The Case of the Failure to Look Beyond the Obvious
Chapter 11
11.1
Mark helped Chief Ironside back into his wheelchair. Della looked over and saw that the chief and Mark were alright but where was Perry? Then she noticed Perry was still on the floor. Alarmed, she ran over to him. "Perry!" She was followed by Dennis Randall.
Chief Ironside wheeled his chair over to Mason. "Perry, have you been hit?"
Perry Mason looked up at Ironside. "Yes, in my side. Can you believe in the same place I was knifed the last time I was in this city? Next time I come here I am wearing an armor."
Randall checked Perry's side. "Looks like it went clean through. We need something to stem the bleeding."
Ironside looked over his shoulder. "Mark!"
"I'm on it, Chief." Mark ran for the first aid kit.
Ironside picked up the phone and dialed. "Get an ambulance here on the double. We have a gunshot wound."
Lt. John Means entered the room. "What in the hell happened here?"
"Lieutenant, you are the only one of my staff here. Get over to the building across the street and take over the investigation. Someone just riddled this office with bullets," Ironside ordered.
"On my way, Chief." John Means hurried out of the office.
Della was on her knees beside Perry holding his hand. "Relax, Della. It's a clean wound. I'll be fine." Perry smiled up at her and she squeezed his hand.
11.2
Paul Drake sat in Lt. Tragg's office. Unable to get a commercial flight back to Los Angeles until the red-eye flight, he chartered a private plane and returned immediately.
Tragg dropped a large file in front of Drake. "After you called I contacted the deputy prosecutor. He got the transcript from the Donald Griffin trial. This is it. I also pulled out the police records on the investigation and arrest." Tragg dropped another file on the desk in front of Drake. "What exactly is Perry looking for?"
Drake picked up the trial police report and started reading. "Perry thinks Hamilton and I were run off the road because of something Hamilton would find in these reports if he were to check them again. I have no idea what that would be. All I know is I am supposed to find out what it is."
The telephone rang. Tragg reached for it. "Lt. Tragg," he said. He listened and then handed the phone to Drake. "It's for you."
Paul took the receiver from Lt. Tragg. "Paul Drake." He listened for several minutes and said, "Good work, Smitty. Keep on him and keep in touch."
Tragg glanced up at Drake. "Good news?"
"Mr. Carrens just entered another warehouse. Smitty followed him in. It contains hundreds of…"
"Don't tell me. Let me guess. There were hundreds of three-foot containers everywhere. Is that about right?" Tragg asked.
"You got it. He also overheard Carrens making a call. He talked to a man by the name of Paul Bridges. Carrens told the man everything was fine with this particular warehouse. He told them he was released by the police and he was not going to talk to them. He was ordered to rent a semi truck and load the containers. He is supposed to take them to San Francisco to a warehouse there." Paul took out a cigarette and lit it. He took a puff and then continued, "He did not know where the warehouse is located. Only that what warehouses are left are to have all containers transported to San Francisco."
"When is this supposed to happen and when will we know their destination?" Tragg asked.
"The day after tomorrow is when it is happening. As far as the destination he will be given that when he arrives in San Francisco. They want to make sure he is not followed," Paul answered.
Tragg grabbed the transcript. "Well then, we better get started with these. I am guessing Chief Ironside is going to want us to let Mr. Carrens out of the city and take the containers with him to Frisco. He will then be able to discover where that warehouse is. Possibly the man who owns the heroin will come onto the scene to make sure his precious cargo makes it to San Francisco."
Drake's cell phone rang. Paul reached into his pocket and pulled out the phone. "Drake."
"Paul, it's Della. Perry has been shot."
Paul sat forward in his chair. "What? Where, when? Is he alright?"
"Multiple shots were fired into Chief Ironside's office from the building across the street. Perry ran to move Robert out of the line of fire. He was shot in the side. We are at the hospital now. The bullet went clean through him. The doctor says he will be fine. They have treated him and are going to release him." Della voice revealed obvious worry.
