Tad admits to Dixie that Zach was in on the entire scheme. Jamie was in on in as well, and Aiden was able to call in a marker with Kaganwho did alter the security video time stamp. Dixie realizes the depth of Tad's hatred. So why wouldn't he let her go to prison? Because Tad is the murderer!
He explains how he found Madden with a drugged Erica, ready to take off and disappear forever. Tad smashed Madden on the head with the first thing he found"something came over mesomething evil." He carried Madden to the cargo storage area, put him into a crate and wheeled them out, using a stolen car, which turned out to be Dixie's rental car. He explains how he buried Madden, set up a voice system, and went how to "wait for that bastard to wake up."
He'd hoped that Madden will break and tell him where Kate was. He thought about leaving, and then Dixie was arrested. He couldn't let her take the rapso he decided that nobody would pay for Madden's death. But all of them are paying for it, and always will, because Kate is gone. A tearful Tad tells Dixie "he's so sorry."