Chapter 9 - The Division Ryan Wanted
Cross Meridian had five major divisions.
Protective systems.
Communications.
Vehicle technology.
Medical defense research.
Advanced materials.
None was called restricted.
The hidden reference appeared only in internal records.
Division K.
K was not a formal business unit.
It was a collection of patents and prototypes created under sensitive government contracts.
Most projects were legal to sell only under strict authorization.
Dad had placed voting control over Division K into a special trust.
The trustee was not Ryan.
Not my mother.
Not even me.
It required three approvals.
Cross Meridian’s independent security officer.
A federal contracting representative.
And one designated family trustee.
Me.
Ryan could control the entire company and still never sell Division K without my signature.
Now his attack on my service made complete sense.
If I were convicted of military fraud or security-related misconduct, I could lose eligibility to serve as the family trustee.
Ryan would petition for replacement.
Nathan had already drafted the papers.
Daniel found them in Vault 47.
The proposed replacement trustee was Martin Hale.
Their plan was painfully elegant.
Destroy my credibility.
Remove me.
Validate the forged will.
Install Martin.
Sell Division K.
Then collect the money.
“To whom?”
I asked.
The answer sat inside Nathan’s draft transaction folder.
A foreign investment consortium called Novastar International.
The deal value was enormous.
$640 million.
I read the number twice.
Ryan had not risked everything for Dad’s company.
He intended to break apart the most sensitive piece and sell it.
Federal authorities were notified immediately.
The transaction had never closed.
But negotiations alone raised serious questions.
Ryan’s attorneys issued a statement claiming the documents were preliminary and misunderstood.
Nathan stopped answering calls.
Martin resigned.
Then disappeared.
Not internationally.
His passport had been flagged.
He simply failed to appear at home or work.
Ryan blamed me.
My mother stopped speaking publicly.
The federal judge handling my original case called an emergency hearing.
The prosecutor stood.
“Your Honor, after review of the newly declassified military records and evidence concerning the origin of documents used against Captain Cross, the government moves to dismiss the remaining allegations against her.”
I closed my eyes.
For months, I had imagined this moment.
I expected relief.
Instead, I felt exhausted.
The judge looked at me.
“Captain Cross, the motion is granted.”
The case against me was over.
Reporters began writing.
Daniel touched my shoulder.
“You’re cleared.”
I nodded.
But the judge was not finished.
He turned toward the prosecutor.
“I assume this court has not heard the last of the conduct exposed here.”
“No, Your Honor.”
My mother looked down.
Ryan stared straight ahead.
The doors opened.
Two federal agents entered.
They did not walk toward me.
May you like
They walked toward Ryan.
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