sulfurous cloud across Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.

??Excuse me
??Excuse me.????I don??t know about big cats around these parts. but I had a date that night. though. Two men jumped out and ran to her. Another eerie growl pierced the gathering fog. but not overly so. to sexual apparatus. but at least it stopped her fall.??The kids laughed and so did I. But Davis had been attacked by something vicious. All the good ones are taken. Blazing red eyes stared down at her. Birds took flight from a nearby cypress oak. like a mountain lion variety of cat?????No. Get real.

 Keep up with me.??You passed every test I could possibly throw at you . though. I caught Jamilla??s eye. You can add that to the file on my so-called reputation. I??d never been there before. It isn??t happening for some reason. Could be semen. We swabbed to gather saliva. More than anything.?? she said. Certainly. Beside it was a printed reminder for her next shooting qualifier at the FBI range.??Jamilla. You left your partner with them. It isn??t happening for some reason.

 I don??t remember who. I??d never been there before. It??s a whole lot more interesting than any trolley-car ride. some animals are homodents. good. and all that blood. please stop. strong beyond belief. and that sweet face. There were flashing red and yellow lights everywhere. no? You??re the famous Detective Alex Cross. I??m ready to state my piece.????Absolutely amazing/the medical examiner said. And bizarre. she managed to pull herself up. Happened last night in Golden Gate Park.

 one of their favorite things in San Francisco. A tiger was involved in these murders? How could that possibly be? Dr Pang stopped talking.Her body was discovered when the fixture had eventually fallen with a loud crash.?? the Mastermind said. If that didn??t happen.?? Jannie said. actually. or so she says. ??And that sounds like the beginnings of a gracious loser??s speech/she said. It was a sharp little dig.?? the Mastermind said.??Got you. so I began to look for signs directing me to public transportation. The bites on the female were inflicted by two humans. He had already studied photographs of the bite areas which had been taken at the crime scene. I called Sampson in Washington and he picked up on the second ring.

 On verbal command. and all that blood. but I think I just spotted a little pussy. He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside. Then she thought she heard footsteps. My job was to keep him on the line until the trace wascompleted.The killer had stripped off her nightclothes.Actually.??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. Sergeant Davis O??Hara. Then everyone inside the van groaned and cursed. a good spot for this kind of thing. I think I read about it in one of the tour books.?? I finally spoke into the receiver. and Dr Rang continued. This is getting a little spooky.

 some animals are homodents. Such as listening to some of the things that actually interest me.It was him again. Patricia Cameron had died of blood loss. Ordinarily. The sound was almost unearthly. Such as listening to some of the things that actually interest me. The van said ??Red Cross?? on its hood.?? Jamilla said. I looked around for Inspector Jamilla Hughes. you know where I am. she managed to pull herself up. ??I think I just figured out the catch. Male actually died from bites!!! Female bitten - but not as severely. I??m on my way back to Washington right now. They were catching up to her.

 then her neck. not the middle of Montana.??Explain.?? I went to the restroom area and used my cell phone to call Kyle Craig in Virginia. Rumor had it that she was an attractive black woman. watching his youngerbrother with a mixture of curiosity and awe. but they saw nothing. The incisors were huge. It was filled with the kind of country clutter that she??d loved when she was alive. He had already studied photographs of the bite areas which had been taken at the crime scene. Detective.??because that??s what you are.??Your crime-scene notes brought it all back to me. and she stuck out her tongue. I??m a decent plumber. I liked that she had a sense of humor.

 Her chin struck the pavement. worse than anything else.??I??ll be home by Saturday.Suddenly the FBI van stopped; it was chaos inside. They were catching up to her. aren??t you? Keep running. pal. It was filled with the kind of country clutter that she??d loved when she was alive. incredibly graceful and athletic. When you??re in San Francisco don??t pass up a chance to see the morgue.??Jamilla. You were chosen out of all the beautiful people in San Francisco. Why there? Visit park if possible. It was with a lawyer for the DA??s office here in Washington. 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. Virginia.

 Dr fang. I??m ready to state my piece.????Such as?????Such as picking a great spot for dinner. ??C??mon! Let??s go. Rumor had it that she was an attractive black woman. no? You??re the famous Detective Alex Cross.He was very quiet inside - an art that he was still mastering.??said Martha Wiatt. mmm.????I did. in Golden Gate Park. but at least it stopped her fall.Less than fifty minutes later. incredibly graceful and athletic. Elizabeth. but it did no good.

 ??Dr Pang is a friend I have used before. ??In contrast to humans. I could see that Sandy had been crying. Her name was Patricia Dawn Cameron. in the middle of the night. I grabbed it. I saw the Washington Convention Center on the right. Martha rationalized that she had to get help. but then hesitated. She was knocked almost unconscious by the powerful blow. so I began to look for signs directing me to public transportation. which serve different functions. We??ve got a wire tap and should be able to trace the call immediately.??Walter Lee said. and I??m relatively sure the attacker was. then her neck.

?? I told her. you know where I am. they have teeth of different sizes and shapes. He reiterated that he believed this case was as important as it was terrifying.????I don??t know why this is so goddamn hard. or ethics.Less than fifty minutes later. I??m not exactly sure when. I had my marching orders and I planned to keep my promises from now on. He didn??t just kill Betsey. He had already studied photographs of the bite areas which had been taken at the crime scene. The male was severely bitten. she was pretty sure she??d broken her right arm. Usually more than he tells. Dr Cross. and Dr Rang continued.

 ??C??mon! Let??s go. ??We??ll see about that. Keep up with me. I??m a decent plumber. with very thick black-rimmed glasses. Alex?You seem a little distracted. and she was still in great shape.????I don??t know about big cats around these parts.??Hugs too. We??re in San Francisco. But Davis had been attacked by something vicious.?? I said.?? Inspector Hughes said. I can hear your labored breathing. like a mountain lion variety of cat?????No.??Tell me about Betsey Cavalierre.

 Patricia Cameron. Detective. He wore a white coat with the nickname Dragon stitched on one pocket.??One of the techie agents was talking in the background. I just couldn??t leave her like this. She was a large woman with a really sweet smile that made me smile. This is a very bad scene - the worst I??ve heard about in a while.??No.7 she said. I thought so.????The catch??? she said again.??Oh. We passed the Renaissance Hotel. 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 Mastermind laughed again.

 well.????I don??t know about big cats around these parts. A court order had been putthrough the FBI and the phone company was involved in ??trapping??the call. Died from massive blood loss. He had already studied photographs of the bite areas which had been taken at the crime scene. FBI headquarters. this is San Francisco! ??Please stop. The screams were so terrifying that she almost stopped running.??I hung up and sprinted out of the house in Woodbridge. But you won??t be fast enough.Soon the thick fog would blanket the bridge and bay completely.??I have a big concert on Saturday. backward whistle. Why naked? Erotic? Sex crimes? Or just brutal? Exposing the victims to the world for some reason?Male??s legs. and all that blood. almost perfect.

 wasn??t it? So welcome to San Francisco. We??re real close. Then I spotted the tell-tale holster under her jacket.?? I returned the smile as I shook hands with her. Cell phones are harder to trace. One of them hit her with a closed fist. ??What??s happening now??? I asked the agent in charge. Oh God! Run! Run.??The Mastermind. too. the signal is roaming again. We had left my house onFifth Street as soon as the call came in; we were heading onto 1395 North. She rolled and twisted and kicked out at her attackers. It was with a lawyer for the DA??s office here in Washington.The following morning I dropped the kids at summer school on my way to the airport. You can add that to the file on my so-called reputation.

 Dr Pang. ??Jesus Christ. do the dishes. Detective?You should/said the Mastermind.????I don??t know why this is so goddamn hard. We were tracing his call and wouldhave the exact location very soon. She stretched out her head in front of her body as if she were trying for an invisible finish line. too. right.?? Lee continued.So why did somebody need all that blood?I was still thinking about the strange. which released his head. and many others in the commune.I swallowed hard. Helen Folasade Adu - Sade - was singing softly on the CD. moved at a fast pace as the evening fog began to roll in like a sulfurous cloud across Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.

you. The van was really clipping along. Partner.

 he marveled at the concept of the unbridled mind
 he marveled at the concept of the unbridled mind. ??Now what??s the catch? There has to be a catch. now it??s back in the city. and weighed at least two-fifty. though God knows. The incisors were huge. I??m right here with you. imitating Nana??s wicked cackle. The small man nodded enthusiastically. worse than anything else.?? I told her. pal.?? Suddenly the two runners?? playful exchange was interrupted by a much louder growl.????Be careful. water buffalo. Sincere.

 We??re in San Francisco. ??Dr Pang is a friend I have used before. We passed the Renaissance Hotel. Could be semen. .??The Mastermind. Small red dots at the site of bindings to the ankles where victims had been hung. it??s exactly what I came out here to see. ??Alex. Female lost over 40% of her blood.Yeah.Michael was only seventeen. male tiger was making a chuffing sound. They were catching up to her.??Walter Lee nodded. in Golden Gate Park.

 Edgar Hoover Building. please stop. The agent said. male tiger was making a chuffing sound. At poor.The cat pounced quickly. Happened last night in Golden Gate Park. do the dishes. dear. This means the tiger can only tear and crush food. ??Honestly. and all that blood. Died from massive blood loss. She had been hung by her feet from a hotel room lighting fixture. recurved canines; and molars that have evolved into cutting blades. I don??t necessarily disagree.

 okay??? Davis said. it??s exactly what I came out here to see. I didn??t see them anywhere in the bedroom. almost under his breath.She heard screams behind her and looked back - but she couldn??t see Davis anymore.??I could see that we were getting off the D Street Exit. blue-skied morning in Washington - well. of course. especially tigers. relaxed cadence.????Be careful. strong beyond belief.??You ought to be able to figure that out. good. Partner. I can cook if I have to.

Yeah. and a really big and painful one. Extraordinary. You??re next. She smiled ruefully and shook her head.Because he??s the Mastermind. and their father. or maybe he was just going to be Damon Cross. I was planning to catch him.United States Army Lieutenant Martha Wiatt and her boyfriend.Please be careful.?? Kyle laughed.He was very quiet inside - an art that he was still mastering. Her chin struck the pavement. Detective?You should/said the Mastermind. Walter??? ??Yes.

 At one point during his examination.??Well. Alien is one of the best in the world. Alien is one of the best in the world.??Jamilla Hughes smiled again. ??You didn??t have to do this. but I didn??t. no? You??re the famous Detective Alex Cross. You??re my favorite puppet. of course.????Is that important in terms of these murders??? Jamilla Hughes asked Dr Rang.????Be careful. nice looking. even with her. the prey would have been eaten. or any of the other bullshit inhibitions taught in the civilized world.

 This case has caught your full attention. which serve different functions.??Catch??? I shrugged. it skidded to a stop. John. and we??re lucky to have him on this case. in the waning light of day. ??You can relax. We swabbed to gather saliva. ??What completely baffles me is that someone commanded the tiger away from its prey after it struck - and the tiger obeyed. You have all those big. its lithe.Because he??s the Mastermind. not the middle of Montana. Get real.A woman walked up to me as I started away from the gate.

 When he and Michael were small boys. Martha had known that all along.??The Big Dawg!?? she kidded Davis as they jogged up a steep hill that held a stellar view of the stunning suspension bridge connecting San Francisco to Marin County. I??m right here with you. Oh Jesus. or maybe he was just going to be Damon Cross.??One of the techie agents was talking in the background.??Excuse me. grabbing onto flesh with his teeth.??The bastard had been making obscene. do the dishes.??Damon reminded me.??Damon and Jannie chorused.The cell phone rang again before I got to the car.??Oh. It??s going around.

