Chapter 18 - No More Private Deals
Daniel refused to bargain away the financial investigation. He told Mark that he would consider any lawful agreement the prosecutor recommended, but he would not withdraw a claim simply to protect Eric. The missing money belonged partly to the college fund and partly to the company; it had to be accounted for.
Vanessa's attorney argued that the plea offer should focus only on the drink incident. The prosecutor rejected the idea that the financial transfers were unrelated, because the messages showed a possible motive to keep Daniel from voting on the merger. The charges would be handled according to the evidence, not a private family arrangement.
In the weeks that followed, the audit team recovered part of the missing funds and traced the rest to accounts connected to Eric's firm. The trustees secured a court order preventing further transfers. The company's board adopted new approval rules, requiring independent review of related-party payments and separate credentials for financial accounts.
Jake began seeing his counselor regularly. Some days he was angry; other days he barely spoke. Daniel learned not to demand a lesson from every feeling. He made dinner, drove Jake to school, and showed up when he promised to show up.
At Vanessa's plea hearing, she admitted that she had placed an unauthorized substance in Daniel's drink and intended to make him too impaired to attend the board vote. She also admitted to helping move funds through Northstar. The judge accepted the plea after confirming that she understood the consequences.
Daniel listened without looking away. He had wanted a confession, but hearing it did not make him feel victorious. It only made the truth impossible to deny.
Outside the courtroom, Vanessa asked to speak to him. Mark advised him not to be alone with her, so they remained in the public hallway with counsel nearby.
“You destroyed my life,” she said.
Daniel shook his head. “You made choices. I stopped covering for them.”
Daniel stepped back. “Don't use my son to reach me again.”
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At sentencing, the judge imposed a prison term, restitution, and strict no-contact conditions. The sentence did not restore the money or erase what Jake had endured, but it made clear that the court treated the attempted poisoning and financial scheme as serious crimes.
As he walked away, Detective Grant called. The review of Laura's accident had produced a new lead—and it wasn't Eric.
