esg.thecaseofthevelvetclaws-第26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！


　　〃I'm　not　a　fool；　and　I　knew　how　black　things　would　look　for　me；　particularly　in　view　of　the　mess　that　I　was　in　with　Harrison　Burke　on　account　of　the　Beechwood　Inn　murder。
　　〃I　just　ran　blindly　out　into　the　rain　and　didn't　have　very　much　of　an　idea　what　I　was　doing。　I　remember　grabbing　a　coat　as　I　went　past　the　hall　stand。　But　it　shows　how　rattled　I　was　that　I　didn't　even　take　my　own　coat。　It　was　there；　but　I　grabbed　an　old　overcoat　that　Carl　Griffin　sometimes　wore。　I　threw　it　around　me　and　kept　running。　After　a　while　I　got　my　wits　about　me　and　decided　that　I'd　better　call　you。　I　didn't　know　then　whether　or　not　he　was　dead。　But　I　knew　that　if　I　was　going　to　have　to　face　him；　I　wanted　to　have　you　with　me。
　　〃He　didn't　run　after　me；　so　I　was　afraid　that　I'd　killed　him。　It　really　wasn't　premeditated。　It　was　just　on　impulse。　He'd　found　my　purse　and　gone　through　it。　That　was　a　habit　he　had；　looking　for　letters。　I　wasn't　foolish　enough　to　have　any　letters　in　there；　but　I　did　have　those　receipts；　and　he　put　two　and　two　together。
　　〃He　was　taking　a　bath　when　I　came　in。　He　heard　me；　I　guess。　He　climbed　out　of　the　bathtub；　and　threw　the　bathrobe　around　him；　and　started　bellowing　for　me。　I　went　up　there　and　he　had　the　receipts。　He　accused　me　of　being　the　woman　who　was　with　Harrison　Burke；　and　then　he　accused　me　of　a　lot　of　things；　and　said　that　he　was　going　to　throw　me　out　without　a　penny。　I　became　hysterical；　and　grabbed　the　gun　and　shot　him。　After　I　got　down　to　the　drug　store；　and　was　ready　to　telephone　you；　I　realized　that　I　was　going　to　need　somebody　to　stand　back　of　me。　I　didn't　have　any　money　of　my　own。　I　told　you　that。　My　husband　kept　all　the　money；　and　only　gave　me　a　little　at　a　time。　I　knew　about　the　will　that　was　made　out　in　favor　of　Carl　Griffin；　and　I　was　afraid　that　I　couldn't　get　any　money　out　of　the　estate　while　it　was　being　tied　up　in　probate。　I　knew　that　Harrison　Burke　would　be　afraid　of　getting　his　name　mixed　into　the　thing；　and　that　he'd　leave　me　flat。　I　had　to　have　money；　I　had　to　have　somebody　to　stand　back　of　me。　So　I　rang　up　Harrison　Burke　and　deliberately　mixed　him　into　it。　I　told　him　that　something　had　happened；　and　that　his　gun　had　figured　in　it。　That　I　didn't　know　who　the　man　was　that　had　killed　him；　but　I　did　know　that　his　gun　was　on　the　floor。
　　〃It　was　a　stall　that　wouldn't　have　gone　over　with　you；　but　it　went　over　with　Burke　all　right。　Burke　was　frantic。
　　〃I　told　him　there　was　only　one　thing　to　do；　and　that　was　for　him　to　get　under　cover；　and　fix　it　so　they　couldn't　trace　the　gun　to　him；　if　he　could。　And　in　the　meantime；　to　see　that　you　had　plenty　of　money　to　go　ahead　and　do　anything　that　you　could。　Then　I　telephoned　you　and　got　you　to　e　over。
　　〃While　you　were　driving　down　there；　I　got　to　thinking　how　much　better　it　would　be　if　I　could　have　you　in　a　position　where　you　were　forced　to　get　me　out　of　it　in　order　to　save　yourself　and　also；　have　some　kind　of　an　explanation　that　I　could　make　to　the　police　if　the　police　should　start　suspecting　me。
　　〃You　were　right　about　that。〃　She　went　on；　〃I　knew　that　they　could　never　convict　you；　because　you　were　too　smart　and　skillful。　You　could　get　out　of　it；　and　I　figured　that　if　they　got　to　crowding　me　too　close；　I'd　give　them　the　information　that　I　did；　so　that　they'd　go　after　you　and　that　would　clear　me。　If　they　ever　tried　to　e　back　on　me　after　you　had　drawn　their　fire；　I　knew　that　it　would　be　an　easy　case　to　beat。〃
　　Mason　looked　up　at　Paul　Drake　and　shook　his　head。
　　〃Nice　little　playmate；　isn't　she？〃　he　said。
　　There　was　a　knock　at　the　door。
　　Mason　looked　at　the　occupants　of　the　room。　Then　tiptoed　to　the　door；　and　opened　it。