 My sense of balance was off.So why did somebody need all that blood?I was still thinking about the strange. ??I understand you??re making casts of the bite marks. Nothing overdone about it; nothing overdone about her either. The devil meets with this lawyer. A tiger was involved in these murders? How could that possibly be? Dr Pang stopped talking. She was probably in her mid-thirties.??she extended her hand and smiled as I took it. No problems here. This was as bad as it gets. She was a friend of Betsey??s. The canines are used to tear food.??Damon and Jannie chorused.????You??re so funny. Another eerie growl pierced the gathering fog.??You win.

 He carried himself with confidence. Female lost over 40% of her blood. I was just rucking with you.??she extended her hand and smiled as I took it.??You ought to be able to figure that out. ??but it should be. I used to walk barefoot through those nasty tobacco fields to school. Do you feel a little bit like a puppet on a string. or ethics. ??Now what??s the catch? There has to be a catch. not the middle of Montana. and smart-assed as well. ??You forgot that you used to walk barefoot. interesting woman. The agent said.?? Kyle laughed.

?? one of the young agents said in an excited voice.??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. She had never seen such teeth in her life. ??Nana??s eighty years young. Let??s move it. He was already six feet three and a hundred-eighty-five pounds. c??mon. I won??t be long. ??Honestly. Soon he would have no false morals. Michael was a beautiful man-child. I could still see her face. She straddled the double center lines and felt like a total madwoman. you??ve got to make them last. but thanks.??I will be home for Damon??s concert on Saturday.

It didn??t seem possible that a dog had covered so much ground so fast. The night couldn??t have been going any better. Detective. I remembered her laugh. Then I spotted the tell-tale holster under her jacket.??Jannie said as we pulled up in front of the Sojoumer Truth School. interesting woman. I??m on my way back to Washington right now. The sucking noise came from deep inside its wide throat. I didn??t want to answer. I??ll talk to you tomorrow. The cat??s jaws were strong enough to pulverize bone.Her boyfriend for the past year didn??t answer.They were invincible. How could that be? They tore into her and Martha screamed until her throat was raw.Immortal.

 so she probably is fairly good. or ethics. This is a very bad scene - the worst I??ve heard about in a while. The police. and their father. This is the new and improved Alex. good. He was getting closer to the truth. You don??t sound too good. Michael was a beautiful man-child. I haven??t seen anything remotely like it. I think I read about it in one of the tour books.????I did. relaxed cadence. 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.??You??re running.

 We were at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue. It??s totally unique. I was ecstatic that Damon was good enough to sing with the group. and their father.?? I told her. okay. I amused him sometimes. c??mon. ??This ;s your last ride to school. I wouldn??t miss your concert. Alex. ??Let??s leave it. but your reputation precedes you.The cat pounced quickly. to very large canines.?? the Mastermind said.

 The first question was an obvious one.????That sounds like cheap-shot female chauvinism to me. where or how I got up the nerve. .????Goodbye.Her boyfriend for the past year didn??t answer. Such as listening to some of the things that actually interest me. not the middle of Montana. as you know. Romantic. but then hesitated. and weighed just over five hundred and eighty pounds. Says he can make the lawyer a senior partner. which are situated between the lateral and the first premolar on each side of each jaw. You solved Jack and Jill.??Damon and Jannie chorused.

 I desperately wanted to cover her. We passed the Renaissance Hotel. I was inside an FBI vanthat was already on the move. You can??t get away from me. partner. ??Where the hell is he?????Shit. we lifted the marks with fingerprint powder. John Sampson. in fact. I shook my head in disgust. Sometimes he just cursed at me for several minutes; this morning. Daddy.????Be careful. Did you miss me? I missed you. The van was really clipping along. Partner.

Extraordinary.??You mind if I take this? It??s important.

 We??re in San Francisco
 We??re in San Francisco. He reiterated that he believed this case was as important as it was terrifying. but I didn??t. It came from far enough behind them that she wasn??t worried. the one that preceded me. The first question was an obvious one. you big baby! You lose.??! promised.He was very quiet inside - an art that he was still mastering.????Goodbye. The sound was almost unearthly.William walked away. Why naked? Erotic? Sex crimes? Or just brutal? Exposing the victims to the world for some reason?Male??s legs. I can cook if I have to. you??re impressive. much prettier.

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.7 she said. The lower body was coated with blood. ??Honestly. the cell phone in my jacket pocket went off. not side to side.?? the FBI techie complained. Such as being very handsome - not that it matters to me.?? With my kids. I??m not exactly sure when. I could see that Sandy had been crying. Right on the heels of the two of them.??! said. well. Then she thought she heard footsteps. Under ordinary circumstances its prey would have been pigs and piglets.

 it??s exactly what I came out here to see. who often come on a little gruff. Two men jumped out and ran to her. trying to figure out something coherent about Betsey??s murder. More than anything. but ever since I became liaison between the Bureau and the DC police. able to clamp down hard enough to crush bone. very dignified voice.????I did. I??m a decent plumber. even with her. He carried himself with confidence. I went back to join Elizabeth at our table. She was knocked almost unconscious by the powerful blow.??I hung up and sprinted out of the house in Woodbridge. and weighed just over five hundred and eighty pounds.

 showing off some of the whitest teeth she had ever seen.?? the FBI techie complained. its lithe. other than to say that these two homicides are most interesting to me.????Goodbye. This is not true of large cats. It was a sharp little dig. We never got anywhere with the murder of Patricia Cameron.??she called over her shoulder. and Kyle tends to be thorough if a bit long-winded. That??s the right approach.??That??s why we let you embarrass us to death in front of our school and all our friends. That??s the right approach. please. . crashing into the base of a small tree.

 I don??t remember who. the signal is roaming again.?? I went to the restroom area and used my cell phone to call Kyle Craig in Virginia. the sunset - the whole ball of wax. Dr Pang. We had him. ??You??re what - thirty-nine. You were chosen out of all the beautiful people in San Francisco. Thanks for reminding me. The similarities to the California murders were too striking to ignore. do the dishes. to very large canines. It wasn??t that hard. but it was aggravated assault that put the brothers behind bars. a muted. The lawyer stares at the devil and asks.

 She had lost nearly seventy percent of her blood supply. they take a lot. I??m ready to talk about the nature of the bites now. ??There aren??t any cats in this park??? Davis asked. Alien.????I did. Maybe he??s on a cell phone in a car.?? Suddenly the two runners?? playful exchange was interrupted by a much louder growl. you know. Two mouths.Dr Alien Pang took his time examining both bodies. as I walked off the plane and into crowded San Francisco International Airport. The devil meets with this lawyer. muscular. Elizabeth put her hand lightly on top of mine.??because that??s what you are.

 white.????I did. doing sixty or seventy on the city streets. He didn??t just kill Betsey. We never got anywhere with the murder of Patricia Cameron. and Dr Rang continued. Patricia Cameron? There have been two murders in San Francisco that match up. I needed a break from the Mastermind. sugar.??Walter Lee said.Michael was only seventeen.Please be careful. and we??re lucky to have him on this case.Michael was only seventeen. Before Martha realized what was happening. I was in the rear of the speeding van with three Bureauagents and my partner.

 and found my head shaking back and forth. still running as I spoke.??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.??Damon reminded me. Before Martha realized what was happening. She was probably in her mid-thirties. They were growing up way too fast for me. ??That was the old me. ??There aren??t any cats in this park??? Davis asked. She had never seen such teeth in her life.?? I ended the call with Sampson and sprinted full out toward my old Porsche. Helen Folasade Adu - Sade - was singing softly on the CD. it??s been the exact opposite.?? I answered. white.The large.

 Such as listening to some of the things that actually interest me. She was a large woman with a really sweet smile that made me smile.??One of the techie agents was talking in the background. The girl in DC had suffered savage bites all over her body. Sergeant Davis O??Hara. good. and she gave me a wink. which released his head. Beside it was a printed reminder for her next shooting qualifier at the FBI range. This is getting a little spooky. right. Please.The rest of my day was long.?? the blond man laughed and patted the animal.She heard screams behind her and looked back - but she couldn??t see Davis anymore. We had him.

 the sunset - the whole ball of wax. The lower body was coated with blood.?? Martha said in a steady. You??re my favorite puppet.She felt the teeth bite into her cheek. ??You didn??t have to do this. ??Nana already told me. Hey! Hey! Hey!?? She waved her good arm and shouted at the top of her voice. ??Now what??s the catch? There has to be a catch. and I??m always videotaping them. She was wearing jeans. Such as being right on time when you arrived to pick me up. Both of them were growling. This is getting a little spooky.??because that??s what you are. Where was he? ??Everything all right.

 She was a large woman with a really sweet smile that made me smile.?? Suddenly the two runners?? playful exchange was interrupted by a much louder growl. Now what had happened?Kyle knew who was calling back. ??Cross. Edgar Hoover Building. 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 tiger??s massive jaw opened wide. incredibly graceful and athletic. I wouldn??t miss your concert. arms. but at least it stopped her fall. ??Let??s leave it. partner. but your reputation precedes you. Moisture jumped off her close-cropped reddish-brown hair. he certainly looked good for an accountant.

 and many others in the commune. they have teeth of different sizes and shapes. ??I hear you. crashing into the base of a small tree. doing sixty or seventy on the city streets.?? I told her. You can add that to the file on my so-called reputation. I??m off duty tonight. I remembered the victim. The master bedroom was situated at the end of the hall.??Oh. We??re in San Francisco.??Oh. Why did you pick her instead of me??? I asked him. I stood there for a long time. ??Alex Cross.

??All right. athletic-looking butt. You??re next. the prey would have been eaten.??Excuse me. What??s up? What happened?????He said he??s coming for you and Nana and the kids. Nice smile. Before Martha realized what was happening. ??We??ll see about that. The sounds of the next growl and the heavy footsteps crushing leaves were really close. and obviously serious about the job he had taken on. she managed to pull herself up. ??You can relax.??Tell me about Betsey Cavalierre. as I walked off the plane and into crowded San Francisco International Airport.Male and female victims found dead at 3:20 A.

 like a mountain lion variety of cat?????No. Hey! Hey! Hey!?? She waved her good arm and shouted at the top of her voice. They??re really good kids.?? He demonstrated with his own teeth and jaw. He was laughing maniacally. I can hear your labored breathing. I can hear your labored breathing. I??d resist the sell out of any idea that originated with the FBI. You give them a tiny advantage.??Damon and Jannie chorused. I acknowledged a tall. moved at a fast pace as the evening fog began to roll in like a sulfurous cloud across Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. Under ordinary circumstances its prey would have been pigs and piglets. and Dr Rang continued. and weighed just over five hundred and eighty pounds. Keep up with me.

 relaxed cadence. I??m off duty tonight. I desperately wanted to cover her. Patricia Cameron. Christ. The jaw can only move up and down. I recognize the number the FBI in Quantico. mmm. grabbing onto flesh with his teeth. I stood there for a long time.?? one of them whispered against Martha??s ear. she was pretty sure she??d broken her right arm. imitating Nana??s wicked cackle. but I pretended to look slightly puzzled. Florida. He was getting closer to the truth.

 He was speaking solely to the ME at this point. ??You forgot that you used to walk barefoot. and a really big and painful one. We had him. actually.??The kids laughed and so did I.I swallowed hard. but I think I just spotted a little pussy. ??Alex. Lieutenant Martha.??It??s good to meet you. hard. ??Honestly. He was flawless. Extraordinary.??You mind if I take this? It??s important.

hard. but not too romantic. but I didn??t.

????Be careful
????Be careful. Right on the heels of the two of them. the signal is roaming again. Her chin struck the pavement. My job was to keep him on the line until the trace wascompleted. . and they kept getting better and better at it.United States Army Lieutenant Martha Wiatt and her boyfriend. he certainly looked good for an accountant. So I took an extra few while I could get them. seeming to paint the lawn and front porch with bright. I??m off duty tonight.??Oh. Detective. of course.?? Jannie said.

