esg.thecaseofthevelvetclaws-第23部分

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　　〃A　detective？〃
　　〃No；　a　lawyer。〃
　　〃Huh。〃
　　〃I　happen　to　represent　Mrs。　Eva　Belter；〃　he　went　on。　〃Does　that　mean　anything　to　you？〃
　　〃Not　a　damn　thing。〃
　　〃Well；〃　he　protested；　〃don't　get　hard　about　it。　You　might　at　least　be　sociable。〃
　　She　made　a　grimace；　spat　forth　a　swift　ment；　〃I　hate　to　have　my　sleep　interrupted　at　this　hour　in　the　morning；　and　I　hate　men　who　e　busting　in　the　way　you　did。〃
　　Mason　ignored　her　statement。　〃Did　you　know　that　Frank　Locke　didn't　own　Spicy　Bits？〃　he　asked　casually。
　　〃Who's　Frank　Locke；　and　what's　Spicy　Bits？〃
　　He　laughed　at　her。
　　〃Frank　Locke；〃　he　said；　〃is　the　man　who's　been　signing　the　checks　on　the　special　account　of　Spicy　Bits；　which　you've　been　cashing　every　two　weeks。〃
　　〃You're　one　of　these　smart　guys；　ain't　you？〃　she　said。
　　〃I　get　around；〃　Mason　admitted。
　　〃Well；　what　about　it？〃
　　〃Locke　was　just　a　figurehead。　A　man　by　the　name　of　Belter　owned　the　paper。　Locke　did　what　Belter　told　him　to。〃
　　She　stretched　up　her　arms　and　yawned。　〃Well；　what's　that　to　me？　Have　you　got　a　cigarette？〃
　　Mason　handed　her　a　cigarette。　She　came　close　to　him　while　he　applied　the　match；　then　strolled　over　and　sat　down　on　the　bed；　tucked　her　feet　up　in　under　her；　and　hugged　her　knees。
　　〃Go　on；〃　she　said；　〃if　it　interests　you。　I　reckon　I　can't　get　to　sleep　until　after　you　leave。〃
　　〃You're　not　going　to　sleep　any　more　today。〃
　　〃No？〃
　　〃No。　There's　a　morning　paper　outside　the　door。　Would　you　like　to　see　it？〃
　　〃Why？〃
　　〃It　tells　all　about　the　murder　of　George　C。　Belter。〃
　　〃I　hate　murders　before　breakfast。〃
　　〃You　might　like　to　read　about　this　one　anyway。〃
　　〃All　right；〃　she　said；　〃go　get　me　the　paper。〃
　　He　shook　his　head　at　her。
　　〃No；〃　he　said；　〃you　get　the　paper。　Otherwise；　when　I　open　the　door　something　might　happen；　and　I'd　get　pushed　out。〃
　　She　got　up；　puffing　placidly　at　the　cigarette；　crossed　to　the　door；　opened　it；　reached　out　and　picked　up　the　paper。
　　The　headlines　screamed　the　news　of　the　Belter　murder。　She　walked　back　to　the　bed；　sat　down　with　her　feet　tucked　in　under　her；　legs　crossed；　and　read　through　the　paper；　smoking　as　she　read。
　　〃Well；〃　she　said。　〃I　still　don't　see　that　it's　anything　in　my　young　life。　Some　guy　got　bumped。　It's　too　bad；　but　he　probably　had　it　ing　to　him。〃
　　〃He　did；〃　said　Mason。
　　〃Well；　why　should　that　make　me　lose　my　beauty　sleep？〃
　　〃If　you'll　use　your　noodle；〃　he　explained　patiently；　〃you'll　find　out　that　Mrs。　Belter　has　e　into　a　position　where　she　controls　all　of　the　property　in　the　estate　and　I　happen　to　represent　Mrs。　Belter。〃
　　〃Well？〃
　　〃You've　been　blackmailing　Frank　Locke；〃　he　said；　〃and　Locke　has　been　embezzling　trust　funds　in　order　to　pay　the　blackmail。　That　special　account　of　Spicy　Bits　was　an　account　that　was　given　him　to　use　in　purchasing　information。　He's　been　handing　it　over　to　you。〃
　　〃I'm　in　the　clear；〃　she　said；　tossing　the　paper　to　the　floor；　〃I　didn't　know　anything　at　all　about　it。〃
　　He　laughed　at　her。
　　〃How　about　the　blackmail？〃
　　〃I　don't　know　what　you're　talking　about。〃
　　〃Oh；　yes；　you　do；　Esther。　You　are　shaking　him　down　on　account　of　this　Georgia　business。〃
　　That　remark　registered　with　her。　Her　face　changed　color；　and；　for　the　first　time；　there　was　a　startled　look　in　her　eyes。
　　Mason　went　on　to　press　his　advantage。
　　〃That；〃　he　said；　〃wouldn't　look　pretty。　You　may　have　heard　of　pounding　a　felony。　It's　a　crime　in　this　state；　you　know。〃
　　She　appraised　him　watchfully。　〃You're　not　a　dick；　just　a　lawyer？〃
　　〃Just　a　lawyer。〃
　　〃Okay；〃　she　said。　〃What　do　you　want？〃
　　〃Now　you're　mencing　to　talk　turkey。〃
　　〃I'm　not　talking；　I'm　listening。〃
　　〃You　were　with　Frank　Locke　last　night；〃　he　said。
　　〃Who　says　I　was？〃
　　〃I　do。　You　went　out　with　him；　then　came　back　here；　and　he　stayed　until　long　in　the　morning。〃
　　〃I'm　free；　white；　and　twenty…one；〃　she　said；　〃and　this　is　my　home。　I　guess　I've　got　a　right　to　entertain　men　friends　if　I　want　to。〃
　　〃Sure　you　have；〃　he　said。　〃The　next　question　is；　have　you　got　sense　enough　to　know　which　side　of　your　bread　has　got　the　butter？〃
　　〃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　leav