Silence.
Vale’s expression changed.
Rosalie understood.
There had been others.
Other families.
Other children.
Other secrets.
Gideon stepped beside her.
Vale ordered his men forward.
Then a sound came from the hills.
Horses.
Dozens of them.
The sheriff of Coldwater rode into view with several deputies.
Behind them came ranchers from the surrounding valley.
Rosalie’s heart jumped.
The evidence had already been sent.
A letter had reached the sheriff before they left.
Vale looked around.
For the first time, he seemed uncertain.
The sheriff dismounted.
“Dr.
Vale.”
Vale said nothing.
The sheriff held up the ledger.
“You’ve been hiding a lot.”
PART 6 — THE TRUTH
The investigation lasted weeks.
The old laboratory was uncovered.
The contaminated spring was sealed.
The mining operation was exposed.
Several families came forward.
They told stories of children who had suffered unexplained illnesses.
Workers who had become sick.
