Thanks for the kind and enlightening reviews, and for reading my story.

CHAPTER FIVE

Perry always liked to be surprised at what Della would be wearing when they went out for special occasions. So, he had showered and dressed in their other bedroom. Looking at his watch, and at their bedroom door he began pacing nervously. When he heard the door open he looked up and a huge smile split his face as he saw his wife in her new gown.

She seemed to glide toward him as he opened his mouth to speak. He had never seen her in that color before and it took his breath away.

Twirling around nervously she asked, "well what do you think?"

Sliding his hands down her arms and gathering her hands in his, he brought them to his lips. Looking into gorgeous hazel eyes, and a stunningly made-up face, he told her, "you are an incredibly beautiful woman, Mrs. Mason."

Blushing slightly and straightening his tie she murmured, "you look very handsome tonight, Mr. Mason.

Leaning down and kissing her again, and again, and again, until they were breathless he inquired, "are you sure you want to go out tonight?"

"We are meeting Mildreth and Arthur. They will think it's odd if we don't show up."

Pulling her closer he tried to convince her, "they are so wrapped up in each other they won't miss us."

Looking up at him Della informed him, "your offer is very tempting sweetheart, but Mildreth called me today, and she said Arthur has been acting very strange. She is afraid he is going to break-up with her. Besides this is her first time at a big formal event for the police department. I told her I would be there to support her."

Knowing it was useless to deter his wife when she made up her mind, he said as graciously as possible, "well if you are determined we better get started."

Della patted his arm, "we have the whole week-end to spend together. I will make it worth your while."

"Promises, promises," he muttered.

Looking innocent as she gathered up her purse and wrap she asked, "did you say something darling?"

Sighing he told her no and escorted her out to their convertible being sure to put up the top.

Arthur and Mildreth had arrived before them, but had saved them seats at their table. Della noticed that Mildreth was glowing, and she bent down and commented, "You look fantastic everything must be alright."

Mildreth held up her left hand showing off a beautiful diamond ring. The girls hugged, and Della exclaimed, "I am so happy for you!"

Perry clapped Tragg on the back and said, "Good for you, she is a wonderful woman."

The police lieutenant grinned, "I've gotten really lucky counselor, she said yes and she looks beautiful. We lucked out having the two best looking women here tonight."

As they were preparing to sit down the Hamilton Burgers came over. "What's all the excitement?" The district attorney wanted to know.

"Congratulate Arthur, Hamilton, this lovely lady has agreed to take a chance and marry him." Perry informed them.

Before he could say anything, his wife walked over to Mildreth and said, "I'm Patricia Burger. Congratulations and you are getting a wonderful fellow."

Suddenly feeling a little shy at all the attention centered around her Mildreth replied, "I feel pretty lucky too. Not only do I have such a handsome man, but I made some wonderful new friends too."

Not wanting to be left out Tragg invited the Burgers to join them. Patricia asked Mildreth how they had met. The other couple looked at each other as the florist hesitated.

"Actually," Arthur saved her from an explanation, "I had to question her during one of our cases. She was the most fascinating woman I had ever met."

Looking at the attorney Mrs. Burger stated, "I suppose this was one of Perry's and Hamilton's famous battles."

Taking his wife's arm Burger said, "It was, but I think they are playing our song; let's dance."

As they left the table, the two women looked at each other. Mildreth said, "that was close. I didn't want to tell her how much I disliked her husband, at the time."

Patting her hand Arthur explained, "he was just doing his job sweetheart."

"I know," she acknowledged, "but it almost killed my sister."

Della asked, "how is Carlotta doing now? She's in Arizona, now isn't she?"

Looking relieved Mildreth told them, "she is so much better staying at that spa sanitarium. Of course, she will have to take it easy for a long time, but she divorced Bob and the doctor thinks that is much less strain on her heart."

"Well at least we got the stock for the shop back and some of her money," the lawyer reminded them.

"Thanks to you Perry, and of course I got to become friends with Della."

"How is the shop doing now?" Della wanted to know.

Her face lit up as she said, "it is wonderful, and you know I specialize in orchids. Well I just developed a new strain and I am naming it the "Della Street" orchid.*

Her face flushed Della murmured, "Oh Mildreth I don't know what to say…. I'm….."

"I do," Perry interjected, and he looked at his wife for her approval. She knew where he was headed and nodded her consent.

"What?" the other woman was mystified.

"Perhaps you should call it the Della Mason," he explained.

Mildreth jumped up, "you two are getting married too?"

Taking her hand Perry showed their matching rings, "we are already married."

