The Case of the Set Up Cop

Chapter 02

2.1

Lenny Dortman sat outside the market of Jamien Tyler. He wondered who the big man with the gray hair was. This was the third time Lenny had seen him at Tyler's market. He wondered if Tyler had decided to hire some muscle to protect him. "Davey, do you know who that guy is? He has been here the last three times I have dropped by. Luciano is going to have my head if I don't start coming up with results and he has been in the way." He pointed at the man.

"Yea, that's Paul Drake. He's a private-eye. He works a lot of cases for that attorney that never loses."

"You mean Perry Mason?"

"Yea, that's the one."

The hair on the back of Lenny's neck began to rise. "You don't suppose he went to Mason, do you?"

"What good would a lawyer do him? It is not as if he can sue Luciano, now is it?"

"No, but Mason is smart. He may be setting us up."

"Setting us up for what?"

"I don't know but I don't like it. Right now all we can do is sit here and wait for Drake to leave. If he doesn't then I have to go back to Luciano and tell him I could not deliver the message."

"Do you want to go in there and take care of Drake?" Davey asked.

"No, Luciano doesn't want us to draw attention to ourselves. Why don't we just go straight to Mason… you know... find out what Tyler has told him."

"We can if you want and then we can come back here and have another talk with Tyler."

Lenny started the car and pulled away from the curb.

2.2

Lt. Arthur Tragg looked out the window of his car at the office building that contained the businesses, legitimate and illegitimate of Victor Luciano. He knew he shouldn't be here. He also knew that Paul Drake had been right. If he was on his game, there was no way Drake could have approached him without him knowing it. Tragg thought back at his encounter with Drake. He knew he had been rude to him. He had only been trying to warn him. There was a time that he and Drake could not stand each other but just like his relationship with Perry had changed, so had his with Drake. They would never be drinking buddies but at least they had a healthy respect for each other. Drake had said he was telling him as a friend. That might be stretching it a bit. Tragg didn't really think they had come that far yet but then again… regardless of their current relationship, Paul Drake had been right. Tragg knew he was emotionally involved in this one… probably too involved. Still, he wanted Jack Gibson's killer. He wanted to see him prosecuted and put behind bars. He owed Jack that much.

Perhaps he should ask Andy Anderson to take over. Yet, he knew he wouldn't do it. This involved the mob. Jack had been one of his men not Andy's. He would look bad if he could not investigate the murder of one of his own.

Against his better judgement, Arthur Tragg got out of his vehicle and headed into the building where Victor Luciano worked his criminal enterprises.

Every one of his police instincts told him this was wrong. Then why was he here? Because Luciano was ultimately responsible for Jack's murder even if it had been one of his thugs that did the actual dirty work. Anger rose in the homicide detective as he entered the building and headed down the hall towards Luciano's office. He opened the door and stepped in.

"May I help you sir?" the lady behind the desk asked him.

Tragg reached into his suit coat pocket and pulled out his badge. "Lt. Tragg, Homicide. I want to talk to Luciano."

"I am sorry, Lieutenant, Mr. Luciano does not see anyone without an appointment."

He threw his badge on the desk directly in front of the woman. "What the hell do you think that is? It's a standing appointment."

Startled, the secretary jumped backwards. The door to Luciano's office opened.

"What the hell is going on… oh it's you, Tragg."

"I am sorry, Mr. Luciano. He insist on seeing you," his secretary said.

"Make an appointment, Tragg," Luciano growled.

"We can do this now, Victor or I will be back here with a warrant for your arrest," Tragg snarled back.

"Arrest? On what charge?"

"Suspicion of the murder of Jack Gibson."

"I had nothing to do with that and you have nothing on me."

"I can still arrest you and hold you for forty-eight hours. Since this is Friday, I can hold you for seventy-two. Sunday doesn't count, you know," he said with sarcasm.

"And I'll sue you for false arrest."

"I'll take my chances. I can always hire Perry Mason to defend me," Tragg said with a grin.

"Alright, get in here," Luciano snarled back at him. Once Tragg was in his office, he slammed the door. "What the hell do you want, Tragg?"

"I want the man that killed Jack Gibson," he replied.

"Why come to me? I don't know who killed him."

"Let's cut through the bullshit, Luciano. You know and I know what you are and what you do. Jack was investigating you muscling in on the vegetable and fruit markets. Then he ends up dead. Off the record, I know you are responsible but I probably will not be able to touch you. I want the man that did it and you are going to deliver him to me."

Luciano laughed. "You have guts, Tragg, I'll hand you that. I know nothing about Gibson's murder or the fruit and vegetable business. Let's just say suppose someone… not me but someone did have him killed, why in hell would he admit it to you?"

