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Chapter Two
Della stepped back out of Nick's grasp with a slight look of pity on her face. "Nicky, that sounds like so much fun, but I'm going to have to turn you down... for now. I've just started this new job and..."
"Say no more, sweetheart! It was so good seeing you again, I just got a little ahead of myself. We can talk about it another day!"
Della looked over Nick's shoulder and caught a glimpse of Perry standing in the doorway. "Oh... Mr. Mason! Are you ready for the tour of the kitchen?"
Nick turned to see Perry standing in the doorway. "Right this way, Mr. Mason! Look here. The problem started with a cold water shut-off valve here below the sink. We can fix that easy enough but I see more disasters waiting to happen with the hot water pipe. If we reroute this line from along the back wall..."
Perry cut him off politely. "We're planning a remodel, Mr. Santorini. Perhaps you can do a temporary repair for today and when we make our plans for the remodel we'll consider further waterline reconfigurations." Della noticed that the tone of his voice had changed. It was lower and more monotone.
"Sure thing, Mr. Mason. I'll have this fixed in a jiffy!"
Della finally caught Perry's eye and held it for a moment but she turned back to Nick when Perry looked away. "That's great, Nicky. We were making plans for some new appliances and maybe taking out a wall back here. Nothing has been decided yet but if we have a temporary fix I'll have more time to plan the remodel."
"I get you Della! Why don't I get to work on this so you can get back to your duties?"
Della looked back to Perry and smiled. Perry avoided her glance again, took another quick look around the room, and turned to leave.
Gertie walked into Perry's office. "Mr. Mason, Mr. Miller is here for his appointment."
"Thank you Gertie. Please show him in. And Della? Would you please join me in my office with your notebook? I'll need notes for the meeting with this client."
"Yes Mr. Mason. Right way." Della quickly followed Perry to his desk and took a steno pad out of the drawer near her chair. She looked up at Perry to see if his facial expression was still so despondent.
Perry noticed how smooth the drawer opened. The puzzled look on his face now quickly disappeared when Della explained the fix. "Beeswax. Works wonders on stuck drawers." Her uneasy feeling went away when Gertie brought the client into the office. Perry wondered when she had time to fix the drawer.
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The rest of afternoon went by fast. Nick had the water leak repaired within an hour. After ordering congratulatory flowers for the Strauss family, Della met with the Westcom salesman who agreed to return in the morning for an intercom system installation. Perry was busy on the phone and spent some time in the law library. She found him at his desk writing notes and reading a law reference book.
Della took a free moment to try and discuss the intercom system with him. "I think you'll like the new system." She took the ashtray from Perry's desk and emptied about twenty cigarette butts into a metal trash can inside the kitchen door. "It's very affordable... Very modern..."
"I'll trust your judgment on that Miss Street." Perry barely looked up from the open book on his desk.
Della returned the empty ash tray to his desk and kept making small talk to see if she could read Perry's mood. In the short amount of time she'd known him since their reunion in Chicago, she'd only seen him upbeat and happy. His mood went abnormally quiet after her encounter with Nick. "If I can help you with any research I have some free time right now."
"I'm fine, thank you."
"There's fresh coffee in the percolator. Why don't I bring you a new cup?"
Perry marked a book page, closed the book in front of him, and glanced up. He gave Della a half-hearted smile. "A cup of coffee would be nice, thank you."
Della quickly walked to the kitchen to refill his coffee cup. She felt better when he accepted her offer. When she returned with his coffee, he was fully engaged in the book again, so she returned to her office. She missed their playful bantering.
After a brief conversation with Gertie in the front office, Della returned to her desk when Gertie told her that she that didn't need help with anything. Back at her desk, Della began reading the classified ads in the afternoon newspaper to begin her apartment search. Her old apartment was still an option, but it was not close enough to her new office. She scanned the ads for nearby apartments.
