Chapter 10 chapter Ten

Mason got out of the taxi one block away from Buchan's apartment and looked around cautiously.The two plainclothes men following him drove by without even looking at him.Mason walked for a block, came to Bakken's apartment, and looked for Hairu Tensi's name in the house number. When Mason rang her doorbell, a man came briskly from the opposite direction, stopped in front of the apartment, and reached into his pocket for the keys. When the electric lock of the door was opened, the man who took out the key pushed the door and entered.Mason then went in, passed the man in the corridor, walked into the elevator, went up to the fifteenth floor, found Room 521 at the end of the corridor, and tapped on the door.

The young woman who answered the door was above average height, wearing slacks.She stood erect, with partly dyed brown hair and watchful blue eyes approvingly looking at Mason.Her demeanor was neither tense nor frightened, and she seemed capable of dealing with emergencies. "I don't know you," she said. "I hope this situation improves immediately." Mason replied, taking off his hat and saluting. Teng Si saw him from head to toe, then stepped aside and said, "Come in." After Mason entered, she closed the door, pointed him to a chair, and stood with her back to the door, holding the doorknob. "What's your business?" she said.

Mason said, "My name is Mason, do you remember?" "No. If you want to have fun, don't waste your time talking. I don't go out with strangers." "I'm doing some research," Mason said. "Oh," she said. "I have reason to believe it," Mason went on. "You have some news that interests me." "about what?" "About Pan Wen." "What happened to Pan Wen?" "About the last time you saw the Panwin and Marley's Edina." "Are you a detective?" she asked. "Not exactly," Mason said.

"what is your purpose?" "I represent someone who wants this news." "What's in it for me?" "No." She moved away from the door and sat across from Mason, crossing her legs.Her hands were large and powerful, fingers clasped in her lap. "Please don't mind my caution," she said. "There are so many reports now of men breaking into women's apartments and beating them on the head or strangling them and things like that, so I don't want to take the risk." "Do I look like that?" Mason asked. "I don't know," she said. "I don't know what they look like."

Mason smiled, and Fujisi also smiled slightly. Mason said, "Go back to my question." "About the ship?" "yes." "Which side of the ship?" "When was the last time you saw Marley's boat?" Fujis smiled and said, "Mr. Mason, I'd rather go back to my original question." "what is the problem?" "What's in it for me?" "That's the first time I told you, no," Mason said. "Then why should I answer?" Tensi asked. "Let's look at things differently," Mason said with a wink. "Why shouldn't you answer?"

"Charity starts at home but ends with the poor," she said. Mason said, "Okay, I'll lay my cards on the table." "Put the ace first, please," she said. "I'm a lawyer, representing Miss May Fell, about..." "Oh! You're Perry Mason." Mason nodded. "Why didn't you explain it at the beginning?" "I don't think that's doing any good." Tensi looked at him, frowned, turned her head slightly to one side, and said, "Oh, you are Perry Mason." Mason didn't speak. "Do you think I have some news of your interest that will get me into trouble?"

"I don't know," Mason said. "Listen," Fujis told him. "I don't want to testify in court." "You are not currently on the witness stand." "Yes, but you might drag me there." "I probably won't." "Can you guarantee that you won't?" "cannot." Tengsi touched her knee with her fingertips, her eyes were far away, as if she was thinking about possible situations.Suddenly, looking sharply into Mason's face, she said, "Well, I'll take a chance, I'm strong anyway." Mason leaned back, averting his gaze slightly so that Vine could talk without feeling his gaze.

"I don't testify because smart lawyers would embarrass me," Fujis said. "I love the outdoors—tennis, horseback riding, skiing, all kinds of sports, and I especially love yachting. And those who have legitimate hobbies and good intentions But penniless young men have no chance of being invited to go out to sea. "You've heard of a beetle fisherman? I think I'm a yacht fisherman. Whenever there's a trip to Catalina, I try to find people with boats. Whenever they ask, I'll give 'em The phone number. That's all I give—the phone number, my company, and laughter.

"Many men who own boats look for the company of athletic women because they know how to sail, share the work, and please everyone. "If I put all the energy I put into this into a business, I'd make money. I've racked my brains for jokes, games, and tricks, and I'm learning to drink a lot without getting passed out. I'll tell you, A good way to eat lots of cream before drinking." "I have a better way," Mason said. "You have?" "yes." "Be a good man and teach me. Eating cream is the best way I can find." "My method is relatively simple. I just drink a little bit," Mason said.

