Samuel stepped forward.
"Put the rifle down."
The young man tilted his head.
"That's an unfriendly greeting."
"Put it down."
The man glanced toward Clara.
"You must be Mrs. Thorne."
She stood beside Samuel.
"And you must be the man who's been spying on us."
He smiled wider.
"Spying is such an ugly word."
Samuel's grip tightened around the iron poker.
The stranger looked toward the open chest.
Then his smile vanished.
"You found the papers."
Edgar spoke suddenly.
"Who are you?"
The young man turned toward him.
"You really don't remember?"
Edgar frowned.
"Should I?"
The stranger slowly raised the lantern toward his own face.
"Take a good look."
Edgar stared.
Then he took a step backward.
His lips parted.
"No."
The young man nodded.
"Yes."
Samuel looked between them.
"What is going on?"
The stranger's expression hardened.
"My name is Daniel Whitcomb."
Clara felt a chill.
Whitcomb.
The name of the missing surveyor.
Daniel looked at Edgar Vale.
"And the man you helped bury beneath this mountain was my grandfather."
No one moved.
Samuel stared at the young stranger.
Clara watched Edgar Vale's face.
The old man looked as though the years had suddenly caught up with him.
Daniel Whitcomb lowered his lantern.
"My grandfather discovered copper on this land when he was thirty-two years old. He filed the proper claim, paid the necessary fees, and hired three men to help him develop the mine."
His eyes moved toward Samuel.
"Your father was one of them."
Then toward Clara.
"So was yours."
Clara swallowed.
Daniel continued.
"They decided they deserved the mine more than the man who owned it."
Edgar shook his head.
"It wasn't that simple."
Daniel turned sharply.
"It was exactly that simple."
Samuel held up one hand.
"Everyone needs to calm down."
Daniel looked at him.
"You live in a house built with stolen money."
Samuel's jaw tightened.
"I inherited this place. I didn't steal anything."
"Then you ought to be eager to return it."
Clara stepped forward.
"Why didn't you come to us openly?"
Daniel looked at her.
For a moment, something like embarrassment crossed his face.
Then he said, "Because I didn't know whether you were part of it."
"Part of what?"
"The cover-up."
Clara stared.
"We didn't even know the tunnel existed."
"I know that now."
Samuel's voice was cold.
"And the raw meat?"
Daniel hesitated.
Then nodded.
"That was me."
Clara felt anger flare.
"You entered our pantry?"
"Yes."
"You watched me cook?"
"Only long enough to understand when the kitchen would be empty."
She stared at him.
"You frightened us in our own home."
Daniel looked down.
"I needed you to notice the wall."
Samuel took one deliberate step toward him.
"You could have left a note."
Daniel looked back.
"I did."
Samuel frowned.
"Where?"