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 for the purpose of telling this story.

My stories follow a timeline. However, they are written so that they can stand alone. On occasion there will be references back to other stories.

Please keep in mind that I write the stories in the present rather than when the series aired on television. So please, no e-mails regarding cell phones and computers.

Lastly, I do not claim to be a lawyer or even to have any legal training. I am sure there will be many legal errors. However I find it hard to envision a Perry Mason story without courtroom scenes. Therefore I put them in, legal mistakes and all. So please take this story for what it is intended, pure entertainment. I hope you enjoy it.

The Case of the Missing Chihuahua

Chapter 01

1.1

The alarm went off beside Della. She untangled herself from Perry's arms and shut it off. She looked over at the sleeping lawyer and smiled. They had spent the day together. Perry had promised that they would not go to the office and he had kept his promise despite several calls from Gertie with questions and requests of assistance.

They spent the day enjoying each other and each other's company. Della had been exhausted from her ordeal, having been kidnapped by Bert Fielder. Tied up, gagged and locked in the basement of the Claymore Apartment building, she had been left there to be burned alive as a punishment to Perry Mason for clearing Seth Palmer of murder and placing the blame where it belonged... on five firemen who set fires and burnt down buildings for the owners for part of the insurance.

What Fielder did not take into consideration was the strong bond that existed between Perry and Della. Perry, with the help of Paul Drake, would not relent in his search to find her and bring her to safety. With the help of his friends and adversaries, Hamilton Burger, Lt. Arthur Tragg and Lt. Andy Anderson, they searched the burning building from top to bottom. Ultimately it was Perry and Paul who located Della and brought her out of the burning building before it collapsed but not without the help of Seth Palmer. The fireman risked his life to lead the trio out minutes before it collapsed to the ground in a huge ball of fire destroying the entire building.

Della and Perry spent the day lounging around his apartment, never getting out of their bathrobe except long enough to make love.

Della refused to allow the television on. She had no desire to watch the fire and her rescue broadcast over and over.

They sat on the couch most of the day, Perry with one arm around Della...a novel in his other hand. Della's fingers of her free hand were intertwined with his. Her other hand contained a novel of her own. Hardly a word was spoken between them. None were necessary. Occasionally one would look at the other to assure each other that they were safe and sound in each other's arms. A look, a touch or a sigh assured them both that all was once again right with their world.

Perry made dinner for them and they ate by candlelight. A fire was set in the fireplace and the couple sat in front of it to watch the flames dance around as they held each other kissing and caressing until sleep threatened to take them. They retired to the bedroom to make love until they lay exhausted in each other's arms.

The ringing of the clock ended a day and night of bliss as it was time to return to the law practice that was demanding their attention. Della let Perry sleep while she went into his bathroom, turned on the shower and stepped into the warm spray of water. One hour later she was dressed, her makeup was on and she was ready to go to work.

Della walked back into the bedroom. She looked over at Perry who was still sleeping. She smiled and watched him for a moment. She walked over the bed, sat down beside him and gently ran her fingers down his jawline. Perry stirred and opened his eyes. "You better get up. We have to be in the office in less than an hour," she said gently.

Perry reached for Della. He kissed her and said, "Why don't we take another day off?"

She smiled and returned his kiss. "You know why we don't take another day off. How many times did Gertie call here yesterday? You don't want her to quit, do you?"

Perry slid out from underneath the sheets. "No, I guess not."

"I'll make breakfast while you shower."

Perry kissed her again and headed for the bathroom. His towel, shaving cream, deodorant and cologne were all laid out for him. He showered, shaved and returned to the bedroom. The bed was made. A suit, shirt, tie, underwear and socks were set out on the bed with a pair of shoes on the floor beside them. Perry smiled, thinking about how well she took care of him. He shook his head. She forgot the cuff links. After dressing, he walked over to the dresser. Lying there was a folded note. He opened it and chuckled when he read it. 'Bet you thought I forgot the cuff links.' Under the note laid a pair of cuff links she had bought him for his birthday last May.

