Driving away from Michael Dominico's home without Della was undoubtedly one of the hardest things Perry Mason had ever done. Although the thought of leaving her behind with this monster was tearing at his insides, he found solace in knowing Paul Drake would stay behind and keep watch over her. Perry and Paul drove slowly around the block. Perry stopped and then watched as Paul got out and made his way through the yard and alley which backed up to Michael Dominico's house. Perry then drove back in the direction of his hotel. There were calls that needed to be made back home and many favors to call in if he were going to make any headway with the police department in terms of having them put the heat on Dominico. Perry wondered if a distraction provided by police woes would give him and Paul ample opportunity for taking Della back.

No sooner had Perry driven off then Paul reached a position just beyond the hedges at the rear of Dominico's home. "Now, it's a waiting game," he said to himself. Unfortunately, he wouldn't wait long. Paul heard loud crashing sounds coming from the home followed by the piercing screams of a woman and obscenities being shouted at her by an angry male voice. Paul quickly changed his position and made his way to the back wall of the home. The screams were followed by pleading…pleading from a voice he instantly recognized…Della's voice. Feeling all the emotions of heartbreak and anger, Paul drew his gun without hesitation and ran around to the front of the home. He kicked in the door and heard, "What in the hell?" from his right. One of Dominico's henchmen exited the living room and Paul fired upon him…hitting him in the shoulder. Paul then stormed up the stairs as the second henchman opened fire on him…narrowly missing as the bullet lodged in the wall. Paul dove for cover behind an antique buffet positioned at the top of the stairs. As the other man ascended the stairs, Paul popped out and hit him with a gunshot to the upper thigh. When he turned around, Paul saw Michael Dominico standing at the end of the hallway…a sinister smile across his face...and a leather belt in his hand. Paul leveled his gun directly at Dominico and walked slowly towards him.

"You gonna shoot me Drake?" Dominico asked mockingly.

"Maybe," Paul replied as he kept a steady aim Dominico. All the gut-wrenching agony he'd felt at hearing Della's screams had been calmed as he let his professional training take over.

"Go ahead then and we'll all be dead." Dominico nodded and looked behind Paul. The two henchmen, both bleeding, had reached the top of the staircase and stood ready to kill him in command. When Paul glanced back at Dominico, he felt his heart jump into throat. Dominico had reached into the room and pulled Della into the hallway with him. Her hair was disheveled. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying …her lip and nose were bleeding, and her cardigan and dress were torn and covered in droplets of her blood.

"How about I toss her over the railing? Maybe she'll live…maybe she won't," Dominico stated as he shoved her forward while keeping her as protection between he and Paul. "Then…you'll have to shoot me and then my men will shoot you. Of course, where does that leave us with the great Perry Mason? He should really be a part of this little death pact too." This statement seemed to snap Della out of whatever daze she was in and her head snapped around to look at Michael. His eyes met hers. He brought his lips close to her face and kissed her softly on the cheek. Paul narrowed his eyes and felt his professional demeanor slowly being eaten away by the earlier hatred he'd felt when the screams began.

"Boys…after you kill Mr. Drake here, you will make sure to find Mr. Mason and kill him too, won't you?"

The men nodded and smiled back at him. Della shook her head no and tried to run away from Michael, but he kept a firm grip on her upper arm.

"Okay Drake. Let's get started." Michael shoved Della towards the railing and she had to grip it to keep from somersaulting over the side.

"No!!!" Drake yelled as he took running steps in Della's direction.

Dominico grabbed Della by the back of her hair and held her head over the railing with the railing firmly jabbing her in the stomach. Paul's eyes moistened and his face contorted in pain as he witnessed the agony that spread across her face. Slowly, he lowered his gun to his side as he and Della's eyes met.

The last thing he saw before feeling a blinding hit to the back of his head was Michael Dominico dragging Della away down the hallway.

***********

The late afternoon light cascaded throughout the room. Paul tried to open his eyes but the pain radiating from the back of his neck and head was too much. When he did finally get his eyes opened, he noticed the light in the room looked like that given off when the sun is just getting ready to set. He tried to move, but his hands were tied behind him and his feet were bound to a chair. A small, quiet voice spoke out behind him. "Just be still Paul. As soon as the coast is clear, I'll get you out of here."

Paul turned and saw Della peeking out the front upstairs window. She still wore the torn and soiled dress and cardigan, but the blood was no longer bright red. It had dried to a dull brown and Paul wondered how long he'd been knocked out.

