A couple of years earlier they had worked the Aliso murder — the “Trunk Music” case, according to the local media. Bosch and Lindell had started out as adversaries, but by the time the case was concluded in Las Vegas there was a respect between the two that certainly wasn’t shared between the two agencies they worked for. Bosch immediately took Lindell’s assignment to the Elias case as a good sign.

“Listen,” Lindell said, “I think we have a few minutes. You want to grab a cup of coffee and talk about things?”

“Sounds like a plan.”

As they walked down the hall to the elevator they were met by Chastain, who was heading to the conference room. Bosch introduced Lindell.

“You guys going for coffee? I’ll come with you.”

“No, that’s okay,” Bosch said. “We’ve got some stuff to talk about . . . and I don’t want it coming out of Harvey Button’s mouth on the news later. Know what I mean?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Bosch.”

Bosch said nothing. Chastain looked at Lindell and then back at Bosch.

“Never mind the coffee,” he said. “I don’t need artificial stimulants, anyway.”

When they were alone at the elevator lobby Bosch warned Lindell about Chastain.

“He’s leaking,” he said. “You see Channel Four last night?”

“The Internet dominatrix thing?”

“Yeah. Six people knew about that. Me, my two partners, Chastain, Carla Entrenkin and Deputy Chief Irving. I can vouch for my partners and I doubt Entrenkin would leak anything negative about Elias. Either Irving or Chastain talked to Harvey Button. My bet is on Chastain. Irving’s been trying to put a clamp on things from the start.”

“Well, was the story bullshit or what?”

“Looks that way. We can’t make a connection. Whoever leaked it did it to smear Elias, even things up a bit.”

“I’ll watch him. But you know sometimes leaks aren’t from the obvious source.”

The elevator opened and Lindell stepped on, leaving Bosch standing there thinking about Irving and whether it was possible that he was the leak.

“You coming?” Lindell asked.

Bosch stepped onto the elevator and pushed the button for the third floor.

“You check the news this morning?” Lindell asked. “How’s it going out there?”

“So far so good. A couple fires last night, but that was about it. No looting and it’s pretty quiet now. Supposed to be rain coming in by tomorrow. Maybe that will help.”

They went into the cafeteria and took their coffees to a table. Bosch checked his watch and saw it was five before eight. He looked at Lindell.

“So?”

Lindell laughed.

“So what the fuck. We going to divvy this up or what?”

“Yeah. I got a deal for you, Roy. A good deal.”

“Let’s hear it.”