The Cin Fin-Lathen Mysteries 1-3 by Alexie Aaron Read Free Book Online

me.
    “I’m the same lady that was on the bus.”
    “Oh, I see. You was in disguise.”  He was awestruck again.
    I caught the laugh and swallowed it.  “Can’t fool you can
I.”
    “Nah, been a constable for nearly five years now.”  He
pushed at the dirt.  “What was we talking about?”
    “I was telling you that you could reach me at Bathgate.”
    “Yes, I will be by tomorrow to drive you in.  I’ll call
first.”  He started to leave and tripped over something in the dark.  I didn’t
say anything.  I just reached down, picked up the torch and handed it to him.
    I walked back to the porch and found my whisky glass had
been refilled.  I sat down and took a deep drink.  Will waited until Constable
Cayne left before coming out.
    “Dorothy called. Said Angie woke up at the hospital.”
    “That is wonderful!”  I raised my glass, Will clinked it.
    “There’s more.”
    “Quit teasing me and tell me.”  Yes, I had too much to drink
and it was showing.  One shouldn’t flirt with a Cornishman. 
    “Angie has a broken arm.  And she has a headache, but that
is all the damage the bullet did.  They want to keep her overnight.  Angie’s
fit to be tied.  She is real concerned that your daughter and her friend are
coming and the house isn’t ready.  Women.”
    “The house is fine.  I’m concerned for her safety though. 
Tell me, can you reach this Chief Superintendent?”
    “Not till after the recital.”
    “Well after the recital, tell him I need to talk to him.”
    “You weren’t much impressed with Cayne, huh?”
    “He’s a nice person but...”
    “I am in complete agreement.”  He took another drink. 
”Don’t worry, the Chief Superintendent will impress you.  Are you going to
drive the tractor home?  Billy took the car to pick up Dorothy.”
    “No. Just point me in the right direction and I can walk.”  Now
that was the whisky talking. 
    Will pointed.  “Just head straight up the hill, keeping this
house to your back.  When you get to the top, look for the three bluish
lights.  That’s Bathgate.” 
    “Sounds easy.”  That was the whisky thinking.
    Will being a gentleman and all walked me as far as the
tractor.  He offered me a torch.  I said I couldn’t hold my drink and a torch,
so I left the torch with him.  I was halfway up the hill before I considered
Angie’s assailant might still be out there.  I took another deep drink and it
didn’t bother me anymore.  When I got to the top of the hill I scanned the
valley.  Three bluish lights were down the hill and to the right of me. 
Halfway down I pondered whether the tan man was waiting for me at the house. 
It was a big house.  I wonder why it didn’t have a dog.  A farm with no dog? 
Sad.  I finished off the whisky and tripped over something in the field.  I
looked down to find my missing shoe.  It was ruined. Justice had been done.  As
I had tilled under the asparagus so fate had me till under my shoe.  I picked
it up and stuck it in my back pocket.  I’d give it to a dog, but there wasn’t
one.
    It took me three passes to find the steps over the
hedgerow.  I was so pleased with my balance on the way up that I just plain
lost it on my way down.  I heard the pint jar hit the ground but it didn’t
break.  I fumbled around until I found it and walked up the road to the house.
    I approached the house with caution.  Did you ever try to be
quiet when you just drank a pint of whisky?  On top of that the only meal I had
that day was those tiny teacakes and finger sandwiches at the hotel.  Plus the
Scotch, plus all the booze on the plane.  I think I need to cut back a bit. 
“Ouch!”
    I slammed into a tree. “Shhhhh,” I told the tree. 
    I tried the front door.  “Stupid.  No one used the front
door.”  I walked around and hesitated a millisecond before walking in.  “Hey,
if you are here to kill me,” I announced, “do it quick cuz, I hate
sus...sus...oh hell.”  I waited