[June 23rd] [Perry Mason] Lux Aeterna, 23

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

Title: Lux Aeterna, scene 23
Day/Theme: June 23rd - Small footprints
Series: Perry Mason
Character/Pairing: Hamilton Burger, Amory Fallon
Rating: K+/PG

Takes place early into Florence's rule. Amory (Wesley Lau's first Perry character) I hadn't planned to introduce until I begin my upcoming mystery The Malevolent Mugging on FF.net, hopefully next month. But I couldn't resist. Anyway, I decided I needed to see if I could find his voice and write him different from Andy. I think I succeeded.


By Lucky_Ladybug

For years, especially since becoming district attorney, Hamilton had not had much free time to sit in the park and read a newspaper. Today was one of those rare occasions when he had the chance. It was a pleasant day, not too hot or too cool, and other Los Angeles residents had ventured outside as well. Hamilton could hear them in the back of his mind as he scanned through the paper and its current stories.

He sighed to himself. Reading the paper was enough to show how the world had changed. Florence had taken it over, using some of the space to order stories about her reign and what she planned to do with the world in the future. It was discouraging.

“Come on; just a few more steps. You can do it!”

He looked up with a start. A young mother was bending forward in the kids’ play area, clapping her hands in encouragement to her son. The boy was obviously just learning how to walk. With an innocent grin of glee he toddled through the sand to her and was applauded for his efforts.

Hamilton leaned back against the bench, folding the paper on his lap. What kind of world was this kid—and countless others—being raised in now? With Florence as the de facto ruler of Earth, they would grow up in a one-world government the likes of which Hamilton would have once scoffed at. It had seemed so impossible, so unimaginable, for someone to seize control like Florence had done. And maybe it would not have happened if not for her magic box.

Hamilton shook the papers in frustration and disgust. There was that word again. How he hated having to use it. There was no denying that black magic had caused their problems, both now and with Vivalene’s earlier spell. It was like some kind of nightmare from which he could not awaken.

“It’s a strange world.”

He looked up with a start as a blond man in a suit sank onto the other side of the bench. “Andy?” he asked in surprise. The newcomer certainly looked like Lieutenant Anderson. And yet there was something about his manner that did not ring true as far as Andy was concerned.

He received an awkward smile in response. “No, Mr. Burger. Amory Fallon.”

“Oh. Mr. Fallon, of course.” Hamilton offered his hand. “How have you been?”

Amory accepted the gesture. Apparently he did not hold any bitterness towards Hamilton for having prosecuted him several years ago. Luckily, most people did not, even if they felt uncomfortable around him afterwards. But there were always a few screwballs and bad apples out there who insisted on believing that Hamilton had something against them personally and refused to forgive him.

“I can’t complain, Sir,” Amory said with a shrug. “My company has been moving along. And Edith and I have been fine.”

“Good,” Hamilton nodded. “I’m glad to hear it.”

Amory stared ahead absently at the mother with her child. “Edith always wanted to have children,” he remarked. “Seeing what’s happening in the world these days, well . . . I’ve tried to console her that this isn’t the kind of world we’d want to raise a child in.”

Hamilton gave a thoughtful nod. “. . . Florence might not have control for very long, you know,” he said. “There’s quite a few people who aren’t happy with this idea of her being the dark queen over everyone.”

“I’ve heard about the rebel movements,” Amory said. “She’s tried to stomp them out where she can.”

“Only she doesn’t come right out and do it,” Hamilton said. “She works in the shadows. I suppose you’ve heard about the rebels who are starting to disappear?”

“Oh yes,” Amory nodded. “That’s frightening. Edith’s afraid they’re all being killed in secret.”

“They might be,” Hamilton said, his eyes narrowing. “But I don’t think it’s going to scare off the rebels. Not if they really believe in their cause.”

“They’d have to, to keep going against those odds,” said Amory.

“Freedom always comes with a price. Maybe it’s said so much that everyone’s sick of it, but it’s true.” Hamilton folded the paper the rest of the way. “A lot of people forget it.”

“You’re right, of course.” Amory looked down at his hands.

Hamilton debated his next question. It was more in Perry’s line to try to recruit people for the rebellion, but occasionally Hamilton did as well, if he thought the person would really be an asset.

Would Amory? He was a businessman, fairly successful, who owned a local paint company. Terrance Clay, Hamilton recalled, had shown a great deal of sympathy towards Amory when he had been arrested for the murder of his partner, Ned Thompson. But that was probably largely in part because of Amory’s Irish heritage. And possibly because, regardless of whether or not Amory had killed him (which he had not), Clay thought Ned had been absolutely rotten (which he had).

