Lethal Lullaby-Chapter 2
Hush Little Baby
Salvatore's home was a Mediterranean-style estate, high in the Hollywood hills, set on several acres of land overlooking the city. The limo pulled into a beautiful tree-lined drive, gliding smoothly through large gates with a carved sign that announced to all interested parties that this residence was Palazzo Pontevedra.
The ride from the church to the house had been taken up with Salvatore regaling Mae with stories of how the home had once been owned by a 1930's starlet who had died broke and unhappy. Then it had been fallen into disrepair, only to be renovated by a bootlegger. He delighted in telling her of the numerous secret passages that had been put in to move the illegal booze.
Della had to hide a laugh several times seeing her aunt at turns fascinated and shocked by Salvatore's narrative. She was sure her aunt was totally smitten with the handsome man. After all, he was so different than anyone she had ever met, even back East. But for all of that, Della knew Mae had a very level head on her shoulders. If she felt the slightest hint of something off, it would be arrivederci Salvatore.
To make his wife's ride more comfortable, Perry had taken Katherine the minute they settled into the limo. Whether it was because of the motion from the ride or the steady rhythm of her father's heart no one could say, but the tiny girl slept peacefully in the snug harbor of his arms.
"How do you do that?" Della whispered as she leaned over to check on Katherine's status.
Perry grinned at her. "Magic fingers, Sweetheart. I have been gently massaging her back and shoulders since we arrived at the church!" He looked down at his daughter and his eyes warmed to a delicious blue. "Isn't that right, Kat-nip?"
Della's eyebrows went up two inches. "Katnip?"
He nodded slightly. "I like it. Has a nice, fun sound to it. I'm not saying I'll call our daughter that exclusively, but you have to admit that she is rather intoxicating and brings out our playful side."
She shook her head. "Only you." She was amazed at the calming effect Perry had on the baby. He really was a natural. Where she had to fight frustration each time she had to get Katherine to sleep, he could simply walk into the nursery, read her a quick bedtime story or a poem, and out she went. "You do have a way with women."
He leaned over and stole a nice, lingering kiss. Across the way Salvatore and Mae were oblivious.
"The only woman I want my way with is you, Della." She blushed and he laughed. "I love you."
"Uh-huh. I believe you. Now behave, or you'll wake her up."
As the big car came to a stop, the door was opened by Tony Anzellmo, who offered his hand to help Della out. She gave him a hug.
"Tony, it's so good to see you. How have you been?" Her hazel eyes rested on his face and she graced him with a genuine smile.
He answered her smile with a wide one of his own. "Just fine Nic—uh, Della." She raised her eyebrow at his slip of almost calling her by the name she had used while undercover nearly a year before. "I hope you'll forgive me for not being at the church, but the boss left me in charge of the party."
"Of course. Think nothing of it. I'm sure with you in charge, the party will be perfect."
When Perry emerged, Tony's eyes took on a delighted glow as he looked at Katherine's rosy cheeks, flushed with sleep.
"She's beautiful, just like her mother," he commented.
Della chuckled as she slipped her arm through Perry's. "Thank you! Would it surprise you to know that she has her father's temperament?"
"Hot-headed?"
Perry laughed softly. "I think she meant stubborn!"
Now Salvatore, holding Mae's arm possessively, joined them. "Are you making despairing remarks about my goddaughter? Shame on you, Bella Mia." The teasing rebuke made everyone laugh.
Taking Della's arm, he escorted both ladies up the steps and into the magnificent foyer. The Italian marble floor gleamed, reflecting the light from the huge chandeliers. Several paintings graced the walls, some by old masters, some by more recent artists. There were magnificent floral arrangements, candles, and, although it was not the focal point, a splendid crucifix.
On a large table centered on the floor sat the best of the beautiful flower arrangements. Crossing the floor, Salvatore plucked two red roses from the vase, then handed one to Della and the other to Mae.
"Welcome to my home, ladies."
Della smiled but Mae actually giggled like a young girl. "Thank you, Sal."
Sal? Now Della frowned at the familiarity of her aunt's statement. Hmm…maybe I better keep a closer eye on these two.
Perry's voice broke into her brief reflection. "Salvatore, is there someplace I can lay Katherine for her nap?"
Salvatore turned his attention to Perry. "Of course, my friend. Follow me." Lifting Mae's hand to his lips, he smiled at her. "I will be right back."
Mae blushed to the roots of her hair and returned the smile.
Della, following the two men, turned back to look at her aunt again in concern. Still, she held her tongue. Mae was a big girl.
