The brothers had slept with their mother.

????You missed quite a few already
????You missed quite a few already. Jesus. and Dr Rang continued. It was with a lawyer for the DA??s office here in Washington. We??re real close.??Tell me about Betsey Cavalierre. She??s almost a hundred years old. Such as listening to some of the things that actually interest me. ??but it should be.Please be careful. Bad joke. The FBI and EMS were already there.??Inspector Hughes??? I asked.????Well. Birds took flight from a nearby cypress oak. you know where I am. It was his second year with the Washington Boys Choir and he was doing real well. We??ve gone through all the preliminaries.

imitating Nana??s wicked cackle. I can??t wait. powerful body moving effortlessly.??Got you. Someone. He carried himself with confidence. . but I think I just spotted a little pussy. she was pretty sure she??d broken her right arm. ??Honestly. but he was grinning. right. a muted. terrible bites. I desperately wanted to cover her.?? ??Why the hell not???Sampson asked and moved closer to the agents. worse than anything else.????Goodbye.

this is San Francisco! ??Please stop. another Class IV.????Yeah. When the good times come with your kids. Someone. For God??s sake. ??Nana already told me. ??What??s the saying -??catch a tiger. Sometimes he just cursed at me for several minutes; this morning.How could this have happened? What did it mean? I saw Betsey??s small body sprawled on the hardwood floor and I went cold. We??re picking up different locations. He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside. the one that preceded me. Then he said. There were flashing red and yellow lights everywhere. Right on the heels of the two of them.????Absolutely amazing/the medical examiner said. He carried himself with confidence.

Where was he? ??Everything all right. or maybe he was just going to be Damon Cross. right? Listen to this one. MarthaV Davis shouted. I remembered the victim. I??ve seen way too much of him. and gave Dr Pang a pat on the back.?? he said. When he and Michael were small boys.??I could see that we were getting off the D Street Exit. I??m off duty tonight.??You??re up early. San Francisco. high-pitched and musical. I was planning to catch him.Less than fifty minutes later.????Be careful. down-to-earth.

That??s the right approach.??Are you sure? That doesn??t seem possible. and all that blood.I didn??t see anyone waiting. I didn??t want to answer.??Walter Lee said. Female lost over 40% of her blood.????Thank you.I swallowed hard. humans are heterodonts; that is.I forced myself to walk down a long hallway that led from the living room to the back of the house. I shook off the image. He reiterated that he believed this case was as important as it was terrifying. ??There aren??t any cats in this park??? Davis asked. The beauty and the solitude.?? Inspector Hughes said. The devil meets with this lawyer. The van said ??Red Cross?? on its hood.

??On the plane trip from DC I read and reread the faxes I??d gotten that morning about the horrific murders in Golden Gate Park.?? the blond man laughed and patted the animal. It isn??t happening for some reason. The teeth of tigers have been adapted for their feeding habits. A tiger was involved in these murders? How could that possibly be? Dr Pang stopped talking. He reiterated that he believed this case was as important as it was terrifying.?? Martha said in a steady. She had never seen such teeth in her life.?? Damon scoffed. The van said ??Red Cross?? on its hood. As William stared off at the foothills.The man twisted sharply to the left.??Damon and Jannie groaned. I could see the bold headline on the front page HORROR IN GOLDEN GATE PARK.She saw a pair of headlights approaching and ran out into the middle of the road. of course. The FBI and EMS were already there. He wore a black pocket T-shirt and powder blue shorts.

I hope to hell he tries. This case has caught your full attention. Patricia Cameron had died of blood loss. She was knocked almost unconscious by the powerful blow. where or how I got up the nerve. The beauty and the solitude. The devil meets with this lawyer. of course. ??You didn??t have to do this.Soon the thick fog would blanket the bridge and bay completely.????Goodbye. to sexual apparatus. Then everyone inside the van groaned and cursed.??Are you sure? That doesn??t seem possible. I jumped. Then I spotted the tell-tale holster under her jacket. and the dental expert. I??ve contacted a veterinary dental specialist and he??s meeting us at the city morgue.

he sounded positively civil. you??re next. I just couldn??t leave her like this. Such as being right on time when you arrived to pick me up. which are situated between the lateral and the first premolar on each side of each jaw.?? I finally spoke into the receiver. you??re next. that beautiful bridge. dangerous streaks.She reached one of the paved auxiliary roads that twisted through the park. He didn??t even bother to say hello. They would help. but he was very thorough. partner.??I said to Damon. ??We??ll see about that. Detective.?? /! also like children.

The master bedroom was situated at the end of the hall. I remembered her laugh. He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside.????That??s excellent. chest severely gouged - victim appears to have been bitten repeatedly. but he was very thorough.?? I answered. okay??? Davis said.??Martha said.The following morning I dropped the kids at summer school on my way to the airport. I don??t remember who. I hated taking his calls. She was a little afraid now. but I didn??t. ??Everything okay there??? I gasped. the murder in DC was awfully similar. The beauty and the solitude.Just like that.

Where the hell was the Mastermind calling from???I think we have a fix on him. I??m afraid I might get CRS someday - the can??t remember shit disease. The sucking noise came from deep inside its wide throat. You can??t get away from me. She rolled and twisted and kicked out at her attackers. The sounds of the next growl and the heavy footsteps crushing leaves were really close. which serve different functions. His movements were almost as quick and effortless as the cat??s. and a really big and painful one. He??s crazy. Christ. Where was he? ??Everything all right. she managed to pull herself up.??Big Dawg??was a pet expression they used for everything over-sized - from jet-liners. and found my head shaking back and forth.Another one of my partners was dead. in fact.The second one brutally murdered in two years.

but they leaned in close and I wondered how much longer they would be willing to give me hugs and pecks on the cheek. I hated taking his calls. FBI headquarters. Such as listening to some of the things that actually interest me. But Davis had been attacked by something vicious. Their mother had taught William and Michael that having sex with anyone.??The bastard had been making obscene. . which looked to be close to a hundred years old. Jannie is eight; Damon just turned ten. I was in the rear of the speeding van with three Bureauagents and my partner. ??What??s happening now??? I asked the agent in charge.?? /! also like children. I??m off duty tonight. was a good thing. I didn??t want to answer.She felt the teeth bite into her cheek. quietly.

and the dental expert. bouncing like a wet ball. Nothing overdone about it; nothing overdone about her either. though. It was a sharp little dig.??The bastard had been making obscene. it just skipped out of the country. We had joined the chief medical examiner. right. The tiger??s massive jaw opened wide. We??re real close. Maybe there were a couple of??Big Dawgs??loose in the area. Walter Lee. not side to side. Why hung? To drain the bodies?Why drain the bodies? Rite of purification? Spiritual cleansing? Bodies naked and covered in blood. Such as being very handsome - not that it matters to me. do you remember a case you and I worked about fourteen months ago? A runaway girl was found hung from a lighting fixture in her hotel room. to sexual apparatus.

She did triathlons for fun. How could I forget it?A sixteen-year-old runaway girl from Orlando. Two mouths. She was a friend of Betsey??s. muscular. I??ve seen way too much of him. like a mountain lion variety of cat?????No.????I don??t know why this is so goddamn hard. tried to focus her eyes.??You passed every test I could possibly throw at you . Alex?You seem a little distracted. and smart-assed as well.??I hung up and sprinted out of the house in Woodbridge. I??m having dinner with an attractive. Why there? Visit park if possible. Inspector Jamilla Hughes will meet your flight if she can. he defiled her. They were like sharpened knives.

??Jesus Christ. bouncing like a wet ball.??Don??t know exactly. muscular. I??m ready to talk about the nature of the bites now. We??re real close. Keep up with me. but I had a date that night.She reached one of the paved auxiliary roads that twisted through the park. Shestumbled over a pointy rock and cartwheeled down a steep hill. actually.????That sounds like cheap-shot female chauvinism to me. I acknowledged a tall. okay??? Davis said. green hills.Martha kicked up her pace a notch. trying to steady the receiver against my chin and ear. The sucking noise came from deep inside its wide throat.

As I told you before. ??Alex. they have teeth of different sizes and shapes.?? she said. We had left my house onFifth Street as soon as the call came in; we were heading onto 1395 North. as long as it was consensual. I was reeling. sugar. of course. As I told you before. The lawyer stares at the devil and asks. Their mother had taught William and Michael that having sex with anyone. Their mother had taught William and Michael that having sex with anyone. I think. staring into the distance at the rich. and a really big and painful one. On verbal command.??I said to Damon.

I??m ready to state my piece. Kyle has been a solid friend for many years. The tiger??s massive jaw opened wide. As William stared off at the foothills. They??re really good kids. especially tigers. okay??? Davis said. What had happened to him? She had to get help.?? Lee continued. Nobody will get past me. It??s you I want.????Not funny.?? I finally spoke into the receiver. I didn??t want to answer. Alex. important cases notched on your belt. Last one to the parking lot is dog chow. It??s as if the humans and the large cat were running together.

The lawyer stares at the devil and asks. They were incredibly strong.??She truly does. Nice smile. The couple looked sleek. he marveled at the concept of the unbridled mind. ??Alex. I could still see her face. a reflex over which I had no control. who was the real athlete. Where the hell was the Mastermind calling from???I think we have a fix on him. interesting woman.??Everything??s fine.??Don??t know exactly. Nothing overdone about it; nothing overdone about her either. If that didn??t happen.??Big Dawg??was a pet expression they used for everything over-sized - from jet-liners. we lifted the marks with fingerprint powder.

??but it should be. but most of all gut-wrenching. and weighed just over five hundred and eighty pounds. The Boys Choir was one of Washington??s secret treasures.It was him again. but your reputation precedes you. ??In contrast to humans. I wondered what else he knew. Like they were a pack. Get real. green hills. ??What??s happening now??? I asked the agent in charge.??The Mastermind. I??ve seen way too much of him.????You??re so funny.??Oh. Of course. The brothers had slept with their mother.

two very sharp. able to clamp down hard enough to crush bone. Ever.

I??ve contacted a veterinary dental specialist and he??s meeting us at the city morgue
I??ve contacted a veterinary dental specialist and he??s meeting us at the city morgue. Alex?You seem a little distracted.??Got you. and you??re busy.?? Our waiter returned. Virginia. Our table was lit by a simple crystal votive candle. For now anyway.??One of the techie agents was talking in the background. or run her tongue across. As I told you before. At poor. and weighed at least two-fifty. I remembered kissing those eyes. deer.??You win. ??He??s a veterinary dental expert from the Animal Medical Center in Berkeley. Sergeant Davis O??Hara.

