Kari tried to contain her excitement."Show us what you've got."
Lucas took a hesitant breath."Unfortunately, it's not that easy."
Kari frowned."I thought you said you figured out the password."
"I did.But there's another layer of defense.She used military-grade encryption on her genealogical research folders.I can see the files, but I can't open them without a secondary password."
Kari felt her brief surge of hope deflate."How long to crack the encryption?"
"Could be days.Could be never, if she used a truly random password."Lucas pushed his glasses up his nose."I can keep trying, but I wouldn't count on quick results."
"You could've told me this on the phone," Kari said, annoyed.
"I hadn't found the encrypted files when I called you."
Kari looked at Polacca, who shook her head, looking equally disappointed.
"What about her emails?"Kari asked.
"Those I can access.I've been skimming through them while waiting for you.There's a lot of correspondence about the genealogical project, but most of it's pretty general—scheduling, logistics, that kind of thing."He clicked through several folders."But there's one email thread that might interest you."
He pulled up a conversation between Patricia and someone named Robert—presumably Robert Nuvangyaoma.The most recent email was dated five days ago.
Patricia,
I'm concerned about the presentation.The data is explosive—you know it as well as I do.Some of these findings will fundamentally challenge people's understanding of their heritage and their place in the community.We need to consider whether the tribal council should review everything before we go public.
Robert
Patricia's response was measured but firm:
Robert,
I understand your concerns, but we agreed from the beginning that this project would be transparent.People have a right to know their own ancestral histories, even when that information is complicated or challenging.We've been careful to anonymize specific cases and focus on broad patterns, but the patterns themselves need to be shared.
The presentation is in four weeks.We'll focus on the beauty and complexity of Hopi ancestry, the interconnections between families, the ways that DNA reveals both our distinctiveness and our connections to neighboring peoples.This is healing work, not destructive work.
Patricia
Kari read through the exchange.Robert had been worried about the findings.Patricia had been determined to share them.And both people had wound up dead.
"Print this," Kari said."And keep looking through her emails.Anything that references specific people, specific findings, conflicts, or threats."
"Will do."
Kari and Polacca left Lucas to his work and stepped outside into the cool night air.It was after ten now, the parking lot nearly empty, the world reduced to pools of light from streetlamps and the vast darkness beyond.
"We need to verify Michael's alibi," Kari said."Can you make that call first thing tomorrow?"
"Already planning on it."Polacca leaned against her vehicle."But if his alibi checks out, where does that leave us?"
"With the other names he mentioned.Cultural preservation officers.Craftsmen who create ceremonial items."Kari thought about the conversation with Michael."He specifically mentioned someone named Jake Honanie.Said he was deeply knowledgeable about traditional practices."
Polacca nodded slowly."Jake makes ceremonial items.Katsina dolls, pottery, traditional tools.He's been doing it for probably thirty years.Very traditional, very protective of Hopi culture."
"Protective enough to kill over it?"
"I don't know.But he'd have the knowledge.And he'd have access to materials similar to what was used at the crime scenes."Polacca pushed off from the vehicle."You want to talk to him tomorrow?"