"Della, was anyone else hurt?" Paul asked.
"No. Perry and Mark managed to get Robert to the floor and Commissioner Randall knocked me to the floor," Della told him.
"Where is Chief Ironside?" Paul asked.
"He's back at the office. The paramedics said Perry was not in any danger so he stayed there to run the investigation," Della said.
"Is it possible to talk to Perry?" Paul asked.
"He's right in the next room. Hold on." Della got up and walked to the treatment room. Perry was sitting barechested on the bed. "Perry, Paul wants to talk to you."
Perry grimaced but took the cell phone from Della. "Yes, Paul."
"Sounds like you have had a hell of a day. Are you alright?" Paul asked him.
"I think from now on Bob is going to have to visit me in Los Angeles. For some reason his town just does not like me. So what's up, Paul?" Perry asked.
Paul proceeded to tell Perry about what Smitty had told him about Carrens.
"When I get back to Bob's office I will talk to him about this. I will try to convince him to let Carrens bring the heroin here. He can call and talk to Tragg," Perry said.
"I don't think you will have any trouble there. Tragg already said he suspected that is what Ironside would want. Oh, and Perry, one other thing. Smitty said the man Carrens was talking to was Paul Bridges. Smitty believes he was calling from Sacramento," Paul suggested.
"Ok. I'll tell the chief and get back to you later tonight. Anything new on the Griffin file?" Perry asked.
"We are just getting started. I'll let you know," Paul told him and hung up.
11.3
Hamilton Burger had steadily improved throughout the day. His condition has been changed from critical to serious and finally to stable. The doctors were amazed at his miraculous recovery and decided to keep him in intensive care overnight and if he continued to improve they would move him to a private room within the next couple days.
Hamilton could not help but think about the problem that all of his friends were faced with. Perry felt Hamilton knew something…but what? What was in the trial transcripts that would help solve this mess?
Would Tragg and Drake be able to recognize what it was Perry was looking for or would only he be able to find it? He just had to get out of here.
11.4
Ironside, Perry and Della arrived back at the chief's office. The windows had been replaced. Lt. Carl Reese greeted the trio as they came down the ramp. "Hi, Chief. It is a wonder someone wasn't killed with all the bullets that were shot in here. I had the glass company put in bulletproof windows to replace the ones that were shot out."
"What are they doing at those windows over there? They were not affected," Ironside asked.
"I told them to replace all of the windows with bulletproof glass. We just can't take the chance someone will try again. There's a contract out on both you and Perry and those windows present a problem," Carl pointed out.
"Fine, but you explain the bill to the commissioner after he gets back on the job," Ironside said.
"The commissioner will give you no hassle at all, Carl." Randall walked up to Ironside and Reese.
Ironside gave the commissioner a look of disbelief. "If I did that you would be complaining up a storm."
"You would deserve it," Randall said trying to hold a serious look on his face.
Ironside mocked indignation which drew a laugh.
Carl smiled watching the playful banter between Ironside and Randall. He turned their attention back to business. "John just called. He is on his way over here. Eve is downstairs checking something. Fran Belding said she will be stopping in shortly," Carl continued.
"Thanks, Carl. Let's get something to eat. Mark, how about some sandwiches?" Ironside wheeled over to the window and looked across to the building where the bullets had been fired. He was growing tired of being a target. God help the man who is behind this when I get a hold of him, he thought.
Eve walked into the office with John Means right behind her. Not more than a minute later Fran Belding came in the door.
Perry and Della had already taken a seat at the table. Mark started bringing sandwiches and Coca Cola to the table. Perry and Ironside looked at each other and wrinkled their foreheads. Both men said at the same time, "Bourbon!"
Mark shook his head. "Alright but I have to point out to both of you that you drink too much."
"And you talk too much," Ironside grumbled back at his aide.
