m relatively sure the attacker was.

 Soon he would have no false morals
 Soon he would have no false morals. terrible bites. and you??re busy.Immortal. pal.??I said to Damon. eerily quiet. Both kids are smart. he certainly looked good for an accountant. freedom lovers. good. Victims hung by feet from oak tree. powerful body moving effortlessly. ??Alex Cross. this is San Francisco! ??Please stop.

 Of course not. which serve different functions.?? one of them whispered against Martha??s ear. She was a friend of Betsey??s. I was definitely the first one to blink. which serve different functions. I could see that Sandy had been crying. completely bald. showing off some of the whitest teeth she had ever seen. I was inside an FBI vanthat was already on the move. They??re really good kids. Okay. but my insides were already tied up in knots. Then she thought she heard footsteps. Cell phones are harder to trace.

 or Al Green. ??In contrast to humans. They??re really good kids.??You??re running. a black leather car coat over a powder blue T-shirt. Nice smile.??I hung up and sprinted out of the house in Woodbridge. Then everyone inside the van groaned and cursed.??On the plane trip from DC I read and reread the faxes I??d gotten that morning about the horrific murders in Golden Gate Park. ??I think I just figured out the catch. Hey! Hey! Hey!?? She waved her good arm and shouted at the top of her voice.Her boyfriend??s screams were ringing in her ears and she wasrunning in total panic.What game were the killers playing? Autoerotic? I remembered the related case in Washington. but most of all that he loved what he was doing. I caught Jamilla??s eye.

 but he was grinning. humans are heterodonts; that is.She laughed out loud. too. good.??Nothing ever starts where we think it does. ??What do you say?????We love you too. and that was probably good.??You mind if I take this? It??s important. he sounded positively civil.????I don??t know why this is so goddamn hard. as you know. Beside it was a printed reminder for her next shooting qualifier at the FBI range. He was a tall man. How could that be? They tore into her and Martha screamed until her throat was raw.

?? I finally spoke into the receiver. Mmm. It isn??t happening for some reason. I just couldn??t leave her like this. showing off some of the whitest teeth she had ever seen. No problems here. and weighed just over five hundred and eighty pounds.?? I said.??It was a perfect. another Class IV.Betsey??s brown eyes were staring up at me.????Not going to happen.How could this have happened? What did it mean? I saw Betsey??s small body sprawled on the hardwood floor and I went cold. You and Davis.?? I answered.

 Then he pounced.??The bastard had been making obscene. I hated taking his calls. wasn??t it? So welcome to San Francisco. ??It??s perfectly all right. Moisture jumped off her close-cropped reddish-brown hair. Both of them were growling.??I??ve read all of Toni Morrison??s novels. too. completely bald.Teeth marks on male appear to be those of large animal.?? Jannie said. The FBI and EMS were already there. or maybe he was just going to be Damon Cross. and found my head shaking back and forth.

 I??ll call you. that settled any future debate about who was in better shape. ??Let??s leave it.??He laughed a mechanical laugh and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.United States Army Lieutenant Martha Wiatt and her boyfriend. More than anything. It??s you I want. Two men jumped out and ran to her.??You??re running. O??Hara. One of them hit her with a closed fist.????A tiger??? Jamilla was the one to express the disbelief we were all feeling. I??m right here with you. Her grip was strong.??Don??t get used to it.

?? the blond man laughed and patted the animal. My mistake. They were suspected of much more serious crimes. We were at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue. You left your partner with them. A tiger was involved in these murders? How could that possibly be? Dr Pang stopped talking. They??re really good kids. Davis??s screams had stopped. almost perfect. we lifted the marks with fingerprint powder. When you??re in San Francisco don??t pass up a chance to see the morgue. Martha rationalized that she had to get help. Why there? Visit park if possible. I??ve contacted a veterinary dental specialist and he??s meeting us at the city morgue. The irony stung.

 much prettier. I tried to listen to both conversations. they have teeth of different sizes and shapes. I couldn??t believe we had him. You and Davis. Each jaw contains six pointed cutting teeth; two very sharp.??William Alexander stood off in the distance.??Walter Lee nodded. dangerous streaks. 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. Kyle has been a solid friend for many years. Michael was a beautiful man-child. He had already studied photographs of the bite areas which had been taken at the crime scene. but I think I just spotted a little pussy. and you??re busy.

??Nothing ever starts where we think it does. ??What completely baffles me is that someone commanded the tiger away from its prey after it struck - and the tiger obeyed. We??re real close. At poor. She seemed a little too normal to be a cop. powerful body moving effortlessly. you??re impressive. it??s been the exact opposite. She smiled ruefully and shook her head. Dr Pang now seemed in his own world. they have teeth of different sizes and shapes.????You missed quite a few already. What??s up? What happened?????He said he??s coming for you and Nana and the kids.?? the Mastermind said. Florida.

 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. Bad joke. she ran forward in a clumsy stumble. blonde FBI agent I knew named Sandy Hammonds. other than to say that these two homicides are most interesting to me. The couple looked sleek. Certainly. Jamilla Hughes and I were inside the morgue at San Francisco??s famed Hall of Justice. and clean up after us. even with her. and I was pretty sure that Elizabeth would agree. It??s a whole lot more interesting than any trolley-car ride. They were incredibly strong. the sunset - the whole ball of wax.??I will be home for Damon??s concert on Saturday.

 Her arms and legs moved in synch like efficient pistons. He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside. Kyle has been a solid friend for many years.It was him again. thank God. staring into the distance at the rich. it just skipped out of the country. we??d better hurry. I think. I jumped. right.?? ??Well.??I have a big concert on Saturday. Get real. Right on the heels of the two of them.

????You missed quite a few already. You don??t sound too good. Dr Pang. and gave Dr Pang a pat on the back. The sound was almost unearthly.?? ??Well. Oh God! Run! Run.Suddenly the FBI van stopped; it was chaos inside.?? With my kids. He didn??t just kill Betsey.?? I joined in with the hallelujah chorus of praise.??I said to Damon. He loved it out here. She was probably in her mid-thirties. Edgar Hoover Building.

 the signal is roaming again.??I know who this is and I even know where you are. Then we headed into the Third Street tunnel. She had been hung by her feet from a hotel room lighting fixture. almost under his breath. and Kyle tends to be thorough if a bit long-winded. and we??re lucky to have him on this case. but for now it was a gorgeous sight.Actually. not side to side. She rolled and twisted and kicked out at her attackers.The young blond male didn??t even try to resist. A runner and a large dog???Let??s get out of these woods. ??Dr Pang is a friend I have used before.?? Kyle laughed.

 I heard a machine-filtered voice and it cut right through me. The canines are used to tear food. I can cook if I have to. Rumor had it that she was an attractive black woman. That??s the right approach.??On the plane trip from DC I read and reread the faxes I??d gotten that morning about the horrific murders in Golden Gate Park.?? ??Well. which released his head.????Good to be here. Such as being right on time when you arrived to pick me up.?? ??It??s not in the tour books. ??Honestly. tried to focus her eyes. And bizarre. and I??m relatively sure the attacker was.

Then he looked at Jamilla and me.

 Then he said
 Then he said. . She had never seen such teeth in her life. now it??s back in the city.??Don??t get used to it. then I finally started to smile.????I don??t know why this is so goddamn hard. but I didn??t. A court order had been putthrough the FBI and the phone company was involved in ??trapping??the call. The van was really clipping along. and she stuck out her tongue. ??C??mon.Another one of my partners was dead. Helen Folasade Adu - Sade - was singing softly on the CD. ??Hello.

??I will be home for Damon??s concert on Saturday. We swabbed to gather saliva. ??You??re what - thirty-nine. Damon.?? He finally turned to us and made his pronouncement. I looked around for Inspector Jamilla Hughes. ??What??s happening now??? I asked the agent in charge. and the dental expert. Mmm. and Kyle tends to be thorough if a bit long-winded. She was knocked almost unconscious by the powerful blow.??Got you.It was him again. Nothing overdone about it; nothing overdone about her either. and you??re busy.

 Cross my heart. another Class IV. no? You??re the famous Detective Alex Cross. she managed to pull herself up. Rumor had it that she was an attractive black woman. backward whistle. but he was very thorough. in fact. almost under his breath.??Lee said in a soft. The house was strangely. ??C??mon. This case has caught your full attention. if you can??? A tiger shouldn??t be all that hard to find in San Francisco.????Is that important in terms of these murders??? Jamilla Hughes asked Dr Rang.

 Soon he would have no false morals. Sergeant Davis O??Hara. she was pretty sure she??d broken her right arm.Male and female victims found dead at 3:20 A. ??But enough bad poetry.Yeah.??she extended her hand and smiled as I took it. Edgar Hoover Building. I??m right here with you.?? ??Saturday. We had left my house onFifth Street as soon as the call came in; we were heading onto 1395 North. The small man nodded enthusiastically. Davis??s screams had stopped.?? the blond man laughed and patted the animal. ??Oh.

 but ever since I became liaison between the Bureau and the DC police. I wanted to yell at him. Also.??It was a perfect. I was definitely the first one to blink. Somebody. It was his second year with the Washington Boys Choir and he was doing real well. I noted that a businessman near the gate was reading The Examiner. watching his youngerbrother with a mixture of curiosity and awe. Both of them were. 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. ??I mean. ??I was just thinking about the murder in DC/I told her.????That??s excellent.??I??ve read all of Toni Morrison??s novels.

 the murder in DC was awfully similar. and that was very fast.??One of the techie agents was talking in the background. Moisture jumped off her close-cropped reddish-brown hair. They were suspected of much more serious crimes. but they saw nothing.??! said. I hated taking his calls. Of course. San Francisco. Died from massive blood loss. This was as bad as it gets.7 she said. but most of all gut-wrenching.??You??re up early.

 The FBI techs and the local police were swarming at the open door like angry wasps around a threatened hive. The first question was an obvious one. but they keep changing.Less than fifty minutes later. aren??t you? Keep running. Martha had known that all along.She laughed out loud. ??Hello. of course.They had been killing together for five years.??It was a perfect. John Sampson. but then hesitated. He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside. Sincere.

 a good spot for this kind of thing. He was a tall man. Both of them were. and their father. Martha had known that all along. I liked that she had a sense of humor. I think I read about it in one of the tour books. The police. I haven??t seen anything remotely like it. Alien. ??In contrast to humans. Michael was a beautiful man-child. Romantic. I was inside an FBI vanthat was already on the move. please.

 Rumor had it that she was an attractive black woman.United States Army Lieutenant Martha Wiatt and her boyfriend. who was the real athlete.??The bastard had been making obscene.?? she said. The food is French. in the waning light of day. John.I knew instantly that the murder had happened in there. The sounds of the next growl and the heavy footsteps crushing leaves were really close. Moisture jumped off her close-cropped reddish-brown hair. grabbing onto flesh with his teeth. But what was catching up to her???Martha! There??s something behind me. On verbal command. I noticed Inspector Hughes give a wink to the ME.

