Working for the Enemy 19

Thank you for all the reviews and ideas. We are almost there. Just a couple more chapters to tie up and explain some matters. Last chapter coming in the next few days.

'So what is it you actually think you have Hamilton?' Senator Tabor addressed the D.A as a parent would a child in the midst of a demanding tantrum.

'Quite a bit actually Stephen.' Burger blew a smoke ring with his cigarette and sipped the expensive scotch unmoved by the Senators tone with him. Tabor leaned across the small table between them and held out a hand.

'May I see what this 'a lot' actually is?'

'I don't have it here, but I've seen it. Makes very interesting reading.'

'Where is this evidence?'

'Safe.'

'Where did it supposedly come from?'

'Your friend Tom Leopold's office. He was quite careless you know keeping it in his office drawer.' A dark look crossed Tabor's face as he reclined in his high backed chair and signalled to the waiter to bring two more drinks.

'What do you want Hamilton?'

'Leopold for a start but we'll discuss that in a minute. This thing has become a mess and some of my friends have been drawn into it and their lives put at risk. I want any threats made towards them withdrawn from your people.'

'Who are we talking about?'

'Stephen don't play games with me. Perry Mason, Paul Drake, Lt Tragg and myself. Most importantly, Della Street. She is to be left alone, more so than anyone else. You and your people threatened to ruin her reputation to get Mason into your pocket.'

'You're protecting Mason's secretary?' Tabor chuckled in disdain. Burger lowered his voice to a threatening growl.

'Listen to me Senator, I'm only going to say this one more time about Miss Street. She is to be left alone and her reputation never to be sullied. She is a lady first and foremost. In fact, I'm pretty sure some of those high bred fillies you have running in your families can learn a thing or two about being a lady from her.'

Tabor went silent for a moment and before answering, allowed the waiter to place two more drinks on the table and withdraw before he spoke.

'Alright Hamilton. Miss Street's virtue is off limits as is Mason, Drake and Tragg as long as you hold up your end of any bargain we make. Although when Mason marries Laura I'm not sure what the status quo in the office will be.' He chuckled to himself again as if he had made a joke.

'Let's start there then with this bargaining process. Firstly Laura. If you don't want to earn the ire of her family when it comes to the next round of campaign donations, I suggest she moves out of the picture quietly. Failing that I'll do my damndest to tie her to Della Street's kidnapping.' Tabor's face showed only the slightest hint of surprise. Hamilton had the upper hand and knew it at that moment. 'Mason won't be marrying her this side of eternity so there's no impediments to her exit.' Tabor lifted the glass and studied the liquid.

'Alright. I have a friend in Denver who's looking for a new Corporate Law Junior partner. She'll be out of the state by the end of next week. Next?'

'I want Mayor Lowell out of the running for his second term. He's your man and it's his corrosive actions that started this whole sordid little mess. If he withdraws quietly, I'll make sure his name is kept out of the investigation as much as possible. And I don't need to remind you, if his name is out of the matter, so is yours and some of your more influential friends.'

'My, my Hamilton, you really don't want a lot do you!' Tabor hissed sarcastically. 'Anything else?'

'I want the thug that's been doing the dirty work. Jacob Kaye is already dead but I want Harry Minton and I want him to turn State's evidence against my ADA about the kidnapping and the order to kill Miss Street and Perry Mason.'

'Done.' Tabor waved his hand dismissively. 'And Tom Leopold?'

'I want him on kidnapping, conspiracy to kidnap, perverting the course of justice and murder which is why I want Minton.'

'Murder? Who did he kill?'

'He had Sampson kill Keel and then made sure Sampson was never going to talk.'

Tabor took a large gulp of his drink and pondered the request through narrowed eyes. 'I'm not sure on all that Hamilton. He has some very powerful people connected with his family. That might be more difficult than the other requests. Minton might lay some evidence against Thomas but a thugs word against the scion of a wealthy and respectable family, I'm not sure he'll see the inside of cell.'

'I've had my own man who's been on the inside a couple of months now. He can add weight to any testimony. I'll have enough to send him to the gas chamber Stephen. Given the right motivation I'm sure you'll come through for me whilst keeping yourself out of the picture. I'll let you think about that a little while.' Burger stood up and loomed large over the Senator. 'You know where to reach me Stephen. Thanks for the drinks.'

PDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDP

'What's taking Burger so damned long!' Paul ground out yet another cigarette before striking up another. He blew out smoke rings as he lounged across the over stuffed clients chair. Perry stopped his pacing for a moment and turned to look at Della who was currently sat at the conference table lazily doodling in her steno pad, her eyes conveying she was currently in another world entirely.

'He said he'd call as soon as he had an update,' Perry finally said, never taking his eyes from his secretary. Moving over to Della, he gently stilled her pencil. She looked up startled.

