The Case of the Deadly Scalpel
Chapter 8
1
Mason hung up the phone with his brother. He turned and looked at Della. The last thing he wanted to do was tell her the vacation was over. Why was it every time they tried to take a vacation murder seemed to rear its ugly head. There were plenty of good attorneys in San Francisco, but there wasn't any way he could talk his brother into calling one of them. He wasn't going to settle for anything less than Mason's services.
Turning around, he locked eyes with the woman he loved. He wanted this vacation to be special for her. Instead, Carly Williams had spoiled much of it for them. Now his brother was demanding he come to San Francisco to defend a friend of his.
"Don't tell me," Della said. Robert's doctor friend has been accused of murder. He wants you to come to San Francisco and defend him."
"If you want me to, I'll call him back and tell him I just can't do it."
Della chuckled at the thought. "Perry, let's face it. Neither one of us is going to tell him no. So, I suggest we go back to our cabin and start packing."
"Della, I'm so sorry. Next time we go somewhere, I am going to instruct Gertie not to tell Bob where we are. Maybe then we'll be able to take an uninterrupted vacation."
"Your brother is a detective, and a very good one. Do you really think he wouldn't be able to track us down?"
"You have a point. Why couldn't I have discovered I had a brother who was a bus driver, or a chef, or a dog catcher?"
Della laughed. "Really, Perry, do you really think a brother of yours would be in any of those professions?
"I suppose not. Come on, let's go pack. Then I'll let the captain know that when we get off at the next port we will not be boarding back on."
2
The longer Carly Williams sat in the ship's brig, the more angry she became. How dare the captain put her in the brig. She was a reporter and Mason was a public figure. She had every right to cover him while he was on vacation. She couldn't wait to end this miserable cruise. Mason was in for a big surprise when she did. She had every intention of printing that story. Captain Reagan could not control whether she did or not once she was off this ship.
The man in charge of the brig appeared at her cell. "Your luck is changing, Miss Williams. Mr Mason and Miss Street are getting off the ship at the next port. They are headed back to California. Apparently, his brother has asked him to defend some doctor in San Francisco."
"Exactly, how does that change my luck?" she asked.
"The captain said once Mason is off the ship, that you can be released. However, he told me to tell you that if you harass or pester any other passengers, you would end up right back here."
"Have you people ever heard of freedom of the press? You just wait till I get back to Los Angeles. I am going to sue the Princess Lines and Perry Mason."
The employee laughed. "Good luck with that. If I were you, I wouldn't tangle with Mason. The man is a brilliant attorney and you will just lose. At any rate, my job is done here. I've told you you will be released after everyone reboards the ship and once Mason has left."
"What! That's unacceptable. When Mason leaves, I should be released so I can go and enjoy the sights."
"I suggest you not make a fuss. The captain doesn't have to release you. He can leave you in the brig for the remainder of the cruise."
Carly was fuming. If she could go on land, she could follow Mason and Street to get more proof of their relationship. "I will expect my phone and my computer to be returned to me."
He shook his head. "The captain made it very plain that your phone and computer will be returned to you only when we dock back at Los Angeles."
"Well, you can tell Captain Kangaroo that he will personally be named in my lawsuit against the cruise line."
He just laughed. "Go ahead, waste your money with an attorney. Don't you think we have been sued before when we put people in the brig? It has happened many times. Every time, the cruise wins the suit. I don't have any more time for you. I must get back to my real job. I will be back after Mason leaves the ship." He turned around and left without another word.
"The nerve of that damn captain!" she shouted. Carly didn't give a damn how powerful everybody thought Mason was. As soon as they arrived in Los Angeles, she would find an attorney to sue him, the cruise line, and the captain.
3
The door to Ironside's office opened. Dr Ben Stern entered and came down the ramp. The chief turned his wheelchair just enough to see who entered the office. Was it his imagination or had Ben aged ten years? Worrying you might be charged with murder could do that to a man.
