The Drop(114)

The statute of limitations for most sex crimes was three years. But Pell was wrong. There were various exceptions to the statute on the basis of the type of crime committed and the age of the victim. The D.A.’s office would need to render an opinion as to whether Hardy could be prosecuted for the crimes against Pell. Bosch thought that it was probably too late. Pell had been telling this story to prison evaluators for years but nobody ever bothered to push for an investigation. Bosch was sure Hardy’s run as a predator was over and he would pay for at least some of his crimes. But he would likely never pay for what he did to Clayton Pell.

“That’s generally right,” Bosch said. “It’s usually three years. So then you probably know the answer to your own question. I don’t think Hardy will ever be prosecuted for what he did to you, Clayton. But that doesn’t matter because you can play an instrumental part in his prosecution for murder. We told the DA that it’s your blood on Lily Price and you will be able to tell a jury how it got there. You will be able to testify about what he did to you—the sexual and physical abuse. You will provide what is called bridge testimony, Clayton. You will help us build a bridge from the DNA found on that girl to Chilton Hardy’s doorstep.”

Bosch picked up the document again.

“One of the things the DA needs right now is a signed statement from you that sets forth the facts of your relationship with Hardy. This morning my partner and I wrote this up based on my notes from last week. I want you to read it, and if it is accurate, then sign it and you will be helping make sure Hardy spends the rest of his life on death row.”

Bosch offered him the document but Pell waved it away.

“Why don’t you just read it to me out loud?”

Bosch realized that Pell probably couldn’t read. There was no indication in his record that he had ever attended school with any regularity and he certainly wasn’t encouraged to read or educate himself at home.

Bosch proceeded to read the one-and-a-half-page document. It purposely followed the adage that less is more. It briefly outlined Pell’s acknowledgment that he lived in Hardy’s home at the time of the Lily Price murder and was abused during the period both sexually and physically. It described the physical abuse in regard to the use of Hardy’s belt and stated that Pell often sustained beatings that led to his bleeding from wounds on his back.

The statement also described Pell’s recent identification of Hardy in a photographic lineup as well as his accurate recognition of the home he lived in with Hardy in the late 1980s.

“The undersigned agrees with these facts and believes them to be a true and accurate accounting of his involvement with Chilton Aaron Hardy Junior in nineteen eighty-nine,” Bosch read. “And that’s it.”

He looked at Pell, who was nodding his head as if in agreement.

“Is that good?” Bosch prompted.

“Yeah, it’s good,” Pell said. “But it mentions that Chill took a picture of me copping his joint.”

“Well, not in those words, but—”

“Does that part need to be in there?”

“I think it does, Clayton. Because we found the photo you told us Hardy took. We found the shoebox. So we want it in your statement because the photo corroborates what you say.”

“I don’t know what that means.”

“You mean ‘corroborate’? It means like it confirms your story. It verifies it. You say this is what the guy made you do and then here’s the picture that proves it.”

“So people are going to see the picture?”

“Very few people. It will not be released to the media. It’s just an element that helps build the case.”

“Besides that,” Stone interjected, “there is nothing to be ashamed about, Clay. You were a child. He was an adult. You were under his command and control. He victimized you and there was nothing you could do about it.”

Pell nodded, more to himself than Stone.

“Are you willing to sign the statement?” Bosch asked.

It was put-up or shut-up time.

“I’ll sign it but what happens next?”

“We take it back to the DA and it goes in the file and is backup on the charges he’ll file this afternoon.”

“No, I mean to him. To Chill. What happens next with him?”

Bosch nodded. Now he understood.

“He’s being held right now without bail in the Metropolitan Detention Center. If the DA’s Office files the charges today, he’ll be arraigned tomorrow morning in superior court. He’ll probably get a bail hearing, too.”

“They’re giving him bail?”

“No, I didn’t say that. He’s entitled to a bail hearing. Everybody is. But you don’t have to worry, this guy’s not going anywhere. Hardy will never breathe free air again.”