The Case of the Teenage Delinquent
Chapter 1
1
A cardinal was sitting on the railing of the terrace outside of Perry Mason's window. Ordinarily, such a sight would not have caught the famous attorney's attention. Today, however, Mason had, under protest worked and completed the mail. Mason hated doing correspondence. To him, it was tedious and boring. He had more important things to do. Besides, his secretary could answer most of it for him.
The mail consist of people who wanted free advice, to which Della could simply tell them to make an appointment. Other letters did consist of actual clients who needed his services for one thing or another. Della had been working for him for so long, she could probably advise those people almost as well as he could.
Still, his ever-loyal secretary insisted he go through the mail with her. Each and every piece had to be answered, and she wanted his input on what to say. Today, there had been an unusual large amount to go through. Perry had successfully put it off for two days, but when he tried a third time, she would have no part of it. So, Perry had spent most of the morning answering the mail.
The day was also unusual as he had no appointments on the calendar. Mason had finished a trial a few days ago, and he was ready for another one. The attorney had to admit he loved the thrill of a murder trial, not that he liked to see people murdered but, he could not help but enjoy the investigation of finding out who actually did the murder. So far, he had been very fortunate; he had defended innocent clients. Naturally, most of them lied to him or hid things from him, yet he almost always found out what they were hiding.
Perry depended on Paul Drake, his private detective to do a lot of the leg work. Obviously, he could not be in court defending a client and out there investigating as well.
Mason watched the Cardinal, his head bobbing up and down on the railing, as if he was looking for something to eat. Suddenly the bird took flight and flew away. Disappointed that his distraction was now gone, Mason went back to his desk. Della had left him several briefs to read and sign before she sent them out.
Reaching for the fresh cup of coffee she had placed on his desk before he began bird watching, he took a sip of the dark brew and set it back on the desk.
The door to his office opened and Della walked in. "Perry, I have all the correspondence typed up. There are several letters you need to sign, so I can put them in the mail." She looked over at the lawyer who seemed to be engrossed in one of the briefs she typed earlier. Smiling, she went over to his desk. "Did you hear me?" she asked.
Mason looked up. "What? Oh, the letters, you want me to sign them. Just set them on the desk. I will get to them later. These briefs are more important."
Della set them down. Perry had gone back to reading his briefs. "I made one appointment for you this afternoon. I am not sure about it."
That immediately got Mason's attention. "What do you mean?"
"Well, the client is a sixteen-year-old boy," she told him.
"Sixteen? Della, unless he is a movie or television star, how are we going to get paid?" Perry asked with a smile.
"Since when do you worry about money when it comes to a client who can't afford it?" Della said.
Perry watched as Della put her hands on her hips. He could not help but notice they were very shapely hips. "What is this young man's problem? What does he want to see me about?"
Della turned her head and chuckled. "He wants to divorce his parents."
Mason just stared at her. After a moment, he sat back in his chair. "Della, you know I hate handling divorce cases."
"That is normal divorce cases. This could hardly be considered normal. Besides, I thought you might talk to the young man and maybe find a way to help him and talk him out of this divorce idea." Della lowered her eyebrows. "Is it even possible for a child to divorce his parents?'
"Well, it is unusual, but there are recorded cases of it happening. Basically, what actually happens is the parents lose custody of the child. Did this boy give a reason why he wants to divorce his parents?"
"No, he did not want to talk to me; he only wants to speak with you about it," Della told him.
Perry sighed. He knew he was going to give into Della despite not really wanting to handle this case. It was a far cry from a murder case. "Alright, Della, what time is he coming in?"
"After he gets out of school, around four o'clock."
Perry shook his head. "Since we don't have a murder case right now, I was hoping we could get out of here a little earlier. You know, go out to dinner and do some dancing." He got up and went around and met Della in front of his desk. Reaching for her, he pulled her closed to him. "Which would you rather do? Have a candle-light dinner and dance into the wee hours of the morning or talk to a kid that wants to divorce his parents.
Della gently pushed him back. "You know what I would rather do," she said with a smile, "however, would you really enjoy dinner and dancing if you knew you did not help this boy?"
There it was, he knew the answer to that question. "Alright, Della, you win. I'll see the boy."
"I knew you would." When Perry reached for her again, she backed away quickly. As she reached the door, she said over her shoulder, "Those briefs have to go out today." She disappeared out of the door that separated Mason's office from hers.
2
Colton Parker stood in front of the gate that led into Universal Studios. He tried to get a glimpse of a movie star, any movie star. He could not see what good it did him to waste his time sitting at a desk all day at school. What good was math, problems of democracy or chemistry? He wasn't going to use anything he would learn in those stupid classes. Colton wanted to be a movie star or a television star. Maybe he would have his own show, yes, that would be perfect. He could play a cop or a lawyer. A lawyer that was as good as Perry Mason, or even better.
