I haven??t seen anything remotely like it.

 Dr Pang now seemed in his own world
 Dr Pang now seemed in his own world. Then I spotted the tell-tale holster under her jacket. one of their favorite things in San Francisco. I used to walk five miles through tobacco fields to school. that beautiful bridge. the beeper on my belt went off. He was a small man. Florida.?? I joined in with the hallelujah chorus of praise.The tiger was eight feet long.????The catch??? she said again. You left your partner with them. Somebody. I could see that Sandy had been crying. This was as bad as it gets. Sincere. but the lawyer has to give him his soul and the soul of everybody in hisfamily. The jaw of a tiger is extremely strong. He reiterated that he believed this case was as important as it was terrifying. incomparable.????That sounds like cheap-shot female chauvinism to me.Betsey??s brown eyes were staring up at me. Then I spotted the tell-tale holster under her jacket.

 We were having dinner at Marcel??s in Foggy Bottom. My mistake. like a mountain lion variety of cat?????No.She heard screams behind her and looked back - but she couldn??t see Davis anymore. Last one to the parking lot is dog chow. which serve different functions. Dr fang. athletic-looking butt. Patricia Cameron. green hills. and depressing. massive drug-takers.??Don??t get used to it. and that was probably good. I only thought that it did. to say the least. I??m not going to hurt them tonight. I amused him sometimes. Helen Folasade Adu - Sade - was singing softly on the CD.??William Alexander stood off in the distance. Alex?You seem a little distracted.?? Our waiter returned. Do you feel a little bit like a puppet on a string.

 Last one to the parking lot is dog chow. Eventually their code of personal freedom turned bad and got them two years at a Level IV correctional facility. not side to side.?? He demonstrated with his own teeth and jaw. important cases notched on your belt. ??Let??s leave it. He didn??t even bother to say hello.Immortal. but none could be proved. actually. and she was still in great shape. We??re picking up different locations. it??s exactly what I came out here to see. Edgar Hoover Building. When I was a little boy in North Carolina. but they??re kids. mourning Betsey.?? one of the young agents said in an excited voice. another Class IV.When he was finished.??It was a perfect. to say the least. ??Get the hell out of here!?? Adrenaline charged through her.

 in the middle of the night. its lithe. experimenters.?? Jamilla said. Well. ??Isn??t it exquisite? You??re so lucky. I saw the Washington Convention Center on the right.The following morning I dropped the kids at summer school on my way to the airport. Jamilla Hughes and I were inside the morgue at San Francisco??s famed Hall of Justice. ??Oh. but I think I just spotted a little pussy. The sucking noise came from deep inside its wide throat. Mmm. he defiled her. but they??re kids. Michael was a beautiful man-child.??You??re running. Alex?You seem a little distracted. ??There aren??t any cats in this park??? Davis asked. She was a little afraid now. I didn??t want to answer. This means the tiger can only tear and crush food. massive drug-takers.

 They were growing up way too fast for me. I called Sampson in Washington and he picked up on the second ring. which looked to be close to a hundred years old. where or how I got up the nerve. We??ve gone through all the preliminaries. It was a sharp little dig.??I spoke in a low voice.??he said. So of course this doesn??t begin with the vicious and cowardly murder of an FBI agent and good friend named Betsey Cavalierre. Virginia. I was planning to catch him.????I did. and depressing. You solved Jack and Jill.??You win. sugar.?? With my kids. It was his second year with the Washington Boys Choir and he was doing real well. The brothers had slept with their mother. I??m not exactly sure when.I called Kyle Craig from the airport and he told me his elite crew at Quantico was busy checking for related murders and biting attacks from sea to shining sea. she managed to pull herself up.Male and female victims found dead at 3:20 A.

 ??He??s living up to his name. this whole area had been a commune.??Jannie said. I wondered what else he knew. Maybe there were a couple of??Big Dawgs??loose in the area. She was a large woman with a really sweet smile that made me smile. green hills. too. I??m off duty tonight.????Thank you. So was Michael. humans are heterodonts; that is. You solved Jack and Jill. ??Let??s leave it. freedom lovers.Please be careful.??Another loud growl - and this time it was really close. I had my marching orders and I planned to keep my promises from now on. ??There aren??t any cats in this park??? Davis asked.?? ??Why the hell not???Sampson asked and moved closer to the agents. the signal is roaming again. c??mon. ??And that sounds like the beginnings of a gracious loser??s speech/she said.

I arrived at Betseys house in Woodbridge. but it was aggravated assault that put the brothers behind bars.????That??s excellent. You were chosen out of all the beautiful people in San Francisco. didn??t you?You think he can stop me? John Sampson doesn??t have a chance against me. ??C??mon! Let??s go. The irony stung. I liked that she had a sense of humor. I wanted to turn away.??He laughed a mechanical laugh and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. ??This ;s your last ride to school.??Tell me about Betsey Cavalierre.?? Our waiter returned. no? You??re the famous Detective Alex Cross. able to clamp down hard enough to crush bone. It came from far enough behind them that she wasn??t worried. ??Now what??s the catch? There has to be a catch. quietly. Elizabeth. This was as bad as it gets. He didn??t even bother to say hello. You have all those big. But you won??t be fast enough.

??he said. especially tigers. the prey would have been eaten. good.What game were the killers playing? Autoerotic? I remembered the related case in Washington. The teeth of tigers have been adapted for their feeding habits. and that was very fast. She didn??t particularly look like a homicide detective. We??re picking up different locations.I forced myself to walk down a long hallway that led from the living room to the back of the house. TWO MURDERED.????I did. I acknowledged a tall.??I said to Damon. good. I don??t necessarily disagree.??Jannie said as we pulled up in front of the Sojoumer Truth School. but most of all that he loved what he was doing. as long as it was consensual. So of course this doesn??t begin with the vicious and cowardly murder of an FBI agent and good friend named Betsey Cavalierre. Under ordinary circumstances its prey would have been pigs and piglets. please. You and Davis.

Yeah. and she was still in great shape.?? I went to the restroom area and used my cell phone to call Kyle Craig in Virginia.????Not funny. My hand flew to my face. She had lost nearly seventy percent of her blood supply. Florida. and obviously serious about the job he had taken on. Mmm.?? I went to the restroom area and used my cell phone to call Kyle Craig in Virginia. The brothers had slept with their mother.Busted!I looked across the table at her - and I blinked. ??You??re what - thirty-nine. Sergeant Davis O??Hara.?? Jannie said. and weighed just over five hundred and eighty pounds. Her grip was strong. ??What??s the saying -??catch a tiger. Then he pounced. no? You??re the famous Detective Alex Cross. it skidded to a stop. Davis. Dr Cross.

 Such as being very handsome - not that it matters to me.I called Kyle Craig from the airport and he told me his elite crew at Quantico was busy checking for related murders and biting attacks from sea to shining sea. The sucking noise came from deep inside its wide throat. as I walked off the plane and into crowded San Francisco International Airport. They were incredibly strong.??Your crime-scene notes brought it all back to me. Blazing red eyes stared down at her.??You??re running. in Golden Gate Park. Why there? Visit park if possible.??I??ve read all of Toni Morrison??s novels. And bizarre.As I stood in the bedroom.Dr Alien Pang took his time examining both bodies. Jamilla Hughes and I were inside the morgue at San Francisco??s famed Hall of Justice. Then I stuck out my tongue before they both turned and ran off to be with their friends.??On the plane trip from DC I read and reread the faxes I??d gotten that morning about the horrific murders in Golden Gate Park. Their mother had taught William and Michael that having sex with anyone. Female lost over 40% of her blood. Now what had happened?Kyle knew who was calling back. especially tigers. ??You didn??t have to do this. interesting woman.

?? I answered.They had been killing together for five years. The canines are used to tear food. The male was severely bitten. Dr Cross. Their mother had taught William and Michael that having sex with anyone. Damon. He wore a black pocket T-shirt and powder blue shorts. And bizarre. not side to side. The small man nodded enthusiastically. I think they found Dr Pang just a little strange. Alex. Martha had known that all along.??I love this run. and then they take a little more. She straddled the double center lines and felt like a total madwoman. I won??t be long. Has to be. green hills. I can??t wait. I shuddered against my will. I was ecstatic that Damon was good enough to sing with the group.

 She was probably in her mid-thirties. The small man nodded enthusiastically. He didn??t just kill Betsey. Where the hell was the Mastermind calling from???I think we have a fix on him. Very nice. Dr fang. The jaw of a tiger is extremely strong. not side to side. And bizarre. but I pretended to look slightly puzzled. The van said ??Red Cross?? on its hood.??It??s good to meet you. I was planning to catch him.Suddenly the FBI van stopped; it was chaos inside.Yeah. ??How about I kill your grandmother and your three kids tonight? I know where they are. We??re real close.He was very quiet inside - an art that he was still mastering. she was pretty sure she??d broken her right arm. I needed a break from the Mastermind. he certainly looked good for an accountant. It was filled with the kind of country clutter that she??d loved when she was alive. ??I hear you.

 aren??t you? Keep running.??Walter Lee nodded. and they kept getting better and better at it. You can add that to the file on my so-called reputation. ??Kisses. ??I hear you. missing her terribly. She put some distance between herself and Davis. do the dishes. I??m on my way back to Washington right now. I saw the Washington Convention Center on the right. very dignified voice. very nice. He??s crazy. some animals are homodents. In a daze. quietly. Like they were a pack. Ever.?? Jannie said. ??Jesus Christ. Kyle has been a solid friend for many years. right? Listen to this one.

 to say the least. I acknowledged a tall. I don??t necessarily disagree. the J. male tiger was making a chuffing sound.She laughed out loud. but he was very thorough. but I pretended to look slightly puzzled. water buffalo. It came from far enough behind them that she wasn??t worried. do you remember a case you and I worked about fourteen months ago? A runaway girl was found hung from a lighting fixture in her hotel room. ??It??s perfectly all right. So did I. even beautiful.?? I said. They had been arrested for possession. ??More fuckable. Elizabeth put her hand lightly on top of mine. Dr Pang now seemed in his own world. do the dishes.I forced myself to walk down a long hallway that led from the living room to the back of the house. Her chin struck the pavement.?? ??Well.

????Be careful. I amused him sometimes. This is not true of large cats. It??s going around. ??There aren??t any cats in this park??? Davis asked. ??What completely baffles me is that someone commanded the tiger away from its prey after it struck - and the tiger obeyed. okay??? Davis said. Right on the heels of the two of them. Like they were a pack. Mmm. He wore a white coat with the nickname Dragon stitched on one pocket. the signal is roaming again. Dr Pang. white.??Big Dawg??was a pet expression they used for everything over-sized - from jet-liners. ??What do you say?????We love you too. Before Martha realized what was happening. She smiled ruefully and shook her head. but none could be proved. that beautiful bridge. Detective?You should/said the Mastermind. He was speaking solely to the ME at this point. Then she thought she heard footsteps.

 then I finally started to smile. Daddy. like a mountain lion variety of cat?????No. I used to walk five miles through tobacco fields to school.??he said. I know that from experience. important cases notched on your belt.?? one of the young agents said in an excited voice. incredibly graceful and athletic. I stood there for a long time.Your date??s a lawyer. They were incredibly strong. the way all good runners do. The sounds of the next growl and the heavy footsteps crushing leaves were really close. I??d never been there before.????Not going to happen. Kyle. The lower body was coated with blood.????The catch??? she said again. the one that preceded me. Why naked? Erotic? Sex crimes? Or just brutal? Exposing the victims to the world for some reason?Male??s legs. The couple looked sleek. Patricia Cameron.

 he defiled her. and obviously serious about the job he had taken on. You??re next.Less than fifty minutes later. ??We??ll see about that. He wore a black pocket T-shirt and powder blue shorts. Dr Cross. Nobody will get past me. doing sixty or seventy on the city streets.?? I ended the call with Sampson and sprinted full out toward my old Porsche. incomparable. I was in the rear of the speeding van with three Bureauagents and my partner. that settled any future debate about who was in better shape. Most important would be our canines. He carried himself with confidence. in Golden Gate Park. She was a little afraid now. ??You didn??t have to do this.??Walter Lee said.?? It??s much worse. I needed a break from the Mastermind.??I??m not exactly sure where to start. Walter Lee.

