The Case of the Horrified Heirs Read Free

couple of years ago. I've seen Mr. Mason two or three times. He came to Mr. Bannock's office. He may remember me; I was the secretary and receptionist."
    "I see," Della said. "What is the present problem, Miss Baxter?"
    "I'm arrested for having narcotics in my possession," she said, "and I haven't the faintest idea of how they got there. I need Mr. Mason at once."
    "Just a minute," Della said.
    A moment later, Perry Mason's deep but well-modulated voice was on the line. "Where are you, Miss Baxter?"
    "I'm at headquarters."
    "Tell them to hold you right there, if they will, please," Mason said. "I'm on my way."
    "Oh, thank you. Thank you so much. I… I just haven't any idea how this happened and-"
    "Never mind trying to explain over the telephone," Mason told her. "Don't say anything to anyone except to tell them to hold you right there, that I'm on my way. How are you fixed for bail? Could you put up bail?"
    "I… if it isn't too high. I have a little property, not much."
    "I'm on my way up," Mason said. "I want to demand that you be taken before the nearest and most accessible magistrate immediately. Just sit tight."

CHAPTER FOUR
    Perry Mason invaded Virginia Baxter's nightmare and tore aside the web of unreality and terror.
    "The magistrate has fixed bail at five thousand dollars," Mason said. "Can you raise that?"
    "I'd have to draw out all of my checking account and withdraw money from the building and loan."
    "That would be better than waiting in jail," Mason pointed out. "Now then, I want to know exactly what happened."
    Virginia told him the events of the morning.
    "You were on the plane, coming from where?"
    "From San Francisco."
    "What had you been doing in San Francisco?"
    "I was visiting my aunt. I've been to see her several times lately. She's elderly, not at all well and she's all alone. She likes my visits."
    "What are you doing? Are you working for a living?"
    "Not steadily. I haven't been regularly employed since Mr. Bannock died. I have taken a few odd jobs."
    "I take it, then, you have some income?" Mason asked.
    "Yes," she said. "Mr. Bannock had no relatives, other than the one brother. He remembered me in his will. He gave me a piece of real property in Hollywood that produces an income and-"
    "How long had you been with Bannock?"
    "Fifteen years," she said. "I started working for him when I was twenty."
    "You've been married?"
    "Yes, once. It didn't take."
    "Divorced?"
    "No. We're separated, have been for some time."
    "Friendly with your husband?"
    "No."
    "What's his name?"
    "Colton Baxter."
    "You go by the title 'Miss'?"
    "Yes. I think it helps in secretarial employment."
    "Now, you'd been to see your aunt. You got aboard that plane. What about the baggage? Anything unusual about the checking of the baggage?"
    "No-Wait a minute, I had to pay excess baggage."
    Mason's eyes showed swift interest. "You paid excess baggage?"
    "Yes."
    "Do you have your receipt?"
    "It's attached to my ticket. That's in my purse. They took my purse away from me when I was booked."
    "We'll get it back," Mason said. "Now then, you were traveling alone?"
    "Yes."
    "Remember anything about the person you were seated next to?"
    "He was a man of about thirty-two or thirty-three, rather well-dressed but-Well, now that I stop to think of it, he was… well, there was something peculiar about him. He was cold, rather crisp in his manner, not like the ordinary passenger you encounter on those trips. It's hard to explain what I mean."
    "Would you know him if you saw him again?" Mason asked.
    "Yes, indeed."
    "Could you identify him from a photograph?"
    "I think so, if it's a clear photograph."
    "You only had the one suitcase?" Mason asked.
    "No, I had a suitcase and an overnight bag, an oblong bag containing cosmetics."
    "What became of that?"
    "They took it. The suitcase came through first. The porter picked it up and then picked up the overnight bag. At that moment, a man stepped forward and showed me his identification card and asked me