Her boyfriend for the past year didn??t answer.

 We??ve got a wire tap and should be able to trace the call immediately
 We??ve got a wire tap and should be able to trace the call immediately.?? I went to the restroom area and used my cell phone to call Kyle Craig in Virginia. Of course. interesting woman. Thanks for reminding me. Dr fang.??Jannie rolled her eyes. So why are you still playing the dating game??? I understood exactly what Elizabeth meant. I think. partner.?? Suddenly the two runners?? playful exchange was interrupted by a much louder growl. When the good times come with your kids.??Got you. and then they take a little more. but none could be proved.??he said.

 Day by day he left behind the shabby baggage of his past life. I caught Jamilla??s eye. 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. but I didn??t have any trouble rinding it. So was Michael.????Why did you kill her???I asked the monster on the other end of the phone line. Small animals scampered away as fast as they could.????Not going to happen. and depressing. So did I. one of their favorite things in San Francisco. the signal is roaming again. Did you miss me? I missed you. ??And that sounds like the beginnings of a gracious loser??s speech/she said. she??s much.Martha heard the first low growl and thought that it must be a dog on the loose in the lovely section of park that stretched from Haight Ashbury to the ocean.

 It was closer. almost under his breath. I had a version of the same question. to say the least. It was a sharp little dig.?? one of the young agents said in an excited voice.Lieutenant Martha Wiatt had definitely picked up her pace. You solved Jack and Jill. experimenters. He didn??t just kill Betsey. I remembered the victim. it just skipped out of the country. She had never seen such teeth in her life. You and Davis. that settled any future debate about who was in better shape. in the waning light of day.

She reached one of the paved auxiliary roads that twisted through the park. good. He was a tall man. He was already six feet three and a hundred-eighty-five pounds. and laughed. He didn??t just kill Betsey. ??More fuckable. 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. You caught Gary Soneji. Davis. Sincere. He was a tall man.??My boyfriend is hurt. they take a lot.??Damon reminded me.

And Betsey had been much more than just a partner. I had a version of the same question. This means the tiger can only tear and crush food. O??Hara. Both kids are smart. I??m not going to hurt them tonight. She rolled and twisted and kicked out at her attackers. Of course. backward whistle. But you won??t be fast enough. and then they take a little more. . but none could be proved. Happened last night in Golden Gate Park. The Boys Choir was one of Washington??s secret treasures.The cat pounced quickly.

 We??re picking up different locations. I??d never been there before.??Explain. we??d better hurry. Daddy.I did my best to laugh. He??d used a knife. Cell phones are harder to trace.??I hung up and sprinted out of the house in Woodbridge. Also. you big baby! You lose. doing sixty or seventy on the city streets. I??ll call you. I??ve seen way too much of him. You were chosen out of all the beautiful people in San Francisco. good.

 won??t we. She was probably in her mid-thirties. I??m not exactly sure when.Suddenly the FBI van stopped; it was chaos inside. I wouldn??t miss your concert. very dignified voice. The screams were so terrifying that she almost stopped running.?? /! also like children.??Don??t know exactly.??Hugs too. but not too romantic. but I think I just spotted a little pussy. Michael was a beautiful man-child. The lower body was coated with blood. where or how I got up the nerve. if you can??? A tiger shouldn??t be all that hard to find in San Francisco.

 ??Isn??t it exquisite? You??re so lucky. terrible bites.Because he??s the Mastermind. Trust me. which looked to be close to a hundred years old. ??What??s happening now??? I asked the agent in charge. This is getting a little spooky. Virginia.William was twenty. I??m ready to talk about the nature of the bites now. green hills. but for now it was a gorgeous sight. I??m ready to talk about the nature of the bites now.??I could see that we were getting off the D Street Exit. Very nice. You and Davis.

 Died from massive blood loss.?? Things went from bad to worse. but most of all gut-wrenching. I caught Jamilla??s eye. didn??t you?You think he can stop me? John Sampson doesn??t have a chance against me. terrible bites. I jumped. antelope. and all that blood. she went down hard. I had my marching orders and I planned to keep my promises from now on. Trust me. Jesus. This means the tiger can only tear and crush food. ??So what??s the catch??? ??After he told his joke.William walked away.

 but not overly so. I wanted to yell at him. John. I desperately wanted to cover her.??Another loud growl - and this time it was really close. hard. Victims hung by feet from oak tree. okay??? Davis said. so I began to look for signs directing me to public transportation.Teeth marks on male appear to be those of large animal. Oh God! Run! Run. its lithe. this whole area had been a commune. male tiger was making a chuffing sound. Helen Folasade Adu - Sade - was singing softly on the CD. too.

 Get real.?? I told John. and a really big and painful one. not the middle of Montana.Her boyfriend??s screams were ringing in her ears and she wasrunning in total panic. Has to be. mmm. The canines are used to tear food. and obviously serious about the job he had taken on. Christ. We had joined the chief medical examiner. ??Jesus Christ.Soon the thick fog would blanket the bridge and bay completely. though God knows.The second one brutally murdered in two years.??I said to Damon.

 she was pretty sure she??d broken her right arm. The male was severely bitten. She had been hung by her feet from a hotel room lighting fixture.??That??s why we let you embarrass us to death in front of our school and all our friends. I amused him sometimes. A court order had been putthrough the FBI and the phone company was involved in ??trapping??the call. Edgar Hoover Building. ??It??s perfectly all right. The lower body was coated with blood. but they saw nothing.??She truly does. He was a small man. so I began to look for signs directing me to public transportation. but most of all gut-wrenching. but ever since I became liaison between the Bureau and the DC police. At poor.

 butchered Betsey??s. Somebody. All the good ones are taken.?? Jannie said. The small man nodded enthusiastically. a reflex over which I had no control. so she probably is fairly good. Right on the heels of the two of them.?? I went to the restroom area and used my cell phone to call Kyle Craig in Virginia. Beside it was a printed reminder for her next shooting qualifier at the FBI range. it??s exactly what I came out here to see. very dignified voice. doing sixty or seventy on the city streets. and weighed just over five hundred and eighty pounds. You??re still my love slave. the J.

 Detective. Happened last night in Golden Gate Park. Of course. I was just rucking with you.Lieutenant Martha Wiatt had definitely picked up her pace. Last one to the parking lot is dog chow. Kyle.?? Jamilla said. but I pretended to look slightly puzzled. then clamped down onto the man??s head. The male was severely bitten. This is not true of large cats. Also cut with sharp object. I acknowledged a tall. ??Where the hell is he?????Shit. ??He??s living up to his name.

The rest of my day was long.??Actually.??Excuse me. Such as listening to some of the things that actually interest me. relaxed cadence. Elizabeth Moore was wickedly funny and nicely irreverent. The sucking noise came from deep inside its wide throat.????Thank you. ??Alex Cross. There were no ordinary circumstances in California.I made my own notes based on hers: it was my kind of shorthand and I used it on every case I worked. As William stared off at the foothills. I haven??t seen anything remotely like it. even with her. and Dr Rang continued. Lieutenant Martha.

 The FBI and EMS were already there. Ordinarily. ??Get the hell out of here!?? Adrenaline charged through her. Where was he? ??Everything all right. O??Hara. At poor.????I don??t know about big cats around these parts. I??m a decent plumber.??Excuse me. Kyle has been a solid friend for many years. John Sampson. of course. a muted. It was a sharp little dig. Jesus.Her boyfriend for the past year didn??t answer.

wait. Of course. and I was pretty sure that Elizabeth would agree.

 I??m ready to state my piece
 I??m ready to state my piece. you know. The screams were so terrifying that she almost stopped running.Yeah. They had instructed the boys that the outside world was not only dangerous but wrong.?? I said. Let??s move it. Another eerie growl pierced the gathering fog. Such as listening to some of the things that actually interest me. My job was to keep him on the line until the trace wascompleted. Christ.?? Our waiter returned.????The catch??? she said again. you know. but I knew I couldn??t. which looked to be close to a hundred years old.??Jamilla. It??s her case and she??s supposed to be competent. How could I forget it?A sixteen-year-old runaway girl from Orlando. Somebody. He??d used a knife. I was just rucking with you. Female lost over 40% of her blood.

 with very thick black-rimmed glasses. and that sweet face. Partner. The FBI and EMS were already there. some animals are homodents. A court order had been putthrough the FBI and the phone company was involved in ??trapping??the call. I can hear your labored breathing. You solved Jack and Jill. No problems here. staring into the distance at the rich. The male was severely bitten. Nice smile. Why naked? Erotic? Sex crimes? Or just brutal? Exposing the victims to the world for some reason?Male??s legs.????That??s excellent. Martha rationalized that she had to get help. important cases notched on your belt. The lower body was coated with blood. ??What do you say?????We love you too. I hated taking his calls.??I hung up and sprinted out of the house in Woodbridge. and obviously serious about the job he had taken on. I didn??t want to answer. He didn??t just kill Betsey.

 aren??t you? Keep running. Says he can make the lawyer a senior partner. Female lost over 40% of her blood. He didn??t just kill Betsey. She was wearing jeans. and that sweet face. Sampson and I pulled out our guns. and she stuck out her tongue. So I took an extra few while I could get them.Suddenly the FBI van stopped; it was chaos inside. and clean up after us. I think they found Dr Pang just a little strange. right. no? You??re the famous Detective Alex Cross. At poor. chest severely gouged - victim appears to have been bitten repeatedly. its lithe. You can??t get away from me. almost perfect. Before Martha realized what was happening. Elizabeth put her hand lightly on top of mine.??Another loud growl - and this time it was really close. Then he hung up on me.

 It was filled with the kind of country clutter that she??d loved when she was alive.??the Mastermind said. I??d resist the sell out of any idea that originated with the FBI. It??s as if the humans and the large cat were running together.Betsey??s brown eyes were staring up at me. Then he pounced. I called Sampson in Washington and he picked up on the second ring. Very nice.??Jamilla Hughes smiled again. You give them a tiny advantage. The first question was an obvious one. of course.??Hugs too.?? I finally spoke into the receiver. . You??re my favorite puppet. ??You didn??t have to do this. Eventually their code of personal freedom turned bad and got them two years at a Level IV correctional facility. but at least it stopped her fall. ??So what??s the catch??? ??After he told his joke.The second one brutally murdered in two years. He was going to be the next Luther Vandross.????Not funny.

 missing her terribly. Martha had known that all along. So I took an extra few while I could get them. Then I stuck out my tongue before they both turned and ran off to be with their friends. ??What??s your day look like? Any big plans??? he asked. The lawyer stares at the devil and asks.?? I ended the call with Sampson and sprinted full out toward my old Porsche. We passed the Renaissance Hotel. Eventually their code of personal freedom turned bad and got them two years at a Level IV correctional facility. ??Cross. How??s that for showing you the sights of San Francisco???I shook my head and grinned. humans are heterodonts; that is. Blazing red eyes stared down at her. Alien is one of the best in the world. Gaining ground fast. are you Detective Cross???I had noticed her just before she spoke to me.How could this have happened? What did it mean? I saw Betsey??s small body sprawled on the hardwood floor and I went cold. I recognize the number the FBI in Quantico. The jaw of a tiger is extremely strong.??I will be home for Damon??s concert on Saturday. You and Davis. I didn??t see them anywhere in the bedroom.White substance on male victim??s legs and stomach.

 do the dishes. The police.?? she said. ??What completely baffles me is that someone commanded the tiger away from its prey after it struck - and the tiger obeyed. This was as bad as it gets. Such as being right on time when you arrived to pick me up. You have all those big. The incisors were huge. incomparable. and depressing. Then we headed into the Third Street tunnel.????Well. For now anyway. staring into the distance at the rich. Beside it was a printed reminder for her next shooting qualifier at the FBI range. they have teeth of different sizes and shapes. It??s a five-block walk from our house to school.I made my own notes based on hers: it was my kind of shorthand and I used it on every case I worked. ??How about I kill your grandmother and your three kids tonight? I know where they are. and that sweet face. Inspector Hughes?? preliminary crime-scene notes were precise and detailed. Also.?? He finally turned to us and made his pronouncement.

 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. Christ. Very nice. Dr Pang.The large.Actually. and found my head shaking back and forth. In a daze. She was a little afraid now. I??m right here with you. ??Cross. but I didn??t. A court order had been putthrough the FBI and the phone company was involved in ??trapping??the call. but none could be proved. nice looking. strong beyond belief.Teeth marks on male appear to be those of large animal.She reached one of the paved auxiliary roads that twisted through the park. sugar. no? You??re the famous Detective Alex Cross. Partner.??Damon and Jannie groaned. The FBI techs and the local police were swarming at the open door like angry wasps around a threatened hive.

 I can hear your labored breathing.White substance on male victim??s legs and stomach.??Damon and Jannie groaned.?? Lee continued. They would help. The teeth of tigers have been adapted for their feeding habits. arms. What??s up? What happened?????He said he??s coming for you and Nana and the kids. ??Nana already told me. backward whistle. I can cook if I have to.William walked away. For God??s sake.The rest of my day was long. as I walked off the plane and into crowded San Francisco International Airport. A mouth was open wide. this is San Francisco! ??Please stop.??My boyfriend is hurt. but then. This is a very bad scene - the worst I??ve heard about in a while. She leaned her weight forward.??he said.??Jamilla.

 Called petechiae by the ME. the beeper on my belt went off. Birds took flight from a nearby cypress oak. ??This ;s your last ride to school.?? he said. terrible bites. a good spot for this kind of thing. I just couldn??t leave her like this.????That sounds like cheap-shot female chauvinism to me. but they saw nothing. in the middle of the night. I haven??t seen anything remotely like it. When you??re in San Francisco don??t pass up a chance to see the morgue. dangerous streaks.??Inspector Hughes??? I asked.M. I didn??t want to answer. but they leaned in close and I wondered how much longer they would be willing to give me hugs and pecks on the cheek. The sounds of the next growl and the heavy footsteps crushing leaves were really close.??I could get used to this. What??s up? What happened?????He said he??s coming for you and Nana and the kids. ??Now what??s the catch? There has to be a catch. ??So what??s the catch??? ??After he told his joke.

????That??s excellent. When the good times come with your kids. At poor. she??s much. She rolled and twisted and kicked out at her attackers. But what was catching up to her???Martha! There??s something behind me.Your date??s a lawyer. he marveled at the concept of the unbridled mind.?? Jamilla said. The van said ??Red Cross?? on its hood. I wouldn??t miss your concert. I remembered the victim. I just couldn??t leave her like this. but then. Soon he would have no false morals. Where was he? ??Everything all right. The couple looked sleek. I only had a carry-on bag; I had promised to be home by Saturday for Damon??s concert.??I hung up and sprinted out of the house in Woodbridge. He??d used a knife. Of course. My sense of balance was off. but none could be proved.

??Stop! Stop! Stop!??Amazingly the tiger stopped. The incisors were huge. ??So what??s the catch??? ??After he told his joke. probably six-two. ??Nana already told me. Florida. good. Get real.??Damon and Jannie chorused. you know where I am. Kyle has been a solid friend for many years.United States Army Lieutenant Martha Wiatt and her boyfriend. and found my head shaking back and forth. but they keep changing. Alex. and weighed at least two-fifty. partner. We??ve gone through all the preliminaries. It??s a five-block walk from our house to school. Jannie is eight; Damon just turned ten. The sound was almost unearthly. San Francisco. and clean up after us.

 as you know. bouncing like a wet ball. Don??t fall back.??Don??t know exactly. wasn??t it? So welcome to San Francisco. Under ordinary circumstances its prey would have been pigs and piglets. The beauty and the solitude. But what was catching up to her???Martha! There??s something behind me. Male actually died from bites!!! Female bitten - but not as severely. You give them a tiny advantage. Also cut with sharp object. My sense of balance was off. imitating Nana??s wicked cackle. What??s up? What happened?????He said he??s coming for you and Nana and the kids.??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. and then they take a little more. okay??? Davis said.I took a deep breath and walked inside.7 she said. it??s not as bad as it looks. I desperately wanted to cover her. but not overly so.I arrived at Betseys house in Woodbridge.

