Tuesday, July 26, 2011

her case and she??s supposed to be competent.

 Then he said
 Then he said.?? ??Why the hell not???Sampson asked and moved closer to the agents.?? Things went from bad to worse. you know where I am. in the waning light of day. Her name was Patricia Dawn Cameron. We never got anywhere with the murder of Patricia Cameron. but they leaned in close and I wondered how much longer they would be willing to give me hugs and pecks on the cheek. ??Get the hell out of here!?? Adrenaline charged through her. She had never seen such teeth in her life.??Stop! Stop! Stop!??Amazingly the tiger stopped. had been found dead and severely mutilated in a hotel room downtown. but my insides were already tied up in knots. well.?? ??Well.?? I answered.?? I said before I let them go off to school.??She truly does. Why naked? Erotic? Sex crimes? Or just brutal? Exposing the victims to the world for some reason?Male??s legs. The beauty and the solitude.?? Damon scoffed.????You??re so funny. The sucking noise came from deep inside its wide throat.

 I can cook if I have to. Hey! Hey! Hey!?? She waved her good arm and shouted at the top of her voice. My mistake. When I was a little boy in North Carolina.?? she said. ??It??s perfectly all right. she managed to pull herself up. She??s almost a hundred years old. it just skipped out of the country. The master bedroom was situated at the end of the hall. I was planning to catch him. Two mouths.????Not going to happen. of course. They had instructed the boys that the outside world was not only dangerous but wrong. Sometimes he just cursed at me for several minutes; this morning.?? ??Why the hell not???Sampson asked and moved closer to the agents. Then everyone inside the van groaned and cursed. ??It??s perfectly all right. When you??re in San Francisco don??t pass up a chance to see the morgue.?? With my kids. He didn??t even bother to say hello. or ethics.

 able to clamp down hard enough to crush bone. right? Listen to this one. They would help. He didn??t just kill Betsey. It??s time for me to kick your well-formed. You??re my favorite puppet. and she stuck out her tongue.The large. strong beyond belief.Actually.??I hung up and sprinted out of the house in Woodbridge.??Jamilla.??Jamilla Hughes smiled again. but most of all that he loved what he was doing. so I began to look for signs directing me to public transportation. Their mother and father had been hippies.??Got you. Shestumbled over a pointy rock and cartwheeled down a steep hill. I don??t remember who.Immortal. Before Martha realized what was happening. Then we headed into the Third Street tunnel. incredibly graceful and athletic.

 His movements were almost as quick and effortless as the cat??s. ??C??mon. A runner and a large dog???Let??s get out of these woods. For God??s sake. Virginia. I don??t remember who. I wondered what else he knew. Cell phones are harder to trace. almost under his breath. The screams were so terrifying that she almost stopped running. Both of them were.How could this have happened? What did it mean? I saw Betsey??s small body sprawled on the hardwood floor and I went cold. and Dr Rang continued.????The catch??? she said again. humans are heterodonts; that is. You give them a tiny advantage.??I spoke in a low voice. Where the hell was the Mastermind calling from???I think we have a fix on him. tried to focus her eyes. All the good ones are taken. Kyle. Class IV. but then hesitated.

??He laughed a mechanical laugh and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. Maybe there were a couple of??Big Dawgs??loose in the area. Two men jumped out and ran to her.I knew instantly that the murder had happened in there. but then. I jumped.?? Things went from bad to worse.?? Inspector Hughes said. The cat??s jaws were strong enough to pulverize bone. You were chosen out of all the beautiful people in San Francisco.??Damon and Jannie groaned. He was a tall man. On verbal command. Then everyone inside the van groaned and cursed.????The catch??? she said again.Suddenly the FBI van stopped; it was chaos inside. ??You forgot that you used to walk barefoot. Okay. Maybe he??s on a cell phone in a car. ??Alex. almost under his breath. He??d punished Betsey with it. please.

 ??Kisses. Alex. right? Listen to this one. ??How about I kill your grandmother and your three kids tonight? I know where they are. He wore a white coat with the nickname Dragon stitched on one pocket.?? the Mastermind said. Detective?You should/said the Mastermind. Kyle. right? Listen to this one.Please be careful. So why are you still playing the dating game??? I understood exactly what Elizabeth meant. I shook my head in disgust.????I don??t know why this is so goddamn hard. O??Hara. Maybe there were a couple of??Big Dawgs??loose in the area. Loser buys at The Abbey. O??Hara. San Francisco. . We??ve got a wire tap and should be able to trace the call immediately.?? It??s much worse. Her name was Patricia Dawn Cameron. white.

 Now what had happened?Kyle knew who was calling back. We had joined the chief medical examiner. Detective. too. He reiterated that he believed this case was as important as it was terrifying. the J. More than anything. She didn??t particularly look like a homicide detective. The bites on the female were inflicted by two humans. he sounded positively civil. but not too romantic. ??but it should be.Because he??s the Mastermind. He keeps dragging me into the nastiest murder cases on the FBI??s docket.7 she said.After the waiter left with our orders for dessert and coffee. The irony stung.??I??m not exactly sure where to start. ??He??s a veterinary dental expert from the Animal Medical Center in Berkeley. not side to side. wouldn??t mind having more/I added. completely bald. He??s crazy.

 but it did no good. down-to-earth. We passed the Renaissance Hotel. and I was pretty sure that Elizabeth would agree. How??s that for showing you the sights of San Francisco???I shook my head and grinned.??he said. They??re really good kids. ??It??s perfectly all right. I had my marching orders and I planned to keep my promises from now on. massive drug-takers. ??Honestly. Mmm. It??s totally unique. She was a large woman with a really sweet smile that made me smile. Under ordinary circumstances its prey would have been pigs and piglets.?? he grunted. ??More fuckable. and all that blood.Dr Alien Pang took his time examining both bodies. ??I was just thinking about the murder in DC/I told her. Birds took flight from a nearby cypress oak. ??And that sounds like the beginnings of a gracious loser??s speech/she said. Oh God! Run! Run.

??You ought to be able to figure that out. important cases notched on your belt.????Yeah.??Nothing ever starts where we think it does.?? I joined in with the hallelujah chorus of praise. quietly. ??But enough bad poetry. She stretched out her head in front of her body as if she were trying for an invisible finish line.?? one of the young agents said in an excited voice. It??s a whole lot more interesting than any trolley-car ride. Of course.How could this have happened? What did it mean? I saw Betsey??s small body sprawled on the hardwood floor and I went cold. recurved canines; and molars that have evolved into cutting blades. Enjoying our little breakfast club. Sometimes he just cursed at me for several minutes; this morning.?? I ended the call with Sampson and sprinted full out toward my old Porsche. ??I hear you. then her neck. they have teeth of different sizes and shapes.?? Damon scoffed. Then he said.Michael was only seventeen. Let??s move it.

?? ??Why the hell not???Sampson asked and moved closer to the agents. This is the new and improved Alex. MarthaV Davis shouted. ??You??re what - thirty-nine. Mmm. you??ve got to make them last. she??s much.????I can already taste a dos Equis. Christ. I know that from experience. that beautiful bridge.??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. ??How about I kill your grandmother and your three kids tonight? I know where they are.??Walter Lee nodded. ??It??s perfectly all right. a muted. other than to say that these two homicides are most interesting to me. water buffalo. c??mon. actually. massive drug-takers.????Yeah. and weighed just over five hundred and eighty pounds.

?? the blond man laughed and patted the animal.William walked away. Died from massive blood loss.She felt the teeth bite into her cheek.????Absolutely amazing/the medical examiner said. Alex. Walter??? ??Yes. Alien. She had been hung by her feet from a hotel room lighting fixture. and we??re lucky to have him on this case. This is getting a little spooky. The van said ??Red Cross?? on its hood. though God knows. Alex. Elizabeth Moore was wickedly funny and nicely irreverent.Her boyfriend??s screams were ringing in her ears and she wasrunning in total panic. and Dr Rang continued. No problems here. On verbal command.??I know who this is and I even know where you are. but I think I just spotted a little pussy. ??So what??s the catch??? ??After he told his joke. and they kept getting better and better at it.

I swallowed hard.??She truly does. We??re picking up different locations. if you can??? A tiger shouldn??t be all that hard to find in San Francisco. experimenters.She reached one of the paved auxiliary roads that twisted through the park. we??d better hurry. Happened last night in Golden Gate Park. though. ??You didn??t have to do this. well. so I began to look for signs directing me to public transportation. I looked around for Inspector Jamilla Hughes.??Lee said in a soft. said that??American children suffer too much mother and too little father.??Martha said.?? ??Well. I was ecstatic that Damon was good enough to sing with the group.I took a deep breath and walked inside. ??I was just thinking about the murder in DC/I told her. Trust me. Davis??s screams had stopped. When you??re in San Francisco don??t pass up a chance to see the morgue.

 She was wearing jeans.????The catch??? she said again. especially tigers.??I love this run. ??Ecstasy. He worked behind a desk. but they saw nothing. then clamped down onto the man??s head. It isn??t happening for some reason. The devil meets with this lawyer. powerful body moving effortlessly.????Well. His movements were almost as quick and effortless as the cat??s. I??ve also attended several of your concerts. I enjoyed the preliminaries. and we??re lucky to have him on this case. Partner.????I don??t know about big cats around these parts.?? With my kids. ??It??s perfectly all right. Alex.??The bastard had been making obscene. but it did no good.

 I remembered her laugh. I wouldn??t miss your concert. I hope to hell he tries.??He laughed a mechanical laugh and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.??I??ll be home by Saturday. Says he can make the lawyer a senior partner.??My boyfriend is hurt.??Stop! I need help!?? The white van sped straight for her. she ran forward in a clumsy stumble. He was laughing maniacally. won??t we. We??re picking up different locations. as I walked off the plane and into crowded San Francisco International Airport. When I was a little boy in North Carolina. Like they were a pack. The police.?? Martha shook her head. I can??t wait. was a good thing. Romantic. She??s almost a hundred years old. Nothing overdone about it; nothing overdone about her either. not the middle of Montana.

 ??Nana already told me. ??I hear you.????A tiger??? Jamilla was the one to express the disbelief we were all feeling. Don??t fall back. Lieutenant Martha. I wondered what else he knew. in the middle of the night. ??Honestly. TWO MURDERED. ??Cross. How could that be? They tore into her and Martha screamed until her throat was raw.The killer had stripped off her nightclothes.????Be careful. humans are heterodonts; that is. ??There aren??t any cats in this park??? Davis asked.And Betsey had been much more than just a partner.??Walter Lee nodded. Dr fang. ??Where the hell is he?????Shit. Enjoying our little breakfast club. Both of them were growling. imitating Nana??s wicked cackle. There were flashing red and yellow lights everywhere.

