"What’s her motive?"Moore asked.
"Eight years ago, her husband and child were killed by Michael Hartman.Hartman avoided jail time with the insanity defense and was put into psychiatric care in a high-security facility.There were numerous appeals at the time from Diana and her extended family, but the verdict wasn’t changed.Judge Greene presided over the trial.He was the one who had the power to change the verdict given by the jury, but he agreed with them."
"Okay, so he’s not directly responsible for the verdict?"Moore asked.
"He didn't make the decision, but Diana was very outspoken at the time about that," Alison said, checking on her phone to confirm the details from the reports Derek had sent her."She blamed him for Hartman not being jailed for life."
"And she wrote an article about him today?"Moore asked.
"It’s vague, but she talks about court proceedings and a recall petition that’s been filed to remove him from his position," Alison said.She tried not to think about what she had previously thought was Mills.She had been blocking out the case, but it still attacked her when she was least expecting it."From what Derek was able to find, she’s been trying to remove Judge Greene from his position ever since the verdict against her family’s killer."
"What do you think?"Moore asked.
"She certainly has motive," Alison said."She lost her family eight years ago, and I can understand what that feels like.Since then, she’s become a prominent victims’ rights activist, a role that could also look her to Dr.Langford.She has her own organization now, and their main aim is to put a halt to any insanity defenses."
"Okay," Moore said."Thoughts?"
"I mean, I get it," Alison said."A plea of insanity is a controversial plea, and it has been abused in the past.I can understand why someone would want to abolish it.Still, it’s also misunderstood.Some people believe that someone can act insane and that fools people, but we have pretty robust systems in place to assess the mental state of an individual.A diagnosis of insanity is very hard to get, and it’s a very, very small percentage of defendants who are deemed clinically insane.In fact, ten times more people don't reveal the diagnosis when assessed versus those who do."
"Okay, so the man who killed her family is assessed as being insane, and she sees him going to some nice facility to be treated instead of spending his life in prison," Moore said."I can understand why she might be upset."
"The motive is there," Alison said."Let’s find out if she had the means and opportunity."
Diana Shepherd dedicated all of her time to her organization.It was a non-profit organization that relied on donors and sponsors, along with fundraising, to remain operational.Diana had a staff of four, and she paid all of them and herself a salary based on the hours they put in.The organization was housed in a small brick building in the suburbs, an old car body shop that had been converted.
When Moore and Alison pulled up, they saw someone at the large front window, staring out at them.The area was quiet, with little foot traffic or cars.Did the presence of their car bring the person to the window, or were they looking out for them?
They exited the car; whoever was at the window left, and the door opened shortly after to reveal a woman.
"Diana Shepherd?"Moore asked as she walked toward the door.
"Yeah," the woman called back."Who’s asking?"
"Detective Moore," Moore said, presenting her badge."We’d like to talk to you about Judge Greene."
"I haven’t broken the law," Diana said."If Judge Greene sent you here to intimidate me, then know that I won’t be.Although it’s impressive how quickly you got here."
Diana stood in the doorway and didn't invite them in.
You think we're here because of the article, don't you?As soon as you published it, Judge Greene got word and sent us here.
"You're the second person in two days to talk about doing things legally."Alison pointed out."We are here because of the article."
"Of course you are," Diana said."So, what do you expect me to do?Take it down?You can contact my lawyers if you want to go in that direction."
"Where were you last night?"Moore asked.
Something flashed across Diana’s face.Up to that point, she’d assumed Judge Greene had sent them, perhaps to ask to take the article down.The question about her physical location the previous night changed the direction of the conversation.
"DoIneed to contact my lawyer?"Diana asked.
"That depends on where you were last night," Moore pressed.
"I was here."Diana had been confrontational from the start of the conversation, but she was much more defensive now as she folded her arms across her chest.She still didn’t invite them in.
"You were here all night?"More asked."Were you with anyone else?"
"No," Diana said slowly.
