Chapter 13 — The Fall of Vale Maritime
The following morning, Celeste testified.
Arthur’s attorney approached her with a sympathetic expression.
“Commander Vale, you’ve experienced severe trauma, correct?”
“Yes.”
“You were trapped aboard a burning submarine?”
“Yes.”
“You suffered memory loss afterward?”
“For three days.”
“Isn’t it possible your anger toward your father has affected your judgment?”
“No.”
The attorney displayed the fabricated messages.
“Did you order Daniel Mercer to destroy evidence?”
“No.”
“Did you return home intending to take control of Vale Maritime?”
Celeste looked at the jury.
“I returned to stop it.”
The attorney smiled.
“So you admit you wanted the company destroyed.”
“I wanted the crimes exposed.”
“Even if innocent employees lost their livelihoods?”
Arthur watched her carefully.
He expected her to defend herself.
Instead, Celeste reached into her folder.
“Vale Maritime’s employees will not lose their livelihoods.”
The attorney paused.
Celeste continued.
“At eight o’clock this morning, a coalition of creditors, pension trustees, and minority shareholders filed to remove Arthur Vale and the entire executive board.”
Arthur stood.
His attorney tried to silence him.
Celeste looked directly at her father.
“The company’s civilian operations have been placed into an independent trust. Employee pensions and wages are protected.”
Arthur’s face drained of color.
“You can’t do that.”
“I already did.”
“You don’t have the shares.”
“Mother did.”
The courtroom erupted.
Celeste produced the original trust documents from Arthur’s vault. Evelyn had placed twenty-six percent of the company into an irrevocable trust for her children.
Arthur’s transfer was fraudulent.
Combined with minority shareholders and Julian’s surrendered shares, Celeste controlled enough voting power to remove him.
“You wanted me to choose between justice and the employees,” she said. “I chose both.”
Arthur shouted across the courtroom.
“You will never run my company!”
Celeste’s voice remained steady.
“I don’t intend to.”
She announced that Vale Maritime’s defense division would be dissolved. Its patents, factories, and qualifying workers would be transferred to a public-benefit corporation supervised by independent engineers and military safety auditors.
Arthur’s empire would survive only in pieces he could no longer control.
Outside the courthouse, Vale Maritime signs were being removed from buildings across the country.
Arthur turned toward Crewe.
But Crewe’s chair was empty.
Moreno entered through the rear doors and handed the prosecutor a note.
Martin Crewe had been found at the airport.
He was alive.
And he had agreed to testify.
Arthur sat down slowly.
Then the courthouse fire alarm began to ring.
May you like
A marshal rushed inside.
“Commander Vale,” he said, “your nephew’s school transport has vanished.”
