Once again I am "borrowing" the characters from Erle Stanley Gardner and his famous Perry Mason series. Thank you for reading! All comments are welcome.
A/N: When I began writing this story I found myself interjecting little paragraphs trying to explain how Perry & Della's relationship began. I was having a hard time with that so I abruptly decided to start all over and write 'A Long Time Ago' and the 'Savory Secretary' sequel before I got too far on this one. So instead of tossing this one out altogether, with your encouragement, I'm re-writing most of it and started over from where 'Savory Secretary' left off. Enjoy!
Chapter One
The beautiful Della Street walked to the podium as the thunderous applause in the auditorium turned into a standing ovation. She paused briefly at a few tables along the way to the stage steps accepting brief hugs and kisses on her cheek from well-wishers in the audience. Her black sequined evening gown sparkled in the stage lights as she stood, smiling broadly, beside the awards banquet emcee nodding her thanks to the crowd.
The applause died down as the emcee began speaking.
"Miss Street, on behalf of the Greater Los Angeles Area Community Awards committee, I'm proud to present you with this plaque honoring you for tonight's highest award, as the recipient of the Community Volunteer-of-the-year Award for 1950. Your tireless efforts of fundraising and volunteer hours spent at St. Christopher's Orphanage have helped this community in more ways than you can ever imagine. Your efforts to recruit Policemen from the Los Angeles Police Department and enlisting other prominent citizens to serve as mentors to orphans not only at St. Christopher's, but at other shelters for our youth, are outstanding! Miss Street, please accept this award from a very grateful community!"
The audience applauded again as Della accepted the plaque and a hug from the emcee. The flashbulbs from several cameras continued to light up the stage when Della adjusted the microphone at the podium, still smiling brightly looking over the audience. As the applause subsided she looked directly into the crowd at Perry Mason, the famous Los Angeles defense attorney, who was smiling back and subtly blowing kisses to her. Employed as Perry's confidential secretary and, not known to the public, being his steady girlfriend for nearly a year, she was living a dream.
"Thank you. I'm very humbled by this honor. There are so many others out there who are probably more deserving of an award such as this. The time that I can spend volunteering would not be possible without a very supportive employer and dear friend, Mr. Perry Mason. He not only gives me the time away from our busy law office, but he has provided financial support for St. Christopher's and other youth charities as well. And there are representatives here tonight from the Los Angeles Police Department as well who deserve praise for all that they do, day in and day out, to make this community the best. Thank you all very much."
Della walked away from the podium to another round of applause and stepped down from the stage to return to her table. The men at Della's table stood up to offer their congratulations when she got back to the table as the emcee was announcing the conclusion of the program.
Paul Drake, a close friend to her and Perry, and head of his own Private Detective Agency, gave her a hug and a kiss on her cheek. Lieutenant Arthur Tragg from the Los Angeles Police Department Homicide Division bowed down to her and took her hands in his to kiss them. The newly-elected Los Angeles County District Attorney Hamilton Burger gently embraced her and managed to give her a quick peck on the cheek before she made her way to her seat. Perry managed a quick kiss on her cheek as he held her chair out for her to sit down.
As a banquet waiter approached the table, Perry spoke with him quietly and the waiter left for the bar right away.
Paul took the plaque from Della to look it over as they all sat down. "This is a beautiful plaque, Beautiful! Where are you going to hang it?"
"I haven't really thought about it yet. Perry has such a vast collection of award plaques in the office right now, that I don't think there's enough room for this one." Della was smiling proudly and managed to give Perry a quick wink from her sparkling hazel eyes.
"We can always remodel the office again just for a wall of your own for your award, Della." Perry returned her wink.
"Well if I haven't said this before gentlemen, I want to thank you for being here as my guests tonight. It really means a lot to me. We may be adversaries in doing our jobs some days, but tonight is all about friendship."
The timing of her words was perfect as the waiter arrived with the champagne that Perry ordered. The champagne glasses were filled and Perry proposed a toast.
