The Case of the Troubled Trustee by Erle Stanley Gardner

right."
    "You tailed along?"
    "Yes."
    "Any trouble?"
    "Just once. I started following him with my lights off. Dutton stopped his car rather suddenly and then backed up. There was nothing for me to do but to keep on going."
    "So you lost him again?"
    "No, I didn't lose him. I got down the road, pulled off to one side, put out a red blinker, got out a jack and jacked up the rear bumper. I made as if I was changing a tire. I kept my eye on him all the time."
    "How far away was he?"
    "Oh, half a mile, I guess."
    "His lights were on?"
    "Yes."
    "You couldn't see him, you could only see the headlights?"
    "That's right."
    "He just stopped?"
    "Yes"
    "Then what happened?"
    "Well, then he got in his car and went on."
    "What did you do?"
    "I stood there helpless and let him pass. Then when he got ahead of me, I let the car down off the jack fast, threw the jack in the rear seat, jumped in and took off after him. In a case of that sort the subject hardly expects a crippled car to come to life and take off after him, so he isn't suspicious."
    "And you tailed him, how far?"
    "All the way to the border and then on to Ensenada."
    "Did he make any stops?"
    "Once for a cup of coffee and a hamburger."
    "What did you do?"
    "Sat outside the place, parked in my car, and drooled," the detective said. "That coffee looked so darn good, I would have given a week's pay for a cup, but I didn't dare let him spot me so I had to sit outside and wait until he came out."
    "Do you think he knew he was being tailed?"
    "I don't think so. I would drop behind for a way and then come up, and I passed him once or twice where I could keep his headlights in my windshield and pulled in to a coffee joint as though I was getting coffee, but as soon as he passed me I took up the chase again."
    "Now, that wire recording," Mason said, "you have it?"
    "Yes."
    "The police want it."
    "I wondered if they would. I was going to ask Drake what to do with it."
    Mason said, "Go to the office. Don't tell anyone that you have seen either Drake or me unless you are asked specifically. If you are asked by the police, don't lie. Tell them that I was waiting for you and that I told you I wanted you to take your evidence to the police at once; that they were anxiously awaiting it."
    "I don't say anything about Mr. Drake?"
    "Not unless they ask you specifically. If they ask you if you've talked with anyone, tell them you talked with me. If they ask you if anyone was with me, you can tell them Paul Drake was, but just don't volunteer any information. On the other hand, appear to be very cooperative."
    Fulton nodded.
    "Now then," Mason said, "why did Dutton bring his car to a stop and back up? Any idea?"
    "No, I haven't," Fulton said, "but I checked on my speedometer."
    Mason's face brightened. "You did?"
    "That's right. He was on Crenmore when he stopped, exactly one and three-tenths miles from the entrance to Barclay Country Club."
    Mason turned to Paul Drake. "Paul," he said, "get this man a bonus of the best dinner in the city for himself and his wife- You married, Fulton?"
    "Not yet," Fulton said, grinning. "I was, but it didn't take. I played the field for a while and now I'm getting ready to go overboard again. This time it's going to be different."
    "Get your girl friend and take her to the best restaurant in town," Mason said. "Get everything you can eat, have a bottle of champagne with dinner and turn in the bill on your expense account."
    Fulton shot out his hand. "That's mighty fine of you, Mr. Mason."
    "I always like to see a good job well done," Mason said.
    Fulton looked at Drake. "Anything else?"
    Mason shook his head.
    "Okay," Fulton said, "I'll be on my way. I'm to go in to the office and start making out a report in the usual way?"
    "That's right," Drake said. "Take a typewriter and start tapping it out."
    "Do I say anything about the subject stopping there on the road?"
    "You sure do," Mason said. "Don't conceal anything. Remember, those are my instructions. Don't conceal a