Everyone sat down at the table and began eating a late supper. Perry and Ironside were sharing their bottle of bourbon with Dennis Randall. Everyone else was drinking Coke.
Ironside remained quiet.
The phone rang. He picked it up. "Ironside." He listened and said, "I want the ballistic report yesterday," and hung up the phone. Everyone was watching him. He looked up and said, "They just fished Mary Galloway out of the bay. She was shot in the head."
Randall turned pale. "My god, how many people are these maniacs going to kill?"
Perry sat his glass down. Somberly he said, "Just as many as they have to to keep us from finding out the truth."
"I have had about enough of being one step behind these killers," Ironside growled. "It is time we stepped up the pressure but first let's catch up on what we have all found out today. Eve, you start."
Eve put down her sandwich and began, "First of all Mary Galloway, whom the chief just mentioned was murdered, was Commissioner Randall's replacement secretary. She used the alias Gallows on two different ocassions when she was arrested for possession of heroin." Eve explained about the charges being dropped with the request of some influential person out of Sacrameto.
"The governor's office?" Perry pondered.
Lt. Means shook his head. "No, because it did not come out of Sacramento."
Ironside turned toward Means. "How did you know that?"
Means looked at his current boss and said, "When her name first came up I thought it sounded familiar but could not place it until Eve mentioned her being released because of some prominent individual. I worked on that case and the request did not come out of Sacramento. "
Perry was watching Means as he spoke. "Then where did it come from?"
John Means looked at Perry and said, "The request came from David Martin, the city councilman."
"Both times?" Ironside asked.
"Yes, sir. But that is not all. The arresting officer was Randy Kempt. Damon Richards went to see Councilman Martin. That meeting resulted in a meeting with John Richards who dropped the charges."
"Based on what?" Ironside asked.
"That, sir, I cannot say. I was not told. I do know they met with Judge Thatcher. I do not know if he had any part in the charges being dropped but it is said he did keep some prominent name out of the record. I do not know if that is true or not.
"Also today Damon Richards called me on my cell phone. He wanted to know where you were on the investigation. He made a point to ask me if you had been checking into Mary Galloway and the reasoning behind the charges being dropped," Means told everyone.
"And what did you tell him?" Ironside inquired.
"I told him that you have been giving me busy work and keeping me completely out of the loop," Lt. Means answered.
"Carl said you came up with something," Ironside said. "Exactly what did you find out?"
"Damon Richards and Gerard Bronson were roommates in college. And the third roommate was Donald Griffin," Lt. Means said. "I came across this picture." He pulled a picture out of a large manila jacket he brought with him. It was a picture of the three men sitting in a dorm room relaxing. "I called the head man of the dorm they stayed at. He keeps records of everyone who rents his dorms. He had them dating back to when they went to college at San Diego State University. They were roommates their first year."
"I also checked with Lt. Russell. He did some checking for us and found out that Griffith and Bronson worked together on a couple drug sales that Russell could not prove but knows they did."
"Gerard Bronson was Mary Galloway's boyfriend," Eve said.
"And Donald Griffin ties Damon Richards to the drug ring," Mark said.
"No, Mark, it doesn't tie Richards to the drug ring. It only proves they shared a dorm in college. What it does prove is they knew each other," Perry said.
"What Perry is saying," Ironside offered, "is that now that we know they knew each other several years ago we have to tie them together. John, since you discovered this piece of information the job is yours, and by the way…good work, Lieutenant."
Means kept a poker face but the chief's words meant more to him than the chief could possibly know.
"Carl, what did you find out on the murder of Randy Kempt?" Perry asked.
"Well, we know he did not drown in the bay. He was shot in the head. The bullets taken from his skull came from a .38. He was dumped in the bay afterwards. He did not have his own service revolver on him when he was found," Carl said.
Perry watched his brother who was frowning. Perry knew it meant Ironside had a suspicion as to who killed Randy Kempt and he was sure it agreed with his own. "Bob, do we know where Damon Richards was last night?"