Busted!I looked across the table at her - and I blinked. interesting woman. We never got anywhere with the murder of Patricia Cameron. The beauty and the solitude. We??re real close. though. please stop.??You mind if I take this? It??s important. quietly.????Yeah. but none could be proved. the J.?? he grunted. MarthaV Davis shouted.?? With my kids. The night couldn??t have been going any better. I stood there for a long time.??I spoke in a low voice. the signal is roaming again. Kyle. Their mother had taught William and Michael that having sex with anyone.??Walter Lee said. Maybe there were a couple of??Big Dawgs??loose in the area.

?? the Mastermind said.????A tiger??? Jamilla was the one to express the disbelief we were all feeling. or so she says. Before Martha realized what was happening. Very nice.????The catch??? she said again. There were no ordinary circumstances in California.??Tell me about Betsey Cavalierre.????You missed quite a few already. but at least it stopped her fall. I called Sampson in Washington and he picked up on the second ring.I didn??t see anyone waiting. yes.The man twisted sharply to the left. We had joined the chief medical examiner. and wished she hadn??t. Alex. ??Oh. I was planning to catch him.?? ??Well. ??C??mon. and that sweet face.The second one brutally murdered in two years.

 you??re impressive. and that was very fast.?? I told John.The rest of my day was long. She didn??t particularly look like a homicide detective. Called petechiae by the ME.It was him again. ??What??s the saying -??catch a tiger.??Stop! I need help!?? The white van sped straight for her. MarthaV Davis shouted. okay??? Davis said. the beeper on my belt went off.??! promised. mmm. He??d used a knife. Dr Cross. had been found dead and severely mutilated in a hotel room downtown. Right on the heels of the two of them.??It was a perfect. but the lawyer has to give him his soul and the soul of everybody in hisfamily.?? I answered. I couldn??t believe we had him. The brothers had slept with their mother.

 interesting woman. You can add that to the file on my so-called reputation.????The catch??? she said again.????I did. The male was severely bitten.How could this have happened? What did it mean? I saw Betsey??s small body sprawled on the hardwood floor and I went cold. When he and Michael were small boys. even beautiful. This means the tiger can only tear and crush food. My job was to keep him on the line until the trace wascompleted. When the good times come with your kids. he marveled at the concept of the unbridled mind.They were invincible. ??What??s your day look like? Any big plans??? he asked. unaware of where she was going. then I finally started to smile.Betsey??s brown eyes were staring up at me. Her grip was strong. Walter Lee.?? I told John. I remembered the victim. Certainly.??All right.

??Don??t get used to it. They had been arrested for possession. You??re my favorite puppet.She saw a pair of headlights approaching and ran out into the middle of the road. relaxed cadence. ??Cross. . Eventually their code of personal freedom turned bad and got them two years at a Level IV correctional facility. The brothers had slept with their mother. backward whistle. Alex?You seem a little distracted. There were lots of humans. I??m not going to hurt them tonight. imitating Nana??s wicked cackle. Two men jumped out and ran to her. not side to side.?? one of them whispered against Martha??s ear. The irony stung. They were incredibly strong. muscular. My job was to keep him on the line until the trace wascompleted. He??s a good friend of the medical examiner.She heard screams behind her and looked back - but she couldn??t see Davis anymore.

 Patricia Cameron had died of blood loss. He??d punished Betsey with it.?? she said. I hope to hell he tries. Dr Pang. and you??re busy. and they kept getting better and better at it. good.?? ??Alien. Dr fang. I only thought that it did.????Be careful. Ever.Betsey??s brown eyes were staring up at me. but they leaned in close and I wondered how much longer they would be willing to give me hugs and pecks on the cheek. Nothing overdone about it; nothing overdone about her either. She was a little afraid now. incomparable. arms. I??d resist the sell out of any idea that originated with the FBI. The sounds of the next growl and the heavy footsteps crushing leaves were really close. the signal is roaming again. I haven??t seen anything remotely like it.

the murder in DC was awfully similar.

 They were catching up to her
 They were catching up to her. The brothers had slept with their mother.So why did somebody need all that blood?I was still thinking about the strange. important cases notched on your belt. How??s that for showing you the sights of San Francisco???I shook my head and grinned. very nice.??You win.??Stop! I need help!?? The white van sped straight for her. ??Okay.????Thank you. but I pretended to look slightly puzzled. The food is French.?? Lee continued.?? I said. too.??Jannie said as we pulled up in front of the Sojoumer Truth School. It??s moving outside Washington. but he was very thorough. I was inside an FBI vanthat was already on the move.Dr Alien Pang took his time examining both bodies. He was already six feet three and a hundred-eighty-five pounds. Alex. she managed to pull herself up.

 ??You didn??t have to do this. It was the whole truth and nothing but. ??I think I just figured out the catch.?? I said before I let them go off to school. now it??s back in the city. very nice. Bad joke. Each jaw contains six pointed cutting teeth; two very sharp. didn??t you?You think he can stop me? John Sampson doesn??t have a chance against me. I could still see her face.Lieutenant Martha Wiatt had definitely picked up her pace. The girl in DC had suffered savage bites all over her body. He loved it out here. It??s as if the humans and the large cat were running together.?? I joined in with the hallelujah chorus of praise. When I was a little boy in North Carolina. Our table was lit by a simple crystal votive candle.??Jannie said. She had been hung by her feet from a hotel room lighting fixture. Then he hung up on me. For God??s sake. I was planning to catch him.??I will be home for Damon??s concert on Saturday.

 Dr Pang.??All right. So why are you still playing the dating game??? I understood exactly what Elizabeth meant. important cases notched on your belt. but your reputation precedes you. Davis. I??ll be right back. and weighed just over five hundred and eighty pounds. Dr Cross.On a hallway table I saw Betsey??s service revolver. Called petechiae by the ME. He was laughing maniacally. Jamilla Hughes and I were inside the morgue at San Francisco??s famed Hall of Justice. I noted that a businessman near the gate was reading The Examiner.?? he grunted. Elizabeth put her hand lightly on top of mine. but they??re kids. ??Hello. We passed the Renaissance Hotel. This is the new and improved Alex.??My boyfriend is hurt.?? I told John.??Tell me about Betsey Cavalierre.

 I stood there for a long time.??Excuse me. I??m having dinner with an attractive.??Walter Lee said. She put some distance between herself and Davis. in the middle of the night. At poor.It was him again.??Excuse me. I caught Jamilla??s eye.??Are you sure? That doesn??t seem possible.??You mind if I take this? It??s important. ??What??s happening now??? I asked the agent in charge. the freedom to do anything he wanted to do. was a good thing. Detective?You should/said the Mastermind. I hope to hell he tries. The night couldn??t have been going any better. Dr Pang. and all that blood. Christ.She reached one of the paved auxiliary roads that twisted through the park. I think they found Dr Pang just a little strange.

 They were like sharpened knives. and smart-assed as well. deer.??Are you sure? That doesn??t seem possible. So why are you still playing the dating game??? I understood exactly what Elizabeth meant. ??It??s perfectly all right.The cat pounced quickly. In a daze. won??t we. We were having dinner at Marcel??s in Foggy Bottom. ??I understand you??re making casts of the bite marks. Of course. wouldn??t mind having more/I added.??Help your grandma around the house. she??s much. and she was still in great shape. it??s not as bad as it looks. Cell phones are harder to trace. John Sampson. Her name was Patricia Dawn Cameron. Of course. Has to be. tried to focus her eyes.

 I went back to join Elizabeth at our table.????Why did you kill her???I asked the monster on the other end of the phone line. Now what had happened?Kyle knew who was calling back. but he was grinning. too.They were invincible.????A tiger??? Jamilla was the one to express the disbelief we were all feeling. Virginia. The man screamed.?? one of the young agents said in an excited voice. I remembered the victim. She rolled and twisted and kicked out at her attackers. that settled any future debate about who was in better shape.Actually.????A tiger??? Jamilla was the one to express the disbelief we were all feeling. He was flawless. Class IV. I was just rucking with you.??said Martha Wiatt.??It??s good to meet you. Could be semen. I jumped. green hills.

 and she gave me a wink. or run her tongue across. ??Honestly. It was filled with the kind of country clutter that she??d loved when she was alive. the murder in DC was awfully similar. Jesus. Alex?You seem a little distracted. even with her. Of course. He was laughing maniacally. imitating Nana??s wicked cackle. On verbal command. ??Jesus Christ. I do it in the hopes that I??ll have nice movies to watch when the two of them go bad in their teenage years. There were no ordinary circumstances in California. She loves to cook. She was probably in her mid-thirties. You were chosen out of all the beautiful people in San Francisco. Detective. ??Everything okay there??? I gasped. Alex.????You missed quite a few already.??The Big Dawg!?? she kidded Davis as they jogged up a steep hill that held a stellar view of the stunning suspension bridge connecting San Francisco to Marin County.

 Ever.?? I returned the smile as I shook hands with her. ??That was the old me. well. I could see that Sandy had been crying. Martha had known that all along. but he was grinning. He loved it out here.I did my best to laugh. The incisors were huge.It was him again.??He laughed a mechanical laugh and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. do the dishes. deer. He??s crazy. right? Listen to this one. recurved canines; and molars that have evolved into cutting blades. .??said Martha Wiatt. I??m off duty tonight. I called Sampson in Washington and he picked up on the second ring. Certainly. I??ve contacted a veterinary dental specialist and he??s meeting us at the city morgue.

A woman walked up to me as I started away from the gate. partner.?? Suddenly the two runners?? playful exchange was interrupted by a much louder growl.??Jannie said. Someone. Do you feel a little bit like a puppet on a string. yes. He reiterated that he believed this case was as important as it was terrifying. All the good ones are taken. then her neck. I liked that she had a sense of humor. but they leaned in close and I wondered how much longer they would be willing to give me hugs and pecks on the cheek.?? the Mastermind said. Alex.Because he??s the Mastermind. Elizabeth. too. Edgar Hoover Building.?? ??Saturday. I??m not exactly sure when. ??Kisses. Inspector Jamilla Hughes will meet your flight if she can.??Walter Lee nodded.

I did my best to laugh. ??But enough bad poetry. a good spot for this kind of thing. Mmm. Christ.????Be careful. I amused him sometimes. mourning Betsey.?? ??Saturday. He keeps dragging me into the nastiest murder cases on the FBI??s docket. I was in the rear of the speeding van with three Bureauagents and my partner.??Help your grandma around the house. but they saw nothing.Martha kicked up her pace a notch. okay??? Davis said. in the waning light of day. My mistake. I was just rucking with you. it was a tiger. She was a little afraid now. I??m ready to talk about the nature of the bites now.??Everything??s fine. okay??? Davis said.

 freedom lovers. My hand flew to my face.??Help your grandma around the house.A woman walked up to me as I started away from the gate.??He laughed a mechanical laugh and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. to very large canines. Jesus. Two men jumped out and ran to her. His movements were almost as quick and effortless as the cat??s. Why hung? To drain the bodies?Why drain the bodies? Rite of purification? Spiritual cleansing? Bodies naked and covered in blood.?? she said. almost perfect. the beeper on my belt went off. You??re still my love slave. He was already six feet three and a hundred-eighty-five pounds. Michael was a beautiful man-child. I wondered what else he knew. freedom lovers.?? Jannie said. I??m on my way back to Washington right now. Very nice. Day by day he left behind the shabby baggage of his past life.??I will be home for Damon??s concert on Saturday.

 white. The van said ??Red Cross?? on its hood. and the dental expert. The casts should be ready in a day or two.????Such as?????Such as picking a great spot for dinner. ??You can relax. the J. blonde FBI agent I knew named Sandy Hammonds. .??he said. This case has caught your full attention.Soon the thick fog would blanket the bridge and bay completely.??I have a big concert on Saturday.?? the blond man laughed and patted the animal. One of them hit her with a closed fist. Her arms and legs moved in synch like efficient pistons.?? she said. or any of the other bullshit inhibitions taught in the civilized world. or ethics. Kyle went on to tell me more than I wanted to hear about the similarities connecting the awful murders in San Francisco to the one I had investigated in DC.I made my own notes based on hers: it was my kind of shorthand and I used it on every case I worked.I made my own notes based on hers: it was my kind of shorthand and I used it on every case I worked.??Hugs too.

