erlestanleygardner.thecaseofthehorrifiedheirs-第19节

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　Mason　said；　〃I　have　one　in　my　car。　I'll　get　it。　You　don't　think　this　was　the　place　you　left　the　car？〃
　〃Mr。　Mason；　I'm　certain　it　was　not。　I　remember　putting　the　bumper　right　up　against　that　stone　post　over　there…That　means　I　was　in　the　parking　space　to　the　right。〃
　〃Don't　touch　anything；〃　Mason　said。　〃Stay　there。　I'll　take　a　look…You've　been　framed　once　and　got　out　of　it。　Perhaps　we　won't　be　so　fortunate　this　time。〃
　The　lawyer　crossed　over　to　his　car；　took　a　flashlight　from　the　glove　partment；　returned　to　Virginia　Baxter's　car　and　carefully　looked　over　the　inside。
　〃Got　your　key？〃　he　asked。
　Virginia　Baxter　produced　the　key。　Mason　opened　the　trunk；　looked　inside；　said；　〃Everything　seems　to　be　in　order。〃
　He　started　to　walk　around　the　car；　then　suddenly　stopped。　〃Hello；　what's　this？〃　he　said。
　〃Good　heavens！〃　she　gasped；　〃that　fender's　all　dented；　and…Look　at　the　front　of　the　bumper；　and　there's　a　piece　broken…〃
　Mason　said；　〃Get　in　the　car；　Virginia。　Start　the　motor。〃
　Obediently；　she　jumped　into　the　car；　turned　on　the　ignition；　started　the　motor。
　Mason　said。　〃Go　out　of　the　exit；　turn　around　and　e　in　the　entrance　to　the　parking　place。〃
　Virginia　Baxter　switched　on　the　headlights　and　said；　〃Only　one　of　the　headlights　works。〃
　〃That's　all　right；〃　Mason　said；　〃go　ahead；　go　out　the　exit；　turn　around　and　e　back　in　through　the　entrance。〃
　Mason　took　Della　Street's　arm；　hurried　her　over　to　his　automobile。
　〃You'd　better　get　in；　Della；　we　want　this　to　look　as　plausible　as　possible…Get　down　low　in　the　seat　and　brace　yourself。〃
　Virginia　drove　her　car　out　of　the　exit；　swung　around　in　a　wide　loop　and　turned　into　the　entrance。
　Mason's　car；　running　without　headlights；　made　for　the　entrance；　then　swung　in　a　swift　turn　just　as　Virginia　Baxter　entered。
　Her　headlights　picked　up　his　car。　She　slammed　on　the　brakes。　Tires　screamed　a　protest。　Then　there　was　a　crash　and　the　sound　of　breaking　glass　as　Mason's　car　hit　hers。
　Doors　opened　in　the　various　motel　units。　The　office　door　opened；　and　the　manager　came　running　out　to　stand　looking　at　the　scene　of　the　accident。　Then　she　came　striding　toward　them。
　〃Good　heavens；　what　happened？〃
　Virginia　Baxter　said；　〃You…Why；　you　didn't　have　your　lights　on…You　didn't　tell　me…〃
　Mason　said；　〃I　goofed。　I　should　have　gone　out　the　exit。〃
　The　manager　whirled　to　face　Perry　Mason。　〃This　is　your　fault；〃　she　said。　〃Can't　you　see　that　sign　there？　That　says　Entrance　just　as　plain　as　day。　This　is　the　fourth　accident　we've　had　here　and　that's　why　I　had　those　big　signs　put　up　and　knocked　a　section　of　the　wall　down　so　that　the　Exit　would　be　at　the　other　end　of　the　parking　lot。〃
　〃I'm　sorry；〃　Mason　said。　〃It　was　my　fault。〃
　The　manager　turned　to　Virginia　Baxter。　〃Are　you　hurt？〃
　〃No；〃　she　said。　〃Fortunately；　I　was　going　slow　and　I　put　on　my　brakes。〃
　The　manager　turned　back　to　Mason。　〃Have　you　been　drinking？〃　she　asked。
　Mason　turned　half　away　from　her。　〃No；〃　he　said。
　〃Well；　I　think　you　have…that　sign　there　is　just　as　plain　as　day…Now；　let　me　see；　dearie；　you're　registered　here　in　the　motel；　aren't　you？　Unit　Fourteen？〃
