A tiny black access card.

He pointed.

"Officer."

The senior officer turned.

"What?"

"There's something else on the ring."

The officer looked.

He removed the card.

His eyes widened.

He immediately called another officer.

"This isn't municipal property."

"What is it?"

"Private security access."

Daniel frowned.

"To what?"

The officer didn't answer.

Because he didn't know yet.

But that question would eventually lead investigators to a private development company.

And to a man named Richard Mallory.

CHAPTER NINE

Richard Mallory

Richard Mallory was one of the wealthiest developers in the county.

He owned several construction companies.

He funded neighborhood improvement projects.

He donated to charities.

He attended political fundraisers.

He was considered an important local businessman.

Daniel knew his name.

Everyone did.

But Daniel had never met him.

Until three months earlier.

Mallory had approached Daniel with an offer.

He wanted to buy the house.

Daniel had refused.

Mallory increased the offer.

Daniel refused again.

The third offer was enormous.

Daniel still refused.

Mallory had smiled.

"Everyone has a number."

Daniel had replied:

"Not everything is for sale."

Mallory's smile had disappeared.

That conversation seemed insignificant at the time.

Now it looked different.

Investigators later discovered that Mallory had purchased several properties around Daniel's neighborhood.

He needed only two more.

Daniel's house was one.

Another belonged to an elderly couple who had refused to sell.

The HOA had issued repeated complaints against both properties.

At the time, nobody had noticed the pattern.

But once police began examining the records, the pattern became impossible to ignore.

Every major complaint against Daniel had been approved by Elaine.

Every complaint had created pressure.

And several weeks before the incident, Elaine had met with Mallory.

They had discussed Daniel's property.

There was evidence.

Emails.

Phone records.

Payments.

And now there was the key.

CHAPTER TEN

The Hidden Plan

The HOA had been more than a neighborhood association.

At least, that was what investigators began to suspect.

Elaine had used her position to create pressure.

She had issued notices.

She had demanded inspections.

She had threatened fines.

She had tried to force Daniel into compliance with rules that didn't actually exist.

But Mallory needed something more.

He needed access.

The missing key provided it.

Investigators traced the key's origin.

It belonged to a municipal security ring.

Someone had removed it from a restricted building.

That person turned out to be a security contractor.

His name was Victor Hale.

Victor had previously worked for the city.

He knew the access system.

He knew which keys opened which doors.

He also knew which keys were difficult to track.

Investigators discovered payments from a company connected to Mallory.

They also found communications between Victor and Elaine.

The messages were carefully worded.