Chapter 20 - What Was In The Black Bags
For years, strangers asked indirectly.
“What was in pool?”
Because rumors.
Emily hated.
At twenty five she asked for exact inventory.
We had kept court summary.
I read:
Bag 1:
Shredded invoices and printed bank records.
Bag 2:
Sarah’s water damaged laptop and primary phone.
Bag 3:
Two external hard drives, one irrecoverable, one partially recovered.
Bag 4:
Office files, fake message printouts, unused company stationery.
Bag 5:
Tool cases used as weights and miscellaneous business records.
No body.
No animal.
No hidden weapon.
The lockbox was separate, anchored beneath pool equipment and pulled upward when one dumped bag snagged chain.
That explained visual.
Sarah had placed lockbox two weeks before.
Jason never found.
Then Emily:
“So black bags were boring.”
“Evidence.”
“Boring evidence.”
“Yes.”
She smiled.
“That’s better.”
The terror came from unknown.
Once known, bags became paper.
Then key.
Sarah had waterproofed blue key in Emily’s sleeve only after? Actually Sarah gave earlier and Emily hid in sleeve when Jason locked. Fine.
The silver key opened River files.
No third key.
No final box.
No hidden safety deposit.
No sequel.
Then phone.
The small lockbox phone contained scheduled audio to Sarah? We haven't detailed. Could close:
It had only Sarah’s note, copies, and draft emergency contacts. No secret recordings beyond drive.
No other hidden.
Then one thing.
Sarah had titled folder:
MICHAEL NOT YET.
Emily laughed.
“Mom.”
Sarah groaned when told.
“Accurate.”
I said:
“Rude.”
Then she explained:
“If Michael knew too early, he'd confront.”
We all agreed now.
Then Emily asked:
“Would you again?”
“Climb fence?”
“Yes.”
“If you were locked in cage?”
“Absolutely.”
“Even if Jason wanted?”
“I’d call police while driving. Wait if safe.”
May you like
She rolled eyes.
Progress, not sainthood.