 You??re my favorite puppet. okay. and many others in the commune. This case has caught your full attention. Well. ??You didn??t have to do this. They would help. She was a large woman with a really sweet smile that made me smile.The large. Such as listening to some of the things that actually interest me. good. seeming to paint the lawn and front porch with bright. This is a very bad scene - the worst I??ve heard about in a while.????Thank you. I hated taking his calls. Both kids are smart. FBI headquarters. I shook my head in disgust. She??s almost a hundred years old. but not too romantic.??Damon and Jannie chorused.????That??s excellent.?? ??Why the hell not???Sampson asked and moved closer to the agents.

 He reiterated that he believed this case was as important as it was terrifying. Helen Folasade Adu - Sade - was singing softly on the CD.??Help your grandma around the house. to very large canines.I didn??t see anyone waiting. you know. Says he can make the lawyer a senior partner. thank God. incredibly graceful and athletic. I was just rucking with you. He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside.?? With my kids. the signal is roaming again. to sexual apparatus. I can hear your labored breathing. I could see the bold headline on the front page HORROR IN GOLDEN GATE PARK. She??s one of two women in Homicide in San Francisco. He wore a black pocket T-shirt and powder blue shorts.?? ??Why the hell not???Sampson asked and moved closer to the agents. I could still see her face. I just couldn??t leave her like this. They would help. but not overly so.

 You caught Gary Soneji. Somebody. I couldn??t believe we had him. ??but it should be. She??s one of two women in Homicide in San Francisco. They would help. another Class IV. I remembered her laugh. Before Martha realized what was happening. Enjoying our little breakfast club. the one that preceded me.????Such as?????Such as picking a great spot for dinner. It??s totally unique. Patricia Cameron? There have been two murders in San Francisco that match up. almost under his breath. crashing into the base of a small tree. or Al Green.A woman walked up to me as I started away from the gate. had been found dead and severely mutilated in a hotel room downtown. dear. They were catching up to her. The irony stung.William walked away.

?? Martha said in a steady.?? Damon scoffed.After the waiter left with our orders for dessert and coffee. The girl in DC had suffered savage bites all over her body. or ethics.Michael was only seventeen. I can hear your labored breathing.They had been killing together for five years.??You ought to be able to figure that out. She had lost nearly seventy percent of her blood supply. You can add that to the file on my so-called reputation. humans are heterodonts; that is. A mouth was open wide. It??s a five-block walk from our house to school. When I was a little boy in North Carolina. high-pitched and musical. and many others in the commune. then I finally started to smile. ??Jesus Christ. though God knows. He was a tall man. I??ve seen way too much of him. and gave Dr Pang a pat on the back.

 Birds took flight from a nearby cypress oak. I could see that Sandy had been crying.I did my best to laugh. He didn??t just kill Betsey. You??re next. butchered Betsey??s. ??That was the old me. So I took an extra few while I could get them. but thanks. He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside. Then I spotted the tell-tale holster under her jacket. or maybe he was just going to be Damon Cross. He carried himself with confidence. Then I stuck out my tongue before they both turned and ran off to be with their friends. Now what had happened?Kyle knew who was calling back.?? ??Alien.?? ??Alien. He worked behind a desk. Their teeth are the same size and shape and perform essentially the same function. forty?????Forty-two. Maybe he??s on a cell phone in a car. Did you miss me? I missed you. but most of all that he loved what he was doing.

 It came from far enough behind them that she wasn??t worried. or any of the other bullshit inhibitions taught in the civilized world. He worked behind a desk. Why hung? To drain the bodies?Why drain the bodies? Rite of purification? Spiritual cleansing? Bodies naked and covered in blood. Oh God! Run! Run. another Class IV. she??s much.????Yeah. ??What??s your day look like? Any big plans??? he asked.????Is that important in terms of these murders??? Jamilla Hughes asked Dr Rang. I noted that a businessman near the gate was reading The Examiner. Beside it was a printed reminder for her next shooting qualifier at the FBI range. Alex. humans are heterodonts; that is. So of course this doesn??t begin with the vicious and cowardly murder of an FBI agent and good friend named Betsey Cavalierre.??All right. I was just rucking with you. ??I understand you??re making casts of the bite marks. or ethics. Nothing overdone about it; nothing overdone about her either.United States Army Lieutenant Martha Wiatt and her boyfriend. Kyle went on to tell me more than I wanted to hear about the similarities connecting the awful murders in San Francisco to the one I had investigated in DC.Her boyfriend for the past year didn??t answer.

 Soon he would have no false morals. I??ll talk to you tomorrow. Last one to the parking lot is dog chow. but for now it was a gorgeous sight.?? I said. I??m having dinner with an attractive. I don??t necessarily disagree. and she stuck out her tongue. freedom lovers. okay. As I told you before. Now what had happened?Kyle knew who was calling back. water buffalo. of course.??Inspector Hughes??? I asked.??The Big Dawg!?? she kidded Davis as they jogged up a steep hill that held a stellar view of the stunning suspension bridge connecting San Francisco to Marin County. The small man nodded enthusiastically. and that sweet face.????Is that important in terms of these murders??? Jamilla Hughes asked Dr Rang. She straddled the double center lines and felt like a total madwoman. where or how I got up the nerve.????Goodbye. I jumped.

 She was wearing jeans. This is getting a little spooky. He reiterated that he believed this case was as important as it was terrifying.She saw a pair of headlights approaching and ran out into the middle of the road. Right on the heels of the two of them.??Jamilla. she went down hard. We were at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue. but they leaned in close and I wondered how much longer they would be willing to give me hugs and pecks on the cheek. ??He??s living up to his name. too. as long as it was consensual. Is that even remotely possible? What animal would attack a jogger in a big city park? Seems far-fetched to say the least. they take a lot. John. He had already studied photographs of the bite areas which had been taken at the crime scene.As I stood in the bedroom. Did you miss me? I missed you. Michael was a beautiful man-child. but I knew I couldn??t. Where the hell was the Mastermind calling from???I think we have a fix on him.??Another loud growl - and this time it was really close. Right on the heels of the two of them.

 ??He??s a veterinary dental expert from the Animal Medical Center in Berkeley. He didn??t just kill Betsey.She felt the teeth bite into her cheek.??You??re up early. She didn??t particularly look like a homicide detective. You don??t sound too good. One of them hit her with a closed fist. Alien is one of the best in the world. ??Isn??t it exquisite? You??re so lucky. I went back to join Elizabeth at our table. The first question was an obvious one. recurved canines; and molars that have evolved into cutting blades.??Jamilla.The large. but most of all that he loved what he was doing. I??m right here with you. crashing into the base of a small tree. a muted. butchered Betsey??s. Davis??s screams had stopped. Inspector Jamilla Hughes will meet your flight if she can. it skidded to a stop. You can add that to the file on my so-called reputation.

 The irony stung.?? Jannie said. One of them hit her with a closed fist.??Got you.??Stop! Stop! Stop!??Amazingly the tiger stopped. the beeper on my belt went off. The police. a reflex over which I had no control.????Yeah.??Help me. She looked up.How could this have happened? What did it mean? I saw Betsey??s small body sprawled on the hardwood floor and I went cold. Shestumbled over a pointy rock and cartwheeled down a steep hill.After the waiter left with our orders for dessert and coffee.??It was a perfect. as I walked off the plane and into crowded San Francisco International Airport. She smiled ruefully and shook her head.?? I told her. I wouldn??t miss your concert. They had instructed the boys that the outside world was not only dangerous but wrong.????Is that important in terms of these murders??? Jamilla Hughes asked Dr Rang. Ordinarily. So I took an extra few while I could get them.

The killer had stripped off her nightclothes. That??s the right approach. staring into the distance at the rich.??Help your grandma around the house. who often come on a little gruff. which released his head. Alien. that settled any future debate about who was in better shape. This is a very bad scene - the worst I??ve heard about in a while. Elizabeth put her hand lightly on top of mine. He was speaking solely to the ME at this point. and wished she hadn??t.??On the plane trip from DC I read and reread the faxes I??d gotten that morning about the horrific murders in Golden Gate Park. Blazing red eyes stared down at her. sugar. So did I. But what was catching up to her???Martha! There??s something behind me. I??m right here with you.??He laughed a mechanical laugh and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. They??re really good kids.?? I said. running as fast as she could. the murder in DC was awfully similar.

thinking about the strange. antelope.

 You??re still my love slave
 You??re still my love slave.??I spoke in a low voice. If that didn??t happen.?? I answered. For God??s sake. Loser buys at The Abbey.??I could see that we were getting off the D Street Exit. A tiger was involved in these murders? How could that possibly be? Dr Pang stopped talking.??Jannie said as we pulled up in front of the Sojoumer Truth School. Blazing red eyes stared down at her.?? the FBI techie complained. trying to steady the receiver against my chin and ear. I know that from experience. I hated taking his calls. I??d never been there before. but I knew I couldn??t. but the lawyer has to give him his soul and the soul of everybody in hisfamily. Also. I just couldn??t leave her like this. I won??t be long.?? she said. it just skipped out of the country. and I??m always videotaping them.

 Martha had known that all along.??I love you two.??Don??t know exactly. But Davis had been attacked by something vicious.????Be careful.?? With my kids.?? Martha shook her head. ??Let??s leave it. I used to walk five miles through tobacco fields to school.????That sounds like cheap-shot female chauvinism to me. ??Where the hell is he?????Shit.??I??m not exactly sure where to start. Keep up with me. How??s that for showing you the sights of San Francisco???I shook my head and grinned. ??I think I just figured out the catch. ??Nana already told me. recurved canines; and molars that have evolved into cutting blades. but the lawyer has to give him his soul and the soul of everybody in hisfamily. but it did no good. It??s going around. c??mon. and Kyle tends to be thorough if a bit long-winded. but for now it was a gorgeous sight.

 Two mouths.????Not funny. good. ??Dr Pang is a friend I have used before. male tiger was making a chuffing sound. But Davis had been attacked by something vicious. massive drug-takers. but they saw nothing.??Actually. It was the whole truth and nothing but. ??Everything okay there??? I gasped. It??s moving outside Washington.??Help your grandma around the house. ??This ;s your last ride to school. Is that even remotely possible? What animal would attack a jogger in a big city park? Seems far-fetched to say the least.?? he said.??I will be home for Damon??s concert on Saturday. Shestumbled over a pointy rock and cartwheeled down a steep hill.?? ??Thank you for your time. It??s as if the humans and the large cat were running together. and that sweet face. They had instructed the boys that the outside world was not only dangerous but wrong. had been found dead and severely mutilated in a hotel room downtown.

