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your husband," Mason explained.
    She gave a half – stifled exclamation and moved swiftly toward the bedroom door. Mason caught her arm.
    "Don't do it," he said.
    "Why not? I must find out…"
    "You will, later. Right now, don't spoil any of the fingerprints on that doorknob."
    "But I have a right to know. Can't you see how I…"
    "Quit looking at it from your viewpoint," the lawyer interrupted. "Figure it from the police viewpoint. Do a little thinking."
    She stared at him silently for several seconds, then crossed over to sit down on the davenport. "What happened?" she asked.
    "Apparently he was shot."
    "When?"
    "I don't know. He was in his office yesterday morning. I talked with him on the telephone. He must have come out here shortly afterwards… Would you know anything about that?"
    "No," she said. "I've been away ever since Monday afternoon."
    "May I ask what time Monday?" Mason asked.
    "Why?"
    Mason smiled and said, "The officers will ask these questions. After all, it's your house, you know. I thought perhaps it might help you a little if I gave you a chance to collect your thoughts before the officers get here."
    "That's thoughtful of you," she said. "Was it suicide?"
    "I don't know," Mason said. "I haven't made any investigation."
    "How about this detective?"
    "He's a private detective employed by me."
    "Why did you come here?"
    "We thought Mr. Tidings might have come out here after he left his office Tuesday. Had you seen him lately?"
    "No. We-didn't get along at all."
    "Now then," Mason asked, "would you mind telling me where you went on Monday afternoon?"
    "I drove nearly all night," she said. "I was upset."
    "And where did you drive?"
    "To a friend's house. I spent a couple of days with her."
    "You didn't take much baggage," Mason pointed out.
    "No. I decided to go on the spur of the moment. I've had-well, troubles of my own."
    "Where does this friend live?"
    "In Reno."
    "And you drove to Reno Monday?"
    "Yes. I got in about daylight Tuesday morning. I felt a lot better after the drive."
    "And you've been there ever since?"
    "Until late last night. I left about ten o'clock."
    "Where did you stay last night?"
    She laughed nervously, and shook her head. "I don't drive that way. When I want to go some place, I start driving. When I get sleepy, I pull off to the side of the road and get a few minutes' sleep, then I start driving again. I much prefer to drive at night. I don't like the glare of the sun on paved roads."
    "You slept some last night?"
    "Yes, a few cat – naps here and there along the side of the road."
    Mason said, "The officers will probably want to check your time pretty carefully. If you can give them all the data they need it will make it a lot easier for you. I'm just telling you as a friend. Here they come now."
    A siren screamed up the hill. A police radio car finished the ascent, raced along the level stretch of roadway, and swerved sharply to park up against the curb. An officer jumped out of the car and came striding toward the house.
    Drake opened the door.
    The radio officer looked at Drake, pushed a foot through the door. "Which one of you telephoned Homicide?" he asked.
    "I did," Drake said. "I'm a private detective."
    "Your name Drake?"
    "Yes."
    "Got a card on you?"
    Drake handed him a card.
    "How about the woman and this other guy?" the officer asked.
    "This is Mrs. Tidings. She came in right after I telephoned headquarters."
    The officer stared at her suspiciously.
    "I just this minute returned from Reno," she explained. "I drove."
    "When did you leave there?"
    "Last night."
    "She lives here," Mason explained. "This is her house. She's been visiting a friend in Reno for a couple of days."
    "I see. And who are you? Oh, I place you now. You're Perry Mason, the lawyer. What are you doing here?"
    "We came out to see Mr. Tidings."
    "Find him?"
    "I think he's the dead man in the next room."
    "I thought you said this woman came here after you did."
    "She did."
    "Then how'd you get in?"
    "The