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The Case of the Velvet Claws :: Гарднер Эрл Стенли
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“If he’s left, round him up,” Mason told him. “And I want you to have Eva Belter out there.”
“Gee,” said Drumm, “that’s a big order. If we take her out now, it’ll attract attention.”
“It won’t if you sneak her out,” said Mason. “Bring along as many men as you want, only don’t make any noise about it.”
“I don’t know how the Sergeant will look at this thing,” Drumm protested, “but I don’t think there’s a chance in a million.”
“Well,” Mason said, “do the best you can. If he won’t bring Eva Belter, get him to come himself. I’d like to have her there, but I’ve got to have you two.”
“Okay,” said Drumm. “I’ll meet you at the foot of the hill, unless something goes wrong. I can get him to go if he’s here.”
“No. That won’t do. You find out first whether or not you can make the arrangements, and then wait there. I’ll call you back in about five minutes. If you can go, I’ll meet you at the foot of the hill. If you can’t there’s no use going on a wildgoose chase.”
“Okay, five minutes, then,” Drumm said, and hung up.
Drake looked at Mason. “You’re biting off a pretty big mouthful there, guy.”
“That’s all right. I can chew it.”
“Do you know what you’re doing?”
“I think I do.”
“If you’re trying to work up a defense for the jane, it would be a whole lot better to work it up without the police being there so that you could spring it on them as a surprise.”
“This isn’t that kind of a defense,” said Mason. “I want the police there.”
Drake shrugged his shoulders.
“It’s your funeral,” he said.
Mason nodded, walked over to the cigar counter, and bought some cigarettes. He waited five minutes, and then called Drumm.
Drumm said, “I’ve got Bill Hoffman sold on the idea, Mason, but he won’t take Eva Belter out there. He’s afraid you’re laying a trap for him. There are two dozen reporters hanging around the jail, and we couldn’t move her any place without having that bunch trailing along. Hoffman’s afraid you might get him out there, and pull a fast one that the newspapers could play up, and he’d be in a sweet spot. But he’s willing to go himself.”
“Okay,” Mason said, “that may work out just as well. Meet me out at the foot ofElmwood Drive. We’ll be waiting there in a Buick coupe.”
“Okay,” said Drumm. “We’re leaving in about five minutes.
“If he’s left, round him up,” Mason told him. “And I want you to have Eva Belter out there.”
“Gee,” said Drumm, “that’s a big order. If we take her out now, it’ll attract attention.”
“It won’t if you sneak her out,” said Mason. “Bring along as many men as you want, only don’t make any noise about it.”
“I don’t know how the Sergeant will look at this thing,” Drumm protested, “but I don’t think there’s a chance in a million.”
“Well,” Mason said, “do the best you can. If he won’t bring Eva Belter, get him to come himself. I’d like to have her there, but I’ve got to have you two.”
“Okay,” said Drumm. “I’ll meet you at the foot of the hill, unless something goes wrong. I can get him to go if he’s here.”
“No. That won’t do. You find out first whether or not you can make the arrangements, and then wait there. I’ll call you back in about five minutes. If you can go, I’ll meet you at the foot of the hill. If you can’t there’s no use going on a wildgoose chase.”
“Okay, five minutes, then,” Drumm said, and hung up.
Drake looked at Mason. “You’re biting off a pretty big mouthful there, guy.”
“That’s all right. I can chew it.”
“Do you know what you’re doing?”
“I think I do.”
“If you’re trying to work up a defense for the jane, it would be a whole lot better to work it up without the police being there so that you could spring it on them as a surprise.”
“This isn’t that kind of a defense,” said Mason. “I want the police there.”
Drake shrugged his shoulders.
“It’s your funeral,” he said.
Mason nodded, walked over to the cigar counter, and bought some cigarettes. He waited five minutes, and then called Drumm.
Drumm said, “I’ve got Bill Hoffman sold on the idea, Mason, but he won’t take Eva Belter out there. He’s afraid you’re laying a trap for him. There are two dozen reporters hanging around the jail, and we couldn’t move her any place without having that bunch trailing along. Hoffman’s afraid you might get him out there, and pull a fast one that the newspapers could play up, and he’d be in a sweet spot. But he’s willing to go himself.”
“Okay,” Mason said, “that may work out just as well. Meet me out at the foot ofElmwood Drive. We’ll be waiting there in a Buick coupe.”
“Okay,” said Drumm. “We’re leaving in about five minutes.