“So you used us the way Irving wanted to yesterday,” she said. “You wouldn’t let him do it but it was okay for yourself.”

Bosch studied her face. He could tell she was genuinely angry at being used in such a way. Bosch knew that it was a betrayal. A small one in his mind, but a betrayal just the same.

“Look, Kiz, we can talk about this later. But like I said, Frankie’s a friend. He’s now your friend for this. And that could be valuable someday.”

He waited and watched and finally she gave a slight nod. It was over, for now.

“How much more time do you need?” he asked.

“Maybe an hour,” Edgar said. “Then we’ve got to find a judge.”

“Why?” Rider said. “What did Irving say?”

“Irving’s sitting on the fence. So I want to have everything ready. I want to be able to move. Tomorrow morning.”

“Tomorrow morning’s no problem,” Edgar said.

“Good. Then you two go back and finish up. Get to a judge tonight. Tomorrow we’ll — ”

“Detective Bosch?”

Bosch turned. Harvey Button and his producer, Tom Chainey, were standing there.

“I can’t talk to you,” Bosch said.

“We understand that you have reopened the Stacey Kincaid case,” Chainey said. “We’d like to talk to you about — ”

“Who told you that?” Bosch snapped, anger quickly showing on his face.

“We have a source who — ”

“Well, tell your source he’s full of shit. No comment.”

A cameraman came up and poked his lens over Button’s shoulder. Button raised a microphone.

“Have you exonerated Michael Harris?” Button blurted out.

“I said no comment,” Bosch said. “Get that out of here.”

Bosch reached to the camera and put his hand over the lens. The cameraman shrieked.

“Don’t touch the camera! This is private property.”

“So is my face. Get it away from me. The press conference is over.”

Bosch put his hand on Button’s shoulder and forcefully ushered him off the stage. The cameraman followed. So did Chainey, but in a slow, calm way as if daring Bosch to manhandle him as well. Their eyes locked.

“Watch the news tonight, Detective,” Chainey said. “You might find it interesting.”

“I doubt that,” Bosch said.