"Della?" Perry asked softly, making sure she was alright, "Do you need my help?"
"Don't be silly!" She refocused on him and Salvatore as they traipsed up a beautiful carved staircase.
At the top of the stairs, Salvatore showed them to a room that had been decorated in shades of pink and set up as a nursery. When Della raised a questioning eyebrow, Salvatore merely shook his head.
"No, mia cara, this was decorated by my daughter-in-law for my first grandchild."
Della noted the sadness in his voice and eyes. She laid a hand on his arm. "What happened?"
"Unfortunately, she lost the child. We've never had the heart to redecorate." The profound sadness he attempted to mask with a smile was apparent. Salvatore, she realized, was a man used to sorrow. He recovered before Della and Perry did. "But now my beautiful Katherina will grace this room."
Perry walked to the canopied crib, gently placing his sleeping daughter down, covering her with her own soft yellow blanket. Then he gently ran his hand over her head, kissed her, and straightened.
Turning to Salvatore, he laid a hand on the man's shoulder. "Thank you. I'm sure Katherine would thank you too."
Della slipped her arm through Salvatore's. "Other than Perry, you have the greatest effect on women I've ever seen. My aunt is quite taken with you! And I remember the night you came to see me perform—the first time. You had an exquisite blonde on your arm."
"My goddaughter, Susanne," he supplied. "She has blossomed into a beautiful young woman."
"She certainly has," Perry agreed, then flushed as Della and Salvatore turned to look at him. "What?"
They shook their heads in unison.
"You'd better watch yourself, Counselor," Della teased. Turning her smile to Salvatore, she suggested lightly, "Shouldn't we return to the foyer to greet the rest of your guests?"
He patted her hand. "Of course."
When the trio returned, Hamilton Burger and Arthur Tragg (along with his wife) had already entered the house and were passing their hats off to a member of the household staff. Tony, although still in the proximity, was keeping his distance from the two. The fallout from the court case following Della and Perry's undercover operation was still fresh in everyone's mind.
Tony, aware that Rico Pinelli, Salvatore's son, would try to exact revenge on Perry if he could, had managed to smuggle a revolver into the courtroom. It had proved necessary to shoot the man when he had pulled out a gun he had secreted from a guard and flourished it at the lawyer while he was on the witness stand. The aftermath of that had been a nightmare.
Not only had Salvatore had to work through his personal, private grief, but Tony had been taken into custody while the investigation was underway. It had taken over a month for the police to release him. No formal charges—not even a weapons charge—had come. But Burger's office and Homicide still kept up with his movements.
Salvatore had been aware of this. He was equally aware of his public perception. More and more, rumors had swirled that he had deliberately arranged for Rico to get that gun, just so his lieutenant could eliminate him without charges. He had done nothing, said nothing, to alleviate the stories or tension. If anything, his avoidance of the incident in the courtroom spoke to how little his concern was for police retribution.
Della dropped her hand from Salvatore's arm and came over to the two newly-minted godfathers. Her warm smile reached them first.
"Katherine has just been put down for her nap," she explained. "Salvatore tells me everything is arranged for a big party. Perry and I haven't even had the grand tour."
Tragg drew her in for a hug. "You were so beautiful this morning, Della. It was a perfect picture of the perfect family. And with my guidance, Katherine will never pick up Perry's bad habits!"
"Hey!" Perry protested, "I heard that! If you don't behave yourself, Mae will come after you!"
Burger chuckled. "Hiding behind a woman's skirts, Counselor? Nothing has changed!"
"If you mean that I often hide behind Della's, that's a matter of public record. But I warn you, it is not wise to laugh away Mae Kirby's ability to take you down a peg or two."
"Did I hear my name?" the older woman asked as she joined the newcomers. She greeted both men with a smile that reminded them of Della's. "Salvatore, these men are impugning my honor!"
The Italian shook his head. "That will never do. Gentlemen, Mrs. Kirby is a fine lady."
Tragg grinned. "Oh, believe me, that was never in doubt."
Perry drew Della to the side. Leaning so that his mouth was close to her ear, he whispered, "Where's Paul? He should have been here by now?"
She kept her voice equally low. "I don't know. Was he going to drive the Cadillac up here?"
"Yes. And I know he didn't need to stop for fuel. Something else is keeping him. And I'm getting a little nervous. I can't explain it. All the hairs on the back of my neck are standing up."
