Chapter 94:The Double Cross

Saturday, June 8th, 2024. 9:00 AM. Margaret Chen's office. Leah, Richard, and Margaret prepared. Okafor would approach Victor Hale in one hour. Offer deal: immunity from Fourth Generation charges, witness protection, potential leniency on corporate embezzlement if he provides intelligence on Fourth Generation teachers and Hunt patriarch coordination. "Do you think Hale will flip?" Richard asked. Margaret shook her head. "He's Fourth Generation trained. His loyalty to Matriarch might be absolute. But he's also ambitious, ruthlessness, willing to use any method for personal gain. If flipping against Matriarch gives him advantage over other Fourth Generation students — positions him to lead Fourth Generation expansion himself — he might take it." She paused. "The question is whether his ambition outweighs his loyalty. Whether self-preservation outweighs his training." Leah understood. Hale was conditioned to absolute loyalty to Matriarch — the teacher who trained him. But Hale was also ambitious. He would betray Martha for personal gain. Would he betray Matriarch too if it gave him advantage? "Use what Ethan provided yesterday," Leah said. "Hale is embezzling $12M from Thorne Group. He's in contact with Fourth Generation teacher through Geneva IPs. He's double-crossing Martha — embezzling independently, not for Martha's benefit." She paused. "Position flipping against Matriarch as self-preservation, not betrayal. Hale isn't betraying his teacher. He's protecting himself from elimination." Margaret nodded. "We'll make that angle clear. Tell Hale we know about embezzlement. Tell him we know about Matriarch connection. Tell him Matriarch network eliminates loose ends — like Vance." She paused. "Offer him protection from Matriarch elimination. Offer him advantage over other Fourth Generation students. Frame flipping as opportunity, not betrayal." 10:00 AM. Victor Hale's office, Midtown Manhattan. Okafor and Margaret approached Hale's office. Leah, Richard, and Ethan (via secure video from protective custody) waited at Margaret's office to monitor. The door opened. Victor Hale stood. Mid-fifties, sharp suit, controlled expression. The board member Martha had appointed to undermine Thorne Group. The Fourth Generation student embezzling $12M and communicating with Matriarch's network. "Mr. Hale," Okafor said. "We'd like to discuss your position on Thorne Group board." Hale's expression didn't change. "I'm Martha's appointee. I'm loyal to her." "Martha has been suspended," Margaret said. "Richard Thorne is interim trustee. Thorne Group is cooperating with federal investigations. Continuing to protect Martha is corporate liability." She paused. "Continuing to embezzle from Thorne Group is criminal liability." Hale's eyes flickered. Fractional reaction. Less than a second. But he hadn't expected federal prosecutors to know about embezzlement. "We know about the five shell companies," Okafor said. "MedTech Solutions 2019, BioPharm Dynamics 2021, HealthCare Associates 2022. Thorne Group corporate payments routed through those companies. Funds then moved to personal accounts in Geneva." He paused: "$12M over three years. Embezzlement at scale. Federal charges forthcoming." Hale's posture shifted. Slight relaxation — accepting inevitability of embezzlement charges. Then slight tension — deciding whether to cooperate. "What do you want?" Hale asked. Margaret spoke. "We're offering deal. Immunity from Fourth Generation conspiracy charges. Witness protection. Potential recommendation for leniency on corporate embezzlement if you provide intelligence on Fourth Generation teachers and Hunt patriarch coordination." She paused: "We know about Matriarch network. We know about Fourth Generation Board meeting annually in Geneva. We know about Hunt patriarch's funding and coordination." Margaret looked at Hale directly. "We also know Matriarch eliminates loose ends. Eleanor Vance was eliminated three days after Martha's indictment. Received $250K from offshore account before her suicide. Same methodology as payments you've been receiving." Hale's eyes widened. He hadn't expected Matriarch elimination to be framed as threat. "Vance was Fourth Generation student too," Okafor said. "Matriarch-trained in 1998. She was activated when Martha went down. Eliminated to protect Matriarch." He paused: "You're also Fourth Generation student. Embezzlement is creating visibility. Matriarch network might eliminate you next." Hale's throat tightened. He hadn't considered elimination. He had assumed Fourth Generation training gave him protection. But Vance's elimination suggested