The Case of the Defenseless Prosecutor

Chapter 15

15.1

The phone rang in Perry Mason's apartment. Perry came out of the bathroom in his robe. He rubbed his wet hair with a towel. Grabbing the receiver beside the bed he said, "hello." He listened for a moment and said, "Just a moment." Mason set the receiver down and left the bedroom. "Bob! Telephone!"

"I will get it in here," Ironside shouted. He wheeled over to the table and picked up the receiver. "Ironside."

"Good morning Chief. Sorry to call you so early but I wanted to catch you before you took off to continue your investigation, Vernon Meeker said.

"Have you gotten the information I need?" Ironside asked him.

"I have but you are not going to like it Chief. The man that administered the bar exam was a fellow by the name of Arthur Augustine. I went to see him."

"Did he remember Hamilton Burger?" Ironside asked him.

"I believe he did."

"What the blazes does that mean, Vern? Either he did or he did not."

"He started to tell me and then he just dropped dead right there in front me."

Ironside was not surprised to hear this. "Was an autopsy done?"

"No Chief. The man was ninety years old. The medical examiner assumed he died of old age and pronounce him dead."

"Do you believe he died of natural causes?" Ironside asked.

"It doesn't matter what I believe. All that matters is what his death was recorded as," Meeker answered.

"An autopsy should be done, Vern."

"Based on what Robert?"

"I don't believe in coincidences," Ironside said. "I am willing to bet he did not die of natural causes. Perry isn't going to believe it either."

"Again Robert, based on what?"

"You know what is going on. Someone wanted to silence him."

"Perry has told me that you knew Hamilton Burger. If that is true, than you know he is not capable of murder."

"And you are a detective, one on the best in the business and considered by most to be THE best in the business. You know fully well everyone is capable under certain circumstances," Meeker said.

"What would that circumstance be? It looks like the prosecution is going to use cheating on the bar exam and the threat of it being exposed as the motive for the killing. Vern, Hamilton Burger is brilliant. He did not need to cheat on any exam. Remove that motive and all the prosecution has left is Burger was distraught over the verdict. Perry can prove that Burger had been distraught over other verdicts and never committed murder over them."

"This time someone he knew and cared about was allegedly murdered by Wolff. Wolff getting off could be the reason. Burger took the law into his own hands."

"But he didn't," Ironside insisted.

"How can you be completely sure?"

"No one can be completely sure. But I believe he is innocent. I want the truth and so does Perry."

"Alright Chief. I will do what I can about an autopsey. But ultimately it isn't up to me."

"What do you mean when you get back?"

"I am here in Los Angeles. I am testifying for the prosecution today."

"Perry didn't mention it," Ironside said.

"Perry doesn't know it. I was added as a witness. Listen, I have to get going but I promise I will look into it."

Ironside hung up the phone. "Perry!"

Mason came into the room. "What is it Bob?" Della followed Mason in.

"Vern Meeker is testifying today."

Mason looked at him. "He is not on the witness list."

"He is now," Ironside said.

"Thanks for the heads up."

"Perry, you can object," Della said.

"We better get going Della," Perry said without responding to her. "Bob, are you going to be ok? Tragg is sending someone after you?"

"Yes, he called here earlier. Don't worry about me. Go to court Perry."

"Della, grab my briefcase, will you?"

"Get it yourself. She's your secretary, not your slave," Ironside said with a grin.

"You're not going to start that again, are you?"

"No, it isn't any fun without Mark here to take the bait," Ironside admitted.

Perry and Della laughed. Della handed Perry his briefcase. "He will be back before you know it Robert. Let's go counselor."

15.2

Eve opened the door to Johnson Tech Corp. Walking over to the entry desk she recalled what her boss had said about Marco Rustoff's weakness for blonde women. She had done this before for the chief. She had put her life on the line to catch a man who worked with his mother at a computer dating service. He got the womens' name from the computer system and then attacked then. Eve had posed as one of the women. When she had been discovered as a police officer, Ironside and Ed had arrived just on time to stop him from killing her.

This was not the same situation. This time Eve was just supposed to get a look into Rustoff's computer. The chief made it clear she was not to take any chances.

After checking in, Eve got directions to Rustoff's office. She knocked on the door.

"Come in," a male voice called out.

Eve entered. Rustoff stood up. After looking Eve up and down, he walked over to her. "You must be Eve Winters."

