Tunnel of Love?

In the tunnel, Kevin Grant had returned with several tools, a length of rope and his hard hat. He explained to Perry and Daniel that he was going to start at the far right side of the mound and work his way over until, hopefully he could get to the top. Then he would try to move enough debris to get a signal on the officer's radio.

Grant tied the rope around his waist, pulling on work gloves and hard hat, he looked to Perry and Daniel. "I have to ask one of you to stay here and watch to let me know if you see anything shifting or giving way."

Perry looked at Daniel, who shook his head. Perry looked back at Grant. "Looks like we both stay. Two pairs of eyes are better than one."

Grant shook both men's hands and started toward the bottom of the debris mound.

Meanwhile, Della was in the process of helping people move behind the makeshift barrier they had created. The men had found two of the cars that were still drivable and positioned them side by side and up against the huge concrete slab to, hopefully, steady it should something happen.

When Della had seen the police car a little further back from the barrier, she put the little girl and puppy, along with her mother and father in the backseat. The two older couples, the Stevens and George and Carolyn Miller, she found a place for just behind in another undamaged car. Knowing that if the unthinkable happened they could not move as fast as the others and she wanted these people more or less safe.

The other's positioned themselves back away from the barrier, leaning against cars, or sitting on the chunks of fallen concrete. She also noted that Carol Price stayed well back of the group, pacing nervously. Her husband was no where around, which Della found both curious and disturbing.

Of course her main concern was the only person she knew wouldn't be staying behind the barrier. And she also knew no matter how much she pleaded, it would do no good. So she did the only thing she could. She went to be at his side.

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Perry, Daniel and most surprisingly, Jack Price, stood silently, watching as Grant slowly and cautiously started his climb. With every step he took, over dirt and chunks of concrete, the three men watched for any sign the mound was shifting or giving way.

So intent was he on watching Grant, that Perry jumped slightly when he felt a hand on his arm. He looked down into the beautiful hazel eyes he knew so well and frowned. "Della what are you doing here? Get back with the others."

She looked up at him with a matching frown. "Will you come with me?"

"Della you know I need to stay here. Now please..."

She slipped her arm through his, giving him a smile. "I'm staying. End of discussion."

Seeing the smile but also the fierce look in her eyes, Perry just shook his head. "Alright Miss. But at least stay close to me."

Now her eyes turned to fire and she stepped nearer to him. "As close as I can get."

As he was about to respond, Daniel drew his attention back. "Looks like Grant's almost to the top Mr. Mason."

Perry turned back to look up at Grant, seeing he was indeed almost at the top of the mound. But Della was noticing something odd. Jack Price seemed to be edging closer to Officer Kelly. He was pretending to watch Grant, but he was slowly making his way to the young officer's side. It was then she took a long look at Price's face. And she suddenly knew.

Tugging on Perry's arm to get his attention, she pulled him down to whisper in his ear. "Perry listen to me. Jack Price...that's Jonah Pierce. You got him convicted of murder last year and he should be in prison right now. He's also moving closer to Daniel. Somethings wrong."

Perry took a quick glance, seeing Della was right. Still watching Grant, he also turned, at the same time moving Della behind his body. "Daniel could you come over here. I think something is shifting."

But in that instant Pierce had gotten next to the officer and grabbed his gun from the holster, pointing it at them. "Nice try Mason, but you're too late."

Hearing Jack's voice, Daniel turned. Seeing the man pointing a gun at them, he reached for his own gun, only to realize that it was no longer there. He took a hesitant step forward, but Price shoved him back. "Don't try to be a hero. Just get over there with Mason and his lady."

Daniel backed away until he was standing in front of Perry. He felt Perry's hand on his back and heard him whisper. "Daniel, you're not wearing a vest, so just listen to me." Perry felt the young man give a slight shrug. "Okay. That is Jonah Pierce. He's a convicted murderer, obviously escaped from prison. I'm the one who got him convicted, so it's me he'll be after." Again the slight shrug.

At that moment Grant, oblivious to what was taking place below him, called down that he had a small opening and they needed to hook the radio to the rope for him to pull up.

Pierce turned his attention to Grant. "Okay Grant, listen to me. Get your ass back down here, and make it snappy."

Grant looked down, recognizing a gun in the man's hand. "Hey, what gives. Don't shoot that thing. You'll bring this mess down on top of you."

Pierce raised the gun in Grant's direction. "Then if you're telling the truth, start making your way back down here...now."

"Okay, okay. I'm coming down. It's gonna take me a while, so just take it easy with that gun."

With Pierce's concentration on Grant, Perry felt Daniel tense. Perry took hold of the officer's shirt, whispering. "Daniel, don't." When the cop started to resist, Perry said the only thing he could. "Daniel, Della's behind me. For her sake, please don't." Perry felt the cop relax and give a slight nod.

Now Perry turned his attention to Pierce. "So what happens now Pierce?"

Pierce kept his eyes on Grant, marking the way he was coming down, but he also trained the gun back on Daniel, Perry and Della. "Simple Mason. I'm getting out of here. Whether the rest of you get out, depends on if you behave yourselves."

"So you're gonna try and get out of here and leave the rest of us. You realize that there are probably a few dozen cops and emergency people outside. Even if you do manage to get through, how do you plan to explain only you climbing out of here?" Perry was trying to keep his voice level.

"Oh, I'll make it a good sob story. I'll tell them how I heroically volunteered to climb my way out because the rest of you are in such bad shape. By the time they start digging their way through, I'll be on my way to Canada." He looked at Perry with a sneer. "Don't worry Mason. I'm sure people will manage to get you out...eventually."

Grant had finally managed to reach the bottom. Pierce waved the gun at him, motioning him over to where the other three stood. "Okay. Now if you will all just stay right there, I'll be saying my good-byes."

Perry felt Della lean out from behind him. "What about your wife?"

Pierce laughed. "Oh, that's not my wife. Just some dumb bimbo I picked up to keep me company on the ride. I was planning on ditching her as soon as I was out of the country."

Della couldn't believe the man could be so callous, but then he was a convicted murderer. She held tightly to Perry's arm, watching as Pierce headed toward the area that Grant had climbed. As he passed by them, suddenly Daniel made a move.

And several things happened at once. When Daniel reached for the man, Pierce swung the gun at the cop, catching him on his temple, sending the young cop to the ground. Perry moved quickly, managing to grab Pierce's arm, then connected with a solid right hook. Pierce stumbled back, the gun going off, ending with Pierce on the ground. There was a rumbling sound and the debris mound started shifting. Before anyone could move, concrete and dirt started falling. Pierce let out a scream just before a large chunk of concrete fell, effectively silencing him.

Grant helped Daniel to his feet and shoved him to get him moving, both of them running around the barrier. Perry saw that Della was standing very still and reached out to grab her hand, but she collapsed in his arms. "Della!" That's when he saw the blood soaking through her blouse at her left side. "Oh my God, Della!"

Daniel came running back. "Mr. Mason, we need to get behind the barrier."

The normally calm and in control Perry Mason was suddenly lost as to what he should do. "Daniel, Della's been shot!" His voice has risen to a shout. Daniel looked at the blood and making a quick decision, took Della from Perry and hurried behind their makeshift barrier, Perry right on his heels.