“You don’t seem much interested,” Tragg said.
“Should I be?”
“Yes,” Tragg said. “Bob Lawley murdered his wife.”
“I don’t follow you, Lieutenant.”
“His wife evidently had a book of travelers’ checks which she carried in her purse. If she wanted to raise money for an emergency, she’d go cash those checks anywhere. The fact that they’re in the hands of another woman who is signing Mrs. Lawley’s name is a pretty good indication that something has happened to Carlotta Lawley.”
Mason said, “That’s a pretty tall deduction from one bit of evidence.”
“Well, there’s one other thing.”
“What?”
“An officer tagged a car for overtime parking this morning. The officer took a look at the registration certificate. It was Carlotta Lawley’s car.”
“Find out anything from the car?” Mason asked.
“Yes. I fingerprinted it. I found out that someone had parked the car and then carefully wiped off every fingerprint on it.”
Mason raised his eyebrows.
“You can figure what that means. She’d never have done that.”
“Why?”
“It was her car. It was registered in her name. There was no reason for her to rub off her fingerprints. Her name was written on the registration certificate.”
“I see.”
“But, if her husband had killed her, taken the body out, and dumped it some place, and brought the car back, he’d have wiped off his fingerprints. That’s the instinctive reaction of a guilty man these days.”
“Yes,” Mason said thoughtfully, “there’s an element of logic there. How about that alibi of Magard’s? Is it good?”
“Magard was with Peavis from right around eleven o’clock until about five minutes to twelve. Peavis remembers the time because the appointment was made at ten-thirty and was for eleven o’clock, which, of course, was rather unusual. They talked until nearly midnight, then Magard left.”
“No one knows the exact time?”
“No. Peavis remembers hearing the clock strike midnight, and thinks it was just about five minutes after Magard left.”
“What time did Magard get into the Golden Horn?”
“Around a quarter past twelve.”
“When was the murder committed?”
“Just about midnight.”
“And Coll?”
“Coll was trying to find Bob Lawley. Bob had telephoned him an SOS earlier in the evening.”
“Did he find him?”
“No.”
“Why not figure he was looking up in Lilac Canyon?”
Tragg said, “I’m sorry, Mason, but you can’t divert my suspicions. There’s too much evidence the other way. For another thing, if Coll had done it, he’d have had a better explanation of what he’d done with his time.”
Mason was thoughtful for several seconds, then said, “I don’t like him, Tragg. I figure he had something to do with that poisoned candy. He could have had an accomplice — a woman. He’s the sort who would work through a woman.”
“I’m not giving him a clean bill of health,” Tragg said. “I’m just using him.”
“How long would it have taken Magard to get to Lilac Canyon from the place where he left Peavis, and how long would it have taken Coll?”
“From Peavis’ apartment to Lynk’s place, six and a half minutes. From Coll’s apartment, fifteen minutes. I timed it with a stop watch.”
“How long from Peavis’ apartment to the Golden Horn?”
“Twenty-one minutes.”
The telephone rang. Della Street said, “Hello... Yes...” glanced at Perry Mason, and said, “I think he’ll want to talk with you himself. Hold the line, please.”
She gave Mason a significant glance and pushed the telephone over to him.
Mason said, “Hello,” and heard Mildreth Faulkner’s voice, high-pitched with excitement, saying, “Mr. Mason, can you come at once?”
“What’s the matter?”
“I must see you. I must! I must! I’ve heard from Carlotta.”
“You have?”
“Yes. She telephoned me. Bob was with her... and her heart went bad while she was talking on the telephone. I heard her gasp, and I heard Bob say, ‘Oh, my God,’ then he hung up the telephone.”
Mason said cautiously, “You’re certain about the identity of the various parties?”
“Absolutely. I’d know her voice anywhere — and his, too.”
“Where are you now?”
“At the Broadway Flower Shop.”
“I’m engaged right at present, but I can get away within a few minutes if you’ll wait there.”
“Please hurry,” she said. “I feel certain that you know where she is.”
“I’ll do the best I can,” Mason said.
He hung up the phone, and Tragg got to his feet. “Well, there’s no need for me to interfere with your work, Mason.”
Mason said, “Get your book, Della.”
“Sounds like an emergency,” Tragg drawled.
“We’re going to make a will,” Mason said, “and we’re racing against time.”
Della walked along the corridor at Mason’s side, her feet beating a quick tattoo on the flagged floor as she strove to keep up with Mason’s long strides.
“Think he suspects?” she asked.
“Damn him, yes,” Mason said. “I tell you the man’s clever.”
“But what will we do?”
Mason held his thumb against the elevator button. “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
She said, “I’m certain I didn’t leave any clues that would point to you.”
“It’s my fault,” Mason said. “I’ve been dealing with Sergeant Holcomb so long that I’d begun to take the police pretty much for granted. Tragg is a fast thinker. It occurred to him that she might use her credit, and he had a man staked out. If you hadn’t been so quick-witted...”
A red light came on, and the elevator slid to a stop. Mason and Della entered, and Mason, taking a quick glance at the other occupants, warned her to silence with a glance.
“Suppose he’s got a man waiting here to shadow you?” Della asked as they reached the lobby.
“Probably. However, it won’t make any difference. They’ll be certain to have someone watching Mildreth Faulkner so Tragg will be notified the minute we show up.”
Lois Carling, behind the counter at the flower shop, looked at them curiously as they entered. “Something I can do for you?” she asked. “Did you wish...”
Mildreth Faulkner came running out of the office to greet them. Lois Carling fell back to watch them with ill-concealed curiosity.
Mildreth said, “Take me to her at once, Mr. Mason. You must.”
Mason said, “Your line may be tapped. Della, go into the drugstore on the corner and telephone the Clearmount Hotel. Ask to talk with Mrs. Dunkurk. When you get her on the phone, tell her who you are, ask her if she called her sister recently.”
“Oh, but she did,” Mildreth insisted. “I’d know her voice anywhere.”
“Just check on it,” Mason said to Della Street.
She walked rapidly down the aisle, and out of the door. Mason glanced curiously through the office windows at the array of potted flowers.
“Just atmosphere,” Mildreth explained. “We fill our orders from...”
“How sound-proof is this glass?”
“It’s all right.”
“I notice that that girl behind the counter seems to be taking quite an interest in us.”
“Oh, she’s all right — a little curious, that’s all.”
“She was friendly with the girl that worked here before — the one who had the five shares of stock?”
“Yes.”
“Seen her since she was married?”
“Oh, yes. They’re great cronies.”
“Then she’s probably met Peavis.”
“Oh, she knew Peavis long before that. Peavis used to try to pump her about the business. He’d bring her candy, and try a little flattery, but he never got very far. Peavis always tries to bribe the girls with candy. He’s crude and naïve — and dangerous, and that girl is too high-powered for this job — that’s all.”