"That is right."

"I understand you would like some help with the security of your new company?"

Eve shot him her best smile. It had an immediate effect on the man. Eve watched as his eyes ran up and down her. "Yes. That is correct. I was told you are just about the best there is." She flashed him another smile.

"And just where did you hear that?" Marco asked while moving so that his body had physical contact with hers.

It was times like this she wished her boss would send Ed to handle a creep like Rustoff. He made her want to withdraw from his slimy touch. But she was a professional police woman after all. So rather than pull away from Rustoff she stood still trying to give the impression she did not object to his advances.

"A man by the name of Billy Liston. He told me there is no one better than you when it comes to setting up security systems."

"Billy, huh? I am surprised. I never thought he liked me," Rustoff said.

"He doesn't but he says you are the best regardless. He did suggest I keep my distance from you," Eve grinned.

Rustoff smiled back at Eve. "Well tell me just how much do you know about security and computers?"

This was it, thought Eve. She better be convincing or she would get no information out of this man. She laughed. "I know next to nothing. That is not my job. My job is to research what is out there that will offer us the best alternative to what we have, which I might add is so old anything would be better. So what I will need you to do is show me what your security system is capable of and then I will compare it to the other systems we have already investigated," Eve said.

"Are you looking for someone to run that system as well," Rustoff asked.

Eve smiled, "Of course we are."

"Any idea what that job would be paying?"

"That could be work out, I am sure." Eve said softly. "We probably can match or pay more then you are making here."

Rustoff smiled. "In that case Ms. Winters, I suggest I show you what I personally can do for you."

Eve smiled back even though the man made her skin crawl. Oh boy, what she wouldn't do for the chief. "Then we can get started?"

"Right this way to the system and my computer," Rustoff said, putting his arm around her waist.

Eve followed him through a door in the security room. It was then he noticed her badge did not show clearance for the security room. "Your badge is supposed to indicate you have been approved to be in this area. Yours does not show that."

Fingering her badge, Eve said, "I called for the appointment. When I got here, they said I could see you but would have to wait to be cleared for another day. Unfortunately, I don't have another day. I have to make this decision very soon. I was hoping you might show it to me anyway. After all, you are in charge and I am sure you can see I present no threat."

"I suppose the head of security will be chosen around the same time the system is." He said with a casual tone to his voice."

"That's right," Eve said.

Rustoff looked at Eve. "Any chance I would get to see you at the company?"

"If you play your cards right you might even get to see me outside the company." Eve said in a low voice and ran her finger down his cheek.

Rustoff again looked Eve up and down. "Well now I don't see any harm in allowing you to see what we have. You look harmless enough to me, right this way."

15.3

Perry and Della entered the courtroom. As always cameras began clicking and people began staring at the handsome couple as they seated themselves at the defense table. Hamilton Burger shook hands with Perry.

Perry whispered to Hamilton. "Vern Meeker is here to testify on your bar exam."

Surprise registered on Burger's face. "I thought they had not gotten the evidence they needed since they did not put him on the witness list."

"They apparently have added him." Perry said.

"I don't want to tell you your job Perry but you could object."

"I could but the judge would probably allow the witness anyway. Besides Hamilton, remember Vern is a friend of yours and mine. He knows Bob as well. Once he testifies about the data being entered into the system we can go after the possibly of the system being hacked into."

Judge Coleson entered the courtroom. After the bailiff called for everyone to rise, the judge took his place on the bench. "Mr Grant, call your next witness."

"The people call Vernon Meeker to the stand."

Judge Coleson glanced over at Perry Mason. "You have the right to object Mr. Mason. The witness was not listed."

"Your honor, the defense has no objection as long as we are given a wide latitude for cross examination," Mason said after standing up.

"Mr. Grant, you may call your witness but I caution you, the defense will be given a very wide latitude. I do not like surprises. Mr. Meeker take the stand."

Grant made his way to the witness stand. "Sir, will you state your name and occupation, please."

"My name is Vernon Meeker. I am on the board for the Bar Association and am in charge of testing."

"Now by saying you are in charge of testing, what exactly does that mean?" Grant asked.

"I set the scheduling for the test. I am responsible for the keeping the records and managing the employees who administer the test."

"Can you tell me who the employee was that administered the test for Hamilton Burger?" Grant asked.

Mason stood up. "Your honor, I must object. This is irrelevant, incompetent and immaterial."

