Chapter 13 Chapter Thirteen

When Mason returned to the office, Della looked at him in surprise. "What's the matter? Have you been there?" she asked. "I've been," Mason said. "Then came back and now I'm waiting for a call to come in." Della raised her eyebrows in puzzlement. "I think so," Mason said. "We'll be getting a call from Mr. Warren shortly. He's going to ask me to defend him in a murder case." "Murder!" Della repeated. "Not bad," Mason said. "Obviously, before I arrived, Warren and Gidon met. We have the same view on the way to deal with blackmailers, that is, there are three ways to deal with them-one of which is to kill each other."

"You mean Warren intended to kill him?" "Obviously, Warren thought he could get away with it," Mason said. "If it weren't for the fire alarm we set off, he might have escaped." "Ooh!" Della responded. "He might have a one-on-one meeting with Gidon," Mason said. "Then there was a showdown. Warren killed him, and I can't be too hard on him for that. But then he heard the fire truck sirens go off, and he was trapped in the house, and he couldn't get out. They ended up on the spot. Get him right." "And what about Mrs. Warren?"

"Either she was there before the fire alarm cordoned off the building, or she hadn't had time to get to the scene. Of course, at that point the building was surrounded by police. "She was very clever. She must have walked home after seeing the uniformed police officer. Della, I need your help with something. Drive to the Warren's house and see if Mrs. Warren is at home. If she is, Tell her about it. If not, you wait until she comes home and tell her never to confide a word to anyone except that she won't comment on anything until she meets with her lawyer." "Want to meet you?" Della asked.

"You don't have to mention meeting me," Mason said. "I hope you don't mention that all she has to do is tell the police that she wants to speak to a lawyer. I think I'm going to be her husband's advocate." "Since they arrested him on the spot," Della asked boldly. "How else can you..." "I don't know," Mason said. "But Gidon did it to himself." The phone rang. Della responded, "Yes, Gertie... well, Mr. Mason will answer." "Horace Warren is calling," she said. Mason picked up the microphone and said, "Yes, Warren."

"I'm in custody for murder and they say I have the right to speak to my lawyer and..." "I'll be there in fifteen minutes," Mason said. "Don't tell them anything, understand? Not a single thing." "I know." "I'll be right there," Mason said.