Read Online The Black Box by Michael Connelly - Free Book Online
Authors: Michael Connelly
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that was the day Jespersen’s body was found and it was most likely when she was killed. From there he charted all the killings leading up to the final murder connected or possibly connected to the Beretta model 92. He also included the two other cases Gant had pulled files on and thought might be related.
Bosch charted the killings on a blank piece of paper rather than on a computer as most of his colleagues would have done. Bosch was set in his ways and he wanted a document. He wanted to be able to hold it, study it, fold it up, and carry it in his pocket. He wanted to live with it.
He left plenty of space around each entry so that he could add notes as he went. This was how he had always worked.
May 1, 1992—Anneke Jespersen—67th and Crenshaw (killer unknown)
Jan. 2, 1996—Walter Regis—63rd and Brynhurst (Rufus Coleman)
Sept. 30, 2003—Eddie Vaughn—68th and East Park (killer unknown)
June 18, 2004—Dante Sparks—11th Ave. and Hyde Park (killer unknown)
July 8, 2007—Byron Beckles—Centinela Park/Stepney Street (killer unknown)
Dec. 1, 2009—Trumont Story—W. 76th Street/Circle Park (killer unknown)
The last three murders listed were the cases Gant had pulled files on where there was no ballistics evidence. Bosch studied the list and noticed the seven-year gap in known uses of the gun between the Regis and Vaughn cases and then referred to the criminal record he had pulled off the National Crime Information Center data bank on Trumont Story. It showed that Story had been in prison from 1997 to 2002 serving a five-year stretch on an aggravated battery conviction. If Story had left the gun in a hiding place that only he knew of, then the gap in use of the weapon was explained.
Bosch next opened his Thomas Bros. map book and used a pencil to chart the murders on the grid work of the city. The first five murders all fit on one page of the thick map book, the killings occurring within the confines of Rolling 60s turf. The last case, the killing of Trumont Story, was on the next mappage. His body had been found lying on a sidewalk in Circle Park, which was in the heart of 7-Trey turf.
Bosch studied the map for a long time, flipping the pages back and forth. Considering that Jordy Gant said Story had most likely been dumped in the location where his body was found, Bosch concluded that he was looking at a very small concentration point in the city. Six murders, possibly just one gun used. And it had all started with the one murder that did not fit with those that followed. Anneke Jespersen, photojournalist, murdered in a spot far from home.
“Snow White,” Bosch whispered.
He opened the Jespersen murder book and looked at the photo from her press pass. He could not fathom what she had been doing out there on her own and what had happened.
Harry pulled the black box across the desk. Just as he opened it, his cell phone rang. The caller ID showed it was Hannah Stone, the woman he had been in a relationship with for nearly a year.
“Happy birthday, Harry!”
“Who told you?”
“A little bird.”
His daughter.
“She ought to mind her own business.”
“I think it is her business. I know she probably has you all to herself tonight, so I was calling to see if I could take you out for a birthday lunch.”
Bosch checked his watch. It was already noon.
“Today?”
“Today’s your birthday, isn’t it? I would’ve called earlier butmy group session went long. Come on, what do you say? You know we have the best taco trucks in the city up here.”
Bosch knew he needed to talk to her about San Quentin.
“I don’t know about that claim, but if I get good traffic, I can be there in twenty minutes.”
“Perfect.”
“See you.”
He disconnected and looked at the black box on his desk. He’d get to it after lunch.
They decided on a sit-down restaurant instead of a taco truck. Upscale wasn’t really a choice in Panorama City, so they drove down to Van Nuys and ate in the basement cafeteria of
Bosch charted the killings on a blank piece of paper rather than on a computer as most of his colleagues would have done. Bosch was set in his ways and he wanted a document. He wanted to be able to hold it, study it, fold it up, and carry it in his pocket. He wanted to live with it.
He left plenty of space around each entry so that he could add notes as he went. This was how he had always worked.
May 1, 1992—Anneke Jespersen—67th and Crenshaw (killer unknown)
Jan. 2, 1996—Walter Regis—63rd and Brynhurst (Rufus Coleman)
Sept. 30, 2003—Eddie Vaughn—68th and East Park (killer unknown)
June 18, 2004—Dante Sparks—11th Ave. and Hyde Park (killer unknown)
July 8, 2007—Byron Beckles—Centinela Park/Stepney Street (killer unknown)
Dec. 1, 2009—Trumont Story—W. 76th Street/Circle Park (killer unknown)
The last three murders listed were the cases Gant had pulled files on where there was no ballistics evidence. Bosch studied the list and noticed the seven-year gap in known uses of the gun between the Regis and Vaughn cases and then referred to the criminal record he had pulled off the National Crime Information Center data bank on Trumont Story. It showed that Story had been in prison from 1997 to 2002 serving a five-year stretch on an aggravated battery conviction. If Story had left the gun in a hiding place that only he knew of, then the gap in use of the weapon was explained.
Bosch next opened his Thomas Bros. map book and used a pencil to chart the murders on the grid work of the city. The first five murders all fit on one page of the thick map book, the killings occurring within the confines of Rolling 60s turf. The last case, the killing of Trumont Story, was on the next mappage. His body had been found lying on a sidewalk in Circle Park, which was in the heart of 7-Trey turf.
Bosch studied the map for a long time, flipping the pages back and forth. Considering that Jordy Gant said Story had most likely been dumped in the location where his body was found, Bosch concluded that he was looking at a very small concentration point in the city. Six murders, possibly just one gun used. And it had all started with the one murder that did not fit with those that followed. Anneke Jespersen, photojournalist, murdered in a spot far from home.
“Snow White,” Bosch whispered.
He opened the Jespersen murder book and looked at the photo from her press pass. He could not fathom what she had been doing out there on her own and what had happened.
Harry pulled the black box across the desk. Just as he opened it, his cell phone rang. The caller ID showed it was Hannah Stone, the woman he had been in a relationship with for nearly a year.
“Happy birthday, Harry!”
“Who told you?”
“A little bird.”
His daughter.
“She ought to mind her own business.”
“I think it is her business. I know she probably has you all to herself tonight, so I was calling to see if I could take you out for a birthday lunch.”
Bosch checked his watch. It was already noon.
“Today?”
“Today’s your birthday, isn’t it? I would’ve called earlier butmy group session went long. Come on, what do you say? You know we have the best taco trucks in the city up here.”
Bosch knew he needed to talk to her about San Quentin.
“I don’t know about that claim, but if I get good traffic, I can be there in twenty minutes.”
“Perfect.”
“See you.”
He disconnected and looked at the black box on his desk. He’d get to it after lunch.
They decided on a sit-down restaurant instead of a taco truck. Upscale wasn’t really a choice in Panorama City, so they drove down to Van Nuys and ate in the basement cafeteria of
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