Chapter 8

Lieutenant Arthur Tragg and District Attorney Hamilton Burger were seated at the round table in Perry's office. They were listening intently to Della as she was telling them the facts that led up to the phone call between Gertie and the blackmailer As Della was repeating the conversation that had taken place earlier that day, Perry remained silent. Watching her as she calmly and quietly reiterated the entire story once again, he was reminded once more of everything she had endured. He noticed her face, her beautiful face. As always he was amazed at her strength of character and her tenacity. Her voice, although soft, was strong and clear. Ever mindful of what she had endured not only in the last few days, but the time leading up to them, Perry was overwhelmed once again with love and admiration for her. Just when he thought he couldn't possibly love her any more than he did she would do something that made him prouder and more in love with her than ever. His thoughts went back to the night at the beach house when she had cried and finally told him the truth. He had taken her in his arms then, comforting and calming her and now the only thing running through his mind was that he wanted to do it again…at this precise moment. He wanted to hold her and calm her…to comfort her and let her know how much he loved her. He wanted to take away all her pain and make this nightmare...this horrible nightmare go away as if it had never had happened. Yes, that was exactly what he wanted to do. He knew however that Della needed to tell the story herself, without any help from him. Not only would it help the investigation but it would be a way of putting it all behind her.

Suddenly there was a defining silence in the room and Perry realized that Della had finished. Given the fact that both Tragg and Burger were seasoned professionals and were the best at what they did Perry was surprised at their reaction. For a few minutes, neither man could speak. They looked at Della with both compassion and amazement. Finally, taking a deep breath, Hamilton leaned over, took Della's hands in his and said quietly, "Della, I'm so sorry that this happened. Now, I don't want you to worry…don't give this another thought. I'm going to help you...we both will. Whatever it takes, whatever you need…we're here for you." Tragg then spoke, his usually stern unyielding voice giving way to emotion. Speaking softly, as if he were a father comforting his child he said, "That's right honey. We're glad that Paul phoned and told us what's going on. Everything's going to be fine…we're going to set it all up…my men are working on it right now and we'll be ready for the call. You'll see…we're going to get him." He turned to Perry and gave him a knowing look. Looking back at Della, he smiled and said, "You just let this guy over here take care of you and we'll take of everything else."

Della's eyes brimmed with tears and her voice was quiet as she said, "Thank you …both of you…really. It means so much to me. I'm very lucky…we're both very lucky to have such wonderful friends." Perry then stood, and went behind Della's chair. Putting his hands on her shoulders, he gave them a gentle squeeze as he spoke. "Let me say my thanks also. I appreciate you taking the time out to help Della. She's right, we're very lucky to have you both in our corner." At that moment, not concerned with office propriety or what anyone thought, he bent down and spoke to Della. In a soft, loving voice he said, "You see Darling, I told you that it would be alright." Then, seemingly not embarrassed, he leaned over and gave Della a soft kiss on the lips. Della, although feeling a warm blush creep up on her face, looked up at Perry and smiled. Appearing not to care, she put her hand on his arm and leaned back against him, breathing a sigh of contentment.

Before anyone could say anything else they were interrupted by a light knock and the door opening. One of the detectives that had come with Burger and Tragg stuck his head in the door. Almost apologetically he said, "Sorry to intrude Miss Street, Mr. Mason."

Perry nodded his head and said, "That's quite alright. Come in please. I assume you'd like to speak to the Lieutenant." Tragg then spoke, his voice returning to his business like tone. "How's it going Collins? Is everything all ready?" "We're all set up sir. …everything is ready to go."

"Fine, fine…that's good to hear. Why don't you and Andrews go ahead and get in place. I have a feeling that when this moron calls he's going to want the money and we're going to be ready for him."

