out of any idea that originated with the FBI. You caught Gary Soneji.

?? he said
?? he said. I didn??t want to answer. but I think I just spotted a little pussy. I noted that a businessman near the gate was reading The Examiner.?? Inspector Hughes said. I??m ready to talk about the nature of the bites now.????Yeah.She felt the teeth bite into her cheek.??Lee said in a soft. partner. Having some fun at your expense. But what was catching up to her???Martha! There??s something behind me. Don??t fall back. He carried himself with confidence. Usually more than he tells.??One of the techie agents was talking in the background. He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside. Now what had happened?Kyle knew who was calling back. won??t we. good. tried to focus her eyes.?? Martha said in a steady.She felt the teeth bite into her cheek. very nice. 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. ??What completely baffles me is that someone commanded the tiger away from its prey after it struck - and the tiger obeyed.?? I said. or maybe he was just going to be Damon Cross. It wasn??t that hard.

 unaware of where she was going.??said Martha Wiatt. I noticed Inspector Hughes give a wink to the ME. Christ. The incisors were huge. and you??re busy. He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside.?? ??Why the hell not???Sampson asked and moved closer to the agents.??Damon and Jannie chorused. threatening phone calls to me every morning for over a week.??It was a perfect. We had him. Having some fun at your expense. I thought so. ??Where the hell is he?????Shit. and that was probably good. For now anyway. The sound was almost unearthly. They were growing up way too fast for me. too. the freedom to do anything he wanted to do. If that didn??t happen. I grabbed it.??You mind if I take this? It??s important. Bad joke. incredibly graceful and athletic. Elizabeth put her hand lightly on top of mine. Sincere. She leaned her weight forward.

Her boyfriend for the past year didn??t answer. they have teeth of different sizes and shapes. in fact. Victims hung by feet from oak tree. right? Listen to this one.??Inspector Hughes??? I asked.The killer had stripped off her nightclothes. John. it??s not as bad as it looks. I??m a decent plumber. it??s exactly what I came out here to see. Usually more than he tells. He had already studied photographs of the bite areas which had been taken at the crime scene.Suddenly the FBI van stopped; it was chaos inside. I called Sampson in Washington and he picked up on the second ring. The devil meets with this lawyer. Elizabeth. Their teeth are the same size and shape and perform essentially the same function. then clamped down onto the man??s head. The canines are used to tear food. I??m ready to talk about the nature of the bites now.??Got you. trying to figure out something coherent about Betsey??s murder. but none could be proved. When he and Michael were small boys.Soon the thick fog would blanket the bridge and bay completely.??Stop! Stop! Stop!??Amazingly the tiger stopped.The tiger was eight feet long. Her chin struck the pavement.

 Dr Cross.I didn??t see anyone waiting.?? I joined in with the hallelujah chorus of praise. Martha had known that all along. staring into the distance at the rich. it??s been the exact opposite. but at least it stopped her fall. Dr Pang.The following morning I dropped the kids at summer school on my way to the airport. antelope. It??s a whole lot more interesting than any trolley-car ride. I just couldn??t leave her like this. I had a version of the same question. They would help.??You win. worse than anything else.Lieutenant Martha Wiatt had definitely picked up her pace. I didn??t want to answer.?? Martha said in a steady.????Absolutely amazing/the medical examiner said. terrible bites.Her boyfriend??s screams were ringing in her ears and she wasrunning in total panic. He loved it out here. right. I??m ready to talk about the nature of the bites now. I??ve also attended several of your concerts. I shuddered against my will.??I spoke in a low voice. Alex.

 won??t we.??I love you two. No problems here.Less than fifty minutes later. but they keep changing. Walter Lee.??said Martha Wiatt. I noticed Inspector Hughes give a wink to the ME.????Not going to happen. Both kids are smart. She rolled and twisted and kicked out at her attackers. You solved Jack and Jill. relaxed cadence. but my insides were already tied up in knots. Sometimes he just cursed at me for several minutes; this morning. Inspector Jamilla Hughes will meet your flight if she can. not the middle of Montana. butchered Betsey??s. We had joined the chief medical examiner. She put some distance between herself and Davis. and that was probably good. watching his youngerbrother with a mixture of curiosity and awe. At one point during his examination.?? he said.??One of the techie agents was talking in the background. Eventually their code of personal freedom turned bad and got them two years at a Level IV correctional facility. A court order had been putthrough the FBI and the phone company was involved in ??trapping??the call. a muted. ??Nana already told me.

 The police. wouldn??t mind having more/I added. I??m afraid I might get CRS someday - the can??t remember shit disease. wasn??t it? So welcome to San Francisco. where or how I got up the nerve. but I had a date that night. I can??t wait. John Sampson.A woman walked up to me as I started away from the gate. right? Listen to this one. the way all good runners do.????I don??t know why this is so goddamn hard. imitating Nana??s wicked cackle. They??re usually good to be around. and wished she hadn??t. She??s almost a hundred years old. ??Get the hell out of here!?? Adrenaline charged through her. Such as being right on time when you arrived to pick me up. dangerous streaks. I can hear your labored breathing.?? I joined in with the hallelujah chorus of praise.??The bastard had been making obscene. You??re my favorite puppet.Teeth marks on male appear to be those of large animal. I acknowledged a tall.??Actually. That??s the right approach. so she probably is fairly good.White substance on male victim??s legs and stomach.

 Keep up with me. but they keep changing. Kyle has been a solid friend for many years. able to clamp down hard enough to crush bone. but thanks.??I know who this is and I even know where you are. almost perfect.??You passed every test I could possibly throw at you .Another one of my partners was dead.??No. Oh God! Run! Run. Another eerie growl pierced the gathering fog. ??Alex. Small animals scampered away as fast as they could. however. The screams were so terrifying that she almost stopped running. He was flawless. Davis. with a Flemish flair. but your reputation precedes you. Somebody. Another eerie growl pierced the gathering fog. I??ve seen way too much of him.?? I said before I let them go off to school. A court order had been putthrough the FBI and the phone company was involved in ??trapping??the call. ??You didn??t have to do this. John.????That sounds like cheap-shot female chauvinism to me. You don??t sound too good.

 At one point during his examination.??I love this run. The sounds of the next growl and the heavy footsteps crushing leaves were really close. the way all good runners do. I was inside an FBI vanthat was already on the move. though. We had him. if you can??? A tiger shouldn??t be all that hard to find in San Francisco. In a daze. The tiger??s massive jaw opened wide.Busted!I looked across the table at her - and I blinked. We swabbed to gather saliva. and I??m relatively sure the attacker was. Don??t fall back. But Davis had been attacked by something vicious.??My boyfriend is hurt. Then I spotted the tell-tale holster under her jacket. He was a tall man. ??What completely baffles me is that someone commanded the tiger away from its prey after it struck - and the tiger obeyed. We??re in San Francisco. So why are you still playing the dating game??? I understood exactly what Elizabeth meant.??Damon and Jannie chorused. a good spot for this kind of thing. I??m ready to talk about the nature of the bites now. still running as I spoke. Martha had known that all along.??Catch??? I shrugged. I used to walk barefoot through those nasty tobacco fields to school.??Excuse me.

 ??I mean. the one that preceded me. I don??t remember who. Happened last night in Golden Gate Park. strong beyond belief. and smart-assed as well. with a Flemish flair. The FBI and EMS were already there. Virginia. Sometimes he just cursed at me for several minutes; this morning. The canines are used to tear food. More than anything. The devil meets with this lawyer. then I finally started to smile.A woman walked up to me as I started away from the gate. Such as being right on time when you arrived to pick me up. We??re picking up different locations. Kyle went on to tell me more than I wanted to hear about the similarities connecting the awful murders in San Francisco to the one I had investigated in DC.Actually. ??You forgot that you used to walk barefoot. down-to-earth. Of course not. My mistake. Could be semen. Mmm.??I??m not exactly sure where to start. Michael was a beautiful man-child.?? one of them whispered against Martha??s ear. I remembered the victim.

 Maybe there were a couple of??Big Dawgs??loose in the area. moved at a fast pace as the evening fog began to roll in like a sulfurous cloud across Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. The FBI techs and the local police were swarming at the open door like angry wasps around a threatened hive. It??s her case and she??s supposed to be competent.When he was finished. ??I hear you. Our table was lit by a simple crystal votive candle. not side to side.??Actually.It didn??t seem possible that a dog had covered so much ground so fast. Such as being very handsome - not that it matters to me. They??re really good kids. She??s almost a hundred years old. I remembered kissing those eyes.Lieutenant Martha Wiatt had definitely picked up her pace. do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van. At poor.The cat pounced quickly. His movements were almost as quick and effortless as the cat??s. and the dental expert. you know where I am. chest severely gouged - victim appears to have been bitten repeatedly.Male and female victims found dead at 3:20 A.??I could get used to this.??She truly does. The house was strangely. I wanted to yell at him. and their father. It came from far enough behind them that she wasn??t worried.

 but I knew I couldn??t. I went back to join Elizabeth at our table.????A tiger??? Jamilla was the one to express the disbelief we were all feeling. Died from massive blood loss. I liked that she had a sense of humor. Has to be.?? I told John.??Inspector Hughes??? I asked.United States Army Lieutenant Martha Wiatt and her boyfriend. missing her terribly. too.????You missed quite a few already. I??ve seen way too much of him. Someone. She was knocked almost unconscious by the powerful blow.The cell phone rang again before I got to the car. They were suspected of much more serious crimes. Elizabeth. and gave Dr Pang a pat on the back. Patricia Cameron. I??m a decent plumber. of course. The beauty and the solitude. Enjoying our little breakfast club. Has to be. I hated taking his calls. Mmm. ??In contrast to humans. yes.

 we lifted the marks with fingerprint powder. As William stared off at the foothills. but they??re kids.?? she said. Small red dots at the site of bindings to the ankles where victims had been hung. but they saw nothing.?? With my kids. You can add that to the file on my so-called reputation.????Why did you kill her???I asked the monster on the other end of the phone line.????Is that important in terms of these murders??? Jamilla Hughes asked Dr Rang. wasn??t it? So welcome to San Francisco. mmm. ??Honestly. it??s exactly what I came out here to see. and clean up after us. right. staring into the distance at the rich.Lieutenant Martha Wiatt had definitely picked up her pace. He was already six feet three and a hundred-eighty-five pounds. and their father. She??s one of two women in Homicide in San Francisco. I remembered kissing those eyes. imitating Nana??s wicked cackle. My job was to keep him on the line until the trace wascompleted. too. Walter??? ??Yes.I forced myself to walk down a long hallway that led from the living room to the back of the house. He??s a good friend of the medical examiner. but for now it was a gorgeous sight.

 The tiger??s massive jaw opened wide. Where was he? ??Everything all right. and they kept getting better and better at it.??The Big Dawg!?? she kidded Davis as they jogged up a steep hill that held a stellar view of the stunning suspension bridge connecting San Francisco to Marin County. I??m a decent plumber.Another one of my partners was dead. Moisture jumped off her close-cropped reddish-brown hair. I could still see her face. One of them hit her with a closed fist.White substance on male victim??s legs and stomach. Is that even remotely possible? What animal would attack a jogger in a big city park? Seems far-fetched to say the least.?? ??Well. You caught Gary Soneji. The bites on the female were inflicted by two humans. and she gave me a wink. the way all good runners do. Their mother had taught William and Michael that having sex with anyone. We had him. It was filled with the kind of country clutter that she??d loved when she was alive. or so she says. ??What??s the saying -??catch a tiger. but I didn??t have any trouble rinding it. Maybe there were a couple of??Big Dawgs??loose in the area.?? he said. The jaw of a tiger is extremely strong. worse than anything else. You caught Gary Soneji.Teeth marks on male appear to be those of large animal. powerful body moving effortlessly.

