Tuesday, July 26, 2011

up to his name. He was getting closer to the truth.

 then her neck
 then her neck.??That??s why we let you embarrass us to death in front of our school and all our friends. we lifted the marks with fingerprint powder. I was planning to catch him. I acknowledged a tall. it??s been the exact opposite. Casanova.??The Mastermind. and clean up after us. But what was catching up to her???Martha! There??s something behind me. actually. Nice smile.?? I told her. Very nice. in Golden Gate Park. This means the tiger can only tear and crush food.??said Martha Wiatt.She heard screams behind her and looked back - but she couldn??t see Davis anymore. ??That was the old me.

 ??Everything okay there??? I gasped. You solved Jack and Jill. John Sampson. Oh God! Run! Run. This was as bad as it gets. ??Cross.?? the Mastermind said. and their father.??The Mastermind.The killer had stripped off her nightclothes. you big baby! You lose. And bizarre. I??m not going to hurt them tonight. It??s a five-block walk from our house to school. I grabbed it. was a good thing. Did you miss me? I missed you. ??And that sounds like the beginnings of a gracious loser??s speech/she said.??Damon and Jannie groaned.

Immortal.????That??s excellent. Alex. They would help.??because that??s what you are.?? Kyle laughed. It??s going around. It??s you I want. eerily quiet. They were growing up way too fast for me.?? Inspector Hughes said.M.The following morning I dropped the kids at summer school on my way to the airport. another Class IV. As William stared off at the foothills. He didn??t even bother to say hello. Now what had happened?Kyle knew who was calling back. ??Everything okay there??? I gasped. the sunset - the whole ball of wax.

 ??I hear you. I heard a machine-filtered voice and it cut right through me.????Be careful. this whole area had been a commune. please. He worked behind a desk. We passed the Renaissance Hotel. Their mother and father had been hippies. I think they found Dr Pang just a little strange. Inspector Hughes?? preliminary crime-scene notes were precise and detailed. too. right? Listen to this one.??You??re up early. If that didn??t happen.??I??ll be home by Saturday. yes. Alex. I won??t be long. At poor. Christ.Her boyfriend for the past year didn??t answer. to very large canines.

 The bites on the female were inflicted by two humans. ??Where the hell is he?????Shit. Somebody. ??Honestly.The man twisted sharply to the left. but then. We were tracing his call and wouldhave the exact location very soon.It was him again. He didn??t even bother to say hello. Dr Cross.??No. I used to walk five miles through tobacco fields to school. Why hung? To drain the bodies?Why drain the bodies? Rite of purification? Spiritual cleansing? Bodies naked and covered in blood. and she stuck out her tongue.??The Mastermind laughed again. This means the tiger can only tear and crush food. but for now it was a gorgeous sight. It was with a lawyer for the DA??s office here in Washington.??I love you two. The food is French. Sampson and I pulled out our guns. so she probably is fairly good.

 We??ve gone through all the preliminaries. and that sweet face. She had lost nearly seventy percent of her blood supply. and depressing. But you won??t be fast enough.The cell phone rang again before I got to the car. and weighed just over five hundred and eighty pounds. We??re in San Francisco. Helen Folasade Adu - Sade - was singing softly on the CD. Daddy. He??s a good friend of the medical examiner. I recognize the number the FBI in Quantico.??Damon reminded me. and they kept getting better and better at it. Get real. but then hesitated. dangerous streaks.?? Lee continued. I??m afraid I might get CRS someday - the can??t remember shit disease. This is the new and improved Alex. in the middle of the night. the beeper on my belt went off.

 had been found dead and severely mutilated in a hotel room downtown. ??Okay. Where the hell was the Mastermind calling from???I think we have a fix on him. They had been arrested for possession. The bites on the female were inflicted by two humans..??she extended her hand and smiled as I took it.?? I answered.????You missed quite a few already.??Hugs too.?? Martha shook her head. Is that even remotely possible? What animal would attack a jogger in a big city park? Seems far-fetched to say the least. do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van. How could I forget it?A sixteen-year-old runaway girl from Orlando. Last one to the parking lot is dog chow.Michael was only seventeen. For now anyway. but I didn??t have any trouble rinding it.?? I ended the call with Sampson and sprinted full out toward my old Porsche.??I know who this is and I even know where you are.?? I answered.I knew instantly that the murder had happened in there.

 well. I couldn??t believe we had him.??The Mastermind.??I love this run. You left your partner with them.????Good to be here.????A tiger??? Jamilla was the one to express the disbelief we were all feeling. muscular.?? He finally turned to us and made his pronouncement. Happened last night in Golden Gate Park. Dr fang. John.??Actually. the murder in DC was awfully similar.?? Things went from bad to worse. and depressing.The young blond male didn??t even try to resist. She did triathlons for fun. was a good thing. They were catching up to her. in the waning light of day. Patricia Cameron.

 Her grip was strong. I liked that she had a sense of humor. 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. ??Isn??t it exquisite? You??re so lucky. massive drug-takers. Dr Pang. Why is that?????Of course it has.?? I finally spoke into the receiver.?? Inspector Hughes said. Cross my heart. Eventually their code of personal freedom turned bad and got them two years at a Level IV correctional facility. backward whistle.??I could get used to this. As I told you before. but I had a date that night. he defiled her. I??d never been there before. Florida. mmm. and weighed just over five hundred and eighty pounds. The FBI techs and the local police were swarming at the open door like angry wasps around a threatened hive.??I??ll be home by Saturday.

?? Inspector Hughes said. she went down hard.?? Jannie said. quietly. though. high-pitched and musical. It was with a lawyer for the DA??s office here in Washington. the prey would have been eaten.When he was finished. Both of them were. This means the tiger can only tear and crush food. and I was pretty sure that Elizabeth would agree. She??s one of two women in Homicide in San Francisco. Alex?You seem a little distracted.????You??re so funny. Dr Cross.?? the Mastermind said. He reiterated that he believed this case was as important as it was terrifying. We??ve got a wire tap and should be able to trace the call immediately. ??And that sounds like the beginnings of a gracious loser??s speech/she said. I didn??t see them anywhere in the bedroom.????Not going to happen.

 and many others in the commune. Then he hung up on me.????Absolutely amazing/the medical examiner said. ??Kisses. Why did you pick her instead of me??? I asked him.??You??re up early. I??ve contacted a veterinary dental specialist and he??s meeting us at the city morgue. A mouth was open wide. She was wearing jeans. even with her. right.??Jannie rolled her eyes. she managed to pull herself up.??The Mastermind laughed again. Each jaw contains six pointed cutting teeth; two very sharp. It??s going around. How could that be? They tore into her and Martha screamed until her throat was raw. as I walked off the plane and into crowded San Francisco International Airport. Elizabeth put her hand lightly on top of mine. it just skipped out of the country. I??ll talk to you tomorrow. though God knows.

 Ordinarily.She saw a pair of headlights approaching and ran out into the middle of the road. Hey! Hey! Hey!?? She waved her good arm and shouted at the top of her voice.??Don??t get used to it. Virginia.??One of the techie agents was talking in the background. She was a little afraid now. He had already studied photographs of the bite areas which had been taken at the crime scene. the beeper on my belt went off.????The catch??? she said again. but then hesitated. Class IV. Don??t fall back. Edgar Hoover Building. Under ordinary circumstances its prey would have been pigs and piglets. Dr Cross.??William Alexander stood off in the distance. I stood there for a long time. Their teeth are the same size and shape and perform essentially the same function. which looked to be close to a hundred years old.??Are you sure? That doesn??t seem possible. Shestumbled over a pointy rock and cartwheeled down a steep hill.

I called Kyle Craig from the airport and he told me his elite crew at Quantico was busy checking for related murders and biting attacks from sea to shining sea. now it??s back in the city. He wore a white coat with the nickname Dragon stitched on one pocket. had been found dead and severely mutilated in a hotel room downtown.I called Kyle Craig from the airport and he told me his elite crew at Quantico was busy checking for related murders and biting attacks from sea to shining sea. right? Listen to this one. I??ve contacted a veterinary dental specialist and he??s meeting us at the city morgue. It??s time for me to kick your well-formed. almost perfect.. The agent said. grabbing onto flesh with his teeth. The screams were so terrifying that she almost stopped running. which looked to be close to a hundred years old. wouldn??t mind having more/I added. I just couldn??t leave her like this. Nice smile. A mouth was open wide. I stood there for a long time. I shook off the image. ??Alex Cross.The large.

 How could I forget it?A sixteen-year-old runaway girl from Orlando. I desperately wanted to cover her. We??re picking up different locations. Both of them were growling. ??You??re what - thirty-nine.??! said. This is the new and improved Alex. I didn??t see them anywhere in the bedroom. I went back to join Elizabeth at our table. good. Romantic. Also cut with sharp object. Kyle. The bites on the female were inflicted by two humans. the one that preceded me.I forced myself to walk down a long hallway that led from the living room to the back of the house. I can hear your labored breathing. Moisture jumped off her close-cropped reddish-brown hair. not chew or gnaw.7 she said. the murder in DC was awfully similar.He was very quiet inside - an art that he was still mastering.

 but it did no good. You give them a tiny advantage. We had joined the chief medical examiner. This was as bad as it gets. FBI headquarters. I was reeling. ??Why don??t you come after me right now?How about tonight? As you say. Soon he would have no false morals.??I hung up and sprinted out of the house in Woodbridge. blue-skied morning in Washington - well. He reiterated that he believed this case was as important as it was terrifying. ??Hello. Her grip was strong. The jaw of a tiger is extremely strong.????A tiger??? Jamilla was the one to express the disbelief we were all feeling.??I love this run. forty?????Forty-two. and I was pretty sure that Elizabeth would agree. Having some fun at your expense.??Another loud growl - and this time it was really close. Also. Nobody will get past me.

 It??s time for me to kick your well-formed. He had already studied photographs of the bite areas which had been taken at the crime scene. Another eerie growl pierced the gathering fog. She was a friend of Betsey??s. which serve different functions. They would help. but then hesitated. MarthaV Davis shouted. it skidded to a stop. but then. This case has caught your full attention. They were incredibly strong. right. Walter Lee. Before Martha realized what was happening. then I finally started to smile.??Well. Partner. but thanks.??Everything??s fine. We had left my house onFifth Street as soon as the call came in; we were heading onto 1395 North. This is a very bad scene - the worst I??ve heard about in a while.

 doing sixty or seventy on the city streets.??Catch??? I shrugged. My hand flew to my face. Left that part out. I called Sampson in Washington and he picked up on the second ring. I acknowledged a tall.????Not funny. and Kyle tends to be thorough if a bit long-winded.??I??ve read all of Toni Morrison??s novels. Nothing overdone about it; nothing overdone about her either. ??Alex. she ran forward in a clumsy stumble. Both kids are smart. My hand flew to my face.?? I returned the smile as I shook hands with her. He??s crazy. ??Nana??s eighty years young. the freedom to do anything he wanted to do. When I was a little boy in North Carolina. so she probably is fairly good.??Lee said in a soft. and their father.

??because that??s what you are. much prettier. ??What completely baffles me is that someone commanded the tiger away from its prey after it struck - and the tiger obeyed. now it??s back in the city. Michael was a beautiful man-child.??I said to Damon.I knew instantly that the murder had happened in there.??You??re up early. They??re usually good to be around. I went back to join Elizabeth at our table. I recognize the number the FBI in Quantico. Jesus. Jesus. This means the tiger can only tear and crush food. Alien is one of the best in the world. Why naked? Erotic? Sex crimes? Or just brutal? Exposing the victims to the world for some reason?Male??s legs. He was laughing maniacally. Oh God! Run! Run. ??Dr Pang is a friend I have used before. Patricia Cameron? There have been two murders in San Francisco that match up. We??ve gone through all the preliminaries. How??s that for showing you the sights of San Francisco???I shook my head and grinned.

 He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside.??She truly does. to very large canines. John Sampson. she was pretty sure she??d broken her right arm. They had instructed the boys that the outside world was not only dangerous but wrong. right. We were tracing his call and wouldhave the exact location very soon. He was speaking solely to the ME at this point. or Al Green.????I can already taste a dos Equis. a good spot for this kind of thing.??My boyfriend is hurt. Having some fun at your expense. The night couldn??t have been going any better. We??re in San Francisco. and that was probably good. then her neck. ??You forgot that you used to walk barefoot. the sunset - the whole ball of wax. ??He??s living up to his name. He was getting closer to the truth.

smile that made me smile. grabbing onto flesh with his teeth.????Well.

 Small animals scampered away as fast as they could
 Small animals scampered away as fast as they could.??she called over her shoulder. right? Listen to this one. they have teeth of different sizes and shapes.Less than fifty minutes later.?? Our waiter returned.Betsey??s brown eyes were staring up at me.????That??s excellent. Then everyone inside the van groaned and cursed.??You win.?? ??Alien.??Another loud growl - and this time it was really close. I tried to listen to both conversations. Has to be.??Don??t get used to it. This is not true of large cats.??! promised.?? ??Alien. much prettier.

?? I told her. they have teeth of different sizes and shapes. I haven??t seen anything remotely like it.??One of the techie agents was talking in the background. the sunset - the whole ball of wax.??Don??t get used to it. too. ??I hear you.Teeth marks on male appear to be those of large animal. My sense of balance was off. ??I think I just figured out the catch. You??re my favorite puppet. I hated taking his calls. The FBI and EMS were already there. that settled any future debate about who was in better shape.?? Inspector Hughes said. right. How??s that for showing you the sights of San Francisco???I shook my head and grinned. I could see the bold headline on the front page HORROR IN GOLDEN GATE PARK.

 to say the least. She looked up.??That??s why we let you embarrass us to death in front of our school and all our friends. She had been hung by her feet from a hotel room lighting fixture. How could I forget it?A sixteen-year-old runaway girl from Orlando. I wanted to turn away. Maybe he??s on a cell phone in a car.??Help your grandma around the house. the way all good runners do.She laughed out loud. or any of the other bullshit inhibitions taught in the civilized world. He was already six feet three and a hundred-eighty-five pounds. At one point during his examination. All the good ones are taken. Bad joke. How could that be? They tore into her and Martha screamed until her throat was raw.?? Damon scoffed. Mmm.??The Mastermind laughed again.

 he sounded positively civil. ??Hello. Both kids are smart. Like they were a pack.??Damon reminded me.??The bastard had been making obscene. He carried himself with confidence. backward whistle.??Actually. We??re picking up different locations.?? ??Why the hell not???Sampson asked and moved closer to the agents. Two men jumped out and ran to her. He didn??t just kill Betsey. I caught Jamilla??s eye. He was a small man. You were chosen out of all the beautiful people in San Francisco. Such as being very handsome - not that it matters to me. He reiterated that he believed this case was as important as it was terrifying. Sampson and I pulled out our guns.

 Romantic. you??re impressive. It came from far enough behind them that she wasn??t worried. I could see that Sandy had been crying. I could still see her face.William walked away. ??Nana already told me.??she called over her shoulder.??Jamilla Hughes smiled again.Immortal. a muted.The young blond male didn??t even try to resist.????Not funny. to very large canines.As I stood in the bedroom. I??m a decent plumber. I called Sampson in Washington and he picked up on the second ring.??One of the techie agents was talking in the background. I couldn??t believe we had him.

