The lawyer sat in his big chair, examining the ring in his hand. His client had brought it into him distraught after having found it next to the body. Perry was trying to make sense of the placement when the intercom buzzed.

"Yes, Gertie?"

"Lieutenant Tragg to see you, Mr. Mason"

He quickly slipped the ring in his pocket and clasped his hands at his chin.

"Send him in Gertie."

The lieutenant walked in with his usual gait and shrewd grin.

"Counsellor," he said in greeting. "Della not here today?"

"She's out getting some lunch— and probably enjoying her coffee at Clay's— she's been gone for a while." He grinned at his last remark. She deserved the short window of time away, she'd been working hard.

"Well, tell her whenever she's ready to leave her hard taskmaster she can come work for me," said Tragg dryly.

Perry laughed but he knew Tragg would hire her in a heartbeat if given the chance.

"That's why I marry my secretaries, Lieutenant. I'm never without help." He grinned boyishly.

"Well, when she tires of her husband you can send her my way too— I'll make an excellent second." His smile was broad and sarcastic.

"I'll relay your sentiments," Perry quipped. "What brings you here, Lieutenant? I doubt it's a social call."

"The unpleasantries— always my favorite part of our visits. Perry, I'm here

for a piece of evidence you've been withholding from me."

Perry feigned shock. "Lieutenant, you think I've been withholding evidence from you?"

"I don't think, Perry. I know." He took on his all-knowing demeanor and pompous tone.

Perry handed over the ring. "Tragg, Jonas Paul gave me this ring before you arrived at the scene."

Tragg examined the ring and tossed it into the air. Acting triumphant. Perry couldn't help but chuckle.

"Lieutenant, what conclusion does that ring lead you to?" He cocked his head and burrowed his brow.

"Absolutely nothing," Tragg said matter-of-fact in his tone.

Perry laughed now. "I've been turning that ring in my hand all morning and the only conclusion I came to was—"

"A bad frame up," the Lieutenant finished his sentence.

"A bad frame up," Perry agreed. "We know that Jonas Paul is innocent— he was on a plane during the murder— but I cannot find one person with motive or —"

Before he could finish a cry came through the intercom, which had been serving as a monitor. He was on his feet immediately. "Excuse me, Lieutenant."

He disappeared into Della's office. His long strides brought him to the crib quickly and he towered over the cranky, red-cheeked toddler.

"Good Morning, darling," Tragg could

hear over the intercom. Emily Kaye would whine in reply.

Perry would pick up the toddler and she would groggily lay her head on his shoulder. He picked up her blanket and wrapped it around her small frame. He strode back into the office.

"Excuse me, Lieutenant," as he kissed the girl's cheek, "Sleeping Beauty wakes." He grinned.

Tragg watched as Perry carried the girl and took a seat at his desk. She had dark brown curls that framed bright blue eyes. Her cheeks were still red from sleep. She was not quick to shake off the fog of her slumber. She snuggled close to the lawyer's gigantic chest and was enveloped in his huge arms.

"Hello, Emily Kaye," Tragg crooned. He had a soft spot for the girl. She simply flashed her eyes to the Lieutenant in reply.

"A little hard to rouse I'm afraid," he grinned. "She's not much of a 'morning person.'"

"Perry, if I didn't know any better I would say that girl had Mason blood—"

"I know." Perry crooned. He loved when people noted their similarities. From the moment he met Emily Kaye at 6 months old, Perry was putty in her hands. She could snap a finger and Perry would obey. Everyone knew it. He even knew it. But he didn't seem to mind.

"She's beautiful," smiled the Lieutenant.

They let that remark hang in the air for a moment. Perry took the tiny hand into his massive one and held it.

"Where were we?" grunted Perry.

"A poor frame-up," grunted Tragg in reply.

"A poor frame-up," Perry agreed. "No one has a motive— or rather everyone has the same motive."

"And everyone has an alibi."

"That's the thing!" said Perry with exasperation. "The only reason they pinned it on Jonas was because he wasn't there, but I've had Paul Drake check out every possible theory. Jonas seems like—"

"Daddy?" she stopped his sentence midstream. The little girl finally waking from her nap-time stupor.

