While Della had Perry and Ada at the counseling appointment, Paul stayed in Perry's office and took phone calls. He didn't mind, so he offered to do it, which Perry could drive himself instead of Della, and still waiting to hear back about driving after that accident.

He did remember what Perry said about Ada never being sick a day in her life, but it made sense now because of his father's murder. Perry did say something that Ada complained about upset stomach when she moved in.

The phone rang two minutes later, so he took the call.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Perry," the caller said.

"Perry's not in right now. He had another appointment. I'm Paul Drake. Who is this?"

"Paul Drake? Now I remember who you are. You spoke with me about something."

"Yes, I did. Please give me your name."

"Alexander Benson. I'm just calling in so we can chat about what happened with George Mason."

"Oh, yes. Now I remember. Your name came up in one of the files that we recently looked at. Are you available now so we can talk?" Paul asked.

"No. I have a meeting in another hour. How about getting together tonight for supper?"

"I'm open, but I don't know what Perry's plans are, but I will pass this over when he comes back that you called."

"Why did you ask about George Mason for?"

"He recently was murdered a couple months ago, and Perry wants to find out more about his background on what he worked on before quitting the job," Paul answered.

"I think I can help with that."

"I'm a private investigator myself, Mr. Benson. I understand what Perry's going through, especially his mother."

"I didn't know he was killed, Paul. Do you prefer Paul or Mr. Drake?"

"Paul is fine. His wife is recently sick."

"Sorry to hear that. I remember George saying she's never been sick a day in her life."

"Until now. What can you tell us about Mr. Mason?" Paul asked.

"I worked with him on a couple cases. Not all of them have been solved, but one was. After a couple more cases that were never solved, I left him. He did okay for himself, but I don't know if you've heard from other people who worked with him said he was still new when we worked with him."

"Yes, I do remember hearing stuff, Alex. Do you prefer Alexander or Alex?" Paul asked.

"I don't care either way. What would be a good time for us to get together?" Alexander asked.

"I'm available tonight if that works. I'll have to say something to Perry about it first. If he doesn't have anything going on, he can join us. This is his case, not mine."

Paul thought Alexander sounded like he was ready to retire. He didn't know if Perry had met a few other of George's private investigators or not, but he'll have to ask him that later after the counseling appointment.

Paul couldn't help feeling sorry for Perry and Ada. This is a hard time for them right now. He doesn't know what Perry wants to do after getting one of George Mason's cases solved. Probably move on to the next one. He's happy that he and Della are giving Perry their full support.

Paul took another phone call after getting off with Alexander Benson. They set up a time and place to get together tonight. He did say he'd call Alexander if he's showing up late, and he was fine with that too.

Now Paul could see that Perry was hearing stories about George during that twenty - four hour recess from the recent case. It looks like he'll hear stuff himself, and that includes tonight.

Once he got off with Alexander Benson, Paul wrote down all of the information from both Benson, the phone continued to ring. He was busy writing down notes until another hour when Perry and Della returned from the appointment.

"Paul, you're still here?"

"Yes, Perry. I had to take calls and they were nonstop. There were a few of them for you. How did it go with the appointment? I have one tonight."

"What's going on, Paul?" Perry asked, ignoring his question about the appointment.

"Some of them were from your father."

"And I missed the whole thing? Do you have the contact information written down?"

"Of course I do. What are your plans tonight, Perry?" Paul asked.

"Just stay home and look after Mom. Why?"

"There's an appointment tonight and I'm meeting the person who called. He asked for you, but I mentioned that you were out on an appointment. How did the appointment go?" Paul asked.

"Not so good. Mom felt sick to her stomach again, so we had to leave the appointment early."

"We're going to try again soon, Paul. This is not good," Della said.

"Thanks for staying at the office, Paul. I appreciate it. I'd better pass on going with you tonight. Just get as much as you can from whoever called."

"He remembered the phone call I made to him, so we're meeting tonight. You can talk with him another time, Perry. Sorry you're having all of these issues."

"Don't be sorry, Paul. I am not going to be my father who quit his job after I was born."

"Did you talk with other people before your appointment with the counselor?" Paul asked.

"Actually, I did. I met that Adam Smith you talked with."

"How did that turn out?" Paul asked with interest.

"Okay, I guess. He wanted me to pass this over to you. He's going to keep in touch with both of us, but will help out as much as he can. He looks like he's going to retire, but didn't remember my father very well. He did say Dad was starting out when he asked for his help on a case."

"That's what I heard too when one of the callers came in when you were out, Perry. Looks like we're getting somewhere about your father."

"I hope we can get more information from other people who remember him."

"The person who called said he was Alexander Benson, Perry. He's keeping in touch with us also. He's the one I'm meeting tonight for supper."

"I'll make it up for passing on tonight, Paul. You can tell him we can talk another time. I'm just worried about her."

"I understand, Perry. Maybe you should take some time off from work if your mother is getting sick more often."

"I don't think so. I'll feel better when one of his cases is solved. I told her the same thing."

"I'll call Patti's office some other time, Perry. Just when she doesn't feel sick to her stomach," Della said.

"I don't think it would work in the future, Della. She still wants to be around people she knows, and not somebody new like you. I think that's what she's thinking."

"I understand, Perry. I just want to connect with her since you've been saying she's friendly. Only trying to help her feel better with your father's murder."

"I know, Della. We'll keep working on it. I feel bad for her too. I understand she's older now too, but she understands that we should get sick sometime. I think one of her friends have told her that too, but I don't know what to think on that. Mom said to me that she wouldn't know what to do if he was murdered and I was never born she wouldn't know what to do. I can see where she's coming from," Perry told Della.

"We better keep praying you and your mother would get better. Let's not give up on working with Patti."

"I'll keep talking with Mom about this. She's usually friendly the few first meetings. She was nice to talk with those kids and the dog we met."

"I remember the kids and the dog, but I wasn't with you when they had the chance to meet your mother."

"I'd better go home and stay with her until tomorrow when I come back here."

"Perry, just take the whole day off. I'm sure she needs you now," Paul told him.

"Thanks, Paul. You can take over for me for the day. I need to figure out what to do with her and my doctor. I'll call him again tomorrow morning."

"Don't call Webber's office, Perry."

"Why would I call him? He's got somebody taking over him, don't forget. I mentioned Webber to my doctor, but I don't know if he's had any conversations with Webber or not."

"I'll take you home, Perry. Your mother needs you."

"I can still check in here tomorrow."

"You can, but I won't bring you here, Perry."

"All right. I will keep talking her into going to the counselor again. I want us to recover sooner rather than later, Della. Sorry it didn't go well."

"That's all right."

"I will see what I can do about calling my doctor again."

"He knows about the accident, right?"

"Of course, but just haven't heard from him. Maybe he talked with Webber himself."

"You could be right, Perry. We'll check in with you later tonight."

"Thanks, Paul, but you don't have to. Taking the day off is a good idea."