Chapter Seven

"Perry, the police want to question me, they want me to go down to headquarters for questioning, Perry they found my fingerprints." Laura sounded scared, really scared. He was still angry with her, but he knew one thing, she hadn't murdered Samuels, she wasn't capable of that. Even more than that, from Paul's report, the night that Samuels was killed, Laura had herself a very strong alibi.

"We'll meet you down there, thirty minutes, it will be okay," he assured her. He was fairly certain that they had nothing more than the fingerprints on her, if she had have removed anything from the room she was sure to have stashed it somewhere exceedingly safe. He felt the blood drain from his face.

"Della, " he barked as he hung up the phone, Della was smart enough to know what had been going on, he should stop insulting her intelligence by only keeping her half informed. He did not need her permission to make bad personal decisions, she had never been anything but supportive there was no reason that would change now. He needed her, he needed her by his side, not on the other side of a closed office door.

"Yes Chief," she said coming to stand in the doorway. He looked up, she was hovering in the doorway.

"Will you come here?" he asked her. He gestured for her to sit down. She did, sitting opposite him, notepad at the ready.

"You won't need your notepad," he told her. Obediently she placed it on his desk and looked up at him. He looked tired, she thought, tired and worried, she couldn't remember the last time she had seen him smile, let alone the last time he had laughed. He looked like he had lost weight. She waited patiently for him to speak.

"Laura Paisley has been called downtown for questioning. I don't know who killed Samuels but I know it wasn't her." He dropped his eyes first, annoyed at himself, he twisted his pinky ring. She sensed he wanted to tell more, she knew he was in his own way reaching out to her after the last months of keeping her at arms length. But he was her boss and he had no reason to explain his behaviour to her, she was just his secretary after all. As the silence stretched out she broke it with soft warm tones, "Chief, do you want me to come to head quarters with you?"

He reached out his hand across the desk to her, "Would you?"

Her eyes widened in surprise at his doubt, "Of course, you know that, anything you need." His eyes bored into her, as if he was trying to find some truth.

Her heart ached for him he was in a place she understood well enough. Feeling so responsible for someone. Loving someone who returned that love in strange and questionable ways. She squeezed his hand briefly then stood up, "Lets go Chief." Her idea of a Friday night was not sitting at headquarters waiting on Laura Paisley. She knew how hard it must have been for him to ask her, knew that he couldn't be completely unaware of how far away he had pushed her over the past few months, but then again he dwelled in dark places at times. He helped her on with her coat, she looked back over her shoulder and gave him an encouraging smile, his face was grim but his eyes smiled at her, and he gave her shoulders a quick squeeze before guiding her out.

After Perry had spoken to the Police they did not question Laura for more than fifteen minutes and most of that was routine inquiry stuff. They politely thanked her for her help. Foster excessively gracious. Perry was sure that there had been other phone calls made, made by persons with much greater influence than him. Foster was treating Laura almost as if he was afraid of her, not a reaction Perry had managed to elicit from any of the police on their home territory as yet, wary yes, afraid no.

Della waited in the foyer, a couple of police that she knew stopped to chat, but when they found out she was waiting for Laura Paisley they moved on. A curious reaction she thought given some of the criminals she had sat there waiting for. She waited by the counter. She heard the conversation before she saw the two men speaking, one was Sergeant Holcomb. The man Perry had observed due to his inability to see past the obvious had been lucky to climb to that rank, "Well get your kit, we have to go back out, the coroner wants us to look for something."

"What?"

"Some chemical, Perstaburaline or something, I got it written down."

"And why can't it wait until morning, I thought the Paisley woman was already pulled in."

"Yes but she's lawyered up, Mason of all people."

"Well who else would do it, he is her boyfriend,"

"No way, what's he going out with a witch like her, when he's got the most..." a solid elbow in his ribs brought the young constable to a coughing silence.

"Miss Street, I didn't see you there,"Sgt Holcomb covered the coughing fit of his younger colleague rather smoothly.

"Hello Sergeant, Constable," she greeted them both, her smile did not reveal whether she had overheard them or not, "They aren't sending you back out, surely your shift has finished," she said with a smile.

