The Case of the Fenced-In Woman Read Online Free PDF

generally?" Mason asked.
    "You may not. It's none of your damn business."
    "Of course," Mason pointed out, "if she is no longer married…"
    "She's a darn nice girl," Norbert Jennings interposed angrily, "and don't pull any of that line with me. She's human and she has human feelings, and she has pride and she has her good name. She's always been tremendously popular and now whenever she walks into a room eyebrows start lifting… Damn Carson! If I ever get my hands on him I'll… I'll…"
    "Take it easy," Mason said. "Making threats can sometimes be an expensive luxury."
    "All right," Jennings said. "I've got money. I can afford to pay for the luxuries I want. Making threats happens at the moment to be a luxury that interests me. I'll repeat. If I ever get my hands on Loring Carson I'm going to make that yellow – livered cur whimper for mercy. I'm going to…"
    "Perhaps you have some legal redress," Mason said.
    "Legal redress, my eye. I could sue the louse and what good would that do? In the first place if he had any money I wouldn't want it. Every nickel that I'd get from him would be money I wouldn't touch with a ten – foot pole. What's more, you can't get blood out of a turnip."
    "Have you considered the possibility that he may have money cached away?" Mason asked.
    "I tell you, I'm not interested in money," Norbert Jennings said angrily. "I've got money! I've got all the money I want. I've got too damned much money. It's never given me any happiness yet. I… To hell with it… I'm sorry, Eden. I guess you're on the receiving end of this the same way I am, I'm really sorry I socked you."
    He pushed forward an impulsive hand. Eden took it. Without another word, Jennings turned and left the house.
    "Well," Eden said, rubbing his jaw, "we keep getting into more and more complications."
    Mason said, "I might also advise you that a Mrs. Sterling, who seems to be buyer for some feminine establishment, is having a lingerie – modeling session in your fenced – off living room."
    "The devil," Eden said, grinning. "I suppose this was all arranged."
    "I suppose so," Mason said.
    "How far had it gone?"
    "The first model was wearing the lingerie. She did a species of striptease on a raised dais and- -"
    "Well, well, well," Eden interrupted, "perhaps the situation will have some advantages after all."
    "Now wait a minute," Mason said, "no matter how you figure this thing, it's bait, and while I don't know where the hook is right now, don't take the bait."
    "You mean, don't look?" Eden asked.
    "Well," Mason said, grinning, "I guess we'll have to look."
    "Exactly," Eden said. "Acting purely and professionally as my attorney, I see you're going to have to prolong your visit. All right, let's go."
    Eden pulled back the drapes on the doorway, disclosing the living room.
    On the other side of the barbed – wire fence on the dais a beautiful model, attired in lingerie, was pirouetting slowly.
    Standing at one corner of the room, Vivian Carson was watching, not the model but the arched doorway.
    The minute Mason and Eden entered the room Vivian Carson grasped the edge of a piece of cloth, nodded to a young woman standing at the opposite end of the room from her and they advanced toward each other, pulling and tugging at improvised curtains which, after sticking a time or two, were pulled together to close off that section of the living room.
    "So that's the reason she put up a rod above the barbed – wire fence," Eden said.
    Mason grinned. "It seems she thinks of everything," he said.
    "So it would seem," Eden observed. "And I suppose if I so much as put a finger on the other side of that barbed – wire fence to widen the gap between the two sections of cloth I'd…"
    "Be guilty of contempt of court," Mason finished.
    Eden sighed. "Well, I guess the only thing to do now is to find a nightclub with a good striptease."
    "And, under the circumstances," Mason said, "it would seem that I have nothing more to discuss with you."
    Eden