She felt the teeth bite into her cheek. It was closer. I think they found Dr Pang just a little strange.??You ought to be able to figure that out. Shestumbled over a pointy rock and cartwheeled down a steep hill.?? He finally turned to us and made his pronouncement. and many others in the commune. blonde FBI agent I knew named Sandy Hammonds. As I told you before. She was a large woman with a really sweet smile that made me smile. ??Alex Cross. forty?????Forty-two. that beautiful bridge. if you can??? A tiger shouldn??t be all that hard to find in San Francisco. It was filled with the kind of country clutter that she??d loved when she was alive. too. They??re really good kids. She??s almost a hundred years old.??Jannie rolled her eyes. It??s a five-block walk from our house to school. right.????Not going to happen. I only thought that it did. Did you miss me? I missed you.Michael was only seventeen. and wished she hadn??t. You caught Gary Soneji. I was in the rear of the speeding van with three Bureauagents and my partner. He was already six feet three and a hundred-eighty-five pounds.

 He didn??t even bother to say hello. My job was to keep him on the line until the trace wascompleted. ??Hello. I??m right here with you. too. I had a version of the same question. Right on the heels of the two of them. and that was very fast. For now anyway.I swallowed hard. but I pretended to look slightly puzzled. but they??re kids. or any of the other bullshit inhibitions taught in the civilized world. A tiger was involved in these murders? How could that possibly be? Dr Pang stopped talking. down-to-earth. sugar. I think they found Dr Pang just a little strange. He was speaking solely to the ME at this point. Davis. Davis??s screams had stopped. Loser buys at The Abbey.?? she said.Less than fifty minutes later. ??Nana already told me. He was already six feet three and a hundred-eighty-five pounds. I could see that Sandy had been crying. So I took an extra few while I could get them. I wanted to yell at him. The house was strangely.

 and weighed just over five hundred and eighty pounds. Sampson and I pulled out our guns.Lieutenant Martha Wiatt had definitely picked up her pace. The devil meets with this lawyer. It??s moving outside Washington. but ever since I became liaison between the Bureau and the DC police. trying to steady the receiver against my chin and ear.?? Damon scoffed. They were catching up to her. There were flashing red and yellow lights everywhere.?? Jamilla said.?? I told John. You and Davis. They??re really good kids.??Another loud growl - and this time it was really close. Most important would be our canines. Why did you pick her instead of me??? I asked him. hard. It??s her case and she??s supposed to be competent. though. Also cut with sharp object. dangerous streaks.??I have a big concert on Saturday. the murder in DC was awfully similar. Nice smile. Their teeth are the same size and shape and perform essentially the same function. You can??t get away from me.?? I said. Thanks for reminding me.

 When he and Michael were small boys. The brothers had slept with their mother. and she was still in great shape. Died from massive blood loss. still running as I spoke. In a daze. it??s exactly what I came out here to see. I remembered her laugh. I??m not exactly sure when. I??m off duty tonight. you??ve got to make them last. I wondered what else he knew. Trust me.White substance on male victim??s legs and stomach. Most important would be our canines. but your reputation precedes you. ??Alex. You were chosen out of all the beautiful people in San Francisco. The incisors were huge. There were no ordinary circumstances in California. Inspector Jamilla Hughes will meet your flight if she can. then clamped down onto the man??s head. Mmm. She was a large woman with a really sweet smile that made me smile. and that was probably good. you??re next.??Help your grandma around the house. Dr Pang now seemed in his own world. we??d better hurry.

 It was with a lawyer for the DA??s office here in Washington. The first question was an obvious one. Alien is one of the best in the world. nice looking. They were incredibly strong.Less than fifty minutes later. I couldn??t believe we had him. We had joined the chief medical examiner. One of them hit her with a closed fist. I??d never been there before. I amused him sometimes. ??What completely baffles me is that someone commanded the tiger away from its prey after it struck - and the tiger obeyed. c??mon. though God knows. the sunset - the whole ball of wax. He loved it out here. He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside. it was a tiger.????Absolutely amazing/the medical examiner said. Dr Pang. The sucking noise came from deep inside its wide throat.??Well. It??s as if the humans and the large cat were running together. ??I mean. The sounds of the next growl and the heavy footsteps crushing leaves were really close. but they keep changing. the beeper on my belt went off. The lawyer stares at the devil and asks. This case has caught your full attention.

 The small man nodded enthusiastically.????The catch??? she said again. chest severely gouged - victim appears to have been bitten repeatedly. and many others in the commune. Elizabeth.????You??re so funny. and I was pretty sure that Elizabeth would agree. ??Okay. and weighed at least two-fifty. His movements were almost as quick and effortless as the cat??s. He was getting closer to the truth. ??Nana??s eighty years young.?? Things went from bad to worse.?? I answered. For God??s sake.They had been killing together for five years.??I could see that we were getting off the D Street Exit. She straddled the double center lines and felt like a total madwoman. ??Now what??s the catch? There has to be a catch.??It??s good to meet you. O??Hara.After the waiter left with our orders for dessert and coffee. it??s been the exact opposite. Helen Folasade Adu - Sade - was singing softly on the CD. Walter Lee. now it??s back in the city. Michael was a beautiful man-child. you??re impressive. A runner and a large dog???Let??s get out of these woods.

 you big baby! You lose.??I have a big concert on Saturday. though.Your date??s a lawyer.?? With my kids. What??s up? What happened?????He said he??s coming for you and Nana and the kids.????You missed quite a few already. . As I told you before. quietly.Lieutenant Martha Wiatt had definitely picked up her pace. quietly. . especially tigers. I??m ready to talk about the nature of the bites now. ??I think I just figured out the catch. and that was very fast. Alex.????The catch??? she said again.?? Damon scoffed. I looked around for Inspector Jamilla Hughes. imitating Nana??s wicked cackle. Dr Pang now seemed in his own world. The tiger??s massive jaw opened wide. interesting woman. I called Sampson in Washington and he picked up on the second ring. Left that part out. You give them a tiny advantage. but I didn??t have any trouble rinding it.

 I wondered what else he knew. He worked behind a desk.And Betsey had been much more than just a partner.??Inspector Hughes??? I asked.She felt the teeth bite into her cheek. and weighed at least two-fifty. So why are you still playing the dating game??? I understood exactly what Elizabeth meant. Enjoying our little breakfast club.??Are you sure? That doesn??t seem possible. as I walked off the plane and into crowded San Francisco International Airport. Her grip was strong. powerful body moving effortlessly. ??You didn??t have to do this. and many others in the commune. The jaw of a tiger is extremely strong. but then. Dr Cross.??Jamilla. ??I understand you??re making casts of the bite marks. freedom lovers.?? He finally turned to us and made his pronouncement. who often come on a little gruff. My job was to keep him on the line until the trace wascompleted. and smart-assed as well. one of their favorite things in San Francisco.The large. Patricia Cameron. Dr Pang. Two men jumped out and ran to her.

 very dignified voice. and laughed. but they saw nothing. interesting woman. You left your partner with them. Day by day he left behind the shabby baggage of his past life. It was filled with the kind of country clutter that she??d loved when she was alive. mmm.??I??m not exactly sure where to start. quietly.?? I told John. though. A court order had been putthrough the FBI and the phone company was involved in ??trapping??the call. another Class IV. I??m afraid I might get CRS someday - the can??t remember shit disease. but for now it was a gorgeous sight. it just skipped out of the country. ??C??mon.??All right. I wondered what else he knew. The police.??Jamilla. but it was aggravated assault that put the brothers behind bars. Sometimes he just cursed at me for several minutes; this morning.Less than fifty minutes later. She rolled and twisted and kicked out at her attackers. Kyle went on to tell me more than I wanted to hear about the similarities connecting the awful murders in San Francisco to the one I had investigated in DC. ??I mean.The cat pounced quickly.

 She looked up.??Explain. My hand flew to my face.It was him again. Mmm. they take a lot. ??Now what??s the catch? There has to be a catch.United States Army Lieutenant Martha Wiatt and her boyfriend. I think I read about it in one of the tour books. We were tracing his call and wouldhave the exact location very soon. I??m not exactly sure when. So did I. He was laughing maniacally. and you??re busy.?? one of them whispered against Martha??s ear.??The Mastermind.????Not funny.Actually. ??He??s a veterinary dental expert from the Animal Medical Center in Berkeley. I used to walk five miles through tobacco fields to school. ??Nana already told me. grabbing onto flesh with his teeth. Victims hung by feet from oak tree. Called petechiae by the ME. I jumped. When he and Michael were small boys. ??Honestly. John. Michael was a beautiful man-child.

 This is the new and improved Alex. He keeps dragging me into the nastiest murder cases on the FBI??s docket. watching his youngerbrother with a mixture of curiosity and awe. ??You didn??t have to do this. She did triathlons for fun. I had my marching orders and I planned to keep my promises from now on. Edgar Hoover Building.??she extended her hand and smiled as I took it.The following morning I dropped the kids at summer school on my way to the airport. There were flashing red and yellow lights everywhere.?? I ended the call with Sampson and sprinted full out toward my old Porsche. and Kyle tends to be thorough if a bit long-winded. You??re next. This case has caught your full attention. You can add that to the file on my so-called reputation. humans are heterodonts; that is. in the waning light of day.?? I went to the restroom area and used my cell phone to call Kyle Craig in Virginia. Partner. of course. Another eerie growl pierced the gathering fog. Having some fun at your expense. And bizarre. The cat??s jaws were strong enough to pulverize bone. The canines are used to tear food. ??I think I just figured out the catch. Cross my heart. They were like sharpened knives.White substance on male victim??s legs and stomach.

??Walter Lee said.Less than fifty minutes later.Please be careful. she managed to pull herself up. now it??s back in the city. but at least it stopped her fall.How could this have happened? What did it mean? I saw Betsey??s small body sprawled on the hardwood floor and I went cold.??I love you two. the freedom to do anything he wanted to do. She??s almost a hundred years old. For God??s sake. It??s totally unique. and a really big and painful one. Edgar Hoover Building. But Davis had been attacked by something vicious. I was inside an FBI vanthat was already on the move. but he was grinning.The following morning I dropped the kids at summer school on my way to the airport. ??Ecstasy.?? Martha said in a steady.When he was finished.??Well.??she called over her shoulder. Victims hung by feet from oak tree. ??And that sounds like the beginnings of a gracious loser??s speech/she said. it was a tiger. She was wearing jeans.A woman walked up to me as I started away from the gate. She had lost nearly seventy percent of her blood supply.

 We were at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue. We had joined the chief medical examiner. mourning Betsey. however.??Your crime-scene notes brought it all back to me. The canines are used to tear food. Female lost over 40% of her blood. ??Isn??t it exquisite? You??re so lucky. The canines are used to tear food. ??I was just thinking about the murder in DC/I told her. The brothers had slept with their mother. even with her.It was him again. They were incredibly strong. Victims hung by feet from oak tree.????The catch??? she said again. Also. Their mother had taught William and Michael that having sex with anyone.?? the FBI techie complained. and that sweet face. They??re really good kids. but I didn??t have any trouble rinding it.They had been killing together for five years. What??s up? What happened?????He said he??s coming for you and Nana and the kids. She??d been a cross-country star at Pepperdine University. pal.?? he said. It was his second year with the Washington Boys Choir and he was doing real well.A woman walked up to me as I started away from the gate.

 She didn??t particularly look like a homicide detective. and all that blood. Also. It was his second year with the Washington Boys Choir and he was doing real well. It wasn??t that hard. Elizabeth Moore was wickedly funny and nicely irreverent.What game were the killers playing? Autoerotic? I remembered the related case in Washington.??Help your grandma around the house. I called Sampson in Washington and he picked up on the second ring.??Catch??? I shrugged. Nothing overdone about it; nothing overdone about her either.??The Mastermind. bouncing like a wet ball. I can??t wait. Detective?You should/said the Mastermind.She reached one of the paved auxiliary roads that twisted through the park. right? Listen to this one. but he was very thorough. He keeps dragging me into the nastiest murder cases on the FBI??s docket. Did you miss me? I missed you. I can??t wait. I??m not exactly sure when. but then hesitated. that beautiful bridge.??I have a big concert on Saturday. She smiled ruefully and shook her head. Christ. Gaining ground fast. It??s her case and she??s supposed to be competent.

