He’s been planning this for years.” Daniel felt something cold and final settle in his chest. He’d built his reputation on never forgetting, never forgiving. But this wasn’t just betrayal. This was the man who’d murdered his father and spent two decades planning to murder him, too. Rick, I need you to start making some calls.
I want to buy the construction company that employs Trevor’s brother. I want to acquire the mortgage on his mother’s house. I want controlling interest in every business his family has ever worked for. Boss, I’m not killing them, Daniel said, his voice as cold as winter steel. I’m going to destroy everything they’ve ever cared about, piece by piece, until they beg me to put them out of their misery, and then I’m going to say no.
Catherine and Trevor have been hiding in a rental cabin 3 hours north of Cedar Falls, waiting for news of Daniel’s death that would never come. When they realized their plan had failed, they tried to run, but Daniel had anticipated this, too. Rick’s contacts and law enforcement had quietly flagged their credit cards and phones.
More importantly, Daniel had spent the past week systematically dismantling their escape routes. The shell companies they’d created to hide stolen assets. Daniel bought the bank that held their accounts. The private investigator Trevor had hired to help fake evidence of Daniel’s infidelity. Daniel owned the building where his office was located and had evicted him.
Most devastating of all was what Daniel did to their families. Trevor’s brother Mark worked for Precision Engineering, a firm that had just been acquired by Morrison Development. His first day under new management was also his last day of employment. Trevor’s mother received an eviction notice for the house she’d lived in for 30 years, a house whose mortgage had recently been sold to a property management company owned by Daniel Morrison.
Catherine’s sister, Jennifer, found her small catering business suddenly unable to get permits for any events. Her parents discovered that their retirement community had been purchased by a larger corporation that was restructuring its resident agreements. By the time Catherine and Trevor realized what was happening, Daniel had systematically destroyed the financial security of everyone they cared about.
But he wasn’t finished. The confrontation came on a Friday night in November. Catherine and Trevor, desperate and cornered, broke into Daniel’s house, the same house where Emma had saved his life three weeks earlier. They were waiting for him when he arrived home from Emma’s school play. “You sick bastard!” Catherine screamed as Daniel walked through his front door.
You’re destroying innocent people. Daniel looked at his wife of 10 years. This woman he’d loved and trusted and felt nothing but disgust. Innocent like my father was innocent when Trevor arranged for that beam to fall. Like I was innocent when you married me as part of a plan to eventually murder me. Trevor stepped out of the shadows holding a gun with shaking hands.
You don’t understand, Dan. Your father wasn’t supposed to happen like that. It was supposed to be quick, clean, but he fought back. So, you’ve been planning to finish the job ever since. Your father cost my family everything. Trevor’s mask finally slipped completely. He outbid us on every project, stole every contract.
My dad’s construction company went bankrupt because of Daniel Morrison, Senior. My family lost everything. So, you murdered him. And then you spent 20 years infiltrating my life so you could murder me, too. Catherine raised her own gun. Daniel’s gun taken from his bedroom safe.
It wasn’t supposed to be personal, Dan. But then you had to be so you so unforgiving. So ruthless. We knew you’d never stop if you found out. You’re right, Daniel said calmly. I wouldn’t. Well, now it doesn’t matter, Trevor said, steadying his aim. This time it really will look like an accident. Murder suicide. Devoted husband kills cheating wife and her lover, then turns the gun on himself.
That’s when Rick Sullivan emerged from the kitchen behind them along with Detective Reyes and three other officers. The entire conversation had been broadcast live to police headquarters through the surveillance equipment Rick had hidden throughout the house days earlier. Catherine and Trevor were arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit murder, fraud, and in Trevor’s case, the murder of Daniel Morrison, Senior, a case that was reopened based on new evidence Rick had uncovered during his investigation.