'Sorry Chief,' she apologised. 'I was somewhere else for a moment.'

'So I noticed,' Perry chuckled, the dark shade under her eyes not going unnoticed.

'I'll go put on a fresh pot of coffee.' Della rose from the table as Perry stopped her. Tracing her cheeks and the dark bruise that still graced her jaw with his thumb the ghost of a smile appeared on his lips.

'I'm sorry for…..well everything,' he offered almost in a whisper.

'It's fine. There'll be time for talking and recriminations later,' she sighed caressing his hand with her own. 'I'll go make that coffee.'

Just as Della went towards the kitchen the phone burst into life making all three of them jump unexpectedly. Perry snatched up the receiver.

'Mason!' he snapped. 'Yes?... Hamilton how did it go?...What did he say?...Right, get Tragg and some boys to meet me at your building. Paul's man says he's in his office.' Perry looked over his shoulder to Paul who was now sitting ramrod straight in the chair. He nodded in acknowledgement at the statement about his man keeping tabs on Tom Leopold. The last report he'd had was that the ADA had returned to his office and had not left for well over an hour. 'What about Laura?' Della's head spun around at hearing that dreadful woman's name. 'Right, well we'll talk about that later. I'm on my way there as soon as I put this phone down….yes, yes we have it and it's not leaving its hiding place until matters are finalised once and for all.' Perry almost slammed the phone back into its cradle. 'OK, everything's set,' he announced.

'For what?' Della came to his side.

'Tragg's on his way to arrest Leopold at his office. A warrant has gone out for Harry Minton and his brown suit. Jack has been dispatched with that to visit some of the hangouts they've been using this last couple of months.'

'And Laura?' Della ventured. Perry's jaw tightened, his mouth set in a grim line. 'She's getting away with it all isn't she?' She couldn't contain the disappointment in her voice. Perry lifted her chin with his finger but she refused to meet his gaze.

'Although I'd rather not mention her name at all in your presence, we will talk about her later.'

'You're still protecting her.' Della shook her head and moved out of his grasp. Perry wanted to pull her back into his embrace and explain the facts of life when your family were wealthy and important, but at that moment he was quite sure she wouldn't appreciate the lesson.

'We need to get to Leopold's office right now,' Perry deflected the conversation. 'I'm not the one protecting her Della. I need to get going. Wait here for me.'

'I want to come along,' she protested.

'No. I don't want you anywhere near what's going to happen. Paul has a couple of guys who will keep an eye on the office and you and Gertie.' Perry at that moment fought the urge to pull Della into a kiss but his common sense finally won out and he sighed wearily.

'I'll call as soon as it's done and when all this is over we can work on us. I promise.'

Della ignored the click of the door closing seconds later and felt the now oppressive atmosphere of the office pressing down onto her like a great weight.

PDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPD

'What took you so long Mason?' Tom Leopold slouched back in his great leather chair and fingered the cut on his lip Perry had managed to make in the kitchen of the house before he had been almost overpowered by Grey suit allowing the ADA and Laura to make good their escape.

'I had some cleaning up to do,' Perry answered flatly.

'You have my book?'

'I do, it's now nice and safe.'

'She's very clever your Miss Street.' Leopold threw his head back and began laughing. 'My mother always thought a pretty face would be my undoing, although I'm not sure this was the scenario she envisioned.' He winced when his fingers found the cut again. 'You managed a good shot back there Mason. This damned thing is going to sting for days.'

'That's not all I would have done had we not been interrupted. Time's up for you Leopold.'

'Is it?' Leopold opened the top draw of his desk and withdrew a glass and bottle of scotch. Pouring himself a hefty portion, he threw it straight back. 'You want one?' Perry declined with a short shake of his head. 'I had a call from Senator Tabor about half an hour ago.'

'Really?' Perry feigned interest and stayed quiet.

'Yeah. Seems some of my friends are more than a little nervous right now and I've been ordered to make myself the sacrificial lamb. I don't really think that's fair, but Burger drives a hard bargain it seems. Tougher than he looks I guess. Details are sketchy on what's actually going to happen to me.'

'Whatever hole they put you in it won't be deep enough for my liking,' Perry growled.

'Say you want to defend me Counsellor?' Leopold began laughing again. 'They say you're the best and it looks like I'll need the best.'

'I'd happily work for the prosecution on this one.' Perry answered without any emotion. 'In fact I'll start telling the real story of how you ordered the murder of the auditor and when they find you guilty, I'll even be there when they drop the pellets into the chamber. I want to see your face when you see me waving you goodbye.'

'That's vicious of you Mason.'

'I'm pragmatic and it's no more than you deserve.'