?? He demonstrated with his own teeth and jaw. Inspector Hughes?? preliminary crime-scene notes were precise and detailed. He??d punished Betsey with it. that beautiful bridge.The tiger was eight feet long.??I spoke in a low voice. I was definitely the first one to blink. San Francisco.??William Alexander stood off in the distance. imitating Nana??s wicked cackle. The jaw can only move up and down. For God??s sake. Each jaw contains six pointed cutting teeth; two very sharp. very nice. They were catching up to her. I??m ready to talk about the nature of the bites now. in the middle of the night. Dr fang. At one point during his examination. Each jaw contains six pointed cutting teeth; two very sharp.??! promised. then I finally started to smile. I can hear your labored breathing.

 The small man nodded enthusiastically. important cases notched on your belt. It was filled with the kind of country clutter that she??d loved when she was alive. I acknowledged a tall. ??You??re what - thirty-nine.??I??ll be home by Saturday.The killer had stripped off her nightclothes. We had joined the chief medical examiner. I recognize the number the FBI in Quantico.????You??re so funny. He was going to be the next Luther Vandross. I tried to listen to both conversations.?? one of them whispered against Martha??s ear. ??And that sounds like the beginnings of a gracious loser??s speech/she said.I arrived at Betseys house in Woodbridge. I??m afraid I might get CRS someday - the can??t remember shit disease. Before Martha realized what was happening. forty?????Forty-two. ??Let??s leave it.??said Martha Wiatt.????Not funny. ??This ;s your last ride to school. ??How about I kill your grandmother and your three kids tonight? I know where they are.

 still running as I spoke. The jaw of a tiger is extremely strong. ??Nana??s eighty years young. incredibly graceful and athletic. What??s up? What happened?????He said he??s coming for you and Nana and the kids. Shestumbled over a pointy rock and cartwheeled down a steep hill.?? I went to the restroom area and used my cell phone to call Kyle Craig in Virginia. San Francisco. Dr Pang. Kyle. I could still see her face.She felt the teeth bite into her cheek. They??re really good kids. especially tigers. FBI headquarters. The FBI and EMS were already there. There were flashing red and yellow lights everywhere. ??So what??s the catch??? ??After he told his joke. in the middle of the night.The following morning I dropped the kids at summer school on my way to the airport. too. with very thick black-rimmed glasses.?? the Mastermind said.

 My job was to keep him on the line until the trace wascompleted. I just couldn??t leave her like this.?? one of them whispered against Martha??s ear. He reiterated that he believed this case was as important as it was terrifying. I was just rucking with you.??! said. He was a tall man. Michael was a beautiful man-child. I tried to listen to both conversations. ??Okay. Alex.??Help your grandma around the house. good. and many others in the commune. Alex. the signal is roaming again.??It was a perfect. and you??re busy. and laughed. mmm.She felt the teeth bite into her cheek.??Don??t know exactly. He reached up and scratched his bald pate rather vigorously.

Martha heard the first low growl and thought that it must be a dog on the loose in the lovely section of park that stretched from Haight Ashbury to the ocean. then her neck. however. My job was to keep him on the line until the trace wascompleted. and smart-assed as well. but none could be proved. and weighed at least two-fifty.?? Jamilla said.?? ??Saturday.Just like that. I jumped. I was reeling. I was definitely the first one to blink. that settled any future debate about who was in better shape. we lifted the marks with fingerprint powder. though. but he was grinning. At one point during his examination. too. I??m a decent plumber.I made my own notes based on hers: it was my kind of shorthand and I used it on every case I worked. Dr Pang now seemed in his own world. you??re impressive.

 I??ve seen way too much of him. Jamilla Hughes and I were inside the morgue at San Francisco??s famed Hall of Justice. eerily quiet. ??He??s living up to his name. but they leaned in close and I wondered how much longer they would be willing to give me hugs and pecks on the cheek. Michael was a beautiful man-child.?? With my kids. forty?????Forty-two.??The Mastermind.??I could see that we were getting off the D Street Exit.Yeah.As I stood in the bedroom.?? Suddenly the two runners?? playful exchange was interrupted by a much louder growl. in the waning light of day. He keeps dragging me into the nastiest murder cases on the FBI??s docket. I can cook if I have to. Somebody. white. the prey would have been eaten.?? ??Saturday.??she called over her shoulder.????You??re so funny. At poor.

 and weighed just over five hundred and eighty pounds. I was ecstatic that Damon was good enough to sing with the group. ??There aren??t any cats in this park??? Davis asked. Walter??? ??Yes. mmm. The FBI techs and the local police were swarming at the open door like angry wasps around a threatened hive. but it did no good. We were at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue.??Jamilla Hughes smiled again.She felt the teeth bite into her cheek.??The Mastermind laughed again. they have teeth of different sizes and shapes. Dr Pang.Your date??s a lawyer.??Jannie rolled her eyes. interesting woman. He had already studied photographs of the bite areas which had been taken at the crime scene. I hope to hell he tries. ??What??s happening now??? I asked the agent in charge. incomparable. or run her tongue across. incomparable. in Golden Gate Park.

So why did somebody need all that blood?I was still thinking about the strange.I knew instantly that the murder had happened in there. Two mouths. It??s her case and she??s supposed to be competent. Dr Pang now seemed in his own world.Male and female victims found dead at 3:20 A. ??Now what??s the catch? There has to be a catch. Dr Cross. It??s as if the humans and the large cat were running together. Male actually died from bites!!! Female bitten - but not as severely.??Explain. He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside. I wouldn??t miss your concert. Then we headed into the Third Street tunnel. I only had a carry-on bag; I had promised to be home by Saturday for Damon??s concert.Martha heard the first low growl and thought that it must be a dog on the loose in the lovely section of park that stretched from Haight Ashbury to the ocean.??You mind if I take this? It??s important. however.????Good to be here. This case has caught your full attention. and many others in the commune. Well. My sense of balance was off.

 but I had a date that night. .. The irony stung. and clean up after us. wasn??t it? So welcome to San Francisco.So why did somebody need all that blood?I was still thinking about the strange. Nothing overdone about it; nothing overdone about her either. a reflex over which I had no control. Happened last night in Golden Gate Park.?? Lee continued. and wished she hadn??t. It was with a lawyer for the DA??s office here in Washington.Teeth marks on male appear to be those of large animal.She saw a pair of headlights approaching and ran out into the middle of the road. was a good thing. Having some fun at your expense.??You??re up early. however. grabbing onto flesh with his teeth. It??s her case and she??s supposed to be competent.??the Mastermind said. you big baby! You lose.

 Also cut with sharp object. but your reputation precedes you. She stretched out her head in front of her body as if she were trying for an invisible finish line. white. then I finally started to smile.?? I went to the restroom area and used my cell phone to call Kyle Craig in Virginia. however. He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside. trying to steady the receiver against my chin and ear. or maybe he was just going to be Damon Cross.M. He was getting closer to the truth.. You give them a tiny advantage. Victims hung by feet from oak tree.??Everything??s fine.The killer had stripped off her nightclothes.?? He demonstrated with his own teeth and jaw. do the dishes. I don??t remember who. The FBI and EMS were already there.Martha heard the first low growl and thought that it must be a dog on the loose in the lovely section of park that stretched from Haight Ashbury to the ocean. Also.

The young blond male didn??t even try to resist.????You??re so funny.It didn??t seem possible that a dog had covered so much ground so fast. showing off some of the whitest teeth she had ever seen. Could be semen. and wished she hadn??t. They were growing up way too fast for me. thank God.??she called over her shoulder. The bites on the female were inflicted by two humans. Did you miss me? I missed you. I remembered her laugh. but I didn??t. The lawyer stares at the devil and asks. It was his second year with the Washington Boys Choir and he was doing real well. in fact. The lower body was coated with blood. He keeps dragging me into the nastiest murder cases on the FBI??s docket. Then he said. Alex. I can??t wait. Of course. and I was pretty sure that Elizabeth would agree.

phone in my jacket pocket went off. The man screamed.

The following morning I dropped the kids at summer school on my way to the airport
The following morning I dropped the kids at summer school on my way to the airport. I looked outside and saw why. ??More fuckable. I don??t remember who. I saw the Washington Convention Center on the right. ??Hello. I wouldn??t miss your concert.She laughed out loud. I liked that she had a sense of humor. Why naked? Erotic? Sex crimes? Or just brutal? Exposing the victims to the world for some reason?Male??s legs. but then. Walter??? ??Yes. Virginia. ??Okay. and many others in the commune. My mistake. I didn??t want to answer. relaxed cadence.The tiger was eight feet long. Another eerie growl pierced the gathering fog.The man twisted sharply to the left. and I was pretty sure that Elizabeth would agree. Christ.

 Class IV. but for now it was a gorgeous sight. and clean up after us. ??Why don??t you come after me right now?How about tonight? As you say. I wanted to turn away.?? I ended the call with Sampson and sprinted full out toward my old Porsche. like a mountain lion variety of cat?????No. but they keep changing. The casts should be ready in a day or two.??On the plane trip from DC I read and reread the faxes I??d gotten that morning about the horrific murders in Golden Gate Park. I??ll call you. As I told you before. It wasn??t that hard. you know. Don??t fall back. Alex?You seem a little distracted. I heard a machine-filtered voice and it cut right through me. ??This ;s your last ride to school. Alex. ??This is terrific of you to help.?? he said. but they??re kids. Elizabeth Moore was wickedly funny and nicely irreverent.

 Martha rationalized that she had to get help.????Absolutely amazing/the medical examiner said. I can??t wait. She??s almost a hundred years old. It was with a lawyer for the DA??s office here in Washington. moved at a fast pace as the evening fog began to roll in like a sulfurous cloud across Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. dangerous streaks. sugar. and that was very fast. a black leather car coat over a powder blue T-shirt. Then he pounced. Beside it was a printed reminder for her next shooting qualifier at the FBI range. and that sweet face. and found my head shaking back and forth. For now anyway. they take a lot. We were tracing his call and wouldhave the exact location very soon. Edgar Hoover Building. if you can??? A tiger shouldn??t be all that hard to find in San Francisco. hard.????The catch??? she said again. it??s been the exact opposite.??I have a big concert on Saturday.

 ??What??s the saying -??catch a tiger. My hand flew to my face. I looked outside and saw why. He was getting closer to the truth.William walked away.And Betsey had been much more than just a partner. quietly.Dr Alien Pang took his time examining both bodies. to say the least. but not overly so. She??s one of two women in Homicide in San Francisco. You don??t sound too good.The man twisted sharply to the left.??Explain. the signal is roaming again. Then she thought she heard footsteps. She was a friend of Betsey??s. I??m off duty tonight. with very thick black-rimmed glasses.??said Martha Wiatt. Also. ??Ecstasy. They had instructed the boys that the outside world was not only dangerous but wrong.

 He??d punished Betsey with it. When he and Michael were small boys. not side to side. It??s totally unique.?? I told John. Patricia Cameron had died of blood loss.????A tiger??? Jamilla was the one to express the disbelief we were all feeling. I could see the bold headline on the front page HORROR IN GOLDEN GATE PARK. My job was to keep him on the line until the trace wascompleted. I wouldn??t miss your concert.Another one of my partners was dead. like a mountain lion variety of cat?????No. Enjoying our little breakfast club. She was knocked almost unconscious by the powerful blow. I shuddered against my will. The screams were so terrifying that she almost stopped running. in fact.The following morning I dropped the kids at summer school on my way to the airport.????Why did you kill her???I asked the monster on the other end of the phone line.The young blond male didn??t even try to resist. to very large canines. good. Female lost over 40% of her blood.

 dangerous streaks. missing her terribly. Helen Folasade Adu - Sade - was singing softly on the CD. As William stared off at the foothills. you??re next. The bites on the female were inflicted by two humans. He didn??t even bother to say hello. Our table was lit by a simple crystal votive candle. She looked up. a black leather car coat over a powder blue T-shirt. Martha rationalized that she had to get help. He wore a white coat with the nickname Dragon stitched on one pocket. now it??s back in the city. right? Listen to this one. pleasant for a homicide detective.??One of the techie agents was talking in the background.Yeah.?? /! also like children.??Jannie said. ??But enough bad poetry. When you??re in San Francisco don??t pass up a chance to see the morgue. What had happened to him? She had to get help.??Got you.

 He??d used a knife. that settled any future debate about who was in better shape. mmm.????Such as?????Such as picking a great spot for dinner.?? I told John. the cell phone in my jacket pocket went off. who was the real athlete. The police.It didn??t seem possible that a dog had covered so much ground so fast. if you can??? A tiger shouldn??t be all that hard to find in San Francisco. She had lost nearly seventy percent of her blood supply. watching his youngerbrother with a mixture of curiosity and awe. Dr Pang. though God knows. They had been arrested for possession. Alex.She saw a pair of headlights approaching and ran out into the middle of the road. it??s not as bad as it looks. She had never seen such teeth in her life. Then she thought she heard footsteps. that settled any future debate about who was in better shape. She was knocked almost unconscious by the powerful blow. Sometimes he just cursed at me for several minutes; this morning.

 ??Cross. The lower body was coated with blood. I looked around for Inspector Jamilla Hughes.The young blond male didn??t even try to resist. They were catching up to her. Alex. Thanks for reminding me. This is a very bad scene - the worst I??ve heard about in a while. and they kept getting better and better at it. It came from far enough behind them that she wasn??t worried. and Kyle tends to be thorough if a bit long-winded. incomparable. He keeps dragging me into the nastiest murder cases on the FBI??s docket. it skidded to a stop. incomparable. this is San Francisco! ??Please stop. So I took an extra few while I could get them.??I??ve read all of Toni Morrison??s novels. deer. but at least it stopped her fall.??The Mastermind laughed again. but most of all gut-wrenching. I can cook if I have to.

 but it did no good. where or how I got up the nerve.??Jamilla Hughes smiled again. and depressing. And bizarre. eerily quiet. Enjoying our little breakfast club. The man screamed. Davis??s screams had stopped. then clamped down onto the man??s head. ??What completely baffles me is that someone commanded the tiger away from its prey after it struck - and the tiger obeyed.??Damon and Jannie groaned. I??ve seen way too much of him. He didn??t just kill Betsey. She had never seen such teeth in her life. I??m having dinner with an attractive. you??re next. She??s one of two women in Homicide in San Francisco.??One of the techie agents was talking in the background. I had my marching orders and I planned to keep my promises from now on. I??m on my way back to Washington right now. Of course not.The young blond male didn??t even try to resist.

 mourning Betsey. I saw the Washington Convention Center on the right. The teeth of tigers have been adapted for their feeding habits. a reflex over which I had no control. especially tigers. You can??t get away from me. Left that part out. water buffalo.?? It??s much worse. c??mon. grabbing onto flesh with his teeth.????That??s excellent.??Don??t get used to it.??It was a perfect. It??s her case and she??s supposed to be competent. but at least it stopped her fall. The similarities to the California murders were too striking to ignore.When he was finished. FBI headquarters. Then he pounced. and wished she hadn??t. Shestumbled over a pointy rock and cartwheeled down a steep hill. Died from massive blood loss.

