Chapter 3 third chapter

The Warren House at 2420 Bradmore Street was brightly lit.The residence is quite far from the road, and the spacious semi-circular driveway leads to the gate, which can accommodate multiple vehicles. On the west side of the house there is a wide laneway leading to the driveway which leads to the three car garage. Mason slowed down, looked at Della and said, "See? This driveway is full of cars, but we are very punctual. Usually guests arrive one after another at a time that is convenient for them." "What do you mean by that...?" "These guests are here by deliberate arrangement," Mason replied. "Warren wants us to arrive after all the guests have arrived."

Della said, "Ah! Look at the drive by the side door." "I've seen it before," Mason said. "A large catering truck." "And that sign," Della said. "Derek's Culinary Service." Mason nodded. "The name of the sign is drawn on a piece of thick cardboard to match the frame, but the rest of the sign is permanently painted on. This way, the name of the sign can be changed depending on the occasion. We'll have a good laugh at Dre. Ke, said he actually changed his career to catering service business." "For Derek," she said. "Outside cooking is the freshest."

"Okay," Mason said, pulling the car into the driveway. "We're coming in from the east, so let's find a parking space in the left lane. This house is clearly built for recreation." "A house of headaches," Della said. "It takes a lot of servant help to maintain the facade, but finding a domestic helper is a headache in this day and age." Mason parked the car and got out to open the door for Della. "All right," he said. "Let's go in as if we were innocent bystanders in the pen of an amateur novelist." "Do you think we'd attract suspicion?" Della asked.

Mason replied: "It depends on what kind of people are at the event, Della. If it's a gathering of close friends, and these close friends meet regularly on weekdays, I guarantee that a lawyer and charming secretary will be there together, and there will be talk. The commotion and suspicion. Had the suspect been there, I can't tell you within ten seconds he would have known what was going on." "Yes," Della said when they came to the front door. "I can imagine this villain nibbling Mrs. Warren step by step, but found a well-known lawyer at the banquet. Boss, this may be a good thing. We can smash the blackmailer's evil plan."

"Maybe." Mason replied vaguely, and rang the doorbell. Then the door opened, and it was Wani who answered. "You're here at last," he said cheerfully, taking Della's hands. "We're all waiting for you." Then he turned to Mason and asked, "This one is...?" "Mr. Mason." Della turned to Mason and said. "Boss, this is my old friend Judson Wanney, who I mentioned to you this afternoon." "Oh, yes," Mason said, shaking hands. "Hello, Mr. Wanney." Wanni approached the newcomers cheerfully. "Lona," he called. "This is the girl I told you about. This is Mrs. Warren. And Mr. Mason. This is the host of the party, Mr. Horace Warren."

Mrs. Warren greeted: "You are welcome, it is our honor. Judson told me that he had the most beautiful lady for his sea trip, and now I finally believe it. Judson, you are not smart enough to be with such a young woman." The beautiful lady lost contact." Wannie tapped his head with his knuckles and said, "That's stupid." Warren looked at Mason and said, "Where have I seen you before?" Mason looked at Warren and said, "Is there?" Warren frowned, as if lost in thought. "I've seen you, or... wait a minute, I've seen your picture... Mason, Mason, ah! You're Attorney Paley Mason."

"That's right." Mason replied solemnly. "Nice to meet, nice to meet," Warren said adoringly. "Perry Mason!" cried Mrs. Warren involuntarily. "Oh! Paley Mason's here. Let my guests know, it's a big deal." "Let me pack your clothes for you," Lorna said to Della. "Come in and meet everyone, it's a small chum party." Warren put his arm around Mason and said, "That's great, the great Paley Mason, you've done me such a great honor." "Thank you." The lawyer said flatly. In the living room, there are about six or seven people chatting leisurely with cocktail glasses.Looking out through the viewing window, there is a swimming pool. Under the colored lights on the bottom and water surface of the pool, the wide cement revetment and grass beside the pool are rendered in soft moonlight colors.

The remaining eight to ten guests stood together or scattered along the poolside steps. The air was filled with the sound of conversations one after another, dotted with the lady's laughter from time to time, which was continuously passed into the ears of Mason and Della who came into the room. Warren walked to the microphone and switched the speaker to the public speaking button. "Ladies and gentlemen, I have something to announce," said Warren. Judging from the way the guest smiled and looked at the host, Mason deduced that Warren was a person who liked public speaking and expressed his opinions.

