Working for the Enemy 17

Hamilton Burger folded his arms and leaned into the doorway watching quietly as his A.D.A Tom Leopold searched frantically through the drawers of his desk, seemingly unaware the D.A was present. When he finally looked up from his kneeling position on the floor which allowed him to lift the rug his desk sat upon, he saw his boss smiling lazily at him.

'Hamilton.' Leopold pushed himself up and dropped back into his chair.

'You lost something Tom?' Burger kept his voice sincere.

'Nothing important,' Leopold assured him.

'Doesn't look like nothing important the way you were tearing through those drawers a moment ago and lifting the rug to look under there too.'

'I lost a gold cufflink. Belonged to my grandfather. My mother will be disappointed if I lost it.'

Burger continued to hold his gaze steady, but his face now told Leopold he did not believe him. 'Tom, where's Miss Street?'

'She's not here today.' Leopold sighed as his shoulders stiffened.

'Where is she?'

'Devil if I know. Woman took off with you yesterday and I haven't seen her since.'

'Strange, I spoke with her right here in this office early this morning so I can't understand why she's not here now.'

'I haven't seen her,' Leopold snapped then apologised. 'I'm sorry, it's just been a stressful couple of days. I'm not sure where Miss Street is right now,' he lied.

Burger nodded and stood straight before turning to leave.

'Oh and Tom,'

'Yes?'

'You'd better pray nothing has happened to Miss Street, or no family connection in the world will stop me putting you in the gas chamber.'

Leopold's eyes went wide and his nostrils flared in defiance. 'I have no idea what you're talking about Burger!'

'Oh yes you do,' Burger went on calmly. 'I know everything you, Laura and your pals have been up to and now we're near the end of it all. So, I say again, if Miss Street disappears or turns up in any state other than one piece and breathing, I'm going to let Perry Mason and Paul Drake tear you limb from limb then Tragg and myself will see that what's left of you, will scream for mercy from behind the gas chamber door. Good day Mr Leopold.'

When Burger left, Leopold reached for the phone and dialled a number.

'Yeah it's me….is Miss Street still with you?...and everything's ok?...Well I'm coming out to the house, I think she took something from me this morning and I need it back before we call Mason and set everything up…..I know I said I'd stay away but I have no choice….I'm setting off now.'

PDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDDPPD

'I'm coming, I'm coming, keep yer shirt on!' Brown suit yelled at the insistent ringing of the doorbell. Jerking it open he was surprised to see his two visitors standing on the doorstep. 'What are you doing here? You're not supposed to be involved in this part until….' He stopped himself when Perry pushed Laura into the hallway by her elbow and he realised what he almost let slip.

Laura looked at Perry who frowned and nodded, his steely glare sending cold shivers down her spine.

'I'm here to see Miss Street,' Laura spoke nervously. 'I've brought Mr Mason with me to show him she's alright.'

'But that isn't the plan.' Brown suit eyed the two of them with suspicion.

'I know but there's been a change to the plan.'

'Well I've not been told of any changes. I need to call the boss.'

'I'm one of the bosses,' Laura declared indignantly. 'I'll speak with the others later. Right now we need to see Miss Street.'

At that moment Grey suit appeared. 'What the hell is going on here?' he demanded with a snarl. 'This mutt isn't supposed to be here yet!' Perry stepped forward ominously prompting Grey suit to produce a gun from inside his jacket.

'Just everyone calm down,' Laura interjected. 'I've altered the plan slightly. I'm moving matters forward more quickly.'

'I don't think so,' Grey suit shook his head. 'Mr L is on his way here. Says the secretary has something of his and he wants it back before anyone makes a move!' Laura's eyes went wide in panic. If Leopold found her at the house with Perry she knew how angry he would be. Perhaps Perry's prediction that the ADA would cut her loose and put her squarely in the frame for all manner of offences would come terrifyingly true.

'Just take us to see her please,' she begged of the two men. After a moments hesitation Grey suit motioned with the gun towards the stairs. 'And for goodness sake please point that thing at Perry not me!'

Della was sitting on the balcony looking over the extensive gardens when she heard voices outside the bedroom. Steeling herself for what may come next, she stood and leaned against the balcony railing. She had decided that she would take her chances with jumping from the platform before letting them strangle her or whatever they had now decided. Della had worn herself out with the images playing in her head since her run in with Tom Leopold at the office. Would they kill her first and then Perry or would she be made to watch him die in front of her before turning their attention on her. Both scenarios gave her nightmares. She longed that if there was no rescue and no hope they would dispatch her first so her last feeling on earth would not be the painful loss of the man she loved.

'Della!' The deep baritone that was so familiar came as a shock.

'Perry?' Oh Lord no, this must be it. Della drew a deep breath and pushed her back almost painfully against the railing. But there appeared to be more people entering the bedroom than she expected. Perry had entered first followed by Laura…Laura? What on earth is she doing here? They were followed into the room by Grey suit who was clearly pointing a gun at Perry's back.

