Secrets & Lies Read Free Page B

remember.” I felt embarrassed after that. Of course, he meant his love life. As long as I’ve known Freddie, he hasn’t seen many women. So I asked him about it.
    â€œI was engaged once,” he said. “It didn’t work out.”
    â€œWhat happened?”
    He shrugged.
    â€œYou don’t have to tell me if you don’t want.”
    â€œIt’s okay. It was a long time ago. It was when I was a professional boxer. Her name was Giulietta, spelled the Italian way, with a
G
. She was the daughter of a mobster who had a hand in the boxing business. Back then, the mob ruled boxing. They controlled everything. Still do, a little. You had to play by their rules. Anyway, Giulietta and I were sweet on each other, and her father thought he could use our relationship to maneuver me into some shady deals. I told you that story before, didn’t I?”
    â€œYou once said they shut you out of your career because you didn’t obey them, or something like that.”
    â€œGiulietta’s father wanted me to throw a fight, and I wouldn’t do it. I was blackballed after that. Her father forbade her to see me, and the engagement ended. Basically, I was threatened with my life if I tried to contact her again.”
    â€œGee whiz, Freddie. That’s awful.”
    â€œSo, I guess you could say I’m a little bitter about women.”
    â€œIt wasn’t her fault, Freddie.”
    â€œIn a way it was. She went along with her daddy and ridiculed me for not playing the game. She turned pretty nasty.”
    â€œWell, then, she wasn’t the right girl for you. That’s plain to see.”
    He shrugged again. “Maybe so. Anyway, since then I’ve dated only sporadically. There was one girl named Virginia who I took out for a while. I don’t know what happened; it just kind of fizzled out.”
    â€œWell, we’re going to have to get you fixed up,” I said, but Freddie held up his hands.
    â€œDon’t you dare, Judy. I mean it. I don’t like being ‘fixed up.’ Ihate blind dates, and believe me, I’ve been on plenty. Besides, I’m damaged goods. I’ve got a bad heart, I can’t do anything strenuous. What good would I be to a woman?”
    I knew what he was talking about. “Oh, Freddie. There are ways you can—” I felt myself blushing. “Freddie, talk to your doctor! Plenty of people have had heart attacks and still have a love life.”
    With that, I got up from the table. I was too flustered to continue the conversation. It was like talking about sex with a father or uncle. Yuck.
    In other news, Kennedy and his family will move into the White House soon. President Eisenhower cut off diplomatic relations with Cuba. I wonder if that had anything to do with those Cuban and Russian spies I caught trying to kill Kennedy and Nixon last October? It’s so strange there was nothing much in the papers about those characters. Did the government cover up the plot? Why would they do that? Maybe they don’t want to give anyone else ideas. I was tempted once to call John Richardson to see if he knew anything about it. But I decided I didn’t want to talk to my FBI agent former boyfriend.
    And that reminds me—the Black Stiletto hasn’t made an appearance in a while. It’s cold outside, freezing, in fact. That’s never stopped me before, but when that icy wind blows down the avenues, it feels colder than it really is. Everyone here calls it “wind chill.” I never heard that term until I came to New York.
    Big deal. The Stiletto can take the chill. I feel too cooped up. The sun is down. It’s time to hit the streets.
    L ATER
    It’s nearly 3:30 in the morning and I’m miserable. I was frozen to the bone, so I took a hot bath and now I’m drinking hot tea. With my luck, I’ll probably get sick.
    I’m lucky I’m not dead.
    Dressed in my outfit, I slipped out my bedroom