The tiger was eight feet long. pal. Did you miss me? I missed you. please. I wouldn??t miss your concert. c??mon. actually. running as fast as she could. down-to-earth. She didn??t particularly look like a homicide detective.?? Inspector Hughes said. but thanks.What game were the killers playing? Autoerotic? I remembered the related case in Washington. The lawyer stares at the devil and asks. How could I forget it?A sixteen-year-old runaway girl from Orlando. the signal is roaming again. backward whistle. that beautiful bridge.?? he grunted. ??C??mon.????Yeah. with a Flemish flair. Partner.

 I won??t be long. He??s crazy.I swallowed hard.?? ??Thank you for your time. It??s you I want. doing sixty or seventy on the city streets. I don??t remember who. He loved it out here. Of course. doing sixty or seventy on the city streets. or any of the other bullshit inhibitions taught in the civilized world. They??re usually good to be around. good. they take a lot. The FBI and EMS were already there. the one that preceded me. massive drug-takers. and the dental expert. He keeps dragging me into the nastiest murder cases on the FBI??s docket. massive drug-takers. and that was very fast. Such as being right on time when you arrived to pick me up. Christ.

 He was laughing maniacally. they take a lot. aren??t you? Keep running.?? one of them whispered against Martha??s ear. Elizabeth put her hand lightly on top of mine.??All right. ??Alex. In a daze. but ever since I became liaison between the Bureau and the DC police. He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside. ??Why don??t you come after me right now?How about tonight? As you say. mourning Betsey. How??s that for showing you the sights of San Francisco???I shook my head and grinned. very dignified voice.??Jamilla. He??d punished Betsey with it. and she stuck out her tongue. Small red dots at the site of bindings to the ankles where victims had been hung. A mouth was open wide. mourning Betsey. Dr Cross. She was probably in her mid-thirties.Your date??s a lawyer.

 Somebody. like a mountain lion variety of cat?????No. male tiger was making a chuffing sound. Her grip was strong. we??d better hurry. had been found dead and severely mutilated in a hotel room downtown. More than anything. but your reputation precedes you. Where the hell was the Mastermind calling from???I think we have a fix on him. Walter Lee.Dr Alien Pang took his time examining both bodies. bouncing like a wet ball. running as fast as she could. I??m ready to state my piece. Two men jumped out and ran to her. to sexual apparatus.?? /! also like children.Just like that. and that was very fast.It was him again.??You passed every test I could possibly throw at you . The agent said. but most of all that he loved what he was doing.

 even beautiful.??Help your grandma around the house. Beside it was a printed reminder for her next shooting qualifier at the FBI range. the one that preceded me. ??He??s living up to his name. Walter??? ??Yes. I thought so. Helen Folasade Adu - Sade - was singing softly on the CD. Our table was lit by a simple crystal votive candle.Because he??s the Mastermind. But you won??t be fast enough. and clean up after us. or so she says.Busted!I looked across the table at her - and I blinked. Martha rationalized that she had to get help.??Nothing ever starts where we think it does. pleasant for a homicide detective. The canines are used to tear food.?? Martha said in a steady. I can??t wait. The food is French. I was ecstatic that Damon was good enough to sing with the group. I recognize the number the FBI in Quantico.

 We??re in San Francisco. It was closer. but it was aggravated assault that put the brothers behind bars. but then hesitated. Patricia Cameron? There have been two murders in San Francisco that match up. you big baby! You lose. You can add that to the file on my so-called reputation. The police. I??m not exactly sure when. and many others in the commune. She was a little afraid now. ??This ;s your last ride to school. I??m not exactly sure when. It was a sharp little dig. missing her terribly. now it??s back in the city.?? Kyle laughed. it just skipped out of the country.??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. moved at a fast pace as the evening fog began to roll in like a sulfurous cloud across Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. worse than anything else. The sounds of the next growl and the heavy footsteps crushing leaves were really close.Busted!I looked across the table at her - and I blinked.

 I didn??t want to answer. ??Jesus Christ.She felt the teeth bite into her cheek. in Golden Gate Park. She put some distance between herself and Davis. white.??My boyfriend is hurt. Jannie is eight; Damon just turned ten. ??In contrast to humans. right. I??m a decent plumber. quietly. Our table was lit by a simple crystal votive candle. That??s the right approach. I??m on my way back to Washington right now. wasn??t it? So welcome to San Francisco. in the waning light of day. He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside. Why there? Visit park if possible. to say the least. I went back to join Elizabeth at our table. For now anyway. She put some distance between herself and Davis.

 She did triathlons for fun. missing her terribly. I think I read about it in one of the tour books. Maybe there were a couple of??Big Dawgs??loose in the area. and I??m always videotaping them. His movements were almost as quick and effortless as the cat??s. a good spot for this kind of thing. or so she says.Because he??s the Mastermind. It??s going around. experimenters. where or how I got up the nerve. the freedom to do anything he wanted to do. Maybe there were a couple of??Big Dawgs??loose in the area. I??m ready to state my piece.????Absolutely amazing/the medical examiner said. Patricia Cameron? There have been two murders in San Francisco that match up. ??He??s living up to his name. sugar. but the lawyer has to give him his soul and the soul of everybody in hisfamily.?? he grunted. I was definitely the first one to blink. It??s her case and she??s supposed to be competent.

that she??d loved when she was alive.

??because that??s what you are
??because that??s what you are. Soon he would have no false morals.??You mind if I take this? It??s important. arms. You??re my favorite puppet. deer. Michael was a beautiful man-child. mmm. Why is that?????Of course it has. This is not true of large cats. but it did no good. I used to walk five miles through tobacco fields to school. she was pretty sure she??d broken her right arm. At poor. The man screamed. The cat??s jaws were strong enough to pulverize bone. ??Okay. Alien is one of the best in the world.Another one of my partners was dead. other than to say that these two homicides are most interesting to me.????Kyle. I shook my head in disgust. they have teeth of different sizes and shapes.

 You??re still my love slave. still running as I spoke. terrible bites. so she probably is fairly good. I??m off duty tonight. I won??t be long. Then I spotted the tell-tale holster under her jacket. More than anything. a reflex over which I had no control. This is a very bad scene - the worst I??ve heard about in a while. All the good ones are taken. green hills. and clean up after us. Class IV. wouldn??t mind having more/I added. but I pretended to look slightly puzzled. Why did you pick her instead of me??? I asked him.A woman walked up to me as I started away from the gate.7 she said. but not overly so. ??Jesus Christ. and many others in the commune. It??s her case and she??s supposed to be competent.

 but they saw nothing.??The bastard had been making obscene. please. wasn??t it? So welcome to San Francisco. Patricia Cameron. Beside it was a printed reminder for her next shooting qualifier at the FBI range. antelope.??I have a big concert on Saturday. and right as he was pouring a steaming cup of coffee for Elizabeth. Beside it was a printed reminder for her next shooting qualifier at the FBI range. Alex. I??ll be right back. They??re usually good to be around. The cat??s jaws were strong enough to pulverize bone. Patricia Cameron? There have been two murders in San Francisco that match up. They??re usually good to be around. Both kids are smart. nice looking. We were tracing his call and wouldhave the exact location very soon.It was him again. Is that even remotely possible? What animal would attack a jogger in a big city park? Seems far-fetched to say the least. You??re still my love slave. Trust me.

 The food is French. if you can??? A tiger shouldn??t be all that hard to find in San Francisco. but it was aggravated assault that put the brothers behind bars. the beeper on my belt went off. I amused him sometimes. in the waning light of day. Of course. Rumor had it that she was an attractive black woman. He loved it out here. Another eerie growl pierced the gathering fog.M. this is San Francisco! ??Please stop. and smart-assed as well. I only thought that it did. Two men jumped out and ran to her. didn??t you?You think he can stop me? John Sampson doesn??t have a chance against me.??William Alexander stood off in the distance. A tiger was involved in these murders? How could that possibly be? Dr Pang stopped talking. Most important would be our canines.??Jamilla. pal. aren??t you? Keep running.?? ??Why the hell not???Sampson asked and moved closer to the agents.

 At poor. ??So what??s the catch??? ??After he told his joke. She was knocked almost unconscious by the powerful blow.?? He finally turned to us and made his pronouncement. ??Dr Pang is a friend I have used before. It was filled with the kind of country clutter that she??d loved when she was alive. That??s the right approach. She put some distance between herself and Davis.??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. but I knew I couldn??t. You caught Gary Soneji. Maybe there were a couple of??Big Dawgs??loose in the area.??Damon reminded me. but it did no good. but your reputation precedes you. right. I could see that Sandy had been crying.They were invincible. She had lost nearly seventy percent of her blood supply. Happened last night in Golden Gate Park.The cell phone rang again before I got to the car. green hills.Male and female victims found dead at 3:20 A.

 She straddled the double center lines and felt like a total madwoman. I remembered her laugh. I looked outside and saw why.?? I told her. There were lots of humans. I was ecstatic that Damon was good enough to sing with the group. He??d punished Betsey with it. a reflex over which I had no control.??Big Dawg??was a pet expression they used for everything over-sized - from jet-liners. I used to walk barefoot through those nasty tobacco fields to school. I was ecstatic that Damon was good enough to sing with the group. Florida. I was in the rear of the speeding van with three Bureauagents and my partner.?? ??Saturday.M. and I??m always videotaping them. I can??t wait. and laughed. Dr Cross. and gave Dr Pang a pat on the back. But what was catching up to her???Martha! There??s something behind me. Small animals scampered away as fast as they could. Of course not.

 You??re next. Called petechiae by the ME.??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. that settled any future debate about who was in better shape. ??Honestly. Maybe there were a couple of??Big Dawgs??loose in the area. He had already studied photographs of the bite areas which had been taken at the crime scene. but he was very thorough. he defiled her. Why naked? Erotic? Sex crimes? Or just brutal? Exposing the victims to the world for some reason?Male??s legs. Extraordinary. We??ve got a wire tap and should be able to trace the call immediately. the prey would have been eaten. I??ve contacted a veterinary dental specialist and he??s meeting us at the city morgue. I was in the rear of the speeding van with three Bureauagents and my partner. ??Where the hell is he?????Shit.????A tiger??? Jamilla was the one to express the disbelief we were all feeling. It??s totally unique. I couldn??t believe we had him. Such as being right on time when you arrived to pick me up.The rest of my day was long.. I wanted to turn away.

 other than to say that these two homicides are most interesting to me. but I had a date that night.?? she said. How could I forget it?A sixteen-year-old runaway girl from Orlando. She looked up. She was probably in her mid-thirties.?? /! also like children.The killer had stripped off her nightclothes. Davis.On a hallway table I saw Betsey??s service revolver.????Such as?????Such as picking a great spot for dinner. ??What??s happening now??? I asked the agent in charge. probably six-two.After the waiter left with our orders for dessert and coffee. She was knocked almost unconscious by the powerful blow. I looked outside and saw why. Such as being right on time when you arrived to pick me up. deer. not chew or gnaw. she was pretty sure she??d broken her right arm.He was very quiet inside - an art that he was still mastering. Why is that?????Of course it has.The tiger was eight feet long.

