The Drop

He held up the key ring. There were six keys on it. One carried the Dodge logo and was obviously to a vehicle. There were two full-size Schlage keys that he assumed were the keys to the front doors of the two apartments, and then three smaller keys. Two of these were the small keys used to open private mailboxes like the kind they had seen out at the curb.
    “The keys,” he said. “He’s got two mailbox keys. Come on.”
    They headed to the bank of mailboxes. When they got there Bosch tried the keys in the boxes assigned to complex 6. He was able to open the boxes for units 6A and 6B. He noted that the name on 6A was Drew, which Bosch took to be an attempt at humor on Hardy’s part. Hardy and Drew living side by side in Los Alamitos.
    “Okay, we found two mailbox keys in Hardy’s possession,” he said. “That led us here and we learned that he had access to two boxes. Units six A and B. We noted also that he had two Schlage deadbolt keys and this led us to believe he had access to both six A and B. We checked the ownership records and saw the transfer from the father on six B. It doesn’t look right because it took place after we think the son started playing the father. So we need to check out A to see if the old man is being held there. We knocked, got no answer, and now we want permission to go in.”
    Chu nodded. He liked it.
    “I think it works. You want me to write it up that way?”
    “Yeah. Do it. Go write it up inside so you can keep an eye on Hardy.”
    Bosch hefted the key ring in his hand.
    “I’m going in six A to see if this is worth our while.”
    It was called jumping the warrant. Checking a place out before a search has officially been approved by a judge. If it was ever acknowledged as a police practice, people could lose their badges, even end up in jail. But the truth was, many were the times that search warrants were authored with full knowledge of what would be found in the targeted structure or vehicle. This was because the police had already been inside.
    “You sure you need to, Harry?” Chu asked.
    “Yeah. If Hardy made a play on me while I was playing him, then I want to know sooner rather than later so we aren’t spinning our wheels.”
    “Then just wait till I’m inside so I don’t know about it.”
    Bosch gestured toward the door of 6B like a maître d’, with his arm out and his body slightly bent at the waist. Chu headed back to the town house but then stopped and came back.
    “When are we going to tell the other LAPD that we’re here and what we’re doing?”
    “What other LAPD?”
    “Los Alamitos Police Department.”
    “Not quite yet,” Bosch said. “When we get an approval on the warrant, we can call them in.”
    “They’re not going to like that.”
    “Tough shit. Our case, our arrest.”
    Bosch knew that a department the size of Los Alamitos could easily be bigfooted by the “real” LAPD.
    Chu started toward the door to 6B again and Bosch headed back to the car. He popped the trunk and from the equipment box took several pairs of latex gloves and put them into his coat pocket. He grabbed a flashlight in case it was needed and closed the trunk.
    Bosch walked back to 6A but was distracted by the sound of yelling coming from 6B as he approached. It was Hardy.
    Bosch went through the door of 6B. Hardy was still lying prone under the couch. Chu was sitting on a chair he had brought out from the kitchen and was working on his laptop. Hardy went silent as Bosch entered.
    “What’s he yelling about?”
    “First he wanted a cigarette. Now he wants his attorney.”
    Bosch looked down at the overturned couch.
    “As soon as you’re booked you get your phone call.”
    “Then book me!”
    “We are securing the scene first. And if you keep yelling, then we are going to further secure you with a gag.”
    “I’m entitled to an attorney. You said so yourself.”
    “You’ll get the phone call when everyone else gets the phone call. When you’re booked.”
    Bosch turned back toward the door.
    “Hey, Bosch?”
    He turned back.
    “Did you go in yet?”
    Bosch didn’t answer. Hardy continued.
    “They’re going to make movies about us.”
    Chu glanced up and exchanged a look with Bosch. There were killers who got off on their infamy and the fear their legends created. Real-life bogeymen, urban myth becoming urban reality. Hardy had stayed hidden for so many years. Now it would be his turn in the spotlight.
    “Sure,” Bosch said. “You’re going to