What name was given? Mason asked.
She told the operator it was a Miss Smith calling.
I wonder if the police have that, Mason said.
No, I dont think so, Perry.
Masons eyes narrowed. Now we know why Lowry drove into town. He drove in to meet somebody. It was a matter of major importance because he must have left the minute he got that telephone call. He must have been right behind us on the road.
And Susan Fisher picked up Amelia Corning there in the alley, Drake said, and went off with her, then picked up Ken Lowry. We know what happened to Lowry... Good heavens, Perry, this woman must be a fiend. In order to cover a defalcation of a large sum of money shes committed two murders and
Now, wait a minute, Mason interrupted. Lets not condemn her of two murders before we know what the evidence is. She tells me that she absolutely did not have Ken Lowry in the car with her that night; that she had never met Ken Lowry; that she doesnt know what he looks like; and she tells me that she didnt pick up Amelia Corning there in the alley.
Phooey! Drake said. Theres too much evidence against her. My gosh, Perry, but youre an optimistic fighter. Almost anyone else I know of would have folded right there in court this morning with all this irrefutable evidence corning in... Gosh, you could see Hamilton Burger just sitting there and beaming. This is one case that he has dead open-and-shut and he had to come to court personally so that he could have his picture in the papers when Mason loses a case.
We wont be losing a case, Mason said. This is just a preliminary hearing. The only purpose is to determine whether there is sufficient evidence that a crime has been committed and evidence that tends to connect the defendant with the commission of the crime.
I know, Drake said, you can explain it with all the legal technicalities you want, but remember in the popular mind its a case, and one that youve lost.
He hasnt lost it yet, Paul, Della Street said sharply, looking at her watch. Hes got an hour and thirty minutes before hes lost anything.
Mason said, There are certain things about this case that puzzle me.
Such as what? Drake asked.
Oh, the way this woman acted who showed up at the airport Saturday morning... Of course, that was an unusual procedure, sitting there in a wheelchair with her baggage all around her... I wish we could find out more about that woman.
She was a ringer, Paul Drake said.
But a clever ringer, Mason pointed out, and she was very adept at the use of a wheelchair. She could send it whizzing around...
How do you know? Drake asked.
Susan Fisher described it to me in detail, Mason said.
Drakes smile was skeptical. I wouldnt build any hopes or any case on anything that was said by Sue Fisher, he said. Personally, I think the girl is deranged somewhere. Shes probably some kind of congenital psychopath.
What additional evidence does the prosecution have? Della Street asked.
Only the murder weapon, Mason said. Theyll put that in, theyll tie that up with Susan Fisher, and then theyll rest.
Are you going to put on any evidence?
I dont think so, Mason said. Theres no use putting on Susan Fisher and letting her deny all this stuff.
You try to put her on the stand and Hamilton Burger will rip her to pieces on cross-examination, Drake warned. Thats why Burger is sitting so smugly in court. If you dont put your client on hes going to have the credit of winning a case in which youve fallen flat on your face. If you do put her on hes going to be the one who rips her to shreds.
Ordinarily, Mason said, theres nothing to be gained by putting a defendant on the stand in a preliminary hearing but... Hang it, I wish I knew something more about that ringer who took the part of Amelia Corning.
She went to the Union Station, Drake said, and simply disappeared. She didnt go out in any taxicab. Therefore she must have gone out in a private car. Someone was there waiting for her, and she probably simply took off her dark blue glasses, got up out of the wheelchair, folded the wheelchair, and walked around just like any other normal human being.
Abruptly Mason snapped his fingers.
What? Drake asked.
Theres one thing you didnt try, Mason said.
What?
Chartered limousines.
What do you mean?
For a short trip you take a taxicab, Mason said. For a long trip you charter a limousine with a driver. Ring up your office, Paul. Get them to cover the different limousine services. See if they received a call on Saturday afternoon after five oclock to make a trip to Mojave.
To Mojave?
Mason nodded.
Why Mojave? Drake asked.
Mason, suddenly excited, got up from his chair and began pacing the floor. Ive got an idea, Paul, he said. Its a terrific idea.
You mean that there never was any other woman? That your client, Sue Fisher, was the one who was masquerading as Amelia Corning and she removed the make-up and
Get your office on the phone, Mason interrupted him impatiently. Have them cover the limousine services.
Drake put through the telephone call, instructed his office to cover the situation, then hung up the telephone.