Chapter 32 - The Name Hidden in the Acquisition
The compliance committee spent two weeks reviewing the transaction.
They found no criminal conduct.
That should have reassured me.
Instead, they found something stranger.
The company that acquired Atlas's remaining technology was called Northstar Meridian Holdings.
Its registered owners were three investment funds.
No obvious connection to Victoria.
No connection to Edward Crane.
No connection to Martin Hale.
Nothing.
Then Daniel called.
“We found the connection.”
I drove to the foundation office.
He placed a file on the table.
“Northstar's primary legal adviser is a firm called Bennett & Cole.”
I stared at the page.
“I know Bennett & Cole.”
“So did your father.”
My pulse quickened.
“How?”
“They represented him during the final restructuring before his death.”
I opened the file.
There it was.
My father's signature.
Then another name.
Samuel Bennett.
The attorney who had helped my father create the independent foundation structure.
I looked up.
“Is he involved?”
“Not directly.”
“Then why is his firm advising Northstar?”
“We don't know.”
I hated those words.
But this time I didn't react.
Instead, I asked:
“Has anyone from Bennett & Cole contacted the company?”
“No.”
“Then don't accuse them.”
Daniel nodded.
That evening, I called Samuel Bennett.
He answered on the second ring.
“Nora.”
“Did my father ever tell you about Northstar Meridian?”
There was a long silence.
“Yes.”
My heart stopped.
“How much did he know?”
“More than you think.”
“Then why didn't he tell me?”
“Because you were too young.”
I almost laughed.
“I was thirty when he died.”
“You were his daughter.”
“That isn't an answer.”
“No,” Samuel said quietly.
“It isn't.”
He paused.
“Your father believed some information becomes dangerous when handed to someone before they're ready.”
I looked out the window.
“Am I ready now?”
“Yes.”
My voice dropped.
“Then tell me.”
Samuel sighed.
“Your father didn't believe Atlas was the real threat.”
My blood went cold.
“What did he believe?”
“That Atlas was only a doorway.”
“To what?”
“The privatization of technology your father believed should never belong to one private network.”
I sat down.
For the first time, I realized the old corruption may have been larger than money.
It may have been about control.
May you like
And my father had been trying to stop it before he died.
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