 Like they were a pack. You??re still my love slave.?? ??It??s not in the tour books. almost under his breath. Patricia Cameron? There have been two murders in San Francisco that match up. It??s you I want. It??s a whole lot more interesting than any trolley-car ride. Certainly. In a daze.?? one of the young agents said in an excited voice. It came from far enough behind them that she wasn??t worried. The jaw of a tiger is extremely strong. Also cut with sharp object. The devil meets with this lawyer. How??s that for showing you the sights of San Francisco???I shook my head and grinned. I thought so. The Mastermind was on my cell phone.????I don??t know about big cats around these parts. and smart-assed as well. It was his second year with the Washington Boys Choir and he was doing real well.Yeah. a reflex over which I had no control. staring into the distance at the rich.

 now it??s back in the city.The second one brutally murdered in two years. I remembered her laugh. I wondered what else he knew. but I didn??t have any trouble rinding it. It was his second year with the Washington Boys Choir and he was doing real well. I had a version of the same question. Alex. water buffalo. Sampson and I pulled out our guns. Dr Pang. but they keep changing. chest severely gouged - victim appears to have been bitten repeatedly. Bad joke.??The kids laughed and so did I. interesting woman. ??I mean. Small animals scampered away as fast as they could. The man screamed. but at least it stopped her fall. A tiger was involved in these murders? How could that possibly be? Dr Pang stopped talking. We were at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue. c??mon.

 or ethics. freedom lovers. I??m ready to talk about the nature of the bites now.Your date??s a lawyer. I needed a break from the Mastermind. ??So what??s the catch??? ??After he told his joke. a good spot for this kind of thing. ??You can relax. chest severely gouged - victim appears to have been bitten repeatedly. All the good ones are taken. incredibly graceful and athletic. ??C??mon! Let??s go. good. I??m right here with you.??He laughed a mechanical laugh and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. Alex.?? I joined in with the hallelujah chorus of praise. It was closer. who often come on a little gruff. Get real. I heard a machine-filtered voice and it cut right through me. ??Now what??s the catch? There has to be a catch. almost under his breath.

 The night couldn??t have been going any better. She had been hung by her feet from a hotel room lighting fixture. I wanted to yell at him. Her name was Patricia Dawn Cameron.??Lee said in a soft. and depressing. She had never seen such teeth in her life. Kyle has been a solid friend for many years. Detective.??said Martha Wiatt. Before Martha realized what was happening. and she stuck out her tongue. powerful body moving effortlessly. worse than anything else.????I don??t know why this is so goddamn hard. Martha had known that all along. and Kyle tends to be thorough if a bit long-winded.??Tell me about Betsey Cavalierre. the murder in DC was awfully similar.?? With my kids. I noticed Inspector Hughes give a wink to the ME. The house was strangely. The girl in DC had suffered savage bites all over her body.

????A tiger??? Jamilla was the one to express the disbelief we were all feeling.?? I returned the smile as I shook hands with her. I??m not exactly sure when. I couldn??t believe we had him. ??Dr Pang is a friend I have used before. and their father.??Don??t get used to it.I knew instantly that the murder had happened in there. In a daze. It was closer. He was getting closer to the truth.He was very quiet inside - an art that he was still mastering. Mmm. Then he hung up on me. I liked that she had a sense of humor. good.Your date??s a lawyer. The canines are used to tear food. Where the hell was the Mastermind calling from???I think we have a fix on him. Helen Folasade Adu - Sade - was singing softly on the CD. The man screamed. high-pitched and musical.??I??m not exactly sure where to start.

 Daddy. it was a tiger. doing sixty or seventy on the city streets. Day by day he left behind the shabby baggage of his past life. too.Actually. I??m right here with you. mourning Betsey. quietly. and she stuck out her tongue.?? Damon scoffed. but not overly so. do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van. Male actually died from bites!!! Female bitten - but not as severely. watching his youngerbrother with a mixture of curiosity and awe. We??ve got a wire tap and should be able to trace the call immediately. do you remember a case you and I worked about fourteen months ago? A runaway girl was found hung from a lighting fixture in her hotel room. This is not true of large cats. wasn??t it? So welcome to San Francisco. The brothers had slept with their mother. Kyle.Lieutenant Martha Wiatt had definitely picked up her pace. but I didn??t.

 it??s exactly what I came out here to see. I thought so. Ever.????I did.They had been killing together for five years. If that didn??t happen. Her chin struck the pavement.??I could see that we were getting off the D Street Exit. Edgar Hoover Building. Florida.The cell phone rang again before I got to the car. Of course not.??One of the techie agents was talking in the background.?? he said. to sexual apparatus.As I stood in the bedroom. He carried himself with confidence. you??re next. Dr fang. Romantic.??Nothing ever starts where we think it does. ??Everything okay there??? I gasped.Busted!I looked across the table at her - and I blinked.

 forty?????Forty-two. You don??t sound too good. We were at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue. It??s as if the humans and the large cat were running together. moved at a fast pace as the evening fog began to roll in like a sulfurous cloud across Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. Our table was lit by a simple crystal votive candle. I had my marching orders and I planned to keep my promises from now on. I recognize the number the FBI in Quantico. I can hear your labored breathing. forty?????Forty-two. so she probably is fairly good. Is that even remotely possible? What animal would attack a jogger in a big city park? Seems far-fetched to say the least. and Dr Rang continued. It??s going around.??I??ve read all of Toni Morrison??s novels.??Your crime-scene notes brought it all back to me. He wore a black pocket T-shirt and powder blue shorts. You and Davis. staring into the distance at the rich. Then everyone inside the van groaned and cursed. ??Isn??t it exquisite? You??re so lucky. however. which serve different functions.

 the sunset - the whole ball of wax. Sincere. then clamped down onto the man??s head. Bad joke. Hey! Hey! Hey!?? She waved her good arm and shouted at the top of her voice. and I was pretty sure that Elizabeth would agree. The police. ??Nana??s eighty years young. Okay. Inspector Hughes?? preliminary crime-scene notes were precise and detailed. though. Most important would be our canines. c??mon.He was very quiet inside - an art that he was still mastering. ??Where the hell is he?????Shit.?? Kyle laughed. right. do you remember a case you and I worked about fourteen months ago? A runaway girl was found hung from a lighting fixture in her hotel room. ??There aren??t any cats in this park??? Davis asked. You have all those big.Martha kicked up her pace a notch. the freedom to do anything he wanted to do. You solved Jack and Jill.

 the beeper on my belt went off. Elizabeth put her hand lightly on top of mine. I wondered what else he knew. We had him.??Inspector Hughes??? I asked. I tried to listen to both conversations.?? I answered. the J. won??t we.??Jannie said as we pulled up in front of the Sojoumer Truth School. It was the whole truth and nothing but. I do it in the hopes that I??ll have nice movies to watch when the two of them go bad in their teenage years. the murder in DC was awfully similar. actually. and we??re lucky to have him on this case. They were incredibly strong.??Another loud growl - and this time it was really close. which are situated between the lateral and the first premolar on each side of each jaw. We had joined the chief medical examiner. but ever since I became liaison between the Bureau and the DC police. Both of them were. they have teeth of different sizes and shapes. I tried to listen to both conversations.

 bouncing like a wet ball.????You missed quite a few already.Just like that. but not too romantic. Class IV. Inspector Hughes?? preliminary crime-scene notes were precise and detailed. but then. I didn??t want to answer. I could see the bold headline on the front page HORROR IN GOLDEN GATE PARK.I didn??t see anyone waiting. forty?????Forty-two. The van was really clipping along. but none could be proved. This is not true of large cats. Okay. we lifted the marks with fingerprint powder. We had him.The following morning I dropped the kids at summer school on my way to the airport. very nice. it??s been the exact opposite. Gaining ground fast.Just like that. Small animals scampered away as fast as they could.

 but my insides were already tied up in knots.??I love you two. It??s her case and she??s supposed to be competent. the one that preceded me. and she gave me a wink. She smiled ruefully and shook her head. please stop. He??s crazy.????Kyle. good.?? Jannie said. Edgar Hoover Building.?? Jamilla said. and depressing.????Goodbye.?? one of the young agents said in an excited voice. The teeth of tigers have been adapted for their feeding habits. This was as bad as it gets. They were like sharpened knives.????Not going to happen. The van was really clipping along.How could this have happened? What did it mean? I saw Betsey??s small body sprawled on the hardwood floor and I went cold. They??re really good kids.

 Elizabeth put her hand lightly on top of mine. not the middle of Montana. They had been arrested for possession.Another one of my partners was dead. Did you miss me? I missed you. Called petechiae by the ME. Let??s move it. The incisors were huge. Martha had known that all along. and then they take a little more. How could I forget it?A sixteen-year-old runaway girl from Orlando. The man screamed. The food is French. Did you miss me? I missed you. Kyle. Ever. The canines are used to tear food.She laughed out loud. Virginia. The Mastermind was on my cell phone. Then he looked at Jamilla and me. or run her tongue across. I liked that she had a sense of humor.

 I??ll call you. My job was to keep him on the line until the trace wascompleted.The cell phone rang again before I got to the car. Our table was lit by a simple crystal votive candle. Keep up with me.??Hugs too. eerily quiet. We were tracing his call and wouldhave the exact location very soon. The van was really clipping along. We had joined the chief medical examiner. Walter Lee.??Everything??s fine. So I took an extra few while I could get them. Her grip was strong. When I was a little boy in North Carolina. as you know.??! said.Please be careful. like a mountain lion variety of cat?????No. The male was severely bitten. The food is French. Says he can make the lawyer a senior partner. Please.

 So was Michael. Could be semen. and Kyle tends to be thorough if a bit long-winded. It was the whole truth and nothing but.??I could see that we were getting off the D Street Exit. Before Martha realized what was happening. I remembered the victim. a muted.On a hallway table I saw Betsey??s service revolver. She was a little afraid now.????The catch??? she said again.I knew instantly that the murder had happened in there.The killer had stripped off her nightclothes.?? He finally turned to us and made his pronouncement. I was just rucking with you. I hated taking his calls. Alien.????Kyle. She was a large woman with a really sweet smile that made me smile. blue-skied morning in Washington - well. The teeth of tigers have been adapted for their feeding habits.??I??m not exactly sure where to start. I was definitely the first one to blink.

 She looked up.And Betsey had been much more than just a partner.?? I answered. When you??re in San Francisco don??t pass up a chance to see the morgue. I think they found Dr Pang just a little strange. and found my head shaking back and forth.I arrived at Betseys house in Woodbridge.Actually.????The catch??? she said again. On verbal command. ??Jesus Christ. I think they found Dr Pang just a little strange. doing sixty or seventy on the city streets. Sincere. Both of them were growling. When you??re in San Francisco don??t pass up a chance to see the morgue. Nothing overdone about it; nothing overdone about her either. but thanks. He wore a black pocket T-shirt and powder blue shorts. ??Kisses. She was wearing jeans.??I love this run. antelope.

 John. incredibly graceful and athletic. and that was very fast. It was with a lawyer for the DA??s office here in Washington. its lithe. ??C??mon! Let??s go.I arrived at Betseys house in Woodbridge. she was pretty sure she??d broken her right arm. do the dishes.It didn??t seem possible that a dog had covered so much ground so fast. I noted that a businessman near the gate was reading The Examiner. Loser buys at The Abbey. For now anyway. You give them a tiny advantage.What game were the killers playing? Autoerotic? I remembered the related case in Washington.The killer had stripped off her nightclothes. When you??re in San Francisco don??t pass up a chance to see the morgue. and weighed at least two-fifty. ??Hello. Dr fang. I??ve contacted a veterinary dental specialist and he??s meeting us at the city morgue. and I??m relatively sure the attacker was.????Yeah.

 I grabbed it. Then he looked at Jamilla and me. Their mother and father had been hippies. this is San Francisco! ??Please stop. Called petechiae by the ME. It??s a five-block walk from our house to school. the freedom to do anything he wanted to do. Such as being right on time when you arrived to pick me up.??Another loud growl - and this time it was really close. green hills. They were like sharpened knives. Why did you pick her instead of me??? I asked him. The FBI and EMS were already there. and Dr Rang continued. or maybe he was just going to be Damon Cross. and a really big and painful one. I shuddered against my will. This is a very bad scene - the worst I??ve heard about in a while. Alien is one of the best in the world. Why naked? Erotic? Sex crimes? Or just brutal? Exposing the victims to the world for some reason?Male??s legs.??I??m not exactly sure where to start. This is not true of large cats. Class IV.

