Within the next couple of days, Perry was able to meet Staci at his office. They agreed at 10:15, which would work best.

Della was out of the office for a break since she was there before Perry and Paul. She wanted to get out so he could have some privacy with Staci.

"Perry, what is your mother's friend's name?"

"Staci. I don't know her last name."

"You don't have to since you never talk with her like your mother does. How do they know each other?"

"They're next - door neighbors."

That's when Della and Perry saw an older woman close to Ada's age knock on the door.

"You Perry Mason?"

"Yes. And your name is?"

"I'm Staci. I'm your mother's friend."

"Come on in."

"Perry, I'll go outside so you two can have some privacy. Would you like some coffee?" Della asked Staci.

"I'll have just a little bit, thank you."

"I'll do that now. You can go ahead and talk."

"Thank you, Della. I hear you're close friends with my mother."

"Yes, we are. What do you need to know, Perry?"

"About the case. Did you know George Mason?"

"Not very well. I've been neighbors with your folks for over 20 - 30 years this whole time I didn't see or talk with him very much," Staci answered as Della returned with the coffee.

"Thank you," Staci said.

"Della, this is Mom's friend, Staci. Staci, my secretary, Della Street."

"I'll come back soon, Perry."

"All right, Della. I don't think we should be too long."

"Your mother said to have a short conversation."

"She told me the same thing. We just have to watch what we say. She thinks we might bring her up."

"I guess we just did, Perry. I followed your last case. Ada didn't talk about it very much, but that was okay."

He nodded and said, "Staci, how did Ada react when George was murdered after the lunch date?"

"She took it hard. Even asked me to call the hospital and police for her since there was no way she could have done it herself.

"I understand. It's hard on me too since I was here when he was murdered. Ada even told me he was in bed when it happened."

"Where there any witnesses at the house when the murderer came in and shot him in bed?"

"Not that I can remember. Did you ask her that question too?"

"Not yet. So far she hasn't answered any of my questions. We just recently started counseling."

"That's what she mentioned. To answer your question, Perry, it was myself and a few other neighbors. I think some of them were from across the street when the action came."

"And where were you at the time of the murder?"

"I just came home from a dentists appointment. I had to get an X - ray or two and a cleaning."

Staci didn't like sharing that kind of personal information with somebody she didn't know, but Perry was just doing his job.

"The police report said the time of the murder was between 12:15 and 12:30. Is that right?"

Even Perry already knew that since the first time he heard about George Mason.

"I think it was. Do you want to talk with the neighbors from across the street about this also?"

"That's not necessary. I think you're enough for my mother."

"I think so too," Staci agreed.

"Were you married?"

"Yes, but my husband died from a heart attack 15 years ago."

"Sorry to hear that. I even was given a list for a quicker way to recovery when this happened."

"What sort of list recommendations did they give out?"

"Counseling, church, and some other things I can't remember. We just started the counseling since my secretary had a friend who's a therapist. We did talk about having our therapist at the courtroom so she could see for herself on what happened when we stopped talking for a couple months when he was murdered."

"That's smart. What church was on the list?"

"I don't know. I guess they wanted religious people to help us out for quicker recovery. I met a couple of foster parents a while back after the car accident case was solved and they somehow took in a toddler that's about 2 or 3 years old who was left behind when her parents went back home with one child.

"Even the police said the birth parents tell them they didn't forget anybody that was left behind."

"Sorry to hear that. Are they part of the case?"

"No, they're not. They did recently say that they started a new ministry with foster children involved. They're religious. I met their preacher at breakfast a while ago."

"I don't understand much about religion either, Perry. I was never interested in it."

"Same with me. I thought it didn't make sense when they mentioned Jesus was right there with us when we were talking. I didn't see or feel anything. Like I believe that."

"That doesn't make sense."

"How did Ada fall for the church part?" Staci asked.

"She's on our side about it. They think I should get a Bible. I don't have time to read, Staci."

After Perry said that, he heard a knock on the door.

Then he heard Della's voice.

"Paul, don't go in there. He's in a meeting," Della told him.

"What sort of meeting? I don't think I heard about one," Paul replied.

"It's only a friend of his mother's. She hasn't been here very long. He'll let us know when they're done."

"I didn't know much, but thank you for saying something."

Both Perry and Staci heard the conversation between Paul and Della."

