Chapter 12 - THE ADMIRAL’S SECRET
Reed did not deny it.
That hurt more than any excuse.
“Yes.”
He said.
“I helped arrange your transfer stateside.”
“Why?”
“Because the investigation was reaching a point where we needed someone Arthur couldn’t easily compromise.”
“You used me.”
“I protected you.”
“You manipulated me.”
“Yes.”
The word echoed.
“Did you know Arthur’s company caused the Hamilton failure?”
“Not when it happened.”
“When did you learn?”
“Eight months ago.”
I stepped away.
“And you didn’t tell me.”
“I needed proof.”
“You needed bait.”
Reed looked wounded.
I did not care.
“Was I the bait?”
“No.”
“Then what was I?”
“The only person I trusted to survive Arthur.”
I laughed once.
“That sounds much nobler.”
“Celeste.”
“You had my mother’s key.”
“Yes.”
“You knew she contacted you.”
“Yes.”
“You knew the company might have been responsible for the fire that scarred me.”
“Eventually.”
“And you still sent me back here without telling me everything.”
Reed’s face tightened.
“Because I knew what you would do.”
“What?”
“You would make it personal.”
“It was personal.”
“That is exactly why I was afraid.”
I stared at him.
“My crew nearly died.”
“And that is why we needed evidence strong enough to survive court.”
He stepped closer.
“Arthur has escaped consequences for decades because everyone moved too soon.”
I hated that he was right.
I hated more that right and betrayal could exist in the same room.
“What happens now?”
I asked.
“Arthur will be charged.”
“With what?”
“Fraud, conspiracy, obstruction, bribery, and potentially criminal liability connected to the Meridian.”
“And Mom?”
“That depends on Mercer and Vanessa.”
“And the company?”
“That depends on ownership.”
The stolen will.
My mother’s forty-one percent.
Julian entered the room with his wrists bandaged.
“There’s a problem.”
He said.
“What?”
“Dad transferred his voting shares.”
“To whom?”
Julian looked sick.
“Senator Caldwell’s private trust.”
Reed swore.
That was not a retreat.
It was insurance.
If Arthur went down, Caldwell would take control of Ashford Maritime and potentially destroy the remaining records.
“How fast can he act?”
I asked.
Julian checked his phone.
“Board meeting at nine tomorrow morning.”
“What are they voting on?”
“Liquidation.”
I looked at the clock.
We had eleven hours.
“If Caldwell wins, the evidence disappears.”
Reed said.
I picked up my mother’s will.
“Then we take the company first.”
Julian stared at me.
“You don’t have enough votes.”
“Maybe I do.”
“How?”
I looked at the numbers Mom had circled.
11.
12.
13.
I finally understood.
They were not coordinates.
They were corporate records.
Article 11.
Section 4.
Clause 317.
May you like
My mother had not only left us shares.
She had left us a way to freeze the entire company.
