The Case of the Careless Skier

Chapter 10

Lieutenant Arthur Tragg looked out the window of the jumbo jet as it descended toward the runway. He still could not believe he had flown into this freezing cold weather to help Perry Mason. He almost cursed the day that the man had defended him of the murder charge. Almost, but not quite. He knew no attorney was better than Perry Mason when it came to defending someone against a murder charge. He had not sought out his help, but Mason had stepped in and offered his services. He didn't have to do that, but he had come to his aid immediately. So how could he refuse to help him?

As it turned out, the lawyer along with Paul Drake had proven his innocence in the murder of Angelo Devino. He was afraid Mason was going to hold that over his head forever.

The plane landed and the fasten your seat-belt sign turned off. Arthur Tragg stood up, reached above his head and opened the overhead compartment. After pulling down his suitcase, he waited for the crowd in front of him to deplane. It took several minutes before the aisle cleared enough for him to start moving toward the exit.

As he left the jumbo jet, he could see Hamilton Burger standing there waiting for him as he entered the terminal. Tragg walked in his direction and as he arrived Hamilton put out his hand. The lieutenant took it and shook the hand of his longtime friend and colleague.

"What the devil does Mason got us involved in this time?" he complained.

Hamilton chuckled. He could hear and read the irritation in the lieutenant's voice and face. "Relax, Arthur. You are on vacation."

Tragg raised an eyebrow and a smile broke across his face. "Some vacation, Mason has dragged me to the North Pole this time. I would much rather be sitting in a hammock in the Bahamas sipping on a nice cold alcoholic beverage."

"Look on the bright side of it, Lieutenant." Hamilton took hold of Tragg's suitcase and removed it from his hand.

"There is a bright side to wasting my vacation to come here and freeze my tail off to help Mason? I would certainly like to know what it is."

"He could have asked his brother to come. We could be eating chili the entire time we are here," Hamilton said with a big grin.

"Well, there won't be any chili while we are here. Mason is going to buy steak dinners every night. I intend to eat the most expensive meals on the menu."

Hamilton Burger shared a laugh with the Los Angeles homicide detective. "We better get going, Perry is expecting us and it takes a while to drive to the ski lodge."

"Oh, heaven forbid if he had to wait five minutes!" Tragg said sarcastically.

*

Della came out of the bathroom. Sitting at the desk in their cabin, Perry had his back to her. He was studying notes that he had made regarding the case. She came up behind him and began to rub his temples.

Mason stopped what he was doing and dropped the pen in his hand on the desk. Closing his eyes, he allowed Della to help ease the headache that was already developing. She knew exactly why he was so tense and concerned.

"What are you going to do about Paul?" she asked him. "You will not be able to keep him out of this investigation, Perry."

"I know that, Della. I have to do what is best for my client. I have been thinking about what to do about him, and I believe I have come up with a solution that will keep him from meddling in the case."

"Meddling? I don't think that Paul would appreciate the use of that term," she said.

Mason took both of Della's hands and turned his body towards her. "He is too emotionally involved in this one. I cannot take the chance that he will become a loose cannon. That is the reason I asked to have Tragg come in and help."

"But Perry, I don't think you can stop him from investigating."

"I'm not even going to try," Mason said. "I'm going to send him to New York. He can investigate exactly what Richard Barrett was into and his connection to Tracy. It will keep him out of my hair here. We will use Lieutenant Tragg to handle the investigation here."

"Somehow I thought that's what you had in mind," Della said.

Mason turned completely around and looked directly at her. "You sound like you do not approve."

"It's not that I don't approve. I am worried about what Paul will find out in New York and how it will affect him."

Mason stood up and took Della into his arms. "So am I, Della, but knowing Paul the way I do, he is going to find out anyway."

"Perry, I am just not sure that he should be alone when he finds out what has been going on in New York."

Mason rested his chin on the top of Della's head. "Whatever it is, Paul can handle it. To be honest, I am more afraid of how his reaction will affect Tracy. I need her to project an innocent demeanor in court. I don't want her upset by what Paul finds out and how he reacts. If he is in New York, chances are she will not know how he feels until he comes back here."

"Are you sure this is the way you want to handle it?" Della asked.

"If you have a better suggestion, I am more than willing to listen."

Removing her head from underneath his chin and looking into his eyes, she answered, "No, I do not have a better suggestion. I am just worried about Paul."

