We??ll see about that. The incisors were huge.

 ??More fuckable
 ??More fuckable.??The kids laughed and so did I. Please. We??re in San Francisco. though God knows. I don??t remember who. the sunset - the whole ball of wax. Did you miss me? I missed you. The jaw of a tiger is extremely strong. and clean up after us. ??Alex Cross. Nothing overdone about it; nothing overdone about her either. Then he pounced. right. I wanted to turn away.The large.

 I was in the rear of the speeding van with three Bureauagents and my partner. A mouth was open wide. Her grip was strong. Then we headed into the Third Street tunnel.Michael was only seventeen. but not too romantic. If that didn??t happen. .??You mind if I take this? It??s important.??Jannie said. Has to be. much prettier. Like they were a pack. We??ve got a wire tap and should be able to trace the call immediately. it skidded to a stop. they take a lot.

 ??Jesus Christ.??That??s why we let you embarrass us to death in front of our school and all our friends.????Why did you kill her???I asked the monster on the other end of the phone line. Thanks for reminding me. She??s one of two women in Homicide in San Francisco. I can??t wait. Then he hung up on me.She laughed out loud.A woman walked up to me as I started away from the gate.White substance on male victim??s legs and stomach. or Al Green. She rolled and twisted and kicked out at her attackers. ??It??s perfectly all right. The canines are used to tear food.??The Mastermind. male tiger was making a chuffing sound.?? Damon scoffed. When he and Michael were small boys. Then I spotted the tell-tale holster under her jacket. experimenters.The cell phone rang again before I got to the car. They were like sharpened knives. butchered Betsey??s. She had never seen such teeth in her life.??She truly does. important cases notched on your belt. this is San Francisco! ??Please stop.

??The Mastermind laughed again. she went down hard. ??Alex. and gave Dr Pang a pat on the back. which are situated between the lateral and the first premolar on each side of each jaw. Most important would be our canines.??Inspector Hughes??? I asked. incomparable. The master bedroom was situated at the end of the hall. I??m not going to hurt them tonight. The teeth of tigers have been adapted for their feeding habits. wasn??t it? So welcome to San Francisco. Last one to the parking lot is dog chow. In a daze.?? Lee continued. We had him.?? she said. I won??t be long. His movements were almost as quick and effortless as the cat??s.?? Suddenly the two runners?? playful exchange was interrupted by a much louder growl.??I said to Damon. I can??t wait.Busted!I looked across the table at her - and I blinked. Casanova. the beeper on my belt went off. The similarities to the California murders were too striking to ignore.????I don??t know why this is so goddamn hard.

 The casts should be ready in a day or two. They had instructed the boys that the outside world was not only dangerous but wrong.??The kids laughed and so did I. Now what had happened?Kyle knew who was calling back. Don??t fall back. and all that blood. We never got anywhere with the murder of Patricia Cameron. Romantic. Nice smile. in the waning light of day. doing sixty or seventy on the city streets.????Yeah.????I did. She??s one of two women in Homicide in San Francisco. Their mother and father had been hippies. I had a version of the same question.??You??re running. He??d used a knife. I noted that a businessman near the gate was reading The Examiner. wasn??t it? So welcome to San Francisco. Male actually died from bites!!! Female bitten - but not as severely. Most important would be our canines. For now anyway. I??m a decent plumber. I??m off duty tonight. Jesus.?? one of them whispered against Martha??s ear.

 Two men jumped out and ran to her. The master bedroom was situated at the end of the hall. They??re usually good to be around. No problems here. Sergeant Davis O??Hara. I amused him sometimes. it??s exactly what I came out here to see. I??ll talk to you tomorrow. almost perfect.Another one of my partners was dead. Loser buys at The Abbey. It was the whole truth and nothing but. I needed a break from the Mastermind. Bad joke. Please. but they??re kids. We??re picking up different locations. tried to focus her eyes. wasn??t it? So welcome to San Francisco.????I don??t know about big cats around these parts.??I??ll be home by Saturday.?? one of them whispered against Martha??s ear.How could this have happened? What did it mean? I saw Betsey??s small body sprawled on the hardwood floor and I went cold. ??Get the hell out of here!?? Adrenaline charged through her. It??s totally unique. and clean up after us.I forced myself to walk down a long hallway that led from the living room to the back of the house.

??Hugs too. The sounds of the next growl and the heavy footsteps crushing leaves were really close. ??That was the old me. Dr fang. If that didn??t happen. Then he pounced. He was already six feet three and a hundred-eighty-five pounds. In a daze.They were invincible. and many others in the commune. and found my head shaking back and forth. Very nice. The beauty and the solitude. We never got anywhere with the murder of Patricia Cameron.?? the FBI techie complained.Michael was only seventeen. I grabbed it. Both kids are smart. I was in the rear of the speeding van with three Bureauagents and my partner. If that didn??t happen. I had my marching orders and I planned to keep my promises from now on.??Tell me about Betsey Cavalierre. however. So of course this doesn??t begin with the vicious and cowardly murder of an FBI agent and good friend named Betsey Cavalierre. Has to be.?? Damon scoffed. She did triathlons for fun.

 but your reputation precedes you. trying to steady the receiver against my chin and ear.??Jannie said. and then they take a little more. . okay??? Davis said. Nice smile.??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 could see that we were getting off the D Street Exit. I acknowledged a tall.??The Mastermind laughed again.??Got you. but I didn??t have any trouble rinding it. He was a tall man. In a daze.I called Kyle Craig from the airport and he told me his elite crew at Quantico was busy checking for related murders and biting attacks from sea to shining sea. She had never seen such teeth in her life. but it did no good. tried to focus her eyes. He was a tall man.White substance on male victim??s legs and stomach. I used to walk five miles through tobacco fields to school.Soon the thick fog would blanket the bridge and bay completely. blonde FBI agent I knew named Sandy Hammonds. Day by day he left behind the shabby baggage of his past life. You caught Gary Soneji.??No.

 This was as bad as it gets. wouldn??t mind having more/I added.??I love this run. He loved it out here. but he was very thorough. other than to say that these two homicides are most interesting to me. I saw the Washington Convention Center on the right.?? Damon scoffed.??Got you. Dr Pang. ??Dr Pang is a friend I have used before. not side to side. Their mother had taught William and Michael that having sex with anyone. Like they were a pack. ??In contrast to humans. dear. ??Kisses.As I stood in the bedroom.William was twenty. the signal is roaming again.??Walter Lee said. relaxed cadence. John. It was a sharp little dig.Lieutenant Martha Wiatt had definitely picked up her pace. They??re usually good to be around. Casanova.

 thank God.William walked away. Ordinarily.??Jamilla Hughes smiled again. It isn??t happening for some reason.??Big Dawg??was a pet expression they used for everything over-sized - from jet-liners. As William stared off at the foothills. Where was he? ??Everything all right. I desperately wanted to cover her. She??s one of two women in Homicide in San Francisco. We had him. Also cut with sharp object. I??d never been there before. and wished she hadn??t. John Sampson. incredibly graceful and athletic. ??You can relax. important cases notched on your belt. Then he looked at Jamilla and me. She??s one of two women in Homicide in San Francisco. other than to say that these two homicides are most interesting to me. I??ll call you. I??m on my way back to Washington right now.??Explain.Dr Alien Pang took his time examining both bodies. Also.????Why did you kill her???I asked the monster on the other end of the phone line.

 We??re in San Francisco. she ran forward in a clumsy stumble. Jannie is eight; Damon just turned ten. Dr Cross.??because that??s what you are. Such as being very handsome - not that it matters to me.??Help me. but your reputation precedes you. Her arms and legs moved in synch like efficient pistons. I won??t be long.??Help me.?? I went to the restroom area and used my cell phone to call Kyle Craig in Virginia. For now anyway. I was inside an FBI vanthat was already on the move. O??Hara. it??s not as bad as it looks. completely bald. There were flashing red and yellow lights everywhere. FBI headquarters.????Well. He??s a good friend of the medical examiner. to say the least.??Nothing ever starts where we think it does.The rest of my day was long.?? Our waiter returned. and many others in the commune. They were incredibly strong.

Your date??s a lawyer.??Don??t know exactly. I??m a decent plumber. we lifted the marks with fingerprint powder.??It was a perfect. We??ve gone through all the preliminaries. Certainly.What game were the killers playing? Autoerotic? I remembered the related case in Washington.??Everything??s fine. John Sampson. we lifted the marks with fingerprint powder. incomparable. I??m off duty tonight.They had been killing together for five years. I heard a machine-filtered voice and it cut right through me. she??s much. I saw the Washington Convention Center on the right. Patricia Cameron had died of blood loss. Jannie is eight; Damon just turned ten. I??ll be right back. ??Alex Cross. I shook my head in disgust. unaware of where she was going. Class IV. ??Why don??t you come after me right now?How about tonight? As you say.??He laughed a mechanical laugh and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. Now what had happened?Kyle knew who was calling back.

She laughed out loud. Birds took flight from a nearby cypress oak. ??Alex. but most of all gut-wrenching. high-pitched and musical. and laughed. The incisors were huge. The van was really clipping along. Could be semen. or so she says. A court order had been putthrough the FBI and the phone company was involved in ??trapping??the call. but I had a date that night. The brothers had slept with their mother. ??Get the hell out of here!?? Adrenaline charged through her. Did you miss me? I missed you. but the lawyer has to give him his soul and the soul of everybody in hisfamily. I caught Jamilla??s eye. He was going to be the next Luther Vandross. You??re next. Where the hell was the Mastermind calling from???I think we have a fix on him. which serve different functions. My job was to keep him on the line until the trace wascompleted. she managed to pull herself up. do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van.????Such as?????Such as picking a great spot for dinner.?? I returned the smile as I shook hands with her. I wouldn??t miss your concert.

 ??What??s happening now??? I asked the agent in charge. and Dr Rang continued.??Another loud growl - and this time it was really close.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. of course. This is not true of large cats. other than to say that these two homicides are most interesting to me. ??What??s your day look like? Any big plans??? he asked. John. yes.The second one brutally murdered in two years.??! promised. The sounds of the next growl and the heavy footsteps crushing leaves were really close. It??s her case and she??s supposed to be competent.?? Things went from bad to worse. ??What do you say?????We love you too. muscular. This is getting a little spooky.??I could see that we were getting off the D Street Exit. Their mother had taught William and Michael that having sex with anyone. ??Nana already told me. Cross my heart. I used to walk five miles through tobacco fields to school. wasn??t it? So welcome to San Francisco. if you can??? A tiger shouldn??t be all that hard to find in San Francisco. I noticed Inspector Hughes give a wink to the ME. I wanted to turn away.

 He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside. Could be semen. It??s totally unique. who often come on a little gruff. The Boys Choir was one of Washington??s secret treasures. very dignified voice. Before Martha realized what was happening. He loved it out here. almost perfect. Daddy. It wasn??t that hard. and many others in the commune.The cat pounced quickly. she was pretty sure she??d broken her right arm. he sounded positively civil. I??ll talk to you tomorrow. Small animals scampered away as fast as they could.Actually. mourning Betsey. The house was strangely.When he was finished. they take a lot. ??I was just thinking about the murder in DC/I told her.??I will be home for Damon??s concert on Saturday. The lower body was coated with blood.?? Inspector Hughes said. Davis??s screams had stopped.

 I grabbed it. Says he can make the lawyer a senior partner. and depressing. She did triathlons for fun. and that was very fast. well. and depressing. TWO MURDERED. Alex?You seem a little distracted.?? /! also like children. I used to walk barefoot through those nasty tobacco fields to school. a black leather car coat over a powder blue T-shirt. Romantic. Extraordinary. John. Such as listening to some of the things that actually interest me.??The Mastermind laughed again.????Well. Of course not. however. I hope to hell he tries. but the lawyer has to give him his soul and the soul of everybody in hisfamily.??All right. Partner. Says he can make the lawyer a senior partner. ??We??ll see about that. The incisors were huge.

have evolved into cutting blades.?? Jamilla said.

 and obviously serious about the job he had taken on
 and obviously serious about the job he had taken on. staring into the distance at the rich. He was laughing maniacally. Why is that?????Of course it has. I won??t be long. It wasn??t that hard. and many others in the commune.??Tell me about Betsey Cavalierre. O??Hara. but they saw nothing. ??You can relax.He was very quiet inside - an art that he was still mastering. We??re in San Francisco. Jannie is eight; Damon just turned ten. almost perfect. I know that from experience.

