Chapter 1 Chapter One
Perry Mason sat back slightly from the table and turned to face the young woman in the heavy leather chair.Mason's secretary, Della Streeter, handed him a typed secret card:
Name: Sylvia Fell Age: Twenty-six Address: 694 Chestnut Street, North Mesa, CA.Currently living in Palm Peak Apartments. Telephone number: Mountain View 6-9390 Reason: related to sisters Comments: When she opened the purse to take out the powder box, there was a stack of banknotes and several pawn tickets inside. — Della Streeter
Mason put the card face down on the table and said, "Are you coming to see me about my sister, Miss Phil." "yes." "Smoking?" Mason asked, and opened the cigarette case in the office. "Thanks, I have my usual brand." She took a new pack of cigarettes from her purse, tore open a corner, pulled out a cigarette, and leaned over to Mason's matches. "Okay," Mason said, leaning back in his chair. "What's the matter with your sister?" "She's missing." "Has it ever happened before?" "No." "What's her name?" "Mei Yi." "Married?" "No." "How did it disappear?" Sylvia Fell let out a quick and nervous laugh, and then said, "I'm not used to your continuous questioning. Can I explain it in my own way?" "of course can." "I live in North Mesa, and..." "Where's Beimeisha?" Mason interrupted. "I can't remember this place." "You won't remember," she said. "It's in the northern part of California, away from major highways, in the middle of nowhere, and there's been no new construction for years. It's only overshadowed by a new post office, but that doesn't count." "North Mesa's description is enough," Mason said with a smile. "How's Meiyi?" "She left North Mesa more than a year ago," she said. "It's a long story, and it's unusual. She's a houseworker, and I—I'm the prettier..." She smiled as if she thought it was inappropriate, and added, "Longer." Looking good is important in North Mesa. "You know, the general scenario would be: I can't stand the boredom of a small town, go to the big city, try to make movies, end up working as a waitress in a cheap restaurant, marry a charming prince...or go home broke , disillusioned, and cynical, to discover that the plain sister married to the funeral home in her hometown, had three children, and was known around the country for her good temper and delicious apple pie." Mason blinked and said, "Didn't Meiyi become like that?" "No. She got tired of Beimeisha and decided to go out and see the world." "Where is she now?" The smile disappeared from Sylvia's eyes. "I have no idea." "Where was she when you last heard from her?" "here." "Is she working?" "She has had several jobs," Sylvia said cautiously. "I think she's trying to make up for something she lost in North Mesa. She made some friends and had a great time. She became a playful girl." "Is she older or younger than you?" Mason said. "A year and a half older than me. Don't get me wrong, Mr. Mason. She knows what she's doing...but what I mean is—she's changed. In North Mesa, she was lifeless, rarely Smile. She thinks that staying in Beimeisha is just standing still, watching life slip through her fingertips, and her behavior reflects this feeling. After arriving in the city, she obviously has a completely different outlook. Her letter writes Very glorious, very smart... I dare not show all the letters to my mother. I remember Meiyi said that in the city, girls must play with fire, and the way to play with fire without burning their hands is not to control fire And controlling the fingers." "When was the last time you heard from her?" "More than two months ago." "What was she doing then?" "She works as a secretary for a man who runs a stationery business, but she didn't give me the address of the business. She lives in the Peasley Apartments and seems to be having a good time." "Do you have a letter from her?" Mason asked. "No. I tore up all her letters--that is to say, nearly all of them. She used to write me confidential things. Sometimes she wrote to my mother, too, but mostly short sentences. talk." "Has she ever returned home since she left North Mesa?" Mason asked. "Yes, she came back about six months ago. I've never been so surprised in my life, I've never seen anyone change like that. Her skin has been bad, her hair is thick and dry, her features are not The kind you'd call beautiful. But, God, look what she's made of herself! She's well dressed, her skin is much better; Full of one-liners and the latest slang. She made us North Mesa girls feel hopelessly outdated. "You know, Mr. Mason, I'm not an emotional person. I accept what's going on and I live my life. But when Mae left and we went back to the same old ways, I felt more blue than I've ever been before." When she is around, the situation is better, as long as you surround her, all the girls will feel the urban and sophisticated atmosphere; after she leaves, the atmosphere will disappear, we can't continue..." "I think I understand," Mason said. "Our basic information is already sufficient, Miss Phil." "Oh," Sylvia hurriedly continued. "About a month ago, I wrote to her and she didn't reply. I sent her another letter about two weeks ago, but it