Chapter 10 - WHAT GREG WAS REALLY PROTECTING
Ryan’s attorney negotiated limited cooperation in exchange for prosecutors considering his assistance when evaluating old fraud charges. The arrangement did not cover homicide. That distinction mattered because Ryan was willing to describe forged claims but became visibly terrified whenever Daniel’s crash appeared in the conversation.
He confirmed Greg’s scheme had been profitable and simple. Miller Auto exaggerated damage, reused legitimate photographs across claims and billed insurers for premium replacement parts while installing cheaper components. Ryan approved supplements from inside Hanover and buried internal flags. Over four years they diverted more than two million dollars.
Daniel noticed because the same vehicle-identification numbers began appearing across unrelated claim patterns.
At first Greg thought Daniel could be bribed.
Daniel refused.
Then Greg tried intimidation.
Daniel documented that too.
Ryan claimed he wanted out after Daniel said the case was going to state investigators. Greg told him prison would destroy both their families and that one “overconfident auditor” should not get to ruin everyone’s lives. Ryan insisted he never agreed to violence.
“What happened to Daniel’s car?” Ortiz asked.
Ryan stared at his lawyer.
“I don’t know.”
Ortiz placed the old service invoice on the table. “Greg personally approved the brake inspection two days before Daniel died.”
“I know.”
“Did Daniel’s brakes have a problem when he brought the car in?”
Ryan hesitated.
“That’s what the work order said.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
Ryan looked exhausted. “A technician told Greg the front-left hose had surface cracking and should be replaced soon.”
Elena felt cold.
The invoice said no major defect found.
Greg had intentionally omitted a known brake issue from Daniel’s service report.
That still allowed two interpretations. Greg might simply have been negligent, later exploiting the accident. Or he might have known exactly which component could fail convincingly.
Ryan provided the real motive behind Greg’s relationship with Elena. After Daniel died, Greg repeatedly demanded to know whether Ryan believed Daniel had hidden evidence at home. Ryan told him about Daniel’s “insurance” comment and guessed copies might be with his wife. Greg found Elena’s address within days.
Months later, Ryan was shocked to learn Greg was dating her.
“You asked him why?” Ortiz said.
Ryan nodded.
“What did he say?”
Ryan looked down at his hands. “He said people tell you everything if they think you’re helping them grieve.”
Elena left the room.
She made it to the restroom before she became sick.
The sentence destroyed the last piece of her marriage she had been trying unconsciously to protect. Greg had not simply stayed after failing to find the evidence. He built a household around the search. He learned Noah’s routines, Daniel’s storage habits, Elena’s passwords and the structure of Noah’s money. The fraud against the survivor trust came later because Greg discovered a second benefit to remaining.
By then, Greg had two motives for keeping Elena controlled.
Daniel’s evidence.
Noah’s money.
The immediate attempted murder joined both. Elena was exposing the fraudulent loan and asking Hanover about Greg at the same time. Her death could freeze one investigation in confusion while putting Greg close enough to Noah to pursue emergency guardianship.
There was still a missing link. Ryan refused to say Greg intentionally caused Daniel’s crash, and old physical evidence was almost gone.
Before ending the session, Ortiz asked whether anyone else knew what happened at Miller Auto the night before Daniel died.
Ryan looked genuinely frightened.
“There was a camera.”
Elena stopped at the doorway.
Ryan immediately corrected himself. “There used to be cameras. I don’t know what they recorded.”
“Where was the system?”
“Back office.”
“Who controlled it?”
“Greg.”
Daniel’s notebook had no mention of camera footage.
May you like
But if anyone had copied it before Greg erased it, Daniel might have done exactly what he always did with dangerous evidence.
He might have hidden it.
