Resurrection Walk

Nate walked me in and sat me down in one of the chairs in front of the desk. Judge Coelho sat on the other side of it.

“I gave instructions to put you back in your suit, Mr. Haller,” she said.

“The suit’s toast,” I said. “It’s a Canali. Italian silk that’s been balled up in a paper bag overnight. I need my phone so I can get a fresh suit delivered.”

“We’ll get you your phone. Nate, please have that ready for Mr. Haller when we’re through here. You can go back to the courtroom now.”

Marshal Nate looked hesitant.

“Are you sure I shouldn’t stay, Judge?” he asked.

“I’m sure I will be fine,” Coelho said. “I’ll call when it’s time to retrieve Mr. Haller. You can go now.”

Marshal Nate left the room and closed the door behind him. The judge looked at me for a moment, assessing me and determining what to say.

“I’m sorry it came to this, Mr. Haller,” she said. “But the disrespect you showed the court yesterday could not be allowed to stand. It is my hope that you used the night to reflect on how you handled yourself in my courtroom and that you can assure me it won’t happen again.”

I nodded.

“I reflected on a lot of things, Judge,” I said. “I apologize for my words and actions. I am contrite. It won’t happen again, I promise you.”

The only thing I had resolved during my overnight in a cold solo cell was never to address Coelho as Your Honor again.

“Very well,” Coelho said. “Apology accepted. You are released from contempt, and perhaps we can get a rush on your suit so that we don’t lose the entire morning. I will tell all parties to be in court by eleven to proceed.”

“Thank you,” I said. “I’d like to get out of this outfit as soon as possible.”

“I just buzzed Gian, and Nate will have your property out there.”

“When you put out the word about resuming the hearing, can you make sure that Sergeant Sanger is on notice to return to court? She’ll most likely be my next witness.”

“I will order her return.”

Five minutes later I was sitting in the courtroom taking my phone out of a plastic property bag. The first call I made was to Bosch.

“Mick, you’re sprung?”

“Yeah, just now. What’s happening? Where are you?”

“We’re at Applied Forensics. We brought in a cigarette butt from Sanger, and fifteen minutes ago Shami said they need two more hours.”

“Okay. I can deal with that. As soon as you know something, text me.”

“You got it.”

I disconnected and then called Lorna Taylor.

“Oh my God, Mickey, are you all right?”

“I am now.”

“Where are you?”

“In the courtroom. I need you to get me a suit, shirt, and tie and bring them to me here.”

“Not a problem. Which suit?”

“I think the Hugo Boss. The gray with the light pinstripes. A light blue oxford, and just pick any tie. You know where the key is, right?”

“Same place?”

“Same place.”

My next words were spoken in a low whisper so Gian and Nate could not overhear.

“Lorna, listen, don’t hurry. Don’t get here with the suit until at least twelve thirty. Harry and Shami need the time.”

“Got it.”

I raised my voice to its normal pitch and said, “Okay, I’ll probably be back in holding, so just bring it to the courtroom marshal. His name is Nate.”

“Got it. I’m leaving now to go to your place.”

“Thanks.”

I disconnected and got up. I presented myself to Marshal Nate and said I’d like to wait in holding so I could visit with my client and then change when my fresh suit arrived.

I realized as I was taken back into holding that I had not eaten anything and should have asked Lorna to bring me a PowerBar. The emptiness in my stomach was accentuated by the anxiety I was feeling about what was happening at Applied Forensics. I knew I was taking my last shot with the gambit I had played over the last two days. It was going to be do-or-die time very soon.

45

The hearing on the habeas motion did not get back under way until almost two o’clock, thanks to Lorna’s delay in bringing my suit. The judge wasn’t too happy about the late start but I was pleased because I now had everything I needed to face Stephanie Sanger one more time on the witness stand. Bosch and Arslanian had come through. Arslanian was outside in the hallway and ready to testify, and Bosch sat in the first row of the gallery next to the Channel 5 courtroom sketch artist.

After Judge Coelho convened court and told me to proceed, I recalled Sergeant Stephanie Sanger to the witness stand. The judge reminded her that she was still under oath.

“Good to see you again, Sergeant Sanger,” I began. “I want to start today by asking you about some testimony and evidence that came in last week. Specifically, the cell phone data that was examined by my investigator.”

“Is there a question in there?” Sanger asked.

“Not yet, Sergeant Sanger. But let’s start with this one. On the day Deputy Roberto Sanz was murdered on the front lawn of his ex-wife’s house, were you following him?”

Sanger stared at me with her dagger eyes before answering.

“Yes, I was,” she said.