"To the lovely Miss Della Street! The only woman I know of that can bring feisty legal opponents together in harmony... even if only for just one night."
Della was all smiles as they tipped their glasses together in celebration.
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The last bottle of champagne on the table was long gone and Della's table of guests began making their way out of the banquet room. Lt. Tragg and Burger made their way through the crowd stopping to shake hands and speak with colleagues on their way out. Paul crushed out a cigarette and excused himself after spotting a pretty woman who won an award for organizing some sort of community project. She walked all alone towards the door with Paul in hot pursuit.
Della was amused. "Paul doesn't miss any opportunity to chase a pretty woman anywhere, does he?"
Perry watched as Paul took off after the woman, then stood to help Della to her feet. "No he doesn't. He's a smooth operator! Shall we head out, ma'am?" They made their way to the coat check room.
As the auditorium emptied out, flashbulbs continued to light up the night as other award recipients and their guests exited the main doors of the venue. The hundreds of guests were the "who's who" of Los Angeles' high society. Even surrounded by these elite citizens, Perry managed to arrange for his car to be brought around to a side exit to stay out of the limelight.
"I hope that our exit out this door is okay with you, Della. I don't want to ruin your night in the spotlight." Perry escorted her down a hallway to the door.
"This was a great idea, Perry. I think I've had enough of the limelight for a lifetime. This event is almost as hyped-up as that Emmy Awards ceremony. Those flashbulbs nearly blinded me."
"Well you deserve all the accolades you received even if you don't enjoy being in the limelight. I must add that you were the most beautiful award recipient in the program tonight." Perry looked around before he stole a quick kiss on her lips.
"Watch yourself, Counselor!" Della was grinning with a raised brow. "The valet might have seen that kiss. And you know how much those valets can gossip..."
Perry assisted Della into the passenger side of the car and walked around to generously tip the valet before he got in behind the wheel. He had the top up on his convertible, so as soon as they pulled away from the curb and made it away from the auditorium with all the flashbulbs popping, Della slid over on the seat closer to him. Perry immediately brought his arm up around her and pulled her in close. Della tuned in their favorite radio station and they listened to their favorite music as Perry drove towards Della's apartment.
"Now that your big night is off the calendar, we really need to plan our anniversary. I think we need a long weekend away... soon!" Perry was stopped at a traffic light and gave Della a soft kiss on her cheek.
"Exactly which date do you consider our anniversary date? It's not like we're married or anything."
"Let's not debate that marriage issue again, Miss Street. You know that I want to marry you. I love you more than anyone in the world, Della." Perry squeezed her a little tighter as they drove through the intersection after the light change.
"I can't believe we've been together nearly a year. It's been quite a roller coaster hasn't it?" Della laid her head on Perry's shoulder.
"What matters is that you're here with me, you're healthy again, and we have each other. So when and where do we celebrate our anniversary?"
Perry pulled into the parking lot to Della's apartment building and assisted Della out through the drivers' door. Della tucked her award plaque under one arm and latched onto Perry's elbow with her other hand.
"Sometimes I think of our anniversary as the first night we met, but that was on your birthday. I want to plan something special for that night." Della leaned into his shoulder again as they got on the elevator.
"You stole my heart on my birthday – twice. The first time at a dance at a USO Canteen during the war and the next time on a railway station platform in Chicago. Meeting you on my birthday is the only reason I celebrate that day." Perry brought out his key to open Della's apartment door.
"What would you like for a nightcap?" Della put her clutch purse down on a table by the door as Perry flipped on the light switch and helped her remove her wrap. Della placed the award plaque down on the coffee table by the sofa and walked across the room to turn on the radio.
"Let me pour us a cognac. How does that sound, baby?" Perry hung the wrap up in her closet and headed for her kitchen.
"Cognac sounds wonderful. It's so nice to feel normal again and have a nightcap instead of a pain pill before I go to bed." Della kicked off her heels and turned down the lights. Perry came out of the kitchen with a glass of cognac to share. Della sat down on the sofa and lit a candle on the table.
