Jo sighed, the sound heavy with weariness. “What about Clara Hartwell?”
Sam filled her in on how Garvin had been working with her on maps of the property and how they’d gone back to search Garvin’s place for them.
“Did you find anything at Garvin’s house?”
Sam hesitated, not wanting to disappoint her. “No, we didn’t find the maps. But Lucy did find something interesting in the snow outside. We’ve sent it to the lab for analysis.”
“Do you think Clara could be lying?” Jo asked, her voice sharp with suspicion. “Maybe she sent us on a wild-goose chase with those maps.”
Sam shook his head even though Jo couldn’t seehim. “No, I don’t think so. She seemed genuinely concerned about the historical significance of Garvin’s land. I think she’s telling the truth.”
Jo was quiet for a moment, and Sam could picture her pacing in her living room, her brow furrowed in thought.
“All right,” she said finally, her voice filled with determination. “What’s our next move?”
Sam glanced at his watch, an idea forming in his mind. “Let’s meet at Holy Spirits after supper. We can bring Mick in, get everyone on the same page. Maybe he’ll have some insight into this Parker Studies thing.”
“Sounds good,” Jo agreed, a hint of relief in her voice. “I’ll see you there.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Jo pushed open the heavy doors of White Rock Town Hall, her footsteps echoing in the marble foyer. The building had the bones of a bygone era, with its high ceilings and polished floors. She found the office directory and quickly scanned it.
Town Land Surveyor - Room 14.
A few strides later, she knocked on the surveyor’s door.
“Come in,” called a woman’s voice.
Inside, Jo found a cluttered office filled with old maps, blueprints, and stacks of files. A woman in her fifties looked up, her salt-and-pepper hair pulled into a no-nonsense bun.
“Clara Hartwell?” Jo asked, offering her hand. “Sergeant Harris, White RockPD.”
Clara nodded, shaking Jo’s hand with a firm grip. “Chief Mason was at my house this morning. Told him everything I knew.”
Jo hesitated for a moment. She didn’t feel good about omitting the fact that she was currently on leave, but she wanted to ask her own questions. She’d tell Sam tonight as she didn’t want him to think she was going behind his back. Of course, Sam had done a great job, but Jo was looking at this from a little different perspective, and sometimes, it was better to ask the questions yourself.
“Thanks for that,” Jo said, keeping her tone light. “I just had a few follow-ups. I understand Garvin McDaniels was interested in maps of his River Road property?”
Clara nodded slowly, sympathy flashing in her eyes. “Yes. Such a tragedy, what happened to him.”
Jo kept her focus, pressing gently. “Did he say what he was looking for? Anything unusual?”
Clara’s brows furrowed. “No. He was interested in the property lines but nothing specific. Just typical maps, as far as I knew. Same thing I told his son last week.”
Jo blinked. “Garvin’s son?”
Clara looked mildly surprised. “Yes, he stopped by last week too.”
Jo felt a flicker of surprise. Sam hadn’t mentioned the son. “So his son was here last week? You’re sure about that?”
Clara looked momentarily unsure. “Well, yes. I remember because he asked about the property boundaries too.”
Jo kept her tone steady. “Strange you didn’t mention him to Chief Mason.”
Clara’s cheeks flushed slightly. “Maybe I was nervous. Or maybe I forgot.” She frowned, as if annoyed with herself. “Chief Mason didn’t ask if anyone else had been here.”
Jo noted the slip-up, deciding to let it rest for now. “Did Garvin or his son look over anything specific? Mark anything?”