Chapter Two
Della turned on the radio and brought out a magazine to read while waiting for Perry to arrive. He said that he'd be at her place by around 12:30. By 1:30 she decided to call his apartment in case he had lost track of time by reading an interesting book. His phone rang several times and assuming that he was enroute, she hung up the phone and went to check on the roast in the oven.
By 2 o'clock when he still hadn't arrived, Della phoned Perry's answering service and got the operator on the line.
"Yes he did check in, Miss Street. As a matter of fact he left your phone number to call for any emergencies. The last time I spoke with him was... hmmm... let's see here... 11:40am. I gave him three messages. All of them were phone numbers for him to call..."
"Would you please give me those phone numbers? I'm trying to track him down."
Della wrote down the phone messages and looked at the names and phone numbers. She noticed that the third message was not a number familiar to her. Even though the message was from an anonymous caller, she called the number. She let the phone ring about 10 times then hung up and redialed the number. The second try had the same result after she let it ring 20 times. When she called the other phone numbers, she learned that Perry had not returned their calls.
She thought for another moment then imagined that he might be somewhere with Paul so she called Paul's office. His phone line rolled over to his answering service.
"Hello! This is Della Street with Mr. Mason's office calling. Would you please tell me where I can find Mr. Drake right now?"
"Mr. Drake hasn't checked in since 1 o'clock, Miss Street. May I take a message and have him call you when he checks in?"
Della left a message for Paul then went to her window to check the parking lot for Perry's car. She didn't see the car and contemplated walking down to the lobby of her building to see if Perry might have stopped off at the manager's office to talk about fishing with Bob the manager. She checked her kitchen clock again and decided that she'd give him another half hour and then she'd check the lobby. She went back to the kitchen and turned the oven to a lower temperature hoping that the roast wouldn't dry out since it was nearly done roasting.
By 3:15 Della made her way down to her lobby and found Bob in his office. He hadn't seen Perry at all. She returned to her apartment and called Perry's apartment again. With no answer there, she called his answering service again. A new operator was on duty and told Della that Perry had not contacted the answering service at all. Della had a bad feeling inside.
Paul checked in with his answering service from Ventura at 4 o'clock and got Della's message.
"Hiya Beautiful! I got your message. How's the birthday party?"
"That's why I called, Paul. There is no party. Perry was supposed to be here almost four hours ago and I can't find him anywhere."
"Hmmm. That doesn't sound like him to not check in – and he was looking forward to spending his birthday with you. If you can't track him down I wonder where he is?"
Della told Paul about everything she had done so far to locate him. "I don't know what else to do, Paul..."
"I'll tell you what, Della. I'm leaving Ventura now. Why don't I stop by his apartment and see if he didn't just doze off or something? You know how he is when he gets into reading a law book. He probably unplugged his phone."
"I'm really worried, Paul. I have a bad feeling..."
"Don't worry, Della. He'll show up. I'll be back in LA in about an hour or so and I'll call you when I get to his place. In the meantime, if he shows up at your place, let my answering service know."
Paul called Della at 5:45 from Perry's apartment.
"He's not here and everything looks normal here, Della. I'm getting concerned about the anonymous call he got. Give me that phone number again and I'll try to track it down."
Della gave Paul the number and he called it in to his contact at the phone company and drove over to Della's place.
"I'm so glad you're here, Paul. I'm really worried now. I called the hospitals. I tuned in the radio to the news station. There's been no major accidents reported. Where could he be?" Della stood with her arms crossed with one hand on her chin fighting the urge to chew on a fingernail.
"Well I had a man check the anonymous phone caller's number. He's looking into it now."
"I feel so helpless. I can't think of anything else to do..." Della began pacing the floor.
They were both startled when the phone rang.
Della jumped to answer it right away.
"It's for you, Paul."
"Paul Drake here. Yes, Danny... Where? Hmmm... Okay... Right... Thanks, Danny."
Paul hung up and looked to Della. "That phone number lists to a phone booth in West Hollywood. Let me call one of my men to go sit on that phone booth."