"Della," he whispered, "I have to get you out of here." Della turned and looked at him. He took in a deep breath. Her chest, neck and face bore fresh bruises. Her lip was swollen as was her left eye.

"He's leaving now." She said intently. "Then, I'll cut the ropes and show you the back way out. You get Perry and get the hell out of this city before he kills you both."

"Absolutely no beautiful." Paul stated adamantly. "Look at you…there is no way we're leaving without you."

"Paul…I overheard everything Perry said to him after I was banished upstairs and I did start to pack my suitcase to leave him, but…" She looked away and tears filled her eyes. "…but this is what he did to me when I told him I was leaving…that I'd made a mistake. I can't risk it again, Paul. I'm going to marry him. I'll be good…I'll give him as many children as he wants…I'll take care of this house and be the wife he always wanted me to be. I really will and he'll have no reason to hit me again…."

"Della," Paul whispered softly, "there will always be another beating. Please, let's leave together. With what he's done to you today, we can go to the police…file charges for assault and then Perry will have the book thrown at him for the murder in Los Angeles."

"Paul…no…I can't take that chance." Della looked back out the window. "Okay, he's gone. His car just pulled away." Della ran out of the room and returned with a knife.

"How will you explain my disappearance?" Paul asked. She did not reply but worked furiously to free his hands from the ropes.

"He'll beat you again when he sees I'm gone…maybe even kill you."

"I can't worry about that now, Paul." She finished with his hands and he took the knife and quickly cut the ropes from his feet. "Now, the back passage out goes down the backstairs, through a short hallway which connects to the kitchen and then you can get out through a small sink room that opens to a garden with large hedges that will mask your escape."

"I know the hedges," he replied and their eyes met. "Come here." She stepped towards and he hugged her tightly to him. She relaxed against him and then reached up and kissed his cheek.

He looked down at her face, reached into his jacket, took out a handkerchief, wiped away her tears, and spoke gently. "Sorry doll face…but I promised Perry I'd get you out of here if anything else happened." Before she could react, Paul crammed the handkerchief in her mouth, brought her arms around her back, and tied them with the freshly cut rope. He then grabbed the phone and reached Perry at the hotel. Once he knew Perry was on his way, Paul picked Della up and slung her over his shoulder. She wiggled in protest, but was no match for his strength. Quickly, he made his way down the back stairs and out the back of the home towards the same hedges he'd hidden in hours earlier. There, they would wait for Perry to pick them up.

******************************************************

Perry Mason sat in the corridor on the 8th floor of Chicago's University Hospital. This floor contained only six large rooms and because it was in a separate wing, was used for visiting dignitaries and local politicians. It was far enough away from the main buildings to afford privacy, but close enough so that any medical need or emergency could be attended to immediately. The rooms were laid out in a circle and in the center was the nurse's station. The floor also held a lounge, a medicine room, two restrooms and a small kitchen. The patient rooms were spacious, enough for a sofa or extra bed and two comfortable recliners, therefore allowing the spouse or an immediate relative to stay in the room as well. It was here Perry had driven Paul and Della. As he waited, Perry reflected back on the sight that met him when Paul emerged from the hedges between Michael Dominico's yard and the neighbor's yard with whom he shared a back property line. Paul looked like hell. He had blood on his clothing and a huge goose egg on the back of his head which even his thick head of hair could not hide. However, it was Della's appearance and demeanor that had knocked the wind out of him. Paul carried her over his shoulder and gently placed her in the backseat of the convertible before hopping up front with Perry.

"Damn it Paul! You tied her up and gagged her?" Perry asked angrily as he peeled away from the curb.

In no mood to argue and still reeling from the blow to the back of his head, Paul snapped, "She wouldn't come with me."

"Still…" Perry was interrupted by Paul slamming his fist into the dashboard.

"You said to go in and get her if there were any signs of trouble! Look at her Perry! He beat her. I could hear the screams and her pleading for him to stop from outside the house. I rushed the house, had a gun shot at me, watched him threaten to throw her head first over the balcony railing…" Perry's eyes flashed with anger and the color rose as he took his eyes off the road and looked at Paul.

"That's right buddy…held her by the hair of her head and threatened to toss her over. Then, I got knocked in the head and tied up. So…how exactly did you expect me to get her out after I came to and she untied me and then refused to leave too?"