"Because if you don't give up the man who killed Jack, I am coming after you and I won't stop until I have put you behind bars where you belong."

"Get out of my office, Tragg. This conversation is at an end or do I have to call the police?"

Tragg headed for the door. "You're going down, Victor. You can count on it. You and every filfthy two-bit hood that works for you. I am going to find Jack's killer and offer him complete immunity if he turns you in. How do you like that, Victor?"

"Get out… now while you are still in one piece."

"Threatening an officer of the law? I could take you in for that."

"It would be your word against mine. It would not hold up in court. Even Hamilton Burger would tell you that. Maybe, I would even hire Perry Mason to defend me." He displayed a big smirk on his face.

"I know Perry Mason and he never defends your kind."

"Get out, Tragg."

Lt. Arthur Tragg opened the door but looked back. "You're going down, Victor. I promise you that."

2.3

"I should not have argued with you," Perry said. "This is much better than working." The couple laid on the bed, Della in Perry's arms.

"When will you ever learn, Perry, that I know what is best for you," Della said.

"I already admitted you were right. However, young lady, man does not live by love alone. I am hungry."

Della laughed. "Alright, Counselor, I will fix us both some dinner. You put something on and join me in the kitchen but use those crutches."

"Yes, Miss Street." Perry watched as Della slid out of bed and put on her robe.

"You're peaking, Mr. Mason."

"Only with one eye," Perry grinned. "Got an eye full too!"

Della laughed and left the bedroom.

Perry slid over to the edge of the bed and lowered his right leg over the side. He grabbed his robe from the chair. With some difficulty, he put it on, and then grabbed the crutches. He did not see why he had to use both of them. He could get around with just one. Still, he put both crutches under his arms. Better to swallow his pride than try to argue with Della. She would win anyway.

Mason stood up and began hobbling on the crutches towards the bedroom door. He heard the doorbell ring. Perry stopped for a moment. Who could possibly know that they were here? The only one that knew about this place was Paul and even then, he did not know where it was.

He hobbled into the living room. The sight in front of him could not have made him feel more helpless. Two men were standing in their living room. One man had his arm around Della's neck, holding a gun to her head. The other was holding a gun on him.

"Easy, Mason. As you can see, my buddy has a gun on your secretary. Why don't you join us over here?"

Perry maneuvered toward them. "What do you what?"

"Some answers. I see the rumors are true. Your secretary is more than just a secretary. Either that or you have her really working overtime." He looked at the other man holding Della and both of them laughed.

Mason slowly moved closer to them. "Tell me what you want and then get out."

"You are not in a position to issue orders, Mason. If you don't want anything to happen to your secretary, you better be straight with the answers to our questions."

Perry moved closer to them. He knew their type. They would not consider a man on crutches as a threat. "What questions?"

"What is Paul Drake up to?"

"What? I don't know what you are talking about. Drake works for me when I have a criminal case going but I don't and he isn't right now."

The man holding Della shoved the barrel of the gun under her chin. "Wrong answer, Mason. And here I thought this woman meant something to you."

"I told you the truth. Do you want me to make something up as I go along?" Perry asked, moving closer to their assailants.

"He has been hanging out at the Tyler Vegetable and Fruit Market. We want to know why," the man holding Della said.

"I don't have the faintest idea. Drake is a private investigator. I am not the only one he works for and I told you he is not working for me right now."

"You are not cooperating, Mason. That is not good news for your Girl Friday. You better start telling us the truth or you are going to be advertising for a new secretary."

Perry glanced around the room. He kept a loaded gun in the house but it was in the stand next to the bed. He did not see anything that he could use to help Della… except the crutches he held under his arms. He had to get closer. He inched closer to the man holding Della.

"I know what you are doing, Mason. You are not as smart as everyone makes you out to be. If you move one step closer to her, I will shoot you." The man holding Della grinned as he looked at his companion.

"I am telling you the truth; I don't know what Paul Drake is investigating. If I did, I would tell you. You have not hurt anyone. Why don't you just leave before you get yourselves into some real trouble?"

"Not until you tell me what Drake is up to. Then I will decide whether you and Miss Street are going to live or not."

Perry knew he was running out of time. He looked over at Della and then glanced down at the crutches. There was a spark of recognition in her hazel eyes. She knew what Perry was going to do. He hoped she understood what she would have to do to keep both of them alive.

"Alright, you win. I'll tell you." Perry stepped towards the man not holding Della. "He is working for me."

"And is Jamien Tyler your client?" The man holding Della asked.

"Yes, how did you know?" Mason moved a little closer. He was now within striking distance of the man.

"We have our ways. What did he hire you to do?"

"My brief case is over there behind the chair, next to the door. I'll show you."

