The noon recess from the courtroom found legendary defense attorney, Perry Mason out to lunch with his trusted secretary, Della Street, and longtime friend and private detective, Paul Drake. It seemed like the three of them almost never ate in the privacy of their own homes anymore given the long hours they put in at the office. Not for the first time did Mason wonder how those in similar professions managed time with families.
They'd been tossing thoughts and ideas back and forth about the current case while they waited for their food to arrive at their booth, but Drake had been distracted by someone of the female persuasion up at the bar for the last few minutes pulling knowing smiles from Mason and Della. Drake loved women and he was lousy at hiding the once overs he often gave them.
The young blonde that had caught Drake's eye was someone that Mason and Della had met before, but Drake had not; and Mason wasn't sure if he should drop the bomb on Paul or let the skilled detective ferret out her identify on his own. One thing was certain… Mason wanted to be there when Drake figured it out.
The pretty woman had her nose in a textbook as she sipped a rum and coke. Her shoulder length, sandy blonde hair was pulled back in a simple pony tail. It honestly surprised Mason that Drake couldn't see the resemblance to someone they knew, but that added to the fun, he thought.
After years of friendship, Mason knew that deep down, a part of Drake wished he'd find "the one." Looking and dating was fun, but the handsome detective sometimes mentioned he found himself longing for a steady relationship or marriage. He'd thought he'd definitely have been through playing the field by now. But his job demanded long hours just like Mason's did and that made serious relationships difficult to maintain. Women tended to prefer more of their man's attention on her than his job.
"Why don't you go over there and introduce yourself, Paul?" Mason suggested with amusement. Sometimes Mason just couldn't help but mess with people, friends included.
That tore Paul's attention away from the woman and his head whipped around to face Mason and Della again, his face turning red as he realized he hadn't been paying attention to business like he should have been.
"Aww, I'm sorry, Perry. I'm paying attention. Go ahead."
"It's alright, Paul. Seriously though, go on before the food gets here and we have to get back in the courtroom."
Della shook her head and smiled in that knowing way she had when that huge, boyish grin of enthusiasm split Drake's face. He slid out of the booth and bounded up to the bar energetically, confidently introducing himself to the woman he'd been spying just moments before.
"Why didn't you tell Paul who she is?" Della smirked.
Mason's own smirk broadened and his bright, blue eyes twinkled with mischief. "He's an experienced detective, Della. He'll figure it out soon enough."
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Paul returned to the table shortly after his acute senses and growling stomach alerted him that their food had made its way to their table. If there was one thing that Paul loved as much as women, it was food.
"So how did it go?" Della asked, dying to hear and having difficulty hiding the knowing amusement in her voice. Paul looked upbeat still so the conversation must have gone well.
"I'm meeting her for a drink at Marchand's after court so now 11th hour errands today, Perry. I was hoping we could meet for dinner, but apparently she already has plans with her parents and siblings."
"Well, at least you can get meeting her parents out of the way early."
Mason grinned at the mischief dancing merrily in Della's luminous hazel eyes.
Paul stopped and looked at them curiously after popping the first bite of his pork chop into his mouth. "What?"
"Nothing, Paul. Just anxious to hear how it all goes. Now let's eat so we can get back to round two in the courtroom. I'm sure Burger is in for a few surprises…"
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With the latest murder case wrapped up at the preliminary hearing instead of going to trial, Mason looked over to find that Paul had vanished out the courtroom, practically leaving a trail of smoke behind him.
"So shall we have dinner at Marchand's tonight?" Della suggested innocently.
"Added mind reading to your list of talents?" Mason smiled at her fondly. He glanced over at Burger and Tragg, who were gathering their things and preparing to call it a day, and chuckled. Though the workday had come to a close, the day wasn't over yet.
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Mason and Della slipped into a booth at Marchand's just in time to catch Paul Drake eagerly engaged in a conversation with the young woman he'd made plans with earlier that day. The same boyish grin graced his face just as it had earlier. Mason and Della couldn't hear the conversation, though eavesdropping would have been rude and that wasn't what they were going for. So far Paul hadn't noticed them. He only had eyes for the woman he was chatting up. She'd shown up sans the law text she'd had at lunch and was sipping on another rum and coke before dinner.
"Well Helen, I know your family is due here soon," Paul said with a tinge of disappointment, but his smile hadn't faded. The conversation had been going well and he was sure he wanted to see her again. "Would you let me take you to dinner later this week?"
Giving him a genuine smile, Helen nodded. "I'd love that," she said, as she checked the entrance to see if her parents had arrived yet.
Paul noticed the district attorney enter just as his date turned back to him. "My boss' illustrious courtroom opponent just arrived. I wonder who he's looking for?"
"Oh, dad's here then!"
That made Helen whirl around to face the entrance again and she enthusiastically waved Hamilton Burger over.
Paul froze in horror and his blood ran cold. He could only imagine the fate the district attorney would have in store for him once he found out he was trying to date his daughter. "Hamilton Burger is your *father*!"
Helen's eyebrows knitted together in confusion and the resemblance hit Paul full force in the gut. He inhaled sharply, unable to believe he hadn't seen it before. Her facial expressions, her coloring, her features… he could see it all now.
"Yes," she nodded, still sounding perplexed.
"Well… some detective I am…," Paul groused dejectedly, though he brightened at Helen's cheerful laugh. He couldn't help but laugh with her because it was pretty funny and ridiculous.
Burger weaved through the tables, approaching the bar and the same expression of confusion that just graced Helen's face, appeared on the district attorney's chiseled features.
"Helen, sweetheart…," he said, pretty sure he was seeing what he thought he was and unsure how to feel about it. "Paul. Fancy meeting you here. Something going on I should know about?" He glanced down at his daughter with a question in his large, blue eyes.
Paul swallowed hard, a sheepish look on his handsome face. He'd braced himself to meet her parents since that was the way things just shook out with Helen's schedule, but nothing could have prepared him for who her father was and he was lost about how to handle it.
"I asked her out earlier today, Hamilton. I had no idea she was your daughter."
Helen just grinned up at her father, amused at how the whole situation was unfolding. Helen often liked to just roll with the punches and tended to find the positive in anything. It was a trait that Burger admired in here and he let out a deep breath, trying to rein in the natural paternal impulses to protect her.
"Well, she's a grown woman. If it's what she wants, then I won't intrude, but if you hurt her, Drake, so help me I'll…"
Paul raised a hand. "You don't have to say anymore. I completely understand and can't blame you in the least."
That seemed to satisfy Burger for the time being, but he frowned as he caught something or someone out of the corner of his eye. "Well, I'll be damned… Mason is here too."
"And I should go join them since your family is meeting for dinner. I'll see you later this week, Helen. Have a good evening." Grabbing his drink, Paul touched her shoulder gently and nodded respectfully to Burger before wandering over to Mason and Della's table.
Sliding into the booth as Mason made room for him, Paul fixed Mason with a withering look. "You enjoyed that, didn't you?"
"I might have," Mason smirked. "Though I did think you'd figure it out before Burger found out."
"Thanks, Perry. You're a big help."
Paul shook his head and grinned anyway. He still had a date later that week so in the end, he was still getting the last laugh.