Thomas then declares that it must have been Isabel, who had been chatting with Merritt earlier in the evening, that killed Merritt. He explained that he owed Isabel roughly $2 million, and had planned to pay her back with the money from his trust fund, which he would have access to when the youngest Winbury child, Will, turned 18 in a few months’ time. However, if Merritt’s baby were born, it would be another 18 years until he could access the trust, which would then be split four ways instead of three. He declares that money must’ve been Isabel’s motive.
But it didn’t take long for police to find Isabel’s alibi—she and Thomas were hooking up in the back of a car on their way to a motel on the evening of the murder, and that car happened to have a security camera—and for them to put together that Isabel’s motive could also be Abby’s motive. One of the detectives recalls their interview with Gosia, the Winbury family’s housekeeper, who complained of Abby’s demanding nature, and who recalled that Abby had asked her to wash her clothes, her bedding, and a cup on the morning Merritt’s body was discovered. Abby being the murderer also solves the issue of the beef tallow which was found on Merritt’s hair, as Abby had famously used a special hand cream containing the ingredient.
Later that day, police arrested Abby at the Winbury house.
So, what happened to the rest of the family?
Let’s start with Greer, who, though innocent, did not escape the ordeal unscathed. Under the intense pressure of the investigation as well as a press tour for her latest novel, Greer eventually cracks when she is forced to reveal to detectives that Broderick, her shady caller, is actually her brother, and that she had asked Shooter for a $300,000 loan so that she could pay off Broderick’s gambling debt.
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