Somewhat more comfortable in a sports shirt and casual slacks, Perry settled back into the chair next to Della's bed. She'd been moved into a private room late that afternoon, with private nursing that Perry had arranged with the doctors over Della's loud protest. Mina and Mae had been reassured that Della was on the way to recovery and gone home to prepare for her eventual release. Paul had gone to check out Laura's movements the previous day and finally Perry and Della were alone.
She dozed quietly as he stared at her, his beautiful wife. He couldn't resist trailing his fingers over her cheek which brought the reaction he wanted, her brilliant smile.
"Hey!" He whispered, settling in beside her. "Alone at last."
"It is nice to finally have a little quiet."
"I'll keep the visitors down tomorrow."
Della rubbed his hand with her thumb. "It's okay. They were here because they care."
"Della," Perry shifted in the chair, both elbows resting on the bed with her delicate hand locked between his. "I was so scared." Tears collected in his eyes. "You were so pale... I'm so sorry about all of this."
"It isn't your fault. I'm sorry that I've kept you away from work today. We'll be behind when I get out of here. Hopefully they won't keep me too much longer."
There it was... the opening Perry needed to tell Della about being on bed rest. Few things scared the big man but this... yep, he was scared.
Luckily he was saved by a knock on the door. Hamilton Burger stuck his head in.
"I don't mean to intrude... but we need to ask Miss Street a few questions if that is okay."
"It's fine, Perry." Della quickly interjected, recognizing Perry's refusal about to burst forth. "Please come in Mr. Burger. But I don't understand. What could you possibly need to question me about?"
Hamilton didn't answer immediately, his gaze glued to Della's gravid belly. Della blushed, her cheeks bright red as her hands slipped over as if to cover her secret.
"I'm... I'm sorry. Lieutenant Tragg explained to me but... I wasn't expecting..." Burger finally managed to tear his gaze away while Tragg stood behind him and glowered at Mason.
"I need to ask you a few questions about what happened yesterday, Miss Street."
"She doesn't remember anything, Hamilton... and it's Mrs. Mason."
"Oh... of course." The D.A.'s surprise was obvious.
"Why does my falling down the stairs rate an official visit from the district attorney?" Della asked, confused.
Perry sat down on the side of the bed. "There is a possibility that you didn't just fall... that maybe you were pushed."
"That's silly. Who would do that?"
"We'd really like for you to remember that." Hamilton offered gently. Even though he didn't particularly care for the brash defense attorney his secretary was a different story. He'd always found Miss Street to be the epitome of a lady, kind and graceful yet with an efficiency that made every other lawyer jealous.
"I don't understand..." Della turned her gaze to her husband. "Chief?"
Perry walked around the bed and gently lifted her arm. Pushing up the sleeve of her pajama top, he brushed his fingers across the bruise there. "Do you remember where you got this bruise?"
"When I fell... "
Perry turned her arm just a bit. "This looks like fingernails dug into your arm. Someone grabbed you and held on tight..."
"I don't remember..." Della's brow furrowed.
"Please try, Miss... Mrs. Mason."
Della shook her head, her growing agitation clear. When her hand clenched over her belly, Perry quickly took note.
"Shh... it's okay, Baby. Lay back and close your eyes... Just relax."
Della did as Perry suggested, missing her husband's glare at the district attorney. "Try to sleep, Baby. I'll talk to Mr. Burger."
She sighed as she tugged the sheet up higher, her eyes still closed. "I remember the elevator... I stepped off and started down the hall toward your apartment... then... Red... I remember red... but I don't know what was red."
"That's fine, Mrs. Mason." Burger interjected with a nod to Tragg. "Thank you for your time."
"I'll walk them out and be right back, Baby." Perry moved quietly after their visitors, stopping just outside the still cracked door to speak with them.
"She's remembering more... Last time she didn't remember past entering my building."
Hamilton's brow furrowed. "Mason... I don't mean to pry... I'm asking you officially you understand... You said 'my' building, not 'our'... You and Della aren't living together as husband and wife?"
Perry looked distinctly uncomfortable and a bit angry. "Look, Hamilton. I admit that I have handled my relationship with Della in a stupid and backwards manner..."
"I knew it!" Tragg snarled, his eyes shooting venom at Mason.
"But I've finally figured things out. Della and I were going to spend New Year's Eve together and I was going to get us back on track... tell her that I want her and only her."