Perry put on the cuff links and left the bedroom. The smell of bacon and eggs invaded his nostrils as soon as he opened the bedroom door. When he walked into the kitchen, Della was at the stove preparing their breakfast. He quietly walked over and put his arms around her from behind. "What about a tie clasp?"

Della turned in his arms and his lips met hers. When they parted, Della whispered, "No one wears those things anymore." His blue eyes looked into her hazel ones. "Thank you, Perry, for yesterday. I needed that."

"We both needed that," he whispered back.

They ate breakfast in relative silence, only glancing at each other occasionally. When breakfast was over, Perry put the dishes in the sink. "They will have to be done later." He took Della's hand and they both left for the office.

1.2

Perry and Della walked into the office at eight o'clock. Gertie was busy handling the phones with one hand and taking notes with that same hand. Della looked at Perry who was staring at Gertie. In her other hand, she was holding a small dog.

When the dog noticed Perry and Della, it started barking at them. Gertie finally hung up the phone which had stopped ringing. The look of panic left her face. "Boy, am I glad to see you two. This office has become a madhouse."

"Apparently, it has also become a kennel," Perry said.

"What?" Gertie looked down to the small dog in her arms. "Oh, I forgot all about him."

"Just who is he?" asked Della.

Gertie grinned at both of them. "He is a prospective client. His name is Chico."

"Has business declined that much we have to take on a dog for a client?" Perry asked, turning his attention to Della.

Della smiled. Business was booming and she knew Perry was kidding. "That is what you get for taking a day off."

"How did the dog get in here?" Della asked Gertie.

"I was answering the phone and I heard barking at the door. I went out to investigate and this little guy was sitting in a basket at the door. There was a note with him." She handed it to Della.

'Please take care of my Chihuahua. He is in grave danger. I will explain shortly. Under his blanket is a retainer. His name is Chico.'

"It is not signed, Perry." Della handed the note to him.

Perry re-read the note and turned it over. Della was correct. It was not signed and there was nothing written on the back. "Check the basket, Della."

Gertie handed the basket to Della who promptly pulled the blanket out. Sure enough there was an envelope at the bottom. She took the envelope out, unsealed it and pulled out a handful of hundred dollar bills. She counted them and announced, "My gosh, there is five thousand dollars here!"

"I take back what I said. Maybe I should've been defending dogs all along," Perry said with a smirk.

"He's adorable," Della said as she took the dog out of Gertie's arms. Chico licked Della's chin and waged his tail. "Now just what kind of danger could you'll be in, little fella?"

"Grave danger, apparently," Perry said. "Who would want to harm a poor little defenseless Chihuahua?"

"I don't know but someone or something must be or he wouldn't be here," Della replied.

"It is probably the government that is after him," Perry mused. When Della gave him a questioning look, he said, "Well, Chihuahuas are from Mexico, are they not? He is probably an illegal immigrant." He grinned.

Della could not help but laugh at him despite rolling her eyes at his attempt at humor. "What are we going to do with him?"

Perry looked at Gertie. When she realized the boss was staring at her and why, she shook her head. "No way, Mr. Mason. I have three cats. They would not get along with Chico."

Perry said, "Well, Della, it looks like it's up to you. You have always said you wanted a child someday."

"Perry, I never said that and Chico hardly qualifies as a child."

"You can practice your motherly instincts. Someone has to take care of him until we find out what is going on."

"Why not you?" Della asked.

"Have you looked at the size of that dog and the size of me? One wrong move on Chico's part, I could step on him and squash him like a bug."

Della chuckled. "You have a point, Counselor. Alright, I will look after him. Gertie, can you find a clean ashtray to put some water in for our guest?"

"A clean ashtray around here?" Gertie raised her eyebrows. "Alright, I'll find a dirty one and wash it."

Perry grinned. "Della, bring our new client into the office. By the way, do you speak Spanish?"

