A Good Day for Chardonnay (Sunshine Vicram #2) - Darynda Jones Page 0,70
prickling along her nerve endings.
“Not as good as your interrogation,” the spitfire said. She wiggled her brows.
Zee fought a grin as Salazar and Anita busied themselves with paperwork. Mrs. Fairborn gave her a thumbs-up.
Sun cleared her throat. “Way to sheriff, Sunshine. I need to call Las Vegas PD. Where was that truck exactly?”
“North of Airport Road off 25,” Levi said. “I think it used to be a mobile-home construction facility or something.”
“You can tell me later how you found it. For now, call your sister.”
Levi acquiesced with a nod, carefully donned his shirt, and walked out.
She followed. “How do you spell massacre?” Mrs. Fairborn asked Levi.
He chuckled as Quincy brought the cap into the bullpen, signed, sealed in an evidence bag, and delivered. Metaphorically speaking.
Sun nodded a thank you. “Let’s get this to forensics.”
“Sure thing, boss.”
“I just called Pres,” she said, referring to the hospital where they’d taken Keith Seabright.
Levi whirled around to her. “How is he?”
“He’s alive. Critical but stable. You were right about the tox screen.”
“I know.”
She stepped closer. “Levi, how much do you know about him?”
“We’ve been friends for a few years, but he’s very private. I just know he was in Special Forces and is now a survivalist living off-grid.”
“Let me show you something.” She led him to Zee’s computer. After sitting in Zee’s chair, she gestured for him to take Salazar’s and showed him Elliot. “Do you know this kid?”
He scooted closer for a better look, then lifted a shoulder. “That’s his nephew, Eli.”
Her gaze darted to Quincy. “Elliot.”
Quince walked over, his expression pensive.
“Who’s Elliot?” Levi asked.
“Elliot Kent was abducted from his home in Santa Fe seven years ago. He would be twelve now.” She gestured toward the screen. “And he would look exactly like that.”
“Are you saying you think Seabright abducted a kid?”
“Do you have another explanation?”
He sat back in the chair, clearly angry. “Eli is Seabright’s sister’s kid. They live in Bisbee. He stays with him a lot in the summers and during hunting season.”
“Levi, Keith Seabright had only one sister and she died when he was ten. She was fourteen. She never had a kid.”
Levi looked like the air had been knocked out of his lungs. “You’re wrong. He would never abduct a kid.”
“We can figure that out later. But if Eli was abducted and Keith’s in the hospital, that means Eli is alone and … and possibly imprisoned.”
The look he gave her would’ve killed a lesser being. “You’re wrong.” He stood and stormed out.
She caught up to him and stopped him at the front entrance by throwing herself into his path, an act of desperation comparable to playing in oncoming traffic. She put a hand on his arm.
He speared her with a glare worthy of a king. “Move. I’m going to find Eli.” He started around her, but she stepped into his path again.
“You know where he lives?”
He gave her a reluctant shake of his head. “No, but I have a good idea.”
“Hold on.” She took out her phone and called one of her favorite places on Earth.
“Who are you calling?”
“He’s a kid,” she said, putting the phone up to her ear. “What kid doesn’t like pizza?”
“Adobe Oven,” a male voice said.
“Hey, Ernie.”
“Hey, Sunshine. Need a pie to go?” How he always recognized her voice when he got dozens of calls a day was beyond her.
“I’m actually calling on official business.”
“Sounds serious.”
“It is. And you can help save a kid’s life,” she said, priming him. He was well within his rights to refuse to answer her. Ernie had always liked her. She hoped that would help grease the wheels. “I know this is asking a lot, but can you give me the address of a customer you deliver to? A Keith Seabright?”
“I’m sorry, love. I can’t.”
Damn it. She was hoping to forgo the warrant talk. “Ernie, Keith is in the hospital and we need to find his nephew. It’s urgent.”
“No, I mean I literally can’t. I don’t have an address for them. One of them always meets us at Tinsley’s Crossing.”
“Oh.” She glanced up at Levi. Tinsley’s Crossing was about five miles north of town and led to any number of homesteads.
He nodded, so the information must’ve matched his notion of where they lived.
“Thanks, Ernie. Oh, wait. Can you tell me the last time they ordered?”
“Sure.” She heard him punch some keys on a computer. “I know it’s been at least a week. Yeah, here we go. They ordered sandwiches and a pie a week ago Friday.”