Chapter 7 - DEREK CHOSE THE TRUTH
Derek had one easy option.
Private settlement.
Repay money.
Remove Malcolm quietly.
Protect Drake Industries.
His attorneys outlined it.
Nobody recommended it openly.
But everyone understood.
Thirty million from twenty years ago was survivable.
Scandal was harder.
Derek listened.
Then asked:
“What would Jasmine say?”
His general counsel replied:
“That is not a legal question.”
Correct.
So Derek did not ask Jasmine to make the decision for him.
Better.
He ordered an independent investigation.
Not internal security.
Outside accounting firm.
Outside counsel.
Voluntary disclosure to relevant authorities once preliminary evidence confirmed fraud.
The board exploded.
Malcolm called him.
“You ungrateful little bastard.”
Derek put him on speaker with counsel present.
“You knew Thomas Cole died.”
Silence.
“Did you cause the fire?”
“No.”
“Did you order the warehouse locked?”
Malcolm hesitated.
That was enough.
“I told Vale to secure the building until we recovered company property.”
“While a man was inside.”
“I didn’t know the fire would start.”
“Who started it?”
“I don’t know.”
Possible.
Then Malcolm said:
“Your father buried this too.”
“Yes.”
“Your mother signed transfers.”
“Legitimate ones.”
Silence.
Derek had him.
Then:
“You think that secretary is worth destroying this family?”
Derek’s face changed.
“This is not about Jasmine.”
Good.
“It’s about what you did.”
Malcolm laughed.
“You were ready to put a driver on her every night after she missed one subway.”
Derek stiffened.
“You’re obsessed.”
That was true enough to be dangerous.
“You’ll burn Drake down for a woman.”
“No.”
Derek’s voice became calm.
“I’m exposing fraud because fraud occurred.”
Then:
“And Jasmine is the reason I noticed how often men in this family call control protection.”
Malcolm ended the call.
Within hours, he attempted to access archived systems.
Blocked.
Then disappeared from his Boston home.
Not flee country.
Not yet.
Investigators found his car abandoned near marina.
No body.
Could be staged.
Derek’s old instincts surfaced.
Send men.
Find him.
Force answers.
He stopped.
Called authorities.
Jasmine learned later.
That mattered.
Then she received message.
Unknown number:
YOUR FATHER SHOULD HAVE KEPT HIS MOUTH SHUT.
Old cliché.
Terrifying anyway.
Attached photograph:
Her apartment door.
Current.
Someone watching.
Jasmine called police.
Then Derek.
In that order.
Also mattered.
Derek answered immediately.
“Are you safe?”
“Yes.”
“Do you want security?”
She almost said no from reflex.
Then:
“Yes.”
Choice.
“How much?”
“One person outside. Not inside.”
“Done.”
No argument.
Then building cameras showed man photographing her door.
Former Drake security contractor.
Recently paid by Malcolm.
Police identified him.
Before they found him, he sent another image.
Not Jasmine.
Her mother.
Evelyn leaving grocery store.
Jasmine’s fear became rage.
Then Derek said:
“Your mother needs protection.”
Jasmine nodded.
“Yes.”
“Can I arrange it?”
“Yes.”
Again.
Choice.
By midnight, Evelyn was in a safe hotel under police guidance and licensed security.
Not Derek’s penthouse.
Good.
Then Naomi called.
Malcolm had not disappeared randomly.
Financial investigators froze several accounts.
One transfer escaped first.
$5 million.
Destination:
ASTER CONSULTING SERVICES.
The same company receiving Evelyn’s $700 monthly extortion payments.
But beneficiary was not Malcolm.
May you like
It was registered under Jasmine Cole.
Someone was trying to make it appear she had received millions from the very scheme her father exposed.