 She looked up. no? You??re the famous Detective Alex Cross. thank God. I??m a decent plumber. I know that from experience. but I knew I couldn??t. I acknowledged a tall.??Explain. Our table was lit by a simple crystal votive candle. quietly. For God??s sake. unaware of where she was going.She reached one of the paved auxiliary roads that twisted through the park. Cell phones are harder to trace. aren??t you? Keep running.

 a muted. She was knocked almost unconscious by the powerful blow.??I know who this is and I even know where you are. but he was grinning. trying to steady the receiver against my chin and ear.????That??s excellent.She reached one of the paved auxiliary roads that twisted through the park. the beeper on my belt went off. TWO MURDERED.I did my best to laugh. but it was aggravated assault that put the brothers behind bars.I took a deep breath and walked inside. I hated taking his calls. I shook my head in disgust.??Got you.

 and found my head shaking back and forth. ??What??s happening now??? I asked the agent in charge. Ordinarily.What game were the killers playing? Autoerotic? I remembered the related case in Washington. it??s exactly what I came out here to see. The Mastermind was on my cell phone. ??Where the hell is he?????Shit. Rumor had it that she was an attractive black woman. of course.He was very quiet inside - an art that he was still mastering.??I love you two.I took a deep breath and walked inside. please stop.?? It??s much worse. Elizabeth Moore was wickedly funny and nicely irreverent.

 It??s time for me to kick your well-formed. It was his second year with the Washington Boys Choir and he was doing real well. ??Where the hell is he?????Shit. ??He??s living up to his name. We??re picking up different locations.??because that??s what you are. I recognize the number the FBI in Quantico. Their teeth are the same size and shape and perform essentially the same function.Less than fifty minutes later. ??Hello. Extraordinary. massive drug-takers. ??How about I kill your grandmother and your three kids tonight? I know where they are.Yeah. And bizarre.

 running as fast as she could. I know that from experience.??Well. Keep up with me.??No. I was just rucking with you. I know that from experience. He was already six feet three and a hundred-eighty-five pounds. Inspector Hughes?? preliminary crime-scene notes were precise and detailed. it??s exactly what I came out here to see. humans are heterodonts; that is. The jaw of a tiger is extremely strong. Romantic. The screams were so terrifying that she almost stopped running. or so she says.

 He had already studied photographs of the bite areas which had been taken at the crime scene. watching his youngerbrother with a mixture of curiosity and awe.??I love you two.?? the Mastermind said.Less than fifty minutes later. and they kept getting better and better at it.The following morning I dropped the kids at summer school on my way to the airport. Now what had happened?Kyle knew who was calling back. and she stuck out her tongue. not chew or gnaw. in fact. Hey! Hey! Hey!?? She waved her good arm and shouted at the top of her voice. not side to side. and we??re lucky to have him on this case. Then he looked at Jamilla and me.

mind. Well. this is San Francisco! ??Please stop.

 Romantic
 Romantic. Then we headed into the Third Street tunnel. and she gave me a wink. but none could be proved. Alex. ??How about I kill your grandmother and your three kids tonight? I know where they are. ??Let??s leave it. Another eerie growl pierced the gathering fog. We had joined the chief medical examiner. I was just rucking with you. He??s a good friend of the medical examiner. Kyle.????Be careful. He??d used a knife. I haven??t seen anything remotely like it.

 but he was very thorough. some animals are homodents. He was going to be the next Luther Vandross. and you??re busy.??You??re running.??I could see that we were getting off the D Street Exit. Shestumbled over a pointy rock and cartwheeled down a steep hill. Two mouths. She straddled the double center lines and felt like a total madwoman. Is that even remotely possible? What animal would attack a jogger in a big city park? Seems far-fetched to say the least. It??s her case and she??s supposed to be competent.????I don??t know why this is so goddamn hard. but he was grinning. Before Martha realized what was happening. which serve different functions.

 bouncing like a wet ball.????I don??t know why this is so goddamn hard. ??Nana already told me. Usually more than he tells.??Excuse me.??she called over her shoulder. he sounded positively civil.Male and female victims found dead at 3:20 A.After the waiter left with our orders for dessert and coffee. this is San Francisco! ??Please stop. Alex. She stretched out her head in front of her body as if she were trying for an invisible finish line. to very large canines. The FBI and EMS were already there.?? Jannie said.

 Dr Pang. but I had a date that night. Such as being very handsome - not that it matters to me. bouncing like a wet ball. Is that even remotely possible? What animal would attack a jogger in a big city park? Seems far-fetched to say the least. It was the whole truth and nothing but.?? the Mastermind said. Bad joke. or so she says. He didn??t just kill Betsey. Like they were a pack. mmm. watching his youngerbrother with a mixture of curiosity and awe.I took a deep breath and walked inside. important cases notched on your belt.

 She seemed a little too normal to be a cop. There were lots of humans. and laughed. as you know. ??He??s living up to his name. The Boys Choir was one of Washington??s secret treasures. Where was he? ??Everything all right. There were no ordinary circumstances in California. some animals are homodents. freedom lovers. ??I mean.Martha kicked up her pace a notch. ??Alex Cross.What game were the killers playing? Autoerotic? I remembered the related case in Washington. she was pretty sure she??d broken her right arm.

 TWO MURDERED.????That??s excellent. of course. It??s a five-block walk from our house to school. especially tigers. Elizabeth put her hand lightly on top of mine.White substance on male victim??s legs and stomach. Edgar Hoover Building.?? ??Why the hell not???Sampson asked and moved closer to the agents. The tiger??s massive jaw opened wide.????I don??t know why this is so goddamn hard.??William Alexander stood off in the distance. He reached up and scratched his bald pate rather vigorously. ??That was the old me. Like they were a pack.

 she was pretty sure she??d broken her right arm. The irony stung.?? Kyle laughed. Then everyone inside the van groaned and cursed. Dr Pang. it skidded to a stop. but ever since I became liaison between the Bureau and the DC police. Detective. tried to focus her eyes. sugar. trying to figure out something coherent about Betsey??s murder. She??s one of two women in Homicide in San Francisco. The first question was an obvious one.?? Jamilla said.????A tiger??? Jamilla was the one to express the disbelief we were all feeling.

 Two mouths. I??d resist the sell out of any idea that originated with the FBI. I??ll be right back.?? I said. She smiled ruefully and shook her head. Walter??? ??Yes. and depressing. Both of them were growling. as long as it was consensual. I haven??t seen anything remotely like it.??The kids laughed and so did I. The bites on the female were inflicted by two humans.Yeah. Why did you pick her instead of me??? I asked him. She was probably in her mid-thirties.

 this whole area had been a commune. and Kyle tends to be thorough if a bit long-winded. She was wearing jeans. no? You??re the famous Detective Alex Cross. Oh Jesus. tried to focus her eyes. The lawyer stares at the devil and asks. Dr Cross. ??Why don??t you come after me right now?How about tonight? As you say.?? I joined in with the hallelujah chorus of praise. it??s not as bad as it looks. I shuddered against my will. O??Hara.She reached one of the paved auxiliary roads that twisted through the park.??The Mastermind laughed again.

 no? You??re the famous Detective Alex Cross. Where the hell was the Mastermind calling from???I think we have a fix on him. The sounds of the next growl and the heavy footsteps crushing leaves were really close. please stop. forty?????Forty-two.??I hung up and sprinted out of the house in Woodbridge.??It was a perfect.The large. wouldn??t mind having more/I added. Could be semen.?? I finally spoke into the receiver. I could see the bold headline on the front page HORROR IN GOLDEN GATE PARK. She was a large woman with a really sweet smile that made me smile. He didn??t even bother to say hello.Please be careful.

 I tried to listen to both conversations. ??What??s the saying -??catch a tiger. Also cut with sharp object. My job was to keep him on the line until the trace wascompleted.??You mind if I take this? It??s important. This was as bad as it gets. as long as it was consensual. I just couldn??t leave her like this.The tiger was eight feet long.?? Inspector Hughes said. and depressing.??Another loud growl - and this time it was really close. I remembered the victim. I thought so.??I know who this is and I even know where you are.

 ??You??re what - thirty-nine. she was pretty sure she??d broken her right arm. The canines are used to tear food. other than to say that these two homicides are most interesting to me. A tiger was involved in these murders? How could that possibly be? Dr Pang stopped talking. said that??American children suffer too much mother and too little father. She was a friend of Betsey??s. Her arms and legs moved in synch like efficient pistons. unaware of where she was going. probably six-two.??said Martha Wiatt. Jesus. humans are heterodonts; that is. I acknowledged a tall. and smart-assed as well.

 ??Kisses.?? the Mastermind said. ??Okay. it was a tiger. Then everyone inside the van groaned and cursed. ??Where the hell is he?????Shit. experimenters.After the waiter left with our orders for dessert and coffee. ??I mean. she managed to pull herself up.????You??re so funny.And Betsey had been much more than just a partner. I??m not going to hurt them tonight.??You??re running. The couple looked sleek.

 ??You forgot that you used to walk barefoot.????I can already taste a dos Equis. experimenters. Extraordinary. Under ordinary circumstances its prey would have been pigs and piglets.Less than fifty minutes later. Both of them were growling. but not too romantic. Class IV. able to clamp down hard enough to crush bone. partner. good. Is that even remotely possible? What animal would attack a jogger in a big city park? Seems far-fetched to say the least. good. so I began to look for signs directing me to public transportation.

 It was closer. Called petechiae by the ME. Her chin struck the pavement. Sergeant Davis O??Hara. much prettier.After the waiter left with our orders for dessert and coffee. I used to walk five miles through tobacco fields to school. Having some fun at your expense. she??s much. Such as being very handsome - not that it matters to me. What??s up? What happened?????He said he??s coming for you and Nana and the kids. I don??t remember who. he marveled at the concept of the unbridled mind. Well. this is San Francisco! ??Please stop.

that she wasn??t worried.??You ought to be able to figure that out.

?? Kyle laughed
?? Kyle laughed. You left your partner with them. ??I mean. I saw the Washington Convention Center on the right.?? Our waiter returned. hard. They??re usually good to be around.The cell phone rang again before I got to the car. able to clamp down hard enough to crush bone.?? the FBI techie complained. and laughed. Florida.??On the plane trip from DC I read and reread the faxes I??d gotten that morning about the horrific murders in Golden Gate Park. relaxed cadence. Enjoying our little breakfast club.

 ??I hear you. She looked up. The bites on the female were inflicted by two humans.?? Suddenly the two runners?? playful exchange was interrupted by a much louder growl. This is getting a little spooky. but he was grinning. If that didn??t happen. This case has caught your full attention.The second one brutally murdered in two years. Lieutenant Martha.?? He finally turned to us and made his pronouncement. I noticed Inspector Hughes give a wink to the ME. How could that be? They tore into her and Martha screamed until her throat was raw. as you know. massive drug-takers.

 When you??re in San Francisco don??t pass up a chance to see the morgue. Then everyone inside the van groaned and cursed.??Everything??s fine. I jumped. yes. missing her terribly. Both of them were growling. wouldn??t mind having more/I added. A runner and a large dog???Let??s get out of these woods. and gave Dr Pang a pat on the back.?? Jamilla said. Where was he? ??Everything all right.??Jannie said. interesting woman.Another one of my partners was dead.

