At the office, Paul and Della were talking about the case.

"Perry does sound so sure about a court date, Paul. I know we have gotten this far in the case, but I do understand Perry wants to find out who murdered his father. I would too if it happened to me instead of him."

"I agree with you. I wonder how Mrs. Mason reacted to the news of 24 hour protection."

"She wouldn't like that, Paul. I guess we have to do what the police wants."

"I know. Are you going to call that friend of yours and say something about the police protection?"

"I am going to do that now, Paul. I'll wait until tomorrow morning. She's probably busy with clients."

"I think I'm going to leave for the day, Della. I'll see you tomorrow. Don't worry about Perry. I told him I was going to pick him up."

"All right, Paul. I'll do the same since there's nothing else we can do here at the office."

"I'm going to meet Adam Smith. We're doing dinner. I wonder how he knew about the 24 hour protection for Perry."

"You'll find out, Paul. I'll just go to bed when I get in."

"Not even eating before?"

"You have a good point, Paul. I'll do that when you go have dinner."

"I have an idea, Della. You can join us."

"I will, Paul. I am in no hurry to go home."

"Neither am I. I'll see you at the resturant."

"Which one?"

Paul told her.

"Thank you, Paul. I'll be sure to lock up."

"See you soon, Della."

On the way over to the resturant, Della wondered what Adam Smith was like. Perry didn't know how to answer that question when she and Ada were waiting in the car before heading out to the counselor's office. At least Perry was able to have a short conversation with Adam Smith, but she wasn't so sure about this Adam Smith that popped in his father's case file.

Before leaving the office, Paul was able to call Adam Smith to let him know there was a third person.

"Thank you, Paul. I asked Cindy to join us, but she decided not to come."

"I do have something to ask you at dinner, but it can wait."

"All right. What is it about?"

"Cindy," Paul answered.

"See you soon, Paul. Too bad Perry couldn't come with you."

"I know. He's having a hard time with what's going on with the case."

"Like what kind of hard time?" Adam asked.

"That's what we're talking about."

"See you soon," Adam repeated.

Della had already left, so there was no way to tell her Adam said she could join them, but will when he sees her again soon.

Della was the first to show up between her and Paul, from what she saw, but wasn't so sure if Adam was already here or not.

What does Adam have to say about Perry that Paul wanted her to hear? Find out soon, she told herself.

Della decided to wait in her car until Paul came, but stayed in the car until he showed up.

Paul saw Della and parked next to her.

"Hi, Della."

"Hi, Paul. Was there anything you wanted me to listen tonight?" Della asked.

"I think so, but I'm not sure what he says about the 24 hour protection for Perry and Mrs. Mason."

"I guess we'll find out. Good thing he's not here to react."

"Agreed. Adam didn't mind you joining us. I called him before I left the office so he'd know to expect another one."

"Is Cindy McCarey going to be there?"

"I asked, but he did tell me that she decided to pass and maybe next time," Paul answered.

"Does Perry know yet?"

"No."

"How about Cindy?"

"Yes. She wants to think about it first."

"Why do you want to share with us for?"

"I wanted to see what you think of the idea."

"How about Adam Smith? Does he know about you and Cindy?"

"Not yet. That's why I'm going to say something tonight. I guess you'll have to hear about it before Perry instead of the same time since you're with us."

"I promise I won't say a word to him, Paul."

"You're good at keeping secrets, Della."

"Thank you. Do you know what his car looks like?"

"No, I don't. I meet him inside."

"Do you want to wait inside?"

"Not sure what time he's showing up, but it wouldn't hurt. I'll just put my name in so that way the waiter or waitress will show him where to sit," Paul said as he opened the door for her of out of the car.

"Unless he doesn't know we came first and use his instead."

"Good point, Della. Let's go inside," Paul said as they locked the cars.

"I hope Perry can drive again soon," Paul said.

"I know. He just doesn't want to be around us for every little trip. They're thinking Mrs. Mason might stop driving soon since she didn't do much in the past couple months they didn't talk."

"That makes sense. She's older too."

