Chapter 11 - THE MONEY THOMAS TOOK
Thomas did move $1.8 million.
Not for himself.
That distinction required weeks to prove.
Aster contained stolen Drake funds.
Thomas discovered them.
Before confronting Malcolm, he transferred $1.8 million into a restricted escrow controlled by outside counsel.
Purpose:
Restitution reserve.
Why Jasmine’s initials?
J.C. did not mean Jasmine Cole.
Justice Custody.
Accountants really did ruin poetry.
Jasmine laughed when they learned.
The money remained mostly untouched.
With growth:
$4.9 million.
Legally belonged not to Jasmine, but to identified victims of Aster vendor overcharges.
Thomas had preserved restitution.
Derek ordered Drake Industries to supplement fund from corporate reserves.
Board approved.
Victims and successor businesses received payments through independent process.
Jasmine inherited no secret fortune.
She was relieved.
“I want Dad’s name clear more than money.”
It became clear.
Publicly.
Drake issued statement acknowledging Thomas Cole exposed fraud.
Scholarship created?
Derek considered naming one after him.
Asked Jasmine.
She said:
“No.”
Why?
“My father didn’t die so Drake could improve branding.”
Fair.
Instead, company funded anonymous whistleblower protection program.
Better.
Then Jasmine’s mother entered therapy.
Jasmine maintained boundaries.
No more automatic thousand-dollar transfers.
She paid nothing she did not choose.
Evelyn sold house and moved to smaller apartment.
Not because Jasmine punished her.
Reality.
Their relationship became cautious.
Phone calls once a week.
No insults tolerated.
First time Evelyn said:
“You look tired. Maybe that job is too much.”
Jasmine answered:
“If you criticize my competence, I’m ending call.”
Her mother apologized.
Growth can be awkward.
Then Malcolm’s trial preparation revealed one surprise.
He claimed Victor Drake had authorized the entire Aster scheme.
If true, Derek’s father became mastermind.
Documents?
Malcolm produced letter.
Victor’s signature.
Authorization:
CONTINUE ASTER DISBURSEMENTS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
Derek went pale.
Forensic examination.
Signature real.
Date:
After Thomas died.
Why would Victor continue?
Then Victor’s diary explained.
He kept Aster active as controlled trap.
Wanted to trace beneficiaries.
But failed to notify authorities.
Why?
Illegal methods.
Fear.
Leverage.
Again.
Some funds recovered.
Some stolen further.
Victor’s secret investigation did more harm than good.
Derek refused to sanitize.
He said publicly:
“My father knew enough to act lawfully and chose not to.”
Cain? No, Drake.
The board stared.
Family name took another hit.
Stock dipped.
Then stabilized.
Transparency was apparently survivable.
Malcolm ultimately pleaded guilty before trial after evidence overwhelming.
Fraud.
Extortion.
Obstruction.
Charges connected to warehouse fire and Thomas’s death.
Not premeditated murder conclusively.
He admitted ordering building secured despite knowing Thomas was inside.
That was enough for severe consequences.
Jasmine attended sentencing.
Her statement:
“My father was not killed by one bad decision.”
“He was killed by a chain of people deciding that protecting themselves mattered more than letting him walk out a door.”
Derek sat behind her.
Not beside.
Her space.
Then Malcolm received sentence.
As he was led away, he looked at Derek.
“You think she’ll make you good?”
Derek answered:
“No.”
Then looked at Jasmine.
May you like
“That’s my job.”
For once, Malcolm had nothing to say.