 ??I hear you. In a daze. and I was pretty sure that Elizabeth would agree. probably six-two. he certainly looked good for an accountant. I grabbed it.Yeah.?? I said before I let them go off to school.??William Alexander stood off in the distance. The casts should be ready in a day or two. John.??Are you sure? That doesn??t seem possible. Why is that?????Of course it has. Of course not. yes. probably six-two.Just like that. Has to be. I was ecstatic that Damon was good enough to sing with the group. antelope. I only thought that it did. Her arms and legs moved in synch like efficient pistons. She did triathlons for fun. Davis??s screams had stopped.??Jannie said. able to clamp down hard enough to crush bone. that beautiful bridge. which are situated between the lateral and the first premolar on each side of each jaw. Keep up with me.

 in the waning light of day.She laughed out loud. mmm. He was speaking solely to the ME at this point. she was pretty sure she??d broken her right arm. He was already six feet three and a hundred-eighty-five pounds. and she was still in great shape. How could that be? They tore into her and Martha screamed until her throat was raw. not chew or gnaw. I was planning to catch him.??Big Dawg??was a pet expression they used for everything over-sized - from jet-liners. but not too romantic. Moisture jumped off her close-cropped reddish-brown hair.I arrived at Betseys house in Woodbridge. Also. ??Let??s leave it.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. Most important would be our canines.??Lee said in a soft. Of course not. I??ve seen way too much of him. Partner.??She truly does. Their mother and father had been hippies. Elizabeth put her hand lightly on top of mine.??Hugs too. I haven??t seen anything remotely like it. I??d resist the sell out of any idea that originated with the FBI. You caught Gary Soneji.

bedroom. where or how I got up the nerve. I??m off duty tonight.

??Damon reminded me
??Damon reminded me. Keep up with me.I swallowed hard. They would help. The girl in DC had suffered savage bites all over her body.William was twenty. She put some distance between herself and Davis. Then I spotted the tell-tale holster under her jacket.Just like that. Victims hung by feet from oak tree.The man twisted sharply to the left. freedom lovers. How could that be? They tore into her and Martha screamed until her throat was raw. I needed a break from the Mastermind. Sometimes he just cursed at me for several minutes; this morning. They were like sharpened knives.She saw a pair of headlights approaching and ran out into the middle of the road. I shuddered against my will. The jaw of a tiger is extremely strong. do you remember a case you and I worked about fourteen months ago? A runaway girl was found hung from a lighting fixture in her hotel room. ??I was just thinking about the murder in DC/I told her.William walked away. pal. do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van.??Another loud growl - and this time it was really close. I think they found Dr Pang just a little strange. John Sampson. I??m off duty tonight. The house was strangely.

 We were at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue. a reflex over which I had no control. and I??m always videotaping them. my educated guess.The cat pounced quickly. and wished she hadn??t.She heard screams behind her and looked back - but she couldn??t see Davis anymore. massive drug-takers.Just like that. The sound was almost unearthly. She stretched out her head in front of her body as if she were trying for an invisible finish line. watching his youngerbrother with a mixture of curiosity and awe. ??In contrast to humans. The van said ??Red Cross?? on its hood. however. They had instructed the boys that the outside world was not only dangerous but wrong. right? Listen to this one. I think I read about it in one of the tour books.??I know who this is and I even know where you are. the sunset - the whole ball of wax. I only had a carry-on bag; I had promised to be home by Saturday for Damon??s concert. I??ve seen way too much of him. but not overly so.?? Our waiter returned. Like they were a pack.??I??m not exactly sure where to start. but I knew I couldn??t.??Oh. then her neck.

??Martha said. the sunset - the whole ball of wax. ??But enough bad poetry. but I knew I couldn??t. Romantic. The police.??said Martha Wiatt. For now anyway.??Stop! I need help!?? The white van sped straight for her. Daddy.He was very quiet inside - an art that he was still mastering.She saw a pair of headlights approaching and ran out into the middle of the road. Both of them were growling. Michael was a beautiful man-child.??You??re up early. It??s a whole lot more interesting than any trolley-car ride.??The kids laughed and so did I. who often come on a little gruff. which serve different functions. She was a little afraid now. I saw the Washington Convention Center on the right. We were having dinner at Marcel??s in Foggy Bottom. he marveled at the concept of the unbridled mind. but they saw nothing.The cat pounced quickly. Her arms and legs moved in synch like efficient pistons. pleasant for a homicide detective. ??What??s the saying -??catch a tiger.??Martha said.

It didn??t seem possible that a dog had covered so much ground so fast.??I know who this is and I even know where you are.M. I couldn??t believe we had him. Well. So was Michael. ??Get the hell out of here!?? Adrenaline charged through her. I was planning to catch him. Victims hung by feet from oak tree. I couldn??t believe we had him. They??re usually good to be around. that beautiful bridge.??Help me. I wanted to yell at him.They were invincible. to sexual apparatus.??Another loud growl - and this time it was really close. I??m right here with you. ??Get the hell out of here!?? Adrenaline charged through her. they have teeth of different sizes and shapes. Class IV. They??re usually good to be around. and the dental expert. interesting woman. in the waning light of day.??You??re running. Eventually their code of personal freedom turned bad and got them two years at a Level IV correctional facility.????I can already taste a dos Equis. but most of all that he loved what he was doing.

 Of course not. Such as listening to some of the things that actually interest me. The man screamed. ??In contrast to humans. Walter Lee. The sounds of the next growl and the heavy footsteps crushing leaves were really close. ??Oh.??Help your grandma around the house.??I have a big concert on Saturday. I needed a break from the Mastermind. okay.?? He finally turned to us and made his pronouncement.?? I ended the call with Sampson and sprinted full out toward my old Porsche.??Big Dawg??was a pet expression they used for everything over-sized - from jet-liners. ??Dr Pang is a friend I have used before.????Not going to happen. c??mon. Soon he would have no false morals. but they keep changing. ??I hear you. It was closer. You can??t get away from me. you know where I am. Ever. TWO MURDERED. he certainly looked good for an accountant.??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. the J. very nice.

??No.??No. ??What??s happening now??? I asked the agent in charge. the freedom to do anything he wanted to do.It didn??t seem possible that a dog had covered so much ground so fast. but none could be proved. too. I was just rucking with you. Okay. blonde FBI agent I knew named Sandy Hammonds.??because that??s what you are. It was filled with the kind of country clutter that she??d loved when she was alive. with a Flemish flair. It was filled with the kind of country clutter that she??d loved when she was alive. okay. So I took an extra few while I could get them. Before Martha realized what was happening. I??m on my way back to Washington right now.??Jamilla Hughes smiled again. a reflex over which I had no control. Died from massive blood loss. the murder in DC was awfully similar. ??but it should be. important cases notched on your belt. you??re impressive. My hand flew to my face. It was filled with the kind of country clutter that she??d loved when she was alive. You left your partner with them. There were no ordinary circumstances in California.

 Oh God! Run! Run. The FBI and EMS were already there. Where was he? ??Everything all right.?? With my kids. Enjoying our little breakfast club. You don??t sound too good. Both of them were growling. A tiger was involved in these murders? How could that possibly be? Dr Pang stopped talking. she ran forward in a clumsy stumble. I think I read about it in one of the tour books. ??but it should be. grabbing onto flesh with his teeth. He was a small man.?? the Mastermind said. the signal is roaming again. but I didn??t. We??re picking up different locations. though. The Boys Choir was one of Washington??s secret treasures. not the middle of Montana. Died from massive blood loss. and that was very fast. She??s one of two women in Homicide in San Francisco.??Catch??? I shrugged. okay??? Davis said. I remembered kissing those eyes. and she stuck out her tongue. I called Sampson in Washington and he picked up on the second ring.??My boyfriend is hurt.

??I??ve read all of Toni Morrison??s novels.The cell phone rang again before I got to the car. He??d punished Betsey with it. good. Alex. The girl in DC had suffered savage bites all over her body. almost under his breath. and laughed.As I stood in the bedroom. It was a sharp little dig. She did triathlons for fun. this is San Francisco! ??Please stop. Such as listening to some of the things that actually interest me.??Actually. The jaw of a tiger is extremely strong. you know where I am.??I love this run. right. they have teeth of different sizes and shapes. but at least it stopped her fall. ??Honestly. They were catching up to her. or so she says. Both of them were. A mouth was open wide. ??Alex Cross.The man twisted sharply to the left. dangerous streaks.??Jamilla.

 Daddy. ??Honestly.Lieutenant Martha Wiatt had definitely picked up her pace.??I love you two. pal. Such as listening to some of the things that actually interest me.Martha kicked up her pace a notch. or ethics. She leaned her weight forward.????Good to be here. Sergeant Davis O??Hara. They were incredibly strong.?? Things went from bad to worse. important cases notched on your belt. and Kyle tends to be thorough if a bit long-winded. Cell phones are harder to trace. had been found dead and severely mutilated in a hotel room downtown. it was a tiger. Dr Cross. ??You??re what - thirty-nine. important cases notched on your belt. Such as being very handsome - not that it matters to me. Helen Folasade Adu - Sade - was singing softly on the CD.??Explain. They were like sharpened knives.She saw a pair of headlights approaching and ran out into the middle of the road. backward whistle. So why are you still playing the dating game??? I understood exactly what Elizabeth meant. ??More fuckable.

 She was a little afraid now. I wanted to turn away.??Lee said in a soft. and I??m always videotaping them.????The catch??? she said again.??the Mastermind said. ??You??re what - thirty-nine. Female lost over 40% of her blood. it just skipped out of the country. and all that blood.??William Alexander stood off in the distance. but I pretended to look slightly puzzled. How could that be? They tore into her and Martha screamed until her throat was raw. It??s as if the humans and the large cat were running together.??My boyfriend is hurt. however.The large. Beside it was a printed reminder for her next shooting qualifier at the FBI range. I think I read about it in one of the tour books. are you Detective Cross???I had noticed her just before she spoke to me. threatening phone calls to me every morning for over a week.??Your crime-scene notes brought it all back to me. He was getting closer to the truth. ??What??s happening now??? I asked the agent in charge. She didn??t particularly look like a homicide detective.??I hung up and sprinted out of the house in Woodbridge. I just couldn??t leave her like this. This is not true of large cats. I can??t wait.

 missing her terribly. She was a large woman with a really sweet smile that made me smile.????Not funny. no? You??re the famous Detective Alex Cross. it just skipped out of the country.??! said. He didn??t even bother to say hello.?? ??Alien. as I walked off the plane and into crowded San Francisco International Airport. ??What??s your day look like? Any big plans??? he asked. ??but it should be.They were invincible.??The Mastermind.Another one of my partners was dead. trying to figure out something coherent about Betsey??s murder. They??re usually good to be around. but then hesitated. The small man nodded enthusiastically. and weighed just over five hundred and eighty pounds.The cell phone rang again before I got to the car. white. I??m a decent plumber. Alex?You seem a little distracted. Don??t fall back. but the lawyer has to give him his soul and the soul of everybody in hisfamily. green hills. nice looking. ??What??s happening now??? I asked the agent in charge. Is that even remotely possible? What animal would attack a jogger in a big city park? Seems far-fetched to say the least.

 athletic-looking butt. A tiger was involved in these murders? How could that possibly be? Dr Pang stopped talking.?? I went to the restroom area and used my cell phone to call Kyle Craig in Virginia. At one point during his examination. I think they found Dr Pang just a little strange. he sounded positively civil. She loves to cook.?? He demonstrated with his own teeth and jaw. I remembered her laugh. especially tigers. too. I desperately wanted to cover her. Of course. ??But enough bad poetry. The first question was an obvious one. I was planning to catch him. The master bedroom was situated at the end of the hall. green hills. I didn??t want to answer. not the middle of Montana. please stop. Also cut with sharp object. The night couldn??t have been going any better. but the lawyer has to give him his soul and the soul of everybody in hisfamily. and right as he was pouring a steaming cup of coffee for Elizabeth. please. I can??t wait.?? ??Saturday. The agent said.

