Golden Malicious (Apple Orchard Mystery) by Sheila Connolly Page A

minutes, tops.”
    Meg turned back to Jonas. “Thank you for the tour, Jonas. I’ll definitely look at the wood in my house in a different way from now on.”
    “Happy to share it with you, Meg,” Jonas said. “This way, Seth.”
    For a couple of moments Meg watched them walking away: Seth compact, fair in complexion; Jonas taller and rangier and darker. But physical differences aside, both cared about the materials they were using and the history they were preserving, even sometimes in the face of common sense and expense. She could sympathize. No way would she repair her own house with modern plywood, even where no one would see. It would be like a bad graft, and she had the irrational feeling that her house would reject the unfamiliar patch. She found an upended stump and sat, watching the men who were operating the machines come and go. It didn’t take a large staff to run this operation; she’d counted fewer than ten men.
    Seth and Jonas came round the building maybe ten minutes later, still talking.
    “Can you deliver the larger pieces to Donald’s house?” Seth was asking.
    “Sure, no problem. Tomorrow?”
    “That’ll work. And when you’re there I can give you a sample of the clapboards, so you can match them. Bring an invoice along, will you? Cost isn’t a major issue on this project, but it’s nice to keep ahead of the paperwork.”
    Jonas laughed. “I hear you. Tomorrow, then.” He waved at Meg, then turned back to the sawmill.
    Meg stood up and brushed sawdust off her pants. “All set?”
    “We’re good. Let’s go meet Christopher.”

6

    “Did you talk about . . .” Meg began, when they’d gotten into Seth’s van.
    “David Clapp?” Seth completed the question for her. “No. This was business, and you and I don’t know any more than we did. Shoot, I forgot to ask Art if he knew him.”
    “Clapp didn’t live in Granford. Why would Art have known him?”
    “Easthampton’s not far away. Granford plays Easthampton in various sports, so if Clapp had kids of the right age, he might have been around here a lot.”
    “Where are the sports fields?”
    “I think I told you—near the high school, of course, on the other side of town, and there are a couple in the town parks. Why?”
    “I’m just wondering how well David Clapp knew the town, that’s all.” Meg turned in her seat to face Seth. “Tell me, am I crazy to be wondering whether it’s no accident that that insect was found so close to the body?”
    Seth shook his head slightly. “I don’t know what you’re getting at.”
    “Well, if Clapp was a professional forester, he should have recognized the bug for what it was, right?”
    “Probably. So?”
    “If he found something like this, theoretically he’d have had to report it to someone, right? Look, I never knew him and I don’t want to speak ill of the dead, but what if Clapp first decided to tell Jonas Nash about the bug he found, before he went to any officials? Say, to make the problem go away? Both Bree and Christopher have said that unless you really look for this thing, it’s hard to find. You said Jonas told you he’s having financial problems, right?”
    “Yes. He told me today he’s been talking to a few developers who have showed an interest in the property. Why do you ask?”
    “Because Clapp would know that Nash’s Sawmill was in financial trouble, since he had been let go, and that losing a bunch of trees would hurt them.”
    “I think I see where you’re going with this,” Seth said slowly. “So he might have told Jonas Nash that he was going to keep quiet about it, as a favor to a friend?”
    “Or in return for something. Like a bribe, or maybe his job back, or a good reference. Maybe he’s not happy working where he is and wants out.”
    “Meg, I think you’re building a house of cards. I don’t know anything about David Clapp’s character, but I’m not going to leap to the assumption that he’s a blackmailer. Or the implication that