"We could take her into custody, you know," the officer said.
"That's your right," Mason told him. "Any time you want to swear out a warrant for her arrest you go right ahead. However, you know and I know that you haven't a scintilla of evidence against her. The only reason that you're here to question her is because you've received an anonymous tip from someone who is trying to add to her troubles. For your information, Officer, this young woman has been the victim of a colossal conspiracy. She's just discovered what has happened and the emotional shock is tremendous.
"If you can assure me that you have one iota of actual evidence against her, we'll try and get a physician to quiet her nerves and then see if we can get a statement from her. But if you are acting on the strength of an anonymous tip telling you to get hold of her and question her, I'm going to tell you that that anonymous tip comes from the same individuals who have been trying to muscle in on this young woman's property rights- individuals who have played fast and loose with her emotions with absolutely no concern for the outcome.
"Now, what do you want to do?"
The officer grinned and said, "I guess you called the turn, Mr. Mason. In view of that attitude we'll wait until she's in condition to be questioned."
The officer indicated the tearful, frightened Dianne Alder. "That is Miss Alder?" he asked.
"That's Miss Aider," Mason said, "and the young woman with her is Della Street, my secretary. I'm Perry Mason, her attorney."
"You'll see she doesn't leave town?" the officer asked.
"I'll be responsible for her," Mason said.
The officer turned to Dianne. "I'm sorry, Miss Alder," he said, and left the room.
Mason said to Della Street, "Get another suite fast, Della. Get Dianne out of here. Stay in that suite with her tonight. We won't let anyone know where she is. I'll close the door to this bedroom and if anyone who calls on me here jumps to the conclusion that you and she are behind that closed bedroom door, I can't help it."
Mason turned to Dianne. "Whatever you do," he said, "don't lie. Tell the absolute truth. When you are feeling better you can tell your story in detail to Della Street, but if the police should try to question you, tell them that you aren't going to make any statement except in the presence of your attorney, and send for me. Do you understand?"
Dianne nodded.
"I understand," Della Street said. "Come on, Dianne, let's go."
CHAPTER TWELVE
Della Street had been gone less than five minutes when Mason heard a soft code knock on the door; one rap, a pause, four quick raps, a pause, then two raps.
The lawyer made sure the door to the north bedroom of the suite was closed, then crossed the parlor, opened the corridor door and saw Sid Nye on the threshold.
"Hi," Sid said. "I just thought I'd pass the word along that the police have a tip on Dianne."
"I know they do," Mason said. "Who gave it to them?"
"Probably Montrose Foster," Nye said. "It was an anonymous tip. I also wanted to let you know that you aren't going to have anything to worry about on that time schedule."
"What do you mean?"
"Moose Dillard had a wrestling match with his conscience and decided that it wasn't necessary for him to make any report to the police. Of course, if they question him it's going to be another matter."
"Did he get out of the place all right?" Mason asked.
"Like a charm," Nye said.
"What happened?"
"Actually it was pretty simple. I parked my car about a block down the street, walked up to the entrance to the parking place, walked toward the office of the motel as though I were going in there, then detoured around to the side and ducked in at Number 5."
"No one saw you?"
"I'm quite certain they didn't. They gave no indication if they did."
"Then what?"
"I scouted the place, then went outside and got in Dillard's car. He'd given me the keys to it. I started the motor, got it warmed up, then gave a signal to Moose. He came out and got in the car and we shot out of there fast."
"What did you do with the room key?" Mason asked.
"Moose said he left it inside."
"Then what?"
"I rode around with Moose for a while and talked with him. After that I had him take his car and I got my car. Moose went on his way and I came back here."
"You say you talked with him."
"That's right."
"What did you talk with him about?"
"You have two guesses."
"You didn't make any suggestion that he should duck out, did you?"
"Heavens, no. Far be it from me to make any suggestion like that-perish the thought! Of course, I pointed out to him that if the police wanted to question him they could, but he really didn't have any obligation to do anything except report to Paul Drake-and he's lost his notebook."
"Lost his notebook!" Mason said.
"That's right. It must have dropped from his pocket somewhere. Of course I pointed out to him that he'd cut rather a sorry figure if he didn't have that notebook."
"Look here, Sid, let's be frank. Did you steal that notebook or hide it?"
"Not in that sense of the word. Dillard feels it must have fallen out of his pocket when he was getting in his car. He had his coat over his arm and he tossed the coat into the car."
"Will the police find it?"
"I don't think so. I saw it when it dropped to the floor of the car. I also have a vague recollection of seeing something fall out when I opened the car door to let Dillard out. I didn't pay much attention to it at the time. I could go back and look in the gutter."
Mason frowned. "You can't afford to take chances with the police in a murder case, Sid."
"Sure. I know that. On the other hand, I'm not Diilard's guardian. The guy can go to the police later on if his conscience bothers him.
"Now, what happened in connection with this anonymous tip on Dianne? Did the police question her?" Nye asked.
"No."
"Why?"
"I wouldn't let them."
"The police must be pretty soft here in Riverside."
"I was pretty hard," Mason said. "If they'd had any evidence, they'd have taken her in, but to drag a nice young woman down to headquarters simply on the strength of an anonymous tip is poor business from a public relations standpoint.
"Do you know where Dillard went?"
"I wouldn't have the slightest idea," Nye said, looking up at the ceiling.
"Suppose we should happen to need him? Suppose we should want to get in touch with him in a hurry?"
"Wherever he is," Nye said, "I'm quite certain he reads, or will read, the Riverside papers, and any ad that was put in the classified column would undoubtedly get his attention."
"I see," Mason said.
"Well, I must be going," Nye told him. "I have quite a few things to do and I wouldn't be too surprised if they didn't put your suite here under surveillance a little later on. It might be just as well if I kept in touch with you by telephone."
"Your calls will go through a switchboard," Mason warned.
"Oh, sure," Nye said. "I wouldn't say anything that I wouldn't want everybody to hear. Of course if I should talk to you about moose hunting, you'll know what it's all about."
"Sure," Mason said, dryly.
"And I can tell you the most likely place we could go to find a moose."
"I'm quite certain," Mason said, "that the information would be of interest to me but only in the event I should want to hunt a moose. Right now I can't imagine anything that would be further from my thoughts."