　　Sidney　Drumm　stood　on　the　threshold。　There　was　another　man　back　of　him。
　　〃Hello；　Perry；〃　he　said。　〃We　had　a　devil　of　a　time　finding　you。　We　trailed　Della　Street　to　this　hotel；　but　it　took　us　quite　a　little　while　to　find　out　what　alias　you　were　registered　under。　I'm　sorry　to　bother　you；　but　you've　got　to　take　a　little　ride　with　me。　The　District　Attorney　wants　to　ask　you　a　few　questions。〃
　　Mason　nodded。　〃Walk　right　in；〃　he　said。
　　Eva　Belter　gave　a　little　cry。　〃Perry；　you've　got　to　protect　me！　I　came　clean。　You've　got　to　stand　back　of　me。〃
　　Perry　looked　at　her；　then　turned　abruptly　to　Sidney　Drumm。
　　〃This　is　a　break　for　you；　Sidney；〃　he　said。　〃You're　going　to　be　able　to　make　the　arrest。　This　is　Eva　Belter；　who　has　just　confessed　to　the　murder　of　her　husband。〃
　　Eva　Belter　screamed；　got　to　her　feet　and　swayed　uncertainly。
　　Drumm　looked　from　one　to　the　other。
　　〃It's　a　fact；〃　Paul　Drake　said。
　　Mason　motioned　toward　Della　Street。
　　〃It's　all　down　there；〃　he　said；　〃in　black　and　white。　We've　got　witnesses；　and　we've　got　her　statement　taken　verbatim。〃
　　Sidney　Drumm　whistled　under　his　breath。
　　〃By　God；　Perry；〃　he　said；　〃that's　a　lucky　break　for　you！　They　were　going　to　charge　you　with　the　murder。〃
　　Mason's　voice　was　savage；　〃There　wasn't　any　luck　about　it。　I　was　willing　to　give　her　a　break　as　long　as　she　shot　square。　But　when　I　read　in　the　paper　about　her　dragging　me　into　it；　I　made　up　my　mind　that　I　was　going　to　call　for　a　show…down。〃
　　Paul　Drake　said；　〃Do　you　really　know　where　Harrison　Burke　is？〃
　　〃Hell；　no！〃　said　Perry　Mason。　〃I　didn't　even　get　out　of　this　room　last　night。　I　simply　sat　here　and　thought。　I　did　get　hold　of　Mrs。　Veitch；　and　told　her　that　Eva　Belter　was　going　to　be　in　here　this　morning　and　wanted　her　to　be　here　in　order　to　corroborate　a　statement　she　was　going　to　make　to　the　reporters。　I　sent　a　taxi　out　for　Mrs。　Veitch　and　had　her　e　in。〃
　　〃She　wouldn't　have　backed　you　up　in　the　statement？〃　asked　Drake。
　　〃I　don't　know；〃　said　Mason。　〃I　don't　think　so。　I　didn't　talk　with　her　at　all。　She　wouldn't　talk　with　me。　I　think　she's　holding　something　back；　though。　I'm　satisfied　she　knows　something。　I　simply　wanted　to　have　you　open　the　door　and　let　Eva　Belter　see　her　here　for　the　purpose　of　exerting　a　little　pressure。〃
　　Eva　Belter　stared　white…faced　at　Perry　Mason。
　　〃Damn　you；〃　she　said；　〃for　a　double…crossing　back…stabber！〃
　　It　was　Sidney　Drumm　who　gave　the　situation　its　last　touch　of　irony。　〃Hell；〃　he　said；　〃Eva　Belter　was　the　woman　who　told　us　where　you　were；　Perry。　She　said　she　was　going　to　see　you　this　morning　and　that　we　could　wait　until　someone　else　came　here　and　claim　we'd　followed　that　other　person。　She　wanted　to　have　you　think　we'd　followed　Della　Street　or　someone；　instead　of　her。〃
　　Mason　made　no　ment。　His　face　was　suddenly　very　weary。
　　
　　
　　　16。
　　
　　Perry　Mason　sat　in　his　office　looking　very　tired。
　　Della　Street　sat　across　the　desk　from　him　and　avoided　his　eyes。
　　〃I　thought　you　didn't　like　her；〃　Mason　remarked。
　　She　kept　her　eyes　averted。
　　〃I　didn't；〃　she　admitted；　〃but　I'm　sorry　that　you　had　to　be　the　one　that　made　the　disclosure。　She　relied　on　you　to　get　her　out　of　trouble。　You　turned　her　over　to　the　officers。〃
　　〃I　didn't　do　anything　of　the　sort；〃　he　denied。　〃I　simply　refused　to　be　the　goat。〃
　　She　shrugged　her　shoulders。
　　〃I've　known　you　for　five　years；〃　she　said；　slowly。　〃During　that　time　your　clients　have　always　e　first。　You　didn't　make　the　cases；　and　you　didn't　make　the　clients。　You　took　them　as　they　came。　Some　of　your　clients　got　hung。　Others　got　free。　But；　while　you　represented　them；　you　never　went　back　on　any　of　them。〃
　　〃What　is　this；〃　he　asked；　〃a　sermon？〃
　　〃Yes；〃　she　said；　shortly。
　　〃Go　on；　then。〃
　　She　shook　her　head。
