Chapter 9. 

While Emily-Grace knew that she would be writing about Kouri Richins in the future, the events in New York had taken a toll psychologically and she had decided to try to put both Kouri and Avigail out of her mind while she concentrated on more mundane stories for ABC4 (KTVX-TV) – and hopefully become a presenter! 

Kouri Richins sentencing hearing was set for 13 May 2026 and like almost everyone else Emily-Grace thought the main interest would be whether Kouri was sentenced to life in prison without parole or some lesser sentence. Kouri had not spoken to the court during her trial and it was expected that if she did speak at the sentence hearing it would be a few words aimed at receiving a lighter sentence.

While the sentencing hearing would be broadcast live Emily-Grace decided that her time would be better spent on some other possible story more in tune with her career focus. It was thus a considerable surprise when Emily-Grace returned to the ABC4 (KTVX-TV) office and heard that Kouri had given a long-speech addressed to her children and had made no attempt to plead for a lighter sentence than the life in prison without parole which she eventually received. The consensus view of people in the office was that statements read on behalf of Kouri’s children proved that she had been a “monstrous mother” and that she was still trying to manipulate them. 

That evening Emily-Grace watched some recorded segments of the hearing and thought some aspects to be odd. She realized that she would not be able to put the whole Kouri Richins issue to one side for a while in the way she had hoped. 

Emily-Grace did not think that she was a “natural” for television so she decided that she would find someone to teach her acting and presentation skills. Her boss, Anna, had recommended a former television reporter to help her develop these. Her first lesson was to be the morning following Kouri's sentencing and Emily-Grace went to a café for breakfast. She felt a little guilty about spending money but after returning from New York she had felt a need to expand her life from her mother’s home but she could not afford to rent an apartment alone or with others -- so breakfast in a café a couple times a week was to be a compromise. 

After she had ordered coffee and poached eggs and connected to the WiFi on her phone, Emily-Grace began listening to the conversation of the man and woman at the next table. They had seen the Kouri Richins sentencing hearing and the man thought the sentence was too harsh.  
“She should have been given the chance of parole”, he said.
The woman was adamant that the life with no parole was “correct” for a mother that was so abusive of her children.
Man: “She was not jailed for child-abuse, but murder!”
Woman: “The kids thought she would try to kill them if she got out of jail.”
Man: “You think they have their own ideas about this? I understand that they are not happy children, and she might not have been the best mother, but some of the accusations were extreme. I think they have learnt what they need to say to survive in the new home environment with Eric’s sister.” 

Emily-Grace recalled a conversation with Natasha in which she described Avigail’s continual claim that Muslim’s were dangerous people to be around. “They want to kill all Jews”, she told Natasha, “And they tried to kill you in Russia.” Natasha had said that it was a form of brain-washing that she had only managed to overcome when she was in her late teens. 

Emily-Grace again thought of Natasha having a bucket of water thrown over her in bed when she would not get up to do some cleaning. And punching and kicking her so much that Natasha would not do sport at school because she was afraid other children would see the bruises when she changed clothes. The psychological and physical abuse – and post-traumatic stress disorder with which she was later diagnosed -- was so intense that it was only when she managed to reestablish contact with her grandparents in St. Petersburg that she understood that no Muslim had tried to kill her in Russia. 

Of course, these things happened when Natasha was in her early teens and Kouri’s oldest child was only 9 when Eric died. Maybe Kouri would have been like Avigail if the children had been older, but Emily-Grace has doubts because, according to Natasha, Avigail had been a champion sprinter in her teens and been violent towards other students. There seemed to be no evidence that Kouri was habitually violent. 

The woman at the next table was not finished. “What about Kouri being drunk all the time?”
The man scoffed: “My daughter thinks I am drunk as soon as she sees a glass of wine in my hand.”
Woman: “Well, I just think that the kids remember too much for it all to be fake. What about the killing of the animals?”
Man: “Kids can misinterpret events. And Eric’s sister Katie would have helped them. However, Kouri could clearly be callous. We have seen that. But what made her willing to kill Eric?”
Woman: “If you get away with enough small things over time I suppose you can edge up and eventually can do something really big!” 

Emily-Grace suddenly realized that time had passed and she needed to quickly finish her coffee and get to her lesson on presentation. She was sorry to have to stop eavesdropping on the conversation at the next table. But as she got up to leave, Emily-Grace heard the woman relate something that Kouri’s lawyer, Wendy Lewis, said at the sentencing:
“She said that in all her years of practice, this was the first time she had a client convicted that she believed to be innocent.”
The man replied: “It’s strange! It’s not like an attractive woman charming a male defense lawyer! She also had good female friends.” 

