Note: My eternal gratitude to startwriting for her superlative beta talents! ~D
Ties That Bind Chapter 13 – Pine Cone Problems
Perry Mason quickly scanned the pages of the special edition newspaper David handed him. Published in Carmel and primarily a morning local newspaper, the Pine Cone reported the news of Monterey County – weather, classifieds, fashion, personal interest stories, high school sports, as well as selected state and national stories pulled from the news wires. This was an unprecedented mid-morning special edition and the glaring, tabloid-like headlines made it clear the edition was dedicated to Ed Farley.
PROMINENT BUSINESSMAN ACCUSED IN DEATH OF WIFE!
DEATHBED STATEMENT COERCED FROM WIFE BY MEDICAL PERSONNEL!
INNOCENT CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE!
FAMED ATTORNEY PERRY MASON AND LOCAL ATTORNEY DAVID SPENCER TO SERVE AS CO-COUNSEL!
Accompanying articles about Ed Farley's thriving architectural firm and his involvement in several community charitable causes filled the pages. One article was dedicated entirely to the fact Ed Farley was a Rotarian, a humanitarian, a man with the highest ethical standards who exemplified the Rotary's motto of 'Service above Self'. Another covered Ed's personal life, painting him as the 'quintessential family man', a wonderful husband and father who provided well for his wife Regina (nee Benton), and their two young children Blake Edward and Elizabeth Jane. Pictures of the family taken recently and a sad story about the children and how they were now being held in foster care surrounded the article.
Facts of the case, if they could be called facts with a straight face, were interspersed among what amounted to a public relations pamphlet for one of Carmel's most upstanding citizens. But it was the editorial page that really turned Perry's stomach. Without naming names, the lead editorial, written by Bradley Selkow, Editor-in-Chief, gave an account of the night Regina Farley died that was only so much hooey, filled with innuendo about the 'unidentified medical professional' who had made an 'erroneous' account of the tragedy to officials, resulting in the 'travesty' of Ed Farley, fellow Rotarian and pillar of their community, being incarcerated for what surely had been a terrible accident and not murder.
The last paragraph was directed personally to Ed Farley, and if Perry had been appalled by the lack of professionalism in the highly regarded newspaper up to this point, what closed the editorial was like nothing he had ever seen.
'And now,' Bradley Selkow wrote, 'I feel that I have to step out of my 'editor' shoes and step into my 'friend' shoes. Ed, those of us who know you, know that you are innocent and being the man you are, would never do something so despicable. You are a valued member of this community and a rising star in your field. Your work is spread throughout this town's buildings and every time we pass the new high school, the Commerce Bank on Mission Street or the shopping center on Deloris Street we admire the work and know that you were the impetus behind each project. You have always been a devoted and loving family man and please know that your friends and fellow Rotarians offer their heartfelt loss over Regina's death. We are sure you will be cleared of all charges brought against you by an incompetent, publicity-seeking District Attorney, and you will be back with your children very soon.'
Perry tossed the paper to the floor in disgust. He felt an urgent need to be as far away from Ed Farley as possible but Bradley Selkow and his 'special edition' made it necessary for him to spend more time with the worthless s.o.b. whether he wanted to or not. He looked over at David Spencer, and the man looked every bit as bad as he felt.
"Damn it all to hell!" Perry exploded, losing control. "Who is this bozo Selkow and how could he publish something as distorted as this? I thought journalists were supposed to be impartial. That idiot allowed his reporters to present personal opinion as facts, and there's no doubt public opinion will be swayed and a change of venue will be necessary if Ed doesn't take the D.A.'s plea offer and demands his day in court. David, I'm sorry but present company and Mr. Gleason excluded I'm beginning to think that the Carmel Rotarians are a bunch of moronic two-faced twits. And just how in the hell did he get all that information from the hospital? Not naming names my foot! Everyone who reads this and knows you and Kathy will know she was the one who reported suspicions about Regina's injuries. I'm going over to the Pine Cone because I want that self-serving editor to know he can't get away with crap like this. If he doesn't print an immediate second special edition with one headline: PREVIOUS EDITION RETRACTED, he'll be up to his neck in legal tangles."
David nodded emphatically, pointing at the room Ed Farley was in, waiting for them. "I'll tell you what I'd like to do, Perry," he fumed. "I'd like to repeatedly punch that piece of scum in there and while I'm at it, I'd like to do the same to Brad Selkow, but I know it wouldn't do any good. All it would do is lower me to their puny standards. I'll go with you to the paper because I have a few choice words for the esteemed editor as well, and I think it might be in your best interests to have a buffer between you and Brad." David's voice held contempt and Perry had never seen him so angry.
Perry took a deep, calming breath. "We need to finish our business here before Ed Farley gets hold of that special edition."