　　〃It's　finished。〃
　　He　got　up　and　walked　over　to　her；　and　put　his　hand　on　her　shoulder。
　　〃Della；〃　he　said；　〃I've　got　one　thing　to　ask　you。〃
　　〃What　is　it？〃
　　〃Please　have　confidence　in　me；〃　he　said；　humbly。
　　She　looked　up　and　met　his　eyes　then。
　　〃You　mean。。。？〃
　　He　nodded　his　head。
　　〃She　isn't　convicted；〃　he　said；　〃of　a　damned　thing　until　a　jury　brings　in　a　verdict　finding　her　guilty　of　something。〃
　　〃But；〃　said　Della　Street；　〃she　won't　have　anything　more　to　do　with　you。　She'll　get　another　lawyer　now；　and　she's　confessed。　How　are　you　going　to　get　away　from　that　confession？　She　repeated　the　confession　to　the　police　and　signed　it。〃
　　〃I　don't　have　to　get　away　from　it。　You've　got　to　convict　them　beyond　a　reasonable　doubt。　If　a　jury　has　a　reasonable　doubt；　it　can't　convict。　I　can　get　her　free　yet。〃
　　She　scowled　at　him。
　　〃Why　couldn't　you　have　let　Paul　Drake　tip　off　the　police　to　ask　her　certain　questions？〃　she　said。　〃Why　did　you　have　to　tell　them？〃
　　〃Because　she'd　have　lied　her　way　out　of　any　questions　the　police　could　have　asked。　She's　clever；　that　woman。　She　wanted　me　to　help　her；　but　she　figured　that　she'd　throw　me　to　the　wolves　any　time　the　pack　got　too　close。〃
　　〃So　you　threw　her　instead？〃
　　〃If　you　want　to　put　it　that　way；　yes；〃　Mason　admitted；　and　took　his　hand　from　her　shoulder。
　　She　got　up　and　walked　toward　the　outer　office。
　　〃Carl　Griffin　is　out　there；〃　she　said；　〃and　Arthur　Atwood；　his　lawyer。〃
　　〃Send　them　in；〃　Mason　told　her　in　a　flat；　dispirited　tone　of　voice。
　　She　opened　the　door　to　the　outer　office；　held　it　open　and　beckoned　to　the　two　men。
　　Carl　Griffin's　face　showed　traces　of　his　dissipation；　but　he　was　perfectly　poised；　very　suave；　and　very　much　of　the　gentleman。　He　bowed　his　apologies　to　Della　Street　for　walking　in　front　of　her　as　he　passed　through　the　door；　smiled　courteously　and　meaninglessly　at　Perry　Mason；　as　he　said；　〃Good　afternoon。〃
　　Arthur　Atwood　was　a　man　in　his　late　forties；　with　a　face　that　needed　sunlight。　His　eyes　were　sparkling；　but　shifty。　His　head　was　bald　from　the　forehead　to　the　top　where　a　fringe　of　hair　ran　around　and　down　to　his　ears；　making　a　fuzzy　halo　for　the　back　of　the　head。　His　lips　were　twisted　into　a　perpetual；　professional　smile；　which　was　utterly　meaningless。　The　face　had　taken　on　lines　from　that　smile；　deep　calipers　running　from　the　nose　to　the　corners　of　the　mouth；　with　crow's…feet　radiating　out　from　the　eyes。　He　was　a　man　who　was　hard　to　judge；　except　in　one　thing…he　was　a　dangerous　antagonist。
　　Perry　Mason　indicated　chairs　and　Della　Street　closed　the　door。
　　Carl　Griffin　started　talking。　〃You　will　pardon　me；　Mr。　Mason；　if　I　seemed　to　have　misunderstood　your　motives　in　this　case　earlier　in　the　game。　I　understand　that　it　was　your　clever　detective　work　which　is　largely　responsible　for　the　confession　of　Mrs。　Belter。〃
　　Arthur　Atwood　interposed　affably；　〃Just　leave　the　talking　to　me　if　you　will；　Carl。〃
　　Griffin　smiled　suavely；　bowed　toward　his　counsel。
　　Arthur　Atwood　hitched　a　chair　up　to　the　desk；　sat　down；　looked　at　Perry　Mason：　〃All　right；　counselor；　we　understand　each　other；　I　take　it。〃
　　〃I'm　not　certain　that　we　do；〃　said　Mason。
　　Atwood's　lips　twisted　in　his　perpetual　smile；　but　his　sparkling　eyes　showed　no　trace　of　humor。
　　〃You're　the　attorney　of　record；〃　he　said；　〃for　Eva　Belter's　contest　to　the　probate　of　the　will。　Also　for　her　in　her　application　for　letters　as　special　administratrix。　It　would　simplify　matters　very　much　if　you　would　dismiss　both　the　contest；　and　the　application…without　prejudice；　of　course。〃
　　〃Whom　would　it　simplify　matters　for？〃　Mason　asked。
　　Atwood　waved　his　hand　in　the　direction　of　his　client。　〃Mr。　Griffin；　of　course。〃
　　〃I'm　not　representing　Griffin；〃　Mason　answered　curtl