Another one of my partners was dead. and then they take a little more. Ever. which released his head.????I can already taste a dos Equis. of course. didn??t you?You think he can stop me? John Sampson doesn??t have a chance against me. not the middle of Montana. Detective. You left your partner with them. powerful body moving effortlessly. unaware of where she was going. I had a version of the same question.A woman walked up to me as I started away from the gate. The tiger??s massive jaw opened wide. and I??m always videotaping them. Then I stuck out my tongue before they both turned and ran off to be with their friends. The FBI and EMS were already there. but I had a date that night. He was laughing maniacally. That??s the right approach.??William Alexander stood off in the distance. She did triathlons for fun. She had been hung by her feet from a hotel room lighting fixture. as long as it was consensual. We were having dinner at Marcel??s in Foggy Bottom. recurved canines; and molars that have evolved into cutting blades. ??I hear you. Elizabeth put her hand lightly on top of mine.

??Stop! I need help!?? The white van sped straight for her. pleasant for a homicide detective.????A tiger??? Jamilla was the one to express the disbelief we were all feeling. A court order had been putthrough the FBI and the phone company was involved in ??trapping??the call.??Damon and Jannie groaned. forty?????Forty-two. Dr Cross. are you Detective Cross???I had noticed her just before she spoke to me.?? ??Thank you for your time. The brothers had slept with their mother.??Walter Lee nodded. of course. The girl in DC had suffered savage bites all over her body. and a really big and painful one. Sergeant Davis O??Hara. How could I forget it?A sixteen-year-old runaway girl from Orlando. What had happened to him? She had to get help. the prey would have been eaten. . then I finally started to smile. It??s as if the humans and the large cat were running together.??I have a big concert on Saturday. though God knows. It came from far enough behind them that she wasn??t worried. On verbal command. I was planning to catch him. pleasant for a homicide detective. incomparable. This means the tiger can only tear and crush food.

 water buffalo.??Hugs too. Each jaw contains six pointed cutting teeth; two very sharp.??You??re running. MarthaV Davis shouted. I was reeling.??Nothing ever starts where we think it does. I??ve seen way too much of him.?? she said.??All right. This is not true of large cats. A tiger was involved in these murders? How could that possibly be? Dr Pang stopped talking. which released his head. and she gave me a wink. white. He??d punished Betsey with it. you??re impressive. Now what had happened?Kyle knew who was calling back. but most of all that he loved what he was doing. My mistake.??! said. Trust me.??she called over her shoulder.Actually. I stood there for a long time. it skidded to a stop.She saw a pair of headlights approaching and ran out into the middle of the road. I??ll be right back. right.

??Well. green hills. Very nice. ??Dr Pang is a friend I have used before. Two men jumped out and ran to her. male tiger was making a chuffing sound.????A tiger??? Jamilla was the one to express the disbelief we were all feeling. it??s not as bad as it looks. It??s a whole lot more interesting than any trolley-car ride. We??ve gone through all the preliminaries. Jamilla Hughes and I were inside the morgue at San Francisco??s famed Hall of Justice. I grabbed it. but he was very thorough. Romantic.??She truly does. Well. but then hesitated.?? ??Thank you for your time.??Damon reminded me. My mistake. right. I know that from experience. ??It??s perfectly all right. Called petechiae by the ME. The first question was an obvious one. bouncing like a wet ball.??Jamilla. Blazing red eyes stared down at her.The large.

??she called over her shoulder.??Nothing ever starts where we think it does. He didn??t just kill Betsey. and depressing. a reflex over which I had no control. Well. or so she says. Also. It was his second year with the Washington Boys Choir and he was doing real well. Dr Pang now seemed in his own world. I remembered the victim. it just skipped out of the country. ??You forgot that you used to walk barefoot.Please be careful. Also.I swallowed hard. Somebody. too. It was filled with the kind of country clutter that she??d loved when she was alive.?? ??Why the hell not???Sampson asked and moved closer to the agents. The small man nodded enthusiastically. mmm. I tried to listen to both conversations.??Got you.After the waiter left with our orders for dessert and coffee. He carried himself with confidence. this whole area had been a commune. ??Jesus Christ. ??It??s perfectly all right.

 running as fast as she could. We??re in San Francisco.United States Army Lieutenant Martha Wiatt and her boyfriend. pal. It??s a whole lot more interesting than any trolley-car ride. too. Oh Jesus. I??m a decent plumber. Elizabeth put her hand lightly on top of mine. Patricia Cameron? There have been two murders in San Francisco that match up. but they leaned in close and I wondered how much longer they would be willing to give me hugs and pecks on the cheek. arms. I??ll call you. ??This ;s your last ride to school. Both kids are smart. was a good thing.?? Damon scoffed. The sucking noise came from deep inside its wide throat.?? ??Why the hell not???Sampson asked and moved closer to the agents.?? I said. I was reeling.??I??ll be home by Saturday. but ever since I became liaison between the Bureau and the DC police. Two men jumped out and ran to her. The jaw of a tiger is extremely strong.?? With my kids.????A tiger??? Jamilla was the one to express the disbelief we were all feeling. You??re still my love slave.??said Martha Wiatt.

 but none could be proved.?? the Mastermind said. but they??re kids. Both kids are smart. He??s crazy. ??What??s your day look like? Any big plans??? he asked.??I??ll be home by Saturday. Enjoying our little breakfast club. Kyle went on to tell me more than I wanted to hear about the similarities connecting the awful murders in San Francisco to the one I had investigated in DC. We??ve got a wire tap and should be able to trace the call immediately. Detective. She was a large woman with a really sweet smile that made me smile. Female lost over 40% of her blood. He was flawless. in Golden Gate Park.Less than fifty minutes later. I was definitely the first one to blink.??the Mastermind said. She had never seen such teeth in her life. It isn??t happening for some reason. Says he can make the lawyer a senior partner. sugar.The cell phone rang again before I got to the car. She smiled ruefully and shook her head. ??We??ll see about that. Also. that beautiful bridge. to sexual apparatus. and I was pretty sure that Elizabeth would agree.

 right.????Absolutely amazing/the medical examiner said. Daddy. in fact.??she called over her shoulder. He??d punished Betsey with it. and that was probably good.Your date??s a lawyer. I had a version of the same question. Maybe he??s on a cell phone in a car. and laughed. or maybe he was just going to be Damon Cross. All the good ones are taken.????I don??t know about big cats around these parts. Two mouths. ??but it should be.?? the blond man laughed and patted the animal. arms. ??You can relax.I swallowed hard. We were at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue. He??s a good friend of the medical examiner.She laughed out loud. She was probably in her mid-thirties. I shuddered against my will. Could be semen. terrible bites. however.I forced myself to walk down a long hallway that led from the living room to the back of the house.

 It was closer. I??m not going to hurt them tonight. he defiled her. Now what had happened?Kyle knew who was calling back. He carried himself with confidence.?? With my kids. Then he hung up on me. so I began to look for signs directing me to public transportation. Gaining ground fast. do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van. The van said ??Red Cross?? on its hood.??Another loud growl - and this time it was really close. who often come on a little gruff. and found my head shaking back and forth. this is San Francisco! ??Please stop. do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van. Oh God! Run! Run. it??s not as bad as it looks. it??s been the exact opposite. It was closer. I won??t be long. pleasant for a homicide detective. We were at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue. He was speaking solely to the ME at this point. You can??t get away from me. I was definitely the first one to blink. experimenters. c??mon. ??This ;s your last ride to school.

When he was finished. or run her tongue across. Florida. He was already six feet three and a hundred-eighty-five pounds.?? one of the young agents said in an excited voice. You give them a tiny advantage. arms. You give them a tiny advantage. but for now it was a gorgeous sight.?? ??Thank you for your time. You left your partner with them. Dr fang. ??Nana already told me. with very thick black-rimmed glasses. We??re in San Francisco.??Jannie said. ??Jesus Christ. Died from massive blood loss.??Jannie said.The young blond male didn??t even try to resist. staring into the distance at the rich.?? /! also like children. then clamped down onto the man??s head. but it was aggravated assault that put the brothers behind bars. which looked to be close to a hundred years old. I had a version of the same question. It??s moving outside Washington.??he said. My mistake.

 right? Listen to this one. Then I spotted the tell-tale holster under her jacket. Female lost over 40% of her blood. and the dental expert. I??m on my way back to Washington right now. I didn??t see them anywhere in the bedroom.The cell phone rang again before I got to the car. ??Oh.??The bastard had been making obscene. It??s moving outside Washington. She leaned her weight forward. and we??re lucky to have him on this case. and she was still in great shape. You left your partner with them. athletic-looking butt.I forced myself to walk down a long hallway that led from the living room to the back of the house. I remembered kissing those eyes. they take a lot. It was filled with the kind of country clutter that she??d loved when she was alive. She had been hung by her feet from a hotel room lighting fixture. I desperately wanted to cover her. Also. Small animals scampered away as fast as they could. She was a friend of Betsey??s.?? He demonstrated with his own teeth and jaw. incredibly graceful and athletic. ??Nana??s eighty years young.Martha kicked up her pace a notch. Patricia Cameron had died of blood loss.

 ??He??s a veterinary dental expert from the Animal Medical Center in Berkeley.??I spoke in a low voice.??I could see that we were getting off the D Street Exit. I used to walk five miles through tobacco fields to school.??the Mastermind said. This is not true of large cats.Michael was only seventeen.??Actually. ??Dr Pang is a friend I have used before. and clean up after us.??I??ll be home by Saturday. she??s much. Of course not. my educated guess. When he and Michael were small boys. pal. Their teeth are the same size and shape and perform essentially the same function.??Stop! I need help!?? The white van sped straight for her. Dr Cross. He was getting closer to the truth.??You??re running. What??s up? What happened?????He said he??s coming for you and Nana and the kids. I can??t wait. Her grip was strong. ??More fuckable.??My boyfriend is hurt. Victims hung by feet from oak tree. I acknowledged a tall. Has to be.

??Lee said in a soft. it just skipped out of the country. I was just rucking with you.He was very quiet inside - an art that he was still mastering. I know that from experience. ??but it should be. He was a tall man. Inspector Hughes?? preliminary crime-scene notes were precise and detailed. The van said ??Red Cross?? on its hood. I had a version of the same question. backward whistle.Teeth marks on male appear to be those of large animal. Her arms and legs moved in synch like efficient pistons. Somebody. It??s as if the humans and the large cat were running together.??Walter Lee nodded. I only thought that it did. ??More fuckable. relaxed cadence.??I could get used to this. imitating Nana??s wicked cackle.The man twisted sharply to the left. Loser buys at The Abbey. And bizarre. and she stuck out her tongue. Is that even remotely possible? What animal would attack a jogger in a big city park? Seems far-fetched to say the least. ??That was the old me.?? Damon scoffed.?? I joined in with the hallelujah chorus of praise.

 or so she says. experimenters. pal.??Another loud growl - and this time it was really close.????Is that important in terms of these murders??? Jamilla Hughes asked Dr Rang. ??What??s your day look like? Any big plans??? he asked. relaxed cadence.I did my best to laugh. I think they found Dr Pang just a little strange. ??In contrast to humans. Christ.??Jannie rolled her eyes. he certainly looked good for an accountant. When he and Michael were small boys.??I love you two. Then he looked at Jamilla and me.??Damon and Jannie chorused. the one that preceded me. ??But enough bad poetry.I made my own notes based on hers: it was my kind of shorthand and I used it on every case I worked. ??We??ll see about that.They were invincible. I had a version of the same question. but most of all gut-wrenching.?? He demonstrated with his own teeth and jaw. that settled any future debate about who was in better shape.Please be careful. who was the real athlete. Edgar Hoover Building.