"Come in, Ben," Ironside called out.
Stern walked over to the table where Ironside sat with a file in front of him. The doctor knew exactly what his friend was reading. "I suppose that is the report Lieutenant Reese has filed."
"Sit down, Ben," Ironside told him.
Stern sat down beside the detective. He knew just how bad everything looked right now. He hadn't been completely honest with the chief, but with Corbin Schulte dead and gone, there really wasn't any reason to reveal the blackmail. He and Schulte were the only ones who knew about it. If he said nothing, it could never be used against him in court if he was charged with murder.
Stern knew he didn't kill Schulte. He would never even consider such an extreme measure to get out of doing the surgery. He wasn't a murderer. Even if it crossed his mind, he simply wasn't capable of killing another human being. He took an oath to save lives, not take them. His one saving grace was the man sitting in the wheelchair next to him. Robert Ironside believed in his innocence. He was certain of that.
"Robert, that is Reese's report on his investigation at the hospital, isn't it?"
"It is," Ironside confirmed. "It doesn't look good, Ben."
"I know that. Have you gotten the results of the fingerprint …"
Ironside interrupted him. "No, but there is a better than average chance your prints are going to be on that scalpel."
"That wouldn't be unusual since it was mine. But, wouldn't the killer's prints be on it as well?"
Ironside ran his hand down his face. "Ben, whoever killed Corbin Schulte somehow managed to get into your office to get the scalpel through a lock door and a locked case. If he or she was smart enough to do that, then I suspect the killer was smart enough to wear gloves to prevent them from putting their prints on it."
Despair was written all over Stern's face. He couldn't believe it. He spent a lifetime saving lives and helping people to walk after serious injuries or problems caused at birth. Now his career, and more importantly, his life were in jeopardy. How could things have turned south on him?
"Ben, you need an attorney. I contacted my brother. He is cutting his vacation short and returning to California. He should be here shortly."
The doctor closed his eyes and placed his hand over them. "I don't believe this! Robert, I didn't kill that man. I couldn't."
"I know that. That is why I contacted Perry. He is the best there is. The question is, can you afford him?"
Stern smiled. "Money is not a problem. The surgeries I have done over the years have made it possible to put away a considerable amount of money." He removed his hand, opened his eyes, and looked up at his friend of many years. "You said Mason was on vacation?"
"That's right. He and Miss Street were on a cruise. He is getting off when the ship arrives at the first port. He will take a plane back here from there."
"I feel terrible interrupting his vacation."
The chief grunted. "You didn't, I did. He might not have taken your call, but I knew he would take mine. That is why I took the liberty of calling him for you."
"Will he still defend me when he hears all the evidence against me?"
"Don't worry about that. He won't refuse me," Ironside said, with a grin.
Stern looked around the room. "Where's your staff?"
"Mark is in class. I sent Ed and Eve home early. They are going to be working long hours until we get you out of this mess."
"But I thought …"
"You thought the police collect the evidence against the accused and then let the district attorney handle it. Ironside picked up Reece's report. "That is generally the way it is handled. This is one case where I know the accused is innocent and I don't have any intention of allowing the injustice of a conviction. I intend to help Perry with the defense's investigation."
Stern smiled. "Robert, you are going to take flack from Reese and probably the commissioner and the city council."
Ironside picked up his empty coffee cup. He glanced at the coffee pot in the kitchenette. Grumbling, he said, "You would think Mr Sanger would make a pot of coffee before he left for class."
The door to the office opened. Lieutenant Carl Reese came down the ramp, followed by Officer Duffy. He wasn't surprised to find Dr Ben Stern sitting with the chief. The two men had been friends for a good many years.
Ironside glanced behind him as the lieutenant walked over to the table. "Good evening, Carl."
"Hello, Chief."
"I take it you have the results of the fingerprint test?"