As Emily-Grace hurried to her lesson she wondered about friends and charm. She was sure that the very attractive Avigail could be very charming to men but she felt, without really knowing why, that Avigail could not easily charm a female lawyer! And, as far as she knew Avigail was not popular with other females. 

Chapter 10. 

Joyce, her teacher, turned out to be a rather brusque woman who had recently retired to Utah from Los Angeles so that she could spend as much time as possible skiing. Anna had obviously told Joyce about Emily-Grace’s interest in the Kouri Richins case but she appeared to have no knowledge about events in New York – for which Emily-Grace was thankful! 

“What did you think about Kouri’s speech?”, Joyce asked.
Emily-Grace hesitated to answer. She did not want to immediately get on the wrong side of Joyce by giving an answer she might disapprove of. In fact, Emily-Grace did not know what to think. Her mother had eventually watched it and asked how Kouri could have written it if she was really guilty? “It’s the sort of letter I would write to you and your brother and sister if I knew that I might never see you again.” 

Joyce was not going to be backward in giving her opinion:
“What else could she say? She is remorseful but can’t admit her guilt to her children, or even to her lawyer who believes in her. And then there is the appeal. She knows she is stuck in jail until she dies. Best to maintain the fiction!”
Emily-Grace: “My mother was impressed.”
Joyce was dismissive: “Just like her book. Someone wrote it for her!”
Emily-Grace: “Some people say it is an attempt at control and revenge. To make sure the boys never really accept Eric’s sister – who hated Kouri even before Eric was killed.”
Joyce: “No. If that was the case she would have directly and strongly attacked them by name.” 

Emily-Grace relaxed a little. She did not disagree with Joyce and her lesson proceeded briskly. It was agreed that a further coaching lesson would be held the next week. As Emily-Grace was leaving, Joyce said: “Remember what I said. There are many bull-shitters out there. And many are on podcasts. And especially on Kouri Richins. But your main skill will be your intelligence and knowing your stuff!”
Emily-Grace smiled and said: “Thank you!” 

The following days at work were more interesting than in her pre-New York days for Emily-Grace as she covered a couple of stories that she hoped might get her on-air. 

It was the day before her next lesson with Joyce that Emily-Grace received a surprise text from John in New York: “How are you? Avigail called Natasha. She has received a message with a voice recording claiming to be from Kouri talking about her wanting to kill Neville. Natasha and I have told her that is unlikely because Kouri is in jail. It is probably AI clone stuff, but Avigail won’t let us listen to it.”

Emily-Grace thought about the situation, asked how Natasha was, and then wrote: “She did not kill Neville and we have already discussed the agreement with Kouri, so she probably has nothing to worry about.”
John: “Natasha is fine. Says she misses you! Do you still have the note? It was called Covenant for Life and Death? Could you please send me a photo?”
Emily-Grace found a photo on her iPhone and sent it.

When Emily-Grace woke the next morning and switch-on her phone she found a message from John: “We read the note to Avigail. She still won’t let us listen to the recording but her reaction suggests that it is something different. She is clearly worried. Could it be someone from the MyNewLife retreat?” 

Emily-Grace felt herself being drawn again into the Kouri Richins issue and almost called Anna at ABC4 (KTVX-TV) to tell her about this latest development before thinking better of it. Her new work activities were going well and she did not want to give any impression that she was not totally focussed on these. She thus decided to tell Joyce about Avigail and New York. 

Joyce was anxious to hear more when she heard a summary of what had happened: “I didn’t tell you but I started out my career as a crime reporter in LA. I eventually moved on to other things but I always missed the excitement.”
Emily-Grace had not told Joyce about Oleg in her hotel room and wondered if Joyce had ever nearly been killed. “Did anyone any one ever try to kill you?”
Joyce gave Emily-Grace a quizzical look: “No. Why do you ask?”
Emily-Grace then related what had happened in New York in more detail. 
Joyce was entranced: “We must go to this retreat. Where is it exactly?”
Emily-Grace realized that the lesson time was almost up and she need to go to work. As she reached into her bag to get money to pay for the lesson, Joyce said: “No need. When are you free to go to MyNewLife? I can go anytime!”
Emily-Grace suggested her next day off work and when it came they set off in Joyce’s car.

Their plan was to find the cleaner who had given the Covenant for Life and Death note to Emily-Grace and try to determine if she had any connection to the voice message sent to Avigail. Emily-Grace was surprised at the forthright way in which Joyce approached the issue.

