The Case of the Politician's Wife
Chapter 11
11.1
Agent Danny Davis led Robert Ironside, Perry Mason, Della Street, Artie Hinson, Ed Brown, and Paul Drake into the White House residence. President Whitmore stood up as they approached him. "I had been hoping to have you and Bob here for a state dinner. I never dreamed I would be asking you here to defend me from a murder charge," Whitmore said as he shook hands with Mason. He looked at Della and smiled. "The ever loyal secretary. You are more beautiful every time I see you." He then shook hands with Paul Drake and Ed Brown.
"Mr. President, there is much for us to discuss. I would like to speak with you alone first and then with the rest of the team." Perry waved his hand towards the couch and chair.
Ironside turned his chair and started wheeling away, as everyone else headed for the door with him. "Bob, you and Paul need to stay." Della made no move to leave, as she was Perry's confidential secretary. Artie and Ed left the room. "Please everyone sit down."
"Where do we begin?" The president asked.
Mason looked Whitmore straight in the eye and asked, "Did you kill your wife?"
Tears formed in Whitmore's eyes. He knew Mason had to ask, still hurt to think he might have doubts. "Despite everything that has happened, I loved Faye, Perry. The thought of killing her never entered my mind. No, I did not kill her. You have to believe me"
"You threatened to kill her, did you not?
"Yes, but that is something you say when you are angry. If everyone who has said it was charged with murder then almost everyone in this country would be in jail."
"Most of the people who say it don't have that person show up dead afterwards, Mr. President," Mason pointed out.
"Yes, I know that, Perry but I am sure you are aware how many people say it when they are angry and don't really mean it. I didn't kill her, Perry." Whitmore never took his eyes from Mason.
"Alright, I believe you. Now we just have to convince the jury."
"Huh, not to mention the American people," Whitmore said.
"I asked Bob and Paul to stay because this is one time that reasonable doubt will not be enough. We must find the real killer. We must be able to prove that you are innocent or your presidency will be destroyed."
"It is already destroyed," Whitmore said with regret.
"Not necessarily. If we can prove who actually killed your wife beyond a reasonable doubt, the American people will be stand with you," Perry said.
"Whoever did this will not take kindly to you finding the real killer. They have already killed once. They will not hesitate to kill again." The president pointed out. "They are going to do whatever they must to keep us from finding the truth."
"Which is why we are all going to have to be extra careful. We work in twos just like we did during Commissioner Randall's trial," Ironside said. "Lone wolves will be punished accordingly. Paul, that goes for your man as well." Paul nodded.
"Perry, we must discuss the transfer of presidential power," President Whitmore told him.
Perry shook his head, "There will be no transfer of power, Mr. President. I highly advise against it."
"If I do not transfer power, the Congress could impeach me."
"l do not think so. The American people will look upon that as convicting you without a trial." Perry said.
"Transferring power under the circumstances would be the right thing to do," the president disagreed.
Perry shook his head. "I cannot let you do that, Mr. President. It would not be in your best interest."
"I don't see how it would affect me."
Ironside took Perry's side. "Perry is right. Someone has framed you for murder. We don't know who is behind it. We cannot rule out the vice president."
"Colin Werner and I do not get along well but I can't believe the man is guilty of murder," Whitmore told them both.
"He has the most to gain if you are removed from office," Perry pointed out. "Let's just say for the sake of argument that he is involved. He would have everything to gain by blocking our investigation. If he were to do that, it could handicap us and make it harder for us to find out who killed your wife. He might even make it impossible. No sir, I must insist that you do not transfer the powers of your office to Werner."
"At the very least, I must address the nation. I cannot continue to keep silent. It will make me look guilty to the American people."
"Now that we agree on," Perry said. "However, you are not to give any speech that I have not approved. In fact, I will work with your speechwriter. I don't want anything in that speech that will come back to bite us in the trial. Who is your speechwriter?"
