Trunk Music

her chair. When she was seated again she said, “I wouldn’t know.”
    Now Bosch narrowed his eyes. What was she trying to say? His silence worked. She answered before he had to ask, but as she spoke she looked directly at Rider, the unspoken message being that as a woman Rider might sympathize.
    “Detective, I haven’t had…I guess, sexual relations is the way it is said in these matters. My husband and I…not in almost two years.”
    Bosch nodded and looked down at his notebook. The page was blank but he couldn’t bring himself to write this latest piece of information down with her watching them. He folded the notebook closed and put it away.
    “You want to ask me why, don’t you?”
    He just looked at her and she answered with a measure of defiance in her face and voice.
    “He had lost interest.”
    “Are you sure?”
    “He told me that to my face.”
    Bosch nodded.
    “Mrs. Aliso, I’m sorry for the loss of your husband. I’m also sorry for the intrusion and the personal questions. I’m afraid, though, that there will be more as the investigation progresses.”
    “I understand.”
    “There is one other thing I’d like to cover.”
    “Yes, what is it?”
    “Did your husband have a home office?”
    “Yes.”
    “Could we take a quick look at it?”
    She stood up and they followed her down the second hallway to the office. They both stepped into the room and Bosch looked around. It was a small room with a desk and two file cabinets. There was a TV on a cart in front of a wall of shelves. Half were filled with books and the rest stacked with scripts, the titles written with Magic Markers on the edges of the pages. There was a golf bag leaning in the corner.
    Bosch walked over and studied the desk. It was spotless. He came around and saw that the desk contained two file drawers. He opened these and found one empty and one containing several files. He quickly looked through the file tabs and saw that they apparently were files containing personal finance records and tax documents. He closed the drawers, deciding that a search of the office could probably keep.
    “It’s late,” he said. “This is not the time. I want you to understand, though, that investigations like this often shoot off into many directions. But we have to follow up on everything. We’re going to need to come in here tomorrow and go through your husband’s things. We’ll probably take a lot with us. We’ll have a warrant so everything will be perfectly legal.”
    “Yes. Of course. But can’t I just give you permission to take what you need?”
    “You could, but it would be better this way. I’m talking about check books, savings account records, credit card statements, insurance, everything. We’ll probably need the records on your household account, too.”
    “I understand. What time?”
    “I don’t know yet. I’ll call first. Or someone will. Do you know, did your husband leave a will?”
    “Yes. Both of us made wills. They’re with our attorney.”
    “How long ago was that?”
    “The will? Oh, a long time. Years.”
    “In the morning, I’d like you to call the attorney and tell him we’ll need a copy of it. Are you up to doing that?”
    “Of course.”
    “What about insurance?”
    “Yes, we have policies. The attorney, Neil Denton in Century City, will have them also.”
    “Okay, we’ll worry about that tomorrow. I need to seal this room now.”
    They stepped back into the hallway and Bosch closed the door. From his briefcase he took a sticker that said

    CRIME SCENE
    DO NOT ENTER PREMISES
    CALL LAPD 213 485-4321

    Bosch pressed the sticker across the door jamb. If anyone entered the room now, they would have to cut the sticker or peel it off. Bosch would know.
    “Detective?” Veronica Aliso said quietly from behind him.
    Bosch turned around.
    “I am the suspect, aren’t I?”
    Bosch put the two papers he had peeled off the back of the sticker in his pocket.
    “I suppose everyone and no one is a suspect at this point. We’re looking at everything. But, yes, Mrs. Aliso, we’re going to be looking at you.”
    “I guess I shouldn’t have been so candid before, then.”
    Rider said, “If you’ve got nothing to hide, the truth shouldn’t hurt you.”
    Bosch knew from long experience never to say such a thing. He knew the words were false before they were out of her mouth. Judging by the small, thin smile on Veronica Aliso’s face, she knew it as well.
    “Are you new at this, Detective