Page 23 of Wild Wolf
"Yes, ma'am.”
"Well, isn't that an interesting development?”
"I guess it depends on how you look at it. Can you come to the door? We’d like to talk face-to-face.”
"I don't see what you need to talk to me about?”
"We’re talking to all of Hannah Quinn’s friends. Time is of the essence in these cases. I'm sorry to disturb you at this late hour, but it's important.”
Sutton laughed. "I don't know if I’d classify myself as a friend.”
"How would you classify yourself?"
"Look, can we both cut the bullshit? I know why you're here.”
"Why are we here?"
"I'm not stupid, Deputy. You don't need to play games with me. You must have talked to somebody. I'm sure you know about the feud between Hannah and me. There is no love lost between us, that's for sure. I think it's terrible what happened, and I feel sorry for those kids, but don't expect me to shed a tear."
"Can you tell us what happened?”
"Between me and Hannah?”
"That would be a good place to start.”
"Well, I think everybody already knows that story," she said in a self-important tone.
I got the impression that Sutton considered herself a celebrity. And perhaps she was in Stingray Bay.
"You'll have to forgive me, but I'm not up on the latest gossip,” I said. “But I heard you sabotaged Hannah’s pumpkin last year.” I intentionally said it to rile her up. I figured she would want to set the record straight.
"I most certainly did not! I don't know who you’ve been talking to, but your information is dead wrong.”
"How about you come out here and set us straight. I think there's probably a lot of facts that we've gotten wrong.”
Sutton sighed. "Who have you been talking to? Nevermind, I can fathom a guess.” After a brief pause. "I'll be down in a minute. I just need a minute to collect myself. I'm not dressed. I'm totally naked.”
The added detail was unnecessary, but I think she said it to spark intrigue.
The call disconnected, and JD and I exchanged a look.
A moment later, Sutton Duval descended the grand spiral staircase and sauntered across the foyer to the door. Her figure drew close to the privacy glass before unlocking the deadbolt and pulling the door open.
Sutton was definitely starved for attention.
She wore a sheer robe tied at the waist. It did little to hide her pert attributes. In her mid-30s now, Sutton was no stranger to the gym, and her figure showed it. She wasn’t all-natural, but she had a damn good plastic surgeon.
Her raven hair kissed her shoulders, and her alluring caramel eyes smoldered. Her full lips could spark impure thoughts, and she had a face free of wrinkles. I don't think her forehead moved much from all the Botox. She stood in the doorway like a femme fatale in an old noir movie—a little bit enticing, a little bit dangerous, a lot of trouble.
13
The beauty mark above her lip on the left side may have been a tattoo. "If I knew you were coming, I would have dressed appropriately.”
"Sorry to disturb you at this late hour," I said.
"It's no big deal, really." She leaned in and spoke in a hushed tone. "To tell you the truth, I was already up. A friend called and told me about the gossip.”
"So, you were aware of Hannah's demise?”