When Paul got off the phone with the man he sent to West Hollywood he joined Della in the kitchen. She was storing the beef roast in the refrigerator.
Paul saw how worried Della looked. "I can't just sit here by a phone. This is driving me crazy, too. I've got another idea, though. I think my contact on the LAPD can maybe help us out." He got on the phone to make another call.
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Shortly after 7pm a Police patrol car checking their daily vacant homes list came across a suspicious car parked at the curb in front of the home at 302 South Highland Avenue.
A patrolman got out of the Police car and checked the registration on the visor in the car while the other patrolman in the car used their radio to call it in.
"It lists to Mr. Perry Mason in the Brent Building downtown."
"Hey... I've heard of him. He's some famous defense attorney."
"I'll bet he's checking out an important case nearby."
"On a Sunday night?"
"You don't become a famous successful attorney by taking a day off."
"I suppose we should go check this place."
The Patrolmen got to the front door and found it open. They split up to check out the inside of the dwelling.
"Holy smokes! In here!"
The Patrolmen found Perry on the floor – not moving.
"He's still alive... We better get an ambulance."
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The pain in Perry's head was unbearable as he initially drifted in and out of consciousness. The sound of a large metal hammer striking a thick iron pipe played over and over in his head. Clang! Clang! Clang! He felt paralyzed. He was floating in the clouds, but only with a solid surface beneath him. The lights went out in his world and he lost his battle fighting to overcome the pain caused by the blow to his head.
Get up. I've got to get up. Clang! Clang! Clang! It's time to go to Della's place. Della... Della Street... She's so beautiful. Clang! Clang! Clang! Just get up. It smells so musty here. My head hurts. Clang! Clang! Clang! A quick nap and I'll feel just fine. Then I'll get to Della's place. Clang! Clang! Clang! I'm so sleepy. I need to get up. Della's place...
Voices... A Courtroom? Clang! Clang! Clang! Voices... I have such a bad headache. Why can't I move my arms? I've got to get up. Those voices... Clang! Clang! Clang! It's so dusty here. A clean shirt. My sport coat. Della... If I just take a short nap. No, get up. Clang! Clang! Clang! Voices. Ambulance? So much pain in my head. I can't get up. Voices. Clang! Clang! Clang! Just get up. I'm going to Della's. In my car. Voices. A siren? Clang! Clang! Clang!
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The Patrolmen secured the vacant home and followed the ambulance into Cedars-Sinai Hospital with the still unconscious famous attorney.
"We better let the Watch Commander know what we've got here. He'll wonder why we're not going to Central Receiving at LA General with this one."
The information about Perry Mason being admitted to the hospital in critical condition made it onto the Watch Commander's log at Police Headquarters and by 9pm the information trickled down to Paul's contact at the Police Department. He immediately got on the phone to call Paul at Della's apartment.
"Mr. Mason was brought in to Cedars-Sinai from West Hollywood by Patrolmen checking vacant homes."
"Is he okay?"
"I think you better get down there, Paul. They listed his condition as critical."
Paul tried to keep Della calm as he quickly drove to the hospital. "I told my contact to ask Lt. Tragg to meet us at the hospital. I'm thinking that the only thing Perry could have been checking on today would be related to Monroe's murder. Tragg is on that case. Maybe he can give us some help."
"He's critical, Paul. Do you think they've made a mistake?" Della's voice was shaky.
Paul reached across the car seat and held Della's hand. "Perry's a strong man. I think he'll be fine. Hospitals always list new patients as critical until they get them out of the emergency room." Paul was really concerned about his best friend's condition but he just told Della anything positive that he could think of to keep her calm.
A nurse directed them towards Perry's room in the emergency department. A team of two doctors and another nurse were tending to Perry. When they finished their exam, one of the doctors walked over to Della and Paul where they stood by the door.
The doctor tucked away his stethoscope into the pocket of his lab coat. "Are you family?"
Paul spoke up. "Not exactly. He doesn't have any relatives here in town. We're the closest thing to family that he has. I'm Paul Drake, a close associate of his. And this is Mr. Mason's confidential secretary, Miss Della Street. He was supposed to be meeting with us this afternoon but he never showed up. How is he Doc?"