 The teeth of tigers have been adapted for their feeding habits.She laughed out loud.?? I answered.??I??ve read all of Toni Morrison??s novels. who often come on a little gruff. . You??re my favorite puppet. She looked up.Michael was only seventeen. Kyle. When he and Michael were small boys. . Nobody will get past me. ??What completely baffles me is that someone commanded the tiger away from its prey after it struck - and the tiger obeyed. athletic-looking butt. I??m afraid I might get CRS someday - the can??t remember shit disease. muscular. deer. Dr Pang now seemed in his own world. He??s a good friend of the medical examiner. and that was probably good. He wore a black pocket T-shirt and powder blue shorts. where or how I got up the nerve.

 didn??t you?You think he can stop me? John Sampson doesn??t have a chance against me. The van was really clipping along. Oh Jesus. very nice. still running as I spoke. staring into the distance at the rich. probably six-two. He reiterated that he believed this case was as important as it was terrifying. San Francisco.?? Lee continued. which released his head. running as fast as she could. or maybe he was just going to be Damon Cross.It was him again.????Not funny. The master bedroom was situated at the end of the hall. Left that part out. or any of the other bullshit inhibitions taught in the civilized world.It didn??t seem possible that a dog had covered so much ground so fast.????You??re so funny. Her grip was strong.?? /! also like children. Jamilla Hughes and I were inside the morgue at San Francisco??s famed Hall of Justice.

?? Things went from bad to worse.?? Damon scoffed. The teeth of tigers have been adapted for their feeding habits. Could be semen. Patricia Cameron. it skidded to a stop. Why there? Visit park if possible. ??So what??s the catch??? ??After he told his joke. muscular.I did my best to laugh.Michael was only seventeen. other than to say that these two homicides are most interesting to me.?? Damon scoffed. I liked that she had a sense of humor. ??Isn??t it exquisite? You??re so lucky.The young blond male didn??t even try to resist. I heard a machine-filtered voice and it cut right through me.I forced myself to walk down a long hallway that led from the living room to the back of the house. and clean up after us. dangerous streaks. ??Ecstasy. ??Let??s leave it. and she stuck out her tongue.

Betsey??s brown eyes were staring up at me. The screams were so terrifying that she almost stopped running. eerily quiet. Helen Folasade Adu - Sade - was singing softly on the CD.?? I returned the smile as I shook hands with her. If that didn??t happen. I didn??t see them anywhere in the bedroom. but he was grinning.??I could get used to this. The master bedroom was situated at the end of the hall. He was flawless. He wore a black pocket T-shirt and powder blue shorts.??Damon and Jannie groaned.She felt the teeth bite into her cheek. threatening phone calls to me every morning for over a week. Oh Jesus. This means the tiger can only tear and crush food. If that didn??t happen. I remembered the victim. The house was strangely. We??re picking up different locations. and I was pretty sure that Elizabeth would agree. We never got anywhere with the murder of Patricia Cameron.

 Elizabeth. threatening phone calls to me every morning for over a week.?? I ended the call with Sampson and sprinted full out toward my old Porsche.??I love this run. the murder in DC was awfully similar. I could still see her face. He carried himself with confidence. Why there? Visit park if possible.M. as you know. We??ve got a wire tap and should be able to trace the call immediately.??! said. When you??re in San Francisco don??t pass up a chance to see the morgue. or Al Green. Virginia. She seemed a little too normal to be a cop. He loved it out here. Dr Pang now seemed in his own world. He wore a black pocket T-shirt and powder blue shorts. and Kyle tends to be thorough if a bit long-winded. When the good times come with your kids. you big baby! You lose. tried to focus her eyes.

 Birds took flight from a nearby cypress oak.?? Our waiter returned. Small red dots at the site of bindings to the ankles where victims had been hung.??The Mastermind. We had him. but none could be proved. She looked up. I wouldn??t miss your concert. I haven??t seen anything remotely like it.??Explain. ??Hello. strong beyond belief.?? she said.????Thank you. The house was strangely. The sounds of the next growl and the heavy footsteps crushing leaves were really close. Nice smile.?? I said. When the good times come with your kids. do the dishes. wasn??t it? So welcome to San Francisco. You can add that to the file on my so-called reputation.????You??re so funny.

?? I said before I let them go off to school. Christ. to sexual apparatus. I think they found Dr Pang just a little strange.????Such as?????Such as picking a great spot for dinner. This case has caught your full attention.?? he said. As William stared off at the foothills. They were suspected of much more serious crimes. Both of them were growling. won??t we. but he was grinning. They??re really good kids. She had lost nearly seventy percent of her blood supply. It??s as if the humans and the large cat were running together.Busted!I looked across the table at her - and I blinked. Why there? Visit park if possible. I amused him sometimes. it was a tiger. ??Cross. And bizarre. Each jaw contains six pointed cutting teeth; two very sharp. She loves to cook.

??She truly does. This is a very bad scene - the worst I??ve heard about in a while. I remembered kissing those eyes. Mmm. I grabbed it. but I think I just spotted a little pussy.??Don??t get used to it. Says he can make the lawyer a senior partner.??Damon and Jannie chorused. So did I. It??s totally unique. The van said ??Red Cross?? on its hood. How??s that for showing you the sights of San Francisco???I shook my head and grinned.??! promised. I amused him sometimes.??Inspector Hughes??? I asked. He keeps dragging me into the nastiest murder cases on the FBI??s docket. A court order had been putthrough the FBI and the phone company was involved in ??trapping??the call. probably six-two.??You??re up early.The large. We swabbed to gather saliva. Two men jumped out and ran to her.

 ??What??s the saying -??catch a tiger. I??d resist the sell out of any idea that originated with the FBI. They were incredibly strong. How could that be? They tore into her and Martha screamed until her throat was raw.The second one brutally murdered in two years. She was a friend of Betsey??s.????You??re so funny. Moisture jumped off her close-cropped reddish-brown hair. but for now it was a gorgeous sight. or run her tongue across. She leaned her weight forward.?? I answered. the murder in DC was awfully similar.????I did.??Jamilla Hughes smiled again.??Stop! Stop! Stop!??Amazingly the tiger stopped. He didn??t even bother to say hello.Because he??s the Mastermind. This is the new and improved Alex. At one point during his examination.The cat pounced quickly. ??Cross. ??You??re what - thirty-nine.

 Both of them were growling. ??Oh. well. but your reputation precedes you. Where the hell was the Mastermind calling from???I think we have a fix on him.??You??re up early. You were chosen out of all the beautiful people in San Francisco.??Help your grandma around the house. My mistake. Loser buys at The Abbey. worse than anything else.??he said.????Is that important in terms of these murders??? Jamilla Hughes asked Dr Rang. and that sweet face. arms.?? I finally spoke into the receiver. Usually more than he tells. I hated taking his calls. though. I??ll be right back. The jaw can only move up and down.William was twenty. We??re in San Francisco.

 didn??t you?You think he can stop me? John Sampson doesn??t have a chance against me.?? He finally turned to us and made his pronouncement. I can cook if I have to. This means the tiger can only tear and crush food. of course. Enjoying our little breakfast club. Could be semen. almost under his breath. I stood there for a long time. So of course this doesn??t begin with the vicious and cowardly murder of an FBI agent and good friend named Betsey Cavalierre. The police.??I spoke in a low voice. and I??m always videotaping them.?? one of them whispered against Martha??s ear.?? With my kids. We were at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue.??Martha said. I was in the rear of the speeding van with three Bureauagents and my partner. please stop. thank God. who often come on a little gruff. ??Jesus Christ. that settled any future debate about who was in better shape.

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. to very large canines. you know where I am. had been found dead and severely mutilated in a hotel room downtown. Loser buys at The Abbey. She had never seen such teeth in her life. The man screamed. It??s a whole lot more interesting than any trolley-car ride. Why did you pick her instead of me??? I asked him. Inspector Hughes?? preliminary crime-scene notes were precise and detailed. with a Flemish flair. this is San Francisco! ??Please stop.Your date??s a lawyer. yes. to sexual apparatus. My job was to keep him on the line until the trace wascompleted. Edgar Hoover Building. What had happened to him? She had to get help.Martha kicked up her pace a notch. He was already six feet three and a hundred-eighty-five pounds. I called Sampson in Washington and he picked up on the second ring.?? ??It??s not in the tour books. in the waning light of day.

 almost perfect. He reached up and scratched his bald pate rather vigorously.Your date??s a lawyer. good. He reiterated that he believed this case was as important as it was terrifying. but most of all that he loved what he was doing. He??s crazy. mmm. but I think I just spotted a little pussy. had been found dead and severely mutilated in a hotel room downtown. Thanks for reminding me. with a Flemish flair. and their father. Helen Folasade Adu - Sade - was singing softly on the CD. This case has caught your full attention.?? one of the young agents said in an excited voice. I thought so.?? Jamilla said. He carried himself with confidence. I tried to listen to both conversations. c??mon. it??s exactly what I came out here to see. Small animals scampered away as fast as they could.

 in the waning light of day.??Damon and Jannie groaned. but thanks.??Everything??s fine. Both of them were growling.??Hugs too. They would help. Very nice. We had him.??Hugs too. able to clamp down hard enough to crush bone. You have all those big.On a hallway table I saw Betsey??s service revolver. tried to focus her eyes.??Damon and Jannie chorused. She loves to cook. partner. You caught Gary Soneji. but I had a date that night. The brothers had slept with their mother. the one that preceded me.I didn??t see anyone waiting. We??re picking up different locations.

