Working for the Enemy 11

Thank you for the reviews and continued support.

I'm sorry some of you seem to find it confusing. As I have previously said, I sometimes get an idea which sounds right in my head but doesn't perhaps come out right on paper. Hopefully the next couple of chapters will shed some light on the whole tale and Perry and Della can start some good old fashioned fluffiness 'n' lovin'.

Stay safe

CC

PDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDP

'So what now?' Hamilton Burger asked as the door closed behind Della as she left to return back to her office.

'Now we start tying everything together.' Perry Mason drew his eyebrows together in deep thought.

'You really think Della knows too much, even though she doesn't know it?'

'I do. She knows more than she thinks, and now she's started joining those loose ends in her memory, she's beginning to get the picture of what's going on. I just need her out of here and safe.'

'Things are getting very complicated Perry. They have been from the start. Too complex and we still have no idea what's fully going on ourselves. Do you think one of us should have gone with Della?'

Perry scowled and then nodded.

PDPDPDPDPDPDPDPPDPD

Della walked back towards her office as normally as she could, not wanting to attract attention by hurrying. She nodded politely to anyone who passed her, but all the while looking about her for anyone who appeared to be acting suspiciously. With her heightened senses at that moment, most men she came across, all appeared to be a potential threat. After what seemed like a marathon, not mere metres, she reached her office and closed the door a little harder than she meant to. Gathering her purse, scarf and coat, Della had just opened her desk drawer to drop her notebook in and removed her typewriter cover when Tom Leopold appeared.

'Going somewhere Miss Street?' He leaned against the doorframe of his office and smiled lazily.

'I er….Mr Burger called down. He asked if I was available to assist him in court this morning.' Della's heart was now thumping and she hoped it wasn't audible to anyone but herself.

'I need you here.' It wasn't a request.

'I said I would help Mr Burger. He is the D.A afterall.'

'Not for long.'

'What do you mean by that?'

'Election time is just around the corner. That's all.'

'He's very popular.' She lay her items on the desk and crossed her arms. Della was going onto the defensive. 'I can't see anyone better standing when the time comes.'

'I'm throwing my hat into the ring as they say to stand against him.' Leopold now had smug satisfaction written all over his face. 'I can almost guarantee he'll lose.'

'Like I said, I can't see anyone better!' Della almost spat the words. This man made her skin literally crawl. She had thought him smooth and creepily charming on first meeting him and was instantly immune, now he just reminded her of a serpent in the disguise of a Greek God. Only now she understood all the outward charm was a façade. Leopold chuckled.

'You really are a piece of work Miss Street.' He stepped towards her reaching out a finger to draw it lightly down her cheek. 'Smart, witty, intelligent, beautiful.' Della shuddered tilted her head away from his finger as he continued. 'Don't you find me attractive Miss Street? I must say, I usually have a way with beautiful women but you, well you've always seemed immune, or you hide it well, I'm not certain.'

'You're not my type.' Della did not hesitate in her response. 'I can see why women like you, but not me personally. Besides, I don't provide a roll in the sack and some light relief for men like you.' Della took a step back as Leopold's expression changed to one of steely fury. He became tight lipped and narrowed his eyes dangerously.

'So you did hear Laura and I yesterday evening,' he almost growled the words and took a step ominously towards her. Della pushed down her emotions and tried not to outwardly shake. She knew by quoting Leopold from the day before, she had given herself away completely and now he had the confirmation he needed that she had indeed been in the office when Laura had paid him a visit. As he opened his mouth to speak again, Della griped a pencil on the desk as if it were a sharp knife, but they were interrupted by the door banging open.

'Miss Street are you ready?' Hamilton Burger stood there, briefcase in hand.

'Why yes Sir,' Della dropped the pencil back on the desk and made to gather her personal items again. Tom Leopold took two steps back.

'I need Miss Street here today,' Leopold said casually. 'We have issues to sort through.'

'Well I'm sorry about that Tom.' Burger sounded equally unflustered. 'I'm down my secretary to the flu and I've been called to a hearing. I need a secretary and I'm stealing Miss Street away from you for a few hours. I'm sure you can manage, if not, call down to the secretarial pool, I'm sure there are a number of ladies in there who will be more than willing to share the office for the day with you.' Burger remained at the door and swept his arm in a gallant gesture. 'Miss Street, shall we?'

PDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPPDPDPDPDP

'Where are we?' Della stood on the balcony overlooking the ocean.

'An old client of mine, before your time. It's his weekend getaway.' Perry answered as he dropped her suitcase on the bed.

'Won't he need it this weekend then?'

'No, he got away for six months on a tour of Europe. He's only a couple of months into it, so I had Paul track him down, sent him a telegram and asked if we could use it. No problem at all.'

'It's very beautiful, but I can't stay. I have to work, bills to pay…'

Perry came to stand next to her and cut her protestations off. 'It's fine Della. It's all taken care of for the next few days.'

'It's not fine Perry!' Della raised her voice. She needed to be heard just this once and all her frustrations began to spill out. 'I have no idea what is fully going on here, I lost the job of my dreams because of my then bosses poor taste in women, that woman by the way appears to be having an affair with my new boss, I've been threatened, sort of by said new boss, I've been whisked away to paradise by my old boss, I know there's something nefarious going on with a murder case, you keep mumbling something about an election and now I'm under some sort of protection because everyone seems to think I know something I don't. Just what the hell is going on!'

TBC