The Case of the Phantom Fortune

Chapter 1

Della Street, Perry Mason's confidential secretary said,"Mr Horace Warren, an executive type who seems accustomed to getting whathe wants, is anxiously and impatiently waiting in the outer office."

"And what," Perry Masonasked, "does Horace Warren wish to consult me about?"

"That," Della said,"is a mystery"

"Well?" Mason asked."What's the mystery"?"

"All he'll tell me is that he'swilling to pay five hundred dollars to have you attend a buffet dinnertonight."

Mason said, "Tell him I'm not apaid entertainer, that I have a busy schedule today, and that I see clientsonly by appointment."

"I don't think that he wantsyou as a social lion," Della said. "He said he would like to have youget a feminine partner of your own choosing, and that he would like to have youobserve a certain person and give him your impression of that person."

Mason regarded Della Street thoughtfully. "Were you by any chancethinking of a buffet dinner?"

She nodded. "Withchampagne," she said.

Mason grinned. "Show Mr HoraceWarren in, Della."

Della Street flashed him a grateful smile, returned tothe outer office and a moment later was back with a man somewhere in his lateforties a man with steady grey eyes that flashed out from under bushy eyebrows.

"Mr Mason," he said,"I'm Horace Warren. I'm a businessman."

Mason smiled slightly "Astudent of character would so classify you."

"And you are a student ofcharacter?"

"Any trial lawyer likes tothink that he is. If he's at all successful he has to be. Won't you beseated?"

Warren sat down across the desk from Mason,regarded him thoughtfully, then leaned forward and put his elbows on the desk.His heavy shoulders and neck gave him an air of belligerency.

"That," he said, "isone of the reasons I came to you."

"What is?"

"That you're a judge ofcharacter. I want you to do some judging."

Mason said, "I take it thatwhat you want is a little unusual?"

"Do you," Warren asked abruptly, veering away from thesubject under discussion, "have some good detective agency that does yourwork?"

"Yes," Mason said,"the Drake Detective Agency, with offices on the same floor of thisbuilding. Paul Drake has done my work for years. He is highly competent andcompletely ethical."

"Does he know fingerprints?"Warren asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Can he classify fingerprintsand match them, things of that sort?"

"He has had some experience incourtroom cases," Mason said warily "He's never qualified as aspecialist in fingerprinting, but he is an expert and in touch with highlycompetent experts."

Warren hesitated a moment, then reached into hiscoat pocket and pulled out a slip of white cardboard. Attached to thiscardboard was a strip of transparent tape, and underneath the transparent tapewere the black whorls of a fingerprint.

"I want you to hire Paul Drakeand have him get busy right away," Warren said. "I want a report by five o'clock this afternoon. It is imperative that Ihave it by that time."

"Why don't you step down thehall and talk with Mr Drake yourself?" Mason asked.

"Because I don't want PaulDrake to know who your client is. I want Paul Drake to follow your instructionsand yours alone."

"Perhaps," Mason said,"you'd better tell me a little more."

"Tonight," Warren said, "my wife and I are giving abuffet dinner for a small, intimate group. There will be not more than sixteenor eighteen people. I want you to attend that dinner and bring with you somefeminine partner, and I want it to appear that your presence is very casual infact, if possible, unexpected.

"The manager of my enterprises,Judson Olney, will ostensibly be the one responsible for bringing you there.Olney will apparently have invited the woman who is with you to come and bringa male escort. You will be the escort she has selected.

"I don't want anyone to suspectyou are there in your professional capacity. You will be prepared for a blacktie, champagne buffet dinner. You will arrive at seven for cocktails, dinnerwill be at eight, and you can leave at ten. That will take three hours. I amprepared to pay five hundred dollars for those three hours, in addition towhatever the charge may be for this consultation, and, of course, whatever yourcosts for the detective agency"

Mason regarded the enigmatic greyeyes thoughtfully. "I don't like to go at things blind," he said.