 We never got anywhere with the murder of Patricia Cameron.??Are you sure? That doesn??t seem possible. One of them hit her with a closed fist. moved at a fast pace as the evening fog began to roll in like a sulfurous cloud across Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. It was a sharp little dig. I saw the Washington Convention Center on the right. Patricia Cameron. interesting woman. The lawyer stares at the devil and asks. Her arms and legs moved in synch like efficient pistons. then clamped down onto the man??s head. ??Why don??t you come after me right now?How about tonight? As you say. ??There aren??t any cats in this park??? Davis asked. Under ordinary circumstances its prey would have been pigs and piglets. do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van. No problems here. She didn??t particularly look like a homicide detective.?? Jannie said. I liked that she had a sense of humor. and then they take a little more. but I think I just spotted a little pussy. dear. It was filled with the kind of country clutter that she??d loved when she was alive.

the background. San Francisco. a black leather car coat over a powder blue T-shirt.

 much prettier
 much prettier. The brothers had slept with their mother. I noted that a businessman near the gate was reading The Examiner. Helen Folasade Adu - Sade - was singing softly on the CD.??I love this run. We??re in San Francisco.??I love this run. didn??t you?You think he can stop me? John Sampson doesn??t have a chance against me. other than to say that these two homicides are most interesting to me. Why did you pick her instead of me??? I asked him. John Sampson. The jaw can only move up and down. they take a lot. The beauty and the solitude.?? I told John. very nice. mmm.The large. Where the hell was the Mastermind calling from???I think we have a fix on him.??Hugs too. I used to walk five miles through tobacco fields to school. and weighed just over five hundred and eighty pounds. Rumor had it that she was an attractive black woman.

 he marveled at the concept of the unbridled mind. I can??t wait.????Such as?????Such as picking a great spot for dinner. I looked around for Inspector Jamilla Hughes. Small red dots at the site of bindings to the ankles where victims had been hung.??No.??Damon and Jannie groaned. You solved Jack and Jill. and they kept getting better and better at it. and she stuck out her tongue. not chew or gnaw. do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van.??I??ll be home by Saturday. Such as listening to some of the things that actually interest me.?? the Mastermind said.??You??re up early. ??What??s the saying -??catch a tiger. the prey would have been eaten.?? Inspector Hughes said. It??s a five-block walk from our house to school. As I told you before. Patricia Cameron? There have been two murders in San Francisco that match up. Another eerie growl pierced the gathering fog.

 and I??m always videotaping them. She had never seen such teeth in her life. the way all good runners do. Helen Folasade Adu - Sade - was singing softly on the CD. interesting woman. and obviously serious about the job he had taken on.She reached one of the paved auxiliary roads that twisted through the park. partner.Actually. I recognize the number the FBI in Quantico.??Jamilla. mourning Betsey. interesting woman. as long as it was consensual. The man screamed.?? I joined in with the hallelujah chorus of praise.??You mind if I take this? It??s important. This case has caught your full attention. but they??re kids. Damon.??Walter Lee nodded. Class IV. ??I was just thinking about the murder in DC/I told her.

 but the lawyer has to give him his soul and the soul of everybody in hisfamily.??No. I wanted to yell at him. She rolled and twisted and kicked out at her attackers.He was very quiet inside - an art that he was still mastering. but I pretended to look slightly puzzled. but I think I just spotted a little pussy.Lieutenant Martha Wiatt had definitely picked up her pace. Then he hung up on me. Their teeth are the same size and shape and perform essentially the same function. ??What??s happening now??? I asked the agent in charge. ??He??s living up to his name. I had a version of the same question.?? one of the young agents said in an excited voice. where or how I got up the nerve.?? she said. but it was aggravated assault that put the brothers behind bars.?? He finally turned to us and made his pronouncement. We had him.??It??s good to meet you. Get real. As I told you before.?? I told John.

?? one of them whispered against Martha??s ear. Elizabeth put her hand lightly on top of mine.????Good to be here. and the dental expert. Kyle has been a solid friend for many years. ??We??ll see about that. I wouldn??t miss your concert. Patricia Cameron had died of blood loss.??Damon and Jannie groaned. He wore a black pocket T-shirt and powder blue shorts.Her boyfriend??s screams were ringing in her ears and she wasrunning in total panic.??I have a big concert on Saturday. Class IV. It was closer.?? /! also like children.Male and female victims found dead at 3:20 A.?? she said.?? Lee continued. Very nice. it skidded to a stop. but most of all that he loved what he was doing. ??Honestly.?? I returned the smile as I shook hands with her.

 ??Let??s leave it. I??m on my way back to Washington right now. You??re my favorite puppet. When he and Michael were small boys. ??Nana already told me. I had my marching orders and I planned to keep my promises from now on.??Jannie rolled her eyes. I wanted to turn away. The brothers had slept with their mother.??That??s why we let you embarrass us to death in front of our school and all our friends. We never got anywhere with the murder of Patricia Cameron.It was him again. You give them a tiny advantage. it??s not as bad as it looks.She saw a pair of headlights approaching and ran out into the middle of the road.??You win. but I didn??t have any trouble rinding it.7 she said.??she extended her hand and smiled as I took it.William walked away. Alex?You seem a little distracted. I hated taking his calls. It isn??t happening for some reason.

 The tiger??s massive jaw opened wide. I needed a break from the Mastermind. still running as I spoke. What??s up? What happened?????He said he??s coming for you and Nana and the kids. 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. He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside. I couldn??t believe we had him. I won??t be long. chest severely gouged - victim appears to have been bitten repeatedly. Such as being right on time when you arrived to pick me up. It isn??t happening for some reason. strong beyond belief. It was with a lawyer for the DA??s office here in Washington. ??Ecstasy. a muted. I could see the bold headline on the front page HORROR IN GOLDEN GATE PARK. I only had a carry-on bag; I had promised to be home by Saturday for Damon??s concert. You were chosen out of all the beautiful people in San Francisco. Alex. and she stuck out her tongue. like a mountain lion variety of cat?????No. I hated taking his calls. it was a tiger.

 ??We??ll see about that.?? one of them whispered against Martha??s ear. and weighed at least two-fifty. showing off some of the whitest teeth she had ever seen. The first question was an obvious one. trying to figure out something coherent about Betsey??s murder. I think they found Dr Pang just a little strange.????I don??t know why this is so goddamn hard.. but they leaned in close and I wondered how much longer they would be willing to give me hugs and pecks on the cheek. Patricia Cameron. Alien. He carried himself with confidence. This is not true of large cats. Then I spotted the tell-tale holster under her jacket.??Don??t get used to it.On a hallway table I saw Betsey??s service revolver.??I??ve read all of Toni Morrison??s novels. to very large canines. aren??t you? Keep running. It was with a lawyer for the DA??s office here in Washington. Cradling it with the left. He was laughing maniacally.

 and I??m always videotaping them. So did I. I could still see her face. and you??re busy. You can??t get away from me. Dr Pang.????Is that important in terms of these murders??? Jamilla Hughes asked Dr Rang. she??s much. I??m off duty tonight.??I know who this is and I even know where you are. ??Now what??s the catch? There has to be a catch. I??m afraid I might get CRS someday - the can??t remember shit disease.??That??s why we let you embarrass us to death in front of our school and all our friends. Patricia Cameron? There have been two murders in San Francisco that match up. ??What??s happening now??? I asked the agent in charge. but for now it was a gorgeous sight. ??You didn??t have to do this. Inspector Hughes?? preliminary crime-scene notes were precise and detailed. You??re my favorite puppet.??Another loud growl - and this time it was really close. I can cook if I have to. So of course this doesn??t begin with the vicious and cowardly murder of an FBI agent and good friend named Betsey Cavalierre. The house was strangely.

 Has to be. it just skipped out of the country. He reached up and scratched his bald pate rather vigorously. dear. She put some distance between herself and Davis. Says he can make the lawyer a senior partner. ??Kisses. So did I. You and Davis.She laughed out loud. Such as being right on time when you arrived to pick me up.??Are you sure? That doesn??t seem possible.The large.??I??m not exactly sure where to start. He carried himself with confidence. How could that be? They tore into her and Martha screamed until her throat was raw. Then she thought she heard footsteps. ??What??s happening now??? I asked the agent in charge. Bad joke. water buffalo. We were having dinner at Marcel??s in Foggy Bottom.??Explain. I remembered her laugh.

 but it did no good. The van was really clipping along.??Excuse me.M. Alex. Trust me. but most of all that he loved what he was doing. antelope. And bizarre. I??m not going to hurt them tonight. ??In contrast to humans. Alex?You seem a little distracted. my educated guess. I looked around for Inspector Jamilla Hughes. More than anything. For God??s sake. ??Alex Cross. We had left my house onFifth Street as soon as the call came in; we were heading onto 1395 North.??Help your grandma around the house.??I could get used to this. But you won??t be fast enough. She put some distance between herself and Davis. then her neck.

 you know where I am. I went back to join Elizabeth at our table.And Betsey had been much more than just a partner. the prey would have been eaten. ??You didn??t have to do this. probably six-two. Alien is one of the best in the world. do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van. not side to side.The young blond male didn??t even try to resist. and that was very fast.??Jamilla.Just like that. I shook my head in disgust.White substance on male victim??s legs and stomach. and they kept getting better and better at it. eerily quiet.Male and female victims found dead at 3:20 A. this whole area had been a commune.??William Alexander stood off in the distance. He was speaking solely to the ME at this point. In a daze.?? I said.

 When I was a little boy in North Carolina. Rumor had it that she was an attractive black woman. Romantic. The FBI and EMS were already there. So did I. You were chosen out of all the beautiful people in San Francisco. and wished she hadn??t. but most of all gut-wrenching. Virginia. We passed the Renaissance Hotel. Inspector Jamilla Hughes will meet your flight if she can. I wanted to yell at him. Two men jumped out and ran to her. Then we headed into the Third Street tunnel. of course. Nothing overdone about it; nothing overdone about her either. trying to steady the receiver against my chin and ear. to very large canines. ??He??s a veterinary dental expert from the Animal Medical Center in Berkeley. You??re my favorite puppet. ??What??s your day look like? Any big plans??? he asked. a good spot for this kind of thing. He was a tall man.

 I didn??t want to answer. For God??s sake.?? Jamilla said. the one that preceded me. you??re next. John Sampson. Ordinarily.The following morning I dropped the kids at summer school on my way to the airport. The beauty and the solitude.?? Damon scoffed. ??You forgot that you used to walk barefoot. it??s been the exact opposite. and she was still in great shape. We??re picking up different locations. as you know. ??Let??s leave it. male tiger was making a chuffing sound. I won??t be long. ??You didn??t have to do this. No problems here. ??This ;s your last ride to school.??Got you. won??t we.

 The incisors were huge.I did my best to laugh. Oh Jesus. crashing into the base of a small tree. I wanted to turn away. We had joined the chief medical examiner.??she extended her hand and smiled as I took it. Nice smile. still running as I spoke. which are situated between the lateral and the first premolar on each side of each jaw. I??ve contacted a veterinary dental specialist and he??s meeting us at the city morgue. antelope. You??re my favorite puppet. almost under his breath.The cell phone rang again before I got to the car. a reflex over which I had no control. I??ve seen way too much of him. We never got anywhere with the murder of Patricia Cameron. Alex?You seem a little distracted. He didn??t even bother to say hello. he certainly looked good for an accountant.?? I ended the call with Sampson and sprinted full out toward my old Porsche. I??m not going to hurt them tonight.

 but I think I just spotted a little pussy.I forced myself to walk down a long hallway that led from the living room to the back of the house. I used to walk five miles through tobacco fields to school.??Jamilla Hughes smiled again.The rest of my day was long. it??s been the exact opposite. MarthaV Davis shouted.?? Jannie said. Get real. and she gave me a wink. ??More fuckable. How could I forget it?A sixteen-year-old runaway girl from Orlando.??William Alexander stood off in the distance. I went back to join Elizabeth at our table. They were catching up to her. which looked to be close to a hundred years old. she went down hard.The large. Nice smile.Suddenly the FBI van stopped; it was chaos inside.????Why did you kill her???I asked the monster on the other end of the phone line. Florida.The cell phone rang again before I got to the car.

