The Reversal

tonight.”
    “Jesus Christ!”
    Bosch got to the top of the steps and walked out onto the empty parking lot. There was no sign of Jessup.
    “Okay, I’m up on the pier. I don’t see him. He’s in the wind.”
    “Okay, Bosch, we’re two minutes out. We’re going to spread. We’ll find him. He didn’t take the car or the bike, so he’s on foot.”
    “He could’ve grabbed a cab at any one of the hotels over here. The bottom line is we don’t know where—”
    Bosch suddenly realized something.
    “I gotta go. Call me as soon as you have him, Jacquez. You got that?”
    “Got it.”
    Bosch ended the call and then immediately called his home on the speed dial. He checked his watch and expected Sue Bambrough to answer, since it was after eleven.
    But his daughter picked up the call.
    “Dad?”
    “Hey, baby, why are you still up?”
    “Because I had to do all that homework. I wanted a little break before I went to sleep.”
    “That’s fine. Listen, can you put Mrs. Bambrough on the line?”
    “Dad, I’m in my bedroom and I’m in my pajamas.”
    “That’s okay. Just go to the door and tell her to pick up the phone in the kitchen. I need to talk to her. And meantime, you have to get dressed. You’re leaving the house.”
    “What? Dad, I have—”
    “Madeline, listen to me. This is important. I am going to tell Mrs. Bambrough to take you to her house until I can get there. I want you out of the house.”
    “Why?”
    “You don’t need to know that. You just need to do what I ask. Now, please, get Mrs. Bambrough on the phone.”
    She didn’t respond but he heard the door of her room open. Then he heard his daughter say, “It’s for you.”
    A few moments later the extension was picked up in the kitchen.
    “Hello?”
    “Sue, it’s Harry. I need you to do something. I need you to take Maddie to your house. Right now. I will be there in less than an hour to get her.”
    “I don’t understand.”
    “Sue, listen, we’ve been watching a guy tonight who knows where I live. And we lost him. Now, there is no reason to panic or to believe he is heading that way but I want to take all precautions. So I want you to take Maddie and get out of the house. Right now. Go to your place and I will see you there. Can you do this, Sue?”
    “We’re leaving right now.”
    He liked the strength in her voice and realized it probably came with the territory of being a teacher and assistant principal in the public school system.
    “Okay, I’m on my way. Call me back as soon as you get to your place.”
    But Bosch wasn’t really on his way. After the call, he put the phone away and went back down the steps to the beach. He returned to the hole he had dug under the storage area wall. He crawled back under and this time used his flashlight to find his way to the locked storage room. He used his picks again on the padlock and the whole time he worked he was distracted by thoughts of Jessup’s escape from the surveillance. Had it just been a coincidence that he had left his apartment at the same time the SIS watcher had left his post, or was he aware of the surveillance and did he break free when he saw the opportunity?
    At the moment, there was no way to know.
    Finally, he got the lock open, taking longer than he had the first time. He entered the storage room and moved the light to the blanket and pillow on the ground. The bag Jessup had carried was there. It said Ralphs on its side. Bosch dropped to his knees and was about to open it when his phone buzzed. It was Jacquez.
    “We got him. He’s on Nielson at Ocean Park. It looks like he’s walking home.”
    “Then try not to lose him this time, Jacquez. I gotta go.”
    He disconnected before Jacquez could reply. He quickly called his daughter’s cell. She was in the car with Sue Bambrough. Bosch told her they could turn around and go back home. This news was not received with a thankful release of tension. His daughter was left upset and angry over the scare. Bosch couldn’t blame her but he couldn’t stay on the line.
    “I’ll be home in less than an hour. We can talk about it then if you’re still awake. I’ll see you soon.”
    He disconnected the call and focused on the bag. He opened it without moving it from its spot next to the blanket.
    The bag contained a dozen single-serving-size cans of fruit. There were diced peaches in heavy syrup, chopped pineapple and something called fruit medley. Also in the bag was a package of plastic spoons. Bosch