A Good Day for Chardonnay (Sunshine Vicram #2) by Darynda Jones

“Why not? I have vital information about an ongoing murder investigation and am willing to testify to certain … atrocities that were committed in said case. I can even lead the authorities to the weapon I used to defend myself, which will have my fingerprints on it.”

“You have the knife?” she asked in surprise.

“I know where it is. In return, I’m transferred to the state where the case occurred and will be available to testify once I name my brother’s accomplice. Et cetera, et cetera. It can be done.”

“You came prepared,” she said, walking back to the table.

“Always.”

She sat across from him again. “And two?”

“I want you to look into my case.”

“Oh, right. I forgot, you’re innocent.”

“Hell, no,” he said with a snort. “There’s not a single innocent person in this place. But I am innocent of the crime they put me in here for, and I’ve heard you are just savvy enough to figure that out and prove it for me.”

Wow, was he ever wrong about a person. Then again, she’d been wrong about him. “Who do I have to thank for spreading false rumors about me?”

He relaxed against the chair, the metal cuffs jingling with each movement, and refused to answer once again. After giving her enough time to form her own flawed opinions, he said, “My lawyer is sending over the case files. Everything we have.”

“Wonderful. Is there a magic wand in there, too? I’m going to need one.”

He laughed softly. “I think that’s in my other case file.”

“Of course it is. And three?”

He waited a beat. Studied her. Sized her up just long enough to make a layer of sweat appear on her palms. She suddenly desperately wanted him to be telling the truth. His claims would exonerate Levi.

After another moment, he straightened in the chair, and said, “I wanna see the girl.”

Disturbing. “Look, I know it’s been a while for you—”

“Not as long as you might think.”

Okay. She didn’t need to know that. “—but smuggling women into prison is not one of my talents. And, believe me, I have many.”

“So I’ve been told.”

The more they spoke, the more she wondered who was out there talking her up to a convicted murderer. Because she wanted a word. “What girl?”

“Your girl.”

Sun stopped tapping the pen on the pad and tilted her head. “I’m sorry?”

“When I get back to New Mexico, I want you to bring your daughter to see me.”

Emotions Sun didn’t know she possessed rushed through her like a lightning strike. Sharp and hot and desperate, they blinded her for a few seconds. Why would a convicted killer want to see her daughter? How did he even know she had a daughter? Levi could’ve told him if they were still in contact, but why would he? Why would the conversation turn toward her?

All semblance of professionalism abandoned her. All of her training, all of her skills with de-escalation and negotiation disappeared within the span of a heartbeat. She became someone else. Someone willing to risk her career. Someone willing to kill.

She leaned forward. “What the hell did you just say to me?”

“I get to see the girl or no deal.”

Sun was drowning in apprehension so thick she could hardly see straight. She’d been on the force for almost ten years and this man reduced her to an unstable powder keg in a matter of seconds.

Tears seared the backs of her eyes as she looked into the dark depths of gray in his.

“Apple,” he began, but reconsidered when her glare turned murderous. “Sheriff, it’s not what you think.”

Something hit the door. Or, more precisely, someone. It opened and Quincy was by her side at once, trying to ease her away from Wynn. She held the pen in her fist like she was going to use it to shank the man across from her.

“Get back, Ravinder,” Quincy said, coaxing Sun to do the same.

“I understand,” he said, ignoring Quincy. “You need to sleep on it.”

“The only thing I need to sleep on is how to make sure you never make it out of prison alive.”

“I didn’t hear that,” Quincy said to Wynn. He looked at a guard that had hurried in, quickly followed by a second. “You didn’t hear that.”

One corner of Wynn’s mouth rose. “He was right about you. You’re amazing.” Before she could comment, he added, “I’m willing to take you on your word. You meet the first two conditions, I’ll sign a confession and tell you everything on the contingency that I’ll get to see your daughter at some point in the next year.”

She felt a tear slip past her lashes as question upon question ran rampant through her brain. She settled on the most predominant. “What makes you think I would ever agree to such a demand?”

Wynn shrugged. “I just thought maybe she’d like to know who her father is.”

The breath in her lungs couldn’t have fled any faster if he’d punched her in the gut.

A guard leaned down until he was between them. He focused on Sun and said, “You two need to back down or this interview is over.”

Quincy planted her ass back in her chair with a firm push, and Wynn eased into his. Satisfied, the guard straightened but didn’t dare leave the room.