"Yes sir, Lieutenant. We'll go then and get ourselves situated so we're ready." With that he smiled at Della, turned and walked out the door. "Alright Perry," Hamilton said in a determined manor. Tragg and I will get ready too. I'm going to go over to the courthouse and see Judge Morris or Judge Stanton and get search warrents. Then I'll come back here. I have a feeling we're going to need them if we have to search this guys place or someone else's and I want them here and ready so we don't waste time."

"That will be great Hamilton," Perry said as he shook the D.A.'s hand. Della and I are going to finish up some work and I'm expecting Paul soon. Two of his men were out of town getting some information relating to all of this and he's just waiting for them to call in. As you can imagine, I'm very anxious to hear what they found out."

"We'll be on our way then Perry," Hamilton said, putting on his overcoat. "We'll see you later."

Tragg did the same and then holding his hat in his hand, turned and looked at Della. In that same soft tone he had used minutes before he smiled at her and said, "Now Della, dear, remember what we told you."

Della smiled demurely at the two men. "I'll remember Lieutenant," she said quietly.

With that the two men turned and walked out the door leaving Perry and Della alone. Perry then gently took Della's hand and pulled her up into his arms, holding her close. He kissed the top of her head then pulled back to look at her. He brushed the hair away from her face and quietly asked, "Are you alright Sweetheart?"

"Yes, Perry, I am," she said, putting her head on Perry's chest. "I know it's going to be alright because you said it would be. It's wonderful to have Burger and Tragg on our side and Paul…he dropped everything to help me…to help us." Della raised her head and looked up into Perry's eyes. Putting her hands around his neck, she pulled her face down to hers. In a soft voice that was barely a whisper she said, "Then, Counselor, there's you. You, Mr. Mason, are the most wonderful, brilliant, amazing man in the whole world. How do I thank you for always being here for me…for taking care of me…for making me feel so safe and so loved? There are no words to tell you how I feel."

Perry looked at her and smiled. Taking his hand, he tenderly caressed her face and said softly, "My beautiful sweet Della, you just did." He then leaned down and left a sweet, sensuous kiss on her lips. Breaking away, he said, "I love you Darling."

"I love you too Sweetheart." Della sighed deeply and laid her hand flat against Perry's chest. She looked up at him, gave him a heart stopping smile and said, "I can't wait for Paul to get here. Maybe we'll find out the answer to all this."

Perry looked at his watch. It was almost two o'clock. A chill went through him as Gertie's conversation with the blackmailer replayed in his mind. "I'm gonna call back in three hours and they better have what I want…If he doesn't want anything to happen to her…if he doesn't want anything to happen to her." The call had come in just before ten. That feeling of the calm before the storm came over him again. He took a deep breath to calm himself. Turning his attention back to Della, he brought her back into the circle of his arms and wrapped them around her. Putting his face next to hers, and replying to her last statement he said softly, "We will baby, I promise you we will." He then bent down and tenderly kissed Della again, reminding her of what she always knew…how much Perry loved her and that he would sacrifice anything and everything to keep her happy, protected and safe. The ringing of the phone brought Della and Perry out of their embrace. Catching her breath and smiling up at Perry, Della said with a laugh, "I'll get it…must be our wandering boy." Still smiling as she picked up the phone, she heard Paul's voice and his familiar pet greeting for her. "Hey beautiful, listen I just hung up from talking to Faulkner and Henderson. I have all the information and it's really something. You guys will never believe it. Is Perry there with you?"

"Yes Paul, he's here and he's really anxious to hear all about it…we both are. Just come down and knock. We'll see you in a minute."

"Okay, Beautiful, I'll be right there." Della hung up the phone and smiled at Perry. "He's on his way and he said he has a lot to tell us."

Perry walked over to Della and gave her a light kiss on the forehead. He then went behind his desk and sat down in his chair. As hopeful as he was, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong…very wrong.

