Cindy hoped there would be a job for her to do this time since Paul Drake is out for a month.
"I guess we'll just have to try it and see. I know I can't go back to Adam," Cindy told herself.
She doesn't mind talking to herself.
Today was one of those days she goes out and sing, but it could always change if Perry Mason ever asks her for something. Good thing Paul gave her information that she needed.
She still hasn't found a case that would make her well - known like Paul. Maybe this next case might be the best choice. She's only been around for about 3 or 4 years with Adam Smith, so she does have experience.
It was a good thing she and Perry Mason with his secretary were able to get together and know each other. It looked like to her that it wouldn't hurt to try working in Paul's place while he's on vacation time that Mason had given him after Adam retired.
Cindy liked almost everything in music, but there was some stuff she didn't like. Today it was going to be from country music with people like Johnny Cash, who was her favorite singer. Maybe this time her music would be the theme of Johnny Cash.
When she sings, she likes to have a different theme every time people come out to her shows. She doesn't have much time to travel and perform like most singers do because of being a private investigator working on murder cases. It's why she does it in between.
Cindy has followed Perry's recent case with the car accident and then this one his mother as the witness. His mother isn't alive anymore since she got sick in the end, is what she heard. She also heard he was almost ready to put the house on the market.
Her phone rang. It turned out to be Perry Mason like she thought it would.
"Cindy McCarey."
"Hi, Cindy. It's Perry Mason."
"Yes, Mr. Mason? Is there anything you want me to do? Is there already a murder that happened I haven't heard of?"
"Nothing like that, Cindy. I want you to meet Della Street at my mother's old house and see if there's a file or two you could find about a high school principal murdered in her office."
"I don't think I heard about that one from Adam. Are you going to call him or should I?"
"Della's already taken care of it. She could use your help to look for it."
"Thank you. I'll be right over. What's the address to the house so I can be there and help her out?"
So Perry gave her the address as she wrote it down with a piece of scratch paper and pen.
"Do you want me to call your office to let you know I made it with your secretary?"
"Not necessary, but thank you for asking."
"Why would your father keep all of those old files until he stepped down?" Cindy asked.
"That's a question I'm still asking myself. Della and I were only talking about you and we could test you out since Paul is on vacation."
"That makes sense. Paul did show me a bit what he knows about you and your cases."
"That means you've been around for a few years enough to know what to do."
"Yes," she replied.
"So that's your first job from me, Cindy. Paul hasn't done this before, but I wanted to give you something to do if you haven't found anything to do today."
"I do have plans unless you want me to cancel out."
"We'll see. What are you doing today?"
"Going to sing for a couple of hours, but that's not until later this afternoon."
"We'll see how far you and Della can go if not finding the right file until then. If it takes longer past your time, you will cancel and do it another time."
"All right. I don't start until 5:30 anyway."
"Maybe we'll get it done by then. Sometimes it takes a while. My mother was a big help with this lost child case since she found the files. I'm not keeping in touch with the foster parents anymore since they decided to adopt the child."
"I haven't heard that news. I'll go straight to your mother's house."
"Della is already on her way over there. She has a key, so she'll let you in when you arrive."
"Did Paul go to the house and help out?"
"No. I prefer women anyway. Della is a big help as well. Paul mostly did phone conversations and went out to dinner with a few of the investigators who remembered him."
"Is that something you expect me to do with this next case?"
"We'll wait and see until you and Della are able to find the file and then we'll decide."
"All right. Why would Paul go out to dinner with the investigators for?"
"To get more information instead of the phone. He and Della were able to meet him for dinner one night when I had the 24 hour protection and had to miss out. I did go to his office before a counseling appointment. That was the first time he and I met and started talking."
"I'll go straight to the house now, Mr. Mason. Thank you for reaching out."
"You're welcome. We'll talk later."
Then he hung up.
Cindy couldn't believe this new job already was working from what Paul Drake had told her about. When she talks with people, she'll just have to introduce herself without Adam and with Perry Mason.
It took Cindy a while to find Ada's house. When she arrived, she saw Della's car in the driveway. Della looked through the living room window. It looked like Cindy showed up. Good thing they're just testing her out.
