WftE 7

Della Street pushed the last paper down into the filing cabinet draw and sighed heavily. Although it had been a day not unlike many of the others she'd had working in the D.A's offices, it had been emotionally draining. The previous evening she had hardly slept after first seeing her old employer in their old haunt of Clays diner and then that had been closely followed by drinks and dancing with him at the cocktail lounge. Being in his arms again felt right as it had from the first moment they'd danced and she'd been angry at herself for giving in to him so easily and readily. As if that hadn't caused her enough emotional upheaval, she'd arrived at work only to discover Perry Mason's fiancé had made an unfounded complainant about her, the D.A had just about asked her to spy on her new boss and both Perry Mason and Hamilton Burger had made passing comments to her in what seemed to be code straight from a boys own comic. Yes, her day had been both confusing and energy sapping.

'Are you alright Miss Street?' Della inadvertently slammed the cabinet draw closed as Tom Leopold suddenly appeared at her elbow. Della placed a hand on her chest as she started at his voice.

'Goodness me Mr Leopold, you gave me a fright. I thought you had already left.' Della placed a hand on the cabinet corner to steady herself.

'I'm sorry,' Leopold took her arm. 'I didn't mean to startle you. I came back for something. What are you doing here? All the other secretaries left almost an hour ago.'

'I was just finishing up on some case papers in the Sampson trial. He's sentenced on Friday and there maybe an appeal.'

Leopold shook his head. 'No there won't be an appeal.'

Della frowned. 'How can you be so sure?'

'I just know.' His eyes narrowed at her. He was so close, Della could feel his breath on her face. She began to bristle at his nearness and the realisation his hand still rested on her arm. 'Now why are you still here?'

Della spun away from him and stepped into clear space putting her desk between them.

'I guess I'm not used to finishing this early. I like to make sure the decks are cleared for the following day,' she offered.

'Mason kept you later than this?' Leopold perched himself on the edge of her desk, his eyes still boring into her.

'It was my choice. Mr Mason worked long and hard and expected the same from his secretary. I didn't mind at all.'

'Was it the work or was it him?' It was an emotionless statement.

'I'm not sure that's an appropriate question Mr Leopold, but seeing as you asked, it was the work.' Della folded her arms defensively daring him to challenge her again. Leopold slid from the desk and stood up. His eyes softening and his face relaxing back into its usual friendly countenance.

'Of course it was the work,' he smiled. 'Mason's probably not your type anyway.'

Della looked puzzled as to both why this conversation had started down this path and where was it actually going. 'How would you know what my type is? Why wouldn't he be? Or are you suggesting that as a secretary my only attraction is to whoever I'm employed by? I can assure you, I'm a career girl. The only admiration I want from my boss is because of the way I carry out my job and duties.'

Leopold just smirked. 'You have my admiration for your efficiency Miss Street,' he said in mock formality. 'Please go home and enjoy the rest of your evening and I will see you bright an early tomorrow morning.' With a slight bow, he went into his office and closed the door. Della gathered her purse and coat. Giving one last glance at the closed office door, she shook her head. This indeed was turning into a very strange last 24 hours indeed.

Walking to the elevator, she began shimmying into her coat when her purse clasp came open and her lipstick fell, rolling towards the corner wall. With a muttered expletive, she chased after it and had triumphantly retrieved it when the elevator doors slid opened and the British voice she so vehemently disliked rang in her ears. 'Thank you I can find it.' It said harshly. Della instinctively pushed back into the angled corner so anyone exiting the elevator would not see. She watched as Laura went straight to Tom Leopold's office. Perhaps she's come to talk about an appeal, Della thought absently but curiosity got the better of her. Looking around the deserted corridors, she turned back to her office, moving on tiptoe so her heels didn't clack on the marble floors.

Her office was still dimly lit but the door to the ADA's office was cracked open slightly. She heard the voices of the ADA and Laura.

'You know there was a picture of us at the country club in the broadsheet this morning,' Leopold's voice came through first.

'So?'

'So we need to keep a distance for now. The photo could have been interpreted as intimate.'

'We are intimate Tom.' Laura sounded angry. 'Perry was out screwing around with that little mouse of his ex secretary last night, why shouldn't I be out enjoying the company of my friends? Or are you falling for her act as well?'

'Don't be ridiculous Laura. She might be good for a roll in the sack and some light relief, but she's not the type I'd take home to meet my parents.'

Della frowned and bit back a gasp. The nerve of the two.

'I was thinking more about your fiancé seeing the picture.'

'Perry doesn't read the gossip sheets and besides, he's exactly where I want him. He dare not say a word or else. It's going to be a marriage of convenience. He's a prominent lawyer now but his background stock is much like that of the Street girl. It makes me laugh sometimes. They're actually suited to each other more than I am to him.'

'Well Laura, it's obvious to me Miss Street has a 'thing' for her ex-employer. I'm pretty certain if Mason showed her any affection, they'd be bedmates before midnight. Now forget those two, what did you come here to discuss?'

'Things are moving on now. After the election next week we should be home and dry. We just need to make sure our sentencing statements on Friday ensure young Sampson gets the max. I won't be trying too hard to get the judge to go easy. The money will be deposited as soon as the gavel comes down.'

Della's ears pricked up. Max sentence, money deposits, for what? She was currently fighting the urge not to burst into the office and start shouting at the two. The mysterious comments about everything being sorted were starting to make some sense, although she wasn't completely sure at that moment who she could trust, if anyone. This sounded to her like Sampson was being paid to go to jail. Never in the world did she believe Perry Mason could get caught up in such a dishonest and downright disgusting conspiracy as this sounded. She was brought out of her thoughts by Laura's voice dropping into seductive mode.

'Now Tom, I need a little fun tonight. Perry and I argued again this morning. It's dreary being with him, always working, taking on those dreadfully low, poor and dirty oiks he likes to help. I need a little distraction.' The room went quiet. Della began backing up towards the exit, but her heel caught on a chair leg making a loud scraping noise.

'Who's out there?' Tom Leopold bellowed as the door to his office jerked open seconds later. The office was empty. Laura appeared in the doorway.

'Who's out here?' she half whispered.

'Looks like no-one. There.' Leopold pointed. Outside the glass window of Della's office the janitor was scraping his bucket along the corridor. 'It was most likely that we heard. The outer door is open. Let's get the hell out of here so we can talk more and have some fun on the way.' The ADA and his unexpected companion swept from the office, banging the door closed behind them. After two minutes, Della popped her head up from her hiding place. She had quickly folded herself under her desk and prayed not to be found. A large wooden panel at the front meant she was hidden from anyone passing and the fortuitous appearance of Mack the elderly janitor and diverted the ADA from making a thorough search of her office and had unnerved them enough to make a hasty exit.

Della gathered her wits and purse once more and made to leave. Her destination she decided was the Brent building so she could speak with Paul to find out what was going on.

TBC