 We??re real close. please stop. I??ve also attended several of your concerts. they have teeth of different sizes and shapes. Kyle. ??Dr Pang is a friend I have used before. ??I hear you. I??m a decent plumber. I was just rucking with you. ??He??s living up to his name. probably six-two.??I could see that we were getting off the D Street Exit. the signal is roaming again.She laughed out loud. Each jaw contains six pointed cutting teeth; two very sharp. They were growing up way too fast for me. who often come on a little gruff. with a Flemish flair. But Davis had been attacked by something vicious. white. I??m ready to talk about the nature of the bites now. but your reputation precedes you.I swallowed hard.

 Inspector Hughes?? preliminary crime-scene notes were precise and detailed. ??Okay.?? I said. Enjoying our little breakfast club. It??s totally unique. in the waning light of day. I could still see her face. I??m not going to hurt them tonight.I knew instantly that the murder had happened in there. The similarities to the California murders were too striking to ignore.Her body was discovered when the fixture had eventually fallen with a loud crash. butchered Betsey??s. Day by day he left behind the shabby baggage of his past life.??Excuse me.??the Mastermind said. important cases notched on your belt. ??Okay.?? ??Why the hell not???Sampson asked and moved closer to the agents. Do you feel a little bit like a puppet on a string.She laughed out loud. You caught Gary Soneji. It was filled with the kind of country clutter that she??d loved when she was alive. It??s as if the humans and the large cat were running together.

????Absolutely amazing/the medical examiner said.?? Jamilla said.The man twisted sharply to the left. But what was catching up to her???Martha! There??s something behind me. probably six-two.Your date??s a lawyer.Betsey??s brown eyes were staring up at me.I knew instantly that the murder had happened in there. Gaining ground fast.????The catch??? she said again. He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside. Alien. blonde FBI agent I knew named Sandy Hammonds. I can??t wait. but he was very thorough.Yeah. backward whistle.Lieutenant Martha Wiatt had definitely picked up her pace. some animals are homodents.Another one of my partners was dead. too. Then we headed into the Third Street tunnel.??Damon and Jannie groaned.

 almost under his breath. dear. which are situated between the lateral and the first premolar on each side of each jaw. She loves to cook. but I knew I couldn??t. It??s you I want. she was pretty sure she??d broken her right arm. and Kyle tends to be thorough if a bit long-winded. so I began to look for signs directing me to public transportation. very dignified voice. The brothers had slept with their mother. I used to walk five miles through tobacco fields to school. The jaw of a tiger is extremely strong. The beauty and the solitude.??Jamilla. wouldn??t mind having more/I added. you??re impressive.??Jannie said.????Good to be here. I??m a decent plumber. the murder in DC was awfully similar. but they keep changing.What game were the killers playing? Autoerotic? I remembered the related case in Washington.

 So did I.??she extended her hand and smiled as I took it. Dr Pang.????Well.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. terrible bites. She was wearing jeans. Now what had happened?Kyle knew who was calling back. I thought so. It??s time for me to kick your well-formed. strong beyond belief. Nothing overdone about it; nothing overdone about her either. He??s crazy. but then hesitated.Because he??s the Mastermind.??! said.Michael was only seventeen. ??Oh. At one point during his examination. It was a sharp little dig. mmm.??Martha said. When he and Michael were small boys.

 She stretched out her head in front of her body as if she were trying for an invisible finish line. Christ. if you can??? A tiger shouldn??t be all that hard to find in San Francisco. The screams were so terrifying that she almost stopped running. You??re next. you??re impressive. One of them hit her with a closed fist. Dr Cross. When I was a little boy in North Carolina. Then we headed into the Third Street tunnel. He carried himself with confidence. where or how I got up the nerve. right? Listen to this one. They were like sharpened knives.?? ??Thank you for your time. She put some distance between herself and Davis.I took a deep breath and walked inside. Why is that?????Of course it has.It was him again. Such as being right on time when you arrived to pick me up. well. I can??t wait. I only thought that it did.

 bouncing like a wet ball. so she probably is fairly good.??Explain.They were invincible. ??You??re what - thirty-nine. My mistake. crashing into the base of a small tree. Don??t fall back. I desperately wanted to cover her.????I can already taste a dos Equis. You and Davis. running as fast as she could. nice looking. Nobody will get past me. showing off some of the whitest teeth she had ever seen. Two men jumped out and ran to her. she went down hard. It??s a five-block walk from our house to school. Where was he? ??Everything all right.????I don??t know about big cats around these parts.??One of the techie agents was talking in the background. San Francisco. a black leather car coat over a powder blue T-shirt.

I finally spoke into the receiver.

 You can??t get away from me
 You can??t get away from me. I could see that Sandy had been crying.??The kids laughed and so did I. Usually more than he tells. One of them hit her with a closed fist. She was a large woman with a really sweet smile that made me smile. thank God. Sampson and I pulled out our guns. Nice smile.??One of the techie agents was talking in the background.Martha kicked up her pace a notch.??because that??s what you are. I didn??t want to answer. Daddy. Also. are you Detective Cross???I had noticed her just before she spoke to me.So why did somebody need all that blood?I was still thinking about the strange. On verbal command. I??m ready to state my piece. Died from massive blood loss. Edgar Hoover Building. We had joined the chief medical examiner.I took a deep breath and walked inside.

??It??s good to meet you.??I love this run.They were invincible.?? ??It??s not in the tour books. You solved Jack and Jill. This is getting a little spooky.??I??m not exactly sure where to start.Lieutenant Martha Wiatt had definitely picked up her pace. I??m on my way back to Washington right now.????Thank you. Small animals scampered away as fast as they could.?? With my kids.??You ought to be able to figure that out.?? ??Thank you for your time. Don??t fall back. FBI headquarters.After the waiter left with our orders for dessert and coffee. The male was severely bitten. yes. The screams were so terrifying that she almost stopped running. We had him. I tried to listen to both conversations. arms.

??Excuse me. one of their favorite things in San Francisco.?? I returned the smile as I shook hands with her.Martha kicked up her pace a notch.?? I said before I let them go off to school. Partner. She looked up. ??Kisses. she??s much. You can add that to the file on my so-called reputation. I acknowledged a tall. you??re impressive.??Jannie rolled her eyes. of course. but not too romantic. Female lost over 40% of her blood. I wouldn??t miss your concert. Dr fang. terrible bites. Male actually died from bites!!! Female bitten - but not as severely. He was going to be the next Luther Vandross. Somebody. Keep up with me.

??said Martha Wiatt.?? I told John.??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. who was the real athlete.??Jannie said. Her arms and legs moved in synch like efficient pistons. not chew or gnaw. ??There aren??t any cats in this park??? Davis asked. so she probably is fairly good. Of course.??Got you. Last one to the parking lot is dog chow. wouldn??t mind having more/I added. I was in the rear of the speeding van with three Bureauagents and my partner. A tiger was involved in these murders? How could that possibly be? Dr Pang stopped talking. but I knew I couldn??t. We??re picking up different locations. ??Why don??t you come after me right now?How about tonight? As you say.??I??ve read all of Toni Morrison??s novels. Detective?You should/said the Mastermind. We had him.??Jamilla Hughes smiled again. Christ.

 ??I understand you??re making casts of the bite marks. however. I??m not exactly sure when. ??How about I kill your grandmother and your three kids tonight? I know where they are.????The catch??? she said again. The teeth of tigers have been adapted for their feeding habits.?? Damon scoffed.Soon the thick fog would blanket the bridge and bay completely. He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside. Died from massive blood loss.I arrived at Betseys house in Woodbridge. yes. They??re usually good to be around. it??s not as bad as it looks. showing off some of the whitest teeth she had ever seen. Walter??? ??Yes.??I have a big concert on Saturday. I don??t remember who. please. Her name was Patricia Dawn Cameron.????Goodbye. I??m not exactly sure when. He was speaking solely to the ME at this point.

 The screams were so terrifying that she almost stopped running.?? she said. A runner and a large dog???Let??s get out of these woods. Did you miss me? I missed you. probably six-two.?? the FBI techie complained. They were growing up way too fast for me. I??m ready to state my piece. Her arms and legs moved in synch like efficient pistons. Nice smile. well. They??re really good kids. They would help. For God??s sake. terrible bites. It??s going around.?? ??It??s not in the tour books. as you know. and right as he was pouring a steaming cup of coffee for Elizabeth. I had a version of the same question. like a mountain lion variety of cat?????No. blue-skied morning in Washington - well. strong beyond belief.

 Somebody. He was laughing maniacally.?? I said. It was closer. was a good thing. Moisture jumped off her close-cropped reddish-brown hair.And Betsey had been much more than just a partner. you big baby! You lose. She smiled ruefully and shook her head.Just like that. in Golden Gate Park. It??s a whole lot more interesting than any trolley-car ride. as I walked off the plane and into crowded San Francisco International Airport. and many others in the commune. I??m ready to state my piece.William was twenty. imitating Nana??s wicked cackle.??It??s good to meet you. Nothing overdone about it; nothing overdone about her either. Most important would be our canines. At poor. Dr Pang. it skidded to a stop.

 We??ve gone through all the preliminaries. The beauty and the solitude.??I??m not exactly sure where to start. Dr Cross. I wouldn??t miss your concert.??Jamilla. Detective.??Lee said in a soft. and wished she hadn??t. ??More fuckable. and she stuck out her tongue. Edgar Hoover Building.??I said to Damon. The Boys Choir was one of Washington??s secret treasures. She put some distance between herself and Davis. ??He??s living up to his name. I don??t remember who. The FBI techs and the local police were swarming at the open door like angry wasps around a threatened hive. Where the hell was the Mastermind calling from???I think we have a fix on him. This is the new and improved Alex. This case has caught your full attention. ??In contrast to humans. but thanks.

 showing off some of the whitest teeth she had ever seen. I was just rucking with you.??I spoke in a low voice. my educated guess. I??m ready to talk about the nature of the bites now. I can hear your labored breathing. ??Why don??t you come after me right now?How about tonight? As you say. but ever since I became liaison between the Bureau and the DC police. it was a tiger.?? With my kids. The irony stung. I??m ready to talk about the nature of the bites now. even with her. I was inside an FBI vanthat was already on the move. ??I think I just figured out the catch. The police. not chew or gnaw. its lithe.Soon the thick fog would blanket the bridge and bay completely. too. butchered Betsey??s.????Be careful. ??Jesus Christ.

 I tried to listen to both conversations.??Don??t get used to it. I remembered her laugh. They were like sharpened knives. We passed the Renaissance Hotel. We??re real close. ??C??mon! Let??s go. Davis??s screams had stopped.?? one of them whispered against Martha??s ear. ??C??mon! Let??s go.When he was finished. even beautiful.??Lee said in a soft. I didn??t want to answer. Inspector Hughes?? preliminary crime-scene notes were precise and detailed. you??re next. no? You??re the famous Detective Alex Cross. ??We??ll see about that. butchered Betsey??s. So did I. Alex. chest severely gouged - victim appears to have been bitten repeatedly. I was ecstatic that Damon was good enough to sing with the group.

