around and saw several reporters, maybe more than the day before. He found this curious since opening arguments were always such a draw.
Belk leaned toward Bosch and whispered, “Keyes is probably in there reading the
Running late because of Sylvia, Bosch had had no time to read the paper. He’d left it on the mat at the front door.
“What’d it say?”
The paneled door opened and the judge came out before Belk could answer.
“Hold the jury, Miss Rivera,” the judge said to his clerk. He dropped his girth into his padded chair, surveyed the courtroom and said, “Counsel, any matters for discussion before we bring the jury in? Ms. Chandler?”
“Yes, Your Honor,” Chandler said as she walked to the lectern.
Today she had on the gray suit. She had been alternating among three suits since jury selection began. Belk had told Bosch that this was because she didn’t want to give the jurors the idea that she was wealthy. He said women lawyers could lose women jurors over something like that.
“Your Honor, the plaintiff asks for sanctions against Detective Bosch and Mr. Belk.”
She held up the folded Metro section of the
“Sanctions for what, Ms. Chandler?” the judge asked.
“Your Honor, the discovery of this body yesterday has a tremendous evidentiary impact on this case. As an officer of the court, it was incumbent upon Mr. Belk to bring this information forward. Under Rule 11 of discovery, defendant’s attorney must-”
“Your Honor,” Belk interrupted, “I was not informed of this development until last night. My intention was to bring the matter forward this morning. She is-”
“Hold it right there, Mr. Belk. One at a time in my courtroom. Seems you need a daily reminder of that. Ms. Chandler, I read that story you are referring to and though Detective Bosch was mentioned because of this case, he was not quoted. And Mr. Belk has rather rudely pointed out that he knew nothing about this until after court yesterday. Frankly, I don’t see a sanctionable offense here. Unless you’ve got a card you haven’t played.”
She did.
“Your Honor, Detective Bosch was well aware of this development, whether quoted or not. He was at the scene during yesterday’s lunch break.”
“Your Honor?” Belk tried timidly.
Judge Keyes turned but looked at Bosch, not Belk.
“That right, Detective Bosch, what she says?”
Bosch looked at Belk for a moment and then up at the judge. Fucking Belk, he thought. His lie had left Bosch holding the bag.
“I was there, Your Honor. When I got back here for the afternoon session, there was no time to tell Mr. Belk about the discovery. I told him after court last night. I didn’t see the paper yet this morning and I don’t know what it says, but nothing has been confirmed about this body in regard to the Dollmaker or anyone else. There isn’t even an ID yet.”
“Your Honor,” Chandler said, “Detective Bosch has conveniently forgotten that we had a fifteen-minute break during the afternoon session. I should think that was ample time for the detective to fill in his attorney on such important information.”
The judge looked at Bosch.
“I wanted to tell him during the break but Mr. Belk said he needed the time to prepare his opening statement.”
The judge eyed him closely for several seconds without saying anything. Bosch could tell the judge knew he was pushing the edge of the envelope of truth. Judge Keyes seemed to be making some kind of decision.
“Well, Ms. Chandler,” he finally said. “I don’t rightly see the conspiracy that you do here. I’m going to let this go with a warning to all parties; withholding evidence is the most heinous crime you can commit in my courtroom. If you do it and I catch ya, you’re gonna wish you never took the LSAT. Now, do we want to talk about this new development?”
“Your Honor,” Belk said quickly. He moved to the lectern. “In light of this discovery less than twenty-four hours ago, I move for a continuance so that this situation can be thoroughly investigated so that it can be determined exactly what it means to this case.”
Now he finally asks, Bosch thought. He knew there was no way he’d get a delay now.
“Uh, huh,” Judge Keyes said. “What do you think about that, Ms. Chandler?”
“No delay, Your Honor. This family has waited four years for this trial. I think any further delay would be perpetuating the crime. Besides, who does Mr. Belk propose investigate this matter, Detective Bosch?”
“I am sure the defense counselor would be satisfied with the LAPD handling the investigation,” the judge said.
“But I wouldn’t.”
“I know you wouldn’t, Ms. Chandler, but that’s not your concern. You said yourself yesterday that the wide majority of police in this city are good, competent people. You’ll just have to live by your own words… But I am going to deny the request for a continuation. We’ve started a trial and we’re not going to stop. The police can and should investigate this matter and keep the court informed but I’m not going to stand by. This case will continue until such time that these events need to be addressed again. Anything else? I’ve got a jury waiting.”
“What about the story in the newspaper?” Belk asked.
“What about it?”
“Your Honor, I’d like the jury to be polled to see if anyone read it. Also, they should be warned again not to read the papers or watch the TV news tonight. All of the channels will likely follow the
“I instructed jurors yesterday not to read the paper or watch the news but I plan to poll them anyway about this very story. Let’s see what they say and then, depending on what we hear, we can clear ’em out again if you want to talk about a mistrial.”
“I don’t want a mistrial,” Chandler said. “That’s what the defendant wants. That’ll just delay this another two months. This family has already waited four years for justice. They-”
“Well, let’s just see what the jury says. Sorry to interrupt, Ms. Chandler.”
“Your Honor, may I be heard on sanctions?” Belk said.
“I don’t think you need to be, Mr. Belk. I denied her motion for sanctions. What more’s to be said?”
“I know that, Your Honor. I would like to ask for sanctions against Miss Chandler. She has defamed me by alleging this cover-up of the evidence and I-”
“Mr. Belk, sit down. I’ll tell you both right now; quit with the extracurricular sparring because it doesn’t get you anywhere with me. No sanctions either way. One last time, any other matters?”
“Yes, Your Honor,” Chandler said.
She had one more card. From beneath her legal pad she pulled out a document and walked it up to the clerk, who handed it to the judge. Chandler then returned to the lectern.
“Your Honor, that is a subpoena I have prepared for the police department that I would like reflected in the record. I am asking that a copy of the note referred to in the
Belk jumped to his feet.
“Hold on, Mr. Belk,” the judge admonished. “Let her finish.”
“Your Honor, it is evidence in this case. It should be turned over immediately.”
Judge Keyes gave Belk the nod and the deputy city attorney lumbered to the lectern, Chandler