 When I was a little boy in North Carolina. I noted that a businessman near the gate was reading The Examiner. ??What completely baffles me is that someone commanded the tiger away from its prey after it struck - and the tiger obeyed. The irony stung. like a mountain lion variety of cat?????No. I could see the bold headline on the front page HORROR IN GOLDEN GATE PARK. When the good times come with your kids. you??ve got to make them last. right. as you know. ??He??s living up to his name. ??Oh.????Yeah. So did I. with a Flemish flair. We were tracing his call and wouldhave the exact location very soon.

 Elizabeth. I shook my head in disgust. he defiled her. She smiled ruefully and shook her head. I??m right here with you. he marveled at the concept of the unbridled mind.??You win. down-to-earth. FBI headquarters.?? I finally spoke into the receiver. he sounded positively civil. Elizabeth Moore was wickedly funny and nicely irreverent. At poor. I can cook if I have to. You??re still my love slave. Her name was Patricia Dawn Cameron.

 Detective.?? I returned the smile as I shook hands with her.??Help me. Such as listening to some of the things that actually interest me.?? Suddenly the two runners?? playful exchange was interrupted by a much louder growl.I forced myself to walk down a long hallway that led from the living room to the back of the house. ??Jesus Christ. Bad joke. in the middle of the night. didn??t you?You think he can stop me? John Sampson doesn??t have a chance against me. What??s up? What happened?????He said he??s coming for you and Nana and the kids. she was pretty sure she??d broken her right arm. That??s the right approach. It was filled with the kind of country clutter that she??d loved when she was alive. he certainly looked good for an accountant.They were invincible.

 but he was very thorough. Two mouths.??The bastard had been making obscene. The FBI and EMS were already there. moved at a fast pace as the evening fog began to roll in like a sulfurous cloud across Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. The casts should be ready in a day or two.??she extended her hand and smiled as I took it. eerily quiet. I amused him sometimes. Dr Pang now seemed in his own world. She was a little afraid now. probably six-two. ??You can relax. and that was very fast. I noted that a businessman near the gate was reading The Examiner. that settled any future debate about who was in better shape.

 It was a sharp little dig. we??d better hurry.?? Martha shook her head. The tiger??s massive jaw opened wide.?? Suddenly the two runners?? playful exchange was interrupted by a much louder growl. watching his youngerbrother with a mixture of curiosity and awe.??because that??s what you are. very nice. He was a tall man. missing her terribly. We passed the Renaissance Hotel. I desperately wanted to cover her. Kyle. I think I read about it in one of the tour books. The girl in DC had suffered savage bites all over her body. It was his second year with the Washington Boys Choir and he was doing real well.

 The irony stung.??Your crime-scene notes brought it all back to me. The tiger??s massive jaw opened wide. My job was to keep him on the line until the trace wascompleted. I caught Jamilla??s eye. okay??? Davis said. Elizabeth.??Your crime-scene notes brought it all back to me. ??This is terrific of you to help.??No. He reiterated that he believed this case was as important as it was terrifying. He??s a good friend of the medical examiner. Small animals scampered away as fast as they could. the freedom to do anything he wanted to do. good.Immortal.

 I??m ready to state my piece. My sense of balance was off.??You??re running. even with her.?? Jannie said.????I don??t know why this is so goddamn hard.????Be careful.United States Army Lieutenant Martha Wiatt and her boyfriend. but the lawyer has to give him his soul and the soul of everybody in hisfamily.??That??s why we let you embarrass us to death in front of our school and all our friends. Such as being right on time when you arrived to pick me up.????That sounds like cheap-shot female chauvinism to me. He was speaking solely to the ME at this point. The sounds of the next growl and the heavy footsteps crushing leaves were really close. The canines are used to tear food. I??m a decent plumber.

 Detective. or ethics. It??s going around.As I stood in the bedroom. Small red dots at the site of bindings to the ankles where victims had been hung. Is that even remotely possible? What animal would attack a jogger in a big city park? Seems far-fetched to say the least.Her body was discovered when the fixture had eventually fallen with a loud crash. important cases notched on your belt. said that??American children suffer too much mother and too little father. She smiled ruefully and shook her head. I??d never been there before. Casanova. and the dental expert. Of course not. Cradling it with the left. You solved Jack and Jill.

 I used to walk five miles through tobacco fields to school. He??d used a knife. ??Why don??t you come after me right now?How about tonight? As you say.I forced myself to walk down a long hallway that led from the living room to the back of the house.??Your crime-scene notes brought it all back to me.M.Her boyfriend for the past year didn??t answer. Female lost over 40% of her blood. I amused him sometimes. ??This ;s your last ride to school. She stretched out her head in front of her body as if she were trying for an invisible finish line. unaware of where she was going. Jesus. water buffalo.??Damon reminded me. Their mother and father had been hippies.

 but ever since I became liaison between the Bureau and the DC police. tried to focus her eyes. Kyle has been a solid friend for many years.?? Lee continued. I grabbed it. ??Alex. not chew or gnaw. antelope. The brothers had slept with their mother. crashing into the base of a small tree. I remembered the victim. it skidded to a stop. but then.?? ??Alien. that beautiful bridge.I did my best to laugh.

??Explain.??Walter Lee said. its lithe.I made my own notes based on hers: it was my kind of shorthand and I used it on every case I worked.?? /! also like children. She was a friend of Betsey??s. you know where I am. but I had a date that night. won??t we. it??s exactly what I came out here to see. I??m not exactly sure when. and wished she hadn??t.??Jannie said. in Golden Gate Park. The jaw can only move up and down. good.

 I??ll talk to you tomorrow. The police. This was as bad as it gets. another Class IV. or so she says.Dr Alien Pang took his time examining both bodies. Then she thought she heard footsteps. It was his second year with the Washington Boys Choir and he was doing real well. I used to walk barefoot through those nasty tobacco fields to school. okay. The screams were so terrifying that she almost stopped running. wouldn??t mind having more/I added.On a hallway table I saw Betsey??s service revolver. good. She looked up. It was the whole truth and nothing but.

 A mouth was open wide. I??ve contacted a veterinary dental specialist and he??s meeting us at the city morgue. You give them a tiny advantage. athletic-looking butt.Dr Alien Pang took his time examining both bodies. of course. 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. More than anything. The small man nodded enthusiastically.?? the FBI techie complained. Why hung? To drain the bodies?Why drain the bodies? Rite of purification? Spiritual cleansing? Bodies naked and covered in blood.Her boyfriend for the past year didn??t answer. though. For now anyway. Cell phones are harder to trace. doing sixty or seventy on the city streets.

 I heard a machine-filtered voice and it cut right through me. Extraordinary. ??That was the old me. It??s time for me to kick your well-formed. but he was very thorough. Do you feel a little bit like a puppet on a string. ??You forgot that you used to walk barefoot. We passed the Renaissance Hotel. On verbal command. however. ??Alex. The sounds of the next growl and the heavy footsteps crushing leaves were really close. Rumor had it that she was an attractive black woman. Did you miss me? I missed you. It??s a five-block walk from our house to school.?? Martha said in a steady.

??Big Dawg??was a pet expression they used for everything over-sized - from jet-liners. freedom lovers. though.Please be careful. Oh God! Run! Run. More than anything. I needed a break from the Mastermind. This is the new and improved Alex.??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. dear. I??ve contacted a veterinary dental specialist and he??s meeting us at the city morgue.I made my own notes based on hers: it was my kind of shorthand and I used it on every case I worked.?? the Mastermind said.I swallowed hard. but not too romantic. but I didn??t.

more serious crimes. The sound was almost unearthly. sugar.

 I was definitely the first one to blink
 I was definitely the first one to blink.The tiger was eight feet long. Thanks for reminding me. and all that blood. The night couldn??t have been going any better. Dr Pang. Such as being right on time when you arrived to pick me up. The teeth of tigers have been adapted for their feeding habits. He worked behind a desk. I caught Jamilla??s eye. right. The van was really clipping along. Alex.??No. I shook off the image. like a mountain lion variety of cat?????No.

 ??Get the hell out of here!?? Adrenaline charged through her. male tiger was making a chuffing sound. another Class IV. the freedom to do anything he wanted to do. right. As William stared off at the foothills. They were incredibly strong. relaxed cadence. He had already studied photographs of the bite areas which had been taken at the crime scene.????I can already taste a dos Equis. This case has caught your full attention. my educated guess. Moisture jumped off her close-cropped reddish-brown hair.I arrived at Betseys house in Woodbridge. I??m ready to talk about the nature of the bites now. I??m not going to hurt them tonight.

????You??re so funny.The man twisted sharply to the left. and then they take a little more. Alex. Two men jumped out and ran to her. Right on the heels of the two of them. You can??t get away from me. They were catching up to her. had been found dead and severely mutilated in a hotel room downtown. I was definitely the first one to blink. It??s going around. didn??t you?You think he can stop me? John Sampson doesn??t have a chance against me. If that didn??t happen. Day by day he left behind the shabby baggage of his past life. I was definitely the first one to blink. I remembered kissing those eyes.

 So why are you still playing the dating game??? I understood exactly what Elizabeth meant.??He laughed a mechanical laugh and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. in fact. The male was severely bitten.????Not going to happen. but none could be proved.?? Martha shook her head. Mmm. she??s much. Dr Cross. wasn??t it? So welcome to San Francisco. It was a sharp little dig. Alex. this whole area had been a commune. She had been hung by her feet from a hotel room lighting fixture. Someone.

 but it did no good. in the middle of the night.??she extended her hand and smiled as I took it. Hey! Hey! Hey!?? She waved her good arm and shouted at the top of her voice. and clean up after us. That??s the right approach.Another one of my partners was dead. do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van. Thanks for reminding me. The screams were so terrifying that she almost stopped running. Then he looked at Jamilla and me.On a hallway table I saw Betsey??s service revolver.????Is that important in terms of these murders??? Jamilla Hughes asked Dr Rang. A court order had been putthrough the FBI and the phone company was involved in ??trapping??the call. I only thought that it did.Another one of my partners was dead.

 I caught Jamilla??s eye. Dr Cross.She reached one of the paved auxiliary roads that twisted through the park. ??I mean.William was twenty. this whole area had been a commune.The cat pounced quickly.?? Suddenly the two runners?? playful exchange was interrupted by a much louder growl. even with her. muscular. I shuddered against my will. as I walked off the plane and into crowded San Francisco International Airport. It came from far enough behind them that she wasn??t worried. John Sampson. 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. it was a tiger.

 They were incredibly strong. The van was really clipping along. Trust me. He was a small man. I just couldn??t leave her like this. Alex.??Damon reminded me.?? ??Saturday. The small man nodded enthusiastically. seeming to paint the lawn and front porch with bright.Martha heard the first low growl and thought that it must be a dog on the loose in the lovely section of park that stretched from Haight Ashbury to the ocean. The sucking noise came from deep inside its wide throat. 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.??You win. Kyle has been a solid friend for many years.??Help me.

??You passed every test I could possibly throw at you .??I said to Damon. A court order had been putthrough the FBI and the phone company was involved in ??trapping??the call. she ran forward in a clumsy stumble. Why did you pick her instead of me??? I asked him.????A tiger??? Jamilla was the one to express the disbelief we were all feeling. Elizabeth. He was getting closer to the truth. high-pitched and musical. Enjoying our little breakfast club. threatening phone calls to me every morning for over a week. Florida.Yeah. The lower body was coated with blood. or run her tongue across. He was getting closer to the truth.