"Yea we've got to go and check for some..." again the younger man was cut of by the sergeant elbowing him.

"You know we love our overtime same as you Miss Street, comes with the job," Holcomb said with a friendly grin, the hostility he felt towards Mason did not extend to his pretty secretary.

"Certainly does," she agreed.

"Good evening Miss."

"Good evening gentlemen." she replied. The two policeman walked off

"Why did you do that?"The younger man asked.

"You don't want to be talking about details of the case in front of Miss Street, Foster wouldn't like it."

"She's a doll."

"Ha, don't be distracted by that pretty face, she's observant and she is smart, that's what she is, and everything you've just said is going to be repeated back to her boss. She can make a policeman talk better finger of whiskey."

"I don't get why he would waste time with that lawyer when he has got that at his fingertips."

"I don't think she's that type."

"Whaddya mean?"

"Rumour has it she gave Eldridge's son a tap on the nose when he tried to get fresh. You know how much money those boys are made of? I'm just saying she's a professional. Could have taken him to the cleaners, just goes and gets herself a job with a workaholic. Foster doesn't even think that Mason realises Miss Street is female, and you know Burger had asked her to work for him twice, and he never asks for the pretty ones, he knows how good she is. "

The young man laughed, "You may be right, she may be smart but she's still a doll."

TCOT...

Perry and Della drove Laura out to her parents house. Laura was scared so badly she didn't even care that Perry brought his secretary with him. He walked her into the house, spoke briefly to Mr Paisley gave Laura a pat on the cheek and told her he would call her the next day. Arthur Paisley walked him to the door, his eyes noted the presence of his secretary in the car. "Why did the police pull Laura in, a bit excessive isn't it?"

"Foster has never had any love for me, he might just be trying to stir me up,"Perry said. He wasn't that convincing.

"At Laura's expense?" Mr Paisley asked.

"Of course the presence of her fingerprints at the crime scene didn't help," Perry observed soberly.

"I'll speak to you tomorrow Perry."

"Ok," they shook hands. Perry hesitated, then he turned and left. Arthur Paisley watched him go, his wife would be tending Laura, she would need feminine sympathy. Time enough tomorrow for damage control, he went and poured himself a stiff drink. He had already done what was necessary.

"Are you okay chief?" Della asked him as they headed back to town, she had glimpsed the he dark circles under his eyes and worried look on his face, apparent even in the dim light of the car. He glanced at her, the hint of a smile on his lips.

"I think I'm coming good, " he told her in warm tones she had not heard for some time. She felt warm all over and gave him a small shy smile in return.

TCOT...

There was a gentle tap on the door, Perry didn't turn from where the stood staring out through the glass doors. He didn't have to, 7.30am on a Saturday morning only two people he knew were crazy enough to appear without phoning.

"Have you had breakfast?" soft tones that caressed him, tones that knew he hadn't eaten, probably knew he hadn't slept, the waft of coffee reached his nose and forced him to turn. She was smiling at him, as he had known she would be, tinged with concern, that smile that was patient but just a tad disproving at the lack of care he showed himself. He watched her as she put the coffee and the bag of food down on the table. He watched her as she bent over and pulled out the coffee cups and plates, his eyes followed her as she unwrapped the egg and bacon sandwiches and poured the coffees, she brought it over to him. Up close it was obvious he had not slept, his eyes had that haunted look, and he couldn't focus but at the same time seemed to be staring off into space. There fingers touched and she wanted to place her hands over his to warm them. She let him wrap his hands around the cup.

"Where do you want me to start Chief?" she probed gently, he moved his eyes from the swirling black liquid to hers.

"I want us to start at the beginning," he said, his tone dark, he was angry with himself.

"Okay..." she encouraged him. He didn't speak up, "Who is our client Counselor?" her hand reached out for his forearm."You know Della, I have a feeling that if we don't find the killer then it very well might be me." He said, fingers pulling at his lips and one hand thrust deep in his pocket, his shoulders held defensively.

"We better get cracking then you couldn't have Paul and I unemployed and thrown out on the street now could we."

He looked into her eyes, his eyes fierce and hooded. Yet her teasing brought a twinkle back into them.

"I can think of only one thing worse than you not working for me," he said.