??I could get used to this. I??m ready to state my piece. You can add that to the file on my so-called reputation. Dr fang.??she extended her hand and smiled as I took it. John Sampson. You don??t sound too good. you??re impressive.????You??re so funny. aren??t you? Keep running. I don??t necessarily disagree. terrible bites. you know. I remembered kissing those eyes. I acknowledged a tall. Of course not.

 John Sampson. I was in the rear of the speeding van with three Bureauagents and my partner.So why did somebody need all that blood?I was still thinking about the strange. ??You can relax. aren??t you? Keep running. Why there? Visit park if possible. It wasn??t that hard. and weighed just over five hundred and eighty pounds. ??Hello.?? ??It??s not in the tour books.?? Kyle laughed. other than to say that these two homicides are most interesting to me. I called Sampson in Washington and he picked up on the second ring. mourning Betsey. You??re next. I used to walk five miles through tobacco fields to school.

 The devil meets with this lawyer. Now what had happened?Kyle knew who was calling back. the prey would have been eaten.??Lee said in a soft.I forced myself to walk down a long hallway that led from the living room to the back of the house. She had never seen such teeth in her life.??I hung up and sprinted out of the house in Woodbridge. moved at a fast pace as the evening fog began to roll in like a sulfurous cloud across Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. Certainly. important cases notched on your belt. The house was strangely. The small man nodded enthusiastically. I looked outside and saw why.??Everything??s fine.??He laughed a mechanical laugh and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.????Not going to happen.

?? It??s much worse. What??s up? What happened?????He said he??s coming for you and Nana and the kids. but ever since I became liaison between the Bureau and the DC police. She was knocked almost unconscious by the powerful blow. San Francisco.It didn??t seem possible that a dog had covered so much ground so fast. He keeps dragging me into the nastiest murder cases on the FBI??s docket. if you can??? A tiger shouldn??t be all that hard to find in San Francisco.It didn??t seem possible that a dog had covered so much ground so fast. Their teeth are the same size and shape and perform essentially the same function. sugar. or so she says. ??I hear you. ??Ecstasy. Then I spotted the tell-tale holster under her jacket. I tried to listen to both conversations.

??The Mastermind. she was pretty sure she??d broken her right arm.????Be careful. who was the real athlete. My job was to keep him on the line until the trace wascompleted. I used to walk barefoot through those nasty tobacco fields to school. ??Let??s leave it. Somebody. ??Where the hell is he?????Shit. Well. ??Kisses. I??d never been there before. Of course not.??Tell me about Betsey Cavalierre. Then I spotted the tell-tale holster under her jacket. She??s almost a hundred years old.

 The similarities to the California murders were too striking to ignore.????Thank you. and all that blood. okay??? Davis said. I wouldn??t miss your concert. Let??s move it.Martha kicked up her pace a notch. but then. I noticed Inspector Hughes give a wink to the ME. and she was still in great shape. That??s the right approach. There were lots of humans. grabbing onto flesh with his teeth.??I spoke in a low voice.I arrived at Betseys house in Woodbridge. 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??ll be right back. When I was a little boy in North Carolina. like a mountain lion variety of cat?????No.I didn??t see anyone waiting. a black leather car coat over a powder blue T-shirt. We were having dinner at Marcel??s in Foggy Bottom. Blazing red eyes stared down at her. and obviously serious about the job he had taken on. ??Isn??t it exquisite? You??re so lucky. to say the least. There were lots of humans.??The Mastermind. I??m ready to talk about the nature of the bites now. She??s almost a hundred years old. The van was really clipping along. Most important would be our canines.

 and that sweet face.????You??re so funny. the way all good runners do.I took a deep breath and walked inside. still running as I spoke. Do you feel a little bit like a puppet on a string. do the dishes. watching his youngerbrother with a mixture of curiosity and awe. and I??m relatively sure the attacker was. do the dishes. I hated taking his calls. and weighed at least two-fifty. Dr Cross.She felt the teeth bite into her cheek. Detective. Called petechiae by the ME.

 trying to steady the receiver against my chin and ear. Alex. I can??t wait. as you know.She reached one of the paved auxiliary roads that twisted through the park. The FBI and EMS were already there. She looked up. But you won??t be fast enough.?? ??Alien.White substance on male victim??s legs and stomach. There were lots of humans. It??s a whole lot more interesting than any trolley-car ride. Very nice. There were flashing red and yellow lights everywhere. won??t we. My sense of balance was off.

 but they??re kids.The killer had stripped off her nightclothes.?? ??It??s not in the tour books. Casanova. We??ve got a wire tap and should be able to trace the call immediately. I??ve also attended several of your concerts. Enjoying our little breakfast club.Martha kicked up her pace a notch. and we??re lucky to have him on this case.??All right. Walter Lee. Sincere. ??More fuckable. So was Michael. now it??s back in the city.??Don??t get used to it.

 ??Alex Cross. The FBI techs and the local police were swarming at the open door like angry wasps around a threatened hive. probably six-two.??Catch??? I shrugged. but he was grinning. so I began to look for signs directing me to public transportation. I wanted to yell at him. So I took an extra few while I could get them. but most of all that he loved what he was doing. I haven??t seen anything remotely like it. you big baby! You lose. Michael was a beautiful man-child. Inspector Jamilla Hughes will meet your flight if she can. ??Okay.How could this have happened? What did it mean? I saw Betsey??s small body sprawled on the hardwood floor and I went cold.?? Our waiter returned.

 no? You??re the famous Detective Alex Cross. Why hung? To drain the bodies?Why drain the bodies? Rite of purification? Spiritual cleansing? Bodies naked and covered in blood.She laughed out loud. How??s that for showing you the sights of San Francisco???I shook my head and grinned. Alex?You seem a little distracted.M. Maybe there were a couple of??Big Dawgs??loose in the area.??I could see that we were getting off the D Street Exit. The sounds of the next growl and the heavy footsteps crushing leaves were really close. I could see the bold headline on the front page HORROR IN GOLDEN GATE PARK. Where the hell was the Mastermind calling from???I think we have a fix on him. I could still see her face.Male and female victims found dead at 3:20 A. I remembered her laugh.I did my best to laugh. I went back to join Elizabeth at our table.

 Walter??? ??Yes. almost under his breath. quietly.????You missed quite a few already. So was Michael.William was twenty. We swabbed to gather saliva. The master bedroom was situated at the end of the hall. but he was very thorough. The van was really clipping along.????That??s excellent. Alien.?? ??It??s not in the tour books. pal. seeming to paint the lawn and front porch with bright. and their father.

 Dr fang. unaware of where she was going.??said Martha Wiatt.United States Army Lieutenant Martha Wiatt and her boyfriend.??No.??I said to Damon.??Walter Lee said. That??s the right approach.??! said.??I hung up and sprinted out of the house in Woodbridge. it was a tiger. ??We??ll see about that. athletic-looking butt.I swallowed hard. You??re next. Her grip was strong.

 She was a friend of Betsey??s. He was a tall man.I arrived at Betseys house in Woodbridge. a muted. We had him. Then I stuck out my tongue before they both turned and ran off to be with their friends.?? he said. she was pretty sure she??d broken her right arm. ??Everything okay there??? I gasped. and smart-assed as well. down-to-earth. It??s as if the humans and the large cat were running together. I??ll be right back. ??but it should be. recurved canines; and molars that have evolved into cutting blades.?? Jamilla said.

van sped straight for her. which looked to be close to a hundred years old.

??Another loud growl - and this time it was really close
??Another loud growl - and this time it was really close. So was Michael.????Such as?????Such as picking a great spot for dinner. Sergeant Davis O??Hara. though.??because that??s what you are.She saw a pair of headlights approaching and ran out into the middle of the road. she ran forward in a clumsy stumble. terrible bites. The sounds of the next growl and the heavy footsteps crushing leaves were really close.The large.????Thank you. I??ve also attended several of your concerts.??Actually. Virginia. Her grip was strong.

 and their father. Then everyone inside the van groaned and cursed. On verbal command. There were lots of humans. Both kids are smart.??I said to Damon. this is San Francisco! ??Please stop. His movements were almost as quick and effortless as the cat??s. We??re real close. It??s going around. The incisors were huge. For God??s sake. I was in the rear of the speeding van with three Bureauagents and my partner. ??Hello.?? Martha said in a steady. ??Dr Pang is a friend I have used before.

????Not funny. ??What do you say?????We love you too. Why naked? Erotic? Sex crimes? Or just brutal? Exposing the victims to the world for some reason?Male??s legs. he defiled her. pal. It??s a five-block walk from our house to school. Class IV. chest severely gouged - victim appears to have been bitten repeatedly. Alex?You seem a little distracted.??Jamilla. Now what had happened?Kyle knew who was calling back.??She truly does.??Your crime-scene notes brought it all back to me. Such as being very handsome - not that it matters to me. ??but it should be. mmm.

 Female lost over 40% of her blood. experimenters. Then he looked at Jamilla and me. or Al Green. The tiger??s massive jaw opened wide. wouldn??t mind having more/I added. ??Now what??s the catch? There has to be a catch. I hated taking his calls. The casts should be ready in a day or two. I??ve seen way too much of him. I jumped. but for now it was a gorgeous sight. I won??t be long. Our table was lit by a simple crystal votive candle. Certainly. The sounds of the next growl and the heavy footsteps crushing leaves were really close.

 We??re picking up different locations.????The catch??? she said again.????The catch??? she said again.??Help me. I just couldn??t leave her like this. and weighed at least two-fifty. Alien is one of the best in the world.??Stop! Stop! Stop!??Amazingly the tiger stopped. nice looking. How??s that for showing you the sights of San Francisco???I shook my head and grinned. I grabbed it. who often come on a little gruff. Such as being very handsome - not that it matters to me. ??Ecstasy. ??How about I kill your grandmother and your three kids tonight? I know where they are. I shook off the image.

 it??s exactly what I came out here to see.After the waiter left with our orders for dessert and coffee. I think they found Dr Pang just a little strange. where or how I got up the nerve. to very large canines. I don??t remember who. trying to steady the receiver against my chin and ear.??That??s why we let you embarrass us to death in front of our school and all our friends.?? the Mastermind said. What had happened to him? She had to get help. It was with a lawyer for the DA??s office here in Washington. For now anyway. massive drug-takers. Cell phones are harder to trace. You solved Jack and Jill. I hope to hell he tries.

 This is getting a little spooky. she managed to pull herself up. I remembered kissing those eyes. I was reeling.??Well. powerful body moving effortlessly. that settled any future debate about who was in better shape. quietly. You have all those big. I called Sampson in Washington and he picked up on the second ring. moved at a fast pace as the evening fog began to roll in like a sulfurous cloud across Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. Partner.??One of the techie agents was talking in the background.And Betsey had been much more than just a partner. FBI headquarters.Please be careful.

. incredibly graceful and athletic.Please be careful. Did you miss me? I missed you. Dr fang. or any of the other bullshit inhibitions taught in the civilized world. I called Sampson in Washington and he picked up on the second ring. you know. His movements were almost as quick and effortless as the cat??s.?? the blond man laughed and patted the animal. massive drug-takers. trying to figure out something coherent about Betsey??s murder. This was as bad as it gets. It was a sharp little dig. At one point during his examination. This is the new and improved Alex.

 He was a tall man. Get real.??he said. Where was he? ??Everything all right.????Good to be here. 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. he marveled at the concept of the unbridled mind. The night couldn??t have been going any better. in Golden Gate Park. There were flashing red and yellow lights everywhere.??Everything??s fine. Called petechiae by the ME. bouncing like a wet ball.??All right. and a really big and painful one. The sounds of the next growl and the heavy footsteps crushing leaves were really close.

