The Case of the Stolen Artifact
Chapter 7
1
Mayor Patrick Simpson walked into the office of Lieutenant Murray Simon.* "Hello, Murray."
The lieutenant took one look at the mayor and had a pretty good idea of why he was there. He wanted no part of it. If Spicy Bits reported correctly, the mayor was about to ask him to investigate Robert Ironside. Nothing could be more ridiculous. There was a no more honest cop on the force than the chief. "Mister Mayor," he greeted cautiously.
"I want to talk to you about Chief Ironside," Mayor Simpson said.
Murray turned his back on the mayor. "There is nothing to talk about."
"Murray, I know this is unpleasant, but the situation with Ironside needs to be checked into. I tried to get Commissioner Randall to do it, but he simply refuses. He won't take the chief off the case. His connection to Alexandra Hughes is questionable at best," the mayor said.
"He has no connection to Alexandra Hughes. I will not investigate Bob Ironside. There is nothing to investigate. He is honest and handles every case by the book."
"You are forgetting, I can order you to investigate him."
Murray shook his head. "Only the commissioner can order me to investigate him. He is the only official over Ironside in this city."
"And I am over the commissioner!" he said angrily. Calming down, he continued, "Look, I don't believe Bob Ironside is dishonest any more than you do. The problem is the articles on Spicy Bits. You know a lot of people in this city read that garbage."
Murray shook his finger at him. "And garbage is exactly what it is, Mister Mayor. Bob no more let Alexandra Hughes get away than you or I would. How the hell do you expect the man to stop a two-thousand pound car from a wheelchair?" Murray's voice was beginning to rise. "I have known Bob since he came on the force. He doesn't deserve this, and I will have no part of it."
"He has been investigated by Internal Affairs before," the mayor pointed out.*
Murray Simon turned on the mayor with fury. "You know damn well, he set himself up for that to capture the man feeding information to police raids being tipped off. He put himself at great risk to expose that man. It was proven he set himself up. How dare you bring that up as if he was guilty!"
"Calm down, Murray. I never said Chief Ironside was guilty. I am simply saying he was under Internal Affairs Investigation and came out just fine. Even his own Sergeant joined the investigation."
"Only because he wanted to make sure Chief Ironside was not railroaded by those in the department that hate him."
"Somehow I doubt there is anyone in the department that hates him. He is quite popular among rank and file," the mayor disagreed.
"A point you better remember, Mister Mayor, if you don't want the entire police force to walk out on you," Murray said.
"That is the second time I have been threatened by that." The mayor looked at Murray with disgust. "Police officers should put the citizens of this city first, not Robert Ironside."
"They would be putting the citizens first. Chief Ironside has put more criminals behind bars than any other officer in the history of this city. Take him out of commission, and criminals will declare it a holiday. The beat cops know their jobs will become harder and the citizens know they are less safe."
"Either you handle the investigation or I will find someone that will. At least if you are handling it, you will know it is being conducted fairly," the mayor said, looking Murray straight in the eye. "Just so you know, I have the votes on the city council to order Commissioner Randall to order you to investigate him. So either do it or I will see that it is ordered you do it."
"What the hell is wrong with you, Simpson? Why don't you go after the dirty cops and leave the ones alone that are clean?"
"If Ironside is innocent, he has nothing to worry about."
"What do you mean, if he is innocent? A moment ago, you said you didn't believe he is dishonest."
"Oh for cripes sake, Murray, just check him out."
"If you are doing this to keep him off this case, it won't work. He is not going to back off," Murray pointed out.
"He will have no choice."
"That's what you think. As soon as his brother, Perry Mason gets wind of this, he will be on the first plane to San Francisco. Do you really want that kind of publicity? Mason will be in town, suing the police department for unlawful investigation, and he will have an entire police force for witnesses."
"He is not going to come here. You are being over dramatic. You handle the investigation or someone else will. Pick up Ironside's gun and badge." Mayor Simpson left his office.
Murray walked directly over to his desk. He picked up the phone and punched the intercom. "Sally, place a call to Perry Mason in Los Angeles."
2
Della Street finished the last of the briefs. After running off copies for her boss to sign, she picked them up. "Gertie, I am heading into Mister Mason's office. I don't want him disturbed until he reads and signs these briefs."
"Yes, Miss Street." Gertie went back to answering her phone.
Della, carrying the briefs headed into Perry's office. Mason was behind his desk looking through law books. He looked up and smiled when Della approached.
"Are those the briefs?" he asked.
"Yes, and I would appreciate it if you would read them right away. We need to get them out today," she answered. Della set them on his desk.
