The Case of the Defenseless Prosecutor

Chapter 14

Hamilton Burger covered Ironside as the van exploded but Ironside pushed him off. "Never mind me, get to Mark. Hamilton glanced over at Perry who did not seem to be moving. He watched as Ironside headed for his brother.

Lt. Tragg raced over to his vehicle and grabbed the police radio receiver. "This is Lt. Tragg. I need several ambulances and the fire department at the Brent Building on the double."

Ironside reached his brother. Perry had been knocked unconscious. He reached down and felt his pulse, which was good and strong. Perry's respiration was normal. Ironside was sure he would be all right. Ironside glanced at Otto who was lying on his side on the sidewalk. "Lieutenant, we'll need a veterinarian!" He passed the dog and headed in Mark's direction.

Ironside wheeled past the burning van to Hamilton. "How's Mark?"

"His pulse is strong, Chief. He suffered some burns but he appears to have gotten far enough from the van before it exploded. I have made him as comfortable as I can but he is going to need medical attention. What about Perry?"

"He was knocked unconscious by the explosion. He should be all right when he comes around. We'll probably have to fight with him to get him to go to the hospital." Ironside looked around. "Where's Della?"

Hamilton looked around. "I don't know. Wasn't she with us when we came out of the building?"

"I thought she was but I did not actually see her," Ironside answered.

A dark Ford sedan came squealing around the corner and came to a screeching halt. Ed Brown and Eve Whitfield got out of the car and hurried toward their boss.

"Chief, are you alright," Ed shouted. "We heard Lt. Tragg call for an ambulance and the fire department."

"I'm fine. Mark has been hurt," Ironside shouted back.

Ed ran toward Mark. He checked him over. "Chief, Mark is going into shock. We have got to get him to the hospital."

"It's on the way," shouted Tragg. "Where's Della?"

"Eve, go back in the building. I don't know whether Della was with us or not. She might have stayed behind to close up the office."

The sound of sirens could now be heard in the distance. A police car raced around the corner and pulled to a stop. Lt. Andy Anderson spotted Tragg and went directly to him. "What can I do to help?"

"Find Della Street. No one seems to know where she is," Tragg ordered. Andy left to locate Della.

A red fire truck pulled around the corner, killing the siren as it pulled to a stop in front of the Brent building. Firemen were pulling hoses out. Within a minute two hoses were pointed at and spraying water on the burning van.

Three ambulances pulled to the curb. Paramedics began attending Mark and Perry. Ed was kneeling beside Otto. Ironside wheeled over to them. "Is he…..?"

"He's alive Chief." Ed told his boss.

Ironside watched the people attending to the injured. He spotted a paramedic who had just got out of the one of the ambulances. "Hey!" Ironside shouted. The paramedic grabbed his case and hurried over to Ironside. "Help Otto."

"But sir, it's a dog!" The young paramedic said confused. "I am not licensed to treat a dog."

"I DON'T GIVE A DAM! HE'S A POLICE OFFICER, HELP HIM!" Ironside roared.

The paramedic bent down beside the dog and went to work.

The area was now crawling with police. Both Ironside and Tragg were barking orders at them. Ironside ordered the area sealed. Tragg ordered police into the building and hold anyone still in there.

Two paramedics lifted Mark into one of the ambulances. Ironside wheeled his chair as fast as he could over to the ambulance. "How is he?" He asked with worry in his voice.

"He has suffered some burns. He is in shock from the blast. We are taking him to LA General Hospital."

Ironside wanted to get in that ambulance. He wanted to go with Mark but he was torn, as he wanted to stay with Perry as well. The decision was mute as his job was to stay here at the scene. "I'll get there as soon as I can. Ask them to call Lt. Tragg as soon as they know anything."

"We will tell them to contact you personally, Chief Ironside. We know who you are and we know that young man works for you." The paramedic left Ironside at the curb as he got in and the ambulance with sirens blaring, raced away down the street.

Tragg approached Ironside. "Chief, we can't find Della."

"What? How the flaming hell could that be? She was with us," Ironside snarled. "Arthur, I don't want to tell me brother we lost Della. Find her!" He shouted. He wheeled away from Tragg and headed back to Perry.

The paramedic had placed Perry's neck in a brace. Mason had regain consciousness. He looked at Ironside and whispered, "Della?"

Ironside shouted to Sgt. Brown who hurried over to his boss. "Check on Della." He glared at Ed who had worked with Ironside long enough not to reveal anything to Mason. Ed nodded and left.

