Disclaimer: The characters in this story don't belong to me, they are owned by Erle Stanley Gardner's pen. I don't receive any economic good for them. I only write for the pleasure of doing it.
I want to thank tengland2 for continuing to support me. Now with this new story. Thank you.
There were three factors that made this story begin to flutter in my mind. The first was the legend of "The Red Thread." The second the song of Frank Sinatra "Strangers In The Night" and the last one that is the main reason, the final part of the chapter of the Perry Mason series "The Case of the Desperate Daughter." It's another universe not related to my other story. I hope you enjoy it equally. Although this story will be updated more slowly. Because my priority will remain the story of family Mason. Thank you and all your comments will be welcome.
This is a fantasy story, love and soulmates.
The parts written in italics are flashbacks.
"An invisible red thread connects those destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstances. The thread may stretch or tangle, but never break."
Stefan Ricker was a fearsome and somber man from East Germany. He had been having an illicit affair, with teenager Doris Bannister. Doris had accepted the relationship with a man of sufficient age to be his father, thinking absurdly that this way, she could help her stepmother Lisa Bannister. Because, she was being harassed and blackmailed by Ricker. Doris was accused for the murdering of her lover. In a vain attempt to divert the investigation, she pretended to suffer from amnesia. But this lie only served to incriminate it even more, being arrested.
After a long investigation, the truth was discovered by Perry, Della and Paul, naming the case as "The Case of the Desperate Daughter." Discovering, that the actual murderer had been, nothing more and nothing less, than Edward Bannister, Doris' father. Being she released from all charges.
Several days after concluding everything related to the case Banister, Della was in her office filing all documents related. When suddenly, the phone rang. Upon answering it, she realizing it was the District Attorney, which didn't surprise her, as much as his question. Hamilton Burger had called the lawyer's office to ask if he would represent Edward Bannister in his murder trial. Della, who knew well enough to her boss, she provide an answer almost immediately, answering her boss wasn't interested in the new Banister case. Inquisitively asking Hamilton about the real reason for his phone call, then Della hear the slight laugh from the DA. Then he tells her, that he just wanted to find out, what was caused, Perry to suspect of the Doris's father.
Della could only smile to herself and inform the curious prosecutor that she would never divulge the professional secrets of her boss. After Della hanging up the phone, Perry entered his office greeting his secretary. Della gets up from her desk and approaches Perry, starting to tell his about the call of the DA and his question. Upon hearing his secretary's response, the lawyer smiles, patting her shoulder and telling her she was a good girl.
Then, Della asked Perry. How he managed to suspect that Banister was the murderer. Perry smile at her, beginning to explain everything to his secretary. After finishing the explanation. He walked into his office followed by Della. Perry was standing behind his desk, while placing his paperwork in his desk. But there was still a question in the air, causing Della to question herself. What would be that important secret of Lisa Bannister so that her stepdaughter would be able to sacrifice herself for her? So much so Doris was willing to risk her own freedom, so that her stepmother's secret could remain in the shadows. At that moment, Perry interrupts Della, making her understand that if the teenager had been able to risk her freedom, only so that the secret of her stepmother remained in the shadows. There was no need for them to risk finding it out.
Della nodded in agreement, "After all, every woman's entitled to at least one secret."
Smiling Perry asks, "What's yours?"
Della just raised her eyebrows at him, "That is something, that you'll never know." Della replied with a mocking smile, leaving her boss' office, she closed the door behind her.
Leaving, her boss behind, very intrigued by her response. Perry really didn't know how true was the words spoken his secretary, for them two.
Della Street had a secret in her life. One secret so big and important she swore to herself she would never tell anyone, much less Perry Mason and if it depended on her, this would one secret she would take to her grave.
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After leaving Perry intrigued and leaving his office. Della sat at her desk reflecting on her words she had just said. Although she had pronounced them in a mocking tone, this words hid a truth she was determined not to tell anyone, let alone her boss. If Perry Mason were to find out the truth, he would never forgive her, because, he would never believe, what he had heard. He would tell her, that she was completely crazy, that everything was practically impossible.