The phone beside Perry rang. Della frowned as she had told Gertie she did not want Perry disturbed. She grabbed the phone, intending on heading off anyone that might distract Perry at the moment.
"Gertie, I asked you to hold Mister Mason's calls," she said.
Mason looked up and raised an eyebrow at her. Della smiled at him. "Those briefs need your attention," she whispered to him.
"I know you told me not to disturb Mister Mason, but there is a Lieutenant Murray Simon on the phone from the San Francisco Police Department. He says it is very important he speak with Mister Mason. It is about Mister Mason's brother, Robert Ironside," Gertie explained.
Della put her hand over the speaker and informed Perry. "Lieutenant Murray Simon, SFPD. It is about your brother."
Trying to hide the alarm, but realizing if something had happened to Bob, the call would come from someone in his office and not an unknown lieutenant. He took the phone from Della and told Gertie to put the call through.
Waiting for a moment for the call to connect, Mason said, "This is Perry Mason, Lieutenant. What can I do for you?"
"It's about your brother, Mister Mason. The mayor is insisting on calling for an Internal Affairs Investigation on him. He is going to force me to head it. The mayor is insisting I take him off the current case and collect his badge and gun until the investigation is completed. Your brother is not going to back down on this one, Mister Mason. I think he is going to need you to keep him out of trouble."
"So what Spicy Bits wrote was true," Mason said.
"I don't think it was. I think it is Jurgens way of forcing the mayor's hand. It doesn't matter now as I have no choice but to go a head with the investigation. I think this gave the mayor the opportunity he has been waiting for, ant that was to remove your brother from protecting the Museum. He seems to think Bob is willing to let Alexandra Hughes get away again if it becomes necessary."
"Has Bob asked for me?" Mason asked.
"No, and he won't. He would only ask if someone else was in trouble," Murray said. "Mister Mason, I know you are a busy man, but I don't want to see Bob in trouble because of this. If you could see your way..."
"Della and I will be on the next flight to San Francisco," Mason assured him.
Murray grinned. "Thank you Mister Mason."
After ending the conversation, Perry turned to Della. "Get us reservations on the next flight to San Francisco and then go home and pack for us."
"Perry, don't you think you should talk to Robert first. He may not want you to come to San Francisco," Della said.
"Doesn't matter whether he wants me or not, Della. I'm going. I will not allow Jurgens to destroy Bob's job."
"I doubt that would happen anyway. Robert wouldn't allow it."
"And neither will I. Call the airport and make those reservations."
Della nodded and left his office for hers. Mason opened the private door into his office and stepped into the hall. Walking down to the Drake Detective Agency, Mason opened the door and went in. The woman manning the phones smiled at him. "Hello, Mister Mason, is there something I can do for you?"
"Which one of Paul's operatives are working on Spicy Bits?"
"There are several of them, but Tommy is in Mister Drake's office if you would like to talk to him."
"I would," Mason stated.
She buzzed the intercom and told Tommy Mister Mason wanted to see him. The door opened and Tommy came out.
With a smile, he said, "Good morning, Mister Mason. Come on in."
Perry followed him into Paul's office and sat down.
"You are probably here to find out if we have made any progress on Jurgens."
"That's right," Mason confirmed.
"We do have some news for you. This is not the first sleaze magazine Jurgens has owned. He has own them in Chicago, New York and Miami. We also checked his bank accounts in those cities. Everyone of them grew tremendously while he was there. He buys the nastiest gossip magazines, whether they are print or online."
"Sounds like he is using it for a basis of blackmailing for money, not just interviews."
"When the police come close to proving blackmail, he leaves the magazine in the hands of an employee and has an agent sell it for him. Then he moves on to another city," Tommy reported.
"And Los Angeles is next," Perry surmised.
"No, I think California is next. After all, with all the actors we have in this state, it is a target-rich society."
"But why waste his time on someone like my brother. He is not a rich man," Perry said, really knowing the answer to that question.
"No, but you are a millionaire, Mister Mason. Your brother is not really the target, you are. He is just using him to get to you."
"Why did he insist on an interview about Della and me? Why not go after Bob immediately?" Mason wondered.
"It seems to be his style. The police probably would not arrest him for blackmailing you into an interview. It happens all the time in Hollywood. However, they would arrest him if he tries to extort money from you. He is careful, Mister Mason. When he gets around to the actual blackmail, he will not be directly involved. He goes out of his way to make sure it cannot be traced to him. Already, we have discovered the accounts in the cities I mentioned, and he has several overseas accounts."
"Good work, Tommy." Mason got up and turned to leave the office.
"Mister Mason." Perry turned around to face him. "Don't pay any blackmail, no matter how tempting it might be to protect your brother. Mister Drake is determined to nail this guy...and he will."