"Well he suffered a severe head trauma. He's unconscious but we don't know for how long. Two policemen found him in a vacant home."
Della kept staring towards Perry's hospital bed. An IV bottle was hung on a hook by the side of his bed. A nasal cannula delivered oxygen to him through his nose. "May I see him? Or just talk to him? Maybe if he hears my voice he'll..."
The doctor politely interrupted her right away. "Give us a few more minutes to finish our next exam and I'll let you see him. Right now he's not responding to verbal stimuli. His reflexes are fine so we know he's responding to touch. I need to read the x-rays we just took. Just wait here and I'll let you know when you can see him..."
Tears began to form in Della's eyes. Paul held her close and watched the medical team work on Perry. "He's strong, Della. It's encouraging that his reflexes are good. I think any minute now he'll wake up and want out of here."
Della leaned into Paul. "I just want to touch him... Hold his hand... Tell him that I love him..."
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Sleep is good. I need to get up. Clang! Clang! Clang! Voices. Wake up. I need to go to Della's. My arms are so weak. I need to get up. Clang! Clang! Clang! The pressure in my head. Voices. It smells so sterile here. Clang! Clang! Clang! I better get up. Time for Court. Voices. Who is the Judge? Clang! Clang! Clang! I have such a headache. I'll go to Della's. Just get up. Della. My girl, Della. Voices. Clang! Clang! Clang!
Della and Paul stepped out of the room to wait in the hallway while Perry was stripped of his clothes and changed into hospital attire. The nurse came out of the room with two paper bags.
"Would you like to take his clothing? His wallet and other belongings are in this bag."
Della took the bags right away. "I'll take care of this."
The nurse bought up her clipboard. "Here's an inventory sheet. Please read it over and check the list with the contents of the bag. You'll need to sign for it. There's a substantial amount of cash in his wallet."
Della found a seating area nearby and sat down to look through the bags. Paul walked over to assist.
She opened the smaller bag and brought out Perry's watch followed by his notebook and wallet. She stopped and held the watch. Tears welled up in Della's eyes. "I can't do this, Paul."
"That's okay. Let me deal with this."
Lt. Tragg walked into the Emergency Department and found them in the hallway.
"Della? Paul? How is he?" Tragg watched Paul put Perry's belongings back in the bags.
"He's still unconscious. We're waiting for the doctor to come back to give us more information after he reads the x-rays. He was hit over the head pretty hard."
Tragg sat down in a chair next to Della. "I've got our crime scene technicians going over that house with a fine-tooth comb. I've impounded his car, by the way. They'll check it for fingerprints and any possible evidence."
Paul opened up Perry's notebook and paged through it. "Della, are these the messages from his answering service?"
Della read over the numbers. "Yes. The first message is related to an upcoming court trial and the next name and number is an attorney that he met at the Bar Association convention. That last number is the anonymous one."
Tragg spoke up about the anonymous message and phone number. "I'll have a policeman relieve your man at the phone booth in West Hollywood, Paul. We're gonna check that for fingerprints and any other evidence, too. I feel as strongly about this as you do about it being related to the Monroe case."
Della quickly stood up when she saw the doctor returning to Perry's room. "May I see him now?"
"Give me one minute, first. I need to talk to the nurse with some instructions."
When the doctor came out, he waved Della over to the room. "You may see him now. But only for a few minutes."
Della looked to Paul and he walked in with her. Tragg followed them and stood inside the room by the door.
The nurse stepped aside and moved to the nurse's station with paperwork. Paul moved a chair to Perry's bedside for Della to sit down.
Della gently took a hold of Perry's hand. She fought back her tears to speak to him.
"Perry? I'm here now... You need to wake up..." She brought his limp hand up to her cheek. "You're going to be fine... I love you, Perry..."
Paul stood behind her with his hand rubbing her shoulder.
Della continued holding Perry's hand to her cheek. "Paul and Arthur are here. You need to wake up..."
I'm awake. I need to get up. Della... Oh, Della... Clang! Clang! Clang! I'm so tired. I'll get up in minute. Give me a minute, Della... I'm so weak. Clang! Clang! Clang! I want to hold you, Della. My girl, Della. I'm so tired.