Unlike most parents who encouraged their kids concerning their future, his parents constantly told him he was nothing but a day-dreamer. How many times had they told him most people that tried to make it in show business ended up waiting tables in some greasy spoon. They too, his parents would say, did not think they needed school. Well, Colton knew better than that. He was going to make it as an actor. Just think of all the babes that would throw themselves at him when he became a star!
Colton Parker knew he was a handsome lad. He was already six-feet tall, he had blonde hair, blue eyes with a smile that displayed dimples. Dimples, oh yeah, the babes loved his dimples, and he flashed them often. Already the girls at school were chasing him, and man were some of them real babes.
"Colton, what are we doing here?" JC asked. "I thought when we skipped school we were going to get our hands on some beer and get wasted.
JC Crumley had been in constant trouble since he was in grade school. He came from a broken home, his father having taken off and left his mom to raise him. JC was not quite as tall as Colton, but he was built like a linebacker and used that bulk to bully other students. He had been arrested three times, once for underage drinking, once for beating up another student which put him in the hospital, and for setting a teacher's desk on fire because it contained a paper for which he had received a failing grade.
Colton's parents had forbid him to hang out with JC, but to no avail. Colton did not care what his parents wanted. They were too old fashion. These days, kids drank and smoked pot and a lot worse. They should consider themselves lucky that all he did was drink and occasionally smoke weed.
"Colton, are you listening? JC is right, we cut classes to drink. What the hell are we doing here?" Brad Preston asked. "If my parents find out I cut class, they'll kill me. So if I am going to get into trouble, I would at least like to have some fun"
Preston had been in trouble with the law on a couple occasions. Colton had also been forbidden to spend any time with him. His brother, Ben Preston was younger than he, but he was following in his big brother's footsteps. He was a freshman at Northwood High School. The other boys were sophomores.
The leader the group was a senior. Ethan Alexander was eighteen. The chances of him graduating in June were not good. Then again, he didn't care. He only stayed in school because he was able to buy marijuana, and more recently heroin. "Why did we meet here in the first place?"
"Brad Pitt is making a new movie. He should be showing up anytime. I want to talk to him. He is a big star. Maybe I can get him to help me," Colton said.
"You have got to be kidding," Ethan shouted. "We are sitting outside Universal Studios because you want to talk to Brad Pitt. Listen, Bozo, he is not going to give you the time of day. Look at yourself, you are nobody, going nowhere. You have not even acted in the school play. In fact, you couldn't even get a part." Ethan started laughing. "You and your ridiculous dreams." He continued laughing.
Colton could feel the anger rising. He doubled his fist and slugged Ethan in the jaw. Alexander went crashing to the ground. He quickly got back to his feet. He attacked Colton and the fight was on.
A vehicle pulled up to the gate. A guard came out of the small building. "Hey, you guys knock it off! Get out of here!"
The vehicle was an expensive sports car. The guard opened the gate and the car pulled in. Brad Pitt got out of the car. Hurrying over to the boys, he grabbed each one of them by the collars and pulled them apart. "That's enough, you guys better get out of here before George calls the police."
Sirens could be heard. The boys scrambled and took off in different directions, everyone but Colton Parker. "Mister Pitt, can I talk to you?"
"Sorry, kid, I have to be on the set in fifteen-minutes." He turned to walk away; he stopped when Colton grabbed his arm.
"Well, can't I just go on the set. I promise I won't bother anyone. We can talk when you are done."
A policeman grabbed Parker from behind. "Aren't you supposed to be in school, boy?"
"No, my parents called me in absent," Colton lied. He could not allow the cop to get in the way.
Pitt tried to pull away, but Colton would not let go. "Please, Brad, I want to get into movies."
"Look, kid. I can't help you. Go back to school, then try going to a drama school. Now, I really have to get on the set."
"I am asking you for your help," Colton shouted.
"Okay, kid. that's it. The cop grabbed Colton, swung him around and slammed him up against his squad car. Pitt left the scene to Parker's disappointment.
"Let's see some identification, boy," the cop said.
Colton reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. Removing his driver's license, he handed it to the cop.
"Parker... Are your parents the married lawyers, Cliff and Deborah Parker?" he asked.
"Yeah, that's them."
The officer turned the boy around. "Do your parents know you skipped school?"
"I told you, they called me in absent," Colton said.
"Sure they did. I'll tell you what. Let's go over to their office, and if they confirm what you just said, I'll turn you loose."
Colton tried to hold back the panic. "You have no right to hold me. I have not done anything!"
"Fighting and causing a disturbance, not to mention stalking Brad Pitt. I think that will hold you. "
"I wasn't stalking him. I just want to talk to him," Colton protested.
The police officer grabbed Colton and pushed him into the back of his police cruiser."
The last place Colton wanted to go was to his parents law office. He knew the minute they found out where he had been, he was going to get the same lecture he had heard a hundred times. He did not need school. Colton was going to be an actor. Actors did not need math and chemistry and all the other subjects that wasted his time.
