Chapter 5 - THE FAKE ALLERGY
Emma loved strawberries.
Stephen Vale's new medical note claimed she could die from them.
"Why create an allergy after the pool plan failed?"
"A second accident."
The note scheduled an allergy challenge for the next morning.
Doctor: Stephen Vale.
Location: private Pierce clinic.
"Cancel it."
Already done.
Police searched Vale's office.
They found files on Christopher, Emma, Anna, Daniel, and Juliette.
Emma's folder contained one sentence:
Highly observant child. Strong paternal attachment. Obstacle to continuity planning.
"Obstacle."
Vale had recommended slowly separating Emma from Christopher through private camps, residential schooling, and psychiatric evaluation.
Eleanor approved the plan.
Anna's file was worse.
Increasingly hostile to family governance.
Her crime was reading documents.
Vale's calendar showed a meeting with Eleanor the night before Anna died.
Another file connected Victor Hale to the car.
Brake service invoice.
V-Mobility Consulting.
Owner: Victor Hale.
Rachel checked.
He had introduced Juliette to Eleanor two years ago.
Not Christopher.
Juliette had not entered Christopher's life by accident.
She had been placed there.
"I need to talk."
Christopher refused.
"Your mother killed Anna. Victor helped her."
Christopher listened once.
Then Brooks brought Juliette into an interview room.
Juliette admitted Eleanor wanted her close to Christopher.
At first, she reported his moods.
Emma's routine.
Board conversations.
Then Eleanor pushed marriage.
"What did you get?" Brooks asked.
"Money."
Juliette did not decorate it.
Victor's investment fund was collapsing.
Eleanor promised to rescue it if Juliette kept Christopher under control.
"Victor isn't my brother."
"Who is he?"
"Christopher's brother."
"My what?"
May you like
Juliette's eyes filled.
"Your mother's first son."