Della's mind wandered back about seven years earlier, when she was just 21 years old. She was a happy independent young woman wanted to enjoy life. Her thoughts were transported a few years more back, when her parents had died in a car accident when she was barely twelve. Della remembers moving in with her mother's sister Mae Kirby, who was barely ten years older than herself. Mae was more than her aunt, never trying to replace her mother, but became more of a sister, a friend. Mae had taught Della, to be strong, independent, if she had a problem, she should face it with courage, decide how to handle it and never regret your decisions. Remembering that everything that was going on in your life good or bad, would be the result of your own actions.
Della's thoughts returned to seven years again, when she and her friend Teresa attended a dance, organized by the Association of Ladies of Charity of Los Angeles. The dance was for young servicemen, who were due to depart the following day, towards the Pacific, to go fight against the enemy of the country. At first, she wasn't in the mood to attend to the dance, but her friend Teresa and her Aunt Mae convinced her. Mae told Della that life was not just work and studies, that there were also some moments to enjoy and who knows, maybe the destination had prepared some surprises for her. As perhaps, that she would knew her prince charming. That made Della let out a laugh. Because of the absurdity that statement sounded in her aunt's mouth, reminding Mae, that she did not want to get married. Because she was just a career girl.
When Della and Teresa arrived at the ballroom at city hall, she was impressed with what she saw. There was a fabulous jazz band playing on stage, she had heard before. She noticed the sign above them, "Good Luck, Guys, come home safe sound." Glancing around the room she saw red, white and blue balloons, streamers woven in with small white lights, giving the room an appearance of a starry night. There were several tables and chairs, scattered around the room each with small lights in the center and several tables set up with appeared to be bowls of punch, glasses, napkins and various snacks
Della was the most beautiful young woman in the place. She wore a bare shoulders emerald green form fitted dress that made her hazel eyes stand out. She also wore pearl necklace that adorned her slender neck, with matching earrings.
The place had gotten crowded in a short period of time with young servicemen and beautiful young women there to keep them company. This was a pleasant send off, a farewell to these future fighters, who would be embarking the next day or two, heading for help fight the enemy army.
Della was sitting at one of the tables facing the stage. Drinking a glass of wine, while she hearing the jazz band play. Although the music was nice and the atmosphere fabulous. She was getting bored, regretting having been convinced by Mae and Teresa. Much more since her friend had found a better company for the dance. Forgetting her completely and leaving her abandoned at the table. He was a muscular soldier with brown hair and caramel eyes, who danced fabulously. Teresa seemed to walk among the clouds beside him. Forgetting about Della completely.
Della was tired of waiting for her friend to return to their table, sighing she finished her glass of wine and got up to leave.
As she neared the exit, she suddenly saw a flash of blue, staring at her. Della felt the intensity from that look, leaving her breathless, while it seemed that hundreds of butterflies fluttered in her stomach. She knew the people were walking around the two of her, but she didn't see them or hear the music, in this moment everything that was around her ceased to exist. This was a supernatural force that brought her closer and closer to the owner of that deep gaze. Della didn't know, how and when? But suddenly, she found herself dancing with the possessor of that captivating look. A navy lieutenant, with piercing blue eyes and black hair as black as the darkness of the night. Without knowing how, she leaned against his chest, absorbing his scent and feeling the strong beating of his heart. Della said to herself, that she was crazy. How could she dance like that, with an absolute stranger? But deep down she felt, this person, was not a stranger to her, that this person somehow would someone special. Whom she had known all her life, yet she didn't know his name or who he was. But even so, she felt that she already loved him and would love him all her life. They kept dancing, not saying anything for a long time, and only losing them in the each other's arms.
After a long time of silent complicity, the handsome officer finally broke the silence. "Excuse me, beautiful lady, for not introducing myself, my name is Perry, Perry Mason," giving her, a beautiful dimple smile that made Della´s heart jump. "And you are?" Perry asked.
"I'm Della, Della Street," replies Della, giving him the most radiant smile, he had ever seen.
After dancing for a while longer, they got something to drink and returned to the table, that Della had left some time before and they began to talk. Their conversations revolved around themselves, Della told Perry about the death of her parents, living with Aunt and she would soon be graduating from business school. Della smiles as she told him she was looking forward to working and hoped to find the right job, that she would stay at for as long as possible. Perry said her that they were only he and his mother that his father had died many years ago. Telling her that after his dad died the money had been tight, so he joined the Navy, in order to have his education though law school, which in turn he would spend the next four years in service for repayment. Once he was discharged, he planned to open his own law firm.