The other couple was stunned, "When? How?"

Della laughed, "On our trip to the orient. Mr. Mason, here wore me down. He proposed everywhere we went."

Arthur laughed, "well it was about time".

Looking rather perplexed the lawyer asked, "what does that mean?"

As if he was explaining to a child the policeman said, "it was evident to everyone you two were in love. We couldn't figure out why you acted like you didn't see it."

Before anything else could be said Della exclaimed, "well there is Paul Drake!"

Wrinkling his forehead Mason asked, "who is he with?"

Looking at the couples waltzing, and the stunning redhead Drake was whirling around the dance floor Tragg informed them, "she is the newest assistant district attorney."

"Leave it to Paul." Della remarked.

Nudging Della, Mildreth asked, "don't we know that young girl in the beige gown too?"

Squinting her eyes Della hesitated. "wait a minute, yes that's the girl from the restaurant and the Golden Horn. Her name was ugh…Holly."

"Where did you meet her Della?" Perry wanted to know.

"Mildreth and I first saw her that night at the Golden Horn. She looked about 15 and was all flustered. She was working as a hostess. Then the night we went to dinner she was in that restaurant with her mother and they stopped by our table."

Looking at the couple on the dance floor Perry remarked, "that seems like an odd thing to do."

Thinking about it for a minute Della commented, "Maybe, but I remember saying we met one of your admirers. She asked me about you that first night. Then it turned out she is studying journalism at UCLA. At the Golden Horn, she was doing research for a story on dance hostesses who really want to be actresses. I told her we know some young girls trying to get into the business. She wants an interview with you. With everything that happened it slipped my mind."

The lawyer thought for a moment before he spoke, "when the music is finished go over and invite her for a drink Della."

"Perry," she was concerned, "what do you have in mind?"

Raising his eyebrows, he explained, "why I am just going to offer to do an interview with her."

Giving that look of disbelief his wife nevertheless invited the couple over to their table, but before they got back Paul and his date had joined

them. Moving chairs around to accommodate everyone Della introduced the young couple.

"This is Holly Davidson and Officer Bill Grant. They met when she was on the police beat for school."

The men stood up and Holly gushed to Perry Mason, "I am so thrilled to meet you Mr. Mason, and your secretary has been so nice to me."

Looking down at the youthful blond Mason said, "I understand you would like an interview with me. Just call the office next week and we'll set up a time."

While the girl was thanking him profusely it was evident the young policeman was uncomfortable around his superiors. He suggested, "I think we better get back to our table Holly.

Clearly flustered the fledging journalist again gave her thanks and followed him across the room.

Paul explained that he had met Gillian Blair, when he was trying to explain his actions during one of Perry's cases. Burger warned her the detective was a slippery character and to watch herself. They all laughed good-naturedly.

The pretty redhead commented, "I've watched all you gentlemen in the courtroom. I would never believe you would socialize."

Her boss explained, "work is work, but we are all working for justice. Our methods are certainly different, but once work is over we all have a lot of respect for each other's ability. You'll get used to it with a little seasoning."

"You'll get a lot more experience hanging around a reprobate like Drake." Tragg added.

Trying to seem indignant Paul exclaimed, "Hey give a guy a break!"

The orchestra took a break as they began to serve dinner, "I'm glad they serve something other than chicken at this affair," Della commented. "I'm starving."

Looking at his wife Perry observed, "You are always starving, my dear."

"I don't know how you keep your figure, Della," Patti Burger observed.

"It's easy when you work for Perry Mason, and have those late hours during his cases. I'm lucky if I get a decent meal a day."

Scowling at her and trying to appear stern he said, "It is not that bad, young lady."

"Says you," she threw back at him. "Paul eats half the food I have."

Holding his hands up Drake defended himself, "don't get me involved in your squabbles."

Trying to change the subject Hamilton said, "let's just eat and not talk business. We do enough of that as it is."

Everyone agreed, and the talk turned in general directions. Good food and wine, stimulating conversation, had all of them feeling mellow by the end of the meal. The music was starting up, Perry and Della were going to look at the items they were going to auction off when a policeman came up and wanted to speak with Tragg, who excused himself.

The Masons were discussing bidding on a piece of hand blown glass, a week-end at a Napa Valley winery, and a cruise to the Mediterranean. Before they could write in their bids Tragg pulled Perry aside and asked him to follow him.

"What is it?" Della wanted to know.

Starting to follow Tragg he told her, "stay here,"

"Perry!"

"I said, stay here. I'll be right back." He was adamant.

