Now, why would she have done that? It would have been far more logical for her to have left the baggage stored in the baggage room until she had her transportation ready and then shed let the porter take it out to the place where her transportation was waiting.
The idea of a woman sitting right in the middle of the lobby in a wheelchair with baggage piled around her and that baggage ostentatiously plastered with labels of South American hotels indicates that she was very, very anxious to have you identify her the moment you walked in and to take her for granted.
That thing bothered me, Mason said, when you told me about it. But afterwards, after you described her character, I came to the conclusion she might be just the sort of person who would insist on keeping her baggage under her eye, so I tried to dismiss the thought from my mind. However, thats one of the reasons Ive been worried about this case.
Then you yourself feel the woman was an impostor?
I dont know, Mason said. I do know that from the minute you told me about her sitting there in the airport with the luggage around her I began to consider that as a possibility.
Now, if shes an impostor, you must admit she made a pretty good haul. She got away with a lot of incriminating evidence against Endicott Campbell, which would give her good grounds for blackmail, and she probably got away with a shoe box containing heaven knows how many thousands of dollars and
Mason was interrupted by a half-scream of apprehension. Susan Fisher, her face white, her eyes wide, pressed knuckles to her mouth. There was no mistaking the expression of utter dismay on her face.
So you see, Mason said, I didnt want to talk fees for a while. I wanted to find out what this was all about. And I dont want you to get trapped so there isnt any avenue of escape.
Sue Fisher managed to blurt out, What do you mean about your premise being wrong?
Mason said, Lets assume that this woman who had been posing as Amelia Corning was an impostor. Lets assume she went to the ladies room, stepped out of the wheelchair, took off the dark glasses, then walked back out to the entrance not as a helpless cripple, but as a vigorous woman.
And someone met her? Sue Fisher asked.
Someone must have met her, Mason said. Someone who opened the lockers, took out the suitcases, put them in a car, folded the wheelchair, put it in the trunk of the car, then drove the woman who had been posing as Miss Corning out into the city where there is nothing to distinguish one middle-aged woman from a million others.
She must have taken that box, Sue Fisher said in a dismayed whisper.
She certainly could have, Mason said. Now then, Miss Fisher, I want you to go home. I want you to try not to worry. In the event there are any developments of any nature that have any bearing on the case, I want you to call the Drake Detective Agency and leave a message.
Mason arose, put his hand on her arm, led her gently to the door. You can get home all right?
She said, Of course. All I do is get on a bus, then walk three blocks, and Im home.
Three blocks? Mason asked.
She nodded.
How much money do you have?
Oh, I have some money left over from what Miss Corning gave me. Did you want a retainer?
No, Mason said. I want you to treat yourself to a taxicab. Have it deposit you right at the door of your apartment. Dont leave your apartment at night under any circumstances until after you have called Paul Drake and cleared with him.
The lawyer walked down the corridor with her to the elevators. After she had taken the elevator, he turned back to Paul Drakes office. There was no longer any reassuring smile on his face as he faced the detective.
Okay, Paul, he said, keep your men on at the depot, but get some additional men down at the airport. Keep them there.
Drake frowned. You mean you expect Miss Corning to show up down there?
Mason nodded.
You think she took a cab to the depot, then detoured back to the airport, and is leaving...?
Hell, no, Mason said. I think shes corning.
It took a moment for the significance of what Mason said to dawn on the detective. Then he said, Oh-oh! What a mess this is going to be!
Mason said, Apparently the route shell use is to fly to Miami, then take a plane from Miami here. Thats the route this other woman claimed she took, so thats probably the route Miss Corning is going to take. Shell clear with Immigration and Customs at Miami, then come on through here.
You get men to cover the airport and let me know the minute she arrives and I mean the minute she arrives here no matter what hour of the day or night. I dont want her to have an opportunity to get near a telephone or do anything before I see her. Have one of your men approach her, tell her that hes been assigned to meet her. He doesnt need to say whether its the company that has given him the instructions. He can just make the general statement that hes been assigned to meet her. He can say hell escort her to the hotel. Then have him get me on the phone right away.
Youll go to the airport? Drake asked.
There wont be time, Mason said. Ill be waiting at the Arthenium Hotel when she arrives.
And what about Endicott Campbell?
