Two persons in the city had the number of Perry Mason's private, unlisted telephone. One was Della Street, Mason's secretary, and the other was Paul Drake, head of the Drake Detective Agency.

3.5* ( )

"I christened her Cleopatra Circe Tump. I guess it embarrassed her to death, but at least she wasn't chained to a life of mediocrity by having names that were a millstone of conventional respectability around her neck." ( )

Perry Mason gets a call on his private home phone, late in the night. The man on the phone is demanding Perry meets him at Perry's office as soon as possible. The man needs Perry's services immediately, and to entice Perry he is offering payment in the form of two thousand dollar bills for a retainer. The follow-up is $10,000 if Perry is required to go to court.

When the man shows up at Perry's office, he is accompanied by a female. She was dressed in a voluminous raincoat, buttoned from neck to bottom, a close fitting hat and a mask. Her identity completely hidden. The man wanted Perry to defend the woman if she were to be involved in murder. At that time Perry would be told who she was.

This offer is hard to refuse, so Perry takes it. During this case there are times where he regrets that he did take the offer, but knows that he must see it through.

He also has a second case that involves an illegal adoption. There is a big question whether the child was of Russian parentage, as presented by one of the parties, or something else. A hugh trust fund is the weight behind the question.

Between Perry, Della Street and Paul Drake, the cases get solved; but there are quite a number of jogs in the path to the solution, along with some dodges of the police getting the information first and getting it wrong.

I always enjoy Perry Mason. ( )