The Case of The Sunbather's Diary Chapter 4

Perry Mason, Della Street and Paul Drake sat in Perry's office the day after Perry and Della had returned from Beach Haven. Wasting no time as was his custom in any matters of urgency, Perry had phoned Paul the night before telling him only that he needed to see him first thing in the morning and he would explain everything then. It was still early, Gertie, the receptionist, and the rest of Perry's staff having not as yet arrived. Perry had purposely planned it this way so that it gave Della, Paul and himself a chance to talk in private before they were caught up with the regular days work and all its interruptions.

Normally, if this were a casual conversation between the three of them, Perry would be sitting behind his large desk with Della ensconced on the corner of it. Her long beautiful legs would be crossed allowing Perry and Paul ample opportunity to admire one of Miss Street's many wonderful, heart stopping attributes. Of course while Paul thought Della to be absolutely stunning and although he loved her, the affection he held for her was that of a younger sister. He had come to the conclusion long ago; even before they themselves realized it that Perry and she were meant for each other and destined to be together always. However this morning the conversation was anything but casual. When he first entered the office Paul noticed Perry sitting on the long couch. Della was next to him, curled up in his arms. Her feet were bent under her and Perry had covered her with his overcoat. She looked tired and pale, and Perry was trying to get her to eat some of the breakfast they had gotten from Clay's while at the same time, rubbing her arms up and down and gently caressing her face. Paul's detective antennae immediately went up and instead of falling into the big chair next to Perry's desk and draping his long legs languidly over the arm as he usually did, he pulled it over and placed it across from where his friends were seated. Sitting down and trying to shed some light on the otherwise gloomy atmosphere he said in a half joking manor, "Good morning you two, by the looks of things around here you must have had some weekend" As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Paul realized he had said the wrong thing. Della looked at him as tears pooled in her eyes and Perry gave him a look that needed no words. Paul bent forward took Della's hand in his and gave her a kiss on her cheek. "I'm sorry beautiful, you know sometimes I have a habit of sticking my foot in my mouth. I can tell that something is wrong just by looking at the both of you. You know I love you and I will do whatever I can to help. Are you up to filling me in?"

Della gave Paul a small smile and said quietly, "I love you too Paul and its ok about what you said. I know you were just trying to cheer me up." She then took a deep breath and proceeded to tell Paul the whole story. Ever so often when Perry saw that she was becoming overwhelmed he would calm her by giving her arm a gentle squeeze or kissing her lightly on her forehead, while continuing to stroke her hair. When she was through telling Paul the story the detective let out a long whistle and a deep breath. "Gee Della you've really gone through the mill." Paul then looked at the notes he had been taking while Della was talking. He looked at her with an understanding smile and said apologetically, "I'm sorry beautiful I hate to ask you but could you tell me again exactly when the phone calls started?"

"They started three weeks ago. We were right in the middle of the last case. Actually it was the day that Perry had to testify in front of the grand jury. He was there and I was here…alone. Gertie had just gone to lunch. She asked me to go with her but I didn't have much of an appetite…and I wanted to be here in case Perry called and needed something. After that they kept coming every couple of days. …Sometimes here, sometimes at my apartment. He…the caller always said the same thing…you have two weeks left, then your time is up…you have ten days left etc…etc. Then two days ago, at the beach house, there was the note…" Della shuddered and she leaned back against Perry, drained. Perry looked at Paul and the detective stood up. He went over to Della, bent down, gave her a light hug and said solicitously, "Everything will be alright honey….not to worry…not to worry." He walked out of the office, allowing his friends some privacy.

Perry looked down at Della and said softly, "Sweetheart, I'm going to go and catch up with Paul. There's a couple of things I want him to start doing for me right away. You look so tired, why don't you lie here on the couch and rest for a bit. We still have a couple of hours until everyone else gets here. I'll lock the doors and I'll be back in just a little while."

Della's eyes were heavy but she was trying to fight the urge to sleep. She put her hand on Perry's arm and said quietly, "I don't think I can sleep Perry and besides I have work to do and I could help you."

Perry leaned over and kissed Della to stop her from going on. He pulled back to look at her and said in a loving voice, "The work can wait and of course you will help me but right now, just for me, will you rest a little…hmmm?"

"Okay," Della was beginning to sound drowsy. As she snuggled down deeper onto the couch Perry gently removed his arm from around her and stood. She looked up at him and said, "You're coming right back aren't you?"

"Of course I am baby. I'll be back in a few minutes. Shhhhh…, you just rest now."

"Perry?"

"Yes, darling?"

"I love you." She had to say it. For some reason it felt imperative that he know, once again, that he was the center of her life. She was so grateful for everything he'd done to take care of her. He'd been so understanding; so considerate.

Perry smiled softly. He'd never heard anything more beautiful and he would never tire of hearing it. "I love you too, Della."

Perry made sure Della was covered, looked at her for a moment and then turned off the lights. By the time he opened the back door of his office Della had fallen into a deep but troubled sleep.

Perry Mason walked into Paul Drakes office, sat down in the chair next to the desk, took a deep breath and rubbed his hand over his eyes and down his face. At that moment he looked as though he'd lived a thousand lives. But Paul knew that where Della was concerned Perry Mason would also die a thousand deaths if that was what it took to protect her.

Paul looked at his friend and said with concern, "Man, Perry, I didn't want to say anything in front of Della but you look like hell."

