Chapter 7

Paul Drake shook his head. " But that doesn't make sense, Perry. Why? Why would Glenn Robertson want to do this to Della? And to you? And why in the name of...of… whatever…. would he want her to take so much money? I mean, he's loaded himself ? "

" Yes. " Mason rubbed his neck. " I know what you mean. We're definetely missing motive here..."

" Yeah, well, you took very good care of the opportunity yourself, Perry, letting her just walk out of here …"

" Thanks, Paul. I really needed that... "

" Sorry. I didn't mean it like that…" Drake sighed. " I must be tired… I just want to find her, Perry… " Mason smiled a small smile to him, as if to say it was all right.

" Now that we positively identified Glenn Robertson..., " Paul hesitated and started to pace. " … I have another very unpleasant thought ... "

Perry shrugged. " I have had the most unpleasant thought yesterday morning, Paul. I don't think it can get any worse. Try me. "

" I was thinking, could the body they found, possibly be Laura Robertson's ? "

" That also crossed my mind…but no, I don't think so, Paul. I don't think it's her. And, if she were missing, it would have been all over the news too. "

" Yeah, and you would have recognized her body, wouldn't ya? I mean you probably know every single inch of that body too… "

" Paul Drake, don't even think about going there. And I don't. "

" Don't what? "

" Don't know every single inch… oh you're just assuming and presuming like anyone else ... Now think. It wouldn't make sense either. Why would Glenn kill his wife now ? If he had wanted to kill her, because of what she did to him two years ago, he would have done it way before. "

" They didn't divorce after the trial? "

" No. They're still together. According to the newspapers anyway. "

" Yeah, well, the newspapers… Have you seen the rubbish they have printed about you and Della? "

" I did. " Mason nodded, and squeezed Drake's shoulder lightly, giving him a reassuring smile. " Ignore it, Paul. Yesterday I realised it's always been like that, and that it shouldn't eat our energy. It's not worth it. "

Paul sighed deeply. " Okay, so what's next? "

" I want you to go and see Brock with the video from the bank, and tell him what we found. Also run checks on Glenn Robertson. I agree with you that this doesn't make sense at all… that there must be something we don't see. Something important. "

" You got it, Perry. See ya. "

" Reston on the phone for you, Perry." Ken yelled at Perry from behind Della's desk.

" Perry Mason, is that you? " The calm and quiet voice of Michael Reston was a delight to Mason's tired and very busy mind.

" Yes, Michael, Perry Mason. "

" I heard your wife is missing, Mason. Well, your Miss Street. I'm very sorry to hear about that. "

" Thank you, thank you for your concern. But listen, Michael, I'm sorry to bother you on a Sunday, I wouldn't do that if I didn't think it was necessary. Now the reason I'm calling you is because Miss Street's disappearance seems to be related somehow to a case we did, the People vs. Robertson in 1987. You were prosecuting then. "

" Ah, yes, I remember that case. He was Laura Robertson's husband, she was running for senate at the time. It was quite a personal thing to you as I recall. "

Yes, I do recall that too, don't remind me… " Listen, Michael, do you recall anything about that case, anything at all that might explain why Glenn Robertson could be involved in Miss Street's disappearance? A motive, whatsoever? "

" Wow, I can't come up with something just right away, Mason. I'll have to go into the casefiles again, but I'd be very glad to help. I can do that, and get back to you if I come up with something, if that's what you want ? "

" That would be fine. Could I also ask you for copies of your files about that particular case? I seem to have lost some detailed information, like the transcripts of the courtsessions. It should be around here somewhere, but now that I'm without my secretary, well…." Perry tried to joke, but failed. It felt out of place. He felt weary.

" Right, Mason. I'll see what I can do for you. I'll get them as soon as possible, and make some copies. I can do that within an hour. "

" Thank you, Michael. I really appreciate that. I'll send Paul Drake to you to pick them up, and if you come up with anything, anything at all, tell him please, or tell me. "

He put the phone down, and thought about his next action for very long. Not sure about it at all, he hesitated, picked up the phone and put it down again. Pursing his lips, he stood up, swore, squeezed his hands to fists, limped around his desk, swore again, and sat down. He threw his cane through his office, then he sought for a phonenumber, swore again, pressed the number and picked up the phone, ignoring Ken who came in to see what was wrong.

