The Brass Verdict (48 page)
Authors: Michael Connelly
Tags: #General, #Thrillers, #Suspense, #Fiction
“I came to the hospital that time you got shot,” he said. “I wasn’t sure why. I saw it on the news and they said it was a gut shot and I knew those could go either way. I thought maybe if they needed blood or something, I could … I figured we matched, you know? Anyway, there were all these reporters and cameras. I ended up leaving.”
I smiled and then I started to laugh. I couldn’t help it.
“What’s so funny?”
“You, a cop, volunteering to give blood to a defense attorney. I don’t think they would’ve let you back into the clubhouse if they knew about that.”
Now Bosch smiled and nodded.
“I guess I didn’t think about that.”
And just like that, both our smiles disappeared and the awkwardness of being strangers returned. Eventually Bosch checked his watch.
“The warrant teams are meeting in twenty minutes. I gotta roll.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll see you around, Counselor.”
“I’ll see you around, Detective.”
He went down the steps and I stayed where I was. I heard his car start up, then pull away and go down the hill.
Fifty-five
I
stayed out on the deck after that and looked out at the city as the light moved across it. Many different thoughts filtered through my head and flew off into the sky like the clouds up there, remotely beautiful and untouchable. Distant. I was left feeling that I would never see Bosch again. That he would have his side of the mountain and I would have mine and that’s all there would be.
After a while I heard the door open and steps on the deck. I felt my daughter’s presence by my side and I put my hand on her shoulder.
“What are you doing, Dad?”
“Just looking.”
“Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.”
“What did that policeman want?”
“Just to talk. He’s a friend of mine.”
We were both silent for a moment before she moved on.
“I wish Mom had stayed with us last night,” she said.
I looked down at her and squeezed the back of her neck.
“One thing at a time, Hay,” I said. “We got her to have pancakes with us last night, didn’t we?”
She thought about it and gave me the nod. She agreed. Pancakes were a start.
“I’m going to be late if we don’t go,” she said. “One more time and I’ll get a conduct slip.”
I nodded.
“Too bad. The sun’s just about to hit the ocean.”
“Come on, Dad. That happens every day.”
I nodded.
“Somewhere, at least.”
I went in for the keys, then locked up and we went down the steps to the garage. By the time I backed the Lincoln out and had it pointed down the hill, I could see the sun was spinning gold on the Pacific.
Acknowledgments
In no particular order, the author wishes to thank the following individuals for contributions to the research and writing of this story that ranged from small to incredibly selfless and gigantic:
Daniel Daly, Roger Mills, Dennis Wojciechowski, Asya Muchnick, Bill Massey, S. John Drexel, Dennis McMillan, Pamela Marshall, Linda Connelly, Jane Davis, Shannon Byrne, Michael Pietsch, John Wilkinson, David Ogden, John Houghton, Michael Krikorian, Michael Roche, Greg Stout, Judith Champagne, Rick Jackson, David Lambkin, Tim Marcia, Juan Rodriguez, and Philip Spitzer.
This is a work of fiction. Any errors in the law, evidence and courtroom tactics are wholly those of the author.
About the Author
Michael Connelly
is the author of the bestselling Harry Bosch series of novels as well as the #1
New York Times
bestseller
The Lincoln Lawyer,
featuring Mickey Haller. He is a former newspaper reporter who has won numerous awards for his journalism and his novels. He spends his time in California and Florida.
A
LSO BY
M
ICHAEL
C
ONNELLY
Fiction
The Black Echo
The Black Ice
The Concrete Blonde
The Last Coyote
The Poet
Trunk Music
Blood Work
Angels Flight
Void Moon
A Darkness More Than Night
City of Bones
Chasing the Dime
Lost Light
The Narrows
The Closers
The Lincoln Lawyer
Echo Park
The Overlook
Nonfiction
Crime Beat
Table of Contents
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Sixteen
Seventeen
Eighteen
Nineteen
Twenty
Twenty-one
Twenty-two
Twenty-three
Twenty-four
Twenty-five
Twenty-six
Twenty-seven
Twenty-eight
Twenty-nine
Thirty
Thirty-one
Thirty-two
Thirty-three
Thirty-four
Thirty-five
Thirty-six
Thirty-seven
Thirty-eight
Thirty-nine
Forty
Forty-one
Forty-two
Forty-three
Forty-four
Forty-five
Forty-six
Forty-seven
Forty-eight
Forty-nine
Fifty
Fifty-one
Fifty-two
Fifty-three
Fifty-four
Fifty-five
Table of Contents
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Sixteen
Seventeen
Eighteen
Nineteen
Twenty
Twenty-one
Twenty-two
Twenty-three
Twenty-four
Twenty-five
Twenty-six
Twenty-seven
Twenty-eight
Twenty-nine
Thirty
Thirty-one
Thirty-two
Thirty-three
Thirty-four
Thirty-five
Thirty-six
Thirty-seven
Thirty-eight
Thirty-nine
Forty
Forty-one
Forty-two
Forty-three
Forty-four
Forty-five
Forty-six
Forty-seven
Forty-eight
Forty-nine
Fifty
Fifty-one
Fifty-two
Fifty-three
Fifty-four
Fifty-five