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.