Mason had decided to bring his secretary, Della Street along for the extra manpower. He wasn't certain exactly what they'd be looking for in the files or how long it would take to find it, but he had a feeling they'd know it when they saw it. While the bright blue eyed Mason couldn't deny that people had been murdered for lesser things than gossiping about a colleague's unexpected pregnancy, his instincts told him that someone else was behind this particular killing. Burger wasn't always the best judge of character in the courtroom, but the people around him had noted that the irascible district attorney was rather picky about the women he dated. Stranger things had happened, but Mason couldn't see Burger falling in with a woman that would do something like this.

The building and small offices inside were deserted when the three of them arrived. This had been expected given that client appointments and other activities had been rescheduled for the week while the investigation was going on. Alexandra let them in with her key, but refrained from going through the files except to unlock the pertinent file cabinets under Mason's supervision. The criminal defense lawyer didn't want her touching anything that might further incriminate her. If there was another explanation in these files, Mason and Della would find them.

Della had spent about twenty minutes going through the files of Ruby's last day of appointments. She'd noticed some rather interesting client notes on a Bobby Mackey from the day prior to the murder.

"Chief, have a look at this," the dark brown haired Della said as she held out the client file. Mason looked up and took, regarding it curiously.

"Ms. Avery had been counseling a young man whose older brother had been prosecuted by Hamilton. The brother had been found guilty and sent to prison for life," Della continued. "Ms. Avery mentions in her notes that Bobby had expressed a concerning amount of anger for our illustrious district attorney when Hamilton came to visit Alexandra just as Bobby and Ruby were finishing a session. Think it's worth something?"

"I think it's worth a great deal," Mason said, thoughtfully. His nimble mind was already racing through the possibilities. "Angry young man whose older brother is sent to prison for life. He bumps into the district attorney who prosecuted the case and notices said attorney is involved with a pretty young woman. What better way to get revenge than to frame the girlfriend and have someone Hamilton loves sent to prison for life. Ruby and Alexandra may be innocent casualties in a revenge plot against Burger Thank you, Della. This may very well be what we've been looking for."

"Alexandra?" Mason called out into the hall. "Could you come here please?"

Alexandra Mullen arrived in the doorway to the late Ruby Avery's office after a few seconds. "Yes, Mr. Mason?"

"Did you by any chance hear a young man say anything to Ruby about the time Hamilton came to visit you for lunch the other day regarding Hamilton prosecuting his older brother in a murder case? Or did Ruby mention anything to you about it?"

Shaking her head, Alexandra frowned. "I didn't hear anything like that at all. And unless Ruby required a consult, she would be bound by counselor/client confidentiality so she likely wouldn't say anything to me about it if he had. Evelyn might have overheard something like that though if Ruby's door was open or if Ruby and the client had already come out into the hall after session."

Mason nodded, his expression thoughtful again and he turned to his secretary again. "Della, have Paul pay Evelyn Walsh a visit. We need to know if she heard young Bobby Mackey express any displeasure with Hamilton Burger and what was said if she had."

"Right away, chief," Della said, already reaching for the phone.

W^^^W^^^W

The three of them returned to Mason's office where Mason was lost in thought. He was certain he was on to something, but proving it was another matter entirely. No other relevant fingerprints or identifying items had been found on the murder scene. That could easily be explained by the use of gloves, but still… the burden of proof was on Mason.

He was shaken out of his analysis, but a knock on his door.

"Come in," Mason called out. The defense lawyer remained stoic and calm even though it was Lt. Tragg who had come calling and this time the usually smug old man didn't look so smug for once. In this case, that wasn't a good thing.

"Lt. Tragg," Mason greeted the longtime homicide detective. "To what do we owe the pleasure?"

"There's no pleasure in this, Mason; not this time. I have a warrant for Ms. Mullen's arrest with the charge of first degree murder."

Mullen's aqua blue eyes widened in dismay, but otherwise she remained her characteristically calm and collected self. If Mason was able to prove Alexandra innocent, he realized that her calm could eventually rub off on Burger and do him some good.

"So you found a motive, Lt. Tragg?" Mason was curious what Tragg had discovered so he could figure out how to fight it.

"I don't mind telling you that I'm rather annoyed that I had to hear of Burger's coming child by some counselor I'd never met before, but apparently he and Alexandra are going to be parents. And given that they aren't married and both have reputations to protect, it's not a stretch of the imagination to believe Ms. Mullen here wouldn't be moved to murder someone to keep them silent. People have been murdered for less than a reputation."

Mason buried his hands in his pockets, looking as relaxed and composed as ever. "If that's the case, why didn't she attempt to kill all of her colleagues who knew?"

"Lack of opportunity? Perhaps they were next on the list? Ms. Mullen did know that Ms. Avery would be staying at work late that night so it wouldn't be difficult to plan the whole thing."

Mason regarded Tragg for a moment. He was curious if Tragg had implicated Burger in the whole thing given that the district attorney also had a vested interest in protecting his own reputation; but if Tragg wasn't willing or able to go there yet, Mason certainly wasn't about to put the idea in his head.

He looked back over to Alexandra. "It's alright. Go with Lt. Tragg. I will be down to visit you soon."

Alexandra nodded and reluctantly joined the officer that had accompanied Tragg. She followed him to wait outside the door for the homicide detective.

Tragg hung back for a moment, concern rather than the characteristic smugness etched on his face. "I do hope that we're wrong this time, Mason; and that you can prove this girl innocent. "I've worked with Hamilton a long time and I don't want what this will do to him."

"I'll do all I can," Mason replied seriously.

Della joined Mason where he was still standing beside his desk, watching the door shut behind the silver haired Tragg. She touched his arm comfortingly and Mason's own strong hand covered hers with a gentle squeeze. The two of them had grown closer over the last few months and this situation with Hamilton Burger and Alexandra Mullen had gotten Mason considering the pros and cons of longterm relationships.

"Della, get Paul on the phone again. We need to find out what's going on with Bobby Mackey and if he's involved in all of this."