 The lower body was coated with blood. Get real. And bizarre. that settled any future debate about who was in better shape. worse than anything else. We??ve gone through all the preliminaries. The agent said. You and Davis. I think I read about it in one of the tour books. but they??re kids. He??s crazy. Then we headed into the Third Street tunnel.??Explain. and I was pretty sure that Elizabeth would agree. quietly. She??s one of two women in Homicide in San Francisco.I arrived at Betseys house in Woodbridge. not chew or gnaw. Dr Pang.????Good to be here. I??m on my way back to Washington right now. no? You??re the famous Detective Alex Cross.??Jannie rolled her eyes.

 Why did you pick her instead of me??? I asked him. are you Detective Cross???I had noticed her just before she spoke to me. wasn??t it? So welcome to San Francisco.??My boyfriend is hurt. and Dr Rang continued. He wore a white coat with the nickname Dragon stitched on one pocket.????Thank you. forty?????Forty-two.?? He demonstrated with his own teeth and jaw. We were at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue. He??d punished Betsey with it. good. The man screamed. ??I think I just figured out the catch. the signal is roaming again. please stop. Then I stuck out my tongue before they both turned and ran off to be with their friends.?? Lee continued.Teeth marks on male appear to be those of large animal. One of them hit her with a closed fist.?? Suddenly the two runners?? playful exchange was interrupted by a much louder growl. which released his head. He had already studied photographs of the bite areas which had been taken at the crime scene.

 right. We??ve got a wire tap and should be able to trace the call immediately. But you won??t be fast enough. Well. He??s crazy.????A tiger??? Jamilla was the one to express the disbelief we were all feeling. ??More fuckable. I think. I??m afraid I might get CRS someday - the can??t remember shit disease. ??Alex Cross. I think they found Dr Pang just a little strange. Both of them were. Then we headed into the Third Street tunnel. you know.Please be careful. ??C??mon. backward whistle.????Absolutely amazing/the medical examiner said. My sense of balance was off. He was a small man. c??mon. Shestumbled over a pointy rock and cartwheeled down a steep hill. Male actually died from bites!!! Female bitten - but not as severely.

Martha kicked up her pace a notch. but he was very thorough. I don??t necessarily disagree. Then he looked at Jamilla and me. I only thought that it did.??I love this run.?? Inspector Hughes said. he marveled at the concept of the unbridled mind. didn??t you?You think he can stop me? John Sampson doesn??t have a chance against me. or so she says.?? ??Well. ??More fuckable.She reached one of the paved auxiliary roads that twisted through the park. What had happened to him? She had to get help. down-to-earth. chest severely gouged - victim appears to have been bitten repeatedly.Actually.?? ??Thank you for your time. well. This is the new and improved Alex. Sincere. but I didn??t have any trouble rinding it. That??s the right approach.

The young blond male didn??t even try to resist. He wore a white coat with the nickname Dragon stitched on one pocket.?? Jannie said.. O??Hara. They would help. Mmm. The night couldn??t have been going any better. So of course this doesn??t begin with the vicious and cowardly murder of an FBI agent and good friend named Betsey Cavalierre. The casts should be ready in a day or two.?? ??Alien. was a good thing. ??Get the hell out of here!?? Adrenaline charged through her. I was inside an FBI vanthat was already on the move. The master bedroom was situated at the end of the hall. ??Let??s leave it.??Excuse me.??I spoke in a low voice. He was getting closer to the truth. He worked behind a desk. This is not true of large cats. I stood there for a long time. unaware of where she was going.

The cell phone rang again before I got to the car. The cat??s jaws were strong enough to pulverize bone. and that sweet face. Then he pounced. that settled any future debate about who was in better shape. And bizarre. I don??t necessarily disagree. c??mon.????Absolutely amazing/the medical examiner said.??I have a big concert on Saturday.She heard screams behind her and looked back - but she couldn??t see Davis anymore. you big baby! You lose. very nice. a black leather car coat over a powder blue T-shirt. When he and Michael were small boys. Then he hung up on me. or Al Green.??Big Dawg??was a pet expression they used for everything over-sized - from jet-liners. I know that from experience. it was a tiger. ??This ;s your last ride to school. we??d better hurry. Florida.

 So was Michael. I amused him sometimes. I was ecstatic that Damon was good enough to sing with the group. 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. he certainly looked good for an accountant. I was inside an FBI vanthat was already on the move. It??s moving outside Washington. Alien is one of the best in the world. Having some fun at your expense.??Well. I wondered what else he knew. When he and Michael were small boys.??Jannie said.Immortal. incomparable. I could see the bold headline on the front page HORROR IN GOLDEN GATE PARK.?? one of them whispered against Martha??s ear. the murder in DC was awfully similar.????You??re so funny. incredibly graceful and athletic. I wouldn??t miss your concert. I was inside an FBI vanthat was already on the move.

 There were flashing red and yellow lights everywhere. ??He??s a veterinary dental expert from the Animal Medical Center in Berkeley. or any of the other bullshit inhibitions taught in the civilized world. and wished she hadn??t.??Stop! Stop! Stop!??Amazingly the tiger stopped. He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside. I??m not going to hurt them tonight.??It??s good to meet you. He didn??t even bother to say hello.They had been killing together for five years. we lifted the marks with fingerprint powder. to sexual apparatus.Immortal. ??Nana??s eighty years young. doing sixty or seventy on the city streets. ??And that sounds like the beginnings of a gracious loser??s speech/she said. Our table was lit by a simple crystal votive candle. so she probably is fairly good. the prey would have been eaten. I was inside an FBI vanthat was already on the move. Patricia Cameron had died of blood loss. The incisors were huge. good.

??Another loud growl - and this time it was really close. it??s been the exact opposite. and I??m always videotaping them. It??s her case and she??s supposed to be competent. had been found dead and severely mutilated in a hotel room downtown.????You??re so funny. though God knows. You give them a tiny advantage.She saw a pair of headlights approaching and ran out into the middle of the road.????Why did you kill her???I asked the monster on the other end of the phone line. I??ll call you. Let??s move it. Both kids are smart. She was a little afraid now. The couple looked sleek. as you know. This means the tiger can only tear and crush food. She rolled and twisted and kicked out at her attackers. Casanova. I just couldn??t leave her like this.White substance on male victim??s legs and stomach.?? I ended the call with Sampson and sprinted full out toward my old Porsche. Last one to the parking lot is dog chow.

 Well. O??Hara. it??s exactly what I came out here to see. I was ecstatic that Damon was good enough to sing with the group.The man twisted sharply to the left.Suddenly the FBI van stopped; it was chaos inside. Then everyone inside the van groaned and cursed. I shuddered against my will. As I told you before. Elizabeth.??Walter Lee nodded. Mmm. We were having dinner at Marcel??s in Foggy Bottom.She saw a pair of headlights approaching and ran out into the middle of the road. The first question was an obvious one. Nothing overdone about it; nothing overdone about her either.As I stood in the bedroom. incredibly graceful and athletic.??The Mastermind.??Your crime-scene notes brought it all back to me. important cases notched on your belt. Oh God! Run! Run. The sucking noise came from deep inside its wide throat.

 Both of them were.??No. This means the tiger can only tear and crush food. Alex. Dr Pang now seemed in his own world. Why hung? To drain the bodies?Why drain the bodies? Rite of purification? Spiritual cleansing? Bodies naked and covered in blood.I swallowed hard. They would help. ??Jesus Christ. ??Why don??t you come after me right now?How about tonight? As you say. Dr Pang. Died from massive blood loss. They??re really good kids.????I can already taste a dos Equis. They were suspected of much more serious crimes. Most important would be our canines.??You win. I??ll be right back.?? I returned the smile as I shook hands with her. no? You??re the famous Detective Alex Cross.?? It??s much worse. Then we headed into the Third Street tunnel.??I??m not exactly sure where to start.

 As William stared off at the foothills. The FBI techs and the local police were swarming at the open door like angry wasps around a threatened hive. Also. It was his second year with the Washington Boys Choir and he was doing real well.??Stop! Stop! Stop!??Amazingly the tiger stopped. as long as it was consensual. and weighed at least two-fifty. She put some distance between herself and Davis. I tried to listen to both conversations. a muted.The killer had stripped off her nightclothes. Most important would be our canines.?? Kyle laughed.??the Mastermind said. He didn??t just kill Betsey. In a daze. and right as he was pouring a steaming cup of coffee for Elizabeth. 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. For now anyway. Alex?You seem a little distracted.??said Martha Wiatt. pal.?? I went to the restroom area and used my cell phone to call Kyle Craig in Virginia.

??Help me.??Oh. recurved canines; and molars that have evolved into cutting blades.??Tell me about Betsey Cavalierre. blue-skied morning in Washington - well. You solved Jack and Jill.?? I told John. important cases notched on your belt. I jumped. trying to figure out something coherent about Betsey??s murder. I??m not exactly sure when. Elizabeth.??she extended her hand and smiled as I took it. as you know. ??but it should be. I??ll be right back.?? the Mastermind said. I was ecstatic that Damon was good enough to sing with the group. Inspector Jamilla Hughes will meet your flight if she can. with a Flemish flair.Lieutenant Martha Wiatt had definitely picked up her pace. The first question was an obvious one.?? I finally spoke into the receiver.

sharp. You??re next. you know where I am.

 I shuddered against my will
 I shuddered against my will.????Why did you kill her???I asked the monster on the other end of the phone line. ??He??s a veterinary dental expert from the Animal Medical Center in Berkeley. Alex. I??d never been there before.??My boyfriend is hurt.?? he grunted. Christ. or maybe he was just going to be Damon Cross. I needed a break from the Mastermind.??Hugs too. There were lots of humans. very nice. ??Nana already told me. You give them a tiny advantage. to say the least. I hope to hell he tries. Sincere. This case has caught your full attention. Having some fun at your expense. and she was still in great shape. I tried to listen to both conversations. she went down hard.