"Oh!" she said disappointedly. "I thought you really had a good idea." Mason said, "Don't let me interrupt you." "No. Now I'm going to tell you the truth. Wenworth caught my eye, wooed me, and when I refused he started using force and getting out of control. I don't like rough treatment, my eyesight And my judgment of distance and timing are pretty good. I just won a tennis championship a few days ago. "I warned him when it got heated, but it didn't work, he was out of control. So I kicked off my shoes, bent my knees and kicked him in the jaw with my heel every chance I got."

"Did it work?" Mason asked. "Of course it worked." "Then what happened to Wenworth?" Fujis said: "I thought I killed him. I splashed water on his face, rubbed his chest and ribs, fed him brandy with a small spoon. He seemed to wake up after an hour, and he woke up dizzy again. half an hour." "And then?" Mason asked. "Does he start the second round again, or concede defeat when the bell rings?" Fujisi smiled and said: "He admitted defeat and started a great friendship. I liked him a lot, he respected me, and we had a very rare friendship between a man and a woman. He found out that I like boats, and he enjoyed it too. Me for company. He also goes out to sea by himself sometimes when he doesn't want people bothering him and talking to him. He doesn't like sailing a yacht, it's just a side pleasure - sailing, throwing parties, and that sort of thing thing. That's why the Panwen had those devices. "You may not believe it, but it's true. When Wenworth was in a bad mood, he liked to go to sea. He let me drive and cook. Sometimes we didn't talk during the whole voyage, except for a few words about Diet and driving instructions. That's what I want and I love putting my hands on the wheel. Going out to sea makes me feel empowered and I feel exhilarated. I know the ocean is brutal and I know you can make no mistakes at sea, but I love it This kind of game." She paused and looked into Mason's face, expecting a comment.Mason was silent.She went on: "Of course I also made the acquaintance of Frank Marley. Unlike Penn, he never seduced me, and if he wanted to, he would use all sorts of cunning. He would wait, watch, consider and devise, You can't tell what he's thinking from what he says. "Pan is an amazing guy. A girl can't spend five minutes with him at ease. He will first hint, and if he can't make it clear, he can't be violent. But there is one thing, you always know what he wants to do, he is not hypocritical. Every time A woman who hangs out with Pam knows he's dangerous, but once he's safe through the first round, he's a great friend. He's got a lot going for him, he's shrewd, fair, has a good sense of humor, and when he's in the mood, He is a good partner. When he is in a bad mood, he will hope that you will not disturb him, and he will not disturb you. "Marley is the complete opposite. I've been out with him many times, often in his boats. He's always near me, standing or sitting, smoking a cigarette, half-closed eyes looking at me through the smoke. He's always been a perfect Gentleman, quiet, well behaved, and always waiting." She stopped, stared curiously at Mason's face, and said, "Look at me, I'll keep talking." "No," Mason said. "I'm listening. I hear with my ears and I see with my eyes. I can't do two things at the same time without being distracted, and now I'm listening to your voice." "Don't you think you can tell a lot more about a woman by looking at her face when she's talking than just by listening to what she's saying?" "Not really," Mason said. "Lawyers have to train their ears. Witnesses are usually well rehearsed, making their speech and gestures more or less mechanical, but those rehearsals are often silent. One should actually practice speaking to oneself, from which one can understand the mystery of sound. " Tengsi laughed and said, "You sat there with your head tilted, and your ears listened to every word I said, making me feel naked. It was horrible." "I didn't mean it. You're very observant." "Do you think so?" "yes." "thanks." Mason said, "That's out of the way, and we're talking about Marley's boat." "I'm talking about boats and men," she said. "Towards dusk, Wenworth called and said he wanted to see me. I drove to him, and he said he was going to meet his wife in San Diego the next day. He finally decided to make an ultimatum: ask his wife to promise to come back in a reasonable time. Divorce him under the condition that otherwise he will sue Aweser for alienation. Then he proposed that I go with him and sail the boat to Esenada, and he will drive to San Diego to meet his wife. Of course I Stay on board because he doesn't want his wife to know I'm with him. "I liked the idea so much that I told him that I had to go back to get our clothes and some food we needed. He gave me some money and told me to find an all-day supermarket on the way back to buy supplies. When I got back About to sail. "But when I got back, the Panwin was gone, and I thought maybe he was going on a trial voyage. He never kept me waiting, that's not how we were friends. I knew he wanted me to sail for him, so I stayed there. Didn't leave. I thought about getting on Marley's boat to see if anyone was there, but I realized