Chapter 11
The exact distance between Della Street and Perry Mason at that moment was three miles. Yet the distance was increasing again.
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The exact location of the entrance to the tunnel was a suprise to her, as well as the tunnel itself. And the woman that accompanied her, surprised her even more.
Glad she saw a familiair face, she had taken Amy's hand and followed her without hesitation into the walk-in closet. In the back of her mind, she had kept thinking about the fact that she could and would have walked out of here herself, hadn't she felt so responsible for the obvious insane dr. Michaels and his equally insane actions.
She had decided to push this thought away until she'd find herself a better time and place to think about it. Now she was following the lead of Amy Hastings, someone she would have never thought to follow like this. But now she did, willingly.
Amy hadn't given her much time to think, before dragging her out of the bed, and pulling her to the walk-in closet. She had only asked briefly if Della was fine enough to walk, and when she had said she was, Amy had pulled up the carpet of the walk-in closet and had urged her to squeeze herself through the opening to go down, into the dark tunnel.
" How did you know about this? " Della had asked, and it had only been one of the thousand questions in her mind. How did you get here ? Where is Perry? How is Perry? Where is Ken? How is Ken? Is the police already here? Where is Emmett Michaels? Where is this daughter of his? Where are we anyway? Where are we going?
But Amy hadn't answered. " Let's get out of here, before we meet someone down here we don't want to meet. " Amy had pulled at Della's arm when she had stopped for a second. " I will answer your questions as soon as I know you're safe … Well, as soon as I know we're safe. "
The tunnel was long and dark, and obviously old, but very well preserved. It had tiles all along the walls and floor, it was clean and small, but not narrow. Amy wore a flashlight, but used it only every once in a while. She just walked, very fast, pulling Della along, as if they were in a hurry. She sometimes motioned Della into a niche in the wall, to check her watch, or to listen very carefully because she thought she had heard footsteps behind them or in front of them.
" How long do we have to walk ? " Della dared to whisper at one of these moments she considered a brief pause.
" Ssshhh … " Amy was worried. When she was certain there was no one there in the tunnel with them, she started to speak again. " It's about five miles in total, I think we've covered most of it, we should be there in about ten or fifteen minutes now.
" Where are we going ? " Della whispered.
" To safety … Home. "
Della had no problems with that answer. Anything was better than the insane, scary world she had been in, for how long? Not even three days? Yet the effects of Emmett Michaels' constant games were still present. She still felt the fear, the trembling, the anxiety, the adrenaline going through her veins, anger. The frustration about knowing she could walk out any minute, but the inability to do so. Her weakest spot, he had reached so easily.
After a long and neverending fifteen minutes, Amy told her they reached their goal. She pushed a small button in the niche of the wall and pulled a small ladder down, out of the ceiling. Della intended to climb it immediately, but Amy motioned her to wait. " I'm going up first to open the cover and see if there is anyone around. You go up behind me, okay ? "
Della just nodded.
When Amy had gone up to look around, it was obviously safe to go out. She pulled Della out of the dark tunnel, and helped her steady. They seemed to be in a living room. The noise coming from outside, from an ambulance driving off and people talking, made her think they were probably in a town, or a busy street.
Della's eyes were still adjusting to the somewhat lit room they were in, when she saw Amy's eyes widen and her mouth drop, before she spoke. " My, my. Now that is a surprise … You're still here. "
" Yes, well, and ladies, what are you doing here? Though it's nice to see you of course. "
Della immediately recognized the voice that came out of the dark behind her. It didn't frighten her, but made her very, very angry. All pent up frustration from the last days were surfacing and she had to be careful not to turn it completely against him. Yet the temptation to do so was enormous, because he was the reason she was here in the first place.