"Thanks," Perry said. The weariness was apparent in his eyes and in the sound of his voice. "To be honest Paul the last couple of days were pretty draining. Della didn't get much sleep and she's really frightened. I'm trying to do anything and everything I can to help her…to take care of her and protect her. She's so worried about me. I think that is concerning her more than anything…not to mention the note and the phone calls. When she got that note at the beach, she realized that she, that we, were being followed and that really unnerved her."

"Yeah," Paul said. "There's all that and then there's the money."

"Oh hell, Paul. I don't give a dam about the money. I would give it all up in a second if it meant Della's safety and happiness."

"I know pal, I know. And you know that I'll do whatever I can to help. Paul's voice was filled with understanding. He got up from his desk, walked over to where Perry was sitting and put his hand on his friend's shoulder.

Perry looked up at Paul and smiled, "I know you will and thanks. Della and I both appreciate everything you do for us and you know how we feel…how much your friendship means to us. I don't know what we would do without you."

"Ahem…" Paul cleared his throat in order to gain control of his emotions. "Alright Perry, how do you want to handle this? What do you want me to do?"

"Della said that the calls started during this last case. I'll have a list ready this morning or at the latest this afternoon of all the people that were connected to it. Even though Frank Dowling was cleared and was released and Arlene was acquitted I want them checked out…Dr. Chandler too… and especially Bill Emory. I know he's in jail now but I want them rechecked. I know we went over everything but maybe we missed something. Also I want you to put a tap on the phones, both here and at Della's…better put one on my home phone too. I also would like you to go to Della's apartment, take a look around and see if you find anything…absolutely anything out of the ordinary. Put your best men on it. Faulkner and whoever else you think. I think I might go back over some of my former cases as well. Maybe something in them will give us a clue. Obviously, someone is behind this….I don't know if he's working for himself or working for someone else. I have a feeling there's more to this then just wanting the money and splashing Della's little diary across those damned rag papers and magazines. I don't care about me; I can take care of myself, but Della…Della." Perry's voice softened as he continued, "God Paul, she doesn't deserve this. She's so beautiful and so wonderful…so sweet and caring and loving." Perry stopped, closed his eyes for a second and took a deep breath. Then as an afterthought he said, "Oh and there's one more thing. I'd like you to have someone watching Della. I will be with her all the time. I'm not letting her out of my sight but I still want someone there….just as added protection….and let us know who it is. You never know what can happen and I don't want to take any chances…especially with her life." Perry's eyes suddenly took on a far away look as if he were lost deep in thought and for a moment there was an eerie silence in the detective's office.

Paul looked at his friend and said with conviction, "Alright buddy I'll get right on it. Don't worry we'll get to the bottom of all this."

"We better…and for Della's sake it better be fast. We're running out of time…and Paul, I want that information yesterday."

"Is the end of the day fast enough?"

"It'll do." Perry smiled at Paul and said "I'd better go. I promised Della that I would only be gone a couple of minutes and it's been almost an hour."

"Alright Perry, I'll see you later"

There was something unspoken which passed between the two men. An understanding of what was at stake, what this meant for both of them, "See you later Paul."

Perry walked out of Paul's office and down the hall to his own. He unlocked the door to his private office. As he walked in he saw Della still asleep on the couch. She was tossing and turning a little but she still slept. He smiled to himself then as quietly as he could he walked over and sat down beside her; very lightly brushing the hair away from her face. As he looked at her he said to himself, "Oh Della look at you…you're so beautiful…so amazing. It's going to be alright. Don't be frightened. I'm right here…I'm right here. I'm not letting you out of my sight. I'll never let anything happen to you. I love you so much." Perry took Della's hand in his, brought it to his lips and very lightly and tenderly kissed it. He then got up and went into Della's office thinking he would begin to look at the files from some of the previous cases. At that moment he heard Della cry out in her sleep. "Please …don't …please… just leave me alone…no…don't …no…no…" In an instant Perry was at her side. He bent down next to her and gently shook her awake. "Della, Della wake up…wake up honey…your dreaming." Della opened her eyes and sat straight up. She looked at Perry and then collapsed against him her body shaking Her breathing was coming in small gasps. Perry held her, trying to calm her and comfort her in his usual way. Softly, he said, "It's alright Della, it's alright…shhh…it was just a dream…shhhhh…shhhhh."

Looking up at Perry, Della moved even closer into him. With her voice quivering, she said, "Oh Perry. It was so awful…so real. I kept seeing that man…I kept hearing his voice. He had a mask on. It was so scary looking… like one of those horror masks the kids wear on Halloween. I couldn't see his face but I could hear his voice. He wouldn't leave me alone. I kept trying to find you but I couldn't. There was this long hallway with a lot of doors. I kept opening them thinking you would be there behind one of them but you weren't. It was him. It was always him. I couldn't find my way out. I kept getting lost."

Perry kissed the top of her head, then pulled away to look at her. Tenderly he caressed her face and said quietly, "It was just a bad dream Darling and its over. I'm right here, see?" He smiled at her then pulled her back into him, holding her until he felt her body cease its trembling and heard her breathing return to normal They stayed like that for a while longer then Della sat up and gave Perry a small smile. He returned the smile and asked softly, "feel better?"

Della looked at him and said lovingly, "Yes, Counselor, I do. You always make me feel better."

Perry leaned over and brought Della back within the circle of his arms. He leaned down and began to kiss her, softly at first, then with more hunger. Della responded and the kisses went deeper and deeper, making her forget everything but what she was feeling and the man she loved more than anything else on earth. As they continued to seek the comfort and love that each gave willingly and becoming completely lost in one another, the phone in Della's office began to ring…