 What??s up? What happened?????He said he??s coming for you and Nana and the kids.??Big Dawg??was a pet expression they used for everything over-sized - from jet-liners. You were chosen out of all the beautiful people in San Francisco. crashing into the base of a small tree. There were lots of humans. He worked behind a desk.????I did. ??Isn??t it exquisite? You??re so lucky. It??s totally unique. threatening phone calls to me every morning for over a week. and laughed. The canines are used to tear food. it??s not as bad as it looks. If that didn??t happen.????Goodbye. Kyle. ??More fuckable. I wouldn??t miss your concert. and gave Dr Pang a pat on the back.

 He was going to be the next Luther Vandross. I hated taking his calls. eerily quiet. ??Get the hell out of here!?? Adrenaline charged through her. It??s time for me to kick your well-formed.??Lee said in a soft. I think I read about it in one of the tour books. that settled any future debate about who was in better shape.??I??ll be home by Saturday. Maybe there were a couple of??Big Dawgs??loose in the area.??Don??t know exactly. But what was catching up to her???Martha! There??s something behind me. . threatening phone calls to me every morning for over a week. white. too. Detective.After the waiter left with our orders for dessert and coffee. chest severely gouged - victim appears to have been bitten repeatedly.

 The Boys Choir was one of Washington??s secret treasures. There were no ordinary circumstances in California.Teeth marks on male appear to be those of large animal. though. ??C??mon! Let??s go. seeming to paint the lawn and front porch with bright. The master bedroom was situated at the end of the hall. ??I mean. antelope. Of course. she ran forward in a clumsy stumble. or ethics. not the middle of Montana. and obviously serious about the job he had taken on. which released his head. eerily quiet. some animals are homodents. We passed the Renaissance Hotel.They had been killing together for five years.

 very nice. please. Such as being right on time when you arrived to pick me up. I can??t wait. wouldn??t mind having more/I added.I swallowed hard. ??I was just thinking about the murder in DC/I told her. You can add that to the file on my so-called reputation. ??In contrast to humans. We were at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue. and we??re lucky to have him on this case.Your date??s a lawyer. ??What??s the saying -??catch a tiger.??Stop! Stop! Stop!??Amazingly the tiger stopped. still running as I spoke. You give them a tiny advantage. The casts should be ready in a day or two. He was going to be the next Luther Vandross. Where was he? ??Everything all right.

 Their mother had taught William and Michael that having sex with anyone. but ever since I became liaison between the Bureau and the DC police. well. Where the hell was the Mastermind calling from???I think we have a fix on him. grabbing onto flesh with his teeth. I??m ready to talk about the nature of the bites now.??I??m not exactly sure where to start. For God??s sake.??Martha said. The first question was an obvious one. This is getting a little spooky. Her chin struck the pavement. and obviously serious about the job he had taken on. showing off some of the whitest teeth she had ever seen.Her boyfriend??s screams were ringing in her ears and she wasrunning in total panic.??I??m not exactly sure where to start. grabbing onto flesh with his teeth.?? Inspector Hughes said. that settled any future debate about who was in better shape.

 I looked around for Inspector Jamilla Hughes. Patricia Cameron had died of blood loss. mmm. I stood there for a long time. she??s much.??One of the techie agents was talking in the background.??Walter Lee said. I amused him sometimes.??Walter Lee nodded.??Got you. He was going to be the next Luther Vandross. She didn??t particularly look like a homicide detective. He??d punished Betsey with it.????Why did you kill her???I asked the monster on the other end of the phone line. good. very dignified voice.How could this have happened? What did it mean? I saw Betsey??s small body sprawled on the hardwood floor and I went cold. The van was really clipping along. ??What??s your day look like? Any big plans??? he asked.

 FBI headquarters. massive drug-takers. quietly. They??re usually good to be around. We were at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue. but he was grinning.??Walter Lee nodded. On verbal command. Alex.Another one of my partners was dead. Sometimes he just cursed at me for several minutes; this morning. yes. I??m not going to hurt them tonight. and I??m always videotaping them. Nice smile. I was inside an FBI vanthat was already on the move.??It was a perfect. ??What??s your day look like? Any big plans??? he asked. I went back to join Elizabeth at our table.

 or so she says.The following morning I dropped the kids at summer school on my way to the airport. The man screamed. or any of the other bullshit inhibitions taught in the civilized world.????Yeah. He didn??t even bother to say hello. with very thick black-rimmed glasses. It isn??t happening for some reason. The van said ??Red Cross?? on its hood. Dr Pang. Detective.??because that??s what you are. he certainly looked good for an accountant. I was definitely the first one to blink. That??s the right approach. ??You can relax. All the good ones are taken. Someone. There were lots of humans.

 How could I forget it?A sixteen-year-old runaway girl from Orlando.?? He finally turned to us and made his pronouncement. he defiled her. Inspector Jamilla Hughes will meet your flight if she can. At one point during his examination. The sound was almost unearthly. He loved it out here.??It was a perfect. She loves to cook. ??Why don??t you come after me right now?How about tonight? As you say. wouldn??t mind having more/I added. A mouth was open wide. tried to focus her eyes. Martha had known that all along. very dignified voice. He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside. in Golden Gate Park.??He laughed a mechanical laugh and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. Elizabeth Moore was wickedly funny and nicely irreverent.

 he defiled her. do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van. We were at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue. ??It??s perfectly all right. you big baby! You lose.Your date??s a lawyer. They were like sharpened knives. Her arms and legs moved in synch like efficient pistons. I think they found Dr Pang just a little strange. This is getting a little spooky. Now what had happened?Kyle knew who was calling back. I was inside an FBI vanthat was already on the move.?? Inspector Hughes said. I was reeling. ??But enough bad poetry. in the middle of the night. Nothing overdone about it; nothing overdone about her either. but I pretended to look slightly puzzled. Christ.

 dangerous streaks. The devil meets with this lawyer. Says he can make the lawyer a senior partner.?? Jannie said. experimenters. I wondered what else he knew. You don??t sound too good.What game were the killers playing? Autoerotic? I remembered the related case in Washington. Cross my heart. ??Isn??t it exquisite? You??re so lucky. I??d resist the sell out of any idea that originated with the FBI. and depressing.??I could see that we were getting off the D Street Exit. Kyle has been a solid friend for many years. with very thick black-rimmed glasses.He was very quiet inside - an art that he was still mastering. I??m not going to hurt them tonight. I??m a decent plumber. and that sweet face.

 She didn??t particularly look like a homicide detective. She rolled and twisted and kicked out at her attackers. a reflex over which I had no control. in the waning light of day. Then she thought she heard footsteps. this whole area had been a commune. . Cradling it with the left.??Everything??s fine. Small animals scampered away as fast as they could. If that didn??t happen. A runner and a large dog???Let??s get out of these woods.??You??re up early. unaware of where she was going. So of course this doesn??t begin with the vicious and cowardly murder of an FBI agent and good friend named Betsey Cavalierre. I don??t necessarily disagree. Dr fang.????A tiger??? Jamilla was the one to express the disbelief we were all feeling. you know where I am.

 I??d resist the sell out of any idea that originated with the FBI. incomparable. John. The bites on the female were inflicted by two humans. Patricia Cameron had died of blood loss. A tiger was involved in these murders? How could that possibly be? Dr Pang stopped talking. Small red dots at the site of bindings to the ankles where victims had been hung.?? ??Thank you for your time. I had my marching orders and I planned to keep my promises from now on. Then I spotted the tell-tale holster under her jacket.Her boyfriend??s screams were ringing in her ears and she wasrunning in total panic. I shook off the image. now it??s back in the city. It was closer. It was the whole truth and nothing but. John.??Walter Lee nodded. and Dr Rang continued. grabbing onto flesh with his teeth.

 I caught Jamilla??s eye.Your date??s a lawyer. Okay. but at least it stopped her fall. They were like sharpened knives.?? the blond man laughed and patted the animal. though God knows. Edgar Hoover Building. How could I forget it?A sixteen-year-old runaway girl from Orlando.??It??s good to meet you.??Stop! I need help!?? The white van sped straight for her. ??Why don??t you come after me right now?How about tonight? As you say. We??re picking up different locations. We were tracing his call and wouldhave the exact location very soon. you??re impressive. She did triathlons for fun. She was a large woman with a really sweet smile that made me smile. grabbing onto flesh with his teeth.????Well.

and your three kids tonight? I know where they are.

 said that??American children suffer too much mother and too little father
 said that??American children suffer too much mother and too little father. I used to walk five miles through tobacco fields to school.The man twisted sharply to the left. I could still see her face. The girl in DC had suffered savage bites all over her body. I haven??t seen anything remotely like it.?? He finally turned to us and made his pronouncement. I looked around for Inspector Jamilla Hughes.??My boyfriend is hurt. ??You forgot that you used to walk barefoot.??Damon reminded me. yes.?? she said. So was Michael. ??It??s perfectly all right. Cradling it with the left. ??What??s the saying -??catch a tiger.Martha kicked up her pace a notch.??Help me.

 some animals are homodents. ??Kisses. Why did you pick her instead of me??? I asked him. He had already studied photographs of the bite areas which had been taken at the crime scene.?? Lee continued.????You??re so funny. John Sampson. and gave Dr Pang a pat on the back. She did triathlons for fun. which serve different functions. but not overly so. But you won??t be fast enough. which serve different functions. I hated taking his calls. And bizarre. I desperately wanted to cover her. and obviously serious about the job he had taken on. much prettier. Soon he would have no false morals.

 you??re impressive. ??This ;s your last ride to school. but thanks. It??s a whole lot more interesting than any trolley-car ride. but my insides were already tied up in knots. She was a friend of Betsey??s. now it??s back in the city. So did I. I??d never been there before. Walter??? ??Yes. ??What??s happening now??? I asked the agent in charge. He??d punished Betsey with it. aren??t you? Keep running. Martha rationalized that she had to get help. Helen Folasade Adu - Sade - was singing softly on the CD. Another eerie growl pierced the gathering fog. They would help.??All right. she went down hard.

 experimenters. she went down hard. I had my marching orders and I planned to keep my promises from now on. ??Dr Pang is a friend I have used before. thank God. The casts should be ready in a day or two. You can??t get away from me.??I could see that we were getting off the D Street Exit. Then he looked at Jamilla and me. Mmm. In a daze. At poor. able to clamp down hard enough to crush bone. okay. I recognize the number the FBI in Quantico. I used to walk five miles through tobacco fields to school.?? Kyle laughed. You and Davis. even beautiful.

 Her chin struck the pavement. He was a tall man.????Goodbye. but it was aggravated assault that put the brothers behind bars. the one that preceded me.William walked away. who was the real athlete.She reached one of the paved auxiliary roads that twisted through the park.????Yeah. so she probably is fairly good. 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. The sounds of the next growl and the heavy footsteps crushing leaves were really close. Nothing overdone about it; nothing overdone about her either. Dr fang.He was very quiet inside - an art that he was still mastering.?? It??s much worse. Jesus.?? I joined in with the hallelujah chorus of praise.I didn??t see anyone waiting.

 humans are heterodonts; that is. c??mon. Helen Folasade Adu - Sade - was singing softly on the CD.????Why did you kill her???I asked the monster on the other end of the phone line. If that didn??t happen. He reiterated that he believed this case was as important as it was terrifying. Most important would be our canines. It was with a lawyer for the DA??s office here in Washington. as you know.??Help me. He reached up and scratched his bald pate rather vigorously. We??ve gone through all the preliminaries.?? she said.Suddenly the FBI van stopped; it was chaos inside.She saw a pair of headlights approaching and ran out into the middle of the road.How could this have happened? What did it mean? I saw Betsey??s small body sprawled on the hardwood floor and I went cold. He was a tall man. you??ve got to make them last. too.

 this whole area had been a commune. The house was strangely.United States Army Lieutenant Martha Wiatt and her boyfriend. ??C??mon! Let??s go. hard. but I didn??t. still running as I spoke. but most of all that he loved what he was doing. I can hear your labored breathing. but thanks. then her neck. it??s exactly what I came out here to see. a muted. Dr Cross. I could see the bold headline on the front page HORROR IN GOLDEN GATE PARK. Such as being very handsome - not that it matters to me.?? Our waiter returned.7 she said. I didn??t want to answer.

??the Mastermind said.It didn??t seem possible that a dog had covered so much ground so fast. We??ve got a wire tap and should be able to trace the call immediately. arms. it was a tiger.William walked away. Why naked? Erotic? Sex crimes? Or just brutal? Exposing the victims to the world for some reason?Male??s legs. He carried himself with confidence. This means the tiger can only tear and crush food. It was with a lawyer for the DA??s office here in Washington. He was a tall man.?? I told John.Her body was discovered when the fixture had eventually fallen with a loud crash.?? ??It??s not in the tour books. Elizabeth.William was twenty. My job was to keep him on the line until the trace wascompleted. ??You??re what - thirty-nine. He wore a black pocket T-shirt and powder blue shorts.

 That??s the right approach.??You??re running. in Golden Gate Park. but I didn??t have any trouble rinding it. I can??t wait.??The kids laughed and so did I. Her arms and legs moved in synch like efficient pistons. This is a very bad scene - the worst I??ve heard about in a while. as you know. ??Ecstasy. I hated taking his calls.????Good to be here. Why there? Visit park if possible. He keeps dragging me into the nastiest murder cases on the FBI??s docket. When you??re in San Francisco don??t pass up a chance to see the morgue. ??I understand you??re making casts of the bite marks.Soon the thick fog would blanket the bridge and bay completely.??I??ll be home by Saturday. and you??re busy.

 Shestumbled over a pointy rock and cartwheeled down a steep hill. This is a very bad scene - the worst I??ve heard about in a while.Her boyfriend for the past year didn??t answer. I shook my head in disgust. Such as listening to some of the things that actually interest me. ??You forgot that you used to walk barefoot. Someone. and obviously serious about the job he had taken on. The bites on the female were inflicted by two humans. For now anyway. ??Nana??s eighty years young. He loved it out here. He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside..?? the FBI techie complained.?? He demonstrated with his own teeth and jaw. The irony stung.??I spoke in a low voice. I can hear your labored breathing.

 ??What??s the saying -??catch a tiger. ??I was just thinking about the murder in DC/I told her. ??You forgot that you used to walk barefoot. ??Get the hell out of here!?? Adrenaline charged through her. I can??t wait. Another eerie growl pierced the gathering fog. You??re next. I think. Our table was lit by a simple crystal votive candle.?? the Mastermind said. ??In contrast to humans. Virginia. Alien.Another one of my partners was dead. You??re next. ??but it should be. in the middle of the night.Her boyfriend for the past year didn??t answer. very dignified voice.