" Lewis? It's Mason here. Are you still Laura Robertson's attorney ? "

Of course he heard what he thought he'd hear, Laura Robertson was safe and sound. According to Lewis, Laura's husband was working overtime, and gone now for the weekend. They weren't worried about that, because Glenn used to do this all the time, going away without telling her where he went exactly. So, apart from a few marital affairs and a minor legal discussion that would be solved, all was fine as far as Stan Lewis was concerned. As a matter of fact, Stan was going to see her now, because the police wanted to question her about something.

Even before Mason thanked Lewis, and put the phone back in its cradle, he knew he had made a mistake. Somehow, sometime soon, she was going to learn about this phonecall, and who knows how she would react on it? After all, ever since Perry had arranged his former student Stan Lewis to take her defense two years ago, they had not been in contact. He had felt no urge at all to return her phonecalls, not before and not after Stan had taken care of her acquittal. Whatever it was she wanted from him at that time, if she couldn't tell it by just writing him a letter, he did not want to hear or see her. And now in a way, he had contacted her, albeit through her attorney.

Seriously condemning himself for what he just did, he turned his attention to Ken, who shook his head over the note Della had read to Perry the night before.

" Perry, the note doesn't mean a single thing, it says nothing, it doesn't make sense at all. It is not a threat, it is not a demand for anything, it's merely a statement than anything else. It might be something poetic, maybe..."

" And it also doesn't make sense at all in relation to Glenn Robertson…" Mason added. " Maybe we should ask Amy to look at it, her last ideas were very useful. Where is she by the way? "

" She left. She was angry with me, because I was angry with her. " Ken rubbed his neck, and smiled his insecure smile. " She said she had to go somewhere and she didn't need me there. "

" Well, at least her last actions showed how you need an assistant, partner, or whatever you want to call it …she did find out about the dates Della left us. "

" So was she right? "

" About what, Ken? "

" About that date, third of September 1948? "

" Yeah, it is an important date to me, well, to us. I'm glad she found out, I don't know exactly what Della meant to say with it, but it's important. "

" Yes, but was she right? "

" About what? "

" Well, was it your first kiss, or ehm…."

" I told you before not to go there..." Perry growled at Ken.

" I'm sorry, Perry. " Ken chuckled softly at the big man's refusal to say anything, which in itself told him everything he wanted to know.

" No, Ken, I'm sorry…I shouldn't bark at you... " Perry snorted. He realised he had just given away the information he didn't want to share.

" Let's just say, as Drake senior said before, Della Street was and is definetely the closest I've ever been to heaven, and the first day I realised that, as you said, on a not-job related basis, was the third of September 1948. "

Ken chuckled, remembering his earlier, very unsuccesful interrogation of his boss, as Perry showed his dimpled grin. " I can't put it more businesslike, Ken. "

" Well, if you start to talk about your lovelife in a businesslike manner, we better find her very soon, right ? "

" Yes. Please. " Perry took the notes he had made before to read them out loud. " So, what else did she say: 'not really down or anything' ,'big building', well-maintained', 'the rest, all the rest' , 'bad handwriting', 'reading glasses', 'familiair' .

" Let me see that, Perry… wooow... " Ken stood up and sank down on his chair again immediately. He held his head in his hands.

" Are you okay ? " Perry watched him.

" Dizzy…"

" Tired ? "

" Yeah, well, I'm not really tired, just very hungry. I can't remember actually when I had something to eat for the last time. "

" Well, that's what happens to us men when there are no women around, we forget to take care of ourselves... Let's go to my place and have something to eat. "

" That's not really necessary, Perry. We can grab a sandwich somewhere and come back here…"

" We'll do that, grab a sandwich somewhere, but we'll go to my place anyway. I need something I forgot to take with me…"

" What? "

" My pills…" Ken snorted in reaction.