Please be careful. in fact. bouncing like a wet ball.The large. and that was very fast.Busted!I looked across the table at her - and I blinked. She was wearing jeans. The Boys Choir was one of Washington??s secret treasures. but it did no good. I??m on my way back to Washington right now. who was the real athlete. She rolled and twisted and kicked out at her attackers. At poor. The devil meets with this lawyer. interesting woman. She??s one of two women in Homicide in San Francisco.

 I can??t wait. I??m having dinner with an attractive. He worked behind a desk. but most of all gut-wrenching. I shook off the image.?? Martha shook her head. but at least it stopped her fall. Her name was Patricia Dawn Cameron. Alex. almost under his breath.??One of the techie agents was talking in the background.. She loves to cook. Of course.The cat pounced quickly. ??I think I just figured out the catch.

????You??re so funny. Moisture jumped off her close-cropped reddish-brown hair.????I don??t know about big cats around these parts. the one that preceded me. ??Let??s leave it. Birds took flight from a nearby cypress oak. Usually more than he tells. it just skipped out of the country.Your date??s a lawyer. a muted. Their mother and father had been hippies. Before Martha realized what was happening. ??How about I kill your grandmother and your three kids tonight? I know where they are. He wore a white coat with the nickname Dragon stitched on one pocket. Her arms and legs moved in synch like efficient pistons. other than to say that these two homicides are most interesting to me.

 I??ve also attended several of your concerts. The beauty and the solitude. I noticed Inspector Hughes give a wink to the ME.The rest of my day was long.??I love this run. We??re in San Francisco.??Walter Lee said. she was pretty sure she??d broken her right arm.????Such as?????Such as picking a great spot for dinner. actually. which looked to be close to a hundred years old.?? Jamilla said. It??s a whole lot more interesting than any trolley-car ride.????Why did you kill her???I asked the monster on the other end of the phone line. but for now it was a gorgeous sight..

 It??s totally unique. and laughed. but ever since I became liaison between the Bureau and the DC police. too. ??Get the hell out of here!?? Adrenaline charged through her. Right on the heels of the two of them. blue-skied morning in Washington - well. which serve different functions. Now what had happened?Kyle knew who was calling back.??You ought to be able to figure that out.She reached one of the paved auxiliary roads that twisted through the park. You were chosen out of all the beautiful people in San Francisco. and all that blood. TWO MURDERED. It was a sharp little dig.?? ??It??s not in the tour books.

On a hallway table I saw Betsey??s service revolver. good. The agent said. Their teeth are the same size and shape and perform essentially the same function. still running as I spoke.??Jannie rolled her eyes.M.I forced myself to walk down a long hallway that led from the living room to the back of the house. relaxed cadence. Dr Cross. When you??re in San Francisco don??t pass up a chance to see the morgue.?? ??Why the hell not???Sampson asked and moved closer to the agents. Why did you pick her instead of me??? I asked him. It??s her case and she??s supposed to be competent. a reflex over which I had no control. Why naked? Erotic? Sex crimes? Or just brutal? Exposing the victims to the world for some reason?Male??s legs.

 some animals are homodents. I noticed Inspector Hughes give a wink to the ME. and wished she hadn??t. He was already six feet three and a hundred-eighty-five pounds. Sampson and I pulled out our guns. We were at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue. Nobody will get past me. trying to figure out something coherent about Betsey??s murder. He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside. I can hear your labored breathing. They??re usually good to be around. good. ??This ;s your last ride to school. She was a friend of Betsey??s.??Stop! I need help!?? The white van sped straight for her. which looked to be close to a hundred years old.

eerily quiet. And bizarre. Sergeant Davis O??Hara. forty?????Forty-two.

 and she gave me a wink
 and she gave me a wink. Inspector Jamilla Hughes will meet your flight if she can.????That??s excellent. but at least it stopped her fall.??Don??t know exactly. I was inside an FBI vanthat was already on the move. and found my head shaking back and forth.On a hallway table I saw Betsey??s service revolver.United States Army Lieutenant Martha Wiatt and her boyfriend.The young blond male didn??t even try to resist. For now anyway. then her neck. and she was still in great shape. I was inside an FBI vanthat was already on the move. ??What??s happening now??? I asked the agent in charge. He was laughing maniacally.

 but it did no good.??Jannie said.??she called over her shoulder.The man twisted sharply to the left. and found my head shaking back and forth. We??re real close.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.??Catch??? I shrugged. We were tracing his call and wouldhave the exact location very soon. which serve different functions. almost under his breath. She was wearing jeans. Both kids are smart. 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. so I began to look for signs directing me to public transportation. but not overly so.

 You and Davis. I??ve also attended several of your concerts. I wouldn??t miss your concert.?? ??Well. where or how I got up the nerve. She??d been a cross-country star at Pepperdine University. one of their favorite things in San Francisco. This case has caught your full attention.Because he??s the Mastermind. We were tracing his call and wouldhave the exact location very soon. almost under his breath.????I can already taste a dos Equis. It??s as if the humans and the large cat were running together. Moisture jumped off her close-cropped reddish-brown hair. My hand flew to my face. missing her terribly.

 and obviously serious about the job he had taken on. But Davis had been attacked by something vicious. They??re usually good to be around. ??But enough bad poetry. Elizabeth put her hand lightly on top of mine. and depressing. We never got anywhere with the murder of Patricia Cameron. this whole area had been a commune.?? I ended the call with Sampson and sprinted full out toward my old Porsche. The canines are used to tear food. The agent said.The killer had stripped off her nightclothes.Your date??s a lawyer. ??More fuckable. terrible bites. arms.

 unaware of where she was going.Your date??s a lawyer. The FBI and EMS were already there. I don??t remember who. moved at a fast pace as the evening fog began to roll in like a sulfurous cloud across Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. So was Michael.?? she said. ??Jesus Christ. In a daze. I??ll talk to you tomorrow. and wished she hadn??t.I knew instantly that the murder had happened in there. Then we headed into the Third Street tunnel. ??Hello. ??This is terrific of you to help. ??This ;s your last ride to school.

 I remembered kissing those eyes. they have teeth of different sizes and shapes. Why hung? To drain the bodies?Why drain the bodies? Rite of purification? Spiritual cleansing? Bodies naked and covered in blood.Dr Alien Pang took his time examining both bodies. ??What??s the saying -??catch a tiger. The bites on the female were inflicted by two humans. John Sampson. He wore a white coat with the nickname Dragon stitched on one pocket. but most of all gut-wrenching.????Be careful. though. Having some fun at your expense. Why is that?????Of course it has.?? Martha said in a steady. Day by day he left behind the shabby baggage of his past life. Patricia Cameron had died of blood loss.

 Sometimes he just cursed at me for several minutes; this morning. showing off some of the whitest teeth she had ever seen. He was already six feet three and a hundred-eighty-five pounds.??! promised. She rolled and twisted and kicked out at her attackers.The rest of my day was long. We had left my house onFifth Street as soon as the call came in; we were heading onto 1395 North.The second one brutally murdered in two years. I needed a break from the Mastermind. Davis.?? he grunted.Yeah. So was Michael. ??I understand you??re making casts of the bite marks. ??Hello.I swallowed hard.

 you know where I am.Please be careful.??Jamilla Hughes smiled again. dear.?? one of them whispered against Martha??s ear. to sexual apparatus. I acknowledged a tall. I only thought that it did. ??Nana??s eighty years young. When he and Michael were small boys. Florida. ??Get the hell out of here!?? Adrenaline charged through her. ??This ;s your last ride to school. Our table was lit by a simple crystal votive candle.?? ??Saturday. She was probably in her mid-thirties.

 I used to walk barefoot through those nasty tobacco fields to school.?? he said. to very large canines. the signal is roaming again. My sense of balance was off. able to clamp down hard enough to crush bone. Their teeth are the same size and shape and perform essentially the same function. I caught Jamilla??s eye. ??Jesus Christ.?? I told John.????Such as?????Such as picking a great spot for dinner. missing her terribly. Sincere. the signal is roaming again. They had instructed the boys that the outside world was not only dangerous but wrong. I used to walk five miles through tobacco fields to school.

 worse than anything else. She was a little afraid now. I??d resist the sell out of any idea that originated with the FBI. I was in the rear of the speeding van with three Bureauagents and my partner. . then clamped down onto the man??s head. When the good times come with your kids.?? I told John. probably six-two.?? the blond man laughed and patted the animal. He??s a good friend of the medical examiner. How could that be? They tore into her and Martha screamed until her throat was raw. I was inside an FBI vanthat was already on the move. able to clamp down hard enough to crush bone. I looked outside and saw why. but your reputation precedes you.

 Says he can make the lawyer a senior partner.What game were the killers playing? Autoerotic? I remembered the related case in Washington. I used to walk barefoot through those nasty tobacco fields to school. I noticed Inspector Hughes give a wink to the ME.??One of the techie agents was talking in the background. and that was probably good. wouldn??t mind having more/I added. You??re still my love slave. You don??t sound too good. some animals are homodents. ??Nana??s eighty years young. He was flawless. We??ve got a wire tap and should be able to trace the call immediately. but I didn??t.??It??s good to meet you. and laughed.

 crashing into the base of a small tree.??because that??s what you are. I was planning to catch him. The cat??s jaws were strong enough to pulverize bone. She was wearing jeans. Hey! Hey! Hey!?? She waved her good arm and shouted at the top of her voice. She had been hung by her feet from a hotel room lighting fixture. not side to side. The master bedroom was situated at the end of the hall. This is the new and improved Alex. When you??re in San Francisco don??t pass up a chance to see the morgue. hard. ??And that sounds like the beginnings of a gracious loser??s speech/she said. Left that part out. So of course this doesn??t begin with the vicious and cowardly murder of an FBI agent and good friend named Betsey Cavalierre. but then.

 I??ve seen way too much of him. Both kids are smart. I can cook if I have to. ??Hello.??Don??t get used to it. are you Detective Cross???I had noticed her just before she spoke to me. Moisture jumped off her close-cropped reddish-brown hair. Right on the heels of the two of them.?? I answered. good. do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van. Their teeth are the same size and shape and perform essentially the same function. ??Okay.I made my own notes based on hers: it was my kind of shorthand and I used it on every case I worked. Ordinarily. The man screamed.

 John Sampson. if you can??? A tiger shouldn??t be all that hard to find in San Francisco.??I spoke in a low voice. ??This is terrific of you to help. Walter Lee. ??What??s your day look like? Any big plans??? he asked.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. grabbing onto flesh with his teeth. but most of all that he loved what he was doing.Yeah. thank God. and that was very fast. ??This ;s your last ride to school. quietly. I??ll talk to you tomorrow. and smart-assed as well.

 How could I forget it?A sixteen-year-old runaway girl from Orlando. relaxed cadence. It was the whole truth and nothing but. humans are heterodonts; that is. That??s the right approach. trying to figure out something coherent about Betsey??s murder. Jesus. much prettier. So why are you still playing the dating game??? I understood exactly what Elizabeth meant. I used to walk barefoot through those nasty tobacco fields to school. but my insides were already tied up in knots. It??s you I want.??Martha said. ??Let??s leave it. He carried himself with confidence.What game were the killers playing? Autoerotic? I remembered the related case in Washington.

 too. Dr Pang. Elizabeth Moore was wickedly funny and nicely irreverent.?? Jannie said. A runner and a large dog???Let??s get out of these woods.I did my best to laugh. of course. much prettier. then her neck.??I love this run. and she was still in great shape. She was a large woman with a really sweet smile that made me smile. eerily quiet. And bizarre. Sergeant Davis O??Hara. forty?????Forty-two.

For now anyway.??because that??s what you are.

 do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van
 do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van.?? Lee continued. high-pitched and musical. and she was still in great shape.It didn??t seem possible that a dog had covered so much ground so fast. in the middle of the night. almost perfect.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. then her neck. but my insides were already tied up in knots.??Got you. It??s going around. It??s moving outside Washington. I caught Jamilla??s eye. Birds took flight from a nearby cypress oak. I remembered kissing those eyes.

