"I guess. It's not like we have more promising leads."
They arrived at Phoenix PD headquarters at eight-thirty. The building was more crowded now, the morning briefing having just ended, detectives scattered throughout the bullpen preparing for the day's work. Kari noticed Caruso near the coffee maker, watching her with that same hard expression from earlier.
"Reid's office is at the resort site," Maria said, checking her notes. "But I've got a number. Let me call, see if he can come in for a conversation."
While Maria made the call, Kari pulled out her own phone and did a quick search on Jasper Reid. His profile was impressive: decorated Army veteran, multiple deployments, specialized training in security operations and threat assessment. After leaving the military, he'd worked for Blackstone Security Solutions, one of the larger private military contractors, running operations in some of the world's most dangerous places.
And now he was managing security for a luxury resort development in Paradise Valley. It was quite a career shift.
Maria ended her call. "Reid says he can be here in twenty minutes. He's cooperative, says he wants to help however he can."
Kari thought about the anonymous tip. Whoever sent it had wanted them to focus on Reid, had specifically said he "knows more than he's saying." That could mean he was involved in the murders, or it could mean he had information he hadn't shared yet.
"We've got maybe fifteen minutes before the press conference," she said. "Should we wait for Reid or try to catch it?"
"Let's watch it. Know what narrative the chief is putting out there." Maria led her to a conference room where a television was already tuned to a local news station. Other detectives were gathering, everyone wanting to see how the department would handle the public announcement.
At exactly nine AM, Phoenix PD's chief of police stepped up to a podium bristling with microphones. He was in his late fifties, silver-haired and projecting authority, flanked by other department brass and the mayor.
"Good morning. I'm here to provide an update on the recent homicides in Paradise Valley. As many of you know, three prominent residents have been killed in the past week—Richard Garrison, Margaret Hoffman, and Victor Sheridan. All three were connected to the Sunset Ridge Resort development project."
The chief paused, letting the cameras capture the gravity of the moment.
"I can now confirm that we have charged Thomas Hatathli, age forty-five, with three counts of first-degree murder in connection with these deaths. Mr. Hatathli is a Navajo environmental lawyer who publicly threatened the victims during protests over the resort's construction and destruction ofNative American petroglyphs. Physical evidence places him at the crime scenes."
Kari felt her jaw tighten. The chief was presenting it as a solved case, completely ignoring the fact that the third murder had occurred while Hatathli was in custody.
"However," the chief continued, "evidence suggests Mr. Hatathli may have been working with accomplices. We believe there may be a network of environmental extremists who planned and carried out these murders together. We are asking the public for any information about Mr. Hatathli's associates, particularly anyone involved in the protests against the Sunset Ridge Resort or other development projects."
A reporter shouted a question: "Chief, can you confirm that one of the murders occurred while Mr. Hatathli was in police custody?"
The chief's expression didn't change. "The investigation is ongoing. We believe multiple perpetrators were involved, which is why we're asking for public assistance in identifying Mr. Hatathli's accomplices. The people of Paradise Valley can rest assured that we have the ringleader in custody and are actively pursuing the remaining suspects."
More questions, but the chief was already stepping away from the podium, leaving a spokesperson to handle the details. The message had been delivered: Hatathli was guilty, there was a conspiracy, and the department was in control.
No need to let the facts get in the way of the truth.
"Unbelievable," Maria muttered. "He just told the entire city that Hatathli is guilty and there's some kind of terrorist network operating in Phoenix."
"Which means even if we prove Hatathli's innocent, the narrative is already set." Kari watched the news coverage switch to aerial shots of Paradise Valley, the reporter breathlessly describing the "reign of terror" that had gripped the wealthycommunity. "The real killer can just disappear while everyone's looking for phantom accomplices."
A uniformed officer appeared in the conference room doorway. "Detective Santos? Jasper Reid is here. He's waiting in interview room three."
Maria checked her watch. "Nine-ten. Let's see what Mr. Reid has to say about all this."
They made their way to the interview room, both of them mentally preparing for the conversation ahead. Jasper Reid stood when they entered, extending his hand. He was tall and lean, probably six-two, with close-cropped dark hair showing gray at the temples and the kind of posture that spoke to years of discipline. His handshake was firm, his eye contact direct without being challenging.
"Detective Santos, I came as soon as you called." Reid's voice was measured. "I understand you're investigating the murders connected to the Sunset Ridge Resort."
"This is Detective Blackhorse," Maria said, gesturing to Kari. "She's consulting on the case. Please, have a seat."
They all sat.
"Mr. Reid, we appreciate you coming in," Maria began. "We're following up on some information about the resort's security operations and your interactions with protesters during construction."
"Of course. I'm happy to help however I can." Reid folded his hands on the table. "Though I'm not sure what I can tell you that I didn't already include in my initial statement. I was managing site security, my interactions with protesters were all documented, and I was nowhere near the victims when they were killed."
"Walk us through your job responsibilities," Maria said. "What exactly does head of security for a development project entail?"
