Chapter 9 - Caleb Mercer

Caleb Mercer was sixty years old.

He dismounted slowly.

His courthouse clothes were covered in dust.

Elias kept his rifle pointed at him.

"You have ten seconds."

Mercer smiled sadly.

"Your father used to say that too."

Elias stiffened.

"You knew him."

"Better than most."

Nia stepped forward.

"My father trusted you."

Mercer's expression changed.

"Your father trusted too many people."

"Did you betray him?"

"No."

"Then why did he die?"

Mercer looked at Elias.

"Because I failed him."

Silence.

Mercer explained.

Twenty-five years earlier, Thomas and Mateo had discovered the land records.

Samuel Vane wanted them.

Mercer had arranged for the documents to be moved.

But someone inside the courthouse betrayed them.

Mateo was ambushed.

Thomas escaped.

Mercer believed Mateo had been killed.

Nia interrupted.

"He survived."

Mercer looked shocked.

"Impossible."

"He lived for twenty-four years."

Mercer stared at her.

"Where?"

"Hidden."

"Why?"

"Because he believed the network was still active."

Mercer lowered his head.

"Then why did he come out?"

"He didn't."

Nia's voice became quiet.

"He was found."

Mercer understood.

"Vane."

"I don't know."

Mercer studied her.

"Then why do you believe Vane killed him?"

"Because he had the ledger."

Mercer looked at Elias.

"You have it."

Elias said nothing.

Mercer sighed.

"Then we're all in danger."

"Who is behind Vane?"

Mercer hesitated.

"The territorial land commissioner."

Elias's expression hardened.

"Name."

"Jonathan Bell."

Nia's eyes widened.

Mercer continued.

"Bell has spent years making land disputes disappear."

Elias looked at the ledger.

"Can this prove it?"

"Maybe."

"Maybe?"

"The ledger proves payments. It doesn't prove who authorized them."

Mercer reached into his coat.

He pulled out a small key.

"This does."

Elias stared.

"What is it?"

"The courthouse archive."

Mercer lowered his voice.

"Your father hid the final proof there."

Nia looked toward the horizon.

"Then why are you helping us?"

Mercer met her eyes.

"Because I was there when your father was killed."

Nia froze.

"You saw it?"

Mercer nodded.

"And I have been carrying the truth for twenty-five years."

Then he said something that made Elias's blood run cold.

"Your father wasn't Vane's only target."

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He looked at Elias.

"Thomas Carter was supposed to die that same night."