esg.thecaseofthevelvetclaws-第14部分

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ice　will　get　sore　if　they　aren't　notified　right　away。　They'll　also　want　to　know　how　you　happened　to　telephone　to　a　lawyer　before　you　telephoned　to　them。　It　makes　it　look　like　a　suspicious　circumstance　as　far　as　you're　concerned。　D'you　understand？〃
　　She　nodded　again；　her　eyes　wide　and　dark。
　　〃All　right；〃　he　said；　〃now　get　this；　and　get　it　straight；　and　keep　your　head　all　the　way　through。　Here's　what　happened。　You're　going　to　tell　exactly　the　truth；　just　as　you　told　it　to　me；　with　one　exception。　And　that　is　about　your　ing　back　upstairs　after　the　man　had　left　the　house。　That's　the　thing　that　I　don't　like　about　your　story；　and　that's　the　thing　that　the　police　won't　like　about　it。　If　you　had　presence　of　mind　enough　to　go　up　the　stairs　and　look　around；　then　you　would　have　had　presence　of　mind　enough　to　call　the　police。　The　fact　that　you　wanted　to　call　an　attorney　before　you　called　the　police；　is　going　to　make　the　police　think　that　you　had　a　consciousness　of　guilt。〃
　　〃But；〃　she　said；　〃we　can　explain　to　them　that　I　had　consulted　you　on　this　other　matter；　and　that　it　was　all　so　mixed　up　together　that　I　wanted　to　talk　with　you　before　I　talked　with　the　police；　couldn't　we？〃
　　He　laughed　at　her。
　　〃What　a　sweet　mess　that　would　be。　Then　the　police　would　want　to　know　all　about　what　that　other　matter　was。　And　before　you　got　done；　you'd　find　that　you　had　given　them　the　best　kind　of　motive　for　you　to　kill　your　husband。　That　other　matter　can　never　e　into　the　thing　at　all。　We've　got　to　get　hold　of　Harrison　Burke　and　see　that　he　keeps　his　mouth　closed。〃
　　〃But；〃　she　protested；　〃how　about　the　paper？　How　about　Spicy　Bits？〃
　　〃Has　it　ever　occurred　to　you；〃　he　asked；　〃that；　with　your　husband's　death；　you　are　the　owner　of　that　paper？　You　can　step　into　the　saddle；　and　control　the　policy　right　now。〃
　　〃Suppose　he　left　a　will　disinheriting　me？〃
　　〃In　that　event；〃　he　said；　〃we'll　file　a　suit　contesting　the　will　and　try　and　get　you　put　in　as　a　special　administratrix；　pending　the　determination　of　the　suit。〃
　　〃All　right；〃　she　said；　swiftly；　〃I　ran　out　of　the　house；　and　then　what　happened？〃
　　〃Exactly　the　way　you　told　it　to　me。　You　were　so　panic…stricken　that　you　ran　out　of　the　house。　And　remember　that　you　ran　out　before　the　man　who　was　in　the　room　with　your　husband　ran　down　the　stairs。　You　dashed　out　of　the　house　and　out　into　the　rain；　grabbing　up　the　first　coat　that　you　came　to　as　you　went　past　the　hall　stand。　You　were　so　excited　that　you　didn't　even　notice　that　one　of　your　coats　was　there；　but　picked　a　man's　coat。〃
　　〃All　right；〃　she　said；　speaking　in　that　same　swift；　impatient　tone　of　voice；　〃then　what　happened？〃
　　〃Then；〃　Mason　continued；　〃you　ran　out　into　the　rain；　and　there　was　an　automobile　parked　out　in　the　driveway；　but　you　were　too　excited　to　notice　the　automobile；　what　kind　it　was；　or　whether　it　was　a　closed　car　or　a　touring　car。　You　just　started　running。　Then　a　man　dashed　out　of　the　house　behind　you；　jumped　in　the　automobile；　and　switched　on　the　headlights。　You　plunged　into　the　shrubbery　because　you　were　afraid　he　was　chasing　you。