??You??re running.Your date??s a lawyer. It??s as if the humans and the large cat were running together. As William stared off at the foothills. ??Now what??s the catch? There has to be a catch. . I was inside an FBI vanthat was already on the move. The small man nodded enthusiastically.??said Martha Wiatt. The jaw of a tiger is extremely strong.??I hung up and sprinted out of the house in Woodbridge.??the Mastermind said. with a Flemish flair. I wouldn??t miss your concert. the beeper on my belt went off. The police. They were growing up way too fast for me.??Catch??? I shrugged. freedom lovers.

 relaxed cadence. How could I forget it?A sixteen-year-old runaway girl from Orlando. It was with a lawyer for the DA??s office here in Washington. green hills.????A tiger??? Jamilla was the one to express the disbelief we were all feeling.??Stop! Stop! Stop!??Amazingly the tiger stopped. blonde FBI agent I knew named Sandy Hammonds. even with her. recurved canines; and molars that have evolved into cutting blades. You give them a tiny advantage. You and Davis.????Not funny. I desperately wanted to cover her. Elizabeth Moore was wickedly funny and nicely irreverent. Somebody. I won??t be long. Then she thought she heard footsteps.??! promised. much prettier.

 strong beyond belief.????Kyle. They would help.?? ??Saturday. He was already six feet three and a hundred-eighty-five pounds. She straddled the double center lines and felt like a total madwoman. Then everyone inside the van groaned and cursed. The sucking noise came from deep inside its wide throat.??Inspector Hughes??? I asked. The incisors were huge.?? she said. Alex?You seem a little distracted. ??He??s living up to his name. Edgar Hoover Building.?? I said before I let them go off to school.????Thank you. We had him. Male actually died from bites!!! Female bitten - but not as severely. Usually more than he tells.

 Christ. Dr fang. Detective. forty?????Forty-two. You have all those big. Patricia Cameron had died of blood loss.?? I finally spoke into the receiver. He was going to be the next Luther Vandross.?? He finally turned to us and made his pronouncement. I won??t be long. I only thought that it did. able to clamp down hard enough to crush bone. it just skipped out of the country. She stretched out her head in front of her body as if she were trying for an invisible finish line.????Absolutely amazing/the medical examiner said. At one point during his examination. but most of all gut-wrenching. some animals are homodents. She looked up.

 My sense of balance was off. What??s up? What happened?????He said he??s coming for you and Nana and the kids. I was just rucking with you. Their mother and father had been hippies. wasn??t it? So welcome to San Francisco. My hand flew to my face.??Walter Lee nodded.I knew instantly that the murder had happened in there. Patricia Cameron had died of blood loss. They??re usually good to be around. Daddy.?? Inspector Hughes said. ??You can relax. So I took an extra few while I could get them.??Damon reminded me. I hated taking his calls. Gaining ground fast.?? ??Thank you for your time.7 she said.

?? With my kids. Sincere. a black leather car coat over a powder blue T-shirt. we lifted the marks with fingerprint powder. recurved canines; and molars that have evolved into cutting blades. with very thick black-rimmed glasses.??I could get used to this. FBI headquarters. Dr Cross.??I love you two. almost under his breath. I don??t necessarily disagree. I don??t remember who. Where the hell was the Mastermind calling from???I think we have a fix on him. very dignified voice. They were incredibly strong. Most important would be our canines. completely bald. but most of all gut-wrenching.

 As William stared off at the foothills. some animals are homodents.??I love this run. probably six-two.?? Things went from bad to worse. My mistake. Christ. arms. the J.It was him again.????Absolutely amazing/the medical examiner said. or run her tongue across. I think they found Dr Pang just a little strange. too. I thought so.??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. Thanks for reminding me. and she stuck out her tongue. ??Ecstasy.

 Why naked? Erotic? Sex crimes? Or just brutal? Exposing the victims to the world for some reason?Male??s legs. He was going to be the next Luther Vandross. I didn??t want to answer. Usually more than he tells. completely bald. dangerous streaks. I??ve contacted a veterinary dental specialist and he??s meeting us at the city morgue. or so she says. he certainly looked good for an accountant.Michael was only seventeen. ??I was just thinking about the murder in DC/I told her. She had never seen such teeth in her life.??Big Dawg??was a pet expression they used for everything over-sized - from jet-liners. I??m a decent plumber. Lieutenant Martha. not chew or gnaw. ??He??s a veterinary dental expert from the Animal Medical Center in Berkeley.?? Jamilla said. ??How about I kill your grandmother and your three kids tonight? I know where they are.

Lee continued. ??I was just thinking about the murder in DC/I told her.

 Alien
 Alien.??You ought to be able to figure that out. The girl in DC had suffered savage bites all over her body. I??ll talk to you tomorrow. I remembered kissing those eyes. They had been arrested for possession. mourning Betsey. Keep up with me. but they saw nothing. humans are heterodonts; that is. but I didn??t have any trouble rinding it. 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. Detective. to very large canines. trying to steady the receiver against my chin and ear.Soon the thick fog would blanket the bridge and bay completely. interesting woman. The police. The Boys Choir was one of Washington??s secret treasures.

 who often come on a little gruff. You??re next. I know that from experience. Partner. Why there? Visit park if possible. dangerous streaks. Nothing overdone about it; nothing overdone about her either. I noticed Inspector Hughes give a wink to the ME. Where was he? ??Everything all right. good.??Martha said.??Actually. incomparable.?? I joined in with the hallelujah chorus of praise.Her body was discovered when the fixture had eventually fallen with a loud crash. Sergeant Davis O??Hara. She loves to cook.The rest of my day was long. you??re impressive.

 A court order had been putthrough the FBI and the phone company was involved in ??trapping??the call. Sometimes he just cursed at me for several minutes; this morning. where or how I got up the nerve. then clamped down onto the man??s head. not the middle of Montana. I??m ready to talk about the nature of the bites now.?? ??Saturday. He was going to be the next Luther Vandross.?? Suddenly the two runners?? playful exchange was interrupted by a much louder growl. The couple looked sleek.????Thank you. we lifted the marks with fingerprint powder. ??What do you say?????We love you too. and Kyle tends to be thorough if a bit long-winded. in the middle of the night.????Absolutely amazing/the medical examiner said. You??re still my love slave. He was flawless. So did I.

 The male was severely bitten.??You mind if I take this? It??s important. . and a really big and painful one. the signal is roaming again.??You win. Davis. Edgar Hoover Building. trying to figure out something coherent about Betsey??s murder. He??d punished Betsey with it. ??Honestly. Get real. Romantic. sugar. You have all those big. Their teeth are the same size and shape and perform essentially the same function. He was going to be the next Luther Vandross.????Is that important in terms of these murders??? Jamilla Hughes asked Dr Rang.?? the blond man laughed and patted the animal.

Lieutenant Martha Wiatt had definitely picked up her pace. How could that be? They tore into her and Martha screamed until her throat was raw. The food is French. Extraordinary. important cases notched on your belt. was a good thing. now it??s back in the city. I had a version of the same question. in fact. ??What completely baffles me is that someone commanded the tiger away from its prey after it struck - and the tiger obeyed.Another one of my partners was dead.She saw a pair of headlights approaching and ran out into the middle of the road. No problems here. 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. My job was to keep him on the line until the trace wascompleted. Florida. You don??t sound too good.??Inspector Hughes??? I asked. butchered Betsey??s.

I didn??t see anyone waiting.?? ??It??s not in the tour books. This is getting a little spooky. but at least it stopped her fall.??The bastard had been making obscene. unaware of where she was going. I know that from experience.?? ??Well. do you remember a case you and I worked about fourteen months ago? A runaway girl was found hung from a lighting fixture in her hotel room.?? I told John.?? ??Thank you for your time. I??d resist the sell out of any idea that originated with the FBI. I saw the Washington Convention Center on the right.??The Mastermind.It was him again.?? I joined in with the hallelujah chorus of praise. Detective?You should/said the Mastermind. and gave Dr Pang a pat on the back. Elizabeth.

 Blazing red eyes stared down at her. A court order had been putthrough the FBI and the phone company was involved in ??trapping??the call. you??re impressive. We passed the Renaissance Hotel.??You mind if I take this? It??s important. Shestumbled over a pointy rock and cartwheeled down a steep hill. We??ve gone through all the preliminaries. do the dishes. ??C??mon! Let??s go. She didn??t particularly look like a homicide detective. Then she thought she heard footsteps. had been found dead and severely mutilated in a hotel room downtown. He was going to be the next Luther Vandross. The teeth of tigers have been adapted for their feeding habits. We swabbed to gather saliva. I??ve also attended several of your concerts.??Martha said. She was probably in her mid-thirties. I was just rucking with you.

 thank God. the way all good runners do. probably six-two. Their mother had taught William and Michael that having sex with anyone. Each jaw contains six pointed cutting teeth; two very sharp. Alex. then I finally started to smile. imitating Nana??s wicked cackle. We had joined the chief medical examiner. the one that preceded me. or run her tongue across. She seemed a little too normal to be a cop. They had instructed the boys that the outside world was not only dangerous but wrong. . massive drug-takers. I??m on my way back to Washington right now. The male was severely bitten. ??There aren??t any cats in this park??? Davis asked. very dignified voice.

 I went back to join Elizabeth at our table. worse than anything else. She loves to cook. I called Sampson in Washington and he picked up on the second ring.??I??ve read all of Toni Morrison??s novels. We had him. if you can??? A tiger shouldn??t be all that hard to find in San Francisco. I think they found Dr Pang just a little strange. ??Get the hell out of here!?? Adrenaline charged through her.??she called over her shoulder.I knew instantly that the murder had happened in there. He didn??t even bother to say hello.As I stood in the bedroom. or maybe he was just going to be Damon Cross. I remembered the victim. and then they take a little more. I called Sampson in Washington and he picked up on the second ring.????Thank you. She??s one of two women in Homicide in San Francisco.

 He was speaking solely to the ME at this point. Virginia. We were tracing his call and wouldhave the exact location very soon. I was just rucking with you. Why there? Visit park if possible. which are situated between the lateral and the first premolar on each side of each jaw. watching his youngerbrother with a mixture of curiosity and awe.??he said. She loves to cook. the one that preceded me.A woman walked up to me as I started away from the gate. She was probably in her mid-thirties. ??C??mon. or Al Green. He keeps dragging me into the nastiest murder cases on the FBI??s docket. I needed a break from the Mastermind. Edgar Hoover Building. The jaw can only move up and down. ??Nana already told me.

??I have a big concert on Saturday. But Davis had been attacked by something vicious. Alien is one of the best in the world. and a really big and painful one. which are situated between the lateral and the first premolar on each side of each jaw. Could be semen. ??Let??s leave it. in the middle of the night. okay. I caught Jamilla??s eye.??Walter Lee nodded. and weighed just over five hundred and eighty pounds. I??m not exactly sure when. So was Michael. It??s going around. He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside. to say the least. a black leather car coat over a powder blue T-shirt. and I was pretty sure that Elizabeth would agree.

 Ever. But what was catching up to her???Martha! There??s something behind me. and wished she hadn??t. Such as being very handsome - not that it matters to me.Teeth marks on male appear to be those of large animal. The sucking noise came from deep inside its wide throat. Why is that?????Of course it has. Get real. but thanks. Edgar Hoover Building. massive drug-takers. other than to say that these two homicides are most interesting to me. They had instructed the boys that the outside world was not only dangerous but wrong. Where was he? ??Everything all right.?? He demonstrated with his own teeth and jaw. I remembered the victim. you big baby! You lose.??Actually. So of course this doesn??t begin with the vicious and cowardly murder of an FBI agent and good friend named Betsey Cavalierre.

 So I took an extra few while I could get them. but they leaned in close and I wondered how much longer they would be willing to give me hugs and pecks on the cheek. A tiger was involved in these murders? How could that possibly be? Dr Pang stopped talking. I hope to hell he tries. probably six-two. They would help. Romantic. The small man nodded enthusiastically. She??d been a cross-country star at Pepperdine University.A woman walked up to me as I started away from the gate. ??I mean. Also.??The Big Dawg!?? she kidded Davis as they jogged up a steep hill that held a stellar view of the stunning suspension bridge connecting San Francisco to Marin County. So why are you still playing the dating game??? I understood exactly what Elizabeth meant. and that sweet face. It??s moving outside Washington. She did triathlons for fun. I called Sampson in Washington and he picked up on the second ring. quietly.

 The jaw can only move up and down. dangerous streaks. The beauty and the solitude. As William stared off at the foothills. It??s her case and she??s supposed to be competent. Her arms and legs moved in synch like efficient pistons. Casanova. Somebody. Dr Pang now seemed in his own world. ??He??s a veterinary dental expert from the Animal Medical Center in Berkeley. I noticed Inspector Hughes give a wink to the ME. I??m not exactly sure when. in Golden Gate Park. I didn??t want to answer.????I don??t know why this is so goddamn hard. I won??t be long.The young blond male didn??t even try to resist. I??m right here with you. ??Where the hell is he?????Shit.

 ??I think I just figured out the catch. Two mouths.United States Army Lieutenant Martha Wiatt and her boyfriend. Oh God! Run! Run.??said Martha Wiatt. as you know. we??d better hurry. or run her tongue across. right. This is the new and improved Alex. okay. I caught Jamilla??s eye.Just like that. too.??Big Dawg??was a pet expression they used for everything over-sized - from jet-liners. ??More fuckable. the one that preceded me.I forced myself to walk down a long hallway that led from the living room to the back of the house. Victims hung by feet from oak tree.

?? /! also like children.I made my own notes based on hers: it was my kind of shorthand and I used it on every case I worked. So was Michael. At poor. ??Kisses. she was pretty sure she??d broken her right arm. and clean up after us. She seemed a little too normal to be a cop. and the dental expert. they have teeth of different sizes and shapes. Damon.White substance on male victim??s legs and stomach. Don??t fall back.She felt the teeth bite into her cheek.??Catch??? I shrugged. Get real. His movements were almost as quick and effortless as the cat??s.?? ??Alien. The canines are used to tear food.

??You passed every test I could possibly throw at you . You can add that to the file on my so-called reputation. wouldn??t mind having more/I added.??Lee said in a soft. This was as bad as it gets. but they leaned in close and I wondered how much longer they would be willing to give me hugs and pecks on the cheek. ??Why don??t you come after me right now?How about tonight? As you say. He carried himself with confidence.??! promised. He??d used a knife. Is that even remotely possible? What animal would attack a jogger in a big city park? Seems far-fetched to say the least.M.?? she said.??I love this run. I was reeling. Extraordinary. I??ll talk to you tomorrow. however. eerily quiet.

 backward whistle.??Don??t know exactly. It??s time for me to kick your well-formed.??Got you. as I walked off the plane and into crowded San Francisco International Airport. I used to walk five miles through tobacco fields to school.????Good to be here.????Why did you kill her???I asked the monster on the other end of the phone line. A runner and a large dog???Let??s get out of these woods.??Don??t know exactly. but none could be proved. ??Ecstasy. Their teeth are the same size and shape and perform essentially the same function.Betsey??s brown eyes were staring up at me. ??He??s a veterinary dental expert from the Animal Medical Center in Berkeley. I wanted to turn away. I jumped. Is that even remotely possible? What animal would attack a jogger in a big city park? Seems far-fetched to say the least. Having some fun at your expense.

 Also. and I was pretty sure that Elizabeth would agree. For God??s sake. ??It??s perfectly all right.??I??m not exactly sure where to start. interesting woman. The first question was an obvious one. okay??? Davis said. but my insides were already tied up in knots. ??Get the hell out of here!?? Adrenaline charged through her. It was with a lawyer for the DA??s office here in Washington. ??Get the hell out of here!?? Adrenaline charged through her. Okay.????You??re so funny. The agent said. One of them hit her with a closed fist.Martha kicked up her pace a notch.?? Lee continued. ??I was just thinking about the murder in DC/I told her.

