Chapter 8 - MARGOT FINALLY ADMITS THE MEETINGMargot gave supplemental statement.
Full.
No more half.
She had met Theresa three times.
First hotel lobby.
Second office.
Third at Cedarwick two days before party.
At third, Theresa suggested using Poppy.
Margot said no initially.
Theresa:
“Then your daughter won’t care.”
Margot left.
That night Nolan argued:
“Mom, if Elise marries, trust changes.”
“Declan will isolate.”
“Poppy will inherit through him.”
Nonsense legally.
Margot emotionally vulnerable.
Next morning she texted Theresa:
If using Poppy is only way, make it harmless and brief.
There.
Consent to staged abduction.
Margot cried in statement.
“I knew wrong while typing.”
Detective:
“Then why?”
“I wanted control.”
Rare honesty.
“What control?”
“My daughter.”
“Family.”
“Cedarwick.”
“My son’s mess.”
“All of it.”
“Did you know Nolan paid Theresa?”
“Not until party.”
“Why not tell police immediately?”
“I thought I could separate my involvement from his.”
“I was ashamed.”
“I was afraid.”
“Of arrest?”
“Yes.”
“Of Elise never speaking.”
“Yes.”
“Of Nolan prison.”
“Yes.”
“What about Poppy?”
Margot sobbed.
“I knew she was alive when I froze.”
True: after rescue.
But before, she had searched too.
Her terror real.
Not fake.
People can cause danger and fear outcome.
Elise received transcript.
She felt no satisfaction.
Confession did not heal.
But ambiguity reduced.
Margot’s role:
initiated investigation.
approved use of Poppy in “harmless brief” staged disappearance.
watched Theresa lead child.
failed intervene.
lied afterward.
protected Nolan.
Not direct binding/bin.
Serious.
Potential criminal liability.
Prosecutors considered.
Margot’s attorney negotiated.
Elise refused intervene for leniency.
Also refused demand harsh.
“Do job.”
The family name did not decide.
Margot lost board roles at family foundation voluntarily/pending.
Cedarwick trust review.
She moved from estate temporarily to condo because Elise did not want proximity.
No dramatic exile by police.
Consequences.
The meeting admission changed Poppy contact.
Elise told Margot:
“No in-person for now.”
Margot:
“I understand.”
She sent no gifts first month because therapist advised gifts can pressure.
Letters stored unopened until Poppy asks.
Good.
Margot started therapy.
Not redemption checkbox.
At 66, she faced lifelong pattern:
control disguised protection.
Her own mother? Could explore but not needed.
She had managed husband’s illness.
Nolan’s failures.
Elise’s decisions.
Cedarwick.
Competence became entitlement.
May you like
She had never learned difference between helping and overriding.
Now cost.
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