"I don't want to appear unfeeling about him, but my first obligation is to my client. I have always put them first above anyone else that might be involved, and I am not going to change that. My professional and moral obligation is to Tracy only. I can only hope that it doesn't damage the friendship between Paul and me."

"When are you going to tell him that you want him to go to New York?"

"Today, before I talk to Lieutenant Tragg, I will speak with Paul."

Della removed herself from his arms. She looked him directly in the eye and said, "I hope you know what you are doing, Perry."

"So do I, Della. So do I."

*

Perry Mason and Della Street entered the dining room of the ski lodge. Mason had known Paul Drake for a number of years and both he and Della considered the man to be their closest friend. In fact, to Perry, Paul was more like a brother. This was one conversation he was not looking forward to. He knew Paul was upset over his insistence that Lieutenant Tragg come to Colorado to help them with the investigation.

He had known that Paul would take offense to this decision, but as always his client came first. Tracy Hanton was already putting him behind the eight ball by not being honest with him. He suspected he knew why, but he had to find out to what extent she was involved in illegal activities in New York City. Mason could handle whatever was thrown at him, but if there was one thing he hated more than anything, it was being blindsided in court because a client had lied to him. Would clients ever realize that the worst thing they could do was lie to their attorney?

Mason selected a table, steered Della over to it and pulled out a chair. Once she was seated, he then pushed her chair in towards the table. He took a seat directly next to her rather than across from her. He hated what he had to do, but he knew he had to do it. He wanted Della close to him in case the situation turned out badly. She always knew what to do or say to ease any pain.

Paul Drake entered the dining room, spotted Perry and Della, and headed toward them. When he arrived at the table, he pulled out a chair and sat down. "Perry, if you are going to tell me to back off, don't bother. Not even you can stop me from investigating this."

"I have no intention of asking you to back off. You misinterpret the reason I asked for Lieutenant Tragg. I do feel you are too close to this one. However, I still think you should be involved in the investigation. I have something in mind."

"Normally, you know I always let you run things since these are your cases, but this one is different. I am sorry, but I will investigate this my way. This time, I don't consider you to be the boss. I am not going to take any money from you," Paul informed him.

"Paul, let's take a step back for a minute here. I know you're upset and I understand. I need your help," Mason said soothingly.

"Well, you could have fooled me. You brought in Tragg to do my job."

"I brought him in in addition to you. You will have to admit, you are emotionally charged in this one. I understand that," Perry began before Paul interrupted him.

"You don't think I can do the job. That hurts, Perry. I have been with you for years and have always done the job. You know that."

Della could see and hear Paul's rising temper. As usual, she decided to step in and see if a woman's touch would help. "Paul, it isn't that Perry feels you can't do the job. We all know you can. You're the best private detective in Los Angeles. We would not even begin to argue that. He is simply saying that you are extremely emotionally involved in this one. You will have to admit that you have never reacted this way in any other case that we have ever had, including when you were charged with murder." She reached across and placed her hand over his.

Drake seemed to calm immediately. Della had struck a nerve. He hated to admit it, but she was right. He had never reacted so emotionally to any of the work that Perry had assigned him. This one was different and he knew it. Tracy meant a lot to him and he did not understand why she was charged with murder and what her motive would be to kill this man. Hell, he did not even know how she knew him. From the beginning, out there on the slopes, Perry had almost shut him out. He decided to listen to what he had to say.

"Okay, to an extent you are correct, but you have to admit that you have kept me out of the loop on this one."

"I could not bring you in until I was sure that Tracy would be charged with murder. Until I actually needed a private investigator, I could not say anything. I would have been betraying the confidence of a client. Yes, Paul, that includes you. Now, of course we know that she has been charged with murder. We don't have much time as I am sure that a hearing will be set up almost immediately. I am going to tell you what I suspect is true and what Tracy has told me so far."

For the next twenty minutes, Mason told Paul what Tracy had told him. He also told him what he suspected she had been doing in New York. Drake listened intentatively until he had completed his narrative. He noticed the look on Paul's face and he knew he was going to get an argument.

"All right, I admit something serious happened to cause her to threaten Richard Barrett. I can buy the fact that she was in a scheme with him in New York City, but however, I cannot believe that she was involved in the other. I just don't believe it."