Della shook her head and smiled. At least the dog had helped bring back their sense of humor. She carried Chico into Perry's office and sat down. Chico got in her face and started licking her with his tail wagging. When Della would push him back, he only got right back in her face again.

After watching Della push the little dog away from her several times, Perry started snickering. "You've done it again, Della."

She pushed Chico away once more and asked, "Done what?"

"You've made some poor male fall in love with you."

She smiled and used her arm to push Chico back again. The Chihuahua hooked his front legs around her arm and began humping it.

Perry broke out in laughter. "I have those same thoughts all the time, Chico."

Della got up and handed the dog to Perry. Chico grabbed his tie and started jerking it back and forth. "Stop it, Chico! Are you trying to strangle me?" Perry scolded the little dog.

"Ah huh, I have those same thoughts all the time, Chico," Della said with a twinkle in her eyes and a smile on her lips.

Perry got out of his chair and walked around to the front of his desk. He sat down on the edge of it. "I'll tell you what, little man. You can get down and investigate." He reached down and set the Chihuahua on the floor. "Della, would you give Paul a call and ask him to come to the office?"

Della walked over to the desk. Just as she reached it, Chico lifted his leg and relieved himself on Perry's shoe. When she saw the shocked look on his face, she burst into laughter. "I think Chico just marked his territory. You belong to him now." She could barely contain her laughter as she grabbed a tissue and handed it to Perry. "Look on the bright side. He likes you."

"So he pees on me?" Perry questioned. "I don't pee on people I like!

"You are not a dog," she said between fits of laughter.

"You better get Paul in here before I turn this dog over to immigration."

Della tried to get control of herself as she picked up the phone and dialed Paul's office. "Could you ask Mr. Drake to stop in Mr. Mason's office? Thank you." She turned to Perry and said, "Paul will be right down." She started laughing again and Perry could not resist. He began laughing with her.

Paul's code knock sounded on the door. Della went to the door and let him in. "Hello, beautiful! Hi, Perry. What's up?" He went over to his favorite armchair and sat sideways and threw his leg up over the arm. Chico jumped into his lap. He immediately got into Paul's face and started licking him. "Hey, I think he likes me."

"In that case," Perry said, "I would get him out of my face." Della started laughing again.

"What's the joke? Am I missing something?" Drake asked.

"It is not important," Perry said. He handed him the note that had been left with Chico. "Here, read this."

Drake read the note and then turned it over. "Is that it? Nothing else was left?"

"Just the envelope with five thousand dollars in it," Della said.

"And I take it you have no idea who left the dog and the money?" Paul surmised.

"That's right," Perry said.

"And you want me to find out who owns this mutt?" Paul gathered.

"That's the only way I'm going to find out who my client is," Perry said.

"I don't suppose you know why the dog is in danger?" Paul asked.

"I don't know any more than you see written in that note," Perry answered.

"I wonder why she left it unsigned," Paul said.

"How do you know it was a she?" Della inquired.

"Come on, Della. Do you really believe a man would own a dog that small?" Paul asked.

"Do you really believe that every Chihuahua in the world is owned by a woman?" Della returned.

"I don't think we can assume anything, Paul," Mason said. "Let's just find out who owns this dog."

"What's the matter, pal? Are you afraid you are going to get stuck with him?"

"I can't get stuck with him. I don't own enough shoes."

"What?" Paul asked confused.

Perry and Della just looked at each other and smiled. "Just find out who owns the dog, Paul," Perry told him.

"Alright, where do you want me to start?"

"Check with others in the building. See if anyone saw someone bring that dog in. Check with the veterinarians in the area. Maybe one of them knows who owns the dog. He has to receive medical treatment somewhere."

"Anything else?"

"No, that'll get you started."

"Alright, if I find out anything, where can I reach you?"

"I'm going to take the dog to the closest veterinarian," answered Perry. "I understand that sometimes dogs are tattooed or a chip is placed underneath the skin. He does not seem to have a tattoo but if he does have a chip under his skin, we might be able to find out immediately who owns him."

