“They don’t care now,” Drake interrupted. “They’ve closed the net. They took Emily Milicant and Ned Barkler into custody, and are bringing them back.”
“On what charge?” Mason asked.
Drake said, “I don’t know, perhaps material witnesses, perhaps as accessories after the fact. They’re gunning for you, Perry, and they’re using big caliber guns. You know what they’ll do to me.”
Mason said grimly, “But they don’t know what I’ll do to them! Right now I could put Emily Milicant on the spot. If I had to, I could just about convict her of the murder of Bill Hogarty, and by letting the D.A. prove Milicant was Hogarty, I could rip their case wide open.”
Della Street said eagerly, “Are you going to do it, Chief?”
Mason, staring moodily at the carpet, shook his head.
“Why not?” she asked.
“Just an old-fashioned custom,” Mason said, “—one that’s almost out of date — that of shooting square with a client.”
Chapter 14
Court convened at ten o’clock.