Chapter Six

Perry, Paul, and Pete were just getting off the freeway in Los Angeles when Perry's phone rang. Thinking it might be news about Della, he grabbed it up. "Hello?"

"Perry?" It was Steve. "I tried calling your office and you weren't in."

"It's been a long day, Steve," Perry said. "What's up?"

"Well, I'm calling on behalf of Gene Torg. He's desperate to reach you and I didn't think I should give him your cell number." Steve leaned back in his office chair.

"What's wrong with Mr. Torg now?" Perry frowned. "Are you booking him for murder?"

"No, not yet." Steve sighed. "We still haven't been able to prove or disprove that the body in Topanga Canyon didn't fall by accident. What we have learned is that his name was Walt Selkirk and that he and Mr. Torg used to work at the same place."

"What does Mr. Torg have to say about that?" Perry asked.

Paul glanced at him curiously, but didn't ask questions. In the backseat, Pete also looked confused.

"He claims that he didn't know Selkirk, even though it was a small business." Steve looked over his notepad.

"Is that possible?" Perry wanted to know.

"Yes, it's possible," Steve admitted grudgingly. "It just isn't probable."

Perry sighed. "If you're not booking Mr. Torg, what exactly is it he wants me to do?"

"He wants your continued assurance that you'll look into the matter and represent him if the time comes," Steve said.

"Tell him he has it," Perry responded instantaneously.

"You can just agree like that?" Steve leaned forward, setting the notepad on his desk. "Gene Torg isn't the type of person you usually want to represent."

"This is less about him and more about me trying to figure out how all these pieces connect," Perry said. "There has to be a connection somewhere. Steve, do you know who currently owns Tobin Wade's cabin?"

"Yeah," Steve said in surprise. "A woman named Jane Madsen. She won't stay there; she lives here in the city. She's been trying to sell the property for some time now."

"I'm assuming the police have questioned her about Mr. Selkirk's death."

"Of course we did. She was just as surprised as Gene Torg claims he is. She was in the city when the death is estimated to have happened. There's witnesses to prove it."

"I think it's time we went up to Topanga Canyon and had a look around for ourselves," Perry said.

Steve sighed. "You won't find anything, Perry. Sergeant Brice and I have been over that area both last night and this morning."

"I'd like to try anyway," Perry insisted. There was no room for argument in his voice. Della's involvement in the bizarre goings-on made this case much more personal than most. No matter what it took, he was going to find out what was happening and why.

"If you want to go up there and wait around for some sort of ghostly antics to scare you out of your tree, be my guest," Steve said. "Just be careful!"

"We will. Thank you for calling, Steve." Perry hung up before Steve could ask any more questions.

"And what was that about?" Paul asked. "More particularly, what was that about going up to Topanga Canyon and looking around?"

"Hamilton said he was taking Della home and she seemed alright," Perry said. "That wasn't long ago, so she's probably still up. After we check in on her, I'm thinking we should go on to Topanga Canyon and see if we can catch any of these ghostly manifestations in the act."

"Maybe they only go on if the perpetrator knows without a doubt that someone is going to be up there," Pete suggested.

"Maybe," Perry said noncommittally. "I say it's about time we find out."

Paul cringed. "Chasing after ghosts in the dark is not really what I had in mind for tonight. What if one of us falls just like the guy the police are trying to identify?"

"That would be Mr. Walt Selkirk, and I'll see to it that we won't," Perry said.

"I don't know how you can positively guarantee that," Paul said in exasperation.

"For one thing, I planned we'd stay in the car," Perry said. "If we do get out, I don't intend to leave the front of Wade's property. That's safe enough."

Paul shook his head. "Wade was a Grade A creep, but I sure wish we could ask him what's going on and why."

"I have to admit, Paul, so do I," Perry frowned. "Or that one of our allies on the other side could tell us about it. But we can't rely on the dead for answers to all our mysteries. We have to solve them ourselves."

"Don't I know it," Paul sighed. He turned onto the street where Della lived and pulled up in front of her apartment house. "I suppose you want one of us to research Walt Selkirk?"

"That would be nice," Perry agreed. "See if you can figure out what he was doing by Wade's cabin in the first place."

Paul gave him a look of exasperation. "Unless he told someone, he's the only one who knows that!"

