The Case of the Deadly Scalpel
Chapter 10
1
Perry Mason opened his eyes. It was still dark in the office/residence of Chief Robert Ironside. He still couldn't believe he was in San Francisco defending another client. It seemed he was doomed to never take another real vacation. Over the years his reputation had grown. Now, he couldn't go anywhere without being recognized. No matter where he went, someone was in trouble and needed to be defended against a murder charge.
He looked down at Della Street, sleeping beside him. How did he ever get so lucky to have this wonderful woman in his life? He wanted to give her the vacation of a lifetime, and what happens, he is once again pulled away to defend a man for a murder he didn't commit. Mason had come to dearly love his brother, though he wished he was a chef, a teacher, or even a politician. Why did he have to be a famous police detective? Bob was always dragging him to some murder case to defend a friend.
It wasn't that Mason didn't love what he did. He certainly picked the right profession for him. Murder was his specialty, and he was very good at solving murder cases. In fact, he was every bit as good as his brother, and he knew it. If he had chosen to become a police detective, he didn't have any doubt he could have rivaled Robert Ironside as one of the best in the country.
Mason took another look at Della and slipped out of bed. He would allow her to sleep until he got his shower. Usually, she was the one who got up first, and rousted him out of bed. It was a rare occasion when he got up first. He hadn't slept well, tossing and turning all night. Putting on a robe, he headed for the bathroom. He would think a place as big as his brother's office/residence would have more than one bathroom.
Mason was surprised to see he was the first one up. Normally, his brother always got up ahead of him. Even Mark Sanger was nowhere in sight. He went up the ramp and headed for the bathroom. Just as he reached for the doorknob, the door opened. Robert Ironside wheeled toward him.
"It is about time you got up, Perry. We have a lot of work to do," Ironside growled.
He should have known better. If he wanted to be up before his brother, Perry would have to get up in the middle of the night. Ignoring Bob's remark, he stepped back to allow his wheelchair room to get past him. "Are you done in the bathroom?"
Ironside stopped his chair. "I don't usually leave the bathroom if I am not done." He continued wheeling his chair away from his younger brother.
Mason shook his head, entered the bathroom, and shut the door. He would never get used to his brother's grumpy mood in the morning.
Ironside wheeled his chair back to his bedroom. His bed used to be right there in the office area. Ed, Mark, and Eve talked the commissioner into redoing one of the side rooms so the chief would have more privacy. It opened up the area for another working station. The detective became quite self sufficient over the years. Most of the time, he dressed himself. It was one job Mark rarely did these days. The only time the young man helped the chief get dressed or undressed was if the detective was extremely tired or not feeling well. Certainly, Mark could do it faster, but the chief much preferred to take care of himself as much as possible.
Twenty minutes later, Ironside wheeled out of the bedroom and back in the office area. Mason was just coming out of the bathroom. Ironside watched his brother come down the ramp. Lifting his left wrist, he looked at his watch. "You took an awfully long shower. Did you leave any hot water for anyone else?"
The office door opened. Mark Sanger entered. Mason should have known. The young aide was up, dressed and just came in with the morning paper. Mark walked down the ramp and set the paper in front of his boss, who settled his wheelchair at the table. "You're on the front page, Chief."
Ironside looked down at the paper in front of him. Sure enough, there was a picture of him with Ben Stern. It was taken at the time the chief entered the hospital for surgery that was hoped would put Ironside back on his feet. Unfortunately, the surgery failed, and Robert Ironside was still in the wheelchair. He began reading the article. He shook his head in disgust. The writer continually remarked that Ben Stern was a longtime friend of the chief. He criticized the commissioner for not ordering Ironside to stay out of the case, and at the same time stated Lieutenant Carl Reese, also a friend of Ironside, was in charge of the investigation. The writer insinuated the entire affair would be swept under the rug. Ben Stern, who according to the evidence, was definitely guilty of murder, would get away with murder because he not only had Ironside investigating, but also was going to be defended by the detective's famous brother.