The men re-entered the interrogation room where Ed Farley still sat, clearly looking smug and almost happy, thinking he would come out of this with a relatively light sentence and financially set for when he was eventually paroled.
"Bad news, gentlemen? If won't affect my deal, will it David? That is, if I don't decide to hire an attorney who will actually take my word for what happened."
David clenched his fists as he fought to keep control in the face of Ed Farley's infuriating sarcasm. "Listen to me you slime ball. The only deal we're giving you is to plead no contest and give up your kids. You can take the deal, or like Mr. Mason said, you can get other representation starting now. We're through playing your game. Do something right for once. Sign over your children to Kathy and me. We want them and you can be sure they will have everything they need includingall the love in the world their mother was deprived of giving them. You can also be sure that we won't let them forget how much their biological mother loved them and how she wanted nothing but the best for them. If you ever loved them and if you ever had any true feelings for Regina, you'll honor her memory and do the decent thing all the way around. This is your one and only chance to be a man, Ed. Give your children a gift of real value. Let them go so they have a chance for the kind of life Regina wanted for them. Because no matter what lawyer defends you, the fact of the matter is, you will always be the man who killed their mother."
David paused to take a breath. Perry noticed that when he spoke the last sentence his voice was strained and on the edge of breaking. In order to spare him, Perry finished the conversation.
"All right Ed, here's your chance to finally be the good father you fancy yourself and put the children first. Sign the plea agreement and declaration of intent. My secretary is standing by at David's office to draw up the necessary papers in regard to the children. We'll come back with a notary so the final paperwork can be filed right away. You'll have your deal with the D.A., and I promise we'll discuss sentencing. By taking the deal you'll be giving your children the one and only thing they need and deserve…and just to keep everything clear there will be no monetary exchange. If you persist in pursuing that avenue then you're worse than I thought. Children are not objects to be bought and sold. They're real live little people that should be loved and treasured – the way Regina did. So just give up and sign."
Giving Perry Mason a slightly slimy smile Ed Farley had one more tactic to try as he turned to address David Spencer.
"Dave, I want to thank you for agreeing to take my case and for having Mr. Mason help you. You know I always liked you and Kathy and maybe it might be best to sign over the kids to you, but from one Rotarian to another—from one friend to another, if you want my kids so bad, don't you think you could maybe see your way clear to set aside a little money for me? If I take your advice and accept the plea bargain I'm going to need money when I get out of prison, because my business will be ruined, and I just found out my parents have written me off like a bad debt. All I have are my children..."
David Spencer looked at the man who had indeed once been his friend but now for whom he held only contempt and disgust.
"Ed, let me make myself clear for the last time. I have no sympathy for you and you will get no money for your kids. The D.A. wouldn't look too kindly on something like that, even if you gave a full confession. So the only thing you'll be getting from me is free advice. I'm not going to charge you for anything I've done on your behalf. Now sign and let Mr. Mason and me leave so we can take care of what we need to and put an end to this tragedy."
Farley was about to protest again when he noticed the look on both attorney's faces. With a resigned sigh he took the pen and signed the documents. Perry took the papers from him and without saying another word he and David Spencer turned and walked out of the interrogation room.
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The two fuming attorneys paid an unannounced visit to Bradley Selkow, Editor-in-Chief of the Carmel Pine Cone. The man appeared surprised and intimidated and tried not to cower in his chair as Perry assured him that he had never witnessed a worse example of journalistic ineptitude or a more blatant disregard for journalistic ethics. There was substantial information regarding Ed Farley and the circumstances surrounding his wife's death that any cub reporter could have dug up without much effort and presented in a newsworthy, albeit less sensational manner. David advised that an immediate retraction, especially the part concerning an 'unidentified medical professional' at the hospital, would be expected to hit the streets before five o'clock that afternoon.
Originally they had planned to go back to David's office and take Della to lunch, but a quick call to Debra Jo resulted in an announcement that Miss Street had called for a taxi following completion of the necessary paperwork for Ed Farley to relinquish legal rights to his children due to his imminent conviction of and incarceration for the death of their mother. David assured Perry that he would return to the jail within the half hour with Debra Jo, who was a notary, so that the papers could be signed and then presented to the District Attorney.
Both lawyers were a bit antsy about the special edition of the Pine Cone finding its way to Ed Farley, but officers at the jail had promised to keep it from him until they returned. And if that was technically coercion and collusion, so be it. Perry and David felt that any accusations of impropriety could easily be surmounted given the egregiously biased content of the special edition, and decided not to let the newspaper worry them too much more.
Perry dropped David off at the curb outside his office building and headed home after arranging for a dinner meeting at the house on East Carmelo Avenue. Both men were shaken and drained and Perry knew they both could use some down time, so he advised David to close up shop after his second visit to the jail and go home.