"Della? Bob, I have to know she's alright. I have to see her," Perry said.

Lt. Anderson rushed in Ironside's direction. "Della's alright." She stayed behind the rest of you to close up the office. She apparently spotted a man in the hall on her way out. It was Daniel Moorey. He pulled a gun. Della locked herself in the office and called the police. That is where all these policemen came from. Lt. Tragg called me. I brought one other unit with me. The rest are the result of Della's call. She is on her way down now."

Knowing Della was safe Perry calmed down. "That dog saved my life…..again. I will never complain about him sleeping in my bed again," he said. "Is he alright?"

"I don't know. There's a paramedic working on him now," Ironside answered.

"He can't work on a dog. He could lose his license," Perry said.

"I will expect you to defend him," Ironside said not feeling the humor he was trying to project to Mason.

"You can count on it. That is one hell of a dog, Bob." Perry smiled.

"I know."

Suddenly Perry remembered. "Mark? Is he alright?"

"They took him to the hospital. He was in shock from the blast," Ironside told him.

Perry reached out and took hold of the wheel on Ironside's chair. "He'll be fine, Bob. Don't worry."

Della reached Perry and knelt down beside him. She ran her hand down his cheek and smiled. "The paramedic told me you would be alright. They are taking you to the hospital. Please Perry, cooperate with them." Della put her hand in his.

Perry smiled at her and held on to her hand. He looked up as Lt. Tragg approached.

"Chief, I called in a bomb expert."

"I don't need an expert to tell me that was a bomb that blew up that van. Otto knew it. He is trained to located bombs. That is why he tried to stop us."

"It has been confirmed it was a bomb. It was set off by remote control," Tragg reported.

"Moorey," Ironside said. "He probably set it off sooner then he wanted to because of Della."

"Bob, this has never stopped us before," Perry said. "We have never let up because of threats."

"And it won't stop us this time," Ironside added.

Ed Brown approached. "Chief, the entire area was sealed off on your order. We have men checking every office in Perry's building. The Drake Detective agency got keys to the offices'. They are helping. Lt. Anderson has taken men and checking every office building in the area."

"You won't find him," Perry said.

"He would have slipped out in the confusion right after the bomb exploded," Ironside snarled. "Where's Eve?" He asked.

"She's helping with the search of the building," Ed answered.

The paramedic that had been treating Otto came over to Ironside. "Chief, I have stopped the bleeding. Your dog took some of the blast particles in his side. They will have to be removed. I took the liberty of calling an emergency veterinary clinic in the area. One of the ambulances will transport your dog to that clinic. The other will transport Mr. Mason to the hospital. We are ready to move both of them."

"Go on Chief. We'll take care of things here," Lt. Tragg said.

"Chief, you will let us know about Mark?" A concerned Sgt. Brown said.

"Of course," Ironside answered.

The paramedics picked up the stretcher they had placed Perry Mason on and put him in the ambulance. Otto was placed in the other ambulance. Its lights were flashing but the siren had not been turned back on.

"Chief," The young paramedic said. "Come with me and we will help you into the back of the ambulance with Mr. Mason. Miss Street, Mr. Mason asked that you be allowed to come as well. We will ride to the hospital without sirens, only flashers."

Once in the back of the ambulance, Ironside watched as Della held Perry's hand. The worry evident on her face. He could not keep from thinking about Daniel Moorey. Was he responsible for the murder of Conner Wolff? He was mostly likely responsible for what happened here today. How many more people were involved in this with him?

That bomb had been meant for him, Ironside had no doubt. He had them worried. Well, they had not even begun to worry. Someday thugs would learn that attacking his people only made him more determined to find out what was going on. He intended to give them plenty to worry about. He and Perry, with the help of their friends would find those responsible and free Hamilton Burger of this unjust charge against him.

14.2

Daniel Moorey looked out his motel room window. He had stuck around the Brent building only long enough to determine that Ironside had survived the explosion. Damn that Street dame. If she had just gone out when the rest of them did, they would all be dead now. Instead, Ironside was still alive. That San Francisco cop was becoming a major problem. He had to find a way to stop him. He would be even more dangerous now that his aide had been sent to the hospital.

Moorey left his apartment and drove directly to the apartment of Maro Rustoff. He ran up the steps, taking two at a time. Moorey rang the doorbell and waited. Within a minute Rustoff appeared at the door.