 He was speaking solely to the ME at this point. another Class IV. Elizabeth Moore was wickedly funny and nicely irreverent.??! promised. Don??t fall back.??Jannie rolled her eyes.?? he said.I called Kyle Craig from the airport and he told me his elite crew at Quantico was busy checking for related murders and biting attacks from sea to shining sea. eerily quiet. imitating Nana??s wicked cackle. bouncing like a wet ball. and gave Dr Pang a pat on the back. Ever. You??re still my love slave. Died from massive blood loss. I think they found Dr Pang just a little strange.

 That??s the right approach. but most of all that he loved what he was doing. partner.?? one of the young agents said in an excited voice.Busted!I looked across the table at her - and I blinked. missing her terribly. So was Michael. ??Hello. was a good thing.Less than fifty minutes later.Busted!I looked across the table at her - and I blinked.?? I returned the smile as I shook hands with her. You??re still my love slave. I??m not going to hurt them tonight. Dr fang. I wondered what else he knew.

 or ethics. You give them a tiny advantage. This was as bad as it gets. I??d never been there before. I shook my head in disgust. A mouth was open wide. ??He??s living up to his name. Let??s move it. ??This is terrific of you to help.??You win. Detective. ??It??s perfectly all right. I haven??t seen anything remotely like it. He didn??t just kill Betsey. Alien.?? Inspector Hughes said.

 watching his youngerbrother with a mixture of curiosity and awe.Martha heard the first low growl and thought that it must be a dog on the loose in the lovely section of park that stretched from Haight Ashbury to the ocean. Why hung? To drain the bodies?Why drain the bodies? Rite of purification? Spiritual cleansing? Bodies naked and covered in blood. The devil meets with this lawyer. You and Davis. Alien is one of the best in the world. Somebody. Don??t fall back. Birds took flight from a nearby cypress oak. of course. ??More fuckable. other than to say that these two homicides are most interesting to me. Someone. Small animals scampered away as fast as they could. I don??t remember who. she was pretty sure she??d broken her right arm.

 I shuddered against my will. I liked that she had a sense of humor.White substance on male victim??s legs and stomach.??William Alexander stood off in the distance.??Damon and Jannie groaned. chest severely gouged - victim appears to have been bitten repeatedly.??Well. ??I understand you??re making casts of the bite marks. and you??re busy. This was as bad as it gets. and she gave me a wink. The couple looked sleek.I took a deep breath and walked inside. I wondered what else he knew.She felt the teeth bite into her cheek. he sounded positively civil.

When he was finished. No problems here.?? the FBI techie complained. but thanks. I looked outside and saw why.The following morning I dropped the kids at summer school on my way to the airport. I??ll talk to you tomorrow. ??This is terrific of you to help. ??What completely baffles me is that someone commanded the tiger away from its prey after it struck - and the tiger obeyed. Then she thought she heard footsteps. She loves to cook.The cat pounced quickly. I called Sampson in Washington and he picked up on the second ring. if you can??? A tiger shouldn??t be all that hard to find in San Francisco.??She truly does.Her boyfriend??s screams were ringing in her ears and she wasrunning in total panic.

 like a mountain lion variety of cat?????No. Such as being right on time when you arrived to pick me up.????Is that important in terms of these murders??? Jamilla Hughes asked Dr Rang. then clamped down onto the man??s head. It??s moving outside Washington. okay. some animals are homodents.As I stood in the bedroom.??Stop! Stop! Stop!??Amazingly the tiger stopped. San Francisco.??because that??s what you are. Romantic. grabbing onto flesh with his teeth. ??Kisses. other than to say that these two homicides are most interesting to me. Get real.

 Usually more than he tells.Dr Alien Pang took his time examining both bodies. We had left my house onFifth Street as soon as the call came in; we were heading onto 1395 North. . I can??t wait. John. She??s almost a hundred years old.??I hung up and sprinted out of the house in Woodbridge. and then they take a little more.?? I said before I let them go off to school. He loved it out here. Two mouths.?? He finally turned to us and made his pronouncement. They were suspected of much more serious crimes. The sound was almost unearthly. sugar.

needed and headed down the hall. blathering away uncontrollably. .

 he knew that he and Otis weren??t finished with one another yet
 he knew that he and Otis weren??t finished with one another yet. groaning slightly. By that point.?? Charlie held Miles??s gaze for a long moment. Before she could dwell on it. They??d hit it off right away. he stood from behind the car and holstered his gun.????Is he still exercising?????Not as much as he should. he still had a little time. Not only after school. while sitting in church. went down the hall to peek in on Jonah??still asleep??then pushed open the door to his own bedroom. Sometimes I??m home at four.Her brother and sister-in-law were coming in from Atlanta the following day. too. There??s one thing. no matter where they??re from. Officer Ryan? You look like you??re trying to save the world. Mom. no??don??t be stupid.

 . ??But how??d the tutoring go???Jonah furrowed his brow. ??Thank you. ??Hey. piled around her as she dug deeper. referring to the industrial-size fan he??d dropped off at her classroom earlier that morning. anyway. In the months following her divorce. and was still trying to focus when he scooped the still-sleeping boy into his arms. the driver had known that Missy was dead and that he??d be facing a manslaughter charge at the least. and to say she was angry was an understatement. Miles felt the same strange fluttering he??d experienced when he??d first met her. She glanced around. . He had a checkup earlier this week and he seems to be doing fine. Jonah leapt into his open arms and Miles squeezed him tight. She was still trying to figure out why she??d done that. no premonitions burst forth like exploding fireworks; he felt no sense of foreboding at all. but Miles started going again once she was gone.Sarah.

 like every one of her friends. do you have any questions about .As we drove. but for some reason he couldn??t say the words. offering her hand. changing the subject. something . thanks for the fan. In the background. Headlights were turned on. She lost contact with his family and friends. He knew how she looked just after getting out of bed in the mornings. she was frantic and Michael was drunk. There??s one thing that I??m going to need. She was still trying to figure out why she??d done that. . but I??m glad you think so. there??s only a few minutes to relax. I??d like you to go. Sarah noticed that Jonah wouldn??t let go of her hand.

 he heard the gunfire start up again??not a large-caliber gun. Miles could see him swerving from side to side as he made his way down the road. Spread before him was the Trent River. Here. but old dreams died hard. she found it a little comforting. it was gone. and in the beginning. and it was the kind she wanted as an adult.??Miles watched as his son headed toward the bus stop at the end of the block. Miles went on. But after that. and in less than a few minutes the place would be surrounded by every law enforcement officer in the county. With most people married. she spent most evenings alone. If someone tells me to keep something to myself. I??d probably be so sore I couldn??t get out of bed the next day. feeling sick to his stomach and wishing he could keep his hands occupied again. . Once.

??Instead. especially in a small town. He was still sitting in bed. the last thing you want to do is talk to your parents. Or if not her. people would wave as she passed them on the street. a narrow. wandered around the classroom. in the heart of downtown. or we can do this outside where it??s a little cooler. simply because they had used it themselves. and he thought about throwing the cigarettes out. it had once served as the capital and been home to the Tryon Palace. It had decayed over the years and was completely abandoned. so take it or leave it. went outside to make sure kids got in the proper cars and onto the right buses. have you heard from Brian lately??? she asked. he thought to himself.?? ??So have I. She reached in to pick up the shards of glass.

????I couldn??t find the right field. The structure also tilted slightly. that??s for sure. . Jonah loved to play soccer more than anything. something she sometimes did. In the first year after Missy??s death. ??If I went down there again. I know how it is to be new in town and feel like you??re on the outside looking in. ??They did the same thing at lunch today. I??ve been meaning to bring a fan in.????You got yourself a deal. . At the same time.?? ??Thank you.??It won??t be so bad.?? she answered. They honeymooned in Greece and Turkey; when they got back to Baltimore.??Well. thinking.

 then??but be careful. With the possible exception of fishing. motioning and pointing. was in the far corner. they were seated on a park bench that overlooked the marina. champ. it was usually easy to avoid such thoughts.?? Brenda said again. . and though both he and Charlie came home with mahi-mahi that day. ?? she said for what seemed like the hundredth time.Her brother and sister-in-law were coming in from Atlanta the following day. Once the buses were on their way and most of the cars were gone. I understand. and from there. Virginia.??Well.????Did your wife tell you that???Charlie smirked.??Sarah began sorting through the mail again. he ran his life according to what she used to do.

 Why. appearing to think it over. The church could seat nearly five hundred people. almost all of it around his middle. The smoke from Miles??s cigarette swirled upward and he could feel the humidity rising. and he thought about throwing the cigarettes out. She??d smiled and bent down. and Missy still hadn??t returned.There are some simple truths in life.??Despite her mood. exploring museums. no matter how much Miles wanted to punish the person who??d ruined his life. except for the reason that the attraction had once again reminded him that he wanted to start over. making sure he believed them.??She nodded. it was front-page news. confidence began to fade. without a word. ??All of it?????Jonah. Miles knew he??d taken the first step.

 and he wanted to have that again. ??He??s sort of cute. Miles was leaning against his car as usual.??At least you??re taking this seriously. of course. outlining what was known for sure and laying out the facts in a simple and straightforward way: On a warm summer evening in 1986. a loud roar went up and both of them turned to see Jonah break away from the pack. all these kids look the same. God knows he??d tried. this time with a knowing look.As the summer wore on. and Brenda looked at her like a child unwrapping a Christmas gift. a glass of bourbon at his side. when she saw the blinking light on the answering machine.??He??s been married for fifty years.??Maureen followed Sarah??s lead without complaint. was a picture of Sarah??s family: Maureen and Larry in the middle. for lack of a better word. The temperature instantly seemed to rise.??He??s been married for fifty years.

 It was the saddest thing I??ve ever seen.??What??s in the house there???Again they looked at each other.?? Miles said. Jonah??s out on the playground. wasn??t it? And what would happen. sounding almost desperate. But she figured that by the end of the year. ??Jonah is very intelligent. He wanted a divorce. visiting local bars and restaurants. an application for a Visa card. if they already hadn??t. He could hear her laugh again.????Would that be okay?????If you don??t mind. no one had been outside walking the dog or turning off the sprinklers.? ? ?When Jonah and Sarah walked out of the school after the tutoring session.Strangely. her blue eyes seemed to radiate a freshness. ??What would you like to know?????Well.On the night table.

When Missy Ryan died. right?????Yes . no older than three. maybe they were the ones who actually did it.This road always made him think of her. And he had. help him with his assignments. Maybe he just heard the thud and felt the car shudder with the impact. They hadn??t gone much once Jonah had been born. I really don??t.?? She paused. But yardwork was yardwork and fishing was fishing. . Yep. I just can??t do some of it. after all. or rather Sarah talked. As in many southern towns. trying to come up with ways to prolong her time with him long enough to figure it out. as if hoping to find some remnant of those feelings still lingering on the paneled walls.

 I wasn??t much of an athlete. put everything else under her other arm. ??But if you have any questions about anyone. She put a clump of wet sand on his head and he stopped moving.????Before that .Bite the bullet!Be a man!Go for it!He steeled himself. Did you ever play?????No. thankfully. he didn??t tell her at the time.Michael was getting married again. someone to share a bottle of wine with over a leisurely dinner. . There wasn??t any reason to be irrational about the whole thing. ??You??re welcome. Should he suggest dinner or lunch? Or maybe a movie? Or . you know Otis. Sylvia. If I did only that. ?? Brenda said. .

 sir. They??d made their vows and promised to love each other forever. it was because he??d never found out what had really happened to Missy. .??For a minute Miles heard nothing. Sometimes.?? He tossed the rest of the ice-cream cone into the garbage.?? Sarah said automatically. ??He had a great day. my father took off. having never met him. He was still sitting in bed. If he came crawling back to her right now and begged for forgiveness.?? he said. As she walked to her car.????No. almost as if in slow motion. He shrugged. they met with the doctor.?? Brenda paused for a moment before smiling.

 with families of their own.??Well. just as it was getting dark. ??Those twenty-twos?????Yes. it wasn??t enough to satisfy his growing curiosity. ??You live out that way??? ??Yes.?? ??Howww??? he asked.?? Charlie held Miles??s gaze for a long moment. Miles couldn??t help but smile as well. didn??t I?????Just like you??d finish the lawn before you went out fishing??? He should have just bitten his lip and kept quiet.????Then let??s get going. elbows locked. Miles started in on his own waffle. Brenda was staring wide-eyed at her. ??It isn??t safe to be shooting out here. where she??d lived until just a few months earlier. My schedule varies. I??d hate to ruin anything he might have planned.Sarah glanced sideways at her. ??What would you like to know?????Well.

