esg.thecaseofthevelvetclaws-第9节

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　Locke　suspects　who　it　is　they're　after？〃
　　〃No；〃　she　said　firmly。
　　There　was　a　moment　of　silence。
　　〃Well；〃　said　Mason；　〃what　do　we　do？　Do　we　pay　their　price？〃
　　〃There　won't　be　any　price　any　more。　George　will　call　off　all　negotiations。　He'll　go　ahead　and　fight。　He　figures　that　he　can't　afford　to　give　in　to　you。　If　he　does；　he　thinks　that　you'll　hound　him　to　death。　That's　the　way　he　is；　and　that's　the　way　he　thinks　everybody　else　is。　He　simply　can't　give　in　to　anybody　It　isn't　in　his　nature；　that's　all。〃
　　Mason　nodded；　grimly。　〃All　right；　if　he　wants　to　fight；　I'm　perfectly　willing　to　go　to　the　mat　with　him。　One　of　the　first　things　I'll　do　will　be　to　file　suit　against　Spicy　Bits　the　first　time　they　mention　my　name；　and　I'll　take　the　deposition　of　Frank　Locke　and　force　him　to　disclose　who　actually　owns　that　paper。　Or　else　I'll　have　him　prosecuted　for　perjury。　There　are　a　lot　of　people　who　would　like　to　see　that　sheet　put　where　it　belongs。〃
　　〃Oh；　you　don't　understand；〃　she　told　him；　speaking　rapidly。　〃You　don't　understand　the　way　they　fight。　You　don't　understand　George。　It　would　take　a　long　while　for　you　to　get　a　libel　suit　to　trial。　He'll　work　fast。　And　then；　you've　got　to　remember　that　I'm　your　client。　I'm　the　one　you're　supposed　to　protect。　Long　before　any　of　that　happens；　I'll　be　ruined。　They'll　go　after　that　Harrison　Burke　business　hammer　and　tongs　now。〃
　　Mason　drummed　on　his　desk　again；　and　then　said；　〃Look　here。　You've　hinted　at　some　information　your　husband　has　that　holds　Frank　Locke　in　line。　Now　I　have　an　idea　that　you　know　what　that　information　is。　Suppose　you　give　it　to　me；　and　I'll　see　if　I　can't　crack　a　whip　over　Frank　Locke。〃
　　Her　face　was　white　as　she　looked　at　him。
　　〃Do　you　know　what　you're　saying？〃　she　said。　〃Do　you　know　what　you　are　doing？　Do　you　know　what　you're　getting　into？　They'll　kill　you！　It　wouldn't　be　the　first　time。　They've　got　affiliations　in　the　underworld　with　gangsters　and　gunmen。〃
　　Mason　held　her　eyes　with　his。
　　〃What；〃　he　insisted；　〃do　you　know　about　Frank　Locke？〃
　　She　shuddered　and　dropped　her　eyes。　After　an　interval；　she　said；　in　a　tired　tone：　〃Nothing。〃
　　Mason　said；　impatiently：　〃Every　time　you　e　here　you　lie　to　me。　You're　one　of　those　baby…faced　little　liars　that　always　gets　by　by　deceit。　Just　because　you're　beautiful；　you've　managed　to　get　by　with　it。　You've　deceived　every　man　that　ever　loved　you；　every　man　you　ever　loved。　Now　you're　in　trouble；　and　you're　deceiving　me。〃
　　She　stared　at　him　with　blazing　indignation；　either　natural　or　assumed。
　　〃You've　no　right　to　talk　to　me　that　way！〃
　　〃The　hell　I　haven't；〃　said　Mason；　grimly。
　　They　stared　at　each　other　for　a　second　or　two。
　　〃It　was　something　down　South；〃　she　said；　meekly。
　　〃What　was？〃