came back with a note from the apartment saying she had moved out. , and did not leave a new address.” "It sounded like she was already able to take care of herself," Mason said. "I don't think there's anything to worry about." "But in her last letter," Sylvia explained. "There was a reference to a Mr. Wenworth who had a yacht. I knew he was a gambler, and quite rich. She went out on a yacht with him, and she wrote, 'My God, if you come Go to the big city, and stay away from people like Pen Wenworth, I tell you that the theory of playing with fire is not suitable for him. He takes what he wants, without asking. When you are with people like him, you Can't control the fire and can't control the fingers.'” Mason said impatiently, "Your sister isn't the first girl in the world to discover that there are no hard and fast rules for playing with fire. Miss Phil, you don't need a lawyer, at most you need a detective. If you take my advice , you'll go back to North Mesa and forget about it. Your sister can take care of herself, and the reason she hasn't contacted you is no doubt that she doesn't want you to know where she is. The police will tell you that this It happens a lot. If you want a good detective, the Derek Detective Agency in this building has some very capable detectives, and you can totally rely on the prudence of the agency's host, Mr. Paul Derek. And honest. He took my case." Mason swiveled his chair, signaling that the conversation was over. Sylvia walked to the table and looked down at him. "Mr. Mason, please," she said in a desperate voice. "I know it sounds stupid. But there's no way I could put it in terms and make you understand her, as I do. But I know something unusual happened. I think—she died, was murdered." "Why do you think that?" Mason asked. "Oh, because of several things, plus knowing her, and what was mentioned in her last letter." "Did you not keep that letter?" "No." "If you're convinced in your mind that something serious is wrong, go to the police. They'll investigate. Of course, you probably won't like what you find out," Mason said. "However, I want you to investigate, Mr. Mason. I want you to..." "All I could do was hire a detective agency," Mason said. "And you can do it yourself, and save money. I suppose money is important to you, isn't it, Miss Phil." "Yes, money is important," she said. "But sisters are more important than money, and I know something is wrong." Mason said, "Go see Paul Derek. His detectives will probably find your sister within twenty-four hours. If she's really in trouble and needs legal help, she can still come to me." Della said, "This way, Miss Phil. I'll take you to Mr. Derek's office."
Name: Sylvia Fell Age: Twenty-six Address: 694 Chestnut Street, North Mesa, CA.Currently living in Palm Peak Apartments. Telephone number: Mountain View 6-9390 Reason: related to sisters Comments: When she opened the purse to take out the powder box, there was a stack of banknotes and several pawn tickets inside. — Della Streeter
Mason put the card face down on the table and said, "Are you coming to see me about my sister, Miss Phil." "yes." "Smoking?" Mason asked, and opened the cigarette case in the office. "Thanks, I have my usual brand." She took a new pack of cigarettes from her purse, tore open a corner, pulled out a cigarette, and leaned over to Mason's matches. "Okay," Mason said, leaning back in his chair. "What's the matter with your sister?" "She's missing." "Has it ever happened before?" "No." "What's her name?" "Mei Yi." "Married?" "No." "How did it disappear?" Sylvia Fell let out a quick and nervous laugh, and then said, "I'm not used to your continuous questioning. Can I explain it in my own way?" "of course can." "I live in North Mesa, and..." "Where's Beimeisha?" Mason interrupted. "I can't remember this place." "You won't remember," she said. "It's in the northern part of California, away from major highways, in the middle of nowhere, and there's been no new construction for years. It's only overshadowed by a new post office, but that doesn't count." "North Mesa's description is enough," Mason said with a smile. "How's Meiyi?" "She left North Mesa more than a year ago," she said. "It's a long story, and it's unusual. She's a houseworker, and I—I'm the prettier..." She smiled as if she thought it was inappropriate, and added, "Longer." Looking good is important in North Mesa. "You know, the general scenario would be: I can't stand the boredom of a small town, go to the big city, try to make movies, end up working as a waitress in a cheap restaurant, marry a charming prince...or go home broke , disillusioned, and cynical, to discover that the plain sister married to the funeral home in her hometown, had three children, and was known around the country for her good temper and delicious apple pie." Mason blinked and said, "Didn't Meiyi become like that?" "No. She got tired of Beimeisha and decided to go out and see the world." "Where is she now?" The smile disappeared from Sylvia's eyes. "I have no idea." "Where was she when you last heard from her?" "here." "Is she working?" "She has had several jobs," Sylvia said cautiously. "I think