Reece nodded. He pulled the folded report from his inside suit coat pocket and dropped it in front of Ironside. He glanced at Ben Stern. "Dr Stern's fingerprints were on the scalpel."
"Any other prints found on it?" Ironside asked.
"Not one."
"It was his scalpel, Carl. Finding his prints on it would not be unusual. The killer could have worn gloves. It's not enough for an arrest."
Reese rolled his eyes. "Chief. He can't account for his whereabouts at the time of the murder. His office door was locked and so was the case that the scalpel was in. No one had keys to either. The nurse overheard an argument between him and the victim where Schulte was blackmailing him."
"What blackmail?" Ironside demanded.
"I don't know that yet, but you know full well it always comes out in the course of an investigation." Reese turned to Stern. "Dr Stern, you are under arrest for the murder of Corbin Schulte. You have the right to remain silent. If you give up the right, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to have an attorney present when questioned. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed by the court. Do you understand your rights as I have recited them?"
"I understand them. I can afford an attorney. He has already been hired."
"In that case, I will have you arraigned in the morning," Reese informed him.
"Carl, you will have to wait one day. Ben's attorney was taking a cruise on vacation. He will be flying back, but he won't make a morning arraignment."
Carl looked down at the chief. No, he wouldn't do it, or would he? "Just who is the lawyer?" he asked, although he was sure he already knew.
Ironside didn't hesitate. He looked Carl directly in the eye and said, "Perry Mason."
"Mason, and I suppose you just happened to call him for the doctor."
"Carl, this is a mistake. Ben is not a murderer. He is not guilty."
Reese's Italian temper was beginning to flare. "Damn it, Chief, you were there! You know the evidence." He turned and walked away for a minute and then addressed Duffy. "Officer Duffy, take the doctor into custody." Duffy handcuffed Ben Stern and started to lead him out of Ironside's office.
"Ben," shouted Ironside, "do not answer any questions without Perry present."
"Chief!" Reese cried angrily.
"He has the right to have an attorney present," Ironside said calmly, in an attempt to calm the lieutenant.
Duffy led Stern out of the office.
"I remind you that you are an officer of the law. I don't need your help on this one, Chief. You stay out of this case," Reese said.
"I can take on any case I choose, Carl, and you know it."
Reese stormed out of the detective's office with a parting shot. "We'll see about that!"
Carl Reese worked many cases with Robert Ironside. The chief called upon him to work with his office for one reason, Carl was an excellent detective. The truth was Ironside couldn't blame him for arresting Ben. The evidence was overwhelming. If it were any other doctor, and Ironside was the investigating officer, he would have done the same. But the chief knew Ben Stern. He would not take a life. He dedicated his life to helping people, to saving them. Somebody was framing Ben and they were doing a bang up job of it. It looked bleak. The chief knew that. The question was why? Who had a grudge against both Schulte and Stern. Or was Ben framed because the opportunity for the killer to do so was conveniently there?
He had no intention of staying out of the investigation. God himself could order him to do so, and he would still go ahead with it. He wondered how long it would be before Dennis Randall showed up in his office, ordering him to lay off. It wouldn't do any good. He wasn't about to allow Ben Stern to go to prison for something he didn't do. If he had to, he would take vacation time and investigate on his own time. Nothing would stop him from helping his friend.
4
Perry Mason stared out the window of the jumbo jet as it raced above the clouds 600 miles an hour. What a bust the dream vacation he planned for Della turned out to be. Yet, she didn't complain, not even a bit. Nor did she show any disappointment. He wanted so badly to give her the vacation she so richly deserved. First Carly Williams and now his brother. Why couldn't his brother's friends stay out of trouble? The commissioner, then President Whitmore, Robert Duvalier, Alexandra Hughes, Ben Matlock. Okay, Ben Matlock could not exactly be considered Bob's friend. He felt obligated to help him because he defended him against an Internal Affairs charge. No, that didn't make any difference, Bob still dragged him into it. In all fairness Perry called upon him to investigate when Hamilton Burger was accused of murder, and he dragged him in to investigate when Lawrence Bradley was accused of killing his wife. Of course, he had the help of little Amy Bradley to convince him to work on that one.