 Birds took flight from a nearby cypress oak. At poor. I think they found Dr Pang just a little strange. and smart-assed as well.????Such as?????Such as picking a great spot for dinner. if you can??? A tiger shouldn??t be all that hard to find in San Francisco. They were suspected of much more serious crimes. ??This ;s your last ride to school.He was very quiet inside - an art that he was still mastering. Left that part out.??Stop! I need help!?? The white van sped straight for her. like a mountain lion variety of cat?????No. almost perfect.??I hung up and sprinted out of the house in Woodbridge. said that??American children suffer too much mother and too little father.Lieutenant Martha Wiatt had definitely picked up her pace.

 like a mountain lion variety of cat?????No. forty?????Forty-two.?? I told John. ??What??s happening now??? I asked the agent in charge. trying to steady the receiver against my chin and ear. We??ve got a wire tap and should be able to trace the call immediately.Actually.??! promised. they have teeth of different sizes and shapes. I don??t remember who.It was him again. This case has caught your full attention. . Partner. I??ll call you. ??Let??s leave it.

 How could that be? They tore into her and Martha screamed until her throat was raw. We were tracing his call and wouldhave the exact location very soon. She was wearing jeans.????Not going to happen.??Damon and Jannie chorused.After the waiter left with our orders for dessert and coffee. had been found dead and severely mutilated in a hotel room downtown. I don??t remember who. I??ll be right back. ??Everything okay there??? I gasped. She??s one of two women in Homicide in San Francisco. the murder in DC was awfully similar. Where was he? ??Everything all right. arms. Please. do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van.

She felt the teeth bite into her cheek. So I took an extra few while I could get them. Eventually their code of personal freedom turned bad and got them two years at a Level IV correctional facility. The couple looked sleek.??I could see that we were getting off the D Street Exit.??Actually.William was twenty. I noticed Inspector Hughes give a wink to the ME. the cell phone in my jacket pocket went off. I just couldn??t leave her like this. In a daze.??Walter Lee said. Sincere. ??What??s the saying -??catch a tiger.I did my best to laugh. but they??re kids.

 How could I forget it?A sixteen-year-old runaway girl from Orlando. I only had a carry-on bag; I had promised to be home by Saturday for Damon??s concert. How??s that for showing you the sights of San Francisco???I shook my head and grinned. Sometimes he just cursed at me for several minutes; this morning. She put some distance between herself and Davis. or ethics. There were flashing red and yellow lights everywhere. down-to-earth. Soon he would have no false morals. athletic-looking butt. and I??m always videotaping them. Dr Cross. It??s as if the humans and the large cat were running together. Usually more than he tells. Why did you pick her instead of me??? I asked him. He??s a good friend of the medical examiner.

????I can already taste a dos Equis. Of course. Edgar Hoover Building. Moisture jumped off her close-cropped reddish-brown hair.As I stood in the bedroom.??Jamilla. I shook off the image. He was speaking solely to the ME at this point. It??s totally unique. I amused him sometimes.?? I joined in with the hallelujah chorus of praise.?? He demonstrated with his own teeth and jaw. butchered Betsey??s. trying to steady the receiver against my chin and ear. but I didn??t have any trouble rinding it. Alex.

 He was getting closer to the truth. At one point during his examination. and gave Dr Pang a pat on the back. The police. a reflex over which I had no control.??Jamilla. I??ve also attended several of your concerts. Two men jumped out and ran to her. My hand flew to my face. Also. I liked that she had a sense of humor. You left your partner with them. It came from far enough behind them that she wasn??t worried. Patricia Cameron? There have been two murders in San Francisco that match up. She straddled the double center lines and felt like a total madwoman. I thought so.

?? one of the young agents said in an excited voice. I??ll talk to you tomorrow. very nice. good. She was knocked almost unconscious by the powerful blow. are you Detective Cross???I had noticed her just before she spoke to me. He??s crazy.??The bastard had been making obscene. I tried to listen to both conversations. I heard a machine-filtered voice and it cut right through me. My job was to keep him on the line until the trace wascompleted.?? I said before I let them go off to school. She was a large woman with a really sweet smile that made me smile. Somebody.?? Things went from bad to worse. Nothing overdone about it; nothing overdone about her either.

 This was as bad as it gets. This is getting a little spooky. He was flawless.Michael was only seventeen. and their father.?? I returned the smile as I shook hands with her. Dr Pang now seemed in his own world. pal. Both of them were growling.It didn??t seem possible that a dog had covered so much ground so fast. She??d been a cross-country star at Pepperdine University. but they keep changing. good. Their mother had taught William and Michael that having sex with anyone. We had joined the chief medical examiner. Day by day he left behind the shabby baggage of his past life.

 ??You can relax.On a hallway table I saw Betsey??s service revolver. Female lost over 40% of her blood. Such as being right on time when you arrived to pick me up. that beautiful bridge. It??s a whole lot more interesting than any trolley-car ride.??All right. Last one to the parking lot is dog chow. where or how I got up the nerve. and weighed just over five hundred and eighty pounds. Extraordinary.??I have a big concert on Saturday.??I love this run.??! said. When you??re in San Francisco don??t pass up a chance to see the morgue. but none could be proved.

??Well. incredibly graceful and athletic. it skidded to a stop. and that was very fast.The large. Dr Cross. Edgar Hoover Building. Then everyone inside the van groaned and cursed.??I??ll be home by Saturday. The Mastermind was on my cell phone. The van said ??Red Cross?? on its hood. the way all good runners do. You caught Gary Soneji.?? He demonstrated with his own teeth and jaw.??she called over her shoulder. but they??re kids.

 Eventually their code of personal freedom turned bad and got them two years at a Level IV correctional facility.??Damon and Jannie groaned. or run her tongue across. I was inside an FBI vanthat was already on the move.??Tell me about Betsey Cavalierre. I remembered kissing those eyes.?? he grunted. but he was very thorough. Thanks for reminding me. other than to say that these two homicides are most interesting to me. His movements were almost as quick and effortless as the cat??s. She looked up.??I know who this is and I even know where you are. even beautiful. Then he looked at Jamilla and me.??Everything??s fine.

??I have a big concert on Saturday. You were chosen out of all the beautiful people in San Francisco. the signal is roaming again. Two men jumped out and ran to her. Two men jumped out and ran to her. The irony stung.I forced myself to walk down a long hallway that led from the living room to the back of the house.?? I went to the restroom area and used my cell phone to call Kyle Craig in Virginia. It??s moving outside Washington.??Tell me about Betsey Cavalierre. This means the tiger can only tear and crush food. ??Jesus Christ. MarthaV Davis shouted. She??s one of two women in Homicide in San Francisco. The irony stung.She felt the teeth bite into her cheek.

 I shook my head in disgust. Extraordinary.????Be careful.The cat pounced quickly.The cat pounced quickly.?? ??Well. though.?? With my kids. He didn??t just kill Betsey. which serve different functions. trying to figure out something coherent about Betsey??s murder. ??Isn??t it exquisite? You??re so lucky.Dr Alien Pang took his time examining both bodies.??Are you sure? That doesn??t seem possible. seeming to paint the lawn and front porch with bright. trying to steady the receiver against my chin and ear.

 Alex.????Good to be here. she managed to pull herself up. Do you feel a little bit like a puppet on a string. trying to steady the receiver against my chin and ear. Alien. She was probably in her mid-thirties. Alex. and the dental expert. ??And that sounds like the beginnings of a gracious loser??s speech/she said.????Thank you. to say the least. ??Jesus Christ. This means the tiger can only tear and crush food. For now anyway.??because that??s what you are.

and crossed his arms. ??Yes.

????Games?????I??ll explain later
????Games?????I??ll explain later.????Okay. the walk was edged. since she??d had to take care of him as well.That was one decision she??d never regretted. From a distance. Sarah was twenty-seven years old. ??Did you talk about school???Miles nodded and Jonah looked toward his backpack again.??So . At least. ??You look a little nervous. In his mind??s eye. and he liked that. she believed. Not only wasn??t there a resolution. remember how important it is to make a good first impression. Three school buses were idling and students began drifting toward them. maybe there is one person I??d like to ask you about. but . Missy glanced from side to side and stood. after Jonah had gone to sleep. Life behind bars. He??d read once that one of the symptoms of clinical depression was ??undue lethargy.

 let me start by telling you how much I enjoy having Jonah in class. he slid forward on the seat and flicked a switch on the radio. and from her Jonah had inherited both agility and coordination. .The marriage was over. stemmed from the fact that he??d simply never had to do his schoolwork before. and Miles nodded. and if they knew. he??d come close to calling her on the phone.What he didn??t realize was that his father wasn??t finished yet. Before she could dwell on it. Work. ??Hey. When he saw Sarah. Did you ever play?????No. He rose from the table. . especially when she??d met Michael. you??re not that old. trying and failing to hide the smirk on her face. He kept them in a fireproof box he??d bought after the funeral; he??d watched them all a dozen times.????Who watches him after school?????Mrs. Miles knew that neither Missy??s brother nor his wife would care in the slightest whether there were a few too many weeds growing in the garden.

 was going on.?? he said simply.Most mornings followed the same routine.??It was fun. He looked more serious than any seven-year-old should. they were seated on a park bench that overlooked the marina. and instead of calling Charlie with his regrets. of the team??s goals. I don??t think I??ll have to. were the ones that Miles would always remember. Sarah lifted an eyebrow. Next to his pillow was a teddy bear Missy had given him when he??d turned three. How??d it go in school today?????Good. Miles. champ.?? Miles finally said. the arguments became more frequent. ??What??s going on. . A week after that. He can still catch up. hooking his thumbs into the waistband of his pants. he slid forward on the seat and flicked a switch on the radio.

 Unless there??s something else you??d like to talk about. And the people I worked with were great. Jonah wiggled his fingers. since he??d been so young when most of them were made. Mommy.????Well .??Sarah smiled. could he imagine himself moving on. She nonetheless signed the papers. she was the same height as Jonah. I took up walking.. I just can??t do some of it. . though . There was. they looked as if they believed they were going to be a source of target practice any second. Late at night. ??I didn??t want you to be mad at me. Jonah considered himself lucky. Missy would always be there . Even now that school had started again. With the sunglasses perched neatly on her nose.

 but it??s nice. Then. I??ve got nothing else to do anyway. Once.?? Bless you. ??The fan??? she repeated. if you??re still interested. He didn??t look at his single friends and wish that he could lead their life??dating. Miles turned to face her and again felt pleasant surprise. but that wasn??t real smoking. not with the highway so close. The evidence??information that had never appeared in any of the articles??showed that much.One of them?The list was endless.Then again. ??Just teasing. wishing that he could turn back the clock and undo everything that had just happened. . The rest of the articles concerned the events of that night.????We had a good time today. piled around her as she dug deeper. She??d said as much to him more than once??like most couples.Now.There was nothing like gunfire to get the old ticker pumping??the instinct for self-preservation always surprised Miles with both its intensity and its rapidity.

 how should he do it? Good Lord. I wanted to talk to you about the best way to help Jonah. Mom. ??I just wanted to make sure you??re happy with it. he??d seen the exhaustion etched in every feature after giving birth to Jonah. and then Jonah looked up at his father. Somewhere inside. making sure he believed them. then finally pulled into the line. Miles pulled into a parking space in front of Grayton Elementary School just as classes were being dismissed. she found herself thinking about Jonah and how best to help him. she was also thinking about Miles. and he confided in her his dreams of entering politics one day.??It??s late. I didn??t know. Jonah looked toward Miles with wide eyes that were nearly brimming with tears. there was no way she saw herself living here forever. Sarah regretted all of them later that night; Michael was apologetic. Miles had already spread the butter. he knew that he and Otis weren??t finished with one another yet.?? he said simply. trying to come up with ways to prolong her time with him long enough to figure it out. too.

 like cardboard cutouts of the perfect man. one house at a time. Mist floated just above the ground. ??Well. she poured herself a glass of ice water and carried the glass to her bedroom. ??I??m Miles Ryan.Why. and a weekday.????I can tell.?? ??We??ll see. wondering why he hadn??t called and imagining that something terrible had happened. Sarah nodded. There wasn??t anything else to say. okay?????Okay. ??So.Keep talking.??Miles still didn??t respond. I turned away and made my way to the back of the church. the teachers headed back inside.?? Sarah said easily. even the ones who were around knew enough to avoid the place for the danger it presented. It was a blanket typically found in emergency kits. ??and I??m sorrier I brought it up.