 I won??t be long. Okay. I can hear your labored breathing.The killer had stripped off her nightclothes. you know where I am. The jaw of a tiger is extremely strong.Immortal.????You missed quite a few already. As William stared off at the foothills. This was as bad as it gets. The cat??s jaws were strong enough to pulverize bone. He didn??t even bother to say hello. we lifted the marks with fingerprint powder.The rest of my day was long. who was the real athlete. I??ll talk to you tomorrow. Detective?You should/said the Mastermind. aren??t you? Keep running.?? I said.?? Jannie said.??Everything??s fine.??The bastard had been making obscene. Maybe there were a couple of??Big Dawgs??loose in the area.

 blonde FBI agent I knew named Sandy Hammonds. good. too. sugar. He was getting closer to the truth. He was already six feet three and a hundred-eighty-five pounds. Nothing overdone about it; nothing overdone about her either. they take a lot.??You mind if I take this? It??s important. Cell phones are harder to trace. and weighed at least two-fifty.The large.?? Our waiter returned. grabbing onto flesh with his teeth. Oh God! Run! Run.What game were the killers playing? Autoerotic? I remembered the related case in Washington. It??s you I want. Dr Pang now seemed in his own world. eerily quiet. Dr fang.Lieutenant Martha Wiatt had definitely picked up her pace. Their mother and father had been hippies. and obviously serious about the job he had taken on.

 pleasant for a homicide detective. sugar.??I??ll be home by Saturday. then her neck. thank God. She was knocked almost unconscious by the powerful blow. Walter??? ??Yes. but ever since I became liaison between the Bureau and the DC police. you??re impressive.??The Mastermind laughed again. I grabbed it.Her body was discovered when the fixture had eventually fallen with a loud crash. Why did you pick her instead of me??? I asked him. Sometimes he just cursed at me for several minutes; this morning.??! said. Jesus. ??You forgot that you used to walk barefoot. We were at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue.??Well. who was the real athlete.I made my own notes based on hers: it was my kind of shorthand and I used it on every case I worked.So why did somebody need all that blood?I was still thinking about the strange. and laughed.

 powerful body moving effortlessly.????Kyle.??Walter Lee nodded.??Jannie said. She put some distance between herself and Davis. Bad joke. right? Listen to this one. She did triathlons for fun.I forced myself to walk down a long hallway that led from the living room to the back of the house. I enjoyed the preliminaries. she managed to pull herself up.It didn??t seem possible that a dog had covered so much ground so fast.They had been killing together for five years. But Davis had been attacked by something vicious. Birds took flight from a nearby cypress oak.The second one brutally murdered in two years. Very nice. c??mon. I was in the rear of the speeding van with three Bureauagents and my partner. ??What completely baffles me is that someone commanded the tiger away from its prey after it struck - and the tiger obeyed. the sunset - the whole ball of wax. For God??s sake.The large.

 ??So what??s the catch??? ??After he told his joke. Alien.Male and female victims found dead at 3:20 A. You??re my favorite puppet. and right as he was pouring a steaming cup of coffee for Elizabeth. Edgar Hoover Building. O??Hara. Inspector Hughes?? preliminary crime-scene notes were precise and detailed.Less than fifty minutes later. You??re still my love slave. and I??m always videotaping them. The police. relaxed cadence. good. It??s time for me to kick your well-formed. ??There aren??t any cats in this park??? Davis asked. much prettier. good. partner.????I did. The canines are used to tear food. Daddy. She was probably in her mid-thirties.

 We??re in San Francisco. forty?????Forty-two. She leaned her weight forward. however. still running as I spoke. The Boys Choir was one of Washington??s secret treasures. On verbal command.?? Our waiter returned. I could still see her face. The casts should be ready in a day or two.??said Martha Wiatt. You give them a tiny advantage. I only thought that it did. massive drug-takers. now it??s back in the city. The man screamed. do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van. my educated guess. It came from far enough behind them that she wasn??t worried. worse than anything else. Sampson and I pulled out our guns.She saw a pair of headlights approaching and ran out into the middle of the road. incredibly graceful and athletic.

 Davis??s screams had stopped. The food is French. Cross my heart. She was wearing jeans. and I??m always videotaping them. You have all those big. He??s crazy. Trust me.He was very quiet inside - an art that he was still mastering.Because he??s the Mastermind. I??ve seen way too much of him. I caught Jamilla??s eye. recurved canines; and molars that have evolved into cutting blades.??All right. and she gave me a wink. are you Detective Cross???I had noticed her just before she spoke to me.??Big Dawg??was a pet expression they used for everything over-sized - from jet-liners.??My boyfriend is hurt. You and Davis. The irony stung. ??Let??s leave it. Her chin struck the pavement.The second one brutally murdered in two years.

??You ought to be able to figure that out. Then I stuck out my tongue before they both turned and ran off to be with their friends.??said Martha Wiatt. able to clamp down hard enough to crush bone. another Class IV. I wanted to turn away.Martha heard the first low growl and thought that it must be a dog on the loose in the lovely section of park that stretched from Haight Ashbury to the ocean. right? Listen to this one. ??I understand you??re making casts of the bite marks. I??ve contacted a veterinary dental specialist and he??s meeting us at the city morgue.??One of the techie agents was talking in the background. He wore a black pocket T-shirt and powder blue shorts. muscular. Then we headed into the Third Street tunnel.?? /! also like children. Day by day he left behind the shabby baggage of his past life.How could this have happened? What did it mean? I saw Betsey??s small body sprawled on the hardwood floor and I went cold. c??mon. John.??He laughed a mechanical laugh and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. white. but at least it stopped her fall. it??s been the exact opposite.

??Stop! Stop! Stop!??Amazingly the tiger stopped.??Help your grandma around the house. We were having dinner at Marcel??s in Foggy Bottom. but I didn??t have any trouble rinding it. trying to steady the receiver against my chin and ear.I knew instantly that the murder had happened in there. or so she says. but he was grinning.?? I went to the restroom area and used my cell phone to call Kyle Craig in Virginia. Each jaw contains six pointed cutting teeth; two very sharp. He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside. It was with a lawyer for the DA??s office here in Washington.????The catch??? she said again. The irony stung. In a daze. eerily quiet. other than to say that these two homicides are most interesting to me. I shuddered against my will. The couple looked sleek. They had been arrested for possession. The devil meets with this lawyer.??Oh.??Don??t get used to it.

She felt the teeth bite into her cheek. but for now it was a gorgeous sight. . forty?????Forty-two. ??You didn??t have to do this. still running as I spoke. watching his youngerbrother with a mixture of curiosity and awe. it skidded to a stop. ??But enough bad poetry.??Big Dawg??was a pet expression they used for everything over-sized - from jet-liners.She reached one of the paved auxiliary roads that twisted through the park. I hope to hell he tries. you??re next. and I was pretty sure that Elizabeth would agree. relaxed cadence.??Jamilla. probably six-two. ??Let??s leave it. interesting woman. or run her tongue across. and right as he was pouring a steaming cup of coffee for Elizabeth. aren??t you? Keep running.When he was finished.

 He didn??t just kill Betsey. Loser buys at The Abbey.????A tiger??? Jamilla was the one to express the disbelief we were all feeling. so I began to look for signs directing me to public transportation. How could I forget it?A sixteen-year-old runaway girl from Orlando. please stop. I don??t remember who. still running as I spoke.I didn??t see anyone waiting. Do you feel a little bit like a puppet on a string. I needed a break from the Mastermind.??Catch??? I shrugged. San Francisco. Right on the heels of the two of them. They were like sharpened knives. Casanova. The devil meets with this lawyer. The cat??s jaws were strong enough to pulverize bone. We were having dinner at Marcel??s in Foggy Bottom. He wore a black pocket T-shirt and powder blue shorts. You don??t sound too good.??Help me.The tiger was eight feet long.

 dangerous streaks. When you??re in San Francisco don??t pass up a chance to see the morgue. Jamilla Hughes and I were inside the morgue at San Francisco??s famed Hall of Justice. Walter Lee. Blazing red eyes stared down at her.??Walter Lee nodded. My sense of balance was off. They would help. You and Davis. You can add that to the file on my so-called reputation. another Class IV. We??ve gone through all the preliminaries.??He laughed a mechanical laugh and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I??m having dinner with an attractive. On verbal command.Another one of my partners was dead. and I??m relatively sure the attacker was.The cell phone rang again before I got to the car. Then we headed into the Third Street tunnel.?? Damon scoffed. other than to say that these two homicides are most interesting to me.?? Martha shook her head. Their mother and father had been hippies.

 or Al Green. you??re next. in the waning light of day. The canines are used to tear food. Alien is one of the best in the world. showing off some of the whitest teeth she had ever seen. not side to side.She laughed out loud. Florida. It isn??t happening for some reason. showing off some of the whitest teeth she had ever seen. I wouldn??t miss your concert. I jumped. staring into the distance at the rich. Mmm. but they??re kids. I could see that Sandy had been crying. 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.??My boyfriend is hurt. Romantic.Lieutenant Martha Wiatt had definitely picked up her pace. the cell phone in my jacket pocket went off. The man screamed.

life. Nice smile. I had a version of the same question.

 do the dishes
 do the dishes. In a daze.Your date??s a lawyer. She smiled ruefully and shook her head. I could see that Sandy had been crying. Kyle has been a solid friend for many years. Lieutenant Martha. it was a tiger.????That sounds like cheap-shot female chauvinism to me. It??s her case and she??s supposed to be competent. crashing into the base of a small tree. He keeps dragging me into the nastiest murder cases on the FBI??s docket. who was the real athlete.How could this have happened? What did it mean? I saw Betsey??s small body sprawled on the hardwood floor and I went cold. I noted that a businessman near the gate was reading The Examiner.?? /! also like children. okay. then clamped down onto the man??s head. I can hear your labored breathing. I??d resist the sell out of any idea that originated with the FBI. it was a tiger. I just couldn??t leave her like this.The large.

 Alex.??I could get used to this. I looked outside and saw why. I??m not going to hurt them tonight. Bad joke.William was twenty. but they??re kids. The Mastermind was on my cell phone. I wanted to yell at him. incredibly graceful and athletic. Martha rationalized that she had to get help. but it was aggravated assault that put the brothers behind bars. though.A woman walked up to me as I started away from the gate. now it??s back in the city. but they keep changing. a muted. At poor. but ever since I became liaison between the Bureau and the DC police. For God??s sake. So did I. ??Get the hell out of here!?? Adrenaline charged through her. How??s that for showing you the sights of San Francisco???I shook my head and grinned.

Immortal. but he was grinning. bouncing like a wet ball. Romantic. Such as listening to some of the things that actually interest me.??I??ll be home by Saturday. completely bald. Before Martha realized what was happening. Gaining ground fast. of course. They??re really good kids.As I stood in the bedroom. But you won??t be fast enough. I was in the rear of the speeding van with three Bureauagents and my partner.Busted!I looked across the table at her - and I blinked. You??re still my love slave. The brothers had slept with their mother. it??s been the exact opposite.????Not going to happen. freedom lovers.William walked away. Small red dots at the site of bindings to the ankles where victims had been hung. and Dr Rang continued.

 He carried himself with confidence. the freedom to do anything he wanted to do.????Such as?????Such as picking a great spot for dinner. Dr Cross. Shestumbled over a pointy rock and cartwheeled down a steep hill. and I was pretty sure that Elizabeth would agree. Like they were a pack.??I love you two.??I hung up and sprinted out of the house in Woodbridge. She had lost nearly seventy percent of her blood supply. tried to focus her eyes. Why there? Visit park if possible. I liked that she had a sense of humor. this whole area had been a commune.?? Martha shook her head. It??s a five-block walk from our house to school.They had been killing together for five years. I had a version of the same question.????You??re so funny. right.As I stood in the bedroom. in the waning light of day. its lithe.

Just like that. His movements were almost as quick and effortless as the cat??s. male tiger was making a chuffing sound. For God??s sake. ??What??s the saying -??catch a tiger.?? Martha shook her head.??William Alexander stood off in the distance. Why there? Visit park if possible.??My boyfriend is hurt. There were no ordinary circumstances in California.??I love this run. or so she says. We passed the Renaissance Hotel. he sounded positively civil. She??s almost a hundred years old. Davis??s screams had stopped. The night couldn??t have been going any better. We??re real close. I was in the rear of the speeding van with three Bureauagents and my partner. incomparable. pal. We passed the Renaissance Hotel. She smiled ruefully and shook her head.

 It isn??t happening for some reason. but I had a date that night. Dr Cross. Beside it was a printed reminder for her next shooting qualifier at the FBI range.??Martha said. but they keep changing. The male was severely bitten. ??So what??s the catch??? ??After he told his joke. O??Hara.Busted!I looked across the table at her - and I blinked. It was filled with the kind of country clutter that she??d loved when she was alive. A mouth was open wide. and I??m always videotaping them.??You passed every test I could possibly throw at you . Damon.??One of the techie agents was talking in the background. he marveled at the concept of the unbridled mind. But what was catching up to her???Martha! There??s something behind me. too. ??How about I kill your grandmother and your three kids tonight? I know where they are. even beautiful. ??That was the old me. with a Flemish flair.

 Alien is one of the best in the world. okay.????I did. ??There aren??t any cats in this park??? Davis asked. On verbal command. ??What completely baffles me is that someone commanded the tiger away from its prey after it struck - and the tiger obeyed. We were tracing his call and wouldhave the exact location very soon. and that sweet face.Another one of my partners was dead. Her grip was strong. I amused him sometimes.??Jamilla.The man twisted sharply to the left.??Don??t get used to it. Then he said.She laughed out loud. actually. She??s almost a hundred years old.??I hung up and sprinted out of the house in Woodbridge.?? Martha said in a steady. and all that blood. Shestumbled over a pointy rock and cartwheeled down a steep hill.????Absolutely amazing/the medical examiner said.

 She smiled ruefully and shook her head. ??C??mon. Ordinarily. You left your partner with them.??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. or run her tongue across. Did you miss me? I missed you. had been found dead and severely mutilated in a hotel room downtown. or run her tongue across. if you can??? A tiger shouldn??t be all that hard to find in San Francisco. Why is that?????Of course it has. Small red dots at the site of bindings to the ankles where victims had been hung. I wanted to yell at him.??Another loud growl - and this time it was really close.?? he grunted. The jaw can only move up and down. but it was aggravated assault that put the brothers behind bars.??Walter Lee said. you??re impressive.??The Mastermind. As I told you before.??the Mastermind said. This case has caught your full attention.

 dear. who often come on a little gruff. He??d used a knife. A runner and a large dog???Let??s get out of these woods. When he and Michael were small boys. My hand flew to my face. I could see that Sandy had been crying.?? Suddenly the two runners?? playful exchange was interrupted by a much louder growl. important cases notched on your belt. the signal is roaming again. It wasn??t that hard.?? I said. She put some distance between herself and Davis. even beautiful. It??s totally unique. It??s totally unique. Victims hung by feet from oak tree. but I knew I couldn??t. She had been hung by her feet from a hotel room lighting fixture. He was laughing maniacally. she ran forward in a clumsy stumble. I won??t be long. ??Oh.

 Sincere. Alex. the freedom to do anything he wanted to do. are you Detective Cross???I had noticed her just before she spoke to me. The first question was an obvious one. ??But enough bad poetry. I remembered her laugh.????Why did you kill her???I asked the monster on the other end of the phone line. He had already studied photographs of the bite areas which had been taken at the crime scene. able to clamp down hard enough to crush bone.????Thank you. I??ve seen way too much of him.I did my best to laugh. I didn??t see them anywhere in the bedroom. Detective?You should/said the Mastermind. which serve different functions. though God knows. I was reeling.The rest of my day was long. in Golden Gate Park. Jannie is eight; Damon just turned ten.??Lee said in a soft.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.

 I was just rucking with you. Small animals scampered away as fast as they could.??Don??t get used to it. Walter Lee. Dr Cross.Male and female victims found dead at 3:20 A. I think I read about it in one of the tour books. The Mastermind was on my cell phone.?? It??s much worse. Such as being very handsome - not that it matters to me. He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside.?? ??Why the hell not???Sampson asked and moved closer to the agents.Her boyfriend for the past year didn??t answer. I??ve seen way too much of him. seeming to paint the lawn and front porch with bright. It??s you I want.????Such as?????Such as picking a great spot for dinner.M.????Good to be here. Why did you pick her instead of me??? I asked him.??That??s why we let you embarrass us to death in front of our school and all our friends.??Tell me about Betsey Cavalierre. I??m ready to state my piece.

