CHAPTER SIXTEEN #2
Kari followed her down a hallway lined with framed diplomas and photos of Mendez posing with athletes at various finishing lines. The office itself was spacious and organized, medical journals stacked neatly on shelves beside running trophies.
"I assume this is about the murders," Mendez said, settling behind her desk. "Terrible tragedy. Jennifer Hayes was one of my patients. So were Jordan Rodriguez and Jessica Ramirez."
The admission was immediate and unguarded. Kari sat across from her, studying the physician's face for signs of deception. "You treated all three of them?"
"I treat most of the serious ultra-marathon runners in the Phoenix area.
My practice specializes in the unique medical challenges of extreme endurance athletics.
" Mendez pulled up files on her computer.
"I can provide you with copies of their medical records, though you'll need to follow proper procedures for obtaining them. "
"I'm more interested in your research right now. Specifically, your work on controlled dehydration training."
Mendez's expression tightened. "That's a mischaracterization. My research explores adaptive responses to physiological stress, conducted under strict medical supervision with full institutional review board approval. Everything I do follows established ethical guidelines."
"But you do advocate for training methods that involve significant dehydration."
"Within carefully monitored parameters. The human body is capable of remarkable adaptation when challenged appropriately.
My work simply explores those capabilities.
" Mendez leaned forward. "Detective, ultra-marathon running is inherently dangerous.
People die from heat exhaustion, cardiac events, falls, dehydration.
My research is designed to understand those risks better and develop protocols that might actually save lives. "
"Did Jennifer Hayes, Jordan Rodriguez, and Jessica Ramirez participate in your research studies?"
A pause. "Jennifer participated in an earlier study two years ago. Jordan and Jessica were both enrolled in my current research protocol."
"Which involves?"
"Progressive heat adaptation training under controlled conditions.
Participants complete monitored training sessions in temperature-controlled environments while we track their physiological responses.
The goal is to identify optimal hydration levels for different environmental conditions and individual metabolic profiles. "
"And then they apply those protocols to their actual training runs?"
"Within guidelines, yes. The whole point is to translate laboratory findings into practical applications.
" Mendez's voice had taken on an edge. "But Detective, everything I do is supervised.
I'm not sending people out into the desert to die.
I'm giving them tools to survive conditions that could otherwise kill them. "
Kari watched her carefully. The defensiveness suggested someone who'd heard these objections before, who'd been challenged on her methods enough to have practiced responses ready. "When did you last see Jessica Ramirez?"
"Two days before she died. She came in for a routine check-up and to discuss her training schedule. She was in excellent condition, fully hydrated, showing no signs of medical distress."
"And you didn't think it was relevant to report this to law enforcement when she turned up dead from dehydration?"
Mendez arched an eyebrow. "I didn't know she was dead from dehydration until you just told me. The news reports said an ultramarathon runner had died during a training run. I assumed cardiac event or injury. Those are the most common causes of death in our sport."
The explanation was plausible, but something about Mendez's tone bothered Kari. Too smooth, too prepared. Like someone who'd anticipated these questions and rehearsed her answers.
"Dr. Mendez, I'm going to need detailed records of your interactions with all three victims. Patient files, research protocols, and any communication you had with them regarding their training or participation in your studies."
"I'll need to consult with my lawyer about what I can release without violating patient confidentiality."
"That's your right. But understand that three people are dead, and you're currently the only clear connection between all of them. The more cooperative you are, the faster we can determine whether you're a witness—or something else." She let the ominous implication hang in the air.
Mendez's jaw tightened. "What I am, detective, is a physician, and a damn good one. My entire career is built on helping athletes achieve their potential while keeping them safe. The suggestion that I would harm my patients is offensive."
"Then help me rule you out." Kari stood, placing her card on the desk. "I'll be in touch about those records."
She left the office with more questions than answers.
As she reached her vehicle, her phone buzzed with a text from Maria: Got Mendez's license records.
Clean. No complaints, no disciplinary actions.
But I found something interesting in her published research—she's been recruiting volunteers through the Sonoran 100 organization.
Want to guess who gave her access to runner registration data?
Kari didn't need to guess. Cedric Dalton.
Bingo. Which means our two main suspects are connected. We need to figure out if they're working together or if one of them is using the other.
Kari climbed into her vehicle, feeling tired and uncertain. The case was becoming more complex with every interview, every new connection. Somewhere in this web of elite athletes, controversial research, and desert races was a killer.
She just had to find the thread that would unravel everything.