"No, but we sure as hell need to find out. It is looking more like he is behind the framing of the commissioner, which means he probably killed Jermaine Webb. I assigned Randy Kempt to keep an eye on Richards and he shows up dead the next day." Ironside rubbed his chin.
Mark said, "What about doing a paraffin test on Richards to see if he could have fire a gun?"
"Based on what?" Perry asked. "We have not even tied him to being anywhere near Kempt last night."
"We will deal with Richards later. John, what did you find out about the shots that were fired in here from across the street"? Ironside asked.
Means addressed the group. "The shots were not fired by a human being."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Ironside asked.
"Someone executed an elaborate setup. A semi-automatic weapon was mounted and set on a timer to fire automatically into this office. We questioned everyone in the building and…"
"Nobody saw or heard anything," Ironside finished for him.
"That is correct, sir. We have not talked to a soul that saw anyone bring anything into the building. No one on the floor saw anyone enter or leave that room," Means told him.
Perry asked Means, "What is the room used for and who rents it?"
"No one rents it. It is the janitor's room. Supplies and equipment are stored in that room," John answered him. "Because it is directly across from the chief's office they do not allow the room to be rented at the request of the commissioner's office. They did not want it to be used as a place to launch an attack on Chief Ironside."
"I assume than it is kept locked?" Perry surmised.
"Yes, and only one man has a key to that particular room. He had his key on him. He said he rarely uses the room. Most of the equipment that is stored in the room is no longer used. Some of it is. The supplies that are stored in there are only for that floor. Most of the rooms on that floor are business offices. There are a couple law offices, an insurance office, dental office, a travel agency, an employment agency and a dating agency," Means reported. "All of the tenants have been there for more than five years."
"What about the janitor on that floor?" Ironside asked.
"He's been doing the cleaning on that floor for ten years. He has no record. The owner of the building said he is completely dependable and trustworthy," John said.
"Why did he not notice the gun set up in that room?" Della asked.
"He was not on the floor. He cleaned the offices last night. He said no such setup was there last night. He has not returned to the floor since. Apparently the janitor on the second floor is in the hospital for surgery and this guy was taking up the slack," John said.
"What about the weapon?" Eve asked.
"We had it dusted for prints…" Means began.
"And there were none," Ironside finished.
"Correct, sir," Means confirmed to his boss.
"Did you check out ownership?" Carl asked.
"The weapon is custom made. We have not been able to trace it yet and quite frankly I don't think we will. It was not made by any recognized gunmaker," Means finished.
"Alright, John. Keep some men on this but don't give it any personal attention. I need you elsewhere," Ironside ordered. "Fran, what did you find out on Bronson?"
"Well, John seems to have found out quite a bit about his past but his present shows that he is a model citizen or at least he was until now. He pumped gas for a living and repaired cars. He had been working for a Shell station downtown. His boss said he was a good worker and he gave him raises twice a year because he was so dependable. He lived in the house next door to the station. The owner of the station owned the house and rented it to Bronson. We got a search warrant but found nothing. He cleaned it out. It was a furnished house. But his clothes were gone and there were no personal belonging at all. He left his job without a word to his boss. He just did not show up to work the day before yesterday and he has not been seen since," Fran reported to Ironside. She flipped a picture across the table. "The gas station owner gave me that picture. It was taken a month ago."
Commissioner Randall snatched the picture out of Chief Ironside's hand. "This is he!" he shouted. "This is the guy Webb was selling drugs to near the Golden Gate."
Ironside took the picture. "Are you sure, Dennis?"
"Positive, Bob. This is the guy," Randall said.
"We need to find Bronson, Bob." Perry picked up the picture. "He may have helped Richards framed the commissioner and could have killed Mary Galloway."
"Carl! Find him!" Ironside ordered.
"Right, Chief," Carl said.
