esg.thecaseofthevelvetclaws-第31部分

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opped　in　the　armholes　of　his　vest；　his　head　bowed　in　concentration。
　　He　was　still　pacing　the　floor；　half　an　hour　later；　when　Della　Street　opened　the　door。
　　〃You　were　right；〃　she　said。
　　〃How？〃
　　〃She　was　married。　I　got　the　dope　from　the　Bureau　of　Vital　Statistics。　She　was　married　six　months　ago　to　a　man　named　Harry　Loring。　There's　no　record　of　a　divorce。〃
　　Perry　Mason　gained　the　door　with　three　quick　strides；　pushed　it　impatiently　to　one　side；　strode　across　the　outer　office　and　went　at　almost　a　run　down　the　corridor　to　the　stairs。　He　took　the　stairs　down　to　the　floor　on　which　Paul　Drake　had　his　office　and　banged　on　the　exit　door　of　Drake's　office　with　impatient　fists。
　　Paul　Drake　opened　the　door。
　　〃Hell；　it's　you！　Don't　you　ever　stay　in　your　office　to　see　clients？〃
　　〃Listen；〃　Mason　told　him；　〃I've　got　a　break。　Norma　Veitch　was　married！〃
　　〃What　of　it？〃　asked　Drake。
　　〃She's　engaged　to　Carl　Griffin。〃
　　〃Well；　couldn't　she　have　gotten　a　divorce？〃
　　〃No。　There's　no　divorce。　There　wasn't　time　for　a　divorce。　The　marriage　was　only　six　months　ago。〃
　　〃Okay；〃　said　Drake。　〃What　do　you　want？〃
　　〃I　want　you　to　find　her　husband。　His　name's　Harry　Loring。　I　want　to　find　out　when　they　separated；　and　why。　And　I'm　particularly　anxious　to　find　out　whether　she　ever　knew　Carl　Griffin　before　she　came　to　the　house　on　her　visit。　In　other　words；　I　want　to　know　whether　she'd　ever　visited　her　mother　while　her　mother　was　working　at　Belter's　place；　before　the　date　of　this　last　visit。〃
　　The　detective　whistled。
　　〃By　God！〃　he　said。　〃I　believe　you're　going　to　set　up　a　defense　of　emotional　insanity；　and　the　unwritten　law　for　Eva　Belter。〃
　　〃Will　you　get　busy　on　that　thing　right　away？〃
　　〃I　can　have　it　for　you　inside　of　half　an　hour　if　he's　anywheres　in　the　city；〃　said　Drake。
　　〃The　sooner　the　quicker。　I'll　be　waiting　in　the　office。〃
　　He　went　back　to　his　own　office；　walked　past　Della　Street　without　a　word。
　　She　stopped　him　as　he　was　entering　his　office。　〃Harrison　Burke　telephoned。〃
　　Mason　raised　his　eyebrows。
　　〃Where　is　he？〃
　　〃He　wouldn't　say。　He　said　he　was　going　to　call　later。　He　wouldn't　even　leave　me　a　telephone　number。〃
　　〃Presume　he's　read　about　the　new　development；　in　the　extras；〃　said　Mason。
　　〃He　didn't　say。　Just　said　that　he'd　call　later。〃
　　The　telephone　rang。
　　She　motioned　toward　the　inner　office。
　　〃This　is　probably　the　call；〃　she　said。
　　Mason　went　into　the　inner　office。
　　He　heard　Della　Street　say；　〃Just　a　moment；　Mr。　Burke；〃　and　then　as　he　took　down　the　receiver；　Burke's　voice　on　the　wire：
　　〃Hello；　Burke；〃　he　said：
　　Burke's　voice　was　still　impressively　resonant；　but　there　was　an　over…tone　of　panic　in　it。　Every　once　in　a　while　it　seemed　that　his　voice　would　climb　to　the　high　notes　and　crack；　but　he　always　managed　to　get　it　back　after　just　the　one　break。
　　〃Listen；〃　he　said；　〃this　is　awful。　I've　just　read　the　papers。〃
　　Mason　said；　〃It's　not　so　bad。　You're　out　of　the　murder　case。　You　can　pose　as　a　friend　of　the　family　on　the　other。　It　isn't　going　to　be　pleasant；　but　it　isn't　like　being　held　for　murder。〃
　　〃But　they'll　use　it　against　me　in　my　campaign。〃
　　〃Use　what？〃　Mason　inquired。
　　〃My　friendship　with　this　woman。〃
