The Case of the Careless Skier
Chapter 21
Perry Mason walked over to the witness stand. Standing there for a moment, he stared at Josh Aldridge before beginning."Mister Alridge, you are the manager of the ski lodge where Mister Barrett was murdered, are you not?"
"I am," he answered.
"Were you on duty the day Mister Barrett was murdered?"
"Yes, I believe I was."
"You testified earlier you heard the defendant and Richard Barrett arguing outside of the cabin. As manager, you have keys to every cabin, do you not?"
"Yes, I do."
"Where are they kept?" Mason asked.
"In the vault at the check-in desk."
"And who has access to those keys?"
"Every one that works behind the desk as a clerk."
"What else is kept in that safe?" Mason asked.
"Whatever valuables customers wish to have under lock and key."
"Were you on duty last night?"
"No, I was not."
"Where were you?"
"At home watching television."
"Is there anyone that can substantiate that?"
"Not unless the judge will allow my Great Dane to testify," he said with a smile. Several people in the courtroom laughed. The judge used his gavel immediately to discourage any further disruption.
"So you cannot prove where you were?"
"No, you will just have to take my word for it," Aldridge said.
The door to the courtroom opened; Paul Drake and Lieutenant Tragg entered. Tragg had a rather large manila jacket in his hands. Mason turned around when he heard them come in. He hid the relief he felt. "Your Honor, may I have a moment?"
Judge Adam Samson frowned but said, "A moment, Mister Mason, no more."
Perry hurried over to his detectives.
"We found it, Perry. You were right. It is registered to William Jordan, just as you suspected," Tragg said. He handed him a large manila envelope which contained the gun.
Perry looked into the envelope before asking, "Were you able to get a ballistics test?" he asked hopefully.
"Your new admirer was a big help with that," Paul said. "That young man is going to be in hot water when Owens finds out he helped you."
Perry was anxious for the results. He did not care at the moment what Owens thought. "Well, what was the results?"
Tragg grinned. "We are one step closer to getting out of this deep freeze. That gun certainly did fire the shot that killed Jimmy Essex."
"Mister Mason, your moment is up," the judge warned the attorney.
"Here's the rest of the information Chief Ironside provided." Lieutenant Tragg said handing Perry another envelope.
After studying the contents, Perry asked, "Is he here in court?"
"Of course he is. Do you think we would get that kind of information from Ironside and not bring the guy in?" Tragg said.
"Mister Mason!" the judge said, raising his voice.
"I am ready Your Honor," Mason told him. He returned to his witness.
"Mister Aldridge, are you aware Jimmy Aldridge was murdered last night?" The courtroom broke out in murmurs. The judge quickly silenced them with his gavel.
"No, I wasn't. As I told you, I was home and I have not been into the lodge this morning."
"You were not at the lodge last night?"
Brian Anderson stood up. "Objection, asked and answered."
"Sustained. Mister Mason, it is not necessary to go over what is already in the record," Samson ruled.
"I am just giving the witness a chance to reconsider his testimony," Mason said with a smile.
"Move on, Counselor," Samson said, his voice showing irritation with the attorney.
"Each cabin has two windows, is that correct?"
"It is," the ski lodge manager answered.
"And they can be opened from the inside?"
"That is correct."
"They also can be opened from the outside as well, can they not?"
"Yes."
"With a key?"
"Yes, it is intended so that if someone gets in trouble, we have a way to get to them," Aldridge explained.
"Despite the fact that you also have keys to the front of the cabin?"
"That's right?"
"Do you know Susanne Schultz?"
Aldridge seemed puzzled by the question. "I know of her," he replied. "She checked into the lodge some time ago. I am not sure of the date. I would have to refer to the computers at the lodge."
"You don't know her personally?" Mason demanded.
The witness shook his head. "No, I am afraid not. I have only seen her around the lodge."
"Are you sure of that?"