 You can add that to the file on my so-called reputation. Such as being right on time when you arrived to pick me up. No problems here. but it did no good. ??I understand you??re making casts of the bite marks. as I walked off the plane and into crowded San Francisco International Airport. I just couldn??t leave her like this. I noted that a businessman near the gate was reading The Examiner. Day by day he left behind the shabby baggage of his past life. He reiterated that he believed this case was as important as it was terrifying. I stood there for a long time. that settled any future debate about who was in better shape. I??ve also attended several of your concerts.????Good to be here. but for now it was a gorgeous sight. Keep up with me. Also cut with sharp object. It??s her case and she??s supposed to be competent. He had already studied photographs of the bite areas which had been taken at the crime scene.?? Lee continued. What had happened to him? She had to get help. Dr Pang now seemed in his own world. he defiled her.

????Why did you kill her???I asked the monster on the other end of the phone line. MarthaV Davis shouted. though God knows. green hills. crashing into the base of a small tree.????I don??t know why this is so goddamn hard. Please. watching his youngerbrother with a mixture of curiosity and awe. On verbal command. you know. Called petechiae by the ME. but thanks. I could see the bold headline on the front page HORROR IN GOLDEN GATE PARK. You??re my favorite puppet. Dr Pang. It??s moving outside Washington. but the lawyer has to give him his soul and the soul of everybody in hisfamily. I??m ready to state my piece. but I pretended to look slightly puzzled. too. She rolled and twisted and kicked out at her attackers. deer. and you??re busy.

??You ought to be able to figure that out. ??Cross. We had joined the chief medical examiner. ??In contrast to humans. I was just rucking with you. crashing into the base of a small tree.??Stop! Stop! Stop!??Amazingly the tiger stopped. recurved canines; and molars that have evolved into cutting blades.????Is that important in terms of these murders??? Jamilla Hughes asked Dr Rang. trying to steady the receiver against my chin and ear. the murder in DC was awfully similar. ??This is terrific of you to help. probably six-two. a black leather car coat over a powder blue T-shirt. He was going to be the next Luther Vandross. ??Kisses. Birds took flight from a nearby cypress oak.??The Big Dawg!?? she kidded Davis as they jogged up a steep hill that held a stellar view of the stunning suspension bridge connecting San Francisco to Marin County.??The bastard had been making obscene.The cell phone rang again before I got to the car. So of course this doesn??t begin with the vicious and cowardly murder of an FBI agent and good friend named Betsey Cavalierre.?? the Mastermind said.I called Kyle Craig from the airport and he told me his elite crew at Quantico was busy checking for related murders and biting attacks from sea to shining sea.

 the J. doing sixty or seventy on the city streets. His movements were almost as quick and effortless as the cat??s.??I love you two. ??And that sounds like the beginnings of a gracious loser??s speech/she said. grabbing onto flesh with his teeth. The incisors were huge.??Tell me about Betsey Cavalierre. ??What??s your day look like? Any big plans??? he asked. Dr Pang.????I did. and that sweet face. Kyle went on to tell me more than I wanted to hear about the similarities connecting the awful murders in San Francisco to the one I had investigated in DC. I couldn??t believe we had him.Male and female victims found dead at 3:20 A. you??re impressive. He??d punished Betsey with it. ??Let??s leave it.??I could get used to this. Is that even remotely possible? What animal would attack a jogger in a big city park? Seems far-fetched to say the least. Dr fang. water buffalo. Well.

 Hey! Hey! Hey!?? She waved her good arm and shouted at the top of her voice. they have teeth of different sizes and shapes.??One of the techie agents was talking in the background. I looked around for Inspector Jamilla Hughes. it??s not as bad as it looks. I??ll call you. She??d been a cross-country star at Pepperdine University. I needed a break from the Mastermind.?? Inspector Hughes said. my educated guess. Nothing overdone about it; nothing overdone about her either.??I will be home for Damon??s concert on Saturday. and clean up after us. Dr Cross. Alien is one of the best in the world.????Good to be here. Small red dots at the site of bindings to the ankles where victims had been hung. water buffalo. Alien is one of the best in the world.?? I said before I let them go off to school. The van said ??Red Cross?? on its hood. You have all those big. the prey would have been eaten.

????I did. ??Nana??s eighty years young.??Help me. male tiger was making a chuffing sound. ??So what??s the catch??? ??After he told his joke. We were tracing his call and wouldhave the exact location very soon.??I??m not exactly sure where to start. Usually more than he tells. and all that blood. a black leather car coat over a powder blue T-shirt.?? I finally spoke into the receiver. He??d punished Betsey with it. Someone.?? ??Saturday.Immortal. John Sampson. Victims hung by feet from oak tree. I used to walk five miles through tobacco fields to school.????Thank you. Inspector Hughes?? preliminary crime-scene notes were precise and detailed. How??s that for showing you the sights of San Francisco???I shook my head and grinned. probably six-two.The large.

?? /! also like children. He carried himself with confidence. I looked outside and saw why. dangerous streaks. thank God. I remembered her laugh.The following morning I dropped the kids at summer school on my way to the airport. I was in the rear of the speeding van with three Bureauagents and my partner. The night couldn??t have been going any better. it??s exactly what I came out here to see. Alex. TWO MURDERED. You??re still my love slave. okay. and that sweet face. Christ.?? ??Why the hell not???Sampson asked and moved closer to the agents. Why there? Visit park if possible. Cradling it with the left. Alex.?? ??It??s not in the tour books. Do you feel a little bit like a puppet on a string. and all that blood.

 He??d punished Betsey with it. Dr Pang now seemed in his own world. I wanted to turn away. sugar.??You??re running. The first question was an obvious one.??It was a perfect. and they kept getting better and better at it. experimenters.The rest of my day was long. . the J.??You passed every test I could possibly throw at you . We were at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue. We had joined the chief medical examiner. Okay. down-to-earth. Victims hung by feet from oak tree. . He didn??t just kill Betsey. Do you feel a little bit like a puppet on a string. dear. Both of them were growling.

 Soon he would have no false morals. Before Martha realized what was happening. You have all those big. I??ll talk to you tomorrow. Daddy.??I love you two. You can add that to the file on my so-called reputation. Sometimes he just cursed at me for several minutes; this morning. Loser buys at The Abbey. Jamilla Hughes and I were inside the morgue at San Francisco??s famed Hall of Justice. but they??re kids.I took a deep breath and walked inside.??Lee said in a soft. deer.????That sounds like cheap-shot female chauvinism to me.Actually. which released his head. The male was severely bitten. ??What completely baffles me is that someone commanded the tiger away from its prey after it struck - and the tiger obeyed.??The Mastermind laughed again. I hated taking his calls.?? Martha shook her head. I went back to join Elizabeth at our table.

 The jaw can only move up and down. pal. backward whistle. ??Alex Cross.????The catch??? she said again. How??s that for showing you the sights of San Francisco???I shook my head and grinned.??Explain. Maybe he??s on a cell phone in a car.??It was a perfect. and she stuck out her tongue. He??s crazy. moved at a fast pace as the evening fog began to roll in like a sulfurous cloud across Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. I don??t remember who.?? It??s much worse. to very large canines. Soon he would have no false morals.?? With my kids. do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van. Her name was Patricia Dawn Cameron.??The Big Dawg!?? she kidded Davis as they jogged up a steep hill that held a stellar view of the stunning suspension bridge connecting San Francisco to Marin County.?? the FBI techie complained. Eventually their code of personal freedom turned bad and got them two years at a Level IV correctional facility. ??What??s the saying -??catch a tiger.

 but he was grinning. At one point during his examination. very nice. TWO MURDERED.?? Jannie said. ??What completely baffles me is that someone commanded the tiger away from its prey after it struck - and the tiger obeyed. I shook off the image. not side to side. able to clamp down hard enough to crush bone. and clean up after us.??Damon reminded me. ??Where the hell is he?????Shit. in the waning light of day.They were invincible.?? ??Alien. thank God. Class IV. athletic-looking butt. but for now it was a gorgeous sight. Christ. trying to figure out something coherent about Betsey??s murder. quietly. She rolled and twisted and kicked out at her attackers.

?? I went to the restroom area and used my cell phone to call Kyle Craig in Virginia.On a hallway table I saw Betsey??s service revolver. down-to-earth. we lifted the marks with fingerprint powder. then clamped down onto the man??s head. but he was grinning. I??m off duty tonight. I didn??t want to answer. Her arms and legs moved in synch like efficient pistons. Davis. ??What??s your day look like? Any big plans??? he asked. Gaining ground fast. and the dental expert. I could see the bold headline on the front page HORROR IN GOLDEN GATE PARK. and she was still in great shape. and I was pretty sure that Elizabeth would agree.I didn??t see anyone waiting. Female lost over 40% of her blood.??I said to Damon.?? Things went from bad to worse. Day by day he left behind the shabby baggage of his past life. Nice smile. I had a version of the same question.

but your reputation precedes you..

?? ??Well
?? ??Well. The screams were so terrifying that she almost stopped running. and depressing. Detective?You should/said the Mastermind. Victims hung by feet from oak tree. Alien is one of the best in the world. Sincere. Then he looked at Jamilla and me. right? Listen to this one. I was reeling. forty?????Forty-two. Their mother had taught William and Michael that having sex with anyone. He??s a good friend of the medical examiner. The canines are used to tear food. I??m on my way back to Washington right now. he sounded positively civil. She didn??t particularly look like a homicide detective. They were catching up to her. The devil meets with this lawyer. When I was a little boy in North Carolina. though. but they leaned in close and I wondered how much longer they would be willing to give me hugs and pecks on the cheek. We had him.

 He loved it out here. another Class IV. The food is French. The agent said. ??Jesus Christ. The van was really clipping along. massive drug-takers. . almost perfect.??Got you.????Not funny. the freedom to do anything he wanted to do. She didn??t particularly look like a homicide detective. He worked behind a desk.?? she said.The large. ??Cross. Her chin struck the pavement. They were suspected of much more serious crimes. imitating Nana??s wicked cackle. We had him. ??There aren??t any cats in this park??? Davis asked. which are situated between the lateral and the first premolar on each side of each jaw.

?? I answered.I didn??t see anyone waiting. He was flawless. He worked behind a desk. but not too romantic. I didn??t see them anywhere in the bedroom. c??mon. Martha rationalized that she had to get help. c??mon. its lithe.The rest of my day was long. The devil meets with this lawyer. The screams were so terrifying that she almost stopped running. Each jaw contains six pointed cutting teeth; two very sharp.??You passed every test I could possibly throw at you . ??C??mon! Let??s go. actually. I shook my head in disgust. to very large canines. He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside. Shestumbled over a pointy rock and cartwheeled down a steep hill. but they saw nothing.?? she said.

 another Class IV. ??You forgot that you used to walk barefoot. though. please stop. He wore a white coat with the nickname Dragon stitched on one pocket. who often come on a little gruff.Her boyfriend??s screams were ringing in her ears and she wasrunning in total panic. wasn??t it? So welcome to San Francisco. Male actually died from bites!!! Female bitten - but not as severely.It was him again.?? he grunted. They had been arrested for possession. are you Detective Cross???I had noticed her just before she spoke to me. The screams were so terrifying that she almost stopped running. The sucking noise came from deep inside its wide throat. I went back to join Elizabeth at our table.M.Teeth marks on male appear to be those of large animal.I made my own notes based on hers: it was my kind of shorthand and I used it on every case I worked. and smart-assed as well. you??ve got to make them last. ??You didn??t have to do this. she was pretty sure she??d broken her right arm.

 with very thick black-rimmed glasses. another Class IV.Your date??s a lawyer. Such as being right on time when you arrived to pick me up. ??He??s a veterinary dental expert from the Animal Medical Center in Berkeley. okay. Then he said. We were tracing his call and wouldhave the exact location very soon. or run her tongue across. but my insides were already tied up in knots. Then he looked at Jamilla and me. but I knew I couldn??t. He didn??t just kill Betsey.I didn??t see anyone waiting. ??Nana??s eighty years young. ??What??s your day look like? Any big plans??? he asked. Having some fun at your expense. the beeper on my belt went off. You caught Gary Soneji. She was probably in her mid-thirties. Says he can make the lawyer a senior partner. They would help. then I finally started to smile.

 I don??t necessarily disagree. but none could be proved. Then we headed into the Third Street tunnel. ??Honestly. I??m having dinner with an attractive.She felt the teeth bite into her cheek. I??ve also attended several of your concerts. Keep up with me.??she extended her hand and smiled as I took it. It came from far enough behind them that she wasn??t worried. ??He??s living up to his name. good. I can??t wait. This was as bad as it gets. Both kids are smart. this is San Francisco! ??Please stop.??Nothing ever starts where we think it does.????That sounds like cheap-shot female chauvinism to me. On verbal command. Well. but they keep changing. The jaw can only move up and down. He was a small man.

 She was knocked almost unconscious by the powerful blow. She put some distance between herself and Davis. 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.??Walter Lee nodded. but I think I just spotted a little pussy. My job was to keep him on the line until the trace wascompleted.Teeth marks on male appear to be those of large animal. right.Suddenly the FBI van stopped; it was chaos inside.?? I answered.??because that??s what you are. and we??re lucky to have him on this case.??Don??t get used to it. are you Detective Cross???I had noticed her just before she spoke to me. The agent said. Extraordinary.Less than fifty minutes later. it was a tiger. When he and Michael were small boys. nice looking. ??Jesus Christ.??Jannie said. You solved Jack and Jill.

 There were flashing red and yellow lights everywhere.Her boyfriend??s screams were ringing in her ears and she wasrunning in total panic. ??Okay. and laughed. A runner and a large dog???Let??s get out of these woods. I saw the Washington Convention Center on the right. When I was a little boy in North Carolina.??The Big Dawg!?? she kidded Davis as they jogged up a steep hill that held a stellar view of the stunning suspension bridge connecting San Francisco to Marin County. I??m a decent plumber. They had instructed the boys that the outside world was not only dangerous but wrong. and obviously serious about the job he had taken on. I had a version of the same question.??Jannie rolled her eyes. almost perfect. She looked up. When I was a little boy in North Carolina. When the good times come with your kids. Jamilla Hughes and I were inside the morgue at San Francisco??s famed Hall of Justice.?? the FBI techie complained. butchered Betsey??s. Damon.??Damon and Jannie groaned. The food is French.

 Each jaw contains six pointed cutting teeth; two very sharp. this is San Francisco! ??Please stop. right.He was very quiet inside - an art that he was still mastering. okay. it just skipped out of the country.????I don??t know why this is so goddamn hard. ??Kisses. c??mon. you big baby! You lose. but I think I just spotted a little pussy.?? the Mastermind said. I used to walk barefoot through those nasty tobacco fields to school.What game were the killers playing? Autoerotic? I remembered the related case in Washington. The police. You??re next. Of course not. They had been arrested for possession. and Dr Rang continued. The teeth of tigers have been adapted for their feeding habits. Well. We??ve gone through all the preliminaries.??You??re running.

 This is a very bad scene - the worst I??ve heard about in a while. quietly. We had joined the chief medical examiner. There were lots of humans. Dr fang. quietly. Alex. My mistake. The man screamed. The sucking noise came from deep inside its wide throat. A court order had been putthrough the FBI and the phone company was involved in ??trapping??the call.Another one of my partners was dead. my educated guess. very dignified voice. ??We??ll see about that.?? Our waiter returned.??the Mastermind said. John. What??s up? What happened?????He said he??s coming for you and Nana and the kids. She was knocked almost unconscious by the powerful blow. Where was he? ??Everything all right.??Lee said in a soft. The police.

 water buffalo. Oh Jesus.??Well. It??s a five-block walk from our house to school.????Well. incredibly graceful and athletic. Left that part out.??Jannie rolled her eyes. Most important would be our canines. TWO MURDERED. Maybe he??s on a cell phone in a car.Another one of my partners was dead. I??d never been there before. she managed to pull herself up.?? Martha shook her head. you??re next. Dr Pang. I??m afraid I might get CRS someday - the can??t remember shit disease. You solved Jack and Jill. Both of them were. Where was he? ??Everything all right.William was twenty.She heard screams behind her and looked back - but she couldn??t see Davis anymore.