"This is not the usual type ofcase," Warren hastened to assure him.

"So it would seem," Masontold him. "Now, what's all this about a fingerprint and why do you want adetective agency?"

Warren tapped the cardboard on which appeared thelifted fingerprint. "I want your man to find out to whom that fingerprintbelongs that is, who made it."

Mason shook his head.

"What do you mean, no?" Warren demanded.

"What you are asking is apractical impossibility," Mason said. "While the FBI and the policehave done wonderful work in matching single fingerprints in the cases ofwell-known and much-wanted outlaws, nevertheless single fingerprint identificationis an exceedingly difficult and tedious job, far beyond the range of anydetective agency

"What is not generally realizedis that complete classifications are made through ten fingerprints. Then thosefingerprints are broken down into a code so that the searcher using that codeis limited to a relatively few number of fingerprints from which to make amatch."

"If you had ten fingerprintsyou could tell who the person was?" Warren asked.

"There again, another factorenters into the picture," Mason said. "If the fingerprints of theperson in question are on file in the criminal side of the FBI, we could getsome police officer to make an inquiry for us by wire and get a match. If,however, the fingerprints are not on file in the criminal department, it wouldprobably be impossible because fingerprints which are filed for civilianidentification are considered confidential."

Warren nodded, his eyes half closed as thoughcontemplating some matter entirely disassociated from what Mason was saying.

Then abruptly he got to his feet,took a billfold from his pocket, extracted a cheque and handed it to Mason.

"Here," he said, "isa cheque for a thousand dollars. Five hundred dollars will cover yourattendance at dinner tonight. I have given the address to your secretary. Theother five hundred dollars will act as retainer.

"Now, in strictest confidence Iam going to give you some additional data on that fingerprint."

"It is always advisable to givean attorney all the facts," Mason said dryly

Warren said, "This fingerprint may have beenmade by one of the servants in my house, it may have been made by one of theguests who will be at the dinner tonight, or it may be that it was made by atotal stranger. Would it be possible for your man, Drake, to go through thehouse and get the fingerprints of the servants without their knowing? I believeyou refer to it as developing latent prints."

Mason shook his head. "I don'tthink that would be possible, and if you don't want Drake to know the identityof my client it wouldn't be at all feasible.

"Developing a latent print, MrWarren, is a matter which calls for the use of various coloured powders whichare dusted over the fingerprint Then the developed fingerprint has to bephotographed or, as was done in the case of the fingerprint here, lifted."

"Lifted?" Warren asked. "How is that done?"

"The fingerprint is dusted.Then transparent adhesive tape is placed over the dusted latent fingerprint.The adhesive tape is smoothed carefully so that it covers the entire surface,then it is peeled back off and placed upon a card having an appropriate colourso that the fingerprint will show in contrast.

"For instance, on this cardwhich you have handed me, the fingerprint was dusted with a graphite powdertherefore the print, after it was lifted, was placed upon a card with anoff-white background, which makes it readily visible.

"Now, if Drake were to go toyour house and start lifting fingerprints, he would have to dust varioussurfaces and it would be virtually impossible to remove evidence that he haddusted those surfaces, and complete his search within the allotted time."

"Have you anysuggestions?" Warren asked.

"I have one," Mason said."It might or might not prove effective. It would, however, necessitateDrake knowing the identity of my client and it would be expensive."

"Money is no object," Warren declared. "That is, I don't want to bea pigeon, I don't want to be charged more than the going rate, but when I wantsomething, I want it."

Mason nodded thoughtfully.

"What was your scheme?"

Mason said, "Have a caterer forthis party. Ostensibly, Drake will be the head of the catering service.

"In that way the service willfurnish its own china, its own crystal, its own silverware. Employees of thecatering firm will park a truck in your driveway. That truck will be theheadquarters of the catering service. Apparently dishes, glassware, silverware,etc., will be taken from your house to the truck to be washed. Actually therewill be no washing facilities available but there will be an unlimited supplyof glassware and silverware, which will be replaced from time to time asoccasion demands.

