Chapter 8
Samuel Price became the audit’s central witness.
He had served as chief financial officer for twelve years.
His signature appeared on altered maintenance files, vendor approvals, and payments to North County Fleet Solutions.
He initially said he trusted information supplied by operations.
Then auditors found his private spreadsheet.
FBA Recovery.
Columns tracked:
Inflated parts payments.
Consulting fees.
Board-chair distributions.
Avery foundation reimbursements.
Samuel received two percent.
Not enough to control the scheme.
Enough to stop asking questions.
He requested a cooperation agreement.
Criminal prosecutors made no promises through me.
My civil attorneys could negotiate restitution and testimony.
The government decided charges.
Samuel admitted Frederick created North County after Jasper refused to increase parental dividends.
“Frederick said Jasper was starving the founders.”
Beaumont Logistics paid Frederick and Avery significant compensation already.
Founders, in Frederick’s vocabulary, meant people entitled to extract whatever the company could survive.
Samuel also described Jasper’s medical loans.
Frederick loaned money through a family entity.
Then billed the company for “executive health retention.”
The company effectively repaid the parents while Jasper personally remained liable.
Interest became leverage.
Avery managed the paperwork.
When Jasper tried to release the collateral votes, she claimed he missed a payment during surgery.
“What did Jasper do?” Lydia asked.
“He threatened to report everything.”
“Why didn’t he?”
“He wanted to protect the company from a lender crisis.”
Again, employees became the reason secrecy continued.
Samuel looked at me during the interview.
“He said he would fix it quietly.”
“That was his mistake.”
“Yes.”
Samuel produced emails.
One from Avery after Jasper entered hospice:
Prepare emergency transfer. Hazel cannot be permitted to hold votes. She will sell because she has never had money.
Another from Frederick:
Lock house immediately after funeral. Documents can be negotiated once she understands position.
They had planned the porch.
Avery replied:
Ring first. It is visible evidence she is no longer part of family.
My wedding ring was not taken from grief.
May you like
It was a symbol selected in advance.
The cruelty felt colder after becoming administrative.