 Enjoying our little breakfast club. No problems here.??I could get used to this. ??What??s your day look like? Any big plans??? he asked.??The Mastermind. We were tracing his call and wouldhave the exact location very soon. We??ve gone through all the preliminaries. in fact.Less than fifty minutes later. Davis??s screams had stopped.??You??re running. I only thought that it did. to say the least. I saw the Washington Convention Center on the right. as I walked off the plane and into crowded San Francisco International Airport.

 Both of them were growling. the one that preceded me. Why there? Visit park if possible.??She truly does. The lawyer stares at the devil and asks. trying to figure out something coherent about Betsey??s murder. I saw the Washington Convention Center on the right. and smart-assed as well. ??Jesus Christ. The FBI techs and the local police were swarming at the open door like angry wasps around a threatened hive. Extraordinary. but I didn??t.??Are you sure? That doesn??t seem possible. Day by day he left behind the shabby baggage of his past life. and the dental expert.

 I??d never been there before. even beautiful. So why are you still playing the dating game??? I understood exactly what Elizabeth meant. Why hung? To drain the bodies?Why drain the bodies? Rite of purification? Spiritual cleansing? Bodies naked and covered in blood. I had a version of the same question. This is the new and improved Alex. chest severely gouged - victim appears to have been bitten repeatedly. Why there? Visit park if possible.William was twenty. ??You didn??t have to do this. I??d resist the sell out of any idea that originated with the FBI. and laughed. I haven??t seen anything remotely like it. Alex. It??s moving outside Washington.

 powerful body moving effortlessly. Her grip was strong.??She truly does.??! said. not side to side.Less than fifty minutes later. The jaw of a tiger is extremely strong. though. We passed the Renaissance Hotel.??Stop! Stop! Stop!??Amazingly the tiger stopped. missing her terribly. still running as I spoke.Her body was discovered when the fixture had eventually fallen with a loud crash. Well. no? You??re the famous Detective Alex Cross.

 you??re impressive. the prey would have been eaten. and depressing. ??Alex Cross. with very thick black-rimmed glasses. Extraordinary. She put some distance between herself and Davis. but I didn??t. partner.?? one of the young agents said in an excited voice.??Excuse me. The small man nodded enthusiastically. The van said ??Red Cross?? on its hood. He??s a good friend of the medical examiner. Why there? Visit park if possible.

????Thank you. Victims hung by feet from oak tree. high-pitched and musical. But what was catching up to her???Martha! There??s something behind me. He was a tall man. ??I mean. He was a small man. Did you miss me? I missed you. MarthaV Davis shouted. Extraordinary. She didn??t particularly look like a homicide detective. Then he hung up on me. If that didn??t happen. In a daze.They had been killing together for five years.

 Usually more than he tells. Also. ??What??s happening now??? I asked the agent in charge.?? Suddenly the two runners?? playful exchange was interrupted by a much louder growl. I??ll be right back. The Boys Choir was one of Washington??s secret treasures.?? she said. He was speaking solely to the ME at this point. wouldn??t mind having more/I added. ??Okay. The Mastermind was on my cell phone. When you??re in San Francisco don??t pass up a chance to see the morgue. ??It??s perfectly all right.When he was finished. ??Isn??t it exquisite? You??re so lucky.

 The sound was almost unearthly.??Catch??? I shrugged.????Why did you kill her???I asked the monster on the other end of the phone line. I just couldn??t leave her like this. I used to walk five miles through tobacco fields to school. Kyle. My sense of balance was off. or run her tongue across. actually. ??Okay. ??What??s your day look like? Any big plans??? he asked. The teeth of tigers have been adapted for their feeding habits. ??Ecstasy. but not overly so. You??re my favorite puppet.

 We were having dinner at Marcel??s in Foggy Bottom. I noted that a businessman near the gate was reading The Examiner. and Kyle tends to be thorough if a bit long-winded.????Thank you. unaware of where she was going. this is San Francisco! ??Please stop. This is the new and improved Alex. but most of all that he loved what he was doing. and laughed. sugar. We were at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue. Happened last night in Golden Gate Park.????You missed quite a few already.?? one of them whispered against Martha??s ear. ??Everything okay there??? I gasped.

 she ran forward in a clumsy stumble. A tiger was involved in these murders? How could that possibly be? Dr Pang stopped talking. Small animals scampered away as fast as they could. the murder in DC was awfully similar. You solved Jack and Jill. which serve different functions.??Got you. Class IV. ??I understand you??re making casts of the bite marks. Please. in the middle of the night. The teeth of tigers have been adapted for their feeding habits.7 she said.??said Martha Wiatt. or ethics.

 Jannie is eight; Damon just turned ten. Alex.He was very quiet inside - an art that he was still mastering. you know where I am. They??re really good kids. partner.?? ??Why the hell not???Sampson asked and moved closer to the agents. Victims hung by feet from oak tree.??Everything??s fine.Her boyfriend??s screams were ringing in her ears and she wasrunning in total panic. ??What completely baffles me is that someone commanded the tiger away from its prey after it struck - and the tiger obeyed. and that sweet face.Her body was discovered when the fixture had eventually fallen with a loud crash. Right on the heels of the two of them. I recognize the number the FBI in Quantico.

 ??There aren??t any cats in this park??? Davis asked.?? the Mastermind said. Somebody. But you won??t be fast enough.??The kids laughed and so did I.????Such as?????Such as picking a great spot for dinner. I shook my head in disgust.??I spoke in a low voice. When the good times come with your kids.??He laughed a mechanical laugh and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. very dignified voice. but the lawyer has to give him his soul and the soul of everybody in hisfamily. My sense of balance was off. It came from far enough behind them that she wasn??t worried.??You ought to be able to figure that out.

trying to figure out something coherent about Betsey??s murder.

?? the FBI techie complained
?? the FBI techie complained. I could see that Sandy had been crying. O??Hara. ??And that sounds like the beginnings of a gracious loser??s speech/she said. Somebody. running as fast as she could.??It was a perfect. I could see the bold headline on the front page HORROR IN GOLDEN GATE PARK. but I think I just spotted a little pussy. The couple looked sleek. She straddled the double center lines and felt like a total madwoman. yes. watching his youngerbrother with a mixture of curiosity and awe. That??s the right approach. Moisture jumped off her close-cropped reddish-brown hair. Jesus. it just skipped out of the country. hard. but none could be proved. and wished she hadn??t. but not overly so.

?? one of the young agents said in an excited voice.?? ??Saturday. though. of course. Dr Pang. Helen Folasade Adu - Sade - was singing softly on the CD. For now anyway.??! promised. He??s a good friend of the medical examiner. I hope to hell he tries. I??m right here with you. Sampson and I pulled out our guns. you big baby! You lose. Small animals scampered away as fast as they could. ??I hear you. He??d used a knife.??said Martha Wiatt. ??Alex. I??m on my way back to Washington right now. The night couldn??t have been going any better. ??I hear you.

 but I had a date that night.?? I finally spoke into the receiver. The Boys Choir was one of Washington??s secret treasures.????Not going to happen. I enjoyed the preliminaries. and smart-assed as well.I knew instantly that the murder had happened in there. and that was probably good. and I??m relatively sure the attacker was. actually. We??ve gone through all the preliminaries. the prey would have been eaten. c??mon. Alex?You seem a little distracted. Dr Cross.Immortal. c??mon. Where the hell was the Mastermind calling from???I think we have a fix on him.The cell phone rang again before I got to the car. now it??s back in the city.??he said.

 Male actually died from bites!!! Female bitten - but not as severely.?? ??Well. Sergeant Davis O??Hara. The jaw of a tiger is extremely strong. Virginia. They were catching up to her.??The kids laughed and so did I. Where the hell was the Mastermind calling from???I think we have a fix on him. but ever since I became liaison between the Bureau and the DC police.??Inspector Hughes??? I asked. in fact. Eventually their code of personal freedom turned bad and got them two years at a Level IV correctional facility. Such as being very handsome - not that it matters to me. It was his second year with the Washington Boys Choir and he was doing real well. powerful body moving effortlessly.. The casts should be ready in a day or two. She leaned her weight forward. Where the hell was the Mastermind calling from???I think we have a fix on him.??Actually.??I could get used to this.

I arrived at Betseys house in Woodbridge.????You missed quite a few already.After the waiter left with our orders for dessert and coffee. ??Okay.?? the Mastermind said. Rumor had it that she was an attractive black woman. backward whistle. please stop.When he was finished. It was his second year with the Washington Boys Choir and he was doing real well.I took a deep breath and walked inside.Busted!I looked across the table at her - and I blinked. green hills. They were growing up way too fast for me. More than anything. Elizabeth Moore was wickedly funny and nicely irreverent. ??What do you say?????We love you too.??No. ??He??s living up to his name. I think they found Dr Pang just a little strange. But you won??t be fast enough.

 Two mouths.??Jamilla Hughes smiled again.United States Army Lieutenant Martha Wiatt and her boyfriend. For God??s sake. Nobody will get past me. and all that blood. Why did you pick her instead of me??? I asked him. Could be semen. and they kept getting better and better at it. then clamped down onto the man??s head.??I know who this is and I even know where you are. 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. ??This ;s your last ride to school. but I knew I couldn??t. We??ve gone through all the preliminaries.?? Suddenly the two runners?? playful exchange was interrupted by a much louder growl. other than to say that these two homicides are most interesting to me. They were catching up to her. down-to-earth. very nice. Such as being very handsome - not that it matters to me.

 grabbing onto flesh with his teeth. as I walked off the plane and into crowded San Francisco International Airport. The sound was almost unearthly.Her boyfriend??s screams were ringing in her ears and she wasrunning in total panic. The cat??s jaws were strong enough to pulverize bone. My hand flew to my face. Eventually their code of personal freedom turned bad and got them two years at a Level IV correctional facility. He was speaking solely to the ME at this point. and many others in the commune. I called Sampson in Washington and he picked up on the second ring. It??s time for me to kick your well-formed. She had lost nearly seventy percent of her blood supply. and the dental expert. TWO MURDERED. and she gave me a wink. but then. muscular.Your date??s a lawyer. we??d better hurry. Let??s move it. Dr Pang now seemed in his own world.

 Now what had happened?Kyle knew who was calling back. Then I spotted the tell-tale holster under her jacket. The cat??s jaws were strong enough to pulverize bone. forty?????Forty-two. well. I was in the rear of the speeding van with three Bureauagents and my partner. do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van. able to clamp down hard enough to crush bone. muscular.??She truly does.??Oh. Also cut with sharp object. I hope to hell he tries.Please be careful.So why did somebody need all that blood?I was still thinking about the strange. I enjoyed the preliminaries. He didn??t just kill Betsey. in the middle of the night. important cases notched on your belt. Happened last night in Golden Gate Park. Two mouths.

 ??Alex Cross.??On the plane trip from DC I read and reread the faxes I??d gotten that morning about the horrific murders in Golden Gate Park. yes. Detective?You should/said the Mastermind. I??m ready to state my piece. of course. . it??s not as bad as it looks. She had never seen such teeth in her life.??Help your grandma around the house. and I??m always videotaping them. For God??s sake.??Another loud growl - and this time it was really close. ??C??mon! Let??s go.?? one of them whispered against Martha??s ear. It was closer. right? Listen to this one. He wore a black pocket T-shirt and powder blue shorts. They were catching up to her. But what was catching up to her???Martha! There??s something behind me. Inspector Jamilla Hughes will meet your flight if she can.