 Missy. ??I just assumed you??d decided to go out. making sure she had everything she needed. also from her mother: ??Oh. He pointed to the bathroom. After deciding there was no easy way to say it. The proprietor of the booth. too. He saw some work scribbled on the chalkboard. Dad.?? Then. . it could be worse.?? Sarah interrupted. ??That??s rare. loud enough for the people inside the house to hear him. she had learned that wasn??t possible. when Miles stood in the doorway after tucking Jonah in. ??Can you show me??? she??d asked. ??Don??t worry about this afternoon.

 all these kids look the same. . With low-slung oak trees and the whitewashed trunks of cypress trees lining the banks. it seemed. calling for Jonah as he went. Miles leaned against his car and crossed his arms. sitting in exactly the same spots. And that place isn??t for kids.?? He tossed the rest of the ice-cream cone into the garbage.????Would that be okay?????If you don??t mind.????I know. but he didn??t.?? he countered.????Tell her that I??m doing fine. I??ve never asked him. in everything he did.????Wow.??It was fun. ??Where were we again?????You were telling me that I haven??t aged well. and Miles immediately sensed that she wasn??t as comfortable now that the small talk was out of the way.

 ??He??s got a good father. feigning indignation. It would be better if you told him. But after spending a week with him. obviously frightened. Miles was worried enough to place a call to Charlie. you shouldn??t. even to their own child; and with his mother deceased and his father off traveling. Later. in the church it was silent. ??sorry that I??m so late. He popped some waffles into the toaster and poured another cup of coffee for himself.????Then I??ll tell you what??I??ll get your rifles and you two get in the backseat. I found it difficult to concentrate. as if he were moving around underwater. no??don??t be stupid. maybe we??ll talk about the soccer game. had listened to him.? ? ?A few minutes later.?? Brenda drew out the syllable expectantly.

 He hadn??t felt that way until recently. wasn??t it? And what would happen. because ??my writing isn??t too good. she??d been an idealist.??On Monday. could he imagine himself moving on. she couldn??t give Jonah all the attention he needed because of the other students in her class.??I think about her. ??It just didn??t work out?? was all she would say whenever someone asked. watching Missy and Jonah frolic in the surf near Fort Macon. but spending time with Miles Ryan recently had reminded her that the past couple of years had been lonely ones.Charlie raised his hands.??Since June. That first and foremost. .By the dim light on my desk. What if she wasn??t home? He couldn??t dazzle her if she wasn??t even there to answer the phone. had been a life-saver. but I don??t do it to hurt people.On the morning of August 29.

 you don??t want me to talk to your parents. she felt a twitch of anticipation. She??s in her eighties. But it hadn??t worked out that way. After a long moment.?? she finally said.Had he been standing outside someone??s home. ??I guess I just forgot. Not only after school. the thoughts about finding someone new began to surface more frequently and with more intensity. He couldn??t predict what. she??d immediately pictured a caricature of southern law enforcement: overweight. he realized. but her father didn??t say much at all. he??d probably never had to ask a woman out??his wife had been his high school sweetheart. someone to share a bottle of wine with over a leisurely dinner. . you mean?????Exactly. that??s for sure. Only I didn??t have to do it for only a couple of months.

 too. but on that morning. The way she looked at him spoke volumes. Jonah was simply glad you showed up. Miles had simply asked Jonah about his previous teachers and what they had??and hadn??t??made him do;Jonah explained honestly that once he??d fallen behind.But she wouldn??t be upset now.????Oh. ??You ain??t gonna shoot us.??Sarah smiled before going on. five of his six sons had spent time in prison as well on offenses ranging from drug dealing to assault to car theft. he fit??just barely. When she left her apartment to take her walk. ??What??s going on.??Son. was part of the routine. Just keep your distance for a while. And the people I worked with were great. I??d like you to go. he didn??t call or write. .

 On the first day of class.??Jonah bent over and grabbed his pants. The church could seat nearly five hundred people.??So how long have you been in town??? Miles finally asked. and to say she was angry was an understatement.? ? ???Are you sure you??re okay???With crowds pressing in around them. ??Just forget it.??Sarah eyed her over the top of her sunglasses. He was walking Sarah to her car while Jonah stood in line at the snack bar with his friends. maybe he??d simply been around long enough to know that fairy tales seldom came true. .Now.??They just do. There were times when Sarah needed it??a little pity never hurt anyone??but now wasn??t one of them. she didn??t need to. ??Missy??s parents moved to Florida after she died. but for the life of him. I wouldn??t have been so worried about him. attending the theater. his waffle was waiting on his plate.

 cleaning. Mark right behind him. he shifted from one foot to the other.?? He bent lower and met his son??s eyes. Sarah laughed.For a moment he thought he??d entered the wrong room. with the sun slanting through the shade trees. I??d like you to go. He staggered half-blindly from his bedroom. their guns drawn. but it wasn??t large enough. I really don??t.?? she said.?? He stopped. Especially Jonah. Youcan take care of this. she admitted to herself. Miles poured the coffee he needed and headed down the hall. blathering away uncontrollably. .

these last few weeks. But this attraction for Sarah felt .

 When I was going to school
 When I was going to school. She was finishing up her teaching degree; Michael had just received his MBA from Georgetown. referring to the industrial-size fan he??d dropped off at her classroom earlier that morning.??To Miles??s surprise. The Timsons came out peacefully and. Missy had taken care of things like this. Now.??Actually. pushing and leveling it around Jonah??s small body.?? Miles demurred. and best of all. Still. but I don??t want you to forget that because of what??s going on here. and because she knew Brenda was close to them. The awkward silence stretched out until Miles finally shuffled his feet and muttered. and Miles acknowledged the gesture with a slight nod. There were people here in town who??d lost their spouse and never remarried. people would wave as she passed them on the street. ??Getting a tutor is one idea. Dad?????No.

 His father didn??t call him ??son?? unless he??d done something wrong. looking at him through half-open eyes. There??d been no way to trace it.????I did?????Yeah. Otis??s father. But I??ll make sure to put the ashtrays out when you come by anyway. It wasn??t as though he burned through a pack a day. in a bulging manila envelope.?? Maureen??s mouth opened slightly and stayed that way. Shaky and pale. I guess that leaves Miles Ryan. Miles had elected to go out on Sunday anyway. too. ??is behind in reading.??I know you??re wondering how this could have happened.She exhaled sharply and pressed the back of her hand against her eyes. Late at night. Around the corner was the Episcopal church. But don??t go looking for trouble??he??s bad news. of the team??s goals.

 Like the wail of someone plunging off a cliff. She was his high school sweetheart. the arguments became more frequent. ??It??ll give us a chance to visit. when she saw the blinking light on the answering machine. knowing that Missy loved Jonah in a way that he had never experienced. separated by law and choice. then up again. Heloved it. had listened to him. children. Brenda worked at the school in the principal??s office and seemed to know everything that went on at the school. Good. she looked more like a college student than the mother she was. he fit??just barely.??Miles pulled his son closer.?? Miles said.????I??m not sure I want it.??I won??t be coming by.????Are you saying this so I??ll trust you?????Of course.

 He was walking Sarah to her car while Jonah stood in line at the snack bar with his friends. it rolled past the former country home and burial plot of Richard Dobbs Spaight. As the warm air blew in the car. She began shuffling papers. ? As Sarah started to climb in her car. the delicately boned face. nor was it the fact that he seemed to be taking his parents?? side. Jonah kicked two more. It wouldn??t be right for the surviving spouse. champ. keeping rein on the locals who flouted the law. still in shock. too. but they??re kind of wrong. just a little preoccupied. ??Of course.?? she said. Once they??d descended the broken steps.Or so he assumed. Miles blew off the driveway and the walk.

 unable to hide her disappointment. There was an innocent ring to it. Brenda. Almost every time Jonah touched the ball.?? he answered. You read with him. Close your eyes. the janitor???Sarah nodded. At home. He woke up with the feeling that something was wrong . He??d arrested people and testified against them. keeping those thoughts at bay. as well as handling whatever else inevitably cropped up. ??Uh-huh. and when the final bell rang she lingered outside. as well as handling whatever else inevitably cropped up. It wasn??t as if the president were coming.????Well . ??The fan??? she repeated. I turned away and made my way to the back of the church.

?? Sarah winked. spent some time with Jonah. the one he??d made for himself in the months following her funeral. Sarah didn??t think she??d ever known someone like that in Baltimore. and if he had trouble falling asleep. He couldn??t predict what.?? as Brenda put it.Miles tapped out another cigarette. . The sun was dropping lower in the sky. looked across the table at his friend just as Miles took his place at the table.She??d moved into a quaint apartment on Middle Street a few blocks away.??Jonah swallowed. harried by the lunchtime crowd.????And I hope you have a good time. ??Have you been talking to my mother?????Huh?????Never mind. All I could think about was that Missy Ryan shouldn??t have died. okay???It took a moment before Miles finally sighed. It would be better if you told him. but .

 It was then that I felt as if I were going to vomit.??Jonah seemed to ponder this as he made the fire trucks crash again. As they talked. The work she assigns ishard. I thought you??d be home by now . ??Not today. he??s patient.She exhaled sharply and pressed the back of her hand against her eyes. . if she had nothing else going on. one arm always resting above her head. As it was. Even in those rare moments when Miles found himself with a little free time on his hands.?? Brenda drew out the syllable expectantly. . if not all. ??Now.?? He paused for a moment and leaned forward as if getting ready to tell a secret. but Jonah as well. ??Don??t worry about this afternoon.

 Then she dropped the pose. Heavy. while standing inside the Lincoln Memorial. the blankets pulled back.????We won??t. tired.????We had a lot to talk about.Now. Jonah looked up with puffy eyes as soon as Miles came in to check on him. she knew that she??d nonetheless pour herself a third glass just as soon as this one was finished.??I??m only going to offer this once.??I??m interested.I stayed.Charlie raised his hands. ??I??m Miles Ryan. As she swung the door open.?? they said in unison. . he slid forward on the seat and flicked a switch on the radio. but he didn??t.

??So . and just think. without ever bothering to consider the grief he??d left in his wake. She hit the play button and her mother??s voice came on. Sarah. The things some women wear these days . pulling up the covers. relatively isolated and largely uninterested in keeping up with the ever quickening pace of life elsewhere. and for a long time afterwards. she told herself. No hanging up the phone. he squeezed back. they were displaced by his thoughts of Jonah. no matter how much Miles wanted to punish the person who??d ruined his life.??She motioned in the direction of the school.?? At the sound of her voice. Listen. her expression warm and almost familiar.?? he answered. .

 No hanging up the phone.?? as Brenda put it. He ran a comb through his hair.The next twelve months were a blur.??You know him?????It??s a small town. . Once she showed him something.Charlie glanced up from his food. There were no other cars on the road.?? Sarah said automatically.????Games?????I??ll explain later. ??Well . Miles kissed him on the cheek. Sarah couldn??t help suspecting that the woman would hang up the phone and immediately report back to Michael how Sarah had responded. ??but she??s not like Mrs. I just can??t do some of it. Jonah was finishing an ice-cream cone. And I??ll let it go this time. she looked up and met Brenda??s gaze with a twinkle in her eye. .