"I have a staff of speech writers but the head speechwriter is Randy Thomas," Whitmore answered.
"I will need to talk to him, first thing in the morning," Perry said.
"Her," the president said, smiling. "Randy is a woman."
Della poked Perry. "Wasn't it you, counselor, who told me never to assume." Perry just smiled and winked at her.
"I'll have her report to you in the morning," the president told Mason.
"Sir, I know it is difficult for you but I need to go over your last conversation with your wife," Perry said.
"Well, I received an envelope that contained pictures of my wife with Ivan Cunningham. There was also a video. When Faye came into my office, I lost my temper. We got into an argument. She blamed me for not paying attention to her. She claimed she would not have had to look elsewhere if I had been more attentive. I accused of her of being dishonest, that I had tried and she shut me out. It only got worse from there. She wanted me to continue to pay the blackmail and resign as this new blackmail called for but I had told Bob I would not. She accused me of not caring what it did to her. I guess I said something like what about me, and she said she didn't care. She was sick of Washington and sick of me. At that point, I totally lost my temper and told her I could kill her for what she had done."
"Did anyone hear this conversation?" Perry asked.
"Yes, my secretary, Delores and Artie. The door was ajar. They were on the other side of it."
"So Hinson could have gone to the residence and poisoned her. It would have been a perfect opportunity to frame you," Perry said, watching for the president's reaction.
"Artie did not kill my wife, nor did he frame me. He is loyal to me. He saved my life for cripes sake." Whitmore was becoming irritated at Mason and Ironside for constantly bringing up Artie.
"We can't rule it out until we check him out," Ironside said backing up Perry even though his own instincts told him the president was right. He had saved the president's life. If getting the president out of the way was the goal, saving him did not fit the picture. Then there was the fact that he had jumped in front of a speeding vehicle to protect him. Again, if he wanted the president out of the way, than he would not have interfered with the attempt on Ironside's life. Still Perry was right; they had to account for his movement and actions."
"Then investigate him and get him off your list of suspects," Whitmore snapped.
"We will," Perry said softening his voice to defuse his client's rising temper. "We have to check him out, Mr. President. We cannot ignore facts. Even if they look bad, there is a reason they do. Further scrutiny can often show they did not mean what was originally thought."
Whitmore calmed down. "What else do we do?"
"Well, we are going to need somewhere in the White House to work from," Perry said.
"And we will need clearance for Perry, me, Della, Ed, Eve, Mark, Carl and Paul to go in and out of the White House without delay, much like your own staff," Ironside added.
"Consider it done. I will have Artie take care of it in the morning."
"I want to see the room where the murder was committed," Perry told him.
Whitmore looked confused. "But Bob has already done that."
"It won't hurt to do it again. Perry might spot something I missed," Ironside said.
"Whatever you think is necessary," Whitmore responded.
"Let's bring Artie and Paul back in," Ironside suggested. "Unless you have something else, Perry?"
"Not right now. It's getting late. We can continue in the morning." Della walked to the door and had Paul and Artie step back in.
"Artie, Bob will give you a list of people that will need staff clearance in and out of the White House. You had better add his police dog to that list. Also, they need a room somewhere here in the west wing to use as a headquarters."
"I will arrange it first thing in the morning,"
Perry addressed his private detective. "Paul, I want you to look up Ivan Cunningham tonight. We need to talk to him before the prosecution stops him from talking to us. He is going to be providing the motive. See if you can find out if his affair with the first lady was set up. Try to get a lead as to who set it up." Paul nodded.
"You can find him in one of the local bars," Artie said. "He's a regular."
"And don't go alone. We work in twos," Perry reminded him.
"I'll go with him," Ed offered.
"Tomorrow Ed, first thing you do is a full check on Mr. Hinson," Ironside ordered. "Mr. Hinson will cooperate fully."
"Yes sir," Ed said.
"Also, we will need full access to staff and secret service," Ironside requested.
"They have all been told to cooperate with you," Whitmore assured him.