The man looked towards the door. It was the break Perry was looking for. He slammed his right crutch in the man's face. At the same time, Della doubled her fist and slugged her captor in the groin. He dropped his gun and fell to the floor. To protect Della, Perry swung his crutch at their other assailant. It gave Della just enough time to pick up the gun. The man stepped out of the way of Perry's crutch and pointed his gun at Mason. He never got off the shot.

Della acted fast to protect Perry. Cradling the handle in her left hand, she pointed it at Perry's would-be murderer and fired. Hitting him in the chest, she watched as the man fell to the floor.

In the confusion, the other man recovered and ran to the door. Perry attempted to stop him but he dropped his shoulder and slammed into the attorney. His balance off because of the knee, the big man went crashing to the floor. Della dared not shoot for fear of hitting Perry. By the time Perry was out of the way, the assailant was out the door. They could hear a car starting and the tires squeal as it raced away from the house.

Della went immediately to the downed lawyer, worried he may have re-injured his knee. "Perry! Are you alright?"

He put his hand on her cheek. "Thanks to you, I am. You saved my life."

"I think you had a lot to do with us getting out of that unharmed." She leaned into him as he kissed her.

"I have never felt so helpless in my life. I could not protect you."

"But you did. We did it together." She glanced over at the man lying on the floor. His eyes were staring straight ahead. "We have a problem, counselor."

Perry looked in the direction of Della's attention. "You mean him. It was self-defense."

"That is not exactly what I mean," she said.

Perry frowned as he understood her meaning. "How are we going to explain our presence in this house to the police?"

Della nodded. "We are still in the jurisdiction of the LAPD, aren't we?"

"Yes. I certainly do not want to call Tragg. Andy Anderson will be more discreet. I'll call him. You get dressed."

"You will need to get dressed too."

"I will, as soon as I call Andy. Della, make up the bed while you are in there."

"So much for our secret get-a-way. We should have known better. We can't get away from anyone."

Perry grabbed her arm as she started to get up. "Andy will be discreet. We need somewhere to get away. We will share many good times together here. One thing is for sure, we need to find out how those two located us… and what Paul is involved in because it seems it now involves us."

2.4

"Is that everything?" Lt. Andy Anderson asked Perry and Della.

Perry nodded. "Who is he, Andy?" Mason nodded towards the body on the floor.

"His name is David Barino. He is a small-time hood, rumored to work for Victor Luciano. He usually travels around with another of Luciano's hoods, Lenny Dortman. He was probably the other man that got away."

"I don't understand what he wanted with Perry," Della said.

Andy looked back at the attorney. "You have no idea what Paul is working on right now?"

Perry shook his head. "Not a clue. I have not used Paul since the Monroe murder trial. We have had dinner and gotten together on many occasions since.

"Has he mentioned anything that he is working on? Something in passing that you may have not paid much attention to then?"

Again, Perry shook his head. "We don't talk shop unless we are working. We try to separate work and play when we can."

"Okay, well as far as I am concerned, this was a clear cut case of self-defense. We'll get out of your way."

"Andy…" Perry began before Anderson interrupted him.

"Relax, Perry. I will keep the address out of the report and there will be no mention that you own the house. I promise, I will not supply the gossip mongers with a single thing."

Perry smiled. "Thanks, Andy. We appreciate it."

"I still don't understand why the two of you just don't go public. I hate to tell you this, but everyone figures you are anyway."

"Our relationship is our business. Let them speculate but I refuse to allow them into my private business." Perry stumbled backwards on his crutches. Andy grabbed his arm and steadied him.

"Alright, I will protect your privacy. I would not want to listen to Tragg. He has such a crush on Della." Andy smiled and left Perry and Della alone.

She put her arm around his waist. "I want you to get off that knee. As soon as I clean up this mess I will make us some dinner."

Perry bent down and kissed her softly. "I am going to see if I can reach Paul."

2.5

"You damn stupid fool!" Luciano yelled at Lenny Dortman. "What in the hell possessed you to get Mason involved?"

"I was trying to find out why Paul Drake is hanging around Tyler's place," Dortman said quietly.

"Why the hell didn't you just tell me he was? Do you have any idea what you have unleashed? Do you think Mason is just going to say… oh well, someone tried to kill me and let it go at that? He would have been on the phone to Drake before you got down the street. Now, in addition to having to deal with Drake… not to mention Tragg, you have added Mason to the mix. You stupid fool! I should kill you for what you have done."

"Victor, I am sorry. I will put it right. Just give me the chance. I can take out Mason and Tragg if you want me to. Just tell me what you want me to do. I will do it."

"We can't go around killing everyone who checks up on us, you fool! There has to be another way and I think I know what it is. We'll set up Tragg."