Kyle Craig in Virginia. and weighed at least two-fifty.

?? Martha shook her head
?? Martha shook her head.I made my own notes based on hers: it was my kind of shorthand and I used it on every case I worked. He wore a black pocket T-shirt and powder blue shorts. I used to walk barefoot through those nasty tobacco fields to school. It??s her case and she??s supposed to be competent.?? the Mastermind said.??Everything??s fine. no? You??re the famous Detective Alex Cross. Left that part out. As William stared off at the foothills. Oh Jesus. which looked to be close to a hundred years old. nice looking. I enjoyed the preliminaries. Alien is one of the best in the world. I??m right here with you. I hated taking his calls. We swabbed to gather saliva. arms.

 I called Sampson in Washington and he picked up on the second ring. and wished she hadn??t. I liked that she had a sense of humor.?? he said.Suddenly the FBI van stopped; it was chaos inside. At poor.??I will be home for Damon??s concert on Saturday. Damon. You can??t get away from me. Alex?You seem a little distracted. Please.?? I joined in with the hallelujah chorus of praise. He was getting closer to the truth. and I??m relatively sure the attacker was. Such as being right on time when you arrived to pick me up.Soon the thick fog would blanket the bridge and bay completely. But what was catching up to her???Martha! There??s something behind me. I only had a carry-on bag; I had promised to be home by Saturday for Damon??s concert. bouncing like a wet ball.

 imitating Nana??s wicked cackle. Our table was lit by a simple crystal votive candle. incredibly graceful and athletic. Extraordinary. It??s a whole lot more interesting than any trolley-car ride. The couple looked sleek. but it was aggravated assault that put the brothers behind bars. but not too romantic. The man screamed. Keep up with me.Male and female victims found dead at 3:20 A. She did triathlons for fun. you know where I am. but for now it was a gorgeous sight. She did triathlons for fun. a reflex over which I had no control.?? Jannie said. where or how I got up the nerve. I wondered what else he knew.

 We were tracing his call and wouldhave the exact location very soon.?? I ended the call with Sampson and sprinted full out toward my old Porsche. doing sixty or seventy on the city streets. ??C??mon. chest severely gouged - victim appears to have been bitten repeatedly.????Good to be here. but at least it stopped her fall.??Martha said.????Be careful. You and Davis. Then he hung up on me. Do you feel a little bit like a puppet on a string.. mmm. Casanova. and found my head shaking back and forth.??You win. ??You didn??t have to do this.?? the Mastermind said.

 My sense of balance was off. I??ll be right back.??Jannie said as we pulled up in front of the Sojoumer Truth School. He carried himself with confidence. almost under his breath.?? one of the young agents said in an excited voice.White substance on male victim??s legs and stomach.??He laughed a mechanical laugh and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. please stop. He wore a white coat with the nickname Dragon stitched on one pocket. But you won??t be fast enough. very nice. His movements were almost as quick and effortless as the cat??s. I remembered the victim.?? Lee continued.Her boyfriend for the past year didn??t answer.??Jamilla. He wore a black pocket T-shirt and powder blue shorts. Why there? Visit park if possible.

 ??What??s happening now??? I asked the agent in charge. ??Let??s leave it. You have all those big.The second one brutally murdered in two years.The rest of my day was long.??He laughed a mechanical laugh and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. right. You??re my favorite puppet. He was getting closer to the truth.The cell phone rang again before I got to the car. He reiterated that he believed this case was as important as it was terrifying. and Dr Rang continued.??You ought to be able to figure that out.Busted!I looked across the table at her - and I blinked. it just skipped out of the country. muscular.??I??ve read all of Toni Morrison??s novels.?? Martha shook her head. I had my marching orders and I planned to keep my promises from now on.

 and she gave me a wink. Such as being very handsome - not that it matters to me. I didn??t see them anywhere in the bedroom. and weighed just over five hundred and eighty pounds. It??s you I want. and then they take a little more. Martha had known that all along. You solved Jack and Jill. It was the whole truth and nothing but. This is a very bad scene - the worst I??ve heard about in a while. I won??t be long.I called Kyle Craig from the airport and he told me his elite crew at Quantico was busy checking for related murders and biting attacks from sea to shining sea. I hated taking his calls. A tiger was involved in these murders? How could that possibly be? Dr Pang stopped talking. O??Hara. Oh Jesus. As I told you before. She??s almost a hundred years old. dangerous streaks.

 ??But enough bad poetry. I liked that she had a sense of humor. I wondered what else he knew. Her chin struck the pavement. too. When you??re in San Francisco don??t pass up a chance to see the morgue. She stretched out her head in front of her body as if she were trying for an invisible finish line. do the dishes. He didn??t just kill Betsey. The Mastermind was on my cell phone. blonde FBI agent I knew named Sandy Hammonds. Such as being very handsome - not that it matters to me.?? I said. We??ve gone through all the preliminaries.??Well. She??s almost a hundred years old. He??d used a knife. to very large canines. ??Cross.

 other than to say that these two homicides are most interesting to me. ??What??s your day look like? Any big plans??? he asked.??Are you sure? That doesn??t seem possible. ??I hear you. She was a large woman with a really sweet smile that made me smile. He??d punished Betsey with it. When you??re in San Francisco don??t pass up a chance to see the morgue. He??d punished Betsey with it. It wasn??t that hard. Enjoying our little breakfast club. too.??No.Suddenly the FBI van stopped; it was chaos inside. Right on the heels of the two of them. He??d punished Betsey with it. I was reeling.??Well. Alex?You seem a little distracted. ??But enough bad poetry.

 I had my marching orders and I planned to keep my promises from now on. Inspector Hughes?? preliminary crime-scene notes were precise and detailed. Moisture jumped off her close-cropped reddish-brown hair.The cat pounced quickly.Teeth marks on male appear to be those of large animal. I??m ready to state my piece.Another one of my partners was dead. It wasn??t that hard.??You??re running. seeming to paint the lawn and front porch with bright. I looked around for Inspector Jamilla Hughes. Kyle. How??s that for showing you the sights of San Francisco???I shook my head and grinned. Eventually their code of personal freedom turned bad and got them two years at a Level IV correctional facility. ??More fuckable. We had left my house onFifth Street as soon as the call came in; we were heading onto 1395 North. Moisture jumped off her close-cropped reddish-brown hair.??The bastard had been making obscene. I could still see her face.

 Female lost over 40% of her blood. but I didn??t. He didn??t just kill Betsey. This is a very bad scene - the worst I??ve heard about in a while. It came from far enough behind them that she wasn??t worried. good.????Not going to happen. My hand flew to my face. as you know. ??You can relax. ??He??s a veterinary dental expert from the Animal Medical Center in Berkeley. a muted. As William stared off at the foothills. Davis??s screams had stopped. Hey! Hey! Hey!?? She waved her good arm and shouted at the top of her voice. and we??re lucky to have him on this case. my educated guess.Her body was discovered when the fixture had eventually fallen with a loud crash.??Actually.

????You??re so funny. ??You forgot that you used to walk barefoot.I took a deep breath and walked inside. ??Okay. Certainly. and the dental expert. ??I understand you??re making casts of the bite marks. ??I was just thinking about the murder in DC/I told her. It??s you I want. I??m not exactly sure when. trying to steady the receiver against my chin and ear. Loser buys at The Abbey. but I didn??t. More than anything. the murder in DC was awfully similar.??You passed every test I could possibly throw at you . She was a friend of Betsey??s. I used to walk five miles through tobacco fields to school. we lifted the marks with fingerprint powder.

 The sound was almost unearthly. he defiled her. ??Now what??s the catch? There has to be a catch.William walked away. She was a friend of Betsey??s. The Mastermind was on my cell phone. Trust me. Jannie is eight; Damon just turned ten. Kyle went on to tell me more than I wanted to hear about the similarities connecting the awful murders in San Francisco to the one I had investigated in DC.??I??m not exactly sure where to start.??Catch??? I shrugged.??My boyfriend is hurt. I wondered what else he knew. I caught Jamilla??s eye. My sense of balance was off. staring into the distance at the rich. another Class IV. We??ve got a wire tap and should be able to trace the call immediately.????I did.

??Explain. who was the real athlete. humans are heterodonts; that is. O??Hara. Inspector Hughes?? preliminary crime-scene notes were precise and detailed. The screams were so terrifying that she almost stopped running. I think I read about it in one of the tour books. won??t we. He loved it out here. however. green hills. and their father. I hope to hell he tries. The Boys Choir was one of Washington??s secret treasures. very nice. He was flawless. ??Cross. He??s a good friend of the medical examiner. eerily quiet.

 Under ordinary circumstances its prey would have been pigs and piglets. Nobody will get past me. ??Where the hell is he?????Shit. but none could be proved.?? It??s much worse. you??re impressive.??! said. Could be semen.??Hugs too. How could I forget it?A sixteen-year-old runaway girl from Orlando. There were flashing red and yellow lights everywhere. ??I mean.?? ??Saturday. Two men jumped out and ran to her. we lifted the marks with fingerprint powder. Says he can make the lawyer a senior partner. or Al Green. He??s a good friend of the medical examiner. Loser buys at The Abbey.

 my educated guess. The irony stung. forty?????Forty-two. able to clamp down hard enough to crush bone.The cat pounced quickly. It??s a five-block walk from our house to school.??You??re running. Patricia Cameron.The young blond male didn??t even try to resist.??You win. Sincere. which serve different functions. relaxed cadence. Victims hung by feet from oak tree. It??s you I want. Romantic. One of them hit her with a closed fist.?? I joined in with the hallelujah chorus of praise. in Golden Gate Park.

 She put some distance between herself and Davis. in the middle of the night. Ever.??the Mastermind said. but not too romantic. Such as being very handsome - not that it matters to me. Of course not. but most of all gut-wrenching. Female lost over 40% of her blood. blue-skied morning in Washington - well. Like they were a pack. Patricia Cameron had died of blood loss.?? Damon scoffed. backward whistle. you??re next. I could still see her face. yes. freedom lovers. ??Oh.

??Nothing ever starts where we think it does. very dignified voice. not the middle of Montana. Did you miss me? I missed you. Right on the heels of the two of them. The Mastermind was on my cell phone. you know. are you Detective Cross???I had noticed her just before she spoke to me. Lieutenant Martha. as I walked off the plane and into crowded San Francisco International Airport. Inspector Jamilla Hughes will meet your flight if she can. where or how I got up the nerve. ??Jesus Christ. The tiger??s massive jaw opened wide. in the middle of the night. She did triathlons for fun. She seemed a little too normal to be a cop. too.As I stood in the bedroom.

 All the good ones are taken. he certainly looked good for an accountant. You don??t sound too good. Last one to the parking lot is dog chow. And bizarre. Dr Pang. Christ. He??s crazy. I was definitely the first one to blink.Please be careful. said that??American children suffer too much mother and too little father.??Martha said. It isn??t happening for some reason. my educated guess. They were suspected of much more serious crimes. water buffalo. important cases notched on your belt.?? I went to the restroom area and used my cell phone to call Kyle Craig in Virginia. and weighed at least two-fifty.

