[May 26th] [Perry Mason] The Big One

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

Title: The Big One
Day/Theme: May 26th - It does not want to stroke
Series: Perry Mason
Character/Pairing: Perry Mason, Lieutenant Anderson
Rating: K+/PG

Part of the "Missing Scenes from The Broken Ties" series.

Takes place during chapter 12. Of all the pieces, this is about the one I felt was most important to put in. It really bothered me that I didn't include it in the original story. Somehow just showing the subsequent phone call between Perry and Della never felt right to me.


By Lucky_Ladybug

Perry was deep in thought as he drove through the overcast streets, seeking Lieutenant Tragg. He had been missing since last night when he had ran out of the hospital, and everyone was upset and worried. Perry had been searching since before it was light, after Della had called to tell him. Now that day had officially begun, nothing had really changed.

Except, perhaps, his own feelings.

He was troubled, and had been for several days. He had tried not to show it, yet last night he had ended up telling Della of his conflict.

He knew he had some kind of connection with Della. That was obvious to both of them. And that meant that Hamilton Burger had been right about at least one thing.

As time went on, and as Perry continued to observe the man he fully considered an enemy more than a rival, he was forced to concede that this Hamilton was not that man. Perry could not conceive of him saying such things as wishing fire and brimstone upon Perry. He could be pulling a trick, but Perry could not believe that. Hamilton considered himself above such maneuvers. And anyway, the look in this Hamilton’s eyes could not be faked. Every time Perry rejected him and the notion that they were friends, he was wounded. Never defeated, but always wounded.

And what did all of this mean? That Hamilton was telling the truth about everything? That there actually was another life they were supposed to be living?

Perry was finally willing to believe it could be true. And at the same time, it sounded so fantastic to him that it was all but impossible to fully accept.

He jerked back to the present situation as he passed by an elementary school. How had he traveled all the way out to the Valley without being conscious of it? Obviously that was what he had done, for he was looking at Principal Andrew Anderson attempting to unlock the front doors of the building. Odd, that his was the only car in the lot. It wasn’t the weekend. Perry pulled over, deciding to find out what was going on.

“Hello!” he called as he approached.

Andy jumped a mile. “Oh . . . Mr. Mason,” he greeted as he straightened. “What brings you here? Is there any news about Lieutenant Tragg?”

“No, I’m sorry to say.” Perry glanced at the keyring in Andy’s hand. “I’m curious, why aren’t the children in school today?”

Andy fiddled with the keys, running one of them back and forth between his fingers. “Classes are canceled today because a building inspector is supposed to come and perform a follow-up on the renovations that were recently completed,” he explained with a frown. “An anonymous party called and reported that she thought some corners had been cut.”

“Oh?” Perry studied Andy for a moment.

“If there were, I didn’t have anything to do with it,” Andy quickly stated. “I’m as appalled and angry about it as the rest of the staff. Frankly, Mr. Mason, I’ve been taking a lot of flack for having to put a lid on the school budget this year. None of the teachers have been happy about it. The other day one of them called a staff meeting to discuss possible solutions.”

“Are you implying that perhaps one of them arranged for these corners to be cut?” Perry asked. “And now they’re angry because you still feel that there isn’t enough left in the budget for other projects?”

“It’s nothing I can prove,” Andy said. “It might not be the fault of anyone on my staff. I hate to think that it is.”

“But you are thinking it.”

Andy sighed. “Well, can I be blamed for that?”

“No.” Perry again looked to the building. “Is that why you’re here? Are you waiting for the building inspector to let him in?”

“Partially,” Andy admitted. “I’ve been trying to help look for Lieutenant Tragg when I can, but now I needed to come here. And besides . . .” He lowered his voice. “I thought of another place to look for that missing file on the class field trip.”

“I see. And where might that be?”

“The basement.” Andy turned back to the doors, finally getting them unlocked. “If you’ll excuse me, Mr. Mason . . .”

“If you don’t mind, I’ll come with you,” Perry interjected. “I’m anxious to find that file myself.”

Andy glanced at him in surprise. “Alright then. I’m happy for the help.” He pushed open the door and stepped inside. “The basement is always filled with more than it really should be. I keep telling the janitor to clean it up, but it never seems to change. I doubt we’d pass a fire inspection.”

“Perhaps you need a more efficient janitor,” Perry commented, following him into the front hall.