students were expendable. "Flipping against Matriarch isn't betrayal," Margaret continued. "It's protection from elimination. It's positioning yourself to lead Fourth Generation expansion instead of being another disposable student." She paused: "Provide intelligence on Fourth Generation teachers. Identify Hunt patriarch's role. Give us evidence of Fourth Generation Board coordination. We'll protect you from Matriarch elimination. We'll give you advantage over other Fourth Generation students." Hale's fingers tapped his desk. Nervous habit. He was calculating. "What advantage?" Hale asked. "If you provide Fourth Generation teacher identities," Margaret said, "we become dependent on you for future investigations. You position yourself as federal asset, not Matriarch student. You become indispensable to prosecution, not disposable to teacher." She paused: "We'll also protect you from corporate embezzlement charges through immunity agreement. We'll recommend leniency sentencing. You survive this." Hale considered. Three minutes of silence. Calculating. "What exactly do you want?" he asked. "Fourth Generation teacher identities," Okafor said. "At minimum, Teacher B and Teacher C — the teachers training Hale and operating in other sectors. Better if you can provide Fourth Generation Board membership — the teachers, the funders, the coordinators." He paused: "Evidence of Hunt patriarch's role on Fourth Generation Board. Evidence of his funding authorization. Evidence of coordination decisions." Okafor looked at Hale directly. "And we want any documentation of Fourth Generation expanding into new frontiers. Media acquisition. Journalist infiltration. Government agency penetration." Hale's expression hardened. He knew about Fourth Generation expansion beyond foundations. He had received briefings. He knew methodology was scaling up into media and government sectors. Hale was considering. Five minutes passed. Then he nodded. "I'll provide Teacher B and Teacher C identities," Hale said. "Fourth Generation teacher training me, and Fourth Generation teacher operating in media sector. I'll provide names, locations, communication methods." He paused: "I'll provide evidence of Hunt patriarch's role on Fourth Generation Board. He's Chair. He leads annual meetings in Geneva. He approves funding authorization. He coordinates target selection for methodology expansion." Hale looked at Margaret. "I cannot provide Fourth Generation Board full membership. I'm not on the Board. I receive briefings, but I don't know all members." Margaret nodded. "That's acceptable for now. Teacher identities, Hunt patriarch's role, evidence of Fourth Generation expansion into media and government sectors." She paused: "That's enough to build case. We can pursue Fourth Generation investigation with that intelligence." Hale continued. "I also have something else. Something about Hunt patriarch's timeline." He paused: "He's been planning Fourth Generation expansion into media since 2012. He accelerated the timeline in 2019. He wants methodology spread faster because 'traditional methods are too slow.'" Okafor nodded. This matched what Ethan remembered from debriefings. Hunt patriarch talking about accelerating timeline. Fourth Generation spreading methodology faster. "We need documentation," Okafor said. "Briefings, meeting notes, funding authorizations. Any documentation connecting Hunt patriarch to Fourth Generation expansion timeline acceleration." Hale nodded. "I have briefings. Hunt patriarch's directives to Fourth Generation teachers. His funding authorizations for media acquisition targets." He paused: "I'll provide everything. In exchange for immunity from Fourth Generation charges, witness protection, and leniency recommendation on corporate embezzlement." Margaret extended the cooperation agreement. Hale reviewed, signed. 10:45 AM. Margaret's office. Leah, Richard, and Ethan (video) waited. Margaret returned with the signed cooperation agreement and Hale's intelligence. "Hale flipped," Margaret said. "He's providing Teacher B and Teacher C identities. Evidence of Hunt patriarch's role on Fourth Generation Board. Documentation of Fourth Generation expansion into media and government sectors." She paused: "Also evidence that Hunt patriarch accelerated expansion timeline in 2019. He wants methodology spread faster." Leah's throat tightened. Hale had defected. The Fourth - Generation student had betrayed his teacher, providing the identities of Fourth - Generation teachers, proving the role of the Hunt patriarch on the Fourth - Generation Board, and demonstrating the Fourth Generation's expansion