Paul opened the door of his office and walked into the hallway. With a jaunty spring in his step and a smile on his face, he began to happily whistle, thinking how great his friends would feel with the news he was about to give. Yes indeed, he thought to himself…now your time is up. We have you and all we need to do is arrest you. It's over …it's all over. Suddenly he stopped dead in his tracks and fell silent. He thought he heard footsteps behind him. Listening intently for a moment or two, he heard nothing but silence in the hall and the normal noises coming from the other offices on the floor. Laughing to himself he thought, "Drake, either you're getting to old for this or it's all those late nights, coffee and the girls. Come on man, get a grip." Convinced he had imagined the footsteps, Paul continued again to Perry's office. Then, before he could react, he felt a sharp pain in his side as the knife penetrated his flesh. As he went down in a pool of blood, he realized that Perry and Della would be waiting for him and they were now in terrible danger.

The coded knock could be heard on the back door. Della, who had sat herself on the corner of Perry's desk, slid off and straightened her dress. Walking to the door, she glanced over and looked at Perry. Their eyes met and they smiled, each silently reassuring the other that all would be fine.

It happened so fast there was little time to react. Perry heard the door open and then his heart stopped and his lungs became paralyzed. At the same moment he heard Della's scream and saw her collapse on the floor in agony, he realized that the one thing he had been afraid of…the one and only thing he feared was coming true. For a minute, which seemed an eternity, time stood still. Then, in a split second, he was at her side…leaning over her as gently as he could while trying to find the wound. Tenderly, he held her hand. Trying to remain calm for Della's sake, he softly asked, "Della? Della? …can you hear me? Are you alright? Oh God, please let her be alright." There was no response and Perry tried again. "Della, can you hear me? If you can hear me, just squeeze my hand. You don't have to say anything baby just squeeze my hand a little. Come on baby please…please let me know you're alright."

"Mmmm…Perry….Perry" Della turned her head slightly and opened her eyes. Her breath was coming in gasps and she was trying to talk. "I…I'm alright…It…It does…doesn't hurt…hurt…that…bad."

"Shhhh sweetheart, shhhh, please don't talk….just try not to move…I know it hurts….I'm here…I'm right here… I won't leave you. I'm right here." Perry practically tore the tie off his neck and then ripped off his shirt. Again he bent over Della speaking to her softly, calmly, tenderly. "Alright Darling, I'm just going to put my shirt around here…right here. There's some bleeding…just a little bit. This will help to stop it, okay? Just lie still. Can you do that for me, my sweet baby, hmmm?"

"Uh…Uh huh," said Della her voice just a whisper. "I'm just so ti…tired…so…so slee…sleepy" She then grabbed Perry's hand and moaned as another wave of pain hit. "Oooohhhh," Della moaned again and held Perry's hand a little tighter. As Perry finished wrapping the shirt around the wound and then using the tie to keep it tightly in place he said tenderly, "I know you're tired honey but please try to stay awake just for a little while ….a little longer. Just till the ambulance get's here. Once they come, they'll give you some medicine and it will take the pain away…it will help you sleep. I'm going to call them right now." Perry started to stand up but Della put her other hand on his arm to stop him. Although it was hard for her to talk, she managed to say "I…I don't want med…medicine. I ju…just want you…you to …make…me sleep….hold me and…make…make me….sl…sleep."

In his softest voice Perry said, "My beautiful girl I love you so…you're so brave. Of course I'll hold you, I'll hold you as soon as the doctor lets me and I'll never let you go. Now, I'm just going to call the ambulance. I'll be right back okay? I'll be right back baby." Perry bent down and left a soft gentle kiss on Della's lips and gently caressed her face for a moment before going to the phone. As he was hanging up he noticed a slip of paper on the floor He bent down to pick it up and as he read it, he felt waves of anger and nausea invade his body at the same time. It said, It Could Have Been Worse I Want The Money Tonight Or She's Dead. I'll Call With The Instructions. He suddenly heard a thud outside his door. Moving quickly but silently Perry went to the door, waited for a few seconds, then threw it open. Looking down and taking a step at the same time he almost fell over Paul Drake's unconscious body.