49 pages 1 hour read

Michael Connelly

The Black Echo

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1992

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Chapters 5-6Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 5 Summary: “Thursday, May 24”

Bosch and Wish have sex. Afterward, talking about the difference between being alone and being lonely, Wish calls their relationship “nice for a couple of nighthawks” (209).

Later that night, Bosch learns that Sharkey has been killed, and his body was found in a tunnel near the Hollywood Bowl. Bosch believes that Sharkey was killed because he was a witness in the Meadows case; he is now sure that there is an inside man. Bosch blames himself for Sharkey’s death, but Wish argues that it was not their fault. Bosch wonders why Wish has suddenly turned cold.

One of the safe-deposit boxes that were broken into at WestLand belonged to Frederic B. Isley, the alias that purchased ATVs for the robbery. Bosch also wants to also look into Vietnamese safe-deposit box owners, looking for what he calls “coincidences that aren’t coincidences” (222). As they work, Rourke shows up. When he seems surprised about Sharkey, Bosch insinuates that Rourke knows more than he pretends, and Rourke suggests that Internal Affairs is dirty. Bosch decides that Wish must have spotted Lewis and Clarke and told Rourke instead of warning Bosch. Feeling betrayed, Bosch storms off.

Lewis and Clarke follow Bosch. If Bosch was at fault for getting Sharkey killed, they could use that to get him fired.