The time passed quickly in the company of the other, that they hadn't noticed that the dance was nearly over with and the band was getting ready to play their last song, 'Strangers in the Night." Perry smiled as he stood up, offering his hand to Della, they walked out onto the dance floor, slowly moving around the dance floor. Suddenly the two stopped dancing, looking, at each other, as a passionate kiss arose between the two, seizing all their emotions. At that time, Della's mind went blank, she did not remember how they had come out of the dance, nor how she was giving a short walk from city hall, to the home where Perry had the only room tucked in the attic. It was a large room, tucked into the attic, with a large bed in front of one of several windows overlooking the city.
It was several hours later. When Della's dress and her other clothes, were found discarded on the floor along with Perry's uniform. Della was naked in Perry's bed only covered by a sheet and Perry by her side hugging her protectively. As they watching the sunrise. Della's mind was spinning with all the thoughts that came and went, she could not believe, that she had given herself to a man she only met the evening before.
"A penny for your thoughts, my beautiful miss," says Perry, kissing Della's bare shoulder.
Della's face showed a strong blush in her cheeks, she was embarrassed and not quite sure how to answer him. Finally considering the position in they were in, she tried to explain that this was not her normal behavior, a lot less going to bed with someone she just met. She wasn't the type of woman who jumped from one bed to the next. Perry pulled her closer to him, caressing her uncontrollable curls.
"Della my sweet lady, I know you're not like that. I'm not a man who jumps from bed to bed either, nor do me a man who sleeps with a woman on their first date. Much less only a few hours and bring her home to my tiny attic apartment." Perry pauses, "From the moment I saw you, I felt a powerful force that attracted me to you. All I know is that I wanted to hold you, to make you mine. I did not behave like the man my mother and the Navy have taught me. I must apologize for not acting like a gentleman and treating you like the lady you so deserve to be treated." He wiped the tear he saw escaping down her face. "Della, I know destiny put you in my way, I know I have fallen in love with you in just a few short hours. I promise you that when I return from my tour of service, we will be getting married."
"Perry, you don't have to make such a promise to me." Della smiles.
Perry removes a small medal from around his neck, putting it around hers. "Della this is the medal of St. Antonio, saint of lovers. My father gave it to my mother when they got married, they were happy from that day, until his death. My mother gave it to me, to give it to the woman, who would share my life and I know that you're that woman. I know it's crazy, but I love you and I can't imagine my life without you."
Della cupped, the Perry's cheeks with the palms of her hands. To then give a tender kiss of thanks on his lips. "Perry! This isn´t crazy, because I feel the same way. I never believed in love at first sight, but I do love you. But this feeling that I feel for you is so strong it hurts me to breathe and if this is crazy, then we are both crazy." She pauses for a moment, but I know that reality will hit us in a few hours. When you board your ship, you're leaving me here and heading for unknown danger. I know it's to defend our country, but I'm afraid scared that something may happen to you and you never come back to me. That suddenly this beautiful dream, it becomes a nightmare from which I cannot wake up." Says Della, tears forming in her eyes.
"Della, love, please don't cry. I promise I will come back unharmed for you and I'll try to write to you every day." Says Perry, taking a breath, "Upon my return, I will meet your aunt and properly ask for your hand in marriage. Then we will go to Kansas so you can meet my mother, I know her will like you and I'm sure you'll be a daughter to her. After we're married, we will open our legal office here in LA, we'll be a team. If destiny has its way, we will eventually here the sound of little feet echoing in our home." Perry gives her a passionate kiss, "but now my lady, we better get up. I have to report to my departure area and if I don't, I could be court martialed and end up in prison. I may be a good lawyer, but I don't think the military will accept my beautiful lady as my excuse for being late."
Having dressed, they left for the departure port, where there were hundreds of people saying good bye to their love ones. There were quite a few young women like Della, who accompanied a solider or sailor to bid him farewell. As Della's tears ran down her face, Perry tried to wipe them away, the boarding whistle sounded, so they kissed on last time. Holding her hand as long as possible, as he stepped away, Perry finally let go, as he was being pushed forwards. Della watched the man she loved walk up the boarding plank, him looking back in her direction, before disappearing into the open door onto the boat.
