Enough

When Perry and Della had arrived back at the bungalow, Mae, at first had been shocked by their appearance, then shook her head chuckling and sent them to dry off. Luckily Perry had brought a change of clothes in the event Della wouldn't speak to him and he had to find a hotel for the night.

Once they were both dry, Mae had served up coffee and homemade apple pie. Della knew her aunt couldn't have been too angry at her boss. Mae's apple pie was Perry's favorite. Although she was still going to have a few stern words with her aunt, she knew if Mae had made that pie, she had probably known Perry would show up.

Now Della, Perry and Mae were sitting at the kitchen table, talking over cups of coffee. Mae had applauded Della for forcing Perry into a late night swim. She even grudgingly smiled at knowing Perry had returned the favor.

"Mae, he could have drowned me."

Perry choked on his coffee. "I'm the one who almost drowned. And I seem to recall you were pretty panicked when you thought I wasn't coming up."

Della set her coffee cup down a little harder than she intended.

"I just didn't want to start job hunting."

Perry responded quickly. "I doubt you'd find a better job Miss Street."

"Oh, you are not the only lawyer in town. Maybe I'll go to work for Hamilton Burger." She smiled sweetly at him.

But Perry frowned. "You do that and I'll bring charges for breach of contract and…"

Mae's laughter stopped their banter.

"Now you two need to stop before I send you both into a corner for a time out."

Perry and Della just looked at her, then at each other and joined in Mae's laughter.

When the phone rang, Mae answered quickly, still chuckling.

"Hello?"

"Mrs. Kirby, it's Paul Drake."

Mae smiled. "It's okay Mr. Drake. He's here and…"

"Mrs. Kirby, I need to speak to Perry."

At the tone in Paul's voice, Mae knew something very bad had happened. She turned to Perry, extending the phone to him, her smile fading.

"It's Mr. Drake for you."

Perry stood, reaching for the phone, noting the serious look on Mae's face.

"What is it Paul?"

Della came to stand beside him, so he tilted the receiver so she could hear.

"Perry, Laura's dead. She was murdered."

Perry heard Della's gasp and felt her hand on his arm.

"When?"

"Not sure. But Perry, there's something else."

Perry felt his heart sink. "What?"

Paul cleared his throat. "She was found…in Della's apartment. Tragg's here."

"NO!" At Della's cry, Mae rushed to her nieces side, while Perry put his arm around her shoulders.

"Finish it." Perry's voice was flat, devoid of emotion.

Paul let out a heavy sigh. "It was a knife from Della's kitchen and…"

Perry didn't say anything, waiting for the final blow.

"She had enough strength left to write Della's initials in her blood."

Perry felt Della sag against him. Mae took her arm and guided her to a chair. Perry looked at his secretary, noting that all the blood seemed to have drained from her face.

"Perry?"

Turning his attention back to Paul, he started firing instructions.

"Okay Paul. Find out what you can from Tragg and forensics. I need the time of death , if she was killed there or…"

"Easy, Perry. I know the drill. I'll have everything I can dig up waiting for you. When will you be back?"

Looking at Della, seeing that Mae had put a glass of scotch in her hand, he knew that the sooner they got back, the better it would be.

"I don't want to take the drive in the dark. We'll leave here first thing in the morning. Stall Tragg as long as you can."

Paul laughed. "Sure, give me the hard part." But then his voice turned serious again. "For what it's worth pal, I'm sorry about Laura."

"Thanks." Then he hung up.

Perry returned to the table, watching as Della tried to control her shaking hands.

Mae was gently rubbing Della's arm but she looked at Perry with a frown.

"So what's this all about? How is Della involved in this?"

Perry thrust his hands through his hair. "Laura Cavanagh was a…friend of mine. From just what Paul told me, she's been murdered and found in Della's apartment."

When Mae started to speak, Perry held up his hand. "Mae, until we can get back to town and get all the facts I can't say anymore."

Mae only nodded. "Della, honey, let's get you to bed. You need some rest."

Della patted her aunt's hand. "Thank you, Aunt Mae. But I think Perry and I need to talk."

Mae stood and hugged her niece. "Of course."

As Mae walked by Perry, she gave him a hug, whispering in his ear. "You better take care of this…or else."