Chapter 22 - The Newspaper
The newspaper printed the first article.
Within days, copies spread across the territory.
Names appeared.
Payments.
Land transfers.
Forgery.
Corruption.
The public reacted immediately.
Officials denied everything.
Vane disappeared.
Whitcomb returned east.
But the evidence was now public.
Elias's ranch became a gathering place for journalists and investigators.
Mateo recovered slowly.
Nia remained beside him.
One evening, Elias found her on the porch.
"You saved my life," she said.
He smiled.
"You saved mine first."
She shook her head.
"No. I brought danger."
"So did I."
They watched the sunset.
Then Mercer arrived.
He carried a telegram.
"Whitcomb has resigned."
Elias frowned.
"That's not enough."
"No."
Mercer handed him another page.
"Congress has opened an investigation."
Nia smiled.
"For our fathers."
Elias nodded.
"For everyone."
But Mercer wasn't finished.
"There is one problem."
"What?"
"The original land claims are still legally valid."
Elias stared.
"Meaning?"
"Until the courts void them, Vane's company can still challenge ownership."
Elias looked toward his ranch.
"So this isn't over."
Mercer shook his head.
"No."
Then a rider appeared.
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A lawyer.
He carried a court summons.