"Well, do your best," Perry said with a smile, clapping Paul on the upper arm.

xxxx

Della was indeed still awake in her apartment, listening as Hamilton outlined the situation for Mignon Germaine over the telephone's speaker. Della leaned on the back of the couch, placing her hands on top of it.

Mignon, as Hamilton had predicted, strongly suspected the possibilities of possession or mind control. Hamilton, looking exasperated, leaned into the corner of the couch as she explained her ideas on what to do.

"Naturally, we need to determine whether this necklace actually does hold a spirit and is capable of being the instrument of possession," she said.

"And how do we do that?" Hamilton asked, wishing he wasn't having this conversation.

"I'll need to examine the necklace," Mignon said. "Would it be possible to see it tonight?"

"Tomorrow would be better," Della quickly inserted, and then frowned. Why had she said that?

"Alright, Miss Street," Mignon said. "Would it be alright if I come by the office tomorrow morning around eleven?"

"That would be fine," Della said. "Thank you, Mrs. Germaine. I really appreciate it."

"It isn't any trouble," Mignon said. "It sounds as though you're in quite a situation, no matter what the explanation is behind it."

"I certainly am," Della sighed. She started at the sound of the doorbell. "Oh, someone's at the door. It's probably Perry. Excuse me, Mrs. Germaine. Thank you again!"

She hurried to the door and hauled it open. "Perry! Paul!" she greeted with a smile. "Oh, and Pete too. Hello!"

"Hello, Della," Perry smiled.

"Hi," Pete waved.

"Hi, Beautiful," Paul grinned. "Glad to see you're looking well after what happened today."

"I wish I knew what happened today," Della fretted, holding the door open wider so they could come in.

"So do we," Perry said, taking her up on the unspoken invitation and entering the room. "You gave us quite a scare."

"And poor Dr. Stuart!" Della exclaimed. "What does he ever think?"

"Well, the good news is that he knows you couldn't have been yourself," Perry said. "So does Mrs. Stuart."

"I'm glad of that, at least," Della sighed. "But I feel terrible to have said such horrible things to them."

"We're going to get to the bottom of it," Perry vowed. "Oh. Hamilton," he said in surprise, only noticing the district attorney now.

Hamilton, who was just finishing the conversation with Mignon, got off the couch. "Hello, Perry. I'm glad you could get here."

"It can only be for a moment," Perry said. "Paul needs to get Pete home. He has a long day tomorrow. But we had to stop in and make sure Della was alright." He looked back to his long-time secretary and dear friend.

"I am now," Della assured him. "I was just going to go to bed. Oh, but Perry, Mignon Germaine is going to stop in at the office tomorrow morning at eleven." She was bracing herself to make a long explanation of why, but Perry just took it in stride and seemed pleased.

"Good," he declared. "We could use her help." Sobering, he said, "Della, about that necklace . . ."

"Mr. Burger told me what you've been wondering, Perry," Della interrupted. "I have to admit, now I'm wondering too. I know it sounds like something out of a late-night horror picture, but it really is a strange coincidence that I suddenly can't remember things I've said and done after handling that necklace. Especially after what Pearl Chute said. Mignon is coming out to look at the necklace and see what she thinks."

"Hopefully she can point us in the right direction," Perry nodded. "Alright, Della, we'll get out of here and let you get some sleep. But call me if you have any more memory lapses," he added firmly. "No matter what time it is."

"I will," Della promised. "Stay safe driving."

"We intend to," said Perry.

xxxx

Topanga Canyon was eerie at night. Of course, most canyons would be, but when it was supposedly haunted, that made it all the worse.

Paul shuddered as he pulled up in front of Tobin Wade's cabin. "So now what?" he sighed. "We just sit and wait?"

"For a while," Perry agreed. "If nothing happens, we'll get out and investigate."

"I noticed you didn't tell Della what we were planning to do after taking Pete home," Paul observed.

"There was no need to worry her," Perry said. "She has enough problems right now."

Paul drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. "So, did you find out exactly when things tend to happen?"

"Just like at the school, there is no set time," Perry replied.

"So we could be sitting out here scaring ourselves for nothing," Paul said flatly.

"Oh, not for nothing, Paul. We should familiarize ourselves with the layout anyway."

"Which is completely easy to do in the dark," Paul grunted.

For some time they waited without anything happening. But when without warning a twig cracked and a silhouetted figure darted across the property towards the house, both men immediately jumped to attention.

