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Colin called Sutton Airfield and was put on hold within seconds. He was trying to get information on Zander Sutton, the man who’d piloted the chopper, when someone finally picked up the phone.
“This is Borden.”
“Mr. Borden, this is Special Agent Colin Ramsey. I’m very sorry for the loss of your employer, but I’m investigating the chopper crash in which he died, and I need to ask you some questions. Is that okay?”
“Yeah, sure. We’re all pretty stunned about this and have no idea how it happened. Zander was meticulous about the upkeep of his aircraft.”
“Were you there the day Outen and Zander left the airfield?”
“Yeah, but it didn’t exactly go down like that. Wolf’s personal assistant, Stu Bien, was at the airfield, waiting for Wolf when he arrived. All I know is there was a last-minute change of plans. Something about a refinery catching on fire in Brazil. Bien brought a suitcase and Wolf’s passport with him, so he could fly straight to Sao Paulo. I know this because I flew Wolf to Miami airport to catch his private jet. And Stu Bien switched places with Wolf and took the flight with Zander to Kentucky. He was Wolf’s proxy for some board meeting there.”
Colin was stunned that the man hadn’t come forward. “So, when you all were informed of Zander’s crash, you already knew Mr. Outen wasn’t on that chopper?”
“Well, I didn’t think he was, but what do I know, right? I didn’t say nothin’. Both of the men’s vehicles are still parked here at the airfield, so I didn’t know what to think, and you’re the first person who’s asked,” Borden said.
Colin sighed. There were too many spoons stirring the same pot, and after talking to his brother, Jack, he guessed it was going to get worse.
“Then, Mr. Borden, I’m going to ask you to remain quiet about this for the time being. We won’t officially know anything until we get DNA results back.”
“Yes, sir. I don’t have a problem with that,” Borden said.
“Oh, and you can expect some people from the bureau will arrive to tow away both vehicles sometime today.”
“Yes sir. I’ll let the girls in the office know,” Borden said.
“Thank you again. If I need further verification, I’ll be in touch,” Colin said, and hung up.
If Outen was really alive, he had yet to call. What Colin needed to do next was interview Fiona Rangely, and part of his line of questioning had to do with shaking the tree for deadfall. He was curious to see what fell out.
Chapter 7
Amalie woke with the memory of Sean’s embrace and the kiss that came after. The day’s weather report was vague, but cold was definite, so she dressed for warmth—thick socks for the boots she was wearing, wool pants and a soft knit sweater as comfort for the tenderness of her new scars.
She eyed the white streak in her hair as she was brushing her hair, then put it all up in a ponytail. The scars on her neck and jaw would shine like a new penny without the fall of hair to hide them, but she couldn’t be bothered. Whatever anyone else thought was their problem. Today was a workday at the office. Everything she’d purchased in Jubilee yesterday was being delivered there this morning, so she put on her coat, grabbed her purse and car keys, and headed for the garage.
She was backing down the driveway when she saw a huge crane in the rearview mirror. The NTSB must be moving the chopper wreckage from the crash site. That was progress. She wondered if the investigation was making progress, too, and then kept driving. Except for feeling empathy for the families of the deceased, andfor the teachers and children traumatized by the event, none of that had anything to do with her. And since she couldn’t leave the office today until all of the deliveries had been made, she drove straight to Granny Annie’s Bakery to get some snacks for the day.
There was a short line at the counter when she entered. The small café tables and chairs were full of customers having coffee and sweet rolls before Sunday breakfast. The aromas wrapped around Amalie like a hug as she got in line, giving her plenty of time to check out the display case, as well as the menu on the wall above the counter. By the time she got to the register, she’d made her choices and ordered two sausage biscuits, a dozen doughnut holes, and a chocolate brownie to go.
An older woman came up front carrying a tray of cinnamon rolls and slid it in the display case as the clerk was boxing up Amalie’s purchases. She glanced up at Amalie and smiled.
“Welcome to Granny Annie’s.”
Amalie smiled. “Thank you! This isn’t my first visit in here, and it won’t be my last. I think I ate my way through the display case last November.”
The woman laughed. “That’s good to know! I’m Annie Cauley and this is my shop. I’m happy to get repeat customers. Do you live near or visiting again?”
“I’ve recently moved here. I’m Amalie Lincoln. I’m opening my own place next door to the bank.”
Annie’s eyes widened. “The CPA! I saw the sign the other day! Welcome to Jubilee.”
“Thank you,” Amalie said, then paid for her purchases and waved as she left the shop.
She was still smiling when she got in her car and drove away, wasting no more time getting to the office. She didn’t want to leave a delivery man waiting.
Within minutes, she was inside her office and turning on lights as she carried her goodies to the back room.
She started a pot of coffee to brewing, wrapped one of the sausage biscuits in a napkin, and plopped down at her desk to eat. Once she finished off the biscuit, she got up to pour herself a cup and took it back to her desk, then began going through the enormous backlog of emails she’d been ignoring since her move. A short while later, her first delivery arrived. After that, Amalie turned her attention to office decor.