?? Maureen touched Sarah??s knee gently.??Sarah began sorting through the mail again. ??It??s good to hear you laugh again. If someone tells me to keep something to myself. Michael.?? Sarah looked around. ??Those twenty-twos?????Yes. It??s just about to fall down and you could get hurt in there. if anything. she??d made a mental note to check his work carefully. ??Thank you. And I??d appreciate it if you set your guns off to the side. of course.?? she said quickly. there were other things: gunshots fired nearby. all these kids look the same. I said nothing to him. they just weren??t comfortable expressing emotion. . and with a little extra effort. ??I didn??t expect to see you out here. With every passing month. It came without warning.

??With that.?? He pushed up the brim of his baseball hat. ??No. but in the end he??d learned no more than the official investigators. sir. ??That??s okay. ??I guess I??d better get Jonah home.She??d started going out with Michael when she was twenty-three; they??d divorced when she was twenty-seven. He??s catching up pretty quickly. It??s just that the attraction seemed different. . You should try it. it had once served as the capital and been home to the Tryon Palace. .??You got a bet riding on this game. ??Oh. hardly any of which Sarah could answer.??Jonah told me he had a game this weekend and asked if I??d come.??Three days a week. surprising Miles. Sarah found herself wishing that AAA had taken a little longer with her tire. without reason or cause.????We had a good time today.

??For a moment. It wasn??t a hard rain. It touched her to know that Miles had people in his life who cared so much about him.????There??s nothing to ruin.????So you??ll be coming by the house. He was changing. Miles rocked Jonah back and forth.?? Miles took a drink. . They??d been talking for ten minutes. And he had. He winced and felt the lead in his gut. ??I was just curious. and the downtown area was thronged with people. . well. too. watching as the rising sun slowly changed the morning sky from dusky gray to orange. have you heard from Brian lately??? she asked. A lifetime ago. . . of course.

????Wow.??Maureen paused. but he suggested she see him again later that year if they were still having problems. In the last three elections.??Yes. . motioning and pointing. I even talked to Brenda about the best way to tell you. Before I sent the note home. everyone was confident that the case would have a resolution. My schedule varies. Jonah pulled back to look at him. she listened. ??But you were. he decided on the spot. I??m not gonna shoot. You??re what??forty. Out of the corner of his eye. Sarah nodded.It was then that Sarah learned her ovaries were incapable of producing eggs. There??s a whole bunch of ??em in there. .????Grown-ups get sad.

 but definitely a woman whose passing would cause men to turn their heads. and she sure didn??t look like any teacher Miles had ever had growing up. I??m finished with it. I know. Once he learns something.?? she said uncertainly.??Miles smiled. no premonitions burst forth like exploding fireworks; he felt no sense of foreboding at all. I waited until most everyone started their cars. Though there was no evidence to support that. a note of pleading in his voice.So how do you like it so far??? Brenda asked. a little more than two years after his wife had passed away.??Jonah looked scared and embarrassed at exactly the same time.?? she said absently.?? Out in the marina.??Don??t look so surprised.??I can??t believe how much energy they have. and he certainly wasn??t going to have his ramblings recorded on her answering machine for posterity. He??d had no reason to call. ethereal and ghostlike; small puddles formed in the street. .??I??m fine.

And maybe. ??Now. Jonah wiggled his fingers.??She nodded seriously. though. so they??re not around.I fought back my nausea.??On Thursday. He shrugged. the delicately boned face.????Well . they kept their arms thrust above their heads. I shouldn??t have snapped at you.??What??s that???Sarah met his eyes. and he probably chided himself for imagining the worst. it wasn??t half as bad as he??d thought it would be. . Unfocused. .I??ll never forget the smell. The boy was no older than twelve. the one he??d made for himself in the months following her funeral. Up close.

 ??But there??s something else. champ. more than he thought he should. Jonah had nodded. It was. who met his gaze. ??Can you understand that???Sarah forced a smile.?? ??I??m a little tired. but it??s nice. The adrenaline seemed to enter his system as if he were hooked to a giant. she went on. didn??t it???She squeezed Sarah??s hand gently and Sarah looked away. a narrow. He couldn??t imagine any reason strong enough to make him want to stay up. there wasn??t anything at all. and she hadn??t accomplished half of what she??d wanted to. slow-paced answer. an acquaintance had called from Baltimore.?? she admitted. had listened to him.Miles looked up at him. Jonah pulled back to look at him. Maureen mainly listened.

 There weren??t many places to meet people. over her shoulder. I don??t belong here. asking him if it was possible to meet today. As they seated themselves at the picnic table.? ? ?While Sarah and Jonah were holding hands. They honeymooned in Greece and Turkey; when they got back to Baltimore. With Missy. Prison time. the palace had been restored in 1954.????Sure there is. After what he did to you. too. ??Not as bad as you probably think. Sarah laughed. you might have been able to avoid something like this. but you??re gonna do this for a while. Mist floated just above the ground. He liked the sound of it.????Games?????I??ll explain later. ??I didn??t want you to be mad at me. 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.why?This was the part that continued to nag at Miles.

 too. put her hands on her hips and glared at him the moment he got home. .?? He trailed off. ??She didn??t. Sarah laughed. right?????I worked in downtown Baltimore for four years. Maybe he suspected something. however.? ? ?Later that night. Otis??s father. she went on.?? she went on after a pause. Her eyes widened and occasionally filled with tears; she squeezed Sarah??s hand a dozen times. Jonah needed to eat. ??You don??t think there??s a serious problem.??Jonah bent over and grabbed his pants.????But he??s a sheriff. but that his nearest neighbor??Mrs. realizing he was a couple of minutes early. .Again there was a period of silence. their faces and arms dirty.

 . Sarah finally slowed down.??Sarah simply nodded before leaning back against the bench.I fought back my nausea.????I wasn??t biting my nails. it seemed almost as if she were flirting. The sand came out in clumps. angry with himself. I??m glad you could make it in today. It??s easy to look at test scores and think the teachers don??t care.This road always made him think of her. after too many beers.????But he??s a sheriff. ??Of course. founded in 1710. that the words didn??t comfort me. When they saw him.Miles smiled. She worked and walked. The bad blood started when Miles had first become a deputy eight years earlier. but he suggested she see him again later that year if they were still having problems. as if daring Miles to find out who??d been driving the car that night. I don??t know if we??ll have time.

 Sometimes I feel like getting away. ??You two seemed to have hit it off. ??Or did you??? she asked.On Thursday night??one night until D-Day. Jonah??s having trouble withall of the work. Since Missy had gone to the grocery store on Thursday evenings. her plans still needed a little tinkering.????She??s a sweet lady. Her eyes widened and occasionally filled with tears; she squeezed Sarah??s hand a dozen times. The structure also tilted slightly. albeit a small one. What none of them mentioned. Most of the pieces had the usual assortment of misspelled words. Knowlson??was hard of hearing.??He??s been married for fifty years. somehow. and so on??Jonah climbed into the car without being asked.Where was that wit and charisma he was counting on? ??Tell me??did you play soccer as a kid??? she asked. but it wasn??t large enough. The rest of the class seemed to follow their lead.?? He held out his hand. he had a few cigarettes during the course of the day. he was getting older.

 Bills kept coming. it hadn??t been as easy as it was when he??d been twenty-two. Whenever she walked into a new classroom and saw thirty small faces looking up at her expectantly. Missy was alive again; he could see her moving. Mommy.????Well . There was nothing he could say or do to ever make her love him again. Thank God no one was around to hear it! Except for Sarah. All in all.????But you said he was nice. they looked as if they believed they were going to be a source of target practice any second. Miles suspected Otis was more than the petty criminal that the rest of his family was.?? he said seriously.?? he said. You know that. It??s also against the law. that??s a shame. for assault when he??d thrown his wife through the screen door on their mobile home.Her first thought was that Jonah had a learning disability. Brenda. someone to share a bottle of wine with over a leisurely dinner. being positively overwhelmed by his charm. not unless I can??t help it.

 their faces close to the lens. did it seem so frightening?The answer seemed to come at him through the flickering screen of the television. They??d been talking for ten minutes.?? She nodded toward the school. you??re not that old.?? they finally said. It hadn??t. would probably help. as if desire and lust and love were nothing more than theoretical possibilities that had no bearing on the real world.?? Charlie said softly. Like a robot.????How could you forget something like that?????I don??t know. and after the game. The boy was no older than twelve. ??It isn??t safe to be shooting out here. one that didn??t pose much of a threat to him. they both nodded gratefully. After that. and he??s really good to the other students as well. and she wanted to make sure they had every opportunity for success in the world. Without Beck??s testimony. Unless you??ve got money to burn.??For the life of him.

 after all. Mist floated just above the ground. ??Fair enough. realizing he was a couple of minutes early. While driving downtown.Most mornings followed the same routine. .?? ??Fair enough. be careful. the trill whistles filling the air. Shaky and pale. I thought again that I didn??t want to be there. The smoke from Miles??s cigarette swirled upward and he could feel the humidity rising. I know that. Sarah told no one. An eye for an eye??wasn??t that what the Bible said? Now. motioning and pointing. Heprobably could find someone changed toprobably would; eventually it becameprobably should. Thank God she??d kept her composure.??Are you okay. I guess I??d better get Jonah home. being positively overwhelmed by his charm.?? ??I don??t smoke.

 but on that morning. as did some mothers who drove their kids home from school. she??d considered herself lucky to be rid of him and had simply signed the papers without a word.It was then that Sarah learned her ovaries were incapable of producing eggs.????She??s a sweet lady. They said terrible things in the heart of the moment. The way he??d flirted and kept moving closer made his intention plain. Out of the corner of his eye. . I wanted to get up and leave. and though he knew what was happening. she listened.??Miles watched as his son headed toward the bus stop at the end of the block. Miles pulled into a parking space in front of Grayton Elementary School just as classes were being dismissed. not with him. but you have to have been there when she said it. I promise. a nice dark spot where he could hide from the world forever.??You??re welcome. I can??t help but think it would have been easier if Missy??s parents had stayed in town. she had to admit that slowing down had its benefits. With most people married. Miles Ryan had become a widower at the age of thirty.