into the media and government sectors. "What are the teacher identities?" Leah asked. Margaret opened the file Hale provided. "Teacher B — identity: Dr. Sarah Chen. Operating location: Washington DC. Sector: government agency penetration. Matriarch-trained as Third Generation student in 1980s-1990s." She paused: "Teacher C — identity: Robert 'Bob' Sterling. Operating location: Chicago. Sector: media organization acquisition. Matriarch-trained as Third Generation student in 1980s-1990s." Leah's chest tightened. Both Teacher B and Teacher C were from the Third Generation. They had trained Martha, a Fourth - Generation student, but later became teachers and trained their own students during the Fourth Generation. So, there were multiple teachers operating simultaneously in the Fourth Generation. Martha's Teacher A had trained Martha. Teacher B (Dr. Sarah Chen) was training students in Washington D.C. to infiltrate government agencies. Teacher C (Robert Sterling) was training students in Chicago for media acquisitions. It was an expanding network. The Fourth Generation was expanding into new fields beyond foundations. "What's the role of the Hunt patriarch?" Richard asked. Margaret read the evidence provided by Hale: "Chair of the Fourth - Generation Board. Presides over the annual meetings in Geneva. Approves funding authorizations. Coordinates target selection for methodology expansion." She paused. "The documents show that the Hunt patriarch approved the expansion into media acquisitions in 2012. He accelerated the timeline in 2019. He asked the teachers to speed up the training of new students and required the methodology to spread at a faster pace than the traditional one." Leah's throat tightened. The Hunt patriarch was not just Martha's financier. He was the chair of the Fourth Generation. He had been coordinating the expansion into the media sector since 2012 and accelerated the timeline in 2019. The Hunt patriarch was not passively funding Martha's conspiracy. He was actively coordinating the Fourth Generation's expansion into the media and government sectors. "What are the roles of Teacher B and Teacher C in the expansion plan?" Leah asked. Margaret continued reading the evidence: "Teacher B (Dr. Sarah Chen) is assigned to infiltrate government agencies. Responsible for training students to enter regulatory agencies - the FDA, SEC, and the Department of Justice - to influence investigations, suppress evidence, and protect Fourth - Generation operations." She paused. "Teacher C (Robert Sterling) is assigned to media organization acquisitions. Responsible for training students to enter mainstream news agencies - to obtain editorial positions, influence news reports, and shape public narratives through the Fourth - Generation methodology." Leah's chest tightened. The Fourth Generation was expanding to new fronts. Infiltrating government agencies to regulate investigations. Acquiring media organizations to control public narratives. The methodology was spreading from foundation fraud to regulatory capture and media manipulation. "Where does the Hunt patriarch's funding come from?" Leah asked. Margaret read the funding authorization: "Investment from Hunt Capital. Since 2010. The total amount of funding for Fourth - Generation teacher training is $45 million. The total amount of funding for media acquisitions is $78 million. The total amount of funding for government agency infiltration is $32 million." She paused. "The Hunt patriarch is investing in the expansion of the Fourth Generation. Three sectors. Over $150 million since 2010." Leah's throat tightened. The Hunt patriarch was not just funding Martha's Heir project. He was funding the entire Fourth - Generation network. Teachers, training, media acquisitions, government infiltration - over $150 million in investment since 2010. The conspiracy was much larger than Leah had imagined. The Hunt patriarch was not passively funding Martha's crimes. He was actively funding the Fourth Generation's expansion into the media and government sectors. "We need to expose this," Leah said. "We need to prove that the Hunt patriarch is an active coordinator, not just a financier." Richard nodded. "Hale's evidence will help. The Fourth - Generation Board documents show that the Hunt patriarch led these meetings. The funding authorizations show that he approved the expansion. We need to link him to specific crimes." He paused. "Martha's crimes are the link. If we can prove that the Hunt patriarch approved Martha's Heir project - the Voss murders and baby theft as a proof - of - concept test - we can link him to the specific