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Ryder had less luck finding anything about Violet. She owned a house in Burbank and worked for the City of Los Angeles. Only phone number attached to her was her work number. She could have a cell phone, but if it wasn’t in a public database, they couldn’t get it without a warrant. Kara wanted to go to her house, but first she’d talk to Will.
While waiting for Matt to return from the courthouse, Kara dug around on Google. Will Lattimer popped up immediately—quoted in articles about the homeless crisis, several op-eds critical of the government response and lack of oversight and transparency, extensive information about his work with homeless veterans. Nothing on Violet except for one article where she was photographed with Will at a homeless encampment in Venice Beach.
William Lattimer, President of First Contact “Empowering Not Enabling,” speaks about what he calls a “humanitarian crisis.” Pictured with him are volunteers Violet Halliday of Burbank, Anita Fuentes of Venice Beach and Mel Porta of Los Angeles.
Violet wasn’t smiling. She had dark blond hair and serious eyes. Kara scanned the article, but there was no other reference to her. She was doubly frustrated that Will hadn’t returned her calls. He would have answers to many of her questions.
She almost pounced on Matt for information when he walked into the hotel suite after seven that night, but hesitated when she saw how exhausted he looked. He took off his jacket and tie and sat on the couch.
She wanted information, but she also realized it was ten in DC and none of them had eaten. No wonder she had a headache.
“Hey, will the feds splurge on room service?” she asked. “I could eat a cow.”
“I think tonight we can make an exception,” Matt said. “Do you want to hear what’s going on first?”
“Did they catch Craig’s killer?”
“No.”
“Let’s order, then you can fill me in.”
Matt knocked on the door to the room he and Michael were sharing. Michael came in looking refreshed after a shower and catnap. They ordered, and while they waited for room service, they split a can of ten-dollar nuts from the in-room bar.
“LAPD has a person of interest in the David Chen shooting,” Matt said. “A woman named Violet Halliday, who works in the IT department of city hall.”
Kara straightened. “What?”
“She was seen running from the scene. An LAPD officer was across the street, and while he didn’t see the shooting itself, as soon as he heard the shots—there were five total, two in the bodyguard, three in Chen—he turned and saw her running. He knows her, identified her.” Matt frowned. “Is Violet the woman Dyson was talking about this afternoon?”
“Yes. She’s a volunteer for Will Lattimer’s group. She was bringing Craig information for his grand jury investigation into a graft and corruption scheme. It involved Chen, but seemed to be bigger than that. He didn’t give me many details, but said a lot of people in government wouldn’t be happy.” She paused, then added, “Remember that call he got, the one that upset him? I’m positive it was Will Lattimer telling him that Violet witnessed the shooting. When Craig was stabbed, he told me to find her, talk to Will. He didn’t make complete sense, but putting it together with what Craig said earlier in his office, I think that Violet called Will after the shooting and he was going to pick her up. Craig seemed very concerned about her safety. Is she a suspect or person of interest?”
“Right now, person of interest, but if they don’t find her that’ll change. Did you talk to Lattimer?”
She shook her head. “He hasn’t returned my calls. I actually know Will.”
“Personally?”
She shrugged. “Not well, but he and my old partner Colton were tight. The last time I saw Will was at Colton’s funeral. I left messages on his work and cell numbers. I thought he’d call me back. I asked Ryder to find everything he can about Will and Violet.”
“McPherson will reach out to him as well,” Matt said. “Did you tell McPherson what Dyson said?”
“About Will? Yeah.”
“And Violet?”
“He didn’t specifically mention Violet to me after he was stabbed. Everything he mentioned earlier is sensitive and confidential. He didn’t mean to share so much.” She wanted to smile, but couldn’t muster it. Craig was dead and she felt miserable. “I guess I just bring out the chatty gene in people.”
“Put everything in your report.”
“I know this isn’t our case, but Craig was a friend. I need to be involved.”
“LAPD is handling Chen, sheriff is handling Dyson. The FBI isn’t involved.”
“I’m LAPD,” she reminded him. “I know, on loan to the FBI.” She rolled her eyes. “What if the murders are connected?” She didn’t see how, exactly, but what were the chances they were disconnected?
“Doesn’t matter,” Matt said. “I was friendly, didn’t pull rank, so I think they’ll share information with me. But this doesn’t mean you’re not still in danger, Kara.”
“Chen is the one who wanted me dead, now he’s in the ground.”