Looks like Perry will tell her how to introduce herself to people who are still alive since Paul is out.
Paul told her all he planned for vacation time was to catch up on sleep since he's been busy working all of these years that he has been with Perry, but still had tons of energy.
She wished she could have vacation time and catch up on sleep like Paul is with his plan, but did say she was welcome to reach out if she had any questions.
Della opened the door for Cindy.
"Thank you. Perry did call me to help you out."
"That's good. I already started going through. I can't find anything yet. Thank you for coming over and help."
"You're welcome. Do you have any plans besides looking for this file?" Cindy asked.
"Not really. How about you?"
Della showed Cindy were the office was.
"Did Perry come up with a price for the house yet? He said something about putting it on the market," Cindy replied.
"Not yet. He's still trying to figure out the right price and then put it up. He'll have to find a relator for that."
"He did say you both are testing me out."
"That's what we're doing since you're new."
"I thought I could call Paul every once in a while. He said I could do that."
"But he won't be on the case, whatever it is."
"Who was the person that came to your office?"
"June Taylor. She mentioned something about her father being friends with Perry when they were in high school."
"That's a long time. I have plans later today."
"What are your plans?"
"Since I can't perform my shows full - time, Della, I am going to do it today. Perry said I might have to cancel if you and I can't find the file fast enough."
"You don't want your fans to be disappointed."
"That's why I mentioned it."
"I know who you are."
"You do?"
"Yes, Cindy. Your past generations were into music, right?"
"Yes. That's what happens when you're a McCarey."
Then Cindy had an idea pop up in her head.
"Della, I was thinking of something before Perry called. I thought I would ask you."
"What's that?"
"I lost it," Cindy said, and then added, "I asked Perry over the phone if I had to do what Paul did with Adam and some of the other investigators like going out to dinner."
"What did he say?"
"Not necessary. He wants me to introduce myself since I'm new."
"He has a good idea, Cindy. Do you know anybody at the station?"
"Like who?"
"Tragg."
"No. I worked somewhere else in a different area, so that's what Adam used."
"I think I agree with Perry. You can do that when we're finished here."
"If you don't mind, would you go with me?"
"Sure I will. I think we can take a break in 15 minutes and we can go from there."
"Sounds good," Cindy agreed.
"Let me go call Perry and let him know about Tragg. I'm sure Tragg wouldn't mind working with somebody new when we can't have Paul."
"And if I never met Adam, I would have been going on tours for my music. This is why I probably did this to give me something to do when I'm not working on a murder case."
She followed Della to the office first and got started flipping through the files Della was able to find.
Since different judges were with Perry in the past several cases, he thought Cindy should still introduce herself anyway. She's already met one.
"Perry, Cindy and I were talking. Do you like the idea of her introducing herself to Tragg?"
"Yes, Della. I told her to introduce herself to other people so they know she's here with us now."
"All right."
"I also just had a thought, Della."
"What's that, Perry?"
"If Cindy's going to be working with us when Paul isn't here, I want her to go to the courthouse and introduce herself. She said that she had a show later."
"Yes, she told me that too, Perry. I said I'd go to the police station with her to introduction."
"That's a good idea to go with her, Della. Then I can get her to the courthouse and I will mention what we've been talking about with the judge."
"Good idea about the courthouse, Perry."
"Same thing with the clients, Della. They can wait until another case shows up."
"I guess we'll have to start out with June Taylor."
"Yes, Della. That's the plan. Not sure when we will see her again. Thank you for telling me about Tragg and Cindy. Tell Cindy in about an hour and a half I will have her come to the office and then the courthouse."
"Are you sure?"
"Make it three hours instead so you can have more time finding that file."
"I'm not getting any luck yet, Perry. Thank you for giving her something to do."
"You're welcome. I will see her in 3 hours."
When they hung up, Della rejoined Cindy.
"I talked with Perry, Cindy. He wants to meet you in 3 hours after we're finished."
"How come? My show doesn't start until 5:30. What time is it now?"
"Close to noon," Della answered, looking at the clock.
"Thank you. I still have a few hours left, then."
"All right. I'll call my manager and reschedule."
"That's a good idea, Cindy."