Chapter 5 - Vanessa Had Sold Hair Before
The severed braid remained sealed in the bag.
I hated looking at it.
But it became evidence.
Vanessa claimed she planned to donate Lily’s hair.
The recording suggested something else.
Through counsel and the platform records available through proper procedures, we identified payments connected to the Hearts4Hair account.
The name behind the account was Gavin Cole.
Forty-three.
Owner of several online beauty-supply stores.
Not a charity operator.
Not a wigmaker for sick children.
A reseller.
He purchased high-quality untreated human hair.
Mostly legally.
Adults sold hair all the time.
The problem was Lily had never consented.
Neither had I.
Then I learned Vanessa had sold hair to Gavin before.
Several times.
The amounts were small.
$600.
$1,100.
$850.
But one payment stood out.
$8,500.
Memo:
DONOR EVENT.
I asked Vanessa about it.
She finally admitted that some women who came to her salon had voluntarily donated or sold long sections of hair during livestreams.
Gavin bought usable hair.
Vanessa kept a commission.
Again, potentially legitimate with adult consent.
“What does that have to do with the fake charity?”
Her eyes filled.
“I needed people to watch.”
“So you lied.”
“I told myself I’d make the wigs later.”
“With what money?”
No answer.
The campaign donations had been paying salon expenses.
Rent.
Payroll.
Taxes.
That explained some of it.
It did not explain Lily.
“Why her?”
Vanessa looked toward my house.
“Because everyone loves Lily.”
The sentence chilled me.
“You knew people would pay more.”
She started crying.
“I was desperate.”
“Then cut your own hair.”
Her eyes hardened.
“You don’t understand.”
Maybe I didn’t.
Then she gave me the detail that changed my understanding of the entire livestream.
Gavin had not asked specifically for Lily.
He didn’t know who she was until Vanessa announced the event online.
That meant the plan to use my daughter began with Vanessa.
May you like
Not him.
And she had started promoting the livestream three days before asking me to babysit Lily at all.
