erlestanleygardner.the.caseofthesulkygirl-第16章

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　　　　　　〃As　a　matter　of　fact；　your　real　shadow　is　a　smooth　guy　who　almost　never　uses　a　disguise。　He's　just　a　casual；　innocent…looking　bystander。　No　matter　what　happens；　he　never　gets　rattled　and　never　does　any　of　this　business　of　ducking　in　a　doorway。　He　looks　so　matter…of…fact　that　the　suspect　always　takes　him　as　part　of　the　general　scenery；　and　never　thinks　of　him　as　an　individual。〃
　　　　　　〃I　know　all　that；　in　a　general　way；〃　Perry　Mason　told　him。　〃What　I　want　to　get　straight　is　just　how　this　rough　shadow　game　is　worked。〃
　　　　　　〃Well；　that's　simple；〃　said　the　detective。　〃It's　like　all　of　the　good　things　…　they're　simple　when　you　e　right　down　to　analyze　them。　The　rough　shadow　simply　acts　the　way　the　suspect　figures　a　shadow　should　act。　In　other　words；　he　quits　being　a　regular　shadow；　and　bees　crude。　He　does　all　the　things　that　the　suspect　naturally　expects　a　detective　would　do。　He　hides　behind　telephone　poles　and　ducks　in　doorways；　and　all　of　that　stuff。〃
　　　　　　〃So　that　the　suspect　knows　he's　being　shadowed？〃　asked　Perry　Mason。
　　　　　　〃That's　the　idea；〃　said　Drake；　taking　another　cigarette　from　a　case　in　his　pocket；　and　tapping　it　gently　on　his　thumb　nail。
　　　　　　〃You　see；　the　contact　man　has　established　a　certain　amount　of　friendly　relations　with　the　suspect。　The　suspect；　however；　is　a　guy　who　won't　talk　about　the　thing　that　the　contact　man　wants　him　to　talk　about；　so　the　contact　man　gets　a　shadow　to　tail　along　behind。　The　suspect　never　knows　that　he's　being　tailed；　because　the　shadow　is　a　smooth　worker。　But；　when　the　circumstances　are　right；　the　contact　man　gives　a　signal；　and　then　the　shadow　gets　crude　about　his　methods。　He　starts　ducking　around　behind　telephone　poles；　putting　on　disguises；　and　doing　the　hundred　and　one　amateurish　things　which　defeat　the　very　purpose　of　a　skilled　shadow。　Naturally；　the　suspect　takes　a　tumble　that　he's　being　tailed。
　　　　　　〃Now；　it's　a　funny　thing　about　a　man　finding　out　that　he's　being　shadowed；　particularly　a　man　who　ain't　used　to　it。　As　soon　as　he　finds　that　somebody's　tailing　him　around；　he　starts　getting　nervous。　Usually　the　first　thing　he　does　is　to　start　walking　faster；　and　looking　back　over　his　shoulder。　Naturally；　the　contact　man　has　the　rough　shadow　game　sprung　when　he's　walking　with　the　suspect；　and　the　contact　man　always　slows　down　and　saunters　along。
　　　　　　〃So　the　suspect　wants　to　hurry　things　up　a　little　bit；　and　he's　nervous　and　jumpy　all　over。　After　a　while；　ninety…nine　chances　out　of　a　hundred；　he'll　turn　to　the　contact　man　and　say　that　there's　a　detective　following　him　and　he　wants　to　ditch　the　shadow。　The　contact　man　helps　him　to　do　it；　and　that　makes　the　suspect　loosen　up　and　take　the　contact　man　into　his　confidence。〃
