The Case of the Deadly Scalpel

Chapter 15

1

Ironside didn't believe for a minute that Gladys Farnsworth had anything to do with her daughter's disappearance, or with the murder of Corbin Schulte. Nevertheless, he had to eliminate her as a suspect. She made a perfect suspect. Her daughter was drawn into prostitution by Schulte, and she was now missing — perhaps murdered. He had to find her and eliminate not only Gladys as a suspect, but her daughter as well. What better motive for Teresa Farnsworth than what Schulte did to her?

The commissioner would not give him permission to check Gladys's files. The courts wouldn't give him a search warrant. Ironside would find a way. Mayor Ted Barr was always supportive of Ironside and his office. He probably should have gone to him in the first place. If he decided not to give him access to her records then his last resort was to go to Gladys herself. He didn't want to do that. Even though he didn't believe she was guilty of anything, it would still give her time to eliminate anything that would incriminate her in the disappearance of her daughter or the murder of Corbin Schulte.

"Mark!"

The young aide came out of the next room. "Yes, Chief."

"Grab your keys, and let's go!" The detective whirled his chair around and headed for the ramp.

Mark ran to catch up. Grabbing his jacket, he pushed his boss's chair up the ramp. "Where are we going?"

"To see the mayor," Ironside answered.

When they arrived, they entered the outer office. The secretary smiled. "Hello, Chief. I am not aware that you have an appointment with the mayor."

"I don't. Is he busy?" the detective inquired.

"The mayor is always busy, but if you mean does he have someone in his office, the answer is no."

"Tell him I want to see him."

The mayor's secretary recognized the tone of voice the chief was using. It meant he wasn't taking no for an answer. She picked up the intercom. "Mr Mayor, Chief Ironside is here to see you." Listening for a minute, she put the phone receiver down. "You may go right in. He has been expecting you."

Mark looked over at the chief, wondering what he had been up to that the mayor would know he was coming to see him. He received no answer from Chief Ironside.

The detective wheeled his chair over to the mayor's office door. Looking back, he said, "Mark, you wait here." He opened the door, took hold of the door frame on both sides and pulled his chair into the mayor's office.

"What took you so long, Robert. I have been expecting you," Mayor Ted Barr said with a slight smile.

"The chain of command," Ironside said. "I went to the courts and Dennis first."

"I would say you did that out of order. Should be Dennis first, me second, and the courts last. You tried to bypass us by going to the court first." There wasn't any hint of anger or insult in the mayor's voice. He maintained the slight smile he had on his face. He knew exactly why Robert Ironside went to the courts first, and it was certainly to bypass the chain of command he claimed to slow him down. Mayor Barr had always liked Chief Ironside. No one could argue with his record of success. As far as he was concerned, that meant giving the detective a wide berth and not hampering him in any way, even if it meant allowing him to go over your head occasionally. "What can I do for you that Dennis and the courts wouldn't?"

"Gladys Farnsworth's daughter is missing."

"I am aware of that," the mayor said.

"Ted, both Gladys and Teresa had a motive to kill Corbin Schulte. I need to eliminate them as suspects."

"Why on earth would either of them want to kill Schulte?"

"Because he dragged Teresa into prostitution, and Gladys was trying to keep it under wraps."

Barr sat forward in his chair. "I wasn't aware of any of this, Robert."

"Now you are," Ironside said. "That is why I want permission to check her files in her office. You have jurisdiction over the council members. I can't do anything about the search warrant on her home unless I find something in her office that will motivate the judge to change his mind and give me the search warrant."

The mayor stood up. "Follow me, Robert." He walked around his desk and headed for the door. Ironside turned his chair around and followed him out of the office.

All of the city council members had small offices on the floor. Most of them were not in them on a regular basis, although they still used them. Gladys Farnsworth was one of the most respected city council members and received the largest office. She spent far more time in her office than any of the other members. When they arrived at Farnsworth's office, the mayor knocked on the door.

