Free The Concrete Blonde by Michael Connelly

statement.”
    The judge eyed him closely for several seconds without saying anything. Bosch could tell the judge knew he was pushing the edge of the envelope of truth. Judge Keyes seemed to be making some kind of decision.
    “Well, Ms. Chandler,” he finally said. “I don't rightly see the conspiracy that you do here. I'm going to let this go with a warning to all parties; withholding evidence is the most heinous crime you can commit in my courtroom. If you do it and I catch ya, you're gonna wish you never took the LSAT. Now, do we want to talk about this new development?”
    “Your Honor,” Belk said quickly. He moved to the lectern. “In light of this discovery less than twenty-four hours ago, I move for a continuance so that this situation can be thoroughly investigated so that it can be determined exactly what it means to this case.”
    Now he finally asks, Bosch thought. He knew there was no way he'd get a delay now.
    “Uh, huh,” Judge Keyes said. “What do you think about that, Ms. Chandler?”
    “No delay, Your Honor. This family has waited four years for this trial. I think any further delay would be perpetuating the crime. Besides, who does Mr. Belk propose investigate this matter, Detective Bosch?”
    “I am sure the defense counselor would be satisfied with the LAPD handling the investigation,” the judge said.
    “But I wouldn't.”
    “I know you wouldn't, Ms. Chandler, but that's not your concern. You said yourself yesterday that the wide majority of police in this city are good, competent people. You'll just have to live by your own words… . But I am going to deny the request for a continuation. We've started a trial and we're not going to stop. The police can and should investigate this matter and keep the court informed but I'm not going to stand by. This case will continue until such time that these events need to be addressed again. Anything else? I've got a jury waiting.”
    “What about the story in the newspaper?” Belk asked.
    “What about it?”
    “Your Honor, I'd like the jury to be polled to see if anyone read it. Also, they should be warned again not to read the papers or watch the TV news tonight. All of the channels will likely follow the
Times
.”
    “I instructed jurors yesterday not to read the paper or watch the news but I plan to poll them anyway about this very story. Let's see what they say and then, depending on what we hear, we can clear 'em out again if you want to talk about a mistrial.”
    “I don't want a mistrial,” Chandler said. “That's what the defendant wants. That'll just delay this another two months. This family has already waited four years for justice. They—”
    “Well, let's just see what the jury says. Sorry to interrupt, Ms. Chandler.”
    “Your Honor, may I be heard on sanctions?” Belk said.
    “I don't think you need to be, Mr. Belk. I denied her motion for sanctions. What more's to be said?”
    “I know that, Your Honor. I would like to ask for sanctions against Miss Chandler. She has defamed me by alleging this cover-up of the evidence and I—”
    “Mr. Belk, sit down. I'll tell you both right now; quit with the extracurricular sparring because it doesn't get you anywhere with me. No sanctions either way. One last time, any other matters?”
    “Yes, Your Honor,” Chandler said.
    She had one more card. From beneath her legal pad she pulled out a document and walked it up to the clerk, who handed it to the judge. Chandler then returned to the lectern.
    “Your Honor, that is a subpoena I have prepared for the police department that I would like reflected in the record. I am asking that a copy of the note referred to in the
Times
article, the note written by the Dollmaker and received yesterday, be released to me as part of discovery.”
    Belk jumped to his feet.
    “Hold on, Mr. Belk,” the judge admonished. “Let her finish.”
    “Your Honor, it is evidence in this case. It should be turned over immediately.”
    Judge Keyes gave