Chapter 6 - JULIA’S WARNING
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.
“Open Meridian.”
The documents showed payments from Meridian Circle to Northstar.
Then through Northstar to Rebecca Stanton.
Dr. Reeves appeared too.
But unlike Rebecca, Reeves received payments labeled protective consultation.
Alexander frowned.
“Protective?”
Maybe Reeves had not been helping Rebecca.
Maybe he had been monitoring the program.
Then an emergency call came from the hospital.
Dr. Reeves had been found.
Alive.
Badly injured.
He had walked into an urgent care clinic twenty miles outside the city.
Alexander arrived under police guard.
Reeves could barely speak.
His left arm was fractured.
His face bruised.
Alexander stood beside the bed.
“Did you help Rebecca drug Henry?”
Reeves closed his eyes.
“No.”
“Your credentials were used.”
“I know.”
“You knew Rebecca.”
“Yes.”
Alexander leaned closer.
“Then tell me everything.”
Reeves explained he had once worked at Northstar.
He left after discovering unethical trials.
Julia later contacted him.
Together they monitored Henry because Julia believed the program might target him.
Reeves recommended himself as Henry’s pediatrician specifically to protect the boy.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Julia begged me not to.”
Alexander’s jaw tightened.
“Everyone seems to have protected me by lying.”
Reeves looked ashamed.
Then he revealed Rebecca’s real purpose.
She was not primarily studying Henry’s response to medication.
She was using the compound to erase memories after visits from Nathan.
“Why would Nathan visit him?”
“I don’t know.”
“But Rebecca did?”
Reeves nodded.
“She believed Henry knew where Julia hid something.”
Alexander thought of the black drive.
They had it now.
“Did Nathan hurt Henry?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Why?”
“Because Nathan kept trying to reduce the dosage.”
Alexander froze.
Reeves had intercepted messages between Nathan and Rebecca.
Nathan repeatedly ordered her to stop escalating.
Rebecca ignored him.
That meant Nathan did not fully control her.
Alexander thought of Julia’s warning.
Nathan is not the person I am most afraid of.
“Who did Rebecca answer to?”
Reeves opened his eyes.
“Someone called Director Grey.”
Alexander frowned.
“Real name?”
“I never learned it.”
Before he could ask more, Reeves grabbed Alexander’s wrist.
“Do not take Henry to Cole Medical.”
Alexander looked at him.
“Why?”
Reeves struggled to breathe.
May you like
“Because Director Grey already has access to his records.”
Then the heart monitor alarm began screaming.