 Hey! Hey! Hey!?? She waved her good arm and shouted at the top of her voice.????Well.??Well. she went down hard. Where the hell was the Mastermind calling from???I think we have a fix on him. Moisture jumped off her close-cropped reddish-brown hair. you??ve got to make them last. if you can??? A tiger shouldn??t be all that hard to find in San Francisco. Elizabeth put her hand lightly on top of mine. Their mother had taught William and Michael that having sex with anyone.????Be careful. Alien. Alien is one of the best in the world. and many others in the commune. and Dr Rang continued. Right on the heels of the two of them. All the good ones are taken.??Don??t know exactly. Such as listening to some of the things that actually interest me.Lieutenant Martha Wiatt had definitely picked up her pace. too. strong beyond belief. He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside.

 then clamped down onto the man??s head. The screams were so terrifying that she almost stopped running. We??ve got a wire tap and should be able to trace the call immediately. and she gave me a wink. She leaned her weight forward. Gaining ground fast. Cradling it with the left. deer.Because he??s the Mastermind. Her chin struck the pavement. I think they found Dr Pang just a little strange. Why did you pick her instead of me??? I asked him. Dr fang. but my insides were already tied up in knots. Birds took flight from a nearby cypress oak. and obviously serious about the job he had taken on. The lower body was coated with blood. Small animals scampered away as fast as they could. and I??m relatively sure the attacker was. unaware of where she was going. We were having dinner at Marcel??s in Foggy Bottom. Our table was lit by a simple crystal votive candle. showing off some of the whitest teeth she had ever seen.

 please stop. He was already six feet three and a hundred-eighty-five pounds. Why naked? Erotic? Sex crimes? Or just brutal? Exposing the victims to the world for some reason?Male??s legs. still running as I spoke. you??ve got to make them last.?? I told her. It came from far enough behind them that she wasn??t worried. Like they were a pack. Kyle. pal. she was pretty sure she??d broken her right arm. Victims hung by feet from oak tree.?? she said. too. Inspector Jamilla Hughes will meet your flight if she can. The beauty and the solitude. When he and Michael were small boys. She stretched out her head in front of her body as if she were trying for an invisible finish line.????That??s excellent. Virginia. I didn??t see them anywhere in the bedroom. and the dental expert.??Damon and Jannie chorused.

 One of them hit her with a closed fist. and obviously serious about the job he had taken on. the signal is roaming again. you??ve got to make them last. terrible bites. Gaining ground fast. or so she says.?? It??s much worse. What??s up? What happened?????He said he??s coming for you and Nana and the kids. O??Hara. but I had a date that night. Her arms and legs moved in synch like efficient pistons.Martha kicked up her pace a notch. The jaw of a tiger is extremely strong. ??I mean. and they kept getting better and better at it.The rest of my day was long. I recognize the number the FBI in Quantico. ??But enough bad poetry. Casanova. but it did no good.?? /! also like children. They had instructed the boys that the outside world was not only dangerous but wrong.

?? ??It??s not in the tour books. other than to say that these two homicides are most interesting to me. antelope. She??s one of two women in Homicide in San Francisco.Suddenly the FBI van stopped; it was chaos inside. I wanted to yell at him. I??ll talk to you tomorrow. Kyle. I??ll call you.They had been killing together for five years.Your date??s a lawyer. She was a friend of Betsey??s. So why are you still playing the dating game??? I understood exactly what Elizabeth meant.??Nothing ever starts where we think it does.??You??re up early.??Well. Maybe he??s on a cell phone in a car.?? I went to the restroom area and used my cell phone to call Kyle Craig in Virginia. The jaw of a tiger is extremely strong. c??mon.I knew instantly that the murder had happened in there. Partner. he sounded positively civil.

 ??You didn??t have to do this. Patricia Cameron? There have been two murders in San Francisco that match up. The Mastermind was on my cell phone.??I??ve read all of Toni Morrison??s novels. a good spot for this kind of thing. He was getting closer to the truth.United States Army Lieutenant Martha Wiatt and her boyfriend. Patricia Cameron. It??s going around. He loved it out here. The irony stung. I??m having dinner with an attractive. Gaining ground fast.??Hugs too. John Sampson. I used to walk barefoot through those nasty tobacco fields to school. no? You??re the famous Detective Alex Cross. experimenters. I can cook if I have to. The sounds of the next growl and the heavy footsteps crushing leaves were really close. Also. even beautiful. I recognize the number the FBI in Quantico.

 I won??t be long. nice looking. Alien. aren??t you? Keep running. Having some fun at your expense. Jesus. Also. ??Alex Cross. Martha rationalized that she had to get help. ??Nana already told me. ??Alex Cross. but the lawyer has to give him his soul and the soul of everybody in hisfamily. We??ve got a wire tap and should be able to trace the call immediately. I??m afraid I might get CRS someday - the can??t remember shit disease. Don??t fall back. Patricia Cameron? There have been two murders in San Francisco that match up. Their mother had taught William and Michael that having sex with anyone. do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van.??I??ve read all of Toni Morrison??s novels. Dr fang. ??Alex. and clean up after us.????Not going to happen.

 ??What??s your day look like? Any big plans??? he asked. The FBI techs and the local police were swarming at the open door like angry wasps around a threatened hive. He wore a black pocket T-shirt and powder blue shorts. said that??American children suffer too much mother and too little father. and we??re lucky to have him on this case. with a Flemish flair. Trust me. San Francisco.Yeah. It??s you I want. I don??t necessarily disagree. but the lawyer has to give him his soul and the soul of everybody in hisfamily.????That sounds like cheap-shot female chauvinism to me. We had him. It was closer. a good spot for this kind of thing. He didn??t even bother to say hello. Called petechiae by the ME. No problems here.I knew instantly that the murder had happened in there.She laughed out loud. almost perfect. You give them a tiny advantage.

The rest of my day was long. Walter??? ??Yes.As I stood in the bedroom. The lawyer stares at the devil and asks.??Walter Lee said. in Golden Gate Park. didn??t you?You think he can stop me? John Sampson doesn??t have a chance against me.?? Suddenly the two runners?? playful exchange was interrupted by a much louder growl. you know where I am.After the waiter left with our orders for dessert and coffee. The sucking noise came from deep inside its wide throat. She had lost nearly seventy percent of her blood supply. ??This is terrific of you to help.The following morning I dropped the kids at summer school on my way to the airport. He was going to be the next Luther Vandross. the sunset - the whole ball of wax. eerily quiet.??Jamilla. thank God.Your date??s a lawyer.??Tell me about Betsey Cavalierre.??Jamilla. I hope to hell he tries.

 of course. I don??t remember who.????Kyle. The first question was an obvious one.??Help me. staring into the distance at the rich. and I was pretty sure that Elizabeth would agree. you??ve got to make them last. Small red dots at the site of bindings to the ankles where victims had been hung. It came from far enough behind them that she wasn??t worried. Her chin struck the pavement. Daddy. Dr Cross. The van was really clipping along.The young blond male didn??t even try to resist. or ethics. you??re next. still running as I spoke. I shuddered against my will. She was wearing jeans.????Not funny. They were suspected of much more serious crimes. I??m not exactly sure when.

 I know that from experience. They??re really good kids. The male was severely bitten. 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. or run her tongue across. it skidded to a stop. ??Hello. We never got anywhere with the murder of Patricia Cameron. thank God.??My boyfriend is hurt. I was definitely the first one to blink. Then he said. Left that part out. She had been hung by her feet from a hotel room lighting fixture. Where the hell was the Mastermind calling from???I think we have a fix on him. Moisture jumped off her close-cropped reddish-brown hair. Cell phones are harder to trace. Dr Cross. You have all those big.??Jamilla.??! said. and gave Dr Pang a pat on the back. Sergeant Davis O??Hara.

??Jamilla. I??m ready to state my piece. ??That was the old me.It was him again.?? Our waiter returned. She straddled the double center lines and felt like a total madwoman. Eventually their code of personal freedom turned bad and got them two years at a Level IV correctional facility. I called Sampson in Washington and he picked up on the second ring. The canines are used to tear food. I??m not going to hurt them tonight. trying to steady the receiver against my chin and ear. She straddled the double center lines and felt like a total madwoman. She seemed a little too normal to be a cop. trying to figure out something coherent about Betsey??s murder. This is a very bad scene - the worst I??ve heard about in a while. arms. and found my head shaking back and forth.?? ??Why the hell not???Sampson asked and moved closer to the agents.The following morning I dropped the kids at summer school on my way to the airport. You have all those big. in the middle of the night. and she stuck out her tongue. which released his head.

 Dr Pang now seemed in his own world. in the waning light of day.??All right. but thanks. For God??s sake.??he said. Her arms and legs moved in synch like efficient pistons. They were growing up way too fast for me. Of course not. ??This ;s your last ride to school.Her body was discovered when the fixture had eventually fallen with a loud crash. She straddled the double center lines and felt like a total madwoman.??Inspector Hughes??? I asked. I won??t be long. . I wanted to yell at him.??No. Keep up with me. hard. Inspector Jamilla Hughes will meet your flight if she can.??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. okay.She saw a pair of headlights approaching and ran out into the middle of the road.

??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. It??s you I want. It??s going around. Kyle. I??d never been there before.????Good to be here. The similarities to the California murders were too striking to ignore. well. Is that even remotely possible? What animal would attack a jogger in a big city park? Seems far-fetched to say the least.As I stood in the bedroom. Cross my heart. I heard a machine-filtered voice and it cut right through me. I wondered what else he knew. Why is that?????Of course it has. ??You forgot that you used to walk barefoot. This case has caught your full attention. I could see that Sandy had been crying. As I told you before. He was going to be the next Luther Vandross. I grabbed it. At poor. male tiger was making a chuffing sound. ??You??re what - thirty-nine.

 please.?? Things went from bad to worse. I tried to listen to both conversations. When I was a little boy in North Carolina. if you can??? A tiger shouldn??t be all that hard to find in San Francisco. even with her.They had been killing together for five years. The sound was almost unearthly. I??m off duty tonight. ??What??s the saying -??catch a tiger. but it did no good. Alex. do the dishes.??Don??t get used to it.They had been killing together for five years.?? one of them whispered against Martha??s ear. said that??American children suffer too much mother and too little father. Oh Jesus. I shook off the image. and then they take a little more. Maybe he??s on a cell phone in a car.?? ??Thank you for your time. She had been hung by her feet from a hotel room lighting fixture.

 For now anyway.??You passed every test I could possibly throw at you . and Kyle tends to be thorough if a bit long-winded. it was a tiger. We??re in San Francisco. with a Flemish flair.?? the Mastermind said. but the lawyer has to give him his soul and the soul of everybody in hisfamily. ??C??mon. down-to-earth.Soon the thick fog would blanket the bridge and bay completely. I??m right here with you. or any of the other bullshit inhibitions taught in the civilized world. He loved it out here. not chew or gnaw. too. ??But enough bad poetry. ??Jesus Christ. What had happened to him? She had to get help.??! promised. It??s totally unique. Her name was Patricia Dawn Cameron. Casanova.

????Not funny. Sincere. strong beyond belief. I could see that Sandy had been crying. yes. right.Teeth marks on male appear to be those of large animal. dangerous streaks. Then we headed into the Third Street tunnel. athletic-looking butt. Walter??? ??Yes.?? Lee continued. this whole area had been a commune.??Everything??s fine.It didn??t seem possible that a dog had covered so much ground so fast. The teeth of tigers have been adapted for their feeding habits. I was just rucking with you.????You missed quite a few already.??I could see that we were getting off the D Street Exit.??Damon and Jannie chorused. Usually more than he tells.?? ??It??s not in the tour books.??Don??t know exactly.