Brian Anderson was on his feet again. "Is Mister Mason going to question every single answer the witness gives. After all, it is his own witness; I would think he would know the answers he is going to give."
"Is that an objection, Mister Anderson?" Judge Samson asked.
"It is, Your Honor."
"Objection overruled. He is not really asking the question twice; he is simply clarifying his previous answer. You may continue, Mister Mason."
"Isn't it true you know Suzanne Schultz personally?" Mason demanded.
"I already told you I do not know her," Aldridge was showing irritation with the lawyer.
Perry walked back to the defense table. Della looked up at him as if to question what information he wanted first. He smiled at her and picked up the file on Jordan Roman. He walked over to the prosecution table and showed the picture to Brian Anderson. Heading back to the stand, Mason handed the picture to Josh Aldridge. Giving him time to study the photo, he then resumed his questioning. "Do you know who that man is, Mister Aldridge?"
The expression on his face never changed. "Never saw the man before in my life," he said without hesitation.
"No? Didn't you use to see that man every time you looked in the mirror?" Mason thundered.
"Objection!" Anderson called out. "I have seen the picture of the man Mister Mason is showing the witness, and it doesn't look remotely like him."
"That is because he changed his face," Mason said, turning around to face the district attorney. There were murmurs in the courtroom.
"That is ridiculous, Mason. How could I change my face," Aldridge said.
"Doctor Barton Fredericks, will you please stand?" Mason called out.
A short, chubby, balding man stood up and faced the front of the courtroom. This time Aldridge's composure slipped a bit. Mason knew he had finally hit a nerve.
"I can call that man to the stand who will testify that he is a plastic surgeon. He will testify that he did plastic surgery on you and changed your appearance. We have the fingerprints of Jordan Roman. If we take your fingerprints, will they match those in the record of Jordan Roman?"
"Go ahead, Mason. They won't match." A smirk appeared on his face.
Mason knew Roman thought he had him, but the information his brother had sent to him would easily clear up the mystery. "Why won't they match, Mister Roman?"
Brian Anderson objected again. "The witness's name is Josh Aldridge. He has provided verification as to who he is."
"Mister Mason, you will use the name Aldridge until you prove otherwise," the judge said, sustaining the objection.
Mason walked back to the table. This time, Della knew exactly what he was looking for. She handed him the remaining papers in Ironside's report. He walked back over to the witness and said, "This report states that you went to another doctor. The man's name is Jorge Mendez. He lives in Mexico. This man burned your real fingerprints from your fingers and created new ones."
Again, his composure slipped just a bit. "This is ridiculous! I have never been to Mexico."
"Your Honor, Mister Mason has not introduced the report into evidence or provided any proof that it is genuine. Nor has he revealed who wrote it. How do we know the source can be trusted?"
"Mister Mason?" the judge said, looking over at the attorney.
"Can the word of the President of the United States be trusted?" Mason asked in a thundering voice. The courtroom broke out in loud chatter.
The judge banged his gavel on the bench. "Order in the court!" Judge Adam Samson called out. The courtroom quieted almost immediately.
"Mister Mason, how did you obtain this report? I would like to see it please," Judge Samson said.
Mason showed the report to the judge. "Your Honor, I have a brother who is a San Francisco police detective."
"I think everyone in this courtroom knows who your brother is, Mister Mason, go on."
"I contacted my brother and asked him to speak with his friend, President James Whitmore. I had information Jordan Roman was here at the ski lodge. Robert Ironside was able to reach the President who provided him with that file on Jordan Roman, an ex-CIA agent who committed crimes as an agent and disappeared. I had reason to believe that the man who now sits in the witness stand is that man. The president was able to provide us with the name of the doctor who performed plastic surgery. The surgeon, in turn, provided the name of the man he recommended to change his fingerprints."
Brian Anderson stood up. "This is all well and nice, Your Honor, I am sure everyone in the courtroom enjoys the cloak and dagger, but I am wondering just what this has to do with the murder of Richard Barrett."
