Chapter 7 - DANIEL'S LAST NIGHTSamuel couldn't speak.
The founder.
His own business partner from decades ago.
The man who had helped build Northstar.
The man Samuel trusted.
Diane placed an old document on the table.
Daniel's signature was at the bottom.
Ryan stared.
“What is this?”
“A confidential investigation.”
Diane's voice trembled.
“Daniel discovered that company funds were being diverted.”
Samuel whispered,
“Forty-three million?”
“No.”
Diane shook her head.
“Much more.”
Ryan felt cold.
“How much?”
“Over two hundred million.”
Samuel closed his eyes.
Diane continued.
“Daniel wanted to expose it.”
“Then why didn't he?”
“Because he was threatened.”
“By whom?”
Diane looked at the document.
“The founder.”
Samuel's hands began shaking.
“His name.”
Diane hesitated.
“Richard Vale.”
Samuel's eyes widened.
Richard Vale.
Northstar's legendary founder.
A name appearing in every company history.
A man celebrated as a visionary.
A man who had died peacefully eight years earlier.
Samuel sat down.
“He's dead.”
“Yes.”
“Then how?”
Diane looked at Marcus.
Marcus answered.
“Because he wasn't working alone.”
Ryan understood.
“Someone inherited the operation.”
Marcus smiled.
“Exactly.”
Samuel looked at him.
“You.”
Marcus shook his head.
“No.”
He leaned forward.
“Someone much closer.”
The door opened.
Everyone turned.
Olivia stood there.
She looked terrified.
“I know who it is.”
Samuel stared.
“Who?”
Olivia walked into the room.
“I've known for months.”
Ryan stood.
“Why didn't you tell anyone?”
“Because I was afraid.”
Samuel's voice hardened.
“Afraid of whom?”
Olivia looked at Marcus.
Then Diane.
Then Samuel.
“Your own family.”
Samuel froze.
“My family?”
Olivia nodded.
“The trust.”
She placed a folder on the table.
“Someone inside the Brooks Family Trust has been selling information.”
Ryan opened it.
There were emails.
Bank transfers.
Private meeting records.
Samuel's name appeared repeatedly.
Then Ryan saw another name.
He stopped breathing.
“Samuel…”
“What?”
Ryan pointed.
The name belonged to Samuel's nephew.
Andrew Brooks.
Samuel stared at the document.
Andrew had been managing part of the family trust for twelve years.
Samuel whispered,
“No.”
Olivia nodded.
“He's the one trying to force the sale.”
Samuel looked devastated.
“My nephew?”
Marcus smiled.
“And now you understand.”
Samuel's phone rang.
He answered.
A man's voice spoke.
Samuel's face became completely empty.
The voice said:
“Uncle Samuel.”
Samuel froze.
Andrew.
“I'm sorry it had to happen this way.”
Samuel whispered,
“Where are you?”
“Somewhere you should have protected.”
Samuel's eyes narrowed.
“What do you want?”
A pause.
“Northstar.”
“And if I refuse?”
Another pause.
“Then everyone learns what really happened to Daniel.”
Samuel's face went pale.
Ryan stepped closer.
“What happened to Daniel?”
Samuel slowly lowered the phone.
He looked at Ryan.
Then at Diane.
May you like
And for the first time, the old man's eyes filled with tears.
“Daniel didn't die naturally.”