Ironside threw the paper down in disgust. "It is amazing what passes for journalism these days." Turning his attention toward Sanger, Ironside called out, "Mark, I suggest you start cooking some breakfast. We have people to feed."
Sanger, who was standing over the stove, scrambling eggs, shook his head. "What do you think I'm doing, Chief?"
"How about some coffee?" the detective grumbled.
"In a minute," he told the impatient former Chief of Detectives.
Ironside looked around the room. "Where's Perry?"
"I assume he went to get dressed."
The bathroom door opened and Della Street came out. She walked down the ramp, over to the table and planted a kiss on Ironside's cheek. "Good morning, Robert."
"Good morning, Della. Mark will have breakfast ready in a few minutes."
"I'll just get dressed while we wait." She passed Mason on the way out of the office area.
Mason walked over to the table and sat down. Picking up the paper, he began reading. Ironside watched his brother for his reaction to the morning's news. Glancing up, Mason said, "Nothing like being tried in the press. Looks like they already have Ben Stern convicted. Whatever happened to just reporting the news instead of the writer printing his opinion?"
"Those days are gone forever," Ironside said. "Journalism isn't what it used to be. It seems reporters simply want to report sensationalism. They have forgotten a person is innocent until proven guilty."
The door to the office opened, the tall handsome private detective came in and down the ramp. Mason and Ironside turned to see Paul Drake join them at the table.
Sniffing the air, Drake said, "I don't suppose I could join you for breakfast. I don't usually get breakfast when working for Perry." He offered his hand to Ironside, who shook it.
"Mark!" Ironside shouted.
Sanger heard the exchange. "I already figured to cook enough to feed him, as well as Ed and Eve."
"Sit down, Paul," Ironside offered.
Drake took a seat on the other side of Ironside. "I talked to Lieutenant Tragg before I left Los Angeles. Corbin Schulte was a pimp, clear and simple. He pimped out underage girls in three different cities. None of the police departments could get anything on him, yet every one of them suspected what he was doing. He didn't stay very long in any one city. He would move on before the police could get anything on him. Are we sure Stern didn't kill him?"
"We're sure," Ironside said matter of factly.
Drake glanced at Mason, trying to get an indication of what his friend thought. Mason's expression never changed. Drake couldn't tell if the lawyer agreed with his brother or not.
"What time did you get in last night?" Mason asked, changing the subject. "I thought you were taking an afternoon flight."
"I did.The flight I booked had mechanical problems. There weren't any other planes available. All passengers had to be booked on other flights. I didn't think I would ever get out of Los Angeles. I got in so late, I didn't want to bother anyone. I got a hotel room and went to bed."
"Speaking of hotels," Ironside said, "I want everyone to stay here. It will make communication much easier."
"I figured as much. I checked out of the hotel this morning. My luggage is sitting at your door."
"Mark will set up a room for you."
The door to the office opened. Ed and Eve came down the ramp and joined everyone at the table. After shaking hands with Mason and Drake, they both sat down.
"Mark, how long does it take to brew a pot of coffee?" Ironside complained.
Sanger walked over to the table, carrying a tray with the coffee and enough cups to go around. "As long as it takes," he answered.
Della came out of what used to be the pool room and sat down next to Perry Mason. Mark began serving breakfast to everyone. Once he did so, he sat down and dished up bacon and eggs for himself.
"Alright, so we know Schulte was a despicable character. That is where we start," Ironside said. "Someone other than Ben Stern had a reason to kill him. We need to find out who, or at least give the jury someone else to blame."
"Chief, that isn't going to be easy with all the evidence Carl has against Dr Stern," Eve said. "We will have to be able to prove the person or persons not only had a reason to kill him; we are going to have to place him in the hospital at the time of the murder."
"And we are going to do just that since someone was in the hospital at the time of the murder," Ironside said. "Ed, you go to the hospital and start digging into how Ben's office door was opened. Someone has a key other than Ben and the doctor in charge of the hospital. Eve, I want you to start talking to the girls who were working for Schulte. Paul, you check on the mob connection."
"Great, I just love investigating the mob," Drake said dryly.