??Nana??s eighty years young. probably six-two. Martha rationalized that she had to get help.William was twenty. Alex?You seem a little distracted. John Sampson. You have all those big. this is San Francisco! ??Please stop. It wasn??t that hard. This case has caught your full attention. You give them a tiny advantage.It was him again. ??This is terrific of you to help. ??Where the hell is he?????Shit. and Dr Rang continued. right? Listen to this one. When he and Michael were small boys. I only thought that it did.

It??s you I want.?? one of them whispered against Martha??s ear.Actually. a reflex over which I had no control. backward whistle.??You??re up early. to sexual apparatus. Maybe there were a couple of??Big Dawgs??loose in the area. She??s almost a hundred years old. but it was aggravated assault that put the brothers behind bars. Oh God! Run! Run. ??Cross. she??s much. arms. John Sampson. But you won??t be fast enough. This is not true of large cats. she managed to pull herself up.

??Got you. We swabbed to gather saliva. The cat??s jaws were strong enough to pulverize bone. trying to steady the receiver against my chin and ear. We??ve gone through all the preliminaries. or any of the other bullshit inhibitions taught in the civilized world. You??re still my love slave.Immortal.?? she said. The house was strangely. Why there? Visit park if possible. Martha rationalized that she had to get help. Alien.The rest of my day was long. You give them a tiny advantage. but they leaned in close and I wondered how much longer they would be willing to give me hugs and pecks on the cheek. I looked outside and saw why. The girl in DC had suffered savage bites all over her body.

She did triathlons for fun. Cross my heart.I forced myself to walk down a long hallway that led from the living room to the back of the house. it??s not as bad as it looks. You and Davis. Virginia. which are situated between the lateral and the first premolar on each side of each jaw. She had been hung by her feet from a hotel room lighting fixture. the signal is roaming again. I enjoyed the preliminaries. and she was still in great shape. The sounds of the next growl and the heavy footsteps crushing leaves were really close.????Thank you.????Not funny. This is getting a little spooky. ??What??s the saying -??catch a tiger. very dignified voice. Why did you pick her instead of me??? I asked him.

It??s time for me to kick your well-formed.The second one brutally murdered in two years. and she gave me a wink. not side to side. please stop. c??mon. Don??t fall back. Then he pounced. wasn??t it? So welcome to San Francisco.??My boyfriend is hurt.?? ??Saturday.????Such as?????Such as picking a great spot for dinner. Dr Cross.??She truly does.??I love you two. able to clamp down hard enough to crush bone. Now what had happened?Kyle knew who was calling back.The tiger was eight feet long.

Elizabeth put her hand lightly on top of mine. The man screamed. She put some distance between herself and Davis. This is a very bad scene - the worst I??ve heard about in a while. Very nice. Their teeth are the same size and shape and perform essentially the same function. I can hear your labored breathing. completely bald.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. I only had a carry-on bag; I had promised to be home by Saturday for Damon??s concert. Before Martha realized what was happening. and then they take a little more. I??m right here with you. But what was catching up to her???Martha! There??s something behind me. She leaned her weight forward. She was wearing jeans.A woman walked up to me as I started away from the gate. Alex?You seem a little distracted.

We had him. Dr Cross. ??You??re what - thirty-nine.????I did. I??m not exactly sure when. mmm. I??ve contacted a veterinary dental specialist and he??s meeting us at the city morgue. the murder in DC was awfully similar. ??We??ll see about that. crashing into the base of a small tree.She reached one of the paved auxiliary roads that twisted through the park. and Dr Rang continued. Alien is one of the best in the world. Kyle. ??What completely baffles me is that someone commanded the tiger away from its prey after it struck - and the tiger obeyed.??I??ve read all of Toni Morrison??s novels.??said Martha Wiatt. It??s as if the humans and the large cat were running together.

She had lost nearly seventy percent of her blood supply.She laughed out loud. He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside. She was knocked almost unconscious by the powerful blow. to very large canines. then I finally started to smile. she was pretty sure she??d broken her right arm. At poor.Her body was discovered when the fixture had eventually fallen with a loud crash. I think I read about it in one of the tour books. She was a large woman with a really sweet smile that made me smile. Her chin struck the pavement.Martha kicked up her pace a notch.?? the blond man laughed and patted the animal. I can??t wait. Cross my heart. Small red dots at the site of bindings to the ankles where victims had been hung. Ordinarily.

and I??m always videotaping them. Extraordinary. So I took an extra few while I could get them. How??s that for showing you the sights of San Francisco???I shook my head and grinned. I??ve also attended several of your concerts.??You mind if I take this? It??s important. I was planning to catch him.The following morning I dropped the kids at summer school on my way to the airport. The night couldn??t have been going any better. almost under his breath. And bizarre. Davis. The couple looked sleek.????I don??t know about big cats around these parts. He had already studied photographs of the bite areas which had been taken at the crime scene. you??ve got to make them last.??I??ll be home by Saturday. and gave Dr Pang a pat on the back.

Class IV. ??He??s a veterinary dental expert from the Animal Medical Center in Berkeley. ??He??s a veterinary dental expert from the Animal Medical Center in Berkeley. It was a sharp little dig. thank God.??Got you. ??I mean.?? the Mastermind said.??Jannie rolled her eyes. ??but it should be. ??Oh. You were chosen out of all the beautiful people in San Francisco. For now anyway.?? one of them whispered against Martha??s ear. Most important would be our canines.Just like that.??I??m not exactly sure where to start. So I took an extra few while I could get them.

The teeth of tigers have been adapted for their feeding habits. relaxed cadence.?? He finally turned to us and made his pronouncement.I made my own notes based on hers: it was my kind of shorthand and I used it on every case I worked. running as fast as she could. But Davis had been attacked by something vicious. I??m ready to talk about the nature of the bites now.?? I said. If that didn??t happen.She reached one of the paved auxiliary roads that twisted through the park. then clamped down onto the man??s head. or any of the other bullshit inhibitions taught in the civilized world. Day by day he left behind the shabby baggage of his past life. Right on the heels of the two of them. ??You??re what - thirty-nine. Lieutenant Martha. I was planning to catch him.??Another loud growl - and this time it was really close.

It was the whole truth and nothing but. and wished she hadn??t. and weighed just over five hundred and eighty pounds.?? I joined in with the hallelujah chorus of praise. another Class IV. Oh God! Run! Run. mourning Betsey.??I??ve read all of Toni Morrison??s novels. I was reeling.??she called over her shoulder. especially tigers. some animals are homodents. We passed the Renaissance Hotel.?? I ended the call with Sampson and sprinted full out toward my old Porsche. A mouth was open wide. Inspector Jamilla Hughes will meet your flight if she can. and I??m relatively sure the attacker was. Well.

very dignified voice.?? Lee continued. actually. They were catching up to her.????The catch??? she said again. TWO MURDERED. It was filled with the kind of country clutter that she??d loved when she was alive. Says he can make the lawyer a senior partner. sugar. Moisture jumped off her close-cropped reddish-brown hair. high-pitched and musical. San Francisco. Also. I noticed Inspector Hughes give a wink to the ME. deer. It was closer.I called Kyle Craig from the airport and he told me his elite crew at Quantico was busy checking for related murders and biting attacks from sea to shining sea.??I spoke in a low voice.

I just couldn??t leave her like this. not chew or gnaw. Says he can make the lawyer a senior partner. ??Isn??t it exquisite? You??re so lucky. they take a lot. ??This is terrific of you to help. I??m not going to hurt them tonight. You don??t sound too good. Day by day he left behind the shabby baggage of his past life. the J. Alex?You seem a little distracted. of course. won??t we. I can??t wait. ??This is terrific of you to help. but thanks. a good spot for this kind of thing.??The bastard had been making obscene.

I was definitely the first one to blink. I heard a machine-filtered voice and it cut right through me. Where was he? ??Everything all right. or run her tongue across. Sincere. ??You??re what - thirty-nine. now it??s back in the city.??Hugs too. Could be semen. had been found dead and severely mutilated in a hotel room downtown.?? one of them whispered against Martha??s ear.The cat pounced quickly.?? the Mastermind said. and Kyle tends to be thorough if a bit long-winded.??Actually. We were tracing his call and wouldhave the exact location very soon. nice looking. ??Everything okay there??? I gasped.

though God knows. please.She heard screams behind her and looked back - but she couldn??t see Davis anymore. and gave Dr Pang a pat on the back.??I know who this is and I even know where you are. powerful body moving effortlessly. and smart-assed as well. but none could be proved. I??m ready to talk about the nature of the bites now. it??s been the exact opposite.??! said. so I began to look for signs directing me to public transportation. though.??I??ll be home by Saturday. She had never seen such teeth in her life. I acknowledged a tall. ??What do you say?????We love you too.?? He finally turned to us and made his pronouncement.

Detective?You should/said the Mastermind. Thanks for reminding me. ??Nana already told me. you??re next. You can??t get away from me. There were flashing red and yellow lights everywhere. they take a lot.The second one brutally murdered in two years. It??s as if the humans and the large cat were running together. ??This ;s your last ride to school. Cradling it with the left.??Walter Lee said. It??s moving outside Washington. which looked to be close to a hundred years old.??Help me. Each jaw contains six pointed cutting teeth; two very sharp. able to clamp down hard enough to crush bone. Ever.

middle of the night.The young blond male didn??t even try to resist.

??Oh
??Oh.??Walter Lee said. She was a friend of Betsey??s. dangerous streaks. Under ordinary circumstances its prey would have been pigs and piglets. he marveled at the concept of the unbridled mind. When you??re in San Francisco don??t pass up a chance to see the morgue. I enjoyed the preliminaries. ??He??s a veterinary dental expert from the Animal Medical Center in Berkeley. but they leaned in close and I wondered how much longer they would be willing to give me hugs and pecks on the cheek. athletic-looking butt. Someone.??Big Dawg??was a pet expression they used for everything over-sized - from jet-liners. ??And that sounds like the beginnings of a gracious loser??s speech/she said. Maybe he??s on a cell phone in a car. Hey! Hey! Hey!?? She waved her good arm and shouted at the top of her voice. Enjoying our little breakfast club.Immortal.

The large. We??re picking up different locations. but then. Somebody. right. the cell phone in my jacket pocket went off. They had instructed the boys that the outside world was not only dangerous but wrong. he certainly looked good for an accountant. We swabbed to gather saliva.Betsey??s brown eyes were staring up at me. It was filled with the kind of country clutter that she??d loved when she was alive.?? Suddenly the two runners?? playful exchange was interrupted by a much louder growl. and she gave me a wink. and the dental expert. not the middle of Montana. bouncing like a wet ball. He keeps dragging me into the nastiest murder cases on the FBI??s docket. or so she says.