"I don't intend to pay one cent in blackmail, and Bob is in agreement with that. He can take care of himself."
"What about the Internal Affairs investigation?" Tommy asked.
"The San Francisco city council is no different than ours. When they panic, someone is their scapegoat. The mayor is trying to use Bob. I am going to San Francisco to make sure he can't do that. If you find out anything else, call Paul. He will make sure it is relayed to me."
"All right, Mister Mason."
Perry left Drake's office. He walked back down the hall to the private door which led into his own office. He placed the key in the door and opened it. Mason sat down behind his desk and made a few calls to make sure his office would be covered for a few days. Grabbing his brown briefcase, he took a look around and left through Della's office. As he reached Gertie's, he said, "Della and I are going to San Francisco. I have called David Gideon. He will handled the office for a few days. If you need us, we will be staying with my brother."
"Yes, Mister Mason. Don't let Jurgens destroy your brother," Gertie said.
"Don't worry, I have no intentions of it," Mason assured her and left the office.
3
The phone beside Commissioner Randall rang indicating his secretary was trying to reach him through the intercom. Randall sighed. He just did not need anymore problems right now. The city council was giving him a headache as it was. He picked up the phone receiver and said, "Yes."
"Commissioner, Lieutenant Simon is here to see you. He did not make an appointment, Sir. I was not sure you would see him."
Internal Affairs, Randall thought. "Send him in," he told her.
The door to his office opened and Murray Simon walked in. "Hello Commissioner."
"Hi Murray. You wanted to see me?"
"Yes, Sir. It is about Chief Ironside."
The hair on the back of Dennis Randall's neck stood up. He might not want another problem, but it sounded like one was about to be dumped in his lap. "What about him? The mayor was here and insisted I remove Bob from the security detail of the Museum. I told him I would not do it. So what about Chief Ironside?"
"The mayor just paid me a visit. He ordered me to start an internal investigation into the chief. He told me to pick up his badge and gun."
Randall shot out of his seat, slammed his fist down on his desk. "There will be no internal investigation of Bob Ironside! I will not hear of it! He has not done anything wrong!"
Murray dropped down in the chair in front of Randall's desk. "So, how do you want me to handle it, Commissioner?"
"The mayor can't order you to investigate anyone. The order must come through me," Randall said. "You tell him that."
"I did. I said you were the only one over Chief Ironside. He became angry and said he was over you."
"It doesn't matter that he is. I run the police department, not the mayor. If the city council doesn't like the way I run it, they can terminate my employment, but I will not investigate an officer, especially one of the rank of Ironside, without reason...and there is no reason."
"So, what do you want me to do?" Murray asked.
Randall picked up the phone and punched the intercom, "Susan, get me Perry Mason on the phone."
"I already called Mason," Murray informed him. "He is coming to San Francisco on the next flight."
"Never mind, Susan," Randall told her and hung up the phone. "If the mayor wants a power struggle, he has it. You are not to take Bob's badge or gun, nor are you to start an internal investigation. I won't have it."
Murray smiled. "That is all I came to hear. I will inform the mayor I will not do it."
"No, you will inform the mayor I ordered you not to do it. I don't want you in the crossfire, Murray. You also tell the mayor Perry Mason is on his way here. That should give him something to think about."
"Yes, Commissioner, and Dennis, thanks. I have no desire to investigate an officer of Chief Ironside's caliber." Murray got up and left Randall's office.
"Damn it!" Randall shouted. "Damn cowards! And all this over a sleazy online magazine."
4
Howard Jurgens followed Alexandra Hughes into Golden Gate Park. He was aware there was a plain-clothed officer following Hughes. Ironside had let her go, but had arranged to have her followed where ever she went. Jurgens knew Ironside would have her followed, but he did not seem concerned. Nor did he see Paul Drake who was carrying a listening device that allowed him to listen in on their conversation.
Jurgens continued watching her for a while. She was simply sitting on the bench and enjoying the sunshine. He didn't care what her former association with Ironside was. It didn't really interest him in the least. Hell, he wasn't interested in Ironside himself. The more he thought about, the more certain he became that he could get to Mason through Ironside. The city of San Francisco was going to be very profitable for him. He was going to collect his share of the Tiger, collect from Mason and now he would set up collecting from Alexandra Hughes. Yes, this would be one big score. He simply couldn't wait to pocket all that money.
Later on, he would use the pictures he was going to take to further blackmail Schneider and Blaine. They would pay him his share for fencing the Tiger, but in the end, when he was done blackmailing them, he would collect all of it. They would not be able to refuse him for he had put men in place to keep track of them. He would know where they were at all times. His network of people was not only large, but very costly. However, when he got done with his blackmailing schemes, he always had plenty to pay them off and they always came through.