Paul stood up and headed for the door. "I'll call as soon as I have something." He opened the door and left the room.

"Della, do we have any appointments this morning?"

"Nothing until this afternoon," Della answered.

"Good, then call the nearest veterinarian and make an appointment for Chico, will you please?"

Dell opened the drawer on Perry's desk. She pulled out a phone book and opened the yellow pages to veterinarians.

1.3

Florence Monroe hoped she had done the right thing. She knew that Mason had an excellent reputation as a lawyer. However, she knew that he was basically a criminal attorney. She was sure that he would not accept her case if he knew what it was about. She felt that five thousand dollars might be a pretty good incentive for him to do so. She just had to get Chico in someone's hands that would protect him. Florence was confident that Perry Mason and would do exactly that.

She regretted the day that she ever got involved with Alex Burke. Why had she helped him? What was even worse was that she had become extremely attached to the little fellow. If she had known what Burke was involved in, she never would've had anything to do with it. But it was too late for that now. Her prime concern had to be Chico. She had to protect him.

It would take Mason awhile to track her down. That should give her the time she needed to figure out what she was going to do.

There was a knock on the door. Florence walked over to the door and peaked through the blinds. It was Alex. She could not remember whether or not she had locked the front door. She prayed that she had. Florence simply could not let him in. She was not ready to talk to him. She did not have everything figured out yet.

"Come on, Florence, open the door. I know you are in there!" Alex yelled. "Chico is mine and I want him. Open the damn door!"

Florence held her breath. Apparently she had locked the door. Alex continued to pound on the door. Florence gave him no indication that she was there.

"If you don't open this damn door, you are going to regret it. You are going to turn that dog over to me! I have plans for him! I paid you and now it is time for you to live up to your end of the bargain!"

Florence reached into the drawer of the cupboard where she kept a gun. She pulled out the .22. She checked to see if it was loaded. It was. Florence waited.

1.4

Alex Burke quit pounding on the door. Maybe she wasn't home after all. He had to get his hands on the dog. He was worth over fifty thousand dollars to him. But he wasn't worth a cent unless he could get a hold of him. Damn that stupid woman! It was just a dog. He should've known from the beginning that she would be nothing but trouble.

He had been working the scheme for a while. So far it had netted him over a hundred thousand dollars. But this time it would be more money than he ever made before. He had to get the dog. He would kill the old lady if he had to. He wanted that dog.

Alex got back into his car and drove back to his hotel room. When he arrived, Nick Luther was sitting in a chair in his room waiting for him. "Did you get the dog?"

"No, the old lady wasn't home."

"The old lady doesn't have the dog," said Nick.

"Do you mean the dog is missing? How the hell would you know that?"

"I followed her this morning. She left the dog at a lawyer's office." Nick lit up a cigarette.

"You mean she dropped it off at a lawyer's office? What lawyer?"

"The lawyer's name is Perry Mason."

"You mean THE Perry Mason?"

"Do you know of another lawyer by the name of Perry Mason?" Nick snarled.

"Well that's just great! How the hell are we going to get the dog away from Mason?"

"That part is easy. You simply go see Mason. After all, you co-own the dog. Make up some story. But you get that dog back."

"Mason is not stupid, you know. He will see through any lie," Alex said.

"Then I suggest you be a very convincing liar. That dog better be back in your hands within the next twenty-four hours. He is supposed to be on a plane and headed for Japan. If I lose out on this deal you are going to regret it."

"Now, just a minute. The deal means just as much to me as it does to you. I stand to lose just as much money as you do. I'll get the dog. Don't worry about it."

"I'm not the one that should be worried, Alex. You are. When you said you could set this up, I took your word for it. I don't accept failure. You remember that. You have twenty-four hours. Don't disappoint me, Alex." Nick got up and left the motel room.

Alex would have to think about how he handled Mason. He would take the approach as the co-owner. But if that didn't work then he would just have to take the dog from Mason by force.