Alexander watched the video alone first.
Then again with Sarah.
Julia looked exhausted.
Behind her was the home office Alexander remembered.
The recording date was nine days before her death.
“Nathan believes he controls Northstar,” Julia said.
“He doesn’t.”
She explained that Northstar Therapeutics had begun as a legitimate neuroscience company.
Then an investment group called Meridian Circle entered.
Meridian provided funding no bank would touch.
In return, it gained access to research.
Nathan joined Meridian after disappearing.
He believed memory suppression technology could be used therapeutically.
Trauma treatment.
Addiction recovery.
Severe anxiety.
Then military clients became interested.
So did intelligence contractors.
The experiments expanded.
Children were selected because developing brains produced different results.
Alexander clenched his fists.
Julia continued.
“Henry was never formally enrolled.”
Alexander almost exhaled.
Then she added:
“But someone created a profile for him.”
A folder opened on screen.
Henry Cole.
Age: one year.
Genetic risk factors.
Cognitive development.
Behavioral tracking.
Alexander felt physically sick.
His son had been observed since infancy.
Julia had discovered hidden sensors in nursery devices supplied by a Cole subsidiary.
She removed them.
Then she confronted Nathan.
Nathan denied authorizing Henry’s inclusion.
Julia believed him.
“Then who did?”
Julia’s expression changed.
“The person approving these profiles uses Alexander’s root credentials.”
Alexander stared.
His founder-level authorization.
Someone with access deeper than even the board.
Julia believed the attacker existed inside the original architecture of Cole Dynamics.
Someone present from the company’s earliest years.
Alexander reviewed names.
Nathan.
Alexander.
Chief engineer Marcus Voss.
General counsel Diane Mercer.
Early investor Stephen Pike.
Only a handful had root-level access before the system was redesigned.
Sarah pointed toward another file.
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