Mason had known from the beginning that Paul would end up in complete denial over that fact. He was prepared for it. "Listen, Paul, I know it is hard to accept. I hope I am wrong, I really do, but I don't think so. That is where you come in. I want you to fly to New York and investigate exactly what she was into and what her relationship was to Richard Barrett."

"I don't understand, she already told you what her relationship was and what she was into. So why are you sending me to New York?" Paul asked a bit agitated.

"I have been in this business for many years and believe me I know when a client is not telling me the truth or is lying to me. Tracy is not telling me everything. No matter how much I try to get it out of her, she insists that's all there is. But I don't believe it, Paul. Please, I need you to go to New York."

"You are just trying to get me out of here so that I cannot investigate this case," he accused.

Once again, Della stepped in. "You know better than that. The reason he brought Arthur in was he knew he would need you to go to New York. With you on the east coast of the country, Perry needs another investigator here."

"Why didn't he just ask me to find one for him?" Paul countered.

"Because I need an investigator at least as good as you, and that lets out most private eyes. There are only two men that I trust beyond you to handle an investigation. I want the best on it. With you in New York City, the two men I trust the most are my brother and Arthur Tragg. There is no one better than the three of you. I cannot ask my brother to leave San Francisco again so soon after the last trial. I doubt that his commissioner would allow it. Arthur Tragg is willing to give up his vacation to help here. There is no other reason for my decision."

Paul calmed down once again. "Why not sent Tragg to New York and let me handle the investigation here?"

"Because I think you need some distance from Tracy in case I am right about what she was doing in New York. You will need time to sort out your feelings regarding what you find. It is better that you do that away from her. Remember, she is on trial for her life. I cannot have her continually upset over your reaction to what is learned. Please, Paul, I need you in New York. I think it is best for the case, best for Tracy, and yes, best for you."

Drake fell into a silence as he stared past Della and Perry. He hated to admit it, but his closest friend was right. His reaction so far had proven it. There wasn't much that Perry ever missed in any case and he had not missed this. In fact, he knew he needed some distance from Tracy to sort out his feelings. Maybe the reason he did not want to go to New York was because he was afraid of what he would find. The best thing for him was to face it head-on and he knew it.

"All right, I'll go to New York," was all he said.

"I know how hard this is for you," Mason said. "I do appreciate you going."

Drake only nodded his head and dropped his eyes from Mason. Della again reached out and placed her hand over Paul's. He looked up at her and smiled to let her know how much he appreciated her concern and comfort.

*

Burger drove the rented car in silence as they headed for the ski lodge. He knew Tragg well enough to know to leave him alone with his thoughts until he was ready to talk. The lieutenant had spent much of the time just staring out the window.

Finally, he broke the silence between them. "Look at all that damn snow. I can't believe I'm spending my vacation up here about to freeze my tail off, and to think that I am doing it for Mason."

Hamilton chuckled. "Would you prefer to go back to the days when we were constantly trying to catch him stepping over that legal line? As much as I hate to admit it, he did come to our aid when we needed it."

With a slight snort, Tragg said, "I know that, Hamilton. It just burns me that I feel obligated to him." He started to laugh. Burger couldn't resist, he began laughing with him.

"I think we should just appreciate the fact that we do not have to go up against him this time. I must admit I get really sick of losing to him in court every time we come up against each other. He certainly has a knack for being able to tell if his clients are guilty or not."

"He has even more of a knack of finding out who the real killer is. Yet, every time we come up against him, we believe that his client is guilty. Maybe we should just quit charging his clients with murder," Tragg said.

"We can't do that and you know it. One of these times he is going to be wrong. We have to be there to stop a killer from getting off," Burger said.

Tragg was silent for a moment before asking, "So what is the story on this one? Is he right again? Is this woman really not guilty of murdering this man?"

"Perry doesn't believe that she is guilty. It does look extremely bad though."

"What is your gut feeling, Hamilton?"

Now it was Burger's turn to remain silent for a moment. "She seems like a really nice kid. She is quite a bit younger than Drake. I just don't know. The district attorney has her fingerprints on the gun and she definitely had motive and opportunity."

"All of that has existed before in Mason's other clients and they were not guilty. Come on, Hamilton, what is your gut feeling?"

"I told you, I just don't know. I don't know her well enough. However, if I had to go with the evidence, I would say she is guilty as hell."

