Thanks for the great reviews and for taking the time to put them up. Answers are on their way sort of. Merry Christmas!

CHAPTER NINE

As they were getting ready to leave for dinner the phone rang. Perry stood by the door as Della ran to answer it. He heard her say, "He's right here. Do you want to talk to him? Yes, I can write it down, but you better tell him personally. Hold on."

She held out the phone. "It's Tragg."

He took hold of the receiver. "Hello Tragg, what can I do for you? We were just leaving for dinner. Do you want to meet us, and we can go from there? Yes, we're headed for Morrie's Steakhouse. Alright we'll see you there."

Della raised her eyebrows at him and he told her, "Mildreth and Arthur are meeting us for dinner. As I imagine he told you he has a lead and we are going to look into it together. You take the car and go home, I'll get a cab."

"Perry, I should be with you. I…"

Shaking his head, he interrupted her, "no this could be dangerous. I want you safe and sound."

"At least take Paul," she begged.

"I sent Paul home to get some rest. I can take care of myself, but not if I am worried about you."

She put her hands on the front of his suitcoat, "I hope you know how much I love you."

He pulled her close and murmured into her hair, "I know, and I love you more each day. So please stay safe. It took me long enough to get you I sure don't want to lose you."

"Sweetheart," she whispered, "I'm not going anywhere."

In their warm office, the lights dim he leaned down and tenderly kissed her hoping she understood how important she was to every part of their life. Finally parting Della Street Mason breathed, "I guess we should go."

Putting his arm around her he grinned, "now I don't want to go."

She grinned feeling just as he did, but she knew they needed to meet their friends. Reluctantly she opened the corridor exit and motioned for him to follow her. He sighed, but turned off the lights as he locked the door.

There had been some gentle ribbing about them being late, but Perry reminded the lieutenant he had driving privileges most citizens didn't have. They had tried to keep it lighthearted, but both women knew the danger their men could possibly face.

Saying goodbye at the police cruiser was difficult, but Della had more experience with dangerous situations. She tried to reassure Mildreth before she headed for home, which was Perry's apartment that night.

Nothing seemed to settle her down. She tried to read, fixed some tea, a new flavor she was trying, straightened the living room, and was just changing clothes when the buzzer rand on the front door. Looking through the security hole she saw Paul Drake and her heart sank.

Before she could say a word, he had his arm around her. She asked, her voice shaking, "what happened Paul?"

"He'll be alright," he told her.

Drake could feel her start to shake, "Dammit, just tell me what happened!" she demanded.

With a sigh he acknowledged, "it was a trap. They were both shot. Perry has a broken rib where the bullet creased him. Tragg is in surgery. He was hit in the shoulder. I talked to Perry and he wants me to bring you to the hospital, so you can see he is alright."

Heading for the bedroom she called to him, "let me get dressed again, and did anyone call Mildreth?"

"I don't know? Let me call Burger and see." Paul told her.

"Tell them that I will stay with her at the hospital, but someone needs to drive her." Della instructed.

The detective made the call and got the reassurance that they had gone to get Miss Faulkner. "It must be serious, Tragg asked them to contact her before he would go into surgery."

Coming out of the room with her jacket and purse she told him, "Perry and I thought that might be the case since they just got engaged."

"Wow Tragg doesn't waste any time." Drake was impressed

"Hey, am I going to be the only single guy around here?" he wanted to know.

"As they walked to the elevator she told him, "you don't have to be."

He grinned at her, "I'll consider it if I can find another you, Beautiful."

Touching his arm, she reminded him, "I'm not your type. I'm not a willowy blond or redhead. Let's get to the hospital Romeo."

As they arrived at the hospital he was still trying to convince her that if he could find someone as attractive, smart, loyal, and caring as she was he would get married. Della let him talk, it helped to keep her mind off the fact that her husband was lying there with a bullet wound.

When they arrived on the sixth floor she hurried to the nurse's station. "I would like to know how my husband, Perry Mason, is doing."

The redheaded nurse looked startled. "I didn't know he was married."

"Well he is," she said impatiently. "How is he doing?"

"The doctor was just in and wanted to give him a shot for pain, but he said he was waiting for is secretary."

At the end of her tolerance Della explained, "I am his secretary and I am also his wife. Paul can you talk to her."

Grinning Paul explained, "this is his wife, just give her the information."

"What are you grinning at?" Della asked at the end of her rope.

"You," he acknowledged. "You wanted to keep the marriage quiet. Now you are practically shouting the news."

Her eyes were snapping, "Paul, just find out how Perry is," she said between clenched teeth.

He pulled her to the side. "Let's just go to his room and see for ourselves."

"Well what are we waiting for?" she wanted to know.

He took her arm and led her down the right corridor. "Here it is 1690. That's what he told me."

Perry was setting up in his hospital bed when they entered, and Della rushed to his side. "I'll be alright. It is just a scratch."

"Just a scratch," she said looking at the detective. "Getting shot is nothing, I guess."

"Della," he explained, "it is a cracked rib. Now that you are here they will give me something for pain. You can see I am alright and Paul can take you home."