She put her hand on her hip and flickered her eyelids, in a slight roll." And what would that be Chief?" she asked.

"You working for Hamilton Burger."

"Well I'm sure we can make certain that doesn't happen," she said her voices assuming those crisp businesslike tones that made him shiver. Not that he actually noticed his reaction. His mind was busy on what had happened, on the details. She had told him about the search by the police for the anti rigour drug, Paul was checking it out, but the value was that he knew whoever killed Samuels, it had not been spur of the moment, it had been planned, but the frenzy of the attack, it didn't make sense.

They sat at the conference table and sketched out what they both knew, about the fake stockholder, the designs that McIntyre said were useless, the engineers and scientists he was trying to lure over, the information that Laura had provided, the tenuous connections between McIntyre, Grahams and Paisley. It was a mess. So many fingers pointing in so many directions, Della sighed, Perry glanced at her from where he had resumed his position staring out the window. He opened his mouth to start speaking but was interrupted by a dissatisfied looking Foster

It was evident by the immediate attack of his questioning that he was highly suspicious of the lawyers role in the whole affair. Trying to find out why Perry had dropped him as a client. Perry answered his questions calmly, until the Foster opened the door to look out, glancing back at Della he turned back to Perry, "Convenient alibi," he commented in annoyance. He was certain that Perry Mason was holding out on him. Perry suspected Foster did not like being instructed to keep away from Laura as a person of interest. From Fosters attitude he was certain that this is what happened. He also knew if it was his own investigation he would want answers from Laura, more convincing than what she had given.

"Anything else ?" Perry growled.

"Nothing else, thank you for your time Mr Mason." Foster's eyes ran over Della before he left. Perry and Della stared at each other for a moment, in silence, after Foster left, she didn't have to tell him how much she disliked Foster.

"I'll make some coffee then type these up," she said, knowing that he needed a break.

Perry paced his office. He wanted to know what the connection was, Paul still had not found out the details, the details that explained how they were all connected, that explained why Ian Samuels had been murdered. He rubbed his brow, the details that identified who had actually murdered Samuels. He knew that Foster was gunning for him. Laura had refused to tell him anything even now, wouldn't let him go around there had claimed migraine and inferred other female issues kept her from seeing him.

TCOT...

The police investigation went around and around in circles. They reached another week without achieving any real results. What made it worse was that they didn't have a client, there was no reason to keep investigating, but Perry could not let it go. Laura continued to deflect his questions, there relationship had cooled significantly.

"Is there anything you need me to do?" Della asked, it was after 7 the rest of the office had left two hours ago.

"Paul report in yet?"

"His flight gets in in the morning."

"What time?I'll pick him up," he said.

"Eleven thirty."

"Okay, no you go on home. Maybe a couple of days off will clear our minds."

"Perry if they don't find the murderer, there may never be any answers," she said softly. It was eating away at him, this case that wasn't a case, the murder with no client, the liars who were all liars.

"It'll be okay," he said, he meant he'd be okay, "see you on Monday."

"Bye." he had returned to staring out the darkened windows, she watched him for a long moment before leaving him to his brooding. He knew when she'd gone, could feel her absence. He had never minded being alone, had never really given it a thought, but tonight as he stared he wished she had have stayed with him.

TCOT...

"Hello?" Della answered the phone. It was Saturday night and she was spending it catching up on her letter writing, having turned down two dates and a night out at the movies with the girls. Strange that this case that did not eat into the hours like a normal case was more exhausting than she was used to experiencing she wanted some time to herself without unspoken tensions and worrying what she shouldn't be saying, even with Perry's declaration to start from the beginning there were still areas where she did not feel free to voice an opinion.

"Della?" a familiar voice seeped out of the phone making her stomach clench.

Immediately she pulled the pad and pencil by the phone closer to her.

"What's wrong?" she asked concern wiping out the warmth that spread through her at the sound of his voice.

"Nothings wrong," Perry responded after a moments hesitation, did he only ever ring her when something was wrong, no, he rang her when he was bored, or wanted to think out loud, and now he was ringing her to get her to run interference, he thought he owed her enough that he should be honest.

