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“So,” she said. “Does either of you want to talk now?”
The Talbots said nothing, both displaying looks of utter shock and mortification.
Ballard found the plastic tulip that had blended in perfectly with the live versions. She dipped it in Gregory Talbot’s direction so that he might see the white filament of the transmitter inside it.
“I think he was playing you, Mr. Talbot,” she said. “And you didn’t even know it.”
Gloria Talbot gasped. Ballard turned to her. Gloria was wide-eyed with fear and dread.
“I’m placing you both under arrest for the murder of Jennifer Talbot,” Ballard said. “Guys, step in.”
The two SIS men moved in and ordered the Talbots to stand up to be handcuffed.
“No,” Gloria said.
It was an involuntary expression denying the future she knew lay ahead. It told Bosch that she would break.
It told her husband that as well.
“Don’t say another word, Gloria,” he barked as he was being cuffed. “Not a word. They’re going to try to turn us against each other. But they can’t. They can’t make us testify against each other.”
Ballard stood and Bosch did as well. Gloria Talbot looked like she was in a daze, eyes cast down at the table.
“Mrs. Talbot, my suggestion is get your own lawyer,” Ballard said. “One smart enough to know that there’s no spousal privilege in a murder case. One who knows that the first one to talk always wins. There’s a deal to be made here. Your attorney will advise you about that.”
“Don’t listen to her, Gloria,” Talbot yelled. “She’s lying. They have no case. That tape’s all they got and it won’t stand the light of day.”
Ballard didn’t bother to respond to Talbot. She issued instructions to the SIS men.
“Book her at Van Nuys,” she said. “And take him down to Metro. Separate cars.”
Bosch kept his eyes on Talbot as he was led out of the room. But Talbot seemed to sense his stare and never looked back.
Laffont appeared in the hallway outside the dining room.
“That sounded like it went according to plan,” he said.
“It did,” Ballard said. “You guys finding anything?”
“No,” Laffont said. “They were smart.”
“Not that smart,” Ballard said. “Right, Harry?”
“I guess we’ll see,” Bosch said.
“We will,” Ballard said. “I’m going to let things percolate with Gloria till tomorrow and then see if she wants to talk.”
Bosch nodded.
“So how’s it feel after twenty-five years, Harry?” Ballard asked. “I almost wanted you to put the cuffs on him, but that might’ve caused a problem down the line.”
“I didn’t need to,” Bosch said. “I’m just thinking about Jennifer. Waiting for justice all this time.”
Bosch raised his hand and Ballard and Laffont came in for a three-way fist bump.
“For Jennifer,” Ballard said.
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