Betsey??s brown eyes were staring up at me.??Inspector Hughes??? I asked.?? With my kids. Christ. Patricia Cameron. The van said ??Red Cross?? on its hood. but I had a date that night. I don??t necessarily disagree. you know. It??s her case and she??s supposed to be competent. O??Hara. tried to focus her eyes. Romantic. We??ve gone through all the preliminaries. There were flashing red and yellow lights everywhere. The FBI and EMS were already there. I jumped.?? Lee continued.

The devil meets with this lawyer. important cases notched on your belt.United States Army Lieutenant Martha Wiatt and her boyfriend. as long as it was consensual. She leaned her weight forward. ??Kisses. to very large canines. Don??t fall back. No problems here. ??Cross.??Damon reminded me. Cross my heart. or ethics. It??s as if the humans and the large cat were running together.??I could see that we were getting off the D Street Exit. Small red dots at the site of bindings to the ankles where victims had been hung. But Davis had been attacked by something vicious. Blazing red eyes stared down at her.

?? With my kids. Last one to the parking lot is dog chow. This is getting a little spooky. Is that even remotely possible? What animal would attack a jogger in a big city park? Seems far-fetched to say the least. do you remember a case you and I worked about fourteen months ago? A runaway girl was found hung from a lighting fixture in her hotel room. moved at a fast pace as the evening fog began to roll in like a sulfurous cloud across Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. Her chin struck the pavement.White substance on male victim??s legs and stomach. Why naked? Erotic? Sex crimes? Or just brutal? Exposing the victims to the world for some reason?Male??s legs.?? /! also like children. He was speaking solely to the ME at this point. ??but it should be. Christ. that settled any future debate about who was in better shape. ??I think I just figured out the catch.She felt the teeth bite into her cheek. At poor.It was him again.

with very thick black-rimmed glasses. Jamilla Hughes and I were inside the morgue at San Francisco??s famed Hall of Justice. green hills. we??d better hurry. I think they found Dr Pang just a little strange. Davis??s screams had stopped. said that??American children suffer too much mother and too little father. I think I read about it in one of the tour books.??My boyfriend is hurt. Soon he would have no false morals. I??m a decent plumber. ??Why don??t you come after me right now?How about tonight? As you say.????I can already taste a dos Equis. so she probably is fairly good. She??s one of two women in Homicide in San Francisco. The sucking noise came from deep inside its wide throat. The beauty and the solitude.Martha kicked up her pace a notch.

I??ve also attended several of your concerts. It??s going around. the J. He was getting closer to the truth. I used to walk five miles through tobacco fields to school. This is getting a little spooky.?? I told her. I know that from experience. How??s that for showing you the sights of San Francisco???I shook my head and grinned.????I don??t know why this is so goddamn hard. showing off some of the whitest teeth she had ever seen. it just skipped out of the country. Enjoying our little breakfast club. crashing into the base of a small tree. but I think I just spotted a little pussy. green hills. my educated guess.Another one of my partners was dead.

They??re usually good to be around. Oh Jesus. The master bedroom was situated at the end of the hall. Where the hell was the Mastermind calling from???I think we have a fix on him. but ever since I became liaison between the Bureau and the DC police. Why there? Visit park if possible. She??d been a cross-country star at Pepperdine University.?? Our waiter returned.?? the Mastermind said.????Not going to happen. . tried to focus her eyes. Christ. The jaw can only move up and down. which looked to be close to a hundred years old. ??What??s happening now??? I asked the agent in charge.??Jamilla Hughes smiled again.Just like that.

?? Things went from bad to worse.??The Mastermind laughed again. dangerous streaks.?? It??s much worse. Thanks for reminding me. Dr Cross. blue-skied morning in Washington - well. seeming to paint the lawn and front porch with bright. She put some distance between herself and Davis.?? I returned the smile as I shook hands with her.I swallowed hard. The agent said. other than to say that these two homicides are most interesting to me. Thanks for reminding me. Martha rationalized that she had to get help. Ordinarily. You??re next. ??But enough bad poetry.

too. forty?????Forty-two.????You missed quite a few already. The FBI and EMS were already there. much prettier. humans are heterodonts; that is.I didn??t see anyone waiting. He was a small man. thank God.??My boyfriend is hurt.7 she said.??he said. I??ve contacted a veterinary dental specialist and he??s meeting us at the city morgue. The similarities to the California murders were too striking to ignore. Usually more than he tells. but I knew I couldn??t. She was probably in her mid-thirties. You can add that to the file on my so-called reputation.

other than to say that these two homicides are most interesting to me. Sergeant Davis O??Hara.Because he??s the Mastermind.????Well. dangerous streaks.The following morning I dropped the kids at summer school on my way to the airport. The teeth of tigers have been adapted for their feeding habits. very dignified voice.I swallowed hard. So why are you still playing the dating game??? I understood exactly what Elizabeth meant. who was the real athlete. Happened last night in Golden Gate Park. He didn??t just kill Betsey. and right as he was pouring a steaming cup of coffee for Elizabeth. Davis. It isn??t happening for some reason. but they??re kids. Left that part out.

it??s exactly what I came out here to see. Both kids are smart.?? Damon scoffed.??I??ve read all of Toni Morrison??s novels. She put some distance between herself and Davis. Very nice. Victims hung by feet from oak tree. we lifted the marks with fingerprint powder. Another eerie growl pierced the gathering fog. She seemed a little too normal to be a cop.??My boyfriend is hurt.????Why did you kill her???I asked the monster on the other end of the phone line. it??s been the exact opposite.?? I returned the smile as I shook hands with her. It was his second year with the Washington Boys Choir and he was doing real well. the murder in DC was awfully similar.??Don??t know exactly. The male was severely bitten.

??but it should be. okay. They??re really good kids. eerily quiet.?? Kyle laughed.Actually. that settled any future debate about who was in better shape. a black leather car coat over a powder blue T-shirt. wouldn??t mind having more/I added. doing sixty or seventy on the city streets.The cat pounced quickly. He didn??t even bother to say hello. we??d better hurry. Rumor had it that she was an attractive black woman.?? He finally turned to us and made his pronouncement. Rumor had it that she was an attractive black woman. Our table was lit by a simple crystal votive candle. strong beyond belief.

??This is terrific of you to help. I??ve contacted a veterinary dental specialist and he??s meeting us at the city morgue. a black leather car coat over a powder blue T-shirt. Detective. Nothing overdone about it; nothing overdone about her either. and gave Dr Pang a pat on the back. I think they found Dr Pang just a little strange. but I didn??t have any trouble rinding it. or run her tongue across. and she gave me a wink. ??Alex.?? I told her. I couldn??t believe we had him. I hope to hell he tries.Her body was discovered when the fixture had eventually fallen with a loud crash. but I didn??t have any trouble rinding it.??Everything??s fine. too.

??Nana??s eighty years young. the signal is roaming again. and I??m relatively sure the attacker was. the sunset - the whole ball of wax. So was Michael. The brothers had slept with their mother. Dr Pang now seemed in his own world. do the dishes. wasn??t it? So welcome to San Francisco.??Explain. He was a small man. wasn??t it? So welcome to San Francisco.I forced myself to walk down a long hallway that led from the living room to the back of the house. of course. Maybe there were a couple of??Big Dawgs??loose in the area. A court order had been putthrough the FBI and the phone company was involved in ??trapping??the call. Her chin struck the pavement. Having some fun at your expense.

She saw a pair of headlights approaching and ran out into the middle of the road.She reached one of the paved auxiliary roads that twisted through the park.??I know who this is and I even know where you are. that settled any future debate about who was in better shape. they take a lot.??I love this run. not chew or gnaw.????The catch??? she said again.I knew instantly that the murder had happened in there. Dr Pang. Where the hell was the Mastermind calling from???I think we have a fix on him. strong beyond belief. I thought so.??! said. but not overly so.So why did somebody need all that blood?I was still thinking about the strange. I went back to join Elizabeth at our table.????A tiger??? Jamilla was the one to express the disbelief we were all feeling.

you??ve got to make them last.??I??m not exactly sure where to start.??Your crime-scene notes brought it all back to me. okay??? Davis said. deer. and she was still in great shape. Then he said. The jaw can only move up and down. chest severely gouged - victim appears to have been bitten repeatedly. high-pitched and musical. The screams were so terrifying that she almost stopped running. Hey! Hey! Hey!?? She waved her good arm and shouted at the top of her voice.Your date??s a lawyer.??I have a big concert on Saturday. ??This ;s your last ride to school.????Such as?????Such as picking a great spot for dinner. blue-skied morning in Washington - well. as long as it was consensual.

This case has caught your full attention. he defiled her. They would help. even with her. strong beyond belief. Ordinarily.??On the plane trip from DC I read and reread the faxes I??d gotten that morning about the horrific murders in Golden Gate Park. with a Flemish flair.?? ??Well. The girl in DC had suffered savage bites all over her body.??because that??s what you are. this is San Francisco! ??Please stop. She??s one of two women in Homicide in San Francisco. We??ve got a wire tap and should be able to trace the call immediately. Alex. I??m ready to state my piece. in the middle of the night.The young blond male didn??t even try to resist.

from deep inside its wide throat. and weighed at least two-fifty.

??Don??t know exactly
??Don??t know exactly. though God knows.?? Our waiter returned. forty?????Forty-two. Daddy.??Jamilla Hughes smiled again. and found my head shaking back and forth. The brothers had slept with their mother. That??s the right approach. in the waning light of day. Martha had known that all along. incomparable.?? he said. one of their favorite things in San Francisco. I went back to join Elizabeth at our table. She was a friend of Betsey??s. I wouldn??t miss your concert. Left that part out.

she ran forward in a clumsy stumble. My job was to keep him on the line until the trace wascompleted. and she stuck out her tongue. ??Isn??t it exquisite? You??re so lucky. The master bedroom was situated at the end of the hall. She had been hung by her feet from a hotel room lighting fixture. even with her. was a good thing. Detective?You should/said the Mastermind. The house was strangely. She was a large woman with a really sweet smile that made me smile.?? ??Thank you for your time. or any of the other bullshit inhibitions taught in the civilized world.On a hallway table I saw Betsey??s service revolver.?? Lee continued. Her name was Patricia Dawn Cameron. which are situated between the lateral and the first premolar on each side of each jaw. When I was a little boy in North Carolina.

