A Mighty Fortress Read Online Free PDF Page A

the marrying type to you?” She took a step, too. Sure enough, there was no ring on her finger. We were about a foot apart now. Her head was hovering near my face.
    “I can imagine a few men who’d like to marry you,” I said. Gratification immediately glowed on her face. “So, do you live here?” I asked.
    She shook her head no, that mischievous grin growing on her face. “I’m actually homeless, would you believe that?”
    I didn’t comment on that. Regardless, if she wasn’t Scalzo’s spouse and didn’t reside there, I was wasting my time unless I could get some information about his whereabouts. I put my hands on her shoulders. It was really to stop her from coming closer, but I rubbed them lightly to feign interest. “When will he be home today?”
    “He’s not coming home.”
    “At all?”
    She shook her head. “He’s flying out for business tomorrow, and I’ll have the place all to myself.” She grinned playfully. “I get to stay here all week, all by myself.” Her shoulders were moving in circles now with my caresses. I couldn’t deny what it was doing to me. Her hands were on my chest and moving down slowly. “I hope I don’t get lonely.”
    I smiled. “Can you at least tell me your name?”
    “Most people call me Angie.” She was rubbing my stomach now.
    “That’s your real name?”
    She shrugged. “Close enough.” I was feeling warm. “You know, I got this gift,” she said. “Can I tell you about it?”
    I glanced at the clock on the stove and swallowed hard.
    “I have this uncanny ability, you see, to guess a lot about a guy,” she nodded toward my midriff, “just from how he carries himself. So if I guess yours now,” she held the sentence, moved her eyes toward me.
    “Yes?” I gulped.
    “Then you’ll have to prove whether I’m right.”
    I took her hands and returned them to her sides again, too forcefully this time. But she seemed to like it. “You’re strong,” she said. “And shy? Don’t worry, I had you pegged pretty well, but I won’t judge you if I’m wrong.”
    I couldn’t play the game much longer, or I was going to risk losing my license—among other things. Good thing I’d already gotten about all I was going to get from her. I held her arms steady. She thought it was still a game. “Are you going to see Scalzo anytime today?”
    “What’s with all the questions? Don’t worry about Chad.”
    “When will you see him next?”
    “Not till tonight. He’s taking us to dinner. A very special occasion.” She closed her eyes, like she was waiting for me to kiss her.
    “You don’t say. So where does a special girl like you like to go to dinner?”
    She opened her eyes, suspicion welling in her eyes. “I don’t know. It’s a surprise.”
    Just then, the front door slammed open, and we both turned in unison. In walked a burly man with black hair slicked back. He was stubby, panting, and clearly in a rush. “Are you ready?” he barked at Angie. Then he looked at me as if an afterthought. “Who the hell is he?”
    “Ready for what?” Angie said.
    “What do you think?” he asked. “Your eleven o’clock.”
    “I thought it was here,” she said and looked at me. “Him?”
    He shook his head. “It’s across town, dumbass. I’m driving you there.” He looked at the vodka on the counter. “For crying out loud, you drunk already?”
    My time here was obviously coming to an end. “Excuse me, sir, are you Chad Scalzo?”
    She laughed at my question, and he just turned, annoyed. “Do I look like Chad Scalzo?” He looked to Angie again. “I’m asking you one more time, who the hell is this guy?”
    She shrugged and downed her drink. “I don’t know, Kiki, I thought he was my date. He just walked in here. I assumed he had a VIP key.”
    “Kiki?” I said. “Is that like kiwi?”
    “What’s it to you?” Kiki was trying to act tough, but everything he did reeked of fear.  
    I handed him my card. “I’m looking for Mr. Scalzo. I got