A Bad Day for Sunshine (Sunshine Vicram #1) - Darynda Jones Page 0,104
thing. Jack called. Kubrick’s larynx was definitely crushed at the time of death, possibly in a struggle, but the actual cause of death was not strangulation. He was stabbed through the heart.”
“Wow,” Quince said, “he had all kinds of a bad day.”
“And she said they found some kind of ID bracelet in his hand, a metal one with a leather strap. It must have broken off in the struggle.”
“If he ripped off the ID bracelet of his killer and died with it in his hands, I’m buying the next round.”
“It’s very likely, but the name is worn off. They think they can recover it with some kind of chemical compound they use.”
“Well, tell them to hurry.” Sun’s phone rang, and she grabbed it off her desk. “I need to take this.”
They left her alone with none other than the infamous Royce Womack, the man she had surveilling Darlene Tapia and her possible connection to the escaped fugitive Ramses Rojas.
“Hey, Royce,” she said, sinking into her chair.
“You sound exhausted.”
“Long day. Anything to report?”
“Well, yes and no. How well do you know this Darlene Tapia?”
“Fairly well. She’s one of my mom’s best friends.”
“You were right about the chips and the Jeopardy!, but that was all Ms. Tapia. Woman can end a bag of Ruffles faster than I can. By the way, is she married?”
“Royce!”
“Sorry. She’s a very attractive woman.”
“I know, but I thought you were saving yourself for me.”
“Oh, Sunny Girl, don’t even tease me.”
She laughed softly. “So, no fugitive?”
“Now, I didn’t say that.”
Sun sat at attention. “You saw him?”
“I didn’t say that, either.”
“Royce,” she said, asking a Higher Power for patience, “what exactly are you saying?”
“I’m saying things are just a little too mundane at the Tapia residence.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, she’s making an appearance at the window every few minutes. Almost as though she knows she’s being watched and she wants to make sure she continues to be watched.”
“Do you think she saw you?”
“Hell no. But I do think she saw the U.S. Marshal watching her from the unmarked government vehicle across the street. That woman needs to learn more about surveillance.”
“No way, really?”
“Yeah, but I have a feeling the marshal wanted her to know she was being watched. Perhaps to make her slip up. Either way, it wasn’t a total bust. Like I said, she’s not behaving naturally.”
“I know. That’s why I wanted you to check her out. Could someone be in the house holding a gun on her and telling her to act naturally?”
“While that can’t be ruled out completely, I’m going to say no. She’s not nervous enough for something like that.”
“So, what? She knew she was being watched and . . . no clue.”
“Well, she was probably keeping the marshal’s attention while the kid in the basement got away.”
Sun shot to her feet. “What kid? The fugitive? I thought you didn’t see him.”
“No, I said I didn’t say that I saw him. You were getting ahead of me.”
She hurried into the deputies’ room and snapped her fingers at Quincy.
He frowned at her.
“Royce Womack.” She snapped again and mouthed, “Call the marshals.” Then into the phone, she said, “He could be getting away.”
“Could be? He already did.”
“What? Well, where’d he go?”
“Hell if I know. You said to watch Darlene.”
Sun did the universal signal for dead across her throat, canceling the order. “Was it Rojas?”
“No idea. A hoodie and a semiautomatic rifle obstructed my view.”
Her “What!” came out more as a screech than she’d planned.
“Just kidding. You need to learn to lighten up, or that job’s gonna kill you. Of course it was Rojas. But he’s probably long gone by now. I tried to get ahold of you this morning.”
“Oh, damn. I was out of cell range.”
“I heard, but good news on the kid, huh?”
“Yes. Very. Okay, I have to find a missing girl today if I can.”
“Any leads?”
“No solid ones.”
“Chin up, Sunny Girl. You’ll get there.”
She hoped his faith in her was not unfounded.
21
Need an alibi? Spend $50 or more on mixed drinks
and you were here all night, no questions asked.
—SIGN AT THE ROADHOUSE BAR AND GRILL
A sweet voice Auri loved more than coffee whispered into her ear, “Hi, Auri. Don’t scream, okay?”
She giggled and turned to see Jimmy Ravinder standing on her porch. In boots, a winter coat, and a hospital gown.
“Jimmy!” she shouted.
He slammed a hand over her mouth again. “If you scream, your grandpa will come out and make me leave.”
“Okay,” she said, but it was muffled because his hand was still covering