Mason, beating a hasty retreat, said, Look around, Della. Just be sure theres no one here. Try the closets even under the bed.
Chief, Della Street exclaimed apprehensively, you dont think that? She checked herself and hurried towards the closet.
Mason returned to the parlor and seated himself.
Some two minutes later, Della Street returned and shook her head.
Look everyplace? Mason asked.
Everywhere.
The bathroom?
Yes.
All right, Mason said, indicating a door at the other side of the parlor. Theres another bedroom there. Try that.
Della Street hurriedly opened the door, this time without knocking, again made an exploration and returned. No one, she said.
Della Street hurriedly opened the door, this time without knocking, again made an exploration and returned. No one, she said.
No wheelchair?
She shook her head.
How many suitcases? Mason asked.
I didnt notice particularly. I think there are... wait a minute, let me think. Thats right, two suitcases and a bag.
Mason said, I guess we wait.
Della Street seated herself. Couldnt we ask the elevator operators? she asked.
We could, Mason said, but we wont. Not right at the moment.
One would have thought shed have left a note, Della Street said.
Well, Mason said, she left the door open and He broke off as they heard the sound of voices.
Someone corning down the corridor now, Mason said.
A rather portly woman in the middle forties appeared in the doorway. Behind her was a dapper individual with dark hair, dark eyes, and a short mustache. Behind them were two bellboys with bags.
Mason got to his feet.
I beg your pardon, the woman said. I thought this was Amelia Cornings suite.
It is, Mason said. We are waiting for her.
She isnt here?
Not at the moment, Mason said. We had an appointment and found the door open. We assumed it was an invitation to come in and be seated. Permit me to introduce myself. Im Perry Mason, an attorney, and this is Miss Street, my secretary. And you are...?
Im Sophia Elliott, she said. Im Amelias sister. And this is Alfredo Gomez, her business agent.
Oh, yes, Mason said affably. I understand she was expecting you. She told me over the phone you were arriving, but I didnt think you were corning until later.
We found we could catch an earlier plane, Sophia Elliott said, and turned to the bellboy. All right, she said, just bring the suitcases in.
Alfredo Gomez, slim-waisted, quick, and catlike in his motions, came forward to bow low in front of Della Street, holding her hand in his for a moment, then crossed over to shake hands with Perry Mason.
With much pleasure, he said.
Della Street glanced quickly at Perry Mason.
I presume you talked with Miss Corning over the phone from Miami? Mason said.
We sent her a wire, Sophia Elliott said.
Is it Miss or Mrs. Elliott? Mason asked.
Its Mrs. Elliott! she snapped. And Im a widow, if its any of your business which it isnt.
Mason said, I am representing a client who has had some dealings with Miss Corning, and Miss Corning asked me to meet her here. Mason looked at his watch and said, Nearly ten minutes ago.
Well, if she told you to be here ten minutes ago and she isnt here, she isnt intending to meet you here, Sophia Elliott said. She keeps her watch accurate to the second and when she makes an appointment she keeps it. Now, where are we going to put these things?
The question was addressed not to Mason but to the bellboy.
There are two bedrooms in the suite, one of the boys said.
Sophia Elliott strode across the parlor to the bedroom door on the north, pushed it open, looked inside, came back to the parlor and without a word strode across to the other door, pushed it open, looked around, came back and said, All right, Alfredo, you take that bedroom. Have the boy put your bags in there. There are twin beds in this other bedroom. Ill move in with Amelia.
Alfredo Gomez bowed his acquiescence, indicated a suitcase and a bag. Those are mine, he said to the bellboy in a somewhat stilted English that was pronounced quite distinctly and without accent.
The bellboys took the baggage into the bedrooms. Sophia Elliott supervised the placing of the baggage in the one bedroom but Alfredo Gomez stood waiting, silently watchful while the boy deposited his bags in the other room.
Sophia Elliott returned, said to Gomez, Tip the boys.
Gomez reached in his pocket, pulled out a roll of bills.
Thats Brazilian money. Its no good here, Sophia Elliott said.
Gomez let his white teeth flash in a smile at the bellboys as he replaced the currency in his pocket, reached into another pocket, took out a billfold and solemnly extracted a dollar bill which he tendered to one of the bellboys.
Thats not enough, Sophia Elliott said.
Gomez took out two more bills.
Thats too much, the woman remarked. Give each of them one dollar.
Gomez gravely complied.
The bellboys, with impassive faces, muttered their thanks and left the room.
I gathered, Mason said to Sophia Elliott, that your wire came as something of a surprise to Miss Corning.
