“Urban redevelopment,” Edgar said. “Get rid of all the strip malls.”
“Problem is, they just put strip malls back,” Rider said.
“At least they look better than before,” Edgar said. “Real problem is the liquor stores. These things always start in the liquor stores. We put a squad out front of every liquor store, no riot.”
“Where are we on the warrants?” Bosch asked.
“We’re done,” Rider said. “We just have to take them over to the judge.”
“Who are you thinking about?”
“Terry Baker. I already called and she said she’d be around.”
“Good. Let’s have a look.”
Rider got up and walked over to the homicide table while Edgar stayed behind and continued to watch the television. Stacked neatly at her spot were the search warrant applications. She handed them to Bosch.
“We’ve got the two houses, all cars, all offices and on Richter we have his car at the time of the killing and his apartment – we threw that in, too,” she said. “I think we’re set.”
Each petition was several pages stapled together. Bosch knew that the first two pages were always standard legalese. He skipped these and quickly read the probable cause statements of each package. Rider and Edgar had done well, though Bosch knew it was likely Rider’s doing. She had the best legal mind of the team. Even the PC statements on the proposed search of Richter’s apartment and car were going to fly. Using clever language and selected facts from the investigation, the PC statement said the evidence of the case indicated two suspects were involved in the disposal of Stacey Kincaid’s body. And by virtue of the close employer/employee relationship that existed at the time between Sam Kincaid and D.C. Richter, Richter could be considered a second suspect. The petition asked permission to search all vehicles operated or accessible by the two men at the time of the crime. It was a carefully worded tap dance but it would work, Bosch believed. Asking to search all cars “accessible” by the two men was a masterstroke by Rider. If approved, this essentially would allow them access to any car on any one of the car lots owned by Kincaid because he most certainly had access to those cars.
“Looks good,” Bosch said when he had finished reading. He handed the stack back to Rider. “Let’s get them signed tonight so tomorrow we can move when we want to.”
A search warrant was good for twenty-four hours following approval from a judge. In most cases it could be extended another twenty-four hours with a phone call to the signing judge.
“What about this Richter guy?” Bosch asked then. “We get anything on him yet?”
“A little,” Edgar said.
He finally got up, turned the sound down on the television and came over to the table.
“Guy was a washout at the academy. This is way back, fall of ’eighty-one. He then went to one of those bullshit private eye academies in the Valley. Got his state license in ’eighty-four. Apparently went to work for the Kincaid family after that. He worked his way up to the top, I guess.”
“Why was he a washout?”
“We don’t know yet. It’s Sunday night, Harry. Nobody’s over at the academy. We’ll pull the records tomorrow.”
Bosch nodded.
“You check the computer, see if he’s got a concealed license?”
“Oh, yeah, we did. He’s got a license to carry. He’s strapped.”
“With what? Tell me it’s a nine.”
“Sorry, Harry. The ATF was closed tonight. We’ll get that tomorrow, too. All we know now is that he’s got a license to carry a concealed weapon.”
“Okay, remember that, you two. Remember how good the shooter was on Angels Flight.”
Rider and Edgar nodded.
“So you think Richter’s doing Kincaid’s bidding?” Rider asked.
“Probably. The rich don’t get themselves dirty like that. They call the shots, they don’t take ’em. Right now I like Richter.”
He looked at his partners a moment. He felt that they were very close to breaking this thing open. They’d know in the next twenty-four hours. He hoped the city could wait that long.
“What else?” he asked.
“You get Sheehan all tucked in?” Rider asked.
Bosch noted the tone of her voice.
“Yeah, he’s tucked in. And, uh, look, I apologize about the press conference. Irving wanted you there but I probably could’ve gotten you out of it. I didn’t. I know it wasn’t a good move. I apologize.”
“Okay, Harry,” Rider said.
Edgar nodded.
“Anything else before we go?”
Edgar started shaking his head, then said, “Oh, yeah. Firearms called with an FYI. They took a look at Michael Harris’s gun this morning and it looks clean. They said it probably hasn’t been fired or cleaned in months, judging by the dust buildup in the barrel. So he’s clear.”
“They going to go ahead with it anyway?”
“That’s what they were calling for. They got an ASAP from Irving to do Sheehan’s gun tomorrow morning as soon as they get the slugs from the autopsy. They wanted to know if you wanted them to go ahead with Harris’s piece. I told them they might as well.”
“Good. Anything else?”
Edgar and Rider shook their heads.
“Okay then,” Bosch said. “Let’s go see Judge Baker and then we’ll call it a day. I have a feeling tomorrow’s gonna be a long one.”
Chapter 29
IT had started to rain. Bosch pulled into his carport and shut off his car. He was looking forward to a couple of beers to take the caffeine edge off his nerves. Judge Baker had served them coffee while she reviewed the search warrant petitions. She had reviewed the search warrants slowly and thoroughly and Bosch had drunk two full cups. In the end, though, she had signed every warrant and Bosch didn’t need the caffeine to feel jazzed. The next morning they would be “hunting and confronting,” as Kiz Rider called it – the put-up or shut-up phase of an investigation, the point where theories and hunches culminated in hard evidence and charges. Or they disintegrated.
Bosch went in through the kitchen door. Besides the beer, he was already thinking about Kate Kincaid and how he would handle her the next day. He was looking forward to it the way a confident quarterback who has digested all the film and known strategies of the opposition looks forward to the next day’s game.
The light was already on in the kitchen. Bosch put his briefcase on the counter and opened the refrigerator. There was no beer.
“Shit,” he said.
He knew there had been at least five bottles of Anchor Steam in the refrigerator. He turned and saw the five bottle caps on the counter. He started further into the house.
“Hey, Frankie!” he called. “Don’t tell me you drank everything!”
There was no reply. Bosch moved through the dining room and then the living room. The place appeared as he had left it earlier that evening, as if Sheehan had not made himself at home. He checked the rear deck through the glass doors. The light was off outside and he saw no sign of his former partner. He walked down the hallway and leaned close to the closed door of the guest room. He heard nothing. He looked at his watch. It wasn’t yet eleven.
“Frankie?” he whispered.
No reply, only the sound of the rain on the roof. He knocked lightly on the door.
“Frankie?” he said louder.
Still nothing. Bosch reached to the knob and slowly opened the door. The lights were off in the room but light