"Perry and Della have to be in court for the arraignment. I am going to talk with Carl Reese and try to get him to look beyond the obvious. He thinks he has the evidence for a conviction, so he isn't looking any further. I am going to see if I can get him to take off the blinders and check further into Schulte. If he won't, then I will. Perry, you can join me after you get out of court, unless there is something else you have planned."
Conversation continued around the table about possibilities until breakfast was over. "Alright, everyone has a job to do, so go do it," Ironside growled. "The sooner we clear Ben, the sooner Perry and Della can go back to their vacation."
"That ship has sailed," Mason said sarcastically.
"You can always board the Old Ironsides," Mark said with a grin.
"I am already on that ship," Mason said as he stood up. Della laughed and headed toward the door.
"I always thought they were referring to Chief Ironside when they said Old Ironsides," Drake grinned.
"And, I thought you were a detective," Ironside said. "There was no ship named Old Ironsides. The actual name of the ship was the USS Constitution."
"It was nicknamed Old Ironsides," Eve said. "It is the oldest commissioned ship afloat in the world."
"They must have known the chief," Paul grinned.
"Hardly," Ironside growled. "It was launched in 1797 and used in the War of 1812. If you were any kind of a detective, you would know that."
Perry and Della laughed at the look on Paul's face. "Come on, Paul. You should know better than to try to match wits with Bob." Drake followed his friends toward the door.
2
Carly Williams entered the San Francisco International Airport. She went over to the Hertz counter to rent a car. The woman behind the counter smiled. "How may I help you?"
"I would like to rent a car. I'll take it by the week. I don't know how long I will be here in San Francisco." She waited while the woman got the paperwork together.
Carly was never in San Francisco before. She didn't know the city at all. "Could you tell me where Police Headquarters is located?"
"Certainly." She brought out a map, opened it, and marked it with a magic marker.
Looking at the map, Carly pointed to the spot she had marked. "Is this where Chief Ironside works?"
The woman smiled. "Everyone who comes here always asks that question. It is not only where he works, he also lives there. He is San Francisco's most famous son."
"Yeah, I get that. We have our own Chief Ironside, but he is an attorney."
Knowing the young lady gave her a Los Angeles driver's license, she had a pretty good idea who she was talking about. "You mean Perry Mason. He is Chief Ironside's brother, you know."
"Yes, I know. I work for the Los Angeles Times."
"Then you are here to cover the Ben Stern murder trial?"
"That's right. I would like to speak with Mason and Ironside."
"Good luck with that. Chief Ironside is known for being able to handle the press and I doubt Perry Mason is going to give you an audience."
"I don't intend to give either one of them a choice," Carly said.
The woman said no more. The young lady would soon find out who didn't have any choice. She finished up the transaction and handed the keys to her. It's a Jeep Cherokee, red, fourth row, at the end. It has a full tank of gas. You will have to fill it up before you turn it back in."
"Fine. If I am here for more than a week, I'll be back to pay more." Carly picked up her luggage and headed for the vehicle. Along the way, she stopped at the airport newsstand and purchased a paper. There on the front page was a picture of Robert Ironside and the man accused of the murder of Corbin Schulte. Carly never paid much attention to what went on in San Francisco. Nor, if she was honest with herself, did she pay much attention to any of the trials Ironside was involved with helping Perry Mason. She couldn't believe the resemblance of the two men. Ironside was just a slightly older version of Mason. They could almost be twin brothers.
She found the Jeep, opened the trunk, put her luggage inside, and closed the door. The first thing she had to do was find a hotel close to Ironside's office. If he also lived there, then it only stood to reason Mason would likely stay there with him for the duration of the trial. Following the map, she drove through the streets of San Francisco and headed for Police Headquarters. She couldn't believe some of the streets. She wondered if the Jeep would make it up the steep inclines. The slopes were unbelievable.
After securing a motel room, Carly drove straight to Police Headquarters. If Mason and Ironside thought they were going to get away from scrutiny, they were going to learn she didn't take no for an answer. A journalist got the story. The police were mostly corrupt anyway. She could handle Robert Ironside. He would not be a problem for Carly Williams.