Perry spent the afternoon trying to concentrate on research that he needed to write a legal brief. His mind kept drifting back to the scene he witnessed between Della and Nick. He really didn't know much about men she'd known in her past. With her friendly nature, he could only guess that she knew quite a few men. After all, he himself met her at a dance at a USO Canteen during the war. On the other hand, she didn't appear to have a steady boyfriend or she wouldn't have left Los Angeles at the drop of a hat to start all over in Chicago. Women! He couldn't figure out how such an enjoyable morning could turn so sour in the afternoon. But he was still completely infatuated with her. What does she see in Nick? He's average height. A few pounds overweight - but who isn't? His hairline is receding already and he can't be over 30 years old. His maintenance uniform looked a little unkempt with his shirt partially untucked. His hands were calloused. A real working man. He wanted to find out what she sees in someone like him. In due time.
Perry got up from his desk and walked to her office door. "Della, if you're free right now, maybe we can go over your job expectations."
"Right away Mr. Mason."
She's been calling me 'Mr. Mason', Perry thought. He wondered if she'd been calling him 'Mr. Mason' all day. He didn't notice until now. He missed their playful bantering.
Della met him at his desk with her notepad. "Do you need anything before we begin, Mr. Mason?" He looked so serious.
Perry was lighting a cigarette. "No thanks, Della. This shouldn't take long." He opened a desk drawer and brought out a signature form from a bank. "Why don't we start with this? It's a form for placing your name and signature on all of my office banking accounts. I have a personal account, an office equipment account and our general office expense account. All deposits go to the general fund. I have another personal account with another bank and when I get their authorization form, we'll fill that out. I'll also have a 'slush' fund for some of your expenses. We can discuss that when I get the account set up." She'll have to move closer to the desk to sign the form Perry surmised. He missed the scent of her perfume. He put out his cigarette.
Della briefly read the form and found a signature line. She leaned forward on the desk and printed her name above the line. "I might have a few questions along the way, but this appears pretty straight forward." Perry was strictly business, but that should be expected when it comes to money she thought.
"I've only seen one monthly bank statement and I think you'll catch on just fine. My... uh... our accounting firm will meet with us quarterly and we'll correct any errors at that time." This morning he was having such a good time. He thought back to meeting her on the porch of her Aunt's home. That seemed to be a lifetime ago. "Your paycheck will come from our accounting firm every week. I hope you'll be satisfied with the salary we agreed on when we discussed it on the flight from Chicago." He thoroughly enjoyed the trip to Chicago to meet her train and coax her into returning to Los Angeles.
"Yes, Mr. Mason. It's a very generous salary and I appreciate that very much. As a matter of fact, I'll be looking for an apartment and now I'll be able to afford a better place than I moved from when I left for Chicago." She still couldn't believe he followed her to Chicago to offer her a job.
"If you need any assistance with an apartment search, I'll be glad to help. Have you found a place that you're interested in yet?" He was hoping she'd consider the neighborhood he was living in. It would be nice to be close to her.
"No. I've just started reading the classified ads. I hope that I find something by the weekend." She wondered where he was living. Probably an extravagant penthouse suite in a nice building.
"Well, this is all I have for you for right now. I'll have more to go over with you some other time. I'm just not quite organized enough for my presentation to make sense to you." He didn't have anything more at all and he didn't think he could stretch out this meeting any longer.
Della took a deep breath. "I have something if you still have a moment." Perry leaned back in his chair to listen. Della closed her notebook and placed it on her lap. "I should apologize for the disturbance with Mr. Santorini earlier. I was really surprised seeing him here. We worked in the same building at Pratt. Many of the secretaries and other co-workers would occasionally meet up for a night out on the town and he was just part of that group."
Perry leaned forward staring straight ahead and clasped his hands together on the desk in front of him. After a moment, he turned to face Della with a fixed expression on his face. "Della, I don't think you need to make any apologies. It was apparent to me that he was excited to see you." Della found his voice very calm and understanding. He continued with a smile. "Why don't we just forget about it and move on to other things? Do you have any dinner plans for after work? It's a long drive back to Malibu and I want to make sure you don't starve before I get you back home for the evening."