'For dragging Laura into this or your precious Miss Street?' Perry leaned into the doorframe ignoring the last remark which he knew was nothing more than an attempt to rile his emotions. 'Come on Mason, share before I have to go.' Perry raised an eyebrow in question. 'Well I know Tragg and his men are out there waiting for me with Burger. But I'd like to know a couple of things before I go to jail.'

'Like what?'

'What's the full deal? Let's just say the Senator was a little light on the detail. I presume that was so I can't come up with an answer when I'm questioned to some things and drag him and his precious circle of friends into the mire with me.'

'You take full responsibility for your actions in the corruption at City Hall. The Mayor will withdraw from the current election race and make restitution where he can to the public funds that were diverted into his private account. The killing of William Keel will now remain a bar room brawl as far as the press are concerned and the death of Sampson will be chalked off to another death in jail at the hands of his homicidal cell mate. The Senator was quite reluctant to have you in a public arena talking about that one so as much as I'd like to see you pay the ultimate price, I'm ready to be disappointed on that score…You plead guilty to the kidnap of Della Street so she doesn't have to testify in open court. It will get you some heavy jail time. If you don't do as I ask, I start releasing details from the book and go to the press with what really happened. Then you're a dead man walking.'

Leopold waved his hand dismissively. 'We both know I'm a dead man walking anyway. What else?'

'Minton will turn states evidence against you if you back out on taking the rap.'

'Kaye and Malone?'

'Kaye's dead. Malone works as a Special Investigating Agent for the D.A's office. His testimony will read better than a cheap airport novel by the time he gets through on the stand.'

'Ah,' Leopold nodded. 'I just knew there was something off about that kid. Will Laura be gracing me with her presence at the defence table, standing trial alongside me?' Perry went silent and just stared at the soon to be ex ADA. 'I'm guessing from your silence on the matter the answer is no. Playing the knight in shining armour again with the beautiful lady Mason?' He was mocking Perry now.

'No.' Perry replied with dejection in his voice. 'If I had my way she'd be standing right beside you when the judge sentenced you, but it's not my way that takes precedence when it comes to her. You made a mistake.'

'Really? It seems given my current predicament I've made several over the last twenty four hours.'

'She doesn't appear anywhere in your little black book. You left her squeaky clean because you see her as nothing more than an irritation that warmed your bed. Let me educate you Leopold. Your family has standing, Laura's has more. Your family has some influence locally, Laura's family pull strings at the very top, both locally, state wise and beyond. You can't compete with that. Della told me what you said about her being only good for a minor distraction. What you failed to realise, is that Laura was actually way out of your league in the first place. Jack told me you intended to discard her when matters settled and I was …shall we say out of the picture permanently…the reality was you could have never shaken her loose because if you wanted to climb that slippery political ladder you needed her and her family. You failed to understand that.'

'I see. Seems I underestimated Laura and her temper. So, what is happening to her?'

'I'm told she'll be out of the state in the next few days, untouched by all of this and starting a new job.'

'That irritates you?'

'Yes. If you want any crumb of comfort to keep you going, just remember Laura getting away with hurting Della and turning my life upside down, aggravates me more than anyone else will ever know. But to get what I want, I have to put it out of my mind for now.'

Perry felt a hand on his back and moved slightly allowing Tragg and Burger to enter the room.

'You done here Perry? Asked Burger softly.

'I'm done Hamilton.'

As the handcuffs were being snapped onto his wrists Leopold was smiling. 'You never did get to break my jaw,' he taunted. Paul appeared and lay a cautioning hand on Perry's forearm as he saw the lawyers body tense. 'Maybe I should have really made it worth my while and tasted the delightful secretary after all. After I'd satisfied her, she wouldn't have wanted you Mason.' The last nerve Perry had been holding in check finally snapped and he lunged the two steps to Leopold who howled in pain and his head cracked backwards under the fierce weight of the right hook Perry delivered. Paul threw his arms around the big lawyer and Burger despite his better judgement, threw himself between Perry and Leopold. Both struggled to drag him away as the fire blazed in his normally blue eyes that now burned black with anger.

'I promised you a broken jaw,' Perry hissed through gritted teeth, 'And I always keep my promises!'

'Come on Rocky Marciano,' Paul chided physically almost lifting Perry from the room.

'I'm alright Paul, you can let go,' Perry cajoled.

'Perry!' Burger sounded exasperated.

'You can chalk that one onto his tab. It was long overdue and who's he going to complain to?'

'Alright, get the hell out of here,' Burger ordered.

'Come on pal,' Paul gripped Perry by the shoulder so he at least had some grasp on him of he decided to go for round two, and guided him out of the offices and into the corridor. 'There's a young lady waiting impatiently for us back at your office.'

TBC