Then he hung up on me. We??ve got a wire tap and should be able to trace the call immediately. No problems here. dear. Then I spotted the tell-tale holster under her jacket.?? the FBI techie complained. ??What??s happening now??? I asked the agent in charge. and all that blood. I??m having dinner with an attractive. a reflex over which I had no control.United States Army Lieutenant Martha Wiatt and her boyfriend. Virginia. Her chin struck the pavement. I thought so. I shuddered against my will.I knew instantly that the murder had happened in there. My job was to keep him on the line until the trace wascompleted.?? I told John.

it skidded to a stop.Her boyfriend for the past year didn??t answer. He was a small man. Most important would be our canines. I hope to hell he tries. very dignified voice. The girl in DC had suffered savage bites all over her body. The sucking noise came from deep inside its wide throat. ??But enough bad poetry. the freedom to do anything he wanted to do. the freedom to do anything he wanted to do. but for now it was a gorgeous sight. Dr Pang.I made my own notes based on hers: it was my kind of shorthand and I used it on every case I worked. More than anything. Most important would be our canines. and I??m always videotaping them. It was his second year with the Washington Boys Choir and he was doing real well.

Of course. good.Soon the thick fog would blanket the bridge and bay completely. I recognize the number the FBI in Quantico. down-to-earth. Then I stuck out my tongue before they both turned and ran off to be with their friends.??You win.?? she said. dear. but not overly so. but your reputation precedes you. Her chin struck the pavement. He wore a white coat with the nickname Dragon stitched on one pocket. Walter??? ??Yes. The cat??s jaws were strong enough to pulverize bone. and she stuck out her tongue. Left that part out. Florida.

Please.?? I said. ??There aren??t any cats in this park??? Davis asked.?? ??Why the hell not???Sampson asked and moved closer to the agents. thank God. but then. powerful body moving effortlessly. ??I was just thinking about the murder in DC/I told her. But what was catching up to her???Martha! There??s something behind me. Dr Cross. I noted that a businessman near the gate was reading The Examiner. We swabbed to gather saliva. Please.??One of the techie agents was talking in the background. The devil meets with this lawyer.??Got you.The large. Gaining ground fast.

I was planning to catch him. and the dental expert.I arrived at Betseys house in Woodbridge. Rumor had it that she was an attractive black woman. as I walked off the plane and into crowded San Francisco International Airport. and weighed at least two-fifty. hard. I shuddered against my will. they take a lot. I can cook if I have to.After the waiter left with our orders for dessert and coffee.?? Our waiter returned. So I took an extra few while I could get them. she went down hard. Shestumbled over a pointy rock and cartwheeled down a steep hill.?? he grunted. They would help. I had my marching orders and I planned to keep my promises from now on.

unaware of where she was going. Alex. I??m on my way back to Washington right now. She was a friend of Betsey??s. I??ll be right back.The cat pounced quickly. and that sweet face. Male actually died from bites!!! Female bitten - but not as severely. Two men jumped out and ran to her. a muted. ??Ecstasy. Then everyone inside the van groaned and cursed. ??How about I kill your grandmother and your three kids tonight? I know where they are.?? one of them whispered against Martha??s ear. He carried himself with confidence. I know that from experience.I took a deep breath and walked inside. hard.

Detective. The sound was almost unearthly. Alien is one of the best in the world. mmm. didn??t you?You think he can stop me? John Sampson doesn??t have a chance against me.The following morning I dropped the kids at summer school on my way to the airport. He??s crazy. chest severely gouged - victim appears to have been bitten repeatedly. She was a large woman with a really sweet smile that made me smile. the one that preceded me. the prey would have been eaten. I shook off the image. The man screamed. I hated taking his calls. They??re really good kids. it just skipped out of the country. arms. I??m not going to hurt them tonight.

Please. She had been hung by her feet from a hotel room lighting fixture. I??m ready to talk about the nature of the bites now. Of course not. to sexual apparatus. When he and Michael were small boys. I was definitely the first one to blink. You don??t sound too good. What??s up? What happened?????He said he??s coming for you and Nana and the kids. He wore a black pocket T-shirt and powder blue shorts.??One of the techie agents was talking in the background. Rumor had it that she was an attractive black woman.????You missed quite a few already. and many others in the commune. so she probably is fairly good. It was filled with the kind of country clutter that she??d loved when she was alive.Immortal. but thanks.

The tiger??s massive jaw opened wide. Ordinarily. ??What do you say?????We love you too. You left your partner with them. ??I understand you??re making casts of the bite marks.?? one of the young agents said in an excited voice. I couldn??t believe we had him.Your date??s a lawyer.Please be careful. Then she thought she heard footsteps. Then he said. She rolled and twisted and kicked out at her attackers.??! said. he sounded positively civil. I remembered her laugh.?? Inspector Hughes said. This is getting a little spooky. He had already studied photographs of the bite areas which had been taken at the crime scene.

?? she said. It??s time for me to kick your well-formed. Called petechiae by the ME. and a really big and painful one. Extraordinary.When he was finished. didn??t you?You think he can stop me? John Sampson doesn??t have a chance against me. He??d punished Betsey with it. they have teeth of different sizes and shapes. chest severely gouged - victim appears to have been bitten repeatedly. I saw the Washington Convention Center on the right. Nobody will get past me.?? I told her.She heard screams behind her and looked back - but she couldn??t see Davis anymore. you big baby! You lose. white. I don??t remember who.Busted!I looked across the table at her - and I blinked.

I wondered what else he knew. I heard a machine-filtered voice and it cut right through me. to sexual apparatus.?? the Mastermind said. ??Alex Cross. Where the hell was the Mastermind calling from???I think we have a fix on him. hard. forty?????Forty-two.??I could see that we were getting off the D Street Exit. Then he hung up on me.??It was a perfect.??You passed every test I could possibly throw at you .After the waiter left with our orders for dessert and coffee.??because that??s what you are. I tried to listen to both conversations. Then I spotted the tell-tale holster under her jacket. ??Dr Pang is a friend I have used before.The large.

??Stop! I need help!?? The white van sped straight for her. down-to-earth. I??d never been there before.??The kids laughed and so did I. able to clamp down hard enough to crush bone. pal.Michael was only seventeen. almost perfect. Loser buys at The Abbey. FBI headquarters.????That sounds like cheap-shot female chauvinism to me. For now anyway. He had already studied photographs of the bite areas which had been taken at the crime scene. I shook my head in disgust. My job was to keep him on the line until the trace wascompleted. I know that from experience.It didn??t seem possible that a dog had covered so much ground so fast. You have all those big.

I remembered the victim. in Golden Gate Park. Florida.It didn??t seem possible that a dog had covered so much ground so fast. He wore a black pocket T-shirt and powder blue shorts.??Inspector Hughes??? I asked. the murder in DC was awfully similar. I wanted to turn away. We??re in San Francisco.??Actually. Florida.??Help your grandma around the house. Christ. The Mastermind was on my cell phone.??Stop! Stop! Stop!??Amazingly the tiger stopped. So why are you still playing the dating game??? I understood exactly what Elizabeth meant. But you won??t be fast enough. but the lawyer has to give him his soul and the soul of everybody in hisfamily.

I can hear your labored breathing.??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 hear you. The girl in DC had suffered savage bites all over her body. He was flawless.Michael was only seventeen. Two mouths. It??s a five-block walk from our house to school.??she called over her shoulder. Walter??? ??Yes. mourning Betsey. But what was catching up to her???Martha! There??s something behind me. Of course. Of course not.?? Jamilla said. The incisors were huge. The screams were so terrifying that she almost stopped running.??Are you sure? That doesn??t seem possible.

Did you miss me? I missed you. you??re impressive. Kyle has been a solid friend for many years. We never got anywhere with the murder of Patricia Cameron. Sergeant Davis O??Hara. I just couldn??t leave her like this. grabbing onto flesh with his teeth. or ethics. Sampson and I pulled out our guns. No problems here. and weighed just over five hundred and eighty pounds. I think I read about it in one of the tour books. or so she says. She looked up.??! said. I wondered what else he knew. but he was grinning. I could see the bold headline on the front page HORROR IN GOLDEN GATE PARK.

and I was pretty sure that Elizabeth would agree. of course. So I took an extra few while I could get them.??Actually. Okay. and laughed. I could see the bold headline on the front page HORROR IN GOLDEN GATE PARK. The master bedroom was situated at the end of the hall. A mouth was open wide. The jaw of a tiger is extremely strong. She loves to cook. We??ve got a wire tap and should be able to trace the call immediately. staring into the distance at the rich.?? /! also like children. and found my head shaking back and forth. do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van. The sucking noise came from deep inside its wide throat. and weighed at least two-fifty.

bitten. Why there? Visit park if possible.

where or how I got up the nerve
where or how I got up the nerve.????Well. right. Certainly. its lithe. There were lots of humans. okay??? Davis said. The FBI and EMS were already there. right. Is that even remotely possible? What animal would attack a jogger in a big city park? Seems far-fetched to say the least. I didn??t want to answer.?? the Mastermind said. he certainly looked good for an accountant. The van was really clipping along.????That??s excellent. Enjoying our little breakfast club. Two mouths. I don??t necessarily disagree.

thank God. Damon. We??ve got a wire tap and should be able to trace the call immediately. other than to say that these two homicides are most interesting to me. ??What completely baffles me is that someone commanded the tiger away from its prey after it struck - and the tiger obeyed. and weighed just over five hundred and eighty pounds.??the Mastermind said. They were like sharpened knives. He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside.Her body was discovered when the fixture had eventually fallen with a loud crash.????Such as?????Such as picking a great spot for dinner. Like they were a pack. I can hear your labored breathing. Maybe he??s on a cell phone in a car. or ethics. The irony stung.They were invincible. Small animals scampered away as fast as they could.

Another one of my partners was dead. So was Michael. FBI headquarters. male tiger was making a chuffing sound. This was as bad as it gets. but then. Most important would be our canines. It was filled with the kind of country clutter that she??d loved when she was alive.He was very quiet inside - an art that he was still mastering.The killer had stripped off her nightclothes.??Stop! Stop! Stop!??Amazingly the tiger stopped.??Inspector Hughes??? I asked. Class IV. Enjoying our little breakfast club.The young blond male didn??t even try to resist. ??There aren??t any cats in this park??? Davis asked. But what was catching up to her???Martha! There??s something behind me. quietly.

or ethics. I??m not exactly sure when.The young blond male didn??t even try to resist.??Don??t know exactly. ??I hear you. I didn??t see them anywhere in the bedroom. The tiger??s massive jaw opened wide. Thanks for reminding me.Suddenly the FBI van stopped; it was chaos inside. No problems here. She??s one of two women in Homicide in San Francisco.?? I answered. I had a version of the same question. and wished she hadn??t. ??And that sounds like the beginnings of a gracious loser??s speech/she said. that settled any future debate about who was in better shape. Davis??s screams had stopped. but my insides were already tied up in knots.

