The Case of the Politician's Wife
Chapter 04
4.1
Paul Drake rolled over as sleep began to recede. Placing his arm over his eyes, Drake willed the morning back to darkness. He simply was not ready to start another day.
Since he had returned from Europe, business had been rather boring. His top client, Perry Mason had finished a big case without him. Robert Ironside had come from San Francisco to take Drake's place as Mason's chief investigator. Drake had taken his first vacation in years. It was just his luck that one of Mason's biggest cases in history manifested, while Drake was out of commission on vacation with a woman who decided to remain in Europe with another man.
Drake was not the type to get depressed. As far as he was concerned, there was always more fish in the sea. Watching Perry and Della had made him long for a meaningful relationship. Some day he would like to settle down with a woman he loved, get married and have a son. It was still his dream that a son, he would name Paul Drake Jr., would grow up to take over his business and become a top private detective.
Maybe that Paul Drake Jr. would find his own Perry Mason to investigate for, he thought. Little did he know his dreams would one day come true. Nor did he have any idea that his Paul Drake Jr. would actually find his Perry Mason. In fact, the very same Perry Mason Paul himself now worked for.
The phone rang beside his bed. Paul rolled over toward the phone. Picking it up, he mumbled into the speaker, "Drake."
"Good morning, Paul. I have a job for you."
Paul sat up. "Perry, is that you? I thought you and Della were supposed to be vacationing at Commissioner's Randall's cabin. Please don't tell me you stumbled upon a murder up there?"
"No. There are not any humans up here to be murdered."
"In that case Perry, you really are nuts. You are up there all alone with a beautiful woman who loves you and all you can think of to do is work?"
"If you think that is nuts, wait until you hear what I want you to do."
"Why do I get the feeling I am not going to like it?" Paul said wearily.
"Because you are not going to like it," Perry answered.
Paul sighed. "Alright, tell me what out is I am not going to like."
"I want you to investigate James Whitmore."
"James Whitmore? And where does this James Whitmore live?"
Perry hesitated for a moment and said, "Washington DC."
"Not the James Whitmore as in president of the United States?"
"That is the one."
"Perry, you have been working too hard. Either you have finally snapped or your sense of humor needs work."
"Bob Ironside is worried about him. They have been friends for years. Bob called him. He could sense something wrong with Whitmore. He could not get him to open up and talk to him." Perry began explaining.
"I should have known, Chief Ironside. Perry don't you think he is being just a bit paranoid? Maybe whatever President Whitmore was not willing to talk about was because he could not. After all the man is the president of this country. What makes Ironside think he can find out anything the president does not want to share with him?"
"Bob doesn't think it had anything to do with anything classified. He thinks Whitmore is in trouble. He cannot explain why he feels the way he does. He is only sure he needs help."
"Just exactly what do you want me to do?" Paul asked.
"Go to Washington. Nose around. See what you can find out. Find out what kind of trouble Whitmore is in."
"Whose the client? Paul asked.
"Bob and me."
"You are going to spend your own money to investigate the president of the United States?"
"Look Paul, I know on the surface, this sounds crazy..."
"Insane is the word I would use."
"I thought so at first too. But when was the last time that Bob's instincts were wrong?"
Paul was about to argue the point and then changed his mind. He had never known Ironside's instincts to be wrong but this was outright crazy. "Okay, lets for the sake of argument say the chief is right. How the hell can we help him? We are talking about the most powerful man on this planet. For cripes sake Perry, he can use the FBI, the CIA or any other government agency to investigate any problem he chooses. What would he need us for?"
"Because Bob believes this is personal. Something to do with his wife. That is where I want you to start. Find out everything you can about her. Where she goes and who she sees. Bob didn't say it but I suspect he thinks she has been having an affair. If so, find out who and check out the man. Find out if there is a reason for him to have picked the first lady. Is the president being blackmailed?"
"Alright Perry. If you and Ironside want to waste your money, I might as well be the one to take it from you. When do you want me to go to Washington?"
"Today. I had Gertie book a flight at noon to Reagan International Airport. You will be staying at the hotel right across the street from the White House. Use as many men as you need. Give me reports twice a day. If you can't reach me, contact Bob. Otherwise, I will keep him updated on your progress," Perry said.
"I'll start packing. Ah Perry, you are spending some time with Della, aren't you?"
"Of course," Perry answered. "Wouldn't you if Della was your lady? Talk to you soon Paul."
The line went dead. How did that lawyer get so lucky? There was a time when Paul had wanted to make a play for Della but it was obvious that she only had eyes for Perry. Drake threw the covers back and put his bare feet to the floor. I can't believe he has me investigating the president of the United States. Paul stood up. He wasn't about to start the day without a strong cup of coffee. Perry Mason's private detective headed for the kitchen.
