JК
The Case of the Caretakers Cat :: Гарднер Эрл Стенли
Страница: 18 из 146"
Jackson ceased reading and looked owlishly across at Perry Mason.
Mason scowled and said, "What the devil is he getting at? He disinherited Winifred, and he left all of his property to two grandchildren, share and share alike. There's nothing in this paragraph which could change that."
"No, sir," Jackson agreed.
"He secreted something like a million dollars in cash shortly before his death, but even if that is discovered, it would still pass as a part of his estate."
"Yes, sir."
"Unless," Mason said, "he'd made a gift of some sort before his death. And in that event, the property would be owned by the person to whom it had been given."
"It's a peculiar provision," Jackson remarked noncommittally. "He might have made a gift in trust, you know."
Mason said slowly, "I can't help thinking of the sheaf of currency Charles Ashton had in his pocket when he offered me a retainer… However, Jackson, if Peter Laxter gave Ashton money… well, there's going to be one hell of a fight over it—trust or no trust."
"Yes, sir," Jackson agreed.
Mason, nodding slowly, picked up the telephone which connected with Della Street's office, and, when he heard her voice on the wire, said, "Della, get hold of Paul Drake and tell him to include Charles Ashton in his investigations. I want particularly to find out about Ashton's financial affairs—whether he has any bank account; whether he's filed any income tax return; whether he owns any real property; whether he has any money out at interest; how much he's assessed for on the assessment roll, and anything else Paul can find out."
"Yes, sir," Della Street said. "You want that information in a hurry?"
"In a hurry."
"The Dollar Line said they'd hold a reservation until tomorrow morning at ten thirty," Della Street remarked in tones of cool efficiency, and then slid the receiver back on the hook, terminating the connection, leaving Perry Mason grinning into a dead transmitter.
Chapter 4
The office workers had long since gone home. Perry Mason, his thumbs tucked in the armholes of his vest, paced the floor steadily. On the desk in front of him was a copy of the Last Will and Testament of Peter Laxter.
The telephone rang. Mason scooped the receiver to his ear, and heard Paul Drake's voice saying, "Have you had anything to eat?"
"Not yet. I don't care much about eating when I'm thinking."
"How'd you like to listen to a report?" the detective asked.
"Swell."
"It isn't complete yet, but I've got most of the high spots.
Jackson ceased reading and looked owlishly across at Perry Mason.
Mason scowled and said, "What the devil is he getting at? He disinherited Winifred, and he left all of his property to two grandchildren, share and share alike. There's nothing in this paragraph which could change that."
"No, sir," Jackson agreed.
"He secreted something like a million dollars in cash shortly before his death, but even if that is discovered, it would still pass as a part of his estate."
"Yes, sir."
"Unless," Mason said, "he'd made a gift of some sort before his death. And in that event, the property would be owned by the person to whom it had been given."
"It's a peculiar provision," Jackson remarked noncommittally. "He might have made a gift in trust, you know."
Mason said slowly, "I can't help thinking of the sheaf of currency Charles Ashton had in his pocket when he offered me a retainer… However, Jackson, if Peter Laxter gave Ashton money… well, there's going to be one hell of a fight over it—trust or no trust."
"Yes, sir," Jackson agreed.
Mason, nodding slowly, picked up the telephone which connected with Della Street's office, and, when he heard her voice on the wire, said, "Della, get hold of Paul Drake and tell him to include Charles Ashton in his investigations. I want particularly to find out about Ashton's financial affairs—whether he has any bank account; whether he's filed any income tax return; whether he owns any real property; whether he has any money out at interest; how much he's assessed for on the assessment roll, and anything else Paul can find out."
"Yes, sir," Della Street said. "You want that information in a hurry?"
"In a hurry."
"The Dollar Line said they'd hold a reservation until tomorrow morning at ten thirty," Della Street remarked in tones of cool efficiency, and then slid the receiver back on the hook, terminating the connection, leaving Perry Mason grinning into a dead transmitter.
Chapter 4
The office workers had long since gone home. Perry Mason, his thumbs tucked in the armholes of his vest, paced the floor steadily. On the desk in front of him was a copy of the Last Will and Testament of Peter Laxter.
The telephone rang. Mason scooped the receiver to his ear, and heard Paul Drake's voice saying, "Have you had anything to eat?"
"Not yet. I don't care much about eating when I'm thinking."
"How'd you like to listen to a report?" the detective asked.
"Swell."
"It isn't complete yet, but I've got most of the high spots.