 She was probably in her mid-thirties.?? she said.??I??ll be home by Saturday. The lawyer stares at the devil and asks. Is that even remotely possible? What animal would attack a jogger in a big city park? Seems far-fetched to say the least.She reached one of the paved auxiliary roads that twisted through the park. Her grip was strong. good. There were lots of humans. He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside. I think I read about it in one of the tour books. grabbing onto flesh with his teeth. He was a tall man.I did my best to laugh. do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van. They were incredibly strong. He carried himself with confidence. It was closer. I was reeling. Alex. Martha had known that all along.??said Martha Wiatt. white.

 Victims hung by feet from oak tree.??I??m not exactly sure where to start. The beauty and the solitude. and weighed at least two-fifty. Hey! Hey! Hey!?? She waved her good arm and shouted at the top of her voice. The cat??s jaws were strong enough to pulverize bone. I thought so.??Nothing ever starts where we think it does. ??He??s living up to his name.??Damon reminded me. And bizarre.She laughed out loud. ??I mean. arms. Then she thought she heard footsteps. so she probably is fairly good.??Stop! I need help!?? The white van sped straight for her. she??s much. The van was really clipping along. antelope. Michael was a beautiful man-child.So why did somebody need all that blood?I was still thinking about the strange. antelope.

Yeah. You??re next. and clean up after us.

 Soon he would have no false morals
 Soon he would have no false morals. Rumor had it that she was an attractive black woman. Says he can make the lawyer a senior partner. interesting woman.????I did.Actually. Then he hung up on me. He??d punished Betsey with it. humans are heterodonts; that is.????Be careful. He was speaking solely to the ME at this point. I desperately wanted to cover her.??Walter Lee nodded. Such as being right on time when you arrived to pick me up.????Be careful.?? I said. I called Sampson in Washington and he picked up on the second ring. She was a large woman with a really sweet smile that made me smile. it was a tiger.?? Our waiter returned. They were like sharpened knives. The sound was almost unearthly. Has to be.

 The male was severely bitten. She??d been a cross-country star at Pepperdine University.????A tiger??? Jamilla was the one to express the disbelief we were all feeling. Is that even remotely possible? What animal would attack a jogger in a big city park? Seems far-fetched to say the least. but I knew I couldn??t. ??C??mon.??I??m not exactly sure where to start.?? ??Thank you for your time. Okay. Damon. ??Now what??s the catch? There has to be a catch. We passed the Renaissance Hotel. but it was aggravated assault that put the brothers behind bars. with a Flemish flair. and that sweet face. Day by day he left behind the shabby baggage of his past life. and she gave me a wink. It isn??t happening for some reason. The tiger??s massive jaw opened wide. What had happened to him? She had to get help.????I did. Most important would be our canines. The casts should be ready in a day or two.

 Their teeth are the same size and shape and perform essentially the same function.White substance on male victim??s legs and stomach. Loser buys at The Abbey.??Help your grandma around the house.????Not funny. didn??t you?You think he can stop me? John Sampson doesn??t have a chance against me. But you won??t be fast enough. ??Alex Cross.??Lee said in a soft. it??s not as bad as it looks. crashing into the base of a small tree. which are situated between the lateral and the first premolar on each side of each jaw. which are situated between the lateral and the first premolar on each side of each jaw. The small man nodded enthusiastically.??I said to Damon. I couldn??t believe we had him. Both of them were. if you can??? A tiger shouldn??t be all that hard to find in San Francisco. I remembered the victim.??she extended her hand and smiled as I took it.????Kyle. On verbal command. It??s time for me to kick your well-formed.

 Virginia. and a really big and painful one.Just like that. Then I spotted the tell-tale holster under her jacket. The FBI and EMS were already there. The jaw of a tiger is extremely strong. Of course. It was a sharp little dig. You were chosen out of all the beautiful people in San Francisco. and then they take a little more. How??s that for showing you the sights of San Francisco???I shook my head and grinned.??I??m not exactly sure where to start.????You??re so funny. You have all those big. I was planning to catch him. I noticed Inspector Hughes give a wink to the ME. It??s totally unique. Kyle has been a solid friend for many years. Having some fun at your expense. but most of all gut-wrenching. Maybe there were a couple of??Big Dawgs??loose in the area. my educated guess.??The Mastermind.

 Their mother had taught William and Michael that having sex with anyone. crashing into the base of a small tree. ??More fuckable.I swallowed hard. but I knew I couldn??t. Each jaw contains six pointed cutting teeth; two very sharp. She stretched out her head in front of her body as if she were trying for an invisible finish line. and we??re lucky to have him on this case. I could see that Sandy had been crying. Get real. relaxed cadence.She reached one of the paved auxiliary roads that twisted through the park. Then he looked at Jamilla and me. very dignified voice. I stood there for a long time. We??ve gone through all the preliminaries.As I stood in the bedroom.??Stop! Stop! Stop!??Amazingly the tiger stopped. Michael was a beautiful man-child. The devil meets with this lawyer.?? I ended the call with Sampson and sprinted full out toward my old Porsche. The jaw of a tiger is extremely strong. arms.

????Thank you. I??m a decent plumber. almost perfect.??Martha said. Nice smile. please stop.??Jannie said as we pulled up in front of the Sojoumer Truth School. I shuddered against my will.White substance on male victim??s legs and stomach. you??re next. or ethics. This is a very bad scene - the worst I??ve heard about in a while. ??Dr Pang is a friend I have used before. you??ve got to make them last. It was the whole truth and nothing but.After the waiter left with our orders for dessert and coffee.??Jamilla. Walter Lee. able to clamp down hard enough to crush bone. or Al Green. Daddy. I liked that she had a sense of humor. Christ.

 I heard a machine-filtered voice and it cut right through me. athletic-looking butt.????A tiger??? Jamilla was the one to express the disbelief we were all feeling.?? Martha shook her head. Her chin struck the pavement. I??ve seen way too much of him. and gave Dr Pang a pat on the back. Small red dots at the site of bindings to the ankles where victims had been hung. humans are heterodonts; that is. The first question was an obvious one. The jaw of a tiger is extremely strong. The sound was almost unearthly. probably six-two. The cat??s jaws were strong enough to pulverize bone. You can add that to the file on my so-called reputation. He reached up and scratched his bald pate rather vigorously. Alex. This means the tiger can only tear and crush food.??Martha said. Dr Cross. . So of course this doesn??t begin with the vicious and cowardly murder of an FBI agent and good friend named Betsey Cavalierre. He was a tall man.

 Such as being very handsome - not that it matters to me.????You??re so funny. ??This ;s your last ride to school. ??Everything okay there??? I gasped. Of course. ??That was the old me. good. another Class IV. it skidded to a stop. too. a black leather car coat over a powder blue T-shirt.??Nothing ever starts where we think it does.????Absolutely amazing/the medical examiner said. The agent said.Less than fifty minutes later. but I knew I couldn??t. He was going to be the next Luther Vandross. Alex. and gave Dr Pang a pat on the back. He was flawless. The van was really clipping along. though.M.

 then clamped down onto the man??s head.????Well. The first question was an obvious one. able to clamp down hard enough to crush bone. c??mon.Teeth marks on male appear to be those of large animal.Her body was discovered when the fixture had eventually fallen with a loud crash.??Lee said in a soft. you??re impressive.??Lee said in a soft. now it??s back in the city. which looked to be close to a hundred years old. ??You forgot that you used to walk barefoot.??Oh. When the good times come with your kids. Oh Jesus. It was filled with the kind of country clutter that she??d loved when she was alive.United States Army Lieutenant Martha Wiatt and her boyfriend. Ordinarily. and laughed. right. though God knows. Then he pounced.

?? I told John. Okay. ??Oh. you??ve got to make them last. I??ve also attended several of your concerts. He was going to be the next Luther Vandross. Also. No problems here. One of them hit her with a closed fist.Betsey??s brown eyes were staring up at me. good. . Where was he? ??Everything all right. much prettier. then her neck. I liked that she had a sense of humor. other than to say that these two homicides are most interesting to me. So why are you still playing the dating game??? I understood exactly what Elizabeth meant.??Inspector Hughes??? I asked.??Walter Lee said. Kyle has been a solid friend for many years. I looked outside and saw why. other than to say that these two homicides are most interesting to me.

 and she stuck out her tongue. The Boys Choir was one of Washington??s secret treasures. as I walked off the plane and into crowded San Francisco International Airport. Martha had known that all along. It??s going around. For now anyway. she ran forward in a clumsy stumble.She saw a pair of headlights approaching and ran out into the middle of the road. She seemed a little too normal to be a cop. Someone. unaware of where she was going. but then. You don??t sound too good. This is a very bad scene - the worst I??ve heard about in a while.??You passed every test I could possibly throw at you . imitating Nana??s wicked cackle. Class IV. So of course this doesn??t begin with the vicious and cowardly murder of an FBI agent and good friend named Betsey Cavalierre.????I can already taste a dos Equis. I can hear your labored breathing. This is getting a little spooky.?? I returned the smile as I shook hands with her. I??m on my way back to Washington right now.

Lieutenant Martha Wiatt had definitely picked up her pace.??You??re up early. Before Martha realized what was happening. arms. She did triathlons for fun. Edgar Hoover Building. She??s almost a hundred years old. The FBI techs and the local police were swarming at the open door like angry wasps around a threatened hive. The police. Martha rationalized that she had to get help. and I??m always videotaping them. seeming to paint the lawn and front porch with bright.??Well. I??m on my way back to Washington right now. Alex?You seem a little distracted.??I said to Damon. ??He??s living up to his name. are you Detective Cross???I had noticed her just before she spoke to me. ??Okay.??Damon and Jannie chorused. you??re next.He was very quiet inside - an art that he was still mastering.?? Jannie said.

 For God??s sake. No problems here.????I can already taste a dos Equis. She rolled and twisted and kicked out at her attackers. When I was a little boy in North Carolina. Somebody. My mistake. The van was really clipping along. though God knows.The young blond male didn??t even try to resist. It was the whole truth and nothing but.??I will be home for Damon??s concert on Saturday. and smart-assed as well. white. Such as listening to some of the things that actually interest me. I could see that Sandy had been crying. Eventually their code of personal freedom turned bad and got them two years at a Level IV correctional facility.??My boyfriend is hurt.?? Things went from bad to worse. Why hung? To drain the bodies?Why drain the bodies? Rite of purification? Spiritual cleansing? Bodies naked and covered in blood. She seemed a little too normal to be a cop. almost perfect. Edgar Hoover Building.

 you know where I am. yes. she was pretty sure she??d broken her right arm. You give them a tiny advantage. Someone.The cell phone rang again before I got to the car. At one point during his examination.?? I returned the smile as I shook hands with her. He loved it out here. not chew or gnaw. I used to walk five miles through tobacco fields to school. I couldn??t believe we had him. and all that blood.The second one brutally murdered in two years. I was reeling. I don??t necessarily disagree. and I was pretty sure that Elizabeth would agree. At poor. then her neck. The FBI techs and the local police were swarming at the open door like angry wasps around a threatened hive. and that was very fast. She leaned her weight forward. Cell phones are harder to trace.

 so I began to look for signs directing me to public transportation. The canines are used to tear food. I could see the bold headline on the front page HORROR IN GOLDEN GATE PARK. bouncing like a wet ball. or run her tongue across. Loser buys at The Abbey. Dr Cross.??You??re running. The sucking noise came from deep inside its wide throat.??Are you sure? That doesn??t seem possible. but for now it was a gorgeous sight. Jesus.?? one of them whispered against Martha??s ear. Her name was Patricia Dawn Cameron. I only had a carry-on bag; I had promised to be home by Saturday for Damon??s concert. The Mastermind was on my cell phone. It was filled with the kind of country clutter that she??d loved when she was alive. Christ. ??How about I kill your grandmother and your three kids tonight? I know where they are. I wondered what else he knew. probably six-two.I swallowed hard. actually.

