The Drop

testify and he refuses, then his career is over. I think he’ll testify. I’m surprised he’s not here today. I thought maybe there might be some fireworks.”
    Rider scanned the crowd. The service was over and people were starting to drift off amid the tombstones, heading to their cars.
    “We don’t want fireworks here, Harry. If you see him, you head him off.”
    “It’s over. He didn’t come.”
    “So what’s your next move?”
    “Today’s the big day. I’m going to bring McQuillen in for a conversation.”
    “You don’t have enough to charge him.”
    “Probably not. I’ve got a forensics team at the hotel right now with my partner. They’re taking a second run at it. If we can put McQuillen in that suite or on the fire escape, it’s over.”
    “A big ‘if.’”
    “There’s also his watch and the possibility of matching it to the wounds on the back.”
    Rider nodded.
    “That might work, but as you mentioned before, it won’t be conclusive. We’ll have our experts say it’s a match. He’ll have his experts say it’s not.”
    “Yeah. Listen, Lieutenant, I think I’m about to have some company. You might want to move out of the way.”
    She scanned the remaining crowd.
    “Who?”
    “Irving’s been watching me without really watching me. I think he’s going to come over. He’s waiting for you to leave, I think.”
    “All right, then I’ll leave you to it. Good luck, Harry.”
    “If that’s what it takes. See you, Kiz.”
    “Stay in contact.”
    “Roger that.”
    She walked off and headed toward a clot of people surrounding the chief of police. Almost immediately Irvin Irving took advantage of seeing Bosch alone and headed toward him.
    Before Bosch could address him, Irving said what was on his mind.
    “It’s a devastating thing to put your son in the ground and not even know why he was taken.”
    Bosch had to hold himself back. He had decided that now was not the time to confront Irving. There was still work to be done. McQuillen first, then Irving.
    “I understand,” he said. “I hope to have something for you soon. The next day or two.”
    “That’s not good enough, Detective. I have not heard from you, and what I hear about you is not comforting. Are you working another case besides the investigation of my son’s death?”
    “Sir, I have a lot of open cases and things don’t come to a standstill because a politician pulled strings and put me on a new one. All you need to know is that I am working the case and will have an update for you before the week is out.”
    “I want more than an update, Bosch. I want to know what happened and who did this to my son. Are we clear?”
    “Sure, we’re clear. And what I would like now is to speak to your grandson for a few minutes. Could you—”
    “It’s not a good time.”
    “It’s never going to be a good time, Councilman. But if you are going to demand results, then you can’t stop me from throwing the net. I need to talk to the victim’s son. He’s looking at us right now. Would you please wave him over?”
    Irving looked back at the grave site and saw Chad standing by himself. He signaled him over. The young man walked up to them and Irvin Irving made the introduction.
    “Do you mind if I speak with Chad alone for a few minutes, Councilman?”
    Irving looked like he had been betrayed but didn’t want to reveal it in front of his grandson.
    “Of course,” he said. “I’ll be at the car. We’ll be leaving soon, Chad. And Detective? I want to hear from you.”
    “You will, sir.”
    Bosch put his hand on Chad Irving’s upper arm and steered him away from his grandfather. They walked toward a stand of trees in the center of the cemetery. There was shade there and privacy.
    “Chad, I’m sorry about your father’s death. I’m looking into it and hope to know what happened very soon.”
    “Okay.”
    “I hate to bother you at this difficult time but I have a few questions and then I can let you go.”
    “Whatever. I don’t really know anything.”
    “I know but we need to talk to everybody in the family. It’s routine. Let’s start with, When was the last time you spoke to your father? Do you remember?”
    “Yeah, we talked on Sunday night.”
    “About anything specific?”
    “Not really. He just called and we sort of shot the shit for a few minutes about school and stuff but it was sort of bad timing. I had to go. So that was it.”
    “Where did you have to go?”
    “I had a study session set