Chapter 12 - Marissa’s Version
Marissa gave a full proffer after Rhett’s hidden resale agreement surfaced.
Not immunity.
Truth in exchange for prosecutors considering cooperation.
Her version:
She had been unhappy for two years.
She felt invisible after Miles’s birth.
My work expanded.
Red Creek had a major police contract.
I was tired.
She was tired.
We stopped talking.
All plausible.
Then Rhett.
They met through a home sale transaction.
Affair.
He made her feel desired.
No crime.
Then my house.
Rhett asked whether I would sell.
Marissa said no.
He joked:
“Everyone sells.”
Then land values.
Developer interest.
He showed her numbers.
She imagined using proceeds to start over.
She knew I would refuse.
There.
Then power of attorney.
She claimed Rhett said it was merely “preliminary authority” and could be fixed at closing.
Did she believe that?
Messages showed doubt.
Marissa:
Grant never signed this.
Rhett:
He signs later.
Marissa:
Then why does it show signed now?
Rhett:
To get title moving.
She continued.
That was enough.
Then the children.
Marissa admitted leaving them Monday through Thursday.
Why no babysitter?
She did not want me to know how often she was meeting Rhett.
A sitter would create records and questions.
That sentence enraged me.
She chose secrecy over adult supervision.
Then pantry.
Punishment because Tessa took cookies before dinner.
Marissa left the lock engaged without thinking? Maybe first day.
By Wednesday she knew Tessa could not access snacks.
She still left it locked.
Then formula.
She thought enough remained.
It did not.
Then carrier.
She told Tessa to keep Miles strapped if he cried because she wanted him quiet during phone calls.
Not safety.
Convenience.
Then threats.
She admitted telling Tessa Miles could “go somewhere else.”
Why?
“To scare her into not calling Grant.”
Then:
“Did you intend to sell your baby?”
“No.”
Good.
No trafficking fiction.
Then why did Tessa say it?
“She misunderstood.”
Because Marissa used words designed to terrify.
Then house closing day.
She thought seventeen minutes.
Then title officer refused.
Rhett pushed.
She stayed.
Tessa texted.
She ignored.
Then:
“At what point did you realize Grant might be called?”
Around 3:20.
Still did not leave.
Why?
“Rhett said we were one document away.”
There.
She chose deal.
Then when she entered house and heard police:
“I knew everything was over.”
Then Rhett’s comment that house was gone.
Marissa admitted she believed closing might still happen because purchase contract was signed.
It could not.
Title mattered.
Then prosecutors asked:
“Why did you believe Grant would accept afterward?”
She cried.
“Because he always fixes things.”
That sentence hit.
I had fixed.
Business issues.
Car.
Taxes.
Her mother’s medical bills once.
I was reliable.
She turned reliability into permission.
Different story.
Same human mistake.
Then she said:
“I knew he would hate me. I thought once money was there, he wouldn’t undo it.”
Again.
May you like
Completed outcome as coercion.
That was likely enough for a jury.