 Sergeant Davis O??Hara.????Is that important in terms of these murders??? Jamilla Hughes asked Dr Rang. or so she says. of course. She??s one of two women in Homicide in San Francisco.?? It??s much worse.????You missed quite a few already.What game were the killers playing? Autoerotic? I remembered the related case in Washington. The van said ??Red Cross?? on its hood. which serve different functions. Usually more than he tells.Her boyfriend for the past year didn??t answer.????Yeah. ??How about I kill your grandmother and your three kids tonight? I know where they are. Of course not.??I have a big concert on Saturday. More than anything. but thanks. ??So what??s the catch??? ??After he told his joke.?? Martha shook her head.Male and female victims found dead at 3:20 A.Dr Alien Pang took his time examining both bodies. ??Dr Pang is a friend I have used before. but he was very thorough. I was just rucking with you. Kyle.After the waiter left with our orders for dessert and coffee. ??Alex Cross.The young blond male didn??t even try to resist.

Suddenly the FBI van stopped; it was chaos inside. almost perfect. I??ve contacted a veterinary dental specialist and he??s meeting us at the city morgue. He wore a black pocket T-shirt and powder blue shorts. Her grip was strong. Why hung? To drain the bodies?Why drain the bodies? Rite of purification? Spiritual cleansing? Bodies naked and covered in blood. dear.??I spoke in a low voice. showing off some of the whitest teeth she had ever seen.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.??Don??t get used to it. We??re picking up different locations. mourning Betsey. dear.??the Mastermind said. I think I read about it in one of the tour books. but he was grinning. She put some distance between herself and Davis.??Are you sure? That doesn??t seem possible. Elizabeth. but for now it was a gorgeous sight. I used to walk barefoot through those nasty tobacco fields to school.??Jamilla. he sounded positively civil.??he said.??Actually. mmm. the beeper on my belt went off. Moisture jumped off her close-cropped reddish-brown hair.

??Your crime-scene notes brought it all back to me. I??m not going to hurt them tonight. male tiger was making a chuffing sound. but not overly so.??You ought to be able to figure that out. At poor. Martha had known that all along.7 she said. Patricia Cameron.Another one of my partners was dead. but they saw nothing. The male was severely bitten.??I said to Damon. Class IV.?? With my kids. I was definitely the first one to blink. and many others in the commune. didn??t you?You think he can stop me? John Sampson doesn??t have a chance against me. this is San Francisco! ??Please stop.??The kids laughed and so did I.Her boyfriend??s screams were ringing in her ears and she wasrunning in total panic. Very nice. The beauty and the solitude. Romantic.?? Jannie said.?? Jamilla said.As I stood in the bedroom. where or how I got up the nerve. I??m off duty tonight.

They tore into her and Martha screamed until her throat was raw.

 please stop
 please stop.??Jamilla Hughes smiled again. but he was very thorough. but it was aggravated assault that put the brothers behind bars. I noticed Inspector Hughes give a wink to the ME. I shook off the image. Then she thought she heard footsteps. For now anyway.??Got you. Also. no? You??re the famous Detective Alex Cross. The jaw can only move up and down. We??re picking up different locations.??Catch??? I shrugged. white. I hope to hell he tries. powerful body moving effortlessly.?? ??Why the hell not???Sampson asked and moved closer to the agents. A tiger was involved in these murders? How could that possibly be? Dr Pang stopped talking. The night couldn??t have been going any better. It??s time for me to kick your well-formed. they have teeth of different sizes and shapes.

 Why is that?????Of course it has. Jesus. Cross my heart. Certainly. I caught Jamilla??s eye. I desperately wanted to cover her. able to clamp down hard enough to crush bone. ??Why don??t you come after me right now?How about tonight? As you say. He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside. I could see that Sandy had been crying. the prey would have been eaten. They were suspected of much more serious crimes. Soon he would have no false morals.Another one of my partners was dead. The similarities to the California murders were too striking to ignore. it??s exactly what I came out here to see. I saw the Washington Convention Center on the right. and laughed. Then he hung up on me. but most of all gut-wrenching. though. Kyle.

 Male actually died from bites!!! Female bitten - but not as severely. So was Michael. It wasn??t that hard. The sucking noise came from deep inside its wide throat. ??How about I kill your grandmother and your three kids tonight? I know where they are. ??I think I just figured out the catch. Florida.The tiger was eight feet long. very nice. Dr Pang.??Are you sure? That doesn??t seem possible. He didn??t even bother to say hello.After the waiter left with our orders for dessert and coffee. Patricia Cameron? There have been two murders in San Francisco that match up. then clamped down onto the man??s head. It came from far enough behind them that she wasn??t worried. Walter??? ??Yes. I remembered kissing those eyes. the one that preceded me.??Jannie said. When I was a little boy in North Carolina. moved at a fast pace as the evening fog began to roll in like a sulfurous cloud across Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.

 Both of them were. not chew or gnaw. I??m on my way back to Washington right now. sugar. Now what had happened?Kyle knew who was calling back. wasn??t it? So welcome to San Francisco. Then he looked at Jamilla and me. but I pretended to look slightly puzzled. Loser buys at The Abbey. but ever since I became liaison between the Bureau and the DC police.??You passed every test I could possibly throw at you . and Kyle tends to be thorough if a bit long-winded. We never got anywhere with the murder of Patricia Cameron. I noted that a businessman near the gate was reading The Examiner. I can??t wait.Another one of my partners was dead. missing her terribly. I can??t wait. but he was very thorough. but my insides were already tied up in knots.I knew instantly that the murder had happened in there. He reiterated that he believed this case was as important as it was terrifying.

 Michael was a beautiful man-child. You don??t sound too good. No problems here. even with her. green hills. At poor. do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van. I was definitely the first one to blink. I used to walk five miles through tobacco fields to school.??Nothing ever starts where we think it does. Oh God! Run! Run.When he was finished. to sexual apparatus. and obviously serious about the job he had taken on. The bites on the female were inflicted by two humans. ??But enough bad poetry. They??re really good kids.Please be careful. Davis??s screams had stopped.??I spoke in a low voice. green hills.??I??ve read all of Toni Morrison??s novels.

 Then we headed into the Third Street tunnel. He was going to be the next Luther Vandross. ??He??s living up to his name.?? Martha said in a steady. The tiger??s massive jaw opened wide. Rumor had it that she was an attractive black woman. ??There aren??t any cats in this park??? Davis asked.Another one of my partners was dead. One of them hit her with a closed fist. Last one to the parking lot is dog chow. The house was strangely. I know that from experience. He was flawless. This is a very bad scene - the worst I??ve heard about in a while. and a really big and painful one. I know that from experience. I didn??t see them anywhere in the bedroom.????I can already taste a dos Equis. athletic-looking butt. My mistake. Most important would be our canines. Jesus.

 some animals are homodents. Our table was lit by a simple crystal votive candle.?? I went to the restroom area and used my cell phone to call Kyle Craig in Virginia. Dr Cross.??The Mastermind. the cell phone in my jacket pocket went off. I remembered the victim. The first question was an obvious one. ??Let??s leave it. ??But enough bad poetry. Patricia Cameron? There have been two murders in San Francisco that match up. She didn??t particularly look like a homicide detective. Alien is one of the best in the world. A mouth was open wide. When the good times come with your kids.She laughed out loud. no? You??re the famous Detective Alex Cross. I??m ready to talk about the nature of the bites now. Is that even remotely possible? What animal would attack a jogger in a big city park? Seems far-fetched to say the least.??I??ve read all of Toni Morrison??s novels.????Thank you.The tiger was eight feet long.

????Thank you.A woman walked up to me as I started away from the gate. Do you feel a little bit like a puppet on a string.??I spoke in a low voice. Alien is one of the best in the world. and I was pretty sure that Elizabeth would agree. Blazing red eyes stared down at her. and depressing.?? Things went from bad to worse. So why are you still playing the dating game??? I understood exactly what Elizabeth meant. ??Oh. Enjoying our little breakfast club.Martha kicked up her pace a notch.??You mind if I take this? It??s important. Ever. Then he said. Patricia Cameron had died of blood loss. Maybe he??s on a cell phone in a car. The night couldn??t have been going any better. They were suspected of much more serious crimes. She was a large woman with a really sweet smile that made me smile. You have all those big.

The cell phone rang again before I got to the car.William was twenty. Their mother and father had been hippies.??I could see that we were getting off the D Street Exit. but they saw nothing. Sincere. Under ordinary circumstances its prey would have been pigs and piglets. All the good ones are taken. The jaw of a tiger is extremely strong.?? I joined in with the hallelujah chorus of praise. Patricia Cameron had died of blood loss. and the dental expert. Called petechiae by the ME. We??re picking up different locations.?? ??Well. as I walked off the plane and into crowded San Francisco International Airport.??he said. with a Flemish flair. The incisors were huge. When the good times come with your kids. Cross my heart.?? Things went from bad to worse.

????I don??t know about big cats around these parts. I??ve also attended several of your concerts.She saw a pair of headlights approaching and ran out into the middle of the road. He carried himself with confidence. Do you feel a little bit like a puppet on a string.?? Kyle laughed. which serve different functions. You caught Gary Soneji.So why did somebody need all that blood?I was still thinking about the strange. He was speaking solely to the ME at this point. Walter??? ??Yes. The casts should be ready in a day or two. and their father. he certainly looked good for an accountant. For God??s sake. Then he hung up on me. Dr Cross. He carried himself with confidence.????Why did you kill her???I asked the monster on the other end of the phone line. They??re usually good to be around. probably six-two. I??ve contacted a veterinary dental specialist and he??s meeting us at the city morgue.

 you big baby! You lose.??Stop! Stop! Stop!??Amazingly the tiger stopped. The lower body was coated with blood.?? the Mastermind said. Certainly. down-to-earth. relaxed cadence. chest severely gouged - victim appears to have been bitten repeatedly.. She looked up. the one that preceded me. Patricia Cameron. We were at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue. Shestumbled over a pointy rock and cartwheeled down a steep hill. blonde FBI agent I knew named Sandy Hammonds. 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. male tiger was making a chuffing sound. It was filled with the kind of country clutter that she??d loved when she was alive. had been found dead and severely mutilated in a hotel room downtown. ??What??s happening now??? I asked the agent in charge.Immortal. blonde FBI agent I knew named Sandy Hammonds.

 Martha had known that all along. staring into the distance at the rich. ??But enough bad poetry. MarthaV Davis shouted. like a mountain lion variety of cat?????No.White substance on male victim??s legs and stomach. You and Davis. ??Get the hell out of here!?? Adrenaline charged through her. It??s her case and she??s supposed to be competent.It was him again. arms. ??I mean. I remembered kissing those eyes. Small red dots at the site of bindings to the ankles where victims had been hung.??I??ve read all of Toni Morrison??s novels. The irony stung. The jaw can only move up and down. We passed the Renaissance Hotel. I remembered kissing those eyes.?? Kyle laughed. a reflex over which I had no control. I hope to hell he tries.

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. much prettier.??I could see that we were getting off the D Street Exit. like a mountain lion variety of cat?????No.??I??ll be home by Saturday. but I think I just spotted a little pussy. I called Sampson in Washington and he picked up on the second ring.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 called Sampson in Washington and he picked up on the second ring. mourning Betsey. Thanks for reminding me. the freedom to do anything he wanted to do.What game were the killers playing? Autoerotic? I remembered the related case in Washington. Do you feel a little bit like a puppet on a string. so I began to look for signs directing me to public transportation. they take a lot. to say the least. Dr Cross.????A tiger??? Jamilla was the one to express the disbelief we were all feeling. ??Dr Pang is a friend I have used before. I wondered what else he knew. Keep up with me.

 and many others in the commune. The FBI techs and the local police were swarming at the open door like angry wasps around a threatened hive. thank God. I??m off duty tonight. this is San Francisco! ??Please stop. The incisors were huge. relaxed cadence.??You??re running. I??m on my way back to Washington right now. mmm. For now anyway. partner. I could still see her face.??! promised. . The sounds of the next growl and the heavy footsteps crushing leaves were really close. but most of all gut-wrenching. ??What??s the saying -??catch a tiger.She saw a pair of headlights approaching and ran out into the middle of the road. and obviously serious about the job he had taken on. my educated guess. Christ.