"This catering truck willactually be a portable fingerprint laboratory in which Drake will haveassistants who will develop latent fingerprints on glasses, silverware, etc.,as last as the materials is brought out."

"How much would something ofthis sort cost?" Warren asked.

"It is expensive," Masonsaid. "How many guests do you intend to have at your party?"

"Fifteen," Warren said,"if they all come. My wile and I will make seventeen, and you and yourfriend will make nineteen."

"And what did you intend toserve?"

Warren said, "Champagne, filet mignon, hors d'oeuvres, theworks."

"Catering alone," Masonsaid, "would probably cost you twenty-five to thirty-five dollars aperson. This dummy caterer's truck, which is really a fingerprint laboratorywith several trained assistants, costs live hundred dollars for an evening, inaddition to the catering charge."

"It's available?" Warren asked.

"It's available unless someother detective agency has it tied up for this evening. It is, of course, avery hush-hush service. The public generally knows nothing about it. It is heldin readiness for private detective agencies who are confronted with a problemsomewhat similar to the one we are discussing."

"Get it," Warren said.

"Just a minute," Masonsaid.

He nodded to Della Street, who picked up the telephone and dialedPaul Drakes number.

When he had the detective on theline Mason said, "Paul, I have a very confidential fingerprint job I wantdone tonight. The suspect may or may not be a guest at a champagne buffetdinner. Can you arrange to get the fingerprint truck for tonight?"

"I don't know," Drake toldhim, "but I can find out pretty fast."

"Find out and call meback," Mason said.

"I'll run it down and let youknow," Drake said.

"That's fine," Mason toldhim, and then putting a little more emphasis on the words, said, "find outand call me back just as soon as you get the information, Paul."

"I got you," Drake said."I gotcha the second time anyway. I was a little dense the first lime. I'mto keep away from the office and report by telephone. Right?"

"Right," Mason said,and hung up.

Mason turned to his client."We'll find out in a few minutes whether it's available."

"Now, let me emphasize onething," Warren said. "This is a business party and I want the catering to be veryhigh class. I don't want some detective agency bungling the- "

"The detective service isentirely beside the point," Mason said. "The catering is in the handsof a professional. The detective end is a sideline carried on in one end of thetruck. You will, of course, have to have your driveway kept open so that thetruck can park there. Trained servants who are taught to put everything ontrays will take the things to the house and see that they are not touchedexcept by guests and by your own servants. Then those articles will be removedand sent to the truck, ostensibly to be washed. Actually they will be given theclosest fingerprint examination by well-trained assistants.

"There may be inquiries aboutthe catering service. You will have to say that you hired them because of a recommendationby a friend, and of course under no circumstances can any guest go to the truckto look around."

Warren nodded.

"Now then," Mason said,"specifically what do you want me to do? Suppose we locate thisfingerprint. What then? Do you simply want me to advise you of the identity ofthe person and withdraw, or – "

"No," Warren said, "I've been thinking things over.You'll have to be on your own for a while. There are certain reasons why it'sgoing to be rather difficult for me to be in professional communication withyou, Mason."

"There's always thetelephone," Mason said.

"Unfortunately I have very fewmoments when people are not with me," Warren said. "I have a secretary in charge ofappointments. I have a rather elaborate staff."

"Perhaps I can telephoneyou," Mason said, "and we could handle a conversation in such a waythat the comments made at your end of the line would seem to relate to somebusiness matter. In that way I could give you the information -"

"No, no. My calls have to passthrough a switchboard in the office and … I'm going to turn you loose on yourown, Mason."

"Just what do you want?"Mason asked.

"That fingerprint that youhave," Warren said. "I want you to find out who madethat fingerprint. When you find out who made it, I want you to protect my wifeagainst that person. You understand, Mason? No matter who that person may be,no matter how much it may cost in the way of a legitimate fee, I want you toprotect my wife from that person."

