I do not own the Perry Mason characters. They are the creation of Erle Stanley Gardner. Nor am I making any profit from this work.

I do not have any legal training. Please consider that if there are legal mistakes in this story and take it for what it is intended... entertainment.

All my stories follow a timeline. However, they are written to stand-alone. They are also written in the present rather than when the show was on the air.

I hope you enjoy the story. Reviews are welcome.

The Case of the Set Up Cop

Chapter 01

1.1

Paul parked Perry's Cadillac in a handicapped parking spot. He got out of the car, walked around and opened the passenger door for Mason's secretary.

Della Street stepped out of the car. Paul offered his arm, which she gratefully accepted. They walked toward the entrance of Los Angeles General Hospital.

It was five o'clock in the afternoon. Della, at Perry's request had stayed in the office catching up on cases that had been put on hold for their vacation in the Sawtooth Mountains in Boise, Idaho.** Perry had severely injured his knee during the investigation and trial that had been forced upon him and his brother.*

Perry had put the surgery off, concerned that his clients had been neglected long enough. It was due to what turned out to be an extended vacation because of the trial. He did not give in until Della threatened to close the office and give the staff an extended vacation until he had his knee taken care of.

Due to complications with the surgery, Perry, to his dismay, had to stay in the hospital for a second surgery. He had finally been given the go ahead to go home. Della wondered how she was going to get the attorney to relax and stay off the knee. So far, he had only cooperated because he had known it was the only way he was going to be released from the hospital. Della would not have that to hold over his head.

She rode the elevator with Paul to the fifth floor. He glanced up at the wall, checked the direction to Perry's room, and turned left. Della followed him. When they arrived at Perry's room, he was on the phone. He saw them come in and ended the conversation as soon as he could.

Perry put the receiver back in the cradle. He smiled at them. "Am I happy to see you two. Sign me out of here so I can get back to work."

Della went over to his hospital bed, leaned down and kissed him. "It is Friday. You can at least rest for the weekend. Why don't we spend it at that new get-a-way you bought me?"

"Get-a-way?" Paul joined them at Perry's bedside. "What get-a-way? Why am I just hearing about this now?"

Perry grinned. "Because you would have wanted to use it for one of your many dates and this is for Della and me... only."

"I thought friends were supposed to share?"

"Not Della. I don't share her with anyone."

"I am not asking you to share Della... just the... "

"Paul," Perry interrupted, "just find a doctor so I can get out of here."

"Alright, but this conversation is not finished." Paul left the room.

Perry pulled Della down toward him. He placed his hand behind her neck and drew her into a passionate kiss. "Maybe a weekend at the house in the country is not such a bad idea."

"I don't suppose I could get you to take a couple weeks off and let that knee heal. I could help you with your exercises."

"Della... "

"Perry, the doctor said it was very important that you do the exercises and go to therapy if you want it to heal properly."

"And you don't think I can do that in the city?"

"That is not the point, Perry. The pace in the country is more suited for rest than the city. You will not rest as long as you are near the office. You won't stay away from it and you know it."

"We have been away from it long enough. We need to get back to work."

"There is nothing pressing. We don't have any big cases coming up. I have filed all the paperwork in court you requested. You need the rest."

"Della... "

"Perry... " she pouted.

"I don't know why I am going to do this. Alright, you win. We will go to the house in the country but we take it a day at a time and keep in touch with Gertie daily."

Della ran her fingers through the unruly hair on his forehead. "I can't ask for more than that. In fact that is better than I thought I would get you to do."

"You have always had a hold on me," he smiled.

"Don't you forget it! Now, who was that on the phone?"

"My brother. He called to check on me."

"How is he doing?"

"Back to work, which is more than what I can say for me."

You are not changing your mind, are you?"

Perry smiled. "No, I will take you to the house in the country."

"You mean I will take you. You cannot drive with that knee."

"You are enjoying this, aren't you?"

Della laughed. "Whatever it takes to get you to rest."

Perry looked at her with an amused look. "Go find Paul and let's get out of here."

1.2

Lt. Arthur Tragg walked into the pool hall. Angelo Devino stood at the table with a cue stick. He checked the table for a shot, chose one and missed.

"You don't appear to be any better at pool than you are at staying out of trouble," Tragg said.