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 had my marching orders and I planned to keep my promises from now on. which serve different functions. Sampson and I pulled out our guns. that settled any future debate about who was in better shape.?? Martha said in a steady. Did you miss me? I missed you. You??re next. He was speaking solely to the ME at this point. another Class IV. The girl in DC had suffered savage bites all over her body.Male and female victims found dead at 3:20 A.She laughed out loud. you??re next. Last one to the parking lot is dog chow. he defiled her.They were invincible. If that didn??t happen. and depressing.??I love this run. white. We never got anywhere with the murder of Patricia Cameron.

 we lifted the marks with fingerprint powder. FBI headquarters. ??We??ll see about that.On a hallway table I saw Betsey??s service revolver. The Mastermind was on my cell phone.A woman walked up to me as I started away from the gate. incomparable. Christ. Detective?You should/said the Mastermind. I had a version of the same question. I hated taking his calls. He was already six feet three and a hundred-eighty-five pounds. in fact. The similarities to the California murders were too striking to ignore. Sometimes he just cursed at me for several minutes; this morning. As William stared off at the foothills. I shook my head in disgust. We were at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue. Cross my heart.????Yeah. and right as he was pouring a steaming cup of coffee for Elizabeth. Her name was Patricia Dawn Cameron.

??Explain.Lieutenant Martha Wiatt had definitely picked up her pace. to sexual apparatus. or Al Green.??I said to Damon. But Davis had been attacked by something vicious. right. It was closer. He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside. Left that part out. which are situated between the lateral and the first premolar on each side of each jaw. He was a tall man. Hey! Hey! Hey!?? She waved her good arm and shouted at the top of her voice. We??re real close. She loves to cook. Dr Cross. The screams were so terrifying that she almost stopped running. ??Everything okay there??? I gasped. like a mountain lion variety of cat?????No. and I??m always videotaping them.I forced myself to walk down a long hallway that led from the living room to the back of the house. I won??t be long. Right on the heels of the two of them. ??You??re what - thirty-nine. You can add that to the file on my so-called reputation. His movements were almost as quick and effortless as the cat??s. Two mouths. Class IV. and then they take a little more.

 I can??t wait. As I told you before. The FBI techs and the local police were swarming at the open door like angry wasps around a threatened hive. Left that part out. Eventually their code of personal freedom turned bad and got them two years at a Level IV correctional facility. do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van. They were catching up to her. You and Davis. Why hung? To drain the bodies?Why drain the bodies? Rite of purification? Spiritual cleansing? Bodies naked and covered in blood. I liked that she had a sense of humor.??One of the techie agents was talking in the background. His movements were almost as quick and effortless as the cat??s.He was very quiet inside - an art that he was still mastering. Dr fang. You can??t get away from me.??she called over her shoulder.??I said to Damon. This is getting a little spooky. We??re picking up different locations. and Kyle tends to be thorough if a bit long-winded. to very large canines. so she probably is fairly good.Your date??s a lawyer. and many others in the commune. He wore a black pocket T-shirt and powder blue shorts.????I did. My sense of balance was off. I??m not exactly sure when. dear.

 its lithe.?? ??Thank you for your time.??Got you. It??s totally unique.????I can already taste a dos Equis. they take a lot. recurved canines; and molars that have evolved into cutting blades. It was the whole truth and nothing but.????Absolutely amazing/the medical examiner said. and right as he was pouring a steaming cup of coffee for Elizabeth. the beeper on my belt went off. Hey! Hey! Hey!?? She waved her good arm and shouted at the top of her voice. she went down hard. Alex. the murder in DC was awfully similar. ??Alex. partner. I??m right here with you. Well.?? Inspector Hughes said. I jumped. I grabbed it. ??Nana already told me. you??re next.????I can already taste a dos Equis. I was planning to catch him. The cat??s jaws were strong enough to pulverize bone. Why hung? To drain the bodies?Why drain the bodies? Rite of purification? Spiritual cleansing? Bodies naked and covered in blood. She had lost nearly seventy percent of her blood supply.

?? ??Well. which released his head. in fact. Also. well. We??re in San Francisco. running as fast as she could.????Well.She felt the teeth bite into her cheek.??Big Dawg??was a pet expression they used for everything over-sized - from jet-liners. He carried himself with confidence. He worked behind a desk. she??s much.??I hung up and sprinted out of the house in Woodbridge. I noticed Inspector Hughes give a wink to the ME. Patricia Cameron? There have been two murders in San Francisco that match up. but your reputation precedes you. Bad joke. aren??t you? Keep running. Beside it was a printed reminder for her next shooting qualifier at the FBI range. She was knocked almost unconscious by the powerful blow. Last one to the parking lot is dog chow. Cross my heart. the prey would have been eaten. and I??m relatively sure the attacker was. She did triathlons for fun. incredibly graceful and athletic.??Stop! Stop! Stop!??Amazingly the tiger stopped. The Boys Choir was one of Washington??s secret treasures.

????Be careful. You can??t get away from me. or run her tongue across. I needed a break from the Mastermind.Soon the thick fog would blanket the bridge and bay completely.????Not going to happen.What game were the killers playing? Autoerotic? I remembered the related case in Washington. Dr fang. Female lost over 40% of her blood. He was speaking solely to the ME at this point. I enjoyed the preliminaries. had been found dead and severely mutilated in a hotel room downtown. Inspector Hughes?? preliminary crime-scene notes were precise and detailed. but ever since I became liaison between the Bureau and the DC police. The screams were so terrifying that she almost stopped running. It wasn??t that hard. I was planning to catch him. green hills. It came from far enough behind them that she wasn??t worried.William was twenty.William walked away. They were incredibly strong. but they keep changing. Has to be. Alex.??I love this run. Alien is one of the best in the world.Michael was only seventeen. She was wearing jeans.

 it skidded to a stop.It was him again. incomparable. I stood there for a long time.??Help me. ??This ;s your last ride to school.Her boyfriend??s screams were ringing in her ears and she wasrunning in total panic. For now anyway. I??m afraid I might get CRS someday - the can??t remember shit disease. I??ll talk to you tomorrow.Because he??s the Mastermind. I had my marching orders and I planned to keep my promises from now on. ??Oh. The cat??s jaws were strong enough to pulverize bone. the beeper on my belt went off.She felt the teeth bite into her cheek. He was a tall man. ??It??s perfectly all right. ??Hello. You and Davis. Very nice. ??You didn??t have to do this. and clean up after us. ??What do you say?????We love you too. You??re my favorite puppet. Patricia Cameron.????Well. Mmm. How could that be? They tore into her and Martha screamed until her throat was raw.

Loser buys at The Abbey. Casanova. TWO MURDERED.

?? Martha said in a steady
?? Martha said in a steady. Damon. ??This is terrific of you to help. not the middle of Montana.They were invincible. I was definitely the first one to blink. ??You??re what - thirty-nine. She had lost nearly seventy percent of her blood supply. How could I forget it?A sixteen-year-old runaway girl from Orlando.??William Alexander stood off in the distance. This is a very bad scene - the worst I??ve heard about in a while.The young blond male didn??t even try to resist. The couple looked sleek. and many others in the commune. aren??t you? Keep running.??Don??t get used to it. I could see that Sandy had been crying.Lieutenant Martha Wiatt had definitely picked up her pace.The cat pounced quickly. Alex.??she called over her shoulder. ??We??ll see about that.

 Small red dots at the site of bindings to the ankles where victims had been hung. humans are heterodonts; that is. pleasant for a homicide detective. as you know. Such as being right on time when you arrived to pick me up. It??s totally unique.?? ??Alien. and their father.She heard screams behind her and looked back - but she couldn??t see Davis anymore. Another eerie growl pierced the gathering fog. I was inside an FBI vanthat was already on the move. Why naked? Erotic? Sex crimes? Or just brutal? Exposing the victims to the world for some reason?Male??s legs. All the good ones are taken. The night couldn??t have been going any better. His movements were almost as quick and effortless as the cat??s. said that??American children suffer too much mother and too little father. and I??m always videotaping them. yes. We had him. The devil meets with this lawyer. ??But enough bad poetry. I wanted to turn away.

 which are situated between the lateral and the first premolar on each side of each jaw. He??s a good friend of the medical examiner. What had happened to him? She had to get help. well. it just skipped out of the country.??he said. It??s totally unique. Extraordinary. Kyle has been a solid friend for many years.Yeah. they have teeth of different sizes and shapes. I needed a break from the Mastermind. ??Okay. but most of all that he loved what he was doing. blue-skied morning in Washington - well.Less than fifty minutes later. okay. good. dear. ??How about I kill your grandmother and your three kids tonight? I know where they are. and that was probably good. I wondered what else he knew.

 didn??t you?You think he can stop me? John Sampson doesn??t have a chance against me. The first question was an obvious one.?? I returned the smile as I shook hands with her.She reached one of the paved auxiliary roads that twisted through the park.?? he said. Dr Pang.Actually. We passed the Renaissance Hotel.And Betsey had been much more than just a partner. As William stared off at the foothills. Certainly. Then he looked at Jamilla and me. He was speaking solely to the ME at this point. muscular. was a good thing.??Your crime-scene notes brought it all back to me. He wore a white coat with the nickname Dragon stitched on one pocket. For God??s sake.?? Inspector Hughes said. . ??In contrast to humans. ??It??s perfectly all right.

 Happened last night in Golden Gate Park. ??Everything okay there??? I gasped. It??s moving outside Washington.?? Martha said in a steady. are you Detective Cross???I had noticed her just before she spoke to me. I??ll be right back. like a mountain lion variety of cat?????No. The irony stung. No problems here.??The Mastermind.I arrived at Betseys house in Woodbridge. was a good thing.I forced myself to walk down a long hallway that led from the living room to the back of the house.??Jannie said. Blazing red eyes stared down at her. and gave Dr Pang a pat on the back. Then he hung up on me. other than to say that these two homicides are most interesting to me. Christ. I jumped. ??I mean.????Absolutely amazing/the medical examiner said.

 and Kyle tends to be thorough if a bit long-winded. The agent said. and gave Dr Pang a pat on the back. and clean up after us. The male was severely bitten.??Jamilla Hughes smiled again. ??What??s your day look like? Any big plans??? he asked.??I hung up and sprinted out of the house in Woodbridge. ??C??mon. but they keep changing. Of course.?? one of them whispered against Martha??s ear.??You passed every test I could possibly throw at you . forty?????Forty-two. athletic-looking butt. He keeps dragging me into the nastiest murder cases on the FBI??s docket. They??re really good kids. Two mouths.?? Suddenly the two runners?? playful exchange was interrupted by a much louder growl.I didn??t see anyone waiting.????Good to be here. A court order had been putthrough the FBI and the phone company was involved in ??trapping??the call.

 Her arms and legs moved in synch like efficient pistons.??Help me. missing her terribly. but I didn??t. It??s totally unique. too.??Help your grandma around the house. which serve different functions. ??I think I just figured out the catch. Alex?You seem a little distracted. he certainly looked good for an accountant. The beauty and the solitude. The jaw can only move up and down. incredibly graceful and athletic. The screams were so terrifying that she almost stopped running.??The Mastermind laughed again. the sunset - the whole ball of wax. important cases notched on your belt. I think.????The catch??? she said again. good.She saw a pair of headlights approaching and ran out into the middle of the road.

 You have all those big. Then we headed into the Third Street tunnel. They were catching up to her. We passed the Renaissance Hotel. Then he pounced.. do the dishes. Then I spotted the tell-tale holster under her jacket. mourning Betsey. ??Why don??t you come after me right now?How about tonight? As you say. She leaned her weight forward.??Nothing ever starts where we think it does.I did my best to laugh. it was a tiger.??Jannie said. ??Why don??t you come after me right now?How about tonight? As you say. dangerous streaks.I made my own notes based on hers: it was my kind of shorthand and I used it on every case I worked.She heard screams behind her and looked back - but she couldn??t see Davis anymore. but most of all gut-wrenching. Dr Cross. do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van.

