Chapter Twelve

Thanks for all your wonderful reviews. I love all your suggestions about what is going to happen, but I will admit you are in for some real surprises. The clue is: it is NOT the usual suspects!

Perry Mason couldn't believe what he was hearing. He looked over at Della who looked shell shocked at the destruction around her. He couldn't imagine what her reaction would be to the latest news. He lowered his voice and asked, "do you have any idea what was done Paul?"

"All the police said was her door had been jimmied open and there were things thrown all over. The neighbor who reported it told them Della worked for you and of course they got the night number. Do you want me to go over there?"

"Would you mind? I can't leave here right now, and I sure don't want her to walk into that mess."

Paul agreed and asked, "how bad is it at your place?"

"It's bad," the lawyer told him. "Give me a call when you get to Della's and I may know when we can get out of here."

Della came up to him as he was finishing up with Paul, "is everything alright?

He looked down into her troubled eyes, "It was Paul checking on things." At least he hadn't lied completely to her. "You go sit down and I'll find out when they will be through here."

She leaned against him and said, "we can stay at my place tonight."

Patting her shoulder, he tried to smile and say, "we'll see, I 'm going to talk to Sergeant Reed."

It was almost two hours later when the police finally left. Della was out on her feet. She suggested he get some clothes together and they head for her apartment. He did as she suggested and then led her out to his car. He put his arm around her and told her to rest and didn't speak until he pulled into her parking lot.

"Della, before we go up I have to tell you something," he began.

Seeing the concern on his face she inquired, "what has happened now?"

He turned her toward him and said softly, "Baby, when Paul called me it was to check on us, but also to say your place has been vandalized too."

His secretary looked at him as if she was not comprehending his words. "My….place…..too?"

"I'm so sorry sweetheart, I am so sorry." He touched her hair tenderly and pulled her lips to his. He kept kissing her even as he tasted her tears.

Finally, he told her, "Paul is waiting, there is no sense putting it off."

With his arm around her waist he led her to her home with the door standing open. Paul Drake was talking to a policeman as they came in.

Looking around he noticed her furniture was intact, but pictures had been slashed, photographs of them were scattered around and some were torn to pieces. Della headed for her bedroom and almost collapsed as she saw the mess.

Perry following right behind her grabbed her before she hit the floor. Everywhere there were pieces of intimate apparel torn to shreds, dresses and suits slashed, and shoes mashed. The word "whore" was written in lipstick on the bedroom mirror.

Perry looked at Paul and said, "let's get her out of here now. I'm calling Dr. Willmont to come and give her something. Take her to the Hotel Bel Air and get us adjoining rooms. I'll send the doctor there."

They sat her down on the sofa. "Della," he began, "I'm staying here until they finish with your apartment and get it closed up. I will look for something you can wear, and Paul is going with you. Dr. Willmont will be over to give you something to sleep."

"Perry..no," she started to say but he interrupted her, "I am not taking NO for answer. I promise I will be there when you wake up."

She tried to argue with him, but he gathered a robe that hadn't been destroyed, and some toiletries and sent them on their way. He did manage to tell Paul he wanted to see him once she was settled, and to please stay with her.

Once they were gone he could breathe a little easier, but he couldn't get her pleading eyes out of his mind. Whoever did this, and he had a good idea who it was, they would pay dearly. The police let him pick up her things and he lovingly laid them on her bed, so they could do an inventory later. With every destroyed piece he picked up the angrier he got. He grabbed a dress, slippers, underthings, and toiletries that survived.

The police finished with her place faster than his, but they told him to come to the station in the morning, if possible, or as soon as they knew what was missing. He agreed and felt like he was walking in a fog. The manager of the building helped him put up a temporary board across the doorway and promised to have it replaced the next day. Mason walked slowly to his car and headed for the hotel

Luckily, the doctor had come and gone, and Della was fast asleep. Paul looking at tired as he felt, let him in. "She was out like a light but had a talking jag all the way over," the detective informed him. "She was so worried about you."

"He smiled. "She is something isn't she Paul?"

"You are a lucky man, pal. Now what do I need to do?"

Giving a deep sigh and shaking his head to clear it the lawyer explained, "the first thing we need to do is find out where Rada was tonight."

"I already know. I am having her watched and she did not leave the hotel tonight. I have an operative in the lobby, one out front and in the back. I already checked with them.

Mason wrinkled his forehead. "Who could have done this?"

Drake shook his head, "I wish I knew buddy."

Picking up his keys Mason told the detective, "I think I should go and confront Rada now and find out what she knows."

Paul put his hand on his best friend's shoulder and said firmly, "Stop right there. You aren't going anywhere…

The lawyer interrupted, "Paul, I need to do this."

"You ARE staying right here. Listen to me, you are too close to this. You are dead on your feet. Della needs you. If she wakes up and you are gone she will panic. For once in your life you are not giving the orders."

"Are you going to stop me?" Perry asked belligerently.

Hands on his hips legs apart the detective declared, "if I have to do, but I am begging you, let me do this for you. You go there now, as irate as you are, she will just become more defensive and angrier. Besides you could be playing right into her hands. She may have had this done to provoke you. Do this for Della's sake."

As if the wind had been knocked out of him the attorney dropped into a chair and put his head in his hands. Although his voice was muffled he agreed by saying, "alright for Della's sake and for a couple days you run the show, but I want regular reports."

"You got it buddy and I am calling Gertie and having her close the office. I am also going to post a guard there. When you are ready tomorrow call me, and we'll go over and do an inventory of the apartments. I'm sure you have to get that to the police."

His voice was weary. "Thanks Paul, I owe you."

Grasping his shoulder Drake told him, "You owe me nothing. Now I'm getting out of here and you try to get some rest."

Perry Mason looked in on his secretary who seemed to be sleeping peacefully. He took a hot shower, laid down and was instantly asleep. Sometime later he awoke to Della Street's sobs. He walked into her room sat on the bed and took her into his arms.

"Shh…..." he murmured into her hair and kissed her tear stained face. "It's alright Baby, I'm here keeping you safe."

He realized she was crying in her sleep. Moving to the other side of the bed he pulled down the covers, slid in beside her and wrapped her in his arms. Sometime later after speaking softly reassuring words he fell into a restless sleep.