she's trying to make up for something she lost in North Mesa. She made some friends and had a great time. She became a playful girl." "Is she older or younger than you?" Mason said. "A year and a half older than me. Don't get me wrong, Mr. Mason. She knows what she's doing...but what I mean is—she's changed. In North Mesa, she was lifeless, rarely Smile. She thinks that staying in Beimeisha is just standing still, watching life slip through her fingertips, and her behavior reflects this feeling. After arriving in the city, she obviously has a completely different outlook. Her letter writes Very glorious, very smart... I dare not show all the letters to my mother. I remember Meiyi said that in the city, girls must play with fire, and the way to play with fire without burning their hands is not to control fire And controlling the fingers." "When was the last time you heard from her?" "More than two months ago." "What was she doing then?" "She works as a secretary for a man who runs a stationery business, but she didn't give me the address of the business. She lives in the Peasley Apartments and seems to be having a good time." "Do you have a letter from her?" Mason asked. "No. I tore up all her letters--that is to say, nearly all of them. She used to write me confidential things. Sometimes she wrote to my mother, too, but mostly short sentences. talk." "Has she ever returned home since she left North Mesa?" Mason asked. "Yes, she came back about six months ago. I've never been so surprised in my life, I've never seen anyone change like that. Her skin has been bad, her hair is thick and dry, her features are not The kind you'd call beautiful. But, God, look what she's made of herself! She's well dressed, her skin is much better; Full of one-liners and the latest slang. She made us North Mesa girls feel hopelessly outdated. "You know, Mr. Mason, I'm not an emotional person. I accept what's going on and I live my life. But when Mae left and we went back to the same old ways, I felt more blue than I've ever been before." When she is around, the situation is better, as long as you surround her, all the girls will feel the urban and sophisticated atmosphere; after she leaves, the atmosphere will disappear, we can't continue..." "I think I understand," Mason said. "Our basic information is already sufficient, Miss Phil." "Oh," Sylvia hurriedly continued. "About a month ago, I wrote to her and she didn't reply. I sent her another letter about two weeks ago, but it came back with a note from the apartment saying she had moved out. , and did not leave a new address.” "It sounded like she was already able to take care of herself," Mason said. "I don't think there's anything to worry about." "But in her last letter," Sylvia explained. "There was a reference to a Mr. Wenworth who had a yacht. I knew he was a gambler, and quite rich. She went out on a yacht with him, and she wrote, 'My God, if you come Go to the big city, and stay away from people like Pen Wenworth, I tell you that the theory of playing with fire is not suitable for him. He takes what he wants, without asking. When you are with people like him, you Can't control the fire and can't control the fingers.'” Mason said impatiently, "Your sister isn't the first girl in the world to discover that there are no hard and fast rules for playing with fire. Miss Phil, you don't need a lawyer, at most you need a detective. If you take my advice , you'll go back to North Mesa and forget about it. Your sister can take care of herself, and the reason she hasn't contacted you is no doubt that she doesn't want you to know where she is. The police will tell you that this It happens a lot. If you want a good detective, the Derek Detective Agency in this building has some very capable detectives, and you can totally rely on the prudence of the agency's host, Mr. Paul Derek. And honest. He took my case." Mason swiveled his chair, signaling that the conversation was over. Sylvia walked to the table and looked down at him. "Mr. Mason, please," she said in a desperate voice. "I know it sounds stupid. But there's no way I could put it in terms and make you understand her, as I do. But I know something unusual happened. I think—she died, was murdered." "Why do you think that?" Mason asked. "Oh, because of several things, plus knowing her, and what was mentioned in her last letter." "Did you not keep that letter?" "No." "If you're convinced in your mind that something serious is wrong, go to the police. They'll investigate. Of course, you probably won't like what you find out," Mason said. "However, I want you to investigate, Mr. Mason. I want you to..." "All I could do was hire a detective agency," Mason said. "And you can do it yourself, and save money. I suppose money is important to you, isn't it, Miss Phil." "Yes, money is important," she said. "But sisters are more important than money, and I know something is wrong." Mason said, "Go see Paul Derek. His detectives will probably find your sister within twenty-four hours. If she's really in trouble and needs legal help, she can still come to me." Della said, "This way, Miss Phil. I'll take you to Mr. Derek's office."