As Perry was dictating to Della Street, the intercom buzzed. Gertie's voice sounded concerned. "It's Lt. Tragg, Mr. Mason. He's on his way in."
The office door opened, and Lt. Tragg entered, a frown on his normally genial face.
Perry looked up. "What brings you here, Lieutenant? I'm not working on any murder cases right now. You can check under the desk – no bodies in here either."
"Perry, you're the body that I'm concerned about. And the murder hasn't happened – yet. I'm here to offer you police protection. Pete Chennery escaped custody as they were taking him for medical treatment. He's sworn to get you. I know protection's not a Homicide matter, but since we have such a good working relationship…"
"You mean that you do half your work by following me. Chennery isn't the first one, Lieutenant; he won't be the last. That kind has to blame someone else for the choices they make. I don't need police protection. Now that I'm warned I'll have Paul keep an eye out. I'm sure the L.A.P.D. will scoop him up before too long."
"Perry, Chennery isn't your usual talk-only thug. He's dangerous. And Paul doesn't carry a gun most of the time."
Tragg had another reason for not wanting Paul Drake to play bodyguard. When Paul had won the Silver Star in Korea, one of the lives he saved was that of Tragg's sister's son. And while Tragg often threatened Drake with loss of his Private Investigator's license, it was a threat he would have had difficulty in following through on. Tragg was a fair man, and he had an unspoken liking for the young detective. Tragg had devoted his life to his job, after his wife had died in the Spanish Influenza epidemic in 1918. They had had no children, as Tragg had gone to France almost as soon as they were married. His nephew was as close to a son as he had ever had.
"And it might not be you directly, Perry. He could strike at someone close to you." He glanced meaningfully at Della.
Mason smiled. "Lieutenant, Della is watched more closely than I am."