Chapter 7 - Claire Finds Her Old Complaint Altered
Claire’s Norfolk complaint involved a malfunctioning escape simulator.
She had documented a sensor failure.
The investigation confirmed it.
No one was punished because the problem was mechanical.
But the archived report now looked different.
A paragraph had been added.
LT DAWSON EXHIBITED HEIGHTENED ANXIETY AND DELAYED RESPONSE UNDER
STRESS.
Claire had never seen that sentence.
Her original copy proved it.
Someone had altered the official archive.
Metadata showed the modification occurred eight months earlier.
The user account belonged to Commander Cole.
Cole denied writing it.
Again, credentials could be misused.
But investigators found an email between Cole and Reed.
Reed wrote:
DAWSON IS PERFECT. EXISTING PAPER TRAIL.
Cole replied:
USE ONLY IF SHE VOLUNTEERS.
Claire had not volunteered for Tank Three.
Her schedule had been changed that morning.
By Reed.
Cole’s response suggested he wanted at least some procedural protection.
Reed ignored it.
That did not absolve Cole.
But it showed the conspiracy was not perfectly coordinated.
Vale appeared to be pushing both men toward increasingly dangerous
actions.
Why?
Pelican Defense Systems denied authorizing misconduct.
The company suspended employees connected to the bid and opened an
internal investigation.
Federal investigators traced payments.
Vale had received money through a consulting company.
The source was not Pelican.
It was a hedge fund holding a large short position against Pelican’s
main competitor.
The scheme was broader than a contract award.
Bad safety data could move markets.
Claire stared at the financial chart.
“You nearly drowned sailors to influence a stock price?”
Agent Brooks answered carefully.
“That appears to be one possible motive under investigation.”
Reed had been promised a future consulting position.
Cole’s brother expected subcontract work.
Vale received cash.
Different incentives tied to the same manipulated outcome.
Then the search for Vale produced a lead.
His rental car was found near the pier.
Inside was a notebook.
One page listed Tank Three drill participants.
Blake.
Claire.
Torres.
Harris.
Beside Harris’s name:
ACCIDENT IF NEEDED.
Claire looked at Chief Harris.
He went silent.
May you like
He had not merely been framed with a forged signature.
Someone had considered making him the next casualty.
