Michael Connelly - The Closers

There were too many preliminary speeches. Then the inspection of the new officers took too long. But finally the program reached the main event, the traditional remarks of the chief of police. The man who had taken Bosch back into the department was relaxed and poised at the lectern. He spoke of rebuilding the police department from the inside out and starting with the twenty-four new officers standing before him. He said he was talking about rebuilding both the image and the practice of the department. He said many of the things he had said to Bosch on Monday morning. He urged the new officers never to break the law to enforce the law. To do their job constitutionally and compassionately at all times.

But then he surprised Bosch with his wrap-up.

“I would also like to draw your attention to two officers here as my guests today. One coming, one going. Detective Harry Bosch has returned to the department this week after a few years of retirement. I guess he learned during his extended vacation that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”

There was polite laughter from the crowd on the other side of the parade grounds. This was where the families and friends of the cadets sat. The chief continued.

“So he came back to the LAPD family and already he has performed admirably. He has put himself in harm’s way for the good of the community. Yesterday he and his partner cleared a seventeen-year-old murder that had been sticking like a thorn into the side of this community. We welcome Detective Bosch back to the fold.”

There was a smattering of applause from the crowd. Bosch felt his face go hot. He looked down at his hands.

“I would also like to thank Deputy Chief Irvin S. Irving for being here today,” the chief continued. “Chief Irving has served in this department for nearly forty-five years. There is no current officer who has served longer. His decision to retire today and make this graduation his final action while wearing the badge is a fitting end to his tour of duty. We thank him for such service to this department and this city.”

The applause for Irving was much louder and sustained. People started to stand in honor of the man who had served the department and city so long. Bosch turned slightly to his right so that he could see Irving ’s face and he knew the moment he saw the deputy chief’s eyes that he had not seen it coming. He had been sandbagged.

Soon everyone was standing and clapping and Bosch felt compelled to do the same for a man he despised. He knew exactly who had engineered Irving ’s fall. If Irving protested or tried in some way to recover his position he would face an internal case built by Kizmin Rider. There would be no doubt who would lose that one. No doubt at all.

What Bosch didn’t know was when it had been planned. Bosch thought about Rider sitting on the desk in 503, waiting for him with coffee, black just like he liked it. Had she already known then what case the cold hit had come from and where it would lead? He remembered the date on the DOJ report. It was ten days old by the time he had read it. What happened during those ten days? What was planned for his arrival?

Bosch didn’t know and he was not sure he even cared. Department politics were played on the sixth floor. Bosch worked out of 503 and that’s where he would make his stand. No question.

After the chief finished his remarks he stepped away from the microphone. He gave each cadet, one by one, a certificate of completion of academy training and posed for a photo shaking hands with the recipient. It was all very fast and clean and choreographed perfectly. Three police helicopters flew over the parade grounds in formation and the cadets ended the ceremony by hurling their hats into the air.

Bosch remembered the time more than thirty years before when he had thrown his hat into the air. He smiled at the memory. No one from his class was left. They were dead or retired or washed out. He knew it was up to him to carry the banner and tradition. To fight the good fight.

As the ceremony ended and the crowds rushed to the field to congratulate the new officers, Bosch watched Irving stand up and start walking directly across the parade grounds to the exit area. He stopped for no one, not even those who extended hands of congratulations and thanks to him.

“Detective, you’ve had a busy week.”

Bosch turned. It was the chief of police. He nodded. He didn’t know what to say.

“Thank you for being here,” the chief said. “How is Detective Rider?”

“She took the day off. She had a close one yesterday.”

“So I heard. Will either of you be attending the press conference today?”

“Well, she’s off and I was thinking of skipping it, if that’s all right.”

“We’ll handle it. I see you already gave the story to the Daily News . Now everyone else is clamoring for it. We have to put on the dog-and-pony show.”

“I owed the reporter from the News that one.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“When the dust settles, will I still have a job, Chief?”

“Of course, Detective Bosch. As in any investigation, choices must be made. Tough choices. You made the best decisions you could make. There will be a review but I don’t think you will have a problem.”

Bosch nodded. He almost said thank you but decided against it. He just looked at the man.

“Is there something else you wanted to ask me, Detective?”

Bosch nodded again.

“I was just sort of wondering,” he said.

“About what?”

“The case started with a letter from the DOJ and that letter was old by the time it got to me. I’m wondering why it was held for me. I guess what I’m saying is, I’m wondering about what you knew and when you knew it.”

“Does any of that matter now?”

Bosch poked his chin in the direction Irving had taken.

“Maybe,” he said. “I don’t know. But he won’t just walk away. He’ll go to the media. Or to the lawyers.”

“He knows that if he does it will be a mistake. That there will be consequences for him. He’s not a stupid man.”

Bosch just nodded. The chief studied him a moment before speaking again.

“You still seem troubled, Detective. Remember what I told you Monday? I told you I carefully reviewed your case and career before deciding whether to welcome you back.”

Bosch just looked at him.

“I meant that,” the chief said. “I studied you and I think I know something about you. You are on this earth for one thing, Detective Bosch. And you now have the opportunity to do that, to continue to carry out your mission. After that, does anything else matter?”

Bosch held his eyes for a long time before answering.

“I guess what I really wanted to ask is about what you said the other day. When you said all of that about the ripples and the voices, did you mean it? Or were you just winding me up to go after Irving for you?”

Fire quickly spread across the police chief’s cheeks. His eyes dropped from Bosch’s as he composed his answer. Then he looked back up at Bosch and it was his eyes that held Bosch’s this time.

“I meant every word of it. And don’t you forget it. You go back to room five oh three and you close cases, Detective. That’s what you are here for. Close them out or I’ll find reason to close you out. Do you understand?”

Bosch didn’t feel threatened. He liked the chief’s answer. It made him feel better. He nodded.

“I understand.”

The chief raised his hand and took Bosch by the upper arm.

“Good. Then let’s go over here and get a picture taken with some of these young people who have joined our family today. Maybe they can learn something from us. Maybe we can learn something from them.”

As they moved into the crowd Bosch looked off in the direction Irving had taken. But he was long gone.