"It's a romantic story," Warren said. "The protagonist of the story is Judson Wanney, my assistant standing on my right. He and a beautiful woman met on a ferry in South America a few years ago. After that, they lost contact. However, in a very unexpected Under the circumstances, they met again and invited Mrs. Warren to come here with her consent. He was very happy to learn that this mysterious ferry beauty whom he regarded as a Hollywood star is currently working in a law firm. Secretary. Since Wannie has a lot of business at dinner tonight, he asked the lady to come with her own company. As it turns out, she invited her employer, and this employer is— Ladies and gentlemen, now take note Listen—her employer is the one and only Mr. Paley Mason! And this beautiful lady is Miss Della Streeter. Come forward, both of you."

Warren held out his hand, and just as Della and Mason stepped up to the stage, the stage lights came on. Warren held the microphone and said, "Let's welcome these two new arrivals with a warm applause." The guests looked around, put down the cups in their hands after finding a gap, and warm applause rang out.The stage lights then dimmed. Warren turned to Mason and said, "I don't like the formal introduction of guests one by one. I often introduce guests through the microphone. Now, you go around, my guests will introduce themselves, and you just memorize the names. But first Have a cocktail."

Mason said: "Mr. Warren, you have a very good voice, and your introduction is very smooth, which is simply professional." There was a look of joy on Warren's face. "Do you think so?" he said. "thank you very much." "I'm sure you must have received professional training in this area." Mason said. Warren declined to comment. "Let's have a cocktail, tonight's culinary skills are top-notch." Warren led Mason to the mobile bar, where a waiter served them and opened the lid of an insulated container. "Look," Warren said. "The cocktail glass has been chilled to near-zero temperatures. What would you like to drink?" "A Scotch on the rocks for me and Miss Della, please." The waiter took out the wine glass, put it on the serving plate, added ice cubes and whiskey, and moved the plate to the guests. Della picked up the glass with the utmost care, evidently aware of the fingerprints that would be left upon touching it. Mason took another glass. "Now, I beg your pardon," Warren said. "I have to make a phone call. Please feel free, don't be polite. The guests are very nice, and this is an informal party." "Can you give me a guest list?" Mason asked. "I've got a list for you," Warren said. "One for you and one for the charming secretary." Warren stuffed the folded list into the hands of Mason and Della in a somewhat mysterious manner. "How's the catering service?" Mason asked. "Great," Warren said eagerly. "Wow, like heavenly food. I never expected this kind of service... Well, excuse me, I have to make a few calls." When Warren left, he turned around to catch Mason's gaze, made a look and twisted his head, motioning for Mason to follow.Mason whispered to Della, "I'm going to leave for a while, and you can do it yourself." Della took Mason's cup, and Mason stepped forward to meet Warren. Warren said: "There's a shower by the pool, through the door to the right of the shower is a bathroom, the door is unlocked, we'll meet there in five minutes, or whatever time you can get your hands on. Go around the house Check it out, go around the pool. Let your secretary go free." "So the guests will talk to me," Mason said, looking at his watch. "I'm afraid it's a bit difficult..." "It's okay, I'll wait for you, I want to show you something." Wannie walked up to Della and took her hand. "It's great to see you again! You shouldn't have walked out of my life like that." "It was you who left my life," Della reminded him. Mrs. Warren leaned over and said, "Judson, it's shameful of you to let such a pretty girl go." Wannie put his arm around Della's shoulders, bringing her closer. "Isn't she here—well, let's go and meet our friends." Mason walked out of the house in the direction of the swimming pool, pausing now and then to shake hands with guests who had introduced himself, but to avoid starting conversations. A few minutes later, Mason came to the pool and looked at the house with admiration. It took him almost ten minutes before he took the opportunity to enter the door to the right of the shower without arousing suspicion. Inside the door is a luxurious bathroom with a low-lying bathtub and large mirrors. Warren was already there. "I want you to see something with your own eyes," he said. Warren opened the left of the two bathroom doors and motioned for Mason to follow him. Warren said: "This is my wife's bedroom. We sleep in separate rooms. I am a sleepless person and sometimes have a dozen phone calls a night. My bedroom is very