esg.thecaseofthevelvetclaws-第12章

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　　〃Yes；　I　think　so。〃
　　〃All　right；〃　he　said。　〃That　accounts　for　your　reason　in　calling　me。　I　told　you　that　I　would　e　right　out。　Remember　that　you　didn't　tell　me　over　the　telephone　a　shot　had　been　fired。　You　simply　told　me　that　you　were　in　trouble　and　afraid　and　wanted　me　to　e。〃
　　〃How　did　it　happen　that　I　wanted　you　to　e？〃　she　asked。　〃What　excuse　is　there　for　that？〃
　　〃I'm　an　old　friend　of　yours；〃　he　said。　〃I　take　it　that　you　and　your　husband　don't　go　around　together　much　socially。〃
　　〃No。〃
　　〃That's　fine；〃　Mason　said。　〃You've　been　calling　me　by　my　first　name　once　or　twice　lately。　Begin　to　do　it　regularly；　particularly　when　people　are　around。　I'm　going　to　be　an　old　friend　of　yours　and　you　called　me　as　a　friend；　not　particularly　as　an　attorney。〃
　　〃I　see。〃
　　〃Now　the　question　is；　can　you　remember　all　that？　Answer！〃
　　〃Yes；〃　she　said。
　　He　gave　the　room　a　quick　survey。
　　〃You　said　you　left　your　purse　up　here。　You'd　better　find　it。〃
　　She　walked　to　the　desk　and　opened　one　of　the　drawers。　The　purse　was　in　that。　She　took　it　out。　〃How　about　the　gun？〃　she　asked。　〃Hadn't　we　better　do　something　with　the　gun？〃
　　He　followed　her　eyes；　and　saw　an　automatic　Iying　on　the　floor；　almost　underneath　the　desk；　where　the　shadows　kept　it　from　being　plainly　visible。
　　〃No；〃　he　said；　〃that's　a　break　for　us。　The　police　may　be　able　to　trace　this　gun；　and　find　out　who　it　belongs　to。〃
　　She　frowned　and　said；　〃It　seems　funny　that　a　man　would　shoot　and　then　throw　the　gun　down　here。　We　don't　know　who　that　gun　belongs　to。　Don't　you　think　we　had　better　do　something　with　it？〃
　　〃Do　what　with　it？〃
　　〃Hide　it　some　place。〃
　　〃Do　that；〃　he　said；　〃and　then　you　will　have　something　to　explain。　Let　the　police　find　the　gun。〃
　　〃I've　got　a　lot　of　confidence　in　you；　Perry；〃　she　replied。　〃But　I'd　a　lot　rather　have　it　the　other　way。　Just　the　dead　body　here。〃
　　〃No；〃　he　said；　shortly。　〃You　can　remember　everything　I　told　you？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　He　picked　up　the　telephone。
　　〃Police　Headquarters；〃　he　said。
　　
　　
　　　9。
　　
　　Bill　Hoffman；　head　of　the　Homicide　Squad；　was　a　big；　patient　man　with　slow；　searching　eyes；　and　a　habit　of　turning　things　over　and　over　in　his　mind　before　he　reached　a　definite　conclusion。
　　He　sat　in　the　living　room　on　the　downstairs　floor　of　the　Belter　house　and　stared　through　his　cigarette　smoke　at　Perry　Mason。
　　〃The　papers　that　we've　found；〃　he　said；　〃indicate　that　he　was　the　real　owner　of　Spicy　Bits；　the　blackmailing　sheet　that's　been　shaking　them　down　during　the　last　five　or　six　years。〃
　　Perry　Mason　spoke；　slowly　and　cautiously；　〃I　knew　that；　Sergeant。〃
　　〃How　long　have　you　known　it？〃　asked　Hoffman。
　　〃Not　very　long。〃
　　〃How　did　you　find　out？〃
　　〃That's　something　I　can't　tell。〃
