The Bones She Buried: A completely gripping, heart-stopping crime thriller(57)

In front of his desk was a low, white, modern coffee table surrounded by four coral-colored chairs. “Have a seat,” Sutton said, smiling. “I remember you from Colette’s funeral. We didn’t have a chance to officially meet, but Noah did point you out to me. You’re his lady friend, correct?”

“Uh, yes,” Josie said, perching on the edge of one of the chairs. “Noah and I work together at the Denton Police Department.”

Sutton sat across from her and rested his left ankle on top of his right knee. He wore khaki pants with loafers and a blue collared shirt, open at the neck, no tie. His hands, large and veiny, rested on the shin of his left leg. “I suppose you’re here as an officer of the law then. I heard from Laura this morning about the fire at Colette’s house. Horribly tragic, especially after her death. I’m sorry to hear about Noah’s leg, but I am quite glad no one was killed.”

“Me too,” Josie said.

“What I can help you with, dear?” Sutton asked. “Your colleague was here last week and interviewed nearly everyone here.”

“Mettner is very thorough,” Josie said. “We just had some follow-up questions. You knew Colette for decades.”

Sutton nodded, a look both sad and wistful passing over his lined face. “She was in her early twenties when she began working here, I believe. She was in the secretary pool. She was very good at what she did. Eventually, my father promoted her to his assistant, and when I took over three years later—in 1980, I believe—she came with the office.”

“So you worked closely with her for many years,” Josie said.

“Oh, yes. Many years. We saw each other through many things. Ups and downs at the company, the births of her children, the deaths of her mother and my father, and the dissolution of her marriage.”

“It sounds like you were very close.”

“Well, as close as a boss and employee could be, I suppose. As close as two people like us could be.” A little laugh accompanied this statement.

“What do you mean?” Josie said.

“The reason Colette and I got on so well for so long is because we were very similar. Private, reserved, stoic; not given to dramatic displays of emotion. You know, when her husband left her, she came into my office and said, ‘My marriage is over. I’m struggling a bit and may need to use some of my personal days,’ in the same tone she used to read off my schedule for the week.”

“Matter-of-fact.”

“Yes.”

“Did you ever see her cry?”

One bushy white brow kinked. “Yeah, I guess. Maybe once when one of her kids broke their nose?”

“I heard that story, too,” Josie said. “It was Noah. He had to have pictures taken right after that, and he looked like someone had beaten him.”

Sutton laughed. “Boys will be unruly. I told her not to worry. The swelling would go down, and the bruises would fade, and her son would be as handsome as always.”

“How about you? Do you have children?” Josie asked.

He waved a hand. “No, not me. Never married. No children. This company is my baby. My labor of love.”

Josie glanced at the bank of windows which showed a sheer drop into the depths of the quarry. “It’s quite an empire you’ve got here. What will happen when you retire? If you don’t mind me asking.”

He winked at her. “Everyone wants to know that. Because I have no heirs. Well, if I tell you, don’t you have to keep it a secret? Being an officer of the law?”

Josie smiled. “I think you’re thinking of a priest or a lawyer. No, I have no confidentiality requirements, but I promise not to tell anyone of consequence.”

Sutton raised a hand and waggled an index finger, a small smile on his face. “Not even Noah?”

Josie smiled tightly, thinking that Noah wasn’t in any shape to talk with her so it wouldn’t make any difference. “Not even Noah,” she said.

“I’m grooming Laura to take over. She’s the best fit. I’ve already made arrangements, although I haven’t told her yet.”

“Laura Fraley?” Josie asked, momentarily shocked though she shouldn’t have been. She knew how dedicated Laura was to Sutton Stone Enterprises and how much she loved her job, and she was already the Vice President.

He nodded.

Josie said, “Mr. Sutton, I have to ask you some questions that might make you uncomfortable. About Colette. I don’t like doing it, but it has to be done.”

“We never had an affair,” he said easily. “That’s what you think, isn’t it? Besides her mother, husband and children, I was in Colette’s life the longest. I was very good to her, and now her daughter will become the president of this company. It’s only natural to make that assumption. I think many people have over the years—people in the company, at any rate—the big business owner always… romances his secretary, right?”

Josie stared at him. “I don’t know that that is an assumption every person would make. But it’s an avenue of investigation I can’t ignore.”

“I understand.”

“Do you know if Colette ever had affairs with anyone else?”

“I don’t think so. If she had, I don’t think she would have told me. We didn’t have that kind of relationship.”