"It won't be long and you'll be all through taking any kind of medicine." Perry sat down on the sofa beside her and wrapped her in his arms and gently kissed her cheek. He then reached over and lifted the glass of cognac to her lips. "You first, Miss Volunteer-of-the-year award winner."
Della sipped the cognac, directed the glass back towards Perry, and reached over to loosen his bow-tie. "You're so good to me. Did I mention how much I love you? You were the best looking man at the banquet you know..."
Perry took a sip from the glass and placed it on the table. "I hope that I mentioned how beautiful you are tonight. You're beautiful every night." He leaned towards her and softly kissed her lips.
Della lifted Perry's arm and put it around her shoulder so she could tuck her head into his chest. She stared at the award plaque on the table and her eyes welled up with tears.
"It's so ironic isn't it? I have an award for helping out at an orphanage because I love being with and helping children, but now I can't ever have a child of my own."
Perry held her tighter. "Shhhh, baby. I know how much that hurts you." He turned her towards him to kiss her tears away. "That was only one doctor's opinion. When you're ready, I'll get you a specialist. They're doing miraculous things with medical research these days. Let's not worry about that right now."
"I can't feel whole as a woman since the surgery..."
"Shhhh. You're all woman, Della. A beautiful, warm, loving, caring, woman. The only woman I'll ever love..." He turned her towards him and cradled her in his arms to kiss her. He gently moved his lips across hers and with each kiss Della responded back running her fingers through his hair. "Let's not talk about this anymore tonight. We're supposed to be celebrating your award."
Della snuggled in close to him. "You're too good to me."
"I'm glad I have you. I love you so much, Della."
Perry brought the glass of cognac back up off of the table. "I've just decided that June 4th will be our anniversary... That is, until you decide that you'll marry me so our only anniversary will be a wedding anniversary."
"June 4th? Hmmm. The night that you lured me out to the beach to watch the fireworks? That was a very special night." Della sipped more cognac as Perry raised the glass to her.
"I loved every minute of it... Now that we've decided on our anniversary date, we need another night of dancing to figure out our song."
Della giggled. "I don't know why we can't come up with our song! We've only been out dancing a million times this year!"
"I guess I've just figured that every song that I'm dancing to with you is our song..."
They fell silent for quite a while with the music playing softly on the radio and Della drifted off to sleep in Perry's arms. Like so many other nights since Della became ill in February, Perry just held her tight to let her nap for a while. While she'd sleep, Perry would reflect back on the time they'd spent together since the night they proclaimed their love for one another on that magical June night... Perry rested his head next to hers and let his thoughts drift off to his time spent with Della.
The law office was a well-oiled machine with Della running it. They added new clients and took on several high-profile murder cases with a lot of success. They worked long hours and just when they'd catch up and try to take a short vacation, another caper would come up that needed immediate attention. While Perry was away attending or lecturing at Bar Association conferences, Della was volunteering at St. Christopher's or any of the other local youth shelters. Perry desperately wanted to take their relationship to the next level. He often wondered if she would spend the night with him without a wedding ring on her finger. He thought that the chemistry was there. He just wanted to go away with her somewhere. Away from telephones and answering services. Away from Courtroom dramas. Away from reporters and stealth photographers prying into his private life.
From the very start of their romantic relationship, Perry would tell Della that he wants to marry her, but she put him off every time he suggested it. She always countered his offer by saying that marriage will drastically change their work relationship, so she suggested that they wait to make a decision on marriage. Della worried that his reputation as a high-profile defense attorney could suffer if it became known that he was going to marry his secretary. Perry didn't buy that notion, but Della thought otherwise. They kept their romance private with only a few of their trusted friends knowing about their relationship away from the office.
