We're Done! 7

Something's Off

Dinner, dancing, the D.A and good scotch at the Bar Association dinner….oh & don't forget Laura

Thank you for the comments. They are very much appreciated.

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Perry Mason balled his hands into a fist and stretched them out again for what felt like the thousandth time that evening. Flexing them, putting them into his pockets, rubbing them, he could do nothing other than fidget. His fingers ached to touch and had been doing so for the few days he had been back in his own home, albeit staying in his bought and paid for guest bedroom. When he had suggested to Della a last minute evening out at the L.A county Bar Association dinner, he had neglected to think about what his wife might wear to the event. It was now the folly of that neglect that was driving him closer to the edge of the invisible cliff of his sanity with every passing moment.

Taking another sip of his third double scotch he finally made a decision. Walking away from the bar and winding his way through the tables he reached the dance floor. Perfect timing as Della waltzed close enough to him. Stepping in her way his hand brushed her bare shoulder and he cleared his throat.

'Excuse me Hamilton,' he mustered his politest voice. 'Mind if I cut in?' It wasn't a request. Hamilton Burger looked at the granite, unsmiling features of his court adversary and sometime friend. The look in Perry's eye made any retort of bravado evaporate on his lips. He stepped back and nodded.

'Your prerogative Counselor,' he said before hurrying off the dance floor.

'That was rather rude Perry,' Della quietly admonished as her husband took her in his arms and pulled her closer than she believed was socially acceptable at these Bar Association dinners. 'I was quite enjoying that dance.'

'You seem to be happy to dance with any man in the room but me,' Perry growled, his hand sliding possessively another couple of inches down the small of her back than she felt comfortable in public with. He really didn't want to admit to her it was the dress she was wearing that was driving him to distraction and the height of frustration, not the fact she had danced with someone else. The midnight blue dress, a version of one of his past favourites, with a plunging neckline and an equally plunging rear which showed off an expanse of her back that had sent a bolt of electricity straight to his groin when she had appeared at the office in it and he had been on edge all night since. If he thought for one minute he could have gotten away with it, he would have suggested they miss the dinner, lock the doors of his office and make use of the conference table, his office desk, his chair, the couch and anywhere else passion would have taken them. All his office 'hanky panky' ideas he was certain Della would have agreed to before the pre Friday afternoon Laura run in had occurred.

'I was asked by Hamilton while you were propping up the bar and single handedly contributing to the Scottish whiskey distillers profits. I accepted a dance from a friend, nothing more. I have no idea why you asked me to come with you if all you are doing is drinking and brooding.' The music changed to a slower dance. Della reached around and slid his hand back into a more socially accepted position but he slide his hand straight back, his blue eyes smouldering in a challenge. She let is be.

'Every man in the room has been taking a number on your dance card,' Perry moved his head closer to hers. She could feel his breath lightly across her face. 'I decided it was time to wipe it clean and start again with my name filling all the vacancies.' He was still unsmiling. Until that point, he had been scared of touching her and losing his composure completely.

'No they haven't. I've had one dance with Hamilton. You're drunk.'

'Not yet but there's time.'

'This isn't like you.'

'We aren't like us at the moment, remember?' They moved gracefully together past their table where Burger had retreated and was now talking to his wife.

'They seem off tonight,' Katherine Burger commented to her husband.

'What do you mean?' Burger lit a cigarette and puffed a cloud of smoke upwards.

'There's no real intimacy there.'

'Is this womens intuition?' Burger chuckled.

'No it's an observation Hamilton. We've been attending dinners for years with these two, fourth of July BBQ's and we're godparents to their youngest two. I've never seen them so together but yet so apart. There's just something…off.'

'Well,' Hamilton became thoughtful. 'Admittedly, that is the first dance I've managed with Della for years. Normally you can't prise them apart. When Perry cut in I thought if I refused to hand her over, he'd deck me.'

'Jealousy?'

'Perhaps a little but something different. More possessive.'

'More possessive than usual you mean? Like she's holding him at arms length and he's getting frustrated?'

'Yeah, that sounds more like it.'

'I wonder…..' Katherine Burger stopped mid sentence as her eyes flicked towards the ballroom staircase.

'What's wrong?' Burger followed his wifes glare. 'Oh sh….heck!'

'I think I've just figured out what the cause of the tension might be.'

'I think you're right.'

At the top of the staircase sweeping into the room like a hurricane, swooping between all before her in a tight, shimmering silver gown with a million watt smile, was Laura Robertson.

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The band changed the music again. Another slow dance. Della suddenly stiffened in Perry's arms. He immediately detected the change.

'What's wrong?' he whispered into her hair. During one and a half dances they had finally managed to relax into each others embrace moving about the dance floor and he had started to feel better than he had done in over a week. Della stopped mid movement and Perry had to use some fancy footwork to avoid stepping on her toes. 'Baby what's wrong?' he asked again this time a little louder in case she hadn't heard him the first time. Della for her part had suddenly turned stony faced and pale. He followed her gaze towards the staircase and swallowed hard.

