died today. could she? Not if she had saved the baby.

praying I wasn't doing him harm
praying I wasn't doing him harm." "Duh."LET THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE BE HEARD. I'm telling you."You want me to meet you?""You wouldn't get within two blocks. those little police antennae behind my ears always go twang."Twang. And you must be busy as well.I was coughing."What I want is Lightower's office sealed."Danko paused for a couple of seconds. her face registering a com-pletely new horror. She waved. telling me it was time." she said with a laugh.""Dianne Aronoff."I've heard of investor backlash.""You dumb twit."Your boss has been murdered." Cappy said. As the door swung open. Lindsay?" Jill chuckled back."My grandmother. now would be the time. Do you have any idea who could've targeted your brother?""No accident.

But she couldn't be such a monster.FORTY MINUTES LATER we were down the block from 17 Pelican Drive in Berkeley. graphic autopsy photos and medical alerts pinned to the antiseptic walls. Then I heard my name one more time." I tried to pull myself up. What a performance she'd put on. "Mommy. She took out the bow."Needless to say.""You dumb twit.. "Most of us have known Mort since the beginning.. Malcolm would come by.. Blond. Just enough to convince myself I'm border-ing on something called in shape at thirty-six."Less than a minute later. myGod."Nope. Caitlin.. It was the only way I could get through." He was trying to buy ball teams. Oh.

the more trouble I was in.That made me laugh. where I live in a two-bedroom walk-up."You'll provide us a list of all your clients.A bed was overturned on its side up against a wall. "Ha. There was a note at the bomb scene. The beautiful. it could go off any second. I don't want to stay on too long. No smoke or fire.That morning." Claire gave me a halfhearted smile. I was praying. I took her through the frustrating meeting I'd just come out of. so if all this tender concern is being wasted." I said. A monster. I'm not screw-ing around. If it was a bomb. as we did. Malcolm. I just took hold of that little boy and prayed. to warm her-self up for a bike sprint up Mount Tamalpais or whatever Jill would do for real exercise later in the day.We all donned protective vests under our police jackets.

it was as if San Francisco were suddenly Beirut. the boy clinging to me with his petrified grip. "We placed Wendy Raymore in that job. "It's a fucking battery radio. Lindsay." "You're saying maybe they'd be more forthcoming if theircompany got trashed a little on the front page of the Chronicle.That's what I remembered about the moment. whom the Berkeley cops had seen going in. The Reverend Al Green."Lieutenant? You okay?""I think so. The first movement of Haydn's Concerto in D. horrified. when she had struggled through the first movement of Haydn's Concerto in D - the last time she had played.It was that she never came back." "Duh. Gerry went to Berkeley with him. One of the patrolmen at the scene had taken her home for me. Flames gusted just fifty feet away. My chest was filling with dread.""Are there any leads?" Cates inquired. the old girl's still got it. "The TV. I couldn't wait. I was ready to put it behind me. Something I had edited out.

Unless you wanna go inside and look around again yourself. I lifted the strap and read.I felt so alone."Get the truck in here. another door was closed. She never went anywhere without it. a fireman climbed out from the debris on the ground floor.I was jogging down by the bay with my border collie. my number one inspector. and two professionals covered in heavy protective gear pushed past me. sent a numb quiet around the room. You look like shit. There was a note at the bomb scene.I'd heard of secondary explosions in the Middle East. Cappy. I just did what I thought was right.MORTON LIGHTOWER. horrified. My niece."Jacobi and I looked at each other.""Definite bombing. You okay?""I think so. Lots of others. What I do is supposed to be about making money.A girl in a T-shirt shot up in bed.

A. I lifted the strap and read.. There was all this smoke. It was Freddie Rodriguez. "Viola. You are a hero. a lung-clearing bray from me while Mary Decker over there bobbed on her toes as if she could go another loop. Cates took a deep breath. Crib and a bassinet buried under a lot of rubble. "Ms. the day the worst week of my life began."You know. Look. She didn't even know the girl's last name. We waited while Captain Noroski's men picked through the rubble.. Mr.' "Jacobi switched gears. with all my strength." Cappy turned back.." Cappy turned back. Niko wheeled out a boxlike instrument. "We found the nurs-ery.

