Chapter 9 - The Mother They Chose to Erase
Emily's statement was recorded over several hours.
Rebecca later explained the portions relevant to our case.
According to Emily, Michael had been unraveling financially for months.
He received threatening letters from creditors.
He had secretly borrowed money against their home.
He became obsessed with the idea that my trust could solve everything.
At first, he wanted me to sign financial documents voluntarily.
Then he began describing me as forgetful.
Emotionally unstable.
Unable to make decisions.
When that failed, he started talking about what would happen if I died.
Emily admitted she had heard those conversations.
She also admitted helping him submit financial paperwork she knew contained false information.
I listened without interrupting.
Then Rebecca reached the part about the hike.
“Emily says Michael chose that trail because the ridge was unstable.”
I felt my pulse in my throat.
“She knew?”
“She says she knew he wanted to frighten you into accepting help with your finances.”
I stared at her.
“That's what she claims now?”
Rebecca nodded.
“She denies knowing he intended to cause a fatal fall.”
I shook my head.
“She talked about leaving us there.”
“Yes,” Rebecca said. “And her account of that conversation is significantly different from yours.”
I knew what that meant.
Emily was trying to save herself.
But there was more.
She claimed Aiden had been safely secured in the carrier when the ground gave way.
During the fall, she lost her balance.
The carrier straps tore.
Aiden slid down the slope.
Michael allegedly told her that going after him would be too dangerous.
And when she heard him crying, she believed Michael would call emergency services.
Except he didn't.
Neither of them did.
Instead, they left.
I closed my eyes.
Emily could explain her behavior however she wanted.
It would never erase what I had heard.
Rebecca placed another document before me.
“There's something else.”
It was a copy of a life insurance application.
The proposed insured person was me.
The beneficiary was Michael.
The coverage amount was three million dollars.
I stared at the page.
“I never applied for this.”
“We know.”
“And it wasn't active?”
“Not according to the information we have.”
I exhaled shakily.
The application was another piece of evidence of Michael's interest in profiting from my death.
Rebecca continued.
“Investigators also recovered messages between Michael and Nathaniel Graves discussing the trust.”
I looked at her.
“What did they say?”
She read one sentence aloud.
“Once Margaret is out of the picture, we can release the funds.”
For a moment, I could not speak.
Then I asked the question I had been avoiding.
“Rebecca, did my son ever love me?”
Her expression softened.
“I can't answer that.”
Neither could I.
May you like
But I would soon have to face an even more painful question.
What if loving Michael meant finally holding him accountable?
