The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly Page A

he would have what he needs but he wouldn’t have the files themselves. He’s happy, I’m happy.”
    “Bosch is the lead detective?”
    “Yes, Harry Bosch. He’s with Robbery-Homicide. I can’t remember his partner’s name.”
    “You have to understand, Mr. Haller, that even if you just give this man Bosch the names, you are still breaching client confidentiality. You could be disbarred for this.”
    “Well, I was thinking about that and I believe there’s a way out. One of the mechanisms of relief from the client confidentiality bond is in the case of threat to safety. If Jerry Vincent knew a client was coming to kill him last night, he could have called the police and given that client’s name to them. There would’ve been no breach in that.”
    “Yes, but what you are considering here is completely different.”
    “It’s different, Judge, but not completely. I’ve been directly told by the lead detective on the case that it is highly likely that the identity of Jerry Vincent’s killer is contained in Jerry’s own files. Those files are now mine. So that information constitutes a threat to me. When I go out and start meeting these clients, I could shake hands with the killer and not even know it. You add that up any way and I feel I am in some jeopardy here, Judge, and that qualifies for relief.”
    She nodded her head again and put her glasses back on. She reached over and picked up a glass of water that had been hidden from my view by her desktop computer.
    After drinking deeply from the glass she spoke.
    “All right, Mr. Haller. I believe that if you vet the files as you have suggested, then you will be acting in an appropriate and acceptable manner. I would like you to file a motion with this court that explains your actions and the feeling of threat you are under. I will sign it and seal it and with any good luck it will be something that never sees the light of day.”
    “Thank you, Your Honor.”
    “Anything else?”
    “I think that is it.”
    “Then, have a good day.”
    “Yes, Your Honor. Thank you.”
    I got up and headed toward the door but then remembered something and turned back to stand in front of the judge’s desk.
    “Judge? I forgot something. I saw your calendar from last week out there and noticed that Jerry Vincent came in on the Elliot matter. I haven’t thoroughly reviewed the case file yet, but do you mind my asking what the hearing was about?”
    The judge had to think for a moment to recall the hearing.
    “It was an emergency motion. Mr. Vincent came in because Judge Stanton had revoked bail and ordered Mr. Elliot remanded to custody. I stayed the revocation.”
    “Why was it revoked?”
    “Mr. Elliot had traveled to a film festival in New York without getting permission. It was one of the qualifiers of bail. When Mr. Golantz, the prosecutor, saw a picture of Elliot at the festival in People magazine, he asked Judge Stanton to revoke bail. He obviously wasn’t happy that bail had been allowed in the first place. Judge Stanton revoked and then Mr. Vincent came to me for an emergency stay of his client’s arrest and incarceration. I decided to give Mr. Elliot a second chance and to modify his freedom by making him wear an ankle monitor. But I can assure you that Mr. Elliot will not receive a third chance. Keep that in mind if you should retain him as a client.”
    “I understand, Judge. Thank you.”
    I nodded and left the chambers, thanking Mrs. Gill as I walked out through the courtroom.
    Harry Bosch’s card was still in my pocket. I dug it out while I was going down in the elevator. I had parked in a pay lot by the Kyoto Grand Hotel and had a three-block walk that would take me right by Parker Center. I called Bosch’s cell phone as I headed to the courthouse exit.
    “This is Bosch.”
    “It’s Mickey Haller.”
    There was a hesitation. I thought that maybe he didn’t recognize my name.
    “What can I do for you?” he finally asked.
    “How’s the