"Who are those talking? More clients?" Staci asked.

"No. Just my secretary and detective."

"Do you remember what Ada was doing at the time of the murder after coming back from the lunch date?"

"No, I don't. You can ask her that yourself."

"She won't answer my questions."

"How far are you on this case?"

"Far ahead than what my father had when he was involved in the case. Were you friends and neighbors with Ada and George at the time when the shooting began?"

"No, but I did hear about it from her, though. I can see why you're representing her, Perry. She's a witness, and I can see how both of you are taking his murder hard. It will get better."

"That's what I have been telling her, but she doesn't seem to believe that."

"I'll be in the courtroom with you both when it happens."

"She thinks there won't be a court date, but it's going to happen," Perry told her.

"It's a longshot case, Perry. How many people have you talked with?"

"Quite a few. Tell me how you and my mother met."

Before she did, they both heard Della and Paul talking, but Perry couldn't catch the third voice.

"Della, Paul, do you know where Perry is?"

To Perry it sounded like Hamilton Burger, and he was right.

"Yes, but in a meeting."

"I'd like to talk with him too," Paul told Hamilton.

"How much longer is the meeting?" Hamilton asked.

"I can't answer that. It's just about the case," Della told him.

"That's why I came here."

"Have you found out anything?" Paul asked him.

"I told Perry a long time ago I'm not interested in any of Mr. Mason's cases. I don't need to know what his record was since he wasn't my father."

"What did your father do, Hamilton?" Della asked.

"He was a doctor, but did that for a while. He thought I was going to be a doctor when I decided to be a lawyer instead. I don't need to follow what my father did like Perry is. I still want to talk with him about that car accident case that was updated."

"So that means Tragg talked with you first?"

"Yes. He said I could share with you."

"So that means we don't need to go back to court?"

"I don't think so. Those people who hit Perry's car are out of state, so that's impossible they would come back just for that. What about that child was left behind?"

"What do you mean, Hamilton?" Paul asked.

"They had 2 children, didn't they?"

"Yes," Della answered.

"I understand one of them is still here. I don't know where the child is now. I hope the child gets to be back with their folks. I don't have time to be around children like Perry doesn't."

"Perry knows where the child is, Hamilton," Paul said.

"I thought he didn't bother keeping track of the child after we solved this case."

"We didn't either until Perry said something about it."

This was all the conversation Perry was able to get from Della, Paul and Hamilton, but mostly was more interested in Staci at the moment.

"Staci, were you able to see any of the neighbors from across the street with a gun when you heard the sirens of the ambulance and police?" Perry asked.

"I don't know. I didn't get a close look and never thought about it. I did ask Ada about the courtroom."

"What about it?"

"Does that mean I have to be on the witness stand too?"

"I don't think so, Staci. Only her. I believe she's innocent and still doesn't agree with me."

"I remember Ada telling me George used to keep guns, but they were mostly in his car, so there is no way she would have murdered him," Staci replied.

"I agree with you. I don't understand why George would do something like that to bring a gun in the car. I guess it was the same one he used when they were at tat Goodwill store."

"I don't know much about their background on how they met and married, Perry. Only she can tell you that."

"I know. You're welcome to help out on this case. I'm still hoping she would answer my questions, but she sounds like there's no way I would find answers."

"You will, Perry. just keep asking her until she says something."

"I plan to, but she isn't that kind of person who would kill anybody, including her own family," Perry told her.

"I know. There's no way she would do that herself."

"Agreed," he said.

"I'm happy you let her move into your place, Perry. She's disappointed that she will have to take down the frame with your degree from law school from the wall. She never gets tired of looking at it."

"Thank you for saying something, Staci. If there are anymore questions you want for me, let Ada know so we can set something up."

"Thank you, Perry. This is all I can do to answer the questions."

"Just one more."

"What's that?"

"Maybe you could try giving her a volunteer job. All she does at my house is sleep on the couch and bed."

"Sorry, Perry. I will do what I can. I doubt she would say yes to that."

"She tried that here once, but felt sick, and I just let it go. No reason to try again since Della is all I need besides Paul."

"I'll see what I can do about it. Thank you for saying something, Perry."

He helped her out of the chair and they walked to the door.

"Thank you for making up some time for us to chat."