murders." Margaret nodded. "Webb's documents prove that the Fourth - Generation Board approved the launch of the Heir project. But we need to specifically link the Hunt patriarch to that approval." She looked at Leah. "Can we get any information from Ethan's memory? Regarding the relationship between the Hunt patriarch and the Heir project?" Ethan's video image spoke. "I don't remember a direct connection between the Hunt patriarch and the Heir project. What I remember from the debriefings is about the Fourth - Generation Board, not specific projects." He paused. "But there might be a connection. If the Hunt patriarch is the chair of the Fourth - Generation Board and if the Board approved the launch of the Heir project in 1999 - as Martha's records show - then the Hunt patriarch likely voted in favor or at least knew about it." Leah understood the implication. The Hunt patriarch likely had known about Martha's Heir project since 1999. He probably voted in favor of using the Voss family as a proof - of - concept target. It was highly likely that he approved the Observer mission configuration and funding authorization. The Voss murders and baby theft were not just Martha's project. It was a project approved by the Fourth - Generation Board - led by the Hunt patriarch. "We need to prove the Hunt patriarch's knowledge," Leah said. "We need documents or testimony to specifically link him to the 1999 approval." Margaret nodded. "We can ask Martha to provide testimony. She knows the Hunt patriarch's role. She knows that the Fourth - Generation Board approved the Heir project." She paused. "But Martha won't provide this voluntarily. She's absolutely loyal to the Matriarch. She won't betray her teacher to save herself." Richard nodded. "But we can pressure Martha. If she doesn't provide testimony, we'll target the Hunt patriarch as the main offender. We'll prosecute him as the main coordinator of the Voss murders, not just Martha's financier." He paused. "Martha might cooperate to protect the Matriarch. Or she might target the Hunt patriarch to reduce her own liability." Leah understood. They could make a deal with Martha. Cooperate and provide testimony about the Hunt patriarch's role in the Fourth - Generation Board in exchange for reducing her charges from the main coordinator to an accomplice. Or if she didn't cooperate, she would face the same primary liability as Martha. "Visit Martha tomorrow," Leah said. "Offer the deal. Cooperate in exchange for a reduced sentence. Provide testimony about the Hunt patriarch as the chair of the Fourth - Generation Board and the approver of the Heir project." She paused. "If she refuses, we'll prosecute the Hunt patriarch with her as the main target. Her chance of being reduced from the main coordinator to an accomplice - but still guilty - will disappear." Margaret nodded. "We can offer this deal. It provides an incentive for her to reduce her sentence. It gives her motivation to cooperate and prove the Hunt patriarch's role." She looked at Richard and Leah. "I'll visit Martha tomorrow. Offer the deal. See if she's rational enough to accept." 11:30 AM. Ethan's video image spoke. "I need to tell you something," Ethan said. "About my relationship with the Hunt patriarch. About why I'm a Fourth - Generation student." Leah looked at the screen. Ethan was about to confess. About his role in the Matriarch system. About why he was stolen from the Voss crime scene. About his training. "I was stolen at the age of five," Ethan said. "After the Observer carried out the murder. Maria took me out of the car. Pemberton took over. The Hunt patriarch arranged for my adoption." He paused. "But I wasn't chosen randomly. I wasn't adopted randomly. I was pre - selected." Leah's chest tightened. Was Ethan pre - selected? By Martha? Or by the Hunt patriarch? Or by the Fourth - Generation Board? "Who pre - selected you?" Leah asked. "The Fourth - Generation Board," Ethan said. "The Hunt patriarch proposed a new proof - of - concept test to the Board in 1998 - before the Voss murders. The goal was to steal two babies. Raise one as the heir of the Thorne Group and the other as the heir of Hunt Capital." He paused. "The Board approved the test in 1999. Martha's task was to steal the baby girl, the Voss child. My task was to steal the baby boy from the same crime scene." Leah's throat tightened. Ethan's adoption wasn't opportunistic. The Fourth - Generation Board had pre - selected him in 1998, before the Voss murders. The Board had approved a two - baby proof - of - concept test. Steal two children from the Voss family, place one in the Thorne Group