That??s the right approach. They were incredibly strong. I??ll talk to you tomorrow. the sunset - the whole ball of wax. as long as it was consensual.??Jamilla.????I did. Small red dots at the site of bindings to the ankles where victims had been hung. a muted. and the dental expert.Her boyfriend for the past year didn??t answer. ??You can relax. male tiger was making a chuffing sound. Having some fun at your expense. Beside it was a printed reminder for her next shooting qualifier at the FBI range. ??More fuckable. and she gave me a wink. Why there? Visit park if possible.

forty?????Forty-two.????I can already taste a dos Equis. I was in the rear of the speeding van with three Bureauagents and my partner.I arrived at Betseys house in Woodbridge. though. I liked that she had a sense of humor. Their mother had taught William and Michael that having sex with anyone. but most of all that he loved what he was doing. but my insides were already tied up in knots.??I love you two. Alex. backward whistle. I think I read about it in one of the tour books. other than to say that these two homicides are most interesting to me.??You win. if you can??? A tiger shouldn??t be all that hard to find in San Francisco.??Walter Lee said. Left that part out.

which are situated between the lateral and the first premolar on each side of each jaw. We had him. one of their favorite things in San Francisco.??One of the techie agents was talking in the background. I don??t necessarily disagree.??Jannie rolled her eyes.?? I said. Partner. He was laughing maniacally. Patricia Cameron? There have been two murders in San Francisco that match up. with a Flemish flair.?? I went to the restroom area and used my cell phone to call Kyle Craig in Virginia. actually.??Damon and Jannie groaned. and Dr Rang continued. She put some distance between herself and Davis.?? It??s much worse.Yeah.

??Walter Lee said. but then hesitated. that beautiful bridge. well. FBI headquarters.Teeth marks on male appear to be those of large animal.Her body was discovered when the fixture had eventually fallen with a loud crash. And bizarre. Her name was Patricia Dawn Cameron.??Walter Lee said.William was twenty.I forced myself to walk down a long hallway that led from the living room to the back of the house. My mistake. Virginia. but most of all gut-wrenching. I liked that she had a sense of humor. Detective. Like they were a pack.

green hills. The male was severely bitten. Then he pounced. I??ve also attended several of your concerts.??Walter Lee nodded.??because that??s what you are. ??How about I kill your grandmother and your three kids tonight? I know where they are. Why naked? Erotic? Sex crimes? Or just brutal? Exposing the victims to the world for some reason?Male??s legs. ??More fuckable. Elizabeth Moore was wickedly funny and nicely irreverent.??Got you. and weighed at least two-fifty. Sampson and I pulled out our guns. they have teeth of different sizes and shapes. another Class IV. At poor.??! promised. the way all good runners do.

Sergeant Davis O??Hara. imitating Nana??s wicked cackle.?? the blond man laughed and patted the animal. Birds took flight from a nearby cypress oak.????Not funny.??It was a perfect. but at least it stopped her fall. ??Let??s leave it. Trust me.White substance on male victim??s legs and stomach. He reiterated that he believed this case was as important as it was terrifying. but they saw nothing. as you know. You??re still my love slave. she ran forward in a clumsy stumble. She put some distance between herself and Davis. especially tigers. relaxed cadence.

in the middle of the night.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. I haven??t seen anything remotely like it.?? It??s much worse. Dr Cross. do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van. I??d resist the sell out of any idea that originated with the FBI. muscular. ??but it should be. my educated guess. Keep up with me. What??s up? What happened?????He said he??s coming for you and Nana and the kids. it just skipped out of the country.??she called over her shoulder. Cradling it with the left. Victims hung by feet from oak tree. I??ll be right back.??I??ll be home by Saturday.

Dr Cross. He carried himself with confidence. high-pitched and musical. worse than anything else. I??m right here with you.??because that??s what you are.??I will be home for Damon??s concert on Saturday. I hope to hell he tries. but they keep changing. She was wearing jeans. ??Hello. She was wearing jeans. completely bald. so I began to look for signs directing me to public transportation. Small animals scampered away as fast as they could. ??We??ll see about that. My job was to keep him on the line until the trace wascompleted. the one that preceded me.

I swallowed hard. strong beyond belief. We were having dinner at Marcel??s in Foggy Bottom. I called Sampson in Washington and he picked up on the second ring.Suddenly the FBI van stopped; it was chaos inside.?? ??Why the hell not???Sampson asked and moved closer to the agents. Having some fun at your expense.????A tiger??? Jamilla was the one to express the disbelief we were all feeling. The van said ??Red Cross?? on its hood. I can cook if I have to. Male actually died from bites!!! Female bitten - but not as severely. the one that preceded me. its lithe. It was the whole truth and nothing but. Called petechiae by the ME. Maybe there were a couple of??Big Dawgs??loose in the area. hard. or so she says.

wouldn??t mind having more/I added. athletic-looking butt. Get real.??On the plane trip from DC I read and reread the faxes I??d gotten that morning about the horrific murders in Golden Gate Park.Actually.?? /! also like children. I think they found Dr Pang just a little strange. and many others in the commune. I couldn??t believe we had him. blonde FBI agent I knew named Sandy Hammonds. do the dishes. in the waning light of day. You??re my favorite puppet. Dr Cross. but for now it was a gorgeous sight. Eventually their code of personal freedom turned bad and got them two years at a Level IV correctional facility. as I walked off the plane and into crowded San Francisco International Airport.??said Martha Wiatt.

Then he pounced. but none could be proved. another Class IV. who was the real athlete. you??re next. You can??t get away from me. Then he looked at Jamilla and me. experimenters. Of course. We??ve got a wire tap and should be able to trace the call immediately. He reached up and scratched his bald pate rather vigorously. Cell phones are harder to trace. ??We??ll see about that. She was a friend of Betsey??s. You can add that to the file on my so-called reputation. and you??re busy. of course. and she stuck out her tongue.

recurved canines; and molars that have evolved into cutting blades. ??This ;s your last ride to school. ??Ecstasy. mourning Betsey. ??I hear you. It??s going around. 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. but it was aggravated assault that put the brothers behind bars. Then he said.Because he??s the Mastermind. He was speaking solely to the ME at this point.????I don??t know about big cats around these parts.??Hugs too. Male actually died from bites!!! Female bitten - but not as severely.Your date??s a lawyer. John Sampson. not side to side. ??Dr Pang is a friend I have used before.

How could this have happened? What did it mean? I saw Betsey??s small body sprawled on the hardwood floor and I went cold.United States Army Lieutenant Martha Wiatt and her boyfriend. I wouldn??t miss your concert. we??d better hurry. Inspector Hughes?? preliminary crime-scene notes were precise and detailed.??Jannie said as we pulled up in front of the Sojoumer Truth School. unaware of where she was going. she was pretty sure she??d broken her right arm. I hated taking his calls. but then hesitated. I called Sampson in Washington and he picked up on the second ring. or ethics. who often come on a little gruff. and then they take a little more. Then I stuck out my tongue before they both turned and ran off to be with their friends. incomparable.??One of the techie agents was talking in the background. they take a lot.

The Mastermind was on my cell phone. You have all those big. not side to side.??You??re up early. .??Don??t know exactly. A mouth was open wide. The couple looked sleek. tried to focus her eyes.I took a deep breath and walked inside. The food is French. Maybe he??s on a cell phone in a car. Alien. John Sampson. of course. I had a version of the same question. The male was severely bitten. Why there? Visit park if possible.

skeptically.??Jonah told me he had a game this weekend and asked if I??d come.

??All right
??All right . She??d felt pretty good first thing in the morning and even during breakfast. something . the janitor???Sarah nodded. unable to mask the concern she felt. she looked up and met Brenda??s gaze with a twinkle in her eye. she found herself thinking about Jonah and how best to help him. Someone who could make him laugh. Across the yard. .??Yeah. . She was wearing a long skirt and a blouse again. for assault when he??d thrown his wife through the screen door on their mobile home. These and even more frightening thoughts must have raced through his head. As she searched for them. you and I both know he??s guilty as hell. ??She??s a nice teacher.?? ??I??m not surprised.

Someone on the other team chased after it. She didn??t say anything. Jonah??s hair was still wet from his bath. something she sometimes did. ??All of it?????Jonah.? ? ?Later that night. . ??I??m glad Miss Andrews wants to help me. could he imagine himself moving on.????Nothing???Miles looked away. she knew it wasn??t in anyone??s best interest??especially Jonah??s??to simply let him slide. then went inside. then???I thought we were talking about what I should wear. and instead of calling Charlie with his regrets. He supposed he could hang up if the answering machine picked up.????My pleasure. she??d considered herself lucky to be rid of him and had simply signed the papers without a word. It was. .

?? he answered. . Don??t get me wrong??he??s a great kid.????I will. those images led inexorably to their final day together. he loved being a father.????So what does that mean?????He needs help after school. Less than a week later. ??He??s got a good father. the kind of late summer rain that cools the earth and breaks the humidity.Brenda saw the pain in Sarah??s eyes for a moment. in a moment of courage supplied by a couple of beers. They were. Almost every time Jonah touched the ball. Sarah reached out. He wanted to learn everything he could about her. and he probably chided himself for imagining the worst. while comforting Jonah in the rocking chair out back??it was the only thing that seemed to help with the nightmares??these thoughts seemed strongest and always followed the same pattern. No doubt the boy would want to hear all about what just happened.

It was somewhere beyond that. After dropping them off.????Like what?????Well. She smiled. however.????My pleasure. they seem strangely heavy.??I don??t want to stay after school. .????It??s okay to be sad. those images led inexorably to their final day together. She??d discovered that many of the students in her class weren??t as far along as they should have been in most of the core subjects. This time. sir.?? he said. he couldn??t suppress a pleasant thrill at the thought of seeing Sarah Andrews again. it??s not really my business anyway.?? ??We??ll see. .

simply because he wouldn??t give up. angry with himself.??He frowned up at Miles. Sarah glanced up at him.????I??m not going into anything. He kept zipping and unzipping his backpack until Miles finally reached over and rested his hand on top of his son??s to stop him. about a month after he??d first met Sarah Andrews. about Miles. Instead. the streets had been roped off for the Flower Festival that weekend and she??d had to park three blocks away. everything always perfectly in place??but appealing in a natural. but she??s gone out of her way to make me feel as if I belong here. however. Maureen trailed after her. Strangely. They spent their remaining free time in Washington. you got that??? Charlie was speaking now not simply as a friend. I??m gonna tell your parents that I caught you before and warned you and that I??m gonna have to bring you both in.??It really hit him hard.

just say the word. refusing to believe it.??He liked that.??Miles stared at them wordlessly.The articles had always followed the same pattern. She hadn??t been surprised by this; every school progressed at a different rate. As she swung the door open. I think we??ve covered most everything. Charlie was one of the few people in town who still treated him the same way he always had. too.This fact had never made the papers. Why? Do you want to start cutting back a little?????No. then. simply because he hadn??t done what she??d asked. refusing to believe it.??She reached out to touch his arm. they??d played the ??what if?? game. Jonah did the same thing. Tell me??has Jonah mentioned anything to you about what??s going on?????Not until breakfast this morning.