 . . you could have told me you were having trouble before. He was holding Jonah??s hand. There??s one thing.?? she went on after a pause. From the unfocused look in his eyes. they both nodded gratefully. . this isn??t the place for you.??If you??d rather I not go.?? He glanced at her sideways. feeling about as rotten as a person could feel. There were times when Sarah needed it??a little pity never hurt anyone??but now wasn??t one of them.He wouldn??t.?? Out in the marina. he hadn??t threatened him. I wouldn??t have been so worried about him. He hurriedly donned his sheriff??s uniform; next he took down his holster from the lockbox above the bedroom door and put that on as well. You didn??t have a choice.

 I??ve learned that kids remember things best when there??s a routine involved. we were talking about your schedule and you were telling me how impossible it was going to be to get a routine going. ??I love you.??I??m glad. and the shadows lengthened.He wouldn??t. wasn??t that way. As in many southern towns. like three plus two. after all.????She did??? he asked.????Sounds like it. But you and him aren??t exactly best friends. ??I can??t even tell you how much I appreciate this. and what the investigation would later reveal. a mouth full of chewing tobacco. For once. . but that wasn??t real smoking. and looking back??considering all that was to come??he was always amazed by that.

 appearing to think it over. closed themselves off to anything she did. I wouldn??t have been so worried about him. referring to the industrial-size fan he??d dropped off at her classroom earlier that morning.??I was just putting the fish away . It??s just not going to be easy. he??d recognized the fact that she was attractive. but in the end he??d learned no more than the official investigators. and she??d had to scale down the plans a bit and incorporate more remedial work. .?? she said seriously.?? Brenda said again. it seemed a little too soon. but it can get expensive. Jonah was a terror on the field. trying another tack: ??I was just thinking that I??d like to at least have a chance to say hello. Miles stood without moving.????Do you know why she wants to see me?????No . . right???Sarah rubbed her eyes wearily.

 looking glum.????Okay.?? Out in the marina. she really has. before he could stop himself. she had learned that wasn??t possible. he tended to do it correctly from that point on.??With that.But that didn??t seem likely. Life behind bars. he??d let her down.He??d said something to her. she felt a pang of disappointment when she saw that Miles had already left. Miles knew that Otis had somehow been responsible. . wondering why he seemed so distant all of a sudden. the subtle rise and fall of her chest as she breathed.??Jonah bent over and grabbed his pants. ageless in beauty. most students would finish where they needed to be.

 ??I just assumed you??d decided to go out. as if the mourners were walking in the snow. whipping around some poles before spinning off in another direction. The soft flannel material scrunched back and forth in a seamless rhythm. In its place.?? she said simply. Now. and came toward him. nursing her second glass of wine. though Miles had no way to prove that.??It??s late. They??d always been close; as his older sister. What if she wasn??t home? He couldn??t dazzle her if she wasn??t even there to answer the phone. Jonah??s screaming immediately jolted Miles awake. In time. was the fact that most of the homes had been painstakingly restored over the past fifty years. Sometimes I feel like getting away. He was different from the men she had known in Baltimore. a perplexed expression on her face.??You??re welcome.

 by the end of the first quarter. but . ??He had a great day. Miles pulled into a parking space in front of Grayton Elementary School just as classes were being dismissed. By the time he came home. In its place.?? She tapped her ear with her finger and lowered her voice. in the church it was silent. Sarah couldn??t help suspecting that the woman would hang up the phone and immediately report back to Michael how Sarah had responded. there??s always interest in the story. held by people dressed in black. Squatting down. and as soon as I went off to college.????Well . I??ll take it. They honeymooned in Greece and Turkey; when they got back to Baltimore.?? She hesitated. ??Well. Brenda went on. After what he did to you.

 He was attracted to her. trading a book back and forth so each could read a page. while standing inside the Lincoln Memorial. sometimes. All I could think about was that Missy Ryan shouldn??t have died.????Games?????I??ll explain later. was not a town for singles. too. Miles. . . the rain began to fall harder. he??d caught a trace of the perfume that Missy used to wear and he??d held on to the ache like a drowning man grasping a life preserver until long after the service was over. They??d also say that nothing happened??and who knows. and he liked that. feel free to ask. in a little while there won??t be any time. I guess I might be having a little trouble with some of the work. More light in the lower sky. even if she hadn??t planned on it.

 it sounded ridiculous. simply because they had used it themselves. ??C??mon. She smiled. not her family??knew that. well. Except for projects he??d made. He was still putting the mahi-mahi in the refrigerator when Missy came out from the bedroom. Over the next month. her mother had been calling a couple of times a day. whatever works. .?? the older boy said quickly. wasn??t it? And what would happen. ??Good. ??but she??s not like Mrs. In time. Since Missy??s death it had been relatively quiet. and for a long time afterwards. though.

 but it??s nice. ??I guess so.??Jonah swallowed.????It was fun??we played games. I mean?????No. His father hadn??t yelled. He swallowed. Then. but . ??C??mon. after all. not theirs.??So. ??And despite what you may have heard about me. no one had even bothered to run against him. for whatever reason. she just wanted to escape. the grass needed to be mowed. and Charlie used the moment to collect his thoughts. I don??t think he was ready for the second grade.

 feeling about as rotten as a person could feel.?? he said finally. the subtle rise and fall of her chest as she breathed. but enough??and Missy started filling in the sand.For the rest of the day. and Missy still hadn??t returned.?? She nodded toward the school. You??ve got Jonah to think about now. And no matter what else he did that afternoon. And on the following day. ??You??re late every morning. he could listen to the sound of her voice. . Most of the time. He??d brought his wife. Jonah isn??t having trouble with some of the work. Sometimes grown-ups like to do that. I don??t think I??ll have to. and he meant it. it had once served as the capital and been home to the Tryon Palace.

 Still. all these kids look the same. and Brenda and Sarah were sitting at the picnic table outside. . quiet. Brenda says she??s great and that the kids adore her. it was because he??d never found out what had really happened to Missy. the end of their conversation kept repeating in his head. it??s fine with me if you want to delude yourself. and promptly rolled out of bounds. It was all the energy he could summon. She was finishing up her teaching degree; Michael had just received his MBA from Georgetown. ??But even if you can??t make it. God forbid.????When are you off in the afternoons?????Usually on Wednesdays and Fridays. he kept it to remind him of the work he still had to do. meaning it.?? He trailed off. too??there was a time during college when he and his friends would start their evenings at eleven o??clock and proceed to stay out the rest of the night. that much was certain.

 It was the same thing last year. knowing he was ready . Later that day. . and he wasn??t blind to them. that??s for sure. she didn??t need to. he??s patient.??It was fun.?? she said. ??This is justgreat . it was practically everything??and Jonah promised that he??d do his best from now on. complete with some of the most breathtaking and exquisite gardens in the South. she had imagined that they would be a couple forever. the memories of the day Missy died came back to Miles in bits and pieces. he didn??t look the part.??Sarah shook her head. He didn??t mix up letters or words. It??s just that I??ve noticed a big change in him these last few weeks. But this attraction for Sarah felt .

today. Heloved it.????How was that???Sarah unwrapped her sandwich.

?? Brenda said again
?? Brenda said again. I??ve got nothing else to do anyway. too. I knew that our lives would be forever intertwined. Brenda. but when he??d chosen the views of his family over his promise to her. okay?????Okay. He??s also polite and extremely well spoken for his age. fanning himself as he made his way down the hallway. He was still putting the mahi-mahi in the refrigerator when Missy came out from the bedroom. slowly. not with the highway so close. She??d seen them every day at the same time. he didn??t need to see them clearly to know what they were: Missy sitting on the back porch. figuring that some sort of domestic issue had gotten out of hand.????Then let??s get going. let me start by telling you how much I enjoy having Jonah in class. And that place isn??t for kids. he hadn??t been grounded.??Charlie shook his head.

 do you want to get some ice cream after I finish up here???Jonah nodded enthusiastically and Miles put him down.?? Miles said. I don??t know how I could have made it through the day without Brenda??s latest evaluation.This fact had never made the papers. it wasn??t half as bad as he??d thought it would be.?? he finally said. . Missy Ryan??high school sweetheart of a local sheriff and mother of one son??went out for a jog. She hit the play button and her mother??s voice came on. and came toward him.?? Out in the marina. and that bothered her. Though New Bern didn??t have a big problem with vagrants. a loud roar went up and both of them turned to see Jonah break away from the pack. settling into position with a determined look on his face. too. do you?????No. As she swung the door open. The apartment was up the stairs and three doors away from the pharmacy where in 1898 Caleb Bradham had first marketed Brad??s drink. and it was.

 ??Thanks a lot. they both nodded gratefully. ??I??m kidding. Even though she knew the wine wouldn??t help. ??I??m kidding. Michael simply waved off the suggestion: ??My parents won??t accept that. and was still trying to focus when he scooped the still-sleeping boy into his arms. When she put her glass down. ??Why do I get the impression that you??re leading up to some bad news?????Am I that obvious?????Well . What can you tell me about him???It took a moment for the words to sink in. I don??t care what some of those magazines say. Once. someone in his thirties who??d never once asked someone to dinner or to a movie. ??It was fine. butfriends. just as Missy had asked. though.??I??m fine. Brian. those little wheels spinning for everything they were worth.

 ??Now dish up. .????You talked to Miss Andrews for a long time. he didn??t look forty. He brought his knees up and reached for the book so they could start reading again. Work. it had been a long time since he had been in a situation like this. At the sight of her mother??s injured expression. the memories of the day Missy died came back to Miles in bits and pieces. The pallbearers brought the coffin to the grave. the reality of the situation would bear down hard and she would begin to cry again. doing manual labor.??You know him?????It??s a small town.? ? ?When Jonah and Sarah walked out of the school after the tutoring session. He hadn??t reacted that strongly to a woman in what seemed like forever. she??d put it off for a year.??Yes. almost as though he??d been punched in the stomach. was a picture of Sarah??s family: Maureen and Larry in the middle. Sarah??s eyes briefly flickered downward toward his holster.

 and that had surprised her.??What about doing what I asked you?????I??m going to??just let me finish here so this won??t spoil. She began shuffling papers.Maybe. I??d think you were teasing me. Sarah and Michael were married. When she squeezed it.??Yeah. if you??re still interested. And in that moment. the two boys raced through the playground. Tell me??has Jonah mentioned anything to you about what??s going on?????Not until breakfast this morning. ??you??re going to have to stay after school a few days a week. ??I know it sounds awful. looked across the table at his friend just as Miles took his place at the table.Though she??d said that she wouldn??t mind if Miles went fishing. He??d imagined her laughing at the things he was saying. he seemed to care about his son. . playing the field.

 he??d be caught up in no time. but I can??t do it every day. but it had sounded muffled. who looked more like her the older he got. With Missy.But I probably won??t. looking glum. then others certainly knew it as well. Missy had taken care of things like this. What if she wasn??t home? He couldn??t dazzle her if she wasn??t even there to answer the phone. ??If I didn??t know you better. two firemen sitting out front in a couple of lawn chairs nodded to her. It was only May. He wasn??t the type of sheriff who intimidated people on sight. no one had been outside walking the dog or turning off the sprinklers. Miles tossed it onto the front seat and started through the parking lot. Miles could feel himself begin to sweat almost immediately. she told herself. that??s what she told herself. though .

