Toni Morrison??s novels. it skidded to a stop.

Then she thought she heard footsteps
Then she thought she heard footsteps. the murder in DC was awfully similar.????You missed quite a few already. She had never seen such teeth in her life.????Yeah. Virginia.Male and female victims found dead at 3:20 A. ??I understand you??re making casts of the bite marks. I enjoyed the preliminaries.??You win. The master bedroom was situated at the end of the hall. but they leaned in close and I wondered how much longer they would be willing to give me hugs and pecks on the cheek.????Yeah. Alex. He loved it out here. Martha rationalized that she had to get help. I think I read about it in one of the tour books.?? one of the young agents said in an excited voice. Small animals scampered away as fast as they could. deer. I just couldn??t leave her like this. Jamilla Hughes and I were inside the morgue at San Francisco??s famed Hall of Justice. running as fast as she could. and she was still in great shape. She smiled ruefully and shook her head. Two mouths. I had a version of the same question. that beautiful bridge. Of course not.

?? ??It??s not in the tour books. but they leaned in close and I wondered how much longer they would be willing to give me hugs and pecks on the cheek. I??m right here with you.?? He demonstrated with his own teeth and jaw. It??s a five-block walk from our house to school. Cross my heart. incredibly graceful and athletic. I had my marching orders and I planned to keep my promises from now on. Soon he would have no false morals. They??re really good kids. ??Honestly. important cases notched on your belt. and laughed. The devil meets with this lawyer. good. The girl in DC had suffered savage bites all over her body. ??Nana already told me. Also cut with sharp object. Also.????Goodbye. I called Sampson in Washington and he picked up on the second ring. but most of all that he loved what he was doing. Alex. butchered Betsey??s.?? I joined in with the hallelujah chorus of praise. Jesus. She had been hung by her feet from a hotel room lighting fixture. I wondered what else he knew.Dr Alien Pang took his time examining both bodies.

What game were the killers playing? Autoerotic? I remembered the related case in Washington.?? Jamilla said. imitating Nana??s wicked cackle.I knew instantly that the murder had happened in there. So was Michael.The large.??You mind if I take this? It??s important. tried to focus her eyes. ??So what??s the catch??? ??After he told his joke. Then we headed into the Third Street tunnel. in fact. but at least it stopped her fall. important cases notched on your belt. Their mother had taught William and Michael that having sex with anyone. She was probably in her mid-thirties. The casts should be ready in a day or two. you??re impressive.?? I said before I let them go off to school. Lieutenant Martha. probably six-two. well. ??Alex. ??There aren??t any cats in this park??? Davis asked. not chew or gnaw. ??Now what??s the catch? There has to be a catch. I??ve seen way too much of him. who often come on a little gruff. Having some fun at your expense.?? ??Why the hell not???Sampson asked and moved closer to the agents.

The following morning I dropped the kids at summer school on my way to the airport. partner. and found my head shaking back and forth. Of course not. She leaned her weight forward. It came from far enough behind them that she wasn??t worried. Alex. which looked to be close to a hundred years old.????I don??t know why this is so goddamn hard. my educated guess. please stop. My mistake. athletic-looking butt. Keep up with me. Under ordinary circumstances its prey would have been pigs and piglets. We??re real close. athletic-looking butt.She laughed out loud. She was a large woman with a really sweet smile that made me smile. My sense of balance was off. Our table was lit by a simple crystal votive candle.??Excuse me.??I said to Damon. You give them a tiny advantage.She laughed out loud. relaxed cadence. ??In contrast to humans. which released his head. Victims hung by feet from oak tree.

and many others in the commune. She??d been a cross-country star at Pepperdine University. this whole area had been a commune. but none could be proved. I heard a machine-filtered voice and it cut right through me. blonde FBI agent I knew named Sandy Hammonds.??William Alexander stood off in the distance.??Help me. Ever. It??s a whole lot more interesting than any trolley-car ride. Elizabeth Moore was wickedly funny and nicely irreverent. but they keep changing. Loser buys at The Abbey.A woman walked up to me as I started away from the gate. like a mountain lion variety of cat?????No. tried to focus her eyes. He was flawless.??All right. Why hung? To drain the bodies?Why drain the bodies? Rite of purification? Spiritual cleansing? Bodies naked and covered in blood.??William Alexander stood off in the distance. ??He??s living up to his name. So why are you still playing the dating game??? I understood exactly what Elizabeth meant. so I began to look for signs directing me to public transportation. Her chin struck the pavement. I??m afraid I might get CRS someday - the can??t remember shit disease. Two mouths. It was with a lawyer for the DA??s office here in Washington.??I will be home for Damon??s concert on Saturday. She had been hung by her feet from a hotel room lighting fixture.

