by Alexie Aaron
They were paintings. They were nudes. Of course they were. Some had the god Bes on my thigh, and some were just me crawling forward, my breasts swinging. I looked back at Austin. “Really?”
“I have a photographic memory,” he said.
“You have a pornographic memory.”
He smiled. “I think this M. D’Amore would like a nude, but I think I’ve got the positions wrong.”
“No.”
“Come on, model for me.”
“No.”
“I’ll buy you ice cream.”
“I’ve heard that one before,” I said, getting ready to leave.
Austin stood there with his arms crossed.
“I’ve had no sleep. I was up all night. So can I have a raincheck?”
“Just to be clear… You didn’t say no.”
“I didn’t say no.”
FINE
Glossary
Diva: The main female singer in an opera company. A famous and successful woman who is very attractive and fashionable.
Verismo: The artistic use of commonplace, everyday, and contemporary material in opera.
Tango: A ballroom dance originating in Buenos Aires, characterized by marked rhythms and postures and abrupt pauses.
Recitative: Talking in opera to move the story along quickly.
Carmen: Opera by Georges Bizet.
Risurrezione: Resurrection.
Rifiuti: Trash.
Frequentato: Haunted.
Ricordate: Remember.
La fioritura: Blossoming, flowering.
Bella: Means beautiful in Italian. Marco calls Cin “Bella.”
Marco: Marco D’Amore, patron and known womanizer.
Speculazione: Speculation.
Tragedia: Tragedy.
Amore Perduto: Lost love.
Famigerato: Notorious.
Riposte: Quick, clever reply.
Tradimento: Treachery.
Onore: Honor.
Gioco Pericoloso: Dangerous game.
Lasciare Andare: Letting go.
Transizione: Transition.
Aida: Opera by Giuseppe Verdi.
Finale: The last part.
Cast of Characters
In order of appearance
Eldora Capella: Diva, soprano, reported missing.
Cin Fin-Lathen: Divorced, whiskey-drinking musician, and amateur detective.
Ryan Baker: Band manager for clarinet quartet Reed Asylum.
Kyle Martel: Young, volatile genius, interim conductor of the opera house.
Preston Steele: Costume designer of the opera company.
Harry O’Rourke: Twentyish, consulting partner of Cin Fin-Lathen.
Mandy: Preston Steele’s assistant.
Antonia Aldana: Lead soprano of the Palm Beach Opera.
Dave Buslowski: Lieutenant, lead investigator of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, retired CID investigator.
Carlos: Palm Beach opera intern.
Marco D’Amore: Italian businessman, womanizer, and patron of the opera.
Leora: Daughter of lead soprano, Antonia Aldana, mistress of Marco D’Amore.
Pello Viteri: Lead baritone of the Palm Beach Opera.
Ed: EMT.
Bill: EMT.
Anthony (Tony) Curtis: Police detective.
Dr. Andrews: Psychiatrist.
Bernice: Clarinet player in the Coconut Palms Community Concert Band.
Alex Lathen: Cin Fin-Lathen’s son, bass guitar player for Barely a Bass Player.
Noelle Lathen: Cin Fin-Lathen’s daughter, university teacher teaching in the UK.
Father Michael: Friend of Cin Fin-Lathen.
Luke Lathen: Ex-husband of Cin Fin-Lathen.
Bunny Malfoy: Fiancée of Luke Lathen.
Sally Jones: Deputy and assistant to Lieutenant Dave Buslowski, Harry O’Rourke’s girlfriend.
Tom Richards: Band manager, serving jail time for harboring Sidney Stoneridge.
Sidney Stoneridge: Sound engineer, felon, and former boyfriend of Cin Fin-Lathen.
Celia Cabral: Brazilian clothing designer, working out of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
Victor Massotti: Marco D’Amore’s friend and Miami lawyer.
Maximiliano (Max) D’Amore: Heir to the D’Amore Italian fortune, adopted son of Marco D’Amore.
Austin Byers: Professional artist and neighbor of Cin and Harry.
Alexie Aaron
After traveling the world, Alexie Aaron, a Midwestern native, returned to her roots where she’s been haunting for years. She now lives in a village outside of Chicago with her husband and family.
Her popular Haunted Series was born from her memories of fleeting shapes rushing around doorways, an heirloom chair that rocked itself, cold feelings of mysterious dread, and warm feelings from the traces of loved ones long gone.
Alexie also writes the Cin Fin-Lathen Mysteries. These mysteries, set in England and south Florida, combine action and intrigue with a liberal dose of humor.
Want more information? Visit www.alexieaaron.com for updates, blog posts, podcasts, and much, much more.
Table of Contents
Acapella
Act I
Diva
Verismo
Tango
Recitative
Carmen
Act II
Resurrection
Rifiuti
Frequentato
Ricordare
La fioritura
Bella
Marco
Speculazione
Tragedia
Act III
Amore Perduto
Famigerato
Riposte
Tradimento.
Onore
Gioco Pericoloso
Lasciare Andare
Transizione
Aida
Finale
Glossary
Cast of Characters
Alexie Aaron
