Chapter 12 - THE MAN BEHIND NORTHSTAR|
Victor Shaw had once been Roman Vale's closest business partner.
Together, they had acquired struggling companies, negotiated debt restructurings, and transformed neglected properties into profitable businesses.
Then an internal audit uncovered irregularities in one of their largest investments.
Victor resigned before the review was complete.
Roman had never publicly accused him of wrongdoing. He had simply ended the partnership and refused to work with him again.
Now Victor's name appeared in the Northstar investigation.
Roman summoned his compliance director.
“I want every record connected to the original audit.”
Daniel nodded.
“We've already requested the archived files.”
“Not the summary. The raw records, including the documents that were excluded from the final report.”
Daniel hesitated.
“There may be legal restrictions.”
“Then have counsel review them.”
Roman turned toward the window.
He had spent years believing that the Victor Shaw problem had been resolved. He had accepted the resignation, protected the company, and moved on.
Perhaps he had been too eager to close a chapter he didn't understand.
Meanwhile, Claire's attorney reviewed the documents Ethan had provided.
Several emails linked Northstar to payments involving Crowe Development and Vale Meridian's redevelopment partner. The correspondence suggested that Victor had helped arrange the consulting structure.
But the documents were incomplete.
The missing messages mattered.
Claire refused to draw conclusions before they were recovered.
At a meeting with Roman's team, she explained why.
“If we accuse Victor without the full record, he can argue that we're taking statements out of context. We need the original chain.”
Roman nodded.
“Agreed.”
She looked at him.
“You're not going to tell me to let your lawyers handle everything?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“Although I may occasionally suggest that you let them handle some things.”
Claire laughed despite herself.
The ease between them was becoming harder to ignore.
But they kept their relationship separate from the investigation. Claire submitted proposals through the normal procurement process, and Roman recused himself from decisions where his personal involvement could create a conflict.
It was important to both of them that she never become dependent on his authority.
Two days later, the archived audit records arrived.
The files showed that Victor had been involved in a series of payments that lacked proper supporting documentation. The original review had identified the issue but had not established who ultimately benefited.
A second set of records changed the picture.
Victor had used a consulting company to receive payments from a Crowe-controlled entity. Northstar had been created shortly afterward.
The timing suggested a possible connection, but the team still needed to trace the money.
Then an old email surfaced.
Victor had written to Richard Hale:
The vendor identity is useful because no one looks twice at an event company. Keep the original paperwork separate.
Claire read the sentence in silence.
The email did not mention her by name, but it referred to the same vendor arrangement that had been created using C.W. Atelier's records.
Roman looked furious.
“He used your company as cover.”
“Possibly,” Claire said. “We still need to establish who knew what.”
Roman turned toward her.
“You're remarkably calm.”
“I'm angry. I'm just not interested in being careless.”
He nodded slowly.
“That may be the most dangerous quality you have.”
“Dangerous?”
“To people who rely on others reacting before they think.”
Claire considered that.
Then Daniel entered the room with an update.
Victor had learned that the archived audit records were being reviewed.
He had canceled his public appearances and transferred ownership of several assets to a family trust.
The transfers had occurred shortly after Ethan began cooperating.
Roman read the report.
“Find out whether those transfers were legitimate.”
Daniel nodded.
As he left, a final notification appeared on Roman's screen.
It was a message from an unknown sender.
You should ask why Victor left the company five years ago. The answer is not in the audit.
Attached was a photograph of a handwritten note.
Roman recognized the handwriting immediately.
It belonged to his late father.
May you like
And the note contained a name he had not seen in years.
Eleanor Crowe.
