Richard struck her.
Then he called Carol.
Carol had never been able to have children.
Richard offered her money.
He told her Margaret was unstable.
He said Emily would be safer with her.
Carol agreed.
Thomas, Richard’s police officer brother, helped stage the disappearance.
They placed Emily’s shoe near the river.
Search teams focused downstream.
Meanwhile, Carol drove Emily to Minnesota.
Richard visited twice that first year.
After that, he sent money.
The journals showed no remorse.
Only control.
One line made Margaret physically sick.
Margaret must believe the girl is dead.
Otherwise, she will never become manageable again.
Sophie read the sentence twice.
Then stopped.
Margaret looked at her.
“Read it.”
Sophie hesitated.
“Read it.”
So Sophie did.
Margaret stared at the wall.
Nathan lowered his head.
Another entry said:
Nathan understands loyalty better than his mother.
That sentence broke him.
He stood and walked into the hallway.