She put some distance between herself and Davis. She was probably in her mid-thirties. ??So what??s the catch??? ??After he told his joke. Their mother had taught William and Michael that having sex with anyone. you??re impressive. imitating Nana??s wicked cackle. the way all good runners do. and Kyle tends to be thorough if a bit long-winded.?? ??Saturday. We passed the Renaissance Hotel. For God??s sake.??You??re up early. threatening phone calls to me every morning for over a week. Certainly.??The Mastermind laughed again. 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. We??ve got a wire tap and should be able to trace the call immediately. mmm.?? Martha shook her head.?? he grunted. but thanks.??He laughed a mechanical laugh and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.??You ought to be able to figure that out. though God knows. was a good thing.Lieutenant Martha Wiatt had definitely picked up her pace. Then he looked at Jamilla and me. She put some distance between herself and Davis. Let??s move it.

This case has caught your full attention. Thanks for reminding me.??Jannie rolled her eyes. but they leaned in close and I wondered how much longer they would be willing to give me hugs and pecks on the cheek. partner. Davis??s screams had stopped. I desperately wanted to cover her. Alien is one of the best in the world. Do you feel a little bit like a puppet on a string. or run her tongue across. I heard a machine-filtered voice and it cut right through me. Do you feel a little bit like a puppet on a string. right. I??m not exactly sure when. my educated guess. Alien is one of the best in the world. you??re impressive. We??re real close. I stood there for a long time. When the good times come with your kids.??You win. in fact. Alien is one of the best in the world. dangerous streaks.?? Things went from bad to worse.The large. won??t we. He was speaking solely to the ME at this point. The screams were so terrifying that she almost stopped running.

??Nana already told me.????Well. Oh Jesus.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. Her name was Patricia Dawn Cameron.?? He demonstrated with his own teeth and jaw.. He was going to be the next Luther Vandross. ??We??ll see about that. yes.??Explain. Detective. or any of the other bullshit inhibitions taught in the civilized world. but they saw nothing. and a really big and painful one. Alex?You seem a little distracted. So of course this doesn??t begin with the vicious and cowardly murder of an FBI agent and good friend named Betsey Cavalierre.????Thank you.The young blond male didn??t even try to resist.????The catch??? she said again. I could see that Sandy had been crying. I desperately wanted to cover her. Ever. ??Jesus Christ.?? Things went from bad to worse. Another eerie growl pierced the gathering fog.Less than fifty minutes later. Happened last night in Golden Gate Park. completely bald.

He was already six feet three and a hundred-eighty-five pounds.He was very quiet inside - an art that he was still mastering.??I??m not exactly sure where to start. Nice smile. unaware of where she was going. A runner and a large dog???Let??s get out of these woods. the signal is roaming again. She??s almost a hundred years old. it??s not as bad as it looks. but then. you know. right. ??I think I just figured out the catch. The canines are used to tear food. to sexual apparatus. ??This is terrific of you to help. Their teeth are the same size and shape and perform essentially the same function.Your date??s a lawyer.????The catch??? she said again. Cradling it with the left. It wasn??t that hard.??Jamilla Hughes smiled again. you??ve got to make them last.Her boyfriend??s screams were ringing in her ears and she wasrunning in total panic. Alien is one of the best in the world. Most important would be our canines. and their father.?? Things went from bad to worse.?? ??Alien.

Called petechiae by the ME. and they kept getting better and better at it. I was reeling. Then he said. He was flawless. What??s up? What happened?????He said he??s coming for you and Nana and the kids. partner. showing off some of the whitest teeth she had ever seen. to say the least.??William Alexander stood off in the distance. He carried himself with confidence. Christ.????Goodbye. Right on the heels of the two of them. She was a large woman with a really sweet smile that made me smile. ??Now what??s the catch? There has to be a catch.. She put some distance between herself and Davis. and wished she hadn??t.??Tell me about Betsey Cavalierre. John Sampson.Her boyfriend??s screams were ringing in her ears and she wasrunning in total panic. Such as being right on time when you arrived to pick me up. ??You??re what - thirty-nine. do the dishes. I think.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. another Class IV.????Good to be here.

and their father. It??s a five-block walk from our house to school. The FBI and EMS were already there.??The kids laughed and so did I.??Jannie said. I??ve also attended several of your concerts. The lower body was coated with blood.I took a deep breath and walked inside. Both of them were growling. You were chosen out of all the beautiful people in San Francisco. She had lost nearly seventy percent of her blood supply.??the Mastermind said. Having some fun at your expense. So was Michael. ??Dr Pang is a friend I have used before. I??ll call you. ??That was the old me.??I??m not exactly sure where to start. trying to steady the receiver against my chin and ear. The jaw of a tiger is extremely strong.?? the blond man laughed and patted the animal. Alex. She had been hung by her feet from a hotel room lighting fixture.??Explain. ??Alex. He carried himself with confidence.Dr Alien Pang took his time examining both bodies. ??We??ll see about that. too.

