Chapter 9 - RICHARD’S STORYRichard’s account was more ambitious.
Emily voluntarily agreed to stay in the hidden room because she was afraid of herself.
The door was locked only after she asked him to stop Noah from seeing her “in that state.”
The fake death?
Richard initially denied creating it.
Then evidence tied the laptop files to him.
He changed.
He said the funeral was meant as “a symbolic disappearance.”
That phrase became famous locally.
His attorney hated it.
Richard claimed Emily wanted to leave permanently and asked him to tell people she died so she could “start over.”
Why sandbags?
To give the coffin proper weight.
Why blue dress, ring, Noah photo?
Emily’s requests.
Why lock her?
Safety.
Why move her?
She wanted privacy.
Why no valid death record?
Because the funeral was ceremonial.
But he had not told the funeral home it was ceremonial.
Or the cemetery.
Or me.
Or Noah.
And Emily had called from the basement asking to be released.
Voluntary disappearance became difficult to defend.
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Then police recovered an audio clip from a basement smart speaker Richard forgot to remove.
It would destroy the rest.
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