'Della!' Perry called again. When he saw her standing out on the balcony he took all but four long strides to her. He stopped directly in front of her for a short moment before pulling her into a deep embrace, not caring who else stood in the room. When he finally released her, he tipped her chin upwards she he could look into her face. In a millisecond the lawyers forehead was etched in a grave frown with his eyebrows meeting in the middle of his temple, his eyes cold as he traced the bruising on her jaw lightly with his thumb. 'What the hell did he do to you?' His voice reverberated in rage.

'It's really nothing,' Della tried to assure him. The last thing she wanted was for Perry to throw all common sense out of the window. As large as he was, she very much doubted at that moment he could take both Grey suit and Black suit who had appeared behind everyone seemingly from nowhere and who now stood in the doorway.

'Which one?' Perry pressed before brushing his lips across Della's lightly. Della grasped his hands in her own and pressed her head to his.

'You shouldn't have come,' she whispered. 'They have a horrible plan to end us both and I'd rather it was just me. You should have just stayed in the office. I'm sorry my own plan was just plain unworkable. I can see that now.'

'Della, I was always going to come for you, no matter what. I've told you, all my own stupid moves in this case were to protect you and get justice served. I have no intention of backing out of that plan now and I was never going to let them hurt you.' He brushed his fingers across the bruise again causing Della to wince slightly. 'I guess I failed to stop you from being hurt in that sense, but I'm going to make amends for that right now.' Perry planted a soft kiss against Della's head and then whirled in fury back to face Laura.

'Time's up!' Perry ground out through gritted teeth. Laura was suddenly startled as Grey suit fell forward into her pushing her to the floor.

'What on earth!' she yelled as Grey suit collapsed on top of her sending the gun across the carpet. Black suit lunged for the gun as Perry pulled Grey suit up by the tie and when his chin was in range unleashed an almighty right fist that crashed into Grey suits mouth sending a splatter of blood across Laura's clothing.

'Perry watch out he's going for the gun!' Della screamed as she stepped back into the room just in time to watch Grey suit crumple to the floor unconscious in a pool of blood that was beginning to form about his head. Perry stood straight back up and positioned himself in front of Della. Black suit stood two paces away holding the weapon pointing towards the lawyer with a wide grin on his face.

'What's going on up there?' Brown suit called from the bottom of the staircase.

'Everything's OK,' Black suit called back. 'We're all under control here, we'll be back down as soon as the ladies finish their conversation.' Black suit closed the bedroom door and then suddenly walked past Perry and Della out onto the balcony where he let out a loud whistle. Turning back to the lawyer, he put the safety back on and offered it to Perry. 'You might need this Counsellor,' he grinned. Perry smiled back and took the gun whilst Della looked totally confused. 'I'm sorry Miss Street,' Black suit began to explain. 'My name is Jack Malone, I'm an associate of Mr Burger. It's too long a story to explain right now but I'm sorry I couldn't tell you earlier who I was.' He nodded towards Della in apology. 'I'm also genuinely sorry I couldn't do anything to prevent him hitting you in the garage.'

Laura had pushed herself to her feet and was now close to the door. Her hand on the knob she was in the process of turning it when Perry snapped, 'Laura! Laura it's almost over.'

'Maybe, but if you think I'm standing by and letting you hand me over to the authorities you better think again! The only way you're going to stop me from leaving is if you shoot me and you don't have the balls to do that!' She sneered triumphantly. Della recovered herself and walked up to Laura glaring at her. 'And you Miss Street, no matter what happens to me you'll always be a….oomph!' Laura slid down the door and lay in a scrunched heap. Della shook put her hand vigorously, blowing on the knuckles.

'You lawyers talk too damn much!' she commented drily as Perry and Jack looked on slack jawed.

'We need to get out of here Mr Mason,' Jack urged walking to the door and levering his arms under Laura's to remove her from blocking the door.

'Who did you whistle to?' Della asked.

'Paul, Tragg and their men,' Perry expounded. 'Leopold wanted this final act to be kept quiet. Jack and the other two were to be the only ones here. That was our advantage. We have our own men hidden all over the grounds. Leopold doesn't know anything but he is now on his way here.'

'But how?' Della's eyebrows raised quizzically.

'I called Mr Burger when the other two were pre-occupied bringing you up here.' Jack cracked the door slightly, his eyes roaming the landing.

'And I called Burger and Tragg when we secured the somewhat reluctant assistance of Laura. She's a lot of things but self preservation is her most personal and endearing quality it seems!' Perry smiled softly and again brushed his lips across Della's before his body stiffened as the large front door opened and slammed shut.

'Where the hell is everyone?' the loud, demanding voice of Tom Leopold echoed through the house. Della dripped Perry's forearm through his jacket.

'I think this is the final act,' she sighed. Perry gripped her hand and removed it from his arm, bringing it to his lips and kissing the fingers lightly as he murmured,

'I think you might just be right Miss Street.'

TBC