I have noticed that many people assumed that Della's aunt was Aunt Mae. To be honest, I have not yet come across Aunt Mae in my watching of 'Perry Mason', so in my story, Della's aunt is Aunt Elena, a character I made up myself. I hope that these slight deviations do not ruin your enjoyment of the story! Without further ado, here is the next installment:
The next Monday morning, Perry walked into his office at eight-thirty, only to find it utterly deserted. Furrowing his brow, he put his briefcase on the desk and wondered what this unusual circumstance might mean. For as long as he could remember, Della had been in the office at eight o'clock. Technically, her contract stated that her workday started at nine o'clock, but she had always come in early and left late, and he was only too happy to pay her overtime. Whenever he came in at eight-thirty, therefore, his coffee was already brewing and his mail was organized.
He had a sneaking suspicion that Della's tardiness had to do with her aunt's visit.
Indeed, Della's footsteps were heard in the office at exactly nine o'clock.
"Good morning, Mr. Mason."
"Good morning, Ms. Street," he returned. He took a moment to admire her countenance. She seemed much better rested than she had in a long while. "We have a busy week ahead of us. Woodrow Brown was found dead in his home on early Saturday morning, and the police have booked Greg Cassidy on a suspicion of second-degree murder."
"What?" Della gasped. "Why did you not tell me?"
"I tried. I attempted to reach you by phone twice and even paid a visit to your apartment. Your aunt made me understand that…you were unavailable."
"My aunt never told me about it. I woke up Saturday morning with the strange impression that I had heard the phone and doorbell ring during the night, but when Aunt Elena said nothing I assumed that I must have dreamed it."
"Well, I cannot blame the lady entirely," Perry said with what he hoped was not a sarcastic or bitter smile. "I didn't exactly leave a message with her that I wanted you to call me back. Now that you are here, let us get to work, shall we?"
…
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday ticked by very slowly for Perry Mason. Della came into the office at nine, left at five, and disappeared during the lunch hour to entertain her aunt. Although she was technically working 'normal' hours for a secretary, Perry could not shake the feeling that he was seeing her far too little. He began to realize how much he had come to depend upon Della's sweet, strong presence. The office felt so empty without her, and all his meals were tasteless.
He tried to tell himself that it was a temporary change, that soon enough Della's aunt would be out of town, and that the least he could do was tolerate Della's hospitality towards her.
On Thursday, however, he dictated so much correspondence that he was certain that there was no way that she could possibly leave the office before nine in the evening. He could not help feeling a little smug as he left his office around four that afternoon for an appointment. At least he would have her company for one night that week. If the meeting went well, he would be back at six, and bask in the sunshine of her presence for three hours, and possibly longer if he could prevail upon her to have supper with him.
When he returned at six, however, he found that Della's desk was empty. She was not in his office, or in the law library.
With a frown, he went to Della's desk. Only half of the letters he had dictated were typed and waiting to be sent. However, her purse and jacket were gone.
Gertie heard his movements around the office, and came to the door of Della's office.
"Della had to leave, Mr. Mason."
"Why?"
"At five past five, a woman came up here, barged into the office, and demanded to know where Della was. Della came out, called her 'Aunt Elena', and tried to explain that she had to work late. The woman was having none of it, angrily stating that she had reservations for two to Carlos's, and in short made such a scene that Ms. Street had no choice but to leave her work behind and accompany her."
Disappointment and anger crossed Perry Mason's usually stoic face. This was the last straw. Elena Street was a formidable lady; that he had experienced for himself, but Della was a grown woman with a mind of her own. She knew the importance of the correspondence he had dictated. It was very uncharacteristic of her to leave her work unfinished. Something odd was going on, and he was going to find out what it was.
Gertie had been watching him closely, and asked,
"If they are very important…would…you like me to type them up?"
"No," Perry said decisively, dropping the letters he had been fiddling with. "I won't have you doing Ms. Street's work as well as your own. Go on home, and lock the office door behind you. I'm going to dinner."
Gertie nodded and bade him goodnight. For the first time since she had come to work at the law firm, she felt that Della's job was not entirely secure.
