“Well, he won’t be a witness against her,” Wray said. “You can depend on that, because Jason Braun will tell the truth, and the truth won’t hurt Rosalind Prescott. I don’t know who killed Walter, but you can gamble she didn’t. If Jason Braun knows anything, he’ll tell the truth. No one can influence him one way or the other.”
“And you think you can arrange for me to interview him before anyone else does?”
“I’m absolutely certain of it,” Wray said.
Mason got to his feet, took out a card and said, “My telephone number’s on the card. When you ring up, ask for Miss Street. That’s my secretary. Tell her who you are and she’ll put you on my line if I’m there, or if I’m out she’ll see that your message gets to me and I’ll call you back within a very few minutes.”
Wray came around the desk to shake Mason’s hand. “Tickled to death to do anything I can, Mr. Mason,” he said. “And, incidentally, if Mrs. Prescott is in need of any cash to cover — well frankly, to cover her retainer to you, I can arrange to advance that cash. You see, the money will come in on that insurance policy within a few days and she’ll be entitled to that. So I’d be only too glad to make an advance against it.”
“I don’t think that’ll be necessary,” Mason told him, “but it is particularly important that I locate Braun. If you can arrange for a confidential interview with him, both Mrs. Prescott and myself will keenly appreciate it.”
Frederick Carpenter, first vice-president of the Second Fidelity Savings & Loan, turned watery blue eyes on Perry Mason, listened to the lawyer’s statement of his errand with an expressionless countenance, cautiously rubbed the palm of his hand over his bald head and said, “I see no reason, Mr. Mason, why the bank should anticipate the legal procedure incident to probate. When Mrs. Prescott is appointed executrix or administratrix, she can file a certified copy of the letters of administration with us and we will then be very glad to turn over any money in Mr. Prescott’s account.”
“Will you tell me the amount of that money?”
“I see no reason for doing so.”
“The court will have to take into consideration the amount of the estate in fixing bonds in the probate proceedings,” Mason pointed out.