Bosch used the magnifying glass to fine-tune the comparison but he could not be sure. The man in the Jespersen shot wore a helmet and was not looking directly at the camera. Bosch knew that he would need to turn the photos, proof sheets, and film negative strips over to the photo unit for comparison using better means than a handheld magnifying glass.

As Bosch took a final glance at the 237th photo, he noticed the photographer credit running in small letters along the right edge.

PHOTO BY J.J. DRUMMOND

Bosch now underlined Drummond’s name on his list and paused as he considered the coincidence he was staring at. Three names he already knew from the investigation—Banks, Dowler, and Drummond—belonged to men who had been on the pool deck of the Saudi Princess on the same day and time as photojournalist Anneke Jespersen. A year later, one of them would find her body in a back alley in riot-torn Los Angeles. Another would lead Bosch to the body, and the third presumably would call to check on the case a decade later.

Another connection involved Carl Cosgrove. He was on the ship in 1991 and appeared to have been in Los Angeles the year after. His name was on the fax ID on Francis Dowler’s statement and on the John Deere dealership where Reggie Banks worked.

In every case, there comes a moment when things start tumbling together and the focus becomes white-hot in its intensity. Bosch was there now. He knew what he had to do and where he had to go.

“David?” he said, his eyes still holding on the image on his computer screen. Four men drunk and happy in the burning sun and away from the fear and randomness of war.

“Yeah, Harry.”

“Stop.”

“Stop what?”

“Stop what you’re doing.”

“What do you mean? Why?”

Bosch turned his screen so his partner could see the photo. He then looked at Chu.

“These four men,” he said. “Start with them. Run them down. Find them. Find out everything you can about them.”

“Okay, Harry. What about Sheriff Drummond? Should we contact him about these guys?”

Bosch thought for a moment before answering.

“No,” he finally said. “Add him to the list.”

Chu seemed surprised.

“You want me to background him?”

Bosch nodded.

“Yeah, and keep it quiet.”

Bosch got up and left the cubicle. He walked down the middle aisle to the lieutenant’s office. The door was open and he saw O’Toole working at his desk with his head down as he wrote something in an open file. Harry knocked on the doorframe and O’Toole looked up. He hesitated, then signaled Bosch in.

“Let the record show that you came in here of your own volition,” he said as Bosch stepped in. “No harassment, no coercion.”

“So noted.”

“What can I do for you, Detective?”