Chapter 11 - Emily’s mistake
Emily wanted to defend herself to everyone.
Her in-laws.
Friends.
Me.
Police.
She began sending texts.
Too many.
Rachel warned her:
“Stop interviewing people.”
Emily did not.
She called Derek’s business partner Shane.
“What did you know?”
Shane said:
“Nothing.”
“About Blue Heron?”
Silence.
Then he hung up.
Emily called again.
No answer.
Then she sent:
If you knew Derek forged my mother’s name, I will make sure you lose everything.
Bad.
Very bad.
The next morning Shane’s attorney provided the message to investigators.
Rachel nearly exploded.
“You threatened a potential witness.”
“I was angry.”
“Yes.”
“I didn’t mean legally.”
“There is no decorative version of that text.”
No charge resulted.
But Emily’s message gave Derek’s defense something useful:
Hale family applying pressure.
She had to own it.
She stopped contacting witnesses.
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We both learned versions of the same lesson.
Being wronged does not grant investigative authority.
