Chapter 8 - The Price of Silence

By dawn, the ranch house was damaged but standing.

The fire had destroyed the porch and part of the roof.

Vane was gone.

Elias stood among the ashes.

Nia approached.

"I'm sorry."

Elias stared at the ruins.

"My father built this house."

"I know."

"He died in that bedroom."

Nia said nothing.

Elias turned.

"You said my father and yours worked together."

"They did."

"Then why did they separate?"

Nia hesitated.

"Because they disagreed about what to do with the evidence."

"How?"

"Your father wanted to preserve it until the right people could be trusted."

"And mine?"

"My father wanted to expose everything immediately."

Elias understood.

"That caused the split."

"Yes."

"Did they fight?"

"Badly."

"Then why did my father protect your family?"

Nia looked away.

"Because even after they disagreed, he never stopped caring about my father."

Elias noticed something in her voice.

"You loved him."

"He was my father."

"I meant your father."

Nia looked at him.

"You sound like you're asking about something else."

Elias shook his head.

"Forget it."

They returned to the surviving room.

Inside, Elias discovered another letter.

This one wasn't from his father.

It was from Caleb Mercer.

Thomas, you were right. Samuel Vane has found the records. If Mateo leaves the territory, they will follow him.

The letter was dated twenty-five years earlier.

At the bottom was a second sentence.

There is only one way to keep them from discovering the chamber.

Elias read it twice.

Nia leaned closer.

"What does it say?"

Elias continued.

Make them believe the evidence was destroyed.

Nia stared.

"Your father lied to everyone."

"To protect the chamber."

"Then perhaps he succeeded."

Elias looked at the ledger.

"No."

"What?"

"Someone knew where it was."

He held up the letter.

"Vane."

A hoofbeat sounded outside.

Elias reached for his rifle.

But this time, the rider was alone.

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It was Caleb Mercer.

And he carried a white flag.