"What the hell are you doing here? We should not be seen together."

Moorey pushed past Rustoff and entered his apartment. "We have a problem."

Rustoff followed Moorey into his living room. "Now just what problem is that?"

"That damn San Francisco cop and his people," Moorey complained.

Rustoff walked slowly over to the television and shut it off. "Are you responsible for blowing up Ironside's van?"

Moorey turned quickly toward Rustoff. "How did you know about that?"

"It's all over the news, genius. Big mistake, my friend." Rustoff sat down shaking his head.

"Why do you say that?" He asked sitting down in a chair opposite him. "Why the hell did they bring that cop all the way from San Francisco?"

"Haven't you ever heard of Chief Robert T. Ironside?" Rustoff asked him.

"Of course I have heard of him. He's a half-brother to Perry Mason. It was big news a while back when Mason went to San Francisco to defend the police commissioner there. The SOB arrested me once."

"I am not talking about that. But if he arrested you than you should be aware of that man's reputation?"

"All I know is he is harder than hell to kill."

Rustoff shook his head. If you are going to oppose someone, you really ought to know whom you are going up against. Ironside is probably considered the best detective in this country. He's like a bulldog. He never gives up until he gets what he wants and I do believe he wants you." Rustoff grinned.

"I don't care who he is. He's a dead man."

"Been tried many times and the man is still walking…..I mean wheeling around. He's dangerous. Instead of trying to kill him and bring attention to yourself, you should be using misdirection to throw him off. According to the news, you put one of his boys in the hospital today. He is not going to be happy about that. You will only make him more determined to come after you. Let me give you a piece of advice, stay away from Ironside."

Moorey snorted in disgust. "He just a cripple."

"It's that kind of thinking that will land you behind bars. I am telling you, he's dangerous. Stay away from him."

"He's nosing around. We can't let him help Mason clear Burger. He has to go down or we will never get the police off our backs. If we get rid of Ironside, then it's business as usual."

"Don't count on it. In the first place, you probably will not be able to get rid of him and the more you draw attention to yourself, the more information you will give him. He's brilliant. He'll find you if you keep this up. I am telling you, forget him. Misdirect him. All we have to do is out last Mason. Wait for the guilty verdict. It's coming. Believe me there is a lot more to be thrown at Burger," Rustoff said.

"How do you know?"

"I just know. Now get out of here and don't come anywhere near me again. Is that clear?" Rustoff asked.

Moorey got up and walked to the door. Just before he left he said, "I will not allow Ironside to mess up this operation. It has been very lucrative. I'll stop him if I have to. I will wait out Mason but I am keeping an eye on Ironside." Moorey left Rustoff's apartment.

14.3

The emerency doctor approached the man in a wheelchair. "Chief Ironside?"

Ironside turned his wheelchair away from the window. "Yes."

"Mr. Sanger has been stablized. We are moving him into a room on the observation floor. He has been sedated. I would prefer he not be disturbed tonight. You may see him in the morning."

"What about Mr. Mason?' Ironside asked.

"Mr. Mason was likely knocked unconsious when his head hit tbe sidewalk. He has a bit of a bump but there is no indication of a concussion. He is otherwise physically fine. I see no reason he cannot be released tonight."

"I would like to see Mr Sanger if only for a minute." Ironside told him.

"Alright Chief. But you only get a minute. I really do not want him disturbed. He needs rest to recuperate."

The doctor took Ironside to Mark's room. As it always did when Ironside's people were hurt in the line of duty, the rage within Robert Ironside began to rise. The detective kept it under control. There would be plenty of time to direct it at the people who did this. Ironside took one last look at his aide and friend and wheeled out of his room.

He located Perry in emergency and wheeled into his treatment room. "They tell me they are going to release you," Ironside said to his brother.

"I have already been released. I am just waiting for a wheelchair. You know their rules," Perry replied. "Bob, do you still feel like dropping in on Charles Patrick?"

"Perry, I think you should rest," Della protested.

"To hell with resting," Ironside growled. "It is time we start putting on the pressure and find out what the hell is going on."

"I with you. Let's go talk to Patrick. How's Mark?"

"He is stable. He has some burns from the explosion. The good news is he will recover," Ironside answered. "I do want to make one stop before we see Charles Patrick," He said.

"It would not be to check on a certain flea bag would it?" Perry asked.

"That flea bag saved all our lives today.

