A Darkness More Than Night - Michael Connelly [0]
For information address Warner Books, Hachette Book Group, USA, 237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017, Visit our Web site at www.HachetteBookGroupUSA.com.
A Time Warner Company
ISBN: 978-0-7595-2017-2
A hardcover edition of this book was published in 2001 by Little, Brown and Company.
First eBook Edition: January 2001
A DARKNESS
MORE THAN
NIGHT
Also by Michael Connelly
The Black Echo
The Black Ice
The Concrete Blonde
The Last Coyote
The Poet
Trunk Music
Blood Work
Angels Flight
Void Moon
A DARKNESS MORE THAN NIGHT
A NOVEL BY
MICHAEL CONNELLY
LITTLE, BROWN AND COMPANY
BOSTON NEW YORK LONDON
This is for Mary and Jack Lavelle,
who proved there are second acts
Contents
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Acknowledgments
A DARKNESS MORE THAN NIGHT
PROLOGUE
Bosch looked through the small square of glass and saw that the man was alone in the tank. He took his gun out of its holster and handed it to the watch sergeant. Standard procedure. The steel door was unlocked and slid open. Immediately the smell of sweat and vomit stung Bosch’s nostrils.
“How long’s he been in here?”
“About three hours,” said the sergeant. “He blew a one-eight, so I don’t know what you’re going to get.”
Bosch stepped into the holding tank and kept his eyes on the prone form on the floor.
“All right, you can close it.”
“Let me know.”
The door slid closed with a jarring bang and jolt. The man on the floor groaned and moved only slightly. Bosch walked over and sat down on the bench nearest to him. He took the tape recorder out of his jacket pocket and put it down on the bench. Glancing up at the glass window he saw the sergeant’s face move away. He used the toe of his shoe to probe the man’s side. The man groaned again.
“Wake up, you piece of shit.”
The man on the floor of the tank slowly rolled his head and then lifted it. Paint flecked his hair and vomit had caked on the front of his shirt and neck. He opened his eyes and immediately closed them against the harsh overhead lighting of the holding tank. His voice came out in a hoarse whisper.
“You again.”
Bosch nodded.
“Yeah. Me.”
“Our little dance.”
A smile cut across the three-day-old whiskers on the drunk’s face. Bosch saw that he was missing a tooth he hadn’t been missing last time. He reached down and put his hand on the recorder but did not turn it on yet.
“Get up. It’s time to talk.”
“Forget it, man. I don’t want —”
“You’re running out of time. Talk to me.”
“Leave me the fuck alone.”
Bosch looked up at the window. It was clear. He looked back down at the man on the floor.
“Your salvation is in the truth. Now more than ever. I can’t help you without the truth.”
“What’re you, a priest now? You here to take my confession?”
“You here to give it?”
The man on the floor said nothing. After a while Bosch thought he might have fallen back asleep. He pushed the toe of his shoe into the man’s side again, into the kidney. The man erupted in movement, flailing his arms and legs.
“Fuck you!” he yelled. “I don’t want you. I want a lawyer.”
Bosch was silent a moment. He picked up the recorder and slid it back into his pocket. He then leaned forward, elbows