erlestanleygardner.thecaseofthehorrifiedheirs-第2部分

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　〃Thank　you。　Goodbye。〃
　The　passengers　left　the　jet　plane；　inched　their　way　to　the　broader　corridors　of　the　airport；　then　quickened　their　pace；　walking　down　the　long　runway　toward　a　huge　illuminated　sign　bearing　the　word；　〃Baggage；〃　with　an　arrow　pointing　downward　where　an　escalator　descended　to　a　lower　level。
　Virginia　Baxter　steadied　herself　by　putting　her　right　hand　on　the　rail　of　the　escalator。
　She　was　carrying　a　top　coat　over　her　arm；　and　she　was　tired。
　In　her　late　thirties；　she　had　retained　a　trim　figure　and　a　way　with　clothes；　but　she　had　worked　hard　during　her　life　and　minute　crow's　feet　were　beginning　to　appear　at　the　corners　of　her　eyes；　there　was　just　a　suggestion　of　a　faint　line　on　each　side　of　her　nose。　When　she　smiled；　her　face　lit　up；　when　it　was　in　repose；　there　were　times　when　the　corners　of　her　mouth　began　to　sag　ever　so　slightly。
　She　stepped　from　the　escalator　at　the　lower　level　and　walked　briskly　toward　the　revolving　platform　on　which　the　baggage　would　appear。
　It　was　too　early；　as　yet；　for　the　baggage　to　make　its　appearance；　but　it　was　indicative　of　Virginia's　character　that　she　walked　with　nervously　rapid　steps；　hurrying　to　reach　the　place　where　she　would　wait　for　several　long　minutes。
　At　length；　baggage　began　to　appear　on　a　moving　belt；　the　belt　transported　the　baggage　to　the　slowly　revolving　turntable。
　Passengers　began　to　pick　out　baggage；　porters　with　claim　checks　stood　by；　occasionally　pulling　out　heavy　handbags　and　putting　them　on　hand　trucks。
　The　crowd　began　to　thin　out。　Finally；　only　a　few　pieces　of　baggage　were　left　on　the　turntable。　The　trucks　had　moved　away。　Virginia's　baggage　was　not　in　sight。
　She　moved　over　to　a　porter。　〃My　baggage　didn't　e　in；〃　she　said。
　〃What　was　it；　lady？〃　he　asked。
　〃A　single　suitcase；　brown；　and　a　small　oblong　overnight　case　for　cosmetics。〃
　〃Let　me　see　your　checks；　please。〃
　She　handed　him　the　baggage　checks。
　He　said；　〃Before　I　start　looking；　we'd　better　wait　and　see　if　there's　another　truck　ing。　Sometimes　there's　a　second　section　of　trucks　when　there's　an　unusually　large　load。〃
　Virginia　waited　impatiently。
　After　two　or　three　minutes；　more　baggage　showed　up　on　the　moving　belt。　There　were　four　suitcases；　Virginia's　and　two　others。
　〃There　they　are　now！　Those　two　are　mine；〃　she　said。　〃The　brown　one…the　big　one　in　front…and　the　oblong　overnight　bag　in　back。〃
　〃Okay；　ma'am。　I'll　get　them　for　you。〃
　The　suitcase；　followed　by　the　overnight　bag；　moved　along　the　conveyor　belt；　then　hit　the　slide　to　the　revolving　table。　A　few　seconds　later；　the　porter　picked　them　up；　pared　the　tags　for　a　moment；　put　the　bags　on　his　hand　truck　and　started　for　the　door。
　A　man　who　had　been　standing　well　back　came　forward。　〃Just　a　moment；　please；〃　he　said。
　The　porter　looked　at　him。　The　man　produced　a　leather　folder　from　his　side　pocket　and　opened　it；　showing　a　gold　shield。　〃Police；〃　he　said。　〃Was　there　some　trouble　about　this　baggage？〃
　〃No　trouble；〃　the　porter　hastily　assured　him。　〃No　trouble　at　all；　sir。　It　just　didn't　e　in　with　the　first　load。〃
　〃There's　been　some　baggage　trouble；〃　the　man　said　to　Virginia　Baxter。　〃This　is　your　suitcase？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　〃You're　sure　of　it？〃
　〃Of　course。　That's　my　suitcase　and　overnight　bag　and　I　gave　the　checks　for　them　to　the　porter。〃
　〃Could　you　describe　the　contents　of　the　suitcase？〃
　〃Why；　certainly。〃
　〃Will　you　please　do　so？〃
　〃Well；　on　top　there's　a　three…quarter…length　beige　coat　with　a　brown　fur　collar；　there's　a　checked　skirt　and…〃
　〃That　will　give　us　enough　of　a　description　to　make　sure；〃　the　man　said。　〃Would　you　mind　opening　it　up　just　so　I　can　look　inside？〃
　Virginia　hesitated　for　a　moment；　then　said；　〃Well；　I　guess　it's　all　right。〃
　〃Is　it　locked？〃
　〃No；　I　just　have　it　closed。〃
　The　man　snapped　back　the　catches。
　The　porter　lowered　the　truck　so　the　suitcase　would　be　level。
　Virginia　raised　the　cover　and　then　recoiled　at　what　she　saw　on　the　inside。