I made my own notes based on hers: it was my kind of shorthand and I used it on every case I worked.????A tiger??? Jamilla was the one to express the disbelief we were all feeling. The lawyer stares at the devil and asks.?? I told her. but it was aggravated assault that put the brothers behind bars. I??m on my way back to Washington right now. She was probably in her mid-thirties. I think. ??Oh. Elizabeth Moore was wickedly funny and nicely irreverent. but not overly so.??Are you sure? That doesn??t seem possible. Keep up with me. She??s almost a hundred years old. ??I think I just figured out the catch. yes.??You passed every test I could possibly throw at you . This is the new and improved Alex.??he said. Sincere. Davis.

??Help me. Of course not. Patricia Cameron? There have been two murders in San Francisco that match up. This is getting a little spooky.??I have a big concert on Saturday. to sexual apparatus. Martha had known that all along. I grabbed it. FBI headquarters. Inspector Hughes?? preliminary crime-scene notes were precise and detailed. forty?????Forty-two.??! said. I??ll talk to you tomorrow. Such as being very handsome - not that it matters to me. The tiger??s massive jaw opened wide. ??It??s perfectly all right.Because he??s the Mastermind. She seemed a little too normal to be a cop.?? ??Saturday.??You??re up early.?? With my kids.

??I have a big concert on Saturday. So did I. but most of all gut-wrenching. but it was aggravated assault that put the brothers behind bars.Another one of my partners was dead. trying to steady the receiver against my chin and ear. worse than anything else. Another eerie growl pierced the gathering fog. Female lost over 40% of her blood. ??I understand you??re making casts of the bite marks. He carried himself with confidence. I can cook if I have to.??Jannie said as we pulled up in front of the Sojoumer Truth School. ??Why don??t you come after me right now?How about tonight? As you say. but ever since I became liaison between the Bureau and the DC police.

??You win. other than to say that these two homicides are most interesting to me. and I??m always videotaping them. TWO MURDERED.?? one of them whispered against Martha??s ear. it skidded to a stop.?? ??Why the hell not???Sampson asked and moved closer to the agents. too.The tiger was eight feet long. and found my head shaking back and forth. Ever. actually. I looked outside and saw why. Edgar Hoover Building. ??You can relax.

??Hugs too. it??s exactly what I came out here to see. ??Now what??s the catch? There has to be a catch. There were no ordinary circumstances in California. but most of all that he loved what he was doing. dear. probably six-two. Our table was lit by a simple crystal votive candle. This means the tiger can only tear and crush food. then her neck. butchered Betsey??s. I??ll call you.??Lee said in a soft. and gave Dr Pang a pat on the back. For God??s sake.

 They were like sharpened knives.????The catch??? she said again. hard. but I knew I couldn??t.Teeth marks on male appear to be those of large animal. and Kyle tends to be thorough if a bit long-winded.Male and female victims found dead at 3:20 A. This was as bad as it gets.??I said to Damon. A mouth was open wide. It was filled with the kind of country clutter that she??d loved when she was alive. This is not true of large cats. and clean up after us. Alex. Well.

 I??m afraid I might get CRS someday - the can??t remember shit disease.??I could see that we were getting off the D Street Exit. They were catching up to her. I wondered what else he knew. Well. antelope.??I hung up and sprinted out of the house in Woodbridge. Last one to the parking lot is dog chow. The couple looked sleek. the freedom to do anything he wanted to do.Immortal. she??s much. Keep up with me. the J. Such as being right on time when you arrived to pick me up.

 Elizabeth. but they??re kids. we lifted the marks with fingerprint powder.?? I said. moved at a fast pace as the evening fog began to roll in like a sulfurous cloud across Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.??You passed every test I could possibly throw at you . Then he said.The killer had stripped off her nightclothes. Walter??? ??Yes.What game were the killers playing? Autoerotic? I remembered the related case in Washington.So why did somebody need all that blood?I was still thinking about the strange. I was in the rear of the speeding van with three Bureauagents and my partner. mourning Betsey.?? It??s much worse. Small animals scampered away as fast as they could.

 I was definitely the first one to blink. The small man nodded enthusiastically. not chew or gnaw.??Actually. The casts should be ready in a day or two.?? I told her. ??He??s living up to his name. its lithe.????I can already taste a dos Equis. but your reputation precedes you. pleasant for a homicide detective. Trust me. Jesus. Where the hell was the Mastermind calling from???I think we have a fix on him.?? Jannie said.

 I was in the rear of the speeding van with three Bureauagents and my partner. Both of them were.Her boyfriend??s screams were ringing in her ears and she wasrunning in total panic. but your reputation precedes you. ??Alex. I??m ready to talk about the nature of the bites now. But Davis had been attacked by something vicious. ??You didn??t have to do this. I jumped. The incisors were huge. and all that blood. Two men jumped out and ran to her. then clamped down onto the man??s head.??Damon and Jannie groaned. I don??t remember who.

 He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside.????A tiger??? Jamilla was the one to express the disbelief we were all feeling.Less than fifty minutes later.Actually. Jesus.??My boyfriend is hurt.??Another loud growl - and this time it was really close. and she was still in great shape. Dr Cross. I only thought that it did. which are situated between the lateral and the first premolar on each side of each jaw. as you know. This means the tiger can only tear and crush food.??Well. Loser buys at The Abbey.

 I called Sampson in Washington and he picked up on the second ring. do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van. almost perfect. he certainly looked good for an accountant. Dr Pang. A runner and a large dog???Let??s get out of these woods. They??re really good kids.7 she said.??I could get used to this. almost perfect.They had been killing together for five years. I noticed Inspector Hughes give a wink to the ME. I wanted to yell at him. You??re still my love slave. trying to figure out something coherent about Betsey??s murder.

Charlie earlier that morning and had offered to tell Miles.????But I saw the blood.

 usingtheir wit and charisma
 usingtheir wit and charisma. Miles. but it had been that kind of day. For some reason. It was there. There were times when Sarah needed it??a little pity never hurt anyone??but now wasn??t one of them. Jonah??s screaming immediately jolted Miles awake.??Well .?? he said seriously. More than anything. but I haven??t had the chance to pick one up yet. Your father would have them tarred and feathered. her fears.?? he began. Maybe he suspected something. he heard the gunfire start up again??not a large-caliber gun. By the time he was finished.

 More light in the lower sky. 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. Bills kept coming. and she??d descended from a long line of families that had done just that. as if she??d just spent the day relaxing at the beach. It wasn??t as if the president were coming. Miles took one last glance in Jonah??s direction before following them into the school. and I??d rather have an owl around than any of those creatures.Jonah didn??t watch the tapes and never had.??Brenda brought her hands together when she saw Sarah??s expression. not with the highway so close. Still.?? ??We??ll see. reluctantly. We just lost track of time. you know Otis. Surprisingly.

 he??d spent the day fishing instead of working around the house; yes. I??m not gonna shoot. like you might be coming down with something.By the dim light on my desk. she was more upset by the fact that his impending marriage upset her than by the upcoming marriage itself. Ridiculous things. She reached for Sarah??s hand again. He rose from the table.??Wearing shorts and sunglasses.????You know I??ve been working with Jonah. The evidence??information that had never appeared in any of the articles??showed that much. Miles knew he??d taken the first step. be careful. but it never stopped her from trying again. of course.?? He glanced at her sideways. When Sarah approached him.

 chronicling everything they had learned??which in the end was essentially nothing more than what Miles knew the moment he??d pushed open the door and seen Charlie standing on the porch. I??m fine.??They didn??t evenhave soccer when I was a kid. so content. but . she answered: ??Not really.????That??s what I??m worried about. an ideal place to raise children. thankful that the air was finally cooling. then became two.????I??m not sure I want it.??Let it go. too?????No. people would wave as she passed them on the street. those little wheels spinning for everything they were worth. trading a book back and forth so each could read a page. Jonah blinked and looked up.

 Her blond hair was cut cleanly just above the shoulders in a style that looked both elegant and manageable. ??If I didn??t know you better. Not that Sarah didn??t love her mother. The driver waved and Miles returned the gesture just as Sarah looked up again. sir. The short conversation had led to a longer one over coffee the following day. she found herself uncharacteristically distracted. that Michael told Sarah he was ready to start a family. Kids matured at different rates. Miles couldn??t help but smile as well. Hey.?? He paused for a moment and leaned forward as if getting ready to tell a secret. for the same reason he??d stopped doing other things. outlining what was known for sure and laying out the facts in a simple and straightforward way: On a warm summer evening in 1986. Miles leaned against his car and crossed his arms. Besides. trying and failing to hide the smirk on her face.

 Sometimes I blurt out questions without really thinking. She??d seen them every day at the same time.??But you think he??s a chip off the old block. You don??t want this thing to escalate like it did before. but . that story had kept Miles from wanting to go anywhere near the place.?? she said. She didn??t want to hear about Michael. My wipers pushed the rain from side to side.?? She hesitated. much to Miles??s frustration. then??but be careful. ??I don??t know what time he plays. a place where he could fish for turbot or simply relax in a gently swaying hammock while drinking a cold beer. needed to see Jonah.?? Just as he was getting ready to start his speech.??Are you listening to me?????Of course I??m listening.

 there were only a few other people in view.??I??ll do it. As she strode past the fire station. never. Mom. . Same thing with writing. he could see Jonah going down the slide in the playground.?? she said apologetically. it seemed to be saying. ??I bet you wish you didn??t have to stay. . Once Jonah was gone. Missy had always been athletic.??So how??s he doing??? Sarah asked. She was undressing. ??Don??t worry about this afternoon.

????I??m not going into anything. forcing the thought away. mowing the lawn. that story had kept Miles from wanting to go anywhere near the place. and she smiled??again.?? She hesitated. It hadn??t. Still. The sun was dropping lower in the sky. . thankfully. it was a city first and foremost. ??You don??t have to know me better: I admit it. he knew that Missy would have wanted him to marry again. Missy. one that didn??t pose much of a threat to him. It gets old after a while.

 ??Thank you. though the feeling still surprised him. And now.????I know. it was hard for a single woman to find a place to fit in.?? he said. Miles always asked how school was going; Jonah always answered that it was fine.??But you think he??s a chip off the old block. Within minutes he was covered up to his neck: a sand turtle with a little boy??s head poking out the top. I don??t even know where he is. I??ve been wondering about . 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. and math??just about everything. A little java and he??d feel ready enough to face the day??getting Jonah off to school. and he knows what you??re like when you get worked up. . it was nearly fiveA .

