The Case of the Ice-Cold Hands

The Case of the Ice-Cold Hands, by Erle Stanley Gardner There is a need for close liaison between law enforcement, forensic pathology and legal medicine. A Medical Examiner can determine if a death was murder, suicide, or accidental. This book is dedicated to Joseph B. Fallon, recently retired Deputy Superintendent of the Boston Police Department. Fallon was a shrewd interrogator who taught and trained his picked investigators to carry on his skills. Della Street tells Perry Mason that a new client is waiting impatiently to see him. Audrey Bicknell has five tickets on a horse in a race, and wants them cashed in if the horse has won. Perry wants more information to protect himself. Audrey wants cash only, no cashier's check (Chapter 1). The radio says this long shot paid off 27 to 1! After Perry cashes them in, a police detective and Marvin Fremont claim the money was embezzled by Rodney Banks. They have no proof of any connection to Perry Mason. Perry returns the call from Audrey Bicknell, and finds her name is Nancy Banks! Perry finishes this business with receipts for everything (Chapter 4). Acting for Nancy Banks, he puts up bail money for Rodney Banks, her brother (Chapter 5). Then Perry gets a phone call summoning him to see Nancy Banks. Her motel room is empty, but a check of the bathroom finds a dead body! Then Nancy shows up with a story about being robbed at her apartment; her hands are ice-cold. Nancy doesn't want to call the police. But when Nancy admits to finding the body earlier, Perry calls Lt. Tragg in Homicide, who then questions Nancy about her day's events. Nancy is too upset to answer all the questions, so she is free until tomorrow (Chapter 7). Perry now has a new client who may be holding out information. But Nancy disappears on her return to her apartment! Paul Drake calls Perry, Larsen Halstead is there with a story about Marvin Fremont's business and it bears on Rodney and Nancy Banks. We hear about Fremont's dealing in antique jewelry (Chapter 10). Perry calls Lt. Tragg to report this, and learns the police are looking for Halstead. Perry finds out where Nancy Banks is staying. Perry visits Nancy and gets her story (Chapter 11). They discover a secret in Marvin Fremont's remote past life (Chapter 12) and in his business (Chapter 13). Chapter 14 finds Nancy Banks charged with first-degree murder. The body was found in the shower of her motel room. Was this in fact the murder site? Perry suavely sidesteps a baited prosecution witness. The police tell of finding the murder weapon, which was owned by Marvin Fremont! Does the District Attorney have a trick up his sleeve, based on a new law (Chapter 15)? Rodney Banks refuses to testify, but Hamilton Burger grants immunity to get answers (Chapter 16). What he says shocks and surprises everyone! Burger is so upset that Perry tries to calm him down. Then when witnesses are recalled we get a completely surprising ending that definitely clears Perry's client. The final expla