TCOT Long Range Repercussions Chapter 11

Loving Della Street was the easiest thing Perry Mason had ever done in his life. He hadn't been a monk before the stunning brunette entered his life, but his relationships with women had been largely unsatisfactory, at best shallow dalliances and at worst vapid fulfillment of physical 'needs'. The notoriety that came along with his success in the legal world attracted a certain type of woman and as Perry realized this he sent these women on their way…except for Laura…Laura, who was Perry's equal professionally but whose raven-haired beauty in reality hid a cold, calculating mind. Laura had set her sights on the handsome lawyer, convinced he would be the answer to her future. She unleashed her considerable feminine wiles and soon they were a couple, attending all the proper legal functions together and appearing in gossip columns that followed their social life with insistent curiosity – fueled in part by Laura's society connections. But, what she didn't realize, and quite possibly Perry didn't realize, was that he was looking for something different. Their affair had been intense, but ultimately Perry recognized the relationship was poison and knew he had to change the personal aspect of his life if he was to remain respected in his profession. He ended things with Laura and a year later the change he was waiting for occurred.

Della Street gracefully and confidently walked into his office to interview for the position of his confidential secretary at ten o'clock on a Thursday morning. He took one look at this beautiful creature, with her soft curls, perfect figure, and that spectacularly brilliant smile and made an instantaneous decision to hire her. The fact that she was as brilliant as she was beautiful, the fact that she could give as good as she got and the fact she was decidedly independent, and as Perry would learn later, infuriatingly stubborn, endeared her to him even more. She was truthful to a fault, funny, genuine and sweet, and there was not a cruel bone in her body. He loved the sparkle in her eyes and her smooth velvety voice, and when she smiled he was completely gone. She was alluring and intriguing and even though she was a good deal younger than Perry her maturity and intelligence made her appear older.

Perry lay back against Della's bed holding her lovingly and protectively in his arms, a relaxed look on his face, a contented smile on his lips. Della was sleeping deeply, peacefully, and Perry thought she looked absolutely ethereal. Her soft, lithe body was as close as she could be with one hand around his neck and the other around his waist, her head on his chest. Lying there in his arms she looked so tiny compared to his big frame. He laughed to himself as he remembered again how Della had gotten her way. When they first returned home from visiting Paul in the hospital and the very short shopping trip to Macy's for Della's needed lipstick in the shade of Cotton Candy Pink, Perry sat Della down on the couch, took off her shoes and put her feet up. He covered her with the summer weight cream throw and went into the kitchen to make lunch. He warmed up the soup, toasted some wheat bread for Della and made a turkey and Swiss cheese sandwich to go along with the soup for himself. Taking down two tall bronze colored glasses, he poured iced tea for himself and ginger ale for Della. After they finished eating, Perry cleaned up and joined Della on the couch. She turned and climbed onto his lap, laid her head on his chest and sighed contentedly.

"Thank you, honey."

"You're very welcome. What are you thanking me for?"

"For taking such wonderful care of me, for spoiling me…and for loving me."

"It's my pleasure baby. I love you so much sometimes I can't find the words to tell you how I feel."

"You don't always need words Counselor." Della raised her head and searched Perry's eyes with her own. It was one of wide-eyed innocence and Perry chuckled and nuzzled her forehead.

"Don't you like it when I tell you I love you?"

"Of course I do, but I'm only saying that if you're having a hard time telling methere are other ways to let me know. Of course, I don't understand why you would have such a difficult time expressing yourself. After all you speak so eloquently in the courtroom, especially when you are defending a client and when you are trying to elicit information from someone no one does it better so like I said, I don't…"

Della never had a chance to finish proving her point. Perry had brought his face down to hers and kissed her so passionately that when they finally broke away, the secretary had a hard time talking, let alone conveying her thoughts.

"Uh…tha…that was…was some kiss Mr. Mason. You certainly have no problem expressing yourself. In fact, I think I like this way better."

"I'm always happy to oblige my beautiful girl."

"Your beautiful girl looks pretty awful right now."

