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“That was when?”
“It aired Monday morning.”
Matt shook his head. “Not enough time to orchestrate Craig’s murder.”
“It was enough time to target Chen,” Elena said. “Chen had information—maybe information that would hurt Zarian or people close to her. And he’d only recently been making noise about cutting a deal. If he lost the motion in court on Monday, he could have immediately talked to Craig. Craig felt that Chen had potentially explosive information that could prove criminal intent to defraud the taxpayers of Los Angeles.”
“We need to pull in Colangelo and Perez separately,” Lex said. “We don’t know if Perez is involved. They’ll call their union reps, but if we can turn one or both of them, we’ll have some answers.”
“Violet is the only witness to Chen’s murder,” Will said. “That’s why they went after her.”
“They,” Matt said. “Who are they? Are you talking about some vast conspiracy with the Zarians and Duncans and an FBI agent and a cop? That’s a lot of people and I haven’t heard any proof, just theories.”
“Well, I have one more theory,” Elena said, clearly angry with either him or with the entire situation. “When Dyson started the process to impanel the grand jury last week, someone panicked and had Chen and Dyson killed.”
“They went after Violet,” Colton said, “because she’s a computer genius and can prove the data was intentionally wiped from city hall. Better, she knows how to get it back. They’ve been running this scam for years, making millions. They got cocky and greedy, and when they were faced with losing their gravy train? They resorted to murder. And,” he said with a smirk, “I have the proof that Zarian’s brother, Ben Kaprielian, runs Sunflower Group Homes.”
He pulled a flash drive from his pocket and slid it across the table. It landed right in front of Matt. “Consider it a gift for keeping an eye on Kara for us.”
He snatched it up. “Elena, the cops. I need to talk to them.”
“I’ll arrange it, but you’re not doing it alone. I’ll be there.”
“Pick them up separately, take them to your headquarters, we’ll interview them. I’m also going to inform Granderson that Chavez may be compromised.” He got up to step out and make the call, but before he could leave, Kara walked in.
Cheeks flushed from her ride down the mountains on the motorcycle, Kara was windswept and vibrant.
Her eyes settled on Colton.
Matt followed her gaze.
Colton smiled sheepishly, his eyes lighting up.
Colton was in love with her.
Matt stepped out and called Granderson, then he called Tony and told him the plan.
Kara knew that Colton was alive, but seeing him rattled her.
“What did I miss, other than a resurrection?” Kara walked over to the coffeepot and poured herself a cup mostly because she needed something to do with her hands. She willed them to stop shaking and wished Matt hadn’t left.
They had all lied to her. She felt hollow inside, so she focused on murder. Craig’s murder.
“How’s Violet?” Will asked, breaking the awkward silence.
“Good,” Kara said. “Safe.”
“Where?” Peter asked. “If we need her statement, can she be here quickly?”
“Sure,” she said, noncommittal. “I recorded her statement, just in case. She can do it all official once I know she’s no longer a target.”
“Peter,” Elena said, “can you check with McPherson and see if he has any new information about Dyson’s murder? Lex and I are going to bring in Colangelo and Perez and set up the interviews. Kara, tell Costa I’ll text him the time and location.”
“Can’t wait,” Kara said. She stared at Elena. She had trusted her, believed in her, admired her.
Elena had lied to her about Colton’s death.
Lex’s deception hurt just as much, if not more. He’d been like a father, a mentor, more than a boss...and he let her believe that her partner, her friend, had been murdered. Let her believe that it was because of Bryce Thornton’s obsession with her that Colton was dead.
