　Belter　sounded　swift　and　panic…stricken　over　the　wire。
　　〃Thank　God　I've　got　you！　Get　in　your　car　and　e　at　once！　This　is　Eva　Belter。〃
　　Perry　Mason　was　still　sleepy。
　　〃e　where？〃　he　said。　〃What's　the　matter？〃
　　〃Something　awful　has　happened；〃　she　said。　〃Don't　e　to　the　house。　I'm　not　there。〃
　　〃Where　are　you？〃
　　〃I'm　down　at　a　drug　store　on　Griswold　Avenue。　Drive　out　the　Avenue　and　you'll　see　the　lights　in　the　drug　store。　I'll　be　standing　in　front　of　it。〃
　　Perry　Mason　was　getting　his　faculties　together。
　　〃Listen；〃　he　said；　〃I've　answered　night　calls　before；　where　people　have　been　trying　to　take　me　for　a　ride。　Let's　make　sure　that　there　isn't　anything　phony　about　this。〃
　　She　screamed　at　him　over　the　telephone。
　　〃Oh；　don't　be　so　damned　cautious！　e　out　here　at　once。　I　tell　you　I'm　in　serious　trouble。　You　can　recognize　my　voice　all　right。〃
　　Mason　said　calmly；　〃Yes。　I　know　all　that。　What　was　the　name　you　gave　me　the　first　time　you　came　to　the　office？〃
　　〃Griffin！〃　she　shrieked。
　　〃Okay；〃　said　Mason。　〃ing　out。〃
　　He　climbed　into　his　clothes；　slipped　a　revolver　in　his　hip　pocket；　pulled　on　a　raincoat；　and　a　cap　which　came　down　low　over　his　forehead；　switched　out　the　lights；　and　left　the　apartment。　His　car　was　in　the　garage；　and　he　nursed　it　into　action；　moved　out　into　the　rain　before　the　motor　was　fully　warmed。
　　The　car　spat　and　back…fired　as　he　turned　the　corner。　Mason　kept　the　choke　out　and　stepped　on　the　gas。　Rain　whipped　against　the　windshield。　Little　geysers　of　water　mushroomed　up　from　the　pavement　where　the　big　drops　splashed　down　were　turned　to　brilliance　by　the　illumination　of　his　headlights。
　　Mason　ignored　the　possibility　of　any　other　traffic　on　the　road　as　he　swept　past　the　intersections　with　increasing　speed。　He　turned　to　the　right　on　Griswold　Avenue；　and　ran　for　a　mile　and　a　half　before　he　slowed　down　and　menced　to　look　for　lights。
　　He　saw　her　standing　in　front　of　a　drug　store。　She　had　on　a　coat　and　no　hat；　and　was　heedless　of　the　rain；　which　had　soaked　her　hair　thoroughly。　Her　eyes　were　wide　and　scared。
　　Perry　Mason　swung　into　the　curb　and　brought　the　car　to　a　stop。
　　〃I　thought　you'd　never　get　here；〃　she　said；　as　he　opened　the　door　for　her。
　　She　climbed　in；　and　Perry　saw　that　she　wore　an　evening　gown；　satin　shoes；　and　a　man's　coat。　She　was　soaking　wet　and　water　trickled　down　to　the　floorboards　of　the　car。
　　〃What's　the　trouble？〃　Perry　Mason　asked。
　　She　stared　at　him　with　her　white；　wet　face；　and　said；　〃Drive　out　to　the　house；　quick！〃
　　〃What's　the　trouble？〃　he　repeated。
　　〃My　husband's　been　murdered；〃　she　wailed。
　　Mason　snapped　on　the　dome　light　in　the　car。
　　〃Don't　do　that！〃　she　said。
　　He　looked　at　her　face。　〃Tell　me　about　it；〃　he　said；　calmly。
　　〃Will　you　get　this　car　started？〃
　　〃Not　until　I　know　the　facts；〃　he　replied；　almost　casually。
　　〃We've　got　to　get　there　before　the　police　do。〃
　　〃Why　have　we？〃
　　〃Because　we've　got　to。〃
