Chapter 8 - WHAT VICTORIA MEANT
Victoria said they needed visible proof Emily was “erratic.”
Brooks suggested property damage.
Michael said Emily would never destroy anything in front of guests.
Victoria replied:
“Then give her a reason.”
They planned to hide Claire’s old locket.
The one Emily wore every Easter.
Then accuse a housekeeper of stealing it.
Michael would pressure Emily publicly.
Victoria would insult Claire.
They expected Emily to break.
Throw a glass.
Scream.
Maybe shove someone.
Because she found the locket in Michael’s desk before the party started.
She confronted him privately.
He hit her.
The plan became real violence before the staged breakdown could happen.
Emily had called me from the study.
Investigators began interviews.
The first break came from a caterer named Jasmine Cole.
She had seen Brooks enter the study at 9:50 a.m.
He carried a small black case.
“What was inside?” the investigator asked.
Jasmine did not know.
But she saw him leave without it.
Someone had planned to record the confrontation from inside the study.
This was a separate camera angle. Laura later traced the receiving account to Clearwater Renewal Center. Rachel understood why: “To document Emily’s ‘episode’ before admission.”
Then Laura said:
“There’s more.”
Clearwater had already billed Emily’s trust.
May you like
Forty-eight thousand dollars.
For treatment she never received.