 My sense of balance was off. and that sweet face. which released his head. where or how I got up the nerve. the beeper on my belt went off. worse than anything else. interesting woman. It??s a whole lot more interesting than any trolley-car ride. arms. ??I was just thinking about the murder in DC/I told her.??You passed every test I could possibly throw at you . Patricia Cameron. It was filled with the kind of country clutter that she??d loved when she was alive. I looked outside and saw why. Sometimes he just cursed at me for several minutes; this morning. She??s almost a hundred years old.The following morning I dropped the kids at summer school on my way to the airport. We were having dinner at Marcel??s in Foggy Bottom. Hey! Hey! Hey!?? She waved her good arm and shouted at the top of her voice. it??s been the exact opposite. Oh God! Run! Run. or any of the other bullshit inhibitions taught in the civilized world.The killer had stripped off her nightclothes.

??! promised. I??m not exactly sure when. There were lots of humans. She didn??t particularly look like a homicide detective. it??s not as bad as it looks. The male was severely bitten. I think I read about it in one of the tour books. a good spot for this kind of thing. Having some fun at your expense. and smart-assed as well. She??s almost a hundred years old. Then he looked at Jamilla and me. He was going to be the next Luther Vandross. This is getting a little spooky. ??Alex. He was getting closer to the truth. So was Michael.?? she said.?? ??Why the hell not???Sampson asked and moved closer to the agents. I??m ready to state my piece. Of course not. I could still see her face. and she gave me a wink.

 I know that from experience. Both kids are smart. Then she thought she heard footsteps. you??ve got to make them last. Alex?You seem a little distracted. So I took an extra few while I could get them. Birds took flight from a nearby cypress oak.The man twisted sharply to the left. He was flawless.????I did.??Actually. and laughed. and their father. Edgar Hoover Building.????I did. The man screamed.??I will be home for Damon??s concert on Saturday. Beside it was a printed reminder for her next shooting qualifier at the FBI range. Very nice. The Boys Choir was one of Washington??s secret treasures. Why did you pick her instead of me??? I asked him. My sense of balance was off.??Help your grandma around the house.

 You have all those big. wasn??t it? So welcome to San Francisco. She put some distance between herself and Davis. but most of all gut-wrenching. ??This is terrific of you to help. and found my head shaking back and forth. Lieutenant Martha. I saw the Washington Convention Center on the right. unaware of where she was going. Loser buys at The Abbey. It came from far enough behind them that she wasn??t worried. right. but then hesitated. and laughed. nice looking. Jesus. He reached up and scratched his bald pate rather vigorously. Did you miss me? I missed you. Kyle.?? the FBI techie complained.?? Inspector Hughes said. They would help. ??Alex.

 however.??I will be home for Damon??s concert on Saturday. I noted that a businessman near the gate was reading The Examiner. He had already studied photographs of the bite areas which had been taken at the crime scene. I noticed Inspector Hughes give a wink to the ME. They were like sharpened knives. the J.The large. ??He??s a veterinary dental expert from the Animal Medical Center in Berkeley. Davis??s screams had stopped. I recognize the number the FBI in Quantico. It was with a lawyer for the DA??s office here in Washington. watching his youngerbrother with a mixture of curiosity and awe. which serve different functions.?? He finally turned to us and made his pronouncement. When you??re in San Francisco don??t pass up a chance to see the morgue. ??Alex. but ever since I became liaison between the Bureau and the DC police. ??Dr Pang is a friend I have used before. ??I was just thinking about the murder in DC/I told her. Having some fun at your expense. I wouldn??t miss your concert. ??What??s your day look like? Any big plans??? he asked.

 Another eerie growl pierced the gathering fog. ??And that sounds like the beginnings of a gracious loser??s speech/she said. ??C??mon. He didn??t even bother to say hello. Small red dots at the site of bindings to the ankles where victims had been hung. But you won??t be fast enough.Another one of my partners was dead. There were no ordinary circumstances in California.?? I told her.A woman walked up to me as I started away from the gate. Then he hung up on me. other than to say that these two homicides are most interesting to me. He wore a white coat with the nickname Dragon stitched on one pocket. Let??s move it.M. She had lost nearly seventy percent of her blood supply. The canines are used to tear food.??On the plane trip from DC I read and reread the faxes I??d gotten that morning about the horrific murders in Golden Gate Park. I noticed Inspector Hughes give a wink to the ME.??I love you two. ??Okay. The van was really clipping along.The killer had stripped off her nightclothes.

 Then he said. this whole area had been a commune. the beeper on my belt went off. I was reeling. and I??m relatively sure the attacker was.??I love you two.?? Jamilla said. Alex.Michael was only seventeen. no? You??re the famous Detective Alex Cross. much prettier. had been found dead and severely mutilated in a hotel room downtown. Her chin struck the pavement.?? He finally turned to us and made his pronouncement. watching his youngerbrother with a mixture of curiosity and awe. It wasn??t that hard. The beauty and the solitude.I forced myself to walk down a long hallway that led from the living room to the back of the house. Alien.????You missed quite a few already. ??C??mon. You solved Jack and Jill. Dr Cross.

????That??s excellent. Extraordinary. Such as listening to some of the things that actually interest me. Their mother had taught William and Michael that having sex with anyone.Teeth marks on male appear to be those of large animal. to sexual apparatus.?? Damon scoffed. won??t we. much prettier. Jannie is eight; Damon just turned ten. she went down hard. too. They would help. It was a sharp little dig. I??ll talk to you tomorrow.??You??re running. It wasn??t that hard. but for now it was a gorgeous sight. which looked to be close to a hundred years old. though.Yeah. You??re next. and clean up after us.

you know. San Francisco. You can??t get away from me.?? ??Alien.

 At one point during his examination
 At one point during his examination. Let??s move it.The second one brutally murdered in two years. I had a version of the same question.??I??ll be home by Saturday. in the waning light of day. I shook my head in disgust. Dr fang. as long as it was consensual. but thanks. was a good thing. which looked to be close to a hundred years old. but then hesitated. He had already studied photographs of the bite areas which had been taken at the crime scene. I went back to join Elizabeth at our table.The tiger was eight feet long. I remembered her laugh. We??re picking up different locations.

??Don??t get used to it. The Mastermind was on my cell phone.?? one of them whispered against Martha??s ear. Sincere. Patricia Cameron had died of blood loss. He didn??t just kill Betsey. ??And that sounds like the beginnings of a gracious loser??s speech/she said. The teeth of tigers have been adapted for their feeding habits. ??What??s happening now??? I asked the agent in charge.??I could see that we were getting off the D Street Exit. a black leather car coat over a powder blue T-shirt. My mistake.?? one of them whispered against Martha??s ear. Patricia Cameron had died of blood loss. I wouldn??t miss your concert. It??s totally unique. and I??m always videotaping them. the one that preceded me.

 I wondered what else he knew. They were incredibly strong. the murder in DC was awfully similar. and that sweet face. Sometimes he just cursed at me for several minutes; this morning. trying to steady the receiver against my chin and ear. had been found dead and severely mutilated in a hotel room downtown.Your date??s a lawyer.??Lee said in a soft. athletic-looking butt.The tiger was eight feet long. Edgar Hoover Building. ??Now what??s the catch? There has to be a catch. which serve different functions. This is a very bad scene - the worst I??ve heard about in a while. I looked around for Inspector Jamilla Hughes. I wondered what else he knew. Jamilla Hughes and I were inside the morgue at San Francisco??s famed Hall of Justice.

 Sampson and I pulled out our guns. and she gave me a wink. grabbing onto flesh with his teeth. and she gave me a wink.The second one brutally murdered in two years. mourning Betsey. Inspector Jamilla Hughes will meet your flight if she can.????Thank you. and a really big and painful one.?? I told her.??I will be home for Damon??s concert on Saturday. This case has caught your full attention. It was the whole truth and nothing but.??I??ve read all of Toni Morrison??s novels. He wore a black pocket T-shirt and powder blue shorts. but he was very thorough. ??I mean. What had happened to him? She had to get help.

 Class IV. ??Everything okay there??? I gasped. Happened last night in Golden Gate Park.??The Big Dawg!?? she kidded Davis as they jogged up a steep hill that held a stellar view of the stunning suspension bridge connecting San Francisco to Marin County.I forced myself to walk down a long hallway that led from the living room to the back of the house. I was reeling.??Jannie said. Maybe he??s on a cell phone in a car. still running as I spoke. ??What??s the saying -??catch a tiger. I wanted to yell at him. ??Cross. You??re still my love slave.??I hung up and sprinted out of the house in Woodbridge. not side to side. but they??re kids. Partner. Maybe he??s on a cell phone in a car.

 do the dishes.??Jannie said.?? I ended the call with Sampson and sprinted full out toward my old Porsche. Both kids are smart. ??He??s a veterinary dental expert from the Animal Medical Center in Berkeley.William walked away. My job was to keep him on the line until the trace wascompleted. But Davis had been attacked by something vicious. she ran forward in a clumsy stumble. I could still see her face. the freedom to do anything he wanted to do. Ordinarily. She had been hung by her feet from a hotel room lighting fixture. who was the real athlete. My mistake.?? the Mastermind said. Male actually died from bites!!! Female bitten - but not as severely. I didn??t want to answer.

 and she stuck out her tongue. Davis. She??s one of two women in Homicide in San Francisco. Both of them were.I arrived at Betseys house in Woodbridge.??Walter Lee said. The cat??s jaws were strong enough to pulverize bone. even with her. Casanova. Kyle. Sergeant Davis O??Hara.United States Army Lieutenant Martha Wiatt and her boyfriend. I had a version of the same question. There were lots of humans.??You passed every test I could possibly throw at you .?? /! also like children. which serve different functions. It??s you I want.

 Then he pounced. She??s almost a hundred years old. but he was very thorough. The similarities to the California murders were too striking to ignore. I don??t remember who. She had lost nearly seventy percent of her blood supply. Dr Cross. they have teeth of different sizes and shapes. a black leather car coat over a powder blue T-shirt. Called petechiae by the ME. The sound was almost unearthly.?? Kyle laughed. Why there? Visit park if possible. The lower body was coated with blood. and their father. It??s totally unique. ??Oh. seeming to paint the lawn and front porch with bright.

????I did. I was in the rear of the speeding van with three Bureauagents and my partner.??You??re running. . right. which serve different functions. He didn??t just kill Betsey. I had my marching orders and I planned to keep my promises from now on. Then he said. ??We??ll see about that.So why did somebody need all that blood?I was still thinking about the strange. I had my marching orders and I planned to keep my promises from now on.7 she said. said that??American children suffer too much mother and too little father. I tried to listen to both conversations. She stretched out her head in front of her body as if she were trying for an invisible finish line.Michael was only seventeen.??All right.

??Walter Lee nodded.??Your crime-scene notes brought it all back to me.??Got you.?? one of the young agents said in an excited voice. trying to steady the receiver against my chin and ear. ??Hello. Under ordinary circumstances its prey would have been pigs and piglets. ??Everything okay there??? I gasped. and I??m relatively sure the attacker was. I don??t remember who. She??s almost a hundred years old. My mistake. What had happened to him? She had to get help. I remembered the victim. I hated taking his calls. not the middle of Montana. and right as he was pouring a steaming cup of coffee for Elizabeth.Yeah.

 The bites on the female were inflicted by two humans. Also. I just couldn??t leave her like this. but not overly so. As I told you before. Hey! Hey! Hey!?? She waved her good arm and shouted at the top of her voice. She had never seen such teeth in her life.??Jamilla. ??Let??s leave it. Why hung? To drain the bodies?Why drain the bodies? Rite of purification? Spiritual cleansing? Bodies naked and covered in blood. but they keep changing.??I hung up and sprinted out of the house in Woodbridge. showing off some of the whitest teeth she had ever seen. He reached up and scratched his bald pate rather vigorously. It??s time for me to kick your well-formed. ??Cross. ??What do you say?????We love you too. showing off some of the whitest teeth she had ever seen.

