TCOT Deadly TOY Chapter 7

Mike Carter lay face down on the front porch of his house. As soon as Perry had opened the door and saw his friend, he knew he had been in serious trouble. He quickly moved to help him. Bending down , he slowly and carefully turned Mike over on his back .Perry looked at him and for a split second drew in a sharp breath. "Mike…Mike…it's Perry…can you hear me?....Can you hear me? It's me, Perry….can you hear me buddy?"

Mike moaned , then blinked his eyes opened. "Per…ry?" He said the name in a barely audible tone.

"Yeah, it's me." Take it easy…You're going to be fine. Everything's going to be OK. Let's get you inside. Here, Let me help you." Perry put one hand behind Mike's back and the other around his arm. Careful not to move too fast, he helped him to sit up. He waited a minute then ,letting Mike lean against him for support, helped his friend stand and led him into the house.

As soon as they entered the house, Della, who had heard Perry calling Mike's name, came running over to help. When she saw Mike, she gasped and her hand flew to her mouth. She hurried to cover the sofa with a blanket, then ran to get a basin of water, clean towels and a first aid kit. When she returned Perry had helped Mike lie down on the sofa and had covered him with another blanket.

"Della, please call Dr. Kaplan and tell him it's an emergency. Then go upstairs and wake Jill." Perry's voice was calm, but Della knew by the tone of his voice and the look on his face how serious the situation was.

As Della left to attend to her tasks, Mike started to sit up but Perry stopped him. "I don't think you should get up yet."Perry said to his friend, his voice one of concern. "Let's wait till the Doctor takes a look at you. He may even want you to go to the hospital. We also need to get you cleaned up a bit. As soon as Della comes back downstairs she"……

Mike put his hand up to interrupt Perry. His voice was raspy and he had a difficult time getting the words out.

"No…hos…pi..tal…no…hos…pi..tal….can…can't…go….said…more…trou…ble…worse."

Perry immediately knew that Mike had been threatened again and whoever did this to him wouldn't think twice about repeating or even finishing the job. He hoped he could find a way to help him get out of this mess. "Alright buddy, take it easy. Let's get you cleaned up and when the Doctor gets here we'll….."

At that moment they heard Jill cry out Mike's name as she ran down the steps and into the living room. One look at him and she stopped dead in her tracks, putting her hand up to her mouth to stifle a scream. Della had warned her about her husband's appearance but what she saw still left her unprepared.

Mike had a gash on the right side of his forehead. His left eye was swollen half shut. His lip was cut and swollen as well. His shirt had been ripped and there were some bruises on his cuts and bruises on his arms.

Mike looked at his wife and put out his arms. Jill went over to him, moving with a bit of trepidation. She slowly sat down along side him on the sofa and very gingerly put her head on his chest. Then, with the long night and the fear of her husband missing behind her, Jill began to cry, sobs racking her body. As best he could, Mike put his arms around her, stroking her hair, silently telling her that he was fine.

Perry looked around and noticed Della wasn't in the room. He had thought she had come downstairs with Jill but now he wasn't so sure. Quietly, he stood up and went to find her , leaving the Carter's alone. He went into the kitchen, thinking maybe she had started making breakfast but she wasn't there. He looked in the den and in Mike's study but she wasn't in either room. Suddenly, he smiled and laughed to himself. Leaving the den, he went upstairs and walked down the hall to the nursery. The door was slightly opened and he could hear Della in her softest sweetest voice talking to the baby.

"Oh Elizabeth, it's alright now sweet pea You're Daddy is home and now everything is going to be alright. Mommy didn't mean to scare you, she was just so happy that Daddy came home. Daddy is a little messy right now, but he'll get all cleaned up and the Doctor will fix his boo-boo's and everything will be fine. Uncle Perry is going to help Daddy too. You know Uncle Perry is very smart and he always takes care of everything….he always makes things better. He cares about Mommy and Daddy and he loves you very much. He is such a wonderful man and….."

