normal interest in Louie Bassaglia's death. The afternoon arrest Domenico Buccarese hadn't even started anything, and, apart from Curtis' visits, the Buck headquarters was functioning normally. He wondered if Buck could know that Candy was wired and was thus just stringing the police along. It was likely, but Hamilton hoped not.

(Later)

Dinner with Don Giovanni Buccarese was again a formal affair with Candy resplendant in a long, black, evening dress with a halter top and a very narrow skirt. Thick bracelets of dia- monds glittered in her hair and at her neck, ears and wrists. She even wore a large diamond, courtesy of Jack Buck, on her ring finger. With no way of telling if she was wearing paste or a fortune, Candy behaved as if the diamonds were real. She kissed Jack on both cheeks for his lovely gift.

The conversation of the gangsters and their women was very stilted with lots of lines begun but then cut off with a quick look at Candy. After a reasonable amount of time at the dinner table, Candy stood and excused herself. "You have lots to talk about," she smiled at Don Giovanni. “And you can talk more freely without me."

The old man protested but gave in at last, though he did nod, unseen by Candy, to Aetemisia to accompany the blonde to the apartment.

"My uncle's a fool!" exploded Artemisia when they were alone.

"Why, Artie! What a cruel thing to say!" exclaimed Candy as she daintily removed the jewelry from her ears and neck and put it in the box in which it had come.

"I'd have you shot!" snarled Artemisia. "I wouldn't play around with you and that stupid wire you wear!"

Candy stiffened as the zip of her dress parted and she was now free to step out of its confinement. "What do you mean?" she asked. "What wire?”

"What wire? What wire?" parroted Artemisia. "I'll show you," she added, crossing the room quickly. She tore at Candy's lace bra. "That one......"

As well as the fragile lace of the bra, the inserts came away, and Candy was left there, breastless as well as breathless. Her slip was torn, too, down the front, it's black shiny decorations hanging loose, covering nothing.

"Your breasts!" There was laughter in Artemisia's voice. But as her scornful eyes surveyed the speechless, embarassed

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