When the men had been gone almost a half hour Della and Mildreth appealed to the district attorney. Recruiting Paul Drake who had just come off the dance floor they went to find out what was happening, and the four women sat at the table speaking in low voices.

Hamilton, was the first to return. He tried to reassure them. "Everyone is alright but there has been some vandalism to the cars again."

Della started to stand up, but he put his hand on her arm. "Perry and Arthur are alright, but their cars have been damaged."

Dazed Della asked, "what is going on? This the second time in a couple weeks."

I'm just glad the men are okay," Mildreth confessed.

"I'm going to look into this, and all the facilities of my office will be available," the district attorney promised.

The only thing Della wanted was to see Perry come through that door safe and sound. When he finally appeared, it was all she could do to keep herself from rushing into his arms.

Before she could say a word, he took her arm and said, "let's dance."

Taking their cue from him the other men took their partners onto the dance floor."

"Alright, what happened? "She asked frantically.

Rubbing her back as they danced he told her about the damage to the cars. "Unfortunately, they parked our cars way in the back and no one saw anything."

"Is it drivable?" She wanted to know?"

"The tires are all flat, the convertible top is destroyed, and there are scratches down the side." He explained.

Her head was leaning against his chest as tears fell slowly down her cheeks she said, "Oh Perry, why is this happening?"

Wiping her tears away he told her, "I don't know sweetheart, I just don't know. Don't you worry we will find out why this is happening."

Back at the table Paul was waving frantically. Looking over her shoulder Perry announced, "I think Paul wants to see us."

Escorting his wife back to the table he asked, "what's up Paul?"

"Tragg is madder than a wet hen. The valet had been told to be careful with your cars. His has scratches on both sides and someone spray painted a rainbow of colors on the windows."

Shaking his head in amazement the lawyer commented, "I can't believe no one saw or heard nothing."

"Well, I can tell you one thing," the detective went on, "the hotel manager is getting an earful. Can you imagine a police ball and the lieutenant's car is vandalized along with the automobile of one of the top lawyers in the state?"

Della sat down suddenly. "I am really tired, and we have to find a way to figure out who is doing this."

Patting her shoulder Perry told her, "let me go see Arthur and Hamilton and then I'll take you home."

She agreed reluctantly, but gave a shiver as she watched him walk away. Mildreth and Patti came back to the table and Mrs. Burger said, "I don't know about you two, but I could use a drink."

"I could too," Mildreth concurred, "but I am too tired to walk over to the bar."

Drake who was just coming back to the table with his date offered to go and get them something to drink. After taking their orders, he and Gillian went toward the bar. Watching them go Della commented, "this seems like a nightmare."

Nodding her head Mildreth agreed. "I just wish Arthur would come back."

Smiling Patti told her, "get used to it if you are going to be involved with a police officer or a district attorney for that matter. They are on call at all hours."

"I understand that," Della added. "When we are involved in a murder case our hours are crazy. I am just lucky I am right there at Perry's side most of the time."

"He gets so involved in his cases," the florist observed. "Don't you get frightened?"

She admitted, "sometimes, but it does no good to talk to him, and I really wouldn't want him any other way."

Patti declared "I think Hamilton wishes Perry wasn't so intense, but he does get results."

As Paul and his lady friend were coming back to the table the other men came back into the ballroom. Perry grinned at Paul, "Those look good how did you know we were thirsty."

"These are for the ladies. You gentlemen can go get your own." Paul informed them.

Looking at his wife, Mason observed, "I thought you wanted to go home."

Arching an eyebrow, she retorted, "We had no idea when you would be back, and this is meant to calm us down a little."

"Oh, no! When Della gets that look in her eye it is time to retreat." Paul stated.

Yawning the brunette apologized, "I'm sorry Paul, but I am so frustrated that we don't seem to have a clue as to who is doing this. Or why they are doing it for that matter."

"Well," Arthur informed them, "the lab boys are having the cars towed to the garage right now. They will go over them with a fine-toothed comb. Maybe our perpetrator has gotten clumsy this time."

Getting up Perry Mason said, "I hope so." Looking down at Della he put a hand on her arm and urged her to get up. "I have ordered a taxi. I think I need to get you home young lady."

The other couples agreed the events of the evening had dampened their fun and they would be going home too. The Burgers offered to take Tragg and Mildreth home. Making sure the Masons got safely to their taxi they said goodnight and made plans to meet the next day to get the reports on their cars.

*In real life Raymond Burr cultivated orchids. He named one the Barbara Hale orchid. I thought I would add it, in a different way, into the story.