She parked the Jeep in front of the building, got out of the car, and headed for the door. Carly entered Police Headquarters determined to best both Ironside and Mason. She didn't believe for a second either one of them deserved their reputations. She had every intention of proving it. They would soon learn how formidable she was.
Carly walked up to the duty desk. The officer there looked up from his paperwork. "May I help you?"
"Yes, you may. I would like to know how to get to Chief Ironside's office."
The officer smiled. He could tell from the woman's attitude, she was a reporter. He could spot one a mile away. "You have to be announced. Give me your name, and I will tell the chief you are here to see him."
"I don't want you to announce me. I will do so myself."
The officer smiled. This young lady was going to get chewed up and spit out by Ironside. Even the boldest of police officers were scared of him. She had no idea who she was dealing with. "I am sorry but you have no choice. The chief is a very busy man and no one is allowed to go up to his office without being announced. Now if you will give me your name, I will let him know you are here to see him. It will be up to him whether he will see you."
"This is a public building. I will announce myself." She attempted to step around the duty desk, but the officer stepped in front of her.
"Miss, I would suggest you stop right there. It may be a public building, but it is a building full of police officers. You must understand we can't have people roaming around the building who we have not identified."
"Are you going to get out of my way," she said angrily,
"No, Miss. I am not. If you persist with this kind of behavior, you will give me no choice but to put you under arrest."
"You wouldn't dare!" she challenged.
The officer bent down so that his face was only inches from hers. "Try me."
Carly was furious. The nerve of the San Francisco Police! She had every right to go up to Ironside's office unannounced. If this miserable officer announced her, Ironside would refuse to see her. "Alright, announce me," she snarled.
"If you will step back behind the counter, I will be happy to," he said with a big wide grin. If she thought he was tough, wait until she dealt with Ironside. He would love to be a fly on the wall in the chief's office.
She was so angry she could spit. She would get the last laugh. She was going to go upstairs and tear Ironside a new one.
The officer dialed the chief's business number.
"Chief Ironside's office," Mark Sanger announced.
"Hi Mark, Officer Logan here. There is a reporter here to see the chief."
Mark turned to his boss. "There is a reporter here to see you."
As Perry Mason was about to leave the office, he turned around. It couldn't be, could it? "Hold on, Della, let's find out who the reporter is." Paul Drake continued on his way out of the office.
"What reporter?" Ironside said.
Mark returned his attention back to the phone conversation. "The chief wants to know who the reporter is."
"Just a minute, Mark. I will find out what her name is and where she is from." Looking at Carly Williams, still maintaining the grin, he asked, "The chief wants to know who you are and who you represent."
"He'll find out when I get up there," she said.
"If you don't tell me who you are and where you are from, you aren't getting up there," the officer said, all the time grinning. This was fun. The reporter obviously knew nothing about Robert Ironside. She was no match for him.
"You won't find it so amusing when I sue the hell out of the Police Department!"
He laughed. "Go ahead. You can discuss it with the chief's lawyer. He is upstairs with him. His name is Perry Mason. Now, what is your name and where are you from?"
"Carly Williams. I am a reporter for the Los Angeles Times."
Speaking into the receiver, he said, "Mark, tell the chief, the reporter's name is Carly Williams and she is from the Los Angeles Times."
Mark looked at his boss and said, "Carly Williams from the Los Angeles Times.
Mason groaned. She followed him from the ship.
"Tell her I don't have time to see an out-of-town reporter," Ironside growled.
Mason thought for a moment. This would be a perfect time to put her in her place and his brother was just the man to do it. "Just a minute, Bob. That is the reporter who harassed Della and me on the ship. Why don't you let her come up." He grinned at his brother.
Ironside read his brother's intentions. A slight smile appeared on his face. "Tell the officer to pass her and let her come up."
"The chief says let her come up," Mark told the officer.
Officer Logan told her, "You may go up. The chief said to pass you."
She was so mad, she was going to slam dunk the arrogant detective. "Where's his office?"
Logan pointed behind him. "Take the elevator to the top floor. The chief's office is the one with the ramp." He watched her walk away. He had not had this much fun in a long time on the duty desk. He wondered if Ironside had his breakfast yet.
