Chapter 6 - CELESTE’S FIRST STORY
Celeste said the London trip was a surprise vacation.
A bad one.
Unauthorized.
Poorly planned.
But not abduction.
She claimed:
“Daniel had agreed months ago that Sophie and I should take a bonding trip.”
I remembered a conversation.
Celeste:
“One day I should take Sophie somewhere just us.”
Me:
“When she’s older.”
Celeste:
“She’d love London.”
Me:
“Maybe.”
That became agreement in her memory.
Then the forged-looking consent letter.
She denied preparing it.
Mason denied too.
Someone had.
Digital examination would come later.
Then the suitcase.
Celeste admitted.
“I lost my temper.”
Why lock?
“She kept climbing out.”
That answer was horrifyingly casual.
Then:
“I intended thirty seconds.”
Video:
Eight minutes.
Celeste said she was delayed because she went upstairs for passports.
But the passports were already downstairs before I arrived.
Timeline would challenge parts.
Then the picture.
Why did she care?
“Rebecca left assets no one told Daniel about.”
“How do you know?”
She said:
“I found correspondence.”
Where?
“House storage.”
Then:
“I was trying to protect my marriage from another financial secret.”
Interesting.
Not:
steal Sophie’s money.
Protect marriage.
Then the tickets.
Why one-way?
“Flexibility.”
Why Mason?
“He was helping with luggage and travel.”
Why leave that night without telling me?
Celeste’s attorney stopped her.
Correct.
The statement ended.
But one phrase stayed.
May you like
Another financial secret.
Apparently she believed Rebecca still occupied our marriage not only through a photograph but through property.