Perry looked back into the spectators in the room. He rested his steely-blue stare on Suzanne Schultz. "It has everything to do with this case, Mister Anderson; this man is Jordan Roman, the father of both Cindy Roman, the girl whom Richard Barrett provided the drugs that ended her life. He is also the father of Suzanne Schultz, who has called a number on several occasions that can be traced directly back to this witness."
"I still don't see what this has to do with this case. We have the proof that Tracy Hanton is the murderer of Richard Barrett."
"It has everything to do with this case, Mister Anderson," Mason boomed. He turned quickly back to Suzanne Schultz and continued to answer Anderson. "You have circumstantial evidence that points at Tracy Hanton. Yes, she handled the gun, and the murderer took advantage of that. Richard Barrett was murdered because he was responsible for Cindy Roman's death. Jimmy Essex was murdered because he was supposed to kill Richard Barrett, but he shot wide of him because he could not kill him. The killer knew that so he was there on the slope to be sure Richard Barrett was shot dead. The same killer, using the key from the ski lodge vault, unlocked Jimmy Essex's room and entered the room, then shot him dead. The killer could not take the chance Essex's would break under the pressure of my examination."
Mason turn rapidly towards Suzanne Schultz once again. "Isn't that right, Mrs. Schultz."
"No, I did not kill him!" she shouted.
"You were able to obtain the key from the ski lodge office. Entering his room, you shot Jimmy Essex dead to keep him from telling this court who murdered Richard Barrett. You were on the ski slope the day Richard Barrett was murdered," Mason continued to thunder away at Suzanne Schultz while using the stare he was so famous for, one that brought about many confessions.
"No! That is not true! Tell them, Dad! Tell them I didn't do it!" Suzanne shouted.
Jordan Roman sat in the witness stand. He could not allow his daughter to be punished for what he had done. Lowering his head, he said, "She did not kill Richard Barret, I did. He deserved to die. He killed Cindy. I had to kill Jimmy Essex. He was weak. He would have talked."
"You expect the court to believe that?" Mason said.
"I heard Barrett and Hanton arguing while standing outside Drake's cabin. When she threatened to kill him, I knew I had the perfect scapegoat. I put on gloves, took the gun and went skiing. I shot Barrett and dropped the gun to leave it for evidence. I knew Tracy Hanton's prints were on it. I entered Essex room just as you said."
"Come now, Mister Roman, you are only trying to protect your daughter."
"I can prove I killed Essex. All you have to do is go to my house and you will find the gun. A ballistics test will prove it shot the bullet that killed Essex. Suzanne did not kill him, I did. Just go get it, Mason."
Perry walked over to the table and opened the large manila envelope. He pulled the gun out and showed it to Jordan Roman. "I already have, Mister Roman."
"What? You already knew! You never suspected Suzanne, did you?" he asked, realizing Mason had tricked him into a confession.
"I knew she didn't kill Jimmy Essex. A father that would kill a man responsible for one daughter's death would certainly protect another daughter for paying for a crime he committed," Mason answered.
Brian Anderson stood up. "Due to these developments, I move all charges against the defendant be dismissed."
"Defense certainly concurs," Mason said.
"All charges against the defendant are hereby dismissed. The defendant is ordered released. "Bailiff, take Mister Roman into custody for the murders of Richard Barrett and Jimmy Essex." Judge Adam Samson banged his gavel and said, "Court is adjourned." He stood up and left the courtroom. Just before he entered his chambers, he looked back at the famous attorney. He smiled as he left the courtroom. He was happy he had gotten to see him closeup. The man certainly deserved his reputation.
Tracy Hanton threw her arms around Perry Mason. Reaching up, she kissed his cheek. "You saved my life, Mister Mason. I don't know how to thank you. I will return every penny of the money to those men, after I pay you."