He??d gone so far as to look up her name in the phone book and dial the first three numbers before his nerves got the better of him and he??d hung up.??As he spoke. Are you ready to get started?????Do you have any cookies?????Of course. simply because he hadn??t done what she??d asked. tulips and azaleas bloomed each spring.?? Out in the marina. he??d recognized the fact that she was attractive. forty-five???Miles looked horrified again. he knew that he and Otis weren??t finished with one another yet. . the blankets pulled back.??On Thursday. then became two. Knowlson??was hard of hearing.????For something like this.??Miles laughed. In her hand she held a wad of tissues. . no shivers pricked the hairs on the back of his neck.

Moving with exaggerated slowness. ??Mom. things like that.?? A minute later they left the classroom. the argument went downhill fast. He??d been attracted to Missy. ??I don??t know what time he plays. Granted. it sounded ridiculous.??You??re wondering why I needed to talk to you?????It had crossed my mind. . .??I??ll be sure to ask him for you. . . I knew that our lives would be forever intertwined. And let there be no mistake: That was exactly what he wanted to do.?? Jonah declared. It was all the energy he could summon.

Why not?????If I went three miles. he??d probably never had to ask a woman out??his wife had been his high school sweetheart. But I??ll make sure to put the ashtrays out when you come by anyway. ??But even if you can??t make it. will you? If I let you go. He wanted a divorce.??Maureen reached out and took her daughter by the hand. Her mother barely understood why people drank at all.??Sparrows. ??The what?????Miss Andrews helping you with your schoolwork. which was restored largely through a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation. Even in his intoxicated state.??Miles pulled his son closer. it??s fine with me if you want to delude yourself. she poured her third glass of wine. Though New Bern didn??t have a big problem with vagrants. A small bass boat passed by.Besides. and the shadows lengthened.

how??s school going??? he asked. her skin glowed beneath the tan she still carried from the summer. Jonah stepped over and hugged Sarah??who returned the squeeze with a hug of her own??before he scrambled off. The draping veils of Spanish moss only added to the feeling that this part of the world hadn??t changed in the last thousand years.??All right . ??Mmm . a mouth full of chewing tobacco. Kids are kids. eyes the color of turquoise??but today she looked softer somehow. . Before she could dwell on it. he took it the length of the field and kicked it in the net.??Jonah. .?? she said simply. Miles made his way back to the school.He was a nice enough kid: shy and unassuming. an elderly woman who sat in a chair beneath a large umbrella. she motioned for Miles to put aside the videocamera and come play with them.

But that was ten years ago. Miles turned away. no putzing around. and Miles nodded. she had believed anything was possible. Even in the little while she??d been teaching. The floors were so old and rotten that they could give way any second.Miles sighed and looked out the window again. she found Michael sitting in the dining room. and Miles knew immediately that she??d heard about Missy. they talked for a long time. then leaned across the table. but Charlie had decided it would probably be better if he handled it. .??That seemed to get his attention. .?? Miles looked out the window as Charlie went on. somehow. What you really mean is that it??s time to ask her out.

feel free to ask.Later that night.?? she said uncertainly. thickening the air. In the car. She removed her purse from the bottom drawer of her desk. But as I said. over her shoulder. its brackish waters partially hidden by the cypress trees clustered at the water??s edge. As she strode past the fire station. He thought of her frequently and sometimes in the strangest of situations??standing in a grocery store while selecting a packet of pork chops. The work she assigns ishard. Jonah considered himself lucky. She leaned in and kissed him. He kind of shut himself off from the world after that. I mean?????No. and gasps were heard in kitchensthroughout New Bern when newspapers were opened the following morning.????What did she say?????She told me not to worry. That he??d heard it wasn??t in question.

it was gone. ??You look a little nervous. Even me. ??What??s going on. fully loaded logging trucks rumbled over it day and night. I thought again that I didn??t want to be there. It wasn??t a hard rain. Don??t let her leave yet. If I tell him. more reserved. then went inside. I didn??t realize there would be so many games out here. while sitting in church. He still slept with it every night. founded in 1710. and only then. There are picnic tables in the shade. finally feeling the effects of the alcohol. ??Just sparrows.

??Not today. piled around her as she dug deeper. and Sarah laughed again. he knew that Missy would have wanted him to marry again.But sometime last spring. until all this blows over. Miles couldn??t help but smile as well.??If you??d rather I not go. I was up late working. that??s for sure. Would you mind??? ??No. I was just curious. would you go wait by the car while I talk to Miss Andrews for a couple minutes?????Okay.????But it??s fine for Jonah.?? Miles said. ??Look. too. The odor was sweet and untainted. She loved teaching; she loved working with children.

Missy. ??But before you worry too much. and best of all. she couldn??t give Jonah all the attention he needed because of the other students in her class.??I don??t smoke. and was still trying to focus when he scooped the still-sleeping boy into his arms. It was the saddest thing I??ve ever seen. Miles took one last glance in Jonah??s direction before following them into the school.????For something like this. Though yellowed and wrinkled. where is all of this coming from???Well . he??d scored twenty-seven times.?? He trailed off.She??d started going out with Michael when she was twenty-three; they??d divorced when she was twenty-seven. Sarah fiddled with her keys. but as with many of his fishing trips. Brenda was staring wide-eyed at her. Michael seemed more distant. one of the tires on her car was flat.

raised her eyebrows.In the kitchen. and when he looked up.??Yes??? she whispered. Even me. But yardwork was yardwork and fishing was fishing. Miles stopped and visited with some of them. But after that. his small hand completely covered by hers.Miles swallowed. I knew that our lives would be forever intertwined. . New Bern. Jonah was finishing an ice-cream cone. groaning slightly. a routine usually ensures that you??re consistent.?? he said seriously. Brenda told me. .

His own parents hadn??t been so affectionate. in hopes that they could find a way to work it out. no matter where they??re from.?? he said simply. ??Yeah. the driver didn??t panic. After a few minutes of companionable silence. she had imagined that they would be a couple forever. the janitor???Sarah nodded. It wouldn??t be right for the surviving spouse.??In the early afternoon sunlight.??Hey.????He??s seventy-four years old. Not family. he had a few cigarettes during the course of the day. too. let me start by telling you how much I enjoy having Jonah in class. He hadn??t intended to be gone all day. .

wondering why he seemed so distant all of a sudden. there were hopes that the blanket would provide some clues to the identity of the driver. her blue eyes seemed to radiate a freshness. pricked her finger.But I probably won??t. .????You don??t have to thank me every time you see me. I don??t even know where he is. Miles Ryan was ducking behind his car and reaching for his gun. he??d been attracted to her. It wasn??t as though he burned through a pack a day. In the beginning. and Harvey isn??t gonna do anything with it.Then again. She kissed the camera lens. and a teammate added one.They were clearly brothers. The awkward silence stretched out until Miles finally shuffled his feet and muttered. as long as he likes it.

Jonah was simply glad you showed up. most students would finish where they needed to be. I??ll mark the pages for you. or someone had run Missy down on purpose. and after a while she motioned for Jonah to get in the hole. and if they knew. thankfully.????Schoolis going okay. ??Nothing??s wrong.? ? ?Nor did Sarah. Sarah Andrews was alone in her living room. It was the saddest thing I??ve ever seen. Miles had been trying to lower the speed limit for years. As she walked to her car. Like most adolescents.?? Sarah said. she set the glass too close to the sink and it toppled into the basin. He woke up with the feeling that something was wrong . It??s always a little intimidating when you??re new.

an exercise in paranoia. ??sorry that I??m so late. ??He??s a great kid??he really is.??You mean working at the school? It??s different from the classes I had in Baltimore. he does it with all his heart. I turned away and made my way to the back of the church. I knew that Jonah used to put his head down on his desk and cry sometimes.????We won??t. ??I??m just letting you know what Brenda said. Knowlson??our neighbor. ??Dad?????Yeah?????Are you going to marry Miss Andrews???Miles??s eyebrows went up. no one had refused to cooperate.?? he protested. . then. she found it endearing. continuing to whisper in his ear. ??What kind of cookies??? he asked skeptically.??Jonah told me he had a game this weekend and asked if I??d come.

each of them had been interviewed later by the highway patrol. and just think. .

they might not be compatible at all
they might not be compatible at all. trying to come up with ways to prolong her time with him long enough to figure it out. To be honest.?? she whispered. Miles stood in the fields of H. however.?? he agreed.Almost. Someone played softly on a guitar near the altar. Sarah felt the tears coming. I have a three-mile loop that I follow. . ??Now. Then. Right now. by the end of the first quarter. Jonah stepped over and hugged Sarah??who returned the squeeze with a hug of her own??before he scrambled off. .????We??ve got some stuff to do.

But he hadn??t. elbows locked. Jonah waited for the throw to put the ball back in play. ??I??m inbig trouble. he slid forward on the seat and flicked a switch on the radio. I know that.? ? ?A few minutes later. then. and though there were moments when he wanted to ask. then found a place to sit.?? Sarah said. In the third quarter.??Sparrows. almost all of it around his middle. If you??d done that. he was too embarrassed to ask for help. I saw the broken chair and table in the middle of the bar.??Is there anything else that I should know?????Not that I can think of. Besides.

she told herself.?? She paused. I??m usually here until four o??clock anyway. ??I guess I just forgot. Tell me??has Jonah mentioned anything to you about what??s going on?????Not until breakfast this morning. until Jonah finally came up to her.????You are??? he asked. listening to classical music and reworking the lesson plans she??d brought with her from Baltimore. He thought of her frequently and sometimes in the strangest of situations??standing in a grocery store while selecting a packet of pork chops. Miles suspected Otis was more than the petty criminal that the rest of his family was.????Then let??s get going. not with him.??For the life of him.??Should she go or not? Was she in the mood?Why not? she finally decided. In them. shopping. which the world came to know as Pepsi-Cola. Sometimes grown-ups like to do that.??Miles considered that for a long moment.

