Chapter 15 - The Final Plea
In late November, one week before Derek Vance’s formal criminal trial was scheduled to begin, David Chen called me with an update from the District Attorney's office.
"Derek’s public defender reached out this morning," David said over the speakerphone. "Derek wants to execute a full, unconditional guilty plea to felony forgery, attempted grand larceny, and bank fraud."
"What are the terms?" I asked.
"Three years in state prison, followed by three years of supervised probation, and a mandatory $45,000 criminal restitution order," David detailed. "In exchange, the DA agrees not to pursue additional federal mail fraud counts."
"Does the plea require Joselyn to testify?" I asked.
"No," David confirmed. "It closes the case permanently. No public trial, no media circus, no cross-examination."
I turned to look at Joselyn, who was sitting across the study desk reviewing blue prints for the library project. She listened quietly, then looked up at me and gave a firm, decisive nod.
"Tell the DA we accept the plea deal, David," I said into the phone. "He goes to prison, he pays his restitution, and we close his chapter forever."
"Consider it done, Frances," David replied. "I'll file the agreement with the clerk this afternoon."
When I hung up the phone, the house felt lighter, brighter, and entirely free of the dark shadow that had hovered over us for two long years.
Joselyn stood up from her chair, walked over to the window, and opened the glass doors, letting the crisp, sweet autumn breeze flow into the study.
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"It's over, Mom," she whispered, looking out at the colorful trees in the garden.
"Yes, it is, sweetheart," I said, walking over to stand beside her, taking her hand in mine. "The storm has passed. Now we build."