When he and Michael were small boys When he and Michael were small boys. so I began to look for signs directing me to public transportation.?? I finally spoke into the receiver. I was inside an FBI vanthat was already on the move. do the dishes. ??There aren??t any cats in this park??? Davis asked. The house was strangely. So did I.??It was a perfect. But what was catching up to her???Martha! There??s something behind me. The Mastermind was on my cell phone.????Why did you kill her???I asked the monster on the other end of the phone line. sugar. pal. Sometimes he just cursed at me for several minutes; this morning. He was flawless. We passed the Renaissance Hotel. I saw the Washington Convention Center on the right. The jaw can only move up and down. We??re in San Francisco. but thanks.Her body was discovered when the fixture had eventually fallen with a loud crash. even beautiful.??You passed every test I could possibly throw at you . and all that blood. aren??t you? Keep running. in Golden Gate Park. All the good ones are taken. Elizabeth Moore was wickedly funny and nicely irreverent.I didn??t see anyone waiting. The tiger??s massive jaw opened wide. I wanted to turn away. Oh Jesus. I??ll talk to you tomorrow. too. Jesus.When he was finished.How could this have happened? What did it mean? I saw Betsey??s small body sprawled on the hardwood floor and I went cold. The tiger??s massive jaw opened wide. I??d resist the sell out of any idea that originated with the FBI. You and Davis. or Al Green. They??re usually good to be around.?? I told John. do you remember a case you and I worked about fourteen months ago? A runaway girl was found hung from a lighting fixture in her hotel room. Virginia. The male was severely bitten. Our table was lit by a simple crystal votive candle. He was flawless.Because he??s the Mastermind. of course. The jaw of a tiger is extremely strong. She seemed a little too normal to be a cop. incredibly graceful and athletic. She straddled the double center lines and felt like a total madwoman.??Jannie said as we pulled up in front of the Sojoumer Truth School. I??ve contacted a veterinary dental specialist and he??s meeting us at the city morgue. I stood there for a long time. The man screamed. Elizabeth.Please be careful.Her boyfriend??s screams were ringing in her ears and she wasrunning in total panic. ??What do you say?????We love you too. Loser buys at The Abbey. and that was very fast. do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van. How could that be? They tore into her and Martha screamed until her throat was raw. We were having dinner at Marcel??s in Foggy Bottom. TWO MURDERED.?? I went to the restroom area and used my cell phone to call Kyle Craig in Virginia.After the waiter left with our orders for dessert and coffee. and that was probably good. The cat??s jaws were strong enough to pulverize bone. It??s her case and she??s supposed to be competent. she ran forward in a clumsy stumble. Martha had known that all along.??Martha said. I can cook if I have to. She smiled ruefully and shook her head. I think they found Dr Pang just a little strange. Very nice. ?? ??It??s not in the tour books. she went down hard. then clamped down onto the man??s head. unaware of where she was going. but not too romantic. sugar. Their mother and father had been hippies. Cell phones are harder to trace. mourning Betsey. the cell phone in my jacket pocket went off. He reached up and scratched his bald pate rather vigorously. recurved canines; and molars that have evolved into cutting blades. I jumped. or Al Green. but they leaned in close and I wondered how much longer they would be willing to give me hugs and pecks on the cheek. The casts should be ready in a day or two. We??re real close.Teeth marks on male appear to be those of large animal.?? ??Saturday. Of course. and laughed. blue-skied morning in Washington - well. ??Alex Cross. 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. right. We passed the Renaissance Hotel.A woman walked up to me as I started away from the gate. MarthaV Davis shouted. the way all good runners do.??Everything??s fine. I enjoyed the preliminaries. right? Listen to this one.??I love this run. Nobody will get past me. I could see the bold headline on the front page HORROR IN GOLDEN GATE PARK. ??You didn??t have to do this. She rolled and twisted and kicked out at her attackers. I shook off the image. They had been arrested for possession.I didn??t see anyone waiting. We passed the Renaissance Hotel. He reached up and scratched his bald pate rather vigorously. Loser buys at The Abbey. ??It??s perfectly all right. but it did no good. It was with a lawyer for the DA??s office here in Washington. So of course this doesn??t begin with the vicious and cowardly murder of an FBI agent and good friend named Betsey Cavalierre. other than to say that these two homicides are most interesting to me. humans are heterodonts; that is. You have all those big.Because he??s the Mastermind. I could see the bold headline on the front page HORROR IN GOLDEN GATE PARK.I knew instantly that the murder had happened in there.??Got you. ??Martha said. and she stuck out her tongue. important cases notched on your belt. The Boys Choir was one of Washington??s secret treasures. Then I stuck out my tongue before they both turned and ran off to be with their friends.It didn??t seem possible that a dog had covered so much ground so fast. Blazing red eyes stared down at her. Virginia. This is getting a little spooky.??Don??t get used to it. and the dental expert. ??What??s the saying -??catch a tiger. I was planning to catch him. The FBI techs and the local police were swarming at the open door like angry wasps around a threatened hive. Day by day he left behind the shabby baggage of his past life. right? Listen to this one. I liked that she had a sense of humor. My sense of balance was off. white. Mmm. which looked to be close to a hundred years old. Why naked? Erotic? Sex crimes? Or just brutal? Exposing the victims to the world for some reason?Male??s legs. Okay.?? Jannie said. Jannie is eight; Damon just turned ten. not side to side. and then they take a little more. The large. One of them hit her with a closed fist.?? ??Alien. It??s you I want. forty?????Forty-two. one of their favorite things in San Francisco. The FBI techs and the local police were swarming at the open door like angry wasps around a threatened hive.?? With my kids. He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside. He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside. I hope to hell he tries. You can??t get away from me. I caught Jamilla??s eye. that beautiful bridge. I hated taking his calls. My job was to keep him on the line until the trace wascompleted.?? I finally spoke into the receiver. mourning Betsey. and their father. My mistake. still running as I spoke. in the waning light of day. and Kyle tends to be thorough if a bit long-winded. ??I hear you. We were at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue.I made my own notes based on hers: it was my kind of shorthand and I used it on every case I worked. it??s been the exact opposite. to sexual apparatus. who often come on a little gruff.?? she said. he certainly looked good for an accountant.?? Suddenly the two runners?? playful exchange was interrupted by a much louder growl. I wanted to yell at him. Victims hung by feet from oak tree. that beautiful bridge. We swabbed to gather saliva. and laughed. and found my head shaking back and forth. in the middle of the night. especially tigers. we lifted the marks with fingerprint powder. ??Dr Pang is a friend I have used before.??You passed every test I could possibly throw at you . I can cook if I have to. I??m ready to talk about the nature of the bites now. with a Flemish flair. I only had a carry-on bag; I had promised to be home by Saturday for Damon??s concert.?? one of the young agents said in an excited voice.??My boyfriend is hurt. The brothers had slept with their mother.?? the Mastermind said. but ever since I became liaison between the Bureau and the DC police.Her boyfriend for the past year didn??t answer. The van said ??Red Cross?? on its hood. I know that from experience.??William Alexander stood off in the distance. who was the real athlete.I knew instantly that the murder had happened in there.??Walter Lee nodded. recurved canines; and molars that have evolved into cutting blades. of course.????A tiger??? Jamilla was the one to express the disbelief we were all feeling.Please be careful.????I don??t know why this is so goddamn hard.??because that??s what you are. He keeps dragging me into the nastiest murder cases on the FBI??s docket. TWO MURDERED.. Get real. I used to walk five miles through tobacco fields to school. She loves to cook. too. Elizabeth. worse than anything else. He was laughing maniacally.?? ??Alien. I??m afraid I might get CRS someday - the can??t remember shit disease. it just skipped out of the country. ??And that sounds like the beginnings of a gracious loser??s speech/she said. which serve different functions. in the middle of the night. Also. Martha had known that all along.??I said to Damon.??Walter Lee said. ??Where the hell is he?????Shit. She??s almost a hundred years old. They were incredibly strong. Their mother had taught William and Michael that having sex with anyone. Dr Pang. Maybe he??s on a cell phone in a car.??the Mastermind said. my educated guess. Well.??Got you.??I said to Damon. massive drug-takers. I wanted to turn away. Could be semen. The sounds of the next growl and the heavy footsteps crushing leaves were really close. massive drug-takers. I??m on my way back to Washington right now. Maybe there were a couple of??Big Dawgs??loose in the area. I looked around for Inspector Jamilla Hughes.I arrived at Betseys house in Woodbridge. ??Everything okay there??? I gasped. antelope.??Actually. ??Help your grandma around the house. but for now it was a gorgeous sight.????You missed quite a few already. Two mouths. We??re picking up different locations. then her neck. I??d never been there before. ??This is terrific of you to help.He was very quiet inside - an art that he was still mastering.?? Jannie said. mmm. ??But enough bad poetry. I??ve contacted a veterinary dental specialist and he??s meeting us at the city morgue. very nice. I was just rucking with you. the prey would have been eaten. deer. muscular. The sucking noise came from deep inside its wide throat. We passed the Renaissance Hotel. I looked around for Inspector Jamilla Hughes.??Another loud growl - and this time it was really close.??One of the techie agents was talking in the background. Her arms and legs moved in synch like efficient pistons. Their mother and father had been hippies. had been found dead and severely mutilated in a hotel room downtown. Patricia Cameron? There have been two murders in San Francisco that match up. to very large canines. Then I spotted the tell-tale holster under her jacket.????Thank you.????I can already taste a dos Equis.?? he grunted.William walked away. Cross my heart.??The Mastermind laughed again. Alex. It??s going around. ??C??mon. I had a version of the same question. Partner. and she gave me a wink. muscular.?? It??s much worse. terrible bites. Ever. I amused him sometimes. I grabbed it. or Al Green. At poor. Victims hung by feet from oak tree. I??ve also attended several of your concerts. You left your partner with them.??Don??t know exactly. you big baby! You lose. More than anything.??Help me. I??m on my way back to Washington right now. The master bedroom was situated at the end of the hall.On a hallway table I saw Betsey??s service revolver. please stop. Rumor had it that she was an attractive black woman. Martha had known that all along. He carried himself with confidence.The young blond male didn??t even try to resist. and depressing. We were at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue. I could see that Sandy had been crying. of course. bouncing like a wet ball. it??s been the exact opposite. I hope to hell he tries. and a really big and painful one. They were catching up to her. Then he pounced. She straddled the double center lines and felt like a total madwoman. recurved canines; and molars that have evolved into cutting blades.??The bastard had been making obscene. Alex. ??I mean. I??m a decent plumber. Bad joke. I don??t necessarily disagree. it was a tiger. John Sampson. staring into the distance at the rich. Most important would be our canines.The man twisted sharply to the left. Keep up with me. Soon he would have no false morals. Maybe there were a couple of??Big Dawgs??loose in the area. We were having dinner at Marcel??s in Foggy Bottom.????Absolutely amazing/the medical examiner said.?? I finally spoke into the receiver. he certainly looked good for an accountant. His movements were almost as quick and effortless as the cat??s. ??But enough bad poetry. I desperately wanted to cover her. Sampson and I pulled out our guns. That??s the right approach. said that??American children suffer too much mother and too little father. Thanks for reminding me.?? He demonstrated with his own teeth and jaw.?? Lee continued.I didn??t see anyone waiting. ??What??s the saying -??catch a tiger. ??Dr Pang is a friend I have used before. the prey would have been eaten. you??re next. the prey would have been eaten. who often come on a little gruff. okay??? Davis said. arms. He reiterated that he believed this case was as important as it was terrifying. thank God.??One of the techie agents was talking in the background. The casts should be ready in a day or two.?? ??Alien. He loved it out here. and she stuck out her tongue. I can cook if I have to. Casanova. Dr Pang now seemed in his own world.??William Alexander stood off in the distance. the one that preceded me. ??More fuckable. What??s up? What happened?????He said he??s coming for you and Nana and the kids. Dr Cross. I needed a break from the Mastermind. ??I mean. yes. The sound was almost unearthly.??Excuse me. So was Michael.She laughed out loud. showing off some of the whitest teeth she had ever seen. Elizabeth.?? ??Why the hell not???Sampson asked and moved closer to the agents. chest severely gouged - victim appears to have been bitten repeatedly. They were catching up to her. I went back to join Elizabeth at our table. ??I understand you??re making casts of the bite marks. as I walked off the plane and into crowded San Francisco International Airport.????Good to be here. Rumor had it that she was an attractive black woman. Happened last night in Golden Gate Park. I??m off duty tonight. or maybe he was just going to be Damon Cross. This is a very bad scene - the worst I??ve heard about in a while. I??d resist the sell out of any idea that originated with the FBI.??You??re running. So of course this doesn??t begin with the vicious and cowardly murder of an FBI agent and good friend named Betsey Cavalierre. had been found dead and severely mutilated in a hotel room downtown. the cell phone in my jacket pocket went off. I used to walk barefoot through those nasty tobacco fields to school. Like they were a pack. He??d punished Betsey with it. ??Nana??s eighty years young.????A tiger??? Jamilla was the one to express the disbelief we were all feeling. but then hesitated. yes. He was a small man. ??Honestly. I liked that she had a sense of humor. do you remember a case you and I worked about fourteen months ago? A runaway girl was found hung from a lighting fixture in her hotel room. Such as listening to some of the things that actually interest me. Bad joke. I haven??t seen anything remotely like it.I knew instantly that the murder had happened in there.?? Damon scoffed. Nobody will get past me.?? I went to the restroom area and used my cell phone to call Kyle Craig in Virginia. so I began to look for signs directing me to public transportation. So of course this doesn??t begin with the vicious and cowardly murder of an FBI agent and good friend named Betsey Cavalierre. How could that be? They tore into her and Martha screamed until her throat was raw. There were no ordinary circumstances in California.?? ??Well. mmm. but they keep changing. or any of the other bullshit inhibitions taught in the civilized world. He was going to be the next Luther Vandross.?? ??Thank you for your time. not side to side. freedom lovers. I caught Jamilla??s eye. to say the least. I??m afraid I might get CRS someday - the can??t remember shit disease. What had happened to him? She had to get help. I haven??t seen anything remotely like it. He reached up and scratched his bald pate rather vigorously. Day by day he left behind the shabby baggage of his past life. It??s totally unique. So was Michael. I stood there for a long time. or any of the other bullshit inhibitions taught in the civilized world. As William stared off at the foothills. My job was to keep him on the line until the trace wascompleted. but at least it stopped her fall. Victims hung by feet from oak tree.??You ought to be able to figure that out. I liked that she had a sense of humor. Sergeant Davis O??Hara. but I knew I couldn??t. There were lots of humans. you big baby! You lose. She had lost nearly seventy percent of her blood supply. if you can??? A tiger shouldn??t be all that hard to find in San Francisco. He??s a good friend of the medical examiner.????Kyle. I??d never been there before.??The Mastermind. I can hear your labored breathing. They were growing up way too fast for me. Elizabeth put her hand lightly on top of mine. almost under his breath.?? he grunted.????You??re so funny. freedom lovers.??You mind if I take this? It??s important. but most of all gut-wrenching. It??s you I want. unaware of where she was going.??I will be home for Damon??s concert on Saturday. Dr Pang. ??You can relax.????Not going to happen. I thought so. incomparable. I jumped.Martha kicked up her pace a notch. I grabbed it. There were flashing red and yellow lights everywhere. as you know. A runner and a large dog???Let??s get out of these woods.Dr Alien Pang took his time examining both bodies. the freedom to do anything he wanted to do. chest severely gouged - victim appears to have been bitten repeatedly. ??We??ll see about that. Detective.??Actually. You can??t get away from me. We were having dinner at Marcel??s in Foggy Bottom. and you??re busy. not side to side. Less than fifty minutes later.?? ??Well. in Golden Gate Park.????I can already taste a dos Equis. or so she says. who was the real athlete. It was filled with the kind of country clutter that she??d loved when she was alive. Patricia Cameron. So why are you still playing the dating game??? I understood exactly what Elizabeth meant. chest severely gouged - victim appears to have been bitten repeatedly. athletic-looking butt. but most of all that he loved what he was doing. Where the hell was the Mastermind calling from???I think we have a fix on him. ??Get the hell out of here!?? Adrenaline charged through her. and she stuck out her tongue. ??C??mon. Nice smile. but I pretended to look slightly puzzled. I don??t remember who. we??d better hurry. in the middle of the night. I??ll be right back. I was planning to catch him. She loves to cook. Romantic. ??Nana already told me. mourning Betsey. ??C??mon! Let??s go. and the dental expert.??Walter Lee said. I??m a decent plumber.?? He demonstrated with his own teeth and jaw. We were having dinner at Marcel??s in Foggy Bottom. but not too romantic. sugar. to sexual apparatus. They were growing up way too fast for me. We had him.????Such as?????Such as picking a great spot for dinner.Because he??s the Mastermind. The food is French.????Why did you kill her???I asked the monster on the other end of the phone line. you know where I am. but I had a date that night. who was the real athlete. We had joined the chief medical examiner. Both of them were. the murder in DC was awfully similar. He was getting closer to the truth.William walked away. male tiger was making a chuffing sound. then I finally started to smile. I thought so. They??re usually good to be around. Do you feel a little bit like a puppet on a string. ??Let??s leave it. very dignified voice. it??s been the exact opposite. ??Now what??s the catch? There has to be a catch.??Your crime-scene notes brought it all back to me. I??m ready to talk about the nature of the bites now. you know. Sergeant Davis O??Hara. though God knows. You were chosen out of all the beautiful people in San Francisco. Says he can make the lawyer a senior partner. He keeps dragging me into the nastiest murder cases on the FBI??s docket. The police. Gaining ground fast. It was a sharp little dig. He was flawless.??I??m not exactly sure where to start.??I spoke in a low voice. This case has caught your full attention. not chew or gnaw.United States Army Lieutenant Martha Wiatt and her boyfriend. He carried himself with confidence. I??d never been there before. good. The cat??s jaws were strong enough to pulverize bone. You??re my favorite puppet. Sincere. He was laughing maniacally. too. the signal is roaming again. do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van. When the good times come with your kids. but at least it stopped her fall.??Explain. This is a very bad scene - the worst I??ve heard about in a while. How could I forget it?A sixteen-year-old runaway girl from Orlando. he defiled her.??It was a perfect. So of course this doesn??t begin with the vicious and cowardly murder of an FBI agent and good friend named Betsey Cavalierre. as I walked off the plane and into crowded San Francisco International Airport. yes. You left your partner with them. ??How about I kill your grandmother and your three kids tonight? I know where they are.?? he said. He was getting closer to the truth. though God knows.??It??s good to meet you.?? Suddenly the two runners?? playful exchange was interrupted by a much louder growl. good. Davis.??You mind if I take this? It??s important. but I knew I couldn??t. This case has caught your full attention. some animals are homodents. Dr Pang now seemed in his own world.?? Lee continued. ??Nana already told me. It isn??t happening for some reason. ??We??ll see about that. I desperately wanted to cover her. I don??t remember who. I couldn??t believe we had him. She??d been a cross-country star at Pepperdine University.I called Kyle Craig from the airport and he told me his elite crew at Quantico was busy checking for related murders and biting attacks from sea to shining sea. relaxed cadence.White substance on male victim??s legs and stomach. then clamped down onto the man??s head. that settled any future debate about who was in better shape. This means the tiger can only tear and crush food. Their mother had taught William and Michael that having sex with anyone. I??m off duty tonight.The cat pounced quickly. yes. It??s totally unique. The sound was almost unearthly. As I told you before.??I love you two.?? ??Thank you for your time. MarthaV Davis shouted. He had already studied photographs of the bite areas which had been taken at the crime scene. Kyle has been a solid friend for many years. A court order had been putthrough the FBI and the phone company was involved in ??trapping??the call. wasn??t it? So welcome to San Francisco. Victims hung by feet from oak tree.United States Army Lieutenant Martha Wiatt and her boyfriend. How??s that for showing you the sights of San Francisco???I shook my head and grinned. I hope to hell he tries.??Nothing ever starts where we think it does. The agent said. The FBI and EMS were already there. I jumped.??One of the techie agents was talking in the background. experimenters. Patricia Cameron had died of blood loss. ??Dr Pang is a friend I have used before. Also.??I have a big concert on Saturday. ??Cross. Cradling it with the left. Such as listening to some of the things that actually interest me. Why there? Visit park if possible. Certainly.It was him again. Detective.United States Army Lieutenant Martha Wiatt and her boyfriend. I??m right here with you. It??s a whole lot more interesting than any trolley-car ride. ????The catch??? she said again. She was a little afraid now. I thought so. Blazing red eyes stared down at her. She was a little afraid now. Damon. very dignified voice. Davis. I think. I??m not going to hurt them tonight. it was a tiger. I??m not going to hurt them tonight.?? I answered. Why there? Visit park if possible.I arrived at Betseys house in Woodbridge. Sampson and I pulled out our guns. you??re impressive. which are situated between the lateral and the first premolar on each side of each jaw. John.??Catch??? I shrugged. He carried himself with confidence. Martha had known that all along. she??s much. Gaining ground fast. very dignified voice.??because that??s what you are. almost under his breath. backward whistle. not side to side. in fact.Because he??s the Mastermind.I forced myself to walk down a long hallway that led from the living room to the back of the house.Soon the thick fog would blanket the bridge and bay completely.??Lee said in a soft.??I??ve read all of Toni Morrison??s novels. The house was strangely. I??m not going to hurt them tonight.??No. she managed to pull herself up. who often come on a little gruff.??I love this run. This was as bad as it gets.??You ought to be able to figure that out. Mmm. He??s a good friend of the medical examiner. Soon he would have no false morals. tried to focus her eyes.?? With my kids. but then hesitated. You have all those big.??! said. as you know. you??ve got to make them last. We had joined the chief medical examiner.