If Perry was to admit it, they bamboozled each other when they needed help. But he wasn't about to admit it. He was really sore at his brother for taking away Della's vacation.
He felt a feminine hand on his. Mason drew his attention away from the window to look at Della, who was smiling at him.
"I know what you are thinking, Perry. You are mad at Robert for ending our vacation. Don't be. He's your brother, and he needs your help."
"Della, there are several very good criminal attorneys in San Francisco. I could have recommended one of them," Perry said.
"Robert wants the best for his friend. You are the best. You can't blame him for wanting you to take the case. Besides, you two love working together."
"His friends can't stay out of trouble," Mason complained.
"Think about it, counselor, you have called on him as often as he has called on you."
"No, he has called me more often," Mason disagreed.
Della laughed softly. "So who's keeping score?"
"I am."
"I am not upset, so neither should you be. Next time, we'll go to Commissioner Randall's cabin. It is beautiful up there, and we loved it. A cruise is wonderful, but it seems every time we take one now, we run into someone like Carly Williams. Admit it, Perry, we allowed her to spoil the cruise for us, so it was already spoiled before Robert called."
Mason could feel Della's finger rubbing his palm. He calmed down and smiled at her. "Okay, I admit I like working with Bob, but it would be nice if he would let us take one, just one uninterrupted vacation."
"You could always find out when he is taking a vacation and interrupt him," Della suggested.
"The problem with that is I would have to plan a murder," he grinned.
Della chuckled. "What do you say, we put our seats back and catch some z's? We probably won't be sleeping much when we arrive in San Francisco. Your brother will see to that."
"I am going to insist on staying in a hotel when we get there. At least we can have some privacy that way," Mason said.
That brought out another laugh from Della. "Robert isn't going to allow that and you know it."
"This time I am putting my foot down," he replied.
"Watch it, counselor, you might find that his wheelchair rolls right over it."
5
Carl Reese didn't sleep much. He was madder than a hornet at Robert Ironside. He considered him a close friend, but that didn't mean the detective didn't drive him crazy at times. He had to head him off and keep him out of this investigation. It was clear the chief was too emotionally involved in this one. Ben Stern was a close friend. He couldn't possibly be objective, otherwise he could clearly see the doctor was guilty of murder.
Reese arrived at police headquarters. He bypassed his immediate boss, Captain Jimmy Smith and headed for the Chief of Detectives, Amy Prentiss. He had to stop Ironside. When he arrived at her office, he wrapped his knuckles on the glass door.
Chief Prentiss looked out to see Reese standing on the other side of the door. She waved him in. "Good morning, Carl. I read your report on the Schulte murder. I also see you arrested the doctor for the murder."
"The evidence is overwhelming, Chief."
"Yes, I see that. I also heard Robert showed up at the scene."
"Well, that was my fault. I did call him and let him know I was headed to the hospital and why."
She sat back in her executive chair and crossed her legs. "You couldn't have kept him from coming. He would have heard about it and showed up whether you told him or not. I can guess why you are here. Robert, right."
"Chief, Ironside is going to meddle in this case."
"Robert doesn't meddle. He investigates, and he is very good at what he does. However, he is a close friend of Ben Stern. That is why I called you in on this one."
"That is why I am here. I am asking you to order him to stay out of this case," Carl asked.
She chuckled. "Even if I could do that, it would make any difference, Robert would ignore it. Besides, you do realize he outranks me, don't you."
"He is a chief in name only. His title was never taken away from him. You are the Chief of Detectives. You decide who takes what case, not Ironside."
"Robert can take any case he wants. Carl, I can't order him to do anything. When it comes right down to it, he is my boss. He is over the entire detective bureau and the police department. The only one who outranks him is Commissioner Randall."