　　〃The　car　went　on　past　you　down　the　drive　and　down　the　hill；　and　you　started　running　to　follow　it；　trying　to　get　the　license　number；　because；　by　that　time；　you　realized　the　importance　of　finding　out　who　this　man　was　who　had　been　with　your　husband　when　the　shot　was　fired。〃
　　〃All　right；〃　she　said。　〃And　then？〃
　　〃Still　just　the　way　you　told　it　to　me。　You　were　afraid　to　go　back　to　the　house　alone；　and　you　went　to　the　nearest　telephone。　Remember　that　all　of　that　time　you　didn't　know　that　your　husband　had　been　killed。　You　only　knew　that　you　had　heard　a　shot　fired；　and　you　didn't　know　whether　it　was　your　husband　who　had　fired　the　shot　and　wounded　the　man　who　escaped　in　the　automobile；　or　whether　that　man　had　fired　the　shot　at　your　husband。　You　didn't　know　whether　the　shot　had　hit；　or　whether　it　had　missed；　whether　your　husband　was　wounded；　slightly；　seriously；　or　killed；　or　whether　your　husband　had　shot　himself　while　this　man　was　in　the　room。　Can　you　remember　all　that？〃
　　〃Yes；　I　think　so。〃
　　〃All　right；〃　he　said。　〃That　accounts　for　your　reason　in　calling　me。　I　told　you　that　I　would　e　right　out。　Remember　that　you　didn't　tell　me　over　the　telephone　a　shot　had　been　fired。　You　simply　told　me　that　you　were　in　trouble　and　afraid　and　wanted　me　to　e。〃
　　〃How　did　it　happen　that　I　wanted　you　to　e？〃　she　asked。　〃What　excuse　is　there　for　that？〃
　　〃I'm　an　old　friend　of　yours；〃　he　said。　〃I　take　it　that　you　and　your　husband　don't　go　around　together　much　socially。〃
　　〃No。〃
　　〃That's　fine；〃　Mason　said。　〃You've　been　calling　me　by　my　first　name　once　or　twice　lately。　Begin　to　do　it　regularly；　particularly　when　people　are　around。　I'm　going　to　be　an　old　friend　of　yours　and　you　called　me　as　a　friend；　not　particularly　as　an　attorney。〃
　　〃I　see。〃
　　〃Now　the　question　is；　can　you　remember　all　that？　Answer！〃
　　〃Yes；〃　she　said。
　　He　gave　the　room　a　quick　survey。
　　〃You　said　you　left　your　purse　up　here。　You'd　better　find　it。〃
　　She　walked　to　the　desk　and　opened　one　of　the　drawers。　The　purse　was　in　that。　She　took　it　out。　〃How　about　the　gun？〃　she　asked。　〃Hadn't　we　better　do　something　with　the　gun？〃
　　He　followed　her　eyes；　and　saw　an　automatic　Iying　on　the　floor；　almost　underneath　the　desk；　where　the　shadows　kept　it　from　being　plainly　visible。
　　〃No；〃　he　said；　〃that's　a　break　for　us。　The　police　may　be　able　to　trace　this　gun；　and　find　out　who　it　belongs　to。〃
　　She　frowned　and　said；　〃It　seems　funny　that　a　man　would　shoot　and　then　throw　the　gun　down　here。　We　don't　know　who　that　gun　belongs　to。　Don't　you　think　we　had　better　do　something　with　it？〃
　　〃Do　what　with　it？〃
　　〃Hide　it　some　place。〃
　　〃Do　that；〃　he　said；　〃and　then　you　will　have　something　to　explain。　Let　the　police　find　the　gun。〃
　　〃I've　got　a　lot　of　confidence　in　you；　Perry；〃　she　replied。　〃But　I'd　a　lot　rather　have　it　the　other　way。　Just　the　dead　body　here。〃
　　〃No；〃　he　said；　shortly。　〃You　can　remember　everything　I　told　you？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　He　picked　up　the　telephone。
　　〃Police　Headquarters；〃　he　said。
　　
　　
　　　9。
　　
