Chapter 7 - THE TORN BURGUNDY BLOUSE
Daniel hired an independent attorney.
He did not want access to Noah’s trust.
He wanted the accounts frozen.
The bank agreed temporarily.
Victoria learned within hours.
She told Ryan his father was attempting to seize control.
Ryan called Daniel.
“Release the freeze.”
“Review the withdrawals first.”
“My signature is on them.”
“Do you remember signing?”
A pause followed.
Victoria stood nearby.
Daniel heard her whisper:
“Don’t let him manipulate you.”
Ryan moved into another room.
“Why are you doing this now?”
“I came to your house because I discovered the transfers.”
“You attacked my wife.”
“No.”
“Noah says you didn’t.”
“Then listen to him.”
“He is a child.”
Daniel’s voice changed.
“That does not make him blind.”
Ryan ended the call.
Meanwhile, police examined Victoria’s blouse.
The tear ran upward from the sleeve.
If Daniel had grabbed her, the fabric would likely have stretched forward.
Instead, the silk contained a narrow puncture.
It had caught on something sharp.
An officer returned to the mansion.
The wooden interior door had a small exposed nail near its edge.
Burgundy silk remained around it.
Victoria claimed Daniel pushed her against the door.
But the mark’s height created a problem.
The nail was behind her when Ryan entered.
Daniel would have needed to pull her backward while standing across the room.
No fingerprints from Daniel appeared near it.
Victoria’s prints covered the wood.
So did traces of makeup from her cheek.
She had pressed her face against the door.
The physical evidence did not prove the full staging.
But it contradicted her description.
The officer asked Victoria to explain.
She became emotional.
“Do you know how frightening it is to have every movement questioned?”
Ryan stepped between them.
“My wife has answered enough.”
After the officer left, Ryan studied the nail.
He pictured Victoria catching the sleeve deliberately.
The idea felt impossible.
Then he remembered Noah’s exact words.
She tore her shirt.
Victoria entered.
“You’re still looking at that?”
Ryan turned.
“Why is your makeup on the door?”
She did not hesitate.
“Your father pushed my face against it.”
That detail had not appeared in her first police statement.
Ryan knew because he read it twice.
For the first time, he did not accept her answer immediately.
Victoria saw the hesitation.
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That night, she removed the nail.
But the police had already photographed it.