The doctor came back into the room. He moved to the other side of Perry's bed and read his chart. He brought out his stethoscope and listened to Perry's chest. After a moment he took Perry's pulse from his wrist.
"Nurse? Would you please take another blood pressure reading for me?"
The nurse walked over and took his blood pressure. "It's 140 over 95." She recorded the blood pressure reading and walked back to the nurse's station with the chart.
"That's a good sign. It's coming back down towards normal." The doctor brought out his small pen light and looked in Perry's eyes. "Nurse, please chart that his pupils are not as dilated but are still not equally reactive." After checking Perry's ears again he stood back from Perry's bed. "He's showing slight signs of improvement. Keep talking to him. It might be helping."
The doctor moved over to the nurse's station and got the chart from the nurse. "Before he's admitted upstairs, I want a CSF sample and another blood draw. Keep the IV drip rate the same. I'll be back to check on him before he goes upstairs."
Della continued to hold Perry's hand to her cheek. "Did you hear that Perry? You're getting better... You can wake up now... We'll take you to my place and we can have your birthday dinner... It's one of your favorites... It's beef roast... You're going to be fine Perry... I love you so much."
Tragg tapped Paul on the shoulder and signaled for him to step outside. When they got out in the hallway he wanted to see Perry's notebook again.
Paul was reluctant at first. "May I see it first? I just need to see that he doesn't have something in there that he won't want you to see."
Tragg frowned a bit. "I'll narrow it down for you, Drake. Let me at least see a page or two before the messages he wrote down in there today."
Paul paged through the notebook. Seeing nothing about anything related to Phyllis Monroe's defense, he turned the book over to Tragg.
Tragg looked through the book. He gave it back to Paul. "I'm heading back to West Hollywood then back to the office. Give me a call if something changes, will you?"
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Before Perry was moved up to the Intensive Care Unit, another doctor performed a spinal tap for a cerebral spinal fluid sample to take to the hospital lab. Della was right back by Perry's side after the procedure. She stayed with him when he was taken to the ICU. Perry was given a sedative and pain killer through his IV.
I'll get up now. I'm awake. Della. Beautiful Della. I'm so weak. Just get in the car. I need to get up. Beef roast. Dinner with Della. I'm so tired...
After Perry was settled into the ICU it was nearly 2am. The emergency room doctor allowed Della to stay with Perry as long as she'd not interfere with any of his treatment. The night shift nurses set her up with a comfortable chair next to his bed and a blanket. Paul left the hospital with Perry's belongings and told Della that he was going to meet with Tragg at Police Headquarters.
Paul found Tragg in the file room of the Homicide Division. "I thought you'd be out of here a long time ago." Paul lit a cigarette.
"When a lead presents itself, I find it best to follow-up on it right away. I've been reading over the file on Delores Monroe's murder. She was Marshall Monroe's first wife. That case was investigated by Lieutenant Ames who retired in December. It's still an Open-Unsolved status."
"Della was talking to me and Perry about the Monroe's... I should have paid closer attention to what she was saying. She was telling us about what she had read in the gossip columns about them. We just laughed it off. That killing was last summer wasn't it?"
"Back in August. From what I've read in the file so far, it looks pretty odd to me. He reported his wife missing – she didn't return home from a shopping trip one afternoon. We left it as a standard Missing Person case at first since she'd only been missing for a few hours. He was furious with the detective assigned and protested all the way to the Captain. When he got the brush-off from the Captain who told him that we don't do much of an investigation for at least 24 hours unless there are extenuating circumstances, he took his case to the newspapers. By the next day he had organized an all out search at his own expense. Funny thing that he discovered his wife's dead body in the trunk of her car – just a block from where he organized the search party to meet."
"How was she killed?"
"Stabbed to death. All evidence pointed to Marshall Monroe as the killer, but he had an alibi. He was with the victim's sister at the time that the Coroner said was the time of death. Lt. Ames couldn't break that alibi and the DA wouldn't charge the case. So it's Open-Unsolved."
