The Wrong Side of Goodbye(57)

“I’m sitting in the back of the Lincoln, heading in to see my girl Clara Foltz.”

The translation was that Haller was heading to court. The downtown courthouse was formally known as the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center.

“You heard about Whitney Vance dying?” Bosch asked.

“I heard something about it on the radio, yeah,” Haller said. “But what do I care about some billionaire kicking the bucket?”

“Well, I’m holding his last will and testament. He sent it to me. It names me executor and I don’t know the first thing about what to do with it.”

“Are you pulling my dick, broheim?”

“No, broheim. I’m not pulling your dick.”

“Where are you?”

“Home.”

“Hold on.”

Bosch then heard Haller redirect his driver from the downtown destination to the Cahuenga Pass, where Bosch lived. Then he got back on the line.

“How the fuck did you end up with his will?”

Bosch gave him a short summary of the Vance case. He also revealed that this was the case he had called Haller about to get the referral to a private DNA lab.

“Okay, who else knows you have this will?” Haller asked.

“No one,” Bosch said. “Actually, somebody might. It came in the mail and Vance’s letter says he gave the task to his longtime secretary. But I don’t know if she knew what was in the package she mailed. She’s in the will to the tune of ten million.”

“That’s a big reason to make sure she got the will to you. You said it came in the mail? Was it certified—did you have to sign for it?”

“No, it was stuffed into the box with all the junk mail.”

“That was risky but maybe it was the best way to get it to you under the radar. Slip it out with the secretary, have her drop it in a mail box. Okay, listen, I need to get off the line so I can get somebody to take my appearance in arraignment court. But you sit tight. I’m heading your way.”

“Do you still have that copier in the car?”

“Sure do.”

“Good. We need to make copies.”

“Definitely.”

“Do you even know anything about wills and probate, Mick?”

“Hey, bro, you know me. Have case, will travel. Doesn’t matter what kind of case it is, I can handle it. And what I don’t know, I can bring somebody in on to help. I’ll be there inside of thirty.”

As Bosch put the phone down he wondered if he had made a critical mistake bringing the Lincoln Lawyer into the case. His instincts were that Haller’s lack of experience in probate and inheritance law would be more than balanced by his street smarts and legal cunning. Bosch had seen him work and knew he had something that didn’t come with training, no matter what the school or specialty. He had a deep hollow that he somehow filled by standing as a David against the Goliaths of the world, whether in the form of the power and might of the state or a billion-dollar corporation. Bosch also had no doubts about Haller guarding his back. He could trust him. And he had a growing feeling that this might be the most important support to have in the days ahead.

He checked his watch and saw it was near nine now and Bella Lourdes would be at the station. He called but she didn’t answer. He assumed that was because she was already working the phones responding to the batch of call-in tips he had left on her desk. He was leaving her a message telling her to call him back when his call-waiting indicated she was already doing so.

“Good morning,” he said.

“Good morning,” she said. “Where are you?”

“I’m still at home. You’re going to have to handle things on your own today.”

She groaned and asked why.

“Something’s come up on a private case I’m working,” he said. “It can’t wait.”

“The one with all the birth certificates?” she asked.

“How did you—”

He remembered her eying the stack of copies he had placed on his desk in the cubicle.

“Never mind,” he said. “Just don’t mention that to anybody. I should be back in a couple days.”

“A couple days?” Lourdes exclaimed. “Harry, the proverbial iron is hot right now. This guy just tried to strike for the first time we know about in eight months. We now have the mask. Things are happening and we really need you in here.”

“I know, I know. But this other thing can’t wait and it looks like I have to go to San Diego.”

“You’re killing me, Harry. What’s the case?”

“I can’t tell you right now. When I can, I will.”

“That’s nice of you. And it’s more important than a guy running around up here raping Mexican girls.”

“It’s not more important. But we both know that the Screen Cutter is lying low right now with all of this attention. Unless he’s already split. And if he has, then we’re spinning our wheels, anyway.”

“Okay, fine, I’ll let the cap know and I’m sure he’ll be happy not to have you around. Last thing he wants is for you to crack this thing anyway.”

“There you go.”

“No, there you go. Running out on the case.”

“Look, I’m not running out. This other thing will clear soon. And I’m only a phone call away. In fact, there’s something I was going to do today but you need to do it now instead.”