"Alright, Paul, you and Ed get going. Let's see the murder room," Perry said getting up.
11.2
Colin Werner heard the doorbell. He looked at his watch. It was late. Who would be calling on him at this hour? He went to the front door. He peaked past the blind and saw Senator Joel Brinker standing there. He opened the door. "Haven't you heard of a telephone?"
"I don't want to be overheard. Can I come in?"
Werner stepped back and allowed Brinker to enter. "What do you want?"
Brinker smiled. "If you are going to be president shortly, you really need to work on your bedside manner, Colin."
"At this hour? When I become president, I will just throw out late night visitors. I repeat, what do you want?"
"Ironside and Mason are both in town."
"I know that already. You didn't come here to tell me that," Werner complained.
"No, but what I do have to say is important."
"So say it and get out of here," Werner growled.
"We have to think about a special prosecutor," Brinker said.
"I was assuming one will be appointed."
"Of course but we have to talk about who that will be," Brinker told him.
"What difference does it make?"
"You ought to know the answer to that one," Brinker snapped.
"You are worried about Mason?" Werner asked.
"Of course. So are Jasper, Adams, and Walters. Anybody in their right mind would be worried about Mason."
"You did not just come here to tell me you are worried. You must have an idea of who you want as special prosecutor."
Brinker looked around. "Do we have to discuss this in the hall? Can't we go sit down?"
Werner rolled his eyes. "I didn't want you to get too comfortable. Oh alright, follow me." Brinker followed Werner into the vice president's private office. He waived his hand toward a chair. "Sit down and tell me what's on your mind."
"Everyone agrees it is important we find a special prosecutor that is Mason's equal."
Werner laughed. "Mason doesn't have an equal. Have you checked the man's record? He never loses."
"Well, he has to lose this one or we are all going to jail."
Werner frowned. "You have a point. So tell me did they have any suggestions?"
"Several names were kicked around today but only one makes sense," Brinker informed him.
"So are you going to tell me or is it secret?" Werner said sarcastically.
"We all agree the man for the job is Hamilton Burger." Brinker watched Werner.
"Burger? You are kidding, right?"
"No, I am not. They want to appoint Hamilton Burger."
"Isn't he the Los Angeles district attorney that is always losing to Mason?" Werner could not believe this.
"Well, yes but he knows Mason inside out."
"Obviously he doesn't or he would beat him once in a while," Werner said.
Brinker leaned forward in his chair. "Burger is actually an excellent prosecuting attorney. Mason is just a phenomenal defense attorney."
"What am I missing here? Why then would you people want Burger?
"Let's face it. Whomever we bring in is not going to know Mason's courtroom antics. Burger does. He is the one best equipped to think like Mason and anticipate what he is going to do. No other attorney in the country has any experience with Mason, well expect for those that have faced him when he has represented clients outside of Los Angeles," Brinker argued. "And they have lost to him too. Even if we appoint some hotshot prosecutor, he simply will have no experience with Mason. Burger does."
Werner thought about what Brinker was saying. It did make sense in an ironic way. Burger did know how Mason operated. He had tried hundreds of cases and actually had an excellent record outside of the cases he lost to Mason. What worried him though was Burger also had a reputation for being honest. He had on many occasions worked with Mason to trap the real killer when Mason had been able to convince him of the person's guilt. Another thing bothered him. Mason and Burger were friends. When Burger was accused of murder himself, Mason stepped up and defended him. What would happen if Mason convinced Burger that Whitmore was not guilty? Would Burger listen to Mason and help him? "I don't know about this?"
"You are worried about Mason and Burger's friendship?" Brinker surmised.
"Not only that but they have worked together occasionally. What if Mason and Ironside dig deep enough to convince Burger that Whitmore is not guilty?"
"We don't let that happen. Burger will have an open and shut case. We make sure it stays that way," Brinker said.