"Come in." She looked up to see the mayor and Robert Ironside enter. "Hello, gentlemen. I wondered when you would get around to me, Robert."

Ironside didn't like the sound of that. She was expecting him. If she had anything that would point to her involvement with Schulte's murder, it would probably be long gone.

As if she could read the detective's mind, she said, "No, Robert, I have not removed one single sheet of paper from this office. The sooner you eliminate me as a suspect, the sooner you can concentrate on finding the real murderer. Come in. All you had to do was come to me and ask to search my office. I have nothing to hide, Chief Ironside. I would have given you permission. You didn't need the mayor, Dennis Randall or the courts to authorize it."

He should have known. Gladys was one sharp cookie. She would have figured out she was a suspect for no other reason than the fact her daughter suffered at the hands of Corbin Schulte. She already knew the steps he had taken to get the authorization to search her office.

"You might as well get started. Do you want me to leave the office?"

"That won't be necessary, Gladys. This is nothing more than a formality," Mayor Barr assured her.

Ironside went directly to the filing cabinets and began his investigation of them.

"Since you are with Chief Ironside, Ted, I assume you know about the trouble Teresa has gotten herself into."

"Yes, he told me. It is the reason I gave him permission to check your files. Because of what Schulte has done to your daughter . . ."

"I know, I know, it makes me a perfect suspect in Corbin Schulte's murder. I understand completely. I have been trying to keep her involvement with him a secret. It would be normal to assume I might kill to keep it quiet because of my position on the city council."

"Neither one of us believe you had anything to do with Schulte's murder, but Chief Ironside has to be thorough."

She smiled as she watched the detective go through her files. "If you recall, Ted, I came in early that morning."

Recognition appeared in Barr's eyes. He lifted his index finger. "That's right. You brought your St. Bernard in with you! Robert, that is what you would call an alibi! She was here when the murder was committed. It is no longer necessary for you to search her office."

Ironside turned his chair around. "Even if she didn't commit the murder, she could have hired it done." He turned back to the task at hand.

"You know Robert, Ted. He is thorough. Don't let it bother you. It certainly doesn't bother me. I had nothing to do with Schulte, but he might find something that will help him find my daughter. She also had a motive to kill Schulte. Isn't that right, Robert?"

Ironside always admired Gladys Farnsworth. She was one of the smartest members of the city council, if not the smartest. Not much got past her. "Yes, she is also a suspect."

"But you have to find her first to find out if she had anything to do with it. I pray to God she didn't," Gladys said.

Within twenty minutes Ironside went through all of Farnsworth's files and her desk. Just as he expected, he found nothing that would tie her to Schulte's murder. "I would also like to . . ."

"To search my house," she said. "Be my guest. The key is under the mat at the front door . . ."

Ironside frowned. "You should know better than that. If someone wanted to break into your house, that would be the first place they would look."

"You didn't let me finish, Robert. It is in a slot on the bottom of the mat. One would really have to look for it in order to find it. Someone breaking into the house would simply lift the mat, which would not reveal where the key is hidden."

Mayor Barr laughed. "She has you there, Robert."

Ironside reached for the phone. He dialed Ed Brown's cell phone number. After explaining what he wanted him to do, he hung up. Looking up at Farnsworth, he said, "Thank you for your cooperation, Gladys."

Ted Barr thought — just like Robert Ironside. No hint of regret for having searched her office. All business. He supposed that was what made him such a great detective. "Thank you, Gladys."

She nodded at the mayor, but quickly turned her attention to the chief. "Robert, did you find anything at all that could help you with my daughter's disappearance?"

"I am sorry, Gladys. Nothing," he answered.

"Please let me know as soon as something comes up."

"I will." Ironside turned and wheeled out of her office. Ted Barr followed him out.

"Robert, my accounts are at Wells Fargo. I have given the bank written permission for you to examine all of my records as far back as you want to go."