"And for that I am buying him a steak dinner." Perry proclaimed.

A nurse entered the treatment room. She looked at Ironside and said, "Oh, I did not realize they had already brought you the wheelchair."

Della smiled at the nurse. "The wheelchair is for Mr. Mason." She nodded at Perry.

"I have my own," Ironside said with a grin.

"Tell you what. I'll race you to the door," Perry said. "The winner gets to question Patrick."

Della, Perry and Ironside got in the taxi after leaving the hospital. "Della, where did you see Daniel Moorey?" Ironside asked.

"When I opened the office door and stepped in the hall he was standing by the elevator. His back was too me. I put the key in the office door to lock it. I don't know exactly why I did not lock that door but this feeling came over me and I just did not lock it. When Moorey turned around, I recognized him from the picture you had of him. I must have shown recognition on my face. He pull a gun and came racing toward me. I opened the office door, went in and pulled the dead bolt lock. While he was banging on the door and trying to force the door open, I called the police. I spoke loud enough so he would know whom I was calling. He stopped trying to force the door and I assume left. I did not take a chance. I stayed in the office when I heard the explosion."

"What was he doing at the elevator," Mason asked.

"He was just standing there."

"Did you notice anything else?"

"No Perry…except he had something in his hand."

"Could it have been a remote control?" Ironside asked.

"I suppose it is possible. It was a small rectangular box."

Perry looked at Ironside. "Sounds like it could have been a remote control of some kind, Bob."

"Probably, but Della can't be positive that is what it was. We can place him here at the time of the explosion but we need more than that to nail him. Let's start putting on the pressure."

The taxi pulled up in front of the veterinary clinic. Perry helped Ironside into his wheelchair and then wheeled his brother to the clinic door. Della remained behind in the taxi. Perry knocked on the door. A young woman opened the door. "Yes, may I help you?"

"My name is Robert Ironside. I believe you have my dog here. He's a German Shepherd named Otto." Ironside pulled out his San Francisco detective badge and presented it to the young lady.

"Oh, you are the detective that was called in to investigate our district attorney." I have seen you on television on occasion." She turned her attention to Perry and said, "You, I most definitely recognize. You are Perry Mason, the attorney." She looked back and forth between the two of them. "Now I remember. You two are brothers."

She stepped back and opened the door to provide entrance into the clinic. "I am sorry. Please come in. I will tell the doctor you are here." She disappeared through the doors while Mason and Ironside waited in the lobby. Moments later another woman came back through the same door. "Hello gentleman, my name is Dr. Sarah Fisher."

"I'm Robert Ironside and this is Perry Mason." Ironside offered his hand.

"Which one of you owns the dog?" She asked them.

"I do," Ironside said.

"How in the world did that dog get metal in his side?"

"He knocked me to the ground just before Chief Ironside's van exploded. That dog saved our lives." Perry told her.

" I had a feeling he was pretty special. I take it he is a police dog?"

"He has been trained for numerous things," Ironside said. "One of which is to detect explosives."

"Obviously he did so," Dr. Fisher summarized.

"Yes. How is Otto?" Ironside asked, anxious to learn if Otto would be all right.

"He's going to be fine, Chief Ironside. I have removed the metal from his side. I had to put him out. He should be coming around right about now. If you will follow me, I will take you to him." She led them through the same door she had entered the lobby from. They walked down a long hall to a room that was obviously used for surgery.

Ironside and Mason entered the operating room. Otto was lying on a stainless steel table. His side was bandaged. Ironside wheeled to the table. As he reached him, Otto's tail began thumping against the table.

Perry smiled as he watched the big, tough detective tenderly pet the German Shepherd's head. "Easy Otto, you are going to be fine."

"We are going to keep him overnight. If everything goes as planned, you should be able to pick him up tomorrow. Everything went fine. He should recover completely."

Ironside petted Otto one last time. The dog licked his hand. "Now do as you are told, Otto." He turned his wheelchair around and began to wheel away. Perry stayed behind. He pulled a check out of his suit coat, along with a pen and signed the check. He gave the blank check to Dr. Fisher. "That dog deserves only the best care. Fill this in when you have determined the charges. Give the bill to Chief Ironside and mark it paid. I'll get the amount from him. Thank you for everything," Mason said and smiled.

When both men arrived at the taxi, Perry helped Ironside back into the taxi. The taxicab driver put Ironside's wheelchair into the trunk. Ironside remain silent on the ride over to Charles Patrick's home. Both Perry and Della left him alone with his thoughts.

