Who is Mahalia Geary in the novel, The City and the City, and what is her importance?

Mahalia Geary is the dead woman that starts the entire investigation. She is a Ph.D. student that is working at the archeological dig. She also believes in the secret city of Orciny. Mahalia once made a scene at a conference in Beszel. Originally, Mahalia is from Canada but has studied in both cities.

It turns out that Mahalia was stealing artifacts from the dig. She was burying them in a park in one of the crosshatches on the Ul Qoma side. Someone was then picking up the objects to give to the American corporation that was selling the artifacts for profit. When Mahalia found out that she wasn't returning the artifacts to Orciny, the rightful owners, the corporation and some politicians involved with the scam had her killed.