This things been worrying me for a long while, Lowry admitted.
Thanks a lot, Mason told him. It was awfully nice meeting you.
Lowry watched Mason and Della Street as they walked back to the service station.
Thanks, Della, Mason said, you pulled that one out of the fire very nicely. That was good psychology, telling him that hed bought Endicott Campbell as a partner... How did you think of that approach?
Im darned if I know, Chief, Della Street said. It just popped into my head since he was the outdoor mining type.
I think I need your head along with me all the time, Mason told her.
Its a good idea, Della Street said. Its available. What do we do now?
Now, Mason said, we beat it back to Los Angeles. But first we get Paul Drake on the telephone. We concentrate on Endicott Campbell. We also find out all we can about this Corning Affiliated Enterprises. And Im afraid were not going to find out very much.
Chapter 7
From a telephone booth at Lancaster, Mason called Paul Drake.
Put a tail on Endicott Campbell, Mason instructed. This thing is even bigger than I thought it was, Paul, and somehow I have a feeling its deadly dangerous. Get a tail on Campbell and try and find out where that son of his is.
Drake said, Thats going to be a pretty difficult assignment. He anticipated youd be looking for the boy and he planned the cover-up well in advance. When an intelligent man does that, he makes it almost impossible for any private agency to backtrack him. The police might be able to, but it will be a long and expensive job if we do it.
See what you can do anyway, Mason said. Im on my way back to the city. Wait in the office for me. I want to see you when I arrive.
What did you do up there any good?
I think so, Mason said.
Lets hope so, Drake told him, because youre sure as hell running up a detective bill, Perry.
My credit still good? Mason asked.
Up to a million, Drake told him.
All right. Keep going, Mason said, and hung up.
He called the number of the Arthenium Hotel so that no one except the exchange operator would know it was a long-distance call and asked to be connected with Amelia Cornings suite.
When he heard her voice on the line, Mason said, This is Perry Mason, Miss Corning. Id like to see you some time in the early part of the evening.
Oh, that will be wonderful, Mr. Mason. I enjoyed talking with you and I think you and that client of yours can do me quite a bit of good. For your information, my talk with Endicott Campbell was not in the least satisfactory.
I see, Mason said noncommittally.
Now, Ive just received a wire that my sister and my Brazilian agent have left Miami and are due to arrive here on the ten twenty-five plane. Id like to see you before they arrive... could you run up now?... Where are you?
It would be inconvenient for me to come up right now, Mason said, without divulging his location, but how would seven-thirty do?
Id like to see you before that but I realize, of course, that youre a very busy man. Im going to do something rather nice for that Susan Fisher. I have come to the conclusion that... well, Id better tell you that personally when I see you. And youll bring your secretary with you?
Yes, indeed, Mason said.
Well, just come right up. Dont bother to be announced. Ill be expecting you at seven-thirty.
At seven-thirty, Mason said.
Theres one thing perhaps I should tell you, Mr. Mason. Im a demon for being prompt. If you can be here at seven-thirty well fix that time. If theres any question about it, well make it seven forty-five.
Seven-thirty will be all right, Mason told her. Ill be there.
Thank you, Mr. Mason. Goodbye.
Mason returned to the car, said to Della Street, We have a date at seven-thirty on the button with Amelia Corning. Paul is putting a tail on Endicott Campbell.
How did Endicott Campbell get along with Amelia Corning? Any clues? she asked.
More than clues, Mason told her. Miss Corning didnt make any bones about it. She said the interview was highly unsatisfactory.
Della Street grinned. I just had a feeling that fellow was going to overreach himself.
He can still make trouble, Mason said. Were going to have to move right along, Della, and Miss Corning emphasized particularly that she wanted her appointments kept on the dot. By the way, her sister and her business agent have flown up from South America. They wired her from Miami and theyre corning in on the ten twenty-five plane.
Then the net is closing around Endicott Campbell, Della Street said.
It could be closing, Mason said. But dont ever discount a man of that type. Hes ingenious, clever, daring, and he very probably has been anticipating a situation of this sort for some time and has planned ahead.
But what good do his plans do him? Della said. Sure, he had his getaway money all neatly tucked into a shoe box and then his son took it and gave it to Susan Fisher.
And then what happened to it? Mason asked.
Well, Della Street said, either the person who was impersonating Amelia Corning got it, or...
Go ahead, Mason said, as she paused.
Or, she said, Endicott Campbell went back to the safe and got it... Of course he did, Chief.