　　〃How　did　you　happen　to　be　here　tonight　before　the　police　came？〃
　　〃You　heard　what　Mrs。　Belter　said。　That's　true。　She　called　me。　She　was　inclined　to　think　that　her　husband　might　have　lost　his　head；　and　shot　the　man　who　was　calling　on　him。　She　didn't　know　what　had　happened；　and　was　afraid　to　go　and　find　out。〃
　　〃Why　was　she　afraid？〃　asked　Hoffman。
　　Perry　Mason　shrugged　his　shoulders。
　　〃You've　seen　the　man；〃　he　said；　〃and　you　know　the　type　of　a　man　it　would　take　to　run　Spicy　Bits。　I　would　say；　offhand；　that　he　was　rather　hard…boiled。　He　might　not　be　a　perfect　gentleman　or　very　chivalrous　in　dealing　with　women…folk's。〃
　　Bill　Hoffman　turned　the　matter　over　in　his　mind。
　　〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃we　can　tell　a　lot　more　when　we've　traced　that　gun。〃
　　〃Can　you　trace　it？〃　asked　Mason。
　　〃I　think　so。　The　numbers　are　on　it。〃
　　〃Yes；〃　Mason　said；　〃I　saw　them　when　they　took　down　the　numbers。　A　32…caliber　Colt　automatic；　eh？〃
　　〃That's　the　gun；〃　said　Hoffman。
　　There　was　a　period　of　silence。　Hoffman　smoked　meditatively。　Perry　Mason　sat　perfectly　still　without　so　much　as　moving　a　muscle；　the　pose　of　a　man　who　is　either　absolutely　relaxed；　or　else　is　afraid　to　give　way　to　the　slightest　motion　for　fear　that　it　will　betray　him。
　　Once　or　twice　Bill　Hoffman　raised　his　placid　eyes　and　looked　at　Perry　Mason。　Finally　Hoffman　said；　〃There's　something　funny　about　this　whole　thing；　Mason。　I　don't　know　just　how　to　explain　it。〃
　　〃Well；〃　said　Mason；　〃it's　your　business。　I　usually　get　in　on　the　murder　cases　long　after　the　police　have　finished。　This　is　a　new　experience　for　me。〃
　　Hoffman　flashed　him　a　glance。
　　〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃it　is　rather　unusual　for　an　attorney　to　be　on　the　ground　before　the　police　get　there；　isn't　it？〃
　　〃Yes；〃　said　Mason；　nonmittally；　〃I　think　I　can　agree　with　you　upon　that　word　'unusual。'〃
　　Hoffman　smoked　awhile　in　silence。
　　〃Located　the　nephew　yet？〃　asked　Mason。
　　〃No；〃　said　Hoffman。　〃We've　covered　most　of　the　places　where　he　usually　hangs　out。　We　crossed　his　trail　earlier　in　the　evening。　He'd　been　out　with　some　jane　at　a　night　club。　We've　located　her　all　right。　She　said　that　he　left　her　before　midnight。　About　eleven…fifteen　she　thinks　it　was。〃
　　Suddenly　there　sounded　the　noise　of　a　motor　pounding　up　the　drive。　The　rain　had　ceased；　and　the　moon　was　breaking　through　the　clouds。
　　Above　the　noise　of　the　motor　could　be　heard　a　steady　thump。。。　thump。。。　thump。。。　thump。
　　The　car　came　to　a　stop；　and　a　horn　blared。
　　〃Now　what　the　devil？〃　said　Bill　Hoffman；　and　got　slowly　to　his　feet。
　　Perry　Mason　had　his　head　cocked　on　one　side；　listening。
　　〃Sounds　like　a　flat；〃　he　said。
　　Bill　Hoffman　moved　toward　the　door；　and　Perry　Mason　followed　along　behind　him。
　　Sergeant　Hoffman　opened　the　front　door。
