Janelle Woith: Received, Not Relied Upon

Year-end close spends the district's lab subline to zero on Janelle's unpaid chase of the mill ash. Christmas at Gary and Donna's runs on not mentioning it, until Donna asks whether the ground is ruined. A January thaw gives her the first paid sample in months and shows the potassium washing out. The mill offers to pay all fourteen families if the docket closes quietly; Janelle lets the money through and asks only that her tracer not vanish. It comes back received, not relied upon.