esg.thecaseofthevelvetclaws-第29章

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　　〃How　do　you　mean？〃
　　〃What　did　you　do　last　night　after　you　got　back　to　the　room？〃
　　〃Talked　about　the　weather；　of　course。〃
　　〃That's　fine；〃　he　told　her。　〃You　had　some　drinks　sent　up；　and　sat　and　chatted；　and　then　you　got　sleepy　and　went　to　sleep。〃
　　〃Who　says　that？〃　she　asked。
　　〃That's　what　I　say；〃　he　explained；　〃and　that's　what　you're　going　to　say。　You　got　sleepy　and　passed　out。〃
　　Her　eyes　were　thoughtful。　〃How　do　you　mean？〃
　　Mason　spoke　as　though　he　had　been　a　teacher　coaching　a　pupil。　〃You　were　tired　and　you'd　been　drinking。　You　got　into　your　pajamas　and　went　to　sleep　about　eleven…forty；　and　you　don't　know　anything　that　happened　after　that。　You　don't　know　when　Frank　Locke　left。〃
　　〃What　good　does　it　do　me　if　I　say　I　went　to　sleep？〃　she　inquired。
　　Mason's　tone　was　casual。　〃I　think　Mrs。　Belter　would　be　very　much　inclined　to　overlook　the　matter　of　the　embezzled　account　if　you　went　to　sleep　as　I　mentioned。〃
　　〃Well；　I　didn't　go　to　sleep。〃
　　〃You'd　better　think　it　over。〃
　　She　stared　at　him　with　her　big；　appraising　eyes　and　said　nothing。
　　Mason　crossed　to　the　telephone　and　gave　the　number　of　Paul　Drake's　Detective　Agency。
　　〃You　know　who　this　is；　Paul；〃　he　said；　when　he　heard　Drake's　voice。　〃What　have　you　got；　anything？〃
　　〃Yes；〃　said　Drake；　〃I've　got　something　on　the　broad。〃
　　〃Spill　it；〃　said　Mason。
　　〃She　won　a　beauty　contest　in　Savannah；〃　said　Drake。　〃She　was　under　age　at　the　time。　There　was　another　kid　living　with　her　in　an　apartment。　A　man　got　the　kid　in　a　jam；　and　then　killed　her。　He　tried　to　cover　up　the　crime　and　made　a　bum　job　of　it。　He　was　arrested　and　tried。　This　girl　switched　her　testimony　at　the　last　minute　and　gave　him　a　break。　He　got　a　hung　jury　on　the　first　trial；　and　managed　to　escape　before　they　tried　him　again。　He's　still　a　fugitive　from　justice。　His　name　is　Cecil　Dawson。　I'm　looking　him　up　for　description　and　fingerprints；　and　any　more　dope　I　can　get。　I　have　an　idea　that　he　may　be　the　man　you　want。〃
　　〃Okay；〃　Mason　said；　as　though　he　had　expected　just　that。　〃That　es　in　pretty　handy　right　now。　Stay　with　it；　and　I'll　get　in　touch　with　you　a　little　later。〃
　　He　hung　up　the　telephone　and　turned　back　to　the　girl。
　　〃Well；〃　he　asked；　〃what　is　it；　yes　or　no？〃
　　〃No；〃　she　said。　〃I　told　you　that　before；　and　I　don't　change　my　mind。〃
　　He　stared　at　her；　steadily。　〃You　know；　the　funny　part　of　it　is；〃　he　said；　slowly；　〃that　it　goes　farther　back　than　just　the　blackmail。　It　goes　back　to　the　time　that　you　changed　your　testimony；　and　gave　Dawson　an　opportunity　to　get　a　hung　jury。　When　he's　brought　back　and　tried　on　that　murder　charge；　the　fact　that　you　have　been　here　with　him　and　taking　these　checks　from　him　will　put　you　in　kind　of　a　tough　spot　on　a　perjury　prosecution。〃
　　Her　face　lost　its　color。　Her　eyes　were　big；　dark　and　staring。　Her　mouth　sagged　open　and　she　breathed　heavily　through　it。
　　〃My　God！〃　she　said。
　　〃Exactly；〃　said　Mason。　〃You　were　asleep　last　night。〃
　　She　kept　her　eyes　on　him　and　asked；　〃Would　that　square　it？〃
　　〃I　don't　know；〃　Mason　told　her。　〃It　would　square　things　at　this　end。　I　don't　know　whether　anybody's　going　to　make　a　squawk　about　the　Georgia　business　or　not。〃
　　〃All　right。　I　was　asleep。〃
　　Mason　got　up　and　moved　toward　the　door。
　　〃You　want　to　remember　that；〃　he　said。　〃Nobody　knows　about　this　except　me。　If　you　tell　Locke　that　I　was　here；　or　the　proposition　I　made　you；　I'll　see　that　you　get　the　works　everywhere　along　the　line。〃
　　〃Don't　be　silly；〃　she　said。　〃I　know　when　I've　had　enough。〃
　　He　walked　out　and　closed　the　door　behind　him。
　　He　got　in　his　car　and　drove　to　Sol　Steinburg's　Pawnshop。
　　Steinburg　was　fat；　with　shrewd；　twinkling　eyes；　a　skull　cap；　and　thick；　curling　lips；　which　were　twisted　in　a　perpetual　smile。
　　He　beamed　on　Perry　Mason；　and　said；　〃Well；　well；　well。　It's　been　a　long　time　since　I've　seen　you；　my　friend。〃
　　Mason　shook　hands。　〃It　certainly　has；　Sol。　And　now　I'm　in　trouble。〃
　　The　pawnbroker　nodded　and　rubbed　his　hands　together。