The cleaner no longer worked at the retreat but they were given an address where she lived. The cleaner was home and very surprised to see them. Her story was that she had shown the Covenant for Life and Death note to her then boyfriend and he had urged her to try to use her phone to record any subsequent conversations between Kouri and Avigail. After several unsuccessful attempts she had managed to record a short conversation on the last day and had sent it to him. The cleaner had deleted the conversation from her phone but recalled that it referred to the Covenant for Life and Death note and Kouri’s future trip to New York.

The cleaner refused to give the address or phone number for her ex-boyfriend saying that she was scared. They thanked the cleaner and left. Joyce was pleased with their effort saying: “The message to Avigail must be from this boyfriend. It ties her to the note and conspiracy to murder.” 

Emily-Grace was less happy. She was excited to be part of this latest twist in investigating the Kouri saga and wanted to help John and Natasha understand what Avigail was worried about but she was now concerned what Joyce might want to do with the information.
Joyce: “This story is amazing. Can I read what you have written about it?”
Emily-Grace was half-expecting this question and had an answer prepared:
“I don’t want to make life worse for Natasha and John. I will eventually write something but only if Natasha agrees. I will tell them about today but I don’t think it really changes anything.”
Joyce: “It’s a pity! I know some people in the media who would love to do something with this.” 
After Joyce had dropped Emily-Grace at her home she texted a message to John. It was late in New York so she was not expecting a reply, but about half an hour later John texted: “Thanks. Natasha and I will talk to Avigail tomorrow. We think Avigail will mainly be worried that her image of a grieving widow and devoted mother will be exposed. She is now quite active in the social circuit.” 

Emily-Grace went to bed determined that next day she would focus on her regular work. She was consequently disturbed when Joyce texted her in the morning proposing that they write a joint article and again saying that she had very good contacts in “national media”.
Emily-Grace wanted to reject this idea as diplomatically as possible and replied: “I will think about it. We can discuss later.”
Several hours later she received a message from John: “Avigail claimed that she felt better knowing where the voice message came from. I don’t believe her although Natasha mainly does.” 

The next few days turned out to be very busy for Emily-Grace at work and while she occasionally thought about issues associated with Kouri Richins she was always quick to try to focus on the job at hand.

The day before her next lesson she received a text message from Joyce that she had an emergency to attend to “out of town” and needed to cancel the lesson. Emily-Grace was set to give her first live television interviews and was actually glad that all her focus could be on getting on top of the subject matter. When her boss, Anna, congratulated Emily-Grace on her effort she mentioned that the morning lesson had been cancelled because Joyce had some emergency to attend to, Anna said: “She is in New York for some reason. Maybe looking for a job?”

Emily-Grace suddenly had a bad feeling. Could Joyce be trying to meet Avigail? She sent separate texts to Natasha and John asking how they were but making no mention of Avigail. When neither had replied after three hours she sent another text to John: “Is everything OK? I am worried!”
Almost immediately John called: “We are at a police station. Avigail has been charged with assault. She says that some woman had made threats against her children when they met in a shopping centre.”
Emily-Grace: “Is it serious?”
John: “The woman is in hospital.”
Emily-Grace now wanted to ask if it was Joyce but did not know how to do this because it could have been nothing to do with her. John said he could not talk more, said goodbye and hung-up. 

About an hour later, Emily-Grace received a text from John: “This woman has told police that Avigail killed Neville and that she has proof. The is apparently delirious.”
Emily-Grace: “What actually happened?”
John: “Shopping centre security staff say Avigail pushed her down some stairs as she tried to take her phone.”
Emily-Grace was now sure that it was Joyce and now felt angry with herself for allowing Joyce to become involved. This anger was not really about what had happened to Joyce or what might happen to Avigail, but about the effect on Natasha.

It was about two hours later that Emily-Grace received another text from John: “This woman says that proof that Avigail killed Neville is on her phone. But phone is gone. Security cameras show a guy picking it up and left shops. Seems like this woman was associated with the Kouri voice message sent to Avigail.” 

When Emily-Grace had messaged John about her visit to the MyNewLife cleaner she had not mentioned that she had gone with Joyce. She did not want to raise this issue now. Several days later the situation was clearer. Avigail was charged with serious assault and was in custody. Natasha and John were looking after the children. Joyce was released from hospital and her allegations about the killing of Neville dismissed as an attempt at blackmail. Emily-Grace did not have any further contact with Joyce!