" You! "
" Della, I … "
" What are you doing here? Where are we? What is going on? "
Amy just tilted her head, and said quite nonchalantly. " So, I guess you have some explaining to do, Mr. Robertson ? "
Della stood face to face with Glenn Robertson, when she pointed her index finger to his chest. " What are you doing here, Glenn ? What is your part in all this ? And where are we ? "
Amy put her hands on Della's upperarms to calm her down. " Take it easy, Della. He's not worth it…"
" You're damn right he isn't. But I'm worth an explanation, and I want one. Now! "
" Well, Della… I … It's hard to explain really, but I'll try. I uhm … , I made a deal. " Glenn sat down and watched Della with fearing eyes. " Amy ? I know I have no right to ask you this, but I … could you help me out here ?"
" What? No. It's your deal … "
" But … "
" It's your deal, Glenn. And you shoud tell the woman you helped obducting. I think she has the right to know… "
" Well? I'm waiting … " Della pursed her lips. The absurdness of last days events was dawning to her. And Glenn had indeed thrown her into dr. Michaels' arms, and for what? She needed an explanation, she needed reasons.
" I … I thought … I could ... You see, I wanted to divorce Laura after my trial, when it became clear she had betrayed me. And then she got acquitted from murdering Luke Dickinson. So ... "
" So, what has this got to do with us, with me ? "
Glenn took a deep breath. " I thought if I could get you away from Mason, Laura might be running to him and I could persuade her to divorce me. "
Della snorted. " I really don't believe a word you're saying, Glenn. You've probably watched too many movies. " Della stood in front of him, her arms crossed, fierce eyes watching him angrily. " That is just too simple, even for you. "
Amy laughed out loud. " I told you she is smart. Better tell her the truth, Glenn. "
" I can't …" Glenn sighed.
Della turned away from him. Fatigue washed over her, she suddenly felt too tired to argue about anything at all. Nothing of this made sense. " I really don't get it anymore, Amy. I just want to go home. I want to be with Perry. I want to sleep. Can you please take me home? " Amy nodded, said nothing, but walked away from Glenn and Della towards the frontwindow of the house.
" Amy ? "
She took the curtain and pulled it open, so Della could have a clear view through the window. " Home might be closer than you think, Della … Take a look outside. "
####
The sight of this crime, if it was a crime at all, wasn't new to Lieutenant Brock. Drake had shot the woman through her knee, because she had threatened to kill him. It was as simple as that. She had screamed from excruciating pain, until an ambulance bother had given her a strong painkiller. It had made her groggy, so when Brock had asked her a question, she'd just giggled, not able to answer, not even aware of her own name anymore.
As the ambulance drove off, Brock turned his attention to Drake and Malansky. Ken was still walking back and forth, obviously anxious and worried. Drake, still shocked, sat on a small bench in front of the house and accepted a cigarette that was offered to him by one of Brock's sergeants. He was silent, smoking, in deep thought, and only brought up his eyes when Brock started to speak.
" I phoned the deputy in charge here, because I don't have any jurisdiction in this part of Colorado. Things should be fine, but I really want to do it by the book if you don't mind, guys. "
" Meaning ? " Ken asked him.
" They are sending a car here to take Drake in for questioning. "
" Yeah, sure, but we're still looking for Della Street here, Brock. " Ken started at an angry tone. " And as it is now, we also don't know where the hell Perry Mason is. "
" Mason, hmm. Oh, speaking about him, fellas, I had this letter delivered to us a couple of hours ago, by the guys who check the Masons' mail every day. I haven't had the time to read it myself yet, but it could contain something important. "
Drake stood up and grasped the letter out of Brock's hands. He scanned it quickly. " Same type of letter they received a couple of times. Though it's in Della's handwriting now. " He started reading and laughed when he was halfway through the letter. " This is as fake as … as … I don't really know. They must have dictated it to her. " He threw the letter in Malansky's hands, and took a firm drag of his cigarette. " Real, real fake, Ken. Check it out yourself. "
" Where are her rings? " Ken gave the letter to Brock when he finished reading it." The letter says the envelope contains her rings, where are they? "
" I don't know, cous'lor. And as I said, I haven't read it yet. " Brock's attention was drawn by one of his sergeants. " Wait here for me, I help you find Mason and his Miss Street. "
" Any idea where Perry went? " Paul asked Ken, while Brock walked away.