Della looked back at him with a smile. She was relieved that he no longer appeared disappointed with her. "Well, Mr. Mason. We never discussed set work hours so maybe if I know exactly when my work day is supposed to be through..."
Before Perry could answer, Gertie knocked on the open door and walked into the office. "Mr. Mason, I'm sorry to disturb you and Miss Street, but Mr. Lawton is here. He said that he really needs to see you. He thinks that the Police are after him!"
Perry stood up as a very agitated Jerry Lawton moved past Gertie and burst into the office. "Mr. Mason, I think the cops are after me! I think they're after me for murder!"
Della stood up and wheeled a chair over to the front of Perry's desk. Perry walked around to the front of his desk.
"Why don't you have a seat, Mr. Lawton?" Perry looked to Della. "He's on file with us already. We're due in Court next week on an armed robbery case."
"I'll get his file." Della walked quickly to the files in her office.
Gertie asked if she was needed for anything else. Her day was done and she had a bus to catch. Perry sent her on her way and asked that she lock the front door on her way out.
Perry sat on the front of his desk. "Tell me why you think the Police are after you." Perry got Mr. Lawton calmed down.
Della brought his file in and sat down at the desk with her notepad open to a clean page.
"You know I didn't rob that liquor store! That owner don't know what he's talking about saying that I was the one he saw. I didn't do it!"
"You said that the Police want you for murder. How is that related to the robbery?"
"I don't know, Mr. Mason! Really I don't. But I was down at the pool hall today and the fellas were saying that the cops were there looking for me saying I was a murderer! I ain't murdered anyone in my life. You gotta believe me, Mr. Mason!"
Della interjected. "I think I know what he might be talking about. Give me a second here." Della quickly walked back to her office and returned with the afternoon edition of the newspaper. "It's right here, Mr. Mason."
Perry looked at the headline. "Liquor Store Owner Found Shot to Death in Store Overnight." He continued reading and saw that the Police were looking for a man seen running from the store. Mr. Lawton matched the suspect description.
"It says here in the paper that a man matching your description was seen running from the store at the time of the murder. Could that have been you?"
Mr. Lawton looked down and quietly replied. "I was only there to talk to him about going to court. He yelled at me to get out of his store and pointed a rifle at me. I pushed it away from my face with my hand and ran out. I don't know nothing about no shooting or no murder!"
"I see... Della?..."
"I'll call to see if there's a warrant out for Mr. Lawton." Della dialed the phone with her pencil.
Perry grinned. That's my secretary he thought fondly. "Did anyone know that you were coming here to see me, Mr. Lawton?"
"No... I didn't tell nobody nothing. I ran out of that pool hall and didn't see nobody following me. They looked at me like they could get a reward for turning me in or something. I just came here because I knew you'd help me."
"Perry, there's not a warrant out for Mr. Lawton."
She just called me 'Perry'. Things are looking up. He got back to the business at hand. "Okay. Fine. Mr. Lawton, let's find you a place to stay for the night. I don't want you going home where the Police will try to question you. We need to buy some time."
The office phone rang. "Don't answer that, Della. We're after normal business hours right now."
"Will your answering service take the call?"
Perry looked back to Della. "Let's add to the to-do list for tomorrow. Let's find an answering service."
"Yes, Counselor!"
They all stopped talking when they heard pounding at the front door.
"Della..."
"I know, call the valet and have your car ready right away."
How does she do that, Perry wondered? "We can go out this back door. I wonder when Paul Drake will be back in town? At a time like this I could really use his Detective Agency!"
"Perry, why don't you go ahead and take care of Mr. Lawton? I'll wait here and find out Paul's status."
"Okay. And if I need to call the office I'll ring once and hang up, then call back right away. Then you'll know it's me."
"I'll add setting up a private phone line to your to-do list for tomorrow."
She's amazing! Perry grabbed his hat from the Voltaire bust. "This way, Mr. Lawton."