"I was afraid of that," Tragg responded. "If I could get away with it, I'd shoot Mason for involving me in this mess."

Hamilton pulled into the parking lot and parked the vehicle. "Perry wants to see us right away in his cabin."

"Naturally," Tragg said with sarcasm. He followed Burger into the ski lodge and past the desk. They walked to the back, exited the lodge and headed for the cabins.

"By the way, Perry rented you a cabin. It is number ten, it's on the other side." He pointed to the cabins across from those they had already rented. "If you're lucky, you might get some skiing in."

Tragg raised the corner of his lip. "I hate skiing. If you could do it in seventy degree weather, I might try it."

Hamilton laughed as they reached Mason's cabin. He knocked on the door. Moments later Della opened it. Smiling, she invited the two men inside.

"Arthur, we are glad you are here," Della told him.

"Well, I am not. It is freezing up here."

Della chuckled. "Perry is with Paul. He should be back any minute. Would you gentleman like some coffee?"

"Coffee? I want lunch and Mason is buying," the lieutenant said.

Della only smiled. She was aware that Perry had made reservations in the dining room for lunch.

The door to the cabin opened and Perry Mason walked in. He grinned at Tragg when he saw him. You'll love it here, Lieutenant. Great way to spend your vacation, in this crisp mountain air."

"Can it, Mason, I already hate it," Tragg growled. Perry, Della and Hamilton began laughing. All of them knew that Arthur Tragg was putting on most of his complaining. "If you are going to drag me into your cases, would you mind finding a murder somewhere in the South Seas or the Caribbean? I would much rather spend my vacation there on your dollar then freezing here."

Perry grinned. I'll see what I can do."

Tragg turned serious. "Hamilton has briefed me on what happened. Were you able to convince Drake to go to New York?"

"He will be headed to the airport as soon as he can pack his suitcase," Mason said.

Della went over to the coffee pot where she had brewed a fresh pot. She poured three cups of coffee, placed them on a tray and brought them over after adding cream and sugar on the tray. She handed one to Hamilton, then to Arthur and finally to Perry. She allowed each of them to add what they wanted to the cups.

"When is the arraignment?" Tragg asked.

"Tomorrow," Perry informed him, "at nine o'clock."

"Are you going to present a defense at the hearing?" Tragg inquired.

Hamilton looked at Perry and responded for him. "I don't see how we can. We don't have any defense at this time."

"I'll wait to make that decision when the prosecution has completed their case. I want to get a look at what they have. Maybe I can get a little information out of their witnesses."

"So what do you want me to do?" Tragg asked.

"I have been doing some checking on some of the people who are vacationing here. There are several from New York. I want them all checked out. We need to find out if they have any connection to Richard Barrett or Tracy Hanton."

Tragg pulled out a small notebook from his inside coat pocket. "Okay, Mason, shoot."

"I got the clerk to give me the names of anyone from New York, in particular New York City. Guy McHenry, Susan Shultz and Jimmy Essex are here at the lodge, all from New York. When we are done with them, I want the staff here at the lodge checked out to see of any of them knows or has any connection to either one of them."

"Anyone in particular?" Tragg asked.

Perry shook his head. "Not at this time. We will need to check them all out if those three from New York have no connection."

"Is there anything else?" Tragg said, closing his notebook and placing it in his pocket.

Mason smiled as he watched him put the notebook away. He had already determined there was nothing else. "Only that I want you to follow your instincts. If a lead comes up, follow it."

Lieutenant Tragg headed for the door. "I'm hungry and you are buying, Mason.

Della looked up at Perry and smiled. "I don't think you are going to get out of this one Perry."

Mason winked at Della. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a coin. "What do you say we flip for whose paying for dinner."

Hamilton smiled, knowing there was no way that Tragg was going to do that, and Mason knew it too. He was just trying to get under the lieutenant's skin.

Perry said, "Call it, Tragg." He flipped the coin up, but Arthur Tragg caught it in mid air.

"I call heads, and the coin was heads. You are buying, Mason."

Della and Hamilton laughed as Tragg flipped the coin back over to Perry. "You can have it back. You are going to need it, I'm really hungry." He headed out the cabin door after making sure his coat was tightly secure around him. Hamilton followed him out.

Perry winked at Della again, took her elbow and headed out the door with them. None of them realized they were being watched.