Chapter 7 - The Two Locks
Harrison moved in front of Lucy.
“No one touches her.”
Silas smiled.
“You still think you are in control because your name is on the gate.”
“What does the key open?”
“Something your father stole from us.”
“Who is us?”
“Silver Crown.”
Silas revealed that Silver Crown began as a secret partnership between Harrison’s father, Walter Hart, and four neighboring ranch families.
They purchased mineral rights across the valley before anyone knew the land contained rare earth deposits.
The deposits were worth billions.
Walter later discovered the partners planned to force families from their homes and poison the groundwater through illegal extraction.
He hid the original mineral deed and dissolved the public partnership.
But Silver Crown survived in secret.
Evelyn and Silas rebuilt it.
Daniel Bennett discovered unexplained payments from Hartland Ranch into Silver Crown accounts.
Mara helped him investigate.
They planned to tell Harrison.
Evelyn learned about it first.
“The river accident was supposed to frighten Mara,” Silas said.
“She escaped before we could bring her back.”
“Where did she go?”
“Daniel hid her.”
“He created false identities.”
“They married.”
“They had Lucy.”
Silas’s face hardened.
“Then Daniel made a mistake.”
“He contacted Walter’s old attorney about the deed.”
Silver Crown found them.
Daniel was taken.
Mara and Lucy were imprisoned at the white house.
Tommy was born there.
“Why keep them alive?”
“The deed was placed in a trust.”
“It requires a Hart descendant and a Bennett witness to open.”
Harrison looked at Lucy.
“Walter named Daniel’s family?”
“Daniel’s grandfather was one of the original partners.”
“Unlike the others, he supported Walter.”
Silas pointed toward the floor.
Two keyholes were hidden beneath a loose plank.
Harrison inserted his key.
Lucy inserted hers.
The floor opened.
A steel box rose from beneath the cabin.
A small scanner illuminated.
Silas removed a knife.
Harrison struck him before he reached Lucy.
They crashed into the wall.
Lucy grabbed the steel box.
A gunshot exploded outside.
Silas froze.
Sheriff Mercer entered with his weapon raised.
“I told you to wait,” Harrison said.
Mercer looked toward Silas.
“I have waited nine years.”
May you like
Then he turned the gun toward Harrison.
“Give me the box.”
