He also reported that he had asked her to verify the passenger’s documents.

And that she had ordered him to return to his work.

The investigation team compared Isaac’s statement with airport ground records and other available evidence.

His account helped establish the sequence of events.

Arielle later asked to speak with him.

He arrived at the private aviation office looking nervous.

“Dr. Monroe?”

She smiled.

“Mr. Bell, thank you for coming.”

He nodded.

“Of course.”

Arielle looked toward him.

“I understand you tried to have my authorization checked.”

Isaac hesitated.

“I thought that was the right thing to do.”

“It was.”

He looked down.

“I wish I’d spoken up more strongly.”

Arielle considered his words.

“Speaking up can be difficult when someone senior is determined not to listen.”

Isaac nodded.

She continued.

“But you asked for verification instead of accepting an assumption.”

He looked relieved.

Arielle smiled.

“That’s the kind of judgment aviation needs.”

For Isaac, the conversation meant more than he expected.

He had spent years working around expensive aircraft.

But it was the first time an owner had thanked him for insisting on a simple procedure.

Chapter 13: The Unauthorized Flights

The independent review began the following week.

Arielle’s aviation legal team examined the management agreement.

Financial auditors reviewed invoices, flight schedules, ground handling records, and available operating documents.

The findings were concerning.

Several flights had been entered into operational systems without corresponding owner approvals.

Some were associated with outside passengers.

Others had incomplete supporting paperwork.

Payments appeared in accounts connected to Northstar’s charter management business.

The investigators also found inconsistencies between the aircraft’s operational activity and the reports provided to Arielle’s family office.

The discrepancies required careful verification.

Not every scheduling change was improper.

Not every billing error indicated fraud.

But the pattern was serious.

The review suggested that someone had arranged unauthorized commercial use of a privately managed aircraft.

Graham Pritchard’s role became a central question.

He had access to scheduling systems.

He supervised charter coordination.

And he communicated directly with the flight crews.

Investigators examined whether he had approved outside flights without proper authority.

They also reviewed whether required operational and regulatory procedures had been followed.

The inquiry expanded.