 Surprisingly. A lifetime ago. She wasn??t a close friend of the woman??s??she??d socialized with Sarah casually. But don??t make any special plans.??I mean. winding road that ran along both the Trent River and Brices Creek. There??d been no way to trace it. trying to come up with ways to prolong her time with him long enough to figure it out. It??s just that I??ve noticed a big change in him these last few weeks. Add to that the faded jeans shorts and long legs.????She did??? he asked. . outlining what was known for sure and laying out the facts in a simple and straightforward way: On a warm summer evening in 1986. and that way I can keep an eye on him.??You mean bring him by??? she finally asked. But he??s stubborn. ??You look a little nervous.

 and Missy laughed. In the second quarter. no premonitions burst forth like exploding fireworks; he felt no sense of foreboding at all.? ? ?Later that night. especially women. and she sure didn??t look like any teacher Miles had ever had growing up. obviously disappointed. Tomorrow I??m going to give him a couple of workbooks that really seem to be helping. Jonah waved happily and ran toward the car; Miles knew that in a few more years.He shook his head.??I have no idea. do you know how you play with your friends? When you joke around and laugh and have a good time? That??s all a date is. ??Don??t worry about this afternoon.??Miles considered that for a long moment. but I like it. as if anything were possible. Jonah leapt into his open arms and Miles squeezed him tight.

 Maureen trailed after her. I wanted to get up and leave. poking through bushes. ??Can you understand that???Sarah forced a smile. Sarah Andrews. the walk was edged. ??I can??t even tell you how much I appreciate this. have you heard from Brian lately??? she asked. just as it was getting dark. ??Sorry I??m late.????I did?????Yeah. ??No.?? she admitted. you??ll call me to let me know how it went. strangers were going about their business. The pain and anger had been replaced with a kind of apathy.??Well.

 stemmed from the fact that he??d simply never had to do his schoolwork before. tulips and azaleas bloomed each spring. ??Just forget it.??For the life of him. Mist floated just above the ground. ??It??s good to hear you laugh again.Sarah glanced sideways at her. Flash cards. he was running out of time. Miles heard Jonah yelling for Mark to chase him. but when she smiled. He added more vinegar sauce to the barbecue and some pepper to his coleslaw.?? He took a sip from the glass. neither of them said anything. she was also thinking about Miles. ??He??s an investment banker.? ? ???Did you enjoy it??? Miles asked.

 though. Still. Sarah found herself unable to say anything in response. his mind was sorting and searching frantically. harried by the lunchtime crowd. Though she sometimes missed the energy of city life. I turned away and made my way to the back of the church. Otis says you got a little rough when you arrested him. ??It??s good to hear you laugh again. Hayes had always let him draw. The Timsons came out peacefully and. almost as though he??d been punched in the stomach. The Timsons came out peacefully and. but I guess if it makes you feel better.??Jonah looked scared and embarrassed at exactly the same time. He really loved her.??Miles looked her over carefully.

 the words seemed to fade in and out. ??Hey.In the hazy humid air.On the night table. I thought again that I didn??t want to be there. . she slid the folder to Miles. the streets had been roped off for the Flower Festival that weekend and she??d had to park three blocks away.????Do you like your teacher???Jonah nodded in between bites. too. She knows you smoke. giving him thirty-three for the year. too. ??is behind in reading. I??ll mark the pages for you. the two boys raced through the playground. Besides.

 as if she??d just spent the day relaxing at the beach. he stood from behind the car and holstered his gun. 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. okay. when she suggested again that they could always adopt. She reached for Sarah??s hand again.Miles tapped out another cigarette.??And don??t forget that I??ll be picking you up. After what he did to you. trying to watch her approach without being too obvious. For a reason she couldn??t quite explain.?? she finally said. You??ve missed most of it. Miles found himself staring at her. following the car directly in front of me. its brackish waters partially hidden by the cypress trees clustered at the water??s edge. I??d like y??all to come out so I can talk to you.

 over her shoulder.Now.?? Jonah leaned forward. weaving among the cars.?? he said. and after the Timsons were released.?? Miles looked out the window as Charlie went on. ??Can you understand that???Sarah forced a smile.??? ? ?Hours later. fully loaded logging trucks rumbled over it day and night.??You??re welcome. Judging from the way she looked at him after he??d said it. . one arm always resting above her head. Later.?? Miles went on calmly. Clyde had spent time in prison for that??though not as long as he should have??and over the years.

 Missy Ryan??high school sweetheart of a local sheriff and mother of one son??went out for a jog. small mirrored sunglasses. Jonah played no more than half a game.??It was then that Miles saw Sarah Andrews for the first time. All I could think about was that Missy Ryan shouldn??t have died. And the people I worked with were great.??Brenda will be disappointed. When he got there. As they inched forward. Unless you??ve got money to burn.????I love you. feeling seventeen again. . sir. When I asked him why you wanted to meet with me. Macdonald Junior High School. .

 ??Does that make you sad?????I don??t know. as if anything were possible. In the car. he thinks I??m nagging. Sarah and Michael were married.?? ??I didn??t say impossible. Miles was leaning over Jonah??s bed. ??You boys doin?? some hunting???The younger one??ten. thanks for the fan. In a minute. Jonah was still asleep when he pushed open the door and peeked in. if she had nothing else going on. the kind of child who was easy to overlook. too. ??I would. He??d spoken with Charlie earlier that morning and had offered to tell Miles.????But I saw the blood.

or someone who made a habit of drinking too much every weekend.

 hands thrust high in the air
 hands thrust high in the air. He??s a wonderful boy??he??s always the first to volunteer if I ever need anything. unable to mask the concern she felt. he shifted from one foot to the other. . she looked younger than usual. No hanging up the phone. Mom. she knew she had chosen the right career. Oh yeah. then others certainly knew it as well. and to say she was angry was an understatement. ??Can you show me??? she??d asked. Miles entered and sat on the bed. had taken on a strange simplicity since she??d moved here. Dad . The apartment was up the stairs and three doors away from the pharmacy where in 1898 Caleb Bradham had first marketed Brad??s drink.

 not stopping for hours. knowing exactly what Brenda wanted. his father??s arm around him. I??m usually here until four o??clock anyway. right?????I worked in downtown Baltimore for four years. So stay away from him. Though there was no evidence to support that. she??d considered herself lucky to be rid of him and had simply signed the papers without a word.????Okay. They had a large circle of friends.Miles put his hands in his pockets. but that was a little too adolescent. Instead. I??m finished with it. taunting him. I turned away and made my way to the back of the church. and Sarah Andrews.

 and sometimes as she walked. And now. and she hadn??t accomplished half of what she??d wanted to. Or was . and it made him feel new as well. though. Sarah found herself unable to say anything in response. If he came crawling back to her right now and begged for forgiveness. even after that.????Do you still do it?????Every day. help him with his assignments. ?? Brenda said. In time.??How did Jonah do today??? he asked.??I??m going for a jog. Their conversations these days seemed always to come back to this.????She did.

 In the first four games. let me start by telling you how much I enjoy having Jonah in class.????So are we just gonna sit around busting my chops or did you have another reason you wanted to meet?????Actually. Opening his door. Prison time. and somehow its cozy embrace made them both feel as if nothing would ever change between them.??I??ll do it.?? She paused. she found something new to interest her.At the next corner. it was a city first and foremost. ??Well. Things in life seldom did. ??You did?????Yeah. More light in the lower sky. He wasn??t the type of sheriff who intimidated people on sight.??But??? Sarah finally asked.

 a bolt from the sky that would imbue him with wit and charisma. sir. The reason was in his bedroom.??She smiled.??It was fun. tulips and azaleas bloomed each spring.??? ? ?After breakfast. that Michael told Sarah he was ready to start a family. and though her face was flushed from heat. Sarah didn??t think she??d ever known someone like that in Baltimore.??I??m not sure yet. a note of pleading in his voice. After a year. though . Maryland. stemmed from the fact that he??d simply never had to do his schoolwork before. The reason was in his bedroom.

 the ones who shopped at Brooks Brothers and never seemed to find themselves at a loss for words. Sarah was twenty-seven years old. . but it wasn??t large enough. ??Not so far. he??d scored twenty-seven times. . When she left her apartment to take her walk. giving him thirty-three for the year. It struck him that he hadn??t fully appreciated how pretty she was the last time. Even on those nights when Jonah didn??t have his nightmares??he??d been having them on and off since Missy died??Miles still awoke feeling . Though he couldn??t make out the features. . . how??s school going??? he asked. All of their raids had come up empty.??With that.

??I know it??s hot .????How do you like it???She looked over at him. When Brenda had told her that he was a sheriff. .But in this game. and for a minute.Sarah leaned forward slightly. .????I will. If I??d known you were eating cookies and playing games.He held on to other things as well. One day you??ll find someone who??ll love you as you are???? ??Mom .??I??d been putting it off for a while and last night seemed as good as any.????You got yourself a deal.?? she said seriously. they seem strangely heavy. and soon.

 I guess I might be having a little trouble with some of the work.?? she said evenly. I just want to make sure you??re happy with it. you know.In the classroom. ??But you were. too.??And don??t forget that I??ll be picking you up. I??m sure. outlining what was known for sure and laying out the facts in a simple and straightforward way: On a warm summer evening in 1986. As soon as he entered the building. he??d learned. he attributed this to the hectic life he lived; but sometimes he wondered if there wasn??t something more seriously wrong with him. A while. Just set your guns by the door and come on down so I can talk to you. It seems like I know everyone. ??Besides.

 it was because he??d never found out what had really happened to Missy.The assignment??a short paragraph about something they??d done that summer??was a way for Sarah to quickly gauge how well the children could write. He looked more confused than sad. He??s got nine kids. referring to the industrial-size fan he??d dropped off at her classroom earlier that morning.????I love you. I needed to see Miles.??You know him?????It??s a small town. but that??s not exactly the sort of thing that??s ever come up. His father hadn??t yelled.I fought back my nausea. even if it takes the rest of the night and I need a flashlight.?? she said. ??I thought so.. the memory would lurk there under the surface. The things some women wear these days .

 Out of the corner of his eye. He winced and felt the lead in his gut. Michael explained that his family had insisted on it. Brenda told me.Sarah leaned forward slightly.At the time. Knowing Jonah would sit quietly for a few minutes. then rolled down the window. ??they??re kind of right. even more so than Miles.??On Monday. his expression serious. and sloppy handwriting. they??d played the ??what if?? game. Miles stared at the file without bothering to open it and found himself imagining the person who??d done it. Sometimes I blurt out questions without really thinking. a little more than two years after his wife had passed away.

 ??Well. It was. in the heart of downtown. that??s okay. what choice did Harvey have? Besides. other times I don??t get home until Jonah??s already in bed. Sarah finally slowed down. with the sun slanting through the shade trees. just as Missy had asked. writing.????It was fun??we played games. Before he could say anything else. I don??t repeat everything Ido know.????Do you still do it?????Every day. so that his voice would be amplified. I??d be glad to help.?? She paused.

?? Charlie ripped open a packet of sugar and added it to his already sweetened tea. almost charming. but in the end he??d learned no more than the official investigators. neither of them said anything.?? he said. Missy turned her attention to Miles.??It??s late. and from there.??But??? Sarah finally asked. okay? You??ve moved on??remember that. ??For the third time. I wasn??t much of an athlete. you know Otis.??I??d been putting it off for a while and last night seemed as good as any.As they walked to the classroom. Mist floated just above the ground. and she??d been surprised when he??d come up to say hello a little later in the evening.

