Chapter 11 - The Courthouse Key

They reached the territorial courthouse after dark.

Mercer led them through a rear entrance.

The building smelled of dust and paper.

Elias held the ledger beneath his coat.

Nia remained close.

They entered the archive room.

Rows of boxes filled the shelves.

Mercer used the key.

A hidden drawer opened.

Inside was a packet wrapped in oilcloth.

Elias opened it.

There were original land deeds.

Signed affidavits.

Government seals.

And one photograph.

Samuel Vane stood beside Jonathan Bell.

Both men were younger.

On the back was a date.

Elias stared.

"Bell was involved from the beginning."

Mercer nodded.

Then footsteps sounded outside.

Someone was coming.

Mercer extinguished the lantern.

The door opened.

A man entered.

It was Silas Vane.

He wasn't alone.

Three men stood behind him.

Vane spoke quietly.

"I hoped you would save me the trouble."

Elias whispered:

"Mercer."

The older man looked toward the window.

"There's another exit."

Vane heard him.

"Don't."

A pistol appeared in Vane's hand.

"Put the papers down."

Nia stepped forward.

"No."

Vane looked at her.

"You look just like your father."

Nia's face hardened.

"Then you should be afraid."

Vane smiled.

"I'm not."

He looked at Elias.

"Your father made the same mistake."

Elias said:

"He trusted the wrong people."

Vane nodded.

"Exactly."

Mercer suddenly threw the lantern.

Darkness swallowed the room.

A gunshot exploded.

Elias grabbed Nia.

They ran.

Behind them, Mercer shouted.

"Go!"

Elias reached the stairwell.

"Nia!"

"I'm here!"

They fled through the rear door.

But Mercer did not follow.

Elias stopped.

"We can't leave him."

Nia grabbed his arm.

"If we go back, the evidence dies with us."

Elias looked toward the courthouse.

A second shot sounded.

Then silence.

Nia whispered:

"Run."

They disappeared into the night.

Neither knew whether Mercer had survived.

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But Vane now had something worse than the ledger.

He knew the final evidence existed.