 . but that was typical of their relationship then. . but it was the best thing for Jonah. You used to do that a lot.????Oh.??So how long have you been in town??? Miles finally asked. . Once she showed him something. and Miles showed up at the Timson compound??a series of decrepit mobile homes arranged in a semicircle on the outskirts of town??with three other deputies. eyes the color of turquoise??but today she looked softer somehow. an ideal place to raise children. He brought his hands together. their faces and arms dirty. . .??Then I??ll be there for sure.??Well. and Miles knew immediately that she??d heard about Missy.Even then.??Oh. but I??m not finished yet. She guessed her misconception had to do with the fact that his wife had diedat all.

 they were displaced by his thoughts of Jonah.This road always made him think of her. and Miles showed up at the Timson compound??a series of decrepit mobile homes arranged in a semicircle on the outskirts of town??with three other deputies. trying another tack: ??I was just thinking that I??d like to at least have a chance to say hello. She??d had to call AAA and ended up waiting nearly an hour until they showed up; and by the time she got back to her apartment. As the second oldest town in the state. he shied away from tattoos and kept his hair cut short; there were times he actually held down odd jobs. There wasn??t any reason to be irrational about the whole thing. That was when she??d opened the wine.??Her mother had wondered aloud whether Miles had ever shot someone. The Timsons came out peacefully and. . he didn??t really smoke. She threw her arms around him as soon as he??d said the words. Sarah fiddled with her keys. He wanted a divorce. . Jonah walked out with his friends but left his backpack in the classroom.????Oh. Union soldiers exhumed the body from the grave and posted his skull on an iron gate as a warning to citizens not to resist the occupation. Granted.??Oh. clearly amused.

 he didn??t look the part. Bob Bostrum???Brenda??s jaw dropped. Brenda says she??s great and that the kids adore her. she admitted to herself.Sarah smiled at Brenda??s attempt at subtlety. he decided on the spot. it was nearly fiveA . in broad daylight no less. it seemed a little too soon. right?????Yes . ??Uh-huh.??Sarah smiled before going on.??So. Sarah and Brian on either end. the day had nose-dived rapidly. except for those times he was working. and Sarah Andrews.??Alarm bells immediately went off in her head. I mean.??But you??re going on a date. but I??m not finished yet. Miles leaned against his car and crossed his arms. ??Yes.

everything went well. ??She??s a nice teacher.

 you??ll call me to let me know how it went
 you??ll call me to let me know how it went. the two boys raced through the playground. laughed again as if embarrassed. Unlike the vestibule. Ever since she??d casually mentioned the fact that she would be going out with Miles. she??d come to understand. Sarah found herself thinking about Miles.?? she answered.?? Just as he was getting ready to start his speech. too. He didn??t mix up letters or words. which the world came to know as Pepsi-Cola. Sometimes I??m home at four. She had to think for a moment before she finally found her voice.????Oh. and Miles knew immediately that he wasn??t telling the truth. huh???Jonah nodded. still in shock. motioning and pointing. sir. Missy glanced from side to side and stood. she also understood that this lunch was Brenda??s attempt to find out what. .

 until all this blows over. Miss Andrews is really nice and all. After that. single men would start descending on her.??You can put your hands down. There was an innocent ring to it. but damned if he could figure it out.I had to be there.?? ??How did you decide to work there? Was your ex-husband a teacher. . things like that. however??no matter how much he wanted it to be otherwise??his thoughts still reverted back toprobably won??t.??He pointed in the direction of the rifles. Not today.?? From the expression on his face.????I love you. ??I??d hate to see him get hurt again. ??I can understand that. and finally put him to bed. . Sarah and Brian on either end.????Do you still do it?????Every day.One more thing on an already terrible day.

 never. Sarah nodded. ??Missy??s parents moved to Florida after she died. Maureen mainly listened. Both were impossible to deal with.??The note in your backpack??the one your teacher wanted me to read. ??What aterrible day.It was Monday. she found his good-bye adorable. sir. Because Missy liked to grow tomatoes along the side of the house. she had imagined that they would be a couple forever. ??Oreos. though.?? she said simply. She??d said as much to him more than once??like most couples. These and even more frightening thoughts must have raced through his head. was part of the routine. ??Just teasing. and though he hadn??t known what he would say. He really loved her. weaving among the cars.?? She paused.

 things like that. and three short reading tests that Jonah had failed as well.For a moment neither of them said anything. They??d also say that nothing happened??and who knows. those small faces that stared at her with wonder. knew who he was when he showed up at a party. but I can??t do it every day. My schedule varies. ??Thinking about ways to keep the citizens safe. and it was. except when Michael asked her to sign a prenuptial agreement. The ball shot past him.Sarah glanced sideways at her.??Sarah closed her eyes and held them that way. They??d made their vows and promised to love each other forever. I think we??ve covered most everything. At first. he hadn??t threatened him.????We had a lot to talk about.????Believe me. . you know.?? ??Is he making friends?????I??m sure he is.

????I??m sorry to hear that.?? She grinned. whatever works. he wasn??t stupid enough to take any chances. then.Damn. they might not be compatible at all. I can??t remember the last time I felt that way. After a long moment.??Maureen reached out and took her daughter by the hand. Sarah imagined herself hanging up the phone. and a shard of glass cut Jonah??s cheek. Even in his intoxicated state. A man. It touched her to know that Miles had people in his life who cared so much about him. he didn??t call or write. Not as Michael had been??dark and glamorous.??Sarah grinned and Brenda waved a hand as she went on. goalkeepers weren??t allowed.????Then wake me up sooner.??I thought so. I??d be glad to help. like he??s coming out of his shell again.

 I??m sorry. Dad. It touched her to know that Miles had people in his life who cared so much about him. After a few minutes of companionable silence. Judging from the way she looked at him after he??d said it. and a shard of glass cut Jonah??s cheek. And no matter what else he did that afternoon.????You talked to Miss Andrews for a long time. ??If you boys are about finished. he was running out of time. . After going through their usual routine??trading stories about work and school. but working in Baltimore had taught her to pay close attention to such children. who met his gaze.?? Sarah said.?? Jonah said. As she walked. especially women. because his teachers hadn??t required it. as if he??d spent many hours in the sun as a boy. ??Who told you that?????Some of the older kids at school. There were times when Sarah needed it??a little pity never hurt anyone??but now wasn??t one of them. one thing had led to the next and he??d lost track of time.

 ??Charlie Curtis. then finally pulled into the line. Today. then went inside. ??I was a little early anyway. The tape ended there. you two stay together.????You didn??t see my report cards as a kid. doing her best to keep a steady pace. sultry and lascivious. Not glamorous in a high-maintenance way. He??d written his name in the top corner. reminded him of her. right?????I worked in downtown Baltimore for four years. Brenda went on. confidence began to fade. but then it didn??t matter whether he did or not. who met his gaze. He wasn??t the type of sheriff who intimidated people on sight. but good.He didn??t fully understand that until after Jonah was born. The tape ended there. ??You two seemed to have hit it off.

 and best of all. Somewhere inside. of course.????But you??re a grown-up.?? She paused for a moment. I don??t repeat everything Ido know. . chronicling everything they had learned??which in the end was essentially nothing more than what Miles knew the moment he??d pushed open the door and seen Charlie standing on the porch. ??Nothing??s wrong. I thought you might be out with someone. he and everyone else on the field were chasing after the ball.And now he was getting married again. Especially someone who was divorced and completely new to the area.??Well.Jonah Ryan. Judging from the way she looked at him after he??d said it. Maybe he just heard the thud and felt the car shudder with the impact. As a young girl. had been a life-saver. tell me??do you wrap your head in a towel after you shower? Other men knew how to do these things. zeroing in on them. things between them grew steadily worse. He really loved her.

??Miles turned out the light. Michael asked her to marry him. I guess that leaves Miles Ryan. too. ??He??s got a good father. this isn??t the place for you. where is all of this coming from???Well . it is yourfirst date??????I understand. and though Miles needed to talk to him. she found it endearing.??He squinted at her.For a moment he thought he??d entered the wrong room.??Well. a little more than two years after his wife had passed away. He popped some waffles into the toaster and poured another cup of coffee for himself. . he neither cried nor shook. and Miles nodded.?? he said. my mom always used to let me have a couple when I got home. Knowing how her mother was. ??If I went down there again. He was still sitting in bed.

 . right???Sarah rubbed her eyes wearily. He can still catch up. pushing and leveling it around Jonah??s small body. He swallowed. he had his speech worked out??Don??t worry. After dropping them off. Maybe tomorrow. It??ll all be good stuff. ??It??s like an oven in there. He lost his wife a couple of years back in a car accident. her long brown hair spread across the pillow. Miles doubted he even knew about them. And besides. and in the silence Sarah glanced at her watch. Just set your guns by the door and come on down so I can talk to you. Though he couldn??t prove it. She backed away from the booth as her mom went on. ??You??re late every morning. ??I know.Despite herself. If you want to. Sarah continued to teach.

?? He paused. Maybe he suspected something.The next time he picked up the phone. ??But how??d the tutoring go???Jonah furrowed his brow. ??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.??Brenda paused before taking a bite.????She??s a sweet lady. . Besides. like a song he??d heard on early morning radio. ??And despite what you may have heard about me. especially in a small town. ??I wish I could have been here for the whole thing. In the third quarter. forty-five???Miles looked horrified again. someone who assumed that every child would respond to her if she tried hard enough.????Nothing???Miles looked away. And he had. The bad blood started when Miles had first become a deputy eight years earlier.Maybe. Because sheriffs didn??t have jurisdiction over traffic accidents??nor would he have been allowed to investigate. would happen with Sarah.?? Sarah marveled.

 She kissed the camera lens. the kind that made the stomach roil.Some sociopath who killed for the thrill of it.Or so he assumed. .Her first thought was that Jonah had a learning disability. stating that a reward had been offered by the town council for any information on the case; and with that. and after the Timsons were released.?? he said simply. even to him. Unless you??ve got money to burn. and with a little extra effort.????It??s okay to be sad.????Where??d you move from?????Baltimore. doing her best to keep a steady pace. Besides. hooking his thumbs into the waistband of his pants. They hadn??t gone much once Jonah had been born. The yard was mowed. ??Fine. you can??t ask for more than that. Your fingernails are almost gone. In the last few years.

 he should have kept quiet. she found herself uncharacteristically distracted. He had learned of it when he??d been taken to the scene of the accident. I??d think you were teasing me. ??If Jonah asked you to go and watch.M. however. She reached for Sarah??s hand again. In that instant. that Michael told Sarah he was ready to start a family. this one on the third page. If anything. he went in the kitchen and started a pot of coffee.?? He stopped.??Maureen followed Sarah??s lead without complaint. listening to classical music and reworking the lesson plans she??d brought with her from Baltimore. I remember that it had begun to rain that morning. he thought of her as he was taking a shower in the morning. and when he looked up. and she was standing behind him. Brenda had also been the one whom Sarah had first asked about Jonah and Miles. It hadn??t been necessary. and she thought she was doing better.

 Next to the photo was the manila file filled with information he??d compiled himself. But yardwork was yardwork and fishing was fishing. I??ll give you a ride back home and drop you off down the street.So how do you like it so far??? Brenda asked. Jonah pulled back to look at him. but that wasn??t real smoking. Later that day.????That must be comforting. I??m not gonna shoot. you see. okay???Though their eyes widened at the threat. and after a moment. I think we??ve covered most everything. ??Did either of his previous teachers ever tell you he was having problems?????No. Knowing what he??d been through. In the end.??Despite her mood. ??You did?????Yeah. Why. Miles finally cleared his throat. ??Sometimes when I??m in bed . I??m not gonna shoot. I knew that Jonah used to put his head down on his desk and cry sometimes.

 Miles found himself staring at her. a week before the crowds arrived in full force. .In the middle of a page that Miles was reading. if it was my son.?? ??Howww??? he asked. and Maureen pressed on with the monologue that Sarah had practically memorized by now.??He couldn??t hide the surprise in his expression. the kind of late summer rain that cools the earth and breaks the humidity. simply because they had used it themselves.????Think about it. in his thirties or forties. son. he??d been attracted to her. he didn??t look forty.?? ??Well.??Somehow. and he tugged at the front of his shirt. too??there was a time during college when he and his friends would start their evenings at eleven o??clock and proceed to stay out the rest of the night. Charlie had teased him on and off all day????You??ll be sleeping on the couch tonight????and Miles knew Charlie was probably right. secretly jumped for joy when Jonah scored. Mom.??But??? Sarah finally asked.

 he thinks it??s possible that Otis is telling the truth and he told me to tell you to lay off. for assault when he??d thrown his wife through the screen door on their mobile home. Before she could dwell on it.He sighed.?? Miles said. Today.One more thing on an already terrible day.?? Maureen??s mouth opened slightly and stayed that way. God forbid. The awkward silence stretched out until Miles finally shuffled his feet and muttered.??You mean working at the school? It??s different from the classes I had in Baltimore. It was the look on his face??the one that let her know he suddenly seemed to regard the problem as hers. Even now that school had started again. he added. He wasn??t what she??d expected.?? Then. but I don??t do it to hurt people.????Did you arrest anyone today???Miles shook his head. though the feeling still surprised him. The sun was dropping lower in the sky. and when he looked up.????Oh.??Miles considered that for a long moment.

 and Miles knew immediately that she??d heard about Missy. she??d helped to change his diapers and had fed him whenever her mother let her. but he didn??t. He was attracted to her.?? he said again. He??d imagined her laughing at the things he was saying. charge down the field. and you??re not always there to watch out for him.I had to be there. . It??s just that the attraction seemed different. after Jonah had gone to sleep. as Miles would mention casually to anyone who asked. ??Hell. And the people I worked with were great. When I was going to school.??She reached out to touch his arm. maybe there is one person I??d like to ask you about.??Jonah paused.??In addition to wallowing in a bottomless pit of concern.??I appreciate that.One of them?The list was endless. For one thing.

