Northstar knew everything.
And eventually, knowing everything became more valuable than money.
“Arthur didn't want to own cities,” Samuel said.
“He wanted to own the people who controlled them.”
Naomi looked at the screen.
“And Victor?”
“Victor became his most successful student.”
“Then why did Victor turn against him?”
“Because Victor wanted the network for himself.”
Henry spoke.
“So Arthur died.”
Samuel nodded.
“And Northstar disappeared.”
“But it didn't.”
“No.”
“It became Victor Hale.”
Naomi walked toward the window.
San Francisco glittered below.
A city she had always believed represented freedom.
Now she saw something else.
Connections.
Money.
Influence.
Invisible hands.
“How did my mother get involved?”
Samuel's expression softened.
“Your mother was brilliant.”
Naomi smiled despite herself.
“I know.”
“She was recruited as an analyst.”
“For Victor?”
“No.”
“For Edward.”
Samuel continued.
“Edward believed he could control Northstar from inside the Calloway family.”
“But Richard disagreed.”
“Yes.”
“Then they fought.”
“Yes.”
“And my mother chose Richard.”
“Yes.”
Naomi looked down.
“What happened to Edward?”
“He disappeared.”
“Did Victor kill him?”
“No.”
“Then who did?”
Samuel didn't answer.
Henry stepped forward.
“We need to leave.”
Naomi turned.
“Why?”
“Because we're no longer alone.”
A sound came from upstairs.
Footsteps.
Several people.
Henry grabbed his weapon.
James moved toward the stairs.
Samuel struggled to stand.
“Take Naomi.”
James looked at him.
“What about you?”
“I've been running for thirty years.”
He smiled.
“I'm tired.”
Naomi shook her head.
“No.”
Samuel looked at her.
“Your mother wanted you to survive.”
“She also wanted the truth exposed.”
Samuel nodded.
“Then survive long enough to expose it.”
The basement door opened.
A man stepped down.
Victor Hale.
He wasn't carrying a gun.
He didn't need one.
Two armed men stood behind him.
Victor looked at Naomi.
“You have something that belongs to me.”
Naomi held up the USB.
“No.”
Victor smiled.
“You have something that belongs to your mother.”
“Then why did you come?”
“To correct a misunderstanding.”
“What misunderstanding?”
Victor looked at Samuel.
“You think I built Northstar.”
Samuel laughed.
“You did.”
“No.”
Victor's expression changed.
“I inherited it.”
Naomi stared.
“From Arthur?”
Victor shook his head.
“From someone else.”
“Who?”
Victor looked at James.
James went pale.
“Don't.”
Naomi turned toward him.
“What?”
Victor smiled.
“Ask your father.”
James whispered:
“Victor, don't.”
“Tell her.”
Naomi stepped closer.
“Tell me what?”
James closed his eyes.
Then he said:
“Arthur Vale wasn't the founder.”
Naomi felt the room tilt.
“Then who was?”
James looked at her.
“Your grandfather.”
Naomi stopped.
“My grandfather?”
James nodded.
“Claire's father.”
“Who?”
James whispered:
“Samuel Cross.”
THE ORIGINAL SIN
Naomi looked at Samuel.
He didn't deny it.
Victor smiled.
“Now you understand.”
Naomi shook her head.
“No.”
She looked at Samuel.
“You founded Northstar.”
“Yes.”
“You created everything.”
“Yes.”
“You built the network that destroyed my family.”
Samuel's eyes filled with regret.
“Yes.”
Naomi's voice became barely audible.
“Why?”
Samuel sat down.
“Because I believed information could prevent corruption.”
“And instead?”
“I created a monster.”
Victor interrupted.
“A monster that made us all rich.”
Samuel looked at him.
“You turned it into something I never intended.”
Victor laughed.
“That's what people always say when their creation becomes more powerful than they are.”
Naomi looked between them.
“Where does Arthur fit?”
Samuel explained.
Arthur had been his business partner.
Samuel created the information network.
Arthur provided capital.
Edward provided political connections.
Victor provided enforcement.
Richard eventually discovered the truth.
Claire discovered it too.
And together, they tried to destroy it.
“But you couldn't,” Naomi said.
Samuel shook his head.
“I was too late.”
“Then why did you disappear?”
“Because I realized Northstar had become larger than any of us.”
Victor stepped forward.
“And because he was afraid.”
Samuel looked at him.
“Yes.”
Victor turned to Naomi.
“Your grandfather ran.”
“He wasn't my grandfather.”
“He was.”
Naomi stared at Samuel.
He nodded.
“I am your mother's father.”
She felt numb.
All the missing pieces suddenly had faces.
Samuel.
Claire.
Richard.
Edward.
Victor.
James.
Her entire family had been connected to Northstar before she had ever been born.
“Why did my mother never tell me?”
“Because she hated what I had become.”
“Did she forgive you?”
Samuel looked away.
“No.”
Naomi's eyes filled with tears.
“Did you love her?”
“With everything I had.”
“Then why didn't you protect her?”
Samuel's voice broke.
“I tried.”
“No.”
Naomi stepped closer.
“You watched her die.”
“Yes.”
“You let her die.”
Samuel closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because she made me promise.”
Naomi stared.
“What promise?”
“To protect you.”
“By letting her die?”
“She knew they were watching her.”
“Who?”
“Victor.”
Victor shook his head.
“I didn't kill her.”
Samuel looked at him.
“You didn't have to.”
Victor's face hardened.
“She chose her fate.”
“No,” Naomi said.
Both men looked at her.
“My mother didn't choose to die.”
She lifted the USB.
“She chose to leave evidence.”
Naomi inserted the drive into Henry's laptop.
The final video began.
Claire appeared.
Her expression was serious.
“If you're watching this, Naomi, you have probably learned that Samuel is your grandfather.”