"You have a lot of work to do, Lieutenant. If there's something I can do on either of the Monroe cases, let me know. I'll do anything that I can to find out if that case is related to Perry's injuries."
Tragg shot Paul a sarcastic look. "I think that the LAPD can handle this, Drake." He then looked at Paul with a softer look on his face. "Keep me posted on Perry's status, though. Della's not taking this so well. I'll do anything to help her out."
Paul left to go and return Perry's belongings to his apartment, and take a closer look around to see if Perry left any clues behind. Finding no new information, he went home to take a shower and change clothes for what he thought was going to be a long day ahead of him.
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The night nurses in the ICU watched Della through the dim lighting as she sat close to Perry's side holding his hand and quietly talking to him.
"Is she his wife? They don't have the same last name."
"She's his personal secretary. She looks so devoted to him. It's a shame that he's hurt so bad. I'm going to offer her some coffee."
The head nurse walked over and adjusted Perry's pillow a bit. "We made some fresh coffee, Miss Street. Would you like a cup?"
Della looked up wearily at the kind nurse. "Is it too much trouble? I mean I could go out to the lounge..."
"Nonsense. It's no trouble at all. Do you take cream or sugar?"
"Just plain black is fine, thank you."
The nurse brought the cup of coffee. "His vitals are improving. I think you're helping a lot just by being with him." She adjusted Perry's blanket and checked his IV line.
Della gratefully accepted the cup of coffee. "Thank you..." She looked back to Perry. "It's his birthday today. I prepared a dinner for him and when he didn't show up..." She paused and sighed. "It's so hard to see him like this..." She sipped her coffee and glanced at her watch. "Oh my. It's not his birthday any more. I guess I've lost track of time."
The nurse adjusted the blanket around Della's shoulder. "Stay with him. I think he knows that you're here. If you need anything, just let me know." The nurse checked on Perry again and returned to her desk.
Della took Perry's limp hand again and interlaced her fingers with his. She leaned in closer to him.
"I'm wearing the green dress that you said you liked so much. You probably don't remember saying that to me. I first wore it last summer when we took that long drive along the coast... You told me that we had to go and drop off some papers for an old client to sign, but I know that you just wanted to take me out for lunch. I'm also wearing the Van Cleef & Arpels earrings and necklace that you bought for me when we spent the day in Beverly Hills on Rodeo Drive. I don't know why you're so good to me, Perry."
I feel so weak. I need to get up. That voice. A beautiful voice. My girl Della. Lunch? Roast beef for dinner. I need some sleep. So pretty... The green dress. My head hurts so bad...
"There are a lot of things that I found out about you this past year. Some day we'll talk about how you got my apartment for me... and why you're subsidizing the cost of the rent from your personal office bank account. You're an amazing man, Perry Mason. I'm so glad that I met you... You could be with any woman in the world but here you are... loving me... spoiling me... taking care of me when I was sick...
I'm so hungry. Roast beef. I can't move my arms. I need to get up. Dinner with my girl, Della. Della... I don't feel so good...
"I felt so bad when we had to cancel our trip to Carmel in February. I was so looking forward to going away with you for a long weekend." Della looked around the room to see where the nurses were. She leaned even closer to Perry and lowered her voice even quieter. "I've often wondered what it would be like to spend the whole night with you. To dance the night away and then make love with you for the rest of the night... To drift off to sleep in your arms... to wake up with you in the morning... and see your head on a pillow next to mine..."
My arms are so weak. I better get up. Della's place for dinner. My head hurts so bad... My girl Della. I love Della.
The nurse walked over to check on Perry again. Della checked her watch. It was nearly 5am. Della stood up to stretch a bit.
When the nurse was finished taking Perry's vitals she offered Della more coffee.
"Thank you, but maybe later. I think I'll go freshen up a bit and when I get back I might take another cup of coffee. I hope it's no trouble for you..."
"It's no trouble at all. Go ahead and freshen up. We'll keep an eye on him for you."
Della was returning to the room and met Paul in the hallway outside of Perry's room.
"Hi Della." Paul gave her a hug. "Is there any change?"