　　Mason　shook　his　head。　〃No；〃　he　said；　〃we're　not　going　to　talk　to　the　police　until　I　know　exactly　what　happened。〃
　　〃Oh；〃　she　said；　〃it　was　terrible！〃
　　〃Who　killed　him？〃
　　〃I　don't　know。〃
　　〃Well；　what　do　you　know？〃
　　〃Will　you　turn　off　that　damned　light？〃　she　snapped。
　　〃After　you've　finished　telling　me　what　happened；〃　he　persisted。
　　〃What　do　you　want　it　on　for？〃
　　〃The　better　to　see　you　with；　my　dear；〃　he　said；　but　there　was　no　humor　in　his　voice。　His　manner　was　grim。
　　She　sighed　wearily。　〃I　don't　know　what　happened。　I　think　it　was　somebody　that　he'd　been　blackmailing。　I　could　hear　their　voices　from　the　upper　floor。　They　were　very　angry。　I　went　to　the　stairs　to　listen。〃
　　〃Could　you　hear　what　was　being　said？〃
　　〃No；〃　she　said；　〃just　words　and　the　tone。　I　could　hear　that　they　were　cursing。　Every　once　in　a　while　there　would　be　a　word。　My　husband　was　using　that　cold；　sarcastic　tone　that　he　gets　when　he's　fighting　mad。　The　other　man　had　his　voice　raised；　but　he　wasn't　shouting。　He　was　interrupting　my　husband　every　once　in　a　while。〃
　　〃Then　what　happened？〃
　　〃Then　I　crept　up　the　stairs　because　I　wanted　to　hear　what　was　being　said。〃　She　paused；　catching　her　breath。
　　〃All　right；〃　pressed　Mason；　〃go　on。　What　happened　then？〃
　　〃And　then；〃　she　said；　〃I　heard　the　shot　and　the　sound　of　a　falling　body。〃
　　〃Just　the　one　shot？〃
　　〃Just　the　one　shot；　and　the　sound　of　the　body　falling。　Oh；　it　was　terrible！　It　jarred　the　house。〃
　　〃All　right；〃　said　Mason。　〃Go　on　from　there。　Then　what　did　you　do？〃
　　〃Then；〃　she　said；　〃I　turned　and　ran。　I　was　afraid。〃
　　〃Where　did　you　run？〃
　　〃To　my　room。〃
　　〃Did　anybody　see　you？〃
　　〃No；　I　don't　think　so。〃
　　〃Then　what　did　you　do？〃
　　〃I　waited　there　a　minute。〃
　　〃Did　you　hear　anything？〃
　　〃Yes；　I　heard　the　man　who　had　fired　the　shot　run　down　the　stairs　and　out　of　the　house。〃
　　〃All　right；〃　Mason　said　insistently；　〃then　what　happened？〃
　　〃Then；〃　she　said；　〃I　decided　that　I　must　go　and　see　George　and　see　what　could　be　done　for　him。　I　went　up　to　his　study。　He　was　in　there。　He'd　been　taking　a　bath；　and　had　thrown　a　bathrobe　around　himself。　He　was　lying　there…dead。〃
　　〃Lying　where？〃　pressed　Mason；　remorselessly。
　　〃Oh；　don't　make　me　be　so　specific；〃　she　snapped。　〃I　can't　tell　you。　It　was　some　place　near　the　bathroom。　He'd　just　e　out　of　his　bath。　He　must　have　been　standing　in　the　bathroom　door　when　this　argument　took　place。〃
　　〃How　do　you　know　he　was　dead？〃
　　〃I　could　tell　by　looking　at　him。　That　is；　I　think　he　was　dead。　Oh；　I'm　not　sure。　Please　e　out　and　help　me。　If　he　isn't　dead；　it's　all　right。　There　won't　be　any　trouble。　If　he　is；　we're　all　of　us　in　a　hell　of　a　mess。〃
　　〃Why？〃
　　〃Because　everything's　going　to　e　out。　Don't　you　see？　Frank　Locke　knows　all　about　Harrison　Burke；　and　he'll　naturally　think　that　Harrison　Burke　killed　him。　That　will　make　Burke　mention　my　name；　and　then　anything　may　happen。　Suspicion　may　even　shift　to　me。〃