A Good Day for Chardonnay (Sunshine Vicram #2) - Darynda Jones Page 0,80
said. “We just wanted to scare the crap out of them. I got the call. I made the decision. This isn’t on you.”
Quincy pointed to him in agreement. “Not to mention the fact that Mrs. Fairborn isn’t pressing charges.”
“Speaking of which.” She stepped closer to Quince and glared up at him. “Did you, perhaps, wonder why my daughter wanted to know if Mrs. Fairborn was in the office giving her confession?”
He scrubbed his face with a hand. “She said she wanted to come in and talk to her about an old article she found.”
“And if she asked you to store a box of old dynamite she found in an alley somewhere?”
“I would …seriously question her motives.”
“Sure.”
She heard her mother’s voice echo across the station. “Sunshine!”
Anita had led her parents back. They rushed to her. “Where is that baby?” Elaine asked, her gaze darting about.
“Mom, that baby has committed a serious crime.”
“Sunshine Blaze Vicram,” she said, scolding her. For real? “She didn’t do it on purpose.”
“Mother, that is exactly what she did.”
“Well, yes, but she had good intentions.”
“I give up.” She turned and nodded to Rojas.
He opened the holding cell and let loose the kraken. It ran across the bullpen and jumped into the open arms of the two most whipped people in all of Del Sol. Besides Sunshine herself. And, apparently, Levi.
Auri turned and gave him a hug, too. “I’m sorry, Levi.”
“For what?”
“I just …I don’t want to be a disappointment to you.”
He set her back and lifted her chin. “That’s not even possible.”
She hugged him again and he kissed the top of her head. From there, she went from deputy to deputy giving out hugs and apologies like they were a politician’s promises. The imp even hugged Rojas.
He stepped to Sun when her parents took her, and said, “She’s good.”
“I know. Damn it.”
“Boss,” Salazar said from her computer. She was so quiet, Sun hadn’t even realized she was in. “I think I found something.”
She walked to her desk and leaned down.
The young deputy was reviewing the footage from the store again. She froze the frame right after Elliot showed his face. “We were all so focused on his identity that I think we missed something.” The others joined them. “Watch what he does before he walks out and gets into Seabright’s pickup.”
She rewound a few seconds and pressed play. Elliot returned a can to the shelf, then turned to the camera. “Sorry. A little farther back.” She rewound again and played the footage. That time Elliot picked up the can and seemed to put something under it before he put it back and turned to the camera.
“Wait,” Sun said. “Play that again.”
She went back even farther. Elliot raised something to the camera, turned and placed it on the shelf, then put the can over it. The picture was so grainy, it was hard to tell what it was.
“Holy crap, Salazar. Good eye.”
“Thanks, boss.”
“Is that a note?” Levi asked.
She turned to him. “Let’s find out.”
Along with Levi and Quincy, Sun hurried over to the store. On the way, Levi asked, “Who’s Carver?” He must’ve seen a text from the guy.
“Blind date.” She shoved the glass door open and hurried inside.
“Hey, Sheriff,” Lottie said.
“Hey, Lottie.” Sun chose to forgive the girl for the seizure she’d faked so that Levi could get away. “Have you seen this kid in here tonight?” She showed her a printout of Elliot.
The girl pursed her lips in thought. “I don’t think so.”
“Thanks. Let me know if you do?”
“Sure thing, Sheriff.” The girl turned to Levi and Quincy and changed the tone of her voice. “Hey, Mr. Ravinder. Hey, Quincy.”
Sun rolled her eyes and went to the canned goods aisle. Sure enough, Elliot had stashed a note underneath a can of tuna. She put on a pair of gloves and opened it. There, written in a kid’s scribble, was the word Sorry. She showed her cohorts the note.
“Sorry for what?” Levi asked.
Quincy shrugged. “Kids will sometimes take on the guilt for anything that goes wrong in their lives. Maybe he felt bad about Seabright being attacked.”
She shook her head. “This was about the same time the guy tried to stab him, but Elliot couldn’t have seen that from this vantage. And it was hours before Seabright was attacked at the bar.”
“You’re right,” he said, frowning. “It’s like he knew something bad was about to happen.”
Levi scrubbed the non-banged-up side of his face and strode out the door.
What would a twelve-year-old kid who, for all intents and purposes,