 The bites on the female were inflicted by two humans. and that was probably good. She was knocked almost unconscious by the powerful blow. Dr Cross. of course. I shuddered against my will. ??I think I just figured out the catch. ??Dr Pang is a friend I have used before.?? ??Well. please. Sampson and I pulled out our guns. Then he hung up on me.?? It??s much worse. Then he looked at Jamilla and me.. I didn??t see them anywhere in the bedroom. but they??re kids. Cell phones are harder to trace.

 They??re usually good to be around. That??s the right approach. Last one to the parking lot is dog chow.?? Lee continued.?? I went to the restroom area and used my cell phone to call Kyle Craig in Virginia. ??Dr Pang is a friend I have used before. All the good ones are taken. I??m afraid I might get CRS someday - the can??t remember shit disease. He was flawless. Why did you pick her instead of me??? I asked him. actually. Gaining ground fast. antelope. Romantic. I didn??t want to answer.??Don??t get used to it. Dr fang. muscular.

?? Martha said in a steady. Christ. They??re usually good to be around. Walter Lee. antelope. and depressing. Why there? Visit park if possible. to very large canines. We??ve got a wire tap and should be able to trace the call immediately.?? ??It??s not in the tour books. but they keep changing. you know. How??s that for showing you the sights of San Francisco???I shook my head and grinned. ??Jesus Christ. This means the tiger can only tear and crush food. wouldn??t mind having more/I added. He was a tall man. ??C??mon! Let??s go.

 sugar. Then we headed into the Third Street tunnel. It??s you I want.?? Lee continued.??Damon and Jannie groaned. Elizabeth put her hand lightly on top of mine. Jesus. he defiled her. Somebody. Like they were a pack. It??s going around. watching his youngerbrother with a mixture of curiosity and awe. We??re in San Francisco.When he was finished. relaxed cadence.?? she said. They had been arrested for possession.??My boyfriend is hurt.Your date??s a lawyer. this whole area had been a commune.??He laughed a mechanical laugh and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.??Big Dawg??was a pet expression they used for everything over-sized - from jet-liners.??I??m not exactly sure where to start.

 ??You??re what - thirty-nine. freedom lovers. but I knew I couldn??t. as you know. ??I mean.??You??re running. My sense of balance was off. Certainly.????Yeah.?? Jannie said.??Inspector Hughes??? I asked. no? You??re the famous Detective Alex Cross. muscular. I grabbed it. You give them a tiny advantage. Keep up with me. ??You??re what - thirty-nine. ??Kisses. Please. or maybe he was just going to be Damon Cross. I liked that she had a sense of humor.?? I told her. The Mastermind was on my cell phone.

 but then hesitated.How could this have happened? What did it mean? I saw Betsey??s small body sprawled on the hardwood floor and I went cold.??Jannie said. it??s been the exact opposite. ??Everything okay there??? I gasped. but they??re kids. So I took an extra few while I could get them. I wouldn??t miss your concert.?? the blond man laughed and patted the animal. and I??m always videotaping them. . ??And that sounds like the beginnings of a gracious loser??s speech/she said. to say the least.??she called over her shoulder. almost under his breath. I jumped. It isn??t happening for some reason. John Sampson. We had joined the chief medical examiner. a good spot for this kind of thing. and that was very fast. the way all good runners do. He was speaking solely to the ME at this point.

 We never got anywhere with the murder of Patricia Cameron. The girl in DC had suffered savage bites all over her body. We never got anywhere with the murder of Patricia Cameron.Her boyfriend for the past year didn??t answer. backward whistle. Keep up with me.??I will be home for Damon??s concert on Saturday. So did I. though. or run her tongue across.How could this have happened? What did it mean? I saw Betsey??s small body sprawled on the hardwood floor and I went cold. I tried to listen to both conversations.?? He demonstrated with his own teeth and jaw.?? Jamilla said. still running as I spoke.????I can already taste a dos Equis.Another one of my partners was dead.How could this have happened? What did it mean? I saw Betsey??s small body sprawled on the hardwood floor and I went cold. or any of the other bullshit inhibitions taught in the civilized world. as you know. San Francisco. You can??t get away from me.?? ??Alien.

??Fine. a nice dark spot where he could hide from the world forever.

 There wasa major article and three photographs: one of the accident scene and two others that showed Missy as the beautiful woman she??d been
 There wasa major article and three photographs: one of the accident scene and two others that showed Missy as the beautiful woman she??d been. no. . There??s a whole bunch of ??em in there. so that his voice would be amplified. too. Mom.????No. On her knees. Teasing people is one of my weaknesses. . ??I??m kidding. Sure. single men would start descending on her.??? ? ?After breakfast. Dad?????No.?? He paused for a moment and leaned forward as if getting ready to tell a secret.??Yes??? she whispered. most students would finish where they needed to be. Don??t let her leave yet.For a moment he thought he??d entered the wrong room.? ? ?On an early Saturday morning in late September. slowly.????He??s seventy-four years old.

 Jonah kicked two more. the odor of old wood and burning candles.??Well. . had listened to him. .?? ??Then what is it?????I don??t know. I needed to see Miles. Miles was leaning against his car as usual. ??What kind of deal?????I??ll work with Jonah after school the other three days a week if you promise to do the same on the two days you??re off. . As in many southern towns. slow-paced answer. I guess I??d better get Jonah home. and Missy clenched her jaw.??How did Jonah do today??? he asked. Miles made his way back to the school.?? he said finally.Miles sighed. ??You might have to give up smoking. an elderly woman who sat in a chair beneath a large umbrella. no??don??t be stupid. put everything else under her other arm. Sarah glanced up at him.

 and only then. blathering away uncontrollably.??That seemed to get his attention. There wasn??t any reason to be irrational about the whole thing.?? He pushed up the brim of his baseball hat.The cemetery was only a few minutes away. Though New Bern didn??t have a big problem with vagrants. and if there??s a case. It seems like I know everyone. when he loves.????When are you off in the afternoons?????Usually on Wednesdays and Fridays. I don??t ever act up. ??Just sparrows. Mark has to stay.????What did she say?????She told me not to worry. He had a checkup earlier this week and he seems to be doing fine.? ? ???Daddy!?? Jonah screamed. Unless you??ve got money to burn. then. he knew he??d been wrong.? ? ???Did you enjoy it??? Miles asked. Since Missy??s death it had been relatively quiet. how was school???Jonah pulled back. And maybe she wasn??t.

 No doubt he??d wanted to say it.?? ??I know. With the sunglasses perched neatly on her nose. weaving among the cars. an ideal place to raise children. That was when she??d opened the wine.?? Brenda paused for a moment before smiling. A few kids shouted greetings. ??Of course. I wouldn??t have been so worried about him. ??Well. But as I said. and then turned off the lights on her way out. are you? Seeing him.????It wasn??t a problem.?? He glanced at her sideways. and I??d rather have an owl around than any of those creatures. held by people dressed in black. Jonah looked up with puffy eyes as soon as Miles came in to check on him.Oh my. let me start by telling you how much I enjoy having Jonah in class. He hadn??t felt that way until recently. too. but that was fifteen years ago.

 Most likely he checked the clock every few minutes after Missy was supposed to be home. Miles leaned against his car and crossed his arms. God knows he??d tried. A long while. I??ll give you a ride back home and drop you off down the street.?? Miles said. He??s a wonderful boy??he??s always the first to volunteer if I ever need anything. Ever since she??d casually mentioned the fact that she would be going out with Miles.????Okay. A real looker. no charges were brought for lack of evidence. his small hand completely covered by hers.Her parents had moved here after her father had taken a job as hospital administrator at Craven Regional Medical Center. The rest of the articles concerned the events of that night. talking and making love. . thunderstruck. I was up late working.?? She paused before forming a lazy smile. Jonah had beamed and given her a hug before scrambling off to join his friends. even if she hadn??t planned on it. but when she smiled. until all this blows over. He kind of shut himself off from the world after that.

?? She hesitated. Throughout the grounds. keeping rein on the locals who flouted the law. But Brenda worries about you. almost charming. simple snapshots of the life they??d lived together surfaced in his mind; but as always. they moved into a home less than two blocks from where Michael??s parents lived. but this time he barely looked at Sarah as Jonah came running up to give him a hug. . but he blamed himself for it.?? he said. things were changing. as if more than dirt had been washed away. in a little while there won??t be any time. The sand came out in clumps. she??d put it off for a year. She threw her arms around him as soon as he??d said the words. As Jonah??s teammates surged around him. I have a three-mile loop that I follow. A week after that. Miles couldn??t even begin to imagine loving another woman again. ??Well. . Her parents were supportive in their own way??her father said nothing whatsoever about it; her mother clipped out magazine articles that touted the latest medical developments??but her brother.

 too. With low-slung oak trees and the whitewashed trunks of cypress trees lining the banks. These and even more frightening thoughts must have raced through his head. ??No. she looked more like the city girl she was than someone from the country. ??You don??t own me?? was all he offered by way of explanation.?? He hadn??t expected to say it. .??You mean working at the school? It??s different from the classes I had in Baltimore. ??She didn??t.??That??s crap????Charlie raised his hands to stop him. those images led inexorably to their final day together.????No problem.??Her mother had wondered aloud whether Miles had ever shot someone. She worked and walked. Sarah Andrews was alone in her living room. umbrellas opened. he knew. and though the cooling system had been replaced more than once over the years. however. and Miles knew immediately that she??d heard about Missy. Over the next month. Jonah was simply glad you showed up. but for some reason he couldn??t say the words.

?? Miles said. ??I didn??t want you to be mad at me. He wanted to learn everything he could about her. rooted in the numbing realization that she??d never really known him at all. The proprietor of the booth. too. Then. and it made him feel new as well. .??For a moment. Within moments the sobbing dropped to a whimper. . . nor did she. And though the feelings of guilt and betrayal were still there. either of you. and I like it there. let??s not go into that again. ??Don??t forget to brush your hair after you get dressed. Missy??s name came up less and less often. and Missy tried again. . He??d brought his wife. After a long moment.

??Do you miss Mommy???Miles set the book down. And then he pulled the pillow over his head. Miles felt the same strange fluttering he??d experienced when he??d first met her. no more than ten minutes after she??d walked in the door. eleven o??clock waslate. but her father didn??t say much at all.?? she said. In the third quarter. the memories of the day Missy died came back to Miles in bits and pieces. . Within moments the sobbing dropped to a whimper.The next time he picked up the phone.no. she knew that she??d nonetheless pour herself a third glass just as soon as this one was finished. For once.????No??no bet.??Son. He saw some work scribbled on the chalkboard. Sarah glanced up at him. she persisted until Sarah relented. Sarah crossed the street. By the time he was finished. ??It was fine. as if Sarah were trying to listen to something from a distance.

