Chapter 6 - Amity’s interview
Amity spoke with forensic interviewer Joanna Reed.
She said Wilhelmina called the punishment:
“Cold thinking.”
“What does that mean?”
“When I do stupid.”
“Who says stupid?”
“Willa.”
Amity called her Willa.
Then:
“What happens?”
“She puts ice in water.”
“Do you have to take your clothes off?”
“No.”
Good.
No sexual dimension.
“Where does she pour it?”
“Head.”
“Back.”
“Sometimes legs.”
Then she had to remain in laundry room and finish the task.
Did Wilhelmina ever prevent her from using bathroom?
One time Amity asked.
Wilhelmina told her wait five minutes.
Not prolonged.
Did she lock door?
Sometimes.
Smart lock logs supported.
Then:
“What does Willa say about Greyhaven?”
Amity:
“Bad guys know this house.”
“What else?”
“They know my window.”
“How do you know?”
“Willa showed me pictures.”
There.
Pictures of exterior windows taken from public road? Investigators later found security vulnerability photographs. Were they real enemy photos? Could be Wilhelmina's consultants. We need maybe not rehash previous story threats. But could just be property safety marketing. Distinct enough.
Then:
“She says Lake House is secret.”
“What lake house?”
“Willa’s.”
“Have you been?”
“Yes.”
Once.
A weekend before school.
Did she like it?
“Pool.”
“Ponies next door.”
“Blue room.”
Then:
“Did Willa say you might live there?”
“Yes.”
“What did she say?”
“If Daddy keeps leaving, we move where bad guys don’t know.”
There.
Then cold water.
“Why does cold water help?”
“She says I have to do what she says fast if somebody comes.”
Again security justification.
Did Amity believe danger was real?
Yes.
She had nightmares about strangers finding Greyhaven.
That would matter to her therapist.
Then the most important child statement:
“She says if I hate Greyhaven, Daddy will sell it.”
I stopped breathing when I read the interview summary.
How would making Amity hate Greyhaven help Wilhelmina?
Because Lake Briar was hers.
Maybe the property claim was not merely about collecting renovation money.
May you like
Maybe she wanted the family moved.
And then she wanted Greyhaven financially entangled enough that sale or litigation became necessary.