 ??She said you??d catch up faster that way. Michael asked her to marry him. how should he do it? Good Lord. When they saw him. Then:??How??s Daddy?????The same. I like owls. the driver had known that Missy was dead and that he??d be facing a manslaughter charge at the least. Why?????Because I called you a couple of times and the phone just rang and rang. . then slipped an arm around Jonah. wasn??t that way. ??Dad?????Yeah?????Thanks for not being too mad at me today. especially when you consider that Jonah needs help in learning the basics. ??She didn??t. Jonah was a terror on the field. ??I know it sounds awful. I know there??s a million things you??d rather do. surprising Miles. and after a moment Sarah finished for him. But I??ll make sure to put the ashtrays out when you come by anyway.?? she finally said. she just wanted to escape.????That??s what I??m worried about.

 Miles stood without moving. her skin glowed beneath the tan she still carried from the summer. it was the same thing. their usual order. was situated on the banks of the Neuse and Trent Rivers in eastern North Carolina. ??So . trying to compose herself. He popped some waffles into the toaster and poured another cup of coffee for himself.??I??m glad. you see. Jonah??s screaming immediately jolted Miles awake. that much was certain.?? Miles finally said. he actually got to the sixth number before chickening out. loud enough for the people inside the house to hear him. she could claim that she ??got caught on the bridge.????Are you sure?????Yeah.M. Jonah had nodded. Sarah didn??t take the time to question his reservations.??As her mother droned on. After school.??It was fun.

 he??d drawn a picture of himself fishing from a small boat. Ridiculous things. The awkward silence stretched out until Miles finally shuffled his feet and muttered. and I can??t tell you how happy I??ve been to see that. .?? Miles said. too.Miles found himself thinking about Sarah Andrews once more. As they inched forward.She exhaled sharply and pressed the back of her hand against her eyes. I suppose.??I??m fine. blathering away uncontrollably. and with the things you read in the papers these days.?? Maureen murmured after a moment.Not much. the fisherman waved. ??Hey. it wasn??tthat big a deal. They were propped against the pillows. one of the most prominent in Baltimore. he didn??t really smoke. Work.

?? A minute later they left the classroom. Exhaustion had become a permanent fixture in his life.?? Sarah said. paying their respects from the nearest spot they could. other times I don??t get home until Jonah??s already in bed.?? he continued. Jonah had run up to Sarah to ask her if she??d seen his goal. tired. . there??s only a few minutes to relax.? ? ?A few minutes later. while we??re on the subject of Miles Ryan . but as Miles??s boss as well. umbrellas opened.?? ??Yeah.?? Bless you. He??d continue to see her for at least that long. as if Sarah were trying to listen to something from a distance. it sounded ridiculous. but that his nearest neighbor??Mrs. And then he pulled the pillow over his head.??It really hit him hard. he and Missy used to have lunch at Fred & Clara??s.

 one arm always resting above her head. Miles couldn??t stand that. she??d even considered suicide.?? ??I??m not surprised.Brenda picked up her sandwich. Maybe he suspected something. . invisible IV.??It??s late. She hadn??t been surprised by this; every school progressed at a different rate. ??Now look . I remember. During one of her darkest periods. Mark right behind him. ??You??re making me a little nervous here.?? he murmured. On her knees. It was a glorious Saturday.??Actually.??Sarah tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear. mainly people Michael had known his entire life. Would you mind??? ??No. his hair disheveled.

 just a little too rural for today??s world. on the other hand. and best of all. Now. he stood alongside her. Sarah was twenty-seven years old. the words were lost. she??d helped to change his diapers and had fed him whenever her mother let her. My mother died when I was finishing up high school. You??re what??forty. . He??d continue to see her for at least that long. Sarah Andrews was walking through the historic district in New Bern. Like a robot. I thought again that I didn??t want to be there. like most young teachers. in broad daylight no less. not at all. I was up late working. and Sarah gave a sheepish laugh. Mom. As in many southern towns. When he got there.

 Unfocused. There wasn??t any reason to be irrational about the whole thing. for lack of a clever response.When they got close. ??What would you like to know?????Well. He was tired of being alone. knowing that nothing he could have said would have made her any happier. Someone played softly on a guitar near the altar.He forced his hands into his pockets.??How??s the fan working out???She stared at him. holding his gaze.??Brenda brought her hands together when she saw Sarah??s expression. Maybe he was reaching for another beer. After unlocking the door. . he knew. but . hoping she didn??t realize what he??d been thinking earlier and at the same time hoping she did. . one house at a time. Brenda had also been the one whom Sarah had first asked about Jonah and Miles. and it probably would have been. .

 Her doctor told her not to worry. he heard Jonah rustling in his room. like a song he??d heard on early morning radio. I just want to make sure you??re happy with it. Miles saw Jonah at the same time his son saw him. he still had a little time. Dad . she??d always assumed she would have the kind of life she wanted: marriage. except when Michael asked her to sign a prenuptial agreement. this was fun.?? Miles demurred.????I know.????Do you still do it?????Every day. As she was putting the final handfuls in place. But it hadn??t worked out that way. he??d let her down. . And it??s obvious that he worships you. then waited for a couple of cars to pass. ??I do. the kind that made the stomach roil. said that he??d help Jonah and that if everything went well. ??She??s a nice teacher.

into the county. especially when they??re young.

 and kick yet another goal
 and kick yet another goal. a perplexed expression on her face. But at other times. He added more vinegar sauce to the barbecue and some pepper to his coleslaw. after stubbing out the cigarette on the railing and heading inside. as if hoping to find some remnant of those feelings still lingering on the paneled walls.??Maureen reached out and took her daughter by the hand. she hadn??t regretted it. but it wasn??t large enough. He??d continue to see her for at least that long. In time. she quickly scanned the mail and then set it on the table by the door.????What??s that?????A fan??and make it a good one. lying in bed. watching as the rising sun slowly changed the morning sky from dusky gray to orange. She lost contact with his family and friends. It was the worst part of the job. like a song he??d heard on early morning radio. slipped it over her shoulder. ??Like what?????Well. I??m sorry. of course.????She??s a sweet lady.

 was how Miles had spent the last few hours before he finally learned what happened. Charlie was one of the few people in town who still treated him the same way he always had. and he loved nothing more than to play with his trucks on the makeshift roads that Missy smoothed with her hands. the driver had known that Missy was dead and that he??d be facing a manslaughter charge at the least. Now get some sleep. Seven months later. I??ll take care of everything. you looking forward to meeting with Sarah today??? Miles looked up.?? he started. the gunfire stopped completely.In the car. his day hadn??t been all that bad. Most likely he checked the clock every few minutes after Missy was supposed to be home. ??I love you.?? She paused for a moment.????But after school??? he asked again. went outside to make sure kids got in the proper cars and onto the right buses. ??I love you. and if he had trouble falling asleep. Macdonald Junior High School. Dad. someone in his thirties who??d never once asked someone to dinner or to a movie. though .

 I had to stay after school when I was a kid.??? ? ?After breakfast. ??No. ??Yes. Then she dropped the pose.No one. I remember. too. . Sarah regretted all of them later that night; Michael was apologetic. A few kids shouted greetings. But that was two glasses of wine ago. We??ll do that. the argument went downhill fast.??To Miles??s surprise. ??What aterrible day. after she and Miles had said good-bye. a bolt from the sky that would imbue him with wit and charisma.?? Miles admitted. They were. You read with him. she knew it wasn??t in anyone??s best interest??especially Jonah??s??to simply let him slide. not with the highway so close.

 are you in trouble at school???At this. the view was soothing. each of them worse than the last.Sarah scrambled to figure out what her mother had been saying. there was still a social order that defined town life. feel free to ask. Knowlson likes to give me apple slices. ??You might have to give up smoking. It??s just not going to be easy. in a little while there won??t be any time.??Miles simply stared at her. God knows he??d tried.??For a minute Miles heard nothing. He??d never felt as if he??d been missing out on something when he??d been married. the kind of late summer rain that cools the earth and breaks the humidity.Jonah Ryan.????Not now. for lack of a clever response. looking forward to seeing Jonah.?? he said. no??don??t be stupid. without reason or cause. Most likely he checked the clock every few minutes after Missy was supposed to be home.

 ??Jonah??s mom died right before he started kindergarten. physically painful. a Sunday. for whatever reason. It wasn??t right; it seemed out of sync with the natural order of the world. He showered and shaved and brushed his teeth.??So .????Believe me. She moved around the desk. her mother caught herself. ??C??mon. slow-paced answer. just a little too rural for today??s world. It??s always a little intimidating when you??re new. taunting him. ??What aterrible day. right?????Yes. . . Miles.??Is there anything else that I should know?????Not that I can think of.??Let it go. Miles glanced through the pages??two math tests without a single correct answer.

 Maryland. and I??d rather have an owl around than any of those creatures.??I can??t believe how much energy they have. was going on.??Yes??? she whispered. unable to mask the concern she felt. tired. ??Thanks a lot. in a moment of courage supplied by a couple of beers. ??Fine. ??Can you understand that???Sarah forced a smile. it??s not really my business anyway. . and he tugged at the front of his shirt.?? he answered. he would take care of everything when he got back. There??s one thing. too.By the time Jonah??s breathing had fallen into deep. even the ones who were around knew enough to avoid the place for the danger it presented.?? ??Well. If you want to. ??I can??t help it if I want you to be happy.

????We won??t. he added. He??d put on twenty pounds in the past few years. she??d nonetheless left the palace wanting to live within walking distance so she could pass its gates each day. Your fingernails are almost gone. she could have wanted to work with you on the weekends. or even to start.????Well. the ones who shopped at Brooks Brothers and never seemed to find themselves at a loss for words. the sun peeked out from behind a cloud and began slanting through the windows.If he needed to. Macdonald Junior High School. more forcefully this time. She didn??t say anything at all.?? Everyone in town from doctors to judges would accept the excuse without question. ??Oh . it was practically everything??and Jonah promised that he??d do his best from now on. where many of the old mansions had stood gracefully for the past two hundred years.?? ??Yeah. Not only after school. as if the kids inside were wondering whether or not to make a run for it. but then Brenda thinks everyone is great. he shifted from one foot to the other.

 A long while. pants hanging too low. as if it had originated from somewhere deep in the house. Though there was no evidence to support that. ??Hey. you know. the only thing that would ever calm him down. That was the kind of life she??d had as a child. and was still trying to focus when he scooped the still-sleeping boy into his arms. before running out to the deli. by the end of the first quarter. as if she??d just spent the day relaxing at the beach. Jonah loved to play soccer more than anything.??You??re a smart young man and don??t you ever forget it. .??Since June. except for those times he was working.In the middle of a page that Miles was reading. Missy had thought Lysol the best all-purpose kitchen cleaner. he??d told himself. Surprisingly. .????Who watches him after school?????Mrs.

 ??Do you think you??ll be okay on the playground while I talk to your teacher? Or do you want to wait inside??? ??I??m not a little kid anymore. It wasn??t a hard rain.Sarah. Despite its beauty and relative isolation. In time. Jonah kicked two more. you should. He was still putting the mahi-mahi in the refrigerator when Missy came out from the bedroom. the hot-water heater in her apartment had stopped working and she??d had to take a cold shower before heading off to school. and after the Timsons were released.As they walked to the classroom. Miles stood without moving. The ball shot past him. I??d probably be so sore I couldn??t get out of bed the next day. he should have kept quiet.??Sarah glanced toward the folder in front of her. . just as they had earlier when he??d driven along Madame Moore??s Lane before his lunch with Charlie. Sarah went to a few of the meetings. then started using her hands to speed things up. ??No.????You know I??ve been working with Jonah.Brenda picked up her sandwich.

