Free The Case of the Baited Hook by Erle Stanley Gardner Page B

were the best. If he'd made some poor investments, he'd have tried to plunge in order to get them back. I don't think he'd deliberately embezzle any of my money, but I did resent his attitude towards you."
    Mrs. Tump said nothing.
    "When – when did it happen?" Byrl Gailord asked, at length.
    "Sometime after noon on Tuesday," Mason said. "The coroner rushed the body to an autopsy to have an examination made that would give him an exact time."
    "And where does that leave Byrl?" Mrs. Tump asked.
    "The court will appoint another trustee," Mason said. "There'll be a complete check – up on the accounts."
    Mrs. Tump met his eyes steadily. "Very well, Mr. Mason. Let's be businesslike… Does this mean that we don't need your services?"
    Mason said, "Yes."
    "I don't see why," Byrl Gailord said.
    "Because there's nothing he can do now," Mrs. Tump said. "There's no need to pay Mr. Mason a fee if there's nothing he can do."
    "That's right," Mason agreed.
    "Isn't there anything you can do?" Byrl Gailord asked. "No way in which you can-well, sort of look after my interests?"
    "I can keep an eye open," Mason said. "If I find something that will justify my employment, I'll take it up with you. The court will probably appoint some trust company as a trustee. The trust accounts will have to be carefully examined."
    "Can I be appointed?" Mrs. Tump asked.
    "Perhaps," Mason said, "but a court would be more inclined to appoint a company which had auditing faculties at its command."
    "I'd serve without compensation just to get things straightened up."
    "We'll have to wait a few days until we can find out more about it," Mason said. "A court might permit Miss Gailord to nominate the trustee."
    "I'd want Mrs. Tump, of course," Byrl Gailord said.
    The telephone on Mason's desk rang sharply. Mason said, "Excuse me," picked up the receiver, and heard the voice of his receptionist saying, "Sergeant Holcomb is here. He says he must see you immediately. There's a man with him."
    Mason thought for a moment. "Did you tell him I was busy, Gertie?"
    "Yes."
    "Didn't give him the names of my clients, did you?' "No. Certainly not." 'Tell him I'll be right out," Mason said.
    He hung up the telephone and excused himself to his clients. "Sergeant Holcomb of the Homicide Squad is outside," he said. "He wants to see me at once. I won't be long. Excuse me, please," and went out to the reception office, carefully closing the door of his private office behind him.
    Sergeant Holcomb said, "Let's go some place where we can talk." 'The law library is available," Mason said, opening the door to the long room with its shelves lined with books.
    The officer nodded to the young man who was with him, and said, "All right, Mattern. Come along."
    Mason shifted his eyes to make a quick appraisal of the young man. He was somewhere in the late twenties with a head which seemed too large for his body. The bulging, prominent forehead and slightly protruding eyes gave him an appearance of owlish intellectuality which was emphasized by large, dark – rimmed spectacles.
    Mason led the way into the law library and closed the door. "What is it, Sergeant?" he asked.
    Sergeant Holcomb jerked his head toward the narrow – shouldered young man. "Carl Mattern," he said, "Tidings' secretary."
    Mason nodded in acknowledgment of the introduction. Mattern didn't say anything. He seemed intensely nervous.
    Sergeant Holcomb said, "You're representing Byrl Gailord?"
    Mason hesitated a moment, then said, "On certain matters, yes."
    "What's that other name?" Holcomb asked Mattern.
    "Tump. Mrs. A. E. Tump."
    "Know her?" Holcomb asked Mason.
    "Yes."
    "She your client?"
    "Not exactly. What are you getting at?"
    Sergeant Holcomb said, "Mattern says you called up and talked with Tidings yesterday about an appointment."
    "Yes. I told you I'd talked with him on the phone."
    "That appointment was to discuss Byrl Gailord's affairs?"
    "In a way, yes."
    Sergeant Holcomb said, "Where can I find Byrl Gailord