CHAPTER SIXTEEN
It looked like a command center in the hospital room and there was a guard posted at the door. Arthur looked glad to see him. "I guess you couldn't relax either." He told the lawyer.
"I thought if anything broke I would be closer to the action." Mason said as he sat down in a chair next to the bed.
With a sigh the policeman explained, "I am all full of antibiotics and they want me on pain medicine, but I have to have a clear head until this is over satisfactorily."
Perry nodded his head, "I understand completely. It's the waiting that is driving me crazy. What's the latest?"
"Burger and Sergeant Brice are at UCLA talking to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Registrar, and the head of the journalism department. I am waiting for their report." He informed the lawyer.
"Della confirmed that this has something to do with that girl Holly and an old case we handled. I'm sure Paul brought you up to date."
Shaking his head, the policeman went on, "I don't understand how they think doing this will get their family out of prison. All it will do is get them a one-way ticket to join their loved ones."
"I agree, but from the information Paul has been able to obtain it sounds like this whole family is in a crisis and the daughter of Mrs. Tump, has gone crazy. I think she is thinking of this as revenge. All I can think of is how the girls are holding up." Perry remarked.
The phone rang, and he picked up the receiver and said, "Tragg here. Yes, did you get an address for the roommate? Let us know as soon as you hear something. I'll tell him."
Perry was standing right next to him as he hung up. "What have they found out? He asked anxiously?"
"The girl, Holly, lives off campus. Brice, Burger, and Drake, are on their way there now. They will let us know as soon as they find out something."
Lighting a cigarette Perry Mason said through clenched teeth, "If they harm those women it will be the last thing they ever do."
"Take it easy Perry, I share your uneasiness. You and Della have been together a long time. Mildreth and I are newly engaged. I'm worried she won't want to have anything to do with me after this fiasco." The detective sounded worried.
The lawyer looked at his friend sympathetically, "I can understand your fears, but Mildreth seems like a pretty sensible person, and these are extraordinary circumstances. I am worried they might have hurt the girls. They don't deserve that."
"Unfortunately, all we can do is wait now." Tragg added.
It seemed like hours before they heard anything, but Paul Drake came hurrying through the hospital room door about 45 minutes later. "We think we have an address." He was out of breath. "I thought you would want to go with us Perry. Burger and Brice are downstairs waiting.
The lieutenant tried to get up, but the IV line held him back. Mason told him, "Arthur, you are in no shape to go with us, but once the girls are safe I am going to insist they come here to be checked out. We will let you know as soon as we are on our way."
Ungraciously the policeman gave in and wished them well as Perry and Paul hurried to the waiting police vehicles.