Cherie Dei is an agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and was mentored by agent Rachel Walling. In April of 2004, Dei was Case Agent on the team that excavated the Zzyzx Road scene after the reemergence of the serial killer known as the Poet. When Harry Bosch arrived unannounced at the ZZyzx site, he was interviewed by Dei, Walling and Tom Zigo. Later, when Bosch and Walling discovered the Poet's hideout in Clear, NV., Dei told Walling over the phone to back off and wait for the team to arrive. Her order was not followed.