For a moment, his expression sharpened.
Then he looked toward the house.
“Where is she?”
Amily felt her stomach tighten.
Harlon reached for the metal case.
“We leave through the cellar.”
She nodded.
But before they reached the passage, Vale's voice rose outside.
“MISS WARD!”
Amily stopped.
The sound of her surname made the entire room seem colder.
Vale continued.
“I KNOW YOU'RE INSIDE!”
Harlon looked toward her.
“We don't have to answer.”
Amily stared toward the window.
Then made a decision.
“No.”
He frowned.
She placed the case safely beneath her coat.
“I want to hear what he says.”
Harlon studied her.
“Amily.”
She looked directly into his eyes.
“I won't give him the papers.”
He nodded.
“But I want him to know my mother didn't disappear from history just because he wanted her to.”
For a moment, Harlon remained silent.
Then he nodded.
“We go together.”
They stepped onto the porch.
Vale looked up.
His expression changed when he saw Amily.
For several seconds, he studied her face.
Then smiled.
“Miss Ward.”
She stood upright.
“Mr. Vale.”
He looked toward Harlon.
“Boone.”
Harlon said nothing.
Vale laughed softly.
“I see you've found each other.”
Amily looked toward him.
“Your men seem disappointed about that.”
Vale's smile tightened.
“I understand there was an unfortunate misunderstanding on the stage road.”
She stared.
“Three armed men stopped my coach and chased me through a blizzard.”
He spread his hands.
“I wasn't present.”
“No.”
Her voice hardened.
“But you sent them.”
Vale glanced toward Pike.
The gunman lowered his eyes.
For a moment, the silence became uncomfortable.
Then Vale looked back at Amily.
“I'd hoped to discuss a family matter privately.”
She folded her arms.
“Then you could have written a letter.”
His smile disappeared.
Amily continued.
“Instead, someone used my cousin's name to lure me here.”
Vale's expression sharpened.
He hadn't expected her to know that much.
Harlon noticed.
So did Amily.
She took another step forward.
“Where is Miriam Ellery?”
Vale looked almost amused.
“Your cousin is employed by my company.”
“Then why is she being held in the old assay building?”
The smile vanished.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he looked toward Pike again.
This time, his expression contained unmistakable anger.
Amily understood.
Felix had told the truth about at least part of what he knew.