Chapter 8 - PATRICIA’S PETITION
The petition had not been granted.
Not even close.
It had only been electronically filed.
Still.
The timing was horrifying.
Patricia claimed:
Rachel’s excessive medical anxiety interferes with Lily’s normal development.
Daniel is unable to resolve disputes because of marital conflict.
Grandmother provides stable after school care.
Attached evidence:
Dr. Hales prescription.
Claire’s videos.
School attendance records.
And a proposed letter from Daniel.
My husband had not signed it.
Yet.
It said:
I support my mother serving as temporary neutral medical coordinator.
Neutral.
Patricia.
The woman who had just fed peanuts to my allergic child.
Why file that day?
Because Patricia expected the home test to go well.
If Lily ate a small amount of peanut after taking the tablets and remained fine, Claire would have video.
Patricia planned to attach it as evidence that my restrictions were excessive.
Then request expanded authority.
The reaction destroyed that plan.
But she filed anyway.
At 3:16 p.m.
While Lily was already in the emergency department.
She did not disclose the hospitalization.
Her attorney later said Patricia told him:
Lily experienced “mild anxiety.”
He learned the truth from police.
He withdrew the emergency request within an hour.
Then Claire’s financial records gave us her motive.
Patricia had been paying her.
$1,500 monthly.
Description:
Family care support.
Claire picked up children.
Organized lake outings.
Helped with Patricia’s household.
Nothing inherently wrong.
But three weeks earlier Patricia promised:
$25,000 toward Claire’s condo down payment if the custody situation “got settled.”
Message:
PATRICIA:
Once Rachel stops controlling everything, I can help you with the condo.
CLAIRE:
I need the money before September.
PATRICIA:
Then help me document things properly.
Claire had a financial reason to keep filming.
Did that mean she wanted Lily hurt?
No evidence.
She wanted Patricia happy.
She wanted money.
She convinced herself the allergy was exaggerated because believing that made her behavior easier.
Then police asked why she tried hiding the prescription bag.
Claire finally answered.
“Because I knew Rachel didn’t know about it.”
“Did you know Patricia used two tablets?”
“Yes.”
“Did you know the doctor said no home exposure?”
Silence.
“Yes.”
There.
Then:
“Why did you still help?”
Claire cried.
Not enough to erase anything.
“Patricia kept saying Daniel’s lawyer needed proof.”
Daniel’s lawyer had said the opposite.
Claire never saw the email.
She trusted Patricia.
Again.
Everyone trusted the person whose answer benefited them.
Then Detective Brooks asked:
“Did you ever do this before?”
Claire stopped crying.
That was the moment I knew.
May you like
This was not the first test.
Continue to the next part: Claire’s reaction tells police Patricia had performed earlier secret “allergy tests” on Lily before the incident that sent her to the hospital.