Della's attention was taken away from the gangplank by a familiar voice. Turing around she saw her friend Teresa, who had been saying farewell to her dance partner from last night.
"Della, what are you doing here? I thought you was already at your home. Don't tell me, that Miss, zero men in my life, finally found her soul mate last night." Says Teresa with a mocking tone in her voice.
Della didn't reply, just smiled with a sadness in her eyes. Teresa realized that Della was in a state and could tell she wasn't in the mood to talk. Giving Della a much-needed hug, she wiped her eyes. Both girls took one last look at the departing ship by the horizon. Both friends started working their way to getting home. Della sighs as she walks, along with Teresa to the exit, taking the promise of love from Perry in her heart.
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But the promise never came, Perry never wrote her and let alone return for her. She never met any more about him.
The war ended, Della's life continued on its way, with many bumps and difficult decisions that she had to face. So five years went by in the life of Della and the others. Della completed her college courses in business, with much effort and sacrifice. The war had making things hard for a lot of people. Her Aunt Mae had decided to move from LA to a small house facing the sea in Bolero Beach, while Della and Teresa shared an apartment in the city suburbs. This arrangement had lasted until Teresa married her dance partner from the same night Della had met Perry.
Della's life went on without a jolt, she had found temporary work as a secretary in a small law firm located in the Brent Building. It was here she realized how much she enjoyed working and learning about the law. It was lunch time when of the secretaries had commented on the new handsome young lawyer. He would soon be opening an office on the ninth floor of the building Brent. It seeming he was just out of the Navy and was planning on practicing criminal law. He was also looking for office help, which included a secretary.
Although according some people related to the navy. It was rumored that he could be a very difficult person to work with him. A demanding and workaholic person. Even within the JAG offices he was known for working late into the night to help military personnel.
But with a sad story behind him. He had been badly injured while doing some investigating on an aircraft carrier, near the Japanese coasts. For several months he had been unconscious between life and death. His doctors weren't sure of his survival, but the fact he was in apparent good health was working in his favor. When he had finally regained consciousness, the doctors said that it was practically a miracle that he had been saved. But unfortunately that time of unconsciousness brought to have some consequences. He had lost two years of memories of his life, he had some vague memories of taking his bar exams, but not when he had started his active duty for the Navy. Perry returned to the USA, while still assigned to the Navy, continued his physical and mental therapy. He also went back to college to retake law courses, to help his memory of the profession he had been a part of and still wanted to work in.
Also on the ninth floor would open up a new detective agency. It seemed that the lawyer and the lead detective were best of friends, both were single. They apparently had met in the hospital. Not long after the lawyer's start on the road to recovery, becoming each the shadow of the other.
Della began to listen closely to the story, until the lawyer's name came out in the conversation. She becoming very nervous, her heart pounding in her chest, as she continued listening to the details. The lawyer's name, was nothing more and nothing less than Perry Mason. Could it really be the man five years ago promised to return for her, swearing eternal love her? But now that she heard this tragic story. She finally could find out this tragic accident be the reason that she never existed for him and much less made her a promise of love. At least now she was sure he hadn't cheated on her.
Della for a long time did not know what to think or what to do, with all this new information. Suddenly her world had changed again. She believed for many years that she was deceived by an unscrupulous man and now she knew that he did not fulfill his promise, because he could not do it. But only one thing was for certain, she would set up an appointment for an interview for the secretarial job. Maybe he would never remember her and never his love for her would return. But she would fulfill in part the dream they shared together that morning. When the two found themselves embraced in his bed naked, watching the sunrise through the window. But still they would work together, even if he were just her boss and she just was his faithful secretary.
The ringing phone brought Della from her memories, picking up the phone, "Hello Perry Mason's office." Said Della.
"Honey, I just realized its lunchtime and you're still working. I think I'll have to call that boss of yours for being a slave driver. So that he does not make you work too much and leave you a free weekend." Came Aunt Mae's voice, Della smiled rolling her eyes. "Don't be rolling yours eyes at the phone young lady."
"Aunt Mae, You know, that I'm fine. I love my job and the extra money is certainly needed at home. You can't be taking care of all the expenses." Replies Della. "Besides, you have already done many things for me."
"I know honey. But here is someone, who misses you and wants to see you."
Suddenly Della hears, a small voice on the phone, that it 'says "Mommy!"
