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Do a lot of things to try to figure out how -- why -- >> mm-hmmm. >> -- uh, what's going on. >> reporter: you've done that kind of notification before, haven't you? >> a lot. >> reporter: and they're not pleasant. >> no. worst thing to do. >> reporter: was this one different? >> it -- it was different in the response that i received. >> reporter: in fact, there was basically no response, according to reim. just a blank stare. did he cry? was he emotional? >> not at all. >> reporter: their conversation, if that's what this was, continued. >> is your mom's car usually here? >> yeah. >> okay. >> ...

At the time we went to talk to her, it was basically a death notification. she was able to answer our questions for us. >> who didn't like russ douglas? >> nobody could think of someone who really, truly didn't like him. >> as winter turned to spring, the detective's investigation seemed to be going nowhere. but a routine check of the numbers in russell douglas' cell phone had yielded a tiny clue. >> there were a few phone calls to a number with a las vegas area code. and we made a phone call to that number. there was no answer. it went to an answering machine. >> was it cell phone voicemail o...

Sprang their trap. >> right now, we're going to read you your rights. >> me? >> reporter: they arrested leon and valerie for solicitation of capital murder. and revealed, there was no murder and no kidnapping. meghan and mack were alive and well. >> they had no idea. they believed that their issues had been taken care of. they had no more problems. and to immediately go from a death notification, to you're under arrest for solicitation, to capital murder -- >> reporter: that's a head-snapper. >> yeah. that'll get your attention. was valerie mcdaniel a murderous mastermind? or another victim ...

Yes. >> and so brenna douglas, as the wives of murdered men often do, became a person of interest, the domestic situation seemed unsettled. >> they were separated. russel was living in an apartment in renton. according to brenna they were trying to work it out and talking about getting back together. >> in fact, the new widow told the detectives that her husband had spent the holidays with her and the kids. >> she said the last time she saw him was the morning of december 26th. he left the house somewhere mid-morning and she thought he was going to run some errands. >> brenna douglas have an a...

>> very suspicious, yes. >> the one thing he's not, is an actor. a good actor. >> reporter: the police got the reaction they were looking for. they had the money paid to the undercover officer, and so they sprang their trap. >> right now, we're going to read you your rights. >> me? >> reporter: they arrested leon and valerie for solicitation of capital murder. and revealed, there was no murder and no kidnapping. meghan and mack were alive and well. >> they had no idea. they believed that their issues had been taken care of. they had no more problems. and to immediately go from a death notifica...