The Narrows - Michael Connelly [63]
“So he went after McCaleb,” Dei said.
“Right.”
“And he had to eliminate him in a way that would not raise questions,” Rachel added.
“Right.”
I looked at Zigo. It was time for him to chime in but he said nothing.
“So he went over there and checked him out,” I continued. “He had the beard, the hat, the glasses, probably a little plastic surgery to go with it. He hired Terry to take him fishing.”
“And Terry didn’t know it was him,” Rachel said.
“Terry got suspicious of something but I’m not sure of what. Those photos were part of a series. Terry knew something was up with the guy and took extra photos. But I think that if he knew then that the guy was Backus he would’ve done something about it. He didn’t, and that makes me think he wasn’t sure what he had or who the guy was.”
I looked at Rachel.
“You looked at the photo. Can you tell, is it him? I mean, in a hypothetical sort of way.”
“I can’t say, hypothetically or not. I can’t see his eyes or enough of his face. If it’s him he was cut. His nose is different. So are his cheeks.”
“Easily changeable,” I said. “Come to L.A. sometime. I’ll take you to a guy I know in Hollywood who does work for the escort trade. He’s got some before and after photos that will make you praise the wonders of medical science.”
“I’m sure,” Dei said, even though I was talking to Rachel. “Then what? When’s he switch McCaleb’s meds?”
I wanted to consult my chronology but my notebook was in my coat pocket. They hadn’t searched me yet, so I wanted to keep the notebook out of it, maybe get out of there with it.
“Um, about two weeks after the charter Terry’s boat was broken into. Whoever it was took a GPS device but I think that was just as a cover in case Terry realized somebody had—what is it?”
I had watched their reactions. The GPS meant something.
“What kind of GPS was it?” Rachel asked.
“Rachel,” Dei cut in quickly. “You’re an observer, remember?”
“A Gulliver,” I said. “I don’t remember the exact model. The sheriff’s report is on the boat. It actually wasn’t Terry’s. It was his partner’s.”
“Do you know the partner’s name?” Dei asked.
“Yeah, Buddy Lockridge. Don’t you remember him from the movie?”
“I didn’t see it. Do you know anything more about the history of this GPS device?”
“Buddy told me he won it in a poker game. It had a lot of good fishing spots marked on it. He was pissed off when it got stolen, thought it was another fishing guide who took it.”
I could tell by their reactions that I was hitting every pitch. The GPS was important. It had not been taken simply as a cover. I was wrong about that. It took me a minute but then I put it together.
“I get it,” I said. “That’s how you found this place, isn’t it? Backus sent you people the GPS with this place marked. He led you here like he did with Terry.”
“This is not about us,” Dei said. “It’s about you.”
But I glanced at Rachel and saw the confirmation in her eyes. I took the next jump and figured it had been sent to her. That was why she was here as an observer. Backus called her out, just as he had called out Terry.
“You said Terry was the first agent Backus mentored in the unit. Who was the second?”
“Let’s move on,” Dei said.
Rachel didn’t answer but she gave me that slight smile that looked so sad with those dead eyes. She was telling me I had it right. She came after Terry McCaleb in the mentoring program.
“I hope you are taking appropriate precautions,” I said quietly.
Dei opened the file on the table.
“That’s actually no business of yours,” she said. “Now, there are some things in your notes here I want to ask you about. First of all, who is William Bing?”
I looked at Dei. She thought that it was my file and my notes.
“I don’t know. Just a name I came across.”
“Where?”
“I think Terry had written it down. I haven’t figured out who it is yet.”
“And this reference to the triangle theory, what does it mean?”
“What does it mean to you?”
“Mr. Bosch, don’t annoy me. Don’t play cute.”
“Cherie?” Rachel asked.
“What?”
“I think those are probably Terry’s notes.