Perry did not answer, but continued towards the hospital.

"Desperate times…" Paul's voice trailed off and he wiped his face with his hands.

"…call for desperate measures." Perry finished the sentence, looked at him, and said, "I'm sorry." He then glanced in the rearview mirror. Della appeared to be lost deep in thought. It was as if she was in some kind of trance.

As soon as he'd pulled up to the emergency entrance driveway of the hospital, the doors opened and a nurse and an intern met them with a gurney. Perry had called Jimmy and had apprised him of the situation. Jimmy had then called their family doctor who told him he had an emergency consultation at another hospital but would be there as soon as possible. In the meantime, he'd arranged for his colleague to examine Della and to treat Paul as well.

As carefully as possible, Della was taken out of the car, placed on a gurney and wheeled into one of the emergency cubicles. Paul was taken in to another cubicle to be treated while Perry paced up and down the hallway… fists clenched in his pockets … his stomach in knots and a headache that just wouldn't quit.

So, here he was an hour and a half later…tired but restless and anxiously waiting for some word regarding the two people he cared most about: his best friend and the woman he hoped someday would bring him full circle by agreeing to be his wife.

The sound of a man clearing his throat pulled Perry away from his thoughts and back to the present. Paul was walking down the hallway towards him. Perry looked at him and, though no words were spoken, volumes were said when their eyes met. After a brief hug and a nod and smile from Paul which indicated to Perry he was fine, at least physically, they sat down and waited for word about Della.

They did not have to wait long. About 15 minutes later, Dr. Morris came into the waiting area and walked over to where Perry and Paul were sitting. Both men immediately stood up, but the Doctor motioned for them to sit back down.

"Mr. Mason, Mr. Drake, I have just completed my examination of Miss Street."

Perry inhaled deeply before asking, "How is she Doctor… may I see her?"

"Mr. Mason, Miss Street has a number of cuts and bruises which are pretty severe. I understand that Dr. Cooper is on his way and, after he examines Miss Street, he will be able to give you a more definitive explanation regarding her condition. Before I take you back to see her, I will tell you that both of you are very lucky."

Perry looked at Dr. Morris with a puzzled expression. "I don't understand what you mean."

Dr. Morris then asked Paul if he would excuse Perry and himself for a moment and led Perry down the corridor to his office. A few minutes later, Perry and the Doctor emerged and Perry walked down the hallway to see Della. He walked up to the cubicle and drew back the curtain. The bed was empty and Della was gone.

It took Perry a minute to digest what he saw…or didn't see. Then, he tore out of the room and ran out into the hall where Paul was waiting. Paul saw him coming and started to ask him how Della was but he didn't have a chance. Perry came running up to him, his face devoid of color, fear in his eyes, his voice trembling.

"She's gone Paul, oh my God, where in the hell could she be? She's in no condition to go anywhere. The Doctor was just in with her. Dammit, what the hell is going on? You don't think?"

Paul put his hands on Perry's shoulders to try to calm him down. "Wait a second Perry, what are you saying?"

"I'm telling you that I went to see Della and she's gone. She wasn't in the bed and there isn't a whole lot of places she could be."

"Ok, Ok, pal, we'll find her… just take it easy. You aren't going to be any good to Della if something happens to you. We'll start by asking the staff if they have seen her, and then we'll take it from there. I'm sure she's somewhere in this place. While you were back with the doctor, Faulkner checked in with me. He just got into town and I stationed him and the other men outside the hospital to make sure we don't have any more problems with Dominico or his thugs."

Perry looked at his friend and put his hand on his arm. "Thanks Paul, I don't know what I would do without you. I have something to tell you but I don't want to waste another minute. Come on, I'll tell you on the way."

Della Street sat on the gurney in the exam room in disbelief. After the Doctor left, she waited a few minutes, stood up and walked out of the emergency room through the back doors. She then walked around to the front of the hospital and down Michigan Avenue. She had only walked about four blocks when she stopped dead in her tracks. There on the street was Michael Dominico's car. Looking around for a place to hide, Della spotted Georgio's restaurant. She quickly went inside and asked for a secluded table in the back. She needed time….time to think and time to make a decision.

Paul Drake was standing outside Georgio's restaurant. While he and Perry were frantically searching the hospital, he'd received a call from Faulkner indicating his men were tracking Della movements about four blocks from the hospital. Perry was on another floor with one of the security guards and a nurse and, knowing they didn't have any time to lose, Paul left word for him at the nurse's station and took off for the restaurant. Now, he was waiting for Perry.