　　〃The　trouble　that　Locke　got　into。　I　don't　know　what　it　was。　I　don't　know　where　it　was。　I　only　know　it　was　some　trouble；　and　that　it　was　down　South　somewhere。　It　was　some　trouble　over　a　woman。　That　is；　that's　the　way　it　started。　I　don't　know　how　it　finished。　It　may　have　been　a　murder。　I　don't　know。　I　know　it's　something；　and　I　know　it's　something　that　George　holds　over　him　all　the　time。　That's　the　only　way　George　ever　deals　with　anybody。　He　gets　something　on　them　and　holds　it　over　them；　and　makes　them　do　just　as　he　wants。〃
　　Mason　stared　at　her；　and　said；　〃That's　the　way　he　handles　you。〃
　　〃That's　the　way　he　tries　to。〃
　　〃Was　that　the　way　he　made　you　marry　him？〃　asked　Mason。
　　〃I　don't　know；〃　she　said。　〃No。〃
　　He　laughed　grimly。
　　〃Well；〃　she　said；　〃what　difference　does　it　make？〃
　　〃Maybe　not　any。　Maybe　a　lot。　I　want　some　more　money。〃　She　opened　her　purse。
　　〃I　haven't　got　much　more；〃　she　said。　〃I　can　give　you　three　hundred　dollars。〃
　　Mason　shook　his　head。
　　〃You've　got　a　checking　account；〃　he　said。　〃I've　got　to　have　more　money。　I'm　going　to　have　some　expenses　in　this　thing。　I'm　fighting　for　myself　now　as　well　as　for　you。〃
　　〃I　can't　give　you　a　check。　I　don't　have　any　checking　account。　He　won't　let　me。　That's　another　way　that　he　keeps　people　under　his　control；　through　money。　I　have　to　get　money　from　him　in　cash；　or　get　it　some　other　way。〃
　　〃What　other　way？〃　asked　Mason。
　　She　said　nothing。　She　drew　out　a　roll　of　bills　from　the　purse。　〃There's　five　hundred　dollars　here；　and　it's　every　cent　I've　got。〃
　　〃All　right；〃　said　Mason。　〃Keep　twenty…five　and　give　me　the　rest。〃
　　He　pressed　a　button　in　the　side　of　the　desk。　The　door　to　the　outer　office　framed　the　inquiring　features　of　Della　Street。
　　〃Make　another　receipt；〃　said　Mason；　〃to　this　woman。　Make　it　the　same　way　you　made　the　other　one；　with　reference　to　a　ledger　page。　This　is　for　four　hundred　and　seventy…five　dollars；　and　it's　on　account。〃
　　Eva　Belter　passed　the　money　over　to　Mason。　He　took　it　and　gave　it　to　Della　Street。
　　The　two　women　maintained　toward　each　other　that　air　of　aloof　hostility　which　characterizes　two　dogs　walking　stiff…legged；　one　around　the　other。
　　Della　Street　held　her　chin　high；　as　she　took　the　money；　and　returned　to　the　outer　office。
　　〃She'll　give　you　a　receipt；〃　said　Perry　Mason；　〃as　you　go　out。　How　about　getting　in　touch　with　you？〃
　　She　said；　quickly　enough：　〃That's　all　right。　Ring　the　house。　Ask　for　my　maid　and　tell　her　that　you're　the　cleaner。　Tell　her　you　can't　find　the　dress　I　inquired　about。　I'll　explain　to　her；　and　she'll　pass　the　message　on　to　me。　Then　I'll　call　you。〃
　　Mason　laughed。
　　〃You've　got　that　down　pat；〃　he　said。　〃You　must　have　used　it　often。〃
　　She　looked　up　at　him；　and　her　blue　eyes　set　in　a　wide　stare　of　tearful　innocence。
　　〃I'm　sure；〃　she　said；　〃I　don't　know　what　you　mean。〃
　　Mason　pushed　back　his　swivel　chair；　got　to　his　feet；　and　walked　around　the　desk。
　　〃In　the　future；〃　he　told　her；　〃you　can　save　yourself　the　trouble　of　putting　on　that　baby　stare　with　me　if　you　want　to。　I　think　we　understand　each　other　pretty　well。　You're　in　a　jam　and　I'm　trying　to　get　you　out。〃
　　She　got　to　her　feet　slowly；　looked　into　his　eyes；　and　suddenly　put　her　hands　on　his　shoulders。
