Chapter 8 - THE WOMAN CALLED AUNT KAREN
Karen Vale was not Emma's aunt.
She was a former employee of Richard Vale's private security company.
Her real name was Karen Doyle.
She had worked for Richard for nearly fifteen years.
After his death, she began handling confidential payments for his remaining associates.
Investigators discovered that Karen had been responsible for moving Emma between temporary residences after Hannah became ill.
But instead of seeking proper care for the child, she kept Emma hidden.
Why?
Because Emma's identity was connected to a trust Richard had established years earlier.
A trust containing millions of dollars in assets.
Emma was a beneficiary.
And Karen had been attempting to gain access to the money through forged guardianship documents.
When Hannah refused to cooperate, Karen threatened her.
Hannah later died after a period of serious illness.
Karen then abandoned Emma in the park, apparently believing the child would be found but unable to identify the adults responsible for her situation.
The rabbit contained documents Hannah had hidden before her death.
Documents proving Emma's identity.
And evidence of the trust.
Karen wanted them back.
But she had underestimated Emma.
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And she had underestimated Lily.
Because without Lily noticing the girl beneath the oak tree, Emma might have remained unidentified for much longer.
