CHAPTER TEN

*At last the answer to when and why Della disappeared.!

Paul Drake was beside himself. He had fallen asleep and Della had never called him. He had called and then rushed over to the apartment, but she wasn't there either. She wasn't at the hospital. Checking with the taxi companies they hadn't had a call to take either woman home. Mildreth Faulkner's wasn't home, and her housekeeper said she had been gone all night. The police had not picked up anyone at the hospital. Both women were missing.

Every man he could round up was out with pictures of the women, and they were trying to find out any information. Paul was dreading going to see Perry, but he had stalled as long as he could. He also needed to question the night staff and especially he red-haired nurse.

He finally decided, trying to delay as long as possible from facing Mason, to see if Mildreth had spent the night in Tragg's room. He was disappointed again when he got there and found Arthur was waking up. Hesitantly the detective asked, "is Miss Faulkner here?"

.

The lieutenant sat up with a groan. "What's the problem Drake?" he wanted to know.

He admitted haltingly, "Della was supposed to call me when she got home last night. I fell asleep and when I woke up I realized I had never heard from her."

"Could she have forgotten?" The policeman inquired.

Shaking his head Paul explained, "Not that girl. I didn't want to leave her, but she can be stubborn. I will tell you one thing you don't want to get either of them angry at you."

With a half grin Arthur asked, "where have you checked?"

"I called their apartments and there was no answer. I called the nurses' station and she is not there. Then I called Miss Faulkner's home and the housekeeper said she had been gone all night. I thought maybe she stayed here with you."

Reaching out a hand the officer requested, "hand me that phone. I am going to put out an APB on them."

"I have men out looking for them and questioning the hospital personnel. I called your station, and no one called them for a pick up here last night. They brought Mildreth over when you were in surgery."

Dialing the phone slowly, the officer asked, in a halting voice to speak to Sgt. Holcomb. When he had him on the line and explained the situation, they began coordinating a squad to find the women. "Holcomb, I want you to work with Paul Drake, his men are already interviewing people. He will be up in Mason's room giving him the bad news."

Paul made a face as he said, "Perry is going to be furious that I left her alone."

Moving carefully trying to find a more comfortable position Tragg said, "I'm intrigued. Perry always seems so cool and under control."

Paul grimaced, "You never saw him during the time Della disappeared?"

Della disappeared?" Tragg inquired.

"It was after they came back from their trip to the Orient, in San Francisco. Of course, no one knew they got married on that trip. Anyway, there was a murder on the ship and of course Perry ended up defending the accused."

"Don't tell me Della was angry because Perry got involved, in a case, on their honeymoon?"

"It wasn't that," Paul explained. "She didn't want him involved, but that wasn't the reason. There had been a witness to the murder, and the witness called and reported it, and disappeared. Of course, they were doing everything to find the person and they had a pretty good lead."

Tragg seemed confused. "So, his client was the mysterious woman?"

"Noooooooo, it was Della. She disappeared thinking if they found out she was the witness they would play it up in the papers and also as his secretary, since he took the case, she could keep it confidential."

"Why didn't she just tell him? Where did he think she was?" Tragg wanted to know.

Shaking his head at the memory, Drake explained, "She was protecting him, she has always tried to protect him. We called everywhere and no Della. I made the made error of saying maybe she met someone on the ship, and why didn't he realize she might leave him someday. What a mistake."

Grinning Tragg asked, "he was upset?"

"UPSET!" Paul exclaimed. "You weren't on the other side of his wrath. "He snapped my head off every time I talked to him."

Why wasn't Della with you two she usually is,"

"This was in San Francisco and she was supposed to be at the temporary office. Perry and I were running down clues."

"As always," Tragg interjected.

Paul ignored him. "While we were gone Della disappeared. To make a long story short, Perry was frantic. If he could have he would have called out every detective in California. I had never seen him like that he was apoplectic."

"Obviously, you found her." Tragg said.

Thinking back the detective reminisced, "you should have seen them when we found her. He opened his arms and she walked right into them. I should have realized right then what was going on. It was as if they were in another world. He kept telling her don't ever leave me again, I need you. I was so glad she was alright, I missed the signs, some detective."

"So, you think he will blame you?" Tragg asked.

Wearily, getting up, he told the policeman, "You bet he will. I better go face the music."

"Well I'll keep you informed if I hear anything, and you do the same." Arthur informed him."

As he walked out the door Paul said, "wish me luck."

Slowly he headed for his best friend's room and his heart was heavy He decided to stop at the desk and find out about the redheaded nurse, putting off the inevitable. To his chagrin he found out no red-haired nurse worked on that shift. He immediately called Tragg to let him know the news.