"My uncle and his wife, Ellen, are attending a family picnic tomorrow on Ellen's side," he spilled out, "If you aren't doing anything I thought you might come with me and Paul for a dreadful day speaking to nosy people that I am not even related to."

She laughed, "You make it sound extremely uninviting Counselor," she pointed out. "Are you setting me up to run interference?"

He smiled, she could pick him like a low lying apple.

"Will you come with me?" he pleaded, "I am a desperate man,"

"I'd have to forgo my housecleaning, " she mused. It had been months since they had all gone out together on a weekend. Weeks since they had gone out for dinner anywhere other than Clay's. It might be nice to hang out without dancing around the case file that was Ian Samuels and was not closed...

"I'll send my cleaner over on Monday," he was wheedling now.

She laughed at his persistence, "It can't be that bad?"

"I'm trying to prevent it being so," he continued pleading his case.

"What time?" Della conceded unable to resist him.

"I'll pick you up at 11?"

"Ok, see you tomorrow," she replied.

"Tomorrow, bye." He held the phone until he heard the click at her end.

TCOT...

"You must have an opinion on this Della?" Dr Robert Mason asked her, having gotten a rise out of Perry only to watch Della calm him with a brief touch of her finger on his forearm. Robert Mason turned his full attention to her. There was some hundred odd people gathered around a number of bbq's with picnic baskets galore and a table set up with free flowing drinks. Ellen had packed sufficient for the five of them and was currently escorting Paul around introducing him to every single female that she was related to, much to the amusement of both Perry and Della.

"Do you think that attorneys have a moral obligation to refuse a guilty person?" she asked Robert Mason, Perry's Uncle, turning the question back on him.

"Of course," he declared in a booming voice that reminded her fairly strongly of Perry's own, strong enough to make her smile. When he was in court, he had that same arrogance, except she had never thought of it as arrogance in Perry. In Perry in was self assurance, confidence, and determination, most of all determination. She considered that maybe other people saw him much like she saw his uncle, it gave her pause.

"But as a doctor you don't have that moral obligation to refuse an evil person help, a person that may have or may go on to kill?" she asked him.

Perry stepped back letting her voice calm him completely feeling his breathing return to normal and let himself enjoy her questioning, enjoy the way his uncle had underestimated her. His annoyance with himself at rising to his uncle's bait fading. This was going to be fun.

"Yes," Robert's tone indicating he saw no connection between the issues.

"So you believe you should do everything you can do to save a life, everything you possibly can?" Della quizzed.

"It is my duty as a doctor," He said without hesitation.

"Because you're a doctor, not because you are a man?"

"Doctors take the oath very seriously, surely you know this?"

"Yes, I had heard..." she mused softly, she cocked her head and her hazel eyes considered him at length, "I just don't understand how you can criticise the same aspirations in someone else, to stop someone dieing no matter what, not even taking into account that that someone in the majority of Perry's cases has been proven to be innocent."

"On technicalities if I hear correctly," he pointed out, she smiled at him, and Perry could see his Uncle almost purr, under the ministrations of Della's smile,

"Yes that is true," she turned to Perry, "Would you mind getting me a drink?" she asked him. He minded very much leaving her side, he smiled, he found it difficult to refuse her a direct request when she looked straight into his eyes. "Certainly," he agreed, giving her a slight bow, he left them.

"Of course," Della turned her attention back to Robert Mason and continued as if she hadn't paused, "all those technicalities were later proven by straight out confessions by the guilty party or by the finding further evidence, so even if you disagree there are at least a twenty people alive, innocent people alive, because Perry demanded justice for them and was not afraid to use court processes and technicalities or afraid to believe his clients when nobody else did."

He lit himself a cigarette and watched her, "You think better a hundred guilty men go free than one innocent man be sent to death?"

"Don't you?" she asked him.

"I never thought about it." He shrugged and his eyes ran up and down her, he was not even aware that he had done that. "You are very passionate about justice aren't you." It was a comment not a question.

"Aren't you, don't you think it is important to have people care enough to walk the line even when everyone else thinks you're guilty?"

"I don't have to Miss Street, if I am ever in trouble I know exactly where I will come. But I think you might be a good influence on him at least."