Jurgens was not sure whether it was the money that attracted him or the thrill of getting away with it. Everyone had something to hide. That made his occupation very profitable. He loved taking money from the suckers. But, this time, it was going to be even more satisfying. He would bring down Mason and Ironside. That in itself was more satisfying than all the money he would collect...well, almost.
Jurgens looked around to see if he could spot any cops. He had always been able to spot them a mile a way. Yet, Jurgens did not spot Paul Drake who was nearby ready to listen in on their conversation.
Howard Jurgens walked over to Alexandra Hughes and sat down beside her. Alexandra looked at the man who seemed to be staring at her. "Do I know you?"
"Not yet, but you are about to," he said.
"I don't think so," she said as she stood up to leave. She did not like the looks of the man and she had to be careful who she was seen with. Alexandra had promised Robert Ironside she would help him bring in Schneider and Baines and she had no intentions of betraying him in any manner.
Jurgens grabbed her arm. "I would suggest you sit down, Miss Hughes, unless of course you don't care what happens to Robert Ironside."
The name caught her attention just as Jurgens had planned it would. Alexandra sat back down. "What about Robert Ironside, and just who are you?"
"My name is Howard Jurgens. I own Spicy Bits. Perhaps you have heard of it?"
"I have heard of it. It is an online sleaze magazine. Well, you can take it somewhere else, Mister Jurgens. I can't be blackmailed."
"As I have told others, blackmail is an ugly word."
"Used by ugly people. What do you want?"
"What I don't want is to see Robert Ironside hurt," he said.
"So that is why you printed all that garbage on your site. He could not have stopped me. I was in a car and he was in a wheelchair. How exactly do you think he could have stopped me?"
"He could have sent his officers instead of going himself. He could have used a gun on Schneider and Baines, but no, he chose to go after you. Why is that, Miss Hughes? Because he never had any intention of stopping you."
He parked his wheelchair directly in front of the vehicle I was driving in order to try to stop me. If he hadn't got out of the way, I would have hit him. Do you really think the citizens of San Francisco would believe that he let me get away? They know the man and respect him. No one respects a sleaze gossip monger like you. Bob Ironside can take care of himself.
"Can he now. Even after I tell the world that the two of you had it planned for you to steal the Tiger and split the money?"
Alexandra Hughes laughed. "No one will believe that. I threw the Tiger out the window so he could retrieve it."
"I have a source that said you threw it out the window, and Ironside's staff came out before he had the chance to hide it," Jurgens said.
Alexandra knew none of this was true, but she did not want to hurt Bob Ironside. She had already hurt him enough. "What do you want, Mister Jurgens?"
"Your share of the take on the Tiger. If I don't get it, I will print that story. You and Ironside will not get away with it."
"It is nothing but a fabrication. Nothing you said is true."
"It will be printed, Miss Hughes. I would suggest you think about it. I will be in touch." Howard Jurgens got up and walked away.
Alexandra sat there and closed her eyes. How was she going to stop him from printing such a story. None of it was true, but the question was, would people believe it? This was all her fault. If she had just accepted Bob's proposal that they buy the house in the country and she give up stealing, none of this would ever have happened. She could not let him hurt Bob. She had to find a way to stop him from printing that story. Bob was already facing an internal investigation if what Jurgens had printed on Spicy Bits was true. Alexandra was worried this could destroy him. She would stop him any way she could. She had to protect Bob Ironside. He was the only man she had ever loved and still did.
5
Perry and Della got off the plane at San Francisco International Airport. After picking up their luggage, Mason led Della to the car rental counter. "Perry, I am sure Robert would pick you up if you had let him know you were coming," Della said.
"I am not so sure. I don't think he would approve of me coming in the first place," Mason said.
"I told you, you should have called him and discussed it with him first."
"No, Della. He is going to get my help whether he wants it or not."
"Hi Perry, Della."
Mason and Street turned around to see Commissioner Randall standing there. "Commissioner, what are you doing here?" Mason asked.
"Murray told me you were coming. I simply called your office to find out what flight you were on. The girl in your office gave me the information."
"That would be Gertie," Della said.
"Yes, I believe that is the name she gave me. Well, where shall I take you? Did you get motel reservations?" Randall asked them.
"No, we plan to stay with my brother," Perry told him.
"Perry, he doesn't know you were coming."
"I know, but he will shortly. That low-life Jurgens is not going to use Bob to get to me."
"You think that is what he is doing?" Randall asked.
