The Case of the Phantom Fortune

Chapter 13

Della Street looked up in surprise as Mason entered theoffice.

"What's the matter, didn't youget down there?" she asked.

"I got down there," Masonsaid, "and I got back. Now I'm waiting for a telephone call."

Della raised inquiring eyebrows.

"I think," Mason said,"we'll have a call from Horace Warren within a short time. He'll want meto represent him on a charge of murder."

"Murder!" Della echoed.

"That's right," Masonsaid. "Apparently he got down to Gideon before I did. He had the same ideaI did, that in dealing with a blackmailer there were only three possiblechannels of approach – and one of them is to kill him."

"And you mean Warren decided to kill him?"

"Apparently Warren thought he could get away with it,"Mason said, "and he might have if it hadn't been for that damned firealarm we turned in."

"Oh-oh," Della Street said.

"He and Gideon were probablyalone," Mason said. "They had a showdown. Warren killed him, and I can't blame him very muchfor that. But then he heard the sirens of the fire department and was trappedin the building. They caught him red-handed."

"What about Mrs Warren?"

"She had either been therebefore we sewed the building up with the fire alarm, or else she didn't getthere until afterwards. And of course at that time the building was underpolice guard.

"She's smart enough to havespotted the uniformed police there and gone on home. Now, Della, that's whereyou come in. Get in your car, go out to the house. See if Mrs Warren is home.If she is, deliver your message. If she isn't, wait until she gets home andtell her not to say a word to anyone about anything. Simply state that she ismaking no comment about anything until she has had a chance to talk with anattorney."

"With you?" Della asked.

"You don't have to say withme," Mason said. "I'd prefer you didn't. She can simply tell thepolice that she wants to talk with an attorney. I think I'm going to berepresenting her husband."

"But if they caught himred-handed," Della Street ventured, "what can you -"

"I don't know," Masonsaid. "But Gideon was certainly asking for it."

The telephone rang.

Della picked up the telephone, said,"Yes, Gertie … Yes, Mr Mason will talk."

She turned. "Horace Warrennow," she said.

Mason picked up the telephone."Yes, Warren."

"I'm being held on a charge ofmurder. They say I have a right to telephone an attorney and -"

"I'll be there within fifteenminutes," Mason said. "Don't tell them anything. You understand? Notone single damned thing."

"I understand."

"I'll be there," Masonsaid.