It Was a Very Bad Year Read Free

the very least.’
    â€˜Why would someone do this now?’ I asked. ‘Because you’re a celebrity, and you’re on TV?’
    â€˜I was on
Hennessy
for three years before doing Joey’s show,’ she said. ‘Why wouldn’t they have done it then?’
    â€˜Could someone have found these photos, say, accidentally?’
    â€˜I suppose . . .’
    â€˜Who were they taken by?’
    â€˜A professional photographer.’
    â€˜And what does he have to say?’
    â€˜I don’t know,’ she said. ‘I . . . I haven’t spoken with him.’
    We paused for a couple of bites each. It was a shame we weren’t paying attention to the food. It was very good.
    â€˜Joey told me you helped Sammy a couple of years ago when he had a similar problem.’
    I didn’t know how similar Sammy’s situation was, and I couldn’t really comment on it, but it did involve – in part – some photos of his wife, May Britt.
    â€˜I know you can’t talk about that,’ she said, ‘but I was hoping you would be able to help me, too.’
    â€˜Why would you ask me for help and not somebody in Los Angeles?’
    â€˜Oh,’ she said, ‘I didn’t tell you. I was born here in Las Vegas, Eddie. The photos were taken here. I think that’s really why Joey thought of you.’
    Well, that made sense.
    After dinner we had dessert – cheesecake for me, a cannoli for her – and discussed the situation further.
    â€˜So the photographer was also from here?’
    â€˜Yes, he had a studio here. Eddie, I haven’t checked, or tried to get in touch with him. I can’t – I don’t want to—’
    â€˜Well,’ I said, ‘if he’s still alive, and workin’, I can find him.’
    â€˜Then you’ll help me?’
    â€˜Of course I’ll help you, Abby,’ I said. ‘I mean, I’ll do what I can, but you know I’m a pit boss, not a detective.’
    She laughed, her eyes lighting up, and said, ‘Joey says you’re a hell of a detective.’
    â€˜Well, I have a friend who is a real detective, and I’ll get him to help, too.’
    â€˜Wow,’ she said. ‘I feel a lot better. Lighter.’ She looked down at her dessert. ‘I think I’ll enjoy this.’
    â€˜You should,’ I said. ‘It’s very good. You’re staying at the Sands?’
    â€˜I am, for now,’ she said.
    â€˜So how did you get started?’
    â€˜I was a teen model,’ she said. ‘Did magazines and album covers until I started working for Roger Corman.’
    â€˜You know,’ I said, ‘
Stakeout on Dope Street
and
The Saga of the Viking Women and Their Voyage to the Waters of the Great Sea Serpent
flies in the face of your wholesome image.’
    â€˜Oh my God,’ she said, putting her hand to her mouth, ‘you saw those?’
    â€˜I watch TV late at night, sometimes.’
    â€˜You know, I hate being called wholesome,’ she said, wiping cream from the corner of her mouth with her forefinger. She didn’t look very wholesome at that moment. ‘And you know what I hate even more than that?’
    â€˜What?’
    She leaned forward and said, ‘I hate being called toothsome.’
    â€˜Come on,’ I said, ‘they usually put the word “beauty” after that.’
    â€˜â€œToothsome beauty?”’ she said. ‘That sounds like a left-handed compliment.’
    â€˜It’s no left-handed compliment to say that you’re beautiful.’
    â€˜Thank you, sir,’ she said, ‘but you didn’t think so the first time we met, in the Polo Lounge. If I remember correctly, you were with Ava Gardner.’
    â€˜I was . . . helpin’ her with a situation.’
    â€˜Ah,’ she said, ‘another damsel in distress. You’re actually Sir Eddie G., gallant knight.’
    â€˜I like to do