"In other words," Masonsaid, "you're reasonably certain that after tonight I'll know who madethat fingerprint. You think the person will be at the buffet dinner."

"I think the person will be atthe buffet dinner."

"And you want me to protectyour wife against that person."

"Yes."

"What measures do I take?"

"Any measures that may benecessary."

"How much expense do Iincur?"

"Any expense within reason. Anyexpense that you can justify as a reasonable expense will be unhesitatinglypaid by me."

"Up to what limit?" Masonasked curiously.

"There is no limit."

"Suppose it should run intoseveral thousands of dollars?"

"I said there is nolimit."

"You have a feeling that yourwife is in danger?"

"I think," Warren said, "that my wife is either in theclutches of a blackmailer or is about to fall into the clutches of ablackmailer."

Mason raised his eyebrows."Legitimate law-abiding citizens are seldom subject to blackmail unless,of course, there is something in the past of such a person that would leave himvulnerable, and I take it that in the case of your wife …"

"Take what?" Warren asked irascibly, as Mason's voice trailedinto silence.

"That there would hardly besuch a past."

"Why not?" Warren rasped.

"Surely," Mason said,"with your social and business position, any woman whom you have marriedwould hardly "

"Stop it!" Warren snapped.

"Stop what?" Mason asked.

"Stop fishing for informationunder the guise of paying me a lot of compliments and putting me in a positionwhere I'll have to make a statement.

"I'm going to make onestatement, Mason. It's the only statement you'll get out of me. The fact thatLorna is my wife doesn't mean a damned thing."

"How long have you beenmarried?" Mason asked.

"We've been married for tenyears. It's been a happy marriage, but she is ten years younger than I am. WhenI married her I was a successful businessman – not a wealthy businessman, but areasonably successful businessman. I didn't inquire into her past. I marriedher because I loved her."

"And because she lovedyou?" Mason asked.

"I don't know," Warren said. "A man never does. I havesometimes thought she married me because she found in me a refuge. I don't knowAnd because I have never asked her, I don't intend to ask you. I don't want youto tell me anything you might find out about her past or her frame of mind,present or past.

"I am retaining you for justone thing. Protect my wile from the person who made that fingerprint. Don'ttell me a damned ' thing about what you find out. Just go ahead and protect herand from time to time send me the bill for what you feel your services areworth."

"That's a rather difficultassignment," Mason said.

"I think you specialize indifficult assignments. I've looked you up one side and down the other."

The unlisted telephone rang. Della Street answered, said, – "Thank you,Paul," and hung up.

She caught Mason's eye and nodded.

Mason said, "The catering truckis available for tonight."

"Good!" Warren exclaimed.

Mason regarded the man thoughtfully.

"What makes you think your wifeis in danger?" he asked.

"My wife," Warren said, "is being blackmailed."

"How do you know?"

"First the tip-off came from mybanker. She has been making withdrawals for a period of more than ninety days.Those withdrawals are large and are in the form of cash."

"And you think she has beenpaying those over to some blackmailer?"

"No, I know she hasn't."

Mason raised his eyebrows.

"To date she has drawn outsomething like forty-seven thousand dollars," Warren said, "and as late as last night shehad that forty-seven thousand dollars intact in a locked suitcase in herbedroom."

"The entire sum?" Masonasked.

"The entire sum."

"How do you know?"

"I made it my business to findout."

"Then," Mason said,"there is another possibility, which is – "

"I know, I know," Warren interrupted. "Which is that my wife isin love with someone else and is intending to run away and leave me.

"Lorna wouldn't do that. Lornaconsented to be my wife ten years ago. At the time there was somethingbothering her. I know that much. She came from New York, she has never talked about her past, shehas never introduced me to a single friend who knew her before she was married.Every friend she has in the world, apparently, is someone with whom she becameacquainted after our marriage."