"So this other her is the problem?"
"I don't really see that..."
"Your previous... partner... is sitting in a jail cell downtown threatening any and all. She's demanding to see you and she vehemently denies having anything to do with Mrs. Mason's fall. But Tragg thinks we have a pretty good case and talking to Della I am beginning to agree. Motive, counselor."
"I find it hard to believe that Laura would stoop that low. She doesn't even know about our marriage or the baby so what reason would she have? But I'm not as blind to her as everyone thinks I am. Laura definitely has her faults and if she did have something to do with Della's accident I certainly want to know."
"Tell him all of it!" Tragg growled. "For that matter have you told HER all of it?"
"We've been a little busy... but I fully intend to tell Della everything. I was with Laura when Paul found me after the accident... I had asked her to meet me so that I could tell her once and for all that she needed to back off... that I am in love with Della."
"What time was that?"
"She arrived a little after seven... seven-twenty maybe?"
"Which means that she would have had plenty of time to be at your apartment when Della fell and get to the bar."
"I... yes... time wise I guess she could have... When Laura burst in here last night she admitted that she was there when Della fell. She kept yelling at Della to tell the truth... to tell me that it was an accident. She didn't realize Della was still unconscious. I didn't let her get close enough to realize anything."
"That admission along with those bruises seem pretty damning. Would you like for me to tell our 'guest' when you will be at the jail?"
"You might suggest that she contact another attorney. My place is right here, Hamilton, and I don't intend to leave this hospital until Della does, and I certainly don't intend to represent Laura."
PDPDPDPDPD
Della had turned to her side, her back to the door and her husband when Perry returned to the room. At first he thought that she was sleeping but as he got closer he saw the tension in her shoulders. He slumped down in his chair and sighed deeply.
"I know you aren't asleep. How much did you hear?"
"Bits and pieces... enough to hear you admit that you were with Laura when I fell."
"No... Not exactly... and for the record I fully intended to tell you about the meeting when I arrived home, but under the circumstances... Della, Lieutenant Tragg is holding Laura on suspicion... there is a strong possibility that Laura may have pushed you down the stairs. Do you remember anything more?"
"I'm sorry... I don't... I've tried..." Her voice rose.
"Shh..." Perry reached out and rubbed Della's back soothingly. "It's okay, Baby. All that matters is that you are safe and I intend to make sure you stay that way."
"Paul was going to come back this evening so you can leave."
Perry was stunned. "You want... Paul? You'd rather have him here with you?"
"You obviously aren't going to leave me alone and I know you want to go down to the jail..."
"Oh... I have no intention of leaving you or going to see Laura. I trust Tragg to find out the truth. My place is here with you and our little one."
"But... you are just going to leave her there? She won't thank you for that."
"I met Laura that night to tell her once and for all that things were over between us... that she needed to move on and stop her plotting. I haven't changed my mind. Laura's opinions about me or anything else are no longer my concern."
Della smiled weakly. "I... Perry... get the doctor please!"
PDPDPDPDPDPD
The hospital room was pitch black, all lights extinguished and curtains covering the windows like a seal, but Perry still knew each and every movement that Della made. Her sleep was obviously troubled, the scare that had lasted most of the day and into the evening still working on her subconscious mind. The baby had been saved... for the moment, but the doctors concern for a full-term pregnancy had grown by leaps and bounds. Della had been sedated against her wishes but for naught. She tossed and turned, every moan bringing Perry closer and closer until he was practically in the bed with her.
Elbows resting on the mattress beside his wife, Perry's beefy hands clutched Della's delicate one. A soft stroke along her side and the sound of his voice reassuring her seemed to soothe her sleep so he refused to allow himself any respite... not until the morning came... not until they were out of the woods.
Her murmuring grew louder, the tone angrier, even though he couldn't make out the words. She shrieked and jumped, bolting upright as she came awake. Perry grabbed the call button, thumb slamming the button repeatedly as Della keened.
"It's okay, Baby. I'm right here. Everything is going to be okay." Perry sat down on the side of the mattress and pulled his wife into his lap, praying his words were true. She clung to him tightly.
"Where the hell is that nurse?" Perry stabbed at the button again. "Are you having pains again? Calm down, Baby. The doctors said you had to stay calm."
Della gulped in great breaths of air, fighting to control her heart rate. "Not baby..." she managed to whisper, reassuring Perry just a bit but scaring him as well. If not the baby, then what?
