She told him.
All right, Drake said, Ill try and get in touch with Mr. Mason and call you back. Wait there until you hear from me.
Susan Fisher hung up the telephone, dashed to the bathroom and put fresh powder and rouge on her face, was just touching her mouth with lipstick when again the phone rang.
Susan hurried to the phone, picked it up and said, Yes? expectantly.
The voice that came over the wire was that of Endicott Campbell.
Susan, he said, what the devil! Ive been trying to ring you and your line has been busy. I want to get this straight, Susan. Where is Miss Corning?
At her suite in the Arthenium Hotel.
That suite was reserved for Monday.
I know, but it was unoccupied and so she moved in this morning.
You say she went over company records?
She had me up there all day.
I dont like that.
I didnt like it either, Sue Fisher said. She wants to see you at the hotel at exactly eight forty-five.
Very well, Endicott Campbell said, and I want to meet you at the office at exactly eight oclock.
I dont think I can be there.
Why not?
Because Ive been working all day and Im all in and... and I have an appointment.
Cancel it.
I cant be there at eight oclock.
Very well, Campbell said. I will meet you in the lobby of the Anthenium Hotel at eight-thirty on the dot. I will give you that much time to break your engagement and straighten out your affairs so that you can cope with the situation in the event of an emergency. If you are not there it will be equivalent to your resignation.
He hung up the phone without saying goodbye.
A few moments later the phone rang. It was the soothing, masculine voice again. Paul Drake talking, the detective said in his calm matter-of-fact manner. Mr. Mason and his confidential secretary, Miss Street, are dining at the Candelabra Café. They expect to be finished by eight oclock. Mr. Mason said that if it is a matter of very great importance he will arrange to see you there at eight.
But thats right near the Arthenium Hotel! Susan Fisher exclaimed.
Thats right.
Oh, Ill be there. Im so grateful. I... Oh, please tell Mr. Mason I cant thank him enough.
Chapter 3
Della Street, looking over the rim of her demitasse cup, said in a low voice, Unless my judgment of facial expression is in error, the young woman who just entered the place unescorted and is now standing by the reservations desk is the one who telephoned Paul Drake and is so concerned about the dishonest management of the company where she works.
Mason, who had his back to the entrance, said, Give me a run-down, Della. While shes waiting, give me the benefit of your feminine appraisal.
Not bad-looking, from a masculine standpoint, Della Street said. A nice figure, curves in the right places; rather modest, demure
Not from a masculine standpoint, Mason interrupted. Masculine observations of women are notoriously inaccurate. Let me have it from the feminine viewpoint, Della.
I dont know how much she makes, Della Street said, but on a secretarial salary I would say that the clothes shes wearing indicate shes alone in the world. She isnt supporting any mother, father, or younger brothers. She knows how to wear her clothes, too. Shes neat what youd call well groomed.
What color hair?
Darkish. Not coal black. Sort of a dark chestnut.
Natural? Mason asked.
Heaven knows, Della Street said, particularly at this distance. You probably couldnt tell anyway.
Eyes? Mason asked.
Rather dark. You cant get the color from here. Either black or dark brown. Shes a little lady. Shes nervous but making a determined effort to be self-contained... Oh, oh, shes got the head waiter now. Here she comes.
The headwaiter said apologetically, The young woman says she has an appointment, Mr. Mason.
Mason arose.
Della Street said, Are you Susan Fisher? and when the other nodded, extended her hand. Im Della Street, Mr. Masons confidential secretary, and this is Mr. Mason.
Wont you sit down? Mason invited.
I... Im terribly sorry, Mr. Mason. I shouldnt have disturbed you at dinner but this is a matter of the greatest importance.
All right, Mason said, lets hear what its all about. Would you like a dessert, a liqueur, some coffee? I take it youve dined...
Yes. I had a snack I have to be in the lobby of the Arthenium Hotel in exactly thirty minutes.
Well, then, Mason said, perhaps youd better not waste time with coffee. Just sit down here and tell me everything that happened.
It took Susan Fisher ten full minutes of rapid conversation to describe the events of the day.
When she had finished, Masons eyes narrowed. He glanced at his wristwatch. Well, he said, there isnt time to head things off.
What do you mean? Theres almost twenty minutes. There
No, Mason said, I meant to get witnesses who can verify the contents of the shoe box.
You think we should have?
Mason nodded. I think you should have had a witness as soon as you discovered what was in the box.
Why?
You dont know how much was in there, Mason said. Neither does anyone else.
I know, but the shoe box is intact in the safe.
Who knows its intact?
Why, I do. I...
Her dismayed voice trailed away into silence.