"They're saying that his vitals are stable – he's showing some improvement. But he's still unconscious. Have you been out all night?"
"Sort of... Lt. Tragg shared some background on the Monroe case. He thinks that Perry was working on some lead when he was assaulted so this might all be related to Marshall Monroe's murder. I offered my assistance, but he wasn't exactly in need of anything from me. He's very concerned about Perry, though, if that's any consolation."
They walked back into Perry's room together. The nurse was taking Perry's blood pressure.
When she was through taking Perry's pulse, the nurse glanced up and noticed Paul with Della. "There's no significant change in his vitals. The doctor will be by soon on the rounds before the shift change. He might be able to tell you more."
Paul took a good look at the attractive nurse and thanked her for the update. She offered him a cup of coffee.
"That's the best offer I've had all night! I'd love a cup... If it's not any trouble..." Paul looked her up and down as the nurse walked away.
"Mr. Drake, your mouth is hanging open." Della took Paul by his arm and sat him down in a chair next to hers.
"Sorry. It's my lack of sleep."
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By 6am the night shift doctor was making the rounds with the day shift relief. Della and Paul stood up from the side of Perry's bed as the medical teams gave their updates. The lights in the ICU were turned on making the room brighter. Della recognized one of the doctors right away.
"Dr. Wagner! Are you assigned to Perry?"
"Della! What are you doing here?" He walked to her side placing his clipboard under his arm to put an arm around here.
"Perry was brought in last night." Della eyes started to tear up.
Dr. Wagner took out the clipboard and paged through the sheets of paper on his board. "Well I'll be... Perry Mason. Closed head trauma..."
"Will you be his doctor today?"
"I'm sorry that I won't be, Della. I'm just doing the rounds so that our night shift can go home. I've been in Pediatrics all night. We'll be handing over the reins to the day shift soon. Later today I'll be back over at St. Christopher's for the weekly wellness exams of the children. What happened to Perry?"
"He was hit over the head... He's still out cold..." Della got too emotional to continue.
Paul took up the conversation. "We think that he was investigating a lead on a murder case. He got hit over the head by someone. Fortunately, two Police patrolmen found him in a vacant house and brought him in. Della's been with him all night."
Dr. Wagner put his arm back around Della's shoulder. "Well I'm so sorry to hear that. He's getting the best care around here. It looks like he's showing improvement. According to his chart, he's scheduled to see a Neurosurgeon first thing this morning. I wish I would have known that you were here. I can only offer moral support, however."
"It's just nice to see a familiar face. The staff has done an outstanding job so far. I just wish he was awake."
"He's had a very serious injury, Della. But like I said, he's getting the best care possible right here. As a matter of fact, he's going to see Dr. Parker. He's one of the best Neurosurgeon's in the region."
"I don't understand. Why does he need a surgeon?"
"His head injury is very serious. All head injuries are. And his level of consciousness will require special intervention which could involve surgery. Dr. Parker will likely explain his treatment plan thoroughly after he sees him."
Paul posed his question. "How soon will Dr. Parker be seeing him?"
Dr. Wagner looked at his watch. "Probably before 9am."
Della and Paul watched the day shift medical team take over the care of Perry which included changing his linens and hospital gown. They stepped out for coffee.
Della kept glancing at her watch as she and Paul sat in the hospital cafeteria. The pleasant aroma of breakfast food filled the air.
Paul offered to buy Della something for breakfast.
"Thanks, but I'm not hungry Paul. This coffee is enough. Do you think we should get back up to his room? I don't want us to miss Dr. Parker's visit."
Paul convinced Della to at least eat a pastry with her coffee and they returned to Perry's room.
Della immediately resumed her vigil at Perry's side watching the day shift go about their duties. Another patient was brought into the unit, so the nurses were busy getting the new patient settled into a bed. Della continued holding Perry's hand and by 8:30 Paul left the room to find a pay phone. He offered to contact Gertie at the office to advise her of the situation and clear Perry and Della's schedule for the day.
My head hurts so bad. I should get up. I feel so weak. That feels so soft. I'm so hungry. My head hurts so bad. Roast beef. My girl Della. Feels so soft...