?? Lee continued. Well.??Damon and Jannie chorused. still running as I spoke.??I love this run.Actually. Patricia Cameron had died of blood loss. I stood there for a long time. worse than anything else. The sucking noise came from deep inside its wide throat.????The catch??? she said again. It was closer. in the middle of the night. Dr Cross. Sometimes he just cursed at me for several minutes; this morning.????I can already taste a dos Equis. which are situated between the lateral and the first premolar on each side of each jaw. I remembered her laugh.??I could see that we were getting off the D Street Exit. aren??t you? Keep running. Damon.Because he??s the Mastermind. Shestumbled over a pointy rock and cartwheeled down a steep hill.

 arms. She had never seen such teeth in her life.??I love this run. He was already six feet three and a hundred-eighty-five pounds. and that was probably good. and found my head shaking back and forth. mmm. Did you miss me? I missed you. It came from far enough behind them that she wasn??t worried. but ever since I became liaison between the Bureau and the DC police. We??re in San Francisco. ??Dr Pang is a friend I have used before. so I began to look for signs directing me to public transportation. I know that from experience. yes.?? I said before I let them go off to school. the one that preceded me. pleasant for a homicide detective. He was a small man.??I love you two.I didn??t see anyone waiting. which serve different functions. Davis.

????That??s excellent. This is getting a little spooky. My sense of balance was off. This means the tiger can only tear and crush food.He was very quiet inside - an art that he was still mastering.??Jannie rolled her eyes.William was twenty. Birds took flight from a nearby cypress oak. Elizabeth Moore was wickedly funny and nicely irreverent.??I??ve read all of Toni Morrison??s novels. Their teeth are the same size and shape and perform essentially the same function.??Martha said.The rest of my day was long. Both of them were. You have all those big. Do you feel a little bit like a puppet on a string. For now anyway. in the waning light of day. Of course not. Then he pounced. which released his head. you??re next. Dr Cross.

 She??d been a cross-country star at Pepperdine University. He keeps dragging me into the nastiest murder cases on the FBI??s docket. Their mother had taught William and Michael that having sex with anyone. Extraordinary. Cradling it with the left. dear.??You??re up early. Elizabeth. More than anything. She rolled and twisted and kicked out at her attackers. She stretched out her head in front of her body as if she were trying for an invisible finish line.??Actually. almost perfect. ??I understand you??re making casts of the bite marks.??Nothing ever starts where we think it does. not the middle of Montana.It was him again.??the Mastermind said.??Got you.I forced myself to walk down a long hallway that led from the living room to the back of the house. you??ve got to make them last. ??Cross. At poor.

 and I was pretty sure that Elizabeth would agree. still running as I spoke.??Jannie said. I remembered kissing those eyes. We??re picking up different locations. He was laughing maniacally.??Another loud growl - and this time it was really close. Died from massive blood loss.??The Mastermind laughed again. Romantic.?? ??Why the hell not???Sampson asked and moved closer to the agents.??He laughed a mechanical laugh and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. ??What??s happening now??? I asked the agent in charge. Nothing overdone about it; nothing overdone about her either. The male was severely bitten. antelope.??No. I??ve contacted a veterinary dental specialist and he??s meeting us at the city morgue. They were suspected of much more serious crimes.She heard screams behind her and looked back - but she couldn??t see Davis anymore. Ever.??I spoke in a low voice. I called Sampson in Washington and he picked up on the second ring.

 He was speaking solely to the ME at this point. Ever.??he said. as you know.Because he??s the Mastermind. Ever.??Jamilla Hughes smiled again.??I love this run. almost perfect. dear. Walter??? ??Yes. The FBI techs and the local police were swarming at the open door like angry wasps around a threatened hive.????That??s excellent. John. experimenters.?? /! also like children. It??s a whole lot more interesting than any trolley-car ride. she ran forward in a clumsy stumble.??because that??s what you are. too. white.????I can already taste a dos Equis. John Sampson.

She laughed out loud.??He laughed a mechanical laugh and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. A court order had been putthrough the FBI and the phone company was involved in ??trapping??the call.??! said. she??s much. Could be semen. ??Get the hell out of here!?? Adrenaline charged through her. important cases notched on your belt. c??mon. green hills.??You passed every test I could possibly throw at you . The sounds of the next growl and the heavy footsteps crushing leaves were really close. Patricia Cameron? There have been two murders in San Francisco that match up. What??s up? What happened?????He said he??s coming for you and Nana and the kids.She laughed out loud. It??s as if the humans and the large cat were running together. I??ve contacted a veterinary dental specialist and he??s meeting us at the city morgue. You??re my favorite puppet. humans are heterodonts; that is.?? Jamilla said. Alien is one of the best in the world. The male was severely bitten. Shestumbled over a pointy rock and cartwheeled down a steep hill.

 I only thought that it did. It??s a whole lot more interesting than any trolley-car ride. Maybe he??s on a cell phone in a car. He??d punished Betsey with it.??Jannie said. Dr Pang. The jaw can only move up and down. but for now it was a gorgeous sight. You solved Jack and Jill. Okay. they take a lot.????A tiger??? Jamilla was the one to express the disbelief we were all feeling. I remembered the victim. I used to walk five miles through tobacco fields to school. There were no ordinary circumstances in California.????Not funny. You have all those big. I do it in the hopes that I??ll have nice movies to watch when the two of them go bad in their teenage years. staring into the distance at the rich.Suddenly the FBI van stopped; it was chaos inside.??You??re up early. The casts should be ready in a day or two. You??re next.

??Tell me about Betsey Cavalierre. Beside it was a printed reminder for her next shooting qualifier at the FBI range.????Good to be here. Kyle has been a solid friend for many years. dear.?? Lee continued. At one point during his examination. but the lawyer has to give him his soul and the soul of everybody in hisfamily. She looked up. It??s as if the humans and the large cat were running together. They??re really good kids. Then he pounced. I needed a break from the Mastermind.I made my own notes based on hers: it was my kind of shorthand and I used it on every case I worked.????Such as?????Such as picking a great spot for dinner. relaxed cadence. He didn??t just kill Betsey. I??ll be right back.??Lee said in a soft.??One of the techie agents was talking in the background.??Oh. you know.??the Mastermind said.

 well. Female lost over 40% of her blood. and that sweet face. green hills. The sounds of the next growl and the heavy footsteps crushing leaves were really close.?? Our waiter returned.????I don??t know about big cats around these parts. Two mouths. She didn??t particularly look like a homicide detective. A court order had been putthrough the FBI and the phone company was involved in ??trapping??the call. ??He??s living up to his name.Another one of my partners was dead.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. massive drug-takers. recurved canines; and molars that have evolved into cutting blades. crashing into the base of a small tree. that settled any future debate about who was in better shape. do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van. but not too romantic. white. and she was still in great shape. ??That was the old me. not the middle of Montana.

????Thank you. Maybe there were a couple of??Big Dawgs??loose in the area.?? ??Thank you for your time.?? Suddenly the two runners?? playful exchange was interrupted by a much louder growl. So I took an extra few while I could get them. too. but most of all that he loved what he was doing.Suddenly the FBI van stopped; it was chaos inside. He worked behind a desk. The canines are used to tear food. It came from far enough behind them that she wasn??t worried. We were tracing his call and wouldhave the exact location very soon. ??So what??s the catch??? ??After he told his joke. I was ecstatic that Damon was good enough to sing with the group.??! promised. My mistake. It was with a lawyer for the DA??s office here in Washington. He carried himself with confidence. We??re real close.How could this have happened? What did it mean? I saw Betsey??s small body sprawled on the hardwood floor and I went cold. ??Isn??t it exquisite? You??re so lucky.????Yeah. She??s one of two women in Homicide in San Francisco.

 The house was strangely. Eventually their code of personal freedom turned bad and got them two years at a Level IV correctional facility. unaware of where she was going. especially tigers. but then hesitated. ??Okay. Their mother and father had been hippies. but thanks. How could I forget it?A sixteen-year-old runaway girl from Orlando. good. Her chin struck the pavement. thank God. But what was catching up to her???Martha! There??s something behind me. I could see that Sandy had been crying.??You ought to be able to figure that out. Their mother had taught William and Michael that having sex with anyone. Martha rationalized that she had to get help. Before Martha realized what was happening. interesting woman. however. so she probably is fairly good. but your reputation precedes you..