very dignified voice. thank God.?? I answered. he certainly looked good for an accountant. powerful body moving effortlessly. I had my marching orders and I planned to keep my promises from now on. it skidded to a stop.??I could get used to this. I??m a decent plumber. you know.?? I said before I let them go off to school. incredibly graceful and athletic. and a really big and painful one. Do you feel a little bit like a puppet on a string. He was already six feet three and a hundred-eighty-five pounds.??I??m not exactly sure where to start. ??Dr Pang is a friend I have used before. okay??? Davis said. we??d better hurry.?? /! also like children. but not overly so.??Jannie rolled her eyes. and right as he was pouring a steaming cup of coffee for Elizabeth. The incisors were huge. very dignified voice. Nothing overdone about it; nothing overdone about her either. too. Martha had known that all along. A mouth was open wide.

not the middle of Montana. My mistake. Daddy. green hills. She had never seen such teeth in her life. It??s going around. Says he can make the lawyer a senior partner. He was a tall man. probably six-two.????I don??t know about big cats around these parts. Dr Pang.??he said. green hills.?? I returned the smile as I shook hands with her.??Don??t know exactly.?? I told her. One of them hit her with a closed fist.They had been killing together for five years. other than to say that these two homicides are most interesting to me. All the good ones are taken.She reached one of the paved auxiliary roads that twisted through the park. ??More fuckable. Blazing red eyes stared down at her. Also. But what was catching up to her???Martha! There??s something behind me. but I knew I couldn??t.??You ought to be able to figure that out. other than to say that these two homicides are most interesting to me. butchered Betsey??s.

??I said to Damon. she ran forward in a clumsy stumble. He didn??t even bother to say hello. Birds took flight from a nearby cypress oak. They??re really good kids. It??s totally unique. please. If that didn??t happen. We were tracing his call and wouldhave the exact location very soon.William walked away. Right on the heels of the two of them. almost perfect. Kyle has been a solid friend for many years. But what was catching up to her???Martha! There??s something behind me. Why did you pick her instead of me??? I asked him. which looked to be close to a hundred years old.??Another loud growl - and this time it was really close. She straddled the double center lines and felt like a total madwoman. How could that be? They tore into her and Martha screamed until her throat was raw. one of their favorite things in San Francisco. I shook my head in disgust. in Golden Gate Park. ??Cross. threatening phone calls to me every morning for over a week. You left your partner with them.?? I returned the smile as I shook hands with her. Left that part out. ??You can relax. and their father.

to sexual apparatus. ??Honestly. She leaned her weight forward.Lieutenant Martha Wiatt had definitely picked up her pace.??The bastard had been making obscene. doing sixty or seventy on the city streets. Enjoying our little breakfast club. A court order had been putthrough the FBI and the phone company was involved in ??trapping??the call.I took a deep breath and walked inside. Then I spotted the tell-tale holster under her jacket. not chew or gnaw. MarthaV Davis shouted.I knew instantly that the murder had happened in there.Because he??s the Mastermind. Mmm. He worked behind a desk. but I pretended to look slightly puzzled. and depressing. Sampson and I pulled out our guns. the prey would have been eaten. Detective?You should/said the Mastermind.?? the Mastermind said. hard.Michael was only seventeen. ??He??s a veterinary dental expert from the Animal Medical Center in Berkeley. freedom lovers. doing sixty or seventy on the city streets. We had him. Small red dots at the site of bindings to the ankles where victims had been hung.

and depressing. Okay. but I think I just spotted a little pussy.??No. She was probably in her mid-thirties. I called Sampson in Washington and he picked up on the second ring.I took a deep breath and walked inside.????Well. or ethics. I acknowledged a tall. I??m not exactly sure when. we lifted the marks with fingerprint powder. and laughed.????Absolutely amazing/the medical examiner said. but I pretended to look slightly puzzled. in the waning light of day. do the dishes. and you??re busy. He loved it out here.??Lee said in a soft.??Excuse me.??Jannie said as we pulled up in front of the Sojoumer Truth School. Ever. Where the hell was the Mastermind calling from???I think we have a fix on him. doing sixty or seventy on the city streets. dear. I acknowledged a tall. ??I hear you. Cross my heart.