"Mm-hm?" He hummed.

She turned from his chest and began to fiddle with the things on his desk, as if looking for something. Her eyes dart around the desk until she sees the pen sitting on the edge. She reaches for it and would have written on the papers in front of her had Perry not predicted her intentions. He quickly slid a blank piece in front of the girl and she began to scribble.

Tragg smiled. "She's a natural— now, Jonas seems like—"

"Yes, he seems like the only possible suspect." He streamed back into the conversation as Emily Kaye scribbled contentedly. "I have had Paul Drake check on every possible theory. For a moment, I even considered that Jonas Paul—"

"That I what?" Paul walked in from the private entrance, without his signature knock. "Oh, sorry Lieutenant. I can come back later —" he spotted the curls Perry's hand was now running his fingers through.

"Hiya, Gorgeous," he kneeled down by her. The little girl grinned wide and handed Paul the piece of paper she had graced with her scribbles.

"Oh, thank you, Em!" He said as if she had been given him the world. The detective picked up the paper and tried to decipher what message the scribbles were conveying. Even with his expertise, he could not sleuth out the meaning. "You got it, little lady. I'll take care of it." Emily Kaye looked pleased with her work.

"Sorry, Perry, I can come back later," said Paul.

"No, Paul. Stay. What do you got?" said the lawyer.

"Nothing more than what we thought," groaned the detective as he took his place in the plush seat next to the lawyer's desk

"Bad frame-up?" questioned the Lieutenant.

"Bad frame-up," the lawyer and detective hummed in unison.

"I checked up on our last theory, Perry. Your guy is innocent," said Paul in his usual droll.

Perry brought his free hand to his chin. "It would be easier if it were him."

Tragg laughed, "Don't I know it."

"I have come up with every possible solution," said Perry with exasperation.

Before they could continue the conversation, Emily Kaye chimed in while perched on Perry's knee. "Uncoo Pawul," she said with her bright eyes.

Paul set up from his reclined position, practically at the edge of his seat. "What is it, Princess?"

"Lou." She said this not in question but as matter of fact.

Paul looked around the room and noted the toddler's rose-tinted cheeks. When he could not find what he was looking for, he feigned exasperation.

"Are you telling me that daddy got you up from a nap and didn't bring Lou along?"

Perry rolled his eyes and shrugged in defeat.

"Come on, gorgeous."

The toddler reached for the large figure and he picked her up and disappeared into Della's office.

"Now, what Perry?" yelled Paul from the other room.

"I'm not so sure, Paul," he said before adding, "Any ideas, Lieutenant?" He grunted with the question.

"None. Truthfully, Perry I— "

"See! Lou was just sleepin', doll!" Paul crooned from the other room.

"Lou so sweepy!" the little girl exclaimed.

"Uh, Lou?" questioned the old man.

"Her lion," grinned Perry. The Lieutenant arched his brow. Paul came in holding the girl while she held tightly to the stuffed lion.

"You were saying, Lieutenant Tragg?" chuckled Perry.

"I was saying," grunted Tragg, "that I came to get the ring per police protocol… I stayed to find out if you had any leads…"

"Well," laughed Perry. "Now, that we know where we all stand."

Emily Kaye came and took the blanket from her father. He had forgotten he had the blanket on his lap. She laid the blanket on Paul's lap and Lou followed.

"So we're back to square one," said Paul with a sigh.

Tragg's eyes were on the little girl now. He watched as Perry and Paul toiled over theories and details, all while appeasing the little girl.

"I'm not so sure we even have a square one, Paul. We know who didn't do it."

"Well, this makes your job easy, Perry. You just defend Jonas in court and prove he's innocent," chimed in Paul as he help Emily Kaye swaddle her beloved Lou as if this was a regular task.

"Yes, Paul," chimed in Perry, "but it makes the job of the Lieutenant much harder," he grinned with a trace of triumph. "I acquit the accused. The Lieutenant has to find the guilty party."

"And—" interjected Tragg, "I am counting on the Counsellor's curiosity to aid the homicide department… after all..knowing the guilty party will only help Mr. Paul's case," the old man grinned now. If he could count on anything, it was the lawyer's pursuit of justice— or his insatiable curiosity.

