A Bad Day for Sunshine (Sunshine Vicram #1)(27)
“Thanks, Quincy.”
“Hey, bug bite. So, you know Sybil?”
“Yes, I met her at the lake on New Year’s. She was supposed to meet me this morning. What’s going on? Is she okay?” The tardy bell for fourth period rang.
“Where are you calling from?”
“The restroom.”
“Are you supposed to be in class?”
“Yes.”
“Attagirl. I never had the nerve to skip my first day, but you go.”
“Mom. Sybil.”
“I don’t know, hon. This stays between us.”
“Of course,” she said, the statement dripping with duh.
“Sybil’s mother has reported her missing, but we have yet to find any signs of foul play. Did she say anything to you in the last few days?”
Auri thought back. “I don’t know. She said a couple of things that were odd, but I just thought she was like me and saw the world a little differently.”
“Nobody is like you, sprout,” Quincy said.
She smiled.
“What did she say?” her mom asked.
“Before Quincy showed up and stole all the beer—”
“That wasn’t me.”
“—we made plans to meet in the front hall. But then she said her birthday was coming up and that she really liked me but we wouldn’t have much time and she hoped I would forgive her.” Her mom didn’t say anything, so she gave her a moment before coaxing her with, “Mom? What does that mean?”
“I don’t know, bug. I wish I did.”
“Sunshine,” Auri said, letting her mom know she was serious. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“That you’re too smart for your own good?”
“And?”
Quincy spoke up. “It’s just that Mrs. St. Aubin was saying something similar. Like we were running out of time.”
“Like she knew something,” Auri said, thinking out loud.
“Okay, I’m pulling into the station. Get to class.”
“’Kay. Will you please, pretty please with cherries on top, keep me updated?”
“I will, sweetheart. Hey, how’s your day going?”
“Aside from my missing friend? Peachy.” She hung up the phone before her mom could ask any more questions.
“Peachy.” Sun looked at Quincy after Auri hung up. “She is not having a good day.”
“Damn it. I hate to hear that, poor kid.”
“Maybe the narc thing is worse than I thought.”
“Or kids are dicks.”
Leave it to Quincy to boil every problem down to its basest element. They exited the cruiser and examined an official-looking car parked beside them.
“Marshals,” Quincy said, distaste evident in his tone.
Sun tried not to laugh. “Have you ever met a marshal?”
“Yes.”
She raised her brows.
“No. But still.”
They walked into the building, having to go through two electronic checkpoints. “So, who do you think the Book Babes want to kill?”
“Uh, the former sheriff. Duh.”
Surprised, she stopped at the last door and turned to him. “How do you know that?”
“Because he’s a dick. Why do you think you’re here and he’s not?”
“But why? What did he do to them?”
“Well, he’s Myrtle’s grandson.”
Okay, that she didn’t know. She also didn’t know the poor woman could get drunk on grape juice and had a pretty serious case of dementia, if her inability to remember Quincy was any indication. “And?”
“He’s trying to get control of her estate.”
“Myrtle’s estate? How big can it be?”
He leaned against the wall. “I don’t know if you know this, but those Book Babes went in together and invested in a little company a few decades ago.”
She eyed him suspiciously. “Which little company?”
“Well, I’ll give you a hint. Their logo is an apple.”
“Oh, holy shit.”
He opened the door for her. “Yeah.”
She stopped him again. “Wait, even my mom?”
“Your mom and dad invested first, then the Book Babes pooled their resources when they saw how well your parents did and bought in pretty early, too.”
“How do you know this and I don’t?”
“Because I used to work for said former sheriff. You hear things.”
“So, are they all rich?”
He lifted a shoulder. “Let’s just say they won’t be hurting for money any time soon.”
“Wow. Who knew?”
Quincy and Sun walked into the station like they owned the place, Quincy because he could and Sun because she was ready to take on some marshals. At least she was until she saw them.
Or, well, him.
“Sheriff Vicram.” A slim woman with short black hair, large eyes, and elfin-high cheekbones walked up with hand extended.
Beside her stood her male counterpart with skin as dark as midnight and a startlingly attractive face.
Sun took the woman’s hand. “Nice to meet you. This is Chief Deputy Quincy Cooper.”