Carly Williams took the elevator up to the top floor. She stepped out when the door opened and looked right and then left. She spotted the ramp to the left and headed that way. Stopping at the door, she wondered if she should knock or just enter the office. Damn it, this is a public office! She was not about to knock. She had every right to enter the office. Carly opened the door and walked in.
Ironside understood this was the reporter that harassed Perry and Della. He wasn't about to allow her to harass them here, or him either, for that matter. He wasn't going to make things easy for her. Ironside turned his chair around to face her. "This is a private office, Miss Williams. You just don't enter without knocking."
"It is a public office and I have no intention of knocking. I am here to see you, Chief Ironside."
"Mark! Show Miss Williams out of this office," Ironside said, raising his voice.
Sanger headed up the ramp. "Miss Williams, you will have to leave the same way you came in."
"I will not! I came here for a reason, and I am not leaving until my questions are answered.
Ed and Eve had not yet left the office. Ironside turned to Ed. "Sergeant Brown, arrest Miss Williams for refusing to leave the premises."
"You're bluffing," she said with a smirk.
"Ed!"
Brown pulled his handcuffs from the back of his belt. He walked over to Carly Williams, turned her around, cuffed her and said, "You are under arrest for loitering. You have the right to remain silent …"
"Alright, Alright. I'll knock!"
"Escort her out, Ed," Ironside said. Mason couldn't help himself, he started to chuckle. Carly Williams glared back at him.
Brown removed the cuffs, took her by the elbow and led her out the door. He shut the door behind her.
A knock sounded on the door. Ironside looked up. "I wonder who that could be." He said it loud enough to make sure Williams heard him. "Mark, get that, will you?"
Sanger walked over to the door with a smile on his face. He opened the door, but blocked Williams from coming in. "Can I help you?"
"You know why I'm here," Carly said with disdain.
"I am sorry, you will have to state why you are here so I can tell the chief," Mark said.
Mason put his hand over his mouth to hide the grin he was having trouble controlling. If Carly Williams thought she was going to get the better of Robert Ironside, she was in for a lesson in humility.
With barely contained anger, she said, "I want to talk to him about Corbin Schulte."
"Wait right here, and I will see if the chief can see you."
"That's ridiculous." She attempted to pass Mark, who stood directly in front of her.
"You will wait here or Sergeant Brown will arrest you."
Red-faced and angry, Carly stood there after giving him a look that could kill.
Mark walked over to Chief Ironside. "Chief, there is a reporter from the Los Angeles Times here to see you. Her name is Carly Williams."
"I'm in the middle of an investigation. Tell her I don't have time to see her. She will have to call and make an appointment."
"What? You son-of-a-bitch, you said you would see me!"
Mark walked back over to her as if he didn't hear her outburst. "I am sorry, but the Chief has a full schedule today. You can call the office and make an appointment if you wish. I'll show you out."
"I am not going anywhere!"
Sergeant Brown pulled the handcuffs from behind his belt and began walking toward her.
She took one look at the detective and backed away. "This isn't over, Ironside."
"That's Chief Ironside," Mark said. "Now, please leave this office or Sergeant Brown is going to arrest you.
She turned abruptly and walked toward the door. "You haven't heard the last of me!" With that she left the office and slammed the door.
Everyone in the office except Robert Ironside bursted out laughing. It was better than what Perry Mason had hoped for. Carly Williams walked in here like a strutting peacock and was forced to leave with her tail between her legs. Although he would have been firm with her, his brother was a no-nonsense detective who handled the press on a regular basis. She was in no way equipped to handle his temperament. His brother just had her for breakfast, his second one.
Mason walked over to the table. Ironside looked up at him with a grin on his face. "How'd I do?"
Mason chuckled. "You played it just right. However, she will be back, and even if it isn't physically, her article on you in the Los Angeles Times isn't going to be complementary."
Ironside waved a hand. "It wouldn't be the first time and it won't be the last. Now, I suggest you get to court."
Perry nodded and took Della's arm. He led her out of his brother's office.
