Disclaimer: I don't 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.
I have no legal training. Please excuse any legal mistakes and accept this as it is intended, entertainment for Perry Mason fans.
The Case of the Careless Skier
Chapter 1
Perry completed the brief that was sitting on his desk in front of him. Since they had gotten back from New York and the third jewel of the Triple Crown races, it seemed all he had worked on was trivial lawsuits. Then again, if it did not contain a murder, it seemed trivial to the famous attorney. His specialty was murder and there seemed to be a drought when it came to murders in Los Angeles these days. The murder rate in the city had actually gone down in the last month. The cases that did come his way were not ones he cared to take on. He had been approached by a drug dealer that had murdered one of his pushers. Another man that asked for his services had broken into a home and shot the owner when he tried to stop him from stealing money out of his safe. There had been several others of the same sort. Perry preferred to champion the client who was being accused of a murder he did not commit. Why did he have to go out of town to defend a murder case when he practiced in one of the largest cities in the country?
There certainly had not been a lack of clients. More people requested his services than he could possibly help. He depended on Della Street, his loyal secretary, to filter out the ones that made it past her and into his office.
Mason rubbed his tired eyes. Glancing at his wrist, Perry realized it was much earlier than he would have guessed. Maybe it was the boredom of routine that took its toll on him, or maybe it was because without a murder case he was stuck in the office instead of out there helping Paul Drake find the evidence to clear whoever his client was at the time. Only murder cases seem to stimulate his mind.
The door to the office opened and Della Street walked in. She headed straight for Perry's desk. She looked at the lawyer. His tie was loose, three of the buttons on his shirt had been unbuttoned. The shirt sleeves of the dress shirt he was wearing were rolled up, revealing the attorney's strong forearms.
Della stepped behind Mason and took the brief off the desk. She turned to the last page to check for her boss's signature. It was missing. "Perry, have you finished proofing the brief?"
Perry set his elbow on the desk and rested his chin on the palm of his hand. He smiled up at her. "I finished it an hour ago."
"Then why have you not signed it?"
Mason took the brief out of Della's hand, turned to the final page and after picking up a pen, signed his named on the dotted line. "I did sign it," he grinned.
She shook her head and turned to head out of the office. "Just a minute, Della."
She turned and looked back at him. "Yes, Perry."
"What do you say we get out of here, and I'll take you out for a steak dinner and some dancing?"
"You're bored, aren't you?" she asked with a smile.
Giving her an innocent look, he said, "Whatever gave you that idea?"
"Well, let's see. I set that brief on your desk at nine o'clock this morning and you are just now signing it."
"I signed all the rest of them and gave them back," Mason said in his defense.
Mason's private phone rang. Della picked it up and answered, "Yes, Gertie. She listened for a moment and put her hand over the speaker. "Perry, Hamilton is on the line. He would like to speak with you." Perry nodded. Della removed her hand and said, "Put the call through, Gertie." She handed the receiver to Mason.
"Hello, Hamilton. What can I do for you?"
"Hi Perry, I see your vacation to the Triple Crown races was interrupted."
Mason smiled. "Murder seems to follow me wherever I go."
"I am guessing since I have not opposed you in court lately that you must becoming rather bored. Incidentally, Tragg is rather worried that you have not discovered any dead bodies lately. He is afraid you will make up for it and find several all at the same time."
Perry laughed with Burger. "I don't know what he is complaining about. Because of Paul Drake and me, he has job security." Burger laughed with him again before Perry asked, "So what can I do for you, Hamilton?"
"Well, today is Thursday and the weekend is coming up. How heavy is your schedule?"
"Why?"
"A friend of mine has invited Jan and me for a four day holiday in Denver, Colorado. He has a couple empty cabins and invited us to use them for the next four days. Since Arthur doesn't ski and I know you love to, I was wondering if you and Della would like to join us for a four day get-a-way?"
"Just a minute, Hamilton." He covered the mouthpiece and looked at Della. "How would you like to go skiing for four days in Colorado?"
