Chapter 12 - The Father Who Never Died
Charlotte didn't go alone.
She simply allowed whoever sent the message to believe she did.
Daniel followed in another vehicle.
Two investigators tracked her location from several blocks away.
The old Vale Tower had been abandoned for renovations.
Forty stories of empty offices rose above the financial district.
Charlotte entered through the underground garage.
One elevator was waiting.
The button for the thirty-ninth floor was already illuminated.
The doors closed.
Her heart pounded as she rose.
When they opened, she saw a man standing near the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Gray hair.
Broad shoulders.
A familiar posture.
"Charlotte."
Her knees nearly gave out.
"Father?"
Alexander Vale turned.
Twelve years disappeared.
Charlotte remembered being sixteen.
She remembered waiting beside her mother after the private plane crash.
She remembered being told there were no survivors.
Alexander moved toward her.
Charlotte stepped back.
"No."
His face filled with pain.
"I understand."
"No, you don't."
"I wanted to come home."
"Twelve years."
"I couldn't."
"Twelve years!"
Her voice echoed across the empty floor.
"You let me bury you."
"I was protecting you."
Charlotte laughed bitterly.
"That's what everyone keeps saying."
Alexander lowered his head.
"Northstar wasn't created by Adrian."
Charlotte stared at him.
"I created it."
Her anger disappeared for a second.
"What?"
"Originally, Northstar protected Vale assets from hostile governments and criminal organizations."
"Then what happened?"
"I trusted the wrong people."
"Victor?"
Alexander shook his head.
"Victor was a symptom."
"Who?"
Alexander looked toward the dark windows.
"Adrian's father."
Charlotte frowned.
"Adrian never talks about his family."
"Because his real surname isn't Cross."
Alexander handed her a photograph.
Two young men stood beside him.
One was Victor.
The other resembled Adrian.
"His name was Richard Kessler."
Charlotte recognized it.
Kessler had been an international financier accused of laundering billions before disappearing twenty years ago.
"Adrian is his son?"
Alexander nodded.
"Kessler infiltrated Northstar."
"I discovered it too late."
"Why fake your death?"
"Because they threatened you."
Charlotte's eyes filled with tears.
"So you abandoned us instead."
Alexander closed his eyes.
"I thought your mother knew where I was."
"She thought you were dead."
His eyes opened.
"What?"
Charlotte stared at him.
"Mother mourned you for twelve years."
Alexander looked genuinely shocked.
"No."
"She never knew."
"That's impossible."
A voice came from behind them.
"Not impossible."
Victor Hale stepped from the shadows.
He held a gun.
Alexander turned slowly.
Victor smiled.
"I intercepted every message."
Charlotte's heart stopped.
Victor continued.
"Alexander believed Eleanor knew."
"Eleanor believed Alexander was dead."
"And I spent twelve beautiful years controlling both sides."
Alexander's face twisted with rage.
"You destroyed my family."
Victor shrugged.
"I improved my position."
Charlotte looked toward the elevators.
Victor noticed.
"Daniel won't reach you."
He held up a small device.
"Signal jammer."
Charlotte looked at her father.
Victor raised the gun.
"Now we finally correct the mistake I made twelve years ago."
He aimed at Alexander.
Charlotte stepped between them.
Victor smiled.
"Just like your mother."
Then a second gunshot exploded from behind Victor.
His weapon fell.
Victor collapsed.
Charlotte turned.
Adrian Cross stood in the doorway.
Smoke rose from the gun in his hand.
Charlotte stared at him.
Adrian looked down at Victor.
May you like
Then he said quietly.
"He talks too much."
