THE CASE OF THE HESITANT HOSTESS EXTENDED CHAPTER 2
Perry Mason slowly opened his eyes. His bedroom was still dark, indicating it was sometime in the early morning hours of another Monday. Breathing in deeply, he smiled, closed his eyes, rolled over, and reached across the bed to pull himself closer to someone whom he was sure was there. After three attempts of his arm grabbing at emptiness, Perry sat up in bed and looked around the room. His eyes focused on a light coming from under the bathroom door. The sound of a running shower and familiar humming of a female voice made him realize Della was already awake and preparing to leave for the office. He looked at the clock.
`6 AM? How is she humming at 6 AM when we didn't go to bed until after midnight?' he thought as he wiped the sleep from his eyes. He turned on the lamp that sat on the nightstand. When his eyes caught sight of his surroundings, he smiled broadly, stood up, and began to pick up the pieces of clothing and undergarments strewn about the room. Normally, Della did not stay over on work nights, but they had gone to dinner with friends the previous evening, caught a little late night dancing at a local club, and then headed to a hotel bar for drinks. Since it was such a beautiful night and they were only four blocks from Perry's apartment, he'd suggested they leave the car behind, walk the distance and enjoy the night air.
Della raised her eyebrows and asked, "If we leave the car here, how will I get home?"
"Who says you have to go home tonight? You know what dancing with you does to me." he replied.
Della crossed her arms and gave him that questioning look he loved so much, but said nothing as he stood before her and outlined why he needed and wanted her to stay. It took much finesse on his part to convince her, but the end result was worth it. Each discarded item brought back a happy memory from the night before. When he reached her dress, which was lying on the floor near the bedroom door, he brought the garment to his face and inhaled the lingering smell of her perfume. He walked back towards the bed with it pressed to his face just as Della emerged through the bathroom door.
"Perry? What are you doing?" she asked with a puzzled smile. She was wrapped in an emerald green towel and was using another of the same color to gently dry her hair.
Perry turned around with the dress still pressed to his face and smiled. "I'm remembering last night," he said with a twinkle in his eye, "and good morning to you too."
"Good Morning" she replied as she walked towards him, "And, I agree, last night is definitely worth remembering." She leaned into him and their lips met. Perry tossed her dress aside and pulled her closer to him. As his hands went to remove the towel, she pulled away from him and smiled.
"I don't think so, Mr. Mason."
"Why not?" he asked as he tried to pull her back into his embrace.
"I have to get ready for work. This is Monday, you know." Della handed the second towel to him and began enumerating with hand gestures the numerous tasks of the upcoming day.
"I have to get the office opened up. We always have a ton of mail and phone messages from the service on Monday mornings. You have 3 different in-office meetings today with clients not to mention a meeting with another client at the jail. At some point in time, Paul needs to see you and we both need to make time to look over the paperwork for that Cancer Society benefit you agreed to raise money for ... it's next month and... " Perry interrupted her.
"Okay, okay. I see what you're getting at Della. We have a busy day in store for us and ..." Perry took a step towards her. Using the towel as a seductive tool, he began to softly massage the ends of her hair. Then, he let the towel fall to the floor and wrapped his arms quickly around her. Before she could protest, he pulled her onto the bed and opened the remaining towel from around her body. " I think we should start it off on the right foot." As he kissed her neck and worked his way down her chest, Della did not protest.
"You're incorrigible, you know that?" she said playfully as she ran her fingers through his hair. Perry brought his lips up from their previous location and gently brushed Della's with a kiss.
"Yes, Miss Street. I am incorrigible, but you are helplessly in love with me are you not?"
"Hmm-Hmm" she replied.
That was all he needed. He smiled, looked deeply into her eyes for a moment and then allowed his hands and lips to freely roam her body.
"I'm helplessly in love with you too" he whispered in her ear as his lips then tongue gently encased her lobe. As she relaxed under his touch, Della sighed and ran her hands down his strong back as he pressed into her. She closed her eyes and smiled knowing she would not only need another shower after this little interlude, but, now, they would barely make it to work on time.
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As Perry and Della slipped into their own private world, the world outside his apartment building was beginning to awaken with the bustling sounds of commuters heading to work... the honking sounds of cab drivers... the smells of hot food and coffee emanating from various corner diners... and the thumping sounds of bundles of Los Angeles newspapers being dropped off to various street vendors. As the twine holding the papers was cut and busy men and women quickly bought copies as they headed down the sidewalk, the front page headline and numerous pictures was the buzz on everyone's lips.
Murder or Suicide-Former Perry Mason Client Found Dead on LA Streets
Police Seek Prominent Defense Attorney for Questioning in Case
Former Perry Mason client, Albert Sanders, whom Mason cleared of murder charges just two months ago, was found dead on the street outside his Los Angeles apartment building shortly after midnight. Several witnesses reported seeing the man jump to his death from his apartment building balcony in an apparent suicide, but others report seeing a dark Lincoln, with a male and female passenger, pull up beside the body and fire several shots into it before speeding away. The vehicle, which was later identified as belonging to famed defense attorney, Perry Mason, was found abandoned several blocks away and a handgun registered to Mason was retrieved from its front seat. The body has been taken to the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office for a final determination as to the cause of death.