Chapter 11 - The Competency Petition
Melissa told investigators that Dererick approached her four months after Evelyn’s death.
He claimed Anna’s grief had become dangerous.
He showed Melissa edited videos of Anna stumbling at night, speaking incoherently, and falling asleep in unusual places.
Melissa did not know the tea had been drugged.
Not at first.
Dererick suggested filing a temporary competency petition so the sisters could settle the estate without delay.
Melissa resisted.
Then he showed her a draft trust accounting.
According to the document, the estate was losing money every month because Anna refused to approve property sales.
That was false.
Dererick had created the losses himself.
He convinced Melissa that removing Anna temporarily would protect both sisters.
Dr. Vale supplied the psychological evaluation.
Melissa signed an affidavit stating Anna showed memory problems.
She justified it because Anna had forgotten several conversations.
Now she understood those memory gaps were caused by sedatives.
“When did you learn about the tea?” Anna asked during a supervised interview.
Melissa wiped her face.
“Two months ago.”
“And you continued?”
“Dererick said stopping suddenly would make you suspicious.”
Anna stared at her sister.
“You chose the plan over me.”
“I thought we were almost finished.”
“What was supposed to happen tonight?”
Melissa looked toward the investigator.
Then answered.
“Dererick planned to film you unconscious beside the scissors.”
Anna’s stomach tightened.
“He wanted to cut the sleeve of your shirt and make shallow marks on the fabric. Then he would place the scissors in your hand.”
“Why?”
“To suggest you were trying to hurt yourself.”
The camera would record only selected angles.
The final footage would be edited.
Vale would certify that Anna represented a danger to herself.
A judge could order an emergency psychiatric hold.
During that hold, Dererick and Melissa would file the competency petition and take control of the trust.
Anna looked at her sister.
“How could you stand outside that door?”
“I told myself you would be safe at the hospital.”
“You knew the evidence was fake.”
Melissa closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
That admission ended any illusion of innocence.
Melissa had not intended physical harm.
But she had agreed to steal Anna’s freedom.
Anna stood.
“I’ll cooperate with the prosecution.”
Melissa began crying harder.
“Anna, please.”
“You wanted a judge to take my choices away.”
May you like
She looked directly at her sister.
“You don’t get to ask me to protect yours.”