“Don’t think I haven’t thought about letting him go,” Andy said. “He does good work otherwise. It just seems that there’s some reason why he doesn’t want to do anything with the basement.”

“That’s odd.” Perry lapsed into thought. It was a wild idea, but could that also have something to do with the supposed spell over the county? Perhaps Vivalene didn’t want anyone going into that basement because there was something down there. And perhaps Andy had thought of it because of the spell’s weakening power.

To say any of that aloud would sound completely ridiculous, even to Perry himself. So he refrained from voicing the topic as they came to a door at the back of the building. Andy unlocked it with another key and opened it. Pulling a string to turn on a sole bulb, he headed down the stairs. Perry kept pace right behind him.

Andy was right that the musty old basement was a mess. Boxes and loose papers were stacked in all directions and on everything imaginable—the floor, the tables, and other boxes and loose papers. Andy threw up his hands in dismay. “It’s going to take hours to go through all of this!” he cried.

“Well,” Perry said, “let’s see if we can cut the time down.” He reached for the nearest box. He was not sure how long he would stay, but at the moment the search for Tragg was not going well and there were many others still on it. And this angle was potentially important too.

Andy regarded him in surprise and gratitude. But before he could say a word, a treacherous rumble shook the entire room. He looked up in exasperation. “Another earthquake?!”

Perry let go of the box. This was the worst possible place they could be in an earthquake. Nothing was stationary; there was no end to what could fall on them. “We’ll have to go back upstairs until it’s over,” he said.

Neither of them had the chance. The shaking intensified, slamming the door shut. Andy, who had already started up the stairs, could not hold his balance. He shouted as he tumbled back to the hard floor.

“Mr. Anderson!” Perry exclaimed. He tried to move forward to help, but a heavy metal shelf promptly fell against his arm and side, pushing him against a table. He grunted in pain.

The light on the stairs flickered and went out. When the earth’s raging ceased at long last, the glow did not return. They were in darkness, save for whatever was coming through the windows.

Perry pushed on the shelf. It was firmly in place. And he could feel liquid trickling down his arm. It was bleeding. How badly, he was not sure. But he was sure that he could not move this all by himself.

A cough rose to his lips. Plaster had come loose from the ceiling and dust was spreading everywhere. It was hard enough to see without that interference. “Mr. Anderson?” he choked out.

Andy groaned from somewhere near by. “Now I remember again why I refused to take up skiing,” he mumbled. “Mr. Mason, are you hurt?”

“I don’t know,” Perry admitted. “I’ve been pinned by this shelf.”

“Oh no.” Andy stumbled to his feet. He made his way to Perry’s location, slightly limping as he came.

Perry regarded him in concern. “Are you hurt, Mr. Anderson?”

“I’m fine. Nothing some rest won’t cure, anyway.” Andy grasped the edges of the shelf. “If I pull back, can you push at the same time?”

“I think so,” Perry said slowly.

“Then we’ll try it.”

It took several tries, but finally the shelf was dislodged and pushed harmlessly to the side. Andy took in the damage it had left in its wake. “Mr. Mason, you are hurt,” he frowned. “Your arm!”

Perry looked down at the torn sleeve and the crimson. In the dim light he could see the wound, but not very well. “I’ll be alright,” he said. “Can we get out of here?”

“I certainly hope so.” Andy went up the stairs and grasped the doorknob. “. . . The door is stuck!” he cried moments later.

Perry sighed. “I don’t suppose anyone knew you were coming here, other than the building inspector?”

“All of the staff knew,” Andy said. “But I don’t know if any of them would think to come and make sure I’m alright. We might have to wait for the inspector.” He struggled with the door again, in vain.

Perry reached into his pocket for his phone. “The signal’s weak,” he said. “It’s been going in and out since even before we came in here. There it goes again.” He glowered at the device and slipped it back into his pocket. He would try again before long. Right now he should see what could be done for his arm.

Now Andy sighed, leaning against the railing. “I’m afraid to even see what the rest of the building looks like,” he said. “If corners really were cut, it might have sustained far worse damage than it should have. So much for the renovations.”

Perry glanced up while trying to stop the bleeding. “Tell me,” he said. “Since all of these repairs were being made, why wasn’t the basement cleaned up then?”

“That’s a very good question,” Andy said flatly. “I’ve been wondering myself.”

And again Perry thought of the spell.

All things considered, perhaps it wasn’t such a wild idea after all.