The mayor couldn't suppress the grin. It didn't go unnoticed by Ironside. "Thank you," Ironside said and wheeled out of her office. Barr followed him out.

"Are you satisfied Gladys didn't have anything to do with Schulte's murder?" Mayor Barr asked.

"I never thought she did, but I still have to check her out. She has a motive. I have to check everyone with a motive, Ted. You know that."

"Are you any closer to finding her daughter?" Barr asked.

"Not yet. I am afraid of what I might find out when I do. I hope I am wrong for Gladys's sake." Ironside lifted his chin at Mark, indicating he was through and ready to go.

2

Sergeant Ed Brown looked up at the display box on the wall in Ben Stern's office. He studied the lock. Earlier, he went to the same store where Stern bought the glass box. There wasn't any sign the display box had been forced open. Not one scratch was visible on the lock or around it. If someone picked it, it would have had to be a professional. An amateur never would have been able to do it without some scratches around the lock.

Brown reached into his pocket and pulled out the key. Just as he was about to insert it into the lock, Lieutenant Carl Reese walked into the room.

"Oh, Ed, what are you doing here? I thought the chief already checked out this office."

Without telling Reese what he was doing there, Ed said, "The chief wanted me to take a closer look."

Reese shook his head. "Ed, I think you should convince the chief to drop this one. I know Dr Stern is a friend of his, but this time the chief is just plain wrong."

"I couldn't convince him to drop it if I tried. He doesn't believe Ben Stern murdered Corbin Schulte. For that matter, neither do I. You still have not come up with a motive. Saying they argued is not going to cut it."

"Oh, we have the motive."

"What motive?" Brown asked.

With a smirk, Reese replied, "You really don't expect me to give away the prosecution's case, do you?"

"I'm disappointed in you, Carl. You've worked with Chief Ironside long enough to know that his instincts are rarely wrong. You should be helping us."

"You seem to have forgotten that we collect the evidence against murderers for the prosecution. We don't run around trying to put a murderer back on the streets."

"Ben Stern did not murder Corbin Schulte," Ed said.

"Huh, the chief is blinded by the fact that he has been friends with Stern for years, and you are blinded by the loyalty you have for the chief. I am loyal to the chief too, but I know when his judgment is clouded, and it is clouded where Ben Stern is concerned."

"Like hell it is!" Ed reached up to put the key in the lock on the glass container.

"What do you think you are doing?" Lieutenant Reese said.

"You know fully well the defense has access to this office."

"You don't have access to the prosecution's evidence until the trial."

Sergeant Brown turned around and looked at Reese. "What are you talking about? I have the right to examine that display case.

"And the defense will have the opportunity in court. Back away from it, Ed."

Brown could see by the look in Reese's eyes that he was dead serious. He wasn't going to allow him to place the key into the lock on the display case. He had no choice, he backed off.

Pulling a screwdriver out of his pocket, Carl Reese removed the display case from the wall. He turned around and headed for the door. Just before he left, he turned around and said, "Talk to the chief, Ed. He's just plain wrong this time. He will look bad when Gary Sullivan gets the conviction."

"No, he's not the one that is going to look bad when Perry Mason gets Stern off.

Lieutenant Reese shook his head, but said no more. He left the office with the display case.

3

Joey Mancino always played pool during the day when he wasn't working for Benny. Today however, he decided not to go near the pool hall. Joey did not want to be found. He worried what it would mean to Benny that he received a subpoena from Perry Mason. Would he be able to convince Benny that he would never fink on him. He always was loyal to him. Benny, on the other hand, wasn't loyal to anybody. If someone appeared to be a threat to his organization, he had them wasted.

Joey wasn't kidding himself. He would never convince Benny that he would remain loyal to him. One thing was for sure, Benny was not about to allow him to testify in court. That could only mean one thing. Joey was as good as dead if he didn't get out of San Francisco.

