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.