　　〃Whenever　they　get　in　trouble；〃　he　said；　〃they　e　to　Sol　Steinburg's　place。　What　is　your　trouble；　my　friend？〃
　　〃Listen；〃　said　Mason；　〃I　want　you　to　do　something　for　me。〃
　　The　skull　cap　nodded　in　vigorous　assent。
　　〃I'd　do　anything　I　could　for　you；　y'understand。　Of　course；　business　is　business。　And　if　it's　a　business　matter；　you've　got　to　e　to　me　on　a　business　basis；　and　take　business　treatment。　But　if　it　ain't　business　y'understand；　I'd　do　anything　I　could。〃
　　Mason's　eyes　twinkled。　〃It's　business　for　you；　Sol；〃　he　said；　〃because　you're　going　to　make　fifty　dollars　out　of　it。　But　you　don't　have　to　invest　anything。〃
　　The　fat　man　broke　out　in　laughter。
　　〃That；〃　he　proclaimed；　〃is　the　kind　of　business　I　like　to　talk…when　I　don't　have　to　invest　anything；　and　make　a　fifty　dollar　profit　already；　I　know　it's　a　good　business。　What　do　I　do？〃
　　〃Let　me　see　the　register　of　revolvers　you've　sold；〃　Mason　told　him。
　　The　man　fished　under　a　counter　and　produced　a　well…thumbed　booklet；　in　which　had　been　registered　the　style　and　make　of　the　weapon；　the　number；　the　person　to　whom　it　was　sold；　and　the　signature　of　the　purchaser。
　　Mason　thumbed　the　pages　until　he　found　a　32…Colt　automatic。
　　〃That's　the　one；〃　he　said。
　　Steinburg　leaned　over　the　book；　and　stared　at　the　registration。
　　〃What　about　it？〃
　　〃I'm　ing　in　here　with　a　man　sometime　today；　or　tomorrow；〃　said　Mason；　〃and；　as　soon　as　you　look　at　him；　you　nod　your　head　vigorously；　and　say；　'That's　the　man；　that's　the　man；　that's　the　man；　all　right。'　I'll　ask　you　if　you're　sure　it's　the　man　and　you　get　more　and　more　certain。　He'll　deny　it；　and　the　more　he　denies　it；　the　more　certain　you　get。〃
　　Sol　Steinburg　pursed　his　thick　lips。　〃That　might　be　serious。〃
　　Mason　shook　his　head。
　　〃It　would　be　if　you　said　it　in　court；〃　he　admitted；　〃but　you're　not　going　to　say　it　in　court。　You're　not　going　to　say　it　to　anybody　except　this　man。　And　you're　not　going　to　say　what　it　was　he　did。　Simply　identify　him　as　being　the　man。　Then　you　go　in　the　back　part　of　the　store；　and　leave　me　with　the　firearm　register　here。　Do　you　understand？〃
　　〃Sure；　sure；〃　said　Steinburg。　〃I　understand　it　fine。　All　except　one　thing。〃
　　〃What's　that？〃　asked　Mason。
　　〃Where　the　fifty　dollars　is　ing　from。〃
　　Mason　slapped　his　pants　pocket。　〃Right　here；　Sol。〃　He　pulled　out　a　roll　of　bills　from　which　he　took　fifty　dollars；　and　handed　it　to　the　pawnbroker。
　　〃Anybody　you　e　in　with？〃　he　asked。　〃Is　that　it？〃
　　〃Anybody　I　e　in　with；〃　Mason　said。　〃I　won't　e　in　here　unless　I've　got　the　right　man。　I　may　have　to　dress　the　act　up　a　little　bit；　but　you　follow　my　lead。　Is　that　okay？〃
　　The　pawnbroker's　caressing　fingers　folded　the　fifty　dollars。
　　〃My　friend；〃　he　said；　〃whatever　you　do　is　all　right　with　me。　I　say　whatever　I　am　supposed　to　say；　and　I　say　it　loud；　y'understand。〃
　　〃That's　fine；〃　said　Mason。　〃Don't　get　shaken　in　your　identification。〃
　　The　skull　cap　twisted；　as　Sol　Steinburg　shook　his　head　in　vigorous　negation。
　　Perry　Mason　walked　out；　whistling。
　　
　　
　　　14。
　　
　　Frank　Locke　sat　in　the　editorial　office　and　shred　at　Perry　Mason。
　　〃I　understood　that　they　were　looking　for　you；〃　he　said。
　　〃Who　was？〃　asked　Perry　Mason　carelessly。
　　〃Reporters；　police；　detectives。　Lots　of　people；〃　said　Locke。
　　〃I　saw　them　all。〃
　　〃This　afternoon？〃
　　〃No；　last　night。　Why？〃
　　〃Nothing；〃　Locke　replied；　〃except　that　they　may　be　looking　for　you　in　a　different　way　now。　What　is　it　you　want？〃
　　〃I　just　dropped　in　to　tell　you　that　Eva　Belter　had　filed　a　petition　for　letters　of　administration　on　her　husband's　estate。〃
　　〃What's　that　to　me？〃　asked　Locke；　his　milk…chocolate　eyes　on　Perry　Mason。
　　〃It　means　that　Eva　Belter　is　running　things　from　now　on。　You're　going　to　take　your　orders　from　her；〃　said　Mason。　〃And　it　means　that；　inasmuch　as　I'm　representing　Eva　Belter；　you're　going　to　take　some　orders　from　me。　One　of　the　first　things　you're　going　to　do　is　to　kill　anything　about　that　Beechwood　Inn　affair。〃
　　〃Is　that　so？〃　said　Locke；　sarcastically。
　　〃That；〃　said　Mason；　with　emphasis；　〃is　so。〃
　　〃You're　what　they　call　an　optimist。〃
　　〃Maybe　I