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Perry drove Jerry Lawton to the Sea View Motel and registered him under his real name. Lawton was instructed to stay in the room and not answer the phone or the door unless it was Perry at the door. Lawton understood how important it was to not let anyone, including the Police, know where he was overnight.
When Perry left the motel he drove by the liquor store where the murder occurred. It was still daylight, but he noted the lighting conditions and the layout of the store. He saw that the store was closed, the door sealed shut with a "No Trespassing per Order of LAPD" notice. After a quick glance through the store window, he returned to his car. A Police car drove up next to him.
"The place is closed, Mister! Can't you read the sign?"
Perry lowered his hat over his eyes a bit and held a hand up to cover part of his face. "I'm sorry Officer. I didn't see the sign until I got up to the door. I'll try another place." He drove away hoping that the Police Officer did not recognize him.
Back in the office Della found out that Paul's train from Chicago was due into Los Angeles just after noon the next day. She typed up the notes of the meeting with Mr. Lawton and waited in her office. She turned off the office lights by Gertie's desk and waited for Perry to return.
It wasn't long before Perry came back into the office through the front door. "Is everything okay here, Della?"
Della was seated at her desk. "It's fine. I think the Police were here but I didn't answer the door. Your notes are typed and in Mr. Lawton's file. Paul Drake should be arriving on the California Limited around noon tomorrow."
"Thank you Della. I really need Paul here right away. I wish I had the Police reports on the homicide..."
"Oh, I forgot to mention that. I'll have most of the reports here first thing in the morning."
Perry looked at her with a raised brow. "Shall I ask how you managed to arrange that?"
She smiled at him. "Let's just say that I know a few people. Just another secretary's secret."
"You're too efficient, Miss Street." Perry wanted to lift her up off her feet and twirl her around they way he saw Nick Santorini do it that afternoon. He hid his exuberance but smiled at her. "Did you happen to read his file?"
She was mesmerized staring at the dimples on his face. Oh, those dimples! "Yes I did read the file. I think you've got a good case for defending him. I don't know why they even charged him with aggravated robbery. The evidence doesn't support that charge."
Perry was pleased with her opinion and general knowledge of criminal procedure. "We do have a good case..."
"It's really not my business, but I also noticed the receipt for his retainer fee. Five dollars is very generous, Counselor." She smiled but had a puzzled look on her face.
"In a way, it really is your business... now that you're working with me. I guess you could say that occasionally I'll have some unusual retainer fees." Perry sat on the edge of Della's desk and looked around the room to gather his thoughts. "Mr. Lawton is a Navy veteran. During the war I was temporarily aboard the Navy Destroyer that he was assigned to. I was being transported to my next mission in the South Pacific. Lawton worked the engine room on the ship. There was an explosion in the engine room one morning when Lawton was on duty there. Lawton was okay after the blast, but he lost two of his buddies. I only know of him from that incident. To make a long story short, he got out of the Navy after the war but had trouble keeping a job. I came across him where he worked washing dishes at a lunch spot here downtown. He works hard, but he really likes his booze..." His story was cut off by someone pounding at the front office door.
"Open up, Mason. I know you're in there!"
Perry went to the door and Della looked on from her desk.
"Well if it isn't Lieutenant Tragg! Come in! Is this an official visit or a social call?"
"You know damn well why I'm here, Mason! Jerry Lawton is your client so why don't you tell me where you're hiding him and we'll just get this over with?" Tragg looked over Perry's shoulder and saw Della standing by her desk. The tone of his voice mellowed. "I'm sorry. I thought you were alone. I was here earlier and knocked on your door but I didn't get an answer."
"I don't expect my employees to answer the door after business hours. Why don't you come in and meet my new secretary?" They walked into Della's office. "Miss Della Street, this is one of the LAPD's finest. Lieutenant Arthur Tragg of the Homicide Unit."
Della looked over the kind-looking middle-aged man. "I'm pleased to meet you Lieutenant Tragg."