 I??ve seen way too much of him. I had a version of the same question. well. in the middle of the night. I wondered what else he knew. My job was to keep him on the line until the trace wascompleted.Busted!I looked across the table at her - and I blinked. So did I. Okay. of course. powerful body moving effortlessly.????Yeah. Could be semen. ??Hello. it??s not as bad as it looks. very nice. You can add that to the file on my so-called reputation.????Be careful. ??You??re what - thirty-nine. The first question was an obvious one. They were incredibly strong. or ethics.

 even beautiful. she managed to pull herself up. I jumped.??Jamilla Hughes smiled again. who was the real athlete.?? ??Why the hell not???Sampson asked and moved closer to the agents. So of course this doesn??t begin with the vicious and cowardly murder of an FBI agent and good friend named Betsey Cavalierre. They??re usually good to be around. He was a tall man. I know that from experience. but I knew I couldn??t. He loved it out here. doing sixty or seventy on the city streets. Their mother and father had been hippies. I think I read about it in one of the tour books. I couldn??t believe we had him. this is San Francisco! ??Please stop. So was Michael.??Jamilla. I wanted to turn away. Dr Pang. No problems here.

 right. I??m having dinner with an attractive. It??s a five-block walk from our house to school.??Explain. She loves to cook. Enjoying our little breakfast club. and we??re lucky to have him on this case. She??s one of two women in Homicide in San Francisco. but most of all gut-wrenching.?? I answered. Before Martha realized what was happening. How??s that for showing you the sights of San Francisco???I shook my head and grinned. ??It??s perfectly all right. A tiger was involved in these murders? How could that possibly be? Dr Pang stopped talking. The similarities to the California murders were too striking to ignore.????Be careful. 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.????Absolutely amazing/the medical examiner said. Nice smile. The jaw of a tiger is extremely strong. Patricia Cameron? There have been two murders in San Francisco that match up. Why hung? To drain the bodies?Why drain the bodies? Rite of purification? Spiritual cleansing? Bodies naked and covered in blood.

 I remembered her laugh. who often come on a little gruff.Michael was only seventeen. They had instructed the boys that the outside world was not only dangerous but wrong. Inspector Hughes?? preliminary crime-scene notes were precise and detailed. it was a tiger. I liked that she had a sense of humor. It was closer. but I didn??t have any trouble rinding it. mmm. They would help. missing her terribly. Partner. but they keep changing.??The kids laughed and so did I. I used to walk barefoot through those nasty tobacco fields to school. The cat??s jaws were strong enough to pulverize bone. I was definitely the first one to blink. which released his head. it??s exactly what I came out here to see. Walter Lee. Kyle went on to tell me more than I wanted to hear about the similarities connecting the awful murders in San Francisco to the one I had investigated in DC.

 How could I forget it?A sixteen-year-old runaway girl from Orlando. He wore a white coat with the nickname Dragon stitched on one pocket. Of course. and clean up after us. ??But enough bad poetry.?? he said. We were at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue. wouldn??t mind having more/I added. of course. especially tigers.She reached one of the paved auxiliary roads that twisted through the park. in fact. It was his second year with the Washington Boys Choir and he was doing real well.?? ??Why the hell not???Sampson asked and moved closer to the agents. one of their favorite things in San Francisco.Her boyfriend??s screams were ringing in her ears and she wasrunning in total panic.????You??re so funny.So why did somebody need all that blood?I was still thinking about the strange. She??d been a cross-country star at Pepperdine University. but then. ??Where the hell is he?????Shit.????Not funny.

 Gaining ground fast. I can hear your labored breathing.??Stop! I need help!?? The white van sped straight for her.??The Mastermind.??Stop! I need help!?? The white van sped straight for her. who often come on a little gruff. She didn??t particularly look like a homicide detective. He carried himself with confidence. The Mastermind was on my cell phone. If that didn??t happen.??You passed every test I could possibly throw at you . No problems here. I noticed Inspector Hughes give a wink to the ME. she??s much. You??re my favorite puppet.7 she said. You??re my favorite puppet. and obviously serious about the job he had taken on.I took a deep breath and walked inside. as long as it was consensual. are you Detective Cross???I had noticed her just before she spoke to me. in fact.

??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. in Golden Gate Park. We??re in San Francisco. he defiled her. I used to walk five miles through tobacco fields to school. Patricia Cameron? There have been two murders in San Francisco that match up. Gaining ground fast.??Help me. Beside it was a printed reminder for her next shooting qualifier at the FBI range. They??re usually good to be around. I??m right here with you.I made my own notes based on hers: it was my kind of shorthand and I used it on every case I worked. It??s a whole lot more interesting than any trolley-car ride. too. ??Hello. Beside it was a printed reminder for her next shooting qualifier at the FBI range. She had lost nearly seventy percent of her blood supply. Small red dots at the site of bindings to the ankles where victims had been hung. you??re next. You??re next. Both of them were. He keeps dragging me into the nastiest murder cases on the FBI??s docket.

 water buffalo. The van was really clipping along. I went back to join Elizabeth at our table. even beautiful. its lithe. Their teeth are the same size and shape and perform essentially the same function.??I??m not exactly sure where to start. They were suspected of much more serious crimes.??You mind if I take this? It??s important. very nice. I called Sampson in Washington and he picked up on the second ring. high-pitched and musical.??I will be home for Damon??s concert on Saturday. ??This is terrific of you to help. A tiger was involved in these murders? How could that possibly be? Dr Pang stopped talking. We passed the Renaissance Hotel. ??Where the hell is he?????Shit. ??Oh. I could see the bold headline on the front page HORROR IN GOLDEN GATE PARK. partner. terrible bites. partner.

 We??ve got a wire tap and should be able to trace the call immediately. Why did you pick her instead of me??? I asked him. Before Martha realized what was happening. backward whistle. yes. He??d used a knife. I??m a decent plumber. You left your partner with them. Alien. It??s going around. to very large canines. eerily quiet.?? I told her.?? He finally turned to us and made his pronouncement. Alien is one of the best in the world. won??t we.??I love this run. ??Cross. and Dr Rang continued.Her boyfriend??s screams were ringing in her ears and she wasrunning in total panic. I only had a carry-on bag; I had promised to be home by Saturday for Damon??s concert. the sunset - the whole ball of wax.

 Why is that?????Of course it has. They had been arrested for possession.????I can already taste a dos Equis. Day by day he left behind the shabby baggage of his past life. or run her tongue across.????Yeah. Has to be.Michael was only seventeen. Why hung? To drain the bodies?Why drain the bodies? Rite of purification? Spiritual cleansing? Bodies naked and covered in blood. Like they were a pack. So of course this doesn??t begin with the vicious and cowardly murder of an FBI agent and good friend named Betsey Cavalierre. I??m having dinner with an attractive. Nothing overdone about it; nothing overdone about her either. to very large canines. chest severely gouged - victim appears to have been bitten repeatedly. ??This is terrific of you to help. Elizabeth put her hand lightly on top of mine. She was wearing jeans. I??ll call you. I wondered what else he knew. Usually more than he tells. The van said ??Red Cross?? on its hood.

 it was a tiger. if you can??? A tiger shouldn??t be all that hard to find in San Francisco.??Catch??? I shrugged. but your reputation precedes you. ??Let??s leave it. She was knocked almost unconscious by the powerful blow. Is that even remotely possible? What animal would attack a jogger in a big city park? Seems far-fetched to say the least.????I can already taste a dos Equis. ??I understand you??re making casts of the bite marks. For God??s sake. Two mouths. the sunset - the whole ball of wax.?? With my kids. Walter Lee. but for now it was a gorgeous sight. Last one to the parking lot is dog chow. relaxed cadence. Her chin struck the pavement. Then he looked at Jamilla and me.??I could get used to this. She was knocked almost unconscious by the powerful blow.?? I ended the call with Sampson and sprinted full out toward my old Porsche.

 Two men jumped out and ran to her. My hand flew to my face. I remembered the victim. He was going to be the next Luther Vandross.Her body was discovered when the fixture had eventually fallen with a loud crash. Why is that?????Of course it has. Well.??Nothing ever starts where we think it does. We??ve got a wire tap and should be able to trace the call immediately. with very thick black-rimmed glasses. It was his second year with the Washington Boys Choir and he was doing real well.?? ??Thank you for your time. Jannie is eight; Damon just turned ten. but he was grinning. I was just rucking with you. ??Nana already told me. ??He??s a veterinary dental expert from the Animal Medical Center in Berkeley.?? the Mastermind said. She was a little afraid now. Both kids are smart. You can add that to the file on my so-called reputation. It??s her case and she??s supposed to be competent.

 There were no ordinary circumstances in California. but not overly so. actually. another Class IV. When the good times come with your kids. The canines are used to tear food.??because that??s what you are. I desperately wanted to cover her.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. Dr Cross. The house was strangely.Lieutenant Martha Wiatt had definitely picked up her pace.I made my own notes based on hers: it was my kind of shorthand and I used it on every case I worked. but they??re kids. worse than anything else. partner. arms. I can hear your labored breathing.Male and female victims found dead at 3:20 A.?? ??Saturday. he certainly looked good for an accountant. you??ve got to make them last.

 but he was very thorough. Davis. You??re next.????Is that important in terms of these murders??? Jamilla Hughes asked Dr Rang. grabbing onto flesh with his teeth.??The Mastermind laughed again. one of their favorite things in San Francisco.??I know who this is and I even know where you are. The couple looked sleek. the way all good runners do. staring into the distance at the rich. Oh God! Run! Run. but then.??Help your grandma around the house.?? the Mastermind said.The second one brutally murdered in two years. the beeper on my belt went off. but your reputation precedes you. He reiterated that he believed this case was as important as it was terrifying. Loser buys at The Abbey. Casanova. TWO MURDERED.

remotely like it. and I??m always videotaping them.

??You??re running
??You??re running. Walter Lee.??Explain. It was closer. you know where I am. still running as I spoke.??I??ll be home by Saturday. The screams were so terrifying that she almost stopped running. The agent said. Elizabeth Moore was wickedly funny and nicely irreverent. I didn??t see them anywhere in the bedroom.I did my best to laugh.?? ??Thank you for your time. right? Listen to this one. I don??t necessarily disagree. too. and clean up after us. I remembered the victim.??He laughed a mechanical laugh and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. Their mother and father had been hippies. watching his youngerbrother with a mixture of curiosity and awe. I called Sampson in Washington and he picked up on the second ring.

A woman walked up to me as I started away from the gate.?? Jamilla said.?? Inspector Hughes said. He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside. Her chin struck the pavement.??Lee said in a soft. My job was to keep him on the line until the trace wascompleted. crashing into the base of a small tree. not the middle of Montana. I was reeling. ??I hear you.The killer had stripped off her nightclothes.?? I told John. Elizabeth Moore was wickedly funny and nicely irreverent. I think.?? ??Alien. We??re real close. We had joined the chief medical examiner. Elizabeth Moore was wickedly funny and nicely irreverent.When he was finished. Detective. I??m ready to state my piece.

????The catch??? she said again. not side to side. She was a friend of Betsey??s. she ran forward in a clumsy stumble. Also cut with sharp object. please stop.Teeth marks on male appear to be those of large animal. They were growing up way too fast for me.The rest of my day was long.??Jannie said as we pulled up in front of the Sojoumer Truth School. completely bald.????Well. We??re picking up different locations. I was planning to catch him. antelope.????Goodbye. Dr Cross.?? /! also like children. I tried to listen to both conversations. She was knocked almost unconscious by the powerful blow. Gaining ground fast. I noted that a businessman near the gate was reading The Examiner.

 some animals are homodents. or ethics. I acknowledged a tall. One of them hit her with a closed fist. I??m not going to hurt them tonight.??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.When he was finished. and they kept getting better and better at it.?? Damon scoffed.The young blond male didn??t even try to resist. still running as I spoke. One of them hit her with a closed fist. He was speaking solely to the ME at this point. Ever. as long as it was consensual. She stretched out her head in front of her body as if she were trying for an invisible finish line. Also. Oh God! Run! Run. Sampson and I pulled out our guns. I??ll call you. ??What??s happening now??? I asked the agent in charge. but most of all that he loved what he was doing.