Marley's boat was gone too. "Usually, I wouldn't wait long, but I'd love to go to Esenada, and I'm sure it's urgent to get Pan out to sea. I know he'll leave a message if he doesn't wait for me. "There is a message board in the club, and there are many information columns for people to leave messages. I read Pan's column, but there was no message. So I went back to the car and continued to wait." "Wait a minute," Mason interrupted her. "When did that happen?" "I don't know the time," she said. "I remember it started raining while I was shopping for food, does that matter?" Mason nodded. "I think it's at least half an hour to forty-five minutes late at the club because it's coming over the side of the hill," she said. "I dozed off in the car and fell asleep. Because I played tennis all afternoon - a small amateur tournament, I was runner-up in the women's division, and the girl who beat me used dirty tricks. Willing to give her the turn. "I was in a bad mood, but the thought of the trip to Esenada made me feel better. I continued to wait and doze, and then I heard the sound of a boat coming in. I thought it was the Panvin, so I opened the door and went out, and I Saw Marley's Edina. I think Marley might know where Penn is going, but I'm not sure if he's alone. You know, the etiquette is different on yachts, you have to wait a while to make sure he's alone , otherwise it may give him an opportunity to take advantage. "And it was a girl that came out and she pulled the rope ashore. I could tell by the way she was moving that she was the only one in the boat. God, I really got a good look at her." "Jealous?" Mason asked. She said: "Arguably yes. I wonder if Marley would sometimes be magnanimous in lending a girl a yacht to hang out with her friends — an interesting thought." "Do you know that girl?" "Didn't recognize it at the time," she said. "I found out later that it was Mei Feier." "How did you know?" "I saw her picture." "Who showed you the picture?" She said: "We are not discussing this matter now, and I have not yet obtained the consent of the other party." "Is that Marley?" Mason asked. "We don't talk about that." "And then?" Mason asked. "After the girl left, I waited for about half an hour," Fujis said. "And then I gave up. I figured something must have happened to make Pam leave in such a hurry that he didn't even have time to leave me a message. I'll go home, take a hot shower, and go to bed." Mason said, "You readily agree to go to Esenada?" "yes." "Going alone with Wenworth?" "That's what I said." "It just seemed inappropriate," Mason said. "So what?" she asked contemptuously. "I can see that," Mason said. "You don't seem to care what other people think." "I don't care at all." "Do you have your own car?" "good." "When you're going on a trip, can you just leave?" "What do you mean by that?" she asked. Mason smiled and said, "Maybe I have a habit of grilling people to find out. What I want to know is what you do for a living." "I see," she said. "I guess the lawyer's going to make me look bad in front of the jury with these questions, eh?" Mason nodded. "Well..." she said hesitantly. "Go on..." Mason said. "Do they question things like that on the witness stand?" "They would interrogate in the same way as I would." "They're going to force me to stand in front of the jury, aren't they?" "That's up to you," Mason said. "I don't want to be a witness," she said. "You still have not answered my question." "I don't think this has anything to do with you," she said with a twinkle in her eyes, and added with a quick wink: "Inappropriate, irrelevant, and unimportant." Mason leaned forward and said, "Your objection is valid, Miss Tengsi." she laughed. "You and I can be friends," she said. "You say I'm observant, and I have to be because I'm obsessed with tennis and all sports. But a girl can't work in an office and have a lot of time outside." "The reason is very clear." Mason said lightly. "I may have an ex-husband who is paying me a small amount of alimony." "Have you?" Mason asked. "Didn't you say that the opposition was established?" "I did." "Then I don't have to answer that question." Mason shook his head. She said: "Things are not good for May Fell, are they?" "Anders was arguably the worst," Mason said. "Phil may cooperate with Anders. Anders killed Wenworth on the pier, then drove Wenworth's ship out to sea, and set the route to Esenada. Phil will drive the stern Follow along, get Anders back, take him somewhere, and bring the boat back." "Why do you think that?" Mason asked. She smiled and said: "Read the newspaper and think about it. When I read the newspaper, I immediately understand that what I read is important." "Have you ever told anyone about this?" Fujish shook her head. "Why didn't you tell the police?" Mason asked. "The police?" she said, shrugging. "Why not?" "many reasons." "For example?" "I don't want to be on the witness stand," she said. "So you decided not to tell anyone, did you?" She pinches the crease of the slacks with her thumb and forefinger, slides them down, and checks to see if it's straight. "Is that so?" Mason asked again. "Listen," she said suddenly. "I have always believed that a person can get what he wants, as long as his desire is strong enough." "I've