As they drove through the gate on the entranceway to his house, Perry was glad to see that the securitymen he had hired before, were now finally succesful at removing the eager and bold journalists from his premises. At least now there would be no journalist at his doorstep anymore.

The moment he opened his frontdoor Ken remembered him to phone Paul and tell him to fetch the documents about the Robertson's case at Michael Reston's, and maybe talk to him about Glenn.

When he walked back from his homeoffice to Ken in the living room, the heavy and expensive perfume coming his way made his internal alarmbells go off very loud.

" Perry, there is a lady here to see you? " Ken's hesitating voice was confirming his expectations.

" A lady? " But he already knew who it was, and damned himself again and very thoroughly for phoning her lawyer. He could and should have known she'd react this way.

" Ken, this is Laura Robertson, she used to be one of my clients. " Her eyebrows raised a little about this introduction. " Laura, this is my apprentice, Ken Malansky…" She watched Ken, whose mouth dropped when he realised who he had just let in.

" Is she…? "

" Yes, she is… " Mason confirmed, "...and that's probably why she got through security this easy..."

Laura ignored his remark, and as she threw her coat in the hands of a speechless Ken Malansky, Perry had to smile a very small smile. Her face had indeed aged, but not her attitude.

He sighed, loud enough for her to hear it. Ignoring her silent invitation to a friendly greeting, he turned from her. " Now, what are you doing here ? " Very obviously not offering her a drink, just pouring one for himself, he decided to give her five minutes of his time.

" I have just been questioned by the police…and your Paul Drake..."

" Yes. So? "

" About Glenn, and that he was seen with Della inside the bank, taking out your money before she disappeared. I'm so sorry about it, Perry, I don't know what to say. I just wish I could help. "

" I see. So, did they also tell you to go and see me? "

"No, I thought I could just say how very sorry I am about this. I have told them everything I know. And I told them I want to do anything to help. "

" You can start by telling us where you think Glenn is now. "

" I really don't know. I' ve tried to phone him at the usual places, but I didn't get an answer. He usually doesn't tell me where he goes in the weekends. But I guess Stan Lewis already told you that…" she came closer to look into his eyes provocatively "...when you phoned him about me. He told me you were looking for me. Why was that, Perry? Why now ? "

Her unsaid suggestion didn't anger him, but merely humoured him in a strange way. Would it really be possible she thought he actually needed her now that her so called 'rival' was missing? Or did she think the coast was clear ? Would she really think that? " The police had found a body, I just wanted to make sure it wasn't you. " He grimaced a smile to her.

" You were worried about me? Did you think it was me? "

" It could be you, I just wanted to make sure it wasn't. "

" Considering the last time we spoke and your obvious refusal to be in contact, I thought I was the last one you'd worry about. "

" It was a very battered and abused body. Nobody deserves to die that way, Laura. "

" Thank you for your concern, Perry... " she put her hand on his arm.

" Why ? For what? For being polite? " he took her hand from his arm, and stared coldly at her.

She turned her eyes from him and sighed. " I probably deserved that. " She swallowed hard. " You know…" it was almost a whisper… " I am still sorry, Perry…"

" You have a lot to be sorry for, Laura…" his voice was low, " I actually am sorry for you. You used to be so very in control, you were succesful, and you about lost it all, with noone else to blame for it than yourself. It must be hard. "

" Well, at least I know now. "

" Know what ? " He checked his watch, her five minutes were almost finished.

" What is important to me, and what I did wrong. I wish I could turn back time and change it all…"

" You can't. However, it's never too late to change yourself…"

" You think so ? "

" Yeah…"

" Do you think I can ? "

Suddenly he felt very tired. He realised he really did not want to waste his time and energy by arguing with her, and decided to say goodbye to her in a nice way. That way he at least could be sure she would cooperate and leave quietly. " Everybody can... "

" You're still so very kind, Perry. "

" Laura…" he took her face in his hands, and lightly kissed her forehead. " Thank you for coming by. Now, tell Ken here what you know, that could be of use to us, please? Anything at all? "

" I will, Perry. Thank you…"

" And take care of yourself…" then he turned to Ken. " I really need to rest, but just for an hour. Wake me up at seven p.m., please Ken. We'll go back to the office afterwards, and help Paul. " Ken nodded at him, and watched the lady he had heard so much about, sinking in a chair and crossing her legs. If Paul Drake hadn't told him about her breathtaking and very dangerous beauty, he would instinctively know about it himself now he had seen the look in her eyes could change from deeply loving to very, very icy in just one blink.

