“By whom?”
Miles’s gaze hardened.
“Vernon.”
Evelyn felt sick.
“Why was my father still alive after that?”
Miles answered quietly.
“Because Vernon needed to know whether Henry had made copies.”
“Did he?”
“I think so.”
“Where?”
“That is what everyone has been searching for.”
Evelyn stared at the map.
Then remembered something.
Her father’s claim papers.
She opened the leather envelope.
Deeds.
Tax receipts.
Survey pages.
Assay reports.
Nothing unusual.
Miles examined each.
Then Evelyn noticed a tear along the inner lining.
She slid a finger inside.
Paper.
A narrow folded strip hidden between layers.
Miles watched.
Evelyn pulled it free.
Her father’s handwriting.
Only one sentence.
The mountain remembers what men bury, but water tells the truth.
Beneath it:
17-4-9.
Miles went completely still.
“What?”
“That sequence.”
“You know it?”
“My father left the same numbers.”
Evelyn looked up.
“Where?”
Miles opened his chest.
Removed a small notebook.
Jacob Bennett’s last entry:
Henry says water tells the truth. 17-4-9. Do not trust V.C.
Evelyn stared.
V.C.
Vernon Carter.
Her knees weakened.
Miles pulled out the chair for her.
She sat.
“This is real.”
“Yes.”
“My father knew.”
“Yes.”
“And your father.”
“Yes.”
“What happened to Jacob?”
Miles hesitated.
Evelyn saw.
“He was murdered too.”
Miles looked away.
“He disappeared.”
“When?”
“Six months after your father died.”
“Body?”
“Never found.”
“Vernon?”
“I cannot prove it.”
Evelyn whispered:
“But you believe it.”
“Yes.”
The marriage no longer seemed like the strangest thing that had happened.
By afternoon, Miles had a plan.
Evelyn hated it.
Which meant it was probably reasonable.
He would continue using the wheelchair whenever visible from roads or town.
They would travel toward the claim using a covered wagon.
Amos would drive.
Evelyn would appear to be taking her invalid husband to inspect property.
No one would question a newly married woman managing land inherited from her father.
Evelyn crossed her arms.
“You have thought about this.”
“For months.”
“You planned to marry me for months?”
“No.”
“How long?”
“Six days.”
That surprised her.
“What changed six days ago?”
“Vernon met Silas Reed.”
Evelyn knew the name.
Logging investor.
Wealthy.
Cruel.
Owned half the mills south of Alder Creek.
“What did they discuss?”
“The Carter claim.”
“How do you know?”
Miles looked uncomfortable.
“I pay a clerk.”
She laughed.
“You have spies.”
“One.”
“How reassuring.”
“His name is Thomas.”
“I don’t care.”
“You asked.”
“I regret it.”
Miles almost smiled.