"You don't owe me any money, Tracy, and I will do what I can to help you with whatever legal trouble you might still be in," Perry told her. Mason turned to Della who was smiling at him. Despite the huge fees he could command, he was not going to charge her one single penny. She was sure it was in part because she would have no money to pay him with once the authorities froze her accounts, and partly because of his compassion for both Tracy and Paul. This was a prime example why she loved this man so.
As Tracy turned to leave, Paul Drake was standing there. He walked forward and hugged her. "We need to talk, Tracy."
"Alright, Paul." She took his arm and he led her out of the courtroom.
As Della gathered up Perry's papers, Hamilton Burger and Lieutenant Tragg approached them.
"Do you think we could finally get some skiing in?" Hamilton said, his wife standing beside him.
"Skiing? I have had enough of this freezing weather. I already booked a flight out of this god-forsaken cold. I am going home," Tragg grumbled. "Mason, we are even. If you ever bring up that you defended me on that murder charge again, I'll kill you myself!"
Everyone laughed at the lieutenant's expense. Hamilton had a puzzled look on his face. When Mason noticed, Hamilton asked him, "You had the evidence that tied Roman to the gun which killed Jimmy Essex, I don't understand why you went after Suzanne Schultz."
"It's simple, Hamilton. I could prove he killed Jimmy Essex, but to get Tracy off for the murder of Richard Barrett, I had to get Roman to confess. I could not prove he killed Barrett. By going after Suzanne, I was sure he would break down and confess to protect her."
"Perry said it, Hamilton. If he killed Barrett because he was responsible for Cindy's death, he would not allow his other daughter to go to the death penalty for murders he committed. Makes perfect sense to me," Della said with a smile.
"Come on, let's go skiing. Sure you won't change your mind, Lieutenant?" Perry asked, knowing what response was coming.
"I would think it is obvious to you that I hate this weather, have booked a flight and am going home, Mason," Tragg grumbled.
"Well, you see, Tragg, I always look beyond the obvious," Perry said with a grin. As everyone laughed, Tragg stomped off.
*
Back at their cabin, Tracy finished packing her clothes. As Paul watched her, he tried to think of a way to start the conversation they desperately needed to have. "Look, Tracy, I have been an idiot. I should have come to talk to you immediately."
"Mister Mason said he was keeping you busy."
"He was just covering for me." He hesitated before walking over to her. He took her hands in order to stop her. "Come, sit down so we can talk."
Tracy allowed him to lead her over to the bed. They sat down together; Paul continued to hold her hands. "Please, accept my apology for my behavior."
"No, you were right to be angry. I should have told you. It is just that I was afraid of losing you. I was willing to do whatever it took to prevent that."
"Why didn't you tell me once you knew we were getting serious?" Paul asked.
"I couldn't tell you. I know what you think a woman should be. I don't measure up to that. If I had told you, you would have broken things off."
Drake shook his head. "You don't know that, Tracy. You should have trusted me. How can we work things out if you don't communicate with me?"
She looked him straight in the eye. "You work for an attorney, not just any attorney, but the most famous attorney in the country. You would not have been able to accept what I have done and you know it. It doesn't fit into your perfect legal world."
Paul looked down. I admit I am having a hard time with this. Still, I think we can work it out."
She shook her head. "I don't think your ethics and beliefs would allow that. What would happen the first time we ran into one of my johns in public? You would never be able to handle it. Furthermore, what about your work with Perry Mason? It could become a problem for him."
"I don't see how," Paul said. "He and Della kept telling me to talk to you and work it out. They have been insistent as a matter of fact."
"That is what I am trying to get you to see. You are not here because you want to be, you are here because they have convinced you that everything will be alright. The truth of the matter is it will never be. You will always look at every man that comes near me and you will wonder if I … well you know what I am trying to say."
"Tracy, I love you. That is all that should matter," Paul told her.
"That's the problem, Paul. That is not all that matters and you proved that with the way you handled it. I love you too, but this is a love that was not meant to be."
"Tracy, don't do this."