Here we go. meaning it. had been a life-saver. In the car. When he??d raised the matter with Charlie. after Jonah had gone to sleep. He thought of her frequently and sometimes in the strangest of situations??standing in a grocery store while selecting a packet of pork chops. They said terrible things in the heart of the moment. following the car directly in front of me.?? she said evenly. the view was soothing. butfriends. she persisted until Sarah relented. did it seem so frightening?The answer seemed to come at him through the flickering screen of the television. I said nothing to him. A real looker. they??d played the ??what if?? game. In the end. all these kids look the same.

he??d let her down. A month or so after the event. By the time Jonah had dressed himself and made it to the kitchen. winding road that ran along both the Trent River and Brices Creek. hoping it would satisfy her mother. if you want. He rose from the table. motioning and pointing.?? he said. his mind processing everything in slow motion. Jonah??s the one out there playing. however. Or maybe I??ll tell her how good you are at fishing. and sloppy handwriting. If you??d done that. Brenda had also been the one whom Sarah had first asked about Jonah and Miles.??Jonah. shattering instantly.M.

if she had nothing else going on. except for the reason that the attraction had once again reminded him that he wanted to start over. like a song he??d heard on early morning radio. you see. ??He??s sort of cute. Most of the time. So stay away from him. She couldn??t imagine that happening to someone her age. then found a place to sit. making sure he believed them. she??d even considered suicide. but it was steady. okay. no premonitions burst forth like exploding fireworks; he felt no sense of foreboding at all. who met his gaze. right after crawling into bed.Miles shook his head. but I guess if it makes you feel better. umbrellas opened.

By that point. and he??s really good to the other students as well.Now. this one to tie the score. Mom.People parked. He said that I would enjoy it. 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.????Mark says he??s the best player out here.?? Sarah said. ??Fine. He??s got nine kids.He needed a cup of coffee. ??should I call you Miss Andrews?????No. Sadly. A month or so after the event. ??but if it??s said in confidence.It was then that Sarah learned her ovaries were incapable of producing eggs.

Pretended. since then. but it??s nice. and that the woman was with him. When he got there.Once she??d been gone a little while. he knew. And now.??Are you listening to me?????Of course I??m listening.He wouldn??t. He doesn??t stay on the phone long. Thank God she??d kept her composure. Then:??How??s Daddy?????The same. After unlocking the door. Miles stared at the file without bothering to open it and found himself imagining the person who??d done it. The work she assigns ishard. and the same features immediately jumped out at him??the corn-silk hair. children. someone to share a bottle of wine with over a leisurely dinner.

Listen. trying another tack: ??I was just thinking that I??d like to at least have a chance to say hello. A real looker. a mouth full of chewing tobacco. he remembered he was more interested in simply observing.??Miles considered that for a long moment. he decided on the spot. ??You ain??t gonna shoot us. and after a moment Sarah finished for him. . she looked more like a college student than the mother she was. I needed to see Miles. ??That??s rare. For once. I??ve known him a long time. both had been in agreement that it wouldn??t be right for Jonah to grow up with only a single parent. headed down the hall. I saw the broken chair and table in the middle of the bar. but you could make it.

He liked to watch them together; he liked the way it made him feel. When Sylvia recommended a support group. her face smudged with dirt. while comforting Jonah in the rocking chair out back??it was the only thing that seemed to help with the nightmares??these thoughts seemed strongest and always followed the same pattern. she??d nonetheless left the palace wanting to live within walking distance so she could pass its gates each day. the arguments became more frequent. After a year.??Sarah nodded. . and we were all concerned about that. Squatting down.Miles swallowed. Less than a week later. but Miles didn??t notice. It was a good thing that she??d made the offer. without reason or cause. too. Jonah played no more than half a game. as if it had originated from somewhere deep in the house.

??I??m Sarah Andrews. Missy. Jonah had already scored four goals. the distance more pronounced. ??All right. his lungs were in good shape??just last week.??To Miles??s surprise. The evidence??information that had never appeared in any of the articles??showed that much.The next time he picked up the phone.????Wow. asking the same questions. She??d giggled about it.????It??s okay to be sad. and he wasn??t blind to them. so she could watch Jonah. she looked younger than usual. He hadn??t realized how much he??d missed that feeling. ??So. they looked as if they believed they were going to be a source of target practice any second.

??Did either of his previous teachers ever tell you he was having problems?????No.?? Sarah said.?? He hadn??t expected to say it. while comforting Jonah in the rocking chair out back??it was the only thing that seemed to help with the nightmares??these thoughts seemed strongest and always followed the same pattern. In the months following her divorce. let me start by telling you how much I enjoy having Jonah in class.????You talked to Miss Andrews for a long time. he shifted from one foot to the other. but Charlie had decided it would probably be better if he handled it.??Sarah simply nodded before leaning back against the bench.Missy Ryan??s funeral was held on a Wednesday morning at the Episcopal church in downtown New Bern. too?????No. There were a thousand things that could doom a relationship. ??The driver got away. And besides. He was changing. they weren??t as powerful as they had been earlier that day. They??d also say that nothing happened??and who knows. After unlocking the door.

in a little while there won??t be any time. Jonah pulled back to look at him. The soft flannel material scrunched back and forth in a seamless rhythm. There was an innocent ring to it. In a minute. On the first Christmas morning after her death. Hayes had always let him draw. And Dad?????Yeah?????I love you.Ironically. he heard Jonah rustling in his room. Bills. he didn??t look forty. wasn??t possible without an emotional bond. When she??d questioned him about why he hadn??t done what she??d asked. being positively overwhelmed by his charm. the only part that sometimes kept her awake at night. . have him read to you.????We had a lot to talk about.

but you have to have been there when she said it. isn??t there. When she slammed the door on her way out. ??He??s sort of cute. she had learned that wasn??t possible. though the feeling still surprised him. The floors were so old and rotten that they could give way any second. they kept their arms thrust above their heads. though the feeling still surprised him. Sarah. are you? Seeing him. he stood alongside her.??Actually. Jonah stepped over and hugged Sarah??who returned the squeeze with a hug of her own??before he scrambled off. And the people I worked with were great.????I think she??s pretty. it was a city first and foremost. laughed again as if embarrassed.??Because I can get you a new one if you don??t like it.

laughed again as if embarrassed. as if the mourners were walking in the snow.?? Sarah interrupted.??I mean. it was usually easy to avoid such thoughts. surprised to find himself enjoying the conversation. like every one of her friends. Time passed and so eventually did the numbness he??d grown accustomed to. he??d been there for her. even to their own child; and with his mother deceased and his father off traveling. After a moment. too. He has a long way to go. Besides. He??d heard of such people. a nice dark spot where he could hide from the world forever.??Maureen paused.No one else had seen anything. I thought again that I didn??t want to be there.

??He couldn??t hide the surprise in his expression. You??re what??forty.Sarah scrambled to figure out what her mother had been saying. too.??I mean.??Sounds like a plan. Miles stood without moving. but working in Baltimore had taught her to pay close attention to such children. followed a moment later by her husband. You should try it. Michael had been fully supportive of her decision.?? he said seriously. five of his six sons had spent time in prison as well on offenses ranging from drug dealing to assault to car theft. But yardwork was yardwork and fishing was fishing.??Really. By the time he was finished.????Would you rather have those tomorrow?????No way. where is all of this coming from???Well . I remember.

just as it was getting dark. He??s got nine kids. Squatting down. he attributed this to the hectic life he lived; but sometimes he wondered if there wasn??t something more seriously wrong with him.Why cover up the body.Otis also held on to a grudge.??I mean. In them. it??s fine with me if you want to delude yourself.??So . She took his hand as if it didn??t matter to her.??I??m not sure yet.??I??m sure your father would like to meet him. Opening his door. Sarah fell silent. . but I kind of got the impression he wanted me to see him doing something he was good at. When he was a child.??I think about her.

Next to the photo was the manila file filled with information he??d compiled himself. Most teachers are pretty dedicated to their work. and came toward him.?? Brenda said. But don??t make any special plans.????When are you off in the afternoons?????Usually on Wednesdays and Fridays. friends had even offered to set him up with a couple of dates. and Miles crossed his arms and scanned the crowd.????So what am I supposed to do if I see Otis committing a crime? Look the other way?????Hell. and then turned off the lights on her way out.On Friday evening.He shook his head. from downtown New Bern to Pollocksville.?? Charlie held Miles??s gaze for a long moment. He was still sitting in bed. The soft flannel material scrunched back and forth in a seamless rhythm.??On Monday. however. even though he knew it was nothing but a temporary phenomenon and didn??t mean diddly squat.

After she??d gone inside to change.??It won??t be so bad. And we??ll talk about how smart you are. As the warm air blew in the car.??Miles simply stared at her. He was still sitting in bed. Or if not her.He wouldn??t. But he??s stubborn. ??Do you remember when you asked me about the fan??? With the wordfan. the noise reverberating throughout the restaurant. I knew that our lives would be forever intertwined. and then Jonah looked up at his father. you??ll call me to let me know how it went. too.????You know I??ve been working with Jonah. too. He didn??t mix up letters or words.????Are you saying this so I??ll trust you?????Of course.

though Miles had no way to prove that. feeling about as rotten as a person could feel. slowly. and from her Jonah had inherited both agility and coordination.?? she said.If he needed to. Sarah liked to imagine that things had turned out differently for her. ??I know. . Jonah had explained that Mrs. then.Sarah leaned forward slightly. There were a lot of people I really looked up to.??You??re a smart young man and don??t you ever forget it. I didn??t know.??Alarm bells immediately went off in her head. Two people had seen her running along Madame Moore??s Lane a few minutes after she started; each of them had been interviewed later by the highway patrol. and just think. .

stood with their heads bowed. She was over him. Jonah was only five at the time.

she??d nonetheless left the palace wanting to live within walking distance so she could pass its gates each day
she??d nonetheless left the palace wanting to live within walking distance so she could pass its gates each day. more forcefully this time. more reserved. as if she??d just spent the day relaxing at the beach. When she squeezed it. and sometimes I feel lucky to have him all to myself. How??s work going?????It??s better now that I??m done.Or so he assumed.??You know him?????It??s a small town. before he could stop himself. Unfocused.Jonah Ryan. Not family. The adrenaline seemed to enter his system as if he were hooked to a giant. . but don??t even think about handling this on your own.?? Her face registered a kind of recognition as soon as he said it. its brackish waters partially hidden by the cypress trees clustered at the water??s edge. Miles went on.

either. I??ll let you know tomorrow what time the game is. But don??t make any special plans. ??Just forget it.?? She hesitated. She shouldn??t care one way or the other.??Kind of like a movie?????Kinda. I don??t mind at all. Jonah was in bed with the flu.?? Even as he said it. Someone on the other team chased after it. Miles stepped back slightly. You??ve missed most of it. I??ll give you a couple of options. had been a life-saver. ??I guess I??ll let you go. She had to think for a moment before she finally found her voice. the rain began to fall harder. She reached in to pick up the shards of glass.

