Read The Case of the Sleepwalker's Niece for Free Online Page B

look at this patio in the moonlight, Jim, it's beautiful."
    Dr. Kelton stretched out in the bed to the tune of creaking springs. "I'll take your word for it, Perry. Personally, I don't like the place. I'll feel a damn sight easier when I get out of here."
    "Worried about someone sticking a carving knife in your ribs?" Mason asked.
    Dr. Kelton, sucking in another prodigious yawn, said, "For God's sake, turn out the light and come to bed. Listening to you two lawyers wrangling I got so sleepy I…" There was a faint scratching sound on the panels of the door. Kelton sat bolt upright, said in a low voice, "Now what?"
    Mason, finger on his lips, motioned for silence. After a moment, the same scratching sound was repeated. "Sounds," Mason said, grinning, "as though someone with a carving knife were standing just outside your door, Jim." He opened the door an inch or two, and showed surprise. "You!" he exclaimed.
    "Well, let me in," Edna Hammer said in a hoarse whisper.
    Mason opened the door, and Edna Hammer, clad in a filmy negligee, slid surreptitiously into the room, closed the door behind her and twisted the key in the lock.
    "I say," Dr. Kelton protested, "just what is this?"
    "I thought you went to Santa Barbara," Mason remarked.
    "Don't be silly. I couldn't go. Not with Uncle Pete walking in his sleep, and this the night of the full moon."
    "Why didn't you say so, then?"
    "Because I was in a spot. You and Uncle Pete wanted Helen Warrington to go so she could help your assistant up there. Naturally she wouldn't go unless I went. I might have explained, but Bob Peasley showed up, and if he'd thought Helen had been planning to go to Santa Barbara alone with Jerry… Well, he'd have killed Jerry, that's all."
    "But I still don't see why you couldn't have said frankly that you didn't care to go," Mason said.
    "I didn't want Uncle Pete to be suspicious. He'd have realized something was wrong."
    "So what did you do?"
    "So I went out to the car, explained to Jerry and Helen exactly how things were. They were very nice about it, as soon as they understood."
    Dr. Kelton said, "Is that any reason why you two should put on night clothes, and hold conferences in my bedroom?"
    She looked at him, laughed, and said, "Don't be frightened. I won't bite. I want Mr. Mason to come with me while I lock Uncle Pete's door and the sideboard drawer."
    "Why can't you do it alone?" Mason asked.
    "Because if anything should happen, I'd want you as a witness."
    "I'd make a poor witness," Mason laughed. "Dr. Kelton makes a swell witness. Get up, Jim, and help the girl lock up.
    Kelton said in a low voice, "You go to the devil, Perry Mason, and let me sleep."
    "I haven't a robe with me," Mason said to Edna Hammer. "Do I go wandering around the house in slippers and pajamas?"
    "Sure," she told him. "Everyone's in bed."
    "If it's okay with you, it is with me," he told her, "let's go."
    She unlocked the door, looked cautiously up and down the corridor. Moving on silent feet, her progress accompanied by the rustle of silk, she led the way to her uncle's bedroom door. Kneeling before the lock, she gently inserted a key, taking care to make no noise. Slowly, she turned the key until, with an almost inaudible click, the bolt shot home. She nodded to Mason, resumed her progress toward the stairs. Near the head of the stairs she whispered, "I oiled the lock so it works smoothly."
    "Doesn't your uncle have a key?" he asked.
    "Oh, yes, but he'd hardly get the keys out of his pocket and unlock the door if he were asleep. You know a sleepwalker wouldn't do that."
    "How about the sideboard?"
    "I have the only key for that drawer."
    She produced a small flashlight, lit the way to the sideboard and inserted the key in the top drawer.
    "The carving set's in there?" Mason asked.
    She nodded, turned the key, clicking home the bolt.
    "I'm so glad you came out here tonight," she said. "You're getting things fixed up. Uncle is better already. I feel certain he'll get a good