As soon as he arrived, Perry ran over to Paul. His heart was pounding and he was breathless. He could feel the blood rushing to his head. He grabbed Paul's arm and in a voice filled with panic, asked about Della. "Where is she Paul?"

Paul looked at Perry and knew he had to get him to calm down. Perry was usually always in control, except when it came to Della and, after the events of this past week, Paul knew why Perry was acting in this way. He knew he had to be cool and calm so that they could get Della first … before she placed herself back in the lair of the monster. Paul braced himself and prayed he could answer Perry in a calm voice. Placing a hand on his friend's shoulder, Paul spoke, "She's in there Perry. She's sitting at the table in the back corner. Seems she asked for a table in the back. It's as if…."

"It's as if she were trying to sit someplace that we would sit if we were together," said Perry. He put his hands over his face and let out a long slow breath. "Alright Paul, let's go in and get her."

"Perry wait…there's one other thing."

Perry looked at Paul and saw concern written all over his face. "What?"

"It's Domenico … or rather his men. They came in just after Della got here. They're sitting off to the side. One of them went to use the phone just before you got here. I think he called him, you know, to tell him she's here."

"Then, we have no time to waste. I'm going in there. You can either stay here or come with me. I just don't want her to be any more frightened then she already is … yes, I know she's strong and it takes a lot to rattle her, but it's her eyes Paul…there's something in her eyes. I can't explain it. I've never seen it before and I hope to hell I never see it again."

Paul looked at Perry and in a determined tone said, "Ok, let's go."

With that, the two men walked across the street and into the restaurant. As they entered, Perry gave a look to the mater D that silenced anything he was about to say. Paul walked off to the side and sat down at another table … his eyes never off Dominico's men. Perry walked to the back of the room and saw Della. He stopped for a moment and just looked at her. "She's so beautiful," he thought to himself. Beautiful……..and miserable." He walked over to her and said very quietly and calmly, "Hello, sweetheart."

Della looked up at him as though she were in a fog. For a moment, Perry thought she looked as if she didn't know who he was.

Not to cause her any more alarm, he asked softly, "Would it be alright if I sat down for a minute?"

Della didn't answer him and Perry knew at that moment, he had no time to waste. If he were to get her out of there and safely away from Dominico and his men, there would be no time to talk. Very gently, he put his hand on Della's arm and in a soft but firm voice said, "Come on, Della, come with me. It's alright now … everything is going to be fine … I'm here now … you don't have to be frightened any more…you don't have to worry about anything … I'm going to take you home … We're going home together… OK? I love you. You know that, don't you? I love you and you're safe now. We have to go now though, darling, we have to leave right now."

"Perry?" Della looked at him as though she couldn't believe he was there with her.

"Yes, it's me. I'm here now. Come on." Perry didn't want to rush her but he knew he couldn't wait much longer. He stood up and went around the table to where Della was sitting. Very gently, he helped her stand up. She swayed against him and he put his hands around her waist and back to steady her.

Della looked up at Perry and put her hand on his face. In a soft voice she said, "Perry, you're really here … you came to get me … I knew you would …" Suddenly, she snapped out of her trancelike state. She looked at Perry with tears running down her face. She began to speak again, this time her lips trembling, her voice quivering. Her chest was heaving up and down. "Oh Per… Perry, my darling … I'm so sor … so sorry … I never … meant … to … to … worry … you …I…."

Perry didn't let her finish. He put his finger on her lips and gently took her in his arms. He held her close to him gently … very cognizant of the bruises he'd seen earlier in the day. "Shhhhhh … it's alright angel … it's over now … this whole crazy nightmare is over. You just hold onto me and we'll talk about everything later. Don't cry darling, please don't cry." He kissed her tears away … their saltiness only heightening the pain he felt within his heart. Then, he began to tenderly kiss her all over her face. "Come on, I have a car right outside. We can go to my hotel or Jimmy's house or wherever you want." He put his arm around her and quickly led her out the back door just as Michael Dominico walked in the front.

As soon as they stepped outside, Della suddenly stopped. Perry looked down at her. "Sweetheart, are you alright," he asked with great concern.

Della looked up at him and gave him a small smile. As Perry bent down to pick her up in his arms, she turned pale and collapsed against him.