Obviously not my characters just borrowing them.

Chapter 1

There were people everywhere, some two hundred and fifty odd people, milling about, the clink of glasses, drifts of smoke, the buzz of aimless chatter rang through the grand ballroom. Men looking suave in dinner suits, ladies in evening wear, dazzling and smiling. The doorway was open and couples were still drifting into the room down the stairs. Then swallowed up into the larger crowd. A smaller group were dancing to the fifteen piece band that was playing light jazz and swing. Two people stood on the edge of the crowd next to one of the magnificent pillars that headed up to the ornate ceiling. While they both looked relaxed they were observing the activities of the rest of the crowd rather than actively participating. Content to be in their own company.

"Is it just my imagination or is there a definite buzz with the crowd tonight?" he asked, eyes scanning the crowd before giving her a sidelong look. She held her champagne glass with both hands her fingers entwined around the stem, seemingly engrossed in the bubbling fizz, very aware of the direction of his gaze. Unwilling to meet his eye perhaps, or hiding the mirth that lurked there,

"Oh...Aston Gabriel is here tonight, cutting a swathe through the crowd," she told him, "I imagine that is the source of the excitement," she continued for his benefit, "He is a movie star."

"Mostly through the ladies then?" he remarked.

"He is extremely attractive, " she defended the swooning ladies, glancing at him, he was still watching her not the crowd, she gave a slight roll of her head and he turned following the direction of her subtle nod. A tight knit group of people moving almost like a swarm, people on the periphery seemed to get sucked in and spat out as it moved around the room in a what was almost a mimicry of a bee stealing pollen from flower to flower.

"Are his movies any good though?" he asked seriously, his eyes on the moving huddle.

"Oh Perry nobody cares about that," she told him with a cheeky chuckle.

"Eye candy only then."

"Most definitely" she agreed wholeheartedly, a bit too whole heartedly he thought.

"Have you got a crush on a movie star?" he asked her. She turned her eyes to him looking at him directly, she was fighting a grin, her left eyebrow raised.

"Most definitely," she repeated with a more sultry emphasize.

"Do I have to worry that you are going to throw yourself after him?"

"Goodness Perry you should know I don't throw my self at just anyone," she touched the lapel of his jacket for just a moment, "He is rich though," she added to annoy him.

"And probably doesn't spend his evenings reading torts,"he observed.

"No," she said wistfully, momentarily closing her eyes, "I don't imagine he spends his evenings reading the crusty old writings of dusty old men."

"Are you sure you got that in the right order?" he teased her, she grinned at him, swirling the liquid in her glass, in a way he found completely engrossing.

"So you don't think he reads Shakespeare?" he continued.

She shook her head,

"Uhuhh, all though he might need someone to read lines with him." She gave the matter her serious consideration, then squeezed his arm with another fond chuckle, "I think I should go and powder my nose, do you mind?"

"I will manage?" he assured her.


He watched her walk away, his eyes ran down her entire body and he grinned in appreciation. Her dress was a black satin halter neck, full skirt, tight bodice, her back and shoulders would be bare, but for the black chiffon wrap she wore, his eyes drifted below her hemline, those legs were dynamite, he sipped his drink. When she was out of sight his eyes turned back to the central swarm and he watched with amusement as it continued its path through the crowd. Without Della to distract him, he wondered where Paul was, not that it was unusual for him to miss out on a social occasion, Paul liked to keep as close an eye on his operatives as he expected they did on their targets. He checked out the direction Della had gone but seeing no sign had returned his eyes to the crowd, contented to wait.


Della left the bathroom and headed out for a breath of fresh air. She should have fetched Perry but she just needed a moment to herself. She went down a passage to a more private balcony. The smell of the city , the lights, the muted noises of the traffic way down on the street, was it possible to love a city this much. She wondered if a certain dark, brooding, handsome lawyer didn't reside in this city how much would she still love it. A sigh escaped her lips, it was much better when they were on a case, they didn't have time to ponder, or flirt and certainly not time to stare hungrily at each other.

Her attention was drawn away from the beautiful vista by murmuring tones. They must have been on the same balcony but around the corner out of sight from her. The voices got louder, the arguing caught her attention and she couldn't help but listen in.