　〃That's　right。〃
　〃Well；〃　she　said；　〃if　you　want　me　as　a　witness　you　just　call　me　any　time。　I'm　going　to　call　the　highway　patrol。〃
　〃That　won't　be　necessary；〃　Mason　said。　〃It　was　my　fault。　I　accept　the　responsibility。〃
　〃I'll　say　it　was　your　fault。　You've　been　drinking。　You　aren't　staying　here；　are　you？〃
　〃I　would　like　to　see　about　getting　a　room。〃
　〃Well；　we　don't　have　any　rooms　left。　And　we　don't　cater　to　drinking　parties。　You　wait　right　here　and　don't　try　to　move　those　cars。　I'm　calling　the　police。〃
　The　manager　turned　and　marched　back　to　the　office。
　〃What　in　the　world；〃　Virginia　Baxter　asked；　getting　Mason　to　one　side；　〃were　you　trying　to　do？〃
　〃Insurance；〃　Mason　told　her。
　〃Insurance？〃　she　exclaimed。
　〃Exactly；〃　Mason　said。　〃Now　if　anyone　asks　you　how　your　car　got　smashed　up；　you　can　tell　them。　Moreover；　you　have　witnesses　to　prove　it。　You'd　better　go　to　your　friend；　the　manager；　and　see　if　you　can　borrow　a　broom　and　we'll　sweep　this　broken　glass　out　of　here；　borrow　a　dustpan　and　dump　it　all　in　a　trash　barrel　somewhere。　You　have　one　headlight　and　I　have　one　headlight。　It　looks　very　much　as　though　we're　going　to　spend　the　night　here　unless　I　get　busy　and　have　a　rental　car　delivered　to　me　here。　In　which　event；　I'll　give　you　a　ride　home。〃
　〃And　our　cars？〃　she　asked。
　Mason　smiled　and　said；　〃After　the　police　e；　we'll　try　and　get　yours　back　to　the　parking　lot。　As　far　as　mine　is　concerned；　I　think　I'll　have　the　garage　tow　it　away。〃
　
　CHAPTER　SIXTEEN
　Harry　Auburn；　the　traffic　officer　who　was　summoned　by　the　manager；　was　very　polite；　very　efficient　and　very　impersonal。
　〃How　did　this　happen？〃
　〃I　was　ing　out；〃　Mason　said；　〃and　this　young　woman　was　ing　in。〃
　The　manager　said　belligerently；　〃He　flagrantly　violated　the　traffic　rules　of　this　parking　place。　There's　a　sign　over　there　that　says　Exit　in　letters　two　feet　high。〃
　Mason　said　nothing。
　The　traffic　officer　looked　at　him。
　Mason　said；　〃I　will　report　the　facts。　I　was　driving　out　of　the　parking　place。　I　was　ing　out　to　the　road　through　this　opening。　The　young　lady　was　ing　in。〃
　〃Didn't　you　see　this　sign　Entrance　Only？〃　the　traffic　officer　asked。
　Mason　said；　〃My　insurance　pany　has　instructed　me　that；　in　the　event　of　any　accident；　I　am　not　to　say　anything　that　would　admit　liability　in　any　way。　Therefore；　I　will　have　to　advise　you　that　I　am　adequately　insured　and　that　the　facts　speak　for　themselves。〃
　〃He's　been　drinking；〃　the　manager　said。
　The　officer　looked　inquiringly　at　Mason。
　〃I　had　a　cocktail　before　dinner　some　two　hours　ago；〃　Mason　said。　〃I　have　not　had　anything　since。〃
　The　officer　went　to　his　car；　produced　a　rubber　balloon。　〃Mind　blowing　this　up？〃　he　asked　Mason。
　〃Certainly　not；〃　Mason　said。
　He　blew　up　the　rubber　balloon。
　The　traffic　officer　took　it　over　to　a　testing　machine　and；　after　a　few　minutes；　returned　and　said。　〃You　don't　have　enough　alcohol　to　register。〃
　〃He's　drunk；〃　the　manager　said。
　Mason　smiled　at　her。
　〃Or　he　may　be　drugged；〃　she　said。
　Mason　handed　the　officer　one　of　his　cards。　〃You　can　always　locate　me；〃　he　said。
