Chapter 34 - THE WITNESS THEY DECLARED BROKEN.
Thomas Bennett’s recording explained that the patent trust was created as a temporary shield during bankruptcy. It was never meant to collect permanent royalties or transfer liability to employees.
He had built in a failsafe.
The trust could be dissolved by testimony from thirteen original witnesses who knew the patents came from worker-funded research.
Twelve were dead.
The thirteenth was Caleb Ward, a teenage apprentice who survived Plant Three.
Arthur said Caleb suffered permanent cognitive damage.
Daniel’s face hardened.
“That diagnosis came from a Whitmore clinic.”
Thomas Whitmore dismissed the recording as the fantasy of a bitter engineer.
Claire answered, “You called my father bitter because honest sounded too dangerous.”
Court files showed Caleb had been placed under private guardianship after the disaster. His guardian controlled his testimony, treatment and settlement money.
The current guardian was Adrian.
He had never met Caleb and had never signed the appointment.
Then a care facility called.
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Caleb had disappeared three months earlier.
The transfer order carried Margaret Whitmore’s signature.
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