"It is already done. I have made a decision. I am going back to New York. I am going to get an honest job and somehow I am going to make it. The next time I will be perfectly honest with a man so this never happens again."
"Tracy …"
"No, my mind is made up. You could never live with what I have done and I love you too much to make you." She walked over to her suitcase, which now contained all of her belongings. Picking it up, she said, "Please tell Mister Mason I will send him my address. If he knows a good lawyer in New York, please have him call him and work with him so I can return all of the money." She bent down and kissed him before leaving the cabin.
Paul just sat there staring at the door she had just gone out. Tears appeared in his eyes.
*
Della turned on the electric fireplace. She smoothed her nightgown and checked her watch. Perry should have been back by now. Della wondered what was keeping him. She walked backed to the stand next to the bed and picked up the bottle of wine and glasses. She walked over and set them on the mantle of the fire place. Della spread out a blanket in front of the fireplace.
She then went back to the bed, grabbed the two pillows, took them over and set them down on the blanket. She smiled and looked over at the door of the cabin. All that was missing for a nice romantic encounter was the man she wanted to have that encounter with.
The door to the cabin opened and that man finally walked through the door. Della immediately noticed the somber look on his face. "I got your note saying you would be gone for the rest of the afternoon and well into the evening. Where have you been?"
"I took Paul to the airport," Perry told her.
"Airport? He didn't stay to ski with us?" Della was afraid she knew what that meant. "His talk with Tracy did not go well."
"No, I am afraid not. Tracy broke it off. She went back to New York. She is going to try to make a go of it there."
Della was quiet for a moment. She could only imagine how crushed Paul had to be. "Paul couldn't talk her out of it then?"
"No. Paul is upset with himself for not talking to her sooner. He is blaming himself for her leaving."
Della walked over to him and put her arms around Perry's waist. "I don't think it would have done any good. She knew Paul couldn't handle it. She let him go rather than allowing him to try and live with it."
"He really loves her, Della. I don't think I have seen a woman affect Paul this way in a long time."
"Do you think there is any chance she will change her mind?"
"No. Tracy feels he will never reconcile what she did in his mind," Perry answered.
"You should have tried to get him to stay, Perry."
"No, Della, I think he needed to leave here. Going back to that empty cabin with Tracy gone would only have made things worse for him. He made the right decision to go back to Los Angeles now."
"I feel so bad for him," Della said.
"Not as bad as I do," Perry told her.
She stood back from him. "What do you mean by that? Do you really think you could feel more for Paul than me?"
"Yes, I do, and I will tell you why."
"Why?" Della asked.
"Because, I know exactly how I would feel if I lost you," he said.
Della melted. The slight anger that had been rising evaporated immediately. She put her arms around his waist again. "You will never lose me. I would never leave you."
Perry tighten his arms around her. "Paul will need time. We will have to be there for him."
"We will be," she agreed.
"In the meantime, do you think we could make use of the blanket and the wine?" He smiled down at her.
"We have to be up early to go skiing with the Burgers," Della reminded him.
"That's tomorrow, what about tonight?" Perry said with mischief in his blue eyes."
"Tonight we sip wine on the blanket in front of the fireplace," Della purred.
Perry picked Della up, carried her over to the fire place and laid her down on the blanket. Tonight they would enjoy the wine and make love in front of the fireplace. Tomorrow they would go skiing with Hamilton and his wife. The day after that they would return to Los Angeles as Paul did today. Only they would return together, unlike Paul and Tracy.
They both knew that in time Paul's pain would ease. Until then, they would both be there for him, the three of them together as it had always been.
The End
Disclaimer: I do not own the Perry Mason characters. They are the creation of Erle Stanley Gardner. The rest of the characters were created in my mine to tell the story.
I have no legal training, but I cannot envision a Perry Mason story without courtroom scenes. Please accept this for what it is intended, entertainment for Perry Mason fans.
Thank you to my beta Journeythroughtime for proofing this story. Another Perry Mason case is in the works.
Kaleen1212