4.2
"Good morning chief," Eve said as she came down the ramp. Mark handed her a cup of coffee as she walked toward the main work table. The boss was sitting at the table with a cup of coffee in his hand. An empty plate with syrup had been pushed away from him. It looked to Eve like Mark had made the chief pancakes for breakfast.
"Good morning Eve," Ironside answered looking up over his paper. "When you are finished drinking my coffee, do you think you could run an errand for me?"
"Of course, chief. What did you want me to do?"
"I checked the computer system this morning but there wasn't anything in the system on Artie Hinson. Go downstairs and find the paper file on him, will you please."
Ed walked over from the desk where he had been on the phone. "Artie Hinson? Do you mean the Artie Hinson who is chief of staff to President Whitmore?"
"One and the same," Ironside answered without looking up from his paper.
"Chief, if you don't mind me asking, why do you want with Hinson's file?"
Ironside looked up at Sgt. Ed Brown, then at Officer Eve Whitfield and lastly at Mark Sanger. All three of his staff members were staring at him, waiting for an answer. How could he tell his staff he was about to become involved in an investigation of President Whitmore? And how long would it be before Dennis Randall got wind of it? "I spoke with Jim Whitmore last night…" Ironside repeated the conversation and his concerns to his staff. When he was finished, he could not help but notice the incredulous looks his staff had on their faces.
"This is not an investigation you will be able to keep quiet," Ed said. "Once the commissioner finds out about it, he will insist you drop it."
"Jim Whitmore came to Dennis's aide when he was on trial for murder…"
"Which of course you will remind him," Mark interrupted.
"In another words….a guilt trip," Eve added.
"Whatever works," Ironside grinned. "I know Jim Whitmore. Something is bothering him deeply. I spoke with Perry last night. He agreed to send Paul Drake to Washington to start an investigation…"
Ed shook his head. "I just don't understand how you expect to investigate the president."
"Chief, you have always allowed us to voice our feelings..."
"I suppose that if what you plan on doing right now," Ironside said gruffly.
Eve walked over and sat down beside her boss. "Unless you have decided you do not want our opinion."
Ironside had always encouraged his staff to speak their mind. Many solutions had been hashed out among them. Even though he was sure she could not change his mind, he would not stop her from having her say. "Of course not. What's on your mind Eve?"
"I know you probably do not want to hear this but the president has all the resources he needs to find out whatever it is you are going to investigate. Why send Paul Drake out there to run up a bill to discover what the FBI or the CIA could do for him and likely in half the time. Chief, you don't even know what you are investigating. Furthermore, there is no way we can get authorization. Do you plan on defying Commissioner Randall? He certainly will not allow you to run an investigation on the president regardless of feeling an obligation to President Whitmore. He is going to think you have lost your mind. Furthermore, what makes you think Washington is going to allow you to do this?" Eve finished, looking at her boss with concern. Ed and Mark waited for Ironside to respond.
He sat their looking from each of his staff members. These three people were completely loyal to him. He depended upon them for so much and they never let him down. He could not just order then to follow him blindly. After all, their concern for him was always genuine. He owed them an explanation. Frankly he did not have one that was logical and based in fact. How often did he tell then they had to deal in facts?
He pondered how to respond to Eve. He decided the only response was an honest approach even if it would sound crazy. Ironside looked at each of then once again and began speaking. "Every now and then I get a gut feeling that can not be explained. I realize nothing that I have told you so far has been based in cold hard facts. All I can say is I know Jim Whitmore is in trouble and it has nothing to do with the presidency. He is one of my longest and closest friends. I can only say that I have to find out what is going on and help him if I can. I will not ask any of you to help on this one but it is something I have to do," Ironside said.
"Wait a minute, chief. No one said anything about not helping you." Eve said. "We are just concerned about investigating the president without authority."
"We are with you chief. We only want you to be sure you really want to pursue this," Ed said. "If you do then we have to figure out a plan. We have to keep the commissioner from knowing."
"Keep the commissioner from knowing what?" Randall said as he opened the door and came down the ramp."
No one said anything. "Mark, get the commissioner a cup of coffee, please," Ironside called out to his aide.
"Keep me from knowing what, Bob?" Randall repeated.
Ironside ignored Randall and sipped his coffee.
"Bob, just what are you up to now?"
Silence prevailed among Ironside's staff. He knew they were waiting for him to take the lead. "I am not up to anything, Dennis."
Randall looked around the room. He could not help but notice that every one of Ironside's people was avoiding looking at him. "Is that why all of you are avoiding answering me...you are not up to anything? Are you really expecting me to believe that? Now what is going on?"
"I want Artie Hinson's file. It is not in the computer system," Ironside said.
"Artie Hinson, the chief of staff to President Whitmore?"
