Michael Connelly - The Last Coyote

The Last Coyote (1995)

By: Michael Connelly

The fourth book in the Harry Bosch series

Chapter One

ANY THOUGHTS THAT youd like to start with?

Thoughts on what?

Well, on anything. On the incident.

On the incident? Yes, I have some thoughts.

She waited but he didnt continue. He had decided before he even got to Chinatown that this would be the way he would be. Hed make her have to pull every single word out of him.

Could you share them with me, Detective Bosch? she finally asked. That is the purpose of

My thoughts are that this is bullshit. Total bullshit. Thats the purpose. Thats all.

No, wait. How do you mean, bullshit?

I mean, okay, I pushed the guy. I guess I hit him. Im not sure exactly what happened but Im not denying anything. So, fine, suspend me, transfer me, take it to a Board of Rights, whatever. But going this way is bullshit. ISL is bullshit. I mean, why do I have to come here three times a week to talk to you like Im some kind ofyou dont even know me, you dont know anything about me. Why do I have to talk to you? Why do you have to sign off on this?

Well, the technical answer is right there in your own statement. Rather than discipline you the department wants to treat you. Youve been placed on involuntary stress leave, which means

I know what it means and thats whats bullshit. Somebody arbitrarily decides Im under stress and that gives the department the power to keep me off the job indefinitely, or at least until I jump through enough hoops for you.

Nothing about this was arbitrary. It was predicated on your actions, which I think clearly show

What happened had nothing to do with stress. What it was about wasnever mind. Like I said, its bullshit. So why dont we just cut through it and get to the point. What do I have to do to get back to my job?

He could see the anger flare behind her eyes. His total disavowal of her science and skill cut to her pride. Quickly the anger was gone, though. Dealing with cops all the time, she had to be used to it.

Cant you see that all of this is for your own welfare? I have to assume the top managers of this department clearly see you as a valued asset or you wouldnt be here. Theyd have put you on a disciplinary track and youd be on your way out. Instead, they are doing what they can to preserve your career and its incumbent value to the department.

Valued asset? Im a cop, not an asset. And when youre out there on the street nobodys thinking about incumbent value. What does that mean, anyway? Am I going to have to listen to words like that in here?

She cleared her throat before speaking sternly.

You have a problem, Detective Bosch. And it goes far beyond the incident that resulted in your being placed on leave. Thats what these sessions are going to be all about. Do you understand? This incident is not unique. You have had problems before. What I am trying to do, what I have to do before I can sign off on your return to duty in any capacity, is get you to take a look at yourself. What are you doing? What are you about? Why do these problems happen to you? I want these sessions to be an open dialogue where I ask a few questions and you speak your mind, but with a purpose. Not to harass me and my profession or the leadership of the department. But to talk about you. This is about you in here, no one else.

Harry Bosch just looked at her silently. He wanted a cigarette but would never ask her if he could smoke. He would never acknowledge in front of her that he had the habit. If he did, she might start talking about oral fixations or nicotine crutches. He took a deep breath instead and looked at the woman on the other side of the desk. Carmen Hinojos was a small woman with a friendly face and manner. Bosch knew she wasnt a bad person. Hed actually heard good things about her from others who had been sent to Chinatown. She was just doing her job here and his anger was not really directed at her. He knew she was probably smart enough to know that, too.

Look, Im sorry, she said. I should not have started with that kind of open question. I know that this is an emotional subject with you. Lets try to start again. By the way, you can smoke if youd like.

Is that in the file, too?

Its not in the file. It didnt need to be. Its your hand, the way you keep bringing it up to your mouth. Have you been trying to quit?

No. But its a city office. You know the rules.

It was a thin excuse. He violated that law every day at the Hollywood Station.

Thats not the rule in here. I dont want you to think of this as being part of Parker Center or part of the city. Thats the chief reason these offices are away from that. There are no rules like that here.

Doesnt matter where we are. Youre still working for the LAPD.

Try to believe that you are away from the Los Angeles Police Department. When you are in here, try to believe that youre just coming to see a friend. To talk. You can say anything here.

But he knew she could not be seen as a friend. Never. There was too much at stake here. Just the same, he nodded once to please her.

Thats not very convincing.

He hiked his shoulders as if to say it was the best he could do, and it was.

By the way, if you want I could hypnotize you, get rid of your dependency on nicotine.

If I wanted to quit, I could do it. People are either smokers or theyre not. I am.

Yes. Its perhaps the most obvious symptom of a self-destructive nature.

Excuse me, am I on leave because I smoke? Is that what this is about?

I think you know what its about.

He said nothing else, remembering his decision to say as little as possible.

Well, lets continue then, she said. Youve been on leavelets see, Tuesday a week?

Right.

What have you been doing with your time?

Filling out FEMA forms mostly.

FEMA?

My house was red-tagged.

The earthquake was three months ago. Why have you waited?

Ive been busy. Ive been working.

I see. Did you have insurance?

Dont say I see, because you dont. You couldnt possibly see things the way I do. The answer is no, no insurance. Like most everybody else, I was living in denial. Isnt that what you people call it? I bet you had insurance.

Yes. How bad was your house hit?

Depends on who you ask. The city inspectors say its totaled and I cant even go inside. I think its fine. Just needs some work. They know me by name at Home Depot now. And Ive had contractors do some of it. Itll be done soon and Ill appeal the red tag. Ive got a lawyer.

Youre living there still?

He nodded.

Now thats denial, Detective Bosch. I dont think you should be doing that.

I dont think you have any say about what I do outside my job with the department.

She raised her hands in a hands-off manner.

Well, while I dont condone it, I suppose it serves its purpose. I think its good that you have something to keep you occupied. Though Id much rather it be a sport or a hobby or maybe plans for a trip out of town, I think its important to keep busy, to keep your mind off the incident.

Bosch smirked.

What?

I dont know. Everybody keeps calling it the incident. It kindve reminds me of how people called it the Vietnam conflict, not the war.

Then what would you call what happened?

I dont know. But incidentit sounds likeI dont know. Antiseptic. Listen, Doctor, lets go back a minute. I dont want to take a trip out of town, okay? My job is in homicide. Its what I do. And Id really like to get back to it. I might be able to do some good, you know.

If the department lets you.

If you do. You know its going to be up to you.

Perhaps. Do you notice that you speak of your job as if its a mission of some sort?

Thats about right. Like the Holy Grail.

He said it with sarcasm. This was getting intolerable and it was only the first session.