Chapter 5 - Thomas Carter Knew Richard Vale
Emily grew up believing her father had been an ordinary marine mechanic.
Richard’s letter described something else.
Thomas had worked as a contract engineer for Vale Maritime.
Seventeen years earlier, he discovered company vessels were being used
to move restricted industrial equipment through falsified manifests.
He reported it privately to Richard.
Richard initially dismissed him.
Then Thomas disappeared during a night crossing.
His boat was found damaged.
His body was never recovered.
Emily’s mother had told her he drowned.
Sarah read the next page.
Richard later discovered Thomas had hidden copies of shipping records.
Margaret learned about them too.
At the time, Margaret served as Vale Maritime’s legal director.
Daniel stared at the page.
“My mother?”
Richard’s letter did not accuse Margaret of causing Thomas’s
disappearance.
It accused her of helping bury his report.
Then Emily remembered why Margaret had become furious that afternoon.
Emily had mentioned finding an old photograph of Richard standing beside
a man who looked exactly like her father.
Margaret demanded the photograph.
Emily refused.
May you like
An hour later, the argument moved to the pool.
Then came the bat.