　　There　were　four　or　five　police　cars　parked　in　the　driveway。　The　car　that　had　just　driven　up　was　on　the　outside　of　the　circle　of　parked　cars。　It　was　a　roadster　with　side　curtains　up。　A　vague　form　at　the　wheel　was　staring　at　the　house。　The　white　blur　of　his　face　could　be　seen　through　the　side　curtains　of　the　car。　He　was　holding　one　hand　on　the　horn　which　kept　up　a　steady；　incessant　racket。
　　Sergeant　Hoffman　stepped　out　into　the　light　on　the　porch；　and　the　noise　of　the　horn　ceased。
　　The　door　of　the　roadster　opened；　and　a　voice　called　in　thick　accents：
　　〃Digley。　I　got。。。　flat　tire。。。　can't　change。。。　don't　dare　bend　over。。。　don't　feel　well。　You　e　fixsh　car。。。　fixsh　tire。〃
　　Perry　Mason　remarked　casually；　〃That　probably　will　be　the　nephew；　Carl　Griffin。　We'll　see　what　he　has　to　say。〃
　　Bill　Hoffman　grunted。　〃If　I'm　any　judge　at　this　distance；　he　won't　be　able　to　say　much。〃
　　Together　they　moved　toward　the　car。
　　The　young　man　crawled　out　from　behind　the　steering　wheel；　felt　vaguely　with　a　groping　foot　for　the　step　of　the　roadster；　and　lurched　forward。　He　would　have　fallen；　had　it　not　been　for　his　hand　which　caught　and　held　one　of　the　supports　of　the　top。　He　stood　there；　weaving　uncertainly　back　and　forth。
　　〃Got　flat　tire；〃　he　said。　〃Want　Digley。。。　you're　not　Digley。　There's　two　of　you。。。　not　either　one　of　you　Digley。　Who　the　hell　are　you？　What　you　want　shish　time　of　night？　'Snot　a　nicesh　time　night　for　men　to　e　pay　call。〃
　　Bill　Hoffman　moved　forward。
　　〃You're　drunk；〃　he　said。
　　The　man　leered　at　him　with　owlish　scrutiny。
　　〃Course　I'm　drunk。。。　wash　schpose　I　shtayed　out　for？　Course　I'm　drunk。〃
　　Hoffman　said　patiently：　〃Are　you　Carl　Griffin？〃
　　〃Coursh　I'm　Carl　Griffin。〃
　　〃All　right；〃　said　Bill　Hoffman。　〃You'd　better　snap　out　of　it。　Your　uncle　has　been　murdered。〃
　　There　was　a　moment　of　silence。　The　man　who　held　to　the　top　of　the　roadster　shook　his　head　two　or　three　times；　as　though　trying　to　shake　away　some　mental　fog　which　gripped　him。
　　When　he　spoke；　his　voice　was　more　crisp。
　　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃　he　asked。
　　〃Your　uncle；〃　said　the　Sergeant。　〃That　is；　I　presume　he's　your　uncle；　George　C。　Belter。　He　was　murdered　an　hour　or　an　hour　and　a　half　ago。〃
　　The　reek　of　whiskey　enveloped　the　man。　He　was　struggling　to　get　his　self…possession。　He　took　two　or　three　deep　breaths；　and　then　said；　〃You're　drunk。〃
　　Sergeant　Hoffman　smiled。　〃No；　Griffin；　we're　not　drunk；〃　he　said；　patiently。　〃You're　the　one　that's　drunk。　You've　been　out　going　places　and　doing　things。　You'd　better　e　in　the　house　and　see　if　you　can　pull　yourself　together。〃
　　〃Did　you　say　'murdered'？〃　asked　the　young　man。
　　〃That's　what　I　said…murdered；〃　repeated　Sergeant　Hoffman。
　　The　young　man　started　walking　toward　the　house。　He　was　holding　his　head　very　erect　with　his　shoulders　back。
