“And the other?” Drake asked.
“And the other,” Tragg said, keeping his eyes fastened on Mason, “was that the body of Ernest Tanner has been found doubled over the bathtub in the bathroom which communicates between the rooms of Stephane Claire and her uncle Max Olger, in the Adirondack Hotel. And in case you don’t remember, Mr. Mason, Ernest Tanner is the chauffeur for Jules Homan, the man Homan virtually accused of using his telephone to place unauthorized long-distance calls to Mr. L. C. Spinney in San Francisco.”
Mason straightened. His fork clattered against his plate. “You are not kidding?” he asked.
“I am not kidding,” Lieutenant Tragg said in a calm, level voice, “and for your information, Mason, the murder was apparently committed at just about the time when you left your office while I was eating my hamburger sandwich.”
Mason said suavely, “Can’t resist the spectacular, can you, Lieutenant? If you had asked me about those wet spots on my hat-brim...”
“That,” Tragg interrupted, “was simply my starting point. What the hell do you think I have been doing all the time I have been telephoning? I have had headquarters get in touch with the taxi drivers who stand around your office building. The time I have reference to Mason, was when you dashed out, jumped in a cab, went to the Adirondack Hotel, stayed about twelve minutes, and then tore back to the office.”
Chapter 18
Paul Drake’s face showed surprise and consternation, but Lieutenant Tragg wasn’t watching him. He was studying Mason with the concentration of a surgeon making a diagnosis.
Della Street said casually, “Chief, don’t tell me you’ve committed another murder?”
Tragg, still looking at Mason, said, “He didn’t commit a murder, but Stephane Claire did, or else found the body in her room and telephoned Mason, and he told her to go out and concoct an alibi.”
Mason said, “Come, come, Lieutenant. You jump at the most absurd conclusions. How do you know that I didn’t go to the Adirondack Hotel while you were eating your sandwich, to find out from Miss Claire whether it would be all right for me to take you into my confidence?”
“And what did she say?” Tragg asked.
Mason laughed. “Rather obvious, Lieutenant. I am afraid I can’t help you there. I didn’t see her at the Adirondack.”
“Why did you go there?”
“I could have gone to see her, and yet not seen her.”
“You could have, but did you?”
Mason said, “I see no reason why I should account to you for all my moves.”
Tragg said, “Mason, you are a delightful host. Personally, I like you. Officially, we are opposed. And I am asking these questions in my official capacity.”
Mason said, “All right, I will answer you in my official capacity. I am an attorney at law. I protect my clients to the best of my ability. I don’t have to disclose anything that a client has told me. A client could tell me he had committed a cold-blooded, deliberate murder, and that communication is absolutely confidential.”
“The communication might be,” Tragg said, “but there are other things which aren’t.”
“Such, for instance, as what?”
Tragg inserted his thumb and forefinger in his vest pocket, took out a small piece of paper, unfolded it, and disclosed a small white feather, the tip of which was still moist. The lower half of the feather, however, was a dark, sinister crimson.
Tragg, keeping his eyes steadily on Mason, said, “I have been advised Tanner was killed with a shot in the base of the brain, fired at close range from a small caliber revolver. A pillow had been used to muffle the report of the weapon, and a fold of the pillow got in the way of the bullet, ripping the pillow open and scattering feathers pretty much over the bathroom. It had started to rain. When you went in, there was moisture on your shoes, between the heel and the sole of the shoe. One of these feathers stuck to your heel without your knowing it, and it wasn’t until you returned that the feather dried enough to drop from your shoe to the floor.”
“Are you trying to tell me you picked that up in my office?” Mason asked.
“Not in your office. I noticed your hat when you took it from the cloak closet. Then when you were chasing Della Street down the corridor, this feather was swirling around on the floor in the air currents generated by Miss Street’s skirts.”
Della Street said quickly, “I think that’s being very chivalrous of you, Lieutenant. Another man would have suspected me.”
Tragg’s eyes suddenly shifted to hers. “By George!” he said.
She raised her eyebrows.
“Why the devil didn’t I think of it sooner? You were out. You said you were in Hollywood. Someone telephoned Mason. The message was important enough so that he left his office while he was waiting for Mrs. Greeley to bring in some evidence which would exonerate his client. It had to be you who telephoned.”
He stopped talking to study her intently. She met his eyes with a level gaze.
“Go on, Lieutenant. It’s fascinating to see a keen mind at work.”
He said slowly, “You found the body, and Mason didn’t want you mix into it. He wouldn’t have risked so much to protect Miss Claire. It was you he was trying to keep out of a mess. But the feather fell from his shoe. He had been over there in that room with the corpse.”
He ceased talking.
“Well,” she asked.
“What have you to say to that?”
She said, “As they say in Hollywood, you really have something there. It is terrific. I mean definitely.”
Tragg pushed back his chair. “Nuts! I am going up to the Adirondack,” he said.
“Why not have your dinner first?” Mason asked. “You will have men up there who can take care of the routine work.”
Tragg paid no attention to the invitation. He leaned forward, putting his clenched fists on the table. “Mason,” he said, “I like you. Sometimes I think you like me. But I am just as good a fighter as you are, and just as bitter a fighter and just as ruthless a fighter. Have I made that plain?”
“Perfectly,” Mason said.
“You represent people who have committed crimes,” Tragg continued, “and I don’t want you to leave this restaurant until I tell you can. If you do, the results may be unfortunate. If you don’t hear from me within the next thirty minutes, call me at the Adirondack Hotel or at headquarters. Tell me when you are going and where you are going.”
Mason said, “I shall do nothing of the sort. I report to no man. The only way you can control my activities is to put me under arrest.”
“And I might even do that.”
Mason got to his feet. “No hard feelings in case you do, Lieutenant. But I will have your hide if you try it. I enjoyed our little visit very much. It was a pleasure to cooperate with the police, even for so brief an interval. You understand my position, and I understand yours. I hope you will do me the honor of continuing our interrupted dinner at some later date.”
There was a trace of a grim smile at the corner of Tragg’s lips. “Mason, I may have to put you in jail one of these days.”
“That’s swell. Then I might have to get myself out, and make a monkey of you in the process.”
“That’s fine if you can do it but I might keep you in jail.”
Mason pushed out his hand. “That’s fine,” he said, “if you can do it.”
They shook hands.
Tragg said, “I am going up to look over that homicide. Remember what I told you about keeping in touch with me and not leaving here until you ask my permission. Good night.”