Tragg walked over to Della, removed his hat, took her hand, and kissed it. "The pleasure is all mine, Miss Street. What's a beautiful woman like you doing working for a shyster like Mason?" He had a slight smirk on his face.
Della smiled politely. "I like the pay, Lieutenant." She winked at Perry and he smiled back.
"I hate to break this up, Lieutenant. Miss Street and I were on our way out. What is it that you want with Mr. Lawton? We're not due in court until next week. And as I recall, robbery is not your specialty. But I'm always willing to help out the Police in the pursuit of justice."
"It's no longer robbery, Mason. Seems your client returned to the scene of the robbery last night and murdered the only witness who could testify against him. So when we find him, murder will be the new charge and that is my specialty!"
Perry continued to dig for information. "If you have so much evidence that he's involved in murder, may I ask if there's a warrant for his arrest at this time?"
"There's no warrant – yet. But when he shows up here, I suggest you turn him in right away. It might keep you out of trouble with the District Attorney's Office... and the Bar Association." Before turning to leave, Tragg looked to Della. "Good night, Miss Street. I hope I see you around more often... under more pleasant circumstances." Tragg tipped his hat to Della. He nodded to Perry on the way out.
Perry followed Tragg to the front door and locked up after Tragg was gone. He returned to Della's desk and placed his hands on her shoulders. "I hope you don't mind being here so late. I'm sorry if I've involved you in something that you're not comfortable with."
Della smiled and looked up into his beautiful blue eyes. "I don't mind being here at all, Mr. Mason. As your confidential secretary, your office secrets are safe with me."
"Shall we find you a bite to eat before I drive you home? You'll need food and rest ahead of what I think will be a long day tomorrow."
"Now you're talking, Counselor! I'm starving!"
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Perry and Della made their way down to the back parking lot of the building. Perry opened the passenger door of his car for Della to be seated. He looked around the lot as he walked around the car to get in behind the wheel. "Don't look now, but Lieutenant Tragg is parked across the lot."
"Does he want to see if we'll lead him to Mr. Lawton?"
"That's what I'm guessing. I'll know for sure if he follows us out of the lot." Perry changed the subject. "Would you like to try the 'Buggy Whip Steak House' tonight? They have a nice dinner menu." He drove out of the lot and watched the headlights of Tragg's car come on and move out of the parking spot.
"I gather he doesn't trust you."
"I've never given him a reason to not trust me. Police logic I guess. Defense attorneys are always up to no good for their clients. I sure wish Paul was here."
Perry drove into the parking lot of the restaurant and watched as Tragg pulled to the curb on the street. Perry assisted Della out of the car and grinned. "I should have the waiter send out a meal to Tragg. We might be here a little while."
They were seated immediately in a curved booth. Della took her gloves off of her hands and looked around the restaurant. She folded the gloves neatly onto her purse on her lap.
Their waiter brought them menus. "May I get you something from the bar?"
Perry looked to Della. "They have the best martinis here."
Della looked to the waiter. "Martini... stirred...straight up... extra dry please."
Perry held up two fingers. "Make that two please."
"Very good, Sir." The waiter left to fill their orders.
"You must come here a lot. What do you recommend for dinner?" Della looked over the menu.
"I've been here a few times. Steak and seafood are my favorites here." Perry was wishing that Della was sitting closer to him. He glanced around the room looking for a glimpse of Tragg or any other LAPD associates.
The waiter delivered their drinks and asked if he could take their food order. Perry waived him off and asked that he return in a few minutes. He lifted his martini glass to Della. "Here's to the start of a wonderful working relationship."
Della lifted her glass to toast. After touching their glasses they sipped. They smiled at each other over the top of their glasses.
Perry glanced away when he noticed the presence of someone standing next to their booth. His smile quickly disappeared and he scrambled out of the booth to stand up.
"Laura! Ummmm... Hello..."
Laura Fulbright, his steady lady friend up until a month ago, put her arms around Perry's neck, pulled his head down and kissed his lips. "Nice to see you, Perry."
TBC
