She felt her mouth crinkle at the corners and turned away to hide that fact. “How do you arrest someone a little?”
“You know. Throw him against the cruiser, rough him up a bit, and call it a day. Bam, bitch,” he said, throwing signs.
“No.”
“What?”
“No bamming.”
“Why?”
“This is a bam-free zone. And what are we in? A seventies action movie? You can’t rough him up.”
“Sure, I can. A couple of quick shots to the kidneys…” He threw a few jabs at the dashboard to demonstrate, then held up his fists for her to inspect. “Three seconds with these babies and he’ll think twice next time he needs a ride. Call an Uber, pal.” He snorted and pretended to jab her arm. “Am I right?”
“Absolutely not,” she said, growing more concerned.
Quince dropped the fists of fury with a loud sigh. “We’ve been through a lot together, right, Sunburn?”
“Yes. And most of it was your fault.”
“But you still always take his side.”
“Not always,” she argued. Shifting her cruiser into park and killing the engine, she turned and gave him her full attention. “Remember that time we were getting ice cream, and you ordered a scoop of chocolate mint and a scoop of rainbow sherbert in the same cone, and we didn’t realize Levi and his cousin Joshua were behind us, and Joshua said you were weird, and Levi laughed in agreement?” Her delicate heart had fluttered like a sparrow caught in a glass jar when she saw Levi standing behind them, shirtless with faded jeans, his sun-kissed skin slick from riding his bike into town. Every time she saw that boy, she became a jellyfish with legs. And that day, the sun had been hot enough to cause wisps of dark auburn hair to stick to his dampened face. “I turned and told them you weren’t weird. That you just had demanding taste buds.” Sun would never forget the way Levi’s gaze had locked onto her. Even when she’d turned around, she could see him eyeing her in the mirror behind the counter. She’d never been the same.
“That was in the third grade,” he said, unimpressed.
“And I had your back.”
“I guess. Let’s get this over with. I’m nigh skin and bone.”
She studied his bodybuilder frame with a smirk. “Think you’ll survive long enough to make it to Tía Juana’s?” Even under the constant threat of nausea, she craved that woman’s green chile enchiladas like there was no tomorrow. Who needed a stomach lining, anyway?
“Fingers crossed,” he said, exiting her cruiser.
When they walked up to the massive wood door, Quincy took up a tactical position a few feet on her right, out of view of whoever might open said door. Whether he wanted to get a jump on Levi now that they didn’t need him for a rescue or simply wanted to have her back should Clay actually answer, Sun couldn’t say.
She tossed him a warning glare either way, then knocked, ignoring the butterflies in her stomach. The hungover ones slamming into each other and souring her innards. The last three times she’d knocked on that door, no one answered. This time, the knob turned. She straightened in surprise and prepared herself for a confrontation.
The door swung wide to reveal the weathered face of Clay Ravinder. His graying brown hair hadn’t been washed in a few days, his jaw was scruffier than usual, and a thick layer of dust covered the shoulders of his plaid shirt. But at least he was alive, for better or worse.
“Clay,” she said, greeting him with a stiff nod. “Have you seen your nephew around?”
He popped the top off a can of cheap beer and took a sip before obliging. “Which one?” he asked, the question quickly followed by a belch.
“The smart one,” she answered, unable to resist the jab.
He took another sip, then stepped closer to her as though readying to share a secret. “He ain’t quite as smart as you might think.”
“I’m pretty sure he is. Have you seen him? Perhaps from across the barrel of a rifle?”
“I haven’t pointed my rifle at no one in a long time.”
“I meant his rifle.” She raised her hands and pantomimed Levi raising his rifle on his uncle. “Pointed at you.”
“Is that supposed to scare me?”
Dropping her arms, she said, “Not at all. It’s just a question. But you might want to remember something before you make a mistake you can’t come back from.”
“And what would that be?”
She took her turn and leaned into him, lowering her voice as she said, “You should never wound what you can’t kill.”
His muddy eyes fairly sparkled with intrigue. “I never do.”
“In case you haven’t caught on, this is me warning you your nephew knows what you’ve been up to.”
“I highly doubt that, missy.”
“I have to ask if you’d like to be put into protective custody. For your own safety, of course.”
The humor that flashed across his face spoke volumes. He tilted his head to let his gaze travel the length of her. Because her uniform was so flattering. “It’s funny,” he said, leaning close again, “you coming out here to see Levi all on your pretty lonesome.”
“That would be funny if it were true.” She tilted her head to the right and Clay finally noticed the massive deputy standing not ten feet from them.
Quincy tipped an invisible hat.
Clay clamped his jaw shut before speaking from between clenched teeth. “I ain’t seen him. And whatever lies you been spreading better end if you know what’s good for you.”
“That sounds like a threat to me,” Quincy said.
“It does to me, too.” She narrowed her gaze on the odious man. “Mr. Ravinder, are you threatening an officer of the law?”
“Why, Miss Sunshine, I’d never.” He stepped back and slammed the door shut.
6
If you like your whiskey like you like your men,
twice your age and from Scotland,
we’ve got you covered.
—SIGN AT THE ROADHOUSE
Sun turned to Quincy after Clay slammed the door in her face. “We might want to reconsider our crushes.”
“What do you mean?” he asked as he followed her to the cruiser.
She got in and waited for him to shut his door before continuing. “We’re both in love with Ravinders.”
“And?”
“And Ravinders come with all kinds of baggage. Namely their extended family.”
“I know. I’ve considered that. Can you imagine holidays?”
“Yikes.” She made a face as an image of chaos and violence surfaced.
“There are some good ones, though,” he said, brightening with the thought.
“Holidays?”
“Extended family members.”
She pulled out of the drive and started for town. First, sustenance. Second, Santa Fe to check on their victim. “Like?”
Quince smiled as he looked out the window. “Jimmy’s pretty great.”
He was right. Hailey’s autistic son Jimmy was one of Auri’s best friends, and Sun loved him almost as much as Auri did. “I agree.”