“You can’t do this,” he protested. “You have to book me and give me a lawyer.”

Bosch still said nothing. He moved behind Banks, uncuffed one of his wrists, and looped the cuff and chain through the two bars that supported the back of the chair. He then put the cuff back on Banks’s wrist, securing him to the chair.

“You are going to be so fucked,” Banks said. “I don’t care which county this is, you crossed a line, you fuck! Take the cuffs off!”

Bosch didn’t answer. He walked into the kitchenette and filled a plastic cup with water from the sink. He then went to the table and sat down. He drank some of the water and put the cup on the table.

“Are you fuckin’ listening to me? I know people. Powerful people in this Valley and you have so fucked yourself.”

Bosch stared at him without speaking. The seconds went by. Banks tensed his muscles and Bosch heard the cuffs rattling against the chair’s support bars. But the effort failed. Banks leaned forward in defeat.

“Are you going to say something or not?” he yelled.

Bosch took out his phone and put it down on the table. He took another drink of water and then cleared his throat. He finally spoke in a calm, matter-of-fact voice. He used a variation on the opener he’d used the week before with Rufus Coleman.

“This moment is the most important moment of your life. The choice you are about to make is the most important choice of your life.”

“I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.”

“Yes, you do. You know all about it. And if you want to save yourself, you will tell me everything. That is the choice, whether to save yourself or not.”

Banks shook his head like he was trying to clear a dream.

“Oh, man . . . this is so fuckin’ crazy. You’re not a cop, are you? That’s it. You’re some kind of nut goin’ around doing this. If you’re a cop, show me your badge. Let me see it, asshole.”

Bosch didn’t move, except to take another drink of water. He waited. Car lights from the parking lot raked across the front window and Banks started yelling.

“Hey! Help! I’m in—”

Bosch grabbed the cup and threw the rest of the water in Banks’s face to shut him up. He moved quickly into the bathroom and grabbed a towel. When he came out, Banks was coughing and sputtering, and Bosch used the towel to gag him, and then tied it behind his head. Grabbing his hair and jerking his head at an angle, he said into Banks’s ear, “You yell again and I won’t be so gentle.”