It suddenly got very quiet. Perry couldn't hear Della so he opened the door and peaked into the room. Della was sitting on the floor, holding Elizabeth on her lap, brushing her hair. Her back was to the door. He quietly went over to her, bent down and tenderly kissed the top of her head, the back of her neck, and nuzzled her behind her ear and Della felt her heart begin to pound. . He then reached over and gently took the baby from her. Holding Elizabeth, he gave her a little soft kiss on her cheek and said in a very low, soft voice, "hi sweetheart, how are you? There's been a lot of excitement around here, hasn't there? Now, I don't want you to worry. Aunt Della's right, everything is going to be OK Can you be a good girl and sit here with your bunny for just a minute.?" Perry put the baby into the crib, then turned and helped Della to her feet. He put his hand under her chin and brought her face up to meet his. He leaned into her and kissed her softly and deeply. Della responded and when they broke away, they were both breathless. Della put her arms around Perry's waist and hugged him tightly. Perry looked down at her and noticed tears welling in her eyes.

"What's wrong Angel?"Perry asked softly

"Nothing's wrong"

Then why do you look as if you're going to cry?

Della leaned back into him. She put her head against his broad chest and sighed deeply. "Oh Perry, it's you. You are so wonderful…You're the most wonderful, most caring, most loving man in the whole world. Look how you take care of everybody, Mike, Jill, the baby …..and me."These past few days have been so crazy. I don't know what Jill and Mike would have done without you. She buried her head deeper into his chest and murmured….. " me either." She looked up at him, her eyes filled with an all encompassing love.

Perry put his face next to hers, then bent down and kissed her softly on the lips. "You know Sweetheart, while I'm very flattered by all your wonderful compliments, I can't take all the credit."

"Well yes, I know that Paul is helping you but……"

Perry put his fingers to her Della's lips and silenced her. "Yes, Paul is helping me but I wasn't talking about him. Perry looked at Della tenderly and said "I was talking about the most exquisite , most amazing , most brilliant woman in the world, who I love more than life itself. Della, Darling don't you know that I could never do half the things I do if I didn't have you? How you know just what to do all the time amazes me. Look what you did to help Jill and Mike…what you are doing to help them. Just what you did last night and this morning alone is unbelievable."

Della looked up at Perry, tears streaming down her face. She put her arms around his neck and pulled his face down to meet her lips. They kissed sweetly, both tasting the salt from her falling tears.

They broke away and Perry encircled her in his arms and held her close, kissing the top of her head. He pulled away and looked at her, brushing away her tears with his hand. He said quietly, "I think you need some sleep, Baby.

Della flashed Perry a brilliant smile., "I'm fine now, really. Come on, let's take Elizabeth down stairs so she can see her Daddy. I want to make breakfast. We have a lot to do today, counselor."

Perry returned the smile and ran his thumb under her chin. "I told you Miss Street, we make an unbeatable team…in and out of the office."

"Yes we do, Mr. Mason, yes we do"

With that, Perry picked up Elizabeth. He held her in one arm and wrapped the other around Della. Together they went downstairs to their friends

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Jill had tended to Mike's wounds and had help him clean up. The Doctor had checked him out and had wanted him to go to the hospital, but again Mike refused. Dr. Kaplan was an easy going, pleasant man, albeit very thorough. He was Perry and Della's Doctor as well as the Carter's. Perry had taken him aside and explained the situation. He promised to keep a careful eye on Mike and said he would call the Doctor at the first sign of a change in Mike's condition.

After they had eaten breakfast, and Della had cleaned up the kitchen, they all sat down to talk. Mike was ensconced on the sofa with Jill sitting next to him. Perry and Della sat across from them on the lounge chairs. Mike had already told Jill the story he had told Perry. Now they all waited to hear what he had to say next.

"Alright Mike," Perry said calmly, "As much as you can remember, what happened from the time you left my office?"

Mike slowly took a breath and then began to tell them what he had been through.