"I am telling you he does not want do do another fluffy romantic drama, give him something worth getting his teeth into. He is a great actor. You know this, he is not afraid to put his own money into it. You are standing in his way with your restrictive contract." A rather blunt voiced man was saying.

"The contract suited him when he was a young handsome actor going nowhere,"a mellow voice replied.

"Yes but he has proven himself, proven his loyalty, increased your wealth a hundred fold, its time to renegotiate."

"I will renegotiate in four years as per the contract. I think you forget what a risk I took, he was happy to sign up to that. He would have lived on easy street should every movie have flopped," replied the man with smoother and much more modulated tones.

"You would have been quick enough to cut the contract then."

"Maybe, we will never know."

"You stand in his way and you'll be sorry."

"You think you are the first two bit minder to threaten me," the mellow voice took on a nasty turn, "I don't need some heavy to do my dirty work, you consider that before you threaten me again."

She heard a glass smash on concrete and then the nasty voice laughed,

"That's the best you can do is it?"

"You will be sorry Maynard." threatened the coarser accent.


Her heart was racing, but she did not dare move, she did not want to be observed having overheard that conversation. She did not know how long she stood there, and flinched at the sound of broken glass crunching underfoot. She gasped and then a big bulky familiar form blocked the light. She relaxed slightly.

"I thought you might have ditched me," he said, then glanced down at the crunching under his foot.

"Yours?" he asked.

She shook her head and murmured "Uuh uh," not quite able to speak.

His amusement faded when he realized how tense she was, he moved to her, his hands going to her shoulders, "Are you hurt?" he demanded harshly.

"No," she said her voice husky.

"What happened?' he asked firmly. She shook her head and he dropped his hands, knowing she just needed a moment.

"I overhead a particularly nasty conversation."

"What .. the highlights" he encouraged her, she glanced at the entrance and then turned to the view, feeling safe now that he was there with her.

"Its probably nothing," she temporized feeling a little bit silly.

"Humour me," he requested, and she made the mistake of looking into his eyes, as if she could ever resist those gorgeous big blue eyes anything.

"Two men were arguing about someone else, about how he was being restricted by the stifling contract. He wanted to change. He wanted to be able to choose roles that were dramatically more credible." she drew in a breath. "The man who was arguing for the release of the restriction of the contract, he threatened him, "You'll be sorry Maynard." then the altercation, "the man he called Maynard responded with a "I don't need a minder to do my dirty work, you consider that before you threaten me."

"Do you know who Maynard is?" he asked her.

"A Jonathan Maynard is a producer and owns Helix Pictures, and owns the contract on Aston Gabriel."

"Do you know who the other man was?"

"It could have been Cohen, Vaughan Cohen, I think. He is Gabriel's business manager. I would recognize his voice if I heard it again."

"Do you think he meant to carry through with his threat?" Perry asked her.

She shrugged, "I don't know, he was angry but it sounded like he was expecting the answers he got." she paused trying to word it properly, "Perry it wasn't, it was the man called Maynard, there was something nasty about him" He paused for a moment his questioning of her knowing that it was starting to sound like an interrogation but decided she knew him well enough that he could continue.

"They didn't know you were here though."

"No."

"Are you sure."

"Yes."

He stepped behind her and put his arms around her and hugged her to him in a way he had not dared to for so long, he leaned over her shoulder and pressed his cheek to hers, letting her know he was there. However after only a few moments, he slipped his arm around her shoulder to a more neutral position. She was looking perfectly edible, and he did not need her knowing exactly what impact she had on him. He drew a breath trying to get control of himself.

"Do you want me to take you home?" he asked her.

Leading question counsellor, was the reply she kept to herself.

"Lets go back in side, I think I have got enough city air now." He took her elbow and lead her back inside, the bright music and the good feeling of the crowd, he handed her a champagne and toasted her, she met his eyes steadily drinking in his smoldering gaze as she sipped her champagne.


"Having fun?" a familiar voice interrupted them, it was Paul, he gave Della a peck on the cheek, "You look absolutely stunning," he observed, his eyes running up and down the whole length of her with an appreciative grin.

She smiled her teasing smile at him but Perry interrupted any response with a "You're late."