and the other in Hunt Capital. The Voss murders and baby theft were projects approved by the Fourth Generation. Ethan wasn't just a child stolen from the crime scene. He was a pre - selected test subject, just like Leah. "Did the Hunt patriarch know about this?" Leah asked. "He approved it," Ethan said. "He's the chair of the Fourth - Generation Board. He led the meeting. He likely voted in favor of the two - baby test." He paused. "My father, the Hunt patriarch, knew about the Voss family. Knew that James had discovered clinical fraud. Knew about the threat. He approved using the Voss family as a proof - of - concept target." Leah's chest tightened. The Hunt patriarch wasn't just funding Martha's conspiracy. He led the Fourth - Generation Board. He likely voted in favor of targeting the Voss family, approving the murder of Leah's parents and her theft, as well as Ethan's theft. The Voss murders and baby theft weren't personally chosen by Martha. It was a proof - of - concept test approved by the Fourth - Generation Board led by the Hunt patriarch. "When did you find out?" Leah asked. "Yesterday," Ethan said. "My memories came back. Something from the 1998 debriefings. About my father's conversation with the Fourth - Generation Board. About target selection. About the two - baby test." He paused. "My memories were blocked so that I wouldn't know. But the debriefings were enough to trigger the recovery. I now know my identity." He looked at Leah. "I'm a test subject. Just like you. We were both pre - selected for the Fourth - Generation's proof - of - concept test. Two from the same crime scene, raised separately to inherit different families." Leah's throat tightened. Ethan was a proof - of - concept test, just like Leah. He wasn't a child randomly adopted from the crime scene. He was pre - selected and approved by the Fourth - Generation Board. This meant the conspiracy was even larger. It wasn't just Martha's Heir project. It was a two - baby proof - of - concept test managed by the Fourth - Generation Board, led by the Hunt patriarch. "Why two babies?" Leah asked. "Why not just steal Leah?" "To compare methodologies," Ethan said. "Raise one as the heir of the Thorne Group, a family business controlled by the foundation. Raise the other as the heir of Hunt Capital, an investment company for corporate raiding." He paused. "The Board wanted to know which method was better. Which proof - of - concept was more successful. Which stolen baby would grow into a more effective tool." Leah understood the implication. The Fourth - Generation Board was conducting an A/B test. Comparing methodologies. Raising Leah as the Thorne Group heir to operate within the foundation network. Raising Ethan as the Hunt Capital heir to operate within corporate raiding and private equity. The Board wanted to know which methodology would produce a more effective weapon. Which stolen baby would grow into a better tool for the Matriarch system. "Are you willing to testify about this?" Leah asked. "Testify about the Fourth - Generation Board? Testify about your role as a proof - of - concept test? Testify about the Hunt patriarch's role in your adoption?" Ethan's video image nodded. "I am. I'm willing to testify about the Voss murders and baby theft. I'm willing to testify as a proof - of - concept test approved by the Fourth - Generation Board. I'm willing to testify about the Hunt patriarch's role in my adoption." He paused. "My father used me as a weapon. The Matriarch trained me to be a Fourth - Generation student. But I now choose the truth. I choose to break the cycle." Leah's throat tightened. Ethan was willing to testify against his father. Against the man who had adopted him in the Fourth - Generation Board. Against the Matriarch system that had used him as a proof - of - concept test and a tool. Richard's video image nodded. "This changes our deal with Martha. If Ethan testifies against the Hunt patriarch, Martha is no longer the main source of pressure to protect the Hunt patriarch. She can cooperate without betraying her teacher because the Hunt patriarch is no longer her protection." He paused. "Martha can provide testimony about the Hunt patriarch's role in the Fourth - Generation Board without betraying the Matriarch. She can prove that the Hunt patriarch led the Board that approved the Voss test." Margaret nodded. "This gives Martha an incentive to make a deal. We can offer: provide testimony about the Hunt patriarch in exchange for reducing her charges from the main coordinator to an accomplice." She looked at Leah. "I'll visit Martha tomorrow. Offer the deal. Ethan's testimony against the Hunt patriarch reduces the pressure on her to betray the Matriarch." 