Perry looked at her from over his shoulder and watched her big gloomy brown eyes for one last time, detected why he had loved them once, and remembered why he firmly despised of them now.

He thought about the irony of things, when he dragged himself into his bedroom. Here he was, with Laura Robertson of all people, in his own home, while his lady, the one he needed most, was out there somewhere with Laura's husband Glenn. It was madness.

As he took off his shoes, the thought that this could not just be about Glenn Robertson, kept nagging in the back of his mind. No matter if Laura was or was not telling the truth about what she knew exactly, why would Glenn do this? He seemed such a normal, intelligent, sensitive and emphatic person at the time. But then again, he had also been very, very wrong about Laura, hadn't he?

He took his painpills and lay down, feeling so tired he thought he couldn't sleep. Yet he could.

#####

She couldn't sleep, although she was very tired and really needed to have a few hours of rest before diner. She hadn't been able to sleep at all last night after reading this stupid note to Perry. Hearing his querying and worried voice, obviously taking up on her clues, and then his despair at the end. Of course he was going to find her, of course noone could ever succesfully tear them apart. She knew it was just a matter of time before he'd find her. But how much time? And could the man that held her captive here, hurt her in that time? And how much?

And why of all people in the world, had Glenn Robertson brought her to this idiot that was holding her captive for God knows what reason? With pityfull eyes Glenn had handed, there was no other word for it, handed her over to the idiot that felt he was her boss now. And to this woman, dressed in white, he referred to as his daughter.

Glenn Robertson. Last night, after reading the note to Perry, she had cried out of frustration, and Glenn had come to see how she was doing, or calm her down or whatever he wanted to do when he came in. She had watched him closely, her angry eyes shooting fire at him, and she had demanded an explanation. But he had said nothing except that he was sorry, and thought he just had to do what he did.

She had urged, almos begged him to take her home, and to tell her where she was, and why for heaven's sake. As a reaction, he had shrugged, and told her he couldn't go home either.

Half an hour ago, he had come in again to hang something in the adjoining walk-in closet she hadn't even cared to look into yet.

He had sat down on her bed next to her and said " Let me comfort you, Della. We're in this together…"

" Get lost, Glenn. The only way you can help me, is to get me out of here. But since you're the one that brought me here in the first place, I don't think you will…"

He had touched her shoulder, and she had hit his hand away from her.

It had probably been his hurt ego, that had made him say the words that were still echoing in her ears now. " I'm sure you'd want me to tell you that my wife was seen going into your house this afternoon. It was all over the news. They suggested it was possibly to hold Perry Mason's hand and comfort him… or to do whatever they did before you and I crossed their paths…" He had leaned forward and added " ... Miss Street… Now I wonder why that never changed into Mrs. Mason? "

" It's none of your business, Glenn…, " her answer had been as icy as her stare.

" Maybe, maybe not? "

" No, not at all. " Then, when he had opened his mouth to say something again, she had added very firmly, " I don't think I need to tell you that a nice ceremony with speaking vows and signing a piece of paper together, automatically means you have an equally balanced, healthy, respectful and loving relationship, now, do I? I rather have the relationship I just described to you, like I have now, than a marriage that looks like yours... And as far as Laura is concerned, Glenn, she is probably just taking advantage of Perry, like she always is. "

And then she had decided to hit him one more time. " But, I guess you know what I'm talking about…"

She had cried when he had slammed the door, and turned the key and the locks that were on the other side to make sure she just couldn't escape. Now all she could think of was going home, to be with him, in his arms, in their bed...She would definetely be able to sleep there now.