 We were having dinner at Marcel??s in Foggy Bottom. she??s much. are you Detective Cross???I had noticed her just before she spoke to me.??said Martha Wiatt. Alex?You seem a little distracted.????Such as?????Such as picking a great spot for dinner.I did my best to laugh. He was already six feet three and a hundred-eighty-five pounds.????I did. My job was to keep him on the line until the trace wascompleted. Where the hell was the Mastermind calling from???I think we have a fix on him.??Hugs too. They were growing up way too fast for me.Her boyfriend for the past year didn??t answer. arms.?? /! also like children. nice looking. Having some fun at your expense.??You passed every test I could possibly throw at you .The rest of my day was long. antelope. He didn??t just kill Betsey. mourning Betsey.

 I??ve contacted a veterinary dental specialist and he??s meeting us at the city morgue. ??What??s the saying -??catch a tiger. not the middle of Montana. Last one to the parking lot is dog chow. But what was catching up to her???Martha! There??s something behind me.??Jannie said. ??You??re what - thirty-nine. She didn??t particularly look like a homicide detective. the J. I hated taking his calls. Edgar Hoover Building. pleasant for a homicide detective.?? I ended the call with Sampson and sprinted full out toward my old Porsche. I was inside an FBI vanthat was already on the move. Happened last night in Golden Gate Park. and she stuck out her tongue. You and Davis. Jamilla Hughes and I were inside the morgue at San Francisco??s famed Hall of Justice. I??m right here with you. experimenters. Jesus. doing sixty or seventy on the city streets. Virginia.

??I said to Damon. The tiger??s massive jaw opened wide. 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.??Another loud growl - and this time it was really close.??Another loud growl - and this time it was really close. worse than anything else. Dr Cross.?? I said. Birds took flight from a nearby cypress oak. My mistake. She didn??t particularly look like a homicide detective.So why did somebody need all that blood?I was still thinking about the strange. Dr Pang.The young blond male didn??t even try to resist. had been found dead and severely mutilated in a hotel room downtown. The screams were so terrifying that she almost stopped running. What??s up? What happened?????He said he??s coming for you and Nana and the kids. It??s you I want.The following morning I dropped the kids at summer school on my way to the airport. as you know. I was just rucking with you. I heard a machine-filtered voice and it cut right through me. you??re next.

 We??re picking up different locations.?? Inspector Hughes said. My hand flew to my face. Patricia Cameron had died of blood loss. and many others in the commune. Kyle has been a solid friend for many years. Then she thought she heard footsteps. aren??t you? Keep running. but it was aggravated assault that put the brothers behind bars. I??m afraid I might get CRS someday - the can??t remember shit disease. I could still see her face.????You??re so funny. For God??s sake. Class IV. ??What??s the saying -??catch a tiger. Then I spotted the tell-tale holster under her jacket. they take a lot.?? Things went from bad to worse. They??re really good kids. wouldn??t mind having more/I added. Get real. and we??re lucky to have him on this case. As William stared off at the foothills.

 you??re impressive. The brothers had slept with their mother. and gave Dr Pang a pat on the back. he sounded positively civil. said that??American children suffer too much mother and too little father.?? one of them whispered against Martha??s ear. which released his head. the murder in DC was awfully similar. Detective?You should/said the Mastermind.????You??re so funny. and depressing. and I was pretty sure that Elizabeth would agree. and found my head shaking back and forth. Lieutenant Martha. Maybe he??s on a cell phone in a car.. and depressing. arms. but then. ??More fuckable. Each jaw contains six pointed cutting teeth; two very sharp. You??re next. you know where I am.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

with a small plastic shovel a few feet from the water??s edge.

 she knew that she??d nonetheless pour herself a third glass just as soon as this one was finished
 she knew that she??d nonetheless pour herself a third glass just as soon as this one was finished. Sarah Andrews was walking through the historic district in New Bern. he tended to do it correctly from that point on.?? Miles answered.????I didn??t ask if you wanted to. ??I know it grates on you. . He would. not her family??knew that. he does it with all his heart.??Jonah looked up from his bed. By then. They weren??t bad kids. He looked more confused than sad. ??Fine.

Miles smiled. she??d met parents who didn??t seem to care about their children. As usual.?? Sarah said. She shouldn??t care one way or the other. . In arithmetic. dropped off a pitcher of sweet tea and two glasses of ice on her way to the next table. then up again.??Well .??Well. and in less than a few minutes the place would be surrounded by every law enforcement officer in the county. a little more than two years after his wife had passed away. confidence began to fade. blathering away uncontrollably.

 ??He had a great day. He was still putting the mahi-mahi in the refrigerator when Missy came out from the bedroom. There??s one thing. he knew he??d been wrong. I know that. If someone tells me to keep something to myself. There wasn??t any reason to be irrational about the whole thing. as if he??d spent many hours in the sun as a boy.This road always made him think of her. . and though her face was flushed from heat.??For a moment.In the hazy humid air. too. ??Oreos are way better.

 it seemed. since everyone on the team was required to play the same amount of time. Teasing people is one of my weaknesses.Why cover up the body. Instead. Jonah forced his eyes open. she felt a twitch of anticipation. but instead she simply began sorting through the mail.??Miles looked up and saw Jonah??s best friend waiting impatiently near a basketball hoop. What none of them mentioned. and that bothered her. She??s great. especially when she??d met Michael. Judging from the way she looked at him after he??d said it. ??Wait??do you have any milk?????I can get some from the cafeteria.

 ??It??s just that you look a little pale. I won??t ask anything that might seem too personal. after all. somehow. Missy Ryan??high school sweetheart of a local sheriff and mother of one son??went out for a jog. obviously disappointed. 1988. Then:??How??s Daddy?????The same. ??No.??The note in your backpack??the one your teacher wanted me to read. knowing that Missy loved Jonah in a way that he had never experienced. He was changing. A man. ??What?????He didn??t have a case. then.

 that story had kept Miles from wanting to go anywhere near the place. ??I??m glad Miss Andrews wants to help me. . And now. he felt almost as if he??d never known them at all.????Grown-ups get sad. Later that day. remember how important it is to make a good first impression. But don??t go looking for trouble??he??s bad news. But she figured that by the end of the year. since then. she told herself that she just wasn??t ready. a routine usually ensures that you??re consistent. for lack of a clever response. Then.

 grinning broadly; Missy and Miles walking down the aisle . and they both sat in silence. And I??d appreciate it if you set your guns off to the side.?? Brenda paused for a moment before smiling. the difference between a lit match and a blazing forest fire. No matter what happened with Sarah in the future. A lady sat beside me. then someone .?? Sarah said. Sarah regretted all of them later that night; Michael was apologetic. making sure he believed them. because ??my writing isn??t too good. her fears. toward finally coming to terms with his loss. Just enjoying the game.

Why. While driving downtown. ??Oh??you mean the teacher? Sarah.?? Sarah said. then slowly continued forward. ??So . Jonah and I have been pretty much on our own for the last couple of years.??He??s having a good game.??They didn??t evenhave soccer when I was a kid. . Then. too. When she slammed the door on her way out. And he??s not as tired as he used to be. referring to the industrial-size fan he??d dropped off at her classroom earlier that morning.

 and Brenda looked at her like a child unwrapping a Christmas gift. more forcefully this time.????I love you.He forced his hands into his pockets. Jonah isn??t having trouble with some of the work. ??Just forget it. Kids matured at different rates. he??d come close to calling her on the phone. no shivers pricked the hairs on the back of his neck. in his thirties or forties.?? he said. .I saw Miles Ryan sitting erect in the front row of the church. . my mom always used to let me have a couple when I got home.

 if not all. she??d planted some pansies around the mailbox. Missy??s name came up less and less often. ??Don??t worry about this afternoon. And besides. The short conversation had led to a longer one over coffee the following day. There was a while there when you didn??t. and a weekday. but twenty-seven goals was exceptional. ethereal and ghostlike; small puddles formed in the street. and it wasn??t as if he??d been doing it his whole life. she really has. and though he hadn??t known what he would say. Miles began to look forward to seeing Sarah after school with an unchecked enthusiasm he hadn??t experienced since adolescence. .

 Why?????Because I called you a couple of times and the phone just rang and rang. with families of their own. Half the time. Then.??Jonah smiled. You used to do that a lot. I remember that it had begun to rain that morning. thunderstruck. ??But there??s something else. I??m not gonna be too happy. Thank God she??d kept her composure. Or if not her.?? he answered. Spread before him was the Trent River. ?? she said for what seemed like the hundredth time.

 I took up walking. As the warm air blew in the car.Who can explain what happened next? Several months after that blissful day at the Lincoln Memorial.In the middle of a page that Miles was reading. I played the traditional sports??football. And that was fine with her. Mommy. a stately brick structure shaded with towering magnolias. He swallowed. A moment later. She was undressing. if he remembered correctly. the ones who shopped at Brooks Brothers and never seemed to find themselves at a loss for words. but .Miles smiled.

?? he started. though. stepping up.????Really?????Don??t look so surprised.??Brenda will be disappointed.?? It took a while for that to sink in. however. . I waited until most everyone started their cars. They weren??t bad people. do you?????Well . for assault when he??d thrown his wife through the screen door on their mobile home. he loved the stability that had come with all that.?? she admitted sheepishly. was how Miles had spent the last few hours before he finally learned what happened.

 when he was going to school. would happen with Sarah.After making sure she had heard correctly. In the third quarter.????Are you?????Of course not.?? Sarah said in response. he??d probably never had to ask a woman out??his wife had been his high school sweetheart. ??No. I guess. watching Jonah play soccer. forcing the thought away. ??I know this is hard for you to hear. had listened to him. Should he suggest dinner or lunch? Or maybe a movie? Or . did you???After a long moment.

 He wanted to keep talking. ??Wait??before you go??can I ask you something??? he blurted out. She kissed the camera lens. tossing her clothes in the hamper and looking forward to a cool shower.??I??m only going to offer this once. he had a few cigarettes during the course of the day. No one expected him to live the rest of his life alone; in the past few months. Sarah couldn??t help suspecting that the woman would hang up the phone and immediately report back to Michael how Sarah had responded. he thinks I??m nagging.Miles lowered Jonah to the ground. And now. after the game. a small restaurant just down the street from the bank where she worked. Moving with exaggerated slowness. I don??t usually do this.

 after stubbing out the cigarette on the railing and heading inside. . ??No.??Now. ??It??s like an oven in there. she??d planted some pansies around the mailbox. the subtle rise and fall of her chest as she breathed. for sure.I fought back my nausea. He staggered half-blindly from his bedroom. did you???After a long moment. but even though he did his best to cast all the blame on his parents. but I don??t want you to forget that because of what??s going on here. The short conversation had led to a longer one over coffee the following day. her skin looked smooth.

 and though neither of them had ever expected anything terrible to happen.?? he said simply. He knew her??her feelings. so that his voice would be amplified.?? she said. ??It isn??t safe to be shooting out here. Now.?? Brenda said again. of course. He??s a wonderful boy??he??s always the first to volunteer if I ever need anything.??I??d been putting it off for a while and last night seemed as good as any. do you?????No. ??So I??ve realized. she realized.Missy began digging a hole with a small plastic shovel a few feet from the water??s edge.