Della suddenly felt Perry's hand twitch. He then gripped her hand. It was a slow, gentle movement at first then a stronger grip.
"Perry? Can you hear me? I'm here Perry. Squeeze my hand." Della turned towards the nurses back at their station. "Nurse? He squeezed my hand! I think he squeezed my hand!"
The nurses quickly came to Perry's bed and Della stepped back out of their way.
One nurse quickly began taking his vital signs and the head nurse took his hand.
"Mr. Mason? Can you hear me? Squeeze my hand if you can hear me."
The head nurse looked to the nurse taking his vitals. "I got a response. It's weak, but he's squeezing my hand. Give the doctor a call right away." She turned her attention back to Perry. "Mr. Mason. I want you to squeeze my hand."
The response was stronger and a moment later Perry groaned. He pulled at the oxygen cannula in his nose. The nurse pulled it away for him.
"I'm glad you're with us, Mr. Mason. You're in the hospital. I don't want you to move your head. I just want you to squeeze my hand."
Paul walked in the room and stood behind Della. "What's going on?"
"He squeezed my hand, Paul. I think he's coming to!"
Perry continued to groan a bit and the nurse continued to hold his hand while talking to him. A few minutes later a doctor came into the room and was briefed by the nurse.
"That's a good sign. We need to keep him still, though." The doctor listened to Perry's chest and looked at his eyes and ears. "Mr. Mason? If you can hear me, open your eyes." He waited for a response.
The nurse told him that he squeezed her hand again. She explained that he pulled his oxygen away from his face. The doctor continued his examination and checked Perry's reflexes. When he finished, he walked over to the desk to write in the chart. The nurse adjusted Perry's pillow again and put the bed sheet back over his chest. She turned back to Paul and Della.
"I think he's coming around. We just have to keep him very still. Go ahead and sit with him again."
Della sat down right away and took Perry's hand. "I'm here, Perry. You're in the hospital. You're going to be just fine." Perry gently squeezed her hand.
Just before 9 o'clock Dr. Barry Parker came in to examine Perry. He checked in with the nurses and began reading Perry's chart. Della was pleased that Dr. Parker appeared to be an experienced physician. He was in his mid-50's, well-groomed, with graying hair around his ears. He made his way over to Perry's bed and introduced himself.
"Good morning. I'm Dr. Parker. I'm a Neurosurgeon here at Cedars-Sinai. I've been asked to look into Mr. Mason's case."
Paul began their introductions. "I'm Paul Drake, an associate of Mr. Mason's and this is Miss Della Street, Mr. Mason's confidential secretary."
Dr. Parker spoke very smooth and calm. "I'm pleased to meet you both. I saw you recently, Miss Street, when you received your award a couple of weeks ago. Congratulations. That must have been an exciting night for you."
"Oh... thank you doctor..." Della looked at the doctor with a worried look on her face. "We're very worried about Perry. They mentioned surgery..."
"That's a possibility. Let me take a look at him and I'll let you know our treatment plan."
Della and Paul stood nearby as Dr. Parker did his exam. Towards the end of his exam Perry was mumbling and able to move his arms.
"Mr. Mason, I want you to open your eyes and keep them open."
Perry's eyes twitched open a bit then shut right away.
"I need you to open your eyes and look at me, Mr. Mason." When Perry didn't respond, Dr. Parker held Perry's eyes open and used his pen light to examine Perry's eyes. He removed his fingers away from Perry's eyes. "Mr. Mason, I want you to open your eyes for me." Perry held his eyes open and the doctor continued looking into his eyes with the pen light.
"Mr. Mason. I want you to follow my finger movement with your eyes. Don't move your head, just move your eyes."
The doctor moved his finger in front of Perry's face. Perry groaned, but his eyes stared straight ahead.
"Give it a try. Follow my finger movement with your eyes."
Perry mumbled something softly and Dr. Parker moved closer to hear what Perry was trying to say.
"Watch my finger movement. Can you see my finger here?"
Perry's reply was clearer.
"I... I... can't see anything..."
TBC