　　　　　　〃Suppose　the　suspect　doesn't　say　anything　to　the　contact　man？〃　asked　the　lawyer。
　　　　　　〃Then；〃　said　Drake；　〃the　contact　man　says　something　to　the　suspect。　He　taps　him　on　the　shoulder；　and　says：　'Listen；　old　man；　I　don't　want　to　get　personal；　but　do　you　know　there's　somebody　shadowing　you？'　Or　else；　he　may　say：　'Say；　look　at　that　fellow　behind　us。　I　believe　he's　shadowing　me。'　If　it's　a　crime　he's　working　on；　the　contact　man　usually　pretends　that　the　rough　shadow　is　tailing　him；　and　opens　up　and　confesses　to　the　suspect　that　he's　been　guilty　of　a　crime　somewhere；　and　that　he's　afraid　the　dicks　are　on　his　trail。　He　asks　the　suspect　to　help　him　ditch　the　rough　shadow。　They　rush　into　buildings；　go　up　and　down　elevators；　mingle　with　crowds；　and　all　that　sort　of　stuff；　and　when　the　contact　man　gives　a　signal；　the　rough　shadow　steps　out　of　the　picture；　and　the　suspect　thinks　he's　been　ditched。
　　　　　　〃It's　just　an　angle　of　the　game　that　sometimes　brings　results。　You　can　nearly　always　get　a　man　talking　when　you　pull　a　rough　shadow　on　him。〃
　　　　　　〃All　right；〃　said　Perry　Mason；　〃I　want　to　work　a　rough　shadow　game。〃
　　　　　　〃Maybe　you　won't　need　a　rough　shadow；〃　Drake　pointed　out。　〃It's　something　we　use　only　as　a　last　resort。　Usually　we　can　build　up　a　friendship　and　get　people　to　talk。　A　slick　operative　has　a　knack　of　making　people　spill　facts。〃
　　　　　　〃No；〃　said　Mason；　〃this　is　an　unusual　case；　and　I　want　a　contact　operative　who　is　of　a　certain　type。〃
　　　　　　〃What's　the　type？〃　asked　the　detective。
　　　　　　〃A　middle…aged　woman　who　can　pretend　she　has　had　to　work　hard　all　her　life。　Get　somebody　who　hasn't　any　particular　beauty　or　figure；　who　has　wrinkled　hands　and　a　heavy　figure。〃
　　　　　　〃Okay；〃　said　Drake。　〃I've　got　just　the　woman。　She's　clever；　and　she's　hard…boiled。　Who　do　you　want　to　have　her　contact？〃
　　　　　　〃Mrs。　Edna　Mayfield；　the　housekeeper　for　Edward　Norton。〃
　　　　　　〃The　man　who　was　murdered？〃
　　　　　　〃The　man　who　was　murdered。〃
　　　　　　Drake　whistled。
　　　　　　〃Think　she's　mixed　up　in　the　murder？〃　he　asked。
　　　　　　〃I　don't　know　just　what　she's　mixed　up　in；〃　Perry　Mason　said　slowly；　〃but　she's　got　information。　I　want　that　information。〃
　　　　　　〃They've　got　the　fellow　that　did　the　murder；　haven't　they？〃　asked　the　detective；　his　glassy　eyes　suddenly　losing　their　expression　of　droll　humor；　and　containing　a　glint　of　quick　appraisal。　〃Wasn't　it　the　chauffeur　or　somebody　that　pulled　the　job？〃
　　　　　　〃So　I　understand；〃　said　Mason　nonmittally。
　　　　　　〃You're　representing　Frances　Celane；　the　young　woman　who's　the　beneficiary　under　the　trust　fund　and　the　will？〃
　　　　　　〃Yes。〃
　　　　　　〃Okay；　now　just　what　do　you　want　me　to　get　out　of　her？〃
　　　　　　〃Anything　that　she　knows；〃　said　Perry　Mason　slowly。
　　　　　　〃You　mean　about　the　murder？〃
　　　　　　〃About　anything。〃
　　　　　　Paul　Drake　let　his　glassy　eyes　study　the　tip　of　the　cigarette　and　the　smoke　which　eddied　upward　from　it。
