Alvin Leaphart

Dead Tide: Mercury Spill Alvin Leaphart

DEAD TIDE Synopsis by: Alvin Leaphart TRACCO, a chlorine and caustic manufacturer which uses mercury in its production process, pumps several thousand tons of sludge containing mercury into a creek which runs into Turtle River, near Brunswick, Georgia. Turtle River is a major sport and commercial fishing area. An environmental catastrophe occurs. People who live along the waterway begin to get sick from mercury poisoning. A number of infants begin to show neurological defects. Clyde Darsey, the plant manager, and Franklin Perry, his maintenance superintendent, begin to embezzle from the company. They allow machinery and equipment to run down from lack of maintenance and spare parts, and begin to ?ride? their creditors. Their goal is to dispose of the company?s assets, misappropriate a large sum of cash and abscond. Several hourly employees begin to show symptoms of mercury poisoning. A whistle blowing chemist is murdered after he discovers the pollution and removes incriminating documents which implicate Darsey and Perry in the scheme. In an effort to recover the documents, an attempt is made on the life of the chemist?s widow, Ann, who escapes to Shellman Bluff where she is taken in by Alex Bosche on his 80-foot schooner. Alex, his black friend and retainer Elijah, Ann, the chemist?s widow; Amber, a black deputy sheriff; and Joe, a retired cop from New Jersey, formulate a plan to slip into the plant for the purpose of securing additional evidence. During the break-in, a shootout occurs, and they escape to sea. They are pursued by rogue named Morris and a group of mercenaries. Ann and Alex become romantically involved. Jason Gibbs, a St. Simons real estate tycoon, buys a large tract of land from TRACCO. After the closing, Jason learns that he cannot develop it because of mercury contamination. He confronts Darsey and demands the return of his money. An attempt is made on Jason?s life. Jason teams up with Alex against Darsey, Morris and Morris? gang of cutthroats in a battle that rages along the coast, from Charleston, South Carolina to Brunswick, Georgia. The schooner is almost sunk off the coast of Georgia in a firefight with an armed helicopter. They limp back to the coast and tie up at an abandoned shrimp dock near Sunbury. Morris finds them and a decisive battle is fought along the marsh and adjoining forest. Alex comes out on top, but Morris gets away. The Environmental Protection Agency and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, along with local law enforcement, begin to move in on the plant, and Darsey and Perry. Perry is arrested for murder. Alex and Elijah return to the plant to confront Darsey who is making a frantic attempt to flee with the money. A crazed Darsey waylays them with a wrecking bar and seriously injures both. Just before Darsey kills Alex, Ann arrives and shoots Darsey. Ann secures medical help for Alex and Elijah, takes the money and slips away. The story ends at a fish fry at Shellman Bluff. The ecological disaster is being dealt with. Alex and Elijah, bear a few scars but have otherwise recovered. And, Ann chooses Jason and security over Alex and adventure.