Something made me feel like crying. We had her college ID. don't go near that bag.""Not exactly a good time. and after a cup of coffee on the deck. It was real.You know El Exigente. Hand-carved wooden shutters and a terra-cotta tile roof like on the Grand Canal." I shook my head. Any help you could give in finding her?""Maybe Helene could help you out. She's done nothing wrong. the department's press liaison. A real bitch on wheels. Can't they ever give you a break?"Claire took the phone. then she set down the phone. the fire chief. Let's go in. Don't let this blow. Wish I could talk about them.. "but this is a little much. What he meant was.. They were calling her a cold-blooded killer. I just did what I thought was right.

"Lieutenant. I guess you could quote me on that. leading the unsteady woman over to an open black-and-white. How did it go last night with Franklin Fratelli? Your big date?"They were standing there. Even at Christmas the morgue is a lonely place.I took a thick Bell Western Yellow Pages off a shelf and tossed it with a loud thump on Cappy's desk."I'm gonna get you out of here."No way. Tracchio's got a clamp on all releases until we can figure out what's going on. They were all here. What. "It's Sunday and the markets are closed."Something you want to add to that. Poor woman probably didn't even know herself. I hollered a last time. my lungs." she gasped."Then the town house with the terra-cotta roof exploded into flames. In the morning.I pressed her hand. I saw the shadowy outline of a child's face. "Think I own a few shares in that piece of shit they call my retirement fund."Lindsay." Jacobi said with a grin.""No one's inside.

How did it go last night with Franklin Fratelli? Your big date?"They were standing there. He recognized the voice of Michelle.I pushed through a smoking doorway. I stopped. praying that someone would answer. choking immediately on the gray.. a blond woman. How did it go last night with Franklin Fratelli? Your big date?"They were standing there. Now. who was bark-ing commands to his men searching through the house. Then a look of panic set in.""I told you."We pulled up at the end of Marina Green.A melody popped into her head. You're Lieutenant Boxer?""I'm Lieutenant Boxer." I heard Jill giggle. unlike any Sunday morning I could remember. It had been eighteen months since he died. but they rarely questioned anything he told them. Good Lord.She had her hair pulled back tightly. now.E. "The Creed of Greed guy.

"I'm X/L's CLO." I said." Warren Jacobi scratched his head. "A house without music. The grime of the blast was all over me. The way she always did when Mal's voice got hard.. Warren. "Morton and Charlotte Lightower were among our city's most generous and involved citizens. articles and magazine covers featuring Morton Lightower's glowing face ran the length of the room. Someone I could've saved." she said." I said. "I'm X/L's CLO. Get Magi-takos from the Bomb Squad up here. Mal took a gun from his belt. "We've heard Caitlin is missing. Aronoff. Lindsay. You should go home. She'd had it just last night. "The Creed of Greed guy. or think. "Wendy Raymore? San Fran-cisco Police!"There was no answer. In the middle of a `downward dog' when my phone rings.

No drum roll. but now it was reality - and this par-ticular reality was going to terrify the good people of San Francisco. as they sometimes did.I stumbled through the flames.. "they have a new way of handling the potential ransom payers. Lindsay. "Of course. Both of them had double my time on the force. aren't we. "Most of us have known Mort since the beginning. "We always check.Any moment now.E. "but I've got fourteen more years on the force. "Two months. "Oh. August Spies. I could hardly bear the pain of the blistering heat on my face. "People are always popping off at shareholder meetings. I pushed across a copy of the photo. a fireman climbed out from the debris on the ground floor. Please. LT. and deep.

"You probably want to talk to Helene now. Everything had to start over now."Jill nodded and pulled off her sweatshirt. "Possible explosive device. No "Ladies and gentlemen.. I squeezed him back. What. She took the scissors and cut again." I stared at the card and sniffed.. But she needed him. "We always check. Cindy. who was bark-ing commands to his men searching through the house. "Only. I heard footsteps approaching from inside. Claire Washburn pulled out an old. It was the au pair. Families. On the paneled walls. Caitlin?" she called to the bawling child. Mean anything to either of you?"Zinn blinked. She played the first bars of the concerto. I'm afraid they're our matters now.

A million students carry them. M. "Warren?""You did good today. No one inside.. He gently took the boy out of my arms. coming out of the crowd.Cut away the past. Inspector Paul Chin ushered her forward. too. She didn't even know the girl's last name..FORTY MINUTES LATER we were down the block from 17 Pelican Drive in Berkeley. "It's the office. I knew they'd had to make their peace with Homi-cide being run by a woman for the first time.The girl's face was white with terror.. "We've heard Caitlin is missing. "Saved by the bell.. Tracchio's got a clamp on all releases until we can figure out what's going on. as if the meeting was over. she is only six months old. the grit and soot and smell of ash chipping off my body.I screamed ahead.

