The Case of the Sleepwalker's Niece Read Online Free PDF Page B

the time. Why, just tonight Rease complained his room was draughty and Harris humored him and fixed things up so he'll change rooms with Maddox. Mr. Kent won't like it when he finds it out. I've repeatedly explained to him he mustn't give in to Rease's imaginary ailments."
    "Kent doesn't know about it?" Mason asked.
    "No. It was right after dinner. Peter was telephoning. The others were all there, and…"
    The door opened. Kent bustled into the room, slipped his arm protectingly about Lucille Mays' waist. "If we go into the solarium," he said, "we'll be just in time for a drink. Harris is mixing one of his famous cocktails."
    Lucille Mays nodded, but her eyes remained fixed on Mason's. "Very well," she said, "I just wanted you to know where I stand, Mr. Mason."
    Mason nodded, said to Kent, "I want to prepare an affidavit for your signature so we can get that final decree. Also, I want to send someone to Santa Barbara to relieve my man up there. He's keeping watch on Doris Kent."
    Peter Kent motioned toward a door which led to an adjoining room, from which came sounds of laughter. "I want you to meet my niece," he said, "and Jerry Harris is here. He's the young man she's engaged to. He'll be willing to do anything he can to help out."
    Mason nodded, permitted himself to be escorted through the door into a room, one end of which was devoted to a bar. Behind the bar, a grinning young giant in shirt sleeves was shaking cocktails. Edna Hammer stood with one foot on the brass rail, saying, "Does this look about right?" At the other corner of the bar, Helen Warrington, Peter Kent's secretary, was toying with the stem of a cocktail glass, her eyes showing good-natured amusement.
    "No," the man behind the bar was saying, "you don't look drunk enough. If we're going to put on this act and…" He broke off as his eyes caught sight of Perry Mason.
    Kent said, "I want to present Perry Mason, the lawyer – my niece, Miss Edna Hammer, and Jerry Harris. You've met Miss Warrington. I believe that Jerry is about to mix one of his famous K-D-D-O cocktails."
    Edna Hammer came from the bar to give Perry Mason her hand. "I've heard so much about you," she exclaimed. "It's a real pleasure. Uncle told me he was going to consult you, and I've been hoping I'd have a chance to meet you."
    Mason said, "Had I known your uncle had such a beautiful niece I'd have insisted on a drink earlier in the evening."
    "Well put," Harris exclaimed, "and just for that I'm going to initiate you to the famous Harris K-D-D-O cocktail."
    "Just what," Mason inquired, "is the K-D-D-O cocktail?"
    It was Helen Warrington who answered. "The letters," she said, "stand for knock-down-and-drag-out."
    Kent walked to the end of the bar, knocked on the mahogany with his knuckles as though he had been calling a directors' meeting to order. "Folks," he said, "a serious situation has developed. Let's cut out the comedy for a minute. I want your help." The smiles instantly faded from their faces. "I'm going to be married," Peter Kent said, "tonight – or rather, early in the morning."
    Harris started to applaud, but as he caught the expression on Kent's face, dropped his hands back to his sides. "Now, then," Kent went on, "I haven't any secrets from anyone in this room. You're all my friends. I know I can depend on you. I'm going to put the cards on the table. Mr. Mason wants some assistance. He wants someone to go to Santa Barbara right away."
    "Count me in," Harris said, raising his hand. "Volunteer number one."
    Kent nodded his thanks, and said, "Here's the situation: Doris, whom you all know, and whose character you understand without any comments from me, is planning to start lawsuits which will block my marriage. However, due to a change of lawyers, her suit has been delayed. If Mr. Mason can get a final decree of divorce at Santa Barbara tomorrow morning before the other actions are filed, Lucille and I can fly to Yuma, Arizona, and be married."
    Harris reached for his coat. "If