The night nurse finally came in, clucking at Perry sitting in the bed holding Della until she realized that his presence was what was calming her patient. After Della had been thoroughly checked out and tucked back into the bed with a warm drink, she left with an assurance she would be back to check on them in half an hour. But this time a small lamp was left burning in the corner.
"What was it, Baby?" Perry prompted, his instincts telling him Della hadn't been completely truthful with the nurse. Della turned her head away which only confirmed to Perry that he was correct. "Tell me... "
"I... I had a nightmare."
"About what?" Perry was prepared for her answer, that she dreamed about losing the baby... but she surprised him.
"I dreamed about what happened... I remember. I'm sorry, Perry... but Laura was there."
PDPDPDPDPDPD
Perry opened the door and growled softly, only keeping the volume down out of respect for the pretty woman standing beside her husband.
"Sorry to just drop in, Mason, but Joy really wanted to visit Miss Street and we were close by."
The sarcastic response that rose to Perry's lips died as he felt his mother's gaze boring into his back.
"Please come in, Hamilton... Mrs. Burger. I'd like you to meet my mother."
Hamilton Burger shook Mina's hand then planted his hands in his pockets and rocked back and forth on his heels, a satisfied grin on his face. He knew he had Mason over a barrel and he was enjoying every minute of his courtroom rivals' discomfort.
"I hope we aren't intruding, but when Hamilton told me about Della's accident I was so concerned but I thought we should wait..."
"Nonsense!" Mina motioned the couple into the apartment, giving her son a surreptitious elbow in the side as a reminder to mind his manners. "Della will be delighted to see you. She's only been home a week and she's already going stir crazy having to stay in bed all the time."
"Mom... umm..." Perry caught Hamilton's gaze and inclined his head toward Joy. "Did you tell...?"
Burger had the decency to look slightly abashed. "I... She pestered me until I cracked... but Joy understands the importance of keeping Miss Street's condition quiet."
"Mrs. Mason!" Perry growled.
Hamilton held up his hands. "Mrs. Mason. I'm sorry. Why don't you go on in, honey? I've got a few things to talk over with Mason."
The district attorney watched his wife depart with an indulgent and appreciative eye. "I really didn't intend to reveal your secret... but that woman has her ways..."
"Don't they all?" Perry rubbed the side that his mother's elbow had so recently made contact with.
"Maybe I should sic Joy on you. Are you going to let me speak to Della this time?"
Perry sighed. He'd hashed this subject out with Burger repeatedly over the last two weeks, ever since he had shared the news that Della remembered Laura's presence at her accident. "She can't be upset..."
"She's had two weeks to cope with the knowledge. Talking to me doesn't have to be upsetting. I won't push her."
The arguments were valid, Perry knew. But each time that Burger made them Perry remembered the look on Della's face when the contractions had resumed. They had come so close to losing their child during the hospital stay and even though the doctors were reassured by Della's progress she was still restricted to bed rest and likely would be for at least another month if not the three months remaining in the pregnancy.
"She doesn't like to talk about it. I've told you everything she remembered."
"Look, Mason... I appreciate that you are protective. I understand the reasons why. But in order for me to do my job effectively I have to get the facts from Miss... Mrs. Mason. You know this. Do you want another attempt on her life?"
"There won't be another opportunity." Mason's features were stone and his voice flat.
"So... you are going to be at Della's side every single second for the rest of her life? Or perhaps I should say the rest of your life because she will most certainly kill you quickly. That is one independent lady that you married. Somehow I don't see her submitting to your coddling for very long."
Perry couldn't argue because he knew that Burger was one hundred percent correct. His Della would never consent to constant monitoring.
"Unless the problem is that you still don't believe that your girlfriend is guilty."
Not normally a violent person, Perry fought the urge to smash his fist into the district attorney's face.
Hamilton Burger was a very intelligent man and he knew that he was poking a sleeping bear. But he was enjoying needling his adversary. However, ultimately Della Mason's safety was the most important objective.
"The preliminary hearing is coming up in a couple of weeks. I really need to be fully prepared..."
"I'll think about it."
"Hamilton? Aren't you coming in?" Joy called to her husband from the door of Perry's bedroom.
Burger raised a questioning eyebrow at Mason. "Go ahead... but not a word about Laura... not until I talk to the doctors again."
PDPDPDPDPDPD