the significance of that was they didn't know we knew about bret schrauben. g to know something's up. >> and sure enough, as soon as tom heard bret got an anonymous letter, he called his mother sandra. >> whoever was sending out all that grab sent one to bret too. >> give me a break. >> really. >> you're kidding me. >> no. i would not kid about something like that. >> they sent one to bret. >> yeah. >> why would they send one to bret? why would they even -- >> i have no clue. >> next they started poking bret's friends in california who, of course, called bret. >> leave your name and number and i'll get back to you. >> hey, dude. it's me. you need to [ bleep ] call me asap. this is no [ bleep ] joke. some guy from the sheriff -- orange county sheriff's department, homicide division, was calling me asking about you. >> bret in turn called tom. >> hello? >> hello. >> tom? >> yeah, hey. what's up. >> yeah. i just got a call from scott. the orange county homicide division called scott's answering machine and wants to talk to him about me. >> about you? >> yeah. >>

and that's when bret schrauben had an epiphany.ys before his murder trial was to begin, he said he was finally willing to testify against tom and sandra. but he wanted out. now. the deal had to be for time served or nothing at all. >> what'd you think when you heard what he wanted in order to get his cooperation? >> i thought it was outrageous. but it's not a perfect world. and the people who are likely to have some of the best detailed information about what takes place inside a conspiracy is a co-conspirator. we needed it. >> what was the story? >> the story was a pretty detailed and amazing story. >> schrauben described the whole affair on tape. laid it out in all its chilling detail. anatomy of a murder. the conspiracy was launched, he said, with a phone call from tom. >> he told me his mom would give $50,000 to kill his dad. >>