Paul raised his eyes theatrically to the ceiling and said to Della, "And this from a man who has caused me to be a no show for more hot dinners than I have... well than I have had hot dinners," he grizzled.

"Well I hope you've eaten because the finger food has already gone by,"she informed him.

"Just my luck, no I have not eaten, how long are you folks sticking around here?"

"Oh for awhile longer." Perry was fingering his glass, "We haven't danced yet."

"Yes? "Paul said, knowing Perry too well to miss the cues, "You want me to do something?"

"Yes," Perry paused and looked at him, "yes I do, I want you to find a man called Vaughan Cohen, he is ..."

"Gabriel's manager and a regular Mr fix it, what for?"

'I want to speak to him."

"Tonight?"

"Tonight." Perry confirmed, Paul put his glass of champagne down,

"Alright. At least he should be in the building."

"And Paul..."

"Yes Perry?"

"What do you know about Maynard."

"The producer?" Paul asked, Perry nodded.

"I've never met anyone who has crossed him,"

"Clean?"Perry asked.

"More likely ruthless, but there is nothing concrete,"Paul said after a moments thought.

Paul left them and Perry turned his eyes to the crowd, scanning, she touched his forearm, even through his jacket his body reacted to her.

"Perry," her voice so soft and husky that the hairs stood up on the back of his neck, he didn't look at her though.

'Yes?"

"Is it necessary, people make threats all the time in that business," she said reasonably.

'Not ones that put you in danger' he thought but did not voice it.

"Still it won't hurt to check it out," he observed.

He smiled at her, "Now Miss Street, do you think you would be up for a dance?" He held out his hand to her confident of her response, she smiled back at him.

"I would love to," she replied unable to say anything else. Annoyed at him for being over protective but wanting to dance. He lead her by the elbow to the floor where there was a growing number of couples dancing.


They danced well together, fit together like hand and glove, impossible to tell if it was her anticipation or his leading that made them work so well together. All Della knew is that she loved dancing with him, loved being this close to him feeling his heart racing, hot and physical and in his arms. It was a good substitute, and much much safer than the alternative. She lost count of the number of songs that they danced to but when the beat of the music change, she smiled knowing what his reaction would be and as predicted he swung her to a stop.

"Don't you think you should learn how to salsa Perry, its not that hard," she teased him.

"Perhaps, but I don't think tonight is the night for experimenting."

She glanced up at him as he lead her off, "Chicken..." she murmured with a sulky pout, he chuckled at her leading her towards Paul who waited for them.


"He'll see you but they have gone upstairs. Apparently Mr Gabriel doesn't like his glow to burn the punters with too much exposure," he told them with a wry smile giving a slight shift of his head. They followed his nod and on balcony several men were looking down on them. Della didn't want to stare but she couldn't help looking directly at the incredibly attractive Mr Gabriel who seemed to be looking straight into her eyes. She knew it was an illusion, at that distance he could have been looking at anyone. The men turned away and disappeared.

"Come with me, "Paul said leading them to the stairs and to a corridor that was roped off, Paul leaned in and said something to the tuxedo dressed doorman guarding a roped of section of the hallway. The doorman looked to a door that was also being monitored, the second doorman gave a nod and they were let through. The room opened up into a private lounge with several men milling around, drinking, smoking and presumably gossiping, Della looked around half expecting to see a couple of starlets lounging on the couches.

Paul approached a heavyset man, "Mr Cohen, this is Mr Mason, the lawyer I told you about."

"Can we have a word in private?" Mason asked him,

"Yes certainly come this way," Cohen said. Mason looked at Della, the nod she gave him would have been imperceptible to anyone else.


Paul accepted a couple of champagnes for both himself and Della, letting out an inane, "Lovely weather we are having." this caused a couple of entourage to glance at him in amusement, a younger man came over.

"Hi I am Billings, " he greeted them, he was quite handsome in a boyish way, couldn't have been more than twenty five, Della thought, but smiled as Paul introduced them.

"Good Party," Billings said enthusiastically, "You dance superbly Miss Street, we could see you well from up here." He waved at the waiter for their glasses to be filled up.

"And what do you do Mr Billings?" she asked him. He grinned and gave a shy smile,

"Oh I fetch and carry things for Mr Gabriel, and if I'm good Mr Cohen takes me on his business trips."

