A Bad Day for Sunshine (Sunshine Vicram #1)(92)

“As far as I know.”

Sun sat back in the chair. She’d so hoped to have some answers.

“What?” Quincy asked.

“I thought maybe he . . . you know. Maybe he was the one. I mean, the timing is perfect, and I have no doubt I was held there.”

“Well, he was found near Ravinder land. Maybe an animal dragged him there. But how do you know he’s not your guy?”

“The blood type. I’m B negative.”

“Oh yeah, I remember your blood type is really rare, right?”

“Very. But Auri has an even rarer type. AB negative. Only 1 percent of the population has it.”

“Wow. So, that tells us?”

“That means in order for Auri to have AB, her . . . father, for lack of a better term, had to have either A or AB. Trust me, I’ve done the research.”

“Then this certainly fits,” Zee said, scanning the report.

“Really?” A tingling ran up Sun’s spine. “What was the second type?”

“AB negative.”

Sun stood and took the report out of her deputy’s hands. “Are they sure?”

“I’m assuming they know how to type blood.”

“So, Kubrick didn’t abduct me?”

Quincy stood and studied the report, too. “Not necessarily. He may not be Auri’s biological father, but he could have been in on the kidnapping. Maybe he had a partner.”

“In all actuality,” Zee said, “they both . . . you know, could have.”

Quincy nodded. “But only one could get you pregnant.”

Sun closed the file and handed the report back.

“I’m sorry,” Zee said. “That was callous.”

“It was not. You’re being methodical and honest. And a good deputy. I appreciate all three.”

“Thank you.” Zee started to leave, then turned back. “One more 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.”