Judge Coleson looked over to Wayland Grant. "Mr. Grant, I tend to agree with Mr. Mason."

"Your honor, if the court please, we will show relevance. We intend to show that Mr. Burger's bar exam provided him with further motive in the murder of Connor Wolff."

Judge Coleson was silent for a moment and then said, "Overruled, answer the question."

"The man's name is Arthur Augustine."

"Now, explain how those records were kept at the time Mr. Burger took the exam."

"The actual paper exam was kept on file," Meeker replied.

"The records today are kept on computer. You were responsible for having them put in the computer system."

Perry stood up. "Objection! Counsel is leading the witness."

"Sustained!" Judge Coleson immediately answered.

"The records today are kept on computer, is that correct?"

"Yes, it is."

"And you were responsible for putting them on computer, is that correct?"

"Well no, I did not put them on computer myself," Meeker replied.

"But you were in charge of seeing to it that they were put on computers," Grant stated.

Mason stood up once again. "Objection! If counsel is going to testify for the witness I would prefer he be sworn in." There were a few snickers around the courtroom.

Judge Coleson banged his gavel once to quiet the courtroom. "Sustained! Mr. Grant, please refrain from leading the witness."

Grant showed frustration that was clearly directed at Perry Mason. Mason knew what was coming and was just trying to delay it, he thought. Well the great Perry Mason was not going to be able to stop this testimony no matter how many times he objected. He took a breath to regain his composure and asked Meeker. "Were you in charge of seeing that the records were placed on computer?"

"Yes," Meeker said.

"When were the records of the Mr. Burger's era put into the Bar Association computer system?"

"Well most of the records have been in there for years but the records from the year that Mr. Burger took the exam had been misplaced and were only added to the system five years ago," Meeker answered.

Grant walked over to the evidence table and picked up a paper. When he arrived back at the witness stand he handed it to Vernon Meeker. "Mr. Meeker, I asked you now if you have seen this before?"

"Yes, it is the Bar exam of Hamilton Burger," Meeker said.

Grant asked him to read the score on the exam. Meeker did as he was asked. "Is this an unusually high score?"

"Yes, it is a very high score," Meeker responded.

"If fact it is the highest score on record, isn't it."

"No sir it is not."

Grant showed surprise. He handed a report to Meeker. "This is a report from the Bar Association itself. It states Mr. Burger's score was the highest to date."

Meeker looked at the report. "It was when this report was written, Mr. Grant. That record was broken by Perry Mason. He holds the record for the highest score on record to this day."

Grant looked at Mason with distain. "Then Mr. Burger is second only to Perry Mason?"

"That is correct sir." Meeker stated.

Perry Mason stood up. "Your honor, I have been extremely patient but so for counsel has failed to connect this with any motive in the murder of Connor Wolff. I do want to thank the district attorney for the knowledge I scored higher than Hamilton Burger on the bar exam. It will give me one more point to beat him over the head with when I clear him of this charge."

The courtroom broke out in laughter. Hamilton smiled and shook his head."

Judge Coleson banged the gavel to regain order in the courtroom but did so with a smile. "Mr. Mason has a reasonable objection, Mr. Grant."

"Your honor, I am almost there," Grant said.

"Well you certainly are taking the long way around. The objection is overruled. Get to the point Mr. Grant."

Grant walked back to the prosecution table and picked up a paper. He looked at Mason in triumph before returning back to the witness stand. "Now Mr. Meeker, have you seen this report before?"

"Yes, I have."

"And what is this report?"

"It is a report that Mr. Burger and a man by the name of Jorge Mezzo conspired together to cheat on the bar exam. It states that neither of them would be allowed to take the bar exam again."

The room broke out in low conversation among the crowd. Coleson again banged his gavel.

"Now anticipating the defense, I have one last question. No one from outside your own paid employees was allowed to entered information into those computers, were they?"

"No, no one," Meeker said.

"Thank you. Your witness," Grant said with a grin.

Mason stood up. "Your honor, this has all been very interesting but Mr. Grant has failed as he promised to tie this testimony into a motive. Even if it were true, which it is not, he has provide no proof that anyone other than Mr. Meeker and his employees knew anything about it," Mason objected.

Judge Coleson looked at Wayland Grant. "Mr. Grant, what Mr. Mason has said is true. I am inclined to strike the entire testimony."