"Oh, Perry, do you really think we should? We have only been back a month from Kentucky. There are a lot of clients demanding your services."
"Jackson and David Gideon can handle anything we have going right now. We haven't been skiing in ages, and it is a chance to spend some time with Hamilton outside of the courtroom," Mason argued.
Della thought for a moment and then smiled. "I don't see why not. Every time we take a vacation it is interrupted, and this is only four days. There can't possibly be a murder in four days. It might be fun at that."
Mason grinned. Removing his hand from the receiver, he said, "Della and I accept your invitation."
"Great!" Burger said with enthusiasm. "I took the liberty of setting up your flights. We fly out at seven o'clock in the morning."
"We will meet you at the airport," Perry told him.
"Good. Jan and I are looking forward to it. I will see you in the morning." With that Burger hung up the phone.
"Della, let's go get that steak dinner. We better turn in early. We will have to be up with enough time to pack and pull out the skis," he said with a grin.
"The skis are in the back of your closet. That will take about two seconds," she said.
"But knowing the way you pack, that will take much, much longer," Perry said, smiling.
"It wouldn't if you would pack your own clothes," Della said with a smile."
"I would if you would let me," Perry remarked.
"If I let you pack your own clothes, you would be wearing one black sock and one brown sock, and your suit coat would not match your suit pants."
Mason chuckled. "It comes from having to pack in a hurry. Besides, I don't have to take suits on this trip. I would look rather funny skiing down that slope in a business suit."
Della could not help but laugh. "You would at that. So, I will make sure you have plenty of warm clothes fit for the weather. No suits."
Perry frowned. When she saw the look on his face, she said, "We better pack one suit just in case."
Perry grinned. "That's my girl, always thinking ahead. We won't need it though, not for just a four day trip."
They looked at each other and grinned. "Just in case," they said at the same time.
"Come on, Della, I'll buy you that steak dinner." Perry helped her into her coat, and the two of them left the office.
They crossed the street and entered Clay's. Being regular customers and favorites of the owner, they were seated immediately in their regular booth. Mason wondered if Clay kept the booth open for them as there never seem to be anyone in it when they entered the restaurant.
After removing Della's coat, Perry hung it up and sat down on the opposite side of the table. A waitress immediately joined them to take their orders.
"Two New York strip steaks, medium rare, baked potatoes and whatever the vegetable of the day is, and a bottle of your best wine," Mason said.
Before the waitress had a chance to leave the table, Paul entered and headed their way. As soon as Perry spotted him, he smiled and said, "You better make that three."
The waitress smiled and wrote on her pad.
"Sit down, Paul. I just ordered for you," Mason said.
"Thanks Perry. Hey, business must be slow. I have not heard from you lately," Drake said.
"Business has been anything but slow," Della corrected him. "There just has not been anything that we have needed you for. By the way, you can call us too, you know."
A big grin appeared across Drake's face. "Well, Beautiful, that is exactly what I am doing. I stopped by your office but you had already left. Gertie told me you were over here."
"I told her to shut down and go home," Della said.
"I just caught her as she was locking the door," Paul told her.
"So what's up?" Perry asked, knowing Paul had something on his mind.
"A friend of my can not use his cabins so he offered it to me, since it was already paid for. "How would you two like to go to Denver for a four-day skiing trip?"
Perry and Della exchanged a glance before Mason said, "We are already going, Paul. Hamilton Burger called with the same invitation, but I am sure he would not mind if we all skied together."
"Burger? Are you sure you want to spend four days with him?"
Perry and Della chuckled. "Hamilton is alright once you get him out of the court room. So what do you say? Do you want to join us?"
Paul did not have to think about it. Skiing would not be any fun if he had to do it alone. Well, not exactly alone, he was bringing a date along with him. "Yes, tell Burger if he starts in on us about dead bodies, I will trip him when he is going down the slope."
