Page 12 of Seeking Justice

“Relax,” Sam said, exasperated. “One unsolved murder isn’t going to ruin your campaign.”

“You should hope not,” Jamison shot back. “If you think Thorne buying up land was bad, wait until you see what Convale is planning.”

Sam’s brows furrowed. “Thorne was a drug dealer. Convale is a corporation. How bad could they be?”

Jamison snorted. “You don’t want to find out.”

“How do you know so much about that, and what does this have to do with your mayoral run?” Sam asked, increasingly perplexed.

“Let’s just say Marnie Wilson has tight connections with Convale,” Jamison replied. “If she gets in, you might not like the changes coming to this town.”

Sam exchanged a quick, wary glance with Jo.

“Listen, don’t worry. We have two good leads, and in my experience, as long as you have one lead, it usually snowballs into more,” Sam tried to reassure the mayor.

Jamison leaned in closer, his curiosity piqued. “Leads? Like what?”

Sam took a moment before answering. “Well, Jackson Pressler thought he might’ve seen someone.” Sam didn’t mention that Jackson’s vague description of a young man in a baseball cap wasn’t a blockbuster lead.

“And the other?”

“The victim had some friction with Archie Wells.”

“Wells, the builder?” Jamison’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.

“That’s the one.”

Jamison looked puzzled. “You think a guy that high up on the social ladder would resort to murder? It’s a stretch.”

“I’ve heard Archie has a temper,” Sam countered, locking eyes with the mayor.

“A temper is one thing. Murder’s another,” Jamison huffed, glancing at Jo and Wyatt, who had stopped pretending not to listen.

“I agree,” Sam conceded, “but it’s a lead, and in my line of work, you follow those wherever they take you.”

“Do your best. That’s all I ask,” Jamison said as he exited, a mix of worry and impatience clouding his face.

No sooner had the door swung shut behind him than Jo and Wyatt swiveled in their chairs. “What was all that about Convale?” Jo’s brow furrowed.

“Yeah, he seemed like he was holding something back,” Wyatt chimed in, his eyes narrowing.

Sam shrugged, trying to dispel the lingering unease. “What could it be? They’re buying up land, sure, which isn’t great for us, but how much damage could they really do?”

“But Marnie being in with them? What’s that about?” Jo pressed, still puzzled.

“Politics,” Sam sighed. “Jamison probably doesn’t want any factor, no matter how small, tipping the scales in Marnie’s favor.”

“But what he said about Convale changing things… That didn’t sit well with you either, did it?” Wyatt observed.

Sam paused. “No, it didn’t. But how much can they change? It’s probably nothing to worry about, and right now we have a case to solve, so let’s make sure Major didn’t do any damage to Lucy and then head on out to Archie Wells’s place and see what he has to say.”

CHAPTERNINE

Sam, Jo, and Lucy approached Archie Wells’s building, its sleek, modern façade sharply contrasting with the surrounding quaint New England architecture. Sam couldn’t help but think it was as out of place as a skyscraper in a cornfield.

As they entered the spacious, well-lit reception area, the receptionist looked up, her gaze flicking from Sam and Jo to the imposing figure of Lucy by their side. There was a moment of hesitation in her eyes, a subtle mix of surprise and concern, before she regained her composure.

“Good morning,” she greeted, offering a practiced smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “How can I assist you today?”

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