“Not personally,” Mason said, “but you have a Hannah Bass. Some people who have used your agency recommend her very highly. Would it be possible for you to get her?”
“I’ll see,” the voice said. “If you’ll give me your telephone number, I’ll find out and call you back.”
Mason gave her the number and hung up.
Alice Colton watched them with puzzled eyes.
“It’s all right, Alice,” Della Street said.
A few moments later Della Street’s telephone rang. Mason answered it.
“This is the Nite-Out Agency,” the feminine voice said. “We’ve contacted Hannah Bass and it’s quite all right with her. She wants to know, however, if it is definitely assured that it will be an all-night job and that you are willing to pay forty dollars.”
“That’s right,” Mason said. “If anything happens and the emergency doesn’t materialize, she’ll get the forty dollars anyway and cab fare home.”
“She has her own car. Will you give me your name and address?”
“The apartment,” Mason said, “is in my wife’s name. I’m a buyer for a large concern and I don’t want to be disturbed on week ends by a lot of salesmen who are trying to interest me in bargains. The name is Della Street. You have the telephone number and if you have a pencil, I’ll give you the address.”
Mason gave her the address of Della Street’s apartment house and the feminine voice said, “Mrs. Bass will be there within thirty minutes.”
“Thank you,” Mason said.
“Is it a job where she can get some sleep, or will she have to sit up?” the feminine voice inquired.
“She’ll have to sit up and watch the baby,” Mason said. “I’m sorry but that’s the way it is.”
“That’s quite all right. She’s prepared to do that She’ll stay until eight in the morning, or nine if necessary.”
“Have her come right along, if you will, please,” Mason said.
He hung up the telephone.
Alice Colton looked around the apartment, said, “The feminine influence predominates pretty much, Della. Mr. Mason doesn’t seem to be... well, he doesn’t seem to live here.”
Mason said, “I guess you have a point there. If you folks will pardon me...”
He took off his coat, untied his necktie, opened the shirt at the neck, kicked off his shoes, settled back in his stocking feet, picked up the paper and turned to the sporting section.
“How’s that?” he asked.
“Better,” Alice Colton said smiling. “You know, you two... well, when you look like that you... you seem to sort of fit in.”
“Thanks,” Mason said as Della Street blushed slightly.
Alice Colton continued to regard them with speculative curiosity.
“Now when Mrs. Bass comes in,” Mason said to Alice Colton, “we’re going to have to have a story for her. It’s this: Della and I are married. You’re Della’s sister. Your mother is very ill and we’re trying to get a plane to Denver.
“My sister is coming in tomorrow to relieve the baby sitter and take care of the child until we return. We’re awaiting confirmation on plane tickets.
“Della, you’d better load up a couple of suitcases and bring them out here and you, Mrs. Colton, had better get a suitcase and have it ready.
“And while you’re about it, Mrs. Colton, I’d appreciate it if you’d ring up Western Union and send a telegram to Della Street at this address saying: Mother passed away an hour ago. No need to make the trip. Will advise you concerning funeral arrangements. Florence.”
“You want that sent?”
“I want it sent,” Mason said. “Go to your apartment and get a suitcase, throw some books in it or anything you want and come back here, but telephone that message just before you leave your apartment. You’ll have to charge it to your phone. Della will fix up the financial arrangements.”
“This is a real thrill,” Mrs. Colton said, laughing nervously. “I feel all cloak-and-daggerish.”
“This is routine,” Della Street said, laughing.
“After Mrs. Bass comes,” Mason instructed Mrs. Colton, “you’re to be the tragic one. Della and I will take it more or less as a matter of course. Della will be philosophical about her mother. After all, she’s been sick and the end was not unexpected. You will be quiet and moody and perhaps sob a bit in a quiet, unobtrusive way — you will however, listen very carefully to everything that is said and remember what is said because you may have to testify.”
“In court?” Alice Colton asked in consternation.
“Sure,” Mason said, making his voice sound casual. “There’s nothing to it. Just get up on the witness stand and tell what you heard. Della Street will be right along with you. Just be sure you’re telling the truth and there’s nothing to worry about.”
Alice Colton laughed nervously. “Good heavens,” she said, “I’ll never sleep tonight, not a wink. I’ll get the suitcase and send the telegram.”
She was back in some ten minutes carrying a suitcase. In the meantime Della Street had placed two suitcases near the door.
A few minutes later the street bell rang and Hannah Bass announced herself.
“Come on up,” Della Street said. “My husband is just dressing but he’s decent. We’re awaiting a wire from Denver and a confirmation of plane reservations. If you can come right up, we’ll explain your duties.”
A few moments later chimes sounded and Della Street opened the door.
Hannah Bass was in the middle forties, a matronly appearing, muscular woman whose body appeared thick rather than fat. Her eyes were small, restless and glittering.
Della Street came toward her, said, “I’m Mrs. Street and this is my husband. This is my sister. We’re waiting for a confirmation of reservations.”
Mason, who had been adjusting his tie in front of the mirror, smiled and said, “Do sit down, Mrs. Bass. The baby is in the bedroom. I’m quite certain you won’t have any trouble. My sister will be here by morning. You see, my mother-in-law is quite ill.”
Hannah Bass shook hands with the others, sat down on the edge of the davenport, gray restless eyes surveying the apartment, taking in every detail. “How old’s the baby?” she asked.
“My daughter is sixteen months old,” Della Street said. “You won’t have any trouble, I’m certain.”
“Sometimes when a baby wakes up with a stranger,” Mrs. Bass said, “she gets panic stricken and...”
“Not Darlene,” Della Street interrupted. “I can guarantee she won’t give you any trouble. She’s a lamb. Just tell her that Mommie asked you to wait until Aunt Helen could come. Tell her that Aunt Helen will be here in the morning.”
“You don’t think you should wake her up now and tell her that you have to go?”
“Oh, we’ve already told her,” Della Street said. “We told her that Mommie was going to have to go away and that a friend of Mommie’s would stay with her until Aunt Helen came. She’ll wake about seven in the morning, and I’m certain you won’t have any trouble. Helen will be here by seven-thirty or eight.”
Hannah Bass seemed a little dubious. “Sometimes they get frightened,” she said.
“I know,” Della Street said, “but this is an emergency.”
“After all,” Mason said reassuringly, “we may not have to go. If we can’t get confirmation of our reservations on this plane, we just can’t make it and that’s all there is to it.”
Hannah Bass looked at him coldly. “I understood it was a forty-dollar job,” she said.
“It is,” Mason told her. “You get the same amount of money whether we go or whether we don’t. Just sit back and relax.”
Alice Colton wiped her eyes with a handkerchief.
Della Street said, “It’s all right, Alice. Everything’s going to be for the best.”