" No, not at all … " Ken scratched the back of his neck in his typical way, and looked around. " And the taxi is gone. I think I'm going to phone the company the cabdriver works for, and ask them if they know where he is. He must have a carphone or somethin'. "
" Heard anything from uh, what's her name? " Drake queried.
" Amy. " Ken sighed. " No, no sign of her. "
A sudden movement at the house next to Michaels' house caught his attention. He saw it again, and narrowed his eyes. " Amy? " He froze. " Amy? " Then he started running.
" Ken? What the hell? " Drake turned to see where Ken was heading, dropped his cigarette and started running too.
" Della ! "
Both men hit and kicked the frontdoor as if the house was on fire. They screamed. Suddenly, very quietly the door opened, and Glenn Robertson stood in the doorway. Ken rushed in.
" Glenn Robertson, what the hell … " Drake shook his head, and pushed him aside to get into the hallway of the house.
" Ken? Paul ? " Della's choking voice came to Paul even before he saw her and he pulled her up in his arms, to hold her. " Della, my God, Della, you're safe, you're here. " Della sobbed against his shoulder. " Oh, Paul. "
Though Drake had his eyes closed momentarily, he grabbed Glenn Robertson's arm firmly, when he tried to walk past him and escape through the back of the house. Ken blocked the entrance to the livingroom. " We have some questions for you, pal. You better stick around. "
Glenn roughly tore himself away from Drake's grip, but the detective grabbed his wrist and turned his arm, twisting it, making Glenn kneel onto the floor and scream of pain.
" Get up! " Paul yelled at the man on the floor. " Get up, you ! "
His right arm squeezed Della to him, while his other arm still held Glenn, who wasn't making any attempt to escape anymore, but moaned in pain. " My shoulder … he dislocated my shoulder …"
" Brock! Hey Brock! " Drake shouted at the lieutenant.
" Yeah, I guess I know who this is, Drake. I think it's a very good idea if he takes your place in the police car that's coming now. Mr. Robertson, I'll make sure you'll have a nice ride to the station. "
" I insist you take me to the hospital first! " he shouted at Brock. " I have a dislocated shoulder. It hurts ..."
" Oh, what the hell. Take him to the hospital first, but don't let him out of your sight. We have to take Miss Street there also anyway … " Brock first addressed to the sergeants, who were taking care of Glenn Robertson, and then he turned his attention to Della and Paul Drake.
" And you take very good care of the lady you have there, Drake, be gentle with her, but take her to the hospital as well. I'll make sure she can't run into this Roberttson guy, okay? " He smiled softly. " Nice to see you by the way, Miss Street. Nice to see you. "
Della smiled her small smile to him, before turning to Paul. " Where is Perry, Paul? "
" We don't know, Della. But we'll find him. Ken has a very accurate idea what … Ken? Where is he? "
Ken stood frozen to the spot, while Amy as much as posed in the doorway of the house and watched him triomfantically. " You see. I found her. "
He finally caught his breath again. " Yeah, and I found you. " Ken shrugged and walked towards her to hug her, and she hesitantly put her arms around him.
" How did you get here, Amy? " he whispered to her hair.
" I phoned some people, I read some files, I did some thinking … "
" And? "
" And? I drove up here, and found a tunnel, and … "
" A tunnel ? "
" Yes, and I found Glenn Robertson. "
" But how did you know where Della was? Was she here in this house all the time? "
" No, silly. At the other end of the tunnel. And … "
" But how did you know where she was? "
" I told you, I saw Glenn Robertson … "
" Yeah, but how did you know? "
" It was easy. I seduced him…"
" You what? "
" I seduced him…"
" Seduced who? "
" Glenn Robertson, Ken. " She rolled her eyes.
" What? " Ken sighed. This wasn't making sense at all. " We got a lot to talk about, Amy. But we'll do that later, first we have to find Perry, and take Della to a doctor. "
" Is Perry not here? I talked to Perry a couple of hours ago, you know ? "
" You did? " Ken watched Amy in disbelief.
" Yeah, he answered your carphone when I called it to tell you I was okay. " She pushed herself to him to kiss him, but he pulled her back.