"Exactly," said Perry in his sing-song tone as he took the swaddled lion from

his little girl. Perry now cradled the toy in his arm and began pacing the room.

Tragg chuckled at the sight of the lawyer with his daughter's toy, pacing the room as if to comfort it. He could see the lawyer's eyes dance as he wracked his brain.

"We have to be missing something," Perry said with frustration pouring from his tone.

"Let's just look at it from another angle, Perry," Emily Kaye now had Paul's hand and was leading him to the law library. The library not only housed books and legalities but some toys now littered the room.

The old Lieutenant grinned at the scene playing out before him. Two years ago he would have never predicted this situation. But the abnormality didn't phase the two men.

Paul walked out with Emily Kaye holding a small, toy bottle in his hand. He handed the bottle to the little girl, found his place back in the large chair.

"We've looked at it from every angle, Paul." Emily Kaye was now reaching up to the small bundle in Perry's large arm. Perry picked up the girl and handed her the bundle.

The men were quiet now, thinking hard. Emily squirmed until the lawyer put her down. She now paced with her father, soothing the lion, giving it the small bottle.

"You know, Perry," said Paul, "I don't think I've ever seen such a poor framing job. Almost as if—"

"Almost as if it was intended to be a poor job—" the lawyer interjected. His eyes were fiery now. "I think you're onto something, Paul!"

The tall detective stood up, "Go through the list?"

"Go through the list," hummed Perry as he hurried behind his desk. Tragg was on his feet now too.

Before they could browse their list of suspects, Della walked through her office door.

"Momma!" exclaimed the toddler as she ran to her, arms wide.

"Emily—" she said as she placed the girl on her hip after kissing her cheek.

"Mrs. Mason," said the Lieutenant in greeting.

"Hello, Lieutenant Tragg— I'm sorry, Perry, I thought she would nap longer." She held the girl close, as if she hadn't seen her in hours. She hated being away from her— she couldn't go with Perry to follow a lead without missing her. She stayed in the office a little more these days.

"It's alright, dear," said Perry absently. His eyes were combing the list, picking up every possibility and turning it in his mind.

Della held the little girl in the large seat and whispered to her as she helped her care for the swaddled lion. The men discussed multiple theories until Della finally spoke.

"Perry?" she chimed in.

"Mm-Hmm," he hummed.

"I was thinking while I drank my coffee downstairs—"

"Yes, dear."

"I think this was a bad frame-up."

"Yes, dear," Perry chuckled.

"And I think Mr. Calloway did it."

All three men lifted up their heads from the desk.

"Beautiful, he's not even on the list— and even if he was, I've checked out every possible—"

Before Paul could finish, Perry grinned, walked over to his wife and kissed her cheek. Emily giggled.

"Come on, gentlemen— we have a suspect to question."

"But Perry—" protested Paul. Before he could finish, Tragg interrupted.

"By gosh, I think she's right," he followed Perry towards the door.

"Perry, what is this—" Paul was still lost.

"I'll explain on the way," said the lawyer as he put on his coat and hat.

"Della, have you considered working for the homicide division?" said Tragg as if his offer would allure the secretary.

Della laughed.

"Oh, no Lieutenant. We've already discussed this," said Perry with a smirk.

"Indeed, Counsellor, we have," he cleared his throat. "Goodbye, Della, always a pleasure." Before he walked out the door he bowed in front of the toddler and said, "Good Day, Emily Kaye."

"Bye-bye" she waved. He winked at her as he walked out the door, Paul following still trying to figure out exactly what they knew that he had yet to grasp.

Perry knelt down by the big chair. "I knew it was a good idea to marry my secretary— you are brilliant, Ms. Street."

"Don't you forget it," she said as she cocked his hat to the side with her free hand. Her other arm wrapped around Emily Kaye.

He grinned. "Be back soon."

"Okay."

Before the lawyer lifted his large frame, he leaned in to kiss the little girl's cheek. She placed her hands on his cheeks and kissed his lips instead.

He stood, straightened his hat, and walked out the door. Following a new lead and the thrill of the chase. But these days, the lawyer's biggest thrill was coming back home to the sleuthing secretary and the toddling toddler.

—- The End —-