Chapter 3 - THE LIGHTHOUSE ARCHIVE
My father, Alexander Marlowe, built his shipping company from two aging cargo vessels and a bank loan nobody believed he could repay.
Thirty years later, Marlowe Maritime operated ports, logistics facilities, and commercial vessels across Europe and North America.
He was wealthy.
He was respected.
And he had made powerful enemies.
One of them was Victor Vale.
Cassandra's father.
The chairman of Vale International.
For years, Victor had been my father's closest business partner.
Their companies shared terminals, freight contracts, and investment interests.
Then, eighteen months before my father's death, everything changed.
My father discovered irregularities in a series of shipping transactions.
Invoices didn't match cargo records.
Insurance claims appeared on vessels that had never suffered damage.
Money moved through consulting companies that had no employees.
He suspected fraud.
And he believed someone inside Vale International was responsible.
He began collecting evidence.
The Lighthouse Archive contained copies of contracts, transaction histories, correspondence, and internal audit findings.
My father intended to turn the material over to regulators.
But before he could complete the process, he suffered a fatal heart attack.
At least, that was what the doctors told us.
I had never questioned it.
Until that night.
Adrien watched me examine the empty compartment.
"Who knew about the archive?" he asked.
"My father's attorney."
"Anyone else?"
"Possibly Victor Vale."
Adrien's expression darkened.
I looked at him.
"Why?"
He hesitated.
"Your father had an argument with Mr. Vale aboard this yacht shortly before his death."
My heart tightened.
"What kind of argument?"
"I wasn't present for the entire conversation."
"What did you hear?"
Adrien looked toward the window.
"Your father said, 'If anything happens to me, Elena gets everything.'"
I went still.
"And Victor?"
"He told your father that family loyalty had a price."
I felt cold.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Adrien's face tightened.
"Because your father asked me not to involve you until he had verified his suspicions."
I stared at him.
"He died before that happened."
"Yes."
Silence.
Then Adrien added something that changed the direction of the entire night.
"Miss Marlowe, there's another reason I came upstairs when I did."
I looked at him.
"What?"
"The person who opened the safe didn't arrive through the main corridor."
"Then how?"
Adrien swallowed.
"Through the crew passage."
I stared.
"Who has access to that?"
"Senior officers."
He paused.
"And anyone carrying a temporary maritime contractor credential."
My heart began racing.
"Was one issued tonight?"
May you like
Adrien nodded.
"To Julian Vale."
