MM – TCOT Dead Ringer

My apologies for those who left reviews for my last fic. I have no idea what happened. I have now reset the settings and we will see what happens but just to let you know I appreciate everyone who reads and takes the time to review (good and bad!)

So this last couple of afternoons, I've just binge watched several PM episodes from the last season 9. Like many episodes before, so many in the latter half of season 9 are just crying out for the missing moments to be added, especially as the increased flirting going on was downright open and obvious!

In this episode I can honestly say I've never seen Della so angry when Perry's integrity ethics were being challenged. Paul had his moment as well, but Della's reaction spoke volumes!

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of Perry Mason & Della Street. The rights are the property of the estate of ESG.

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Perry re-entered the office from seeing his client out. His face set in stone as his mind began working overtime on the problem that now presented itself. Della and Paul continued standing by his desk looking at him, waiting for him to speak.

'How dare they!' Della raised her voice slightly. 'How dare they call your ethics and integrity into question!'

'It's alright Della, we'll work this one out.' Although his voice was soft, it took on a hard edge.

'How can you be so calm about it all? We need to tell Mr Burger it wasn't you handing money over in that hotel lobby.'

'I've already told him and everyone else. Nobody believes me so we have to find….'

Della cut him off mid sentence. 'I can tell them you were elsewhere at that exact time.'

'No you can't.'

'I won't be lying. And when the Ethics Committee call around to investigate, I will tell them everything that happened.'

'You most certainly will not!'

'Not everything then,' she smiled demurely. He grinned knowingly back at her. Paul rolled his eyes in amused exasperation. However much his two best friends believed they hid their relationship from the outside world, nothing escaped him and even less so since he had caught them in a more than compromising position a couple of years previously. From that moment, he was the only other person in the world that knew the absolute truth of what went on behind closed doors between lawyer and secretary. Although he could sometimes open his mouth at the wrong time on occasion, this was one deep secret Paul was happy to guard with his life to give them some protection from not just the gossip rags, but the outside world in general.

'Della, give us time to find out who it really was in that hotel lobby. I'm not having your reputation put on trial for the world to watch just to save me.'

'Perry, after I left the office I called at your apartment to deliver the documents for court you needed. I was there at the time they say you were handing over the payoff.'

'Della, it takes only a few minutes to deliver documents. What are you going to tell them when they ask what time you arrived, how long you stayed and when you left? That's the line of questioning they will take. If we do what you ask, my version of events are simple. I went straight home after court, I cooked us dinner whilst you finished up at the office, you came over with some documents and right at the time I was supposed to be handing that envelope over in the hotel lobby, you and I were in the shower, together. That my darling may get me out of a jam and confirm a lot of rumours, but it won't help you in the long run. And I'm not prepared for you to spill that secret just yet.'

Della stared at him, an incredulous look on her face. 'What do you mean by that secret? Does it embarrass you to be in a romantic relationship with a simple secretary?'

'You're being ridiculous, of course I'm not embarrassed.' Perry took hold of her arms and stepped in close. He knew his use of the word ridiculous would irk her as soon as it left his mouth. Before she could come back with a retort, her smothered her mouth with his. After long moments, a cough brought them back into reality.

'Listen kids, I've always been really happy for you two and all, but Beautiful, Perry is right. We just need a little time to figure this one out and I'll have every man available to fight these allegations before you go throwing your reputation to the wolves.'

'What am I supposed to do Paul?' Della addressed the detective but didn't remove her eyes from Perry as they remained in the middle of the office still in an embrace.

'Have patience. I know you love him, I know he loves you blah, blah, blah. Now,' Paul gave them both his best grin, 'I'm going to leave you two alone to discuss the matter further. I've heard all the details I didn't want to hear.' He finished with a chuckle as he exited the office leaving the two lovers coming together again in a fiery kiss.

fin