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There was a long pause before Bishop answered.

“I don’t know.”

“Did you hurt him, Vernon?”

“No, it wasn’t me. I only moved him. He was already dead.”

“Why did you move him?”

“I was told to.”

“By who, Vernon?”

“Mr. Cerny.”

Sears looked at Bosch again. He nodded. He knew who Cerny was. The man in charge of the Mac. Anton Cerny. He was in his forties back then. He would be long dead by now.

Sears turned back to Bishop.

“You moved the body to where, Vernon?”

“A bed. His bed in the gym.”

“From where?”

“The QR.”

“Are you saying he was put in the QR with Stokely?”

“I don’t know.”

“Did Mr. Cerny tell you what had happened to the boy?”

“No. Nobody knew.”

“When you went to move the body, was Stokely in the QR?”

“No, they had taken him out.”

“When?”

“I don’t know. I wasn’t there.”

Sears did a good job of asking questions about the incident, but Bishop didn’t seem to have any more answers. After several I don’t know responses, she looked at Bosch and pantomimed writing on a pad, asking if he had any questions. He quickly scribbled a note and handed the pad to her.

“Vernon, were you interviewed by the detectives who investigated the death of the boy?” Sears asked.

“No, I was told to go home before they came,” Bishop said.

“Was Stokely interviewed?”

“I don’t know.”

Sears looked at Bosch one more time and he nodded: She could wrap it up.

After the session was over and the nurse had walked Bishop out, Sears turned to Bosch.

“Was that useful to you, Mr. Bosch?”