"How many?" the waiter asked when they walked in.

"Three," Della answered.

"We'll be waiting for one more," Paul told him.

"Do you want a table or wait here?"

"Table would be perfect," Paul answered.

"Whose name do you want me to use when your guest arrives?"

"Paul Drake."

"Thank you, sir. Follow me."

They sat at a booth near the front door so that way Adam would know where to find them.

"Have a nice evening. I'll be back with your drinks while you wait," he said.

He was a young man probably having his job when in high school if he is doing it, Paul guessed.

"Looks like he knows what he's doing," Della said.

"I'm sure he's doing just fine."

"Do you remember your first job, Paul?"

"No. That was a long time ago I can't even answer your question, Della. How about you?"

"Baby - sitter. I did that in middle and high school. I only did full - time when summer vacation was here."

"Look where we are now, Della. Secretary and private detective. I wish Perry was here, but that means he would need that protection."

"We heard it starts tomorrow, remember?"

"Yes, I do," Paul answered.

"I'll pay for supper tonight," Della offered.

"Thank you, but I think he might want to pay instead. We'll talk about it later."

"Yes, we will. I'm sure Perry will be jealous we had dinner out with Adam Smith when he hears what we talked about tonight."

"You're right, Della," Paul said once their waiter arrived with the glass of ice water.

"Looks like your guest just arrived, Mr. Drake. I'll show him the table."

"Thank you."

"Adam Smith for three," they both heard him say.

"You don't need to bother, Mr. Smith. The party's already here."

"This was the same place he and I went out last time," Paul told Della.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am."

"Have a good evening, Mr. Smith. I'll be back with your orders."

"We just need a few minutes," Paul told him.

"Take as much time as you need."

"Adam, this is Della Street. Della, Adam Smith. Della happens to be Perry's secretary."

"I'm sure Perry needed you both at the right time."

"Yes, he did. We did see the district attorney at the office earlier. Tell us how you knew about Hamilton Burger."

"I follow him as well. I understood he was your attorney in the last case."

"Yes, he was. Hamilton was telling the police showed him a copy of the file with Perry's father."

"Yes, he did. That's how he knew about me and some of the others," Adam told Paul and Della.

"He has given us a warning from the police that we had to hear," Paul said.

"About the 24 hour protection?"

"Yes, Adam," Della answered.

They were done flipping through their menus and see what sounded good to them. The waiter returned.

"Are we ready to order?" he asked.

"I think we are," Adam replied.

"What would you like to have?"

"Della, you go first," Paul told her.

After taking their orders, he left.

"Della Street, the secretary? What is she doing here with Mr. Drake?" he asked himself.

Like a lot of people, he followed the car accident case recently. No wonder the name sounded familiar. What kind of case is this about? Perry's always up to something, he told himself.

He didn't know Adam Smith since he wasn't well - known much anymore, but recognized Paul from the last time he was here.

"Tell us about the case. Perry will be disappointed he missed out on tonight's dinner," Paul told Adam.

"I can imagine. I'm sure a lot of people have told him to quit the case. I'm sure Mr. Burger said the same thing."

"Yes, he did. Tell us what you remember more about this case with George Mason," Della replied.

"This case has a lot of danger, Paul and Della. If I remember right, it's the same danger George went through. We're hoping and praying Perry wouldn't go into that same store and look for himself."

"I think that's a little too late for that, Adam. He hasn't been there yet."

"I thought he did."

"No. I guess that means protection will have to be there too."

"Yes," Adam repeated.

"How did Mr. Burger know where your office was and who you are?" Della asked.

"Beats me. I'd like to have the same answer. Good thing Mr. Burger said something to you about this case. He did tell me that he's not interested in following George's cases like Perry. I can't remember how the store knew there was a lawyer inside with his wife in the car."

"From what we understand from the file, Adam, George did have a gun."

"Yes, he did. I think the police department might have his gun from the time he died. They said that they found the gun in the car when they heard there was a murderer in the house. Good thing Mrs. Mason wasn't there to see this."

"Perry was told she went out to lunch with a friend of hers," Della told him.