"You just enjoy stirring him up don't you?" she said, he grinned at her perceptiveness, and nodded, "Always have, my dear, always have. I seem to have a special gift for it too," he laughed, "He is so serious. Life is not all about work you know, I'm afraid he is not going to realise that until it is too late."

"His work is important," she protested.

"So's mine, I reckon I do my patients more justice by enjoying life outside of work, what point fixing them up just to send them back to the office or the factory?"

"You know he is no different from you in that sense, he believes people should get a second chance."

"Oh he is very different from me," Robert disputed her.

"I don't think so."

"'If you were in my life, you would be my wife not my secretary," he said with a cheeky grin.

"I wouldn't make a very good wife," Della retorted, "picket fences make me want to run."

"So … you are a volunteer on these crazy missions he always goes on, tracking down liars to free liars, breaking and entering, subterfuge."

"It beats attending PTA meetings."

"Are you sure?"

"Very."

"I retract my previous statement about your good influence. I think you could possibly be just as bad as him,"

"I hope so."

"You hope what?' Perry asked handing her a drink, smiling at her cheeky grin.

"Your Miss Street was telling me she found the life of the crazy missions a suitable alternative to the picket fence." Perry grinned and toasted Della, how could hearing his uncle call her 'his Miss Street' make him feel so comfortable, he turned back to his uncle,

"That uncle, is why we make the perfect team." he said with a wink at Della.

"I can see that, shall we go and save Paul, I think he is getting ambushed by Ellen's aunties." Robert Mason drew their attention away from each other and to the suffering's of their friend,


"I do it too you know." Ellen said approaching Della with drinks. Della smiled at her, she was a very warm lady and Della felt comfortable with her.

"Do what?" she asked.

"Compare them," replied Ellen, making Della laugh.

"Guilty," she admitted, because that was exactly what she had been doing.

"Sometimes I can't believe they are so alike, yet in other ways," Ellen said.

"Other ways?" Della prodded.

"Well," Ellen circled the top of her glass with her finger, Robert had met Della once and he was enamored, he had raved about her to Ellen. Having spent even this amount of time with the young woman she could understand what he was on about "Robert doesn't take anything seriously," Ellen explained, "not money, not law, not even medicine at times."

Della got the impression that was not what she was originally going to say, even if it was true. She sipped her drink, Ellen glanced at her, "Have you met any of the others?"

"The others?" she asked not sure who Ellen meant.

"Perry's brothers, the other uncles."

"I met Phillip, briefly, that was nearly two years ago," Della replied, "He doesn't talk about them much," she bit her lip, she knew better than to make a personal comment about Perry, in any circumstance.

"Its alright Della, I won't run off to the newspapers," Ellen said, immediately understanding Della's chagrin. Della blushed slightly and shook her head to try and stop herself, "Its just so much of what he does gets used against him. Even his war record, its not fair, he still keeps an eye on his boys you know."

"I imagine he does. So he talks about his troops but not his family," Ellen said softly, her eyes watching the young secretary who blushed more hotly now.

"I can imagine he dislikes the intrusion from the press into his private life," Ellen waved her hand, " So you don't know why my Robert is the black sheep or how we all fit together with the Paisleys, the Masons and the Gilberts, its all a bit sordid," Ellen shook her head. "No, those stories can wait until you know me better and we are good enough friends that you don't tar me with the brush some of those others should be tarred with." She held out her hand, "I talk too much, it gets me into trouble," she admitted, "Come on, lets go and join the others."

Della took her arm, she was beginning to think they were already friends, "You know one of the traits Perry Mason requires in his staff?"

"No. What?"

"Curiosity, so it is positively mischievous of you to tell me all of that with no details."

"Don't worry Della, you stick around, all those secrets are bound to be flushed out sooner or later."


His uncle leaned against the railing, they were watching the girls talking together, Paul was moving over to intervene in their circle, taking a break from the pursuit of Ellen's single relatives. He watched his nephew, watching Della, he in fact rarely took his attention from her, his eyes yes, but Robert guessed that Perry was more than completely able to describe every detail about her, he also guessed that Perry hadn't a clue. His mischievous side wanted to tease his nephew about the ridiculousness of that. He shook his head.

