The Case of the Phantom Fortune

Chapter 15

Mason didn't spare the time to gethis car out of the parking lot. He hailed a taxicab, jumped in and said,"Get me to 2420 Bridamoore just as fast as you can make it."

"Hang on," the driversaid. "I'll get you there fast."

"All right," Mason toldhim. "It's an emergency. There's a twenty-dollar tip for scaring me halfto death."

The driver grinned, concentrated ontraffic, whipping his car through every opening, racing for the signals.

As they turned into Bridamoore,Mason heaved a sigh of relief as he saw Della Street's car parked in front of the building butno police cars.

The lawyer tossed the taxi driver atwenty and a ten, said, "Keep the change. It was worth it. Thanks,"and dashed for the house.

"Want me to wait?" thedriver asked.

Mason waved his hand in a gesture ofdismissal, tried the front door. It was open. The lawyer walked in."Hello, Della!" he called. "This way Chief," he heardDella's voice saying. Mason ran through the reception hall, across theliving-room into a den.

Della Street was seated, with a tearful Lorna Warrenregarding her hopelessly.

"Look," Mason said."Look and listen. We haven't much time. Now, get this straight. Yourhusband has been arrested for the murder of Collister Gideon. They may not beable to make a case if he doesn't say anything and you don't say anything.They're going to have to prove motivation. Now, you're going to have to tell afib. You're going to have to tell the officers that your husband asked you notto talk about anything, that it was absurd to think that he would be chargedwith murder, and that your best course was that of dignified silence.

"If the officers can ever provethat you knew Gideon, or ever worked with him, they'll have a motivation and -"

"Don't I have to answerquestions?"

"You can't testify against yourhusband," Mason said. "Tell them, that after they turn your husbandloose you'll talk, but that while your husband is in custody you're not goingto tell them one word."

"To think," she saidtearfully "that I thought this Gideon was such a gentleman … Mr Mason,the man turned out to be a monster … At one time he had me completelyhypnotized. I thought he was one of the most wonderful men in the world, one ofthe most wonderful thinkers, a shrewd businessman, a gentleman, an idealist, a- "

"Save it," Mason said, asthe doorbell rang. "That'll be Lieutenant Tragg. Remember now, if theyever get any suspicion of the truth, they'll prove motivation. I don't wantthat to happen. If they ask to take your fingerprints, tell them you'll do itwith my consent. Now, tell me, was he dead when you were there, or alive?"

"He was alive and terriblyobnoxious."

"Did you take him forty-seventhousand dollars?"

"I took him five thousanddollars, which was all I could raise at the time."

"Did you take custody of theforty-seven thousand or – Hold it, hold it!" Mason said. "Here'sTragg now."

Tragg said, "The front door wasunlocked so I came on in. Well hello, everybody How are you, Mason? I ratherexpected to find you here. Rather fast work. I take it this is MrsWarren?"

"That's right," Masonsaid. "This is Mrs Horace Warren. And for your information, Lieutenant, aslong as her husband is in custody she doesn't have a word to say toofficers."

"Why not?"

"Because," Mason said,"you wouldn't be interested in anything that was in favour of thedefendant and under the law she can't testify to anything against him."

"Tut-tut-tut," Tragg said."That's quite a technicality. You know as well as I do, Mason, that we'rejust investigating the crime at this stage of the proceedings. If she can tellus anything in her husband's favour, we'll not only believe it but we'll act onit."

"She doesn't know athing," Mason said

"Well," Tragg said,"we could question her here and excuse you and Della Street, or we can take her to the districtattorney's office."

"You can't take her anywherewithout a warrant," Mason said, "and you can't force me toleave."

Tragg's eyes narrowed. "Onewould almost think that she knows something," he said.

"She knows how foolish you areto be trying to work up a case against her husband," Mason said. "Ihave just told her that her husband was arrested and charged with murder."

"Oh, leave it to you,"Tragg said. "You'd tell her all right. You must have broken all speed lawsgetting here. We moved right along. I just had to have a few words with HoraceWarren alter you left him, to see if he was going to make any statements, and Ihad some chores to do at the scene of the crime.

"It would be a lot better forboth Mr and Mrs Warren if they'd make a frank statement. I'm free to tell you,Mason, that as a veteran homicide investigator, they don't impress me as beingthe type that would be mixed up with murder… Tell me, Mrs Warren, have youbeen in the vicinity of Clovina and Hendersell Streets today?"

"She's making no comment,"Mason said. "Mrs Warren, I instruct you to say 'no comment' to anyquestion that Lieutenant Tragg may ask you."

"Well now," Tragg said,"that looks very much as though she had been down there. That complicatesthe situation somewhat."

"No comment," Mrs Warrensaid.

Tragg looked at her. "You're anapt pupil."

"No comment."

"Aren't you interested insaving your husband the publicity and the humiliation of being a defendant in amurder case?"

"No comment."

Mason grinned.

Tragg frowned and got to his feet."All right, Mason," he said. "You win this round. This is onlythe opening part of the fight. We're feeling each other out. Later on I thinkyou'll be on the ropes, fighting to keep on your feet. I think you're mixed inthis pretty much yourself."

"No comment," Mason said.