Resurrection Walk

“It’s not up to me to say whether I’m an expert,” Bosch said. “But it was the FBI’s online course, if you want to call it that. It was designed so that any agent could trace and map the movement of cellular devices. If you’re suggesting that I did it wrong or got it wrong, I would disagree. I think I got it right and it raises a lot of questions about Lucinda Sanz’s culp—”

“Move to strike the witness’s answer as nonresponsive.”

McPherson looked up at the bench, but before the judge could respond, Haller stood.

“Nonresponsive?” he said. “He didn’t get the chance to finish his response.”

The judge wasn’t interested in parrying with the lawyers.

“Let’s just move on to the next question,” Coelho said. “Continue, Ms. McPherson.”

Haller sat down. Bosch looked over at him for the first time during the cross. Haller nodded and did a small fist shake with his hand close to his chest. Bosch took it as a not-so-secret Stay strong gesture.

“Mr. Bosch,” McPherson said, pulling Bosch’s attention back. “Are you ill?”

Haller jumped up from his seat.

“Your Honor, what is this?” he said indignantly. “Counsel has no business asking about the witness’s health. What does it have to do with any question before this court?”

The judge cast a stern eye on McPherson.

“Ms. McPherson, what are you doing here?” she asked.

“Your Honor,” McPherson said, “if the court will indulge me, it will become quite clear what I’m doing, and Mr. Haller is well aware of what I’m doing. The witness’s health is an issue if it affects his work.”

“You may proceed,” the judge said. “Cautiously.”

“Thank you, Your Honor,” McPherson said. Focusing again on the witness stand, she asked, “Mr. Bosch, are you presently being treated for a medical condition?”

“No,” Bosch said.

McPherson looked surprised but quickly covered it.

“Then have you recently been treated for a medical condition?” she asked.

Bosch hesitated as he thought about how to phrase his answer.

“I was being treated earlier this year,” he finally said.

“Treated for what?” McPherson said.

Haller, apparently sensing where this could go, stood again to object.

“Your Honor, last week my asking a witness for her cell number had Mr. Morris jumping out of his shoes,” he said. “But now it’s okay to drag a witness’s personal medical history into the case? Aren’t there limits to invasion of privacy in this court?”

“Mr. Haller makes a good point, Ms. McPherson,” Coelho said.

“Your Honor, the witness’s medical status is important to this case, and I can demonstrate why if I am allowed to continue,” McPherson said. “Mr. Haller knows this and that is why he is jumping out of his shoes.”

“Make it fast, Ms. McPherson,” the judge said. “My patience is wearing thin.”

Haller sat down and the judge told Bosch he must answer the question.

“I was being treated for cancer,” Bosch said. “I was part of a clinical trial that ended almost six months ago.”

“And was the treatment successful?” McPherson asked.

“The doctors seemed to think so. They said I’m in partial remission.”

“And this clinical trial, was it to test a drug therapy?”

“Yes.”

“Using what drug?”

“It was an isotope, actually. I believe it is called lutetium one-seventy-seven.”

“You were being treated with this isotope while you worked on this case?”

“Yes. It was just one morning a week for twelve weeks.”

“And what are the possible side effects associated with lutetium one-seventy-seven?”

“Uh, well, there’s nausea, tinnitus, exhaustion. There’s a whole list, but other than those I just mentioned, I didn’t really have any side effects.”

“What about confusion and memory loss?”

“Uh, I think those were on the list but I haven’t experienced them.”

“Have you experienced any cognitive impairment while working on this case?”

Haller stood, arms out in an imploring gesture.

“Your Honor... really?”

The judge pointed to his empty chair.

“Your objection has been overruled,” she said. “Sit down,

Mr. Haller.”

Haller slowly sat down.

“Do you need me to repeat the question?” McPherson asked.

“No,” Bosch said. “I can remember, thank you. The answer is no, I have not experienced any cognitive impairment.”

“Have you asked a doctor about it or taken a cognitive test in the past six months?”

“No, I have not.”

McPherson looked down at a document she had carried with her to the lectern.

“Earlier this year, did you report a break-in at your home?” she asked.

“Uh, yes, I did,” Bosch said.

“And was this while you were being treated with the isotope lutetium one-seventy-seven?”

“Yes.”

McPherson asked the judge to allow her to approach the witness with a document she called State’s exhibit one. First McPherson dropped off copies to Haller and the judge. Bosch watched Haller read it and noticed alarm come into his eyes. He stood and objected, stating the document had not been submitted to him through discovery.

“Offered as impeachment, Your Honor,” McPherson said. “The witness just testified to having no cognitive issues.”

“Yes, I’ll allow it,” Coelho said.