Then the day before they were set to leave together on a long weekend in celebration of Valentine's Day, Della collapsed in the Police Records Bureau while researching a case and was rushed to the hospital. Perry suspected that she was exhausted from working such long hours. He was with her holding her hand beside her hospital bed when the Doctor came in with her diagnosis. The Doctor told her that a cyst on an ovary had burst and that's what caused her to collapse in pain. Not knowing if the cyst was cancerous or not, the Doctor recommended surgery to remove the ovary and test the cyst for cancer. After the surgery, Della's chances to ever have a baby were remote, but not entirely impossible. They were relieved to find out that the cyst was not cancerous.
Della stirred slightly and reached up to touch Perry's face. "I did it again, didn't I?"
"Shhhh. It's alright. You've had too much excitement for one night. I think that you need to go get a good nights' sleep so we can have a nice day tomorrow – starting when I pick you up for Sunday brunch." Perry gathered her in his arms lifting her off of the sofa and stood up nibbling at her neck until she giggled uncontrollably.
"That tickles! Perry Mason! Stop that now..." She continued laughing. "You better not drop me!"
"Stop squirming or I will drop you!" Perry slowly lowered her to her feet as he found her lips with his and gently kissed her.
Della wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. They took small steps towards the door. "Good night, Perry. I love you..."
Perry gave her a tight squeeze and another kiss as he reached for the door knob. "Sleep well, Della. I love you, too."
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Perry and Della were seated at a table on the outdoor patio at Cafe Milan in Playa del Rey reading the Sunday paper and sipping mimosas when Paul finally showed up to join them.
Perry looked up from the financial pages of the paper and glanced at his watch. "Why are you so late this morning? It's not like you to be late for a meal."
Paul sat down and cleared his throat. "Let's just say that I had a late night." He picked up a menu. "Did you order yet?"
"Only mimosas. We're not in any hurry today."
The waiter came to the table and Paul ordered up more mimosas.
Della folded her section of the newspaper and laid it on the table next to Perry. "Look at this... an article about the Monroe's..."
Perry put his section of the paper aside to view the article. "Who are the Monroe's?"
"Don't you remember? They were in all the gossip columns last summer."
Perry perused the newspaper article. "I don't know why you read these gossip columns at all, Della."
"How else can I keep checking up on you if I don't read them at least weekly?" Della was smiling at Perry.
Perry reached over and gently squeezed Della's hand. "Well who cares if they were seen in Marina del Rey?"
Paul took the paper from Perry and interjected. "Phyllis Monroe is the daughter of oil baron George Iverson. She inherited the oil company when her parents were killed somewhere in Mexico, if I recall."
Perry turned to Paul. "Now I see your interest in this... A woman who becomes a wealthy heiress overnight!"
Della got back to her point. "Well last summer her husband Marshall Monroe's first wife was murdered and the case is still unsolved. Before he married Phyllis, he was Vice President at Iverson Oil and the stockholders were having a field day with the fact that Marshall..."
Perry pretended to fall asleep at the table and began making loud snoring sounds interrupting Della.
Della looked a little hurt and tapped him on his shoulder with the newspaper. "Now you've made me forget the point I was trying to make..."
Perry leaned towards Della and gently took her face in his hands to kiss her. "I'm teasing you, baby. I'm sorry." He gently kissed her a few more times before he sat back in his chair.
Paul tapped his menu on the table. "If you two lovebirds are finished kissing and making up, can we order brunch now? I'm starving!"
Perry politely caught the waiter's attention to bring him to the table. After their food order was taken Perry asked Paul for an update on a case he'd asked Paul to help with.
"So what have you found out on the Dexter case? Will I be good to go with their court case tomorrow morning?"
"You should be good to go. It came together just as you thought it would. I suspect that you'll have another big payday by tomorrow afternoon."
"So are you saying that I'm buying brunch today?"
"You took the words right out of my mouth!"
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Paul came by Perry's office the next morning to drop off a billing invoice to Della. "Hiya, Beautiful! Is Perry back from Court yet?"
"He called to say that he'll be back after lunch." Della took Paul's invoice to read it over. "When are you going to learn how to spell, Paul?"
Paul took the invoice back. "What's wrong with it?"
