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

was very observant.  He wasn’t just a local copper but a former military investigator.  He was sharp and not afraid of calling a spade a spade.  I sat down, careful to fan the full skirt of my floral dress out so I didn’t crease it.
    “Sorry to just barge in, but besides the ladder, I need to alert you that we’ve finally got a court date.”
    “The divorce?”
    “No, the little terrorist incident.”
    “Sorry.  Good, it will be good to get that settled.”
    He handed me a card where he wrote the information.  “Father Michael and friends will have to come to town…”
    I looked up.  “Thanks for the warning.”
    “Can I ask what all of you are doing so dressed up?”
    “We have a case which is mixed up with Alex filling in for a comeback band.” I filled Dave in on the situation, then said, “Don’t spread it around.  It all may be just coincidence.”
    Dave was concerned.  I could tell by the set of his jaw.  “Coincidence doesn’t saw through steel,” he said.  “You said you had a date.”
    “I’m seeing the sound engineer for the band.”
    He looked at me and started laughing.  “You’re using the guy to get information.”
    “No, maybe in the beginning, but not now. He’s a great guy.”
    He studied my face.  I glared at him, daring for him to speak.  He backed off.  “You’re serious about this man.  Who is he?”
    I almost told him, but I stopped and said, “No.  That’s my business.”
    “You’re serious.  Gee, Cin, I thought you’d given up on men.”
    I laughed.  “I’m surrounded by unavailable men.  It’s nice to hang around with someone that I can… oh, never mind.”
    Dave’s expression changed, and his voice got softer.  “Just be careful.  You’ve been away from the dating world for quite some time.”
    “You’re not going to give me the talk are you?”
    He laughed again.  “I wouldn’t be that foolhardy.  Okay, I’m going to go and rummage around in your garage.  Have a nice safe time at the party.”
    I checked my watch and jumped up.  I put my hand to my hair.
    “Cin, you look beautiful.  This guy is going to be very impressed.  I am.”
    I turned around.  “Thanks, Dave, that means so much.”
    I grabbed my stuff.  I don’t think it escaped his notice that I took a small duffle holding a change of clothes with me.  I prayed he thought it was just extra shoes.  I don’t know why it mattered what Dave thought of me, but it did.
     
    ~
     
    I sat back and enjoyed Sidney’s story about a well-known crooner and his problems with remembering his lyrics.  We were cruising over the bridge into Palm Beach.  I was familiar with the area where the Richardses had their beach house.  It wasn’t too far from the Harrison place.  Dorothy Harrison was the woman I did a favor for when I was in England.  She was how I met my first practicing pagan witch and was given the Kernow Daa to wear.  It was this necklace that saved me from drowning in the bog behind the music school.
    To live on the Intracoastal side of the island was one level of wealth, to have a beach house was another.  Tom Richards must have made a lot of money managing bands.  Or he married into money.
    “Must be nice,” Sidney commented as we sped past high-hedged, gated properties.  He slowed down and pulled into the drive.  The gate was open for the guests, but a young burly man stood with a clipboard checking IDs before we could progress up the drive.  There were a few cars ahead of us.  I didn’t recognize any of them.  If Alex and Harry were there, the valets did a miraculous job of hiding Harry’s jeep.
    The valet opened my door, and I waited for Sidney while he handed the keys over to the uniformed young man.  He put on his jacket, and I smoothed the back.  He bent down and placed a light kiss on my lips.  I checked his face after for lipstick, but there hadn’t been any transfer.  He tucked my hand in the crook of his arm, and we proceeded inside