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.