Chapter 8 - June Knew
Cumberland Fiduciary produced the historical trust file.
June had documented everything.
After Matthew died, Patricia called her repeatedly.
She offered to “help manage” lake property.
June declined.
Frank suggested selling and investing proceeds into a real estate partnership.
June declined.
Carla proposed vacation rentals.
June declined.
Then Patricia became offended.
“You don’t trust us.”
June wrote in her notes:
Correct.
Not because the Reeds were criminals then.
Because they treated ownership as negotiable when family wanted something.
June added an exclusion clause barring Patricia, Frank, and Carla from serving as trustees.
I had never seen because it only mattered if successor issues arose.
Now it felt prophetic.
Then a personal letter from June to me, never delivered.
Maybe she intended after trust finalized.
Naomi,
If anything happens to me, do not let guilt make you surrender Lily’s decisions.
Then:
The property may someday be sold. That is fine if it benefits Lily.
Do not keep it because of me.
Do not sell it because somebody complains louder.
I cried.
June was not asking me to preserve acreage forever.
She was asking me to preserve consent.
Then Patricia’s digital evidence.
Police found a message to Frank after CPS report closed.
Patricia:
Damn. They said Naomi is fine.
Frank:
Good.
Patricia:
No. We needed record.
There.
She had not been concerned about result.
She wanted documentation.
Another:
If Naomi ever finds out I filed, she’ll never let us see Lily again.
She knew.
Then one to Carla:
Once we have Lily temporarily, Naomi stops being only voice.
Carla:
And lake?
Patricia:
One thing at a time.
Then a draft court petition to remove me as trustee based on “emotional incapacity.”
Attached:
Fake resignation.
Private investigator photos.
CPS report.
The plan was organized.
Then private investigator James Hall voluntarily cooperated after subpoena.
He had been hired for six weeks.
His reports found nothing alarming.
Patricia kept asking:
“Anything emotional?”
“Anything irresponsible?”
Hall wrote:
Subject appears attentive to child and professionally active. No observed neglect.
Patricia omitted.
Then an audio recording.
His client agreement permitted recorded intake.
Patricia forgot.
In the first meeting:
Hall:
“Has Naomi harmed Lily?”
Patricia:
“No.”
“Substance abuse?”
“No.”
“Police concerns?”
“No.”
“Then what are you trying to establish?”
Patricia:
“She thinks she can keep Lily from us whenever she wants.”
That was motive before money.
Months later, after Summit Ridge:
Patricia:
“We need something stronger.”
Hall:
“I don’t manufacture evidence.”
Patricia:
“I’m not asking.”
Then:
“If she gets angry in public, record.”
That would become devastating at trial.
But before Patricia faced trial, Carla had her own decision.
Plead.
Or make Lily’s injury a courtroom argument.
At first, she chose trial.
May you like
Then a thirteen year old cousin came forward with five words she had heard immediately after Lily fell.
“Now she’ll shut up.”
