9 Dragons

“It’ll say where she was born. I just haven’t looked at it.”
    “Well, we can make do with that until you get the birth certificate. I think the important thing now is to take care of your daughter psychologically. This is a terrible trauma for her. You need to get her talking to a counselor.”
    “Don’t worry, I will.”
    A chime sounded the change of classes and Bambrough stood up. They left the office and walked down a main hallway. The campus was long and narrow because it was built on the hillside. Bosch saw Bambrough still trying to absorb the idea of what Madeline had just been through and survived.
    “She’s a strong kid,” he offered.
    “She’ll have to be after an experience like that.”
    Bosch wanted to change the subject.
    “What classes has she been in?”
    “She started in math and then had a short break before social studies. They then went to lunch and now she just finished Spanish.”
    “She was learning Chinese in Hong Kong.”
    “I’m sure this is just one of the many difficult changes she’ll be going through.”
    “Like I said, she’s tough. I think she’ll make it.”
    Bambrough turned and smiled as she walked.
    “Like her father, I assume.”
    “Her mother was tougher.”
    Children were crowding the hallway as they changed classes. Bambrough saw Bosch’s daughter before he did.
    “Madeline,” she called.
    Bosch waved. Maddie had been walking with two girls and somehow seemed to be already making friends. She said good-bye to them and rushed over.
    “Hi, Dad.”
    “Hey, how’d you like it?”
    “It was all right, I guess.”
    Her voice was reserved and Bosch didn’t know if that was because the assistant principal was standing right there with them.
    “How was Spanish” Bambrough asked.
    “Um, I was kind of lost.”
    “I heard you were learning Chinese. It’s a much more difficult language than Spanish. I think you’d pick up Spanish very quickly here.”
    “I guess.”
    Bosch decided to save her from the small talk.
    “Well, are you ready, Mad? We’re going to go shopping today, remember?”
    “Sure, I’m ready.”
    Bosch looked at Bambrough and nodded.
    “Thank you for doing this, and I’ll be in touch.”
    His daughter chimed in with her own thanks and they left the school. Once they got in the car, Bosch started up the hill to their house.
    “So, now that we’re alone, what did you really think, Mad?”
    “Uh, it was okay. It’s just not the same, you know?”
    “Yeah, I know. We can look at some private schools. There’s a few nearby on the Valley side.”
    “I don’t want to be a Valley girl, Dad.”
    “I kind of doubt you’ll ever be a Valley girl. It’s not about where you go to school, anyway.”
    “I think that school will be fine,” she said after some thought. “I met some girls there and they were pretty nice.”
    “You sure?”
    “I think so. Can I start tomorrow”
    Bosch looked over at her and then back at the curving road.
    “That’s sort of fast, isn’t it? You just got here last night.”
    “I know, but what am I supposed to do? Sit up in that house and cry all day?”
    “No, but I thought if we took things kind of slow, it might-”
    “I don’t want to fall behind. School started last week.”
    Bosch thought for a few moments about what Bambrough had said about kids knowing what they need to heal. He decided to trust his daughter’s instincts.
    “Okay, if you feel it’s right. I’ll call Mrs. Bambrough back and tell her you want to enroll. By the way, you were born in Las Vegas, right”
    “You mean you don’t know?”
    “Yeah, I know. I just wanted to make sure because I have to apply for a copy of your birth certificate. For the school.”
    She didn’t respond. Bosch pulled into the carport next to the house.
    “So, Vegas, right?”
    “Yes! You really didn’t know, did you? God!”
    Before he could work up a response, Bosch was saved by his phone. It buzzed and he pulled it out. Without looking at the screen, he told his daughter he had to take it.
    It was Ignacio Ferras.
    “Harry, I hear you’re back and your daughter’s safe.”
    He sure was late getting the news. Bosch unlocked the kitchen door and held it open for his daughter.
    “Yeah, we’re good.”
    “You’re taking off a few days?”
    “That’s the plan. What are you working on?”
    “Oh, just a few things. Writing up some summaries on John Li.”
    “What for? That one’s over. We blew it.”
    “I know but we need to