"Let's go after him," Paul declared. "He's not supposed to be there, whoever he is."

"Wait a minute, Paul." Perry reached out, holding Paul back with a hand to his chest. "Let's see what he does."

"He's trying the knob," Paul exclaimed. "Now he's taking something out to pick the lock!"

"Alright," Perry said. "Let's go."

They both exited the car, leaving the doors open so as not to make noise shutting them. The figure, much too occupied with his task, never looked up. By the time Perry and Paul were approaching the porch and he realized he was not alone, there wasn't anywhere to run.

"Okay, Buster," Paul said. "Come on down."

Instead of doing as ordered, the man bolted, attempting to fly down the stairs and past the two strong men. They instantly grabbed him.

"Wait a minute, wait a minute!" he cried, struggling against their grip. "You've got it all wrong."

Paul started. "Dave?!" he said in disbelief.

Perry's eyes narrowed. "You're David Solomon, from Amos Berry's car shop?"

The man's shoulders slumped. "Yes."

"What are you doing breaking into this cabin?" Perry asked. "Do you know whose it is?"

"Yes—Tobin Wade's. He was the sleaze who turned against his friends for money and real estate. But I wasn't breaking in for any ill purpose; I was trying to find out who's been using this cabin to scare the wits out of anyone who comes up here!"

Paul frowned. "What difference would it make to you?"

"I . . ." David shook his head. "I just don't want to see Aaron Stuart hurt any more. Wade hurt him enough."

"More than enough, but now I have to ask why you're so concerned about Aaron Stuart," Perry said. "You did telephone him last night and warn him, didn't you?"

"I did." David tried to pull away, but Perry still held fast. Sighing, David averted his gaze instead. "As for why I'm concerned, that's my business."

"Aaron Stuart could use all the friends he can get right now," Perry said. "Why not help him out in the open?"

"I can do more good like this, from the shadows." David still wouldn't face them. "Will you let me go now?"

Paul looked over him to Perry. "I think we can trust him, Perry. He's always done good work for Amos."

"I suppose, but that doesn't really . . ." Perry trailed off. "Alright, Mr. Solomon. You can go."

David pulled away in relief. "You won't be sorry," he vowed.

"I hope not, but if you're going to be looking into this, you could get hurt," Perry warned. On a whim he asked, "Have you ever heard of Ellena Fanchon?"

David rocked back as though he truly had seen a ghost. "What about Ellena?!"

Paul shot Perry a stunned look. "Basically, she's the doll who stole an emerald necklace in New Orleans and was murdered there," he explained. "The necklace wound up here last night, where somebody gave it to Gene Torg."

David took several steps back, clearly reeling. "Her murder was never solved. The necklace disappeared that night. How strange that it should turn up now."

"How strange that it should turn up any time," Perry said. "Why now?"

"That's what I'd like to know," David exclaimed.

"Would you mind telling us how you know Ellena Fanchon?" Perry pressed. "From your reaction, she meant a great deal to you."

"She was a . . . a friend."

"Did she know Tobin Wade and Aaron Stuart?"

"Tobin Wade, yes," David nodded. "She talked about him sometimes. She never met Dr. Stuart."

"But she knew about him?"

"Of course she did," David snapped, his patience beginning to crack. "Wade talked about him."

"And how did she feel about him?"

"She . . ." David looked down. "She believed he was a wretched man when she knew what Wade was starting to do to hurt him. She never would believe that Wade instigated it; she was sure that Dr. Stuart did something first."

"Did Wade ever tell her that?" Perry's stomach was starting to turn. This information corroborated Della's behavior all too well.

"He told her something. And he didn't try to correct her when she ended up believing falsehoods." David's hand clenched into a fist. "He was the most selfish, twisted man I've ever known."

"How did you know him?" Perry wished that they could see better in the dark. He wanted to look into David's eyes. "Only through Ellena?"

"What is this?!" David cried. "I came here to try to help. You act like I'm on trial!"

Perry took a step forward. "This case is very personal to me, Mr. Solomon. Whatever it takes, I'm going to find out what's going on!"

"And it would be a lot better for you to work with us and not against us, Dave," Paul added. "When Perry wants something, he'll do whatever he can to get it. He means what he says."