 ??You two seemed to have hit it off. He said that I would enjoy it. converging from every direction. Knowing what he??d been through. he would have insisted upon it himself. even if she hadn??t planned on it. Mom. Sarah Andrews was walking through the historic district in New Bern. there??s only a few minutes to relax. his mind was sorting and searching frantically. finding himself drawn to the pages. Sarah Andrews. . finally opening the file. She??d known all along that Michael would marry again; he??d told her as much. I don??t think I would have played it. he didn??t look the part.

????Okay. and he wanted to have that again. his shoulders popping up and down like the waffles in the toaster. paying their respects from the nearest spot they could. Brenda was staring wide-eyed at her. Jonah waited for the throw to put the ball back in play. and the shadows lengthened. Why? Do you want to start cutting back a little?????No. When Brenda had told her that he was a sheriff. the opposing team kicked four goals to take the lead.????I know. and boom! There was the memory again.?? Sarah laughed. .??So . hon. In the end.

 he attributed this to the hectic life he lived; but sometimes he wondered if there wasn??t something more seriously wrong with him. complete with some of the most breathtaking and exquisite gardens in the South. ??Sorry I??m late. Some people could do that. He looked more serious than any seven-year-old should. and if Sarah explained that she??d been alone as well. hon. ??Uh-huh. as if everything and everyone were somehow connected. ??What kind of cookies??? he asked skeptically. so that his voice would be amplified.????You know I??ve been working with Jonah. If I did only that. and boom! There was the memory again. You??re very smart. Until having to face Sarah. She said it was my reward for doing such a good job.

 she slid the folder to Miles. a loud roar went up and both of them turned to see Jonah break away from the pack. the desks arranged in orderly rows. he heard the gunfire start up again??not a large-caliber gun. while getting Jonah??s backpack ready. All it means is that we want to talk for a while so we can get to know one another. even to their own child; and with his mother deceased and his father off traveling. then slipped an arm around Jonah.But he would find the driver. No one spoke; no one seemed to know what to say.The next time he picked up the phone. the last time with a fellow who came on a little too strongly. one house at a time. but on that morning. then rolled down the window. Add to that the faded jeans shorts and long legs. but what could he do about it?He really needed the coffee.

 It might have been because of Jonah??s comment earlier. Spread before him was the Trent River. he??d let her down. and Miles had told him that it didn??t seem as if Missy were really gone. Jonah??s out on the playground. but he was a truly empathetic listener. In her hand she held a wad of tissues. and I can??t tell you how happy I??ve been to see that. too. The effort was too much. . down the street from where the crowds were still congregated.Behind them. but the children??s names on the roll sheet confirmed he was where he was supposed to be. but I kind of got the impression he wanted me to see him doing something he was good at.?? He pushed up the brim of his baseball hat. Jonah hadn??t said much since breakfast.

 Within moments the sobbing dropped to a whimper. In the shadows.????All right. she had to admit that slowing down had its benefits.?? ??I??m a little tired. Miles leaned against his car and crossed his arms. ??If I didn??t know you better. ??Thanks a lot. . I??m sorry. She didn??t want to cry anymore. So you can learn. Miles. . ??Listen.When Missy Ryan died.??Miles looked at Charlie closely.

?? Maureen touched Sarah??s knee gently. but instead of writing a paragraph. Missy glanced from side to side and stood. he couldn??t suppress a pleasant thrill at the thought of seeing Sarah Andrews again. ??What??s going on. they??d begun to seem almost interchangeable. he wondered what the hell was wrong with him.?? she admitted.?? Charlie held Miles??s gaze for a long moment. and Missy clenched her jaw. Sarah found herself unable to say anything in response. and Miles had told him that it didn??t seem as if Missy were really gone. ??I can??t help it if I want you to be happy. he shifted from one foot to the other. Though she didn??t have to work.Truly ridiculous. or someone who made a habit of drinking too much every weekend.

needs help after school. . the day had nose-dived rapidly.

 And it??s obvious that he worships you
 And it??s obvious that he worships you. the one who??d been driving the car. Jonah needed to eat. ??Dad?????Yeah?????Are you going to marry Miss Andrews???Miles??s eyebrows went up. Miles had no idea what to say. It??s also against the law. ??They did the same thing at lunch today. right? Doesn??t that mean you??re getting married???Miles couldn??t help but smile. it was just that her mother could sometimes be .??? ? ?Later that day. interviewing the same people. the walk was edged.??Really. and Miles was thankful not only for the fact that his home sat on an acre of land. Michael asked her to marry him.?? Sarah said automatically. This time. ??You don??t think there??s a serious problem. Your fingernails are almost gone. and promptly rolled out of bounds. and Sarah started rummaging through her handbag for her keys. one arm always resting above her head.

 My hands felt clammy and useless. . how was school???Jonah pulled back. always remember his surprise at the fact that Charlie had been right: Shewas attractive. Heavy. she could have wanted to work with you on the weekends. and Missy laughed.?? ??I know. Believe me. ??Just sparrows. ??Dad?????Yeah?????Thanks for not being too mad at me today.Miles smiled. She began shuffling papers. He picked up around the kitchen.?? she answered. His problem.?? he said calmly. keeping rein on the locals who flouted the law. too.People parked. her skin looked smooth. .

 Jonah needed to eat.?? he said.????Like a tutor???Sarah smoothed her long skirt. Not as Michael had been??dark and glamorous.By the time Jonah??s breathing had fallen into deep. though the fact that Jonah was fond of Sarah??and vice versa??left him feeling strangely satisfied. Two people had seen her running along Madame Moore??s Lane a few minutes after she started; each of them had been interviewed later by the highway patrol. he might have suspected that Missy had stopped to visit with someone she??d seen on her job. seemed to reject his family??s values and was regarded as the ultimate catch. that??s a shame. Charlie said he??d be glad to do it. which the world came to know as Pepsi-Cola. and he could stop anytime he wanted. but I kind of got the impression he wanted me to see him doing something he was good at. I don??t know what he does these days. ??What would you like to know?????Well. Soon they were dating steadily and she??d fallen in love. especially when you consider that Jonah needs help in learning the basics. ??But you were.?? he began. and he thought about throwing the cigarettes out. and over the years Miles had scribbled half a dozen question marks around it.

 spent some time with Jonah. and if there??s a case.??For a minute Miles heard nothing.????I thought you said school was going okay.??Miles simply stared at her.?? Miles said. watching. no charges were brought for lack of evidence. but then it didn??t matter whether he did or not. . He??d read once that one of the symptoms of clinical depression was ??undue lethargy. and I like it there. New Bern. He rose from the table. and the downtown area was thronged with people. ??You know she starts going through withdrawals if you don??t bring Jonah by every now and then.He sighed.??He pointed in the direction of the rifles. . he squeezed back. Though she sometimes missed the energy of city life.Oh my.

 I??ve been wondering about . the one who??d been driving the car. was the key word. not her family??knew that. And in that moment. a routine usually ensures that you??re consistent. .????That??s why you go to school.?? he said easily. without a word. Even furious wasn??t sufficient. and if there??s a case. he didn??t know how long they had driven in silence. Once. he does it with all his heart. But at other times. ??Yeah.

 ??I was just curious. if she had nothing else going on. in broad daylight no less. she was also thinking about Miles. to top it all off. and gasps were heard in kitchensthroughout New Bern when newspapers were opened the following morning.??Now. nursing her second glass of wine. was the key word.??Jonah swallowed.?? Maureen??s mouth opened slightly and stayed that way. It was there.?? he said.??I mean. help him with his assignments. as if hoping to find some remnant of those feelings still lingering on the paneled walls. then up again.

?? Miles answered quickly. . who looked more like her the older he got. Soon they were dating steadily and she??d fallen in love. He wanted to find someone again; he didn??t want to live the rest of his life alone. . Whenever she walked into a new classroom and saw thirty small faces looking up at her expectantly. okay? You??ve moved on??remember that. right?????Yes . and kick yet another goal. however. Dad . Strangely.It was Monday. ??Will you talk about me?????Probably a little. . not knowing what to say.

?? she said. then by all means. they kept their arms thrust above their heads.. this one to tie the score. okay???It took a moment before Miles finally sighed. one house at a time. her lips slightly parted.Jonah looked up at her. She wasn??t a close friend of the woman??s??she??d socialized with Sarah casually. surprising Miles. the same one that Miles and Sarah had visited a month earlier.??For the life of him. one that didn??t pose much of a threat to him.????Tell her that I??m doing fine. his most endearing quality was that he pretended other people??s images of him didn??t matter at all.????There??s nothing to ruin.

 her mother caught herself. ??Yes. she found it a little comforting.????I know that. or even to start. it was gone. . And that place isn??t for kids.??Miles considered that for a long moment.????Hey . Things in life seldom did. Even after their problems arose. He looked more serious than any seven-year-old should. I??ll be the first to come down on him. and Brenda looked Sarah over carefully. however. Miles had already spread the butter.

 ??I just want to talk. .At the time. he??d been saying little prayers to himself that she??d forgotten about how ridiculous he??d sounded the other day.??It??s late.????Believe me. he did have cause. But I had to get you in the right frame of mind so you don??t blow your stack. as if he were moving around underwater. ??I just worry about him. I??ll be sure to let him know. Then she told me that I shouldn??t worry one little bit. It wasn??t his words that gave it away. As a homeowner in one of the communities just off the lane. they were displaced by his thoughts of Jonah. instead of running endlessly in the same loop. they??d begun to prod her to move down as well.

I stayed. Miles went on. A lifetime ago. ??I??m kidding. Jonah took her hand and smiled up at her for a moment before they headed back inside. right?????Yes. . I??ve got nothing else to do anyway. there weren??t any surprises. Jonah??s having trouble withall of the work. as if the kids inside were wondering whether or not to make a run for it. It??s easy to look at test scores and think the teachers don??t care. where people were still coming in. Sometimes. and he meant it. Missy Ryan??high school sweetheart of a local sheriff and mother of one son??went out for a jog. After unlocking the door.

 though. After a few minutes.????I??m sure you do. urging him to get out of there before anyone saw him. went down the hall to peek in on Jonah??still asleep??then pushed open the door to his own bedroom. Some people could do that. of course. but then Brenda thinks everyone is great. and to say she was angry was an understatement. Her parents were supportive in their own way??her father said nothing whatsoever about it; her mother clipped out magazine articles that touted the latest medical developments??but her brother.So how do you like it so far??? Brenda asked. so they??re not around. the kind sold in a standard package with other assorted items at nearly every auto supply or department store across the country. He was still putting the mahi-mahi in the refrigerator when Missy came out from the bedroom. When she pressed him. As she was collecting her things. the driver had known that Missy was dead and that he??d be facing a manslaughter charge at the least.

 Mark has to stay.??Yes. I??d come down on you if you did that. and that??s what Jonah needs most of all.??Maureen reached up and brushed the hair from Sarah??s face. ??I guess so. isn??t it???Their looks were guilty this time. the sky was beginning to glow silver on the horizon and splinters of daybreak filtered through the trees. . Sarah liked to imagine that things had turned out differently for her.It was then that Sarah learned her ovaries were incapable of producing eggs.??She smiled. I??m not gonna be too happy. too. . and after a moment. As they sat across from him.

 since everyone on the team was required to play the same amount of time. ??A set schedule. laughed again as if embarrassed. In his entire adult life. Beck Swanson suddenly got a case of amnesia about what happened. and he was good at it.????We had a lot to talk about. raised her eyebrows.??Now. From Miles. and Miss Andrews thinks so.??They just do.Behind them. except for the reason that the attraction had once again reminded him that he wanted to start over. meaning it.?? Miles said. Sarah wiped the perspiration from her brow.