　Her　three…quarter…length　coat　was　there；　neatly　folded；　just　as　she　had　left　it；　but　on　top　of　the　coat　were　several　transparent　plastic　containers　and　inside　these　containers；　neatly　wrapped；　an　assortment　of　small　packages。
　〃You　didn't　tell　me　about　these；〃　the　man　said。　〃What　are　they？〃
　〃I　。　。　。　I　don't　know。　I　never　saw　them　before　in　my　life。〃
　As　though　at　a　signal；　a　man　with　a　press　camera　and　a　flash　gun　materialized　from　behind　one　of　the　pillars。
　While　Virginia　was　still　trying　to　pose　herself；　the　camera　was　thrust　up　into　her　face　and　her　eyes　were　blinded　by　a　brilliant　flash　of　light。
　The　man；　working　with　swift　efficiency；　ejected　the　bulb　from　the　flash　gun；　inserted　another　bulb；　pulled　a　slide　back　and　forth　on　the　back　of　the　camera；　and　took　another　picture　of　the　open　suitcase。
　The　porter　had　backed　hastily　away　so　that　he　was　not　included　in　the　pictures。
　The　officer　said；　〃I'm　afraid；　madam；　you're　going　to　have　to　e　with　me。〃
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　〃I'll　explain　it；〃　the　officer　said。　〃Your　name　is　Virginia　Baxter？〃
　〃Yes。　Why？〃
　〃We've　had　a　tip　on　you；〃　the　officer　said。　〃We　were　told　that　you　traffick　in　narcotics。〃
　The　photographer　took　one　more　picture；　then　turned　and　scurried　away。
　Virginia　said　to　the　officer；　〃Why；　of　course；　I'll　e　with　you；　if　you're　going　to　try　to　clear　this　up。　I　haven't　the　faintest　idea　of　how　that　stuff　got　in　my　suitcase。〃
　〃I　see；〃　the　officer　said；　gravely。　〃You'll　have　to　e　to　headquarters；　I'm　afraid。　We'll　have　that　stuff　analyzed　and　see　exactly　what　it　is。〃
　〃And　if　it　should　turn　out　to　be…narcotics？〃
　〃Then　we'll　have　to　book　you。〃
　〃But　that's…that's　crazy！〃
　〃Bring　the　bags　this　way；〃　the　officer　said　to　the　porter；　closing　the　suitcase。
　He　opened　the　overnight　bag；　disclosing　jars　of　cream；　a　manicure　set；　a　negligee；　some　bottles　of　lotion。
　〃Okay；〃　he　said。　〃This　is　all　right；　I　guess；　but　we'll　have　to　look　in　these　jars　and　bottles。　We'll　just　take　both　bags　along　with　us。〃
　He　escorted　Virginia　to　a　plain　black　sedan；　had　the　porter　hoist　the　suitcase　and　overnight　bag　into　the　rear　seat；　put　Virginia　in　the　seat　behind　him　and　started　the　motor。
　〃You're　going　to　headquarters？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　Virginia　noticed　then　that　there　was　a　police　radio　on　the　car。　The　officer　picked　up　the　microphone　and　said；　〃Special　Officer　Jack　Andrews　leaving　the　airport　with　a　female　suspect　and　a　suitcase　containing　suspicious　material　to　be　checked。　Time　is　10：17　A。M。〃
　The　officer　replaced　the　microphone　on　a　hook；　pulled　away　from　the　curb；　and　guided　the　car　expertly　and　swiftly　in　the　direction　of　headquarters。
　There　Virginia　was　placed　in　charge　of　a　policewoman　and　kept　waiting　for　around　fifteen　minutes；　then　an　officer　delivered　a　folded　paper　to　the　policewoman。　She　looked　at　it　and　said；　〃This　way；　please。〃
　Virginia　followed　her　to　a　desk。　〃Your　right　hand；　please。〃
　The　policewoman　took　Virginia's　right　hand　before　she　realized　what　was　happening；　then　grasping　the　thumb　firmly；　rolled　it　over　a　big　pad　and　placed　it　on　a　piece　of　paper；　rolling　out　a　fingerprint。
　〃Now；　the　next　finger；〃　she　said。
　〃You　can't　fingerprint　me；〃　Virginia　said；　pulling　back。　〃Why；　I…〃
　The　grip　on　the　finger　tightened。　〃Now；　just　don't　make　it　hard　on　yourself；〃　the　policewoman　said。　〃The　index　finger；　please。〃
　〃I　refuse！　Good　heavens；　what　have　I　done？〃　Virginia　asked。　〃I…Why；　this　is　a　nightmare。〃
　〃You're　privileged　to　make　a　telephone　call；〃　the　woman　said。　〃You　can　call　an　attorney；　if　you　wish。〃
　The　words　clicked　in　Virginia's　mind。
　〃Where　is　a　telephone　directory？〃　she　asked。　〃I　want　the　office　of　Perry　Mason。〃
　A　few　moments　later；　Virginia　had　Della　Street；　Perry　Mason's　confidential　secretary；　on　the　line。
　〃May　I　speak　with　Perry　Mason；　please？〃
　〃You'll　have　to　tell　me　what　it's　about；〃　Della　Street　said；　〃perhaps　I　can　help　you。〃
　〃I'm　Virginia　Baxter；〃　she　said。　〃I　worked　for　Delano　Bannock；　the　attorney；　during　his　lifetime　and　up　to　his　death　a　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