[January 15th] [Perry Mason-related] Cursed

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

Title: Cursed
Day/Theme: January 15th - To break the shackles
Series: Perry Mason (based on The Case of the Bogus Books)
Character/Pairing: Gene Torg/Pearl Chute, Ellena
Rating: T/PG-13

A story concept to possibly begin a future multi-chapter called The Case of the Nefarious Necklace. Ellena is an idea of Harry2's, but how she causes trouble here is my idea.


By Lucky_Ladybug

“They’re beautiful. Where did you say you got them?”

Pearl Chute held the emerald earrings to the light, intrigued as the hanging gems sparkled and shimmered under the glow.

Gene Torg, her close friend and former partner-in-crime, shrugged. “Some oddball palmed them off on me. The necklace too. And I’m telling you, Pearl, he was scared for his life.” He started to pace the room, his hands in his pockets. “There has to be something wrong with the stuff. I was planning to get rid of it before you came in.”

“Oh, Gene, why must you always be so cautious?” Pearl began to remove her own earrings to try on the new ones. “I agree that something must be wrong, but surely you’re exaggerating. They’re probably hot and he was worried about going to jail.”

“Like you should be, after serving time for your part in Old Man Kraft’s book racket,” Gene retorted. “But no, Pearl, he wasn’t just worried about going to jail. He really, honestly thought he was going to die, the way he kept jumping all over the place and looking over his shoulder.”

“If you were so suspicious, why did you accept the jewelry in the first place?” Pearl wondered.

“He shoved the bag at me and ran off. I tried to catch him but I couldn’t, so I decided to at least see what had got him so upset. And I couldn’t really see what it was out there. I thought it’d be better to look at it back at the apartment.”

“It was,” said Pearl as she applied the earrings and admired herself in the mirror over the mantel. “If you’d looked at them out there, you probably would have got rid of the bag then and there.”

“That’s what I probably should have done.” Gene stopped pacing and gave her a pleading look. “Pearl, you know I’m really trying to go straight this time. You said you were going to try, too.”

Pearl sighed in exasperation and turned to face the agitated man. “Oh, for Heaven’s sake, Gene! I am going to try. But we don’t actually know there’s anything wrong with these emeralds. I haven’t heard about any stolen lately. At least give me a few minutes to enjoy them before we have to give them up.” She reached for the necklace. “The only person who knows you have them is that strange man, right?”

Gene rocked on his heels. “Well, yes, but he could decide to call the police and get them off his back, or call the rightful owner, or any number of things that would get us in trouble. Or more specifically, me, since I was the one there!”

“You didn’t even go to jail for your part in the book racket, miniscule though it was.” Pearl held the necklace up to the mirror, admiring it as she had the earrings. “And it was mainly because you had absolutely no idea the book was worth more than a few dollars and you wouldn’t have taken it if you’d known. Joseph Kraft’s niece was nice enough to not want to prosecute you. Not to mention that no one could corroborate your conversation with Mr. Kraft when you took the book back to negotiate our deal.”

Gene frowned, a bit of hurt flickering in his eyes. “What’s your point, Pearl? Are you saying that even if I’m caught for something I didn’t do, I should take the rap because I didn’t get the other one and you did?”

Pearl frowned too. “That’s not what I meant at all.”

“That’s what it sounded like.” Gene turned away. “And if you really didn’t mean that, what did you mean?”

“I just mean that you should settle down for a few minutes. Of course I don’t want you to get into trouble, Sweet. If I really thought that would happen, I’d take these off right now.” Pearl approached him from behind, resting her hands on his shoulders. “You believe me, don’t you?”

Gene stiffened, but then relaxed and sighed. “Yes, I believe you.”

“Good.” Pearl snapped on the necklace. “Oh. Oh my.”

Gene spun around just in time to see her sway to the side. Stunned, he reached and caught her. “What happened?” he exclaimed in worried disbelief.

Pearl tried to steady herself in his arms. “I guess all these emeralds must have gone to my head,” she said. “When I put the necklace on, suddenly I got dizzy.” She leaned in close, kissing him on the lips. “Maybe it really is dangerous.”

“It certainly wouldn’t surprise me.” Gene hesitated, then returned the kiss.

Without warning Pearl’s eyes flickered and she struck out, slapping him hard. “What’s the deal, Buster?!” she cried. “I don’t like you gettin’ fresh.”

He fell back, his jaw dropping at the display. “Pearl?! What are you talking about?” He brought a hand to his sore cheek. “If that was your idea of a joke, it wasn’t funny!”

“Who’s joking? And who’s Pearl?” Her hands went to her hips. “My name’s Ellena.”

Gene was starting to feel very strange. There was something odd in the room, a sense of another presence. An unwelcome, unfriendly presence.

Frowning, he moved forward and reached for her again. “Pearl, I really don’t appreciate the way you’re acting tonight.” His eyes narrowed. “You insist on trying that jewelry on when I want to get rid of it, you act like you’re criticizing me for staying out of jail, and now you’re treating me like I’m a complete stranger!”