"Then will you speak with the commissioner and ask him to have Chief Ironside back off?"
"No, but I will recommend he have Robert sit this one out. I can't guarantee it will do any good. Robert has a habit of taking vacation time and investigating on his own time," Prentiss pointed out.
"Randall can stop Ed and Eve from helping him."
"And you know they would do it anyway. They are completely loyal to Robert."
Reese sat down heavily in the chair in front of her desk. "Chief, I don't want Ironside messing up my case."
"Robert has never messed up a case in his entire career. Look, I will talk to Commissioner Randall, but if we can't keep Robert out of it, look on the bright side."
"What bright side?" Reese wondered.
"If Robert can't clear him, we will know he is guilty. And if he can, well, none of us wants to send an innocent man to prison. Perry Mason has a reputation for not only getting his clients off, he also helps put the real killer behind bars. Stop fretting, Carl. If we can't keep Robert out of it, the good news is, he's an excellent investigator."
Reese stood up and turned to leave the office. "Thanks, Chief."
Chief Prentiss smiled. She would talk to Commissioner Randall for all the good it would do. The commissioner would tell Robert to stay out of it and Robert would ignore it. That was the way it was going to play out, and maybe that was for the good. If Robert was that sure Stern was not guilty, then why not let him find out. Carl already did his job. He did exactly what he should have — arrested Ben Stern. Now it was pretty much up to Chief Ironside and Perry Mason to find the killer if it wasn't Ben Stern.
6
Commissioner Randall read the reports filed by homicide detectives. One in particular caught his attention. It was one that Lieutenant Carl Reese filed. The name of the man arrested for the murder practically jumped off the computer at him. Dr Ben Stern. He continued to read the report. It looked pretty much like an open and shut case, but Randall knew better. Ben Stern was the surgeon who did the surgery on Bob Ironside. The two men had been friends for years.
Carl did his usual thorough job. All t's were crossed and all i's were dotted. Not one mistake was made by the lieutenant. Yet, the commissioner knew handing the case over to the district attorney was not the end of the department's involvement.
The intercom on his desk buzzed. Randall punched the button. "Yes, Betsy."
"Chief Prentiss is here to see you, sir."
Here we go, thought Randall. Bob Ironside is going to cause him another headache. "Send her in."
"Yes, sir."
The door to his office opened and Amy Prentiss walked in. "Hello, Dennis."
Randall stood up, walked around the desk to shake her hand. "I have a pretty good idea why you are here. I just read Reese's report."
"Then you are aware you-know-who isn't going to stay out of it," Chief Prentiss said with a smile.
Randall offered her a chair and the chief sat down. He walked around and sat down behind his desk. "Let me guess, Carl came to see you and asked you to have me order Bob to stay out of it."
She laughed. "You simply can't convince me you don't have a crystal ball, Dennis."
"When it comes to Bob Ironside, I don't need a crystal ball. I know how he operates. I just can't figure out how to control him." They both laughed together.
"So, you will have a talk with him then?" she asked.
"I will, but it won't do any good. Ben Stern is a very good friend of his. He is not going to back off. If I order him to, he simply …"
"Takes a vacation and investigates on his own time," she finished for him.
Randall reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a bottle of Tylenol.
"Do you have a headache, Dennis?"
"Yes, his name is Robert Ironside. I might as well take these as a headache is going to start."
Prentiss put her hand over her mouth to hide the smile she couldn't hold back. She started to laugh when Randall offered the bottle to her.
The chief stood up. She accomplished what she came to do. She dumped the problem into Randall's lap. Despite doing that, she knew she hadn't heard the last from Carl Reese. There was a war brewing between the two detectives and a truce was not in the cards.
On her way out, she told him, "You also should know Robert is bringing his brother in to defend Stern.
Randall looked down at the bottle of Tylenol. Perry Mason! He would need something stronger than Tylenol.
