Chapter 21
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.
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 Rock PD.”
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?”
Clara shook her head, her gaze distant, as if trying to recall. “Not that I remember. Just property lines and abutters.”
“Who are the abutters?”
Clara flipped open a file, glancing down. “Let’s see... Horton family to the north; they’ve had that land forever. Whitfield estate to the east—been in probate for years. And to the south...” She looked up. “Convale Energy.”
Jo’s eyebrows shot up. “Convale?”
Clara nodded. “They own a significant chunk of land bordering Garvin’s property.”
Jo leaned back, taking that in. Convale Energy had been muscling in on White Rock for years, but she hadn’t realized they were that close to Garvin’s land.
“Interesting,” Jo murmured. She watched Clara’s reaction carefully. “Think they’d be interested in Garvin’s property?”
Clara gave a small shrug. “Who knows with a company like that? They’re always expanding.”
Jo let the silence sit for a beat, her mind ticking through possibilities. Finally, she stood, nodding to Clara. “Thanks. You’ve been a big help.”
Clara walked her to the door. “I hope you find what you’re looking for, Sergeant.”
Jo slipped out, her mind buzzing with new questions.
So, Garvin’s son had shown up at the surveyor’s office—something Sam hadn’t known.
And Convale land abutted Garvin’s, giving them a possible motive.
She needed to share this with Sam—and soon.
Luckily, she wouldn’t have to wait long.
It was almost time to meet at Holy Spirits.