Read Online The Case of the Daring Divorcee by Erle Stanley Gardner - Free Book Online Page A

an automobile can get him here. Now, you're going to have to answer questions. If you have told me the truth, answer Tragg's questions fully, fairly and frankly. If you haven't told me the truth, just say that you have no statement to make. Don't, under any circumstances, try to lie to Lieutenant Tragg."
    "I understand."
    "You weren't the woman who was in this office yesterday?"
    "No."
    "You didn't leave that handbag here?"
    "No."
    "You didn't fire that gun?"
    "No."
    "You left your revolver in your apartment and last saw it there?"
    "Yes."
    "If you're lying to me," Mason said, "it could very well mean a life sentence or perhaps the death penalty."
    "I'm not lying to you."
    Mason nodded to Della Street. "Call Paul Drake."
    Della Street put through the call, nodded to Perry Mason.
    Mason picked up the telephone. "How are you coming, Paul?"
    "I've got six women," Drake said, "and as of now they're getting pretty impatient."
    "You won't have to hold them much longer. You have dark glasses for them?"
    "Yes."
    "Big ones?"
    "I'll say they're big."
    "All right," Mason said, "sit tight. You'll have action within five to ten minutes."
    "How long will it take?" Drake asked. "They want to know."
    "It won't take over a couple of minutes," Mason said. "Within twenty minutes from now they can go home. stick around and wait for the signal, Paul. When you get it, act promptly."
    Mason hung up and turned to Adelle Hastings. "Put your dark glasses in the case in your handbag. Have them so you can get them at a moment's notice. Now, when Lieutenant Tragg comes here, don't pay the slightest attention to anything that I say. That is, don't let it confuse you."
    "What makes you think this officer is going to come here, Mr. Mason? From what I gathered in listening to your end of the telephone conversation there was nothing that he considered very urgent."
    Mason said, "I'm putting two sets of two and two together and making two fours, Mrs. Hastings. Then I'm putting those two fours together and making eight."
    There was a moment of silence.
    "Did you tell Simley Beason that you were going to be here?' Mason asked.
    "Yes. I told him I'd call him later but that I was trying to get an appointment with you and he could reach me at your office in case there was anything real important."
    "Did you tell him-"
    Mason broke off as the telephone rang.
    Della Street picked up the instrument, said, "Yes, Gertie… Just a moment, please."
    Della Street turned to Mason and said, "A Mr. Beason is calling Adelle Hastings."
    Mason indicated the telephone instrument to Adelle Hastings. "Want to take the call here," he asked, "or in the law library?"
    "Why, I'll take it here," she said.
    She picked up the telephone, said, "Hello, Simley. This is Adelle. You… What! WHAT!!… Oh, my God!… No… You've… you've notified the police?… Good heavens… There's nothing I can say. This is a terrific shock!… Look, Simley, I'll be in touch with you later. I-Oh, I just can't adjust myself to-Well, thanks for letting me know… Yes, of course you can tell the police where I am, but if it's all right with Mr. Mason I want to go out there right away… I-Well, yes… yes, you can tell them. Perhaps that will be best, after all. Thanks for letting me know, Simley."
    She hung up and turned to Mason. "My husband," she said, "has been murdered!"
    "Surprised?" Mason asked.
    "I… I guess subconsciously I've been fearing it, Mr. Mason, but the-This information has knocked me for a loop.,'
    Mason said, "You may not have much time. You'd better tell me what he told you."
    "He went out there and let himself into the house. My husband was in bed. He'd been shot twice in the head, apparently while he was asleep. He's -.. he'd been dead for some time."
    Adelle Hastings started to cry.
    Again the telephone rang.
    Della Street answered and said to Mason, "Huntley Banner is calling. Do you want to talk with him?"
    "Right now," Mason said.
    He picked up the telephone, said, "Hello, Banner.