As the taxi pulled in front of Patrick's house, Perry addressed the driver. "Keep the meter running. We will be back as soon as possible."

Ironside, Perry and Della traveled up the sidewalk. The police detective frowned when he saw that there were two steps up to the door of Patrick's home. Perry went up ahead and rang the doorbell. Charles Patrick answered the door. He immediately recognized the two men and the woman with them. "It is rather late for a social call," he snarled.

"You can talk to us now or you can talk to us in court. Either way, Mr. Patrick, you will talk to us," Perry said.

Johnson did not like it but he saw no other alternative but to let them in. He stepped back and allowed them access.

Perry got behind Ironside's wheelchair. Using his physical strength, he tipped Ironside backwards and placed the front wheels of his chair on the step. He then lifted the back of the wheelchair up to the next level. He repeated the process for the next level. Della followed the brothers into Patrick's house.

Patrick indicated for Mason and Della to sit down. "What do you want Ironside" Patrick asked abruptly.

Ironside remained silent and let his brother take the lead. "How did Conner Wolff get the job with your company?" Della began taking notes.

"He develops computer chips. He's good at what he does. I hired him." Patrick shrugged.

"Did you know of his past with other computer companies?" Mason asked.

"What past? I hired him because he was on the verge of creating a new chip that would blow everything else out there out of the water. It's that simple."

"Then why did he enter the company at the lowest level," Ironside stepped into the conversation.

"Everyone enters at the lowest level."

"No, Mr. Patrick. We checked. Everyone doesn't enter at the lowest level at your company."

"His reputation was not the best. He may be good at what he does, but his people skills leave a lot to be desired."

"William Morrison says he developed that chip in his company," Perry said.

"That's ridiculous. The thieving bastard is just trying to hone in on my chip," Patrick said testily.

"Mr. Patrick, why did a low level employee have keys to the building?" Mason asked.

"He was developing a chip. He did not work regular hours."

"That is not what the other employees say. They say he came and went as he pleased despite his direct supervisor's warnings and write-ups. His supervisor stated he fired him and you countered that order. Why?" Ironside asked.

"Because he was worth holding on to."

"It seems he went from company to company claiming to have developed a super chip. Yet it has never been presented to the public. None of the CEO's have been cooperative. I'll tell you what I think, Mr. Patrick. I think he approached each one of you and offered this super chip, with each one of you knowing he would be stealing it from the previous company. That is how he keeps each of you from having him arrested." Robert Ironside watched him closely.

"You have an active imagination, Ironside." Patrick tried to project a poker face but Ironside read people well. He had hit a nerve. So far, Ironside only had his suspicions but Patrick just revealed they were more than suspicions.

"I think Conner Wolff was blackmailing you. That's a strong motive for murder, Mr. Patrick," Ironside suggested.

"You're crazy, Ironside!" Patrick complained just a little too loudly.

"Where were you the night of the murder," Mason asked.

"I was right here at home."

"Alone or can someone substantiate that?" Ironside asked.

"I don't need anyone to substantiate it. The police say they have the killer. You're just desperate to clear Burger. You'll do anything to blame this on someone else but you won't get away with it, Ironside."

"You had a motive and you certainly had access to the building. You could have killed him and slipped out of the building unnoticed," Ironside surmised.

"If you have nothing to hide then you will not mind if we take a looked into your computer system including Mr. Rustoff's computer," Perry said.

Patrick turned quickly toward Mason. "I certainly do mind. The work we do is very difficult to keep others from stealing. I have no intention of allowing you to look into anyone's system except Wolff's. You have the security video's from that night. That is all you are going to get. Now if you gentlemen are finished, I have more important things to do with my time."

"One final question," Mason said. "Was Conner Wolff blackmailing you?"

"I already told you your imagination is running away with you." Patrick looked away from Ironside and Mason. "Now, I would like you to leave."

Perry pulled a paper out of his pocket and placed in Patrick's hand. "That's a subpoena. I'll see you in court."

When they were back in the taxi, Della said, "He became very uneasy when you asked him about blackmail."

"Oh, Wolff was blackmailing him alright," Perry said. "I am willing to bet he was blackmailing the whole lot of them."

"There is only one thing worse than not having any suspects for a murder," Ironside said."

"What's that?" Della asked.

"Having so many, you may not have time to figure out which one did it," Perry replied.