"In other words, her past issomething of a mystery?"

"Her past is a closedbook," Warren said. "She'd probably tell me if Iasked her. I wouldn't ask her. What you were talking about is whether she wasplanning to run away and leave me. I'm simply telling you Lorna wouldn't dothat. She made her bargain. She'd stay with it if it killed her.

"If something happened and shebecame utterly miserable in our marriage, she might take an overdose ofsleeping pills. I don't know. I want to see that that doesn't happen."

"If what you suspect istrue," Mason said, "I may have to invent some excuse to see a gooddeal of your wife."

"Then go ahead and invent theexcuse."

"And what you want me to do isto -"

Warren interrupted. "Protect my wife from theperson who made that fingerprint."

"At all costs?" Masonasked.

"At all costs, at any cost.There is no limit, but I want her protected from the person who made thatfingerprint. I will expect your detective's catering service to be prepared toserve an excellent champagne buffet dinner tonight, and I will expect you to bethere with some eminently suitable woman who can -"

Mason nodded toward Della Street. "I would have Miss Street with me," he said.

"That's fine," Warren said. "Now, the only person who mighteven faintly suspect there may be a business relationship will be Judson OlneyHe will assume the responsibility for your secretary being there, and she willinvite you to accompany her. Since you are rather well known, it might occur tohim that there is some logical reason for you to be there.

"Olney will adopt the positionof having been a friend of long standing of your secretary, here and since heis a bachelor this will cause no complications.

"He is, I may add," Warren said, "a very eligible bachelor."

"And Olney will know what hehas to do?"

"Olney will only know that hehas to invite your secretary, Miss …"

"Della Street," Mason said.

Warren took a notebook from his pocket, made anote of the name.

"All that Judson will know isthat he is to invite Miss Della Street to the dinner as an old friend, andintroduce her as such. You will be there simply as Miss Street's escort."

"Do you think that will foolanyone?" Mason asked.

"I don't give a damn whether itdoes or not," Warren said. "I can't think of anything else on short notice that willwork any better. In my business I try to plan my activities in the best wayavailable at the moment and then quit worrying about what may happen. After Ihave decided on a course of action I go ahead -full speed. I don't waste timelooking back over my shoulder.

"Now, since this is the lasttime I will see you before you arrive at my home, we have to be sure that wedon't get our wires crossed. Do you have any questions?"

"No," Mason said.

Warren looked at his watch. "I have already usedmuch more than my allotted time. I am going to have to make excuses to accountfor the delay in my appointment schedule."

He pushed back his chair, got to hisfeet, started for the door, turned, faced Mason, and said, "No matter whothat person may be, you are to protect my wife from the person who made thefingerprint on that card."

After the door had clicked shut, Della Street looked at Perry Mason."Intrigue," she said. "I love it."

Mason was frowningly studying thefingerprint on the card.

"Think Drake can matchit?" she asked.

"If the person who made it isthere tonight," Mason said thoughtfully, "Drake should be able tomake a match. Unless, of course, the person becomes suspicious and manages toavoid leaving prints."

"Suspicious?" she asked.

"Because I am there,"Mason said.

Della said, "Well, if I am tobe escorted to a champagne dinner with the four hundred tonight, I should spendwhat time I can get during the noon hour at the beauty shop."

"Take what time you need,"Mason said. "This is business, you know."

Della Street picked up the phone, asked for anappointment at the hairdressers, said, "Just a moment, please," andturned to Perry Mason. "They can take me now if I can come rightaway."

"Go ahead," Mason said."And charge the bill as part of the expense on the case. This is anofficial assignment, you know."

She said into the phone, "Okay,I'll be right down," hung up and turned to Mason. "Somehow I feelrather… well…"

Mason laughed. "You never feelself-conscious when you work until midnight, Della, or when you are called on to workover a weekend. Go ahead and get the works."