Just then Tony managed to catch and hold Salvatore's attention. Murmuring an apology, he left the small circle of guests and moved over for the impromptu conference with his man. Della and Perry watched as the color drained from the older man's face and his eyes hardened. They saw his mouth tighten, then move rapidly as he gave Tony instructions. The younger man bowed slightly, then hurried away.
"Perry, Della, if I could speak with you a mo—" He didn't have time to finish his sentence before a pounding at the door interrupted him.
A second later the heavy doors were thrown wide and two plain-clothes officers entered along with no less than four uniformed policemen.
"What is going on?" Tragg, Burger and Salvatore exclaimed at the same time.
It was Burger who stepped forward. "What is the meaning of this?"
One of the two lead detectives recognized Tragg. Ignoring the district attorney, he spoke to him instead.
"Sir, we have warrants for the arrest of Salvatore Pinelli and Anthony Anzellmo."
Perry crossed the room in several quick strides. "On what charges?"
The man looked up, recognition flaring in his intelligent eyes. "You're Perry Mason."
"What charges?" he repeated with a patience Della couldn't understand.
"First-degree murder."
This time Burger was not to be put off. "Who is the victim?"
The other detective met his eyes steadily. "Are you Hamilton Burger?"
"I am."
"Then this is going to come as a shock to you. Attorney General Gavin Richards was found . . . Has been murdered. I'm sorry, sir. I am aware you were close to him."
As he absorbed the news, Hamilton's knees buckled and he had to be helped to a chair.
Tragg was suddenly all business. "When?"
"Earlier this morning. He was in Los Angeles, Lieutenant. And from the information we gathered, he was last known to have an appointment on the books to meet with Salvatore Pinelli in private—here."
Mae Kirby took all this in her stride. Coming to put an arm around Della, she commented under her breath, "They don't waste any time jumping to conclusions, do they?"
"Mae," Della warned, "They don't issue warrants just to question people. A judge has to approve it. There must be some evidence against him, or they wouldn't be here."
"Enough of this," Salvatore said quietly, yet his authoritative voice carried through the foyer. "I will go with these gentlemen. Perry, Della, please . . . stay. This party is not dependent on me—but you are the guests of honor."
"But—"
He held up a hand. "We will talk soon, my friends."
"Thanks for making this easy, Mack," the lead detective grunted. "Now . . . where did Mr. Anzellmo run off to?"
"You will find him in my office," Salvatore stated. His head was up and he looked unbothered and dignified. "And no, he is not concealing or destroying evidence." Snapping his fingers, a member of the staff approached. "See that Tony comes to . . ." he looked over at the detective and asked, "Which precinct?"
"Nine."
"See that Tony comes to the ninth precinct within the hour."
The rest of the group watched as the uniformed officers took Salvatore into custody. A few minutes later a calm fell over the room again.
Della, realizing Hamilton Burger had yet to recover from the shock, came over and knelt beside him. "Hamilton? I am so very sorry. Do you need to go? Is there anything Perry and I can do for you?"
He turned to look at her absently. "I talked with him last night. He said nothing about being in town. Why was he here?"
"I don't know," she said kindly. "But I know that we will do everything we can to find out the details."
Burger's eyes burned with something she couldn't identify. "If Pinelli is behind this, I will see him in the gas chamber."
"Don't jump to conclusions," Perry said crisply. "Do yourself and us the favor of presuming him innocent."
"And if he isn't?"
Perry's eyes, cold and blue, were clear and steady. "That, Hamilton, is for a group of twelve jurors to decide, not you."
The large doors opened again, breaking up the conference. Paul Drake, his suit a little rumpled and his hair slightly disheveled, ambled in. He looked for Perry, saw him, and tilted his head to the side.
"What is it?" Perry asked as he joined him.
"Sorry I was delayed. Perry . . . the police found Gavin Richards's body."
"I know."
"But do you know how he was found?" Perry shook his head. "He had been executed. Mafia-style. And his wife's IOUs were pinned to his chest."
"Go on."
"The only fingerprints on the IOUs? Salvatore Pinelli's. Boss, leave this before it begins. Distance yourself from this case as quickly as you can. Don't defend him. A man like that—he has lawyers. You could damage your reputation beyond repair if you . . ."
Perry looked at him with calm assurance. "Do you trust me, Paul?"
"Most of the time."
"Do you trust Della?"
"Always."
Perry smiled at that. "Then trust us not to put Katherine or Mae or ourselves in danger. If I represent him—and he hasn't asked that of me—it will be because I believe his story—when I hear it. Trust that, Paul."
