The Drop(71)

Bosch was stunned by the depth of her information.

“Look, I am not confirming anything. There has been no arrest and I am not sure where you are getting your information, but it is not correct.”

Her voice changed now. It became more of a whisper and it carried an intimate who are you kidding? quality to it.

“Detective,” she said, “we both know that my information is correct. We are going with the story and I would like your comments for the record. You are, after all, the lead investigator. But if you can’t or won’t talk to me, then I’ll go without you and I will report just that, that you refused to comment.”

Bosch’s mind was scrambling. He knew how it worked. The story would be in the morning’s paper, but long before that, it would go out online through the newspaper’s website. And when it hit the digital universe it would be read by every assignment editor at every television and radio station in town. Within an hour of the post on the Times website, there would be a media frenzy. And whether named in the story or not, McQuillen would know Bosch was coming for him.

Bosch couldn’t have that. He couldn’t have the media rush him or dictate his moves in any way. He realized that he had to cut a deal here.

“Who is your source?” he asked, just to gain a little time to consider ways of handling this.

GoGo laughed, as Bosch knew she would.

“Detective, please. You know I can’t reveal my sources. If you want to become an unnamed source, then I would offer you the same absolute protection. I’d go to jail before revealing sources. But I would prefer to have you on the record.”

Bosch raised his head and looked out of the cubicle. The squad room was mostly deserted. Tim Marcia was at his desk near the lieutenant’s office. The L.T.’s door was closed as usual and it was impossible to know if she was holing up in there or out at a meeting.

“I wouldn’t mind going on the record,” he said. “But you know that with a case like this, with the political connections and whatnot, I can’t go on the record without permission. It could mean my job. You’ll have to hold back until I can get it.”

He hoped that by saying his job was on the line, he’d get some sympathy time. Nobody wants to cause somebody to lose their job. Not even a cold and calculating reporter.

“This sounds like a stall to me, Detective Bosch. With you or without you, I have the story and I am filing it today.”

“Okay, then how long can you give me? I’ll get back to you.”

There was a pause and Bosch thought he could hear her typing on a computer keyboard.

“My deadline is five. I need to hear from you before then.”

Bosch checked his watch. He had just gotten three hours from her. He believed that would give him enough time to take down McQuillen. Once he was in custody it didn’t matter what was on the Internet or how many reporters and producers called him or the media relations office.

“Give me your direct number,” he said. “I’ll get back to you before five.”

Bosch had no intention of calling her back but he wrote her name and number down in his notebook anyway.

As soon as he hung up he called Kiz Rider on his cell. She answered right away but sounded like she was in a car.

“Yes, Harry?”

“Are you alone?”

“Yes.”

“The Times has the story. It came from either the chief or the councilman. Either way, I’m fucked if it gets out too soon.”

“Hold on, hold on. How do you know?”

“Because the reporter just called me and she knew we’re working it as a murder and that we have a suspect who’s an ex-cop. She’s been told everything.”

“Who’s the reporter?”

“Emily Gomez-Gonzmart. I’ve never talked to her before but I’ve heard of her. Supposedly they call her GoGo because she doesn’t give up on a story.”

“Well, she isn’t one of ours.”

Meaning GoGo wasn’t on the list of approved and trusted reporters the chief of police dealt with. This meant her source was Irvin Irving or someone on the city councilman’s staff.

“But you’re saying that she knew you had a suspect?” Rider said.

“That’s right. She knows everything but the name. She knew it was either about to go down or it already did.”

“Well, you know reporters often act like they know more than they do as a way of tricking you into confirming things.”

“She knew we had a suspect and he’s an ex-cop, Kiz. That wasn’t a bluff. I’m telling you, she knows it all. You people up there better get on the phone and jump on Irving’s shit for this. It’s his own son and he’s damaging the case for what? Is there a political advantage to putting this out now?”