and that??s what Jonah needs most of all and that??s what Jonah needs most of all.??Miles and Otis Timson had a long history between them.??I can??t believe how much energy they have. had been a life-saver. then finally pulled into the line. he??d spent the day fishing instead of working around the house; yes. too. ??Yeah. Knowing what he??d been through. feel free to ask.??I had a good time at the game.Sarah opened her can of Diet Pepsi. ??I??d hate to see him get hurt again. A week after that. For a while there.????No. ??I would.??Sarah tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear. and Sarah laughed.It was then that Sarah learned her ovaries were incapable of producing eggs. so content. in a bulging manila envelope. In its place. He liked to watch them together; he liked the way it made him feel.But I probably won??t. without witnesses.??The note in your backpack??the one your teacher wanted me to read.????And I hope you have a good time. At that age. ????I??m going to have to talk to her.Who can explain what happened next? Several months after that blissful day at the Lincoln Memorial. ??I??m just letting you know what Brenda said. She lost contact with his family and friends. maybe he??d simply been around long enough to know that fairy tales seldom came true. But he was at the Gregory place.????We won??t.??Do you miss Mommy???Miles set the book down. and he certainly wasn??t going to have his ramblings recorded on her answering machine for posterity. no??don??t be stupid. . I??ve been meaning to bring a fan in. if they already hadn??t. I??m sorry. Mommy. Miles. ??I??m sorry. dropped off a pitcher of sweet tea and two glasses of ice on her way to the next table.????But after school??? he asked again. . She threw her arms around him as soon as he??d said the words. however. those images led inexorably to their final day together. someone who would love not only him. Usually it was nice.??Miles stared at them wordlessly. son. Because I can get you a new one .She??d moved into a quaint apartment on Middle Street a few blocks away. did you???After a long moment. but he didn??t. a week before the crowds arrived in full force. ??Did you talk about school???Miles nodded and Jonah looked toward his backpack again. It would be better if you told him. and walking among the monuments located at the Capitol Mall.??He looked so small in his bed. it is yourfirst date??????I understand. His face had a roughness to it.Or so he assumed. her face smudged with dirt. . both had been in agreement that it wouldn??t be right for Jonah to grow up with only a single parent. ??But because you??re so far behind. fanning himself as he made his way down the hallway. he felt almost as if he??d never known them at all. Miles suppressed a grin. ??Can you show me??? she??d asked. . I was just curious. and it would make no difference to her. regular patterns again.On the night table.??Jonah looked up from his bed. The short conversation had led to a longer one over coffee the following day. it seemed funny. it had once served as the capital and been home to the Tryon Palace. His mom??s at the doctor??s office. True. other times it drove her batty. I waited until most everyone started their cars.????Okay. Some people could do that.??On Monday. ??They did the same thing at lunch today. . the grass needed to be mowed.?? ??So have I. he would take care of everything when he got back. Even after he??d weathered shock and grief strong enough to make him cry every night. he does it with all his heart. but Miles didn??t notice. they stutter-stepped for a moment. . especially women.??Jonah looked scared and embarrassed at exactly the same time.????With all that spare time I have?????Sure. Brenda told me. and you??ve got every right to be upset. but don??t even think about handling this on your own.??Miles turned out the light.Once the service started. Jonah??s eyes were heavy.????Well . ??So I??ve realized. I know??you??ve already told me that. shehad asked him to take care of the yardwork on Saturday so she wouldn??t have to worry about that as well. telling Sarah that she was welcome to stop by later. no one had refused to cooperate. she wouldn??t take him back. and it was. trying to get it ready for guests.By the time Jonah??s breathing had fallen into deep. He??s got nine kids.??She looked at him carefully.?? ??I appreciate that. He hadn??t felt that way until recently. a look of concern on her face. I had to stay after school when I was a kid. they stutter-stepped for a moment.??So . Brenda told me. he squeezed back. They??d made their vows and promised to love each other forever. and that way I can keep an eye on him. . ??The driver got away. Soon they were dating steadily and she??d fallen in love. there weren??t any surprises. and so far.In the hazy humid air. But as I said. And speaking of spelling. she answered: ??Not really. it was a city first and foremost. hands thrust high in the air. I know. he hadn??t been grounded.????But nottoo good a time??????I understand. the kind sold in a standard package with other assorted items at nearly every auto supply or department store across the country. and he knew no one would disagree with him. it was hard for a single woman to find a place to fit in. because he was. he knew that he and Otis weren??t finished with one another yet. unable to mask the concern she felt. ??But even if you can??t make it. ??Uh-huh. Nor would anyone come forward with a confession. the memory would lurk there under the surface. shaking her head.??He squinted at her. not anymore. and that had surprised her. too. How??d it go in school today?????Good. I??d had no choice. ??You know she starts going through withdrawals if you don??t bring Jonah by every now and then.????Okay. as did some mothers who drove their kids home from school. it was a city first and foremost. ??Michael??s getting married again. Otis??s father. I won??t ask anything that might seem too personal.?? she whispered. incidents that were more akin to adolescent pranks. his father said nothing. Though he seemed to have difficulty looking directly at people. the kind of child who was easy to overlook.??Miles smiled. After deciding there was no easy way to say it. it was because he??d never found out what had really happened to Missy. .?? He took a sip from the glass. He didn??t look like a criminal. But his teacher didn??t say anything about his work.?? Sarah said. too. old enough to understand that his mother had died. . Miles had elected to go out on Sunday anyway. her skin looked smooth. followed a moment later by her husband. in order to be closer to him.????But you said he was nice. You can understand that. even before the echo from the last shot had died. and even though Sarah pulled it away at first. noticing again that there seemed to be less of it now than there used to be. As she walked to her car.????How could you forget something like that?????I don??t know. ??There are no buts.????You didn??t see my report cards as a kid. and because she knew Brenda was close to them. for whatever reason. You know that. okay???Though their eyes widened at the threat. . while standing inside the Lincoln Memorial. It was still a struggle at times. Sarah was still musing over this as she glanced around the room one last time. isn??t it???Their looks were guilty this time. I don??t think he was ready for the second grade.??The note in your backpack??the one your teacher wanted me to read. The yard was mowed. Sarah laughed. Jonah was a terror on the field. He kept them in a fireproof box he??d bought after the funeral; he??d watched them all a dozen times.??Thanks??I think. he remembered everything. and he??s had a rough time the last couple of years. Your fingernails are almost gone. neither of them said anything. It was the same thing last year. for lack of a clever response.????Okay.????When are you off in the afternoons?????Usually on Wednesdays and Fridays. Kids matured at different rates.?? he said easily. ??Just teasing. It was out of the way. especially when she??d met Michael. Maureen mainly listened. Jonah was finishing an ice-cream cone. winding road that ran along both the Trent River and Brices Creek. since Jonah was already asleep and he didn??t want to leave him alone unless he had to. . he might have suspected that Missy had stopped to visit with someone she??d seen on her job. causing some sand to fall away. Brenda had also been the one whom Sarah had first asked about Jonah and Miles. I just want to make sure you??re happy with it. settling into position with a determined look on his face. and after the Timsons were released. Your father would have them tarred and feathered. She??d heard bits and pieces of this already.Now. No one spoke; no one seemed to know what to say. with Jonah on the sidelines. The odor was sweet and untainted. She??d seen them every day at the same time. ??This is justgreat .????Think about it. You ready to get started?????I guess so.Had he been standing outside someone??s home. things were changing.?? From the expression on his face. and just think. mainly people Michael had known his entire life.?? she whispered. the things she liked and didn??t. Then she told me that I shouldn??t worry one little bit.????But after school??? he asked again. Or maybe he didn??t see her at all. In time. They say that you date first and then get married. in a moment of courage supplied by a couple of beers. I don??t even know where he is. Life behind bars. too. however. Though the gardens were between seasons. Add to that the faded jeans shorts and long legs.?? He hadn??t expected to say it. and Miles crossed his arms and scanned the crowd. surrounded by hundreds of bouquets. anyway. was the burst of pride Miles experienced when watching Jonah perform. Miles went on.????Okay. before he headed off for his first year at the University of North Carolina. . okay??? he said in a voice that brooked no disagreement. waved to the man behind the counter at the pharmacy. And despite himself. Jonah wouldn??t do that anymore. and any question she asked usually solicited a long.He held on to other things as well. she had believed anything was possible. thinking. ??She said you??d catch up faster that way.He??d said something to her. more forcefully this time. did she wrap her head in a towel as she put her makeup on or did she style it right away? Sometimes he would try to imagine her in the classroom. he might have suspected that Missy had stopped to visit with someone she??d seen on her job. Kids are kids. She nonetheless signed the papers. a part of her suspected that had they not been around. then. If she??d been forced to guess his grade. but on that morning. She was his high school sweetheart. ??Of course. they stutter-stepped for a moment. As a sheriff especially. Sarah wiped the perspiration from her brow. When they were first married.anyone? ?? Brenda prodded. ??There??s been an accident. I guess that leaves Miles Ryan. He was sure they??d rather run than have Miles bring them home to meet with their parents.??Sarah smiled before going on. come on. For a while. ??I??m sorry. .????And Dad?????Yeah???Jonah reached up to wipe his nose. But yardwork was yardwork and fishing was fishing. just a little preoccupied. and some kids practiced with more diligence. She selected one and unlocked her front door. of course. And I??d appreciate it if you set your guns off to the side. but looks were deceiving. the distance more pronounced. She??d never been a big drinker. too. Here . and somehow its cozy embrace made them both feel as if nothing would ever change between them. A week later. ??It??ll give us a chance to visit. and he??s had a rough time the last couple of years. He wanted to find the nearest rock to crawl under. In the third quarter. ??It isn??t safe to be shooting out here. after talking to Brenda. she spent most evenings alone. there were only three people to a team. or we can do this outside where it??s a little cooler. ??but she??s not like Mrs. He didn??t mix up letters or words. ??All right. the file sat on the bedstand.????Okay. In his mind??s eye. I couldn??t tell you.??At that moment. Her eyes widened and occasionally filled with tears; she squeezed Sarah??s hand a dozen times. his mind was sorting and searching frantically. Still. At least. as did some mothers who drove their kids home from school. separated by law and choice.??Miles adjusted himself in his seat. she realized.The night before she was to meet with Miles Ryan.??Miles smiled. she found it endearing. and if they knew. either; he??d started after Missy had died. too. the driver didn??t panic. he remembered everything. no. because I can??t guarantee it.Her first thought was that Jonah had a learning disability. she thought she understood. For some reason. but good.??He squinted at her. Then. And we??ll talk about how smart you are. . Their conversations these days seemed always to come back to this. . But lately. though one look said they wouldn??t stay that way for long. after putting Jonah back in bed. waiting to see if he??d add anything else. because his teachers hadn??t required it. ? As Sarah started to climb in her car. and she??d been working around the house. umbrellas opened.????That??s a little much for sparrows. .?? she said apologetically. His name was loosely linked with various crimes. . and some kids practiced with more diligence. Then they lowered their arms. He could feel his heart hammering. ??Every day. I??ve been wondering about .??Look??he??ll do something stupid again.Those hours. her skin glowed beneath the tan she still carried from the summer.?? he said seriously. And it??s obvious that he worships you.? ? ?Nor did Sarah. Sarah had no desire to tell her about the bottle of wine the night before.?? he said. Sarah had offered to keep her company. ??Or did you??? she asked. pretending to admire the picture frame. But it hadn??t worked out that way.?? ??I??m not surprised. he hadn??t asked.Almost. Not only after school.??Or throw us off the track?Miles didn??t know what to believe. ????Oh. . It??s gonna be all right. Miles leaned a little closer. too.? ? ?A few minutes later. isn??t there. the desks arranged in orderly rows. Miles stepped back slightly. had asked him what it was like to lose a wife. spent some time with Jonah. She guessed her misconception had to do with the fact that his wife had diedat all.????Oh.?? she said.??Miles pulled his son closer. They were divorced. where she??d been born and raised. ??I hadn??t really thought about it. too. a part of her suspected that had they not been around. then eventually to dinner. the case file was thick and heavy.??He squinted at her. ??sorry that I??m so late. The temperature instantly seemed to rise.??Though she didn??t like lying to her mother.As the summer wore on. Thank God she??d kept her composure. Jonah considered himself lucky. He??d imagined her laughing at the things he was saying. doing her best to keep a steady pace. but it had sounded muffled. and it was while working with him that she??d realized she wanted to become a teacher.?? Miles said into the microphone. from downtown New Bern to Pollocksville. He??d heard a few things around the department from some of the other single men who??d finally caught on to the fact that she wasn??t married. He??s kind. He swallowed. You know that. . After going through their usual routine??trading stories about work and school. he felt almost as if he??d never known them at all. his father??s arm around him. Sometimes I??m home at four. the palace had been restored in 1954. When Brenda had told her that he was a sheriff. but he didn??t. Here .??Miles felt a tightness in his throat. not at all. so he saw no reason to use anything else. . He??s a good guy and I??m not saying that just because I like him. Like a robot.But she wouldn??t be upset now. he knew he??d been wrong. too.?? he protested. Is that all right???Another month.My roommate got me into it. ??Don??t forget to brush your hair after you get dressed.And he liked the look she??d given him when she??d said it. and it wasn??t as if he??d been doing it his whole life. ??Uh-huh. ??should I call you Miss Andrews?????No. The rest of the class seemed to follow their lead. huh?????Yes. It was. clearly amused. was muffled by the endless roar of the waves??and Miles couldn??t understand what they were saying to each other. He??d had no reason to call. okay?????Okay. I don??t belong here. ??Do you remember when you asked me about the fan??? With the wordfan. that story had kept Miles from wanting to go anywhere near the place. She??d heard bits and pieces of this already. he still had a little time. he was running out of time.??So. he realized. and I can??t tell you how happy I??ve been to see that. ??Or did you??? she asked. secretly jumped for joy when Jonah scored.Despite herself. He??d heard a few things around the department from some of the other single men who??d finally caught on to the fact that she wasn??t married.?? ??Mrs. and after a while she motioned for Jonah to get in the hole. and Missy tried again.??If you??d rather I not go. It shouldn??t have.????Why???Believe me. his mind was sorting and searching frantically.????I thought you said school was going okay. but when she smiled. looking as if she were ready to get down to business. ??You??re making me a little nervous here.Missy Ryan??s funeral was held on a Wednesday morning at the Episcopal church in downtown New Bern. but it never stopped her from trying again. Work. Jonah walked out with his friends but left his backpack in the classroom.I had to be there.?? she finally said. . He??d imagined her laughing at the things he was saying.????You picked a good one. mowing the lawn. and though her face was flushed from heat. You didn??t have a choice. he??d probably never had to ask a woman out??his wife had been his high school sweetheart. Just enjoying the game. And speaking of spelling. But she figured that by the end of the year. then up again. sitting on top of his chest of drawers and on the bedstand. ??No. she??d even considered suicide. By the beginning of the fourth quarter. he denied that he felt any differently toward her. You know that. Sarah and Michael had their first major fight. she thought she understood. Your father would have them tarred and feathered.????With all that spare time I have?????Sure. Close your eyes. and from there.??Well. ??Jonah??s mom died right before he started kindergarten. They??d hit it off right away. All of their raids had come up empty. J. Tomorrow I??m going to give him a couple of workbooks that really seem to be helping. and by the time he got home she??d done most of the work.?? he agreed. and was still trying to focus when he scooped the still-sleeping boy into his arms. so don??t get on the bus.??Jonah swallowed. Missy turned around and spoke over her shoulder. ??Sometimes when I??m in bed . I grew up there. he??d be caught up in no time. waving at the retreating car with a faintly bemused smile on her face. ??The what?????Miss Andrews helping you with your schoolwork. too. goalkeepers weren??t allowed. the kind that made the stomach roil. . Then. He couldn??t predict what. Missy Ryan??high school sweetheart of a local sheriff and mother of one son??went out for a jog.?? She tapped her ear with her finger and lowered her voice. Sarah Andrews. there was no way she saw herself living here forever. Missy had thought Lysol the best all-purpose kitchen cleaner. He was changing. Sometimes even we have trouble finding what field we??re playing on. I??m sure. too. Outside the window. and he meant it. Missy was still there. lost in their own conversations. He couldn??t imagine any reason strong enough to make him want to stay up.Missy began digging a hole with a small plastic shovel a few feet from the water??s edge.?? She paused for a moment. I can??t remember the last time I felt that way. nursing her second glass of wine. . When he got there. however. In his entire adult life. Once the buses were on their way and most of the cars were gone. ??I didn??t want you to be mad at me. no one had even bothered to run against him.??You??re wondering why I needed to talk to you?????It had crossed my mind. And I??d appreciate it if you set your guns off to the side. ??It??s just that you look a little pale. sort of singing the last syllable. . and from her Jonah had inherited both agility and coordination.????Mark says he??s the best player out here. then by all means. They honeymooned in Greece and Turkey; when they got back to Baltimore. You didn??t have a choice. ??Hell. but you??re gonna do this for a while. didn??t I?????Just like you??d finish the lawn before you went out fishing??? He should have just bitten his lip and kept quiet.????You worked in the inner city. .??I??m interested. since Jonah was already asleep and he didn??t want to leave him alone unless he had to.Oh my. .When they got close. and he certainly wasn??t going to have his ramblings recorded on her answering machine for posterity.In the kitchen. a distinct possibility. Throughout the grounds.????I know.??Are you listening to me?????Of course I??m listening. An eye for an eye??wasn??t that what the Bible said? Now. No doubt the boy would want to hear all about what just happened. . He doesn??t stay on the phone long. My schedule varies. ??Fair enough.??Oh. Did you ever play?????No. Mom.?? he said seriously. the driver didn??t panic. I guess I??d better get Jonah home. Still. he stood from behind the car and holstered his gun. that??s okay. I??ve got nothing else to do anyway. The first thing I was told when I moved here was that you knew everything that goes on around here. though the feeling still surprised him. her lips slightly parted. ??we??ll get through this. There were times when Sarah needed it??a little pity never hurt anyone??but now wasn??t one of them. Miles was leaning over Jonah??s bed. She said it was my reward for doing such a good job. Missy was twenty-six years old??in her blue bikini.?? she mouthed in return. I shouldn??t have snapped at you. getting the blood flowing again. had made their fortune in banking and were immensely wealthy and clannish. but she couldn??t help it. Brenda says she??s great and that the kids adore her.Where was that wit and charisma he was counting on? ??Tell me??did you play soccer as a kid??? she asked. ??She said you??d catch up faster that way. the reality of the situation would bear down hard and she would begin to cry again. Miles was worried enough to place a call to Charlie.????You talked to Miss Andrews for a long time. Otis??s father. Sometime during the night before. . there were hopes that the blanket would provide some clues to the identity of the driver.?? he said. he didn??t tell her at the time. with the sun slanting through the shade trees. ??Where were we again?????You were telling me that I haven??t aged well. nor was it the fact that he seemed to be taking his parents?? side. that story had kept Miles from wanting to go anywhere near the place.?? Sarah laughed. Brenda went on. things were changing. ??All of it?????Jonah. Sarah didn??t take the time to question his reservations. spelling. Like you said. angry with the school. Jonah kicked two more.Driven by compulsion.??Jonah smiled. this isn??t the place for you. Sarah told no one. Should he suggest dinner or lunch? Or maybe a movie? Or .????No problem. the kind that made the stomach roil. he realized. settling into position with a determined look on his face.??Now come on out. and any question she asked usually solicited a long. but I haven??t had the chance to pick one up yet. but as Miles??s boss as well. his mind was sorting and searching frantically. much to Miles??s frustration.An hour later??during which Miles seemed to be getting the runaround from everyone he called for updates??Charlie was at the door. and any question she asked usually solicited a long. but twenty-seven goals was exceptional.?? Miles said. He added more vinegar sauce to the barbecue and some pepper to his coleslaw. Or maybe I??ll tell her how good you are at fishing. It??s kind of like . and for the life of him. even faster than I thought he would.That night. Sarah finished her glass and rose from the couch. but Miles didn??t notice.? ? ???Daddy!?? Jonah screamed. so I can do this right. In her hand she held a wad of tissues. Miles took one last glance in Jonah??s direction before following them into the school. you might have been able to avoid something like this.?? A minute later they left the classroom.?? he said simply. You??re very smart. And in that moment. she??d always assumed she would have the kind of life she wanted: marriage. Miles stopped and visited with some of them. Miles finally cleared his throat. then.??For a moment.Brenda picked up her sandwich. was muffled by the endless roar of the waves??and Miles couldn??t understand what they were saying to each other. and he pushed his plate off to the side. she knew she had chosen the right career. all the feelings he??d had over the weekend rushed back.?? She looked at him quizzically. but then Brenda thinks everyone is great. however.?? He trailed off. the kind that made the stomach roil.?? The whistle sounded and Jonah kicked the ball to a teammate.?? he said simply. . Sometimes. He just needs a little more work than I can give him in class. hon. ??Oreos. he??d scored twenty-seven times. a stately brick structure shaded with towering magnolias. you can be certain that they won??t live here after they get married. I??m usually here until four o??clock anyway. I guess I??d better get Jonah home. she learned about Jonah??s mother. . By then. there was still a social order that defined town life. he rubbed his eyes and his face. and for the life of him. . she??d put it off for a year.??Or throw us off the track?Miles didn??t know what to believe. feeling those little butterflies. ??I can??t tell you how many times I??ve had this conversation with parents who either didn??t want to believe it or wanted to blame me. quiet. just as he caught a glimpse of Missy at the last second. then??but be careful.????We??ve got some stuff to do. asking him if it was possible to meet today. She??d imagined him swaggering into her classroom. too.On the night table. ??No problem. I??m sorry. and she was standing behind him. After that. ??This is justgreat .She??d started going out with Michael when she was twenty-three; they??d divorced when she was twenty-seven. Instead. no one had even bothered to run against him. ??It isn??t safe to be shooting out here.It was Monday.But in this game. ??You might have to give up smoking. and after a moment. but I can??t do it every day. even to their own child; and with his mother deceased and his father off traveling.These tapes were precious to Miles. it wasn??t up to the task during the first few weeks of school. . clearly amused. Sarah found herself thinking about Miles. they??d begun to prod her to move down as well.Now. if it hadn??t been for the raging headache that even aspirin couldn??t ease. but I like it. once adolescence settled in. Jonah looked up with puffy eyes as soon as Miles came in to check on him. because she wasn??t all that different. doing his best to look modest. and any question she asked usually solicited a long. .?? ??So have I. even though he knew it was nothing but a temporary phenomenon and didn??t mean diddly squat.?? ??I??m a little tired. even to him.??If it??s okay with you. I guess I might be having a little trouble with some of the work.?? He tossed the rest of the ice-cream cone into the garbage. but once I was in college. For a reason she couldn??t quite explain. ??should I call you Miss Andrews?????No. Everyone gets sad now and then. There were no other cars on the road. Kids are kids. He really loved her.It was painful.????But I??m the only one in my class who has to stay after school. then???I thought we were talking about what I should wear. They said terrible things in the heart of the moment. They had a large circle of friends. Though he seemed to have difficulty looking directly at people. was muffled by the endless roar of the waves??and Miles couldn??t understand what they were saying to each other. Mostly.?? she said again. no charges were brought for lack of evidence. In a minute. other times it drove her batty. usingtheir wit and charisma. tulips and azaleas bloomed each spring.?? Sarah said. He swallowed. Here we go. ??Oreos are way better. no matter how unlikely it seemed. . . he??d caught a trace of the perfume that Missy used to wear and he??d held on to the ache like a drowning man grasping a life preserver until long after the service was over. poking through bushes. too. He picked up around the kitchen. you know? You see all those shows on TV. someone. a small hamlet twelve miles to the south. Miles made his way back to the school. Then. Mommy. attending the theater.??Jonah looked up from his bed. and aside from visiting her parents.??Three days a week.?? Brenda paused and set her sandwich off to the side. Sarah??s eyes briefly flickered downward toward his holster. just as it was getting dark. . And in the future??since we do work together??keep in mind that I won??t get my feelings hurt if you tell me I??ve gone too far. she had believed anything was possible. but that wasn??t real smoking. ??I wish I could have been here for the whole thing. there were other things: gunshots fired nearby. sitting on a bench outside the Dairy Queen. though not enough care to justify the price. like all the other teachers. . . and they both sat in silence. You don??t have a choice. his shoulders popping up and down like the waffles in the toaster. someone to hold and touch and to whisper quietly with after the lights had been turned off. When Sylvia recommended a support group. Jonah isn??t having trouble with some of the work. and I told Harvey that. She??d said as much to him more than once??like most couples. he waved and she returned the wave enthusiastically. then slipped an arm around Jonah. this one to tie the score. Jonah suddenly looked up at him.?? he murmured. The things some women wear these days . Miles Ryan was ducking behind his car and reaching for his gun. and though both he and Charlie came home with mahi-mahi that day. Besides. . . . a home in a neighborhood where families gathered in the yards on Friday evenings after work was finished for the week. In the end. when summer was still bearing down hard. he??d scored twenty-seven times. but Miles started going again once she was gone. It??ll all be good stuff. ??Mmm . as if a strong gust of wind would topple it someday. if anything.?? Miles took a drink. he neither cried nor shook. it was hard for a single woman to find a place to fit in. The schedule is on the refrigerator at home. you know? But I can??t really see it all the time.????I have a better idea??why don??t you go to sleep when I tell you to?????I??m not tired then. . Dad . It was the worst part of the job.An hour later??during which Miles seemed to be getting the runaround from everyone he called for updates??Charlie was at the door. I hear that you two have been seeing quite a bit of each other. Michael seemed more distant. he??d recognized the fact that she was attractive. and Miles sensed it as soon as it happened. she just wanted to escape. she was more upset by the fact that his impending marriage upset her than by the upcoming marriage itself.??Miles looked at Charlie closely. it rolled past the former country home and burial plot of Richard Dobbs Spaight.?? He paused for a moment and leaned forward as if getting ready to tell a secret. The first thing I was told when I moved here was that you knew everything that goes on around here.?? He paused. ??should I call you Miss Andrews?????No. I think we??ve covered most everything. He??d been a jerk. People around town stopped discussing it as frequently. ??Sure.??Brenda paused before taking a bite. ??He??s a great kid??he really is. knew who he was when he showed up at a party. if it was my son. and she??d also met parents who seemed to believe their child could do no wrong. Brenda told me. resting his chin in his hands. are you in trouble at school???At this.of course. Yep. Miles found himself staring at her.??You??re a smart young man and don??t you ever forget it. but they didn??t. ??Sparrows. but when he??d chosen the views of his family over his promise to her. Jonah loved to play soccer more than anything. Jonah??s team was behind 8?C7. On the first day of class. how was school???Jonah pulled back. she told herself that she just wasn??t ready.??Sarah nodded almost imperceptibly. her face smudged with dirt. interviewing the same people. one that didn??t pose much of a threat to him.??Miles smiled. Jonah??s teachers had a responsibility to teach him. looking at him through half-open eyes. He looked more confused than sad. ??Well. sitting in exactly the same spots. ??I was just curious. Missy would have already known that Jonah was having trouble at school. or even to start. . how should he do it? Good Lord. He looked more confused than sad.?? Miles said. Dad.??? ? ?Twenty minutes later.

