Chapter 16 - Clara Bell
Clara Bell lived in a small adobe house outside Santa Fe.
She was seventy-one.
When Elias showed her the photograph, she immediately recognized Jonathan Bell.
"My husband."
Elias stared.
"Your husband was the commissioner?"
"Yes."
"Then you know about the land scheme."
Clara looked at Nia.
"I know enough."
She invited them inside.
Clara revealed that Jonathan had kept records at home.
She had copied some before he died.
"Why didn't you expose him?"
"Because I was afraid."
Nia asked:
"Of him?"
"Of everyone."
Clara handed Elias a packet.
Inside were letters between Jonathan Bell and Samuel Vane.
One letter mentioned Thomas Carter.
Another mentioned Mateo.
The final letter contained something unexpected.
The Carter boy must never learn about his mother's role.
Elias's face went pale.
"My mother."
Clara nodded.
"Your mother discovered the scheme."
"What did she do?"
"She copied the original ledger."
Elias stared.
"Where is it?"
Clara shook her head.
"I don't know."
"Who does?"
"Your father."
"My father is dead."
"Then perhaps he left instructions."
Elias remembered the chamber.
The desk.
The old maps.
One unexplored box.
They returned to the ranch.
Inside the hidden chamber, Elias examined every document.
Nia found a small wooden case.
Inside was a key.
Not a courthouse key.
A bank key.
Stamped with the name:
Santa Fe National Bank.
Mercer stared.
"Your mother rented a safety box."
Elias looked at Nia.
"What if the ledger is still there?"
Clara's warning returned to him.
The truth is inside the family.
They had been looking underground.
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But the most important evidence had never been buried.
It had been waiting in a bank vault.
