Chapter 4
Dulcie’s first formal interview happened with a child specialist.
Neither parent was in the room.
Good.
She was ten.
Old enough to remember details.
Young enough to absorb adult meanings incorrectly.
The specialist asked open questions.
What happened?
Why did Mom have scissors?
What did Mom say before Dad left?
Dulcie described a conversation in Ramona’s bedroom.
“Mom said Nell always makes people think she’s prettier.”
“What did you say?”
“I said I didn’t care.”
“What did Mom say?”
“She said I should care because people compare girls.”
“Did she say she planned to cut Nell’s hair?”
Dulcie hesitated.
“She said Nell needed to be humbled.”
That matched Nell.
Then:
“She said it had to happen before Daddy came back.”
“Why?”
Dulcie looked down.
“She said Daddy would ruin it.”
“Did she say anything about Ainsley?”
“Yes.”
“What?”
“That Ainsley would probably attack her.”
The interviewer stayed neutral.
“What did you think that meant?”
“I thought yelling.”
Important.
Dulcie did not understand a plan for physical violence.
Then:
“Did your mom tell you what to do?”
“She said stay near Liam—”
Dulcie corrected herself.
No Liam.
She meant two cousins near the cake.
“Why?”
“So I’d be away from Nell.”
“Did she tell you to record?”
“No.”
“Did she tell anyone else?”
“I heard her tell Aunt Celeste to keep her phone out.”
That was new.
Celeste Whitlock, Benedict’s cousin, admitted Ramona had said:
“Keep your phone handy. Ainsley may create a scene.”
Celeste thought Ramona feared conflict because custody litigation was already tense.
She began recording only after Nell screamed.
Again:
Ordinary facts arranged into something useful.
Then Marcus found the emergency custody packet.
Ramona’s family-law attorney, Catherine Moss, had drafted it before the party.
That alone was not suspicious.
Parties often prepared contingency filings before contentious family events.
But one section was blank.
New incident demonstrating risk in Benedict Whitlock household:
Below it, the draft requested temporary suspension of overnight custody pending evaluation.
Not permanent.
Temporary.
The attorney’s cover email said:
Use only if genuine new conduct occurs. Do not provoke or manufacture an event.
Ramona replied:
Understood.
Same warning.
Same choice to continue.
Then Catherine produced another email after Ramona placed parts of counsel’s advice at issue.
Ramona had asked:
“If Ainsley becomes violent toward me in front of Dulcie, is that relevant even if Benedict isn’t present?”
Catherine:
Yes, potentially. But again, do not create the confrontation.
Ramona:
Of course.
Benedict read the exchange.
His anger became quieter.
That was worse.
Then another problem surfaced.
Ainsley’s kick could genuinely matter in family court.
Marcus told her plainly.
“You saw someone commit an outrageous act against your daughter.”
“Yes.”
“You reacted physically after the cutting had already happened.”
“Yes.”
“You were not stopping the scissors at that point.”
“No.”
“The court may view it as retaliation.”
“I know.”
Benedict started:
“She was protecting—”
Ainsley cut him off.
“No.”
He looked at her.
She continued.
“Nell needs to know I’ll protect her.”
Then she swallowed.
“She also needs to know protection doesn’t mean I get to do anything I want because I’m angry.”
May you like
That decision would cost her later.
She accepted it anyway.