　　〃If　he　was　murdered；〃　he　said；　〃it　was　that　damned　woman　that　did　it。〃
　　〃Who　do　you　mean？〃　asked　Sergeant　Hoffman。
　　〃That　baby…faced　bitch　he　married；〃　said　the　young　man。
　　Hoffman　took　the　young　man's　arm　and　turned　back　to　Perry　Mason。
　　〃Mason；〃　he　said；　〃would　you　mind　switching　off　the　motor　on　that　car　and　turning　off　the　lights？〃
　　Carl　Griffin　paused；　and　turned　unsteadily　back。
　　〃Change　tire；　too；〃　he　said；　〃right　front　tire…it's　been　flat　for　miles　and　miles。。。　better　change　it。〃
　　Perry　Mason　switched　off　the　motor　and　lights；　slammed　the　door　on　the　roadster；　and　walked　rapidly　to　catch　up　with　the　pair　ahead　of　him。
　　He　was　in　time　to　open　the　front　door　for　Bill　Hoffman　and　the　man　on　his　arm。
　　Seen　under　the　light　in　the　hallway；　Carl　Griffin　was　a　rather　good…looking　young　man　with　a　face　which　was　flushed　with　drink；　marked　with　dissipation。　His　eyes　were　red　and　bleary；　but　there　was　a　certain　innate　dignity　about　him；　a　stamp　of　breeding　which　made　itself　manifest　in　the　manner　in　which　he　tried　to　adjust　himself　to　the　emergency。
　　Bill　Hoffman　faced　him；　studied　him　carefully。
　　〃Do　you　suppose　that　you　could　sober　up　enough　to　talk　with　us；　Griffin？〃　he　asked。
　　Griffin　nodded。　〃Just　a　minute。。。　I'll　be　all　right。〃
　　He　pushed　away　from　Sergeant　Hoffman　and　staggered　toward　a　lavatory　which　opened　off　the　reception　room　on　the　lower　floor。
　　Hoffman　looked　at　Mason。
　　〃He's　pretty　drunk；〃　said　Mason。
　　〃Sure　he's　drunk；〃　Hoffman　replied；　〃but　it　isn't　like　an　amateur　getting　drunk。　He's　used　to　it。　He　drove　the　car　all　the　way　up　here　with　the　roads　wet；　and　with　a　tire　flat。〃
　　〃Yes；〃　agreed　Mason；　〃he　could　drive　the　car　all　right。〃
　　〃Apparently　no　love　lost　between　him　and　Eva　Belter；〃　Sergeant　Hoffman　pointed　out。
　　〃You　mean　what　he　said　about　her？〃　asked　Mason。
　　〃Sure；〃　said　Hoffman。　〃What　else　would　I　mean？〃
　　〃He　was　drunk；〃　Mason　said。　〃You　wouldn't　suspect　a　woman　on　account　of　the　thoughtless　remark　of　a　drunken　man；　would　you？〃
　　〃Sure；　he　was　drunk；〃　said　Hoffman；　〃and　he　piloted　the　car　up　here；　all　right。　Maybe　he　could　think　straight　even　if　he　was　drunk。〃
　　Perry　Mason　shrugged　his　shoulders。
　　〃Have　it　your　own　way；〃　he　said；　carelessly。
　　From　the　bathroom　came　the　sounds　of　violent　retchings。
　　〃I'll　bet　you　he　sobers　up；〃　remarked　Sergeant　Hoffman；　watching　Perry　Mason　with　wary　eyes；　〃and　says　the　same　thing　about　the　woman　when　he's　sober。〃
　　〃I'll　bet　you　he's　drunk　as　a　lord；　no　matter　whether　he　seems　to　be　sober　or　not；〃　snapped　Mason。　〃Some　of　these　fellows　are　pretty　deceptive　when　it　es　to　carrying　their　booze。　They　get　so　they　can　act　as　sober　as　judges；　but　they　haven't　very　much　of　an　idea　what　they're　doing　or　saying。〃
　　Bill　Hoffman　looked　at　him　with　a　suggestion