Emma Opened Her Hand and Revealed a Missing Ring — Then Michael Saw the Muddy Footprints Leading Through the House
Chapter 7 — David Finally Talks
Police located David that evening.
He denied stealing anything.
Until investigators showed him the video.
Then his story changed.
Robert had contacted him two weeks earlier.
According to David, Robert claimed Claire was secretly preparing to sell the lake property and keep the entire payment.
David believed he was entitled to half.
Robert told him Margaret had signed an older document leaving the land to both children equally.
“Was that true?” Michael asked Claire.
She nodded.
Originally, yes.
But Margaret changed the arrangement before she died.
David’s share of the lake property was placed into a trust to repay debts Margaret had covered for him.
Claire did not receive the entire property either.
The proceeds were supposed to be divided among several family trusts.
Robert knew that.
He had drafted the documents.
David told investigators Robert promised to find the “real deed” if David helped him enter the house.
“Why not ask Claire?” Ortiz asked.
David laughed bitterly.
“Because I thought she was cheating me.”
“What did you take?”
David looked down.
“A document case.”
“Where is it?”
He hesitated.
“Robert took it afterward.”
That contradicted the camera.
David had carried it to the car.
But he claimed Robert took possession once they drove away.
“What was inside?”
David answered:
“Copies of property transfers.”
Then he added something unexpected.
“And a notebook.”
Claire frowned.
“What notebook?”
David looked at his sister.
“Mom’s.”
“What was written in it?”
David shook his head.
“Robert wouldn’t let me read it.”
