Identical 2

The Mercurial Stranger

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'Della, you're still here, I thought you'd left over an hour ago.' Perry Mason stood by the table she was still seated at looking between her and her companion.

Della took a quick glance at her watch realising she had been sat talking for well over an hour with this mercurial stranger. 'Oh my goodness I didn't realise the time.' She then looked at Perry who it seemed had taken an interest in Robert and was staring intently at him. Della could almost hear the cogs turning in his brilliant brain. 'I'm sorry, Perry Mason, this is Mr Robert Ironside of San Francisco. Robert this is my employer Mr Perry Mason of Los Angeles.'

Robert stood to his feet and shook the proffered hand from Perry. 'A pleasure,' he mused.

'Likewise,' Perry countered. Now they were stood mere two feet apart Della marvelled at the likeness. They were both the same height and broad build. Perry had seemingly darker, slightly longer hair swept back in a wave, Robert's was shorter, flatter and had more sprinkling of grey starting to show. Both had blue eyes but to Della in the light of the bar, one appeared to be a shade lighter than the other and Robert was heavier both in body and around the face and was Della guessed, at least five years older. My God, she thought they really could be twins if Bob was a little younger and twenty pounds lighter. She blinked her eyes. How could they not see it.

'I'm sorry about earlier.' Perry had turned his attention back to Della.

'Sorry, what?' Della was caught off guard again causing Robert to stifle a smirk.

'About Victoria appearing. I really didn't know she was coming. I never got to tell you how stunning you look this evening,' Perry was apologetic.

'It's fine, absolutely fine.' Della dismissed gracefully. 'It's just one of those things. Besides, my evening hasn't turned out so bad as it happens so wearing this dress hasn't been a complete waste of time.' She threw Robert one of her brilliant smiles and he in return felt a tingle somewhere unmentionable. The dress was certainly not wasted on him that he was quite certain of. She looked exquisite he thought.

'Oh here's where you're hiding!' The voice that suddenly took over the three of them arrived with its owner by the side of the table. The high pitched, saccharine laced false staccato made Della cringe. Perry stiffened as fingers, with what he would describe as blood red talons, gripped his forearm. Victoria Carstairs came from new money. She was dressed in the tightest black evening dress Della had ever seen, her ample chest on display with the daring, low cut bodice leaving nothing to the imagination. Her long blonde locks hung loose covering her bare shoulders like wrap. In all she was blonde, leggy and stacked just how her boss seemed to like them these days. Unfortunately, her personality was less desirable to people than her model looks. She was vain, arrogant, self entitled and had no time for anyone she did not consider worthy of her family money and social status. She certainly had no time for women who chose to work and certainly not Della whom she considered a threat but was apparently too dim to understand quite why. Right now her face had moved from demure coquette to hawk tracking its prey as she discovered who her date was speaking to.

'I thought I dismissed you hours ago,' Victoria said to Della coldly. Robert who had been in the process of sitting, suddenly shot back to his feet planting them slightly apart and taking a defensive step towards Della, his face turning to stone, eyes narrowing.

'I appear to have new dinner plans which kept me here a little longer,' Della replied calmly. Her eyes met Robert's with a twinkle at her implied dinner invitation to him, which eroded his initial anger. He gave a nod to indicate he would play along.

'Well, I would think this place is a little on the expensive side for you and secretaries don't get bookings last minute in the restaurant here, unless they're making them for their employers.'

'Actually,' Robert finally cut in. 'The beautiful Miss Street has very kindly agreed to have dinner with me this evening.' Victoria whirled about to look at the man she had not initially noticed standing almost next to her. She drew a breath ready with a vicious comment about the working class woman he was having dinner with but halted when she looked into his face. A look of shock registered immediately and she leaned back as if her eyes were trying to focus. She clearly saw the resemblance and Della allowed herself a satisfied smug smile.

'I ah,…erm,' Victoria opened and closed her mouth several times.

'Bob!' Another voice joined the quartet. Robert turned and frowned.

'Dennis.'

'Where have you been, I need you to speak with the L.A Police Commissioner. I know you didn't want to be here but….' Robert cut him off.

'Dennis Randall, meet Mr Perry Mason, a lawyer here in L.A. Mr Mason, this is Dennis Randall, San Francisco Police Commissioner.' Robert held his hand out inviting Della to take it and stand as the other two men shook hands. Della accepted it without question. 'I've been here for the last hour,' Robert continued not taking his eyes from the beautiful lady in front of him. 'This evening got much better when I came in here for a breather. Miss Della Street, Dennis Randall.' They nodded at each other in acknowledgement.

'Miss Street, 'Victoria chimed in as she became aware she had not been introduced to either man and was not the centre of attention, 'Is Mr Mason's secretary and she was….Ouch Perry stop that!' Perry was gripping one of her hands still on his forearm. He gave her a stern look, the one that told her he was extremely displeased with her. The look that she was the recipient of rather too frequently these days for her liking.

'Della, how would you like to meet the LA Police Commissioner?' Robert offered his arm.

'Well detective, I'd be delighted by such an honour.' She slipped her arm through his and they smiled at each other as they walked off towards the main ballroom.

'Tell me, Commissioner is it?' Victoria glared at Dennis Randall. 'Do you always allow your staff to introduce mere secretaries to VIPs?'

'Staff?' Dennis looked confused. Perry was intrigued by his reaction to Victoria calling the man staff and stepped in half a stride to hear even better.

'Yes, your assistant, detective Bob what's his face.'

'Bob? Oh, well yes I suppose he is my staff technically….' Dennis responded thoughtfully to himself, 'However Bob isn't my assistant, he's Robert Ironside, San Francisco's youngest ever Chief of Detectives. Mr Mason if you'll excuse me.' Dennis turned on his heel leaving Perry with a wide grin and Victoria Carstairs almost incandescent with rage that she had been upstaged by a woman who actually worked for a living.

TBC