Stiletto Read Online Free PDF Page A

startled.
    But he was smiling and she knew that he was mocking her. She began to smile and picked up her glass. He had a lot to learn about American girls.
    ***
    Now Cesare’s voice brought her back from her reverie. “I’ll pick you up about nine-thirty,” he was saying. “That will give me time to go down to the courthouse and get my papers before we drive to the airport.”
    “Fine,” she said. “I’ll be ready.”

3
    Cesare pulled the red Alfa-Romeo into a parking place outside the building reserved for official cars only. He grinned at Barbara. “You don’t mind waiting a few minutes while I run inside and pick up the papers, do you?”
    She shook her head. But with a typical middle-class fear of official signs and orders, she said, “Hurry, I don’t want them to chase me out of here.”
    “They won’t,” Cesare said confidently, getting out of the car. He walked toward the building, his Alpine fedora sitting jauntily on his head.
    She looked after him as he went into the entrance. He walked under the sign that read
U. S. Dept. of Immigration and Naturalization
and disappeared into the building. In some ways he was like a small boy.
    That was how it had been when he called her up last week. He had just returned from Europe, he had said, and had visited his home. Now his mind was made up. He was going to become an American citizen. And to celebrate it, when he picked up the papers, would she join him on a week’s vacation some place where the sun was shining?
    She had agreed to go without even thinking about it but when she put down the telephone she began to smile to herself. Maybe this time he was serious about a girl. Of course she had heard about the others, but a whole week—a lot could happen in a week.
    There was a noise from around the corner and she looked up. There seemed to be a crowd of people gathering there. A policeman came by. He stopped at the side of the car and looked at her. “Will you be here long, miss?” he asked.
    “Not long, officer,” she said quickly. “My friend just went inside to pick up his first papers.”
    The policeman nodded and started to walk away. A roar came from around the corner. She called after him. “What’s going on around the corner, officer?”
    He glanced toward the corner and then back at her. “That’s Foley Square, miss. They’re starting the big trial of them gangsters this morning. It seems like everybody in New York wants to get into that courtroom.”
    ***
    Cesare went into the first reception room. The clerk at the counter looked up at him. “I’m Cesare Cardinali,” he said. “I’ve come to pick up my papers.”
    The clerk nodded. “First papers?”
    “Yes,” Cesare answered.
    The clerk checked a tab file on the counter. He pulled out a small card and looked up. “If you’ll just take a seat, Mr. Cardinali, I’ll have them ready for you in about ten minutes.”
    Cesare smiled. “That will be fine.” He hesitated a moment then asked, “Is there a lavatory around here?”
    The clerk smiled and pointed out the door. “Down the hall to your left,” he said.
    “Thank you,” Cesare answered, already on his way to the door. “I’ll be right back.”
    He walked out the door and down the hall. He stopped in front of the men’s room and looked around. There was no one watching. He walked quickly past it and opened a door marked
stairs
. The door closed behind him and he began to go up the steps two at a time.
    ***
    The black limousine pulled to a stop in front of the courthouse and the crowd pressed around it. Baker looked out from his seat next to the witness then turned back to him. “You’re a big draw,” he said.
    Dinky Adams, the witness, a long horse-faced man, shrank back in his seat and pulled his hat down over his face. “Big deal,” he snarled humorlessly. “My life ain’t goin’ to be worth two cents once they know who I am.”
    “Nobody’s going to bother you,” Baker said reassuringly. “We told you you