Angelo turned around and growled, "What is it this time, Tragg? Don't you have anything better to do than harass me? What the hell is the city paying you for anyway?

"I want to talk to you so put down the pool stick and come with me."

A very large man stepped in between Angelo and Tragg. "We have a game going and I have money down that says that I can beat this guy so run along, Mister. You can talk to him some other time."

Tragg reached into his suit coat pocket, pulled out his badge and stuck it in his face. "This is not a social call so unless you want to be arrested for interfering with an officer in performance of his duty, I suggest you get the hell out of the way."

The man put his hands up in retreat. "Sorry, officer. I did not know you were a cop. You guys should be forced to wear a uniform. How is a guy to know you are a cop?"

"You would like that, wouldn't you? It would give you a nice target to shoot at and that is Lieutenant, not officer."

The man stepped out of the way. Tragg again addressed Angelo Devino. "Come on Devino, this way." Tragg pointed away from the pool table, indicating for Angelo to follow him.

Devino didn't like being dragged away from his friends. It was embarrassing and he hated Tragg. Nevertheless, he followed him to a corner where they could talk without being heard.

"What is it this time, Tragg? More harassment."

"Just shut your mouth and listen, Devino. I don't have the patience to put up with your mouth today."

"Then just tell me what you want and leave me alone."

"I leave you alone when you tell me who murdered Jack Gibson."

Angelo rolled his eyes. "How many times do I have to tell you? I don't know anything about it?"

"As many times as it takes to get the truth out of you. You were there, Devino. I do not believe for a second that you do not know."

Angelo shook his head. "You have no idea what you are getting yourself into, Tragg. Let it go or you could end up just like Gibson."

Are you telling me the mob is involved in the killing?"

"I am not telling you anything. I really don't care what happens to you. I am sick of you dragging me away in front of my friends. Drop it if you know what is good for you, Lieutenant."

"You are going to have to talk to me soon or later, Angelo," Tragg warned.

"That's what you think. Are you trying to get me killed? Every time I am seen with you, you are endangering my life. They are going to think I am ratting on them." Devino turned to go but Tragg grabbed his shirt collar.

"I want to know who killed Jack Gibson and you are going to tell me."

"No, I am not. I have an alibi... remember? One you can't break."

"Yea, you were hanging out with a mobster. Do you really think I would take Dino Vinato's word for where you were? I have a source that says you were seen just minutes before Jack was killed."

"So what… prove it!" Devino shouted.

"Why, you little… "Tragg raised his hand but lowered it immediately. He could not lose his temper with this low-life. "I am going to find out who killed Jack and if I can, I will charge you as an accessory."

"Good luck with that because the second you get too close to the truth you are a dead man, Tragg. Why all this for Gibson? He was the scum of the earth." Devino displayed a smirk on his face.

"He was a cop and a good friend of mine. I will find his murderer and I don't care if he is a member of the mob. He's going down. You tell him that, Devino."

"I always thought you were a smart cop, Tragg. Obviously, I was wrong. You are really dumb if you think you can take on these guys. Gibson tried and look what happened to him."

"Jack was not careful enough… I know better. If you change your mind, you know where to reach me. We could give you police protection until the trial and then place you in the witness protection program."

Devino laughed. "There is no such thing as protection from these guys. Now, leave me alone, Tragg, or I am going to file a harassment charge with the LAPD."

1.3

Della pulled the Cadillac in front of their country home. She looked down the road and smiled. Perry sure could pick them. There was not a house anywhere in sight. He would get that rest whether he wanted it or not. "Stay there. I'll go around and help you out of the car."

"I am not helpless, Della. I do have these crutches, you know."

"Just wait there," she scolded.

Perry sighed but did as he was told. He loved having Della fuss over him… when he was healthy but it drove him crazy in this situation. He could get around on the crutches. He did not see any reason why he could not go back to the office. He could sit at his desk. Perry smiled as he watched her get out of the car and walk around to the passenger side. Della opened the back door of the car and removed the crutches. After opening the door, she said, "I will help you up but you are to use the crutches to walk. The doctor wants you to keep your weight off that knee."

"Yes, Della," Perry whined in resignation.

"You just don't appreciate the care I take of you," she complained.