'Come on,' he reached for Della to take her in his arms again. 'Forget her, we're having much too nice a time for it be spoilt now.' For her part, Della swatted his arms away and took two steps back from him. 'What?' Perry asked in confusion. 'I didn't know she was going to be here. As far as I was aware she was going back to Denver on Tuesday.'

Without a further word, Della swirled away from the dance floor and made her way back to their table. Perry blew out a breath of frustration as he followed her. Suddenly he had a horrible feeling the evening that had been becoming brighter with each note played, was now about to turn into something more sinister and unpleasant.

'By that look on your face Della you noticed who just flew in on her broomstick.' Katherine Burger shot her husband a warning glance as the words left his mouth. Hamilton ignored her and carried on. 'Well I guess things are going to get interesting now.'

'What do you mean by that Hamilton?' Della asked indignantly.

'I'll run a book now on how long it takes her to corner Perry here and start shoving her less than ample chest at him.'

'Hamilton, why the hell don't you just keep your damn comments to yourself!' Perry Mason could barely contain his anger. He grabbed blindly for Della's hand but didn't find it. When he turned and looked to his other side, she was halfway to the balcony doors on the opposite side of the room. Torn between following his wife and throwing a few more choice words in the direction of the D.A, Perry opened and closed his mouth a couple of times but eventually said nothing and took off after his wife.

'Nice going Genius,' Katherine reprimanded. You know how touchy Della can be about that woman.' Hamilton shrugged unconcerned.

'Darling, that woman is a pale comparison to the delightful Miss Street. Perry knows that but sometimes when Mrs Robertson is in town, he needs reminding which side of the fence he lives.'

'And I'm sure you'll take great pleasure in reminding him?' Katherine held his hand on the table. Hamilton pressed his free hand on hers and patted it gently.

'Kate, as much as I have no desire at all to upset Della, I do on occasion take great satisfaction in pushing his buttons and finding a nerve. The man is a total idiot around Laura Robertson. I have personally seen that far too many times than I would have liked to over the years. She was at some big corporate meeting on Saturday morning and the word is, that she and Mr Mason had been having drinks Friday afternoon in his hotel room. A young lawyer from my office was delivering some papers to one of the guests and saw the scene on the third floor when the elevator stopped. She recognised Perry and Della and said they were arguing about some woman when the doors opened. She didn't hear much more because Perry basically told her to close the elevator doors and get lost. The only woman I know who could puncture Della's composure just by her mere presence, is her.' Hamilton jerked his thumb in the direction of Laura Robertson, who was now working the room for all she was worth.

Katherine looked shocked. 'Hamilton you never told me that!'

'No dear, I didn't because I didn't quite believe he would be that stupid or indiscreet. You had your observations about the tension between them from the minute they sat down and now Della's reaction to her arrival has just told me that my young apprentice was not merely gossiping or exaggerating. The man needs some sense knocking into that thick skull of his if he thinks that self obsessed narcissist comes close to being the lady Della Street is!'

Katherines shock turned into a smile. She lovingly ran her hand up and down his arm and leaned into him. 'My knight in shining armour,' she murmured.

Perry located Della standing on the balcony of the ballroom looking down onto the gardens. The evening breeze cooling the air but not making it too uncomfortable. Her face conveyed no emotion as she stared at the rose garden just beneath her, but she gripped the iron railings turning her knuckles white.

'Did you know she was going to be here?' she asked quietly.

'Of course not!' He had tried to keep the frustration from his voice but knew he had failed. 'I told you I thought she'd gone back to Denver. That what she said she was doing anyway.'

'Is that why you asked me to come with you last minute?'

'No. I asked you because I want you here with me, like I always do. Until the other day we didn't even know if we'd be available to attend with the two complex cases and….other complications we have ongoing this week. Della, please.' Perry took a step towards her so he could stand directly behind to her. He closed his eyes for a moment then took in a deep breath and enjoyed her scent caressing his nostrils and his senses. 'I don't know how many times I can tell you, I'm sorry about last Friday.' He was happy and relieved when she allowed him to caress her bare shoulders with his fingertips. 'In case I haven't told you, you look stunning tonight.' His lips replaced his fingertips.

'I don't want her anywhere near me please.' It was an order not up for negotiation. 'I'm afraid I may not be able to retain my professionalism when I tell her to stay away from my boss, or my ladylike composure when I tell her to stay the hell away from my husband.'

Perry smiled against her shoulder. 'If that what it takes for us to be us tonight, then consider it done.' His lips moved to the sensitive spot behind her ear.

'Ah here you are!' The clipped accent this time made Perry freeze and Della stiffen under his touch. 'I thought I may have missed you.' Perry half turned his head to see Laura standing in his eyeline.

