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

me close for another well-received kiss before we left the parking lot, separately.
    Harry was waiting for me at the steps.
    “Did you have a good time?” he asked.
    I twirled around before I answered, “Oh yes, I had a wonderful time.”
    He frowned and stepped closer to me. “Cool it, you’re acting like a teenager.”
    “Sorry, Dad, but I can’t help it.”
    “I hope you, er, talked.”
    “No, we made out in the BMW for four hours,” I snapped.
    “You know what I mean.”
    “Let’s save the business conversation until we’re home where we won’t be overheard and misunderstood.”
    “Yeah, yeah, I get you.  Alex seems to like your new boyfriend.”
    “Really?  He’s so hard to read.”
    “I don’t like him.”
    “Alex?”
    “No, Sidney. He scrambles your brains,” he said.  “And there’s something about him that doesn’t ring true to me.”
    “You’re just jealous.  You haven’t had you brains scrambled in a while, Harry,” I said, ruffling his hair.
    “Cut it out,” he protested, stepping away.
    “Let’s go inside.  It’s too hot and sticky out here.”
    Harry opened the door for me, and we headed to the band suite together.
    I stopped before we opened the door and whispered, “Eyes and ears open.  This is where we will get to meet the family and friends.  Watch for anything that seems out of place,” I instructed.
    “We are of one mind, Cin.”

Chapter Five
     
    The room was crowded.  I really didn’t want to stay there, but I feared that the bouncer sent to find me would miss me in the hall.  Harry and I wove our way in between VIP holders.  Women eyed us curiously.  They took their time looking over Harry.  He had gelled his black curls.  He was wearing a black tee, black pants and shoes.  I could understand their scrutiny.  Was he a bouncer, or was he something else?  I made it over to where Alex was sipping on a bottle of water.
    “Have a good concert, and enjoy yourself,” I said, holding back from hugging my nervous son.
    “Did you have a good time?” he asked.
    “Yes, I had a very good time.  Sidney’s a great guy.”
    “You know he’s got cancer.”
    Trust Alex to come right to the point.
    “He told me.”
    “Just so you know,” he said.  “Manuel couldn’t wait to give me the lowdown when you left.  I think he was rather put out that you walked out with the sound engineer.”  Alex smiled wickedly.  “I’m proud of you, Mom.”
    “Likewise, egg.”
    “Harry’s been snooping around.  I swear he’s written a novel in his notebook,” Alex enlightened me.
    “Glad one of us is on the ball.  Me, I’m going to sit in the booth and enjoy seeing my son perform.”
    “After?”
    “Don’t know.”
    “You got protection?”
    “Alex!” I said, embarrassed.
    “Harry went out and got you these,” he said, shoving a small brown bag at me.
    I looked inside.  I was mortified.  Harry bought condoms and gave them to my son to give to me.
    “I took half of them,” he said, winking at me.
    “Can we let this go?  I’m very, very uncomfortable right now.”
    He nodded.  “I’ve got to get back in there,” he said, nodding towards the practice room.  “See you tomorrow.”
    I nodded.  I decided I needed to look for a washroom before I had to go upstairs.  Inside the suite, I found a ladies room, which was more like a cell. I imagined the male performers must make up the majority of the green room visitors and hoped their bathroom was bigger. I took care of things and tucked the brown bag’s contents deep in my purse before leaving the stall.  I inched my way around a duo of young women and headed for the sink.  One of the women grabbed my lanyard and looked at my name.  “Fin-Lathen? Who the fuck are you?”
    “I’m Sidney Stoneridge’s guest,” I said, prying her white-dusted fingers off my ID.  I washed my hands again, pushed past her and out the door.  I prayed that Alex didn’t end up with that foul-mouthed,