Chapter 8 - Julia Wanted Emma To Find It
Julia Mercer surrendered voluntarily.
She admitted using Margaret’s old number.
Her explanation stunned Chloe.
Julia did not trust Rebecca.
She believed Rebecca had spent years protecting Victor Hale’s
reputation.
Julia found Margaret’s private notes after her death.
The notes referenced Caroline Reed, the emerald gown, and something
hidden in its seam.
Julia wanted Chloe to locate it without alerting Rebecca.
“Why pretend to be your mother?” Grant asked.
Julia looked ashamed.
“Chloe ignored me when I asked directly.”
“So you manipulated your daughter with messages from her dead
grandmother.”
“Yes.”
Chloe left the room in tears.
Julia admitted creating the fake email instructing Victoria to offer
Emma the emerald gown.
She wanted Emma to discover the hidden object because she believed only
Caroline’s daughter could force the old story into public view.
Daniel’s anger rose.
“You were willing to let Emma put on a dress with a sharpened piece of
metal inside.”
Julia shook her head.
“I thought Chloe had removed it.”
Chloe returned from the hallway.
“No. You told me not to.”
Julia stared.
Chloe showed Grant the messages.
DO NOT DISTURB THE SEAM.
THE OBJECT MUST REMAIN WHERE MARGARET LEFT IT.
Julia covered her mouth.
She had convinced herself the object was a harmless metal marker or key.
She never asked.
She never inspected it herself.
Her plan was reckless.
But another question remained.
Who originally hid the sharpened shaft inside the gown?
Forensic examination found old oxidation on most of the metal.
It had been inside the fabric for years.
Possibly decades.
The seam thread contained fibers consistent with repairs made around
1999.
The object was not planted for Emma.
It had likely been hidden after Caroline wore the gown twenty-seven
years earlier.
Emma felt the story change beneath her.
May you like
Someone had arranged for her to find an old danger.
But the danger itself belonged to her mother’s missing forty-six hours.