　　　　　　〃Look　here；〃　he　said；　〃let's　be　frank　with　each　other。　I　know　you　well　enough　to　know　that　if　you're　getting　me　to　start　work　on　this　murder　case；　that　there's　an　angle　to　it　that　the　police　haven't　got。〃
　　　　　　〃I　didn't　say　I　wanted　you　to　work　on　the　murder　case；〃　Perry　Mason　said　slowly。
　　　　　　〃No；〃　said　Drake　significantly；　〃you　didn't　say　that。〃
　　　　　　There　was　a　moment　or　two　of　silence；　then　Perry　Mason　said；　slowly　and　impressively：　〃I　want　you　to　find　out　everything　that　that　housekeeper　knows。　I　don't　care　what　it's　about。〃
　　　　　　Paul　Drake　made　a　gesture　with　his　shoulders。
　　　　　　〃Don't　get　me　wrong；〃　he　said。　〃I'm　not　curious；　and　I　don't　want　you　to　misunderstand　me。　But　just　suppose　that　some　of　the　information　this　woman　spills　wouldn't　look　so　well　for　your　client？〃
　　　　　　〃I　want　to　get　the　information；〃　said　Perry　Mason。
　　　　　　〃Sure；　I　know；〃　said　Drake。　〃But　suppose　that　we　get　it　through　a　couple　of　operatives　that　I'll　put　on　the　case。　And　suppose　the　information　should　be　something　you　would　want　to　keep　under　cover？　I　try　to　get　dependable　people　to　work　for　me；　but　things　have　a　habit　of　leaking　out　in　time。〃
　　　　　　〃Yes；〃　said　Perry　Mason　slowly；　〃in　time。〃
　　　　　　Once　more　there　was　an　interval　of　silence。
　　　　　　〃Well？〃　asked　the　detective。
　　　　　　〃I　think；〃　said　Mason；　〃that　this　is　another　case　where　I'm　going　to　be　working　against　time。　I　don't　think　there's　any　information　that　your　operatives　will　get　that　the　police　won't　get　sooner　or　later。　I　want　to　have　it　sooner；　and　want　the　police　to　get　it　later。〃
　　　　　　Drake　nodded。
　　　　　　〃All　right；〃　he　said；　〃I　get　the　sketch。　I　just　wanted　to　be　certain　there　wasn't　any　misunderstanding　between　us。　Misunderstandings　in　my　business　make　for　dissatisfied　clients；　and　I　want　to　keep　my　clients　satisfied。〃
　　　　　　〃All　right；〃　Mason　told　him。　〃We　understand　each　other　on　that。
　　　　　　〃Now；　there's　one　other　thing。　A　fellow　by　the　name　of　Don　Graves；　secretary　to　Edward　Norton；　was　a　witness　to　the　murder　itself。　He's　told　the　police　one　story；　and　me　another。　He　may　be　dangerous。　I　want　to　find　out　confidentially　whether　he　really　did　see　a　woman　in　the　room　at　the　time　the　murder　blow　was　struck；　or　whether　he's　going　to　say　he　did；　which　amounts　to　the　same　thing。
　　　　　　〃Now；　do　you　suppose　that　you　could　get　someone　to　contact　him　without　creating　too　much　suspicion；　and　find　out　just　what　he's　really　going　to　testify　to？　If　there's　any　way　of　doing　it；　I'd　like　to　get　a　written　statement　out　of　him。〃
　　　　　　〃Any　money　for　expenses？〃　asked　the　detective。
　　　　　　〃Plenty　of　it；〃　said　the　lawyer。
　　　　　　〃Well；　suppose　I　get　somebody　to　go　to　him　and　tell　him　he's　representing　a　tabloid　newspaper；　or　a　true　detective　story　magazine；　and　wants　the　account　of　an　eye…witness；　get　him　to　submit　the　manuscript　signed　and　sworn　to；　and　offer　to　pay　him　by　the　word？〃
