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The girls reconcile after their argument and discuss how to proceed with their investigation. They know that their mother will not break doctor-patient privilege and that they will have to find independent evidence confirming the information to which Nathan confessed. Because the poisonous compound was originally part of Nathan’s PhD research, they decide to look for his dissertation. This avenue of investigation proves unsuccessful, but in a random box in their house, they do find the letters that Apple is searching for. From the correspondence, they learn that Apple’s family sold Duke Templeton the land to build the chemical plant, knowing full well that he intended to produce a material that had the potential to be toxic. Because the town had to approve the construction of this new infrastructure, the Groves family agreed to build a dam that would create a lake for swimming; additionally, they agreed to build a park around the lake. Secretly, however, the Groveses built the dam to divert the river through a more lucrative piece of land, thereby securing a much higher price from Duke Templeton. The two families thus publicized the reason for the river re-routing as a safety measure for children and an attempt to beautify the town, but, in reality, the plans of both the Templetons and the Groveses were much more nefarious. There is also evidence that the Groveses were aware that they did not, in fact, have the right to build the dam. They simply did not believe that the town would ever realize that their construction was not entirely aboveboard.

Upon reading the letters, the girls realize that Apple must have been familiar with the contents. By extension, they deduce that Apple might also know that the letters represent hard evidence that the Groveses were aware that Belsum’s plant would create toxic runoff and that the river they planned to divert to increase their profits would be poisoned as a result. This correspondence represents the “missing link” that Nora had been searching for all these years. Upon learning of the girls’ discovery, Nora consults with Russell, who tells her sadly that the information is not enough to bring a successful suit against Duke and Belsum and that not enough signatories remain on the lawsuit for it to be filed at all. However, he does suggest the possibility of “taking away” Belsum’s dam. Legally, the town still owns it, and the paperwork that Duke has been so fearful of is, in fact, the very paperwork that proves that the town controls the dam, not Belsum. Russell says that he will file an injunction to halt progress on the dam, which Belsum has been repairing in preparation for the plant’s reopening. Nora relays this information to Omar, the mayor, who produces the deed to the dam and confirms that the town of Bourne does indeed own it. This information means that Belsum cannot repair the dam without the town’s permission, and their project can legally be halted.

Now begins a 10-day period of waiting since Russell must wait until November 22 before he can file the injunction. (This is the day on which the dam construction is scheduled to begin.) In the meantime, the girls quarrel over whether or not to tell River about these plans. Because Mab loves River, she trusts him to safeguard the information, but her sisters argue otherwise. Mab is able to hold her tongue for seven days, and then she shares with River that the town has the power to stop the dam from being fixed and thus stop Belsum from reopening the plant.

On the evening of November 21, the Mitchell family is eating dinner when Nathan interrupts to tell them that he has learned of their plan to halt the dam repair process. Nora asks where he learned this piece of information, and he refuses to name his source. He tells her that the injunction is bound to fail and that his father will stop at nothing to get the plant reopened. He also states that he has a host of attorneys and government officials at his behest. He adds that he has ordered rigorous testing, all of which has indicated that Belsum’s product is now safe. He tells Nora that the town needs the jobs and that Omar will side with Belsum because it is what his constituents want.

River comes to see Mab at the bar, but Nora kicks him out. Maribel follows him, and the two talk. He tells her that his father is so different from his grandfather that he sincerely believed that sharing the information would be helpful somehow. Maribel is understanding. Omar then comes to see Nora and tells her that the decision on whether or not to allow the plant to reopen is up to the entire town, not just the two of them. He plans to call a city-wide vote on whether or not to grant Belsum access to the dam. If the town votes in Belsum’s favor, the company will then have official permission to reopen their chemical plant in Bourne.

Mab and her friend Petra solicit votes from everyone they know, urging the townspeople to vote against Belsum. Although they do find sympathetic ears, they are also told not to get their hopes up since people need the jobs that Belsum is planning to bring back to the town. People also seem to generally believe Nathan Templeton’s claims that the chemical composition of their product has been brought up to appropriate safety standards and has passed every safety test administered.

The Templetons have an open house on the night before the vote. Monday brings the Groves family letters to Apple, who is touched. Monday also tells Apple that she read the letters and that they prove that Apple’s father knew very well that the Templetons planned to produce chemicals that would create toxic runoff. Although Apple cries when Monday shares this with her, she is not yet ready to admit her father’s guilt. She cannot believe that he would be complicit in the poisoning of Bourne’s river.

The town holds its vote on whether or not to allow Belsum to repair the dam and reopen the chemical factory. Although Nora, Mab, Monday, and Maribel are firmly opposed to allowing the Templeton family back into Bourne, the town votes in favor of the repair and the reopening. They simply need the jobs and the money too much to vote against the motion.

River goes to see Mab and tells her that it was actually Maribel who first informed him about the plans to block Belsum’s access to the dam; he emphasizes that when Mab told him, it wasn’t new information to him. Mab is stunned and wonders what other lies Mirabel has been telling her. Although River seemed sympathetic to Bourne’s plight in the past, he now explains that, according to his father, it was never really Belsum’s fault that Bourne’s water supply was poisoned. He states that Bourne took a risk and that sometimes life brings consequences beyond anyone’s control. Mab is shocked that River and his father are refusing to take responsibility for Belsum’s crimes in Bourne.

River leaves Mab with a college catalogue and suggests that they apply to the same school: the college where both Nathan and Duke were educated. Mab does not know how to respond to what she perceives as an act of condescension, so she goes inside without saying anything. There, she and her sisters talk, and Mab asks Mirabel why she told River about the dam. Mab realizes that her sister did so because, just like Mab, Mirabel loved River. Mab is not sure why this surprises her so much. The three girls then look through the college brochure and realize that Duke Templeton’s college roommate was the CEO of Harburon Analytical, the “independent” testing company that Nathan hired to prove that Belsum’s chemicals are no longer toxic. Mirabel posits that the lawsuit and the vote were never the right way to stop Belsum from reopening. Instead, she proposes that they destroy the dam itself.

The girls write their mother a note, explaining that they are going to “take care of it” (375). Monday scribbles this note on a postcard onto which she has pasted the photo of Bourne’s river in its original state before it was rerouted.

The girls sneak into the factory late at night, using a key that Mab secretly stole from River and copied. They plan to use a backhoe to damage the dam. Monday knows how to operate a backhoe because the library owns the guide to operating them. The girls all climb into the cab of the backhoe and work together to create a hole large enough for water to flow through.

When the damage is discovered, Duke Templeton declines to press charges because he does not want to admit that he has been beaten by three teenage girls. Omar also refuses to punish the girls. The library is officially given to Monday to operate, and Mirabel brings back the defunct town newspaper. Mab and Petra leave to attend college. Nathan predictably claims not to have known about the testing company’s personal ties to his father. Bourne is ultimately offered a small settlement, and although it is far less than the townspeople deserve after all of their hardship, it is still enough to make a difference in the town. Working together, the people of Bourne restore and refurbish many of their buildings. They are ready to leave Bourne’s difficult history in the past and move on.