Disclaimer: None of the titles, trademarks, or characters (with the exception of OC's) are mine.
Helen Carmichael's worst fears were realized when a rumor began to circulate that Prosecution was about to get a huge boost from a "surprise witness."
Things seemed even bleaker when D.A. Hamilton Burger publicly announced that a new witness had stepped forward with information regarding the Helen Carmichael case. He refused, however, to reveal whom the witness was or what the witness was willing to reveal.
He didn't need to say anything. Perry Mason could guess for himself. It seemed the writer of the anonymous letter to the LAPD had finally come forward.
Della Street could feel the tension in Perry Mason's office. Though Mason showed no sign of nervousness, he seemed to be working harder on his case than Della had ever seen him before. He busied himself with papers, paced the floor of his small office, and spent a good deal of time just sitting and thinking. He was trying to tackle the problem before him. He had to plan for whatever the D.A. might throw at him, and he had to find a way to get over it. He had to consider all of the possibilities.
On the morning the trial resumed, the tension still hung in the air, but Mason didn't seem to notice it. Sitting in his office, dressed as usual to appear in court, Mason smiled to himself and continued reading his Agatha Christie novel. At this eccentric behavior, Della Street could do nothing but scratch her head.
The tension was thicker than ever in the courtroom. It almost seemed palpable. The threat of the D.A.'s surprise witness was visibly hanging over everyone involved with the defense. Helen Carmichael seemed affected the most. As Mason looked at her, he wondered if the judge and jury would take her nervous look as innocence or defeat.
Perry Mason, though, seemed as confident as ever as he stood before the judge. He called Lt. Tragg as his first witness.
"Lt. Tragg," said Mason, "you shared with the court several pieces of evidence linking my client to the scene of William Anders' murder. Could you please repeat those?"
"Objection," said Hamilton Burger softly.
"Your honor, Mr. Mason is obviously using some sort of delaying tactic."
"Your honor, I withdraw the question," said Mason. "Let me get to the point. Lieutenant, in your testimony, you mentioned a tube of lipstick. Is that correct?"
"Objection," repeated Burger.
"Building a case, your honor."
"Overruled."
"Thank you, your honor," said Mason. "Please answer the question, lieutenant."
"It's true," said Tragg. "A tube of ruby red lipstick."
"And you questioned the defendant, my client, Ms. Helen Carmichael about this tube of lipstick?" said Mason.
"I did," said Lt. Tragg. "She admitted that it was hers."
"Did she, lieutenant?" said Mason. "Do you have any idea how many tubes exactly like the one you found are sold in this country? Do you have any idea how many are sold in California alone?"
"But how many of those tubes have Helen Carmichael's fingerprints on them?" countered Tragg. Ahhing and hissing came from the observant crowd in the courtroom. It sounded more like they were watching a high school fight than a legal trial.
"You have determined that this tube of lipstick was dropped at the scene of the crime during William Anders' murder. You have determined this based largely on the testimony of the maid. Is that correct?" said Mason.
"It is," said Tragg.
"Lt. Tragg,' said Mason, "would you please explain to the court how you believe the tube of lipstick happened to have been dropped at the home of the deceased, William Anders?" "Objection!" said Burger, more loudly this time.
"Overruled," said the judge again. "Lt. Tragg, please answer the question."
"Well, I... eh... I assume it fell from Miss Carmichael's pocket while fleeing the scene of the crime."
"Thank you, Lt. Tragg. That will be all. But I do reserve the right to recall this witness at a later time."
"No questions for this witness, your honor," said Hamilton Burger.
> > > > > >
Helen Carmichael looked more nervous than ever as Perry Mason called on her to take the stand. As she walked to the front of the courtroom, Mason leaned close to her and whispered in her ear. "Remember what I told you," he said. "Just be honest."
"Ms. Carmichael," Mason said aloud, "would you mind telling the court what you were doing between 7:00 and 9:00 on the night William Anders was murdered?"
"I was at home," said Helen meekly. "I was at home watching a movie on TV."
"What were you wearing at the time?" asked Mason.
"I don't see how that's important," said Helen.
"Please, Ms. Carmichael," said Mason. "Answer the question. What were you wearing while watching TV between 7:00 and 9:00 the night Bill Anders was murdered?"
"Just a sweat suit," said Helen.
"Could you be more specific?"