Please be careful. John. Their mother and father had been hippies. a reflex over which I had no control. The Boys Choir was one of Washington??s secret treasures. He wore a white coat with the nickname Dragon stitched on one pocket. do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van. ??Where the hell is he?????Shit.??I could get used to this. ??C??mon! Let??s go. The similarities to the California murders were too striking to ignore. They were growing up way too fast for me. the sunset - the whole ball of wax. I??m having dinner with an attractive. ??Alex Cross. it??s been the exact opposite.??The kids laughed and so did I. Day by day he left behind the shabby baggage of his past life. was a good thing. you??re next. We had joined the chief medical examiner.????A tiger??? Jamilla was the one to express the disbelief we were all feeling.

 Dr Cross.She felt the teeth bite into her cheek. I hated taking his calls.??Jannie said as we pulled up in front of the Sojoumer Truth School. Moisture jumped off her close-cropped reddish-brown hair. ??Now what??s the catch? There has to be a catch. ??It??s perfectly all right. I shook off the image. I think. Christ. very dignified voice.The man twisted sharply to the left. yes. ??Kisses. Dr Pang. Martha rationalized that she had to get help.William walked away. In a daze. Martha rationalized that she had to get help. The van said ??Red Cross?? on its hood. right? Listen to this one. She put some distance between herself and Davis.

 not the middle of Montana. I grabbed it. The jaw of a tiger is extremely strong. The FBI and EMS were already there.??Walter Lee said. Right on the heels of the two of them.????I don??t know why this is so goddamn hard. The man screamed. the way all good runners do.I made my own notes based on hers: it was my kind of shorthand and I used it on every case I worked.What game were the killers playing? Autoerotic? I remembered the related case in Washington. and then they take a little more. however. Do you feel a little bit like a puppet on a string. c??mon. ??Okay. He??d punished Betsey with it.??Excuse me. She had been hung by her feet from a hotel room lighting fixture.. with very thick black-rimmed glasses. green hills.

 The teeth of tigers have been adapted for their feeding habits. This is not true of large cats.The tiger was eight feet long. freedom lovers. too. but my insides were already tied up in knots. He was going to be the next Luther Vandross. When I was a little boy in North Carolina. Hey! Hey! Hey!?? She waved her good arm and shouted at the top of her voice.??No. Okay. We passed the Renaissance Hotel. I don??t necessarily disagree. incomparable. Called petechiae by the ME.After the waiter left with our orders for dessert and coffee. Has to be. Very nice. I couldn??t believe we had him. They??re really good kids. I amused him sometimes. He was flawless.

 But what was catching up to her???Martha! There??s something behind me.??Don??t know exactly.??Jannie said as we pulled up in front of the Sojoumer Truth School. it??s been the exact opposite. Somebody. ??This is terrific of you to help. ??Cross. Kyle. I don??t necessarily disagree. She??s one of two women in Homicide in San Francisco. but at least it stopped her fall. a reflex over which I had no control.?? Lee continued.?? ??Thank you for your time.??Nothing ever starts where we think it does.I swallowed hard. the J.??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. seeming to paint the lawn and front porch with bright. I remembered her laugh. Detective?You should/said the Mastermind.She saw a pair of headlights approaching and ran out into the middle of the road.

 Then we headed into the Third Street tunnel. but then hesitated.??You??re up early. I??m not exactly sure when. The cat??s jaws were strong enough to pulverize bone. but it did no good. You??re next. Both of them were growling. or maybe he was just going to be Damon Cross.They had been killing together for five years. Where the hell was the Mastermind calling from???I think we have a fix on him. This case has caught your full attention.?? Jannie said. I hated taking his calls. please.When he was finished. Both of them were growling. Shestumbled over a pointy rock and cartwheeled down a steep hill. we??d better hurry. Under ordinary circumstances its prey would have been pigs and piglets. She??s one of two women in Homicide in San Francisco. Says he can make the lawyer a senior partner.

 Alex. The sound was almost unearthly.?? I joined in with the hallelujah chorus of praise. even beautiful. ??Hello.She laughed out loud.The second one brutally murdered in two years. but I had a date that night.????The catch??? she said again. She straddled the double center lines and felt like a total madwoman. I looked around for Inspector Jamilla Hughes. and clean up after us. ??Hello. ??What completely baffles me is that someone commanded the tiger away from its prey after it struck - and the tiger obeyed. and their father. It??s moving outside Washington.?? He finally turned to us and made his pronouncement. It??s totally unique. Let??s move it.??he said.??Everything??s fine.??she called over her shoulder.

 I stood there for a long time.It didn??t seem possible that a dog had covered so much ground so fast. I acknowledged a tall. I was ecstatic that Damon was good enough to sing with the group. well. They??re really good kids.?? she said. He was getting closer to the truth. staring into the distance at the rich. I desperately wanted to cover her. eerily quiet. Happened last night in Golden Gate Park. It??s a five-block walk from our house to school. won??t we. well.On a hallway table I saw Betsey??s service revolver. but the lawyer has to give him his soul and the soul of everybody in hisfamily. Detective?You should/said the Mastermind. I hope to hell he tries.And Betsey had been much more than just a partner. and all that blood. I could still see her face.

 and many others in the commune. I can hear your labored breathing.I knew instantly that the murder had happened in there.??Explain. He didn??t just kill Betsey. It??s her case and she??s supposed to be competent. The Boys Choir was one of Washington??s secret treasures. it??s exactly what I came out here to see. It??s her case and she??s supposed to be competent. Kyle went on to tell me more than I wanted to hear about the similarities connecting the awful murders in San Francisco to the one I had investigated in DC. Keep up with me. a muted. even beautiful. it??s been the exact opposite. hard. The agent said. and a really big and painful one. The male was severely bitten. so I began to look for signs directing me to public transportation. I??ll call you. then clamped down onto the man??s head. The cat??s jaws were strong enough to pulverize bone.

 The irony stung.??It??s good to meet you. She seemed a little too normal to be a cop. Dr Cross. you??re impressive. this whole area had been a commune. Says he can make the lawyer a senior partner.?? ??It??s not in the tour books. unaware of where she was going.?? Damon scoffed. Cell phones are harder to trace. in fact. Left that part out. It??s time for me to kick your well-formed.Dr Alien Pang took his time examining both bodies. Patricia Cameron. You caught Gary Soneji. Now what had happened?Kyle knew who was calling back.??You mind if I take this? It??s important. For now anyway.??Stop! Stop! Stop!??Amazingly the tiger stopped.??Damon and Jannie groaned.

 He was a small man. wasn??t it? So welcome to San Francisco.??Another loud growl - and this time it was really close. and she stuck out her tongue. and their father. or run her tongue across. chest severely gouged - victim appears to have been bitten repeatedly. It wasn??t that hard. I only had a carry-on bag; I had promised to be home by Saturday for Damon??s concert.????Why did you kill her???I asked the monster on the other end of the phone line. Cell phones are harder to trace. backward whistle. Somebody. Partner. experimenters. but I didn??t have any trouble rinding it. Female lost over 40% of her blood. I had a version of the same question.Dr Alien Pang took his time examining both bodies. You can add that to the file on my so-called reputation.?? I returned the smile as I shook hands with her. I acknowledged a tall.

 crashing into the base of a small tree.?? Inspector Hughes said. Sergeant Davis O??Hara. A tiger was involved in these murders? How could that possibly be? Dr Pang stopped talking. The devil meets with this lawyer. ??He??s living up to his name. Her grip was strong. I don??t necessarily disagree. it??s been the exact opposite.Your date??s a lawyer. not side to side. He reached up and scratched his bald pate rather vigorously. or run her tongue across. Then everyone inside the van groaned and cursed. Female lost over 40% of her blood.??Help your grandma around the house. Alex.William was twenty. But you won??t be fast enough. He was getting closer to the truth. and we??re lucky to have him on this case. ??You??re what - thirty-nine.

 I think. and the dental expert. wouldn??t mind having more/I added. She??s almost a hundred years old. but it did no good. So of course this doesn??t begin with the vicious and cowardly murder of an FBI agent and good friend named Betsey Cavalierre. I heard a machine-filtered voice and it cut right through me.?? ??Why the hell not???Sampson asked and moved closer to the agents. Someone. Their mother and father had been hippies.??Lee said in a soft. or so she says. We??re real close. Ordinarily. this is San Francisco! ??Please stop. crashing into the base of a small tree. He didn??t just kill Betsey. but then hesitated. water buffalo. Cradling it with the left. pal. The jaw of a tiger is extremely strong.

When he was finished. The agent said. even beautiful. but I had a date that night. Martha had known that all along. I can hear your labored breathing. and then they take a little more. Dr Pang now seemed in his own world. The male was severely bitten. ??So what??s the catch??? ??After he told his joke.??I??ve read all of Toni Morrison??s novels. I think. Let??s move it.??I hung up and sprinted out of the house in Woodbridge. dangerous streaks. powerful body moving effortlessly. now it??s back in the city. She was probably in her mid-thirties. do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van. but not overly so.Just like that. You don??t sound too good.

 How??s that for showing you the sights of San Francisco???I shook my head and grinned.??Excuse me. Their teeth are the same size and shape and perform essentially the same function. but they saw nothing. doing sixty or seventy on the city streets. Why is that?????Of course it has.?? He demonstrated with his own teeth and jaw. ??But enough bad poetry. ??How about I kill your grandmother and your three kids tonight? I know where they are. but they leaned in close and I wondered how much longer they would be willing to give me hugs and pecks on the cheek.. Jamilla Hughes and I were inside the morgue at San Francisco??s famed Hall of Justice. I had a version of the same question. You can??t get away from me. The tiger??s massive jaw opened wide. but I had a date that night. Sometimes he just cursed at me for several minutes; this morning. some animals are homodents.Less than fifty minutes later. Alex?You seem a little distracted. as I walked off the plane and into crowded San Francisco International Airport. Sampson and I pulled out our guns.

 I caught Jamilla??s eye. and smart-assed as well. but the lawyer has to give him his soul and the soul of everybody in hisfamily. bouncing like a wet ball.Her boyfriend for the past year didn??t answer. now it??s back in the city. moved at a fast pace as the evening fog began to roll in like a sulfurous cloud across Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. When the good times come with your kids.William was twenty.??My boyfriend is hurt. Oh Jesus. Shestumbled over a pointy rock and cartwheeled down a steep hill. are you Detective Cross???I had noticed her just before she spoke to me. Then he said.Less than fifty minutes later. it??s not as bad as it looks. now it??s back in the city. staring into the distance at the rich.?? ??Well.?? Jannie said. then her neck..

????Why did you kill her???I asked the monster on the other end of the phone line. The food is French. Walter??? ??Yes. strong beyond belief. It??s going around. the sunset - the whole ball of wax. Jamilla Hughes and I were inside the morgue at San Francisco??s famed Hall of Justice. which released his head. He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside.??I have a big concert on Saturday.It was him again. He carried himself with confidence. She loves to cook. forty?????Forty-two.M. high-pitched and musical. Her name was Patricia Dawn Cameron. you??ve got to make them last. some animals are homodents. as long as it was consensual. the one that preceded me. ??This ;s your last ride to school.

 Jesus.??Jannie rolled her eyes. We had him. and many others in the commune.??Actually.?? he grunted. chest severely gouged - victim appears to have been bitten repeatedly. I wondered what else he knew.Her boyfriend for the past year didn??t answer.Teeth marks on male appear to be those of large animal. Maybe there were a couple of??Big Dawgs??loose in the area. 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. She rolled and twisted and kicked out at her attackers. It came from far enough behind them that she wasn??t worried. I only thought that it did. Get real. almost under his breath. Detective.It was him again. . I haven??t seen anything remotely like it. and I??m always videotaping them.