"I know he does." David drew a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Mr. Mason. I didn't mean to lose my temper. It's just that I . . . I don't like to think about Tobin Wade. I don't want Dr. Stuart to have to, either. It infuriates me that someone is trying to make it look like Wade's coming back from the grave to haunt Dr. Stuart. As for why I'm concerned, I realize it's a legitimate question. Basically, I just feel that Wade hurt too many people already."

"Including you or someone close to you?" Perry queried.

"You could put it that way, yes." David twisted the lock-pick in his hands. "I want his trail of heartless cruelty to end here."

"Unfortunately, someone else feels exactly the opposite," Perry said. "If you have any idea who that might be . . ."

"I don't," David quickly interjected. "Well, Ellena would have been capable of orchestrating something like this. She was crazy about Wade. But since we know she's dead . . ."

"Mr. Solomon, do you believe that the spirit carries on after death?" Perry demanded.

David started. "What? . . ." He looked down again. "Yes. Yes, Mr. Mason, I do."

"Then could Ellena orchestrate something like this from beyond the grave?" Perry watched him closely.

"Well . . ." David gave a helpless shrug. "I never considered it. I guess if she could find some friends of Wade's or mercenaries willing to do it for a few bucks, she might."

"Can you think of any other friends of Wade's who might like to be involved?"

"To be honest, no." David shook his head. "Wade's friends all knew him through the façade he used. When the truth came out, they were all disgusted."

"And yet you apparently didn't see that façade," Perry mused.

"I just knew what he was really like," David said harshly. "No façade in the world would work on me, not if he was using it."

"How very interesting. Do you mind telling us where you were after Wade's death?" Perry studied him. "If it wasn't that the murderer already confessed, I'd have to think that you had a motive just as good."

"And I'm kind of wondering why you didn't warn Dr. Stuart about Wade, if you saw through his masks," Paul said. "Maybe if someone had warned him about what Wade was up to when he was only stealing textbooks, things never would have escalated as much as they did."

"Now that really is territory that isn't your business," David retorted. "If you don't need me for anything else, I'm leaving now."

Perry calmly nodded and stepped aside. "Very well. But we may want to question you more later."

David started to walk off, but then paused and looked back. "Don't worry about me, Mr. Mason, Paul." His voice had softened. Now he sounded genuinely concerned. "Please, just focus on Dr. Stuart's problems. If you honestly think Ellena is part of what's happening, I'll try to find her and reach out to her."

"Would you be able to get through to her?" Perry wondered. "If you couldn't while she was alive, I doubt you could now that she's dead."

"We'll see." David resumed walking.

Paul came up next to Perry, watching the other man leave. "I swear I didn't know any of what he told us," he said. "I had no idea Dave was mixed up in this at all. I never even considered that he was the one who phoned Dr. Stuart!"

"What do you know about him?" Perry asked.

"Not much," Paul admitted. "He went to work for Amos about three years ago. We're on friendly terms and he does a great job with my car when it needs work done. I don't think Amos knows much about him, either."

"I want to know more." Perry started twisting the ring on his little finger. "Paul, find out everything there is to know about Mr. David Solomon."

"It'll be a pleasure," Paul declared. "Now I want to know too."

xxxx

It was deep in the night when Della stirred and slowly got out of bed. Her eyes were blank and bleary; she was following a suggestion that Ellena had planted in her mind right before she had taken off the necklace and placed it in her purse earlier that day. Now she went over to it, unzipping the compartment and taking out the emerald jewelry. As she put it on, her eyes cleared and she giggled.

"That's better," Ellena crowed. "You and me, we're going out on the town tonight, Honey. Then we'll pick up the paste necklace in the morning and slip it into ol' Mason's safe for that voodoo woman to look at. Unless she can tell a real emerald from a fake, she'll declare the necklace spirit-free and I'll be home free! No one will be looking for me again. You'll be found to be of sound mind too, so they won't lock you up. I can't have that now, not until Aaron Stuart pays. He has to pay, you know. It's his fault Tobin turned crooked and ended up dead! I know I'm crooked and all, but Tobin was better than that. He wouldn't have fallen that far if someone hadn't pushed him to it!"

As she dressed and sent for a cab, the real Della remained asleep, having no idea that the strange and unwelcome presence had taken over her body once more. Nor did she awaken when the cab arrived and Ellena waltzed out for a few hours of fun. Unless a miracle happened, she would stay unaware until Ellena chose to let her have control again.