"You're welcome, Perry. At least she was nice enough to let us," Staci told him.

He opened the door and found Della and Paul with Hamilton.

"Mind if we chat, Perry?" Hamilton asked once Staci was able to head out to her car.

"About what, Hamilton?"

"The car accident and this case."

"You two don't have to stay," Perry told Della and Paul.

"We'd like to hear what you say, Hamilton," Della told him.

"You can stay."

He didn't bother sitting down in the chair after Staci, so he was fine where he was.

"Do you want to sit down, Hamilton?"

"No, thank you, Perry."

"I thought Tragg was going to tell us about the car accident," Perry told him.

"He said I could share with you first since I was your lawyer in the first place."

"All right. Tell us."

"Remember when you passed out?"

"Yes."

"You said in court that you saw children."

"Yes, I did."

"What makes you think the child left behind will be staying with the foster parents?"

"They told me that they wouldn't mind taking in the child until the Johnsons came back for her."

"You can't keep track of that child, Perry. None of your business where the child is," Hamilton told him.

"What makes you ask these questions?"

"Do you remember passing out that there were children in the brown truck that Dr. Webber had?"

"I'm still trying to remember that, but it's a tough question."

"You also said that you thought there was a person in the courtroom could have been your father's murderer. Have you figured out recognizing the person?"

"I'm still trying to remember that. Maybe with this case it'll help me. My mother said this child left behind isn't my responsibility."

"Of course not. It just doesn't make sense to keep track of a lost child."

"I think it does."

"I was just telling Ms. Street and Mr. Drake the three of you are wasting your time working on a longshot case," Hamilton pointed out.

"I keep hearing it. Even the private investigators my father used to work with have followed this recent case with the car accident and are worrying about my safety."

"You're right, Perry. I heard it was a Goodwill store."

"How do you know that, Hamilton? You already said that you're not interested in this case."

"I'm not. I guess I'll have to be in that courtroom as well."

"It looks like it," Perry agreed.

"After this case, Perry, please don't work on anymore of your father's cases. They are just too dangerous like this one."

"How did you know about this case, Hamilton?" Paul asked.

"Tragg knew I wasn't interested in the case, but showed me a copy that he had. I'm still not interested in it."

"My mother did a lot of helping out on the case and she was a witness, Hamilton."

"Tell me what you found, Perry. Then we can close the case."

"It's going somewhere, Hamilton. I can't close it, whether it's a longshot or not."

"I think we asked this in court, Perry, I can ask again."

"What about it?" Perry asked.

"Did you pay attention if the brown truck had children besides the Johnsons?"

"I'm still trying to remember that, Hamilton."

"The good news is that you're looking better and better by the day, Perry. That is good," Hamilton told him.

"Were these the questions the police wanted you to ask?"

"Yes. They think you and your mother should be protected everywhere you go, and includes here. That is another thing Tragg told me."

"What protection?"

"This case, Perry. I was told it's the same dangerous case everybody is worried about. We just don't want another shooting in that store and stay away from it."

"I'd like to see where the shooting happened, Hamilton. There wouldn't be another shooting."

"You never know. We'll have some people look after you starting tomorrow."

"Even my house?"

"Including that," Hamilton answered.

"I'll pass this over to her."

"Thank you, Perry. Even those investigators your father worked with already know about this and agree."

"How did you know about them?" he asked.

"Tragg showed me that file, that's how. I'll be going. Check in with you again later."

Before Hamilton could leave, Perry had another question.

"Hamilton, wait. How long do you plan to have somebody watch us wherever we go?"

"Until this case is finished, whenever that will be. I doubt you'll get to drive again, Perry."

"My doctor said we'll make a choice in a few weeks."

Then Hamilton left because there was nothing else to say.

"Sorry, Perry. Things will get better after you and your mother wouldn't have 24 hour protection," Paul told him.

"This hasn't been the first time about the case."

"Of course not. Benson gave me a warning for you to know," Paul said, remembering the dinner date they had a while ago.

"I'll tell my mother tonight."

"She needs to know, Perry," Della agreed.

"That means we have that friend of yours in the courtroom, Della, that means we will still have those police officers," Perry replied.

"Yes."

Now he was getting the idea. Ada wouldn't like it either, and he knew that for sure.

Note: Thank you for saying something about Perry being a little religious, which I didn't know.