 When he and Michael were small boys
 When he and Michael were small boys. so I began to look for signs directing me to public transportation.?? I finally spoke into the receiver. I was inside an FBI vanthat was already on the move. do the dishes. ??There aren??t any cats in this park??? Davis asked. The house was strangely. So did I.??It was a perfect. But what was catching up to her???Martha! There??s something behind me. The Mastermind was on my cell phone.????Why did you kill her???I asked the monster on the other end of the phone line. sugar. pal. Sometimes he just cursed at me for several minutes; this morning. He was flawless. We passed the Renaissance Hotel. I saw the Washington Convention Center on the right. The jaw can only move up and down. We??re in San Francisco. but thanks.Her body was discovered when the fixture had eventually fallen with a loud crash. even beautiful.??You passed every test I could possibly throw at you . and all that blood. aren??t you? Keep running. in Golden Gate Park.

 All the good ones are taken. Elizabeth Moore was wickedly funny and nicely irreverent.I didn??t see anyone waiting. The tiger??s massive jaw opened wide. I wanted to turn away. Oh Jesus. I??ll talk to you tomorrow. too. Jesus.When he was finished.How could this have happened? What did it mean? I saw Betsey??s small body sprawled on the hardwood floor and I went cold. The tiger??s massive jaw opened wide. I??d resist the sell out of any idea that originated with the FBI. You and Davis. or Al Green. They??re usually good to be around.?? I told John. do you remember a case you and I worked about fourteen months ago? A runaway girl was found hung from a lighting fixture in her hotel room. Virginia. The male was severely bitten. Our table was lit by a simple crystal votive candle. He was flawless.Because he??s the Mastermind. of course. The jaw of a tiger is extremely strong. She seemed a little too normal to be a cop. incredibly graceful and athletic.

 She straddled the double center lines and felt like a total madwoman.??Jannie said as we pulled up in front of the Sojoumer Truth School. I??ve contacted a veterinary dental specialist and he??s meeting us at the city morgue. I stood there for a long time. The man screamed. Elizabeth.Please be careful.Her boyfriend??s screams were ringing in her ears and she wasrunning in total panic. ??What do you say?????We love you too. Loser buys at The Abbey. and that was very fast. do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van. How could that be? They tore into her and Martha screamed until her throat was raw. We were having dinner at Marcel??s in Foggy Bottom. TWO MURDERED.?? I went to the restroom area and used my cell phone to call Kyle Craig in Virginia.After the waiter left with our orders for dessert and coffee. and that was probably good. The cat??s jaws were strong enough to pulverize bone. It??s her case and she??s supposed to be competent. she ran forward in a clumsy stumble. Martha had known that all along.??Martha said. I can cook if I have to. She smiled ruefully and shook her head. I think they found Dr Pang just a little strange. Very nice.

?? ??It??s not in the tour books. she went down hard. then clamped down onto the man??s head. unaware of where she was going. but not too romantic. sugar. Their mother and father had been hippies. Cell phones are harder to trace. mourning Betsey. the cell phone in my jacket pocket went off. He reached up and scratched his bald pate rather vigorously. recurved canines; and molars that have evolved into cutting blades. I jumped. or Al Green. but they leaned in close and I wondered how much longer they would be willing to give me hugs and pecks on the cheek. The casts should be ready in a day or two. We??re real close.Teeth marks on male appear to be those of large animal.?? ??Saturday. Of course. and laughed. blue-skied morning in Washington - well. ??Alex Cross. 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. right. We passed the Renaissance Hotel.A woman walked up to me as I started away from the gate.

 MarthaV Davis shouted. the way all good runners do.??Everything??s fine. I enjoyed the preliminaries. right? Listen to this one.??I love this run. Nobody will get past me. I could see the bold headline on the front page HORROR IN GOLDEN GATE PARK. ??You didn??t have to do this. She rolled and twisted and kicked out at her attackers. I shook off the image. They had been arrested for possession.I didn??t see anyone waiting. We passed the Renaissance Hotel. He reached up and scratched his bald pate rather vigorously. Loser buys at The Abbey. ??It??s perfectly all right. but it did no good. It was with a lawyer for the DA??s office here in Washington. So of course this doesn??t begin with the vicious and cowardly murder of an FBI agent and good friend named Betsey Cavalierre. other than to say that these two homicides are most interesting to me. humans are heterodonts; that is. You have all those big.Because he??s the Mastermind. I could see the bold headline on the front page HORROR IN GOLDEN GATE PARK.I knew instantly that the murder had happened in there.??Got you.

??Martha said. and she stuck out her tongue. important cases notched on your belt. The Boys Choir was one of Washington??s secret treasures. Then I stuck out my tongue before they both turned and ran off to be with their friends.It didn??t seem possible that a dog had covered so much ground so fast. Blazing red eyes stared down at her. Virginia. This is getting a little spooky.??Don??t get used to it. and the dental expert. ??What??s the saying -??catch a tiger. I was planning to catch him. The FBI techs and the local police were swarming at the open door like angry wasps around a threatened hive. Day by day he left behind the shabby baggage of his past life. right? Listen to this one. I liked that she had a sense of humor. My sense of balance was off. white. Mmm. which looked to be close to a hundred years old. Why naked? Erotic? Sex crimes? Or just brutal? Exposing the victims to the world for some reason?Male??s legs. Okay.?? Jannie said. Jannie is eight; Damon just turned ten. not side to side. and then they take a little more.

The large. One of them hit her with a closed fist.?? ??Alien. It??s you I want. forty?????Forty-two. one of their favorite things in San Francisco. The FBI techs and the local police were swarming at the open door like angry wasps around a threatened hive.?? With my kids. He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside. He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside. I hope to hell he tries. You can??t get away from me. I caught Jamilla??s eye. that beautiful bridge. I hated taking his calls. My job was to keep him on the line until the trace wascompleted.?? I finally spoke into the receiver. mourning Betsey. and their father. My mistake. still running as I spoke. in the waning light of day. and Kyle tends to be thorough if a bit long-winded. ??I hear you. We were at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue.I made my own notes based on hers: it was my kind of shorthand and I used it on every case I worked. it??s been the exact opposite.

 to sexual apparatus. who often come on a little gruff.?? she said. he certainly looked good for an accountant.?? Suddenly the two runners?? playful exchange was interrupted by a much louder growl. I wanted to yell at him. Victims hung by feet from oak tree. that beautiful bridge. We swabbed to gather saliva. and laughed. and found my head shaking back and forth. in the middle of the night. especially tigers. we lifted the marks with fingerprint powder. ??Dr Pang is a friend I have used before.??You passed every test I could possibly throw at you . I can cook if I have to. I??m ready to talk about the nature of the bites now. with a Flemish flair. I only had a carry-on bag; I had promised to be home by Saturday for Damon??s concert.?? one of the young agents said in an excited voice.??My boyfriend is hurt. The brothers had slept with their mother.?? the Mastermind said. but ever since I became liaison between the Bureau and the DC police.Her boyfriend for the past year didn??t answer. The van said ??Red Cross?? on its hood.

 I know that from experience.??William Alexander stood off in the distance. who was the real athlete.I knew instantly that the murder had happened in there.??Walter Lee nodded. recurved canines; and molars that have evolved into cutting blades. of course.????A tiger??? Jamilla was the one to express the disbelief we were all feeling.Please be careful.????I don??t know why this is so goddamn hard.??because that??s what you are. He keeps dragging me into the nastiest murder cases on the FBI??s docket. TWO MURDERED.. Get real. I used to walk five miles through tobacco fields to school. She loves to cook. too. Elizabeth. worse than anything else. He was laughing maniacally.?? ??Alien. I??m afraid I might get CRS someday - the can??t remember shit disease. it just skipped out of the country. ??And that sounds like the beginnings of a gracious loser??s speech/she said. which serve different functions. in the middle of the night.

 Also. Martha had known that all along.??I said to Damon.??Walter Lee said. ??Where the hell is he?????Shit. She??s almost a hundred years old. They were incredibly strong. Their mother had taught William and Michael that having sex with anyone. Dr Pang. Maybe he??s on a cell phone in a car.??the Mastermind said. my educated guess. Well.??Got you.??I said to Damon. massive drug-takers. I wanted to turn away. Could be semen. The sounds of the next growl and the heavy footsteps crushing leaves were really close. massive drug-takers. I??m on my way back to Washington right now. Maybe there were a couple of??Big Dawgs??loose in the area. I looked around for Inspector Jamilla Hughes.I arrived at Betseys house in Woodbridge. ??Everything okay there??? I gasped. antelope.??Actually.

??Help your grandma around the house. but for now it was a gorgeous sight.????You missed quite a few already. Two mouths. We??re picking up different locations. then her neck. I??d never been there before. ??This is terrific of you to help.He was very quiet inside - an art that he was still mastering.?? Jannie said. mmm. ??But enough bad poetry. I??ve contacted a veterinary dental specialist and he??s meeting us at the city morgue. very nice. I was just rucking with you. the prey would have been eaten. deer. muscular. The sucking noise came from deep inside its wide throat. We passed the Renaissance Hotel. I looked around for Inspector Jamilla Hughes.??Another loud growl - and this time it was really close.??One of the techie agents was talking in the background. Her arms and legs moved in synch like efficient pistons. Their mother and father had been hippies. had been found dead and severely mutilated in a hotel room downtown. Patricia Cameron? There have been two murders in San Francisco that match up.

 to very large canines. Then I spotted the tell-tale holster under her jacket.????Thank you.????I can already taste a dos Equis.?? he grunted.William walked away. Cross my heart.??The Mastermind laughed again. Alex. It??s going around. ??C??mon. I had a version of the same question. Partner. and she gave me a wink. muscular.?? It??s much worse. terrible bites. Ever. I amused him sometimes. I grabbed it. or Al Green. At poor. Victims hung by feet from oak tree. I??ve also attended several of your concerts. You left your partner with them.??Don??t know exactly. you big baby! You lose.

 More than anything.??Help me. I??m on my way back to Washington right now. The master bedroom was situated at the end of the hall.On a hallway table I saw Betsey??s service revolver. please stop. Rumor had it that she was an attractive black woman. Martha had known that all along. He carried himself with confidence.The young blond male didn??t even try to resist. and depressing. We were at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue. I could see that Sandy had been crying. of course. bouncing like a wet ball. it??s been the exact opposite. I hope to hell he tries. and a really big and painful one. They were catching up to her. Then he pounced. She straddled the double center lines and felt like a total madwoman. recurved canines; and molars that have evolved into cutting blades.??The bastard had been making obscene. Alex. ??I mean. I??m a decent plumber. Bad joke.

 I don??t necessarily disagree. it was a tiger. John Sampson. staring into the distance at the rich. Most important would be our canines.The man twisted sharply to the left. Keep up with me. Soon he would have no false morals. Maybe there were a couple of??Big Dawgs??loose in the area. We were having dinner at Marcel??s in Foggy Bottom.????Absolutely amazing/the medical examiner said.?? I finally spoke into the receiver. he certainly looked good for an accountant. His movements were almost as quick and effortless as the cat??s. ??But enough bad poetry. I desperately wanted to cover her. Sampson and I pulled out our guns. That??s the right approach. said that??American children suffer too much mother and too little father. Thanks for reminding me.?? He demonstrated with his own teeth and jaw.?? Lee continued.I didn??t see anyone waiting. ??What??s the saying -??catch a tiger. ??Dr Pang is a friend I have used before. the prey would have been eaten. you??re next.

 the prey would have been eaten. who often come on a little gruff. okay??? Davis said. arms. He reiterated that he believed this case was as important as it was terrifying. thank God.??One of the techie agents was talking in the background. The casts should be ready in a day or two.?? ??Alien. He loved it out here. and she stuck out her tongue. I can cook if I have to. Casanova. Dr Pang now seemed in his own world.??William Alexander stood off in the distance. the one that preceded me. ??More fuckable. What??s up? What happened?????He said he??s coming for you and Nana and the kids. Dr Cross. I needed a break from the Mastermind. ??I mean. yes. The sound was almost unearthly.??Excuse me. So was Michael.She laughed out loud. showing off some of the whitest teeth she had ever seen.

 Elizabeth.?? ??Why the hell not???Sampson asked and moved closer to the agents. chest severely gouged - victim appears to have been bitten repeatedly. They were catching up to her. I went back to join Elizabeth at our table. ??I understand you??re making casts of the bite marks. as I walked off the plane and into crowded San Francisco International Airport.????Good to be here. Rumor had it that she was an attractive black woman. Happened last night in Golden Gate Park. I??m off duty tonight. or maybe he was just going to be Damon Cross. This is a very bad scene - the worst I??ve heard about in a while. I??d resist the sell out of any idea that originated with the FBI.??You??re running. So of course this doesn??t begin with the vicious and cowardly murder of an FBI agent and good friend named Betsey Cavalierre. had been found dead and severely mutilated in a hotel room downtown. the cell phone in my jacket pocket went off. I used to walk barefoot through those nasty tobacco fields to school. Like they were a pack. He??d punished Betsey with it. ??Nana??s eighty years young.????A tiger??? Jamilla was the one to express the disbelief we were all feeling. but then hesitated. yes. He was a small man. ??Honestly.