"I am not going anywhere," she said stubbornly. "I want to be here until you fall asleep and then go and see Mildreth. Have you heard anything about Arthur?"

Shaking his head Mason told he had heard nothing. He asked Paul to go and check and once he was out the door he opened his good arm to his wife. Then the tears began to fall. "It's alright darling," he soothed, "I'm alright."

"I was so frightened," she admitted.

As he wiped the tears from her cheeks he whispered, "I knew you would be. I knew you would have to see me. That's why I called Paul."

"I guess everyone will know we are married now. I practically shouted it at your redhaired nurse."

It was difficult not to laugh at her stricken expression, but he asked, "Is that so bad?"

"No," she admitted. "I was making sure she knew YOU were not available."

He did laugh then. "You were jealous? Why Della Street, I flattered."

Taking his good arm and holding it against her she informed him, "the name is Della Mason and you, sir, are private property."

She was leaning down to kiss him when the redhaired nurse bustled in saying she was there to give him a pain shot. The nurse ignored her and went about plumping his pillow and straightening his bedding. As she gave him the medication she said seductively, "if there's anything you need Mr. Mason, you just let me know."

Della raised her eyebrows but said nothing. As the R.N. hurried out the door she practically ran into Paul Drake. He told them, "Wow, that's some nurse she can heal me any day."

"I thought Della was going to deck her." Perry said mischievously.

Looking at the brunette Drake asked, "What now?"

Giving her husband a dirty look she clarified, "forget it Paul, Perry is being obtuse."

She went on to ask, "did you find out about Arthur or see Mildreth?"

"Yes," Drake answered. "Tragg is in recovery and they think he will be fine. Mildreth is going to stay here until she knows he is safely in his room. She was heading down to the cafeteria as I left. She said she has low blood sugar and needs to eat every so many hours."

Looking at her husband trying to keep himself awake she told their friend, "I will stay until Perry is asleep then I'll go see her. Why don't you go home? I can take a cab."

"Perry said to stay with you." Paul reminded her.

She wrinkled her nose at him. "Oh, Paul I'll be fine. I appreciate you being here and coming to get me. You know Perry, he can be overprotective. I'll be with Mildreth. I promise to be careful."

Paul glanced at his best friend who was half asleep. "I will only agree if I take you down to the second floor waiting room. Once I'm sure you are safely with Miss Faulkner then I'll leave."

Della grudgingly gave in, "alright if it will make you gentleman feel better."

She walked over to her husband and kissed his cheek. She whispered, "I love you sweetheart. I'm going down to sit with Mildreth. I'll let them know at the desk where I will be."

He mumbled something, and they had to grin because it was rare that Perry Mason was incoherent. Paul laughed, "To think Burger and Tragg missed this."

With a big smile she said, "I don't think Tragg cares about that right now. I'm just glad he's alright."

"Well let's get going." Paul told her taking hold of her arm. They took one last look at the sleeping attorney. "He'll be fine." The detective reassured her.

When Mildreth looked up and saw Della headed toward her there was relief on her face. "How's Perry?" she wanted to know.

Della hugged her friend and told her he was going to be fine and was sleeping peacefully."

Squeezing her hand, Mildreth told her she was so glad, and Arthur was doing well so far. "I'm just waiting for them to take him to his room. The Police Chief was here and Mr. Burger. They are pulling out all the stops to find the shooter."

"How are you holding up?" Della asked her.

As she sat back down the florist explained. "I think I have stopped shaking now. There was a reporter here, but he didn't know who I was. The District Attorney has put out the word that no one is to have access to Arthur or Perry. However, I think they will be looking for you and Mr. Drake."

Straightening her skirt as she sat down Della explained, "I am staying here with you and Paul is going home. Hopefully we can avoid everyone until tomorrow morning. Maybe we will know more then."

Paul bowed to them and said, "well I'll leave you ladies and Della call me when you get home no matter how late it is. Perry will skin me alive if anything happens to you."

"We will be fine Paul," she reassured him. "I'll take a taxi right to my door."

They watched the tall, lanky detective leave the room eyeing the pretty nurses. Looking at Mildreth she explained, "Paul never changes always looking for a pretty girl, but he is the best friend you could have."

Mildreth opened her mouth to speak when a nurse came up to tell them the officer was being taken up to the sixth floor. They thanked her and began to gather up their things. "At least the men will be on the same floor."

"I can't wait to see him for myself," she told Della.

Smiling Della told her, "I know what you mean that's why Perry sent Paul to get me. He knew I wouldn't rest until I saw him for myself."

As the elevator doors opened Della wasn't really pleased to see the only one on the elevator was the red-haired nurse. As they tried to push the button for the sixth floor the woman pulled a gun and said, "we are going down to the basement ladies. Don't make any false moves I don't want to shoot you here."

"What is this all about?" Della asked indignantly although she was shaking inside."

Raising her eyebrows, the nurse told them, "why this is a kidnapping. Your men took something from me and now I am taking something from them. Let's go quietly and there will no incident HERE."