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“I understand.” There was new respect in her eyes. Good. That’s what Monty had been hoping for.
Time to zero in on the real subject he wanted to pursue with her.
“Let’s get to Mr. Rhodes,” Monty suggested, his concern over the staff’s well-being still fresh in the secretary’s mind. “He’s practically a lifer here. How many years have you worked for him?”
“Sixteen.”
“Wow. So you’re his right hand. As he was Frederick Piersons’s.” A quizzical lift of his brows. “Right?”
“I suppose so.” Ms. Jeffers propped her elbows on the desk, folding her hands beneath her chin. “Although I’m not sure I’d describe it that way. Mr. Rhodes reported directly to Frederick Pierson, yes. But the sales department works as a team, not a two-man show.”
“And who heads the team?”
“Now that’s a tough call.” Ms. Jeffers smiled faintly. “Because no matter how you slice it, Edward Pierson runs the show. You’ll hear that from anyone you ask. God bless that man, at almost eighty he has more moxie than most thirty-year-olds.”
“So I’ve noticed. He’s a formidable guy. He also thinks a great deal of Mr. Rhodes.”
“That’s not a surprise. He hired him—it must be twenty-five or twenty-six years ago.”
“Just a few years after Frederick came on board.”
“That’s right.”
“Philip and Frederick were about the same age. Were they friends?”
“Not socially, no. But as colleagues, they worked extremely well together. In many ways, they built this company. Along with the senior Mr. Pierson, of course. Back then, the company was solely a food services business. Many of its key contacts were made during that time—by Frederick and Edward Pierson, and Mr. Rhodes. They established the foundation of the company, then built on it. Now we’ve got three divisions, all of which are still expanding.”
“Would you say the food services division is the mainstay of your organization?”
“I’d say so, yes.”
“So its sales team is front and center. Where does James fit into that team?”
Ms. Jeffers’s smile was indulgent. “James fits into every team. Certainly sales. He’s sharp as a tack. He’s a first-class charmer. What better assets for someone in this department to have?”
“Good point. And you’re right. I just spoke at length with James. He’s quick. Not to mention versatile. After hearing everything he does—and apparently excels in—I feel like a slug.”
“We all do,” Ms. Jeffers said with a chuckle. “No one can keep up with James. He never wears out, not in business or on the show circuit.”
“He’s got endurance, all right. I envy him. Smart, talented, and unfazable.”
“Not so unfazable,” Ms. Jeffers amended in a placating tone. “Oh, I know he comes off that way. Like I said, he’s quite the salesman. But beneath that cool veneer, he’s very intense. He pushes himself hard. That’s how he manages to excel at so many things.”
“It’s nice to know he has at least one fault.”
Monty was ready to abandon the subject of James. After spending an hour with the guy, he’d already formed an opinion. The rest he’d learn tonight, after James’s dinner with Devon.
Right now, he had other fish to fry.
Putting on a concerned expression, Monty lowered his voice. “Did Mr. Rhodes have any unusually long or intense meetings with Frederick Pierson last week? Anything that you noticed?”
Ms. Jeffers got his message loud and clear, and worry creased her forehead. “Oh, dear. You don’t think Mr. Rhodes is in danger, do you?”
“I can’t be sure. But it stands to reason that if Frederick Pierson’s murder was triggered by something business-related, his closest in-house colleagues might be at risk. In which case, I plan to protect them.”
“Of course.” Ms. Jeffers gave a firm nod, then turned to the computer, punching up her electronic calendar. “Mr. Rhodes and Frederick Pierson had three meetings last week: Monday afternoon at three, Tuesday morning at ten, and Wednesday late afternoon. I don’t have an exact time on the final one. Mr. Pierson set it up last minute. If I remember right, it started around four. I have no idea when it ended. They were still in Mr. Pierson’s office when I left for the day.”
“What time was that?”