　〃I　recognized　you；〃　the　officer　said；　〃and；　of　course；　checked　your　name　on　your　driving　license。〃
　〃I　think　that's　all　that　needs　to　be　done　here；〃　Mason　said。　〃I　will　need　a　tow　car。〃
　〃I'll　phone　for　one；〃　the　officer　said；　then　moved　over　to　his　automobile；　climbed　into　the　seat；　picked　up　the　microphone　of　his　radio　and　called　a　number。
　After　a　while；　a　voice　came　over　the　radio　speaker。　The　officer　turned　down　the　volume；　raised　the　windows　on　his　car　so　that　the　voice　was　inaudible　outside　of　the　car。　He　talked　for　some　two　or　three　minutes；　then　he　hung　up　the　phone　and　came　back　to　Virginia　Baxter。
　〃Where　have　you　been　this　evening；　Miss　Baxter？〃　he　asked。
　〃I　drove　from　my　apartment　to　the　motel　here。〃
　〃Make　any　stops　along　the　way？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Where　is　your　apartment？〃
　〃The　same　address　that's　on　my　driver's　license422　Eureka　Arms　Apartments。〃
　〃Have　any　trouble　along　the　way？〃　the　officer　asked。
　〃Why；　no。　Why　do　you　ask？〃
　The　officer　said；　〃There's　been　a　pretty　bad　accident　down　on　the　coast　road。　George　Eagan；　a　chauffeur；　was　driving　Mrs。　Lauretta　Trent；　going　south；　when　a　car　veered　out　of　control；　crowded　the　Trent　car　off　the　road；　struck　the　rear　fender；　sent　the　car　into　a　spin　and　into　the　ocean。　Eagan　escaped；　but　the　car　went　over　the　road　into　the　ocean。　Lauretta　Trent　was　drowned。　They　haven't　as　yet　recovered　her　body。
　〃The　description　of　the　car　that　caused　the　accident　matches　the　description　of　this　car…You're　sure　you　haven't　been　drinking？〃
　〃Give　her　a　test；〃　Mason　said。
　〃You　any　objection　to　taking　a　test？〃　the　officer　asked。
　She　looked　at　Mason　with　wide；　frightened　eyes。
　〃Not　in　the　least；〃　Mason　said。
　The　officer　didn't　even　turn　but　kept　his　eyes　on　Virginia　Baxter。
　〃No；〃　she　said；　〃I'll　take　a　test。〃
　〃Blow　up　this　balloon；〃　the　officer　said。
　Virginia　Baxter　blew　up　the　balloon。　The　officer　again　retired　to　his　automobile；　again　talked　for　a　while　into　the　microphone；　then　returned。
　〃You　been　taking　any　drugs　today；　Miss　Baxter？〃
　〃Not　today。　I　took　a　couple　of　aspirin　last　night。〃
　〃And　that's　all？〃
　〃That's　all。〃
　〃What　time　did　you　leave　your　apartment？〃
　〃Well；　let's　see；　it　was　about　。　。　。　well；　probably　three　hours　ago。〃
　〃And　you　came　directly　here？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃How　long　have　you　been　here？〃
　〃You　can　check　the　time　of　registration；〃　Mason　suggested。
　The　manager　said；　〃We　don't　keep　a　time　record…only　the　date；　but　I　think　she's　been　here　for　。　。　。　well；　say　an　hour　and　a　half　anyway。〃
　〃But　I've　been　here　longer　than　that；〃　Virginia　said。
　〃Well；　I'm　willing　to　swear　to　an　hour　and　a　half；〃　the　manager　said。
　The　officer　looked　thoughtful。
　〃May　I　ask　how　they　got　a　description　of　the　Baxter　car？〃　Mason　asked。
　The　officer　regarded　him　thoughtfully；　then　said；　〃A　motorist；　ing　along　behind；　saw　the　accident。　The　car　turned　off　on　the　road　that　came　up　here。　He　got　a　description　of　the　rear　of　the　car；　and　a　part　of　the　license　number。〃
　〃Which　part？〃　Mason　asked。
　〃Enough　to　make　a　pretty　good　identification；〃　the　officer　said　shortly。
　Virginia　Baxter　suddenly　burst