　　Bill　Hoffman；　head　of　the　Homicide　Squad；　was　a　big；　patient　man　with　slow；　searching　eyes；　and　a　habit　of　turning　things　over　and　over　in　his　mind　before　he　reached　a　definite　conclusion。
　　He　sat　in　the　living　room　on　the　downstairs　floor　of　the　Belter　house　and　stared　through　his　cigarette　smoke　at　Perry　Mason。
　　〃The　papers　that　we've　found；〃　he　said；　〃indicate　that　he　was　the　real　owner　of　Spicy　Bits；　the　blackmailing　sheet　that's　been　shaking　them　down　during　the　last　five　or　six　years。〃
　　Perry　Mason　spoke；　slowly　and　cautiously；　〃I　knew　that；　Sergeant。〃
　　〃How　long　have　you　known　it？〃　asked　Hoffman。
　　〃Not　very　long。〃
　　〃How　did　you　find　out？〃
　　〃That's　something　I　can't　tell。〃
　　〃How　did　you　happen　to　be　here　tonight　before　the　police　came？〃
　　〃You　heard　what　Mrs。　Belter　said。　That's　true。　She　called　me。　She　was　inclined　to　think　that　her　husband　might　have　lost　his　head；　and　shot　the　man　who　was　calling　on　him。　She　didn't　know　what　had　happened；　and　was　afraid　to　go　and　find　out。〃
　　〃Why　was　she　afraid？〃　asked　Hoffman。
　　Perry　Mason　shrugged　his　shoulders。
　　〃You've　seen　the　man；〃　he　said；　〃and　you　know　the　type　of　a　man　it　would　take　to　run　Spicy　Bits。　I　would　say；　offhand；　that　he　was　rather　hard…boiled。　He　might　not　be　a　perfect　gentleman　or　very　chivalrous　in　dealing　with　women…folk's。〃
　　Bill　Hoffman　turned　the　matter　over　in　his　mind。
　　〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃we　can　tell　a　lot　more　when　we've　traced　that　gun。〃
　　〃Can　you　trace　it？〃　asked　Mason。
　　〃I　think　so。　The　numbers　are　on　it。〃
　　〃Yes；〃　Mason　said；　〃I　saw　them　when　they　took　down　the　numbers。　A　32…caliber　Colt　automatic；　eh？〃
　　〃That's　the　gun；〃　said　Hoffman。
　　There　was　a　period　of　silence。　Hoffman　smoked　meditatively。　Perry　Mason　sat　perfectly　still　without　so　much　as　moving　a　muscle；　the　pose　of　a　man　who　is　either　absolutely　relaxed；　or　else　is　afraid　to　give　way　to　the　slightest　motion　for　fear　that　it　will　betray　him。
　　Once　or　twice　Bill　Hoffman　raised　his　placid　eyes　and　looked　at　Perry　Mason。　Finally　Hoffman　said；　〃There's　something　funny　about　this　whole　thing；　Mason。　I　don't　know　just　how　to　explain　it。〃
　　〃Well；〃　said　Mason；　〃it's　your　business。　I　usually　get　in　on　the　murder　cases　long　after　the　police　have　finished。　This　is　a　new　experience　for　me。〃
　　Hoffman　flashed　him　a　glance。
　　〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃it　is　rather　unusual　for　an　attorney　to　be　on　the　ground　before　the　police　get　there；　isn't　it？〃
　　〃Yes；〃　said　Mason；　nonmittally；　〃I　think　I　can　agree　with　you　upon　that　word　'unusual。'〃
　　Hoffman　smoked　awhile　in　silence。
　　〃Located　the　nephew　yet？〃　asked　Mason。
　　〃No；〃　said　Hoffman。　〃We've　covered　most　of　the　places　where　he　usually　hangs　out。　We　crossed　his　trail　earlier　in　the　evening。　He'd　been　out　with　some　jane　at　a　night　club。　We've　located　her　all　right。　She　said　that　he　left　her　before　midnight。　About　eleven…fifteen　she　thinks　it　was。〃
　　Suddenly　there　sounded　the　noise　of　a　motor　pounding　up　the　drive。　The　rain　had　ceased；　and　the　moon　was　breaking　through　the　clouds。
　　Above　the　noise　of　the　motor　could