Perry poured himself another glass of bourbon and then filled both Randall's and Ironside's glasses. "I got a call from Paul while I was at the hospital." Mason told the group about Paul's men finding another warehouse and the conversation Carrens had with a man name Paul Bridges. He brought everyone up to date on the transfer of the drugs to San Francisco.
"I want Carrens left alone to bring that shipment here to San Francisco. Perry, have Paul follow him back here but make sure Carrens doesn't know he is being followed. If Paul has to have several men help out then have him do so. I don't want any of them spotted by anyone in case Carrens is being watched. Paul can keep in contact with us. When he gets near the city I want a series of cars set up to follow him. No one is to move in. I want to know where that shipment is going and if the man in charge of this operation decides to preside over this one himself. I will call Tragg and okay it with him," Ironside said.
"I don't think you will have any problem with that. Paul said Tragg figured this is what you would want to do. I have to call Paul back and let him know," Perry told him.
"Well, there is not much more we can do tonight. Perry, what are you planning on doing tomorrow?" Ironside asked.
"I want to interview Justin Hartman to find out exactly what he saw when he took that picture of the Richards brothers at Webb's apartment building. I also want to talk to Abigail Falconer. I want to also talk to the people on the same floor as Commissioner Randall's floor and check the people who were in the building at the time. The commissioner is being arraigned tomorrow morning so I have to be in court early tomorrow," Perry recited tomorrow's schedule.
"Carl, make sure there are several police officers to protect Perry. I want him surrounded by cops. Make sure a sniper has no shot. Is that clear?" Ironside said.
"Yes, sir. I will take care of it," Carl answered his boss.
"Eve, I want you to find out who the secretary of state, Norman Feldman, is. Find out why his phone number was scratched into that desk drawer at Webb's apartment," Ironside said. "Also find out who Paul Bridges is and what he does in Sacramento. Fran, you will be staying on with this office. You work with Eve. I don't want anyone working alone."
Ironside continued barking out orders. "Carl, you find Bronson. John, Damon Richards is yours. Take an officer out of homicide to go with you. Carl can tell you who we trust to keep their mouths shut. You are not to go anywhere alone. I cannot stress this enough. These people will kill anyone who gets in their way. I want no one working alone. Everyone works in pairs or more. Alright it is late, everyone get out of here so I can go to bed."
After everyone was gone Perry, Della and Ironside were still sitting at the table. Ironside asked, "How soon are you going to ask for this to go to trial?"
"I don't always have a choice. The judge will check the court's schedule and set a date for the trial. Probably within a couple weeks," Perry answered.
"Perry, you are to follow all instructions by my officers. I will not take any chances with your life. Is that clear?" Ironside looked sternly into his brother's eyes.
"I am well aware of the danger we are in. I am not going to take any chances. I don't want you doing so either. Is that clear?" Perry returned.
Ironside grunted. "My job is taking chances. But I have no intentions of sacrificing myself either," he said gruffly. He then softened his tone. "Perry, you are my only brother. After finding you I don't want to lose you. Follow my officers' instructions. I know you live on the edge at times when investigating your cases. Please remember you have my entire police force behind you. Don't do anything foolish." Ironside stared at Mason.
Perry smiled. "Della won't let me." He looked over at Della who had gotten up and was standing behind both men. She laid a hand on a shoulder of each man. "I won't let either of you."
11.5
Two police officers lay dead at the side of the road. One of the back tires of their cruiser had been shot out with a silenced weapon causing them to go off the road. When they got out to change the tire, unaware the tire had not just blown out, they were both shot in the head. Two men walked over to them, undressed them. They changed into their uniforms and took out their identification and badges. Both officers were dragged further into the brush so as not to be seen from passing cars. Their identification and badges were thrown further yet. Their own fake badges and identification provided by Officer Damon Richards was replaced in the pockets of their new uniforms.
The imposters got into the police cruiser and headed to the hospital to take the place of the officers on duty outside Sgt. Ed Brown's hospital room.