He stood in the middle of his bedroom. On the bed was a suitcase. He would never be able to pack all of his belongings in one suitcase. Therefore, he decided to take only what he needed. He could start over somewhere else. There would be mob bosses in every big city. He would join up with one of them. It was his only means of income. He had no training for anything. This was the only life he had ever known, or probably would ever know.

Mancino finished packing his suitcase with the necessities he would need to settle elsewhere. He shut the case and locked it. He picked it up and left the bedroom. Standing in the middle of his living room was Harry Parker.

"Are you going somewhere, Joey?"

Joey was not a delusional person. He knew exactly what Harry was doing here. He somehow had to convince Harry to let him go. "Harry, listen to me. I can't testify. I won't testify. I am leaving San Francisco in order to protect Benny. You know fully well I've always been loyal to him."

"That's funny, because Benny doesn't think so. He thinks you would get on that stand and rat him out to Mason."

"Come on, Harry, when was the last time I ever ratted Benny on anything?"

"As they say, there is always a first time for everything. Benny wants to make sure Mason doesn't break you down on the stand."

"That's never going to happen. I'm not going to take the stand. I will be long gone."

"You will be gone all right."

It was now or never. Joey knew if he did not shoot and kill Harry, he was a dead man. His gun was in his waistband behind his back. Slowly, He reached around to remove the gun. Unfortunately for him, Harry's gun was already in his hand. He had it concealed. He raised his hand, pointed the gun directly at Joey, and pulled the trigger, shooting him right between the eyes. Mancino fell to the floor. His dead eyes stared straight ahead.

Parker unscrewed the silencer on his weapon, put it in his pocket, and placed the gun in his waistband. After double-checking to make sure that Joey was dead, he left his apartment. He didn't feel the least sorry for having killed Mancino. When you worked for Benny, you made sure you stayed below the radar. If you brought attention to yourself, Benny Stoner took no chance. When you became a problem, you were as good as dead. Benny did not tolerate mistakes, and gaining the attention of Ironside, or in this case, Mason, Mancino had become a liability. Liabilities were terminated.

4

Gary Sullivan was upset with himself with his examination of Carl Reese. He forgot a very important part of the prosecution, and he had to correct it. The problem was the judge had already excused Lieutenant Carl Reese, and he was the one who would be needed to introduce the evidence. Unfortunately the judge was called away after Reese's testimony. Now, he had to convince the judge to allow Carl Reese to return to the stand. It may have been possible directly after his testimony, but this was a day later, and he had no doubt Perry Mason was going to object. Since Chief Robert Ironside's number one man was in the office at the time Reese picked up the display case, Mason would know why. If he didn't get the display case entered as an exhibit, he would not be able to use it against the defendant.

The bailiff called the room to rise, and the judge entered the courtroom.

"Call your next witness, Mr Prosecutor."

"Your Honor, we would like to call Lieutenant Carl Reese back to the stand."

Mason was on his feet immediately. "Objection! The prosecuting attorney has already completed the testimony of Lieutenant Reese."

"The prosecution is well aware that this is unorthodox. However, we believe that this evidence is important to our case."

The judge knew then another confrontation between the two attorneys was brewing. Mason had a legitimate complaint. Should he just not allow it and tell the prosecutor to call his next witness? Or, in the interest of justice, should he allow the prosecutor to call Reese back to the stand? He made up his mind. "I am going to allow the witness to return to the stand. However, I am going to give the defense a wide latitude in re-examination of the witness. Lieutenant, you may return to the stand.

As soon as Carl Reese sat down, the judge reminded him that he was still under oath.

Gary Sullivan approached the stand. "Lieutenant, you may recall we talked about the display case that was on the wall."

"Yes."

Sullivan walked over to the evidence table. He picked up the display case and brought it back to Reese. "Is this the display case that was on the wall in the defendant's office?"

Reese nodded his head. "Yes, I placed my mark on the bottom of it," he said after examining the underside of the display case.

"You also stated that you found the defendant's fingerprints on this case, is that correct?"

"That is correct."