"A really simple sweat suit," said Helen. "Red sweatpants. A white sweat shirt. White socks. Tennis shoes."
"And did this sweat suit have any pockets?" asked Perry Mason.
"None," said Helen.
"I would also like the court to note that Helen Carmichael was wearing tennis shoes, not high heels," said Mason.
"Now, Ms. Carmichael, you said you recognized a tube of lipstick that the police showed you? Prosecution has labeled it Exhibit B."
"Yes," said Helen. "I think it might be mine. I mean, I have a color just like it, and it is the brand I usually buy. But I have so many colors."
"But you did say you recognized the lipstick?" said Mason.
"Yes, I did," admitted Helen. "It's even my favorite color. I carry it in my purse all the time." "After the police showed you the lipstick, did you check in your purse to see if the lipstick was missing?"
"No, I didn't," said Helen.
"You didn't?" said Mason. "I would think after being shown an item as common as a tube of lipstick that was linking you to the scene of a major crime, you'd at least check to try and prove it wasn't yours."
"I didn't need to," said Helen. "I had already lost my tube of lipstick like that a week before the police found it."
"I see," said Mason. "Do you have any idea where you might have lost that tube of lipstick?" "No, I do not," said Helen.
"Do you think it is possible that someone might have stolen that tube of lipstick?"
"Objection!" called Burger yet again.
"Ms. Carmichael," continued Mason, "you mentioned that you usually kept the tube of lipstick in a purse. Is this the purse in question?"
Mason showed the court a simple leather woman's purse.
"It is," said Helen.
"It is now labeled Defense Exhibit A," said Mason. "If you would, Ms. Carmichael, would you like to demonstrate how you normally put People's Exhibit B into Defense Exhibit A?"
Helen took the purse, unzipped it, dropped the tube of lipstick inside, and zipped it again.
"Thank you, Ms. Carmichael. That's all."
Helen looked frightened as Hamilton Burger approached her.
"Ms. Carmichael, what was your relationship with Mr. Anders?" asked Burger.
Helen hesitated. Her eyes made a silent plea to Perry Mason once again. Mason only offered Helen a reassuring nod.
"We were lovers," said Helen.
"And is it true that you and Mr. Anders had some sort of argument?" asked Burger.
"Yes, it is," said Helen.
"Would you mind sharing the details of your argument?" asked Burger.
"I'd rather not," said Helen.
"Ms. Carmichael, this is a court of law," said Burger. "Now Ms. Culp, Ms. Silvers, and Ms. Cook have all testified that you had an argument with Mr. Anders. I ask again, what were the details of your argument?"
"Objection," said Mason. "Prosecution is asking my client to give very personal, and very irrelevant, testimony."
"Sustained," said the judge.
"Ms. Carmichael," said Burger, "have you ever threatened to kill Mr. Anders?"
Again, Helen hesitated.
"No," she lied. Perry Mason frowned.
"Are you absolutely sure?" asked Burger.
"No," repeated Helen. "I did not threaten to kill Bill."
"I remind you that you are under oath," said Burger.
"I never threatened to kill Bill Anders!" screamed Helen.
A dull roar formed in the crowd. The judge banged her gavel. 'Order! Order!"
"Ms. Carmichael," continued Burger, as soon as he had complete silence, "you stated you were at home between 7:00 and 9:00 on the night Bill Anders was murdered. Can anyone confirm that?"
"No," said Helen.
"No further questions, your honor."
> > > > > >
"Your honor, defense recalls Lt. Tragg."
"Lt. Tragg, you earlier testified that you believed my client, Ms. Helen Carmichael, dropped a tube of lipstick, People's Exhibit B, while fleeing the scene of Bill Anders' murder from her pocket."
"That is correct," repeated the crotchety old policeman.
"Ms. Carmichael has just testified that she had no pockets on the night Bill Anders was murdered. And even if she had, she carries her lipstick in her purse."
"So?"
"So, Lt. Tragg, I ask you again: How do you believe my client left the lipstick in Anders' house?"
"It must have fallen from her purse."
"Lt. Tragg, I would like you to help me with a demonstration. The entire court has just watched Helen Carmichael place her lipstick in this purse. Would you take hold of it, please?"
Mason enjoyed the look on Tragg's face as he reluctantly grasped the woman's purse. He held it by the corners of his fingers as if it was contaminated.
"Hold it like a woman would, lieutenant," instructed Mason.