"That is the one," Ironside replied.
"And why do you want to look at Hinson's record? Randall asked.
Ironside relayed his reasons to Randall.
"Do it quietly, Bob. If it gets out I will have no choice but to order you to stop."
Eye brows were raised and looks were exchanged. Everyone sat forward in their chairs. "What's the catch, Dennis? Just like that, you are not going to give me trouble about this?"
"I spoke with Jim Whitmore. I do not claim to know him as well as you do but something is wrong. I could hear it in his voice. Something happened last night that he was really upset over and it had nothing to do with national security."
Ironside set his coffee cup down and looked at Commissioner Randall. "Did he reveal anything at all?"
Randall shook his head. "No but something was wrong. So I am going to authorize you to go ahead Bob, at least until the city council finds out. Try not to make waves."
Mark, Ed and Eve were stunned. None of them could believed what they had just heard.
Randall got up and headed up the ramp. "You have a free hand Bob, until someone slaps your wrist." He left Ironside's office.
"Now I have seen everything," Mark remarked.
"Just like that. I thought for sure he would object," Ed said.
Eve got up, grabbed her purse and walked toward the ramp. "Just here are you going?" Ironside barked.
Eve turned around. "To get Artie Hinson's file." She left the office not waiting for her boss to respond.
4.3
President James Whitmore lathered his face and picked up his razor. He hated shaving every day. One of the drawbacks of being president was he had to be constantly aware of his appearance. As governor he could get away with not shaving on occasion. That did not hold true of being president. He would not even get out of the residence without shaving. One of his aides would have stopped him and insisted he shave. Where was it written that a president must be clean shaven?
Whitmore heard a scream come from the bedroom. He dropped his razor and ran out into the adjoining bedroom. Faye Whitmore was standing over the cat that was lying beside her water bowl. Th cat's tongue was protruding from its mouth. The eyes were staring into space.
Faye picked up the dead cat. Whitmore could see the tears running down her face. "Jim, she was only two years old. The vet said she was healthy." She held the cat in her arms and cried.
Whitmore put his arms around his wife and held her. The president took the cat from her. "I will take care of Mandy. You go and get ready for the days events."
Faye Whitmore wiped the tears out of her eyes and left the room.
President Whitmore set the cat down beside the water bowl and walked to the phone. As soon as he picked it up a voice came on the phone. "Yes, Mr. President."
"Have Artie Hinson report to me in the residence immediately. He hung up the phone and went back to his dead pet. The water dish still contained a small amount of water. Whitmore cocked his head to the side. Faye said Mandy had just been to the vet. She had just had her checkup. The vet had announced her perfectly healthy. Why would a perfectly healthy cat drop dead?
The hair on the back of his neck stood up. Something was terribly wrong. Whitmore heard a knock on the door. Faye had let Artie into the residence as Whitmore heard his voice in the next room. The door to the bedroom opened and Artie Hinson walked in. "You wanted to see me, Mr. President?"
The president pointed at his pet cat. Hinson went over to the cat and knelt beside her. "I thought Mrs. Whitmore just had her to vet?"
"She did. That cat was perfectly healthy. There simply was no reason for her to die like that."
"All do respect sir, but the cat could have had a health problem that went undetected. I know it is hard to lose a pet but sir, I don't think we should make this more than what it is. I'll take her and bury her." He picked up the cat, stood up and walked toward the door.
Whitmore watched his chief of staff. "Wait a minute Artie." Hinson stopped and turned around. "I want an autopsy done on that cat."
"You are kidding, right?"
Whitmore shook his head. No, I am not. That cat was healthy. When a perfectly healthy cat drops dead for no apparent reason, I want to know why." He looked at the glass. "I also want to know if that glass shows any signs of poison."
Hinson looked at his president. "Sir, if you believe that the water in that glass contained poison then this should be handled by the secret service."
"Just do it, Artie and do it quietly. I do not want anyone to know I am checking. Is that clear?"
"Yes sir. I will take care of it Mr. President." Hinson picked up the glass, put the cat in a box the president had provided and left the room.
4.4
"Paul Drake just arrived from Los Angeles."
"Who the hell is Paul Drake?"
"He's a private detective from LA."
"Just why should that concern us?
"Because Drake is just about the best PI around."
"Again I ask, what does that have to do with us?"
"Maybe nothing and then again maybe a hell of a lot." He paused for emphasis.
"Well, are you going to tell me?"
"It is possible that his appearance here in D.C is a coincidence but what bothers me is who his biggest client is. He does a tremendous amount of work for Perry Mason."
His boss frowned. "THE Perry Mason, the famous criminal defense attorney?"
"That's the one."
"I still don't see where that is a problem for us."
"Allow me to spell it out for you. One of Whitmore's closest friends is Robert T Ironside."