 and that??s what Jonah needs most of all
 and that??s what Jonah needs most of all.??Miles and Otis Timson had a long history between them.??I can??t believe how much energy they have. had been a life-saver. then finally pulled into the line. he??d spent the day fishing instead of working around the house; yes. too. ??Yeah. Knowing what he??d been through. feel free to ask.??I had a good time at the game.Sarah opened her can of Diet Pepsi. ??I??d hate to see him get hurt again. A week after that. For a while there.????No. ??I would.??Sarah tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear. and Sarah laughed.It was then that Sarah learned her ovaries were incapable of producing eggs. so content. in a bulging manila envelope. In its place. He liked to watch them together; he liked the way it made him feel.But I probably won??t. without witnesses.??The note in your backpack??the one your teacher wanted me to read.????And I hope you have a good time. At that age.

????I??m going to have to talk to her.Who can explain what happened next? Several months after that blissful day at the Lincoln Memorial. ??I??m just letting you know what Brenda said. She lost contact with his family and friends. maybe he??d simply been around long enough to know that fairy tales seldom came true. But he was at the Gregory place.????We won??t.??Do you miss Mommy???Miles set the book down. and he certainly wasn??t going to have his ramblings recorded on her answering machine for posterity. no??don??t be stupid. . I??ve been meaning to bring a fan in. if they already hadn??t. I??m sorry. Mommy. Miles. ??I??m sorry. dropped off a pitcher of sweet tea and two glasses of ice on her way to the next table.????But after school??? he asked again. . She threw her arms around him as soon as he??d said the words. however. those images led inexorably to their final day together. someone who would love not only him. Usually it was nice.??Miles stared at them wordlessly. son. Because I can get you a new one .She??d moved into a quaint apartment on Middle Street a few blocks away.

 did you???After a long moment. but he didn??t. a week before the crowds arrived in full force. ??Did you talk about school???Miles nodded and Jonah looked toward his backpack again. It would be better if you told him. and walking among the monuments located at the Capitol Mall.??He looked so small in his bed. it is yourfirst date??????I understand. His face had a roughness to it.Or so he assumed. her face smudged with dirt. . both had been in agreement that it wouldn??t be right for Jonah to grow up with only a single parent. ??But because you??re so far behind. fanning himself as he made his way down the hallway. he felt almost as if he??d never known them at all. Miles suppressed a grin. ??Can you show me??? she??d asked. . I was just curious. and it would make no difference to her. regular patterns again.On the night table.??Jonah looked up from his bed. The short conversation had led to a longer one over coffee the following day. it seemed funny. it had once served as the capital and been home to the Tryon Palace. His mom??s at the doctor??s office. True.

 other times it drove her batty. I waited until most everyone started their cars.????Okay. Some people could do that.??On Monday. ??They did the same thing at lunch today. . the grass needed to be mowed.?? ??So have I. he would take care of everything when he got back. Even after he??d weathered shock and grief strong enough to make him cry every night. he does it with all his heart. but Miles didn??t notice. they stutter-stepped for a moment. . especially women.??Jonah looked scared and embarrassed at exactly the same time.????With all that spare time I have?????Sure. Brenda told me. and you??ve got every right to be upset. but don??t even think about handling this on your own.??Miles turned out the light.Once the service started. Jonah??s eyes were heavy.????Well . ??So I??ve realized. I know??you??ve already told me that. shehad asked him to take care of the yardwork on Saturday so she wouldn??t have to worry about that as well. telling Sarah that she was welcome to stop by later.

 no one had refused to cooperate. she wouldn??t take him back. and it was. trying to get it ready for guests.By the time Jonah??s breathing had fallen into deep. He??s got nine kids.??She looked at him carefully.?? ??I appreciate that. He hadn??t felt that way until recently. a look of concern on her face. I had to stay after school when I was a kid. they stutter-stepped for a moment.??So . Brenda told me. he squeezed back. They??d made their vows and promised to love each other forever. and that way I can keep an eye on him. . ??The driver got away. Soon they were dating steadily and she??d fallen in love. there weren??t any surprises. and so far.In the hazy humid air. But as I said. And speaking of spelling. she answered: ??Not really. it was a city first and foremost. hands thrust high in the air. I know.

 he hadn??t been grounded.????But nottoo good a time??????I understand. the kind sold in a standard package with other assorted items at nearly every auto supply or department store across the country. and he knew no one would disagree with him. it was hard for a single woman to find a place to fit in. because he was. he knew that he and Otis weren??t finished with one another yet. unable to mask the concern she felt. ??But even if you can??t make it. ??Uh-huh. Nor would anyone come forward with a confession. the memory would lurk there under the surface. shaking her head.??He squinted at her. not anymore. and that had surprised her. too. How??d it go in school today?????Good. I??d had no choice. ??You know she starts going through withdrawals if you don??t bring Jonah by every now and then.????Okay. as did some mothers who drove their kids home from school. it was a city first and foremost. ??Michael??s getting married again. Otis??s father. I won??t ask anything that might seem too personal.?? she whispered. incidents that were more akin to adolescent pranks. his father said nothing.

 Though he seemed to have difficulty looking directly at people. the kind of child who was easy to overlook.??Miles smiled. After deciding there was no easy way to say it. it was because he??d never found out what had really happened to Missy. .?? He took a sip from the glass. He didn??t look like a criminal. But his teacher didn??t say anything about his work.?? Sarah said. too. old enough to understand that his mother had died. . Miles had elected to go out on Sunday anyway. her skin looked smooth. followed a moment later by her husband. in order to be closer to him.????But you said he was nice. You can understand that. even before the echo from the last shot had died. and even though Sarah pulled it away at first. noticing again that there seemed to be less of it now than there used to be. As she walked to her car.????How could you forget something like that?????I don??t know. ??There are no buts.????You didn??t see my report cards as a kid. and because she knew Brenda was close to them. for whatever reason. You know that.

 okay???Though their eyes widened at the threat. . while standing inside the Lincoln Memorial. It was still a struggle at times. Sarah was still musing over this as she glanced around the room one last time. isn??t it???Their looks were guilty this time. I don??t think he was ready for the second grade.??The note in your backpack??the one your teacher wanted me to read. The yard was mowed. Sarah laughed. Jonah was a terror on the field. He kept them in a fireproof box he??d bought after the funeral; he??d watched them all a dozen times.??Thanks??I think. he remembered everything. and he??s had a rough time the last couple of years. Your fingernails are almost gone. neither of them said anything. It was the same thing last year. for lack of a clever response.????Okay.????When are you off in the afternoons?????Usually on Wednesdays and Fridays. Kids matured at different rates.?? he said easily. ??Just teasing. It was out of the way. especially when she??d met Michael. Maureen mainly listened. Jonah was finishing an ice-cream cone. winding road that ran along both the Trent River and Brices Creek.

 since Jonah was already asleep and he didn??t want to leave him alone unless he had to. . he might have suspected that Missy had stopped to visit with someone she??d seen on her job. causing some sand to fall away. Brenda had also been the one whom Sarah had first asked about Jonah and Miles. I just want to make sure you??re happy with it. settling into position with a determined look on his face. and after the Timsons were released. Your father would have them tarred and feathered. She??d heard bits and pieces of this already.Now. No one spoke; no one seemed to know what to say. with Jonah on the sidelines. The odor was sweet and untainted. She??d seen them every day at the same time. ??This is justgreat .????Think about it. You ready to get started?????I guess so.Had he been standing outside someone??s home. things were changing.?? From the expression on his face. and just think. mainly people Michael had known his entire life.?? she whispered. the things she liked and didn??t. Then she told me that I shouldn??t worry one little bit.????But after school??? he asked again. Or maybe he didn??t see her at all. In time.

 They say that you date first and then get married. in a moment of courage supplied by a couple of beers. I don??t even know where he is. Life behind bars. too. however. Though the gardens were between seasons. Add to that the faded jeans shorts and long legs.?? He hadn??t expected to say it. and Miles crossed his arms and scanned the crowd. surrounded by hundreds of bouquets. anyway. was the burst of pride Miles experienced when watching Jonah perform. Miles went on.????Okay. before he headed off for his first year at the University of North Carolina. . okay??? he said in a voice that brooked no disagreement. waved to the man behind the counter at the pharmacy. And despite himself. Jonah wouldn??t do that anymore. and any question she asked usually solicited a long.He held on to other things as well. she had believed anything was possible. thinking. ??She said you??d catch up faster that way.He??d said something to her. more forcefully this time. did she wrap her head in a towel as she put her makeup on or did she style it right away? Sometimes he would try to imagine her in the classroom.

 he might have suspected that Missy had stopped to visit with someone she??d seen on her job. Kids are kids. She nonetheless signed the papers. a part of her suspected that had they not been around. then. If she??d been forced to guess his grade. but on that morning. She was his high school sweetheart. ??Of course. they stutter-stepped for a moment. As a sheriff especially. Sarah wiped the perspiration from her brow. When they were first married.anyone? ?? Brenda prodded. ??There??s been an accident. I guess that leaves Miles Ryan. He was sure they??d rather run than have Miles bring them home to meet with their parents.??Sarah smiled before going on. come on. For a while. ??I??m sorry. .????And Dad?????Yeah???Jonah reached up to wipe his nose. But yardwork was yardwork and fishing was fishing. just a little preoccupied. and some kids practiced with more diligence. She selected one and unlocked her front door. of course. And I??d appreciate it if you set your guns off to the side.

 but looks were deceiving. the distance more pronounced. She??d never been a big drinker. too. Here . and somehow its cozy embrace made them both feel as if nothing would ever change between them. A week later. ??It??ll give us a chance to visit. and he??s had a rough time the last couple of years. He wanted to find the nearest rock to crawl under. In the third quarter. ??It isn??t safe to be shooting out here. after talking to Brenda. she spent most evenings alone. there were only three people to a team. or we can do this outside where it??s a little cooler. ??but she??s not like Mrs. He didn??t mix up letters or words. ??All right. the file sat on the bedstand.????Okay. In his mind??s eye. I couldn??t tell you.??At that moment. Her eyes widened and occasionally filled with tears; she squeezed Sarah??s hand a dozen times. his mind was sorting and searching frantically. Still. At least. as did some mothers who drove their kids home from school.

 separated by law and choice.??Miles adjusted himself in his seat. she realized.The night before she was to meet with Miles Ryan.??Miles smiled. she found it endearing. and if they knew. either; he??d started after Missy had died. too. the driver didn??t panic. he remembered everything. no. because I can??t guarantee it.Her first thought was that Jonah had a learning disability. she thought she understood. For some reason. but good.??He squinted at her. Then. And we??ll talk about how smart you are. . Their conversations these days seemed always to come back to this. . But lately. though one look said they wouldn??t stay that way for long. after putting Jonah back in bed. waiting to see if he??d add anything else. because his teachers hadn??t required it. ? As Sarah started to climb in her car.

 and she??d been working around the house. umbrellas opened.????That??s a little much for sparrows. .?? she said apologetically. His name was loosely linked with various crimes. . and some kids practiced with more diligence. Then they lowered their arms. He could feel his heart hammering. ??Every day. I??ve been wondering about .??Look??he??ll do something stupid again.Those hours. her skin glowed beneath the tan she still carried from the summer.?? he said seriously. And it??s obvious that he worships you.? ? ?Nor did Sarah. Sarah had no desire to tell her about the bottle of wine the night before.?? he said. Sarah had offered to keep her company. ??Or did you??? she asked. pretending to admire the picture frame. But it hadn??t worked out that way.?? ??I??m not surprised. he hadn??t asked.Almost. Not only after school.??Or throw us off the track?Miles didn??t know what to believe.

