TCOT Sunbather's Diary Extended Chapter 5
As Paul sat behind his desk watching Perry walk out of his office a look of deep concern became etched in his face. Not only were he, Perry and Della colleagues who had worked together for years, they were close personal friends as well…so close that each could tell what the others were thinking just by a look or a gesture. They could finish each other's sentences, instinctively knew what the other needed and when, and were always there for any personal or professional situation that might come up at any time. They laughed together and even, in rare moments, cried together. They were loyal and loving and so close that if one didn't know them the assumption could be made that they were family. Each would be there for the other on a moment's notice…no explanation needed….no thanks required. Now his friends needed him and he knew that helping them solve this problem would now be his top priority…his only priority. When he had come into Perry's office he had immediately realized that this was no ordinary Monday morning. Della had looked stricken with fear and worry and the mere fact that she and Perry were sitting on the couch in a very non professional manner spoke volumes. He knew Perry was extremely concerned and worried about Della and although she was strong and not easily shaken, he could see just by looking at her, how deep her fear really was. Paul took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. Perry was right, Della didn't deserve this…any of this and the thought that someone had deliberately set out to frighten her or to inflict harm on her made his skin crawl and left him with angry rage churning in his gut. Paul knew that Perry was very worried about something else and he was right to worry…they were running out of time. With that thought seared in his mind, he stood up, grabbed his coat from the coat rack that stood in the corner of the room next to the large Fichus plant and with determination in his step, walked out of his office to the elevators.
The persistent ringing of the telephone in Perry's office brought Della and him out of their warm, loving embrace and back to reality. They pulled back from each other, both of them breathless. Realizing that perhaps it could be another call from the blackmailer, a frightened look crept onto Della's face.
In an effort to reassure her, before he went to answer the phone, Perry kissed her softly on the lips, smiled at her and gently thumbed her under the chin. Della sat stiffly on the couch holding her breath, her eyes fixed on him. . As he picked up the receiver, Perry looked lovingly at Della, while at the same time concentrating on what he might hear on the other end. Maintaining a professional and even voice Perry began to speak. "Hello, this is Perry Mason. Who is calling?" There was silence on the other end and Perry tried again… "Hello, is someone there? Again there was silence. Perry knew this had to be the blackmailer and although he was starting to become upset and impatient he knew he had to remain calm for Della's sake. For the third time Perry spoke to the silent caller, hoping to hear something …anything that would give him a clue as to who it was. "Alright, then I will say goodbye…" Perry started to hang up, but this time the voice, although muffled was clear enough that Perry could understand him.
"Where's your secretary Mason? How come you're answering your phone?"
"Miss Street is unavailable at the moment, perhaps you can leave a message with me. I'll be glad to pass it on to her."
"You must think that I'm a fool Mason. I'm not leaving any message with you. I'll be calling back later and if your as smart as everybody says you are you'll make sure that she's the one that answers the phone….and Mason, I know she's just not your secretary. She's much, much more than that; isn't she? And you wouldn't want anything to happen to her now would you?"
Perry's eyes turned dark and his heart began to race. As matter of fact as he could, he returned the phone to its cradle and, in order to calm himself, took a slow deep breath. He then walked over to Della, sat down next to her and gently took her hand in his. He turned to face her and before she could say anything, he quietly said, "Yes, that was the blackmailer."
Della bit her bottom lip and closed her eyes. When she opened them, she looked at Perry and asked with trepidation, "What did he want?"
Perry repeated the message as calmly as he could. When he was finished, he took Della in his arms and said lovingly, "Sweetheart, I'm so sorry that you have to go through this. Look, why don't we just go home for the rest of the day? We haven't started to work on anything…we don't have to be in court today and we could just cancel the few appointments we have. Everything else will keep till tomorrow and since no one else is here yet, if we leave right now, no one will miss us. We'll call them once we get home and tell them an emergency has come up. I'm sure Paul will get in touch with us later. In an effort to alleviate some of the tension, the situation had brought, Perry pulled back, looked at Della and said with a smile, "I've always wanted to play hooky, haven't you? That remark seemed to have done the trick. Della looked at Perry and dissolved into laughter. She put her arms around his waist and hugged him to her. Looking up at him with her eyes filled with gratitude and love, she gave him one of her brilliantly beautiful smiles and said, "Now that, Counselor, is one of the many reasons I love you so much…you always know how to cheer me up." Then, putting her hand gently on Perry's cheek, her voice became lower and softer when she said, "You're always here for me no matter what, aren't you...keeping me safe…protecting me…taking care of me…loving me?" Della's eyes began to glisten with tears as she took Perry's hand in hers, brought it to her lips and tenderly kissed it. She let out a sigh, then seeming to have drawn strength from him, sat up and looking deep into Perry's eyes, said in a clear and determined manner, "No, Perry, this isn't the way we're going to do this."