soundproof, so this bedroom will not be disturbed. " "Wait a minute," Mason said. "I'm so embarrassed, doesn't your wife know that you're showing something here for me?" "God, of course I don't know, I just want you to take a look for yourself." Warren led the way to a large wardrobe, pushed the door back, and reached inside to take out a locked suitcase. "Obviously," said Warren. "Such a chest can be opened with any key." Warren inserted the key, took off the lock, and opened the iron clasps on both sides. "Just take a look," Warren said. "and……" "My God!" Warren stepped back a few steps as if in shock. The trunk was full of old newspapers. "What the hell!" Warren said. "Is this what you're going to show me?" Mason asked. "Of course not! Not long ago, this suitcase was full of forty-seven thousand dollars made up of twenty, fifty, and one hundred bills!" "Have you counted?" Mason asked. "Yes, I counted them." "Do you think it's possible for the money to be stolen?" "I don't know what happened." "That's all right," said Mason curtly. "In order to bring this matter to a conclusion, we took the suitcase outside to the dining car, and asked the experts there to take fingerprints and see whose fingerprints were left on it." "At least mine's on it," Warren said. "Your and someone else's fingerprints," Mason said. "But my wife's fingerprints will be on it too." "Her, and a third party." Warren shook his head, "I don't want to do it." "why?" "She could come back at any time to look for the box and find it was gone. Even if I put the box back later, she might find out that it was fingerprinted. You told me that fingerprints leave marks." "After sampling, they can oil the surface of the leather goods so that no traces are left," Mason said. "What's more, most of the fingerprints will be left on the metal buckle." "No, I can't let my wife catch me doing it. And it's not going to be easy to get the suitcase out." "There's a back door here, isn't there?" "yes." "You can go through the back door." "What if she goes back to her bedroom to look for her suitcase and finds it's gone?" "Well," Mason said. "You happened to show your wife your cards. Tell her what you're doing and explain to her that you're doing it to protect her." "Never." Warren said decisively, and suddenly closed and locked the suitcase, put it back in the original wardrobe, and closed the door of the cabinet. "Unless my wife voluntarily confides in me," he said. "Otherwise I wouldn't have made it public. I would have liked you to have seen the money. I suspect the blackmailer has already begun his nasty plan." "Does your wife have enough private money to pay for this?" Mason asked. "She has been transferring securities over the past ninety days or more. Yes, she has enough money to pay. If she transferred all the securities in hand, she could make several such payments. .For marriage, I think both parties should still have financial autonomy. Mr. Mason, I have a successful career, and I have always been generous to my wife. Look where we live..." He gestured. "I can't let Lorna know that I'm secretly spying on all of this, or I'll tell you the situation...or you...forget it, let's get out of here." "Fine," Mason said, and followed Warren to the bathroom door. Suddenly, the door opened, and Lorna stood at the door with a shocked and unbelievable expression on her face. Warren paused for a moment, then quickly changed to a homely and mildly pretentious tone and said: "I am introducing our residence to Mason, dear. Excuse me, I will also show him your bedroom." Warren turned to Mason and continued the introduction calmly: "The other end is my bedroom, we can go there through the bathroom or through the hallway. There is a door between my bedroom and the bathroom... please go here .” Lorna stood on the other side. "Honey, when you're done," she said. "The catering staff want to know when the food will be served. There is an oven in the dining car and they have to start prepping it twenty minutes before the food is served." "Very well," Warren said with ease. "Tell them to start serving. Our dinner party should start in twenty minutes." "They're ready for appetizers," she said. "Very well, very well," said Warren. "This catering service is very attentive. Now, Mr. Mason, please move over this way. Let me show you the other rooms. The guest room is in the other wing of the house." Out of the aisle, Warren turned to Mason and whispered breathlessly, "My God, something almost went wrong. Imagine if we were holding that suitcase." "What do you think it will be?" Mason asked. "I can't imagine it," Warren said. "In that case, I'd have to go to some lengths to explain." "Your wife is in the same situation and she has to explain," Mason said. "When you're trying to protect someone, it's helpful to know the source of the danger first, and..." "No, no, Mason," Warren