The look on Tragg's face turned to sheer embarrassment as he begrudgingly placed the purse strap over his shoulder. The observant crowd burst into laughter.
"I don't see what significance this 'demonstration' could possibly have," objected Burger. "Don't worry," said Mason. "You will. Now, Lt. Tragg, I would like you to take this purse and run as quickly as you can across the courtroom floor."
Lt. Tragg slowly stood up. He cast a pleading glance at the judge. "Do I have to, your honor?" The judge simply nodded.
Lt. Tragg braced himself and then bolted down the aisle of the courtroom. "Now come back," said Mason.
Tragg ran back towards him.
"Again," said Mason. "Faster this time."
The laughter came to a peak as Lt. Tragg obeyed.
"Objection!" called Burger. "I don't see what any of this proves."
Mason took back the purse and unzipped it. He carefully removed the tube of lipstick and showed it to the courtroom.
"It proves," said Mason, "that no matter how fast Helen Carmichael fled the scene, the tube of lipstick could not have fallen from the purse. And I would like to ask you, Lt. Tragg, what your opinion is on why a young woman would take a purse with her while she was committing murder anyway? No further questions, your honor."
> > > > > >
Perry Mason looked at Hamilton Burger. A smile was starting to spread across the District Attorney's face. Mason knew exactly what he was thinking. The demonstration with the purse would be nothing if he could bring someone forward that could testify about the anonymous tip-off the police had received. That person could also prove that Helen had lied under oath. Why had she lied? Mason had distinctly told her to stick to the truth. Now, no matter what Mason did, Burger would pull out that surprise witness...
Mason had been putting a lot of thought into his next decision. He had made strange ones before. This one would be unusual even for him. But now Mason finally made the choice. He had to play his Ace before Burger could play his.
Perry Mason called Helen Carmichael back to the stand.
"I mean it this time," whispered Mason. "Just answer all of my questions truthfully."
Mason straightened up.
"Ms. Carmichael," he said, "are you aware of what perjury is?"
"Huh?"
"Perjury, Ms. Carmichael," said Mason. "Lying under oath."
"I don't understand," said Helen. "Why...?"
"Ms. Carmichael, prosecution asked you if you had ever threatened to kill Bill Anders. You said no. Would you mind explaining why you lied?"
A panicked expression began filling Helen's eyes. "I don't know what you're talking about." "Yes, you do, Ms. Carmichael," said Mason. "Now I put the question to you. Have you ever threatened to kill Bill Anders?"
"What? No!"
"Never? You never even spoke about killing Bill Anders?"
"Of course not!" cried Helen. "How could you say that?"
"I'm the one asking the questions here," said Mason, now raising his voice. "'He has to die.' 'He has to die.' Are those words familiar to you?"
"No. I..."
"Didn't you speak those words on a railroad train from New York to California?" demanded Mason. "Weren't you speaking about Bill Anders?"
"No I didn't!" shouted Helen. She was now in a panicked frenzy, screaming at the top of her lungs. "And I wasn't!"
"You're lying," Mason shouted back. "Tell the truth. You spoke to some friends about killing Bill Anders, didn't you? Didn't you?"
Burger was so startled and confused that he was tempted for a moment to object. He felt someone should be objecting to this. He was wise enough to hold his tongue. "Didn't you say that Bill Anders had to die?" shouted Mason.
"No! No, I..."
"You're lying, Ms. Carmichael," said Mason. His eyes shot daggers at his own client, who was helplessly squirming in her box. "I ask you again, did you say that Bill Anders had to die? Isn't it true that you talked to Ms. Natalie Culp, Ms. Kay Silvers, and Ms. Susan Cook on the train from New York to California? Isn't it true that you mentioned stabbing Bill Anders through the heart with a letter opener you had purchased from him? Isn't it true that you threatened to do it on a Saturday night while Bill Anders was lying in his bed sleeping?"
"Yes!" cried Helen. "Yes! Yes! Yes!"
Mason took a few breaths and then immediately calmed down. "No further questions," he said gently.
The judge and the crowd of observers sat looking on in wide-eyed amazement. Hamilton Burger stood up and blinked in shock. Kay Silvers hung her head. Natalie Culp shook hers. Susan Cook's face had just completely cleared of expression.
Jack Anderson's face showed complete puzzlement. It was a mixture of shock and amusement.
Hamilton Burger was no longer sure if he was on the side of the Defense or the Prosecution.