Chapter 16 - The Parents’ Case
After river verdict, prosecutors turned to cover-up of our parents’ crash.
Garrett could not be charged with causing crash itself because no evidence he participated at twenty-one.
He could be charged for later obstruction, concealment, and payments depending statutes.
Gregory Mullen pleaded guilty to a homicide-related offense under negotiated agreement acknowledging he intentionally altered vehicle to create dangerous failure, even if he claimed he did not intend deaths.
Sentencing reflected age, cooperation, severity, and fifteen-year concealment.
Victor Vale was dead.
No trial.
No formal conviction.
That bothered Tobias.
“Everybody will say he got away.”
“He died.”
“That isn't accountability.”
“No.”
Some wrongs never fit courtroom.
Then evidence against Victor entered Mullen’s case.
Ledger.
Payment.
Arthur’s note.
Attorney archive.
Mullen testimony.
The judge found factual basis that Victor commissioned unlawful sabotage to pressure Arthur and paid to conceal after fatalities.
No conviction against deceased man, but public record established.
I visited parents’ graves.
First time since learning.
I stood between stones.
“Dad, you were right to say no.”
Then realized that was not lesson.
Saying no should not require death.
The wrong belonged to Victor.
Then Mom.
“I’m sorry Penelope never got your letter.”
Wind.
Nothing mystical.
Enough.
Then Garrett’s concealment.
He found Mullen confession years earlier.
Paid $40,000.
Told him stay silent.
Destroyed duplicate records.
Why?
Protect Vale name.
Protect himself.
Maintain access to Hayes.
He pleaded not guilty initially.
After river conviction, attorneys negotiated.
Garrett eventually pleaded guilty to obstruction/concealment-related charges rather than second trial, admitting he knowingly hid evidence relevant to parents’ deaths and paid Mullen to remain silent.
That did not make him murderer of our parents.
Important.
He was man who learned truth and chose concealment.
Then financial case.
Hayes Maritime sued Garrett civilly over undisclosed Harbor Fund interest and advisory breaches.
Settlement:
He returned certain advisory fees.
Paid damages tied to investigation.
Released any claims to company role.
No seizure of all wealth.
His remaining Vale inheritance helped satisfy.
Then divorce.
I filed.
Obviously.
Prenup simplified.
No children.
No custody.
Marital house in Annapolis.
Jointly purchased for $2.2 million.
Mortgage $900,000.
Sold.
Equity divided with adjustments under prenup and marital law.
My Hayes shares separate.
Garrett’s inherited Vale assets separate subject to his legal obligations.
No spousal support.
Life insurance canceled/changed after divorce.
No hidden claim.
Then Garrett’s surname.
Could he keep Hayes after divorce?
Legally yes.
I hated that.
Could not force easily.
He eventually petitioned from prison to restore Vale.
Why?
His choice.
Maybe shame.
Maybe practicality.
He became Garrett Vale again.
I thought I would feel relief.
Mostly I felt nothing.
Name was not shipyard.
Then Penelope sentencing.
She faced enormous exposure for two attempted murders.
Cooperation significant.
No prior record.
Pregnancy and infant not excuse.
Judge imposed twelve years effective custody, followed by supervision, restitution, and no governance role in Hayes entities.
She would serve substantial time subject lawful credits.
Her child Julian remained with Caroline Ward.
No automatic contact restrictions forever; family court handled.
Then Garrett sentencing on river plus obstruction.
Aggregate effective sentence twenty-seven years, with some concurrent components and supervised release if ever released.
He would be elderly before possible full freedom.
No death penalty.
No life without parole fiction.
Serious.
At sentencing, he spoke.
“I loved Rosalind.”
I closed my eyes.
Then:
“I also wanted what she would not give me.”
There.
“The company?”
Prosecutor? Actually allocution to judge.
“Control.”
He said.
Finally.
Then:
“I thought if I became indispensable, love and control would become same thing.”
May you like
No.
They never were.