　　　　　　〃Okay；〃　said　Mason；　〃provided　there　aren't　too　many　words。〃
　　　　　　The　detective　grinned。
　　　　　　〃You　mean；　provided　the　words　are　of　the　right　kind。〃
　　　　　　〃Well；〃　said　the　lawyer；　〃I　guess　that　amounts　to　about　the　same　thing。〃
　　　　　　Drake　got　up　and　flipped　his　cigarette　into　a　brass　cuspidor。
　　　　　　〃Okay；〃　he　said；　〃I'll　get　started。〃
　　　　　　〃You'll　let　me　know　progress？〃
　　　　　　〃I'll　let　you　know　progress。〃
　　　　　　〃Concentrate　heavy　on　that　housekeeper。　She's　a　tartar　and　you'll　have　to　watch　her。〃
　　　　　　〃Mail　reports？〃　asked　the　detective。
　　　　　　〃No。　Make　them　orally　or　not　at　all。〃
　　　　　　There　was　a　knock　at　the　door；　and　Della　Street　glanced　significantly　at　Perry　Mason。
　　　　　　〃That's　okay；〃　he　said；　〃tell　me　what　it　is；　Della。〃
　　　　　　〃Mr。　Crinston　is　out　here。　He　says　his　business　is　important　and　he　can't　wait。〃
　　　　　　〃Very　well；〃　said　Mason；　〃I'll　see　him。〃
　　　　　　He　flashed　a　meaning　glance　to　Drake　and　said　to　the　detective　in　a　tone　of　voice　sufficiently　loud　to　carry　into　the　outer　office；　〃That's　quite　all　right；　Mr。　Drake。　I'm　busy　on　an　important　matter　right　now；　and　I　can't　give　it　my　immediate　attention；　but　you've　got　ten　days　within　which　to　make　an　appearance；　and　I'll　draw　up　a　demurrer　and　file　it　in　court。　That'll　carry　the　thing　along　and　keep　you　from　being　in　default　until　we　can　go　into　greater　details。〃
　　　　　　He　shook　hands　with　Drake　in　the　doorway；　and　beckoned　to　Mr。　Crinston。
　　　　　　〃e　in；〃　he　said。
　　　　　　Crinston　pushed　his　way　into　the　inner　office　with　that　aggressive　suggestion　of　booming　authority　which　characterized　him。　He　gave　the　impression　of　sweeping　away　all　obstacles　from　his　path　by　the　very　blast　of　his　forceful　personality。
　　　　　　〃Hello；　Mason；〃　he　said；　shaking　hands。　〃Glad　to　see　you。　Guess　you've　been　pretty　busy；　haven't　you？〃
　　　　　　Mason　watched　him　with　speculative　eyes。
　　　　　　〃Yes；〃　he　said。　〃I've　been　busy。〃
　　　　　　Crinston　sat　down　in　the　big　chair；　and　filled　it　pletely。　He　took　a　cigar　from　his　pocket；　clipped　off　the　end；　scraped　a　match　on　the　sole　of　his　shoe。
　　　　　　〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃it's　been　a　mess　all　around。〃
　　　　　　〃Yes；〃　the　lawyer　told　him；　〃it's　still　a　mess。〃
　　　　　　〃Oh；　I　think　it's　going　to　e　out　all　right；〃　said　Crinston；　〃but　why　didn't　you　follow　my　instructions？〃
　　　　　　〃What　instructions？〃
　　　　　　〃About　keeping　Frances　out　of　it。〃
　　　　　　〃I　have　kept　her　out　of　it　the　best　I　could。　The　poor　girl　is　hysterical。　She　came　to　the　office　and　had　a　plete　breakdown。　I　called　a　physician；　and　he　prescribed　plete　rest。　He's　taken　her　to　a　sanitarium　somewhere；　and　won't　tell　even　me　where　it　is；　for　fear　that　I　might　call　her。〃
　　　　　　Crinston　puffed　out　the　first　whiffs　of　blue　smoke　from　the　cigar；　and　star