“No. I just wanted an explanation. And I’m not sure I believe the one you just offered.”

There was a long silence while they stared at each other.

“Was that all you wanted to talk to me about?” Bosch finally asked.

She turned back to the desk and the file she had been looking through.

“I thought our relationship would be better than this.”

“Look,” Bosch said as he closed the briefcase. “You’ve got your secrets. You’ve got to give me mine. The bottom line is Howard Elias wasn’t robbed. So we move on from there. Okay?”

“If you are telling me that there were people involved in this investigation who were attempting to tamper with evidence, then — ”

“I’m not telling you anything.”

He saw anger flare in her eyes.

“They shouldn’t be a part of this department. You know that.”

“That’s another battle for another day. I’ve got more import — ”

“You know there are some people who might think there is nothing more important than a police department in which there is no question about the integrity of its members.”

“Sounds like you’re giving a press conference, Inspector. I’m going to take those files now. I’ll be back for the next batch later.”

He started to turn back to the front room.

“I just thought you were different, that’s all,” she said.

He turned back to her.

“You don’t know if I’m different because you don’t know the first thing about me. I’ll talk to you later.”

“There’s something else missing.”

Bosch stopped and looked back at her.

“What?”

“Howard Elias was a consummate note taker. He kept a spiral notebook on his desk or with him all the time. His last notebook is missing. You know where that is?”

Bosch came back to the desk and reopened his briefcase. He took the notebook out and tossed it down.

“You won’t believe me but I had already put that in my briefcase when you came in and kicked us out.”

“Matter of fact, I do believe you. Did you read it?”

“Parts of it. Also before you showed up.”

She looked at him for a long moment.

“I’ll look through it and if it is okay you will have it back later today. Thank you for returning it.”

“You’re welcome.”

By the time Bosch got to Philippe’s the Original, the others were already there and eating. They had one of the long tables in the back room and were by themselves. He decided to take care of business before waiting in one of the lines at the counter to order.

“How’d it go?” Rider asked as he stepped over the bench and sat next to her.

“Well, I think I definitely was a little too pale for Irving’s liking.”

“Well, fuck him,” Edgar said. “I didn’t sign up for this shit.”

“Me, too,” Rider said.