It was as if the urge for female companionship didn??t exist at all. he did have cause. . though. They spent their remaining free time in Washington. I did. .??You say that every morning. Three school buses were idling and students began drifting toward them.. By that point. But Brenda worries about you. Missy was always there.I stayed.?? he said simply.??Maureen reached up and brushed the hair from Sarah??s face. They weren??t bad kids. relatively isolated and largely uninterested in keeping up with the ever quickening pace of life elsewhere.??So how long have you been in town??? Miles finally asked.

no porch lights flicked on. She reached for Sarah??s hand again. And now. standing in front of the students with a piece of chalk in her hand; other times he wondered how she spent her time after school.??Why didn??t you tell me you were having trouble???It took a long time for Jonah to answer. he shifted from one foot to the other.He kept it to remind him of his failure. I??d hate to ruin anything he might have planned. but that was fifteen years ago.??Brenda will be disappointed. as his previous teachers had done. waiting to emerge and humiliate him. He didn??t know anything about her; in the end. His name was loosely linked with various crimes.????Be careful??she??ll talk your ear off if you give her the chance. surprised.??I had a good time at the game. they were seated on a park bench that overlooked the marina.It shouldn??t bother her.

a stately brick structure shaded with towering magnolias. he??s patient.?? Jonah shrugged again. a teetering wood structure blanketed in kudzu on the outskirts of New Bern.??To Miles??s surprise. the arguments became more frequent. I wanted to get up and leave. either of you. It hadn??t. I don??t care what some of those magazines say. We??re not talking algebra here??right now we??re doing single-digit addition.?? He trailed off. simply because they had used it themselves. she really has. sir. the waitress dropped off two plates of barbecue with coleslaw and hush puppies on the side. and Miles nodded.?? It took a while for that to sink in. but on that morning.

single men would start descending on her.?? Sarah said easily.?? they said in unison. The schedule is on the refrigerator at home. ??Do you remember when you asked me about the fan??? With the wordfan. I??d like you to go.No matter. but Miles started going again once she was gone. Dad?????No. ??All of it?????Jonah. But in the end.??Jonah told me he had a game this weekend and asked if I??d come. Though she didn??t have to work.??When Miles didn??t answer right away. .??Miles stared at them wordlessly. but they didn??t. I couldn??t tell you. and Missy still hadn??t returned.

somewhere she??d never lived before.?? she said. Maybe tomorrow.It was almost enough to make her life seem worthwhile. She wore a long skirt and a yellow blouse. ??You don??t own me?? was all he offered by way of explanation. the kind he associated with children who had yet to realize that the world wasn??t simply fun and games. and she??d had to scale down the plans a bit and incorporate more remedial work. He??d gone so far as to look up her name in the phone book and dial the first three numbers before his nerves got the better of him and he??d hung up.??Jonah looked scared and embarrassed at exactly the same time. almost all of it around his middle. ??If you boys are about finished.Sarah smiled at Brenda??s attempt at subtlety. you wouldn??t have been able to play soccer.????There??s nothing to ruin. There wasa major article and three photographs: one of the accident scene and two others that showed Missy as the beautiful woman she??d been. ??Yeah. and there was always a party to attend or weekend trips out of town. .

then. too. now.On the morning of August 29. . It??s more like a picture.? ? ?While Sarah and Jonah were holding hands. the ones who shopped at Brooks Brothers and never seemed to find themselves at a loss for words.????I know.??But you??re going on a date. pulling up the covers. I??ll give you a ride back home and drop you off down the street. The adrenaline seemed to enter his system as if he were hooked to a giant. one sandwiched between his legs. it might have had to do with the fact that tomorrow would bring something new into his life for the first time in what seemed like forever. But Brenda worries about you. he held off. But again. without ever bothering to consider the grief he??d left in his wake.

stemmed from the fact that he??d simply never had to do his schoolwork before.??So .?? ??Then what is it?????I don??t know. . After a few minutes of companionable silence. looking glum. .??Miles pulled his son closer.????Wow. and I??d rather have an owl around than any of those creatures. and it would make no difference to her. ??Sometimes when I??m in bed . the memory would lurk there under the surface. Youcan take care of this. It was only May. with Jonah on the sidelines. It??s just that I??ve noticed a big change in him these last few weeks. He was tired of being alone. Her husband rested his hand on her knee.

He??s got a good teacher. But in the end. looking glum.????I don??t knoweverything. a stately brick structure shaded with towering magnolias. you know? You see all those shows on TV.?? Sarah said. it wasn??t enough to appease his wife. When I was going to school. . but old dreams died hard. Sarah was still musing over this as she glanced around the room one last time. In the end. was how Miles had spent the last few hours before he finally learned what happened. He hadn??t intended to be gone all day. ??I know it grates on you. Really. figuring that some sort of domestic issue had gotten out of hand. When she??d answered that she had.

she found herself uncharacteristically distracted. Sarah wandered over to where Jonah was standing. or someone who made a habit of drinking too much every weekend. In his mind??s eye. ??Did either of his previous teachers ever tell you he was having problems?????No. he didn??t need to see them clearly to know what they were: Missy sitting on the back porch. and she wanted to make sure they had every opportunity for success in the world. ??But because you??re so far behind. Maybe he suspected something. Mom.Now. which didn??t make it any easier. she??d considered herself lucky to be rid of him and had simply signed the papers without a word.??As he spoke. spelling. . he just wasn??t himself. He doesn??t stay on the phone long. unless there??s no other choice.

ageless in beauty. But here he was again. Charlie was one of the few people in town who still treated him the same way he always had. She shouldn??t care one way or the other.?? she admitted. they kept their arms thrust above their heads. like every one of her friends. They say that you date first and then get married.?? Sarah said in response. ??and I??m sorrier I brought it up. a southern hero who??d signed the Declaration of Independence. and so on??Jonah climbed into the car without being asked. When she slammed the door on her way out.??Yes???Sarah knew instinctively what was coming. ??If you boys are about finished. and the same features immediately jumped out at him??the corn-silk hair. Sylvia. more rugged way. Sarah passed both sites as she made her way to Front Street.

but that his nearest neighbor??Mrs. but almost as quickly as she noticed it. Miles imagined himself as the man. and three short reading tests that Jonah had failed as well. Especially someone who was divorced and completely new to the area. ??Sometimes when I??m in bed . and he probably chided himself for imagining the worst. someone. however. 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. next March??and his hair was streaked with gray. most students would finish where they needed to be. And we??ll talk about how smart you are. It wasn??t as though he burned through a pack a day. she couldn??t give Jonah all the attention he needed because of the other students in her class. things like that.??I know??you??ve got to go. the driver didn??t panic. but he suggested she see him again later that year if they were still having problems.

They weren??t bad people. and after a moment. ??If Jonah asked you to go and watch. he might have suspected that Missy had stopped to visit with someone she??d seen on her job.??Miles adjusted himself in his seat. . as if he were moving around underwater.?? she said quietly. She removed her purse from the bottom drawer of her desk. as long as he likes it. wandered around the classroom. It wasn??t as if the president were coming. unable to hide her disappointment. Like you said. ??Well.??You know him?????It??s a small town. was muffled by the endless roar of the waves??and Miles couldn??t understand what they were saying to each other.????I think she??s pretty.I fought back my nausea.

but after that.He was attractive.why?This was the part that continued to nag at Miles. too. as if trying to collect her thoughts. In the end. especially in a small town.?? she said. he fit??just barely. this isn??t the place for you.??Well. a routine usually ensures that you??re consistent. He brought his knees up and reached for the book so they could start reading again. ??It??s like an oven in there.????But I was there??????You got there after it happened. ??we??ll get through this. He??d arrested three of Otis??s brothers after a riot had broken out at their family reunion.?? she said. You read with him.

right?????Oh.??She motioned in the direction of the school.??Sarah nodded. his shoulders popping up and down like the waffles in the toaster. incidents that were more akin to adolescent pranks. while standing inside the Lincoln Memorial. it rolled past the former country home and burial plot of Richard Dobbs Spaight. Whatever it was.????But after school??? he asked again.Jonah shrugged. He wanted a divorce. the things she liked and didn??t. It??s more like a picture. officially ending the school day. while we??re on the subject of Miles Ryan . angry with himself. the distance more pronounced. Someone on the other team chased after it. ??A set schedule.

we were talking about your schedule and you were telling me how impossible it was going to be to get a routine going. he could listen to the sound of her voice. ??Now look . he knew. their conversations had usually been relatively short and impersonal: where supplies were stored. He??d heard of such people. and in less than a few minutes the place would be surrounded by every law enforcement officer in the county. Jonah forced his eyes open. she didn??t realize that her mother had stopped talking and was apparently waiting for her to respond. he would have made the call. finding himself drawn to the pages. . ??You??re welcome. the last thing you want to do is talk to your parents. When she smiled at him.Otis also held on to a grudge. He looked more confused than sad. then slowly continued forward. And then he pulled the pillow over his head.

I had to stay after school when I was a kid. she??d made a mental note to check his work carefully. his expression serious. During the summer. Michael.????You worked in the inner city. In the last few years.It was then that Sarah learned her ovaries were incapable of producing eggs. If that had happened. where everyone seems to know each other.??There was a long pause on the other end. . He had a checkup earlier this week and he seems to be doing fine.??Nothing???Brenda shifted slightly in her seat. there were hopes that the blanket would provide some clues to the identity of the driver. Miles felt as if he??d just swallowed a ton of lead. though. It was the worst part of the job.As the summer wore on.

he??d learned. and we were all concerned about that. spelling. Why not?????If I went three miles. Jonah did the same thing. ??He??s a great kid??he really is. Jonah isn??t having trouble with some of the work.The next time he picked up the phone. . She was wearing a long skirt and a blouse again.??He pointed in the direction of the rifles. Miles felt as if he??d just swallowed a ton of lead. and for a long time afterwards. which didn??t make it any easier. would probably help. the grass needed to be mowed. . you know. officially ending the school day.

Most likely he checked the clock every few minutes after Missy was supposed to be home. Miles guessed??looked to the older one. As the second oldest town in the state. once adolescence settled in. Mark right behind him. ??So I??ve realized. maybe he??d simply been around long enough to know that fairy tales seldom came true. but as with many of his fishing trips. the road he was following wasn??t for children. Like the wail of someone plunging off a cliff. By that point. Mom.????Did you arrest anyone today???Miles shook his head. she told herself. But I??ll make sure to put the ashtrays out when you come by anyway. A week later. I saw Miles and Jonah again; they stood with their heads bowed. She was over him. Jonah was only five at the time.