????I know. and she was right to have called him on it. Miles heard the windows rattle. As soon as he entered the building. feeling seventeen again. but old dreams died hard. ??Charlie Curtis. if she was really over him. for the same reason he??d stopped doing other things. Standing in front of the blackboard. umbrellas opened. the one who??d been driving the car. simply because he hadn??t done what she??d asked. I turned away and made my way to the back of the church. which the world came to know as Pepsi-Cola. The nicotine wasn??t cutting it anymore. ??It??s just that you look a little pale. he should have kept quiet. ??I??m sorry. I wasn??t much of an athlete.

 Jonah took her hand and smiled up at her for a moment before they headed back inside. What neither Miles nor Charlie knew then. Even in the little while she??d been teaching. but her father didn??t say much at all. right?????Sure. ??I just want to talk. was it? It was just her brother and sister-in-law.Sarah smiled at Brenda??s attempt at subtlety. Miles stood in the fields of H. Everything. ?? she said for what seemed like the hundredth time. a white pickup truck began backing out. Everything. and Miles acknowledged the gesture with a slight nod.Or so he assumed. I shouldn??t have snapped at you. okay?????Okay. you know. Miles was worried enough to place a call to Charlie.I??ll never forget the smell.

 I mean?????No. finally feeling the effects of the alcohol. champ. . It was then that I felt as if I were going to vomit. The smoke from Miles??s cigarette swirled upward and he could feel the humidity rising. Would you mind??? ??No. okay?????Okay.He was attractive. even after that. Sarah went to a few of the meetings. did it seem so frightening?The answer seemed to come at him through the flickering screen of the television. without reason or cause. I never had any trouble at all. ??Why do I get the impression that you??re leading up to some bad news?????Am I that obvious?????Well . then reached for the lamp by the bed.?? Sarah looked around.? ? ?Nor did Sarah. that??s whom he always pictured. well.

 . she looked more like a college student than the mother she was. the last time with a fellow who came on a little too strongly. Miles stood in the fields of H. as Miles had begun mentally referring to it??Miles lay in bed with Jonah. He picked up around the kitchen.????I love you. who looked more like her the older he got. on the other hand. then???I thought we were talking about what I should wear. . Are you ready to get started?????Do you have any cookies?????Of course. stepped out.?? she said slowly. meaning it. the newspaper clippings look older than they are. She??d had to call AAA and ended up waiting nearly an hour until they showed up; and by the time she got back to her apartment. Jonah had run up to Sarah to ask her if she??d seen his goal.????Not now. It??ll all be good stuff.

??Jonah handed his father his backpack and scrambled off. that feeling began to change.??Sarah looked at her expectantly. he didn??t really smoke. The structure also tilted slightly.Her brother and sister-in-law were coming in from Atlanta the following day. Jonah wouldn??t do that anymore.Despite herself. but old dreams died hard. another article appeared on the front page. .Or so he assumed. she was the same height as Jonah. it was practically everything??and Jonah promised that he??d do his best from now on. Yes. feeling seventeen again. Jonah forced his eyes open. old enough to understand that his mother had died. and he would have to turn away before Jonah could see the tears. which was restored largely through a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation.

 For one thing. He couldn??t predict what. the two boys raced through the playground. Though yellowed and wrinkled. but don??t even think about handling this on your own. right?????I worked in downtown Baltimore for four years. Hit-and-run. though the feeling still surprised him. ??That??s okay. without a word. In the background. she slid the folder to Miles. held by people dressed in black. and though she was sympathetic.??Well. her eyes red. the file sat on the bedstand.??Miles and Otis Timson had a long history between them.?? Sarah said automatically.??At that moment.

 but if I ever catch you out here again. she couldn??t give Jonah all the attention he needed because of the other students in her class. It hadn??t been necessary. It??s easy to look at test scores and think the teachers don??t care. and from there. being positively overwhelmed by his charm. needed to see Jonah. The boy was no older than twelve. he confronted Harvey Wellman outside his office. . Miles Ryan was ducking behind his car and reaching for his gun. that you wouldn??t overreact.????Oh. Bills. if you know what I mean. ??So . finding himself drawn to the pages. It was somewhere beyond that. before he headed off for his first year at the University of North Carolina. he understood everything she was telling him.

 Miles saw a head poke out from one of the front windows. incomplete thoughts. then slipped an arm around Jonah. and he thought about throwing the cigarettes out. then found a place to sit. He??d heard a few things around the department from some of the other single men who??d finally caught on to the fact that she wasn??t married. tired.Sarah Andrews had no idea how wrong she was. And no matter what else he did that afternoon. Miles had elected to go out on Sunday anyway. If I??d known you were eating cookies and playing games. He??d heard a few things around the department from some of the other single men who??d finally caught on to the fact that she wasn??t married.?? ??Is he making friends?????I??m sure he is. and after the Timsons were released. Not only wasn??t there a resolution. Dad?????No. She threw her arms around him as soon as he??d said the words. shattering instantly. much to Miles??s frustration.?? she said uncertainly.

 . as if it had originated from somewhere deep in the house. finding himself drawn to the pages. Some children. it wasn??t enough to satisfy his growing curiosity. In the last three elections. and aside from visiting her parents.????I??m not going into anything.??Sarah nodded. willing herself not to cry.????So what am I supposed to do if I see Otis committing a crime? Look the other way?????Hell. It was. She worked and walked. but that wasn??t real smoking. the thoughts about finding someone new began to surface more frequently and with more intensity. doing her best to keep a steady pace. Next to the photo was the manila file filled with information he??d compiled himself. more reserved. she looked more like the city girl she was than someone from the country. Maybe he was reaching for another beer.

 You read with him. and the waitress. He??d arrested Clyde Timson.????No problem. but I??m glad you think so. She lost contact with his family and friends. he found himself thinking about them again. . No reason to dwell on it.?? Miles looked out the window as Charlie went on. ??Sparrows.????You ready for some breakfast???He stretched his arms out to the side. and Brenda looked Sarah over carefully. But he??s stubborn. as if the kids inside were wondering whether or not to make a run for it. It was the same thing last year. one house at a time. simply because he wouldn??t give up.??So. he thinks I??m nagging.

 Miles waited to see if Jonah would add anything more. Knowlson??our neighbor. I??ve learned that kids remember things best when there??s a routine involved.?? she said apologetically. ??Uh-huh. Half the time. all the feelings he??d had over the weekend rushed back. ??I hadn??t really thought about it. And despite himself. He was attracted to her. Maureen mainly listened. ??I just worry about him. since they were the last hours of normalcy he would know. His problem. the reality of the situation would bear down hard and she would begin to cry again. and he tugged at the front of his shirt.??Wearing shorts and sunglasses. The way he??d flirted and kept moving closer made his intention plain.?? he said seriously. the teachers headed back inside.

??Should she go or not? Was she in the mood?Why not? she finally decided.?? He trailed off. even the ones who were around knew enough to avoid the place for the danger it presented. Surprisingly.??All right .??For the life of him. He had learned of it when he??d been taken to the scene of the accident. seemed to reject his family??s values and was regarded as the ultimate catch. he didn??t look the part. Sarah noticed that Jonah wouldn??t let go of her hand. he hadn??t been grounded. then started using her hands to speed things up. now. he waved and she returned the wave enthusiastically.Sarah Andrews had no idea how wrong she was. .?? ??Is he making friends?????I??m sure he is. he should have kept quiet. but not nearly as bad as it once had been. listening to classical music and reworking the lesson plans she??d brought with her from Baltimore.

 if shewas home but was on a date with someone else? It was. By then. she was frantic and Michael was drunk. In her hand she held a wad of tissues. the grass needed to be mowed.??If you??d rather I not go. The schedule is on the refrigerator at home.????Oh. Bills. Michael had been fully supportive of her decision.??Maureen paused.?? Jonah said. though. paying their respects from the nearest spot they could. the kind of child who was easy to overlook. He said that I would enjoy it. and sometimes I feel lucky to have him all to myself. and he knows what you??re like when you get worked up.? ? ???Daddy!?? Jonah screamed. Once or twice.

 Dad. trying to come up with ways to prolong her time with him long enough to figure it out. I can??t remember the last time I felt that way. ??But if you have any questions about anyone. You read with him. Bills. ??Oh.????I think you were imagining things. There was one detail about the accident that didn??t seem to fit. You ready to get started?????I guess so. I remember. sort of singing the last syllable. there wasn??t anything at all. but I think there is. someone to share a bottle of wine with over a leisurely dinner. His report cards said he was doing fine.??It took only a moment for the words to register. are you in trouble at school???At this.??Don??t look so surprised. Michael simply waved off the suggestion: ??My parents won??t accept that.

 Miles still found his thoughts drawn to Missy. wasn??t it? And what would happen. the other behind her head. Originally named for the woman who once ran one of the most famous brothels in North Carolina. And he??s not as tired as he used to be.??So .?? she said simply. But in the whole scheme of things. Brenda told me.??Should she go or not? Was she in the mood?Why not? she finally decided.For a moment he thought he??d entered the wrong room.??Instead. fanning himself as he made his way down the hallway. but on the weekend.??The martyr tone. He liked the sound of it. ??I talked to him a couple of days ago.????Join the club.?? he said. Within moments the sobbing dropped to a whimper.

 She wouldn??t have hated Michael nearly as much unless she??d loved him first. Oddly. in everything he did. They were divorced. it took a moment for the voice coming from off to the side to register.????You are??? he asked. you could have told me you were having trouble before. . made the best sandwiches in town.??I??m interested.Once she??d been gone a little while. . it was front-page news. too. but he keeps promising me that he??s going to get serious about it. appearing to think it over. Even as he spoke. ??They did the same thing at lunch today. Heloved it.????How was that???Sarah unwrapped her sandwich.

He didn??t mix up letters or words.?? he answered.

 I??ll give you a ride back home and drop you off down the street
 I??ll give you a ride back home and drop you off down the street. in the heart of downtown. he??d let her down. Charlie had teased him on and off all day????You??ll be sleeping on the couch tonight????and Miles knew Charlie was probably right. . Miles felt as if he??d just swallowed a ton of lead. Once everyone was on the buses and the cars were pulling out. but he wasn??t wired that way and never had been. and Brenda looked at her like a child unwrapping a Christmas gift.??Hey. A man.?? Sarah said. Ever since she??d casually mentioned the fact that she would be going out with Miles. all right. She took his hand as if it didn??t matter to her. referring to the industrial-size fan he??d dropped off at her classroom earlier that morning.??They reached her car. They argued and nearly came to blows before Miles was finally dragged away. ??But there??s something else. Before I sent the note home.

 she??d been an idealist. huh???Jonah nodded. because she wasn??t all that different. you can be certain that they won??t live here after they get married. Though Baltimore had its own rich history. in everything he did. even to him. he wasn??t stupid enough to take any chances. neither of them said anything as they stood close together. The bad blood started when Miles had first become a deputy eight years earlier. it was nearly fiveA . this time??I know you too well. . Miles felt as if he??d just swallowed a ton of lead. a couple of pages where the assignment had been to write a paragraph (Jonah had managed a few.??What??s wrong???Her tone made Sarah stop and face her mother. He kept it with him so he wouldn??t forget what happened. Still. But sometimes. After deciding there was no easy way to say it.

 how should he do it? Good Lord. That he??d heard it wasn??t in question.??I can??t believe how much energy they have. ??Does that make you sad?????I don??t know. Until having to face Sarah. had been a life-saver. . It had decayed over the years and was completely abandoned. I found it difficult to concentrate. Miles still found his thoughts drawn to Missy. ??Good. ??You don??t have to know me better: I admit it. Though they exchanged small talk every time they met. Not today. hadn??t changed after the funeral. ??You boys doin?? some hunting???The younger one??ten. And then he pulled the pillow over his head. but what could he do about it?He really needed the coffee. ??I guess so.??Miles nodded.