He needed to get the cop to release him, unfortunately, he doubted the pig would listen. He had no choice, he was going to his parents' law office. Colton remained silent for the rest of the ride.
When they arrived at the law offices, the cop opened the door and led him into his parents' office building. The long walk to their office seemed like it took forever. The officer opened the door. His father's secretary frown when she saw him led in by the police officer.
"I'm Officer Morton. I would like to speak with this young man's parents."
"One moment, Officer." She pressed the intercom and spoke into the phone. Mister Parker, there is a police officer here with your son."
The door opened almost immediately. Cliff Parker stepped into the lobby. His expression was hard as nails. Colton knew he was in trouble. "Come in, Officer."
Officer Morton led the boy into his father's office. His mother was sitting in front of the desk. She stood up when she saw her son. His shirt was ripped, and he had a bruise under his right eye.
"I was down the street from Universal Studios when a call came in about a disturbance of some boys fighting at the gate. When I arrived the other boys took off, but this boy was pestering Brad Pitt, the actor."
"You are supposed to be in school, Mister," his father said.
"You mean you did not call him in absent?" the officer asked.
"Is that what he told you?" his mother inquired.
"Yes, but I knew better. When I found out he was your son, I decided not to arrest him. He has already been in trouble with the law. I thought it would be better if you handled it."
"Thank you, Officer Morton. We appreciate it. If you ever need a lawyer, please be sure to give us a call," Cliff Parker told him.
"Thanks, but everyone knows if you need a lawyer in this town, you call Perry Mason." He turned and left their office.
Cliff looked at his son. "What do you have to say for yourself, cutting class to chase actors around. When are you going to realize getting into show business is nothing but a pipe dream?"
"It is not. I am going to be an actor!"
"You are going to stay in school and learn a trade of some kind. Why don't you consider becoming a lawyer?" he asked.
"You mean like you? You heard the cop, he would rather hire Perry Mason." Colton chuckled. He did not see the blow coming when his father backhanded him across the mouth.
"You have been nothing but trouble. You are never going to amount to anything. Probably end up in prison. You useless, no good..."
Deborah stepped in. "Cliff, he needs to go back to school."
"What the hell for, he is too stupid to realize he is wasting his time chasing actors around. Last week it was Chris Pine, this week it is Brad Pitt. Who were the boys you were fighting with?"
"Just some guys," Colton said as he wiped the blood from his lip that split when his father hit him. He should be. He could not count the number of times his father hit him. One of these times he was going to hit him back. His father was just about his size and build, Colton had to be just as strong.
"If I find out you have been hanging out with those hoodlums, I'll kick the crap out of you, you hear me?"
"Yeah, yeah." His voice showed the contempt he had for his father.
Once again, his father backhanded him across the face. "Come with me. I am putting you in a cab. You are going back to school. Just try to learn something. I know it is hard for someone as stupid as you."
"Cliff, take it easy. Just ground him for a couple weeks. Maybe he will learn not to skip school."
Parker looked at his son. "You are grounded for a month. You are not going anywhere. When you get out of school, you are to go straight home. You got that, Colton?"
"I got it," he said.
His father walked him outside, flagged down a cab, paid him and instructed the cab driver to drop the boy off at school. Colton sat in the cab, fuming at his father and mad at his mother. She never stepped in when his father was pounding on him. She was as much to blame for the beating he took as he was. She may never have raised a hand to him, but she did nothing to stop his father from beating him.
As soon as the cab driver dropped him off at school, Colton flagged down another cab, and instructed him to take him to the Brent Building where the law office of Perry Mason was located. When they arrived, he paid the cab driver with money he had stolen from one of the girls' purses that was left unattended.
Colton entered the building and took the elevator to the eight floor. He stepped out and headed for the lawyer's office. He found the door with a sign that read, "Perry Mason, Attorney at Law." Colton opened the door and went inside.
Walking up to Gertie's desk, he told her, "I have an appointment with Mister Perry Mason."
Gertie pressed the intercom to Della, who went into Perry's office. "Perry, Colton Parker is here to see you."
"Colton Parker? Is that the boy you wanted me to see?"
"Yes," Della answered.
"Any related to Parker and Parker?"
"The lawyers? I don't know. You will have to ask him," Della said.
"Bring him in, Della?"
She left the office and returned a few minutes later with Colton Parker. "Mister Parker, this is Mister Mason."
Perry stood up and offered his hand. Colton shook it. "Are you any related to Cliff and Deborah Parker?"
"Yes, they are my parents," Colton said.
Mason offered him a seat in front of his desk. Parker sat down, but remained silent.
"What can I do for you, Mister Parker, " Perry asked.
"I want to divorce my parents," he answered.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Perry Mason characters. They are the creation of Erle Stanley Gardner. All other characters were created in my mind to tell this story.
Thanks for reading.
Kaleen1212