" And he answered my carphone? "
" Yeah. What? " Ken let go of Amy.
" Well, if he answered it, he might have used it to make a phonecall as well. Let's see. Maybe we can find out where he went. "
Ken walked towards his car, and reached for his carphone. He pushed the buttons to redial the last number that was phoned, and held the receiver to his ear.
He almost dropped the receiver when he heard the low, sleepy, but familiair voice on the other end of the line.
" Michael Reston … who is this ? "
####
The last room of this wing of the clinic was empty too. Apart from the room where Della had been in, there was nothing that implied she was here, or had been here. Mason checked his pocketwatch. It was four a.m. He put his head against a wall, and shortly allowed himself to feel his tiredness, then ignored it firmly.
" Della … " His two large hands pushed against the wall as if he could move it forward and release her by doing so. " Baby … "
A sudden sound caught his attention. He turned around and cursed. His knee screamed at him again and felt swollen. He grabbed his cane, holding it up to hit whoever or whatever it was that made the sound.
" Mr. Mason! " And Mr. Mason sighed.
It was his taxidriver.
" Man, you scared the living daylights out of me... " He growled to the driver. " I told you to stay put. "
" But there is a phonecall for you, Mr. Mason. "
" What? "
" A phonecall, in my car. For you."
" You have a phone in your car? And you didn't tell me? "
" Well, sir, you didn't ask … "
" Oh, you … " Mason swore again, and limped out of the building as fast as he could.
" Who is it? " he growled.
" It's a man, sir. Ken something. "
" Ken Malansky. Thank God. I sure hope he's found something. "
When they passed Emmett Michaels, who was still on the lawn and cried like a little baby, Mason stopped hesitantly. " I should let you lie there and let the wolves take care of you, Michaels. " His dark voice didn't draw Michaels' attention. " But since I'm closer to human then you are, I'll take care of you. Idiot. "
Emmett rolled on his back and looked up into the sky.
" You get the car here, please. " Mason ordered his driver.
" Yes, sir. "
Perry walked slowly towards the insane man, whose eyes were turned up. His body was trembling. " I'm cold. " he said matter of factly.
" Of course you're cold. You're on the lawn, in your pajama's, and it's in the middle of the night. " Mason hesitated again. Sighing deeply, he took off his topcoat and draped it over Emmett. The psychiatrist looked into his eyes with surprise. The big hollow stare made Mason feel nauseous. " Why Emmett? Why Della? And where is she? " he whispered, as he heard the taxi driving towards him slowly.
" Della Street, Perry Mason, is the most beautiful woman in the world… " Emmett whispered.
" I know … "
" … and she deserves the best … "
" I know … "
" … and ... "
" And? " Mason moved a little closer to the doctor, who sat up and leaned towards the big man.
" … she's mine… ! " He yelled, laughed out loud, and spat on Mason's shoes. The high squeaky laughter sounded sharp through the night.
Perry groaned softly. " I could have known. You're indeed too insane to talk to." He held Emmett down with his cane, leaning it slightly on the doctor's chin, and took the phone from the cabdriver. " Mason. "
Ken's voice sounded far away but clearly through the phone." We got her, Perry … she seems to be fine … "
' … she seems to be fine … ' A lump formed in his throat. All the time he had known and strongly believed that they would find her, and that she would be fine, but now that they really had, he could admit to himself he had been worried sick. He felt his knees buckle, and heard a soft whimper coming from the lawn when he steadied his broad body with his cane on the unfortunate doctor, and against the taxi. He breathed deeply and straightened his back.
" Perry … you there? " Ken yelled at him through the phone.
" Yes, Ken, I am still here."
" They're taking her to General Hospital here for a checkup. I'm going with her, with Paul and Amy, all right ? "
" Tell the address to my driver, Ken. And don't let her out of your sight, do you hear me, you and Paul, not for one minute. I'll be there as soon as possible. "
He gave the phone to his driver. His free hand grabbed his forehead, and he let out a sigh that resembled a sob. The two tears that fell on the lawn silently and unnoticed, proved it was.
She was fine.