“Correct.”
“Unless they’re bidding against outside buyers without disclosure.”
“Or representing failures falsely.”
“Or tampering.”
“Right.”
Ellie asked:
“Did Hayes install the linkage backward?”
“He says no.”
“You believe him?”
“I believe he knows who did.”
“Who?”
Mark closed the folder.
“He wants immunity before he talks more.”
Ellie hated the answer.
“So we wait.”
“We wait.”
The waiting lasted another month.
Harvest began.
The old tractor helped pull grain wagons between the field and the bins because their primary tractor developed a hydraulic leak during the busiest week.
Daniel climbed down after the first day and patted the hood.
“One hundred eighty dollars.”
Ellie grinned.
“Plus four-dollar seal.”
“Plus fluids.”
“You are ruining this.”
“Accounting matters.”
At sunset they parked beside the shed.
The tractor had worked nine straight hours.
Not perfectly.
Steering loose.
Brakes uneven.
But it worked.
Daniel leaned against the tire.
“What are you going to do with it?”
“Keep it.”
“Forever?”
“Maybe.”
“You could sell it.”
“I know.”
“Pay for college.”
“Maybe.”
Daniel watched her.
“You don’t have to keep something just because proving people wrong feels good.”
Ellie looked at the field.
“I don’t.”
He waited.
“I like it.”
“That’s a better reason.”
A black SUV turned into their driveway.
Both stopped.
Calvin Rusk climbed out.
Daniel immediately straightened.
“Stay here.”
Ellie ignored him and walked beside him.
“Ellie.”
“My tractor.”
Daniel sighed.
Calvin approached without his usual dealership smile.
He looked tired.
Thinner somehow.
“Daniel.”
“Calvin.”
“Can we talk?”
“You can.”
Calvin looked toward Ellie.
“Privately.”
“No,” she said.
Daniel glanced at her.
Then back at Calvin.
“She stays.”
Calvin exhaled.
“Fine.”
He looked toward the old tractor.
“So it runs.”
Ellie said:
“You knew it would.”
Calvin’s jaw tightened.
“That’s part of why I’m here.”
Daniel crossed his arms.
“You shouldn’t be here at all with an investigation open.”
“I haven’t been charged.”
“Still not smart.”
Calvin ignored him.
He looked at Ellie.
“I’ll give you twenty thousand for the tractor.”
She almost laughed.
“No.”
“Cash.”
“No.”
“Twenty-five.”
Daniel said:
“Calvin.”