Grant flew out of his seat. "Your honor! Mr. Burger has been practicing all these years illegally. That is certainly a motive for murder. Our next witness will prove that Mr. Burger knew that Conner Wolff knew about this. Your honor if the court will be patient and allow me to call my next witness, then Mr. Mason can cross-examine both witnesses. I realize this is unorthodox but I beg the courts indulgence."

The courtroom door opened and Chief Robert T. Ironside wheeled into the room. He came down the aisle and wheeled directly toward Perry Mason. Mason could read that look on Ironside's face. "Your honor, before you rule on this matter, may I have a moment?"

"Yes Mr. Mason but make it quick," Judge Coleson answered.

Mason walked over to his older brother and bent down in order to keep anyone from hearing what Ironside had to say. Mason remained in conference with Ironside for half a minute before he was interrupted by Judge Coleson.

"Mr. Mason, the court is waiting."

Mason took a manila jacket from Ironside who remained near the front of the courtroom behind the defense table. "I am ready your honor."

"Mr. Mason, I am not going to strike the testimony of this witness but you have a right to cross examine this witness before the another is called."

Mason addressed the court. "Your honor I have no objection to Mr. Grant calling his witness.

Grant wondered what Mason was up to. He had been prepared for a long argument over the procedure he was using instead Mason had backed right off. What had that damn Ironside just handed him? Grant called Sgt. Holcomb to the stand.

"Sgt. Holcomb, I show you this computer flash drives and ask if you have seen them before?"

Holcomb relaxed on the stand. He had testified for the prosecution dozens of time. "Yes, those are the flash drives I picked up from Perry Mason's office with a warrant."

"Your honor, I would like to point out the defense attorney had these flash drives in his possession and did not contact the prosecutor's office. I had to have a warrant issued to have them picked up. The prosecution has every intention of filing the proper charge against Mr. Mason. I felt the court should know the circumstances of how these flash drives came into our possession." Wayland Grant used all the dramatic flair he could muster in front of the jury.

"Mr. Grant, Mr. Mason is not on trial here. However, that is a very serious charge the court feels obligated to check into. Mr. Mason, do you have anything to say about Mr. Grant's charge?"

Before Perry could defend himself, Chief Ironside spoke up. "Your honor may I approach the bench, please?"

"Chief Ironside, I recognize you from the photos I have seen in the newspapers. Your reputation precedes you. By all mean, come forward," Coleson said.

Ironside wheeled through the open gate Perry Mason had opened for him. When he arrived in front of the judge he said, "I was well aware Mr. Mason had both the flash drives and the security tapes in his possession. I authorized him to look at both and then ordered him to turn them over to the district attorney. Mr. Mason in no way withheld evidence. The district attorney's accusation is baseless. It is unwarranted. If he wants to accuse someone of withholding evidence, he better accuse me," Ironside finished.

"Your honor, Chief Ironside just admitted he allowed Mr. Mason to hold onto the evidence. It is clear he is only in Los Angeles to help Mason. I ask that he not be allowed to interfere with this case any further and I ask the court…."

"Mr. Grant, that will be enough. Chief Ironside has an impeccable reputation as does Mr. Mason. If he as temporary head of the Los Angeles Police Department, gave Mr. Mason the right to hold the evidence long enough to take a look at, then Mr. Mason did not withhold any evidence. I am quite sure Chief Ironside would have seen to it being turned over to the prosecution. I would warn the district attorney against smearing the reputations of two men who are known for their high principles. Now if there is nothing else, please continue your examination of this witness."

Grant glared at Ironside who return an expressionless glare before turning his wheelchair around and wheeled back to his possession behind the defense attorney.

Grant approached Sgt. Holcomb. "Sergeant, did you examine the flash drives you took into your possession?"

"Yes sir, I did."

"And what if anything did they contain?"

"They contained proof of Mr. Burger cheating on the bar exam," Sgt. Holcomb said.

"In what form, Sergeant?"

"It contained a copy of his bar exam with a report to the bar association that Mr. Burger had conspired with Jorge Mezzo to steal the actual test. Both men passed the test with extremely high scores," Sgt. Holcomb said.

"I would like to point out to the court the flash drive in question was removed from the police evidence room by Hamilton Burger the day of the murder. We have a witness who saw Mr. Burger leaving the evidence room."

"Your honor, defense must object. Mr. Grant is testifying again," Mason called out.