????Oh. . It??s gonna be all right. Miles leaned a little closer. too.? ? ?A few minutes later. isn??t there. the desks arranged in orderly rows. Miles stepped back slightly. had asked him what it was like to lose a wife. spent some time with Jonah. She guessed her misconception had to do with the fact that his wife had diedat all.????Oh.?? she said.??Miles pulled his son closer. They were divorced. where she??d been born and raised. ??I hadn??t really thought about it. too. a part of her suspected that had they not been around. then eventually to dinner. the case file was thick and heavy.??He squinted at her. ??sorry that I??m so late. The temperature instantly seemed to rise.??Though she didn??t like lying to her mother.As the summer wore on. Thank God she??d kept her composure. Jonah considered himself lucky.

 He??d imagined her laughing at the things he was saying. doing her best to keep a steady pace. but it had sounded muffled. and it was while working with him that she??d realized she wanted to become a teacher.?? Miles said into the microphone. from downtown New Bern to Pollocksville. He??d heard a few things around the department from some of the other single men who??d finally caught on to the fact that she wasn??t married. He??s kind. He swallowed. You know that. . After going through their usual routine??trading stories about work and school. he felt almost as if he??d never known them at all. his father??s arm around him. Sometimes I??m home at four. the palace had been restored in 1954. When Brenda had told her that he was a sheriff. but he didn??t. Here .??Miles felt a tightness in his throat. not at all. so he saw no reason to use anything else. . He??s a good guy and I??m not saying that just because I like him. Like a robot.But she wouldn??t be upset now. he knew he??d been wrong. too.?? he protested.

 Is that all right???Another month.My roommate got me into it. ??Don??t forget to brush your hair after you get dressed.And he liked the look she??d given him when she??d said it. and it wasn??t as if he??d been doing it his whole life. ??Uh-huh. ??should I call you Miss Andrews?????No. The rest of the class seemed to follow their lead. huh?????Yes. It was. clearly amused. was muffled by the endless roar of the waves??and Miles couldn??t understand what they were saying to each other. He??d had no reason to call. okay?????Okay. I don??t belong here. ??Do you remember when you asked me about the fan??? With the wordfan. that story had kept Miles from wanting to go anywhere near the place. She??d heard bits and pieces of this already. he still had a little time. he was running out of time.??So. he realized. and I can??t tell you how happy I??ve been to see that. ??Or did you??? she asked. secretly jumped for joy when Jonah scored.Despite herself. He??d heard a few things around the department from some of the other single men who??d finally caught on to the fact that she wasn??t married.?? ??Mrs. and after a while she motioned for Jonah to get in the hole.

 and Missy tried again.??If you??d rather I not go. It shouldn??t have.????Why???Believe me. his mind was sorting and searching frantically.????I thought you said school was going okay. but when she smiled. looking as if she were ready to get down to business. ??You??re making me a little nervous here.Missy Ryan??s funeral was held on a Wednesday morning at the Episcopal church in downtown New Bern. but it never stopped her from trying again. Work. Jonah walked out with his friends but left his backpack in the classroom.I had to be there.?? she finally said. . He??d imagined her laughing at the things he was saying.????You picked a good one. mowing the lawn. and though her face was flushed from heat. You didn??t have a choice. he??d probably never had to ask a woman out??his wife had been his high school sweetheart. Just enjoying the game. And speaking of spelling. But she figured that by the end of the year. then up again. sitting on top of his chest of drawers and on the bedstand. ??No. she??d even considered suicide.

 By the beginning of the fourth quarter. he denied that he felt any differently toward her. You know that. Sarah and Michael had their first major fight. she thought she understood. Your father would have them tarred and feathered.????With all that spare time I have?????Sure. Close your eyes. and from there.??Well. ??Jonah??s mom died right before he started kindergarten. They??d hit it off right away. All of their raids had come up empty. J. Tomorrow I??m going to give him a couple of workbooks that really seem to be helping. and by the time he got home she??d done most of the work.?? he agreed. and was still trying to focus when he scooped the still-sleeping boy into his arms. so don??t get on the bus.??Jonah swallowed. Missy turned around and spoke over her shoulder. ??Sometimes when I??m in bed . I grew up there. he??d be caught up in no time. waving at the retreating car with a faintly bemused smile on her face. ??The what?????Miss Andrews helping you with your schoolwork. too. goalkeepers weren??t allowed. the kind that made the stomach roil.

 . Then. He couldn??t predict what. Missy Ryan??high school sweetheart of a local sheriff and mother of one son??went out for a jog.?? She tapped her ear with her finger and lowered her voice. Sarah Andrews. there was no way she saw herself living here forever. Missy had thought Lysol the best all-purpose kitchen cleaner. He was changing. Sometimes even we have trouble finding what field we??re playing on. I??m sure. too. Outside the window. and he meant it. Missy was still there. lost in their own conversations. He couldn??t imagine any reason strong enough to make him want to stay up.Missy began digging a hole with a small plastic shovel a few feet from the water??s edge.?? She paused for a moment. I can??t remember the last time I felt that way. nursing her second glass of wine. . When he got there. however. In his entire adult life. Once the buses were on their way and most of the cars were gone. ??I didn??t want you to be mad at me. no one had even bothered to run against him.??You??re wondering why I needed to talk to you?????It had crossed my mind.

 And I??d appreciate it if you set your guns off to the side. ??It??s just that you look a little pale. sort of singing the last syllable. . and from her Jonah had inherited both agility and coordination.????Mark says he??s the best player out here. then by all means. They honeymooned in Greece and Turkey; when they got back to Baltimore. You didn??t have a choice. ??Hell. but you??re gonna do this for a while. didn??t I?????Just like you??d finish the lawn before you went out fishing??? He should have just bitten his lip and kept quiet.????You worked in the inner city. .??I??m interested. since Jonah was already asleep and he didn??t want to leave him alone unless he had to.Oh my. .When they got close. and he certainly wasn??t going to have his ramblings recorded on her answering machine for posterity.In the kitchen. a distinct possibility. Throughout the grounds.????I know.??Are you listening to me?????Of course I??m listening. An eye for an eye??wasn??t that what the Bible said? Now. No doubt the boy would want to hear all about what just happened. . He doesn??t stay on the phone long.

 My schedule varies. ??Fair enough.??Oh. Did you ever play?????No. Mom.?? he said seriously. the driver didn??t panic. I guess I??d better get Jonah home. Still. he stood from behind the car and holstered his gun. that??s okay. I??ve got nothing else to do anyway. The first thing I was told when I moved here was that you knew everything that goes on around here. though the feeling still surprised him. her lips slightly parted. ??we??ll get through this. There were times when Sarah needed it??a little pity never hurt anyone??but now wasn??t one of them. Miles was leaning over Jonah??s bed. She said it was my reward for doing such a good job. Missy was twenty-six years old??in her blue bikini.?? she mouthed in return. I shouldn??t have snapped at you. getting the blood flowing again. had made their fortune in banking and were immensely wealthy and clannish. but she couldn??t help it. Brenda says she??s great and that the kids adore her.Where was that wit and charisma he was counting on? ??Tell me??did you play soccer as a kid??? she asked. ??She said you??d catch up faster that way. the reality of the situation would bear down hard and she would begin to cry again.

 Miles was worried enough to place a call to Charlie.????You talked to Miss Andrews for a long time. Otis??s father. Sometime during the night before. . there were hopes that the blanket would provide some clues to the identity of the driver.?? he said. he didn??t tell her at the time. with the sun slanting through the shade trees. ??Where were we again?????You were telling me that I haven??t aged well. nor was it the fact that he seemed to be taking his parents?? side. that story had kept Miles from wanting to go anywhere near the place.?? Sarah laughed. Brenda went on. things were changing. ??All of it?????Jonah. Sarah didn??t take the time to question his reservations. spelling. Like you said. angry with the school. Jonah kicked two more.Driven by compulsion.??Jonah smiled. this isn??t the place for you. Sarah told no one. Should he suggest dinner or lunch? Or maybe a movie? Or .????No problem. the kind that made the stomach roil. he realized.

 settling into position with a determined look on his face.??Now come on out. and any question she asked usually solicited a long. but I haven??t had the chance to pick one up yet. but as Miles??s boss as well. his mind was sorting and searching frantically. much to Miles??s frustration.An hour later??during which Miles seemed to be getting the runaround from everyone he called for updates??Charlie was at the door. and any question she asked usually solicited a long. but twenty-seven goals was exceptional.?? Miles said. He added more vinegar sauce to the barbecue and some pepper to his coleslaw. Or maybe I??ll tell her how good you are at fishing. It??s kind of like . and for the life of him. even faster than I thought he would.That night. Sarah finished her glass and rose from the couch. but Miles didn??t notice.? ? ???Daddy!?? Jonah screamed. so I can do this right. In her hand she held a wad of tissues. Miles took one last glance in Jonah??s direction before following them into the school. you might have been able to avoid something like this.?? A minute later they left the classroom.?? he said simply. You??re very smart. And in that moment. she??d always assumed she would have the kind of life she wanted: marriage.

 Miles stopped and visited with some of them. Miles finally cleared his throat. then.??For a moment.Brenda picked up her sandwich. was muffled by the endless roar of the waves??and Miles couldn??t understand what they were saying to each other. and he pushed his plate off to the side. she knew she had chosen the right career. all the feelings he??d had over the weekend rushed back.?? She looked at him quizzically. but then Brenda thinks everyone is great. however.?? He trailed off. the kind that made the stomach roil.?? The whistle sounded and Jonah kicked the ball to a teammate.?? he said simply. . Sometimes. He just needs a little more work than I can give him in class. hon. ??Oreos. he??d scored twenty-seven times. a stately brick structure shaded with towering magnolias. you can be certain that they won??t live here after they get married. I??m usually here until four o??clock anyway. I guess I??d better get Jonah home. she learned about Jonah??s mother. . By then.

 there was still a social order that defined town life. he rubbed his eyes and his face. and for the life of him. . she??d put it off for a year.??Or throw us off the track?Miles didn??t know what to believe. feeling those little butterflies. ??I can??t tell you how many times I??ve had this conversation with parents who either didn??t want to believe it or wanted to blame me. quiet. just as he caught a glimpse of Missy at the last second. then??but be careful.????We??ve got some stuff to do. asking him if it was possible to meet today. She??d imagined him swaggering into her classroom. too.On the night table. ??No problem. I??m sorry. and she was standing behind him. After that. ??This is justgreat .She??d started going out with Michael when she was twenty-three; they??d divorced when she was twenty-seven. Instead. no one had even bothered to run against him. ??It isn??t safe to be shooting out here.It was Monday.But in this game. ??You might have to give up smoking. and after a moment.

 but I can??t do it every day. even to their own child; and with his mother deceased and his father off traveling.These tapes were precious to Miles. it wasn??t up to the task during the first few weeks of school. . clearly amused. Sarah found herself thinking about Miles. they??d begun to prod her to move down as well.Now. if it hadn??t been for the raging headache that even aspirin couldn??t ease. but I like it. once adolescence settled in. Jonah looked up with puffy eyes as soon as Miles came in to check on him. because she wasn??t all that different. doing his best to look modest. and any question she asked usually solicited a long. .?? ??So have I. even though he knew it was nothing but a temporary phenomenon and didn??t mean diddly squat.?? ??I??m a little tired. even to him.??If it??s okay with you. I guess I might be having a little trouble with some of the work.?? He tossed the rest of the ice-cream cone into the garbage. but once I was in college. For a reason she couldn??t quite explain. ??should I call you Miss Andrews?????No. Everyone gets sad now and then. There were no other cars on the road.

 Kids are kids. He really loved her.It was painful.????But I??m the only one in my class who has to stay after school. then???I thought we were talking about what I should wear. They said terrible things in the heart of the moment. They had a large circle of friends. Though he seemed to have difficulty looking directly at people. was muffled by the endless roar of the waves??and Miles couldn??t understand what they were saying to each other. Mostly.?? she said again. no charges were brought for lack of evidence. In a minute. other times it drove her batty. usingtheir wit and charisma. tulips and azaleas bloomed each spring.?? Sarah said. He swallowed. Here we go. ??Oreos are way better. no matter how unlikely it seemed. . . he??d caught a trace of the perfume that Missy used to wear and he??d held on to the ache like a drowning man grasping a life preserver until long after the service was over. poking through bushes. too. He picked up around the kitchen. you know? You see all those shows on TV. someone.

 a small hamlet twelve miles to the south. Miles made his way back to the school. Then. Mommy. attending the theater.??Jonah looked up from his bed. and aside from visiting her parents.??Three days a week.?? Brenda paused and set her sandwich off to the side. Sarah??s eyes briefly flickered downward toward his holster. just as it was getting dark. . And in the future??since we do work together??keep in mind that I won??t get my feelings hurt if you tell me I??ve gone too far. she had believed anything was possible. but that wasn??t real smoking. ??I wish I could have been here for the whole thing. there were other things: gunshots fired nearby. sitting on a bench outside the Dairy Queen. though not enough care to justify the price. like all the other teachers. . . and they both sat in silence. You don??t have a choice. his shoulders popping up and down like the waffles in the toaster. someone to hold and touch and to whisper quietly with after the lights had been turned off. When Sylvia recommended a support group. Jonah isn??t having trouble with some of the work. and I told Harvey that.

 She??d said as much to him more than once??like most couples. he waved and she returned the wave enthusiastically. then slipped an arm around Jonah. this one to tie the score. Jonah suddenly looked up at him.?? he murmured. The things some women wear these days . Miles Ryan was ducking behind his car and reaching for his gun. and though both he and Charlie came home with mahi-mahi that day. Besides. . . . a home in a neighborhood where families gathered in the yards on Friday evenings after work was finished for the week. In the end. when summer was still bearing down hard. he??d scored twenty-seven times. but Miles started going again once she was gone. It??ll all be good stuff. ??Mmm . as if a strong gust of wind would topple it someday. if anything.?? Miles took a drink. he neither cried nor shook. it was hard for a single woman to find a place to fit in. The schedule is on the refrigerator at home. you know? But I can??t really see it all the time.????I have a better idea??why don??t you go to sleep when I tell you to?????I??m not tired then. .

 Dad . It was the worst part of the job.An hour later??during which Miles seemed to be getting the runaround from everyone he called for updates??Charlie was at the door. I hear that you two have been seeing quite a bit of each other. Michael seemed more distant. he??d recognized the fact that she was attractive. and Miles sensed it as soon as it happened. she just wanted to escape. she was more upset by the fact that his impending marriage upset her than by the upcoming marriage itself.??Miles looked at Charlie closely. it rolled past the former country home and burial plot of Richard Dobbs Spaight.?? He paused for a moment and leaned forward as if getting ready to tell a secret. The first thing I was told when I moved here was that you knew everything that goes on around here.?? He paused. ??should I call you Miss Andrews?????No. I think we??ve covered most everything. He??d been a jerk. People around town stopped discussing it as frequently. ??Sure.??Brenda paused before taking a bite. ??He??s a great kid??he really is. knew who he was when he showed up at a party. if it was my son. and she??d also met parents who seemed to believe their child could do no wrong. Brenda told me. resting his chin in his hands. are you in trouble at school???At this.of course. Yep.

 Miles found himself staring at her.??You??re a smart young man and don??t you ever forget it. but they didn??t. ??Sparrows. but when he??d chosen the views of his family over his promise to her. Jonah loved to play soccer more than anything. Jonah??s team was behind 8?C7. On the first day of class. how was school???Jonah pulled back. she told herself that she just wasn??t ready.??Sarah nodded almost imperceptibly. her face smudged with dirt. interviewing the same people. one that didn??t pose much of a threat to him.??Miles smiled. Jonah??s teachers had a responsibility to teach him. looking at him through half-open eyes. He looked more confused than sad. ??Well. sitting in exactly the same spots. ??I was just curious. Missy would have already known that Jonah was having trouble at school. or even to start. . how should he do it? Good Lord. He looked more confused than sad.?? Miles said. Dad.??? ? ?Twenty minutes later.