Perry stopped and looked down at her. "There is nothing or nobody I appreciate more than you. I just don't think all of this is necessary."

She crossed her arms across her chest and took a defiant stance. "May I remind you, Mr. Mason, that you are an attorney? Since when do attorneys study medicine in law school?"

"Well, they don't… "

"That's right, they don't," she interrupted him before he could say anything else. "So you will follow the doctor's orders. You would not want him ignoring your legal advice, now would you?"

"It happens all the time. If my clients followed my advice, they would not get themselves in so much trouble."

"And you sir, would be out of a job," she said as she helped him out of the car.

Perry stood there with the crutches under both arms and his right leg dangling but not touching the ground. "Which, Miss Street is all the more reason I should ignore the doctor. You would not want him to be out of a job, now would you?"

Della looked up at her grinning lawyer. "For a lawyer of your reputation, that is a poor comparison. Now, let's get you inside." She stuck to Perry like glue as he navigated toward the house on the crutches. Once she has seen him safely inside, she led him over to the couch. "Now just sit here while I get the luggage out of the car."

"What do you think I am going to do… run a marathon around the living room?" Perry asked with amusement.

Della shook her head and left the house.

Perry looked around the house remembering the last time they had been here. He smiled at the fond memories it brought back. They had just finished Florence Monroe's trial.** He had surprised Della with this house. He remembered how happy she had been when she found out he had bought it for her. What happened after they got there had made the purchase one of the smartest things he had ever done. Perry glanced toward the hall that led to the bedroom.

The door opened and Della brought in the two suitcases she had packed for them. She smiled at him as she past the couch and took the luggage to the bedroom. When she came back out, she went into the kitchen, poured each of them a glass of wine and brought it into the living room. Della handed him one glass and kept the other for herself.

Perry looked took a sip of the wine while looking over the rim at Della. He still could not believe his beautiful woman was so completely devoted to him, professionally and privately. He knew he was the luckiest man in the world.

"This is what you purchased this place for, wasn't it," she asked.

"For you and me," he smiled.

"I believe you said something like… no friends, no cases, no interruptions… just you and me."

Perry set his glass down on the coffee table in front of them. "Maybe this was not such a bad idea after all." He reached for Della, pulled her into his arms and gently kissed her at first but passion took over. "I think I should lie down," he said with mischief in his blue eyes.

Della ran her finger down the dimple along his jaw. "Then I shall get off the couch and allow you to do so." She turned her back on him so that he could not see the grin on her face. She did not get far as Perry grabbed her and pulled her into his lap.

"What I had in mine was lying down on the… bed."

"Oh, then I will help you there and you can rest."

Mason grinned. "Rest is the last thing on my mine." He reached behind her neck and pulled her into another kiss.

1.4

Paul Drake sat in a company car. He had had a long hard day. His current case had him tailing mobsters. His client had a market business in the Italian district. He had been suffering fires, vegetables tainted with lighter fluid and visits from goons of Victor Luciano. They wanted him to pay protection money! The only one he needed protection from was Luciano, himself.

Paul had known Jamien Tyler for years. He had been operating his warehouse market in the same district for as long as Paul could remember. Knowing how dangerous it would be to help his friend under the circumstances, he could not refuse him. Messing with the mob was a sure way to damage your health but Paul knew if he did not help Jamien, Luciano would take over a market that had been in his family for three generations. He did not understand why Victor Luciano wanted to control something as small-time as vegetable and fruit markets but then it was probably just a small part of his organization. He would muscle into a business and once he got a foothold, the rest of them in the same business would eventually fall to him. Paul knew if he could prevent it from happening to Jamien then he might be able to save others in the business from the same fate. He might also just get himself killed.

Drake had been following a small-time hood named Angelo Devino. Although, the police had not been able to prove it, it was well known that Devino worked for Luciano. He was one of his muscle men. He would harass and burn down businesses if owners refused to pay the protection money.

Drake had spent almost the entire afternoon sitting in his car. Devino was inside. He had been playing pool and drinking beer all afternoon and into the evening. He knew that Luciano's goons usually visited the markets at night to punish those unwilling to pay the protection money. Paul wanted to catch him in the act if he could. Maybe then, he would sing to the police about Luciano if he were faced with a prison term.