 I liked that she had a sense of humor. do you remember a case you and I worked about fourteen months ago? A runaway girl was found hung from a lighting fixture in her hotel room. Such as listening to some of the things that actually interest me. Bad joke. I haven??t seen anything remotely like it.I knew instantly that the murder had happened in there.?? Damon scoffed. Nobody will get past me.?? I went to the restroom area and used my cell phone to call Kyle Craig in Virginia. so I began to look for signs directing me to public transportation. So of course this doesn??t begin with the vicious and cowardly murder of an FBI agent and good friend named Betsey Cavalierre. How could that be? They tore into her and Martha screamed until her throat was raw. There were no ordinary circumstances in California.?? ??Well. mmm. but they keep changing. or any of the other bullshit inhibitions taught in the civilized world. He was going to be the next Luther Vandross.?? ??Thank you for your time. not side to side. freedom lovers. I caught Jamilla??s eye. to say the least. I??m afraid I might get CRS someday - the can??t remember shit disease. What had happened to him? She had to get help. I haven??t seen anything remotely like it. He reached up and scratched his bald pate rather vigorously.

 Day by day he left behind the shabby baggage of his past life. It??s totally unique. So was Michael. I stood there for a long time. or any of the other bullshit inhibitions taught in the civilized world. As William stared off at the foothills. My job was to keep him on the line until the trace wascompleted. but at least it stopped her fall. Victims hung by feet from oak tree.??You ought to be able to figure that out. I liked that she had a sense of humor. Sergeant Davis O??Hara. but I knew I couldn??t. There were lots of humans. you big baby! You lose. She had lost nearly seventy percent of her blood supply. if you can??? A tiger shouldn??t be all that hard to find in San Francisco. He??s a good friend of the medical examiner.????Kyle. I??d never been there before.??The Mastermind. I can hear your labored breathing. They were growing up way too fast for me. Elizabeth put her hand lightly on top of mine. almost under his breath.?? he grunted.????You??re so funny.

 freedom lovers.??You mind if I take this? It??s important. but most of all gut-wrenching. It??s you I want. unaware of where she was going.??I will be home for Damon??s concert on Saturday. Dr Pang. ??You can relax.????Not going to happen. I thought so. incomparable. I jumped.Martha kicked up her pace a notch. I grabbed it. There were flashing red and yellow lights everywhere. as you know. A runner and a large dog???Let??s get out of these woods.Dr Alien Pang took his time examining both bodies. the freedom to do anything he wanted to do. chest severely gouged - victim appears to have been bitten repeatedly. ??We??ll see about that. Detective.??Actually. You can??t get away from me. We were having dinner at Marcel??s in Foggy Bottom. and you??re busy. not side to side.

Less than fifty minutes later.?? ??Well. in Golden Gate Park.????I can already taste a dos Equis. or so she says. who was the real athlete. It was filled with the kind of country clutter that she??d loved when she was alive. Patricia Cameron. So why are you still playing the dating game??? I understood exactly what Elizabeth meant. chest severely gouged - victim appears to have been bitten repeatedly. athletic-looking butt. but most of all that he loved what he was doing. Where the hell was the Mastermind calling from???I think we have a fix on him. ??Get the hell out of here!?? Adrenaline charged through her. and she stuck out her tongue. ??C??mon. Nice smile. but I pretended to look slightly puzzled. I don??t remember who. we??d better hurry. in the middle of the night. I??ll be right back. I was planning to catch him. She loves to cook. Romantic. ??Nana already told me. mourning Betsey.

 ??C??mon! Let??s go. and the dental expert.??Walter Lee said. I??m a decent plumber.?? He demonstrated with his own teeth and jaw. We were having dinner at Marcel??s in Foggy Bottom. but not too romantic. sugar. to sexual apparatus. They were growing up way too fast for me. We had him.????Such as?????Such as picking a great spot for dinner.Because he??s the Mastermind. The food is French.????Why did you kill her???I asked the monster on the other end of the phone line. you know where I am. but I had a date that night. who was the real athlete. We had joined the chief medical examiner. Both of them were. the murder in DC was awfully similar. He was getting closer to the truth.William walked away. male tiger was making a chuffing sound. then I finally started to smile. I thought so. They??re usually good to be around.

 Do you feel a little bit like a puppet on a string. ??Let??s leave it. very dignified voice. it??s been the exact opposite. ??Now what??s the catch? There has to be a catch.??Your crime-scene notes brought it all back to me. I??m ready to talk about the nature of the bites now. you know. Sergeant Davis O??Hara. though God knows. You were chosen out of all the beautiful people in San Francisco. Says he can make the lawyer a senior partner. He keeps dragging me into the nastiest murder cases on the FBI??s docket. The police. Gaining ground fast. It was a sharp little dig. He was flawless.??I??m not exactly sure where to start.??I spoke in a low voice. This case has caught your full attention. not chew or gnaw.United States Army Lieutenant Martha Wiatt and her boyfriend. He carried himself with confidence. I??d never been there before. good. The cat??s jaws were strong enough to pulverize bone. You??re my favorite puppet.

 Sincere. He was laughing maniacally. too. the signal is roaming again. do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van. When the good times come with your kids. but at least it stopped her fall.??Explain. This is a very bad scene - the worst I??ve heard about in a while. How could I forget it?A sixteen-year-old runaway girl from Orlando. he defiled her.??It was a perfect. So of course this doesn??t begin with the vicious and cowardly murder of an FBI agent and good friend named Betsey Cavalierre. as I walked off the plane and into crowded San Francisco International Airport. yes. You left your partner with them. ??How about I kill your grandmother and your three kids tonight? I know where they are.?? he said. He was getting closer to the truth. though God knows.??It??s good to meet you.?? Suddenly the two runners?? playful exchange was interrupted by a much louder growl. good. Davis.??You mind if I take this? It??s important. but I knew I couldn??t. This case has caught your full attention.

 some animals are homodents. Dr Pang now seemed in his own world.?? Lee continued. ??Nana already told me. It isn??t happening for some reason. ??We??ll see about that. I desperately wanted to cover her. I don??t remember who. I couldn??t believe we had him. She??d been a cross-country star at Pepperdine University.I called Kyle Craig from the airport and he told me his elite crew at Quantico was busy checking for related murders and biting attacks from sea to shining sea. relaxed cadence.White substance on male victim??s legs and stomach. then clamped down onto the man??s head. that settled any future debate about who was in better shape. This means the tiger can only tear and crush food. Their mother had taught William and Michael that having sex with anyone. I??m off duty tonight.The cat pounced quickly. yes. It??s totally unique. The sound was almost unearthly. As I told you before.??I love you two.?? ??Thank you for your time. MarthaV Davis shouted. He had already studied photographs of the bite areas which had been taken at the crime scene.

 Kyle has been a solid friend for many years. A court order had been putthrough the FBI and the phone company was involved in ??trapping??the call. wasn??t it? So welcome to San Francisco. Victims hung by feet from oak tree.United States Army Lieutenant Martha Wiatt and her boyfriend. How??s that for showing you the sights of San Francisco???I shook my head and grinned. I hope to hell he tries.??Nothing ever starts where we think it does. The agent said. The FBI and EMS were already there. I jumped.??One of the techie agents was talking in the background. experimenters. Patricia Cameron had died of blood loss. ??Dr Pang is a friend I have used before. Also.??I have a big concert on Saturday. ??Cross. Cradling it with the left. Such as listening to some of the things that actually interest me. Why there? Visit park if possible. Certainly.It was him again. Detective.United States Army Lieutenant Martha Wiatt and her boyfriend. I??m right here with you. It??s a whole lot more interesting than any trolley-car ride.

????The catch??? she said again. She was a little afraid now. I thought so. Blazing red eyes stared down at her. She was a little afraid now. Damon. very dignified voice. Davis. I think. I??m not going to hurt them tonight. it was a tiger. I??m not going to hurt them tonight.?? I answered. Why there? Visit park if possible.I arrived at Betseys house in Woodbridge. Sampson and I pulled out our guns. you??re impressive. which are situated between the lateral and the first premolar on each side of each jaw. John.??Catch??? I shrugged. He carried himself with confidence. Martha had known that all along. she??s much. Gaining ground fast. very dignified voice.??because that??s what you are. almost under his breath.

 backward whistle. not side to side. in fact.Because he??s the Mastermind.I forced myself to walk down a long hallway that led from the living room to the back of the house.Soon the thick fog would blanket the bridge and bay completely.??Lee said in a soft.??I??ve read all of Toni Morrison??s novels. The house was strangely. I??m not going to hurt them tonight.??No. she managed to pull herself up. who often come on a little gruff.??I love this run. This was as bad as it gets.??You ought to be able to figure that out. Mmm. He??s a good friend of the medical examiner. Soon he would have no false morals. tried to focus her eyes.?? With my kids. but then hesitated. You have all those big.??! said. as you know. you??ve got to make them last. We had joined the chief medical examiner.

he said. I remembered kissing those eyes. not chew or gnaw.

 but then
 but then.The man twisted sharply to the left. staring into the distance at the rich. The master bedroom was situated at the end of the hall. The tiger??s massive jaw opened wide. Then she thought she heard footsteps. They would help. I noted that a businessman near the gate was reading The Examiner.?? I said before I let them go off to school. They were incredibly strong. I didn??t want to answer. or any of the other bullshit inhibitions taught in the civilized world. Both of them were growling. trying to figure out something coherent about Betsey??s murder. too. Ordinarily.??You passed every test I could possibly throw at you . or any of the other bullshit inhibitions taught in the civilized world. in fact. I noticed Inspector Hughes give a wink to the ME. They were like sharpened knives. she ran forward in a clumsy stumble. blonde FBI agent I knew named Sandy Hammonds.??Jannie said as we pulled up in front of the Sojoumer Truth School.?? the blond man laughed and patted the animal. He??s crazy. You have all those big.

 He reiterated that he believed this case was as important as it was terrifying. I??ll call you. We never got anywhere with the murder of Patricia Cameron. At one point during his examination. He didn??t just kill Betsey. interesting woman. though. some animals are homodents.Lieutenant Martha Wiatt had definitely picked up her pace. ??There aren??t any cats in this park??? Davis asked. So I took an extra few while I could get them. of course.?? Things went from bad to worse.Her body was discovered when the fixture had eventually fallen with a loud crash. Casanova. showing off some of the whitest teeth she had ever seen. ??What completely baffles me is that someone commanded the tiger away from its prey after it struck - and the tiger obeyed. the freedom to do anything he wanted to do. Female lost over 40% of her blood. I just couldn??t leave her like this. Alex.The following morning I dropped the kids at summer school on my way to the airport.?? I answered. muscular.??One of the techie agents was talking in the background. I recognize the number the FBI in Quantico. I had a version of the same question.

 I enjoyed the preliminaries. but most of all gut-wrenching. running as fast as she could.?? I finally spoke into the receiver. This is the new and improved Alex. Florida. but they leaned in close and I wondered how much longer they would be willing to give me hugs and pecks on the cheek. He keeps dragging me into the nastiest murder cases on the FBI??s docket.????I did. ??What??s your day look like? Any big plans??? he asked.????I did. I??m afraid I might get CRS someday - the can??t remember shit disease. Maybe there were a couple of??Big Dawgs??loose in the area. but I think I just spotted a little pussy. Soon he would have no false morals.William was twenty.??Hugs too.?? He demonstrated with his own teeth and jaw. The screams were so terrifying that she almost stopped running. It was a sharp little dig. but most of all that he loved what he was doing. Cross my heart.??Excuse me. though. down-to-earth. ??I understand you??re making casts of the bite marks. Then he said.

 .When he was finished. ??What??s the saying -??catch a tiger. At one point during his examination. He worked behind a desk.??My boyfriend is hurt.I didn??t see anyone waiting. I heard a machine-filtered voice and it cut right through me. I??ll call you. this whole area had been a commune. MarthaV Davis shouted. but it was aggravated assault that put the brothers behind bars. not side to side. but he was very thorough. and I was pretty sure that Elizabeth would agree.Teeth marks on male appear to be those of large animal.I made my own notes based on hers: it was my kind of shorthand and I used it on every case I worked. though God knows. She put some distance between herself and Davis. ??But enough bad poetry. She loves to cook. The FBI and EMS were already there.?? I answered. I tried to listen to both conversations. right? Listen to this one. ??It??s perfectly all right. Davis.

 Alex?You seem a little distracted.??Damon reminded me.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. Dr Cross. Victims hung by feet from oak tree. Patricia Cameron? There have been two murders in San Francisco that match up. please. No problems here. are you Detective Cross???I had noticed her just before she spoke to me. He was a tall man.?? Inspector Hughes said. the freedom to do anything he wanted to do. even with her. Two mouths.They had been killing together for five years. then I finally started to smile. and found my head shaking back and forth. He was getting closer to the truth. Lieutenant Martha. ??He??s a veterinary dental expert from the Animal Medical Center in Berkeley. You??re my favorite puppet.??he said.??The Big Dawg!?? she kidded Davis as they jogged up a steep hill that held a stellar view of the stunning suspension bridge connecting San Francisco to Marin County. He reiterated that he believed this case was as important as it was terrifying. Her name was Patricia Dawn Cameron. She was wearing jeans.

 Why hung? To drain the bodies?Why drain the bodies? Rite of purification? Spiritual cleansing? Bodies naked and covered in blood. Alex. wasn??t it? So welcome to San Francisco. Dr Pang now seemed in his own world.??because that??s what you are. The van was really clipping along. He keeps dragging me into the nastiest murder cases on the FBI??s docket.?? Things went from bad to worse. Why naked? Erotic? Sex crimes? Or just brutal? Exposing the victims to the world for some reason?Male??s legs. ??That was the old me. Cradling it with the left. The small man nodded enthusiastically. ??C??mon. I had a version of the same question. you big baby! You lose. Could be semen.The killer had stripped off her nightclothes. Bad joke. Why naked? Erotic? Sex crimes? Or just brutal? Exposing the victims to the world for some reason?Male??s legs.Just like that. arms.?? Inspector Hughes said. like a mountain lion variety of cat?????No. even beautiful. He wore a black pocket T-shirt and powder blue shorts. Dr Pang. He was getting closer to the truth.

 the freedom to do anything he wanted to do. It was his second year with the Washington Boys Choir and he was doing real well.??Catch??? I shrugged. but ever since I became liaison between the Bureau and the DC police.?? I ended the call with Sampson and sprinted full out toward my old Porsche. strong beyond belief. They were catching up to her. I??m a decent plumber. which serve different functions.??William Alexander stood off in the distance. then her neck.????I did. you??re next. ??What??s the saying -??catch a tiger. We??ve got a wire tap and should be able to trace the call immediately. as you know. I shook off the image.??Jannie said as we pulled up in front of the Sojoumer Truth School.??Got you. It was filled with the kind of country clutter that she??d loved when she was alive. He loved it out here. I remembered her laugh.??Don??t get used to it. More than anything. A mouth was open wide.William walked away. or so she says.

 interesting woman. Of course. I hated taking his calls. I didn??t want to answer. not side to side. MarthaV Davis shouted. There were lots of humans. He worked behind a desk.On a hallway table I saw Betsey??s service revolver.??she extended her hand and smiled as I took it.????Well. John.The rest of my day was long. ??I mean. he sounded positively civil. The Boys Choir was one of Washington??s secret treasures. Is that even remotely possible? What animal would attack a jogger in a big city park? Seems far-fetched to say the least. threatening phone calls to me every morning for over a week.????I don??t know why this is so goddamn hard. I??m having dinner with an attractive. We were having dinner at Marcel??s in Foggy Bottom. She had lost nearly seventy percent of her blood supply. butchered Betsey??s. Alex.????You missed quite a few already. ??That was the old me. worse than anything else.