"And that there were no other fingerprints on the case, is that correct?"

"Yes."

"And that the gold scalpel was displayed in that case?"

"That is also correct."

"I would now like this display case entered as exhibit B."

The judge looked over at Mason. "Does the defense attorney have any objection?"

Mason smiled. He made the objection earlier, once again to rattle Gary Sullivan. He actually had no objection to the display case. He now could do exactly what Ed Brown couldn't do in the office. The only problem was if the key didn't fit, he would hurt his client more than help him. It was a gamble, but one he had to take. "No objection."

"Anything further, Mr Sullivan?"

"Yes, just one more thing. We would also like to enter the scalpel as exhibit A."

As Mason stood up, the judge put up his hand. I am going to allow it, Mr Mason." However, I warn the district attorney, if you do not enter your exhibits at the proper time, they will no longer be allowed to be entered. Do I make myself clear?"

Gary Sullivan's face turned red. He knew if the judge allowed the exhibits, he was going to get a reprimand. He had to stop allowing Perry Mason to get to him. It had already caused him to make two very important mistakes. "Yes, Your Honor, it is clear."

"Is there anything else?" The judge's tone was a bit sarcastic.

"No, that will be all." He turned to Perry Mason and said, "Your witness, Mr Mason.

Mason stood up. He walked over to Carl Reese. "Lieutenant, when you picked up the display case, was one of Chief Ironside's officers in the office?"

"Yes, sir. Sergeant Ed Brown was there."

"And did he tell you why he was there?"

"Yes, he did. He wanted to look over the display case again."

"But you didn't allow it, did you?"

"No, Mr Mason, I didn't. The defense already had the opportunity. I saw no reason why he needed to be there again."

Mason walked back to the defense table. Della Street handed him a small key. He immediately went back to the witness. Handing him the key, he asked, "Have you seen that key before?"

"I haven't seen this particular key before, however, it appears to be the exact duplicate of the key to the display case."

Sullivan knew exactly where Perry Mason was going with this line of questioning, and he didn't like it.

Mason walked over to the evidence table and picked up the display case. He took it back to the witness and handed it to him. "Lieutenant, I would like you to attempt to unlock the case with that key."

Sullivan shot out of his chair. "Objection! That is not the key to the display case. That key was entered into evidence at the same time the display case was."

Mason smiled. "Then you should have no objection to Lieutenant Reese attempting to open the display case with the key I just handed him."

"Your Honor, Mr Mason is known for these types of circus shows. I object. The key to that display case has already been entered into evidence."

Judge Thatcher held back a smile. Mason's original objection when Sullivan asked to enter the display case into evidence seemed lukewarm. He did not fight very hard to stop it from being entered. Obviously, this new key was the reason why. "I believe I told you, Mr Sullivan, if the evidence was allowed to be entered late, I would give the defense attorney the widest of latitudes. Therefore, your objection is overruled."

Sullivan was clearly unhappy with this development. This was the type of trick Mason used to muddy the waters. Unfortunately, the judge ruled against him, and he had no choice but to do anything but sit down.

"You may continue, Mr Mason," Judge Thatcher said.

"Would you please attempt to open the display case with the key I have given you," Mason told Reese. This was it. He would either help or hurt his client.

Lieutenant Reese put the key into the display case and turned it. There was an audible click in the display case popped open. Murmurs broke out across the courtroom.

The judge immediately silenced them with his gavel.

"Your Honor, I object to this circus! For all we know, the defendant could have given Mr Mason a spare key to the display case.

Mason walked over to the defense table. Della Street handed him a receipt. "I would like to enter this receipt into evidence as defense exhibit A. It is positive proof that an exact duplicate of the display case was purchased. It came with the key Lieutenant Reese just opened the defendant's display case with."

Thatcher immediately overruled Sullivan's objection. He allowed himself to be led into a trap by Perry Mason. He couldn't believe the mistakes Sullivan was making. Then again he was up against a very clever lawyer. Thatcher had witnessed Mason in court on several occasions now. He had the uncanny ability to lead prosecutors into traps.