"You are right about the fact that no one has seen anywhere near as much of Mason's courtroom work as Burger. Most prosecutors would be chewed up by Mason."
"That is what we figure. Burger is the only one that would be able to anticipate him."
Werner didn't like it but who would be more equipped to handle Mason. "Alright, can you make sure Burger is appointed?"
"I don't think there is any doubt about that," Brinker said with a smirk.
"What about Burger? Will he accept the appointment?"
"We talked about that. Everyone feels that the national exposure will be enough of a lure, and the evidence against Whitmore should seal it. He may be Mason's friend but he is hungry to beat him.
"Okay, let's go with Burger. Call him and ask him if he will do it."
"Consider it done."
11.3
Perry Mason, Della Street, and Robert Ironside walked down the halls of the White House with President Whitmore. "Perry, I don't understand. I ingested the same poison as Faye did. How could they think I killed her? Why are they not looking for someone that tried to kill us both?"
"Because of the photos, the video and the blackmail you paid, not to mention the fight with the threat, that's why. They have a lot of circumstantial evidence," Perry answered.
"But how can they ignore the fact that I was poisoned?"
As Ironside wheeled his chair, he said, "They will just say you poisoned yourself as a red herring, to try to draw attention away from yourself."
"But if Artie had not been there I would have died. It would have been a fatal dose."
"But Artie was there, Jim. They will just say you knew he would get you the medical attention you needed and of course he did," Perry said.
"That doesn't make sense. You mean I would have had to die for them to believe I did not poison myself?"
"They believe they have found the guilty party, Mr. President," Della said.
"They are only looking at obvious," Ironside responded.
"And we are going to look beyond the obvious," Perry Mason assured him.
"Well, I think we should call it a night. I will see you all in the morning. Oh, and I am not letting three of my closest friends walk back to their hotel without an escort. Danny!" he called out to Agent Davis, who was trailing him as someone in the secret service always did.
Davis picked up his pace and caught up with the president and his lawyer and investigator. "Yes, Mr. President?"
"I want you to assign secret service agents to escort Mr. Mason, Miss Street and Chief Ironside back to their hotel. I want no more repeats of what happened earlier this evening."
"Yes Sir. We will see them safely back," Davis assured his boss.
11.3
Perry removed his suit coat and draped it over the chair. He attempted to stifle a yawn. Della came up behind him and put her arms around his waist. "The evidence is overwhelming."
"Yes, but it has been in a numerous amount of our cases." Perry turned around to face her. He encircled her in his arms. "But it is all circumstantial. Tomorrow we start breaking it down."
"We have had a lot of high profile cases, Perry, but never the likes of this. This will be nationwide coverage. You are going to be on the cable news twenty-four hours a day until this case is finished. If you thought we did not have any privacy before, just wait."
"Are you worried about it?" He rested his chin on the top of her head.
"No, but I am concerned it will greatly increase the danger we are in."
He chuckled. "As if that were possible." He looked down into Della's hazel eyes and placed a soft kiss on her lips. "What did you think of Artie Hinson?" Perry trusted Della's intuition completely. He needed to know her opinion.
"I don't believe for a second that he had anything to do with Faye Whitmore's murder or any framing. He could have just let the president die and he would be out of office. Then he indirectly helped the president by saving Robert's life. That is not actions of a guilty man."
"That is exactly what I thought and I believe it is what Bob thinks as well and he has a history with Hinson. So if Bob is convinced he's clean and you are, then I am convinced."
"That won't stop Robert from checking him out," Della said softly.
"No, he is always thorough. That is why he is good at what he does." Perry was silent for a moment before he said, "Bob wants the two of us to talk to Agent Davis tomorrow."
"There is something about him I just can't put my finger on. I don't trust him."
"The president trusts him …with his life."
"Check him out, Perry. Something is fishy."
"I think that is what Bob has in mind. His instincts are telling him something is wrong there." Perry yawned again.
"I think you need to get some rest, counselor," Della said.