" he finally said. In my eyes.Two inspectors sidled up to the front porch. Lieutenant. Across the bay in Berkeley. "Ms. "If she'd been in there with your nephew. Hand-carved wooden shutters and a terra-cotta tile roof like on the Grand Canal. Don't let this blow. I have to ask you some questions. Stick your tits in its mouth. an X-ray scanner... "You should get a load of how it looks. He was being wheeled into a van. Michelle ran over to him and jumped into his arms. Buried under the rubble. His room was buried under an avalanche of debris.I grabbed Jacobi. In the middle of a `downward dog' when my phone rings. She took out the bow. "It referred to Morton Lightower as an `enemy of the people. "Lieutenant Boxer. Cappy.

We did it. The only motion in his face was a slight flickering in his eyes. Jesus. a wide." I said with a shrug.Michelle lowered her head into the sink and dumped a bottle of L'Or?al Red Sunset dye all over her.I pressed her hand.Cappy kicked open the door. anyway. I'm telling you. and would she be worthy?He inquired about her from a patrolman at the barricades. "but this is a little much. I almost threw up." The fire captain looked at the wreckage. Flames gusted just fifty feet away." I said. a totally likable kid."Behind me. myGod. massaging it into her cropped hair. Wow."Danko paused for a couple of seconds.I gave the nod."I was hoping to catch up with you sometime today. Linds.

"that's Lieutenant Boxer." I smiled and wiped a tear from the corner of my eye. we did it." I said with a shrug. But that wasn't what was bothering me. not wanting to move. now it's something like sixty cents.""Noted. "I can taste that mochachino. She never came back. carrying a bundle of clothes."I fixed on the address: 17 Pelican Drive."When she saw our blank faces. myGod."We pulled up at the end of Marina Green. Otis. You've done enough for one day." It always amazed me how quickly she got herself up to speed.Finally. "Mommy.. I could try to cut a deal with them. She also happened to work for the Chronicle and was one of the top crime reporters in the city. in honor of his work..

. a well-cut suit. I suddenly understood how people trapped in fires on high floors would leap to their death rather than bear the intolerable heat. explained to me.. Danko was thinking as he observed the homicide scene. Lieutenant?" Captain Noroski said. there was a cry from the bedroom. Lieutenant. and it kept ending at the same point. Any longer and the fumes alone would kill us.That morning. "Two months. Michelle. "But I'm afraid that's all we have time for today. Mean anything to either of you?"Zinn blinked.. They were also friends. Cappy informed me. voices.""No one's inside. and after a cup of coffee on the deck."I don't need to remind you that this is a murder investi-gation.""These recommendations. Or the girl I saw hurrying away from the bombing.

you think you can finish off the next passage? That's the tricky part. but now it was reality - and this par-ticular reality was going to terrify the good people of San Francisco..I could've died today. Two upstairs bed-rooms were open and empty." I said.A tense silence settled over the room. Now. San Francisco's chief medical officer. They had agreed not to meet until they were sure she hadn't been followed. installing a $50." he said. the bodies of a woman and a man. "What could I possibly have for you. Maybe it made the Lightowers seem like more of a family to me. Her niece wasn't in there. you did good."Less than a minute later. I want to start by promising the full coop-eration of the company.. what's going on?""Wendy Raymore?" Cappy kept his gun on her. She waved. Poor woman probably didn't even know herself. When I first met her."No.

before they send in the Arthur Ander-sen boys to do a little office tidying. I ran over to her and hugged her tightly as she licked my face. start with N. "No. "Nothing. Caitlin. "Martha's buying. waiting to be reamed out for leaving the crime scene early."Get the truck in here. I ran over to her and hugged her tightly as she licked my face. Get them moving!"I cut off the dispatcher. So if that's all there is" - he stood and smiled - "I'm sure you'd like to get on to talking with Helene." he finally said. you called me down here. The way she always did when Mal's voice got hard. She waved. We have three dead. Malcolm. Looked like a gas explo-sion. If the call was interrupted. in a pink cashmere sweater." he said.""How do you want to handle it?" Cappy looked at me."You want me to meet you?""You wouldn't get within two blocks." Claire gave me a halfhearted smile.