She pivoted slowly to regard Mason with an appraisal which lacked cordiality.
You say youre an attorney?
Yes.
Representing my sister?
No, representing someone who has business dealings with your sister.
Were you invited in here?
I was told to be here at seven-thirty.
Thats not answering my question. Were you specifically invited in here? I mean, right here in this room?
We found the door standing wide open, Mason said. I took that as a silent invitation.
What time is it now?
Nearly seven forty-five.
All right, Sophia Elliott said. She isnt here, she didnt leave any note for you. Ill tell her you called. If she wants to see you again shell send for you.
I beg your pardon, Mason said. No one sends for me. I am an attorney.
Alfredo Gomez came gliding up to stand at Sophia Elliotts side.
She sent for you this time, didnt she?
She asked me to call and I agreed to be here.
All right. If youre so touchy about it, Sophia Elliott said, if she wants to see you again shell ask for you to call and you can agree to be here. Thats all now. Im moving in.
She walked over to stand by the door, holding it open.
Mason bowed. It was a very great pleasure to meet both of you, he said, and stood aside for Della Street to precede him into the corridor.
Humph! Sophia Elliott grunted.
And, Mason said, you might tell Miss Corning that if she wishes to see me, I will be in my office at nine-thirty tomorrow and she can telephone for an appointment.
They stepped out into the corridor and Sophia Elliott pushed the door shut.
Della Street raised quizzical eyebrows.
The lawyer smiled, took Della Streets arm, and started with her towards the elevator.
What one would call a rather dominating personality, Mason said.
That, Della Street observed, is quite an understatement. One wonders how Amelia Corning reacts to all this.
One really wonders, Mason said. Quite apparently she didnt send for her sister and the dashing Alfredo. They came of their own accord and presumably at their own invitation, and quite probably to protect their own interests.
Evidently didnt want Miss Money Bags out of their sight, Della Street said.
Mason rang for the elevator. One would gather that Miss Cornings sister has all the answers. Notice that she didnt ask the bellboy to put the bags in the parlor until Amelia Corning showed up. She simply moved right in.
And proceeded to take charge, Della Street said.
The elevator cage slid to a stop and the door opened.
Where now? she asked.
Now, Mason said, we are going to see our client, Susan Fisher.
Chapter 8
Perry Mason rang the chimes in Susan Fishers apartment and received no answer.
He frowned at Delia Street, tried the door. The door was locked. Again he sounded the chimes.
I cant understand it, Mason said. I told her to stay in her apartment and be where she could be reached instantly on the telephone.
What do you suppose has happened? Della Street asked.
Whatever it was, Mason said, it was something of sufficient importance to cause her to break the promise she made me and... unless, of course, she was confronted with some emergency and called Paul Drake. Lets see if she left a message there.
They went back down to the ground floor, found a telephone booth and called Drake.
Perry Mason, the lawyer said. What have you heard from Susan Fisher anything?
She telephoned at six oclock, Drake said. She told me that something had come up which was so exceedingly confidential she didnt dare breathe a word of it, but that she was going to have to be out for a while. She asked me to relay the message to you.
Did you try to pump her to find out what it was?
Yes, but I couldnt get to first base. She was evidently in a breathless hurry. She said to tell you things were going to be all right and for you not to worry.
Okay, Mason said. Ill keep in touch with you. Shell let you know when she gets back.
The lawyer hung up the telephone, emerged from the booth and shook his head in response to Della Streets unspoken question. Shes gone out, he said. She left rather a cryptic message for Paul Drake. He said she was in a breathless hurry. Under the circumstances, Della, I guess we go and eat. Everybody seems to be standing us up tonight.
Those, Della Street announced, are words that ring musical chimes in my brain. Those words tinkle upon my eardrums with the effect of music we eat.
Mason said, Well, well do it on the installment plan, Della. I notice theres a cocktail lounge a couple of blocks down the street. Well go down there, have a cocktail, then get back here in about twenty minutes, check on our client once more and then if she isnt in well go get a nice dinner.
Della Street said, May I offer an amendment?
What is it?
Long experience with you has taught me that the bird in the hand is far, far better than two in the bush. In place of having a cocktail now and eats later, lets forget the cocktail and put in the half-hour at the restaurant around the corner. I would much prefer digesting a meat loaf in my stomach than to get through until midnight on the promise of a filet mignon. Meat is more nourishing than words.
Okay, Mason said, laughing, but I want to be back here within thirty minutes at the outside. Theres something about this case which worries me.