"How's Laura?" Robert asked instead.

"Laura?" Perry glanced at him, "She's coping."

"She couldn't join us?" his uncle probed.

"She's at a luncheon with the family" Perry said, but realised he hadn't even thought to invite her. His uncle knew he was going to get no where with subtlety.

"You know if you marry Laura she won't allow you to have Della as your secretary," Robert had decided on the direct approach.

"What are you talking about?"

"If you marry Laura..."

"Why would you say that?"

"Well every time she rings her bell you go running, isn't that what you are doing now? Cleaning up a mess that you don't even know who created."

"No."

"Really?" he stared at his nephew, "As long as you know what you will lose if you choose Laura."

"I don't understand what this has to do with Della."

"Trust me, I know this, I know women, and those two you can't have them both."

"Della is my secretary, what has she got to do with Laura?"

"Only you can figure that, I don't think either will tell you, I don't think Della knows and I think Laura's only demand will be that you send your loyal efficient secretary on her way."

"She wouldn't do that she knows how important Della is to me, what a difference she has made to my business."

"That my boy, is exactly why she can't allow you to spend sixteen hour days –six or is it seven days a week? With your secretary."

"Only when we are on a case?"

"Are you on a case now?" his uncle asked pointedly,

"No."

"Della attacked me fairly soundly when I criticised you, all in a very calm, logical manner."

"She believes in what we do."

"I can see that."

"She believes in me," Perry added, unsure why he felt the need to add this to his uncle.

"What about Laura, boy?" Robert asked softly, gently prodding his nephew to think about what he was doing. Asking the question no one else would. He had heard the rumours well enough to guess the rest. Perry sighed and turned to look out at the crowd, not meeting his uncle's eye.

"No Laura, Laura wants me to be part of her package, an image she has of how we should be. But whatever we had I don't think its there anymore," Perry looked at his uncle, he hadn't actually admitted that to himself to that moment.

"So this is the last time you fix one of her messes?" Robert pursued.

"I don't even know if it is really her mess." Perry said, Robert chose not to respond to that.

"There is a lot of history there are you sure you can let go of the package?" he asked instead, "I'm sure Laura has a big house picked out for you with secure private fences..."

"I've never liked fences," Perry commented, unknowingly echoing the words of his secretary. He looked at his uncle, "Aren't you going to tell me what to do?"

"I already did, you can't have them both." His uncle patted him on the shoulder. "Have you talked to Laura?"

Perry shook his head, "This murder, this Samuels murder, it I feel like I am looking at a forest and not recognizing that it is made up of trees," he waved his hand then changed the subject,"What about you?"Perry asked him. His tone indicating he was through discussing Laura.

"Ellen wants to move back to LA permanently. She loves it here."

"Back? You've never lived here."

"Back for her, new for me."

"You must really love her. You have been a fairly inflexible in the past in terms of moving."

"We really love each other," Robert confirmed. "I would give up everything for her."

"She means that much to you?"

"She's been fairly patient with me. That surprises you doesn't it? That I could do that for a woman," Robert asked Perry. Perry shrugged, looking out into the crowd then turning back to his uncle.

"No it doesn't I can well imagine you giving up everything for the woman you love."

His uncle grinned at him, "Its not as bad as it sounds, you know. Shall we join the ladies?"

TCOT...

Paul continued to drop in bits of information to Perry, all it really told him was that Paisley, McIntyre and Grahams were experts at covering their business trails. The lack of any evidence was frustrating Perry immensely, his only joyful thought was that it must be irritating Foster more.

"Perry?" Della said coming into his office, his eyes swept over her, she was in a dark grey skirt, a high neck sweater and jacket, she had a silver necklace on, it would look better with pearls, he thought to himself.

"Yes?" he responded slowly.

"Miss Reynolds is on the phone, Perry she sounds scared."

"McIntyre's secretary?" he asked, Della nodded, he shook his head, "We have closed that case, Della, I have nothing to say to any of them."

She stepped into the office placing her hands on her hips, "But Perry, Miss Reynolds would not be ringing here unless it was related to that business. Not from your description of her. I think you should speak to her. "

"You do do you?"