The key to the new display case was entered into evidence despite Gary Sullivan's objection. Sullivan realized Mason successfully created doubt as to whether Stern was the only one who could open the display case. Sullivan's only saving grace was the fact that Mason couldn't prove someone else entered that office with a second key and removed the scalpel from the display case.

"The defense attorney cannot prove that anyone took a second key and unlocked that display case. Nor can he deny that the defendant's prints were on the display case, the scalpel, and the St Christopher medal."

Mason smiled. "I'm glad you brought that up, Mr Sullivan." He turned to Reese. "Lieutenant, I can easily call members of the operating staff to the stand. They would state that all jewelry has to come off of a patient when they have surgery. Isn't it just possible that Dr Stern gave that St Christopher medal back to Corbin Schulte, therefore placing his prints on it?"

"Objection!" Sullivan shot out of his seat again. "Mr Mason is asking the witness to speculate!"

Judge Thatcher shook his head. "You opened yourself up for that question when you brought up the medal. Mr Mason is not asking if the defendant gave the medal to the deceased. He is asking if it is possible that the defendant's fingerprints were placed on the medal if he handled it and gave it back to the deceased. Therefore, I am going to allow the question.

"Lieutenant?" Mason said, has he returned his attention to Lieutenant Reese.

"Of course, it would be possible if he handled it and gave it to the deceased. It is also possible that the defendant touched the medal in a struggle."

That seemed to satisfy Sullivan. He grinned from ear to ear. Reese couldn't have answered that better if he had coaxed him. But Mason wasn't finished.

"According to your testimony, Corbin Schulte was murdered when he returned to his room. He was still under anesthetic at the time, was he not?"

"You know he was. It was in the coroner's report that he was under anesthetic."

"To your knowledge, is a person under an anesthetic capable of putting up a struggle?"

"Objection! The witness is not a medical professional."

"Sustained," Thatcher ruled.

Mason wasn't bothered by the ruling whatsoever. He got his point across. "I only have one last question regarding the St Christopher medal. Since all jewelry is removed from a patient before surgery, why is it that only the St Christopher medal was around Corbin Schulte's neck? My understanding is he wore rings on both fingers as well as a watch on his left wrist and a bracelet on the other."

Sullivan displayed a look of panic. This thought had never occurred to him. Unfortunately, it had occurred to Mason. He knew exactly where Mason was going with this.

"I don't know," Lieutenant Reese said.

"Isn't it just possible, the killer put the St Christopher's medal around the deceased's neck, planting the evidence in order to make it look like there was a struggle between Dr Stern and Corbin Schulte?"

Sullivan had to stop Mason before he did further damage to his case. "Objection! Mr Mason is speculating and asking the witness to do the same."

Judge Thatcher lowered his brow to a frown. "I think the question is not only impertinent, but also important. Mr Mason has asked for an explanation as to how one piece of jewelry was found on the deceased when none of the rest of the jewelry he wore was, and if it was possible that that one piece of jewelry was planted. You may answer the question," he said to Reese.

"I cannot answer the question," Reese said. "I don't know why only one piece of jewelry was found on the deceased."

"Could it have been planted?" Mason repeated.

As the prosecutor stood up to object, the judge interrupted him. "Your objection was overruled. Answer the question, Lieutenant."

"It is possible it could have been planted." It was obvious Reese didn't like having to answer the question that way, but he had no choice.

Mason smiled. "Thank you, Lieutenant, that will be all."

Sullivan stood up. "I have a couple questions on redirect. Since we are speculating, it is also possible He could have requested the St Christopher's medal be returned to him immediately after the surgery. Isn't that correct?"

"I suppose it's also possible," Reese said.

Thatcher looked over at Mason. He expected him to object, as it was certainly speculation. However, Mason sat in his seat and said nothing. The judge turned to Reese and said, "The witness is excused."