Chapter 10 - THE WITNESS FROM THE OLD DOCKS
The breakthrough came from a retired dockworker.
His name was Samuel Price.
He had worked alongside Daniel Winthorne.
Rebecca located him in a small coastal town.
Laurel and Rebecca met him at his home.
Samuel was seventy-one.
His hands trembled slightly as he poured coffee.
“I wondered when someone would come asking.”
Laurel leaned forward.
“You knew my father?”
Samuel nodded.
“Good man.”
Her throat tightened.
“Do you know what happened?”
Samuel looked toward the window.
“Your father found out the shipping manifests were false.”
Laurel swallowed.
“What was being moved?”
“Restricted industrial chemicals. Some shipments were disguised as ordinary equipment.”
Rebecca took notes.
Samuel continued.
“Daniel refused to certify a vessel after discovering unsafe modifications.”
Laurel stared.
“Then he died.”
Samuel nodded slowly.
“He was supposed to meet an inspector the next morning.”
The room fell silent.
Rebecca asked:
“Do you have evidence?”
Samuel hesitated.
Then stood.
He walked to a cabinet.
Returned with an old envelope.
Inside were photographs.
Inspection notes.
And a copy of a letter Daniel had written.
Laurel recognized her father's handwriting again.
Her eyes filled.
May you like
For twenty years, she had believed his death was a tragic accident.
Now she knew he had been trying to stop something dangerous.
