This is a Smith and Wesson, thirty-eight calibre revolver with a five-inch barrel, and... well, it was it was just like mine, but it has a number on it that isnt on my list. I knew her. Nothing has been signed, yet. The owner of the adjoining property has sold dirt. She sneaked in on the thing... found out what we were intending to do and leveled off the back end of her property so that she beat us to it. We had to tear down houses, you know. This woman, Mrs. Roxy Claffin, has a smart real estate man, Enright Harlan. Of course, were co-operating now, but he certainly beat us to the punch. He knew about the freeway before we did. The .44 revolver, when located, was found to be fully loaded, with one empty cartridge case in position under the hammer, indicating that only the one bullet had been discharged from the gun. Well... I... yes, its my gun. I sent my secretary to pick it up when I bought it, which is why the name on the gun register is not in my handwriting. He shook his head.No, not even close. The shop I now run. Its a small office within the Department of Homeland Security, and has a joint operation agreement with the Department of Defense. Its aptly called the Office of Special Projects. It has about five hundred operatives, of which I control fifty. Id like to make you thefifty-first. It has a wide latitude of core interests, with the security of this nation driving all of them. When I took off the uniform I didn’t forget my oath — did you? I probably would be. Go on, said Shoemaker. 19 And isnt it a fact, Mason went on, that your answers of yes and no to my questions are because the district attorney warned you, in substance, that you might get into trouble if you volunteered any information or gave full answers; didn’t he say to you in effect that the way to confuse Perry Mason would be to listen to the questions with the utmost care and then answer them in the fewest possible words — answer yes or no wherever it was possible to do so? I want to go shopping today, she said. And then when you picked up a passenger, did you report that fact? I did first, Murfin said, and then I finally got hold of Quane. Yes? All right, Stone said, come in. Thats right. I spotted her car, and then kept an eye on her and stayed with her until she went to court. I come on at four oclock in the morning and work until noon, and then my relief takes over. I made out a report and described this junk and the old inner tubes and things. But, Della Street said, you took precautions, you.. I, Mason said, somewhat grimly, am going to have to get on the job right now..