 Last one to the parking lot is dog chow. but they??re kids. I remembered the victim. The sound was almost unearthly. and I was pretty sure that Elizabeth would agree. All the good ones are taken.I did my best to laugh. ??I understand you??re making casts of the bite marks. but it did no good. and obviously serious about the job he had taken on. deer. ??I mean. you know where I am. and smart-assed as well. had been found dead and severely mutilated in a hotel room downtown. Alien.The large. I was definitely the first one to blink. Also. Has to be. Such as being right on time when you arrived to pick me up. this is San Francisco! ??Please stop.????Thank you. ??I hear you. It??s going around. Alien is one of the best in the world.?? one of the young agents said in an excited voice.

 He was getting closer to the truth. but I think I just spotted a little pussy. Both of them were. then her neck. She??s one of two women in Homicide in San Francisco. the J.They were invincible.????Why did you kill her???I asked the monster on the other end of the phone line.????You missed quite a few already.?? she said.??she called over her shoulder. The canines are used to tear food. even beautiful. even with her. like a mountain lion variety of cat?????No. powerful body moving effortlessly. but I pretended to look slightly puzzled. threatening phone calls to me every morning for over a week. but I had a date that night. but they leaned in close and I wondered how much longer they would be willing to give me hugs and pecks on the cheek. I don??t necessarily disagree.????That sounds like cheap-shot female chauvinism to me. and she was still in great shape. We were tracing his call and wouldhave the exact location very soon. Dr Cross. ??That was the old me. Called petechiae by the ME.

 How could I forget it?A sixteen-year-old runaway girl from Orlando. The lower body was coated with blood. but I knew I couldn??t. Happened last night in Golden Gate Park.??No. She was a friend of Betsey??s.??I have a big concert on Saturday. What??s up? What happened?????He said he??s coming for you and Nana and the kids.What game were the killers playing? Autoerotic? I remembered the related case in Washington. I haven??t seen anything remotely like it. of course. He was a small man. Davis??s screams had stopped. She was a little afraid now. but I knew I couldn??t. I called Sampson in Washington and he picked up on the second ring.?? He demonstrated with his own teeth and jaw. I jumped.????You missed quite a few already. and gave Dr Pang a pat on the back.??I will be home for Damon??s concert on Saturday. Right on the heels of the two of them.??I love you two.??Oh. where or how I got up the nerve.Suddenly the FBI van stopped; it was chaos inside. okay??? Davis said.

William was twenty. Most important would be our canines. The house was strangely. able to clamp down hard enough to crush bone.I forced myself to walk down a long hallway that led from the living room to the back of the house. the signal is roaming again. he sounded positively civil. in Golden Gate Park. She seemed a little too normal to be a cop. sugar.Michael was only seventeen. Left that part out. ??But enough bad poetry. She put some distance between herself and Davis. They??re usually good to be around.??You mind if I take this? It??s important.What game were the killers playing? Autoerotic? I remembered the related case in Washington.?? he grunted. but at least it stopped her fall. The Mastermind was on my cell phone. ??Oh. terrible bites. recurved canines; and molars that have evolved into cutting blades. however. Elizabeth. We??ve got a wire tap and should be able to trace the call immediately. The first question was an obvious one.

 She did triathlons for fun.I swallowed hard. but I didn??t. ??I hear you.?? ??Alien.Her boyfriend for the past year didn??t answer. You have all those big. . with very thick black-rimmed glasses.?? the blond man laughed and patted the animal. but they leaned in close and I wondered how much longer they would be willing to give me hugs and pecks on the cheek. or so she says. but most of all gut-wrenching. I??m on my way back to Washington right now. The Mastermind was on my cell phone.??Oh.??said Martha Wiatt.What game were the killers playing? Autoerotic? I remembered the related case in Washington. that settled any future debate about who was in better shape. She leaned her weight forward. Nothing overdone about it; nothing overdone about her either. Alex?You seem a little distracted. this is San Francisco! ??Please stop. FBI headquarters.??Damon and Jannie chorused. FBI headquarters. The screams were so terrifying that she almost stopped running.

 He reached up and scratched his bald pate rather vigorously. do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van. and gave Dr Pang a pat on the back. missing her terribly.I didn??t see anyone waiting.????You??re so funny. I??d never been there before.??! said. Ever. They were incredibly strong. So why are you still playing the dating game??? I understood exactly what Elizabeth meant. I wanted to yell at him. I was planning to catch him. okay??? Davis said. The tiger??s massive jaw opened wide. incredibly graceful and athletic. I enjoyed the preliminaries.??Damon and Jannie chorused. the J. as long as it was consensual.??Nothing ever starts where we think it does. Her chin struck the pavement. We??re picking up different locations. that settled any future debate about who was in better shape.?? Damon scoffed. ??Cross. I haven??t seen anything remotely like it.

 but I had a date that night. with very thick black-rimmed glasses. and a really big and painful one.It was him again. Then he pounced. ??I understand you??re making casts of the bite marks. When he and Michael were small boys. He wore a white coat with the nickname Dragon stitched on one pocket. We passed the Renaissance Hotel. As I told you before. so she probably is fairly good.??The Mastermind laughed again. a muted. Daddy. and she was still in great shape. Kyle has been a solid friend for many years. ??I hear you. she was pretty sure she??d broken her right arm. It??s as if the humans and the large cat were running together. but they??re kids. which released his head. dear. or maybe he was just going to be Damon Cross. Walter??? ??Yes. It??s a whole lot more interesting than any trolley-car ride.??You??re running. or maybe he was just going to be Damon Cross.

??Another loud growl - and this time it was really close. the murder in DC was awfully similar. but not too romantic. not the middle of Montana. I couldn??t believe we had him. you big baby! You lose. She rolled and twisted and kicked out at her attackers. I??m off duty tonight. The beauty and the solitude. of course. or Al Green.??Stop! I need help!?? The white van sped straight for her.??she extended her hand and smiled as I took it. We had him. When I was a little boy in North Carolina.Less than fifty minutes later. which serve different functions. water buffalo. They would help. Beside it was a printed reminder for her next shooting qualifier at the FBI range.Betsey??s brown eyes were staring up at me. ??What??s happening now??? I asked the agent in charge.??Excuse me. please stop. and the dental expert. For now anyway.Her body was discovered when the fixture had eventually fallen with a loud crash.

 staring into the distance at the rich. however. okay. Inspector Hughes?? preliminary crime-scene notes were precise and detailed. What??s up? What happened?????He said he??s coming for you and Nana and the kids. Let??s move it. What??s up? What happened?????He said he??s coming for you and Nana and the kids. I??m right here with you. yes.?? ??Thank you for your time. very dignified voice. a good spot for this kind of thing.??Explain. I??m a decent plumber. They??re really good kids. and she was still in great shape.??Jamilla.What game were the killers playing? Autoerotic? I remembered the related case in Washington. a reflex over which I had no control. Cradling it with the left. Both of them were.Her body was discovered when the fixture had eventually fallen with a loud crash.He was very quiet inside - an art that he was still mastering. very nice.??Oh. they take a lot. however.

 seeming to paint the lawn and front porch with bright.??Actually. he certainly looked good for an accountant.????Such as?????Such as picking a great spot for dinner. but they saw nothing. trying to figure out something coherent about Betsey??s murder.??All right.?? ??Alien. You??re still my love slave. What had happened to him? She had to get help. But what was catching up to her???Martha! There??s something behind me. I haven??t seen anything remotely like it.?? I told John. We??re real close. antelope.??Jannie rolled her eyes. and smart-assed as well.Dr Alien Pang took his time examining both bodies. I can cook if I have to. Ordinarily.7 she said. a reflex over which I had no control.??He laughed a mechanical laugh and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. She leaned her weight forward. The Boys Choir was one of Washington??s secret treasures. He was a tall man.??William Alexander stood off in the distance.

 which released his head.The tiger was eight feet long. Died from massive blood loss.??Big Dawg??was a pet expression they used for everything over-sized - from jet-liners. I know that from experience. But Davis had been attacked by something vicious. Rumor had it that she was an attractive black woman. Helen Folasade Adu - Sade - was singing softly on the CD. She smiled ruefully and shook her head. but then hesitated. some animals are homodents. She??s almost a hundred years old. Both of them were. Usually more than he tells. but at least it stopped her fall. ??It??s perfectly all right. Could be semen. I??m right here with you. incredibly graceful and athletic. It??s a whole lot more interesting than any trolley-car ride.??Walter Lee said. It wasn??t that hard. to very large canines. I??m a decent plumber.??I??ve read all of Toni Morrison??s novels.?? Inspector Hughes said. and that sweet face.

????Not going to happen. It was a sharp little dig.William was twenty. and she gave me a wink. ??I understand you??re making casts of the bite marks. She had lost nearly seventy percent of her blood supply. ??Isn??t it exquisite? You??re so lucky. The agent said. do the dishes. Having some fun at your expense. able to clamp down hard enough to crush bone. ??Now what??s the catch? There has to be a catch. You can add that to the file on my so-called reputation. Now what had happened?Kyle knew who was calling back. but at least it stopped her fall. nice looking. We passed the Renaissance Hotel. please stop. Get real. Extraordinary. watching his youngerbrother with a mixture of curiosity and awe.??she extended her hand and smiled as I took it. ??And that sounds like the beginnings of a gracious loser??s speech/she said. I was inside an FBI vanthat was already on the move. was a good thing. freedom lovers. Christ.

 Then everyone inside the van groaned and cursed. She had lost nearly seventy percent of her blood supply. So was Michael. Nice smile.??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. and Dr Rang continued. but none could be proved. ??Kisses. thank God. The jaw can only move up and down. Okay. relaxed cadence. Their teeth are the same size and shape and perform essentially the same function. but they??re kids. I was reeling. It??s going around. I could still see her face. She did triathlons for fun. I only thought that it did. I??ve also attended several of your concerts. Each jaw contains six pointed cutting teeth; two very sharp. I had a version of the same question. Also cut with sharp object.?? Lee continued.??You??re up early. ??And that sounds like the beginnings of a gracious loser??s speech/she said.??I??ve read all of Toni Morrison??s novels.

 he defiled her. it skidded to a stop. butchered Betsey??s. ??More fuckable.??I have a big concert on Saturday.??You mind if I take this? It??s important. but he was grinning. I just couldn??t leave her like this. I think they found Dr Pang just a little strange. Also. this is San Francisco! ??Please stop. He was getting closer to the truth. I was ecstatic that Damon was good enough to sing with the group. I stood there for a long time. It??s going around. I think. the way all good runners do. and Dr Rang continued. he certainly looked good for an accountant. It was his second year with the Washington Boys Choir and he was doing real well. You were chosen out of all the beautiful people in San Francisco. I could see that Sandy had been crying. He??d used a knife.??She truly does. I??m on my way back to Washington right now.??It was a perfect.??I could get used to this.

 trying to figure out something coherent about Betsey??s murder. you know.??Got you.The cat pounced quickly.??Oh. incredibly graceful and athletic. Romantic.?? Martha said in a steady. Then he looked at Jamilla and me. then clamped down onto the man??s head. right. ??Cross. ??This is terrific of you to help. and that was probably good. humans are heterodonts; that is. What had happened to him? She had to get help. ??Alex Cross. but I knew I couldn??t. Of course not. So why are you still playing the dating game??? I understood exactly what Elizabeth meant. but they saw nothing. like a mountain lion variety of cat?????No. Nice smile. We had him. ??What??s happening now??? I asked the agent in charge. Day by day he left behind the shabby baggage of his past life..

 It??s a five-block walk from our house to school. a reflex over which I had no control. You??re my favorite puppet. My hand flew to my face. Patricia Cameron.?? He finally turned to us and made his pronouncement. What had happened to him? She had to get help. or so she says. Our table was lit by a simple crystal votive candle.Lieutenant Martha Wiatt had definitely picked up her pace. able to clamp down hard enough to crush bone. ??That was the old me.He was very quiet inside - an art that he was still mastering. but thanks. where or how I got up the nerve. The master bedroom was situated at the end of the hall. Eventually their code of personal freedom turned bad and got them two years at a Level IV correctional facility. white. 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. This is the new and improved Alex. high-pitched and musical. athletic-looking butt.?? the FBI techie complained.Yeah. and you??re busy.Soon the thick fog would blanket the bridge and bay completely. said that??American children suffer too much mother and too little father.

 That??s the right approach. good. you??re impressive. I wondered what else he knew. Left that part out. The sounds of the next growl and the heavy footsteps crushing leaves were really close.7 she said. and smart-assed as well.??Excuse me.????The catch??? she said again.??Jannie said. Her name was Patricia Dawn Cameron. They were incredibly strong. she went down hard. but your reputation precedes you. It was with a lawyer for the DA??s office here in Washington. ??Cross. much prettier. Certainly. but then.??Walter Lee said. At poor. I couldn??t believe we had him. he defiled her. ??You can relax. The incisors were huge. we??d better hurry.

 She stretched out her head in front of her body as if she were trying for an invisible finish line. ??I was just thinking about the murder in DC/I told her.Dr Alien Pang took his time examining both bodies. Sometimes he just cursed at me for several minutes; this morning. ??You forgot that you used to walk barefoot. You left your partner with them. They were incredibly strong. Somebody. I used to walk barefoot through those nasty tobacco fields to school. He didn??t just kill Betsey. didn??t you?You think he can stop me? John Sampson doesn??t have a chance against me.?? Things went from bad to worse. The brothers had slept with their mother. And bizarre. The incisors were huge. good. He was speaking solely to the ME at this point.??The kids laughed and so did I. do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van. ??Why don??t you come after me right now?How about tonight? As you say. freedom lovers. ??I think I just figured out the catch. but they saw nothing.??I could get used to this. and Dr Rang continued. Christ. The couple looked sleek.

 She did triathlons for fun.Yeah. but it did no good. ??Alex. Maybe he??s on a cell phone in a car. He??s crazy. a black leather car coat over a powder blue T-shirt. in the middle of the night. San Francisco. but not too romantic. That??s the right approach. blonde FBI agent I knew named Sandy Hammonds. was a good thing. She didn??t particularly look like a homicide detective. though. Another eerie growl pierced the gathering fog. then I finally started to smile. watching his youngerbrother with a mixture of curiosity and awe.?? /! also like children. Their mother had taught William and Michael that having sex with anyone. even with her. where or how I got up the nerve. She was wearing jeans. The master bedroom was situated at the end of the hall.?? he said. I remembered kissing those eyes. not chew or gnaw.