Chapter 16 - The black bags become ordinary evidence
The bags fascinated people.
That annoyed me eventually.
Because they sounded like horror-movie props.
Reality:
Contractor trash bags.
Duct tape.
Pavers.
Water.
Devices.
Documents.
No bodies.
No hidden weapons.
No human remains.
Police drained part of the pool after obtaining authority.
Nothing else significant.
A wrench.
Leaves.
Children’s goggles.
A broken patio chair.
The pool itself had no secret chamber.
Emily had been terrified because Derek’s threat gave the bags meaning.
He knew that.
That was the part that mattered.
One recorded message recovered from the prepaid phone showed Derek texting a former business partner:
If Laura keeps digging I’m cooked. Need the old devices gone.
Not brilliant criminal tradecraft.
Panic.
Another:
Kid saw me. She’s with her dad tomorrow anyway.
But she had not been with me tomorrow.
My custody week started Friday evening.
Derek had to keep Emily quiet until Laura returned Thursday night.
May you like
He chose the cage.
That sequence became important.