"I am sorry about vacation," Perry said softly, pulling Della closer.
"It couldn't be helped."
"One of these days we will get an uninterrupted vacation," Perry said.
"Only if we go out into the wilderness," Della laughed.
"We did," Perry reminded her.
"But we made the mistake of not having the phones taken out."
Perry chuckled. "Well Miss Street, let's hope we can make it through the night without that phone ringing." He pointed to the phone on the stand next to the bed.
"I'll put in a wakeup call," she said, picking up the phone. "You are turning in counselor. You're exhausted."
11.4
Ironside wheeled into his room. Mark was lying on the bed watching television. "Are you alright?" He asked his boss." The concern in his voice was evident.
"Yes, thanks to Artie Hinson." Otto ran over to Ironside with his tail wagging. He jumped up and landed his front end in his lap. He was reward with a pat on the head and a scratch behind the ears.
"I heard it on the news. Do they have any idea who did it?" Mark asked.
"No but I do." Ironside looked at Mark and raised his eyebrows. "We already have the killers worried."
"Chief, you are not going anywhere without me while you are here in Washington. You could have been killed."
"Well I wasn't." He noticed the light on the phone was blinking. "Did you check the calls?"
"Yes, all three of them were from Barbara. You had better call her back. She was pretty worried when I talked to her."
Ironside picked up the phone. "I can get into bed on my own. Why don't you turn in?"
"Okay, Chief. I am in the adjoining room. Call if you need me. Otto has been out. He's set for the night." Mark turned and left the room through the adjoining door.
Ironside pushed the button for an open line and dialed Barbara's number.
11.5
"This is the fifth bar we have been to," Ed complained. "If Cunningham is not here, we are calling it a night."
"I hear you," Paul chuckled. "The last time I hit this many bars in one evening, I had to leave me car and call a cab to get home."
"I got news for you. We have to call a cab to get home tonight and we did not even get to drink."
Paul laughed as he opened the door. "After you." Ed entered the bar ahead of him. It was the normal noisy environment. All of the tables were full. There was a dance floor, which was also full. A country and western band was belting out a tune. Ed did not know the song. He looked around the room. He recognized a couple senators he had seen on Fox News and CNN. Unfortunately, neither was the politician they were looking for.
"Do you see him?" Ed asked.
"No, maybe we should split up. You take that side. I'll take this one," Paul said as he walked away. He walked slowly down through the crowd searching each face. He glance across the room, Ed was doing the same on the other side.
"Hey handsome, are you looking for company," a pretty, shapely blonde asked the private detective. She smiled at him and licked her lips.
"Sorry, honey, I am here with a friend," Paul told her. Why was it when an opportunity presented itself, he was always on the job and usually for Perry. He pushed his way past her and continued looking for Ivan Cunningham. He took a double take when he thought he had spotted him. Drake waited until the waitress moved out of the way. When she did, Ivan Cunningham was sitting at a table with a brunette. He was obviously trying to hustle her. Paul looked over at Ed and waited until he looked his way. He raised his hand and then waved Ed over. Brown began heading his way.
When Ed reached Paul, the private detective pointed at the table which Ivan Cunningham was sitting. Ed sat down on one side of Cunningham and Paul took hold the brunette's chair and moved it out of the way. He grabbed another chair and sat down.
"Hey, what's the big idea?" Cunningham shouted over the noise in the bar.
"This is Sgt. Brown and I am Paul Drake. We work for Robert Ironside and Perry Mason. We are going to have a little chat."
"The hell we are!" Cunningham shouted as he started to stand up. Ed put a hand on his shoulder as Paul did the same on the other side. Both men push down on his shoulders at the same time forcing him back into his chair.
"Oh I think we are." Ed took over. "Unless of course you would like to be charged with blackmail."
"You are bluffing. You have nothing on me."
"We have photos sent to the president of you and his wife," Paul said.
