Chapter 9 - The Letter Hidden Inside Gloria’s File

The police returned materials unrelated to criminal evidence.

One document went to Marissa because it belonged to her.

My certified letter.

Still sealed.

The same one Gloria had signed for three weeks earlier.

Marissa opened it in her attorney’s office.

She read about the house sale.

Then ninety days’ notice.

Four months’ severance.

Moving expenses.

Six months of rent assistance paid directly to a landlord.

She stopped halfway through.

“I wasn’t becoming homeless.”

“No,” her attorney said.

“You had a transition plan.”

Marissa covered her face.

All the panic Gloria used to move her toward the setup had been manufactured.

Then she reached the last page.

A handwritten note from me.

Marissa — you’ve taken good care of this house for four years. I want you and Sophie to land somewhere stable. Rebecca can help with rental references. — Daniel

Marissa cried for almost twenty minutes.

I did not see that.

Her attorney told Rebecca later.

I’m glad I wasn’t there.

The point wasn’t to watch her regret what she did to me.

The point was understanding why she did it.

Gloria had hidden evidence that Marissa was safe.

Because a safe Marissa didn’t need rescuing.

And a daughter who didn’t need rescuing was harder to control.

Then came one more document.

A draft email Gloria never sent.

Addressed to family attorney Karen Bell.

Once CPS is involved, how quickly can I ask that Sophie stay with me while Marissa is investigated? I can provide proof Marissa planned the incident.

Date:

the night before Sophie entered my bedroom.

Proof Marissa planned the incident.

Gloria already knew she would have that proof.

Because she was helping create it.

Then another sentence:

I do not want Marissa criminally charged if it can be avoided. I only need the court to understand that Sophie cannot be safe in her judgment.

Marissa read that aloud during an interview.

Her voice changed.

“She wanted me to do it.”

Nobody answered.

“She wanted me to endanger Sophie so she could prove I endanger Sophie.”

That was exactly what the evidence was beginning to show.

But Part 10 revealed Gloria had gone one step further.

She had created two versions of the incident before it ever happened.

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One for me.

And one for Marissa.