A familiar car pulled up in front of the pool hall. Lt. Tragg got out of the car and went in. Paul would have liked to talk to the lieutenant

but did not want to blow his cover so he stayed put. He would try to get his attention when he came out. He knew exactly why Tragg was there. He had been on a mission for over a month now, trying to find out who killed Sgt. Jack Gibson. Everyone knew that Tragg had been the one to bring Gibson on the force. They had become friends and had quite often been spotted at a bar after work, drinking and enjoying each other's company. Paul worried that Tragg was too emotionally involved with the case. The lieutenant could not afford to make any mistakes when dealing with the mob.

Fifteen minutes later, he watched as Tragg came out of the pool hall. Drake walked across the street, careful to stay out of view of the only window. He approached Lt. Arthur Tragg. "Any luck, Lieutenant?"

Startled, Tragg turned quickly toward Drake. That alone was all the proof Paul needed to know that the police lieutenant was getting in over his head with this case. Paul had never known Lt. Tragg to be caught unaware that someone was approaching him. Luck would have it that this time it was only Paul. What would happen next time if it were one of Luciano's men?

"Sorry, Drake, I did not hear you come up behind me," Tragg said.

"Why is that, Lieutenant? I have never known you to be caught unaware?"

"If you have something to say, say it, Drake. I don't have time to waste standing around here. I have worked to do."

"Going after Luciano? You had better be more careful than that. Next time it might not be me that you don't hear."

"I don't need you to tell me how to do my job, Drake. I was doing it long before you showed up applying for a private license."

"I am just telling you as a friend. You need to be more careful… more aware of your surroundings and you need to take a hard look at yourself. You may be too emotionally involved in this case."

"Like I said, Drake, I don't need you telling me how to do my job. So if you will excuse me." Tragg got into his car and drove away.

Paul returned to his vehicle and sat there for a while just thinking about the conversation with the police lieutenant. He and Tragg had never been close friends but he respected him and believed Tragg did him as well. Paul did not like what he was seeing. Maybe he should have a talk with Hamilton Burger. He and Tragg were close friends. Maybe he could talk some sense into the man.

1.5

Victor Luciano finished a phone conversation with Lenny Dortman. He was not leaning on Jamien Tyler hard enough. It was time to let the man know that he meant business. Tyler had been in the market business for the longest of all the people in the district. If Luciano could get control of his business, the rest would fall into place. The man was stubborn. Luciano did not understand why he would risk being killed. He was willing to let him keep twenty-five percent of the profits. That was more than he allowed anyone to keep.

Obviously, he needed convincing. Lenny had failed to convince him. Luciano would have to take charge of this operation himself. He would not of course be visible but he would have to tell Lenny how to force Tyler to see things their way.

Luciano's empire had grown to a multi-million dollar business. He had started out taking control of boxers' careers and from those fighters he had moved into so many kinds of businesses. He had discovered the secret was that no business was small enough for him to control. The more he controlled the more money he made. He had successfully been able to keep his enterprise under the radar of the police… well at least they could not prove anything against him. He knew they knew about his operation but the beauty of it was… they couldn't touch him.

One police officer in particular did have him worried. That damn Lieutenant Tragg. Luciano knew he had been nosing into the market business. Lenny had to go and kill a cop. He had told his men repeatedly you don't kill a cop unless it is absolutely necessary and then you make sure it cannot be traced back to you.

Luciano knew Tragg was leaning on Jamien Tyler. So far, he knew that Tyler had not talked. He had planted a man with Tyler. Could he depend on him to keep his mouth shut? If he fingered Lenny Dortman, he knew Lenny would not say anything. He would serve his time. He had a kid with medical bills. Luciano would take care of the kid in return for his silence but Tyler was a problem. He would have to be eliminated if there was any indication that he would talk. Luciano did not think he would and he had been a loyal man so he would wait.

Tragg had met with him at the pool hall but his man told him that Lenny refused to tell him anything. Tragg… yes, he was going to be a problem. Maybe he would have to break his own rule and take him out. No, he could not do that. He would have to find a way to stop Tragg… short of killing him.

*Refers to The Case of the Angry Mountain.

**Refers to The Case of the Missing Chihuahua