By the time their next case rolled around, Joy had still not been found. It was taking its toll on everyone, especially Della. She wasn't eating much and had lost weight. The woman was becoming weaker. Perry was defending his friend Jordan White for murdering a horror writer named David Hall. After the arraignment, Perry, Della, and Jordan went to the hotel where the murder took place. That night, Perry and Della were reading Hall's book. Perry looked over and saw that his wife had fallen asleep. He marked her book and placed it on his nightstand with his. Perry helped maneuver Della so she was lying down. The next day, Paul joined them for breakfast. Perry left to visit Hall's home. Paul stayed with Della for the time being. "We should probably get to work," Paul said. He stood and turned to leave, but noticed Della was still at the table. Paul walked over and pulled Della to her feet. He noticed her plate was still practically full. "I didn't realize you were still eating."
"I wasn't," she said. Paul helped her move away from the table. He went to let go, but Della grabbed his arm. Paul held onto her as they went to their makeshift office.
"Do you want to talk about what's bothering you?"
"What good would that do?"
Paul helped her to sit at her desk, "Della, you're not taking care of yourself. You're skipping meals and it's taking a toll."
"I'm not talking about this."
Paul sighed, "and I thought Perry was stubborn." The young man left the office and the woman alone. She ignored her feelings and started doing as Perry had asked.
That night, Paul pulled the fire alarm after a young woman named Susan said the man in the painting came to life. Once everyone was accounted for, Perry sent Della back to their room. After talking to Paul, Perry sent him to make sure Della got back to their room alright. Perry talked to a few guests before going to investigate the area with the chandelier. He walked under the large piece and looked at it. "Perry," Della's voice came from a hallway. Perry had just moved out of the way when the chandelier fell. "Perry!" Della ran to her husband.
"I'm fine," he said, "go back to the room."
"No," Della said in a panic.
"You probably just saved my life, but go back to the room." Della turned to leave but collapsed. "Della!" He bent over to check on her, "are you alright?"
"I don't know," she said.
Perry looked around and found a phone nearby. He called Paul's room, "hello?"
"Paul, I need you to come down to the hallway we were talking about earlier."
"Do I need to bring anything?"
"No," he said, "Della collapsed and I can't get her off of the floor."
"I'll be right there."
Perry returned to his wife, "Paul's on his way down."
Paul rushed down to the hall, and over to the fallen woman, "do you think you broke anything?"
"No," Della said softly.
Paul helped Della sit up. He put his hands under her arms and got her to her feet. The woman couldn't support herself. Paul lifted her into his arms and carried her to the room she was sharing with her husband. Perry followed the two. The lawyer unlocked the door and held it open for Paul and Della. Perry then pulled the covers down so Paul could place her on the bed. "Thank you," Perry said.
"Of course," Paul said.
"Thank you, Paul," Della whispered.
"Anytime," Paul smiled at Della, "call my room if you two need anything."
Paul left and Perry locked the door. He then walked over to his wife and helped her take her robe off. "You are eating more than a few bites tomorrow." When she didn't answer, Perry looked and found his wife asleep.
The following day was the first preliminary hearing. Perry wasn't sure that Della would make it through. He had to help her get ready. "Why don't you use my cane today?"
"You need it," Della said.
"I'll be fine."
"I doubt it will support me at this point."
Perry held onto his wife the entire time they walked. He could feel her slipping away from him. Once Perry's client was acquitted, he took Della home. He had decided to take the train back since flying made the woman nervous. Paul rode with them. When Della had fallen asleep, Paul and Perry started talking about Joy, "I'm more than willing to look for her," Paul said.
"I know, but Della has a point. How can you find someone who doesn't want to be found?"
"I know I can find her."
"I know that too. I just have a bad feeling."
"What do you mean?"
"Joy said she was going to search for her birth mother. What if she found her and that's where she is? Legally, Joy is our daughter, if we find her, we can take her back. Then, Joy would become resentful and things would get worse."
"I guess you have a point."
Once they were home, Della started eating more, but that would soon change.