The Case of the Golddigger’s Purse

Mason said at length, “I’ve given this woman some advice. I’m going to give you the same advice. You’re mixed up in a murder case. See a lawyer. See a good one, and see him immediately. Then, decide whether you’re going to tell the truth or whether you want me to call Lieutenant Tragg.”

Dixon indicated the telephone. “As you have so aptly remarked, Mr. Mason, there’s the telephone. I can assure you that you’re at liberty to use it. You talk about calling Lieutenant Tragg. I think we would be very glad to have you call him.”

Mason said, “You can’t monkey with the facts in a murder case. If you paid Sally Madison two thousand dollars for that bullet, that fact is going to come out. I’ll drag it out if I have to spend a million dollars for detective fees.”

“A million dollars is a lot of money,” Dixon said calmly. “You were speaking of telephoning Mr. Tragg, Mr. Mason, or I believe Lieutenant Tragg is the title. If he’s connected with the police I think it would be a good thing to call him. You see, we have nothing to conceal. I’m not, of course, certain about you.”

Mason hesitated.

There was just a glint of triumph in Wilfred Dixon’s eyes. “You see, Mr. Mason, I play a little poker myself.”

Without a word, Mason got up, crossed to the telephone, dialed Operator, said, “Give me police headquarters,” then he asked for Homicide and inquired, “is Lieutenant Tragg in? Perry Mason speaking.”

After a few seconds, Tragg’s voice sounded on the wire. “Hello, Mason. I’m glad you called. I wanted to talk with you about your client, Sally Madison. She seems to have adopted an unfortunate position. There are certain minor discrepancies in a written statement which she gave us, and when we asked her to explain those, she assumed a very truculent attitude and said, ‘See my lawyer.’ ”

“I have nothing to add to that,” Mason said.

There was genuine regret in Tragg’s voice. “I’m really sorry, Mason.”

“I can imagine you are, Tragg. I’m out at the residence of Genevieve Faulkner. She’s Faulkner’s first wife.”

“Yes, yes. I had intended to interview her as soon as I could get around to it. I’m somewhat sorry you beat me to it, Mason. Finding out anything?”

Mason said, “I think you’d better question her at some length about whether or not she saw Sally Madison last night.”

“Well, well,” Tragg said, his voice showing surprise. “Does Sally Madison claim that she saw Mrs. Faulkner?”

“Any statements my client may have made to me are, of course, confidential,” Mason said. “This is just a tip I’m giving you.”

“Thank you very much, Counselor, I’ll get in touch with her.”

“At once, I would suggest,” Mason said.

“At my earliest convenience,” Tragg amended. “Good-by, Mason.”

“Good-by,” Mason said, and hung up. He turned to Wilfred Dixon and said, “That’s the way I play poker.”

Dixon beamed at him. “Very well done, Mason, very well done, indeed. But, of course, as you pointed out to Lieutenant Tragg, you can hardly repeat to him any statements that your client made to you, and as I understand it, your client has already stated she received the two thousand dollars that was in her purse from Harrington Faulkner. It would be rather unfortunate if she should be forced to change her statement.”

“How did you know she had made such a statement?” Mason asked.

Dixon’s eyes twinkled. “Oh, I get around a bit, Mason. After all, you know, while I am not a lawyer, I have to represent the interests of my client — her business interests, you know.”

Mason said, “Don’t ever underestimate Tragg. Tragg will get a written statement out of you and you’ll swear to it. And sooner or later, the true facts are going to come out.”

“We’d be only too glad to have them come out,” Dixon said. “You see, Mr. Mason, as it happens, Genevieve makes no moves without my advice, none whatever. I tell her what to do, but I don’t bother her with details. She knows very little about the firm of Faulkner & Carson. She leaves that to me. She wouldn’t have even seen this client of yours without me. I’m quite certain that this Lieutenant Tragg, whoever he is, will be only too glad to accept our statement, particularly in view of the fact that you are in no position even to suggest that the two thousand dollars held by your client was received from anyone other than Harrington Faulkner. And if you’ll let me give you a little advice, Mr. Mason, it is that you should never put too much confidence in the word of a young woman of Miss Madison’s type. I think if you’ll investigate her past reputation you’ll find that she’s had considerable experience. A young woman who has from time to time been something of an opportunist. I won’t say a blackmailer, Mr. Mason, but an opportunist.”

“You seem to know a good deal about her,” Mason said dryly.

“I do,” Dixon told him. “I’m afraid, Mr. Mason, that to try and extricate herself and her friend from a very dangerous situation, she has given you some false information.”

Mason got to his feet. “All right,” he said, “I’ve told you.”