Della took the invoice back and pointed out his spelling errors. "Let's start with accommodations... You need two c's, two m's. And 'restaurant' only has one e, not two. And finally 'cemetery' does not have any a's."
Paul snatched the invoice back. "Well with Margo on vacation this week, you'll probably see more errors. Unless, of course, you want to help me out this week?" Paul looked at her with pleading eyes.
Della just chuckled. "Are you kidding? I'm so far behind here just getting the briefs ready for his Larson case. And now he's got me researching a case for the Morgan merger before he goes to Sacramento on Wednesday."
Paul scribbled the spelling changes on the invoice and returned it to Della. "Well that means that you'll be by your phone most of the time in case I need to call you."
"Of course I'll try to help you, Paul... But it will cost you..."
"I don't like the sound of that..."
"It's nothing that you can't handle. I'm planning something special for Perry's birthday on Sunday, the 21st. That's less than two weeks away now. And I'll need you to..."
Before Della could finish her request of Paul, Perry walked into the office.
"Hi Paul... Good to see you. The Dexter case was fine. Be sure to send me your bill." Perry put his brief case down on Della's desk and opened it to remove a file and place it on her desk. "Case closed, Miss Street. You may send out the billing invoice as soon as we know how much Paul is going to gouge us for."
Della picked up the file and looked back to Perry who was closing his brief case. "I thought that you were going to be back after lunch. Do you need me to get you something?"
"No thanks, Della. I don't have time for lunch right now. If you can give me the Clayton file, I need to run back to Judge Ankrum's chambers right away with that file." Perry walked out of Della's office and into his own.
Paul just shook his head and grinned. "He's all business today. Why don't you call me later? I'll help with whatever you need for your you-know-whose, you-know-what."
Della pulled out the Clayton file and made her way towards Perry's office. "Thanks, Paul. I'll call soon. I better get this in there."
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While Perry was out of town in Sacramento, Della and Paul went to Perry's apartment to look through Perry's fishing tackle.
"I remind you, Della. I'm not a fishing expert like he is. I can only tell you what he's missing from his gear."
"Well that's why I brought along this catalog. If we don't see anything resembling some of the gear in this catalog amongst his gear, I'll be able to take a list to the store down at the Pier and buy it for him."
Della wrote out the list and she and Paul drove down to the Pier to buy the new fishing gear.
"So what are you planning to do on his birthday?"
"I'm making him dinner at my place. You're welcome to join us if you'd like, Paul."
"I think I'll pass this time. I don't need any more of Perry's wrath when it comes to interrupting you two lovebirds."
"Oh, Paul... You're not serious are you? When has he ever berated you for stopping in on us when we're alone together?"
"Well, only once... Or twice... Maybe three times. He isn't angry or anything, he just told me that my timing is bad on occasion. I'll tell you, Della. He's a new man with you in his life!"
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Della brought Perry a cup of coffee and the morning paper when he arrived in the office Tuesday morning, the 16th of May. "I found the newspaper headlines very interesting this morning."
Perry dropped off his briefcase on his desk and stood next to Della to take the cup of coffee, put it on his desk and read the headline. "Is Gertie here yet?"
Della was sorting a stack of mail on Perry's desk. "It's not even 8:30 yet. She's not due until..."
Della's words were cut off when Perry took Della in his arms to kiss her.
"Good morning, Miss Street. How was your meeting at St. Christopher's last night?"
"My goodness, you're frisky this morning, Counselor." Della smiled and wiggled out of his grasp. "It was just fine."
Perry reluctantly let her go. "I miss having dinner with you. We need to plan a night out this week."
"Well we'll have Sunday all to ourselves – all day Sunday!"
Perry had a wide smile. He looked over the newspaper. "So what am I looking at here?"
Della moved beside him to point out the article. "Towards the bottom – here."
Perry read the headline out loud. "Marshall Monroe found murdered. LAPD investigation continues. Hmmm. Why is that name familiar?" Perry read further.
"I was telling you about him and his wife Phyllis when we were having brunch a week ago Sunday. At least I was trying to tell you about them when you made fun of me for reading the gossip column."