'What do you want Laura we're in the middle of something here.' Perry asked harshly as his hands slipped to Della's waist and held her in his grip so she didn't turn and flee from him. The white knuckles gripping the railing were now devoid of blood completely.

Laura ignored the tone of his voice. 'I need to speak with you if you have the time this evening,' she purred. 'It's some advice for a friend of mine.'

'I'm off the clock Laura. Make an appointment for sometime next week.'

'I simply can't wait that long. Surely you can spare a few moments away from your..uh..wife for an old friend.' She struggled with the acknowledgement of the word wife while over emphasising the old friend.

'Mrs Robertson,' Della let go of the railing and turned to face Laura eye to eye, 'My husband and I have had few precious moments together recently due to a busy workload and other outside interferences this last week.' Her voice remained calm bordering on sweet as she noticed what she thought was a slight flinch as Della addressed Perry as her husband. 'I or Andrea would be pleased to sort you an appointment in the office next week.' Della reached for Perry's hand and brought it to rest across her stomach. Laura's eyes narrowed for a moment as it dawned on her she had never seen any intimate displays between her ex boyfriend and his secretary turned wife before.

Laura was not to be put off that easily by a lowly secretary. Della Street may have married the force of nature that was Perry Mason, but in the end, she would be still be only the hired help in the society circles they moved in, regardless of how long they had been wed. Laura needed to drive the wedge further between them and decided to go in for a killer blow.

'Perry, you promised last Friday afternoon when we were together.' Della turned to look Perry in the face and saw his face became set in granite, his jaw tightened and his blue eyes hardened. It was a simple sentence but implied so much to Della he was afraid all their progress in the last week was being undone in that moment.

'Laura I promised you nothing,' Perry ground out through clenched teeth.

Laura threw her head back and laughed a false, staccato laugh. 'Oh Perry you always tease me. You always have since we've been so…well were so close, especially last Friday when you took your shirt off to allow me better access to your sensitive spots. You know when you weren't concerned about your wife three years ago on the couch in your office.' A smirk appeared on her pretty face as Della's self assurance began to crumble before her eyes. Laura was overtly reminding Della of the relationship and intimacy she had shared previously with Perry. It was of no consequence that was many years ago and she clearly wasn't aware that Perry had confessed the 'office incident' already. Laura was very cognizant and very certain of the hold she had over him. That was her simple downfall in that moment.

'I think I need to go now.' Della forced down the lump that was forming in her throat as she fought a myriad of emotions all at once. Perry looked at her and his eyes softened instantly knowing his next move would make or break them as a couple.

One thing he could always credit Laura with was her nerve and her boldness in reducing grown men to tears, now she was trying to do it to his wife in front of him and he suddenly felt nothing but disgust in both her and himself. This is what Della had spoken about in their walk on the coast path days earlier and now he finally understood everything. In the early years he had detected a new and then simmering tension between his new secretary and his then girlfriend, but which he dismissed as a figment of his over active imagination. The later years when he deliberately failed to go home and made excuses so he could have dinner with Laura. Della's reaction or thoughts on those occasions hadn't bothered him because he had been stupidly blind to the fact she knew where he was and who he was with, his sometime over indulgent ego not allowing for any thought that his wife didn't trust him. That was now the rampant thought swirling in his mind. He had blatantly kept his meetings with Laura secret not to spare Della's feelings at all. He had been taken for the fool he now considered himself to be. Now the thought of those supposedly clandestine meetings that had made their way into the gossip columns, left him with a hollow feeling and all he wanted to do was take Della home and hold her.

Perry slipped his other arm about Della's waist and pulled her close brushing his lips across hers as he moved his head in closer, ignoring Laura who began to shift from foot to foot and the uncomfortable display of closeness playing out in front of her. He looked into his wifes face, the ghost of a smile playing about his mouth before he lent froward and leaned in again for a searing kiss that left no-one who cared to watch in no doubt how this man felt about his wife. 'I now understand everything you've tried to tell me in the past and more recently. I'm sorry for not listening before. We'll go home baby,' He spoke against her lips completely unconcerned that Laura still watched them through ever narrowing eyes and tightened lips. As they pressed impossibly closer again for a further heated kiss, Laura finally spoke.

'Must you openly grope and fondle each other in public?' she snapped knowing she had lost any ground initially made. Her mistake she realised was that her not so subtle innuendo and over embellishments about the hotel room and office incidents had been made in front of Perry, not between Della and she when he wasn't about as she had originally planned.

Della leaned back for a moment 'I can do what I please with my husband at these functions Mrs Robertson. We don't have to hide our love and attraction for each other from the public anymore. I'm not his secretary at this moment.' She gently took Perry by the hand and started to lead them back towards the ballroom. 'I'm his wife and the mother of his children.'

TBC – Nearly at the end!