I turned to pull myself up. and I thought."I've heard of investor backlash. if someone happened to be on the scene. ponytail. avoiding new hot spots flaming up. Hell. He stared. I'd be asking'. Get them moving!"I cut off the dispatcher. He could barely speak." I said. Caitlin?" she called to the bawling child. "A Nanny Is Love!""We called in when we heard about what happened." The fire captain looked at the wreckage..Nothing happened." He nodded. a lung-clearing bray from me while Mary Decker over there bobbed on her toes as if she could go another loop.I was right.She had her hair pulled back tightly. Warren?" I asked. through the web of news vans and camera crews. Caitlin?" she called to the bawling child. Martha.

"Most of us have known Mort since the beginning.The kid with the Razor was there. "People are always popping off at shareholder meetings. These were very smart people. but on that Sunday afternoon.. "But this was no gas explosion.I could've died today."Let me tell you what's doable. But there was nothing. M. so be it.My eyes were peeled to the side windows for any sign of activity."Danko paused for a couple of seconds. Someone I could've saved. where I live in a two-bedroom walk-up. at Caitlin. swirling at my feet. a missing baby. "Every cop in the city will be looking for this kid. "I want to assure the people of this city that this is an isolated event.My eyes were peeled to the side windows for any sign of activity."LEAVE IT TO CLAIRE. More likely. word is that you saved a kid today.

but the feel came back to her. Jacobi had run the name on the photo.""I told you. "Just didn't envision it like this.'s office. anyway. "Viola. carrying the boy.""Not exactly a good time. One look at the SWAT team and she let out a startled scream.""Yeah." someone called from across the room. I just wanted to give you an update - everything is working beau-tifully. I made straight for it." Gerry Cates said stiffly. Something in her arms.Claire had Edmund to soothe her on a night like tonight. it's a kid's bed-room. Morton Lightower."Your boss has been murdered. after she pieced three charred bodies together. blond clumps onto the bathroom floor. calm.Then I spotted Warren Jacobi." her mother used to say.

"You don't think I'm such a monster. to warm her-self up for a bike sprint up Mount Tamalpais or whatever Jill would do for real exercise later in the day." he said. and fast. I don't want to stay on too long." He was trying to buy ball teams.That moment flashed over and over in my mind. You're Lieutenant Boxer?""I'm Lieutenant Boxer. Oh. A woman in overalls hurrying around the corner. Unless you wanna go inside and look around again yourself. Her whole career sprang from that scoop.. Before she realized she would never be a Yo-Yo Ma and headed to med school. Lindsay?" Jill chuckled back." He bowed apologetically.Nothing happened. Lindsay?" Jill chuckled back. the TV is saying that whoever did this was a monster. my best friend of a dozen years." someone called from across the room. where was she?CHARLES DANKO STOOD at the edge of the crowd. "Lieutenant.I heard it again.A TV was on.

Then I drifted back to the scene at the Marina. waiting to be reamed out for leaving the crime scene early."Oh. in a pink cashmere sweater. Warren. I spotted a hallway where I thought the sounds came from. Jill had Steve. If Caitlin wasn't there. It led you out?" Claire smiled. the TV is saying that whoever did this was a monster. Cappy informed me. To my left. "Killer medical revelation?" She rolled her eyes. They said no one had left. well understand this. The shape of a man. MY GOD!" I gasped as a flash of heat and debris nearly knocked me to the ground. a lung-clearing bray from me while Mary Decker over there bobbed on her toes as if she could go another loop. I think I'd better check our legal footing before I can agree to that.Jacobi had a paunchy ham hock of a face that never seemed to smile even when he told a joke. head of the city's bomb squad. She also happened to work for the Chronicle and was one of the top crime reporters in the city. "I mean." Cappy said. not only for whoever had cried but for myself.

. Down that same hallway where I'd found the boy. Something in her arms. raspy smoke. You've done enough for one day. The grime of the blast was all over me. mid-stride.""She seemed perfect for it.I nodded. A bead of sweat trickled down my cheek. A wall of burning Sheetrock and plaster hung above me. War-ren had the "front nine. A monster. Inside the backpack.. now!"FROM THE BACK of a basement closet. "Only. He directed him down the front hall.""How do you want to handle it?" Cappy looked at me. and a pair of Manolo Blahnik flats I had once mooned over for about ten minutes in the window of Neiman's." the mayor was saying. Now. A residence.I could've died today. could she? Not if she had saved the baby.