She walked past Jo without hurrying, footsteps steady on the pavement. Jo watched her go, then looked at the corner where Shaw had been standing. Good angle on the back entrance. Clear view of the parking lot where the vehicles were parked. The police vehicles, their personal cars, Keller’s car.
Not random. Not routine.
Shaw was watching something. Or someone.
Jo just didn’t know what yet.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Jo waited until the squad room started emptying out before she made her way to Sam’s office.
He was at his desk, finishing up paperwork, Lucy curled at his feet. She lifted her head when Jo appeared in the doorway.
“Got a minute?”
Sam set his pen down. “What’s up?”
Jo stepped inside and closed the door behind her. “I caught Shaw taking pictures of the station today. Back entrance, parking lot, officers’ vehicles. When I asked about it, she gave me some line about establishing shots. Standard procedure.”
Sam’s expression didn’t change, but she saw the slight tension in his shoulders. “You believe her?”
“Not for a second.”
He was quiet for a moment, then nodded slowly. “I had Mick do some digging into our FBI friends. Both of them.”
Jo raised an eyebrow. “You were already suspicious?”
“Two agents showing up separately, not coordinating? One of them asking for ten years of archives?” Sam pushed back from his desk. “Something’s off. I wanted to know what.”
“And?”
“Mick’s meeting me at Holy Spirits in twenty minutes.” Sam reached for his jacket. “You should hear what he found.”
Mick had already claimed his usual spot at the bar when Jo and Sam walked into Holy Spirits, a whiskey in front of him and two drinks waiting—a Moosenose for Sam, a Coors Light for Jo.
“There they are,” Mick said, raising his glass as they approached. “Thought you two got lost.”
Jo slid onto the stool beside him. “Thanks for the beer.”
“Sam said you’ve got FBI trouble.” Mick’s eyes held that sharp, knowing look he got when he’d been digging into things. “Color me intrigued.”
Billie appeared from the other end of the bar, wiping down glasses. “You three look serious tonight. Case getting complicated?”
“When isn’t it?” Sam said.
Billie set down the glass she’d been polishing. “Hey, did you get another K-9? Saw a gorgeous dog going into the station the other day.”
“No, that’s an FBI agent’s dog,” Sam said. “She’s in town helping with a case.”
“Ahh.” Billie nodded. “Well, he’s a beauty. You should see him run—fast as anything.”
Jo glanced up. “Where’d you see him run?”
“Field next to Motel 8. Must be staying there—only place in town that takes dogs that size.” Billie shrugged. “Anyway, holler if you need refills.”
She moved down to help another customer.
Sam waited until she was out of earshot, then turned to Mick. “What’d you find?”