heard other people say that," Mason said. "I live by this theory. I can get what I want, but it's not easy. You have to expend all your mental and physical energy to get it." "so what?" "So I learned to be cold-blooded and selfish," she said, meeting Mason's gaze with a challenge. "Most successful people are selfish," says Mason. "Most strong people are also selfish. There are some exceptions, but I'm speaking as a rule. If you're selfish, don't feel sorry for it." "I have no intention of that." "I think you want to say something," Mason said. "indeed." "Then tell me." "Okay. If I tell the police, my name will go up and I'll have to take the witness stand. They'll take pictures of me and I think I'll look pretty - in the papers. Then, I'm scheduled to go to AI Senada's journey would be rendered and distorted." "I don't think you care what other people think of you," Mason said. "I don't care about perception, but I care about reputation." "so what?" "So, Mr. Mason, if I take the stand, I'm going to hurt your client. Your client doesn't want me on the stand, neither does Anders, neither do you, nor do I. "I'd rather go on a trip. I could go to the South China Sea with someone. We could run into all sorts of difficulties, our engines could fail, we could be blown off course, we could land on some tropical desert island, we could run out of fuel, we could need Repairing sails and masts will take weeks or months before we hear from us again." "It's dangerous to avoid testifying in this way, isn't it?" Mason asked. "I don't think so, I like it." "What prevented the trip?" Mason asked her. She said abruptly, "I know what you mean, you think it's Marley. No, no, Marley's going to stay here. His little boat can't do long voyages without even trying." "I'll put it another way," Mason said. "What's holding the other person back?" "Money," she said. "money?" "Yes—or lack of money, you might say." "I see." "Mr. Mason," she said eagerly. "It doesn't cost much, and you're not paying me not to testify—if you're afraid of going against your conscience. You're just funding me to take a trip I've always wanted, and a few thousand dollars will cover all the costs. " Mason shook his head. "Seven thousand and five?" she said. Mason shook his head again. "Five thousand is fine. It's not a small matter. We're going for a long time, and the other person has some burdens. But even if it's only five thousand, we can make it." "No, it's not about the price," Mason said. "what is the problem?" "Six-letter words," Mason said, "I'm not sure you'll understand." "Come on, Mr. Mason, you have no idea how much this means to me." Mason shook his head, stood up, put his hands deep into his trouser pockets, and pondered for a while.Then he began to pace the room, not wandering aimlessly, but slowly and carefully along the walls, examining the floor. "What?" she asked, looking at him warily. "Just thinking," Mason said. "You're looking at the floor." "yes?" "yes." Mason continued to walk slowly around the room. She walked over and stood beside him and asked, "What are you doing, Mr. Mason." When Mason didn't answer, she put her hands on Mason's shoulders and said, "Listen, you don't have to spend money, Anders is rich and has a lot of Money and lots of land. I'm a poor girl and what he pays me is a drop in the bucket compared to what you pay you to defend him." "I'm not his lawyer," Mason said. She stopped suddenly, thought for a moment, and said, "Oh." Mason finished checking. "Who's Anders' lawyer?" she asked. "I don't know. He's looking for a lawyer near North Mesa in Northern California." "In Beimeisha?" "Perhaps at the county seat." "Don't you know his name?" "have no idea." She said, "Mr. Mason, can you do me a favor? When you know who his lawyer is, can you call me and let me know? You can do that—it will probably end up being the same." "In this case, you're better off reading the newspapers and gathering information yourself," Mason said. "I will. Look, I want to be honest with you, because I have an offer, and you're not going to take advantage of me, are you?" "What do you mean by that?" "About going to Esenada, and how I will find a way to be invited on a yacht in the future." "When you show your cards, you can't keep people from knowing what you're going to play," Mason said. "You wouldn't do such a thing, would you?" "I don't know," Mason said. "It depends on how you treat me." "Let me make a fair deal with you." Mason raised his voice and said, "Well, I hope so. Anyway, I'm not going to pay a nickel to stop you from testifying, and I'm not going to make my client do it." "You're not going to tell the police what I saw?" Mason said, "Don't worry, I won't deliberately antagonize the prosecution." He picked up his hat, walked to the door and said, "Goodbye, Miss Fujis." She made a face and said, "Well, Mr. Mason, I wish you were sensible." "and then?" "You know." Mason said, "Everyone has a different idea of ​​what makes sense, depending on the point of view. Good night." Fujisi looked up at him and said, "Don't forget, Mr. Mason." "I will not." When Mason stepped into the hallway and walked to the elevator, Fujisi said to him again: "Don't forget that I am very observant." The door closed gently but firmly.