"So what. I banged the president's wife. Believe me I wasn't the only one that did," Cunningham slurred his words.
Ed caught Paul's eye. The brunette was still sitting where Paul had pushed her chair slightly behind him. Ed nodded her way. Paul looked behind to see what Ed was trying to tell him. He saw the brunette whom he assumed would have left when he pushed her out of the way. Paul leaned back so that his face was not but a couple inches from hers. "Get lost, doll."
She looked from Drake to Cunningham, who said nothing. Displaying some annoyance, she got up and stomped off.
"Damn you, Drake. I was going to lay her tonight. I spent most the evening softening her up. She was ready. All I needed to do was suggest we go to her place. And now you messed it all up."
Drake looked into Cunningham's eyes, they were glassy and he was slurring his speech. "Maybe you can repair the damage later if you answer our questions now."
"The police told me I was not supposed to talk to Mason or Ironside."
"Do we look like Mason and Ironside," Ed asked.
"You work for them. It's the same thing."
"Okay, we will just have to have you arrested for blackmail." Ed got up and nodded to Paul who did the same. As the two men turned to walk away, Cunningham stood up as well.
"Wait a minute. I did not send any video to the president," He said. "Sit down, gentlemen.
Paul glanced at Ed in relief as if to say, 'you took a big chance on that one, Ed'. The detectives sat back down. Paul looked at the drunken congressman and said, "Who said anything about a video?"
Ivan Cunningham turned pale. He knew he had just made a major blunder. "I didn't say video, did I? I meant pictures."
"Who took the video and the pictures, Congressman?" Ed asked.
"I don't know what you are talking about." Cunningham slurred.
"Sure you don't," Paul said sarcastically. "Look pal. Mason and Ironside have no intention of allowing the president to be convicted of a crime he did not commit. Now, you are going to tell us who had that video and pictures taken. Or would you rather take the fall for your friends?"
"All I did was get Whitmore's wife where they wanted me to. I was paid to take her to bed so they could get the compromising video and the pictures."
"Who paid you?" Ed asked.
"I can't tell you that. They would kill me. You don't know who you're dealing with. It goes high up. They want Whitmore out of office. They are afraid he is going to start a war with Iran."
"Who paid you, Congressman?" Ed repeated.
"What the hell is the matter with you? Didn't you hear what I said? They won't hesitate to kill to keep this quiet. They wanted Whitmore convicted of killing his wife. They are not going to let you learn the truth. Don't you get it? They will kill you too and Mason and Ironside if necessary. Go back to Los Angeles if you know what's good for yoru."
"This isn't getting us anywhere, Ed," Paul said, frustrated.
"Let's take him back to the Perry and the chief. We will let them question him."
"Ironside and Mason! No way! I am not talking to either of them. I have told you all I am going to," Cunningham said looking like a cornered animal.
"What did you tell the police?" Ed asked.
"Only that I had an affair with Faye Whitmore. I told them I did not know anything about the pictures. They never mentioned the video."
"Ok, let's go talk to the chief and Perry." Paul stood up as did Ed on the other side. Each one of them took Cunningham by the arm and stood him up. "I have no doubt Mason will want you as a witness."
"Are you two crazy! I can't tell any of this in court. I would never make it there. They would kill me the minute they found out Mason had served me a subpoena. I have to be a witness for the prosecution."
Neither Ed nor Paul paid any attention to Cunningham. Between the two of them they moved him through the bar toward the exit. Neither of them noticed the man who had been watching them, reach into his suit coat pocket and pull out a cell phone. He typed a text message into it and pressed send.
Ed and Paul continue to force Cunningham toward the exit. When they arrived, Paul opened the door with his free hand and he and Ed exited the club with Cunningham in tow.
Suddenly, a vehicle raced by at a high speed. The windows were tinted. Neither Ed nor Paul could see into the front of the vehicle but the back window was open. A gun appeared through the window. Their assailant got off several rounds of ammunition before Ed or Paul could even react.
