"Back to the hotel to review Caldwell's files more thoroughly. There might be something in there about Diana, or about the relationship between Sterling and the victims."
"You think there was something personal between them?"
"I don't know. But the way Diana and Sterling reacted to his name… there's something there. Something that made them uncomfortable discussing him."
"I'll see what I can dig up. Financial connections, personal connections, anything that links Diana to the victims beyond business relationships." Maria paused. "Kari, if Diana Gray is involved in these murders, she's been living with Sterling this whole time. Right under his nose."
"Which either means he doesn't know, or he's protecting her. Either way, we need more evidence before we can approach this directly. Right now all we have are uncomfortable moments in an interview and convenient alibis."
"I'll call you when I have Diana's background information. Might take a few hours."
After hanging up, Kari drove back to her hotel, her mind working through possibilities. Diana Gray had appeared in Charles Sterling's life eight months ago, positioned herself as essential to his business operations, and now three people connected to his most controversial project were dead.
That could be a coincidence. Or it could be something much more calculated.
But if Diana was involved in the murders, what was her motive?
Then it hit Kari: If Diana was behind some of the company's corner-cutting, she might've gotten scared about how much attention the protests were drawing. She might've decided that the best way to protect herself was to get rid of those who knew what she'd been doing.
It was a theory, anyway. She knew she was a long way from proving anything.
The questions kept swirling, but Kari felt no closer to an answer.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Kari spent Thursday evening back at Phoenix PD headquarters, working with Maria to build a comprehensive profile of Diana Gray. The bullpen was quieter than during the day shift, just a handful of detectives working late cases and the constant background hum of computers and distant radio traffic.
"Look at this," Maria said, pulling up bank records on her screen. "Diana made a cash withdrawal of five thousand dollars three days before Richard Garrison was killed. No explanation, no corresponding deposit, just cash."
Kari leaned over to look. "That's not typical spending for someone living in Sterling's house rent-free. She'd have no reason to need that much cash."
"Unless she was buying something she didn't want traced. Like a gun."
"Can we track where she made the withdrawal?"
"Bank branch in Scottsdale, not far from the resort site." Maria made notes. "I've also got something else. Remember how Diana said she attended one city council meeting where Hatathli spoke? I pulled the attendance logs. She attended three meetings, not one. And at two of them, she sat in the back, left before the meetings ended."
"Observing Hatathli without drawing attention to herself," Kari said. "Interesting."
Maria pulled up more files. "And here's the kicker—I talked to Hatathli's office manager. Diana Gray visited his office once, about two months ago. Said she was interested in volunteering for environmental causes, wanted to learn more about their work. She filled out a volunteer application but never followed up."
Kari nodded, warming to a new theory. "She was getting access to Hatathli's space. Could have collected DNA from that visit—a coffee cup, a pen he used, something with his hair on it."
"Exactly what I thought." Maria looked at Kari. "This is more than coincidence. Diana was systematically positioning herself to frame Hatathli. Multiple visits to city council meetings to observe him, a visit to his office to collect DNA, and she lied about how many meetings she attended."
"What about the private meetings with Victor Sheridan? Did you find out what those were about?"
"Still working on it. Sheridan's secretary is out of town until tomorrow, but I left messages. If Diana was meeting Victor privately, there has to be a reason." Maria pulled up crime scene photos from Victor's house. "And if she killed him, she managed it while supposedly being at Sterling's house with him."
"Sterling's alibi for her might not be as solid as we think," Kari said. "Big house, private security, lots of space. Diana could have slipped out, committed the murder, and returned without Sterling knowing. Especially if he was distracted or asleep. Or he could just be covering for her because they're romantically involved."
"Security logs show no vehicles leaving the property during the relevant times," Maria said. "But she could have left on foot, had another car parked nearby, or had someone pick her up outside the security perimeter."
Kari thought about the Sterling property layout. "It's gated but not walled on all sides. Someone familiar with the property could exit without going through the main gate."
"I'll request detailed security camera footage from the property, see if there are any gaps or blind spots." Maria checked her watch—nearly seven PM. "We're building a strong circumstantial case, but we need something more concrete. Physical evidence, a witness who saw her near one of the crimescenes, something that puts her at the murders instead of where she claims she was."
They were both silent for several moments.
