Chapter 13 - The Witness No One Expected
Caleb Voss still had powerful friends.
His lawyer claimed the ledgers were forged.
Deputy Harlan refused to testify.
Voss denied everything.
The case might have collapsed.
Then Eli Mercer walked into the courthouse.
His father stood beside him.
The boy described the barn fire.
He identified Voss.
Harlan.
And Reverend Pike.
Pike confirmed it.
Then another witness came forward.
Then another.
Workers from the freight camp filled the hallway.
Chinese laborers.
Mexican ranch hands.
Widows.
Native families.
Men Voss had cheated.
Women he had threatened.
People who had believed nobody would listen.
Mian had changed that.
Atseli had changed that.
Silas had changed that simply by opening a door.
The trial was scheduled.
But before testimony began, Deputy Harlan disappeared from jail.
Someone had helped him escape.
That evening, a shot shattered Silas's kitchen window.
The bullet struck the wall inches from Mian.
Silas ran outside.
Harlan escaped into the darkness.
The trial had not even begun.
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And someone was already trying to silence its most important witnesses.
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