CHAPTER 14 – THE THIRD MAN
CHAPTER 14 – THE THIRD MAN
Adrian denied betraying their fathers.
But the photograph raised questions no one could ignore.
The writing on the back matched neither Victor nor Isabella.
Federal investigators examined the original archive files again.
One encrypted folder remained unopened.
It required three biometric confirmations.
William Thorne.
Daniel Grant.
Adrian Grant.
William and Daniel were dead.
But their biometric records had been preserved inside the federal system.
Adrian supplied the third.
The folder opened.
Inside was a video recorded by Daniel two days before his death.
Khloe watched from the secure conference room with Marcus and Adrian.
Her father appeared younger than she remembered.
Tired.
Afraid.
“If Khloe sees this,” Daniel said, “then I failed to come home.”
Khloe covered her mouth.
Daniel continued.
“Victor Rossi is not acting alone. Someone inside federal intelligence has protected the network.”
Adrian leaned closer to the screen.
Daniel named no one.
Instead, he described a code name.
Northstar.
The person controlled investigations, erased evidence and arranged both car crashes.
William Thorne had discovered Northstar’s identity but refused to write it anywhere.
He believed the traitor was someone close enough to access both families.
The video ended with a warning.
“Do not trust the person who arrives first after the truth is exposed.”
Marcus looked at Adrian.
“You arrived at the hospital before the police.”
Adrian’s eyes hardened.
“I worked there.”
“You also controlled the recording.”
“I protected it.”
“Or controlled what we saw.”
Khloe stood between them.
“Stop.”
Adrian looked wounded.
“You think I killed my brother?”
“I don’t know what to think.”
He stepped back.
“That is fair.”
An alarm sounded inside the building.
Security officers entered.
“The Rossi evidence server has been accessed.”
“By whom?” Marcus asked.
“A federal identification code.”
The screen displayed the name.
Detective Lena Morales.
Everyone turned.
Morales stood near the door.
Her weapon was already raised.
“Sit down.”
Adrian slowly lifted his hands.
“You are Northstar.”
Morales smiled.
“Victor was useful until he became emotional.”
Khloe stared at her.
“You investigated Isabella.”
“I managed the investigation.”
“You helped rescue me.”
“I needed the archive opened.”
Marcus moved slightly toward Khloe.
Morales aimed at him.
“Do not.”
Adrian spoke calmly.
“You killed Daniel.”
“He discovered my identity.”
“And William?”
“Victor handled William.”
“Why keep the network alive after twenty years?”
“Because power does not disappear. It changes owners.”
She looked at Khloe.
“Your father believed evidence could defeat people like me.”
“He was right.”
“No. Evidence only matters when institutions choose to act.”
She held up a small device.
“I have copied every protected account. In sixty seconds, the server erases itself.”
Marcus looked toward the ceiling camera.
“You forgot one thing.”
“What?”
“This building no longer uses centralized storage.”
Morales frowned.
Khloe answered.
“I redesigned the security system after the hospital.”
Every file existed in hundreds of separate encrypted locations.
Morales’s device could erase only one server.
She realized it too late.
Adrian moved.
Morales fired.
The bullet struck him in the shoulder.
Marcus pulled Khloe behind the conference table.
Security officers returned fire, striking Morales in the leg.
She fell.
Her device slid across the floor.
Adrian pressed a hand against his wound.
Khloe rushed toward him.
He looked at her.
“I told you I wasn’t the traitor.”
Tears filled her eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
“You had every reason to doubt.”
Federal agents arrested Morales.
Her confession connected judges, intelligence officers and international bankers to the Rossi network.
The final conspiracy collapsed.
But as paramedics carried Adrian away, he whispered something to Khloe.
“Your father left one more message.”
May you like
“Where?”
“In the brass key.”
