CHAPTER TEN
Thanks for all your encouraging words and for taking the time to read this story. I'm so glad you like the premise. There are more surprises to come. As to the question of how Perry found out where Della lived I wanted to convey the idea that even then he had such good detecting skills, but he was so single minded in getting information he needed to satisfy his curiosity. It also was to put across how attracted he was to her from the beginning. Thanks for letting me know you like Aunt Mae's expanded role. Your input is so important to encouraging us to write more. Again thanks Little Miss Ruth, for your continued encouragement and support.
Sleep was eluding Perry Mason. He thought he would go right to sleep after his evening at the Bar Association event and Laura's incessant talking about what she saw on the terrace. Luckily, she saw little and surmised a lot.
What was he getting himself into? He had been attracted to Laura from the time he met her. They were at a bar association meeting. She was there with her boss Simon Tremayne. He was one of the top corporation lawyers in Southern California. They had just hired Laura.
Perry had been working with his uncle's firm and being trained in criminal law by Walter Prescott. He had been thinking, after he got a little more experience under his belt, he wanted to go out on his own. Then he met Laura.
She was petite, had dark hair and eyes, was dressed in red, and exuded sexuality. It was evident she wanted him and would not take no for an answer. Laura was from a very prominent Santa Barbara Family and her father was big in the oil business. There was a recent break-up with Archie Bechtel, who was the scion of an old Los Angeles family.
It had become evident Archie did not have the ambitious drive she wanted in a husband. Perry was still recovering from the explosion of the ship that was taking him and friend Paul Drake to join troops fighting the war in the South Pacific. He had injured his knee badly and was still walking with a bit of a limp. Paul had suffered a concussion, broken arm, and had to have his spleen removed.
Now there was a further complication, Miss Della Street. The chestnut haired, hazel eyed, beauty who had captured his heart that life altering evening at a USO dance. Once he saw her there was no one else he noticed. Dancing with her was like floating on air. She was young, but intelligent, had a sense of humor, and seemed as taken with him as he was with her. Then she had run away, and he found out she was engaged. He even found out where she lived, nearly missed the train to the coast, only to realize the wedding was only a week away. He wasn't even sure why he sought her out obviously she had not felt the way he had felt.
Yet when he kissed her, a kiss that shook him to the bone, he had been sure she felt the same. After he had recovered from his wounds and gone back to the law firm he had to put her out of his mind. Laura proved to be an enticing diversion.
Then tonight there she was, his Della, and sitting with Archie Bechtel. At first, he thought she was a figment of his imagination, but she was real. Was she ever real. He could barely keep his eyes off her and tried to think of a way to speak to her. However, Laura did not share with anyone. He needed to find out more about her but without setting off alarms.
Then unbelievably Laura took his hand and marched over to their table. She might not want Archie, but she didn't like any competition. Seating herself between Justin Jacoby and Archie, Perry might as well not have been there. Then miracle of miracles Della asked HIM to dance. St. Peter could have tried to stop him by saying this was a "bad idea", but nothing was going to stop him having her in his arms again.
Now he wondered was he crazy. He was never this impetuous. He thought things through to a logical conclusion. But there was nothing logical about what this woman did to him. It felt as if he was in a tornado and everything was out of his control. Emotions bombarded him, he wanted to take her and run away with her; it was clearly insanity.
First things first. Laura had been angling to get engaged. Then she would begin pushing and pushing to go into practice together or join a powerful politically leaning law firm. That was of no interest to him, but she was so ambitious it could be overwhelming. Now, with Della in the picture, he needed to do some serious thinking about his feelings and where he was going. Paul Drake wanted to start his own detective agency. How could he get this friend to check up on the delectable Miss Street without giving himself away? Well this was too important to set aside and besides he was damn curious about how she landed almost at his feet. Having decided, as the sun started to come up he finally fell asleep.
Over in Huntington Beach it was after ten when Della Street opened her eyes. She rarely slept this late. Yet she didn't want to get up but instead lie in bed and go over every moment of the night before when she saw and recognized Perry Mason. It still seemed like a dream, but as she touched her lips she realized he was very real.
She must be crazy. Less than a year ago she was in love with Michael and happily planning their wedding and future together. Now all she could think of was a tall, handsome man with wavy brown hair, incredible dimples, and beautiful blue eyes. A man who made her feel like she was the only woman in the world and was he a good kisser. Good? No, incredible kisser.
Was he as good at everything also, she wondered? She felt herself blushing. Even just looking at him made her heart beat faster. She thought about doing things with him that would shock her mother and should shock her. 'Get yourself together Della' she told herself. 'You don't even really know this man'.
It was true both times they were together were so emotionally charged. Could she even trust her own judgment? Her whole world had turned upside down. If you had told her a year ago she would have broken her engagement, been manhandled by Michael, estranged from her family, and living on the other side of the country, she would have told them they were crazy.
Now was the time to be sensible. Yet she desperately needed to talk to someone. It couldn't be Elise. She worked with Aunt Mae and was the wife of her boss. Aunt Mae was out, as wonderful as she was, Della didn't want her to think badly of her niece. What if she thought everything she did was to try and come to California to find Perry? That was crazy her aunt saw how Michael had treated her. There was only one answer, Andrea. She would be there in a few weeks and then maybe they could figure out what to do next.
It was the phone ringing that got her out of bed, and she was surprised to hear Elise's voice. "How are you doing this morning? Are you feeling alright?"
"I'm fine," Della told her I'm just going to do a few chores and my laundry."
Elise confided, "my kids and Tim went to the community pool. It's indoors and has lots of activities. So, I can talk without interruption. I feel kind of funny asking, but what happened with you and Mr. Mason?"
Gripping the phone tightly Della hoped she didn't sound rattled. "Why nothing happened. I'm not sure why I felt bad for him, but that woman sort of dragged him to our table and deserted him."
"That is Laura for you. I must tell you she broke Archie's heart, chewed it up and spit out. I guess Mason, a real up and comer, looked better to her."
Della was confused. "Why do men put up with that? We were just dancing, and she looked as if she could strangle me."
"You do not touch what she considers hers," Elise explained. "I hope your Mr. Mason gets away before it is too late."
"He's not mine. I don't even really know the man. I do appreciate you warning me though. I'll probably never see them again."
Elise hesitated, "I don't know if I should tell you this Della, but that man was really watching you. I don't think the others noticed at the time. I guess I just wanted to warn you to be careful if you ever encounter them again."
"Well I doubt we run in the same circles. However, I again, want you to know I appreciate the warning," Della reiterated.
"Just so you know. Well I'll let you go. Have a good rest of the day, see you soon"
They hung up and Della hated herself for not being truthful with Elise. After all she had taken the time to call and give her that information. How could she explain everything that happened? Andrea would understand she would just have to be patient until she arrived.