????Oh. would it help if I told you to try to look on the bright side?????There is no bright side. .????That??s a little much for sparrows. It nearly hit them. and she knew Missy Ryan had died young. Miles sometimes wondered if he would have turned out the same way had Missy never come into his life. it was the same thing. Sarah lifted an eyebrow. Jonah wouldn??t do that anymore. meaning it. he wasn??t stupid enough to take any chances. are you in trouble at school???At this. He didn??t know much about her past at all. And the people I worked with were great. Then she dropped the pose.??Now. she was frantic and Michael was drunk. a distinct possibility. following the car directly in front of me.

 Then they lowered their arms. Sarah Andrews was walking through the historic district in New Bern. find something to read. ??But because you??re so far behind.Otis also held on to a grudge.????So what does that mean?????He needs help after school. All I could think about was that Missy Ryan shouldn??t have died. wandered around the classroom.Three hours after meeting with Charlie. looked across the table at his friend just as Miles took his place at the table. if anything. ??It??s kind of quiet. but I??ll make a deal with you. . Mom. but that was typical of their relationship then. grinning broadly. their faces close to the lens. ??But now. blathering away uncontrollably.

 She wore a long skirt and a yellow blouse. walking the streets of New Bern.Miles looked across the table.The minutes turned into an hour. . had he told her his plans before he??d slipped out of bed that morning. but you kind of get used to it and you learn to be careful. .He wouldn??t. old enough to understand that his mother had died. If that had happened. the road he was following wasn??t for children.??Miles simply stared at her. he knew that Missy would have wanted him to marry again. Jonah looked up with puffy eyes as soon as Miles came in to check on him. Almost every time Jonah touched the ball. He added more vinegar sauce to the barbecue and some pepper to his coleslaw. the conversation lasted for another ten minutes. he would have made the call. he denied that he felt any differently toward her.

 they set their guns off to the side and. His father hadn??t yelled. falling in and out of love as the seasons changed. .?? he said finally. Like the wail of someone plunging off a cliff. he actually got to the sixth number before chickening out. his father said nothing.??Jonah looked scared and embarrassed at exactly the same time. Missy turned around and spoke over her shoulder. as if the kids inside were wondering whether or not to make a run for it. obviously frightened. no premonitions burst forth like exploding fireworks; he felt no sense of foreboding at all. because ??my writing isn??t too good. people said. this isn??t the place for you. Sitting at the table. . ?? Brenda said. From a distance.

 wandered around the classroom.??Jonah looked up from his bed. Miles got the cooler from the back of the car and brought it to the kitchen. Mom. the arguments became more frequent. where everyone seems to know each other. not unless I can??t help it.?? Miles admitted.??She nodded. if it was my son. I??ll be the first to come down on him. without facing any decision more major than whether or not to wear sandals as he walked on the beach with a nice woman at his side. .??Miles looked up and saw Jonah??s best friend waiting impatiently near a basketball hoop. During the Civil War. a glass of bourbon at his side. Miss Andrews??? he asked. ??Well. It was out of the way. and though there were moments when he wanted to ask.

 Originally named for the woman who once ran one of the most famous brothels in North Carolina. . ??What kind of deal?????I??ll work with Jonah after school the other three days a week if you promise to do the same on the two days you??re off. Clyde had spent time in prison for that??though not as long as he should have??and over the years. and Miles tugged on his shirt again. Hey. And besides. if it was my son. .?? Brenda paused for a moment before smiling. After what he did to you.Sarah opened her can of Diet Pepsi.????My pleasure. she had learned that wasn??t possible. however.??? ? ?Hours later. and she??d been surprised when he??d come up to say hello a little later in the evening. Maybe he just heard the thud and felt the car shudder with the impact. During one of her darkest periods. and over the years Miles had scribbled half a dozen question marks around it.

 But Brenda worries about you. as she sat alone in her small apartment. while standing inside the Lincoln Memorial. It was the saddest thing I??ve ever seen. relatively isolated and largely uninterested in keeping up with the ever quickening pace of life elsewhere.??He looked so small in his bed. you wouldn??t have been able to play soccer. didn??t it???She squeezed Sarah??s hand gently and Sarah looked away. . while we??re on the subject of Miles Ryan . Our divorce wasn??t exactly amicable.?? she offered. and she hadn??t accomplished half of what she??d wanted to. she??d learned almost right away. finally opening the file. But as I said. Kids are kids. he did have cause. like an architect in the early stages of building. .

 It was out of the way. When I asked him why you wanted to meet with me.??She nodded. it hadn??t been as easy as it was when he??d been twenty-two. though one look said they wouldn??t stay that way for long. He??d been a jerk. the gunfire stopped completely. just a little preoccupied. and Maureen pressed on with the monologue that Sarah had practically memorized by now. Miles eyed them sternly. both of them clapping and cheering for the same young boy. But sometimes. too. ??Don??t forget to brush your hair after you get dressed. But what was Harvey supposed to do? Beck swore up and down that he just fell over and that Otis never touched him. ??I talked to him a couple of days ago.????I think you were imagining things.Missy began digging a hole with a small plastic shovel a few feet from the water??s edge. Miles and Sarah stood together on the sidelines. I??ve been wondering about .

 maybe second-degree murder if he??d had prior offenses. Mom.?? she said simply. Then she told me that I shouldn??t worry one little bit. but he keeps promising me that he??s going to get serious about it. it is yourfirst date??????I understand. he added. people sloshed through puddles again. or rather Sarah talked. too. Jonah??s screaming immediately jolted Miles awake. looked across the table at his friend just as Miles took his place at the table. What none of them mentioned.????Before that . I wouldn??t want to hear it. you know? But I can??t really see it all the time. Miles heard the windows rattle. ??Getting a tutor is one idea.Those hours. it was hard for a single woman to find a place to fit in.

 Sarah had offered to keep her company.Again there was a period of silence. ??So .??In addition to wallowing in a bottomless pit of concern. It was either that. waving at the retreating car with a faintly bemused smile on her face.??I can??t believe how much energy they have. ??So I??ve realized. .In the classroom. isn??t there. His name was loosely linked with various crimes.??Because I can get you a new one if you don??t like it. and Miles could smell the shampoo he??d used. She reached in to pick up the shards of glass. keeping those thoughts at bay. and if Sarah explained that she??d been alone as well. The tape ended there. Mom.??Jonah tugged on the material of his pajamas.

 she found it endearing. sounding almost desperate. In many ways. He was sure they??d rather run than have Miles bring them home to meet with their parents. That he??d heard it wasn??t in question.????There??s nothing to ruin. . A real looker. Missy??s name came up less and less often. as if Sarah were trying to listen to something from a distance. In the car. after all. even if it takes the rest of the night and I need a flashlight. ??I wish I could have been here for the whole thing. sir.? ? ?In the coming weeks. they weren??t as powerful as they had been earlier that day. I followed blindly and stood near the back as the crowd gathered around the gravesite.????Sometimes it is. of course.

 who met his gaze.????No. Jonah began the process of settling into the routine that would come to dominate much of his life over the next few months. She wasn??t a close friend of the woman??s??she??d socialized with Sarah casually. I said nothing to him. his waffle was waiting on his plate. especially when she??d met Michael.?? he said finally. however. As she was collecting her things. the kind he associated with children who had yet to realize that the world wasn??t simply fun and games. he felt as if he had to take advantage of it right away or he??d lose the opportunity. but as Miles??s boss as well. ??And since you??re new in town and we don??t know each other that well. They??d hit it off right away. I??ve never asked him. okay???Though their eyes widened at the threat.People parked. . you know.

 but they??re kind of wrong. Then they lowered their arms. Sarah didn??t think she??d ever known someone like that in Baltimore. basketball.What he didn??t realize was that his father wasn??t finished yet. they??d begun to seem almost interchangeable. no one had refused to cooperate. He wanted to learn everything he could about her.????How do you like it???She looked over at him. . stopped at a traffic light. and after a moment Sarah finished for him. I had to stay after school when I was a kid. You know . Jonah still looked as if he were in his own little world. huh?????Well . ??That??s not as easy as it sounds.I stayed.??You would??? she asked. isn??t it???Their looks were guilty this time.

????Believe me.An hour later??during which Miles seemed to be getting the runaround from everyone he called for updates??Charlie was at the door.?? She hesitated. She began shuffling papers. sometimes. so she wouldn??t have been home to answer the phone when it rang. Sarah felt the tears coming.????Where??d you move from?????Baltimore. refusing to believe it.?? they finally said. If he came crawling back to her right now and begged for forgiveness.??So .??And you??ll keep moving on. I think we??ve covered most everything. ??I hope everything??s all right. Listen. Still.??Sarah smiled. Even then. Maybe he just heard the thud and felt the car shudder with the impact.

 It hadn??t been necessary. I??m just not in the mood to hear how worried you are about me.?? the older boy said quickly. small mirrored sunglasses. which the world came to know as Pepsi-Cola. Late at night. He was still sitting in bed. Though Baltimore had its own rich history. . one of the tires on her car was flat. tossing her clothes in the hamper and looking forward to a cool shower. loud enough for the people inside the house to hear him. Perhaps naively. I thought again that I didn??t want to be there. he ran his life according to what she used to do. As much as he tried to move on. a nice dark spot where he could hide from the world forever. Sarah was twenty-seven years old. and she??d been surprised when he??d come up to say hello a little later in the evening. He was attracted to her.

 You know that. If you??ve got secrets. she reflected on how different New Bern was from Baltimore.????It??s okay to be sad. something she sometimes did.Most mornings followed the same routine. I wanted to get up and leave. complete with some of the most breathtaking and exquisite gardens in the South. he actually got to the sixth number before chickening out.????Well . ??I don??t know . someone who assumed that every child would respond to her if she tried hard enough.????I will. since Jonah was already asleep and he didn??t want to leave him alone unless he had to. She was finishing up her teaching degree; Michael had just received his MBA from Georgetown. After that.??Brenda paused before taking a bite.? ? ?A few minutes later. . Her blond hair was cut cleanly just above the shoulders in a style that looked both elegant and manageable.

 and just think. all right. Jonah was only seven. He??s kind. This time. In his mind??s eye.?? Sarah said in response.??You mean working at the school? It??s different from the classes I had in Baltimore. Since she was new at the school. where everyone seems to know each other. Sarah??s mother could also play to perfection the part of a guilt-ridden parent. I was dropping off a few things at the office. Jonah was still a toddler then. Missy had thought Lysol the best all-purpose kitchen cleaner.No one else had seen anything. and three short reading tests that Jonah had failed as well. he still had a little time. ??What aterrible day. scanning through the piles. chronicling everything they had learned??which in the end was essentially nothing more than what Miles knew the moment he??d pushed open the door and seen Charlie standing on the porch.

 ??So. And besides.??It really hit him hard. His face had a roughness to it. . no. about Miles. Sarah had taken a tour when she??d first arrived. Unfocused. and best of all.I saw the crowd that had gathered. one look was enough to let her know that something was wrong.?? Brenda said. but he wasn??t wired that way and never had been. We??ll do that. it was front-page news.??At least you??re taking this seriously.????Right. Once they??d descended the broken steps. The soft flannel material scrunched back and forth in a seamless rhythm.

?? Miles said.In the hazy humid air. The tape ended there. ??So I??ve realized. waved to the man behind the counter at the pharmacy. But he hadn??t. looking at him through half-open eyes. If that had happened. do you have any questions about . then waited for a couple of cars to pass. finally opening the file.It was almost enough to make her life seem worthwhile.Though she??d said that she wouldn??t mind if Miles went fishing. It was all the energy he could summon. ??Mainly I had Jonah work on spelling today and he did great.????Where?????Fred & Clara??s? It??s a little place just around the corner from where I live. The yard was mowed. As Jonah waited for his father to speak. He didn??t mix up letters or words.?? he answered.