Michael Connelly: The Reversal

“Yes, that’s true.”

“During all of those years of drug abuse and counseling and incarceration, were you ever able to forget what happened to your sister, Melissa?”

“No, never. I thought about it every day. I still do.”

“Were you ever able to forget about the man who crossed your front yard and grabbed your sister while you watched from the bushes?”

“No, never. I thought about him every day and still do.”

“Have you ever had a moment of doubt about the man you identified as your sister’s abductor?”

“No.”

Maggie turned and pointedly looked at Jessup, who was looking down at a legal pad and writing what were probably meaningless notes. Her eyes held on him and she waited. Just as Jessup looked up to see what was holding up the testimony she asked her last question.

“Never a single doubt, Sarah?”

“No, never.”

“Thank you, Sarah. No further questions.”

Thursday, April 8, 10:35A.M.

The judge followed Sarah Gleason’s testimony by announcing the midmorning break. Bosch waited in his seat at the railing until Royce and Jessup got up and started to file out. He then stood and moved against the grain to get to his witness. As he passed by Jessup he clapped him hard on the arm.

“I think your makeup’s starting to run, Jason.”

He said it with a smile as he went by.

Jessup stopped and turned and was about to respond to the taunt when Royce grabbed him by the other arm and kept him going.

Bosch moved forward to collect Gleason from the witness stand. After parts of two days on the stand, she looked like she was both emotionally and physically drained. Like she might need help just getting up from the chair.

“Sarah, you did great,” he told her.

“Thank you. I couldn’t tell if anybody believed me.”

“They all did, Sarah. They all did.”

He walked her back to the prosecution table, where Haller and McPherson had similar reviews of her testimony. McPherson got up out of her seat and hugged her.

“You stood up to Jessup and you stood up for your sister,” she said. “You can be proud of that for the rest of your life.”

Gleason suddenly burst into tears and held her hand over her eyes. McPherson quickly pulled her back into the hug.

“I know, I know. You’ve held it together and stayed strong. It’s okay to let it go now.”

Bosch walked over to the jury box and grabbed the box of tissues. He brought them to Gleason and she wiped away her tears.

“You’re almost done,” Haller said to her. “You’ve totally finished testifying so now all we want you to do is sit in court and observe the trial. We want you to sit up here in the front row when Eddie Roman testifies. After that, we can put you on a plane home this afternoon.”

“Okay, but why?”

“Because he’s going to tell lies about you. And if he is going to do that, then he’s going to have to tell them to your face.”

“I don’t think he’s going to have a problem with that. He never did.”

“Well, then, the jury will want to see how you react. And how he’ll react. And don’t worry, we’ve got something else cooking that’ll make Eddie feel some heat.”

At that, Haller turned to Bosch.

“You ready with this?”

“Just give me the sign.”

“Can I ask something?” Gleason said.

“Sure,” Haller said.

“What if I don’t want to get on a plane today? What if I want to be here for the verdict? For my sister.”

“We would love that, Sarah,” Maggie said. “You are welcome and can stay as long as you like.”

Bosch stood in the hallway outside the courtroom. He had his phone out and was slowly typing a text to his daughter with one finger. His efforts were interrupted when he received a text. It was from Haller and was only one word.

NOW

He put his phone away and walked to the witness waiting room. Sonia Reyes was slumped in a chair with her head down, two empty coffee cups on the table in front of her.

“Okay, Sonia, rise and shine. We’re going to go do this. You okay? You ready?”

She looked up at him with tired eyes.

“That’s too many questions, po-liceman.”

“Okay, I’ll settle for one. How’re you feeling?”

“About how I look. You got any more of that stuff they gave me at the clinic?”

“That was it. But I’m going to have someone take you right back there as soon as we’re finished here.”

“Whatever you say, po-liceman. I don’t think I’ve been up this early since the last time I was in county lockup.”

“Yeah, well, it’s not that early. Let’s go.”

He helped her up and they headed toward Department 112. Reyes was what they called a silent witness. She wouldn’t be testifying in the trial. She was in no condition to. But by walking her down the aisle and putting her in the front row, Bosch would make sure she would be noticed by Edward Roman. The hope was that she’d knock Roman off his game, maybe even make him change it up. They were banking on his not knowing the rules of evidence and therefore not understanding that her appearance in the gallery precluded her from testifying at the trial and exposing his lies.

Harry hit the door with a fist as he pushed it open because he knew it would draw attention inside the court. He then ushered Reyes in and walked her down the aisle. Edward Roman was already on the stand, sworn in and testifying. He wore an ill-fitting suit borrowed from Royce’s client closet and was clean-shaven with short, neat hair. He stumbled verbally when he saw Sonia in the courtroom.

“We had group counseling twice…”

“Only twice?” Royce asked, unaware of the distraction in the aisle behind him.

“What?”

“You said you only had group counseling with Sarah Gleason twice?”

“Nah, man, I meant twice a day.”

Bosch escorted Reyes to a seat with a reserved sign on it. He then sat down next to her.

“And approximately how long did this last?” Royce asked.

“Each one was fifty minutes, I think,” Roman answered, his eyes holding on Reyes in the audience.

“I mean how long were you both in counseling? A month, a year, how long?”

“Oh, it was for five months.”

“And did you become lovers while you were in the center?”

Roman lowered his eyes.

“Uh… yeah, that’s right.”

“How did you manage that? I assume there are rules against that.”

“Well, if there’s a will, there’s always a way, you know? We found time. We found places.”

“Did this relationship continue after you two were released from the center?”

“Yes. She got out a couple weeks ahead of me. Then I got out and we hooked up.”

“Did you live together?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Is that a yes?”

“Yes. Can I ask a question?”

Royce paused. He hadn’t expected this.

“No, Mr. Roman,” the judge said. “You can’t ask a question. You are a witness in these proceedings.”

“But how can they bring her in here like that?”

“Who, Mr. Roman?”

Roman pointed out to the gallery and right at Reyes.

“Her.”

The judge looked at Reyes and then at Bosch sitting next to her. A look of deep suspicion crossed her face.

“I’m going to ask the jury to step back into the jury room for a few moments. This should not take long.”

The jurors filed back into the jury room. The moment the last one in closed the door, the judge zeroed in on Bosch.

“Detective Bosch.”

Harry stood up.

“Who is the woman sitting to your left?”

“Your Honor,” Haller said. “Can I answer that question?”

“Please do.”