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

end up in a similar state.  While you were partying, I was doing a little research on your new boyfriend and the circus band.  You don’t have a clue what these guys are capable of, do you?  What the hell did Harry get you into?”
    “No, it was me, all me,” I admitted.
    “Listen, Cin, stay with me?” he asked.  “It’s going to be a long night, and I wouldn’t mind your sharp eye on things.”
    “I’d love to, but there’s a problem,” I said.
    “What?”
    “I think I’m a suspect.  I may have been the last one to talk to her, and she’s got a knife sticking out of her chest.  My modus operandi. ”
    I could tell he was fighting procedure over our friendship.  “How about Harry?  Did he get himself implicated too?”
    “I don’t know. We split up.”
    “Harry, get your ass over here,” Dave called.
    “Take Cin up to the house, and don’t leave her side until you find Alex. Then come back down with my guys when they arrive.”
    “Yes, sir,” Harry said.  He grabbed my hand.  “Come on, Cin.  Where are your shoes?”
    I just looked at him mutely.
    “Shit, this isn’t a good sign.”
    “No, not at all.”
     
    ~
     
    Alex insisted that I sit down.  I would have preferred to pace, but I didn’t want to embarrass him in front of the others.  He did let me sit next to Sidney which was comforting.  Evidently, Alex wasn’t in on the Sidney bashing Buslowski was doing.  Sidney reached over and held my hand.  “Hell of a second date,” he said.
    I tried not to laugh; I fought it.  I managed to cough to cover up my irreverence.  Tom Richards had called his private physician, and evidently, he arrived on the heels of Buslowski.  I heard that Mandy was sedated and lying down in one of the upstairs bedrooms.  I couldn’t imagine being in her shoes.  My mother was alive and safe in Michigan.  But I was very familiar with death.
    “Do you think we need a lawyer?” Sidney asked.
    “I don’t know.  I think we’re all going to have to give statements first.  Buslowski is very thorough.  I fear he may be pretty hard on you.”
    “Why me?”
    “There’s something in your past that has got his back up.”
    “Oh, that.”
    “Care to share?”
    “Not here.”
    “Okay.”
    The familiar faces of the Palm Beach County forensic team trooped through the house.  Two of the techs stopped when they saw me.
    “Yes, me again,” I said.
    I heard them talking as they left.  “Did you notice she was barefoot? She always loses her shoes.”
    I didn’t hear the reply as the screaming started up again.  One of the uniformed patrolmen trotted up the stairs.  A moment later, he came down and asked, “Is there a Cin Fin-Lathen here?”
    I raised my hand.
    “Come with me,” he said.
    Alex tried to go with me, but he was turned away.  I knew, as soon as we left, he probably went to report to Buslowski.  I hoped I wouldn’t get blamed for this.
    He opened the door and pointed.  “The young lady needs you,” he said.
    I walked in to see Elijah sitting on the bed holding a shaking Mandy.  I crawled in beside them, and Mandy transferred herself to me.  I didn’t tell her everything was going to be okay; I just let her cry.  I started to hum the strange little tune Manuel was working on, and it seemed to calm her.  Soon she let herself fall asleep.  I eased her down and covered her up.
    I didn’t leave the room.  I walked into the attached bath and washed my filthy feet.  I didn’t see any of Caroline’s blood on them, so I felt I was in the clear and wouldn’t be destroying any evidence.  Memories of being covered in a bandmate’s blood flooded in, and I held onto the counter for a moment to calm my stomach.
    Elijah walked into the bathroom and shut the door behind him.
    I was surprised but managed to keep my cool.  Our eyes met in the mirror.
    “Thank you,” he said.  “She seems to have bonded with you.  Will you stick with us?”
    “I’ll do my best, considering