"Sustained. Mr. Grant, you might avoid Mr. Mason's objections if you present your case in the proper order," Coleson ruled.

"Your honor, if I may be allowed to bring one more witness to the stand, we will show that Mr. Burger removed the evidence from the evidence room. We will prove he knew of their contence."

"Oh your honor, I object. Does the district attorney really expect to put on his entire case without allowing the defense the opportunity to cross examine them?"

"Your honor, I ask that the court bear with me for just a while longer."

"The objection is sustained. Mr. Mason will be allowed to cross-examine both these witnesses and then I suggest you restructure the order in which you call your witnesses. Do you have any further questions of this witness, Mr. Grant?"

Mason…..the man was impossible. "No your honor." When he addressed Mason, his voice took on that of distain. "Your witness, Mr. Mason."

"Your honor, I would like to cross-exam the witnesses in the order they testified," Mason said.

"Sgt. Holcomb, you may step down for the moment. Mr. Meeker, please return to the stand."

After Vern Meeker return to the stand, Mason approached the witness. "Mr. Meeker, you stated earlier that only your staff members had any access to the computer system. Is that correct?"

"Yes, Mr. Mason."

"You also stated no one from the outside had access to the computers or the records. Is that also correct?"

"Yes, it is correct."

"Is it not possible the computer system could have been hacked into and the evidence planted?"

Mason waited for the objection. He did not have to wait long.

"Objection! Mr. Mason is trying to confuse the issues with things not covered in direct examination."

"Your honor, Mr. Grant opened the door to this line of questioning by making a point that no one else had access to those record and no one outside the staff entered those records in the computer. It seems to me the defense has the right to pursue whether or not it was possible for someone else to access those records," Mason argued.

"You did indeed open the door, Mr. Grant. Objection overruled. "You may answer, Mr. Meeker."

"Since I am not a computer expert, Mr. Mason, I cannot in all honesty say that it could not have been hacked into."

"Now you stated the year that Mr. Burger took the bar exam, those records had been misplaced and not entered until about five years ago. Is that correct?"

"Yes, that is what I said."

"What kind of security is on your computer system?" Mason asked.

"Objection, Mr. Meeker just said he was not a computer expert."

"Neither am I Mr. Grant, but I know fully well there is a firewall on my system," Perry argued.

"Objection overruled." Coleson ruled.

"Mr. Meeker. Was there a security system on the computers?"

"Yes, of course. There is a firewall along with elaborate passwords. There are also areas that are blocked off from employees. Each employee can access different areas."

"Earlier, you testified that in early years records were on paper and filed in cabinets, is that correct?"

"Yes, in those days there was no other way to do it." Meeker said.

"But by the time that I took the bar or even when Hamilton Burger took the bar exam, the Bar Association had found a way to store them, had they not?" Mason asked.

Meeker seemed confused. "Well not that I know of."

Mason walked back to the defense table. Della Street handed him the manila envelope that Robert Ironside had brought into the courtroom. He pulled out several sheets of paper and set the jacket back down on the table. "Mr. Meeker, I hand you this paper. Would you tell the jury and the court what it is?"

"It appears to be Mr. Burger's bar exam." Meeker answered.

"Yet it is not the original is it?"

"No, it is not." Meeker had a slight smile at the corners of his mouth.

"And it is a stored record, is it not?"

"Yes it is," he replied.

"Do you recognize the manner in which it is stored?" Mason asked.

"Yes, I had forgot all about it. It was the first manner the Bar Association stored records other than putting the originals in file cabinets."

"What is the manner the files are stored?"

"They were stored on fishe," Meeker answered.

"Now, Mr. Meeker, I show you the letter that went to the Bar Association board. Will you read the name or names of the individual that was recommended for not being allowed to take the bar exam?"

Meeker took the printed fishe record from Mason, read it and answered, "It states that a man by the name of Jorge Mezzo had been caught cheating on the bar exam. It was recommended that he not be allowed to take the bar exam again."

"Is there any other name listed in that letter?" Mason asked.

"No sir, just Jorge Mezzo."

"Now I show you another record." Mason handed him another paper. "Will you tell the court what it is?"

"It is a personnel record of all employees that were at the Bar Association at the time."

"At what time?" Mason asked.

"At the time Mr. Burger took the bar."

"And at the time Jorge Mezzo took the bar?"

"Yes, it was at the same time," Meeker said.