She smiled, she liked his honesty, and the slightly self mocking way he described his position in the entourage.

"And its Butler, Butler Billings, Oh here's Aston. Aston come and meet Miss Street and Mr Drake, they work for 'the' Mr Perry Mason."

"A Perry Mason fan, I should have known." Paul whispered to Della, as she turned her eyes still twinkling in amusement. Her heart missed a beat as she came close up with to the gorgeous brown eyes of Mr Gabriel who was coming towards them.

"You'll have to forgive Butler, he devours crime thrillers as if they were the only genre to be concerned with," Aston Gabriel apologised. He shook Drake's hand and kissed Della's. "And of course he is an aspiring scriptwriter." he teased the young man who blushed, but seemed to take the teasing in the manner it was intended. "He keeps us all up to date with the activities of your Mr Mason."

"This is my home town." Billings defended himself,"When I'm a writer, I am going to write about one of his cases," Butler declared.

"And I am going to star in the movie version." Aston added, squeezing the young mans shoulder.

"Ahh, probably wrong accent Mr Gabriel." Paul pointed out. Aston looked at him curiously and in an awfully familiar voice that held no trace of the Italian accent.

"Is that the truth Mr Drake?"

Paul and Della looked at each other then at Butler who was staring adoringly at his mentor. They all laughed, "You've convinced me."

"And what about you Miss Street?" Aston continued in an American accent.

"You've got the wrong colour eyes Mr Gabriel."


"What can I do for you Mason?"

Cohen had lead him out on to the balcony but the sliding door remained open.

"What are your dealings with Jonathan Maynard?"

"Are you his lawyer?"Cohen responded watching Mason cautiously.

"No."

"What's your interest in Maynard?"

"Curiosity mostly, but I wanted to give you some friendly advice."

"Yes?"

"Your friend Maynard, I'd recommend not threatening him," he pulled a card out of his jacket, "For your own benefit," he added. Cohen watched him but said nothing.

"My friends tell me that you have kept on the straight and narrow for fifteen years. If you have a contract dispute, best get a lawyer to sort it out, he will drag you into the gutter and leave you there."

Cohen looked at him curiously, "Why would you care?"

Mason smiled, he liked that Cohen hadn't asked him how he knew about the threat, wasn't worried about who had dobbed. Cohen lit a cigarette and handed Mason one.

"I believe a man can change, its just free advice," Mason said, Cohen laughed.

"In this business there is no such thing, your a murder lawyer aren't you."

"I am a criminal lawyer."

"Well Mr Mason, I don't intend on giving you any business if that is what you mean."

"I'm glad to hear it I am sorry for interrupting your evening."

"Thats alright the boss always likes meeting a new fan." he said his eyes flicking behind Perry. Perry turned around, back inside Mr Gabriel was talking to Della. Paul had a bored expression on his face, Della was smiling, possibly even flirting and Mr Gabriel was leaning way to close for Perry's comfort. He grunted.


"Come on I'll introduce you to the Boss," Cohen slapped him on the back and taking him back inside.

"Boss this is the famous lawyer Perry Mason, Mr Mason my boss, Mr Aston Gabriel."

They shook hands, "What can we do for you Mr Mason?" Gabriel asked in a thick Italian accent.

"Nothing, nothing, I was over reacting." he said calmly. Maynard gave him a grin and said in his gruff voice.

"He is being modest boss he was offering me some good advice, which I will take and which he is not even going to charge for."

"We have taken up enough of your time I know you must be getting back to your guests,"Perry said with a smile at both Cohen and Gabriel.

"Oh I was enjoying the view in here, but you are probably right." he said, with a wink at Della, Perry took her arm and lead her out as she said her goodbyes.


"Yikes Della." Paul declared when they were outside, "I thought you were going to melt when he started flirting with you."

'He is even dreamier up close." she sighed.

"Dreamier is that even a word?" Perry said to know one in particular, his tone had a hint of disapproval.

"Well how did you go with Mr Cohen," she asked, once she'd come out of her moment of bliss. Perry glanced at her as if trying to determine whether she could have a sensible conversation.

"He seems like a perfect gentleman." Perry said honestly.

"Told you an absolute reformed character," Paul said lighting a cigarette.