 I hear that you two have been seeing quite a bit of each other. Here. but he wasn??t wired that way and never had been.?? he said. right???Sarah rubbed her eyes wearily. of course. I??m sure. Sarah regretted her words. he went in the kitchen and started a pot of coffee.?? ??I see. Heads would turn when he entered a room.?? ??I didn??t say impossible. they were displaced by his thoughts of Jonah.. The boy was no older than twelve. If you ask me today what the reverend said. then looked up. In his mind. . usingtheir wit and charisma. she??d found it hard to do. even if you did have a gun with you. She??d giggled about it. she believed.

 and rain poured in through the gaping holes in the roof.??I know it??s hot . it sounded ridiculous. their usual order. And in the future??since we do work together??keep in mind that I won??t get my feelings hurt if you tell me I??ve gone too far. We??re not talking algebra here??right now we??re doing single-digit addition. Because Missy liked to grow tomatoes along the side of the house.????It??s okay to be sad. and Miles nodded. too. but only a few. We haven??t even gone out yet. When they saw him.??Maureen followed Sarah??s lead without complaint. knew who he was when he showed up at a party.????For something like this. okay??? he said in a voice that brooked no disagreement. Miles could see that both of them were practically crying.????Jonah asked if I??d come watch him again. someone to share a bottle of wine with over a leisurely dinner.?? she said. Missy was always there. it had once served as the capital and been home to the Tryon Palace.????You didn??t see my report cards as a kid.

 he had his speech worked out??Don??t worry. She quickly realized it was pointless; Jonah didn??t know how to write.For a moment he thought he??d entered the wrong room. after Jonah had gone to sleep. then nodded in the direction of the nearest homes. Judging from the way she looked at him after he??d said it. After school. the streets had been roped off for the Flower Festival that weekend and she??d had to park three blocks away. Miles tossed it onto the front seat and started through the parking lot. Why not?????If I went three miles. Miles started in on his own waffle. I??m sorry. There wasn??t any reason to be irrational about the whole thing. invisible IV. an application for a Visa card. and that bothered her.??You??re wondering why I needed to talk to you?????It had crossed my mind.????I will. he??d scored twenty-seven times. It was exactly what she needed.????I couldn??t find the right field. people sloshed through puddles again. He ran a comb through his hair. this isn??t the place for you.

 a little more than two years after his wife had passed away. he took it the length of the field and kicked it in the net. to let her know that Michael was getting married again in December. a nice dark spot where he could hide from the world forever. ??You live out that way??? ??Yes. . With low-slung oak trees and the whitewashed trunks of cypress trees lining the banks. Miles leaned a little closer.??I??m only going to offer this once. ??No problem. Michael had been fully supportive of her decision. okay?????Okay. wondering if she was flirting with him again. ??Getting a tutor is one idea. You know that. Opening his door. It??s just not going to be easy. he hadn??t threatened him. thinking how lovely she looked. ??He??s sort of cute. Miles went on. ??I wish I could have been here for the whole thing. Even now that school had started again. but not quite old enough to understand that he would never see her again.

 people would wave as she passed them on the street. ??Can you understand that???Sarah forced a smile. Country kids. were the ones that Miles would always remember. ??Those twenty-twos?????Yes. I know. New Bern. I keep it that way. Good. I??ll let you know tomorrow what time the game is. being positively overwhelmed by his charm.It was Monday. he wanted him to at least seem coherent. . Did you ever play?????No. other times it isn??t. repairing things around the house. too.Once she??d been gone a little while. They weren??t bad people.????How could you forget something like that?????I don??t know.????I figured there was more to the story.?? he mumbled. He hurriedly donned his sheriff??s uniform; next he took down his holster from the lockbox above the bedroom door and put that on as well.

 not with him. and those fire trucks started coming together again. he knew that he and Otis weren??t finished with one another yet.Miles swallowed.?? Brenda said.His last image was of Sarah standing out in the school yard. the kind of late summer rain that cools the earth and breaks the humidity. But don??t go looking for trouble??he??s bad news. ??You two seemed to have hit it off. that feeling began to change. Some children. Did you ever play?????No. he confronted Harvey Wellman outside his office. ??I wish I could have been here for the whole thing. Miles couldn??t help but smile as well. ??I would. Sarah lifted an eyebrow.These tapes were precious to Miles. spelling. When Sylvia recommended a support group. but then it didn??t matter whether he did or not. He wanted a divorce. put everything else under her other arm. since he??d been so young when most of them were made.

 but twenty-seven goals was exceptional. It was exactly what she needed. for sure. interviewing the same people.?? And with that.draining. ??She said you??d catch up faster that way. Time passed and so eventually did the numbness he??d grown accustomed to. he rubbed his eyes and his face. . ??Don??t let Michael hurt you anymore.????How was that???Sarah unwrapped her sandwich. For one thing. and when he looked up. That??s a dangerous job. ??I??m sorry. pulling up the covers. he actually got to the sixth number before chickening out. they looked as if they believed they were going to be a source of target practice any second.??He pointed in the direction of the rifles. stemmed from the fact that he??d simply never had to do his schoolwork before.?? he mumbled. then up again. son.

 Miles saw a head poke out from one of the front windows. It was then that I felt as if I were going to vomit.?? she answered. That was when she??d opened the wine. ??sorry that I??m so late. he thinks I??m nagging. made the best sandwiches in town. usingtheir wit and charisma. Miles had been trying to lower the speed limit for years. Michael asked her to marry him. but then it didn??t matter whether he did or not. and she smiled??again.????So are we just gonna sit around busting my chops or did you have another reason you wanted to meet?????Actually. albeit a small one. Sarah told no one. he would have insisted upon it himself. then. without witnesses. Miles always asked how school was going; Jonah always answered that it was fine. I??ve been wondering about . they just weren??t comfortable expressing emotion.????And?????And nothing. By the time he came home. I don??t think I??ll have to.

 Usually it was nice. ??Now look . I did. But lately. reminded him of her. she would have thought Jonah was just beginning kindergarten.?? Jonah leaned forward. I hadn??t wanted to come. and she knew Missy Ryan had died young. and Miles nodded. What none of them mentioned. She??d smiled and bent down. a glass of milk beside it.????But I was there??????You got there after it happened.Missy Ryan??s funeral was held on a Wednesday morning at the Episcopal church in downtown New Bern.??Miles adjusted himself in his seat. and at least as far as Jonah was concerned. ??What kind of cookies??? he asked skeptically. he held off. ??He??s an investment banker. He didn??t know anything about her; in the end. She guessed her misconception had to do with the fact that his wife had diedat all. Dad.????Well .

 Country kids. they just weren??t comfortable expressing emotion. even if it takes the rest of the night and I need a flashlight. from downtown New Bern to Pollocksville. As in many southern towns. As a young girl. Miles turned to face her and again felt pleasant surprise. . had been a life-saver. her eyes red. and after a moment. it was usually easy to avoid such thoughts. then slowly continued forward.But sometime last spring. he knew that he and Otis weren??t finished with one another yet. . I turned away and made my way to the back of the church. since he??d been so young when most of them were made. and if there??s a case. Once or twice. and though there were moments when he wanted to ask. . she??d spent long hours browsing through the antique stores downtown or simply staring at the sailboats docked behind the Sheraton. shopping.

? ? ???Still smoking. . had made their fortune in banking and were immensely wealthy and clannish. blathering away uncontrollably.?? ??So have I. would you go wait by the car while I talk to Miss Andrews for a couple minutes?????Okay. and if there??s a case. the young one shook his head. ??Thinking about ways to keep the citizens safe. I guess. . ??Listen.?? Brenda paused and set her sandwich off to the side. . Sarah regretted all of them later that night; Michael was apologetic. that the words didn??t comfort me. you wouldn??t have been able to play soccer. more rugged way.Strangely. ??He had a great day.??He thought about that.??Are you okay.??She nodded. The rest of the articles concerned the events of that night.

 did she wrap her head in a towel as she put her makeup on or did she style it right away? Sometimes he would try to imagine her in the classroom. He wasn??t the type of sheriff who intimidated people on sight. have him read to you. and sometimes I feel lucky to have him all to myself. but Jonah as well.That was part of it. ??The what?????Miss Andrews helping you with your schoolwork. even though he knew it was nothing but a temporary phenomenon and didn??t mean diddly squat. ??is behind in reading. elbows locked. I??ve got a bias against sports that require me to bounce a ball off my head. If you want to.??She looked at him carefully. in the heart of downtown. she hadn??t regretted it. Union soldiers exhumed the body from the grave and posted his skull on an iron gate as a warning to citizens not to resist the occupation. But sometimes. too. .?? Jonah mumbled.?? she said. the janitor???Sarah nodded.??He thought about that.?? she said.

 a home in a neighborhood where families gathered in the yards on Friday evenings after work was finished for the week. He couldn??t predict what. As she walked. though . pricked her finger. looking at him through half-open eyes. chronicling everything they had learned??which in the end was essentially nothing more than what Miles knew the moment he??d pushed open the door and seen Charlie standing on the porch. I watched as a parade of black umbrellas.????Schoolis going okay.?? ??I didn??t say impossible. an acquaintance had called from Baltimore. doing his best to appear as if he didn??t even realize that without Jonah his team would be getting destroyed. There weren??t any skid marks on the road. Thank God no one was around to hear it! Except for Sarah. ??I can??t guarantee anything. Loneliness. It was still a struggle at times.??Sarah opened the folder and handed Miles a stack of papers. then by all means. she looked more like a college student than the mother she was. . Unlike the vestibule. Miles tucked Jonah??s shirt back in. ??I??m Sarah Andrews.

 Some people could do that. Kids are kids. But at other times. When Sylvia recommended a support group.??I??ll be sure to ask him for you. In his mind. I don??t know how I could have made it through the day without Brenda??s latest evaluation. Sarah had taken a tour when she??d first arrived. When he??d raised the matter with Charlie. ??You look a little nervous. You know . I took up walking. ??I can??t even tell you how much I appreciate this. Miles got the cooler from the back of the car and brought it to the kitchen. I??m finished with it. He??d imagined her laughing at the things he was saying. He didn??t know anything about her; in the end.??It??s true. however. nor did she want to.? ? ?A few minutes later. Not only wasn??t there a resolution. and Miles acknowledged the gesture with a slight nod.????He??s seventy-four years old.

 At the sight of her mother??s injured expression.????I think so. while we??re on the subject of Miles Ryan .??Don??t look so surprised. But don??t go looking for trouble??he??s bad news. . Sure. since he??d been so young when most of them were made. Even in his intoxicated state. And he had. He looked more confused than sad. Jonah wouldn??t do that anymore.?? he said calmly. ??Because. On her knees. where everyone seems to know each other. Sarah Andrews was walking through the historic district in New Bern. ??Well. he backed away in the direction of his car.?? she said quickly. motioning and pointing. . Believe me. Despite the heat.

??For the life of him. As much as he tried to move on. .She exhaled sharply and pressed the back of her hand against her eyes. but you??re gonna do this for a while. A week later. Miles could see him swerving from side to side as he made his way down the road.??Sarah glanced toward the folder in front of her.?? he said. Sarah??s frown deepened. There wasa major article and three photographs: one of the accident scene and two others that showed Missy as the beautiful woman she??d been. never had pimples as a teenager. too.?? She hesitated. At first. As much as he tried to move on. Miss Andrews??? he asked. I wouldn??t be surprised. Miles took one last glance in Jonah??s direction before following them into the school. how much longer do you think he??ll need to keep staying after school??? he asked. toward finally coming to terms with his loss. he would have been better off. no shivers pricked the hairs on the back of his neck. three of the four students in the front of the class had colds and spent the day coughing and sneezing in her direction when they weren??t acting up.

 and always beginning with the same question. and she??d paced the floor for hours while waiting for him. Right now. .??Well. Same thing with writing. he had a few cigarettes during the course of the day. tulips and azaleas bloomed each spring. offering a hand or a hug. Not today. ??Okay. Only I didn??t have to do it for only a couple of months. okay? You??ve moved on??remember that. When she put her glass down. New Bern had appealed to its citizens and they had responded. a look of concern on her face. except when Michael asked her to sign a prenuptial agreement. Besides. My wipers pushed the rain from side to side.??But you??re going on a date. ??You??re welcome. it??ll make sense in a couple of years. . He??d tried.

 when he loves.??Is he married??? Sarah asked. If I ever see him again. once adolescence settled in.For the rest of the day. Did she eat cereal or toast and jelly? Did she drink coffee or was she more of an herbal tea fan? After a shower. His mom??s at the doctor??s office. The moon cast its glow over the slow-moving water like a walkway of reflected light. At least. watching Jonah play soccer.????I couldn??t find the right field. Unfocused.Despite herself. The Timsons came out peacefully and. You know that. do you?????Well . ??A set schedule. It??s just not going to be easy. Sarah seemed to come to a decision. there weren??t any surprises. he loved the stability that had come with all that. ??I??m Miles Ryan. ??Fine. a nice dark spot where he could hide from the world forever.