Della Street smiled. “At first she didn’t know I was alive. Then when she found out I was Belle’s cabin-mate, she became very cordial. Whenever I’m with her, she tells me how much she likes Belle and what a fascinating girl she is, and then takes occasion to add it’s funny she’s never met her and wants to know if Belle doesn’t care for polo or yachting.”
“Trying to pump you about her background?” Mason asked.
Della nodded.
“Okay,” Mason told her, “put that message in code and send it to Jackson. We’ll have Paul Drake start work on Rooney. However, I don’t think we’ll have to exert much pressure. My best guess is the president will fall all over himself promising anything we want. Then, after he gets his hands on the twenty thousand he’ll step out of the picture and Rooney will gloatingly march into court and ask the judge to give Moar the limit.”
Mason was reclining in his stateroom reading a book when Della Street brought him Jackson’s reply late that afternoon.
ROONEY ADVISES CORPORATION WILL NOT MAKE TERMS WITH CROOK STOP INSISTS WILL PROSECUTE MOAR TO LIMIT WITHOUT ACCEPTING OR OFFERING ANY CONCESSIONS STOP CLAIMS HAS TAKEN MATTER UP WITH PRESIDENT BUT I THINK HE IS LYING STOP ROONEY ARROGANT SELF-IMPORTANT DETESTED BY ENTIRE FORCE HOLDS POSITION BECAUSE OF RELATIONSHIP BY MARRIAGE TO PRESIDENT OF COMPANY STOP PRESIDENT NOW ON VACATION IN HONOLULU NAME CHARLES WHITMORE DAIL ADDRESS ROYAL HAWAIIAN HOTEL SHALL I GET IN TOUCH WITH HIM THERE STOP HAD PAUL DRAKE PUT OPERATIVES TO WORK ON ROONEY SO FAR NO SUCCESS STOP WIRE INSTRUCTIONS
Mason finished reading the message, to reach for his telephone. “Get me Charles Whitmore Dail, ” he said to the operator. “He has a suite on A deck.”
While Mason held the line, waiting for the call to be completed, Della Street said, “Chief, have you stopped to consider that Celinda Dail may have found out Moar’s aboard and been in touch with Rooney?”
He nodded and said, “I’m calling for a showdown, Della— Hello — is this Mr. Dail? This is Mr. Perry Mason, Mr. Dail. I want to see you on a matter of business... sometime at your early convenience... I would prefer an earlier appointment if possible... Very well, at six o’clock then... In your stateroom. Thank you, Mr. Dail.”
Mason dropped the receiver into place, grinned at Della Street and said, “You never get anywhere postponing a fight, Della.”