"Yes," she confirmed, "Besides, we haven't closed the case, you still have Paul following up leads that are directly related to Mr McIntyre,"

He paused, "I wish the case was closed," he amended and then waved his fingers "very well, let me speak to her."

Della put the call through. Five minutes later Mason walked into her office, his hat and coat, "Well come on Miss Street, you thought I should speak to her, now you can come with me and check out this information that she has been sent." He held the door open for her, she grabbed her coat, hat and notepad. A smile on her face that he could not miss, he had been running solo to often in recent times, it was not how he operated.

"Well?" he asked her, his eyes concentrating on the traffic.

"She's very pretty, " she observed, she was leaning back against the seat so when he glanced at her he could not see the direction of her gaze.

"And?"

"She is very very scared."

"Do you think she was telling the truth?"

"I don't think what she told us was lies but ..."she faded off and he had to agree, she was not telling them enough to give them a picture of what the truth actually was.

"Do you think a woman can love two men at the same time?" he asked, pulling out in front of a car and speeding off as if he owned the road. He didn't feel her hold her breathe, he didn't feel her tense and then breathe out slowly, he was too busy winding his way in and out of traffic.

"You tell me," she replied looking out the window, "you went to war, peoples behaviors may be heightened or exaggerated during those times but they are not invented behaviors or new responses. People fell in love in different time and places, some came back and resumed, some couldn't resume, and some ..."

He let a couple of cars pass him, she couldn't know, nobody knew, not even his family knew not the full truth. Laura had been his best friend's girl, and he had been killed, Laura and Perry had needed no further excuse to comfort each other. He had promised Robbie that he would look after her, he had sworn it. He shook his head, but it barely cleared away his thoughts any more that it could shake away the guilt that had ridden with him forever, that he had lived, and not died, that he had taken Laura from a man who was closer to him than his own brother.

"Chief," she said softly knowing he had let dark thoughts enter his head and was on the verge of some serious brooding. "No one loves another person in the same way, its not possible, so how can loving two people at the same time be impossible," her voice low and soft, trying to remove what may have sounded like judgment on her behalf. She wasn't sure if he was commenting about Miss Reynolds, Mrs McIntyre or about Laura.

"You're logic is impeccable as always, I'm hungry." Whatever he was thinking he had obviously pushed aside, and just as obviously he had realised something about the new development, she was lucky to get him to even eat sandwiches when he was on an important lead. He pulled up in front of their favorite Chinese restaurant, it didn't occur to Della the strangeness of them sharing so many favorite things, she took his arm when he offered it to her and in comfortable silence they went in for an early dinner. They hardly talked through dinner, but there was nothing uncomfortable about the silence, she knew that he was trying to work something out in his mind.

"Della tell me what you think of McIntyre." he asked finally after they had finished their main meals and were waiting for dessert.

She ate a bite while she considered his question, her eyes looking off in the distance as she rolled it around and digested it.

"I don't think that he runs the business."

"Why do you say that."

"He's too much of a dreamer, I mean," she toyed with her food, twirling her fork, "I think he drives it, but the wheels on the ground, that's not him."

"Who?" he demanded. She shrugged, that way she had of creasing both her shoulders forward and tilting her head. "Oh, I don't know, someone who can keep up with him though."

"Miss Reynolds?"

"Maybe." There eyes met."She's very good." Della said softly.

"Murderer."

"I don't think so. I just.."Della replied.

"Me neither."

"But you don't think it was Mr McIntyre?"Della asked.

"No, no I don't, I can't see him giving in to blackmail nor can I see him murdering someone."

"Do you think she will tell the police?" Della asked him.

"No not until she finds Charles McIntyre and confronts him, not now that I told her it wasn't illegal for her not to reveal that information."

"He's unlikely to have his own wife charged with breaking into his office is he," she said.

"No, not with his abhorrence of scandal."

"We better get in touch with Paul," she voiced his thoughts out loud.

"Yes, I have a feeling we want to find that information before anyone else does."

TBC...

A/N: Sorry about the long wait - I blame Laura for the whole sorry mess - including any inconsistencies you may find in story, plot, spelling etc... promise to post the rest of it over the next couple of days.