Chapter 12: Northstar
Elena did not go to the rooftop.
She returned to the hidden archive beneath the boardroom.
Her father’s letter had referred to the person who understood the company’s legal structure, security systems, and both Voss heirs.
Everyone had assumed that meant a betrayer.
But it also described Viktor Voss himself.
Northstar had not been created by Veronica.
It had been created by Elena’s father.
Behind his old desk, Elena found a second lock that matched Julian’s brass key.
Inside was a sealed recording.
Viktor Voss appeared on the screen.
“If Northstar has been discovered,” he said, “then the company is facing an attack from within.”
He explained that Northstar was an emergency trust holding copies of every major Voss contract, voting authorization, and private transaction.
It could not own the company.
It existed to preserve evidence.
The records Veronica carried were worthless duplicates.
The originals were stored across three independent banks.
Elena contacted federal investigators and gave them the access instructions.
On the rooftop, Veronica’s helicopter pilot received an order to shut down the aircraft.
Federal agents surrounded the building.
Julian pulled Mara behind a concrete barrier as security contractors surrendered.
Veronica remained beside the helicopter.
When Elena reached the roof, Veronica was holding a lighter beneath the false Northstar files.
“You still lose,” Veronica said.
“You’re holding copies.”
Veronica’s expression shifted.
Only slightly.
But Elena saw it.
Fear.
Sirens grew louder below.
Damian emerged from the stairwell with two investigators.
“I gave them everything,” he said.
Veronica laughed.
“You gave them enough to imprison yourself.”
“That was always going to happen.”
Her smile disappeared.
Damian held up his phone.
“The original Monarch conversations were automatically backed up.”
Veronica stepped away from the helicopter.
“You recorded me?”
“I learned from you.”
Federal agents moved toward her.
Before they reached her, another group of officers entered from the opposite stairwell.
They went directly to Damian.
“Damian Cross, you are under arrest in connection with the disappearance of Aaron Pike.”
Damian froze.
Elena recognized the name.
Aaron Pike had been a Voss Global auditor.
He had vanished six months earlier while investigating Monarch Ridge.
Damian looked at Veronica.
“What did you do?”
She smiled again.
This time, the fear was gone.
“Now you understand,” she said. “I didn’t need you to escape.”
May you like
The officers placed Damian in handcuffs.
“You were always meant to take the final fall.”