"Perry, when I left your office I was waiting for the elevator. The elevator comes and these two guys come from around the corner and get in with me. The next thing I remember, was waking up in some basement. It was cold and my head hurt like hell and my stomach was no better. This guy comes down the stairs and he's pointing a gun at me. His faced was covered with one of those ski masks. He might have been one of the guys who got me in the elevator. Anyway, he brings me upstairs and takes me into this room. It was an office or den or something like that. The lights were on really low. I guess they didn't want me to see much. Well he leaves and a minute later who do you think walks through the door?"

Our friend Mr Paloma?", Perry said with disgust

"Yes and his trusty companion Tonto," Mike said sarcasticly

"Cavanaugh"

"None other"

"What did the Bobsy Twins have to say?"

"You know, same thing, I have to take on the project, I have no choice, He'll make it worth my while, No Ted, blah, blah, blah.

All this time Cavanaugh keeps quiet. Then he says, "Look Mike, Mr. Paloma's a really important man. You wouldn't want him to make trouble for you now, would you?"

I said "If I have to. I will get a restraining order.

"Then Paloma opens his big mouth and says", "Oh yes, we know all about your lawyer friend, the famous Mr. Mason and all about his beautiful secretary….and how she's just not his secretary. You wouldn't want anything to happen to them, now would you?"

Out of the corner of his eye, Perry saw Della stiffen. He reached over and gave her arm a gentle squeeze, then took hold of her hand, brought it to his lips and tenderly kissed it

Hearing this Jill turned pale. "Oh Perry," she said her voice trembling, "this whole situation has put you and Della in danger."

Perry smiled at her and said calmly. "Jill, this wouldn't be the first time we have been threatened and I dare say it won't be the last."

"Jill," Della said softly, "Perry and Paul will figure it out, They will find a way out of this mess. They both will help you. You'll see everything will be fine."

"We all will help you, Perry said, meeting Della's eyes. A look of understanding passed between them.

Just then, Paul Drake's coded knock could be heard at the door.

"Our wandering boy" Perry said smiling

Della went to the door to let him inside.

"Good morning, beautiful," said Paul. How is everyone this morning?

"Better than last night." Said Perry

"I can see that," Boy, Mike , you look like hell. Glad to see you safe and back home though."

"Me too," said Mike. I was just telling everybody what happened

"Do I smell bacon" Paul asked in his usual way.

Perry and Della laughed and Della went into the kitchen to make Paul something to eat.

Perry turned back to Mike. His voice turning serious again he asked, "how did you get home?"

"Well, after I refused the project again they said they were going to show me a little of what could happen. They took me outside and well….you know the rest. Then they put me in a car and drove me home…and here I am."

Perry then turned to Paul. "Alright Paul, let's have it."

"After you called me yesterday, I called a friend of mine in Philadelphia. I explained the situation and asked him if he would be able to help. He said he would be glad too and that he himself would personally take care of this. He went to Atlantic City last night and asked around. It seems our friend Mr. Paloma is a very bad boy. His sidekick, Cavanaugh… he's right there with him. Paloma has a laundry list of things he pulled that's a mile long…. Racketeering, fake building codes, using shoddy materials, kickbacks, assault, the list goes on….the thing of it is, they can't seem to get a conviction. Burger would just love him, don't ya think?" They all laughed as it seemed to momentarily lighten the situation. "Yes indeed, our Mr.P is a very bad boy…..a very bad boy. You were right not to want to get involved with him Mike."

"Thanks for everything Paul….Great work as usual." Perry patted his friend heartily on the back

"Glad I could help. So what's the plan now?"

Perry stood up. Very quietly but very firmly he said, "I think it's time I called Tragg"

As he started to walk towards the study, there was a knock on the door. Della went to answer it. She opened the door and they all heard her say, "Why Lieutenant, what a surprise, Perry was just about to call you. Won't you come in?"

Perry walked over to Tragg and shook his hand. He was about to thank him for coming to the house when he noticed the Lieutenant's face.

"What's wrong Tragg?" Perry asked, his voice even.

The Lieutenant looked around the room. His eyes rested on Mike. Then he turned back and looked at Perry. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask your friend to come downtown with me for questioning." He turned back again and looked at the assembled group. There's been some trouble…..Someone's been murdered.