Characterization of other characters

There are four other important characters in the short story, starting with Victor Seguin, the antagonist of “Cielo Azul” by Michael Connelly.

Victor Seguin

At first, he is depicted in absentia (while not being present) by Terry McCaleb:

What I see here suggests the work of what we call an exhibition killer. In other words, this is a killer who wanted his crime to be seen – to be very public – and by virtue of this to instill horror and fear in the general population. From this reaction by the public he draws gratification. (p. 27, ll. 4-8)

Through McCaleb’s portrayal, we find out Seguin craves attention and enjoys fantasizing about dueling with Bosch:

In effect, he is throwing down a challenge. He is saying, ‘I am better than you, smarter and more clever. Prove me wrong, if you can. Catch me, if you can: You see? He is dueling with you in the public media arena.’ (p. 27, ll. 21-24)

After Bosch, Sheehan, and McCaleb visit Seguin for an interview, the man’s behavior reveals that he is, indeed, the suspect they were looking for. The man is in his “late twenties” (p. 28, l. 12) and has had a history of minor crimes. Although his crimes are not as major as the other suspect’s, Terry McCaleb believes that “his crimes, though minor, fall more into line with the sexual predator maturation models we have seen” (p. 28, ll. 23-25).

During the interview, Seguin is defensive and soon reveals his true intentions. After searching his house, the detectives find out that he has been hiding a girl under a trap door under his bed, with the intention of killing her. In Seguin’s house, McCaleb also finds the book “The Collector” by John Fowles, which is “about a guy who abducts women. He collects them. Keeps them in his house, in the basement” (p. 31, ll. 34-35). The presence of the book indicates that Seguin was probably inspired by what he read when he committed his crimes. Seguin is convicted and sent to jail on Death Row, where Bosch decides to visit him twelve years later soon before his date for execution.

During their short conversation, Seguin comes across as ironic and provocative, enjoying playing with Bosch’s mind. He knows that Bosch needs to find out the girl’s name to find closure, yet he purposefully avoids telling him the truth. He enjoys seeing Bosch struggle and even teases him for his close connection to the dead girl:

‘He wanted to know the same thing. Who was the girl, where did she come from? He told me you have her a name back then, during the trial. Cielo Azul. That’s really very pretty, Detective Bosch. Blue Sky. Why did you choose that?’ (p. 34, ll. 29-32)

Seguin also claims that he found his victim attractive and even explains to Bosch...