Chapter 3 - WHY NORTHSTAR MATTERED
Northstar Advanced Systems did not build weapons.
At least not officially.
The Arlington company designed navigation, secure communications, and sensor platforms under government contracts.
Which meant its real product was trust.
If the wrong person entered the wrong room, stole the wrong prototype, or copied the wrong credentials, the loss would not appear on a retail shelf.
It could become a national investigation.
That was why I wanted the job.
Not because it sounded glamorous.
Because I understood environments where one overlooked detail mattered more than ten impressive résumés.
I had left the Army two years earlier after Ava’s father died.
Daniel Monroe was not killed overseas.
He died driving home from a night shift when another driver crossed the median in freezing rain.
That distinction mattered to strangers.
It did not matter to Ava.
One day she had a father.
The next day she did not.
I requested reassignment.
Then separation.
People told me I was sacrificing my career.
They were right.
I also knew what happened when children started checking clocks every time a parent left the house.
So I came home.
I took contract intelligence work.
Security audits.
Background analysis.
Whatever paid consistently and let me collect Ava from school.
Northstar was supposed to be stability.
Benefits.
Regular hours.
A position I could build around a life rather than constantly rebuild life around a position.
Grant knew enough of my résumé to understand that.
He used it anyway.
During lunch, he stood near the applicant tables and said loudly:
“Executive protection requires reliability.”
Nobody responded.
He continued.
“You can’t call out because school closes.”
I looked up.
“Was that part of the assessment?”
He smiled.
“Just professional reality.”
Cole stopped eating.
Another applicant looked uncomfortable.
I said:
“I solved the problem and arrived on time.”
“With baggage.”
Ava sat twenty feet away drawing beside the observation area.
Grant glanced at her.
I lowered my voice.
“Leave my daughter out of your evaluation.”
“Then don’t bring her into it.”
Victoria appeared behind him.
Neither of us had noticed her approach.
“Actually, I approved Ava’s presence.”
Grant turned.
His face changed instantly.
“Victoria.”
She smiled without warmth.
“I believe the phrase you’re looking for is ‘understood.’”
Grant recovered.
“Of course.”
Victoria looked at me.
“Eleven weaknesses?”
“Yes.”
“Grant says ten.”
“I counted eleven.”
She glanced at him.
“I’d like to see the badge.”
Grant’s hand tightened around his clipboard.
May you like
That was when I knew.
The cloned credential was not supposed to be in the exercise.
