Free The Wages of Cin (Cin Fin-Lathen Mysteries Book 4) by Alexie Aaron Page A

to get a look at that contract.”
    “You’re not the only one,” he said.  “Before I forget, your son did us a solid last night.  I intend to help him out if he wants to further the exposure of his band.”
    “I appreciate that, Tom.”
    “Oh, make sure he shows up at the party.”
    “Since I’ve not been to one of your wife’s parties, can you help me out with what I should be wearing?”
    Tom told me that it was casual which actually meant, in wife-speak, tea with the queen.  “Make sure Alex wears long pants even though it’s summer.”
    “You seem to know my son well.”
    “I raised two teenagers and lived,” he said.  “I gave Harry the particulars.  I appreciate what you did last night.”
    I admit that part of me worried he wasn’t talking about the light tower, but I shook it off.  “I got lucky.  Sidney actually orchestrated the rescue.  He’s amazing.”
    “I get the sense that you’re a bit smitten with him, Cin.  Be careful, and don’t get your heart broken,” he warned in a fatherly fashion.
    “I hear you loud and clear.  Thanks for caring.”
    “It’s the job.  Now come and Miss Marple my party.”
    I laughed and handed the phone back to Harry to hang up.  I looked at him and said, “We’ve got to go shopping.  Alex has to wear long pants.”
    “What are you going to wear?”
    “I haven’t a clue. You?”
    “I have a few ideas.”
    The phone rang again.  Harry answered it.  “Hang on,” he said and put his hand over the receiver, whispering, “It’s lover boy.”
    I got up and grabbed the phone.  I pointed to the door.  Harry got up, and I answered the phone.  “Hello?”
    “Cin, it’s Sidney.”
    “Hello, you,” I said, holding on to the phone with one hand and grabbing Harry with the other.  I pulled him out of the chair and pushed him towards the door.
    “I just got an invite from Mrs. Richards. Evidently, there’s a party tomorrow at their beach house.”
    “I heard.”
    “Really?  Oh yeah, you must have heard from Alex.”
    I didn’t want to correct him, but neither did I want to lie to him.  “Actually, Tom called Harry and me.  We’re going to be working the crowd.”
    “I was hoping you’d be my date.  I’d like to arrive with you.  I’m shallow and want to show off my conquest,” he confessed.
    I was oddly touched and annoyed at the same time.  “I have to mingle.”
    “No problem.  I can introduce you to the people you didn’t get to meet last night.”
    “I’m going to have to put you on the payroll, Sidney.”
    He laughed.  “Seriously, Cin, I just want more time with you.”
    “But you already crossed me off your bucket list,” I said evenly.
    “List be damned, I think we have something special brewing.
    Harry coughed.  I turned around, surprised to see him still there.
    “Hang on a moment,” I said to Sidney, putting my hand over the mouthpiece.  “What?”
    “Offer to drive.”
    “I’m back.  Want me to come and pick you up? This way you can enjoy the beverages, and I can try to keep my head clear by being your designated driver.”
    “If I can drive your car there, and we play it by ear later,” he said.  “Oh, Cin, I’ve been to a few of these dos.  You’ll need to wear some kind of dress, Alex and Harry in dress pants and a light jacket over a dress shirt, no tie.”
    “Thanks, we were discussing what we needed to buy for Alex when you called.”
    “We?”
    “Harry.”
    “Oh yeah, I forgot the guy lives with you.”
    “Yes, you’ll have to get used to Harry not being too far from my side,” I warned.
    “I forgot he was your partner.  He’s so young.”
    “Don’t let his age fool you. He’s smart and very capable,” I said.  I reached over and pushed Harry out of the door.  I shut it firmly.  “I really enjoyed myself yesterday, Sidney.”
    “Me too.  You’re very easy to talk to.  It’s like I’ve known you forever.”
    “We have a few things in