Perry continued reading the paper but reached for Della to gently rub her shoulder with his free hand. "Hmmm. It doesn't say if there's a suspect yet. Interesting, though." He put the paper down. "What else have we got going this morning? I need to get that brief taken care of when you're available."
Perry and Della had a busy week and were taking an afternoon coffee break on Wednesday when the rhythmic knock on the back door got their attention.
Perry walked to the door to let Paul in. "Mr. Drake. What brings you here this afternoon?"
Paul had a copy of the afternoon edition of the newspaper and put it down on the conference table. "Did you see this?"
Perry lit a cigarette and sat down at the table to read the paper. "Hmmm. Phyllis Monroe was arrested for the murder of her husband."
Della poured Paul a cup of coffee. "That's awful. I can't see someone like her being involved in a murder – especially the murder of her husband. I've always wondered what she saw in someone like Marshall Monroe, though."
"Don't tell me that you base your bad feelings about Mr. Monroe on what you've read in the gossip columns." Perry took a sip of his coffee.
Della was a little defensive. "I just find it very suspicious that he reported his wife missing, then organized a search party to find her when he thought that the Police weren't doing enough for him. Then lo and behold a day later he finds her dead body in the trunk of her car in the area where he originally organized the search."
Perry and Paul looked at each other, reluctant to make any comments. Perry felt brave enough to say something. "Which Agatha Christie novel did you compare that murder scenario to?"
Della tapped Perry on his head with the spoon from the sugar bowl on the table. "You men!" Paul moved his chair back away from the table out of Della's striking range.
"Don't 'you men' me! I didn't say a word!" Paul lit a cigarette and leaned back to drink his coffee.
Perry beat Della to the office Thursday morning. She walked into her office and before she could store her purse away Perry walked in from his office.
"Don't put your purse away. Grab your notepad. We're heading to the jail. Phyllis Monroe called and said that she needs a lawyer."
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Perry and Della spent most of the morning in the jail with a very distraught Phyllis Monroe. She vehemently denied any involvement in her husband's death. She begged Perry to represent her.
"I'll try to help you out, Mrs. Monroe. But I'll need to know everything you've done the week before the murder and everything since the murder. I'll have to track your every move. Once I get copies of the Police reports I'll meet with you again."
Phyllis Monroe was shaking and Della patted the back of her hand to calm her down. Phyllis showed a weary smile and appreciated the gesture. "Please believe me, Mr. Mason. I had nothing to do with his death. I told the Police that, but they don't believe me."
"I wish you would have called before you spoke with the Police. But that's not a big concern right now. If the Police want to speak with you again, you refer them to me." He turned back to Della. "Let's head back to the office. We've got some work to do."
Phyllis buried her face in her hands and began sobbing. "This is a nightmare!"
Della moved to calm her down again and Perry stepped over to help Phyllis to her feet. "Try to keep it together, Mrs. Monroe. I'll be here for you at the arraignment tomorrow morning. It won't be easy, but try and get some rest."
The jail matron came in to take Phyllis away when Perry and Della walked out.
While Della stopped in at the Police Records Bureau, Perry went to a pay phone to call Paul.
"Hiya, Perry! I've been wondering when you were gonna be calling! Where are you?"
"Della and I just left the jail. She's trying to get copies of the Police reports right now. She'll only be able to get the basics. Can you help me out with the inside scoop?"
"I'll get right on it. Is the arraignment tomorrow?"
"Yes. I have enough information to get through that. But I need all the information that you can get on the Monroe's and the Iverson's as soon as possible. I've learned a lesson here, Paul. I'll have to pay more attention to Della's tidbits of information from out there in the real world more often!"
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Perry walked into the Courtroom assigned for the daily arraignments and took the only vacant seat in the packed gallery. He saw Phyllis Monroe waiting with a jail matron off to the side of the Courtroom in the holding area. The worried look on her face disappeared when she saw Perry enter the Courtroom. While the Judge listened to another case before the Bench, Perry looked around the room watching Prosecutors and Defense attorneys quietly exchanging notes and files in the gallery. The room was filled with news reporters and photographers, probably anticipating the arraignment of Mrs. Monroe.
