Finally Hohman put down the phone and pointed his finger at
Bosch. He was up. He was quickly shuttled into a corner office
with a view of Union Station and the surrounding train yards.
It was a decent view but not a great one. It didn't matter
because the place was coming down soon. The department would
move into temporary offices while a new and modern police
headquarters was rebuilt on the same spot. The current
headquarters was known as the Glass House by the rank and file,
supposedly because there were no secrets kept inside. Bosch
wondered what the next place would become known as. The chief
of police was behind a large desk signing papers. Without
looking up from this work he told Bosch to have a seat in front
of the desk. Within thirty seconds the chief signed his last
document and looked up at Bosch. He smiled.
"I wanted to meet you and welcome you back to the
department."
His voice was marked by an eastern accent. De-paht-ment.
This was fine with Bosch. In L.A. everybody was from
somewhere else. Or so it seemed. It was both the strength and
the weakness of the city.
"It is good to be back," Bosch said.
"You understand that you are here at my pleasure."
It wasn't a question.
"Yes sir, I do."
"Obviously, I checked you out extensively before approving
your return. I had concerns about your . . . shall we say
style, but ultimately your talent won the day. You can
also thank your partner, Kizmin Rider, for her lobbying effort.
She's a good officer and I trust her. She trusts you."
"I have already thanked her but I will do it again."
"I know it has been less than three years since you retired
but let me assure you, Detective Bosch, that the department you
have rejoined is not the department you left." "I understand
that."
"I hope so. You know about the consent decree?"
Just after Bosch had left the department the previous chief
had been forced to agree to a series of reforms in order to
head off a federal takeover of the LAPD following an FBI
investigation into wholesale corruption, violence and civil
rights violations within the ranks. The current chief had to
carry out the agreement or he would end up taking orders from
the FBI. From the chief down to the lowliest boot, nobody
wanted that. "Yes," Bosch said. "I've read about it."
"Good. I'm glad you have kept yourself informed. And I am
happy to report that despite what you may read in the Times, we
are making great strides and we want to keep that momentum. We
are also trying to update the department in terms of
technology. We are pushing forward in community policing. We
are doing a lot of good things, Detective Bosch, much of which
can be undone in the eyes of the community if we resort to old
ways. Do you understand what I am telling you?"
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