　　〃Somehow；〃　she　said；　〃you　inspire　me　with　confidence。　You're　the　only　man　I　ever　knew　who　could　stand　up　to　my　husband。　I　feel　as　though　I　could　cling　to　you　and　you'd　protect　me。〃
　　She　tilted　back　her　face　so　that　her　lips　were　close　to　his；　and　her　eyes　were　staring　into　his。　Her　body　was　quite　close　to　his。
　　He　took　her　elbow　in　his　long；　strong　fingers　and　turned　her　away　from　him。
　　〃I'll　protect　you；〃　he　said；　〃just　as　long　as　you　pay　cash。〃
　　She　squirmed　around　so　that　she　was　facing　him　again。
　　〃Don't　you　ever　think　of　anything　except　money？〃　she　asked。
　　〃Not　in　this　game。〃
　　〃You're　all　I've　got　to　depend　on；〃　she　wailed。　〃Everything　in　the　world。　You're　all　that　stands　between　me　and　utter　ruin。〃
　　〃That；〃　he　said　coolly；　〃is　my　business。　It's　what　I'm　here　for。〃
　　As　he　talked；　he　had　been　walking　with　her　toward　the　door　of　the　outer　office。　As　he　put　his　right　hand　on　the　knob；　she　twisted　around　so　that　she　was　free　of　his　grip。
　　〃Very　well；〃　she　said；　〃and　thank　you。〃
　　Her　tone　was　formal；　almost　frigid。　She　walked　through　the　office　door　and　into　the　outer　office。
　　Perry　Mason　closed　the　door　behind　her。　He　went　to　his　desk；　picked　up　the　telephone　and　when　he　heard　Della　Street's　voice；　said；　〃Give　me　an　outside　line；　Della。〃
　　He　gave　the　number　of　Drake's　Detective　Bureau；　asked　for　Paul　Drake；　and　got　him　on　the　line。
　　〃Listen；　Paul；〃　he　said；　〃this　is　Perry。　I've　got　a　job　for　you。　You've　got　to　handle　it　quickly。　Frank　Locke；　down　at　Spicy　Bits；　is　a　devil　with　the　women。　He's　got　a　jane　over　at　the　Wheelright　Hotel　that　he's　running　around　with。　She　lives　there。　He　drops　into　the　barber　shop　once　in　a　while　and　gets　himself　all　prettied　up　before　he　takes　her　out　on　a　date。　He　came　from　the　South　some　place。　I　don't　know　just　where。　And　he　was　mixed　up　in　something　when　he　left　there。　Frank　Locke　probably　isn't　his　real　name。　I　want　you　to　put　enough　men　on　him　to　find　out　what　it's　all　about；　and　do　it　quick。　How　much　is　it　going　to　set　me　back？〃
　　〃Two　hundred　dollars；〃　said　Paul　Drake's　voice。　〃And　another　two　hundred　dollars　at　the　end　of　the　week；　if　I　work　on　it　that　long。〃
　　〃I　don't　think　I　can　pass　this　on　to　my　client；〃　said　Mason。
　　〃Make　it　three　twenty…five　in　all；　then；　and　use　me　right　if　you　find　you　can　put　it　in　on　the　expense　account　later。〃
　　〃Okay；〃　said　Mason。　〃Get　started。〃
　　〃Wait　a　minute。　I　was　just　going　to　call　you　anyway。　I　see　a　big　Lincoln　is　parked　down　here　in　front　of　the　building；　with　a　chauffeur　sitting　at　the　wheel。　I　have　a　hunch　that　it's　the　same　car　that　your　mysterious　lady　friend　used　for　a　get…away　the　other　day。　Do　you　want　me　to　chase　it　down？　I　took　the　license　number　as　I　came　up。〃
　　〃No；〃　said　Mason。　〃That's　okay。　I've　got　her　tagged。　Forget　about　her　and　start　in　on　this　Locke　business。〃
　　〃All　right；〃　said　Drake；　and　hung　up。
　　Perry　Mason　dropped　the　receiver　into　place。
　　Della　Street　stood　in　the　doorway。
　　〃She　gone？〃　asked　Mason。
　　Della　Street　nodded。
　　〃That　woman's　going　to　make　you　trouble；〃　she　said。
　　〃You　told　me　that　before；〃　said　Mason。
　　〃All　right；　I'm　telling　it　to　you　aga