Chapter 10 - The Second Key.
Charles Vale's recorded image flickered behind the glass.
Adrian stepped closer to the mirror.
"Then who is?"
The recording could not answer him directly, but Charles continued as if he had anticipated the question.
"Northstar began as a private audit channel."
He rubbed both hands over his face.
"I created it with someone I trusted more than my board."
Claire watched every movement.
"When I realized the channel had been turned into a private network for influence, I tried to close it."
Charles looked exhausted.
"By then, it was already inside my home."
Margaret whispered.
"Lenora."
Adrian turned sharply.
"My mother?"
Margaret shook her head.
"No, your father is saying your mother discovered it."
The recording continued.
"Lenora kept the only complete access ledger."
Adrian looked at the brown book in his hand.
Charles leaned toward the camera.
"The final archive requires two keys."
Claire looked at Evelyn's black key.
Charles lifted his left hand on the screen.
A silver signet ring gleamed on his finger.
"One key belongs to Evelyn."
Then he raised the ring.
"The second belongs to Adrian."
The screen went dark.
Adrian stared at his own hands.
He had not inherited his father's ring.
Victor had presented it to him after Charles's funeral, saying Charles wanted it buried with Lenora.
Adrian had agreed.
Claire looked at him.
"Was it buried?"
"I never checked."
Nolan glanced at Margaret.
"Who arranged the family vault?"
Margaret's expression turned pale.
"Victor."
Claire shook her head.
"Too obvious."
Adrian looked at her.
"My father just warned me Victor is not the architect."
"That does not mean Victor is innocent."
Claire walked to the vanity and examined the old jewelry boxes.
One drawer was locked.
Evelyn's black key did not fit.
Adrian tried a small brass house key from his pocket.
Nothing.
Nolan searched the room.
Margaret suddenly spoke.
"Your mother gave you a cuff link when you turned sixteen."
Adrian frowned.
"A silver V."
"It was made from your father's original signet."
Adrian felt a strange memory surface.
The cuff link had been too old-fashioned for him, so he had kept it in a childhood keepsake box.
That box was still somewhere in the mansion.
Claire understood his expression.
"Where?"
"My old room."
They crossed the private corridor toward the north bedrooms.
Adrian's childhood room had been left mostly unchanged.
Sports trophies sat beside dusty books.
A model sailboat rested on the windowsill.
He found the keepsake box beneath the bed.
Inside was the silver cuff link.
Claire turned it over.
The back was shaped like a tiny four-point star.
Northstar.
Nolan let out a slow breath.
"Second key."
A sound came from the doorway.
Everyone turned.
Simon Cross stood there in person for the first time that night.
He wore a dark suit and carried no visible weapon.
He looked almost disappointed.
"I was hoping Charles had lied about that too," Simon said.
Nolan stepped forward.
Simon raised both hands.
"Relax."
Claire watched him.
"Where is Victor?"
Simon smiled.
"Still trying to save Adrian from the wrong enemy."
Adrian's patience snapped.
"Then tell me who the right enemy is."
Simon looked at Margaret.
Margaret went completely still.
May you like
Simon gave a small nod toward her.
"Ask the woman who has been inside this house longer than any of us."