　　〃I　can't　help　that；〃　Mason　told　him；　〃but　I'm　working　on　an　out　for　you。　The　District　Attorney　isn't　going　to　let　your　name　get　mixed　into　the　case　unless　he　has　to　show　a　motive　at　the　trial。〃
　　Burke's　voice　became　more　orotund。
　　〃That；〃　he　said；　〃was　what　I　wanted　to　discuss　with　you。　The　District　Attorney　is　very　fair。　Unless　there's　a　trial　my　name　won't　be　dragged　into　it。　Now　you　might　fix　things　so　there　wouldn't　be　a　trial。〃
　　〃How？〃　Mason　asked。
　　〃You　could　persuade　her　to　plead　guilty　to　second　degree　murder。　You're　still　acting　as　her　attorney。　The　District　Attorney　would　let　you　see　her…on　that　understanding。　I've　talked　with　him。〃
　　Mason　snapped　a　swift　reply。　〃Nothing　doing！〃　he　said。　〃I'm　going　to　try　to　protect　your　interests；　but　I'll　do　it　my　way。　You　keep　under　cover　for　a　while。〃
　　〃There'd　be　a　nice　fee；〃　said　Harrison　Burke　in　a　suave；　oily　voice；　〃five　thousand　in　cash。　Perhaps　we　could　even　make　it　a　little　more。。。〃
　　Perry　Mason　slammed　the　receiver　back　on　its　hook。
　　The　lawyer　resumed　his　pacing　of　the　floor。　Fifteen　or　twenty　minutes　later　the　telephone　rang。
　　Mason　took　down　the　receiver　and　heard　Paul　Drake's　voice。　〃I　think　we've　got　your　man　located。　There's　a　man　named　Harry　Loring　who　is　at　the　Belvedere　Apartments。　His　wife　left　him　about　a　week　ago　and　is　said　to　have　gone　to　live　with　her　mother。　Do　we　want　him？〃
　　〃You　bet　we　want　him；〃　Mason　said；　〃and　we　want　him　quick！　Can　you　go　out　there　with　me？　I'll　probably　want　a　witness。〃
　　〃Okay；〃　Drake　said。　〃I've　got　a　car　here　if　you　haven't。〃
　　〃We'll　take　two　cars。　We　may　need　them。〃
　　
　　
　　　18。
　　
　　Harry　Loring　was　a　thin；　nervous　individual；　with　a　habit　of　blinking　his　eyes　rapidly；　and　moistening　his　lips　nervously　with　the　tip　of　his　tongue。　He　sat　on　a　trunk　which　was　strapped　and　shook　his　head　at　Paul　Drake。
　　〃No；〃　he　said；　〃you've　got　the　wrong　party。　I'm　not　married。〃
　　Drake　looked　at　Perry　Mason。　Mason　gave　a　faint　shrug　to　his　shoulders；　which　Drake　interpreted　as　a　signal　to　him　to　do　the　talking。
　　〃Did　you　ever　know　a　Norma　Veitch？〃　he　asked。
　　〃Never；〃　said　Loring；　darting　his　tongue　to　his　lips。
　　〃You're　moving　out？〃　asked　Drake。
　　〃Yes；〃　Loring　said。　〃I　can't　keep　on　with　the　rent　here。〃
　　〃Never　been　married；　eh？〃
　　〃No；　I'm　a　bachelor。〃
　　〃Where　are　you　moving？〃
　　〃I'm　sure　I　don't　know…yet。〃
　　Loring　looked　from　face　to　face　with　his　eyes　blinking。
　　〃Are　you　gentlemen　officers？〃　he　asked。
　　〃Never　mind　about　us；〃　said　Drake。　〃We're　talking　about　you。〃
　　Loring　said；　〃Yes；　sir；〃　and　lapsed　into　silence。
　　Drake　flashed　Mason　another　glance。
　　〃Packing　up　rather　suddenly；　aren't　you？〃　Drake　went　on。
　　Loring　shrugged。　〃I　don't　know　as　it's　sudden。　There　isn't　much　to　pack。〃
　　〃Now　listen；〃　Drake　said；　〃there's　no　use　for　you　to　try　to　string　us　along；　because　we　can　check　up　on　you　and　find　out　the　facts。　You　say　you　have　never　been　married。　Is　that　right？〃
　　〃Yes；　sir。　I'm　a　bachelor；　just　like　I　told　you。〃
　　〃Okay。　Now　the　neighbors　say　you　were　married。　There　was　a　woman　here　who　lived　in　the　apartment　with　you；　as　your　wife；　up　until　about　a　week　ago。〃
　　Loring's　eyes　blinked　rapidly。　He　shifted　his　position　on　the　trunk；　nervously。
　　〃I　wasn't　married　to　her；〃　he　said。
　　〃How　long　have　you　known　her？〃
　　〃About　two　weeks。　She　was　a　waitress　at　a　restaurant。〃
　　〃What　restaurant？〃
　　〃I've　forgotten　the　name。〃
　　〃What　was　her　name？〃
　　〃She　went　under　the　name　of　Mrs。　Loring。〃