"Della, you couldn't look awful if you tried. "I'll repeat myself. You look beautiful, however you do look a little tired. How about a nap? I'll carry you in to the bedroom or we could just stay out here. You wouldn't have to move."

"I don't want to stay out here." Her voice was sultry with unspoken desire.

"Okay then, hold onto me and I'll carry you." Perry started to move but Della stopped him.

"I don't want to take a nap, at least right now."

Perry looked at her and instantly knew what was on her mind. "Della", he chided gently "you're tired and you need to rest. You heard Marv, we've already broken his rules and if he found out, he wouldn't like it. You almost passed out at the hospital and if anything ever happened to you, I would never forgive myself."

Della gave him a pout. "Yes, I heard what Marv said about resting. He also said I should avoid stress and I know a sure-fire remedy for it." She reached under Perry's polo shirt and began to rub her hand across his broad chest.

"Della…baby…I don't know if…if this…this is such a good…good idea." The attorney's breath was becoming ragged.

"Don't you want me?"

"My God Della, of course I want you. I always want you but right now…"

Della interrupted him. "Then Counselor, I suggest you shut up and kiss me and carry me off to that room over there. You know, the one with the bed."

Perry didn't need any more encouragement. In one move, he stood with Della in his arms and carried into her bedroom, closing the door behind them with his foot.

Mason was brought out of his thoughts by the ringing of the door bell. He gently extricated Della from his arms and quickly slid out of bed. As fast as he could he pulled on his boxers, his polo and slacks, praying that whoever was at the door wouldn't ring again and possibly wake Della. He couldn't imagine who was at the door and silently cursed under his breath at the intrusion. Before the bell could ring again, Perry opened the door and came face to face with the one person he least expected: Lieutenant Arthur Tragg of the L.A. police department.

"Good afternoon Counselor." The Lieutenant seemed almost congenial.

Perry was not happy to see the police officer. "Lieutenant, why are you here?"

"Aren't you going to invite me in?"

Mason regarded the officer suspiciously. "Why can't you tell me from where you are?"

"Don't be so distrustful. I'm on your side for once. I stopped by your office and Gertie told me that you and the lovely Miss Street we're ensconced at her apartment until next Monday." The Lieutenant paused waiting for the attorney's next question. It came, delivered somewhat brusquely.

"And?"

"And I have news for you which I think you may very well want to hear. Now, do you want to conduct business here in the hall way where anyone who passes by can see and hear or do you want this to remain private?"

Perry took a deep breath and stepped aside so the Lieutenant could enter.

Tragg quickly looked around and not seeing Della, opened his mouth to speak. Before he could say anything Perry shook his head, shushing the officer.

"Della is resting and I do not want her disturbed, so please keep your voice down. In fact let's go out on the terrace."

Once seated on the bamboo love seat with the officer facing him on one of the matching chairs, Perry turned and spoke again. "All right Lieutenant, what has you so fired up that you just couldn't phone or wait until Monday."

"Mason, you are one of the most cautious people I know. You always think the worst."

"I've had plenty of experience in that arena, especially where you're concerned."

"Well, today is your lucky day Counselor. This time I'm on your side. I have news about a certain P.I. and the so-called accident he was involved in earlier today."

Perry had been leaning back against the cushions but sat straight up waiting for Tragg to continue.

"When the call came in to headquarters about the crash, I asked two of my men to go and investigate. When they got there and radioed back to me about the identification of the driver I told them to have the car towed. I know Drake is not a reckless driver and the way my men described the car made me suspect it wasn't a simple accident. So, we brought it in to the garage and had our guys go over it with a fine-tooth comb." Tragg paused momentarily and from the look in his eyes Perry knew whatever he was about to tell him wasn't good. The lieutenant's voice dropped a notch. "Perry, Paul's accident was no accident."

"What do you mean?"

"From what we could determine, Paul swerved to avoid hitting a large piece of metal that was in the road. The tire tracks are proof of that plus the metal was still in the road when the medics and my men arrived. Paul must have slammed on the brakes but he couldn't stop because…because the brake line had been cut."