interrupted. "This will mess up my whole plan of asking you to come. To deal with this matter, Lorna must think that you are only present as an ordinary guest, and don't think about it. I don't want Lorna to realize that I am Doubt about her finances." "Okay," Mason said. "You're the one who started it, but obviously Lorna was blackmailed and paid $47,000 out. It seems too late to protect her from blackmail." "I know, but the money is small," Warren said. "It's important to keep her safe from the blackmailer, from what's bothering her right now. This may be the last time we'll be together tonight, and I want to stress again that my business is very organized and my calls have to go through a switchboard. turn around." "How much does Judson Wanney know?" Mason asked. "He knows nothing. I don't want him to know anything." "But he knows the whole affair of inviting Della Streeter is a fabrication." "Of course, because he thought my purpose was to introduce Della to a guest tonight." "Who is it?" Mason asked. "Berlington," said Warren. "You'll find his name on the guest list. Now, let me show you the bedroom and..." After Mason entered the bedroom, he closed the door and asked, "Okay, Warren, let's talk about Bellington." "There's really not much to say," Warren said. "George Bellington is the son of oil tycoon Wendy Bellington. George is looking for oil fields, and I happen to have some oil fields for lease, and he has one of them. Honestly, Mason, it doesn't matter whether the lease is sold or not." Well, the reason I had him here tonight was because he had recently broken up with a rotten woman. I told Judson I was going to introduce Della to him." "What does Judson think of your acquaintance with Della?" Warren said: "A few weeks ago, I gave a lecture for the Society of Legal Secretaries. I told Wani that I met Della there and I was so impressed by her beauty that I asked her name and asked Ask Wannie to invite her to dinner, of course, to bring her own company, and I ask Wannie to make sure George and Della meet. That's all Wannie knows. Now I must go back to my guests, Mason. It’s one thing to show guests around casually, but it’s another thing to have a private conversation with you and be absent for a long time, and that will ruin my plan.” Warren opened the door calmly, and stood by the door waiting for Mason to come out. "What the hell are you afraid of?" Mason asked. "Me? No. Why do you ask?" "You are afraid to face your own soul, you are afraid that the things you entrusted to me will leak. You could control your employees, but you let them control you. What kind of plaster are you selling in your gourd?" "As I told you," Warren said impatiently. "We don't have time for details, Mason." "So, when will you have time?" "I don't know, and it's not that important. You just need to know what you have to do. You can also decide how much you want to charge, as long as it can protect Lorna's safety." Mason said, "You're a wonderful actor, Warren. Tell me, where did you get your training?" Warren seemed to relax a bit. He said: "I used to look forward to the stage life very much, and I also sponsored a few stage plays-but please don't let anyone know about this, especially Lorna. She may put I imagined—you know, some of the associations the average person has about actors..." "No, I don't think so," Mason said. "Stage plays inherently need funding, that's the nature of the business." "I know, but... you're a bachelor, aren't you, Mason." "yes." "That's enough to explain what you're thinking," said Warren, and walked toward the hallway of the living room.There, as the cocktail party progressed, the men's conversation grew louder and the women's laughter sharpened. "If you don't mind," Warren said as he walked. "I will keep my distance from you for the next dinner party." "Where's Bellington?" Mason asked. "It's the one over there busy talking to your secretary," Warren said. Mason squinted at a tall young man in his early thirties.He looked like a model in a shirt commercial; broad shoulders, narrow waist, blond hair, prominent cheekbones, and perfect posture. "I knew he would be fascinated by Della," Warren said. "Look at him, how fascinated he is." Mason turned to Warren and said, "Warren, I'm not sure if I like this. I don't know what trick you're playing, but it's clear that you're using Della as a bait to get you and Bellington transaction." "No, no," said Warren quickly. "That was just an excuse I gave Wannie. But I expected Bellington to be deeply smitten with her. Sorry, excuse me..." Warren turned to leave. Mason stood staring at Bellington, observing his apparent eagerness to impress Della. Immediately afterwards, a lady holding a cocktail glass appeared beside Mason and asked Mason for his secret recipe for winning lawsuits.Soon two more joined, and Mason found himself at the center of the conversation.