　　〃I　know　that。　What　was　her　real　name？〃
　　Loring　paused　and　darted　his　tongue　to　his　lips。　His　eyes　fidgeted　uncertainly　about　the　room。
　　〃Jones；〃　he　said；　〃Mary　Jones。〃
　　Drake　laughed　sarcastically。
　　Loring　said　nothing。
　　〃Where　is　she　now？〃　asked　Drake；　suddenly。
　　〃I　don't　know。　She　left　me。　I　think　she　went　away　with　somebody　else。　We　had　a　fight。〃
　　〃What　was　the　fight　about？〃
　　〃Oh；　I　don't　know。　It　was　just　a　fight。〃
　　Drake　looked　over　at　Mason　once　more。
　　Mason　stepped　forward　and　took　the　conversational　lead。　〃Do　you　read　the　papers？〃　he　said。
　　〃Once　in　a　while；〃　said　Loring；　〃not　very　often。　Sometimes　I　look　at　the　headlines。　I'm　not　very　much　interested　in　newspapers。〃
　　Mason　reached　to　his　inside　pocket；　and　took　out　some　of　the　clippings　from　the　morning　newspaper。　He　unfolded　one　which　showed　a　picture　of　Norma　Veitch。
　　〃Is　that　the　woman　that　was　here　with　you？〃　he　asked。
　　Loring　barely　glanced　at　the　photograph；　but　he　shook　his　head　emphatically。
　　〃No；〃　he　said；　〃that　wasn't　the　woman。〃
　　〃You　haven't　even　looked　at　the　picture　yet。　You'd　better　look　at　it　before　you　get　too　positive　in　your　denials。〃
　　He　thrust　the　picture　in　front　of　Loring's　eyes。　Loring　took　the　clipping　and　studied　the　picture　for　some　ten　or　fifteen　seconds。
　　〃No；〃　he　said；　〃that　isn't　the　woman。〃
　　〃Took　you　quite　a　while　this　time　to　make　up　your　mind；　didn't　it？〃　Mason　pointed　out。
　　Loring　said　nothing。
　　Mason　suddenly　turned　and　nodded　to　Drake。
　　〃All　right；〃　he　said　to　Loring；　〃if　that's　the　attitude　you　want　to　take；　you'll　have　to　take　your　medicine。　You　can't　expect　us　to　protect　you　if　you're　going　to　lie　to　us。〃
　　〃I'm　not　lying。〃
　　〃e　on；　Drake。　Let's　go；〃　Mason　said；　grimly。
　　The　two　men　walked　from　the　apartment；　and　closed　the　door　behind　them。　In　the　corridor；　Drake　said：　〃What　do　you　make　of　him？〃
　　〃He's　a　rat　or　he'd　have　tried　the　stunt　of　being　indignant；　and　asking　us　what　the　hell　we　meant　by　inquiring　into　his　business。　He　looked　to　me　as　though　he'd　been　on　the　dodge　sometime　in　his　life；　and　he's　afraid　of　the　law。　He's　used　to　being　bullied　by　detectives。〃
　　〃About　the　way　I've　got　him　sized　up；〃　said　Drake。　〃What　are　we　going　to　do？〃
　　〃Well；〃　said　Mason；　〃we　can　take　this　picture　and　see　if　we　can　find　some　of　the　neighbors　in　the　apartment　who　can　identify　her。〃
　　〃The　newspaper　picture　isn't　so　very　good。　I　wonder　if　we　can't　get　a　photograph；〃　Drake　said。
　　〃We're　working　against　time；〃　Mason　reminded　him。　〃Something　may　break　in　this　thing　almost　any　minute；　and　I　want　to　keep　ahead　of　the　game。〃
　　〃We　didn't　get　very　rough　with　him；〃　Drake　pointed　out。　〃He's　the　kind　of　a　man　who　would　cave　in　if　we　went　after　him；　hammer　and　tongs。〃
　　〃Sure；〃　said　Mason。　〃We'll　do　that　when　we　get　back。　I　want　to　get　a　little　more　dope　on　him　if　I　can。　I　think　he'll　turn　yellow　as　soon　as　we　put　a　little　pressure　on　him。〃
　　Steps　sounded　on　the　stairs。
　　〃Wait　a　minute；〃　said　Drake；　〃this　looks　like　somebody　ing。〃
　　A　thick…set　man；　with　heavy　shoulders；　plodded　patiently　up　the　stairs　and　into　the　corridor。　His　clothes　were　shiny；　and　his　cuffs　were　frayed。　Yet　there　was　an　air　of　determination　about　him。
　　〃Process　server；〃　whispered　Mason　to　Drake。
　　The　man　came　toward　them。　His　manner　was　that　of　one　who　had；　at　one　time；　been　a　peace　officer；　and　still　reta