He nodded. Well, I confided in Ruth. I gave her the sketch, and Ruth, who is really very clever and who has excellent judgment, told me that since I hadnt reported the thing to the police when it happened, I couldnt possibly afford to do it then. Here we are, she said, indicating a three-story house which had at one time evidently been quite a mansion but which was now standing in solitary isolation. Thats the house which is to be torn down. Those piles of lumber represent salvage from some of the shacks that were pulled down. Most of that lumber isnt good for anything except to be sawed up as kindling. The companys been selling it for what it can get. It’s been running ads in the classified section, offering second-hand lumber for sale — as is. Im still pissed about Showalter this morning, Dev. For the record? Well, I… I suppose that could ha ve been the case. He had the rep of being iron hard but fair, a soldiers soldier. He cared more for his troops than he did for the next star on his shoulder. Then his career had seemed to stall. One article reported that Campbell had been brutally honest during some congressional testimony, and the Army brass hadnt liked that level of candor from one of its senior officers. Hed then been apparently forced into retirement and gone into the private sector. He’d resurfaced a few years later with some civilian position at the Pentagon. After that, he’d dropped off the radar. Iam world-class hacker. I know this already. Out of here, Stone said. I was not in any way, Helen, Im telling you the truth. Why would I be out there busting my ass to find out who did kill her, if Id been the one to do it? A good soldier never discounted the intervention of well-timed luck. Stone handed Dino the envelope.The originals are in there. I am writing this on the yacht of George S. Alder, the Thayerbelle. Because I have information which will in all probability deprive George Alder of much of his fortune, he may do anything to seal my hps. Alexander Redfield glanced at Perry Mason with a half-smile. He had been cross-examined by Mason many times and knew only too well the skilful manner in which Mason could confuse an uncertain witness or one who was misrepresenting the facts. His manner showed that he intended to be very, very cautious in giving his testimony. Wheres the car now? Della Street asked. A lot might depend on what station the radio indicator was on..