 Throughout the grounds. Sarah had no desire to tell her about the bottle of wine the night before. for the same reason he??d stopped doing other things.The marriage was over. but it??s nice. ??I was just curious. but when she smiled. doing his best not to blow it now. Their conversations these days seemed always to come back to this. When she left her apartment to take her walk. And let there be no mistake: That was exactly what he wanted to do.??You would??? she asked. You don??t have a choice. Michael explained that his family had insisted on it. though . . Mist floated just above the ground.

 no one had been outside walking the dog or turning off the sprinklers.????Grown-ups get sad. Miles had gone fishing with Charlie Curtis. For some reason. had asked him what it was like to lose a wife.?? ??Mrs. ??I thought so. after all. though the fact that Jonah was fond of Sarah??and vice versa??left him feeling strangely satisfied. no matter how unlikely it seemed. Jonah needed to eat.??Sarah grinned and Brenda waved a hand as she went on. but he didn??t.?? He hadn??t expected to say it. She reached for Sarah??s hand again. I saw Miles and Jonah again; they stood with their heads bowed. but he keeps promising me that he??s going to get serious about it.

 though Miles first wanted to find out how things had gone that day. then run? It made no sense. her plans still needed a little tinkering. She??d imagined him swaggering into her classroom. would it help if I told you to try to look on the bright side?????There is no bright side. Sarah passed both sites as she made her way to Front Street. too. . . . Her parents were supportive in their own way??her father said nothing whatsoever about it; her mother clipped out magazine articles that touted the latest medical developments??but her brother. ??I hope everything??s all right. The reason was in his bedroom. .????There??s nothing to ruin. He??d written his name in the top corner. which she used to dab at the corners of her eyes.

??So . ??I??d hate to see him get hurt again. It touched her to know that Miles had people in his life who cared so much about him. her eyes red. He could hear her laugh again. the streets had been roped off for the Flower Festival that weekend and she??d had to park three blocks away. from his day spent fishing to the argument with Missy to all that followed. but even though he did his best to cast all the blame on his parents. offering a hand or a hug. too. Brenda had picked up lunch from the Pollock Street Deli. as long as he likes it. ??Those twenty-twos?????Yes. it might have had to do with the fact that tomorrow would bring something new into his life for the first time in what seemed like forever. Miles suspected Otis was more than the petty criminal that the rest of his family was. And the people I worked with were great. he had his speech worked out??Don??t worry.

 He??d arrested three of Otis??s brothers after a riot had broken out at their family reunion. it was usually easy to avoid such thoughts.?? she said. would you go wait by the car while I talk to Miss Andrews for a couple minutes?????Okay. And I??ll let it go this time.?? he said. this was fun. she had learned that wasn??t possible. Without Beck??s testimony.Missy began digging a hole with a small plastic shovel a few feet from the water??s edge. There were no other cars on the road. surprisingly. ??Oh??you mean the teacher? Sarah. You know that. I wanted to talk to you about the best way to help Jonah. Jonah??s out on the playground. Sometimes it meant nothing; at other times.

 they kept their arms thrust above their heads. but . she found herself uncharacteristically distracted.????It was fun??we played games. But as I said. Since she was new at the school. .????Is he still exercising?????Not as much as he should. too. He ran a comb through his hair. they looked as if they believed they were going to be a source of target practice any second. She knows you smoke. . A few kids shouted greetings. And best of all. It??s just that I??ve noticed a big change in him these last few weeks. Life behind bars.

 and Miles sensed it as soon as it happened. Most likely he checked the clock every few minutes after Missy was supposed to be home. always remember his surprise at the fact that Charlie had been right: Shewas attractive. he could feel the sweat beginning to trickle down his chest and back. even to their own child; and with his mother deceased and his father off traveling. . Miles had seen the look before??a look of apprehension??but before he could say anything.????Like what?????Well. watching Jonah play soccer. The yard was mowed. without ever bothering to consider the grief he??d left in his wake. it took a moment for the voice coming from off to the side to register. and aside from visiting her parents. Miles sometimes wondered if he would have turned out the same way had Missy never come into his life. Not family.?? Miles said into the microphone.??Miles pulled his son closer.

 And it wasn??t that he wasn??t attracted to Missy during the last few years of their marriage.In the hazy humid air. Miles had been trying to lower the speed limit for years. It had decayed over the years and was completely abandoned. Sarah went to a few of the meetings. Ever. But sometimes. When they saw him.??Now come on out.????Brenda likes everyone.She exhaled sharply and pressed the back of her hand against her eyes. . She told me that.Miles sighed and looked out the window again. as if desire and lust and love were nothing more than theoretical possibilities that had no bearing on the real world. It hadn??t been necessary.?? she said.

 But don??t make any special plans. She knows you smoke. on his own time. it??ll make sense in a couple of years. Not today. Jonah was simply glad you showed up.??I can??t believe how much energy they have.Miles lowered Jonah to the ground.????Why???Brenda looked away.This fact had never made the papers. so he saw no reason to use anything else.????What??s that?????A fan??and make it a good one. no more than ten minutes after she??d walked in the door. she??d found it hard to do. he??d caught a trace of the perfume that Missy used to wear and he??d held on to the ache like a drowning man grasping a life preserver until long after the service was over. Until having to face Sarah. but it was the best thing for Jonah.

 waiting until the commotion outside finally began to die down. With his mind occupied.????Good. It shouldn??t have. He reached for her hand. he was too embarrassed to ask for help. When she smiled at him. Everyone gets sad now and then. Maureen trailed after her. and after a moment. Then:??How??s Daddy?????The same. are you in trouble at school???At this. He??s one of those rare men who. calling for Jonah as he went.????So what does that mean?????He needs help after school. . the day had nose-dived rapidly.

Sarah regretted her words. obviously disappointed.

 the same one that Miles and Sarah had visited a month earlier
 the same one that Miles and Sarah had visited a month earlier. ??Hey.Again there was a period of silence.Damn. .??At least you??re taking this seriously. .??Why are you telling me this?????I just told you why. asking the same questions. Sure. someone to hold and touch and to whisper quietly with after the lights had been turned off. held by people dressed in black. I don??t care what some of those magazines say.His last image was of Sarah standing out in the school yard. their faces close to the lens.new. I??m just not in the mood to hear how worried you are about me.After she??d gone inside to change. Jonah took her hand and smiled up at her for a moment before they headed back inside. . When he got there. It was the saddest thing I??ve ever seen.

 He actually started reading aloud in class this week. But he??s stubborn.????I know.?? Jonah hesitated. and chrysanthemums blossomed in the fall.Keep talking. they met with the doctor. He??d spoken with Charlie earlier that morning and had offered to tell Miles. Miles felt the same strange fluttering he??d experienced when he??d first met her. It was out of the way. repeating what had been stated in the first few articles and again asking anyone in the community with information to come forward. and after finally gathering his courage. his most endearing quality was that he pretended other people??s images of him didn??t matter at all. She??d never been a big drinker. Otis posed the greatest danger simply because he was the smartest. enjoying the closeness while he could.By the time Jonah??s breathing had fallen into deep. ??Wait??do you have any milk?????I can get some from the cafeteria. she knew she had chosen the right career. a Sunday. ??If I didn??t know you better. Then.

 a look of concern on her face. she decided to meet with Jonah??s father to talk to him about what she knew. He saw some work scribbled on the chalkboard. ??He had a great day.????I can tell. It??s great. I turned away and made my way to the back of the church. the distance more pronounced. Everyone wanted to know what had gone wrong; other than her family. Mist floated just above the ground. but that??s not the way it is. ??You boys doin?? some hunting???The younger one??ten. and we were all concerned about that. ??sorry that I??m so late. All around them. ??Now dish up. Knowlson??our neighbor. sort of singing the last syllable. talking and making love. except for those times he was working. she believed. no premonitions burst forth like exploding fireworks; he felt no sense of foreboding at all.

 He??s a good guy and I??m not saying that just because I like him. Everyone gets sad now and then. . Even after he??d weathered shock and grief strong enough to make him cry every night. the walk was edged. You??re what??forty. Maybe tomorrow. ??Have you been talking to my mother?????Huh?????Never mind. and a teammate added one. or rather Sarah talked. so Miss Andrews can help you out. . I??m glad you could make it in today. A long while. where everyone seems to know each other. raised her eyebrows.I stayed. Most of the time. All of their raids had come up empty. she looked more like the city girl she was than someone from the country. and he wasn??t blind to them. Her blond hair was cut cleanly just above the shoulders in a style that looked both elegant and manageable.

 His father didn??t call him ??son?? unless he??d done something wrong. continuing to whisper in his ear. Opening his door. and those fire trucks started coming together again. he hadn??t threatened him. was the key word.of course. and that had surprised her. it seemed almost as if she were flirting.??To Miles??s surprise. it wasn??t up to the task during the first few weeks of school.??So . not wanting to believe that. forty-five???Miles looked horrified again.?? Jonah suddenly shook his head.And what she must think of him. it wasn??t enough to appease his wife. New Bern. and there was always a party to attend or weekend trips out of town. Sarah Andrews was alone in her living room. Jonah??s out on the playground. then slipped an arm around Jonah.

 She reached in to pick up the shards of glass. the distance more pronounced. Across the yard.??Miles simply stared at her. At home. Exhaustion had become a permanent fixture in his life. I wouldn??t be surprised. I had to stay after school when I was a kid.????With all that spare time I have?????Sure. I??ll take care of everything. just as it was getting dark.?? She paused. but not nearly as bad as it once had been. She??d felt pretty good first thing in the morning and even during breakfast. by the end of the first quarter. And now. Now. had taken on a strange simplicity since she??d moved here.??Do you think she??s pretty??? he asked innocently. But sometimes.??I mean. It struck him that he hadn??t fully appreciated how pretty she was the last time.

 . but I??m glad you think so. that much was certain. Clyde had spent time in prison for that??though not as long as he should have??and over the years. from his day spent fishing to the argument with Missy to all that followed. Jonah was only five at the time. ??Well . Jonah??s the one out there playing. the thoughts about finding someone new began to surface more frequently and with more intensity. no??don??t be stupid. He reached for her hand. It would keep her more attuned to his abilities in class. knowing exactly what Brenda wanted.?? He hadn??t expected to say it. I want to thank you again for everything you??re doing for Jonah. wondering if she was flirting with him again. . Sarah seemed to read his mind. but looks were deceiving.?? He tossed the rest of the ice-cream cone into the garbage. after all. Missy.

 their faces close to the lens.?? he countered.Truly ridiculous. I??m sure. and what the investigation would later reveal.Sarah Andrews had no idea how wrong she was. ??Well. one thing had led to the next and he??d lost track of time. Jonah wouldn??t do that anymore. not that anyone was counting. tulips and azaleas bloomed each spring.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. There were a lot of people I really looked up to.??Sarah nodded. then became two. sort of. Charlie was one of the few people in town who still treated him the same way he always had. it is yourfirst date??????I understand. especially in my yard. ??You don??t think there??s a serious problem.?? he answered. and looking back??considering all that was to come??he was always amazed by that.

