Chapter 14 - The Boardroom War
Ethan called an emergency meeting of the Whitmore Maritime board.
Every director attended.
Some appeared in person.
Others joined through encrypted video.
Victor’s chair remained empty.
Eleanor’s chair remained empty.
Ethan entered with Claire, Thomas, Daniel, and federal investigators.
The room fell silent when Thomas appeared.
Several directors stood in shock.
One woman began crying.
Victor’s closest ally, Robert Kessler, demanded proof of identity.
Thomas looked at him.
“You broke your left wrist during the Copenhagen strike.”
“You told everyone you fell from a bicycle.”
“You actually punched a hotel wall after losing twenty thousand dollars in a card game.”
Robert sat down.
Ethan placed the original trust amendment on the table.
“The controlling shares transferred to me three months ago.”
“Every decision approved by this board since that date is under review.”
Claire placed the financial records beside it.
“The foundation accounts were used to hide payments connected to illegal cargo.”
“Several board members received money.”
Panic spread across the room.
Two directors immediately requested attorneys.
A third tried to leave.
Federal agents blocked the doors.
Ethan continued.
“Anyone who cooperates will have the opportunity to explain their involvement.”
“Anyone who destroys evidence will be charged.”
Robert pointed toward Claire.
“She is not part of this company.”
Thomas answered.
“She protected it when none of you did.”
The board voted to remove Eleanor and Victor from all positions.
Ethan was named interim chairman.
Claire was appointed independent trustee of the foundation until the stolen funds could be recovered.
For the first time in ten years, Eleanor no longer controlled Whitmore Maritime.
But she still controlled something more dangerous.
Knowledge.
During the meeting, Daniel received a message.
Victor’s jet had landed at a private airfield in Maine.
The pilot had been found unconscious.
Victor was gone.
A security camera captured Eleanor leaving the airfield with him.
They entered a vehicle registered to a Whitmore subsidiary.
The vehicle headed toward the coast.
Thomas saw the image and closed his eyes.
“I know where they are going.”
“Where?” Ethan asked.
“The first shipyard.”
Whitmore Maritime had begun at a decommissioned naval yard outside Black Harbor.
The property had been abandoned for twenty years.
Thomas had hidden a second archive there.
It contained original cargo logs and recordings of Victor’s earliest meetings.
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Claire asked.
“Because the archive also contains evidence against me.”
Ethan stared at his father.
“What did you do?”
May you like
Thomas looked older than he had moments earlier.
“I signed the first illegal shipment.”
