At his father Arnold’s funeral, Ryan is shaken when his dog, Bella, bolts into the church and starts barking furiously at the closed casket. Sensing something is wrong, Ryan demands the casket be opened — only to discover it’s empty.
His mother faints from shock. The funeral director has no answers, and Ryan contacts the police. When the coroner’s office reveals that the coroner recently quit and Arnold’s file is missing, Ryan’s suspicions grow.Digging deeper, Ryan visits his late father’s company, now under his leadership. There, he notices missing figurines from Arnold’s office — items his father treasured.
A chat with the family lawyer hints at a romantic relationship between Arnold and his new secretary, Miss Pearson.Tracking Miss Pearson, Ryan breaks into her house and finds a $7 million life insurance policy naming her as the sole beneficiary. He turns the evidence over to police, but Miss Pearson vanishes before they can apprehend her.
Certain Arnold is alive, Ryan sets a trap. He purchases the missing figurine from a rare collector, then anonymously lists it at auction, knowing it would lure Arnold. Sure enough, Arnold appears to bid on it. As he tries to leave, Ryan confronts him, and police arrest him on the spot.Arnold admits he faked his death to escape his life and start anew with Miss Pearson, cashing in the insurance and leaving his family in mourning. As police lead him away, Ryan is left to process the betrayal — and begin to heal.