1:00 PM. The meeting ended. Leah prepared for the second visit to Martha tomorrow. This time, it wasn't about understanding Martha's loyalty to the Matriarch. This was a negotiation. A deal. Offer the deal: cooperate and provide testimony about the Hunt patriarch as the chair of the Fourth - Generation Board and the approver of the Voss murders and baby theft in exchange for reducing Martha's charges from the main coordinator to an accomplice. Martha might accept. If she did, they would link the Hunt patriarch to the specific crimes. They would shift the focus from Martha to the Hunt patriarch as the main target. Then they would pursue the entire Fourth - Generation Board. Teachers, financiers, coordinators. The Matriarch system passed down through four generations. The conspiracy was expanding. It was no longer just Martha. It was the Fourth - Generation Board led by the Hunt patriarch. It was a network of teachers trained and coordinated by the Matriarch. The Voss murders and baby theft were not Martha's personal project. It was a proof - of - concept test approved by the Fourth - Generation Board. Ethan was not just a child stolen from the crime scene. He was a pre - selected test subject, just like Leah. Leah looked at her Moleskine notebook. She had learned a lot today. Martha's loyalty was shaken but still absolute. Webb provided conclusive evidence to convict Martha. Hale provided evidence of the identities of Fourth - Generation teachers and the Hunt patriarch's position as the Board chair. Ethan was prepared to testify against the Hunt patriarch. The conspiracy was larger than Leah had imagined. It was a network managed by the Fourth - Generation Board, led by the Hunt patriarch and trained by the Matriarch system, passed down through generations of teachers since the 1930s. But Leah was gathering allies. Richard, Margaret, Ethan, Catherine, Diana, Webb, and now Hale - all of them had joined the alliance to break the cycle. Tomorrow, she would visit Martha. Offer the deal. See if Martha was rational enough to accept. Or if her loyalty to the Matriarch was absolute. If it was the latter - Martha refused the deal - Leah would still convict Martha. Then she would pursue the Hunt patriarch and the entire Fourth - Generation Board. The war was expanding. It was no longer just against Martha. It was against the entire Fourth - Generation system, the Matriarch's network, and the conspiracy tradition passed down since the 1930s. Leah was ready to keep fighting, no matter how long it took. 2:00 PM. In Margaret's office. Margaret received a call from Okafor. "What?" she asked. "The Swiss authorities," Okafor said. "They can't assist in the arrest of the Hunt patriarch. Extradition based on conspiracy charges requires evidence linking to specific crimes funded by Hunt Capital." He paused. "But if we can link the Hunt patriarch to the Voss murders and baby theft - the proof - of - concept test approved by the Fourth - Generation Board - Switzerland will reconsider extradition." Margaret nodded. "Hale's evidence and Ethan's testimony might provide that link. We need Martha's testimony about the Hunt patriarch's role on the Board." She paused. "If Martha accepts tomorrow's deal, we'll have evidence linking the Hunt patriarch to the specific crimes. We can submit an extradition request to the Swiss authorities." Okafor agreed. "We'll prepare the request. Once we have Martha's testimony, we'll submit it." Margaret hung up and looked at Leah, Richard, and Ethan. "The deal is now more valuable. Martha's testimony against the Hunt patriarch gives us a chance at extradition." Richard nodded. "This gives Martha more bargaining power. If she cooperates, she not only gets a reduced sentence for herself. She also gets the possibility of the Hunt patriarch facing extradition." He looked at Leah. "Visit Martha tomorrow. Offer the deal. Testimony in exchange for a reduced sentence and the possibility of the Hunt patriarch facing extradition." Leah agreed. This increased the likelihood that Martha would accept. It wasn't just about the reduced sentence - the Hunt patriarch facing extradition meant that Martha's teacher might be exposed. The Matriarch system might be revealed. If the Hunt patriarch was extradited and if he cooperated with the Swiss authorities, he might turn against the Matriarch. Or at least, his removal would weaken the Fourth - Generation Board. Martha was absolutely loyal to the Matriarch. But she might be rational enough to accept a deal that would help expose her teacher - indirectly, by revealing her financier. 