Della walked into the Courtroom and gave Perry more papers for his file from her portfolio briefcase. Perry stood up and looked over the papers and added them to his briefcase. He then directed Della to his seat.
The case before the Judge was disposed of and the persons associated with the case walked away from the Bench. "Call the next case, please."
The Court Clerk shuffled more papers on his table and then looked back to the Judge. "The Court calls the State versus Mrs. Phyllis Monroe. All parties for State versus Monroe approach the Bench."
Phyllis was brought to the Bench and Perry made his way through the bar gate to stand with her. A moment later, Perry watched as Hamilton Burger shrugged off reporters outside in the hallway and entered the Courtroom to approach the Bench.
The Judge read the paperwork in front of him. "Mrs. Phyllis Monroe? I have a copy of the Complaint here in front of me. You're charged with one count of Murder in the First Degree. Your rights have been explained. How do you plead?"
It all sounded so routine for the Judge, but Phyllis suddenly felt weak and began to collapse. Perry grabbed onto her right away, but still managed to address the Judge. "Your Honor, Perry Mason for the Defense. We plead not guilty."
Aside from Phyllis feeling a little faint, the arraignment went as Perry thought it would and the date for the Preliminary Hearing was set for Monday June 5th. The Court calendar was very busy and due to the Memorial Day Holiday on May 30th, the hearing date was even later than expected. Phyllis was remanded back to the jail matron so Perry and Della packed up to leave.
They exited the Courtroom just ahead of Burger and were immediately surrounded by reporters. Perry held Della close and walked through the crowd politely telling them that he did not have any comments. The crowd broke off from Perry and Della as Burger stopped to speak with the reporters. Perry nodded back to Burger with a slight smile showing a look of gratitude for taking the reporters off of his tail.
Perry and Della returned to the office to sort through the Police reports and other information that Della had gathered. They worked straight through the afternoon and into the early evening making phone calls, taking statements from witnesses and putting a defense strategy together. Perry didn't realize how late it was until Paul called again with more information.
Perry hung up the phone and looked to Della who was now standing in front of his desk, arms across her chest, posing one foot in front of the other.
"Wait right there. Don't move." Perry opened the desk drawer by Della's chair and took out a small shiny object. He held the object in the palm of his hand and showed it to Della. "Are you missing something?"
Della glanced at the object in his hand and immediately brought her hand up to her left ear. She chuckled when she realized that Perry was holding her earring.
"I was wondering where that would turn up." She took the earring and put it back on her ear. "I'll never break the habit of taking off my earring to answer the phone..."
Perry stood up and with a weary smile he walked around to the front of his desk to take Della in his arms. With his arms around her waist, he pulled her close and gently kissed her forehead. Della relaxed in his arms and put her arms around his neck. She rested her head on his chest while Perry gently moved his hands up and down her back.
"We either just had a small earthquake, or I heard your stomach growling." Perry moved his hands up to her shoulders and gave her a gentle massage.
"I'm starving. I'm glad that I managed to steal a couple of Gertie's carrots for lunch. Why don't I call Clay's and order some dinner to bring up here?"
"That's a great idea, Miss Street. And be sure to order something for Paul. He's on his way here right now." He gave Della another kiss on her forehead before she left for her office to order dinner.
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With the exception of two hours that Della spent at the beauty parlor getting her hair done on Saturday, the trio spent all day Saturday working on the defense for Phyllis Monroe. Paul and Perry were in and out of the office most of the day while Della stayed busy typing and taking care of other office business. After a casual dinner at a restaurant near Della's apartment, Perry drove Della home and walked her up to her apartment.
"Did I mention how beautiful your hair is today?" Perry opened her door and Della walked in ahead of him. "But you know that your hair is beautiful every day."