"I do indeed, and he is not going to get away with it. So, if you don't mind, take us to Police Headquarters."
"My car is waiting right outside."
6
Murray Simon was getting ready to leave his office when the phone on his desk rang. He looked at his watch and frowned. Picking up the receiver, he announced, "Internal Affairs."
"Lieutenant, my sources tell me that you have not been to Ironside's office to inform him of an official investigation, taking his badge and gun."
"Your sources are correct Mister Mayor. I am sorry, Sir, but I don't take orders from you. The police manual says I take them from either Chief Ironside or Commissioner Randall. Chief Ironside has not ordered an investigation into himself and neither..."
"Of course he hasn't. He is not about to order one into himself," Simpson shouted.
"Well, neither did Commissioner Randall. In fact, when I went to see him about it, he ordered me not to start an investigation of Chief Ironside."
"He what?" Mayor Simpson exclaimed.
"You heard me, Mister Mayor. There will be no investigations into Robert Ironside. No one in this office will do it."
"We will see about that." Mayor Patrick Simpson slammed the phone down.
7
Sergeant Ed Brown and Officer Eve Whitfield returned to Ironside's office at the end of the day. They came down the ramp and joined the boss at the table where he was eating the dinner Mark Sanger had prepared for him. "I wasn't expecting to see you two back here today. How'd it go at the Museum?" the chief asked them.
"Quiet as a church," Eve said. "No problems at all, and the crowd was quite large too."
"Is Carl still there?" Ironside asked.
"He was waiting for Officer Duffy to report for duty and then he was going to go home," Ed told the chief.
"All right, you two take the rest of the night off," Ironside told them.
"But Chief, what if Blaine and Schneider decide to make the attempt tonight?" Eve asked.
Taking another mouthful of chili, Ironside said, "They won't. Alexandra will let us know when they will try to steal the Tiger."
The door to the office opened and Dennis Randall walked in. Ironside turned to see who had just entered his office. "Well, Dennis, sit down and have a bowl of chili."
"Oh please, my stomach is already upset." Perry and Della walked in after them.
When Ironside saw his brother, he called out, "Just exactly what are you doing here?" Although, he had a pretty good idea, and it was not necessary.
"Bob, the police department called him. Murray, that is, called him. Mayor Simpson is hell-bent on having you investigated. Perry is here to make sure your rights are protected."
"I don't need a lawyer," Ironside grumbled.
"I am afraid you do, Bob," Mason said. "Howard Jurgens is going to print more articles on you that may force the commissioner's hand on an investigation by Internal Affairs. I am not going to let that happen."
"I am not afraid of Howard Jurgens," Ironside said, "nor am I afraid of an investigation. There is nothing to investigate."
"It seems Jurgens is determined to invent it, Bob," Dennis told him.
The door to the office opened and Paul Drake came it. "He is at that. His next story will be that Alexandra Hughes and Chief Ironside conspired together to steal the Tiger. The only reason she threw it out the window was so the chief could hide it and she could not be caught with it. He didn't have time to hide it because his staff joined him outside."
"That's preposterous!" Randall shouted.
"That's the story he is going to run unless Alexandra Hughes gives him her share of the take on the Tiger. Jurgens approached her in Golden Gate Park and issued the blackmail," Paul told them. "I heard every word of it with this." He held up the listening device. "I followed Alexandra Hughes, figuring Jurgens would show up sooner or later."
"Then we have him," Ed exclaimed. "We can pick him up on blackmail charges. Surely Alexandra will be willing to testify against him."
"The word of a thief," Mason said.
"She is still a witness," Eve pointed out.
"Perry's right. We have to get him in the act," Ironside said.
"In the act of what, Bob?" Commissioner Randall said. "He is guilty of blackmail right now."
"I think Bob is saying he is going to show up when they try to steal the Tiger. He will want to make sure he has blackmail material for later on," Perry said.
"And put himself front and center?" Della questioned. "He has never done that before. That is why he has been so difficult to catch."
"Not this time, Della. He is setting all of them up for further blackmail," Ironside agreed with Perry, "and we are going to catch them all in the act with Alexandra's cooperation. I suspect the caper is going to go down very shortly."
8
Howard Jurgens laid across his hotel bed with a grin on his face. He had set up Blaine, Schneider, Ironside, Mason, and Alexandra Hughes. Blackmailing people with secrets to keep was not only profitable, but fun as well. He would be collecting from all of these people very soon.
Life was good. Setting up blackmail was almost as much fun as collecting the money. What he didn't realize was, he was setting himself up for something else...MURDER.
*Character borrowed from the Ironside episode "Moonlight Means Money."
*Refers to the Ironside episode, "The Man on the Inside."