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

us.
    “Harry, I think you need to talk to the people running the lights,” I suggested.  “When was the last time anyone had been in the tower, etcetera?”
    We did another cursory examination of the stage.  The manager left, and Harry and I returned to the light site.
    “You were like Spiderman climbing that wall, Harry.  I didn’t breathe until you were back on the ground,” I admitted.
    “We make a good team, Cin.”
    “I think so, Harry.  Um, I understand Alex is going to stay and party. What are your plans?”
    “I don’t have a car.  I came with Alex.”
    “Here.”  I handed him my keys.
    “You’re giving me the keys to the BMW. Are you crazy?  How will you get home?”
    “Sidney, or I’ll get a cab,” I said, trying not to blush.
    “I feel like I should give you the talk, Cin,” Harry said seriously.
    “Don’t.”
    “I was just kidding.  Don’t break the guy’s heart.  Tomorrow, we’ll sort all this out.  Keep your phone on just in case,” he instructed.
    “Sure.  Don’t call unless it’s an emergency, please,” I pleaded.
    Harry raised his right hand and repeated the Boy Scout promise, which I noticed didn’t say anything about interrupting me on my date.
    “Have a good time, Cin,” he said before he left.
    I contemplated going down into the air-conditioning, but the thought of that band lounge, full of drunk and high people, had me cooling my heels on the stage as Sidney packed up his equipment.
    Alex came up to retrieve a few of his things.  He asked me to help him carry some things to his car.  As he loaded the equipment into the trunk, he talked nonstop about the concert.  I didn’t tell him about the tower.  I wanted him to enjoy the evening.  Tomorrow was soon enough to nurse hangovers and take stock of the experience in full.
    When I returned, I found Sidney on stage rolling cords.  He was busy, so I hung back and studied my date.  The chemo had lowered his body fat drastically, but he had maintained his muscles, probably from the movement of his equipment.  His brown hair was spikey but thick.  I didn’t have a read on his age, and I could have kicked myself for not checking out his birthdate when I had his license in my hand.  I had the bad feeling that I was more than five years older than him.
    I felt the tendrils of insecurity creep towards me.  It was then that Sidney noticed me and the look on his face banished the Kraken of fear back to the depths.
    “I’ll be through in about ten.  I have to make an appearance downstairs.  I hope you don’t mind. And then we can take off.”
    I nodded.  “Can I help?”
    “No, thank you.  I’m a bit persnickety about my stuff.”
    “He’s a bastard,” one of the roadies commented.
    “Don’t listen to Eddie; he’s jaded,” Sidney said and went back to work.
    Eddie came over and handed me a laminated piece of paper.  “This is the set list. I don’t know, but it could be worth something in a few years.”
    “Thanks, I’ll save it for Alex.”
    “Alex the bass player? How do you know him?”
    “He’s my son.”
    “No shit?”
    I nodded enjoying the confusion.  “I’m responsible.”
    “He’s a good kid.  Talented.”
    “Thank you.”
    “Eddie, Cin’s a fine musician herself, plays clarinets.  I saw her play with Zgap.”
    “No kidding.  Zee’s a perfectionist.”
    “Oh yes, I was just filling in.  I was a wreck by the end of the concert,” I admitted.  “I normally play in symphonic bands.  That was quite an experience.”
    “Hey, you’re a survivor, just like Stoneridge.”
    “Guess so.”
    Eddie smiled and got back to work.  I wandered around the stage, staying out of the way of the crew clearing the equipment.  At one point, Meyer came up and supervised the packing up of his drum set.  He exchanged a few barbs with Sidney and the others before striding across the stage towards me.
    “You’re Lathen’s mom.”
    “Cin,” I said, holding out my hand.
    He wiped