Mason picked the one of the papers off the witness stand where Meeker had set it down. "This is the letter that recommended that Jorge Mezzo not be allowed to take the bar exam again. The letter stored on the fishe. Will you read the name of the employee that made that recommendation?"

"Arthur Augustine." Meeker told Mason.

"Now would you read the name of the employee that recommended it on the computer stored record placed into evidence by the district attorney."

"William July," Meeker said.

"Looks to me like someone got their months mixed up," Mason deadpanned. There was laughter in the courtroom.

"Which one of these records is correct?" Mason asked.

"The fishe record would be correct. The computer record must have been altered," Meeker stated. The courtroom broke out in a murmur of surprise. "And since the computer record was put in the system five years ago, it had to have been alter within the last five years."

"In other words someone must have hacked into the computer records and changed them to alter them in a frame up of Hamilton Burger."

"Objection!" Grant said rising to his feet.

"Sustained." Coleson said.

But Grant knew that it was too late. Mason had just destroyed this part of the motive. He looked at the jury. They were all looking at Mason in admiration. Damn that man….and his brother.

"I have no further questions," Mason said.

"Mr. Grant, anything further," Coleson asked.

"Nothing your honor."

"Sgt. Holcomb, would you return to the stand please."

Perry Mason approached the witness stand after Holcomb was seated. Holcomb stared at him with a blank expression.

"Sergeant, you were unaware that the records on the flash drive were planted, were you not?"

"I was unaware. I simply checked them and reported my findings to the district attorney.

"As a professional investigator, what is your opinion of the two sets of records?"

"Objection! Not covered in direct examination of this witness." Grant called out.

"I am going to allow the question. I told you I would allow the defense the widest possible latitude," Coleson ruled.

"I would have to agree with Vernon Meeker. The fishe records are the real records."

"Thank you Sergeant. I have no further questions," Mason said with a smile.

"Re-direct, Mr. Grant?"

"Yes, your honor. Sergeant, do you believe Hamilton Burger would kill over false records?"

"He might if he was worried about a scandal."

"Thank you that will be all." Grant turned and went back to the prosecutor's table. He watched the jury out the corner of his eye. He knew his last question had not helped in the least. Mason was successful in destroying this piece of evidence. There was now no reason to call the police officer assigned to the evidence room.

"It is approaching five o'clock. We will adjourn until nice o'clock tomorrow morning. The jury is instructed to discuss this case among themselves or others." Judge Coleson slammed the gavel and left the courtroom.

Ironside wheeled through the gate to the defense table. Della leaned over. "Robert, what gave you the idea of the fishe?"

"I was in Perry's office. I called the Bar Association to ask about the security system. I asked the employee what they would have done if any of those misplaced records were needed between the time they went missing and the time they were put in the computer. She told me they were never really lost because they were put on fishe years ago. I had her fax over what I gave to Perry."

"By the way Perry," Hamilton said, "that was an excellent job of cross on Meeker. You led him every step of the way in manner you could not be accused of leading the witness," Hamilton said. "I always hate it when you do that." Everyone laughed.

"Grant's presentation of the case is certainly bizarre," Della said.

"Yes, I am quite surprised," Hamilton said. "He has always been a good prosecutor. I can't imagine what he is thinking."

"Bob, any word on Mark?" Perry asked

"I stopped to see him. He is doing as well as can be expected."

"What do you say we get some dinner and find out how Eve, Ed and Arthur made out today?" Perry asked.

"I missed my bowl of chili last night, Ironside said.

"I made reservations at the same restaurant," Della told them.

"You what?" Perry asked.

"Give it up Perry. You know we aren't going to get anything but chili while he's in town," Hamilton said. We'll stop by a drug store and pick up some Tums."

"We have to stop by the Veterinary Clinic and pick up Otto by nine o'clock. The doctor says he's doing fine."

Perry smiled. "That great, Bob. Now we just have to get Mark on the mend."

"Doctor says he should be alright. He still won't allow visitors except me…maybe. Maybe tomorrow. He is sedated anyway. He would not know you were there," Ironside said. "Let's get out of here. We'll call the rest of our people on the way."

Perry grabbed his brief case that Della had packed up. They left the courthouse together. When they reached the van Ironside turned his chair sharply to maneuver it into the lift. As he did a shot rang out from a building from across the street. The shot hit its target.

"Bob!" yelled Perry Mason.