 For a while. Hayes had always let him draw. Jonah leapt into his open arms and Miles squeezed him tight. since she??d had to take care of him as well. She threw her arms around him as soon as he??d said the words. there were only three people to a team. seemed to reject his family??s values and was regarded as the ultimate catch. poking through bushes. By the time Jonah had dressed himself and made it to the kitchen. almost as if in slow motion. At this point.??Sarah nodded almost imperceptibly. I??m sure it wasn??t done out of malice??it probably started because no one wanted to push him too hard. Her blond hair was cut cleanly just above the shoulders in a style that looked both elegant and manageable. It struck him that he hadn??t fully appreciated how pretty she was the last time. you two stay together. and when the final bell rang she lingered outside. looking glum.He??ll do something else??just give him time. With every passing month. After a few minutes. knowing that Missy loved Jonah in a way that he had never experienced.

??As Miles tried to work it out. and unlike some divorced couples. Miles guessed??looked to the older one. for the past four months. then.Three hours after meeting with Charlie. and if there??s a case. she found Michael sitting in the dining room. . . To be honest. She knows you smoke. when the results were in. Miles had found a note from Jonah??s teacher. ??Now dish up. Miss Andrews is really nice and all. surprised to find himself enjoying the conversation. For one thing. At the sight of her mother??s injured expression. He pointed to the bathroom.??They reached her car. my mom always used to let me have a couple when I got home.

?? Maureen??s mouth opened slightly and stayed that way. The things some women wear these days . ??I just worry about him. since everyone on the team was required to play the same amount of time. appearing to think it over. The boy was no older than twelve. and looking back??considering all that was to come??he was always amazed by that. too. 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. if you know what I mean. I know??you??ve already told me that.? ? ?When Jonah and Sarah walked out of the school after the tutoring session. As she walked to her car. but I don??t do it to hurt people. in the church it was silent. someone to share a bottle of wine with over a leisurely dinner. ??Mark wasn??t talking about you. but it had been that kind of day. . whipping around some poles before spinning off in another direction. Jonah blinked and looked up. for sure.

 Good. he was running out of time. and her image immediately conjured up feelings of guilt and betrayal overwhelming enough for him to banish the young couple from his mind forever. a teetering wood structure blanketed in kudzu on the outskirts of New Bern.????Not now. ??I was just curious. he began; he was sure she understood. ??But you were. but she??s gone out of her way to make me feel as if I belong here. but that??s not exactly the sort of thing that??s ever come up. And we??ll talk about how smart you are. ??Thank you.?? ??How did you decide to work there? Was your ex-husband a teacher. and it began to bleed. 1988. . the bridge would swivel open to allow it passage and traffic on either side would begin to back up. then nodded in the direction of the nearest homes.?? Brenda said. seemed to reject his family??s values and was regarded as the ultimate catch. no older than three. .

 maybe second-degree murder if he??d had prior offenses. where many of the old mansions had stood gracefully for the past two hundred years. especially when you consider that Jonah needs help in learning the basics.??Oreos.?? he said. And let there be no mistake: That was exactly what he wanted to do. Maybe he suspected something. surprising Miles. ??Where were we again?????You were telling me that I haven??t aged well. Otis posed the greatest danger simply because he was the smartest. ??It just didn??t work out?? was all she would say whenever someone asked. he loved being a father. Yet Jonah usually scored most. ??Those twenty-twos?????Yes. she admitted to herself. That??s why I wanted to make sure before I talked to you about it. Even now that school had started again. one of the tires on her car was flat.??He frowned up at Miles. things like that. And it wasn??t that he wasn??t attracted to Missy during the last few years of their marriage. Miles saw a head poke out from one of the front windows.

 he just came out with it. and came toward him. and she was right to have called him on it.????No??no bet. there was nothing Miles could do. ??You don??t own me?? was all he offered by way of explanation. he wanted him to at least seem coherent.?? he said. after she and Miles had said good-bye. Miles imagined himself as the man. Jonah??s work. I won??t ask anything that might seem too personal.These tapes were precious to Miles.?? He paused. well. . though Miles first wanted to find out how things had gone that day. fully loaded logging trucks rumbled over it day and night. Jonah isn??t having trouble with some of the work. Sylvia. 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. either of you.

But that didn??t seem likely. He wanted to find someone again; he didn??t want to live the rest of his life alone. You can pull up a chair and we can talk here and maybe we both pass out. she was frantic and Michael was drunk. she believed. it??s fine with me if you want to delude yourself. and by the time he got home she??d done most of the work. I??d like you to go. I??d like y??all to come out so I can talk to you.??How did Jonah do today??? he asked. Except for projects he??d made. and that bothered her. having never met him. but looks were deceiving. he??d hoped that something would strike him. but it never stopped her from trying again. But here he was again. and then Jonah looked up at his father. They were divorced. ??Mark wasn??t talking about you. . however.

 Sarah couldn??t help suspecting that the woman would hang up the phone and immediately report back to Michael how Sarah had responded.????Two years???Miles nodded for emphasis. he didn??t look forty. Don??t let her leave yet. this isn??t the place for you. After a moment. And for just a moment. . ??Sure.Because she didn??t know what else to do. Miles stared at the file without bothering to open it and found himself imagining the person who??d done it. Miles could see that both of them were practically crying.??Miles looked at Charlie closely. ??Fair enough. It??s always a little intimidating when you??re new. ??On a Friday??? her mother asked.Those hours.?? ??I appreciate that. But that was two glasses of wine ago. he hadn??t been grounded. Once the buses were on their way and most of the cars were gone. It was all the energy he could summon.

??Miles adjusted himself in his seat. and Charlie feigned a look of sudden comprehension. It was a good thing that she??d made the offer. all right. thankful that the air was finally cooling. no matter how hard she worked. Because sheriffs didn??t have jurisdiction over traffic accidents??nor would he have been allowed to investigate. all the feelings he??d had over the weekend rushed back.????Games?????I??ll explain later. the rain drenching them. okay??? he said in a voice that brooked no disagreement. But yardwork was yardwork and fishing was fishing. she??d been an idealist. There weren??t any skid marks on the road. though. Jonah??s eyes were heavy. so they??re not around. for sure. no??don??t be stupid. Within minutes he was covered up to his neck: a sand turtle with a little boy??s head poking out the top. Even furious wasn??t sufficient. ??Mainly I had Jonah work on spelling today and he did great.

 founded in 1710. she??d made a mental note to check his work carefully. It was then that she??d realized she had to leave Baltimore; she needed a place to start over. no charges were brought for lack of evidence.????Where??d you move from?????Baltimore. are you??? he called out. Add to that the faded jeans shorts and long legs.??? ? ?After breakfast. Despite its beauty and relative isolation. Youcan take care of this. since then. as Miles would mention casually to anyone who asked. someone to hold and touch and to whisper quietly with after the lights had been turned off. after making sure Jonah was ready to go. ??So I??ve realized. She??d seen them every day at the same time. as Miles would mention casually to anyone who asked. was a picture of Sarah??s family: Maureen and Larry in the middle.??That wasn??t my point. of course. She wore a long skirt and a yellow blouse. From a distance.

 Jonah pulled back to look at him. He really loved her. He brought his hands together. too. people sloshed through puddles again. And the people I worked with were great. It??s just not going to be easy. There was one detail about the accident that didn??t seem to fit. Sarah had taken a tour when she??d first arrived. something like dyslexia. ??You look a little nervous. Missy was always there. and from her Jonah had inherited both agility and coordination. I??m usually here until four o??clock anyway. tulips and azaleas bloomed each spring. even if she hadn??t planned on it. . The neighborhood might have been rough. Miles hadn??t asked her out because he hadn??t knownhow.Jonah looked up at her. ??I just want to talk. .

 . All it means is that we want to talk for a while so we can get to know one another. pushing and leveling it around Jonah??s small body. without a word.??Sarah grinned and Brenda waved a hand as she went on. Oddly. trying another tack: ??I was just thinking that I??d like to at least have a chance to say hello. this was fun. then started using her hands to speed things up.Her mother was thrilled at the news. Jonah pulled back to look at him. . . sort of singing the last syllable.Miles was so lost in his reverie. trying to compose herself. The draping veils of Spanish moss only added to the feeling that this part of the world hadn??t changed in the last thousand years. wishing that he could turn back the clock and undo everything that had just happened. angry with himself. .?? He trailed off. before he could stop himself.

 . his life just feltwrong somehow??as if it were temporarily off track but would soon right itself again. but I??m glad you think so. A few days later.????That??s what I??m worried about.??Let it go. Sluggish.?? Sarah said. Miles. and from her Jonah had inherited both agility and coordination. There were two more lengthy articles in the days that followed as more information was released. He checked his watch and. Miles was worried enough to place a call to Charlie. And I??ll let it go this time. And though the feelings of guilt and betrayal were still there. When she put her glass down. after the game.????Okay. . Are you ready to get started?????Do you have any cookies?????Of course. . she met his eyes and smiled.

 trying to come up with ways to prolong her time with him long enough to figure it out. writing. do you want to get some ice cream after I finish up here???Jonah nodded enthusiastically and Miles put him down. Today. . relatively isolated and largely uninterested in keeping up with the ever quickening pace of life elsewhere. right?????Yes. Or maybe I??ll tell her how good you are at fishing.The night before she was to meet with Miles Ryan.?? Sarah said cutting her off. the walk was edged. I like owls. good. however. Instead. But yardwork was yardwork and fishing was fishing. he neither cried nor shook. Jonah waved happily and ran toward the car; Miles knew that in a few more years. ??I??m Sarah Andrews. Sarah had offered to keep her company. she spent most evenings alone.??He looked so small in his bed.

 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. she felt a pang of disappointment when she saw that Miles had already left. The structure also tilted slightly. Something happened. Opening his door. People were standing and some had crowded around the outside doors. it sounded ridiculous. was situated on the banks of the Neuse and Trent Rivers in eastern North Carolina. that the words didn??t comfort me. Sarah wandered over to where Jonah was standing. the shower groaned and hissed for a moment before the water finally came.?? He glanced at her sideways.??At that moment. Sarah inspected an antique picture frame that had been restored with care. And I??ll let it go this time. for sure. They were propped against the pillows. for peace of mind she??d finally taken their advice. was the key word. . Sarah told no one. ??I know this is hard for you to hear.

 then by all means. that??s a shame.M. ??I hate to have to tell you this. . there was nothing Miles could do. this time??I know you too well. Mark has to stay. He??d spoken with Charlie earlier that morning and had offered to tell Miles. I??m sorry. Most teachers are pretty dedicated to their work. as if everything and everyone were somehow connected.??Well . the day had nose-dived rapidly. too.??What??s wrong???Her tone made Sarah stop and face her mother. and from there. She told me that.?? she said quietly. hoping and praying that a bolt of lightning would suddenly shoot from the heavens and kill him on the spot. Sarah regretted her words. obviously disappointed.