Della closed the door behind them and put her arms around Perry's neck. "Your compliments are appreciated, Counselor. Hanging out in the beauty parlor is just another thing us girls have to do to keep our men interested in us." She gently kissed his lips as he leaned down.
Perry clasped his hands together as he brought them together around Della's lower back. "Well this man will be interested in you whether you visit a beauty parlor or not."
"How about a nightcap?"
"Sounds good. But just a quick one. My girl tells me that I have a big day ahead of me tomorrow..."
"Cognac?"
Perry leaned down to kiss her then released his hold on her. "Let me get it. You need to sit down and relax."
They moved to Della's dining room table and Perry poured the liquor into a glass to share. "We've got a lot of work ahead of us for Mrs. Monroe, but I'm glad we have more time to exonerate her." Before Della could sit down he grabbed her around the waist and seated her on his lap.
Della put her arms around his neck after Perry let her take a sip of cognac. "Well tomorrow you are the birthday boy, so we'll take the day off and get back to work on Monday."
"I wish you'd tell me what you have planned..."
"You just be here anytime after noon and be prepared to relax and be pampered."
DSXOPMXODSXOPMXODSXOPMXODSXOPMXODSXOPMXODSXOPMXODSXOPMXO
Della was busy seasoning a large ribeye roast getting it ready for the oven when her phone rang at 11:30 Sunday morning. She quickly wiped her hands on her apron and ran for the phone.
"How's my girl this morning?"
"I'm fine, thank you. Happy birthday, Perry."
"Thanks. Is there anything that I can do or bring?..."
Della cut him off right away. "No! You just get here as soon as you can. This is your day!"
"I'll be there within the hour."
Della got the roast in the oven and looked around the kitchen. She put the finishing touches on a cheese tray and brought the birthday cake out of the kitchen to place it on the dining room table. She double-checked the dinner place settings and decorations around the apartment. Satisfied that everything was ready to entertain her guest, she went to her bedroom to change into a light green dress that Perry loved.
Perry double-checked his shirt and sport coat in the mirror and emerged from his bedroom to use the phone in his living room. He dialed up his answering service number.
"Hello, Mr. Mason. I have three messages for you right now."
Perry asked her to wait for a minute while he grabbed a pen and notebook from his coat pocket to write the messages down. "Okay. I'm ready."
The operator rattled off the messages and Perry scribbled down the phone numbers in his book. He was concerned only about the third message. Before he hung up, he gave the operator Della's phone number for any emergency messages.
Perry dialed the number of someone who wanted to remain anonymous but had information on a murder.
The woman on the other end of the line picked up after two rings. "Mr. Mason?"
"That's right. Who am I speaking to?"
"I didn't leave you my name for a reason. Listen carefully because I'm only gonna say this once... You'll find an important file regarding the murder of Marshall Monroe in the vacant house at 302 South Highland Avenue in West Hollywood. The file is in the desk drawer in the den. You won't miss it."
"Why won't you tell me your name? Maybe there will be a reward for your information."
"I don't need any reward. Just get that file right away and you'll understand."
Perry was about to ask another question but the line was disconnected. He looked at his watch and thought about the location of the address that he was given. He figured that it was a little out of the way to Della's place, but he could quickly swing by on the way to Della's just to grab the file. He ordinarily would have asked Paul to do this errand but he knew that Paul and one of his men were in Ventura following up on a different lead.
Perry parked his car at the curb in front of the address, got out looking around, and walked up the driveway to the house. He looked at the house number on the door and rechecked his notebook. He looked in a window near the door and noticed that the home looked vacant. As he got closer to the door, he found it ajar. He rapped his knuckles on the door and it opened more.
"Hello? Anyone home? Hello?"
There was no response. Perry stepped into the entryway and looked around. There was not any furniture that he could see. The musty odor of the home caught his attention. He looked off to his left and saw the area that he figured was the den. There indeed was a desk in the room and he walked towards it from the entryway. As he walked towards the desk, he felt a sharp pain in his head. The tall, well-built man crumpled to the floor unconscious.
TBC