Ironside looked over at his staff. "This is a working day, isn't it?"
Coffee cups were set down on the table, as Ed and Eve hurried out of the office.
3
Perry Mason and Della Street arrived at the Hall of Justice. They were followed inside by reporters shouting questions and snapping pictures of the couple. Mason just smiled and moved through the crowd. Holding Della's elbow, he opened the door as she entered the building in front of him. "I am beginning to spend as much time in this building as I do in the courthouse in Los Angeles," he complained.
"You love working with Robert, Perry, you can't deny it," Della said.
They walked down the hall to the courtroom where the hearing and the trial would be held. Met by another crowd, Mason continued to the front of the courtroom. He opened the gate which separated the judge, lawyers and defendant from the spectators. Della walked through and greeted Ben Stern who was already seated at the table. Mason shook hands with him and they sat down.
"Mr Mason, I have never been through anything like this before. What am I supposed to do?" Stern asked.
"Nothing. I will do all the talking for you."
"Will I be able to post bail?"
Mason tilted his head. "There is no bail in a murder trial, although the judge sometimes makes exceptions. I am going to try and see if I can get him to do so, but I warn you, the chances of that happening are not good."
Judge Herman Thatcher entered the courtroom from his chambers. The bailiff called out, "All rise. The honorable Judge Herman Thatcher presiding."
Everyone stood as Thatcher took his place beside the bench. He glanced over to the defense table. The judge was not surprised to see Perry Mason sitting there with the defendant. In fact, he was expecting it. He was aware of the friendship between Ben Stern and Robert Ironside. There wasn't much doubt the chief would call upon his brother to defend his long-time friend.
"Well, Mr Mason, I see you are back in San Francisco. I'd swear you spend more time here than you do in Los Angeles."
"It sometimes seems that way, Your Honor."
"Mr Prosecutor?"
"The People versus Dr Benjamin Stern in the charge of the first degree murder of Corbin Schulte," District Attorney Gary Sullivan said.
Looking over at Mason, Thatcher said, "And how does the defendant plead?"
Perry Mason stood up. "The defendant pleads not guilty, Your Honor."
"Your Honor, the defense is going to request bail be set. The People would have to object. There is no bail in a murder trial. Furthermore, Dr Stern is a very wealthy man. He could easily flee the court's jurisdiction. We request that he remain in custody and reside in the city jail for the duration of the trial."
"You might consider waiting until the defense makes a motion before you object, Mr Sullivan. Mr Mason, do you intend to ask for bail?" Thatcher asked.
"Yes, Your Honor. Dr Stern is well established in San Francisco and is a respected surgeon. His roots are and always have been in this city. He is not a flight risk. We request bail be set and Dr Stern be released on his own recognizance."
"Your Honor …" Sullivan began before the judge interrupted him.
"You have stated your case, Mister District Attorney." He looked over at Ben Stern. "I have no doubt everything Mr Mason has said is true. However, I am not inclined to set bail in a murder trial. The defendant will remain in custody for the duration of the trial."
Sullivan's face broke out in a smile. He waited a long time to beat Perry Mason in court. This was one time Mason was not going to be able to clear his client. Ben Stern was guilty and Sullivan intended to prove it.
Mason turned to Stern. "I am sorry, Doctor. It was a longshot at best."
"Thank you for trying, Mr Mason."
"The date for the hearing will be set one week from today," the judge said after checking his schedule. Is that satisfactory for the prosecution, Mr Sullivan?"
Sullivan stood up. "More than satisfactory."
"Mr Mason?"
"Yes, Your Honor, the defense concurs."
"Alright then. The hearing is set for one week from today. Court is adjourned."
Mason stood up. He watched as Della tried to put Ben Stern at ease. "As Perry stated, it was a long shot."
"If you need anything, you just let me know," Mason told him.
Stern nodded and then the bailiff took him away.
"I really thought Judge Thatcher would go for the bail," Della said." Dr Stern is not a threat to anyone."
"The courts are getting more strict about not allowing someone accused of murder any bail," Mason said. "Let's go join Bob."