“You are,” Pearl retorted. “I’ve never seen you before in my life. And quit callin’ me Pearl, will you? I’m telling you, I’m Ellena!”

A chill ran up Gene’s spine. The look he was receiving from Pearl was utter blankness and anger, as though he really was a stranger. And Pearl, who was normally as cultured as the objects whose name she bore, was now talking like a tough girl with a mixture of French and Southern accents.

He took a step back. Pearl had acted like Pearl until she had put on that necklace. Well, unless he wanted to say that her criticism of him from before had also not seemed like her. But he admittedly could picture her saying those things, under certain circumstances. Everything she had said and done after applying the necklace, on the other hand, was not her in the least. If she were aware of it, she would never behave like this.

But how could she not be aware of it? The only other explanation would be if something in the necklace really had given her a whole new identity and personality. And that was absolutely ridiculous and impossible.

Wasn’t it?

“Well, what are you standing around here for?” Pearl demanded now. “I don’t want you here. Go on, get out!”

Gene’s eyes flashed with indignation. “This happens to be my apartment!” he shot back. “If you don’t want to be around me, you’re the one who should leave.” He crossed his arms. “And if you are someone named Ellena, what did you do with Pearl?”

“I don’t know no Pearl.” Pearl turned away, heading towards the door. “And I’m gonna leave. Don’t you worry about that.”

Gene silently followed after her, extending a hand to try to undo the clasp at the back of her neck. This had started with the necklace. He had to see if it would end without the necklace. And in any case, he could not let Pearl leave this building in her delusional condition.

Pearl shot out, grabbing his wrist in a deathgrip and twisting it while digging in her fingernails. “Don’t you dare touch me,” she hissed. “Don’t you ever try to touch me again!”

Gene cried out, jerking his injured wrist back. But he opted to ignore the pain and dash after Pearl, tackling her to the floor.

“If you are Ellena,” he growled while trying to wrestle her down, “you’re walking off with my friend Pearl’s body. I don’t appreciate that. And I don’t think Pearl would, either!”

Her face contorted in rage and anger. Just as he struggled to take hold of the clasp, she snatched a heavy lamp from off the end table and brought it down on his head.

Pain and agony spread across his features. He slumped over on the floor, the necklace coming off in his hand.

Pearl sat up in the next moment, blinking, bewildered. “What’s . . . what happened? Gene?” She went sheet-white at the sight of him lying on the carpet, so still and quiet. “Gene!” Shaking, she gripped his shoulder. “Gene, wake up. I’m sorry, Gene. I didn’t mean those things I said. Honestly, I didn’t! And I didn’t mean to hit you. I don’t know why I hit you. I never wanted to hurt you!” She turned him onto his back. “Gene, please. Please wake up! Please. . . .” Her voice quavered and broke as she touched his cheek.

Gene’s eyes fluttered and opened. “Pearl?” he mumbled. “Is it really you this time? Not . . . not that Ellena?”

“I don’t even know who Ellena is!” Pearl cried. “But when I put on that necklace it felt like . . . like something jumped into my body. I couldn’t control anything I said or did. Oh Gene . . .” She bent down, still trembling as she embraced him. “I thought she . . . I . . . one of us killed you!”

Gene drew her close. “I’m alright,” he said. He grimaced. “Well, no. Correction—I’ll be alright as soon as everything stops pounding through my head. And Pearl . . .” He looked up at her with pleading eyes. “Please tell me you’re done with the necklace. The earrings too.”

“Yes!” Pearl exclaimed. “I don’t want them anymore. If the necklace is cursed, the earrings probably are too.” She knelt up, her hands shaking uncontrollably as she took the earrings off. They dropped to the floor, bouncing off the carpet near the necklace.

Gene eased himself into a sitting position, a hand held to the back of his head. “I’ll take them away,” he vowed. “I’ll put them back near where that mysterious man handed them to me. I’ll drop them down in a crack or something so no one will find them. They’re too dangerous for anyone to use.”

“I’ll come with you, Sweet,” Pearl said tearfully. “You’re in no condition to drive. And it’s all my fault.”

Gene looked at her, both stunned and touched by her sorrow and regret. He had to admit, the image of an infuriated Pearl bringing the lamp down on his head was probably going to haunt his dreams for a while. Those few minutes with Ellena had been positively frightening.

“Alright,” he consented. “Help me up and we’ll go.”

Pearl nodded in full agreement. After gathering the jewelry into the old bag Gene had brought it back in, Pearl got to her feet and helped Gene by letting him lean on her for balance. She drew an arm around his waist as he stood.

“Gene,” she whispered, and she was completely sobered and sincere, not the usual coquette. “Can you ever forgive me?”

He looked at her, moved by her distress. He drew her close to him.

“Ellena, probably not,” he quipped. Growing serious himself, he continued, “But you, Pearl? Yes, I forgive you.”

And she smiled with relief and joy.