2:30 PM. In Leah's apartment. Leah sat looking at the city lights outside the window. She had grown up in the conspiracy - with an identity constructed by Martha, funded by Hunt Capital, and shaped by generations of the Matriarch methodology. Now she was taking it apart. File by file, testimony by testimony. But the conspiracy was ancient. The Matriarch system had been around since the 1930s. It had been passed down through four generations of teachers. It had expanded to new fronts beyond the foundation - media acquisitions, government infiltrations, corporate raiding. Breaking it would take years, not months. It required exposing the entire Fourth - Generation Board. The Hunt patriarch, the teachers, the financiers, the coordinators. The Matriarch system, the generations, the methodology. But Leah was committed to the fight. No matter how long it took. She would break the cycle passed down by her grandmother. She would break the cycle passed down by the Fourth - Generation Board led by the Hunt patriarch. She would break the Matriarch system that had been passed down since the 1930s. Her phone rang. A text message from Catherine: I've been thinking about the Hunt patriarch. If he leads the Fourth - Generation Board and if he's been in the Matriarch system since the 1930s, how many other crimes does he have? She paused: Martha was just one target he approved. How many other targets were there in the Fourth Generation? How many other murders has the Hunt patriarch approved or funded since the 1930s? How many other baby thefts? Leah's chest tightened. Catherine's questions. The Voss family was just one target led by the Hunt patriarch. How many other families might have been destroyed in the Fourth Generation since the 1930s? How many other babies stolen? How many other identities constructed? The conspiracy was ancient. It didn't start with Martha. It started with the first - generation teachers in the 1930s. The Hunt patriarch was likely involved in target selection for decades. Breaking the Fourth - Generation Board meant exposing decades of crimes. Not just Martha's crimes in 2002. Possibly crimes since the 1930s. Leah replied to Catherine: I don't know. But I'll find out. I'll expose the entire Fourth - Generation Board. I'll trace the history of target selection for decades. She paused: We'll break the cycle. No matter how long it takes. Catherine's reply: I'm with you. Whatever you need. Leah looked at her phone. Catherine - after twenty - four years of fear and silence - was now committed to breaking the cycle. Just like Richard. Just like Ethan. Just like Diana, Margaret, Webb, and now Hale. The alliance was forming. A group of people who had been hurt by the Matriarch system but chose the truth. Tomorrow, Leah would visit Martha. Offer the deal. See if her grandmother was rational enough to accept. If Martha accepted, they would get the testimony against the Hunt patriarch. They could file an extradition request. They could pursue the entire Fourth - Generation Board. If Martha refused, Leah would still convict Martha. Then pursue the Hunt patriarch. But the road would be tougher - without Martha's testimony, it would be more difficult to link the Hunt patriarch to the Voss murders. But either way, the war was on. No longer just against Martha. It was against the entire Fourth - Generation system. The Matriarch network. The conspiracy tradition passed down since the 1930s. And Leah was ready to keep going. 3:30 PM. The phone rang. A text message from Diana: I've been continuing to read Martha's files. I found a reference from 1998 - the minutes of a Fourth - Generation Board meeting. She paused: The minutes list the Board members: four teachers, three financiers, two coordinators. It lists the Hunt patriarch as the chair. She paused: The minutes record the decision regarding the Voss family - as a proof - of - concept two - baby test. The vote was 5 - 2 in favor. Leah's chest tightened. Diana had found the 1998 meeting minutes. The Fourth - Generation Board had voted to use the Voss family as a proof - of - concept two - baby test - before the murder. The vote was 5 - 2 in favor. This meant that at least seven people were involved in approving the Voss murders and baby theft. Four teachers, three financiers. Including the Hunt patriarch. Leah replied to Diana: Can you send me a copy of the minutes? The names of the voters? Diana's reply: Yes. Sending. A minute later, the file arrived. Leah opened it. Fourth - Generation Board Meeting Minutes - October 12, 1998. Subject: Proposal for Proof - of - Concept Test - Two -