"The equally famous detective from San Francisco, so what?"
"Mason defended the police commissioner of San Francisco against a murder charge as a favor to Ironside. The commissioner is a personal friend of Ironside's.
"Will you stop beating around the bush and get to the point."
"It was found out durning the course of the trial that Mason and Ironside are half brothers."
"Now you are beginning to interest me," he said as he sat forward in his chair. "Go on."
"If Whitmore talked with Ironside and has any suspicions, then Ironside may have asked Perry Mason to send Drake to nose around."
"Ironside is a top notch detective. Why would he have Mason send Drake rather then come himself or send in his own people?"
"Ironside works for the city of San Francisco. He can not just up and leave on a whim because a friend needs help. No, he would call his brother."
"Keep an eye on Drake. If you find he is nosing around about Whitmore, then send the man a warning.
"What if the warning does not work?"
"Then send him back to Mason in a body bag."
4.5
Paul Drake lifted his suitcase off the airport carousel. He took a quick look around and headed down the hall to rent a car. Paul watched two men out of the corner of his eye while he signed the rental car contract. They were keeping an eye on him, Paul decided. He expected to face some resistance but how could anyone have known he was in Washington DC and who was having him tailed? Paul took the keys from the clerk, picked up his suitcase and walked out to the garage. He purposely walked past his rented vehicle and turned around. When he did, both men turned down the cross aisle.
Paul went directly to his rented car and unlocked the door. He started the vehicle and backed out of the parking spot. Paul pulled onto the street. He glanced into the rearview mirror. A tan Chevrolet was directly behind him but trailing at a distance. Paul turned the next corner and then made three more turns. The vehicle matched his, turn for turn. Now there was no doubt he was being tailed. He reached in his suit coat pocket and dialed Perry Mason's office. He waited for an answer. He did not have to wait long before Della Street came on the line. "Della, I need to talk with Perry." Della told him to hold. She would transfer him to Mason.
"Paul, I wasn't expecting to hear from you this quickly." After glancing at his watch Mason said, "You must barely have had time to get off the plane."
"You are exactly right. I had company immediately after I arrived."
"A tail?"
"Yes, a tail. Two men. They are following me as we speak. Perry, who could possibly know I was coming?"
"I don't know, Paul but I don't like it.
"Perry, do me a favor. Call Chief Ironside. It would help if I had a police contact here in D.C."
"Alright, I will do it right away," Perry said. "I'll get back to you."
"Thanks," Paul responded.
"Oh and Paul…be careful and keep your eyes open."
4.6
"Chief, here is Artie Hinson's file," Eve said as she came down the ramp. She handed the file to Ironside.
Ed joined them at the table. "Chief, why are we interested in Hinson? Is there something you know about him that you have not told us?"
"Years ago," Ironside began, "I arrested Artie Hinson. He was embezzling funds from an accounting firm he was working for at the time. The firm was owned by Arthur O'Neal."
"Isn't he a friend of yours?" Mark asked as he brought two cups of coffee to the table. He put one down in front of Ironside and another in front of Eve.
"Yes," Ironside answered. "Arthur discovered a discrepancy in the books. He called me and asked me to look into it as a personal favor."
"I remember that case," Ed spoke up. "He was diverting funds to an off shore account. It was a total of twenty thousand dollar if memory serves me correctly."
"That's right," Ironside said.
"I think I read about that case. Didn't he return all the money?" Eve asked.
"He did, but he served two years in prison," Ironside said.
"Why are we looking at him?" Mark asked.
"Because I don't trust him," Ironside said. The phone rang.
"Chief Ironside's office," Eve answered. "One moment please." She turned to her boss and said, "Chief, Perry Mason wants to speak with you."
Ironside punched the lighted button, "Perry, did Paul arrive in Washington?"
"He did indeed," Mason answered. "Bob, he had an immediate tail upon arriving."
"How could anyone possibly know he was coming?" Ironside wondered.
"Paul and I are wondering the same thing. When you spoke with President Whitmore, was anyone with him?"
Ironside rubbed his chin. "Yes, Artie Hinson, his chief of staff was with him."
"Maybe we better check him out."
"Already in the works. Anything else, Perry?"
"Yes, Paul wants a contact at the DC police department."
"Tell him to call Captain Dell Witherspoon. He's a friend of mine and a damn good cop. He won't bow to political pressure. Paul can call on him for help."
"Good, I'll tell him. Let me know what you find out on Hinson."
The line went dead. Ironside went back to reading the arrest report on Hinson.
4.7
Paul continue driving, every once in while he glanced in his rearview mirror. He tail was still with him. He continued driving to the motel where he had a reservation. The window exploded in the back of his rented car as he heard shots fired into the vehicle.
The car veered to the right, went over the curb and hit a telephone poll.