As for himself, he needed the one person who would make everything all right. He needed Della, and he needed her now. He made the drive from downtown to their house in record time, and as he turned into the driveway he let out his breath, which he figured he'd been holding since waking up that morning. He indulged in a full-body stretch standing alongside the car before turning and starting up the steps to the front door. Before he hit the third step, the door was flung open and Della fairly launched herself at him. He had to hold on to the porch railing with one hand for balance while holding Della with the other. She pulled her legs up and around his middle as he carried her into the house, where he set her down and wrapped her up in his arms so tightly he feared he would crush her, but yet he couldn't let her go. They stayed that way for quite a while as he left kisses in her soft curls, breathed in her scent, pulled back and drank in her beautiful face, placed his hand on her cheek and stared into her eyes, kissed her lips sweetly and tenderly, and then repeated the entire process. After the third time, Della put her hands on his chest and looked up at him.
"I take it the visit with Ed Farley didn't go so well," she said softly. "You look like you could use a drink darling, but it's only one in the afternoon so coffee will have to do – unless you'd prefer iced tea. Why don't you go upstairs and get comfortable on the chaise and I'll bring you something to eat and drink. I can make a turkey and Swiss cheese sandwich with the best of them."
"I know you can baby, but truthfully I don't think I could eat anything right now." Perry brought her close again and nuzzled her forehead. "Coffee does sound great," he admitted tiredly.
Della was about to admonish him about not eating as he always did with her but thought better of it, since he was letting her take care of him without too much protest. Instead, she removed his jacket and undid his tie, running her hands through his hair, which was mussed. She didn't know if she had mussed it during her enthusiastic greeting or if he had mussed it himself out of frustration as was his habit. She smiled at him. "All right Counselor, one cup of coffee coming up. Upstairs you go. I'll be right there."
"Promise?"
"Promise." Della leaned in for a kiss and thought how his voice didn't sound quite right, and just what was that expression in her big, strong attorney's eyes?
Perry slowly made his way upstairs and out to the upstairs porch while Della disappeared into the kitchen. Despite his protests about not being able to eat, along with a pot of coffee and two cups she included a plate of cookies on the tray. As she approached the French doors, her pace slowed and she came to a complete halt two steps away, tears stinging her eyes as she took in the sight of the man she loved like no other.
The man who fought relentlessly for justice and could be a bulldog in the courtroom but was in reality more like a cuddly puppy; a loving, caring man who everyone thought was so tough but who could be unbelievably gentle and tender – the man who's heart was as big as he was and who would do everything and give anything to make the woman he loved happy, who wasn't perfect but was pretty close – that man was sitting with his head in his hands while his whole body shook with contained sobs of utter disillusionment.
Della wiped her eyes and gathered herself. She could do one of two things: she could leave him alone with his feelings, or she could go to him and comfort and love him. She expelled a deep breath and opened the door. There really was only one choice.
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At four o' clock Perry emerged from the shower himself once again, a wistfully content smile playing at the corners of his mouth as he replayed what had occurred when Della walked out with the coffee earlier. She had put the tray down on the small table next to the chaise, bent down, and silently taken him in her arms, letting him purge himself of the emotional visit with Ed Farley. She did the exact same thing Perry did when she was upset, holding and rocking him while offering tender words of consolation and love. Afterwards, she had led him back into their bedroom and proceeded to comfort him even more by letting him know with her hands and her lips how much she loved him. Slowly and gently, in her extraordinary way, she tipped everything back on its axis, righted his world and gave him a glimpse of Paradise. They would have stayed in bed the remainder of the afternoon but they had to prepare for dinner with David and Kathy and they realized at some point Paul would be returning to the house and if he caught them in bed...well, he would never let up about it. So, reluctantly they left their bed and got ready for the meeting. Over Perry's protests, Della showered first and alone, pointing out that if they didn't take separate showers dinner would be served raw. Not to mention that if Paul actually caught them in the shower together...they both shuddered at the thought and went their separate ways.
Della was already dressed and puttering in the kitchen when Perry came downstairs. She met him at the doorway with a spectacular smile.
"My, Counselor, don't you look handsome. I take it you're feeling better."
"How can I not feel better after being ministered to in such a…competent manner? Come here beautiful girl."
Perry took Della into his arms and she laid her head on his chest, sighing with contentment. "You know I could stay here forever Mr. Mason, but we do have a dinner to prepare."
Perry kissed Della's forehead. "I know, I know. All right, let's get going."
As Perry stood in front of the refrigerator taking stock of their supplies, Della returned to her chore of washing and tearing lettuce for a salad. "By the way," she tossed over her shoulder, "while you were in the shower the world's most conceited sleuth called. He said, and I quote, "I hit pay dirt on the info I got about Miss Carnivore and I think that David and Kathy need to hear it." I told him to get back here as soon as possible and we'd feed him in exchange for information."