 ??I can understand that. he found himself thinking about them again. he backed away in the direction of his car. He knew how she looked just after getting out of bed in the mornings. was situated on the banks of the Neuse and Trent Rivers in eastern North Carolina. Or maybe I??ll tell her how good you are at fishing. Sarah? And tell me the truth.????When are you off in the afternoons?????Usually on Wednesdays and Fridays. In the film. the highway patrol interviewed everyone in the area; they searched for any evidence that might provide a lead. running through the same scenarios he did every time. He??d arrested Clyde Timson. the county sheriff. he denied that he felt any differently toward her. it was because he??d never found out what had really happened to Missy. the desks arranged in orderly rows. When they were first married.??I thought so.??Miles smiled. ? As Sarah started to climb in her car. noticing again that there seemed to be less of it now than there used to be.??He liked that. Bob Bostrum???Brenda??s jaw dropped.

??Why didn??t you tell me you were having trouble???It took a long time for Jonah to answer. so I can do this right. Sarah??s fine. I guess I??d better get Jonah home. She??d said as much to him more than once??like most couples. Miles looked at her curiously.??They just do. strangers were going about their business. repeating what had been stated in the first few articles and again asking anyone in the community with information to come forward. Squatting down. The way he??d flirted and kept moving closer made his intention plain. she wouldn??t take him back.??I can??t believe how much energy they have. He knew her??her feelings.????I didn??t ask if you wanted to. She had to think for a moment before she finally found her voice. she told herself that she just wasn??t ready. When Sarah approached him. People were standing and some had crowded around the outside doors. Clyde had spent time in prison for that??though not as long as he should have??and over the years. Judging from the way she looked at him after he??d said it. ??And since you??re new in town and we don??t know each other that well. unless there??s no other choice.

?? She grinned. and what was Miles supposed to say next?That??s good. toward finally coming to terms with his loss. Sarah??s fine.I saw the crowd that had gathered. and he meant it. Yes. and Missy clenched her jaw. . His own parents hadn??t been so affectionate. she looked younger than usual. the things she liked and didn??t.Charlie glanced up from his food. Miles. and she thought she was doing better. her plans still needed a little tinkering. this one on the third page. He knew her??her feelings. Maybe he suspected something. Michael. single men would start descending on her. toward finally coming to terms with his loss. Then.

 he remembered he was more interested in simply observing.Because she didn??t know what else to do. I??m gonna tell your parents that I caught you before and warned you and that I??m gonna have to bring you both in. For a reason she couldn??t quite explain. Unlike his brothers. Asmoker couldn??t do that. My hands felt clammy and useless.?? ??I??m not surprised. I wanted to get up and leave.??It was then that Miles saw Sarah Andrews for the first time.????Did your wife tell you that???Charlie smirked. one thing had led to the next and he??d lost track of time. hoping it would satisfy her mother.?? they finally said. a little more than two years after his wife had passed away. Next to the photo was the manila file filled with information he??d compiled himself.In the kitchen. When Sylvia recommended a support group. ??and I??m sorrier I brought it up. I played the traditional sports??football. the other behind her head.?? she went on after a pause. Miles couldn??t help but smile as well.

 and to be honest. Since Missy had gone to the grocery store on Thursday evenings. . Since Missy had gone to the grocery store on Thursday evenings. The schedule is on the refrigerator at home. ??Mark wasn??t talking about you. and it began to bleed. like he??s coming out of his shell again.????My pleasure. ??But now. and a weekday.The marriage was over. so he saw no reason to use anything else. he denied that he felt any differently toward her. She was still trying to figure out why she??d done that. She was finishing up her teaching degree; Michael had just received his MBA from Georgetown.??I know??you??ve got to go. He brought his hands together.Her parents had moved here after her father had taken a job as hospital administrator at Craven Regional Medical Center. I keep it that way. . Dad . But as I said.

why?This was the part that continued to nag at Miles. Dad.?? he continued.????You don??t have to thank me every time you see me.That was one decision she??d never regretted.He didn??t fully understand that until after Jonah was born. and she??d been working around the house. Jonah had explained that Mrs. you know. if you know what I mean. cleaning. and he knows what you??re like when you get worked up. ??Are you feeling okay?????Yeah. so she could watch Jonah.M. He??d written his name in the top corner. they hadn??t talked since their last meeting in the lawyer??s office almost a year earlier.The cemetery was only a few minutes away. asking if any customers had seemed intoxicated and had left around that time.????I love you. ??I don??t know . It??s just that I??ve noticed a big change in him these last few weeks. And on the following day.

 his brows knit together. And now. and somehow its cozy embrace made them both feel as if nothing would ever change between them.????My pleasure. the other behind her head. ??Nothing??s wrong. ??But even if you can??t make it. ??Do you think about her?????All the time. ??That??s rare.?? she said quickly. much to Miles??s frustration. But here he was again. And the people I worked with were great. Brenda worked at the school in the principal??s office and seemed to know everything that went on at the school. As Jonah??s teammates surged around him. . After that. . she??d been an idealist. He??d never felt as if he??d been missing out on something when he??d been married. I don??t care what some of those magazines say. surprised. By the time he came home.

 He rose from the table. I watched as a parade of black umbrellas. Missy had taken care of things like this. sat the file concerning Missy??s death. while we??re on the subject of Miles Ryan .????She??s a sweet lady.????How do you like it???She looked over at him. Sarah was doing her best to move on. Sarah fiddled with her keys.?? She grinned. I don??t usually do this. Believe me.??? ? ?Later that day. he couldn??t suppress a pleasant thrill at the thought of seeing Sarah Andrews again. Sarah. . The moon cast its glow over the slow-moving water like a walkway of reflected light. and in the beginning. repairing things around the house. and though her face was flushed from heat.no. and she??d been surprised when he??d come up to say hello a little later in the evening. you know Otis.

 ??Just forget it. In his mind??s eye. He didn??t know anything about her; in the end. someone to share a bottle of wine with over a leisurely dinner. put everything else under her other arm.Miles knew enough not to respond.?? Charlie ripped open a packet of sugar and added it to his already sweetened tea. huh?????Well . The odor was sweet and untainted. and Miles crossed his arms and scanned the crowd. . ??Sometimes when I??m in bed .??Jonah looked scared and embarrassed at exactly the same time. maybe they were the ones who actually did it. Ridiculous things. It was the same thing last year. get the chance to say he was sorry. Nor would anyone come forward with a confession. the sky was beginning to glow silver on the horizon and splinters of daybreak filtered through the trees. And he could feel it. ??Like what?????Well. it was usually easy to avoid such thoughts.??Sarah smiled.

 with Jonah on the sidelines. Jonah was only five at the time.????Hell. He??d written his name in the top corner.??At that moment. and chrysanthemums blossomed in the fall. ??So . D.It might have worked. almost all of it around his middle. this time with a knowing look.?? He bent lower and met his son??s eyes.??She nodded. then became two. before he headed off for his first year at the University of North Carolina. In the car.?? he said.??Hey. he could see the pictures he??d had framed. Sarah was doing her best to move on. Miles guessed??looked to the older one. . It was the saddest thing I??ve ever seen.

 would you go wait by the car while I talk to Miss Andrews for a couple minutes?????Okay. Something in the wording of her letter had left him with the feeling that it was a little more serious than the typical parent-teacher conference. Dad. wondering why he hadn??t called and imagining that something terrible had happened. Unfocused. Miles stopped and visited with some of them. Pretended. he caught himself staring at a young couple walking hand in hand as they moved down the sidewalk. . was a picture of Sarah??s family: Maureen and Larry in the middle. surrounded by hundreds of bouquets. ??You??re not planning on that. and what was Miles supposed to say next?That??s good. What can you tell me about him???It took a moment for the words to sink in. His father didn??t call him ??son?? unless he??d done something wrong. he denied that he felt any differently toward her.?? she said again.??It won??t be so bad.No one. ??You??re welcome. Whenever she walked into a new classroom and saw thirty small faces looking up at her expectantly. . neither of them said anything as they stood close together.

 there??s always interest in the story.??She ran her gaze over him appraisingly.??I know??you??ve got to go. You??ve missed most of it. The nicotine wasn??t cutting it anymore. she??d learned almost right away. though. while comforting Jonah in the rocking chair out back??it was the only thing that seemed to help with the nightmares??these thoughts seemed strongest and always followed the same pattern. thunderstruck. When she asked a couple of the other teachers about it. have you heard from Brian lately??? she asked. it wasn??tthat big a deal. Sarah still wasn??t pregnant. ??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. before he headed off for his first year at the University of North Carolina. instead of running endlessly in the same loop. Jonah??s work. ??But how??d the tutoring go???Jonah furrowed his brow. .?? ??I??m not surprised. It might have been because of Jonah??s comment earlier. Get some sleep. but spending time with Miles Ryan recently had reminded her that the past couple of years had been lonely ones.

 but I did want you to know that it??s not all bad. a glass of bourbon at his side. not wanting her to leave just yet.??And don??t forget that I??ll be picking you up.Miles looked up at him. No matter what happened with Sarah in the future. They said terrible things in the heart of the moment. Miles looked almost embarrassed. He??d tried. not theirs.By the dim light on my desk. nor was it the fact that he seemed to be taking his parents?? side..??On Monday.????Think about it. but she couldn??t help it. There was nothing he could say or do to ever make her love him again. pushing his hands into his pocket. When she slammed the door on her way out. but I guess if it makes you feel better.??Are you listening to me?????Of course I??m listening.?? A minute later they left the classroom. ??You don??t think there??s a serious problem.

 Sarah had learned that if she was ever running late for an appointment.?? Miles said. Miles finally cleared his throat. he was running out of time. and he knows what you??re like when you get worked up. . That first and foremost. Throughout the grounds.????Well . hardly any of which Sarah could answer.????How could you forget something like that?????I don??t know.Miles was so lost in his reverie. too. Should he suggest dinner or lunch? Or maybe a movie? Or .She??d started going out with Michael when she was twenty-three; they??d divorced when she was twenty-seven. ??Mmm .Miles took a deep breath and said the first and only thing that came to mind. I don??t even know where he is. his expression serious.????Listen.She??d moved into a quaint apartment on Middle Street a few blocks away. . Then.

 the rain drenching them.Her mother was thrilled at the news. he could put out a call saying he was in trouble. Miles felt the same strange fluttering he??d experienced when he??d first met her. but then Brenda thinks everyone is great.??At least you??re taking this seriously. finding himself drawn to the pages.??Look??he??ll do something stupid again. Missy was alive again; he could see her moving. as well as handling whatever else inevitably cropped up. her eyes red. Then. I??m sorry. too??there was a time during college when he and his friends would start their evenings at eleven o??clock and proceed to stay out the rest of the night. Sarah lifted an eyebrow. . .?? he answered. Miles turned away. enjoying the closeness while he could. outlining what was known for sure and laying out the facts in a simple and straightforward way: On a warm summer evening in 1986. I saw Miles and Jonah again; they stood with their heads bowed.??And don??t forget that I??ll be picking you up.

 the county sheriff.??But??? Sarah finally asked.?? he said.??After school???Miles nodded.Bite the bullet!Be a man!Go for it!He steeled himself. and Sarah shook her head. And it??s obvious that he worships you. and at least as far as Jonah was concerned. Michael simply waved off the suggestion: ??My parents won??t accept that. The short conversation had led to a longer one over coffee the following day. and she??d descended from a long line of families that had done just that. her voice sounded slightly anxious. Jonah wouldn??t do that anymore. causing some sand to fall away. Is that all right???Another month. As a sheriff especially. but you kind of get used to it and you learn to be careful. weaving among the cars. and she??d had to scale down the plans a bit and incorporate more remedial work. they stutter-stepped for a moment.Even then. and townspeople frequently speculated that it was he who directed the flow of drugs into the county. especially when they??re young.