"That's what I heard too. I felt bad for both of them because it was her husband."

"When you heard about the shooting at the Goodwill store, Adam, where were you when it happened?" Paul asked.

"I was here at the office on the phone. I did hear about it. Once I did, I was able to finish the phone call with a client and headed straight over to Goodwill."

"Was the police there when you arrived?"

"Yes. I have a feeling this is the same danger George was involved and now Perry is going through as well. That's why one of us requested the 24 hour protection, Paul."

"Which one of you reported Perry at the office?"

"It was Aaron Adams, I think. I know him, but isn't well - known either. I knew he worked with George, though. We're not friends or anything, if that's what you're thinking."

"No. Did the police let you look at the spot where the shooting was?" Della asked.

"Of course they did. The police remembered I was working on this case with George and a few others. That's when the store management showed up and called the police."

"Then what happened?" Paul asked.

Della was taking notes in her head the entire time since there wasn't anything to write with to take them and for Perry to see what happened tonight.

"This is something worth sharing with Perry tomorrow," Della told Paul once their waiter showed up with the meals.

"Thank you," Paul told him as the waiter left.

"Let me know if you need anything."

"We will."

"What are your plans for tomorrow, Della?" Paul asked.

"Call Patti and pass this over."

"Who's Patti?"

"The therapist for Perry and his mother."

"I forgot you set something up."

"Trying to reschedule is all, but things keep coming up for the first session."

"I'd like to check it out sometime, if that's all right with you, Della."

"You can, but let's see what she says."

"Why does Perry need therapy for?" Adam asked, getting interested.

"They weren't communicating in the past couple months because of what happened to George. She doesn't agree with Perry that he wasn't on her side when this happened."

"Why would she think that?"

"She thinks that Perry would lock her up for something she didn't do. Why would she do that if the three of them were close?" Della said.

"I thought I heard about that on the news. No wonder how Perry found out about the cases George worked on before he stepped down."

"Perry sounds so positive the case will be solved and a court date."

"That's impossible. Some of us aren't alive anymore. has he figured that out?" Adam asked.

"Yes, he has. He's only talked with you and some others."

"Della, what's the therapist's last name in case Perry lets me talk with her?" Paul asked.

"Patti Rolsotti."

Adam didn't bother paying much of the conversation with Della and Paul about her friend. the name didn't sound familiar to him. He didn't know any counselor and therapists like Della Street did and there was no need to.

When they finished the conversation about her friend, Adam was able to speak up.

"Paul, Della, there was an agreement with the police when Perry needs to come and go to different places, they have to be contacted so they know where to protect him."

"Thank you for saying something. That goes with Mrs. Mason as well?"

"Yes. That's what I agreed with the police."

"Do you think Perry would be able to drive after this case is solved?"

"I can't answer that, Della. Only his doctor and police can answer that."

"Understandable," Della replied.

"Yes, it is. I'm happy you will pass this over to Perry as soon as possible. We just need to protect Perry because of the same danger. When this happened to George at that time, they didn't have police protection for him."

"How did they know a lawyer was in the store?"

"That's a good question. You'll just have go to Goodwill and talk with the manager yourself, even though it's been years ago. You can talk with either the retired manager or the recent one. From what I heard when I showed up at the time it happened, there were a few children and teenagers who witnessed it. I also heard one of them took over as store manager."

"I'm sure the manager still remembers the case?"

"Yes, Ms. Street. I remember it was George calling me from the manager's office to let me know what happened. I showed up immediately. I didn't understand it back then. George was young when he was leaving law school is what I remember."

"I guess this is our next stop, Della."

"I was telling Paul I was going to pay for the bill tonight."

"You don't need to do that, Ms. Street. I have it already taken care of."

Paul and Della could tell Adam sounded like a nice person from the conversation, even though he was with George Mason for a while at that time. Looks like he's remembering more than he did last time he and Paul were here to talk about the case.

Now that Adam was taken care of for a while, the three of them decided now was the perfect time so leave this place.

"See you in the morning, Della."

"Same with you, Paul."