The three friends shared a laugh at Burger's expense. They did not notice the prosecuting attorney come up to their table. "Mind if I join you?"
Perry smiled. Perry and Paul got out of the booth and allowed Hamilton to slide in. Paul slid back into the booth beside Hamilton allowing Perry to join Della on the other side.
"I caught Gertie as she was leaving the elevator, and she told me you were over here. I hope you don't mind me joining you."
"Not at all," Mason said, smiling. "Hamilton, Paul is going to the same ski resort we are. He has a cabin. I invited him to join us."
Hamilton looked at Paul and a smirk appeared on his face. "It is alright with me as long as he doesn't find any dead bodies."
Perry and Della laughed at the frown on Drake's face.
Drake looked at Burger and said, "Looks like you will be going down that slope faster than you were thinking."
When Perry and Della looked down trying to suppress grins, Hamilton looked at Drake. "Am I missing something?"
Perry and Della could only laugh. Perry said, "Nothing, Hamilton, just a private joke."
When dinner was finished, the four left the restaurant. They had determined that Paul would be on the same flight. They said goodnight and they would see each other in the morning.
When lawyer and secretary arrived at his apartment, he put his arm around her and led her to the bedroom.
xxxx
Perry and Della were up bright and early the next morning. Della took a shower first and allowed Perry to sleep in just a bit longer. After she had dried and styled her hair and put on her make up, she gathered the items she would need for their short trip. Della left the bathroom and smiled when she heard the low snoring.
Walking over to the bed, she sat down beside the sleeping lawyer. "Perry," she said as she ran her fingers through his hair, "it is time to get up."
"Hmmm," was the only response she got. Della ran her hand down his jaw.
"If we are going to be on time for our flight, you better get up and shower."
Mason opened his eyes. "Time to get up already?"
Della chuckled. "Time to get up. It's five o'clock. We have to be at the airport shortly."
He looked at her and smiled. "Okay, I'll get up." Pushing back the covers, he pulled himself into a sitting position. He placed his index finger under Della's chin, leaned in and kissed her. "Good morning."
"Good morning, Counselor. I'll pack the suitcases while you shower and shave."
"One of these days, I am going to grow a beard so I don't have to shave every day," he grumbled.
"I bet you would look very handsome in a beard," Della said. "Now, get up, Mister Mason."
Perry got up and headed into the bathroom.
xxxx
The drive to the airport was crazy. The expressway was jammed packed as usual with those heading to work. Della wanted to close her eyes as Mason weaved in and out of traffic. "I wish you would slow down, Perry, we have plenty of time to get to the airport."
Mason just grinned. "What's the matter is my driving scaring you?"
"I just don't want to end up in a hundred car pile up," she said.
"Della, you are beginning to sound like Paul," he teased.
"That should tell you something. Neither of us likes your driving when you drive like this."
"I just want to make sure we have plenty of time to check in," Mason said.
"Perry, we will have enough time, now please slow down and stop cutting people off. We won't make it at all if the California Highway Patrol pulls us over."
Mason grinned, but let up on the accelerator. Della breathed a sigh of relief.
As it turned out, she was right, they had made it to LA International Airport with lots of time to spare. Mason parked his Cadillac in the long-term parking lot and threw the ticket in the glove box.
When Della noticed, she said, "I hope you remember where we parked. I would hate to have to try to find the car in this lot."
Again, Perry grinned. "I have an excellent memory. If I take it with us, I might lose it. This way we will only have to pay for the days we are parked here."
"Since when did you start pinching pennies?" she said.
Mason smiled. "I am anything but a penny pincher, but why waste the money if I lose the ticket. It is safe in the glove compartment. Come on, Della, let's get checked in and find Hamilton and Jan."
Perry got out of the car and went around to the other side. He opened the door, took Della's elbow and helped her out of the car. Mason walked back to the rear of his vehicle, unlocked the trunk and pulled out their two very large suitcases as well as their skis.