Amory was very excitable, though, and prone to a great deal of stress. After learning of Ned’s embezzlement and secret deal-making, he had felt so crushed and betrayed that he had started imagining up other things in his mind, mainly a belief that Ned had tried to take away Amory’s wife as well as the business—and that Edith had reciprocated. He had twisted the most innocent things into further proof of their affair. And it had only made everything worse after he had narrowly escaped an explosion at the company and believed someone had deliberately tried to kill him.

All of that was past now, and according to Amory, things had settled down in his life. But Hamilton wondered if it would be a good idea to suggest the idea of joining the rebellion.

Perry likely might, he knew. But Perry often took chances that Hamilton never would, and gambled with things that Hamilton thought he ought not.

“. . . How do you feel about the rebel movements?” he asked at last.

Amory blinked in surprise. “Well . . .” He straightened. “I say more power to them. They’ve got a lot of courage, to go up against that woman.”

“They have,” Hamilton nodded.

“Even moreso if they’re not scared off by some of their members disappearing.” Amory frowned. “I don’t know how I’d react in a situation like that.”

“I don’t think anyone really does, until they’re thrust into it,” Hamilton said.

Amory glanced to him. “What about their families?” he wondered. “Do they ever start disappearing?”

“I haven’t heard that they have,” Hamilton said.

“But they have to suffer when their rebel loved ones vanish.” Amory leaned back with a sigh. “I couldn’t put Edith through that. I’ve done so much to her already.”

“I understand.” And Hamilton did. He did not blame Amory for wanting to stay out of it. But something, perhaps curiosity, perhaps something else, made him inquire further. “If it wasn’t for that, though, would you . . .”

“Would I join up with them?” Amory brought his hands down on his knees. “To be honest, Mr. Burger, I couldn’t say. No, I don’t like this new world. I think Florence is wrecking things. But . . .” He shook his head. “I’m not a rebellious person. I don’t even know that I’m much of a fighter at all. When everything started collapsing around me—my partnership, my marriage—I didn’t know what to do. I just got overwhelmed by it all.”

Hamilton contemplated his response. “Perry would probably say that you didn’t give up, though. A lot of fighters don’t always know what to do. But they don’t throw in the towel; they keep going.”

“I suppose. I don’t feel much like a hero, though.”

Hamilton laughed. “I’m sure most of the rebels don’t, either. They’d probably say they’re just doing what has to be done. A lot of them wouldn’t even want to be seen as heroes.”

Amory thought about that. “Yes . . . yes, I guess you’re right.” He looked at Hamilton again. “Mr. Burger, I have this feeling you know more about the rebels than you’re letting on.”

“Oh really.” Hamilton kept his expression even. “Well, Mr. Fallon, maybe I do. After all, as district attorney, I have to know about everything that’s going on in the county.”

“That isn’t what I meant,” Amory protested. But he let it drop. Sighing, he reached for his briefcase.

“I should be going,” he said apologetically. “I’m sorry I’ve kept you away from your paper.”

“That’s alright.” Hamilton flicked it with the back of his hand. “There’s not much of anything good to read about anyway.

“Good luck.”

“Thank you,” said Amory. “The same to you.”

He was soon gone, probably heading back to the company or even home. Hamilton lingered, gazing in the direction he had taken.

Suddenly he leaped up, the paper folded under his arm. He ran down the path, startling the mother and her kid and anyone else near enough to be affected. “Mr. Fallon!” he called. “Mr. Fallon!”

Amory was halfway to the nearest exit. He stopped and turned, clearly surprised. “Mr. Burger? What is it?”

Hamilton stopped as well, taking a moment to catch his breath. “Mr. Fallon, what made you stop and talk to me?” he asked. “Did you want something?”

Amory hesitated. “. . . Let’s say I’ve been thinking about a lot of things lately, Mr. Burger. I . . . well, I wanted the opinion of someone wiser than me. When I was walking through the park and saw you, I thought it couldn’t hurt to see what you’d say.”

So it had been a coincidental meeting. Not that Hamilton had thought Amory would have followed him. He paused again before continuing. “Mr. Fallon, have you been thinking of joining the rebellion?”

“. . . It’s crossed my mind, yes,” Amory admitted. “I wasn’t sure. I’m still not, if you must know. I don’t want to be a coward. I hope I’m not. But I’m worried about what it would do to Edith. We really haven’t been affected by Florence’s reign. If I go and become involved in something like that, who knows what might happen.”

“I can’t make your decision for you,” Hamilton said. “You’re right, there’s no telling what might happen. You could end up disappearing as much as anyone else. I guess you’ll just have to figure out what matters the most to you.”

Amory nodded. “Thank you again, Mr. Burger. If I do come to a decision, I’ll know where to go.”

“Of course.”

Amory started off again. Hamilton stood on the path, silently watching.

It was strange and sometimes unsettling, how people could make a difference without always even knowing they were doing it.

He just hoped that he had been an influence for good and not ill. And that Amory would make the best decision for him and his wife.