Page 67 of Saving Her Heart
"Brad's an idiot. Just wanted the property management job. Did the grunt work—vandalism, threats. Nothing that required actual thought."
"The fires?"
"All William. He has military connections from his days in the Army. Knew how to get explosives, timers, everything." Morrison leans forward. "There's more. William kept records. Everything's in a safe deposit box at First National Bank. Box 472."
I stand to leave, but Morrison grabs my sleeve.
"Is Kendall okay?" he asks. "I know I have no right to ask, but... I never wanted her hurt. Just wanted her gone."
"She's stronger than you ever gave her credit for," I tell him. "She'll be fine." I yank my sleeve out of his grasp and leave the room.
I wash my hands multiple times after being around Morrison. What I need is a shower, but I don’t have time. Now I have to see if Valerie confesses.
I'm watching through the observation window as Valerie sits across from Captain Ramirez and a federal agent. She looks smaller somehow, deflated like all her venom has drained away.
"I want to make a deal," she says, voice hoarse from crying. "I'll tell you everything."
"We're listening," the federal agent says.
Valerie takes a shaky breath. "William approached me eight months ago. Said he knew about my affair with Morrison. Had photos, recordings. Threatened to use them in our divorce unless I helped him."
"Helped him how?"
"At first, he just wanted information. Kendall's schedule, which properties were struggling, maintenance issues. Small things." She laughs bitterly. "Then he wanted more. Said Morrison wasn't moving fast enough. That's when Brad got involved."
"Who recruited Brad?"
"I did. William gave me his name, said Brad had a history of making property managers quit. I was supposed to be his contact, keep him focused on harassment, nothing violent."
"But it escalated."
"William escalated it. Every week, something new. The vandalism wasn't enough, so flooding. Then the fires..." She starts crying. "I didn't know about the timers for the fires. I swear. When I saw Building 3 burn, I wanted out."
"Why didn't you go to the police?"
"He said he'd kill Morrison. Make it look like I did it. He had this whole plan—murder-suicide, leave evidence pointing to me. He showed me how he'd frame it. Had my fingerprints on weapons, forged journals, everything."
Captain Ramirez leans forward. "The cameras in Officer Masterson's apartment?"
"William hired someone. Professional surveillance company that does corporate espionage. Used Morrison's master keys. William wanted dirt on Kendall, something to force her out. When he saw her with Jax..." She shudders. "He said it was perfect. Threatened to release the footage unless she resigned."
"Who else was involved?"
"Just the four of us, as far as I know. But William had contacts. People who could get things. Military grade equipment, he once said. Untraceable phones. Professional criminals."
"We'll need names."
"I don't have names. He was careful. But there's a storage unit. 4782 on Industrial Boulevard. He kept records there. Insurance policies on all the buildings, development plans, even blueprints for buildings in other counties."
The federal agent makes notes. "Why should we believe you now?"
Valerie looks directly at the mirror, like she knows I'm watching. "Because I was stupid and jealous and petty. But I'm not a killer. I wanted Kendall gone, not dead. When I realized William would kill her—kill all those residents—I couldn't." She turns back to the agents. "I'm guilty of conspiracy, fraud, and harassment. But not attempted murder. Never that."
Captain Ramirez stands. "Ms. Thornfield, you're under arrest for conspiracy to commit arson, fraud, harassment, and about a dozen other charges."
"I know," she says quietly. "I deserve it. All of it."
As they lead her out, she stops at the mirror. "I know you're watching, Kendall. I'm sorry. It fixes nothing, but I'm sorry."