Endicott Campbell is making this a battle of wits, Mason said. If he can anticipate whats going to happen he can meet us on an equal footing. Otherwise, Im going to talk with her first.
And Susan Fisher? Drake asked.
Within two hours after Miss Corning shows up, Mason said, Sue Fisher will be arrested for embezzlement of probably as much as a hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Shell be charged with having spirited away the books and vouchers of the corporation so that there cant be any actual audit, and be in trouble up to her neck.
Drake thought that over for a minute, then lugubriously shook his head. And even you cant think up any defense thatll get her out of that trap, he said.
Dont be too sure, Paul, Mason told him. You start running interference and Ill carry the ball. But I want some damn good interference. Now get started.
Chapter 4
Sunday morning at eleven-thirty Masons unlisted phone rang and Paul Drakes voice came over the wire.
Okay, Perry, you win.
Shes here?
At the airport. My mans getting things all lined up for her and hes going to take her to the Arthenium in an agency car.
Okay, Paul, thanks, Mason said. Im on my way.
You want me there?
No. Ring up Dellas apartment, ask her to get there as fast as she can. Tell her to bring a notebook and her feminine charm. Something seems to tell me this woman may be a little suspicious of men, but Della should be able to win her over. At least she can try.
Okay, Drake said. Ill wish you luck, Perry.
Ill need it, the lawyer said.
Mason called Susan Fishers apartment. Im just alerting you, he said.
For what?
To be ready for action.
What sort of action?
I may want you to go someplace.
All right, she told him, Ill be ready. Anything you say, Mr. Mason.
Keep near the telephone and be dressed to go out, Mason said, and hung up. He got his car from the garage, drove to the Arthenium Hotel and waited for fifteen minutes before Drakes detective showed up solicitously squiring an angular woman in a wheelchair, a woman who wore glasses with large blue lenses, who had high cheekbones, a prominent jaw, and a firm mouth.
Mason approached the woman. Miss Corning? he asked.
She raised her head and moved it from side to side, peering from behind the heavy blue glasses, trying to get some picture of the man whose voice she had heard.
Then, after a moment, she answered shortly, Im Miss Corning. What is it you want?
Im Perry Mason, the lawyer said. Im an attorney and I want to talk with you on a matter of the greatest importance, a matter concerning your holdings here. I think its quite important that you hear what I have to say before you get in touch with anyone.
She hesitated a moment, then said, Very well, Ill be glad to hear what you have to say, Mr. Mason. I believe a suite has been arranged for me here. At least thats the information Ive been given by wire.
I understand your company is expecting you, Mason said.
Well, they did a better job of it than I thought they could. But I still dont know how they found out when I was corning. I am not scheduled to appear officially until tomorrow. However, the trip up is a long, hard one and I decided Id get here a day early, just stretch my weary bones out, and rest.
Drakes operative, who had approached the desk, came over to the wheelchair with a registration card and the desk clerk.
The operative glanced significantly at Mason and said, The hotel wants Miss Cornings personal signature on the registration card.
Certainly, Mason said.
Miss Corning stretched out a bony hand, reached for the card which the clerk was handing her, but her fingers were some six or eight inches over the card.
The clerk tactfully withdrew the card, then pushed it right into her fingers.
Just sign here, the clerk said.
Where? Miss Corning asked, holding the pen.
Right here. The clerk put his hand over hers, touched the pen to the paper, and the woman immediately wrote Amelia Corning in an angular, cramped but legible handwriting.
A bellboy said, Right this way, Miss Corning.
You only have the two suitcases and a handbag? Mason asked.
Good heavens, how much did you expect? Do you know what excess baggage costs on those planes corning up from South America? Its highway robbery... I wish now Id only brought the one bag... of course, comfort is something, but, after all, a dollars a dollar. Now, lets go up and find out what it is you want, Mr... er...
Mason, the lawyer prompted.
Oh, yes, Mason. All right, Im not much good at names but Ill try and remember. You have a nice voice. I think Im going to like you.
The lawyer walked beside the wheelchair as they approached the elevators.
Colton C. Bailey, the house detective, who had evidently been alerted by the clerk, appeared on the scene, shook hands with Mason, said quietly, Introduce me.
Mason said, Miss Corning, may I present Mr. Colton Bailey. Hes connected here with the hotel in an executive capacity and if theres anything you want hell be only too glad to try and see that you are accommodated.