"Do what darling?" Perry asked softly as he gently brushed a wisp of hair away from Della's eyes
"This…all of this craziness…running from it …running from him I refuse to let him dictate our lives. I know I was scared to tell you in the beginning…maybe if I had it wouldn't have gotten this far…. But that's over and done with. Now you know everything…everything is out in the open. You're doing everything you can for me. I hate the fact that you're so tired and worried about me. You don't have to say it…I can see it in your eyes….please…please don't worry. I know it will all turn out alright…it always does. You always make sure of that. I know you want to take me home or take me away some place because you think it will help me forget…but it's always going to be there…he's always going to be there, calling and leaving those awful notes. It's not going to end until you and Paul catch him and stop him for good. He knows our every move…wherever we go and whatever we do. Don't you see if we leave here and go away, even if it's home or anywhere else it will be like we're playing right into his hands…it will prove to him that I'm scared and that will just make it worse? Soooo, in answer to your question no, Counselor, I do not want to go home or anywhere else with you…at least not now. I want to stay here and get some work done and when that horrid man calls I will tell him just what I th…"
Della didn't finish because Perry had taken her in his arms and pulled her close into him. Bending over he brought his lips down to meet Della's and kissed her, a long deep, passionate kiss, the kiss silently conveying so much more than what he wanted to say with just his words alone. When finally he let her go, Della was left breathless and weak…her head was spinning and she felt dizzy …only this time it wasn't from worry or fear. She looked up at Perry and started to say something but was finding it difficult to speak.
Perry looked down at Della with a twinkle in his eyes and the smile that was just for her; he asked softly, "Well, Miss Street did that make you forget everything?"
"Uh…uh huh" said Della, her voice barely a whisper
"Good," without releasing her from his arms Perry began to tenderly caress Della's face and softly stroke her hair. He gazed intently into her eyes and lovingly said, "You, my sweet darling girl are the most amazing, bravest, strongest woman I know. I am so proud of you and I love more at this moment than I ever thought possible."
"Oh Perry, I love you too…more than anything. I just want this whole nightmare to be over so we can go back to our plain old hum drum everyday life."
Perry laughed and said, "My beautiful Della, life with you is anything but plain and hum drum. It's Christmas, New Years and the 4th of July all rolled into one. It's exciting and surprising and unpredictable and every day with you is a present….you're my present. Now my love, why don't we go to Clay's and get the breakfast we never had a chance to have then we'll come back and I will take the advice of a very wise woman and get some work done…although it's going to be very hard to concentrate. I guess I'll just have to have my secretary make sure that I do everything I'm supposed to…" Perry bent down and this time, left a soft kiss on Della's lips.
"Reading my mind again counselor?" Della asked, smiling as she looked up at Perry. "Yes, I think that is a wonderful idea." Della extricated herself from Perry's arms, stood up and held out her hand. "Come on, Mr. Mason" she said with just a hint of teasing in her voice and a mischievous gleam in her eye, "first breakfast, then work, then later….hmmmm, the possibilities are endless. You know, I'm suddenly starving"
Upon Returning from Clay's, the attorney and his secretary immersed themselves in work and the rest of the morning and early afternoon sped by. Perry and Della had brought food back from Clays, opting to eat lunch in the office. This way, they could finish the day's work and leave at a reasonable hour. Perry wanted to do anything he could to make sure Della had an easy day and he knew, as always, that this would make her happy. Although nothing more was discussed about the blackmailer and his threats, and even though Della seemed a little more like herself, he could see the worry in her eyes.
Towards the end of the day Paul's coded knock could be heard at the back door. Della let him in, and as Paul entered, he bent over and gave her a light kiss on her cheek. "High beautiful," he said with his usual urbane smile, "feeling better?"
"Why yes, Mr. Drake I am" said Della, momentarily glancing in Perry's direction, giving him a sultry look. Then turning back to look at Paul she said, "It seems that yet again my boss has worked his magic and I feel wonderful. Now if you two will excuse me, I am going into my office and finish the last bit of work so there will be no excuse not to leave early." She then flashed them her spectacular smile, turned and walked into her office, closing the door behind her.
Once she had left, Perry looked up at Paul from behind his desk where he was seated. His voice took on a serious tone as he asked, "Well, Paul, what did you find out?"
Paul handed Perry a file and said, "It's all in there Perry, but here it is in a nutshell. It seems that Bill Emory has a brother. It also is no secret that you're not his favorite person at the moment. From what my contacts tell me he's been talking about you from the day he was convicted and it's not pretty. I have some men working on the brother's story…to see if they can come up with anything…what his angle is. My instincts tell me there's a link into the trouble Della is having. In fact I'm convinced of it. I smell something and it stinks…as they say, it's not kosher. I just have this feeling. I would stake my reputation on it."
Perry scanned the file quickly, and then looked back at Paul. "Thanks Paul. You know I trust those instincts of yours. I'll look this over later. I'm going to have to show this to Della…much as I don't want to…she seems to be in a better mood …more herself… and I hate to spoil it for her."
"Yeah, I saw that when I came in" Paul gave Perry a devilish grin and said, "My instincts also tell me that you really did work that magic and from the atmosphere around here I will bet that you're going to work a lot more magic on that beautiful woman before the night is through."
"Never you mind," Perry answered, smiling himself. Now if you have nothing better to do why don't you go see if your men came up with anything else and Paul… thanks…thanks again for everything"
"Anytime pal, anytime," If I find out anything I'll let you know….uh…in the morning." Paul pushed himself out of the chair and turned to leave. Then as an afterthought stopped and turned back to Perry. "By the way, have you heard anything from the blackmailer since this morning?"
For just a moment, Perry's eyes darkened as a thought came to him. Looking at Paul he said quietly, "No I haven't …and I have a feeling that this is the calm before the storm."
Paul looked at his friend, shook his head in agreement and with nothing more left to say, silently walked out of Perry's office.