"Looks like you have just as big a suitcase as I do," Della smirked.
"Maybe, but yours is heavier," he grinned. Mason picked up the suitcases and skis. He pointed towards check-in. He spotted Hamilton and Jan already at the back of the long line. Joining them, he set down the suitcases and skis and greeted his friends.
Shaking Hamilton's hand as Jan and Della gave each other brief hugs, Mason then bent down and gave Jan a kiss on the cheek as Hamilton did the same with Della.
"I am so happy the two of you could join us," Jan remarked. "Hamilton thought it would be a good time for all of us and the two of you could forget the courtroom for a few days. Hamilton talks about you, Perry, all the time."
"Oh boy, I bet that is not good," Perry joked.
"Actually, most of it is except when you are driving him crazy," Jan laughed.
"Which is most of the time," Hamilton grinned.
Joining them at the back of the line was Paul and his date. When Hamilton saw them coming, he turned to his wife and said, "I forgot to tell you that Paul is joining us as well."
Mason looked at his friend and then his companion, waiting for an introduction. When none seemed to be forthcoming, Perry put out his hand to her and said, "My name is Perry Mason, this is Della Street, and that good-looking couple is Hamilton and Jan Burger."
Paul, a bit embarrassed that he had not introduced his companion said, "And this is Tracy Hanton."
"Nice to meet you, Tracy," Della said with a genuine smile.
"I have heard so much about all of you. I am so excited to finally get to meet you."
"Paul, you didn't say anything about bringing someone with you," Hamilton said.
Tracy looked up at the tall, handsome private detective, who smiled back at her. "I wanted it to come as a surprise," he said, bending to give Tracy a quick kiss.
The line moved quickly and it was not long and all three couples had their bags checked in and were going through security. That, of course, was much slower. They put their carry-ons up on the security belt to go through the x-ray machine, and then subjected themselves to the scanner they had to walk through.
Hamilton had been able to get seats in the first class section for him, Jan, Perry and Della. Paul and Tracy were much further back in the plane. The stewardess stopped him and Tracy as she noticed they seemed to be friendly with the well-known attorney, as well as Hamilton Burger. Placing a hand on Paul's arm, she asked, "Are you with Mister Mason and Mister Burger?"
"Yes, we are all traveling together," Paul confirmed.
"Well, we have two seats available in the first class cabin. If you would like to pay the difference, we can bump you up if you like."
Paul smiled, "We would like."
"Then have a seat on the other side of the aisle from Mister Mason and Miss Street. I will come back with your bill after the plane is in the air."
Paul put his luggage in the overhead compartment and then sat down in his seat next to Tracy. Perry and Della were already seated. Hamilton and Jane were in the seats directly in front of Paul and Tracy.
The flight was pleasant and they were able to have breakfast. The first class section was always served first and this had been no exception. Paul pulled out his wallet when he saw the stewardess return with the paper showing the difference he had to pay. He paid the bill and the stewardess gave him his change and moved on.
Della allowed Perry to sleep the rest of the flight as that is what all three men did. Jan, Della and Tracy engaged in small talk throughout the length of the flight.
The men woke up as the plane begin to land. Perry grinned when he looked out the window. "Look at all that snow!"
Della smiled as he was just as excited as a kid would be to see snow.
"You know, if I did not have a thriving practice in Los Angeles, I could easily move to Denver. I have always loved this city," Perry said.
"Not me pal," Paul disagreed. "I love to ski, but when I am done I want to return to a warm climate. I would not want to put up with the cold for four months out of the year."
"The cold has never bothered Perry," Della said.
"Well, I am with Paul on this one," Burger said. "Skiing is great, but I will appreciate returning to the milder weather in LA."
"You people just don't appreciate the seasons," Mason said. "There is nothing more beautiful than the change of seasons."
"You appreciate the changes," Paul said. "I'll stick to LA."
The plane landed and the couples headed down the ramp to pick up their luggage and skis.
They had not noticed they were being watched.