7
The jet roared down the runway and slowly came to a stop at San Francisco International Airport. Mason was beginning to wonder if he should just move to San Francisco and set up shop there. He seemed to spend an awful lot of time in the Golden Gate City. He and Della had too much luggage to bring aboard, so they checked it at the airport. As the people slowly began to depart the plane, Mason pulled down their carry-on bags.
"Perry, you didn't call Robert and let him know what flight we were coming on," Della said.
"Would you like to bet he checked and found out, and is now waiting for us in the terminal?" Mason asked.
Della smiled. "No, I don't think I will take that bet. He is a detective, you know."
"Unfortunately," Mason grumbled.
They departed the plane and headed for the luggage carousels. They were going to need to rent one of those carts. They had too much luggage for the two of them to handle. Mason checked the screen to see which one of the carousels their flight's luggage would be on. When he had the number, he led Della to number 2. Waiting next to it, Robert Ironside sat in his wheelchair. Mark Sanger was with him.
"I am glad I didn't bet against you," Della said with a smile.
Mason went over to his older brother. "Hello, Bob."
Ironside offered his hand. "Hello, Perry. Thanks for coming."
As Perry shook it, he said, "Are you and Katherine going on vacation anytime soon?" Mason asked. Della had to cover her mouth to keep from laughing.
"No, we are not." If his brother knew what Mason was getting at, he showed no signs of it. He maintained his poker face.
"Bob, Della and I are going to stay in a motel this time. Can you take us to one close to your office?" Mason asked.
"You're staying with me. It makes it easier to communicate," Ironside insisted.
"Bob …"
"You're staying with me," Ironside repeated.
Mason could feel Della staring at him. She was right. He wasn't going to argue with his brother. "Alright, Bob."
"Let's get moving. We have a lot of work to do," Ironside growled.
Whispering to Mason, Della said, "You really told him."
Mason couldn't help but smile. "Can we at least wait for our luggage?" Mason said.
"Mark will take care of it. Ed is waiting outside in his car. They will bring your luggage to police headquarters. Just tell him how many suitcases he has to pull off the carousel." When Mason told him, Ironside shook his head. "Just how much clothes can two people wear?"
"I have a problem, Bob. You see, we were on vacation. I only took one suit and a tux with me. I can't try a case in a swimming suit and I can't wear the same suit day in and out."
"There are plenty of tailors in this city. You can purchase suits."
"I don't need to purchase suits. I have plenty of them," Mason said.
"Then you'll have to try the case in a swimming suit." Ironside grinned.
"Perry, you can have Paul bring you suits when you call him," Della said.
Mason had not even considered it. He had been so mad at his brother, he didn't even consider asking Paul to come to San Francisco to help with the investigation.
When they were all in Ironside's van, Mason said, "You gave me a brief rundown on the evidence. Is there anything new?"
"The scalpel had Ben's fingerprints on it," Ironside said.
Mason looked out the window. "I was expecting that. It was his scalpel. Were there any other keys to his office and that case?"
Ironside reached down and locked the wheels on his chair when he realized he didn't do it as the chair began to roll. "There was one main key, kept in the chief physician's office. There wasn't another key to the case the scalpel was in."
"What about the person who cleans his office?" Della asked.
Before Ironside could answer, the phone in his van rang. Ironside grabbed the receiver and barked into it, "Ironside."
"Chief, it's Eve. I thought you would like to know that Corbin Schulte was wearing a St. Christopher's medal. They found Ben Stern's fingerprints on it."
What else could go wrong? Ironside thought. "Thanks, Eve. We'll be in shortly. Fix up the guest room for Perry and Della, will you please?"
"It's already done, Chief."
He should have known. Eve would think of it. "Perry, do you want to see Ben before we go up to the office?"
"Yes, then I'll decide whether I am going to take the case," Mason said.
Ironside looked at his younger brother. "You're taking the case."