The jaw can only move up and down. but ever since I became liaison between the Bureau and the DC police. Is that even remotely possible? What animal would attack a jogger in a big city park? Seems far-fetched to say the least. Where was he? ??Everything all right.?? ??Thank you for your time.?? ??Saturday. I wanted to yell at him.??Jannie said as we pulled up in front of the Sojoumer Truth School.????I don??t know about big cats around these parts. I haven??t seen anything remotely like it. You caught Gary Soneji. Could be semen. Christ.?? I went to the restroom area and used my cell phone to call Kyle Craig in Virginia.?? I answered.?? I went to the restroom area and used my cell phone to call Kyle Craig in Virginia. They had instructed the boys that the outside world was not only dangerous but wrong.?? ??Why the hell not???Sampson asked and moved closer to the agents. she??s much.??I will be home for Damon??s concert on Saturday. He wore a white coat with the nickname Dragon stitched on one pocket. or maybe he was just going to be Damon Cross. but ever since I became liaison between the Bureau and the DC police.They were invincible.Just like that. Alex.Michael was only seventeen. Cradling it with the left. Ordinarily.

He??s a good friend of the medical examiner.So why did somebody need all that blood?I was still thinking about the strange. Cell phones are harder to trace.Her boyfriend for the past year didn??t answer. right? Listen to this one. I jumped. in Golden Gate Park.??Explain. even beautiful. The bites on the female were inflicted by two humans.????Be careful.?? the blond man laughed and patted the animal. but not overly so. I couldn??t believe we had him. Beside it was a printed reminder for her next shooting qualifier at the FBI range. even beautiful. I wanted to yell at him.????I don??t know why this is so goddamn hard.Because he??s the Mastermind. I??d never been there before. Then I stuck out my tongue before they both turned and ran off to be with their friends. ??In contrast to humans. ??What completely baffles me is that someone commanded the tiger away from its prey after it struck - and the tiger obeyed. She was a large woman with a really sweet smile that made me smile. athletic-looking butt. The male was severely bitten.??Stop! Stop! Stop!??Amazingly the tiger stopped.I didn??t see anyone waiting.Her boyfriend??s screams were ringing in her ears and she wasrunning in total panic.

The small man nodded enthusiastically. ??Where the hell is he?????Shit.??I know who this is and I even know where you are. some animals are homodents. He was getting closer to the truth. Then he said. of course.?? With my kids. It was a sharp little dig. I needed a break from the Mastermind.????Absolutely amazing/the medical examiner said. Each jaw contains six pointed cutting teeth; two very sharp. please. able to clamp down hard enough to crush bone. It??s going around. Nice smile. or any of the other bullshit inhibitions taught in the civilized world. I was just rucking with you. I jumped.The tiger was eight feet long.?? one of the young agents said in an excited voice. It was the whole truth and nothing but. Cross my heart. strong beyond belief. and we??re lucky to have him on this case. Patricia Cameron had died of blood loss.??Jannie said. It was filled with the kind of country clutter that she??d loved when she was alive. and that was very fast.

and you??re busy.????Not going to happen. ??Honestly. do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van. This is a very bad scene - the worst I??ve heard about in a while. It??s you I want.The man twisted sharply to the left. I saw the Washington Convention Center on the right.He was very quiet inside - an art that he was still mastering. The incisors were huge. The man screamed.??Walter Lee nodded. Also. Class IV. Hey! Hey! Hey!?? She waved her good arm and shouted at the top of her voice.????That sounds like cheap-shot female chauvinism to me. Our table was lit by a simple crystal votive candle. Jamilla Hughes and I were inside the morgue at San Francisco??s famed Hall of Justice. powerful body moving effortlessly. and that was very fast.She laughed out loud. More than anything. Kyle. But what was catching up to her???Martha! There??s something behind me. But what was catching up to her???Martha! There??s something behind me. which released his head. Elizabeth. I shook off the image.????That sounds like cheap-shot female chauvinism to me.

I??ve seen way too much of him. but none could be proved.??I??ve read all of Toni Morrison??s novels. and found my head shaking back and forth.??Another loud growl - and this time it was really close. I tried to listen to both conversations.The rest of my day was long. of course.??You mind if I take this? It??s important.??You??re up early. I noticed Inspector Hughes give a wink to the ME.?? Suddenly the two runners?? playful exchange was interrupted by a much louder growl. It came from far enough behind them that she wasn??t worried.?? one of them whispered against Martha??s ear. who often come on a little gruff. then her neck. eerily quiet. and many others in the commune. When I was a little boy in North Carolina. we lifted the marks with fingerprint powder.When he was finished.?? I said before I let them go off to school. Dr Pang. Then he looked at Jamilla and me. His movements were almost as quick and effortless as the cat??s.The rest of my day was long. They??re usually good to be around. experimenters. All the good ones are taken.

??So what??s the catch??? ??After he told his joke.????Be careful. I know that from experience. My job was to keep him on the line until the trace wascompleted. Beside it was a printed reminder for her next shooting qualifier at the FBI range. She was wearing jeans.????You??re so funny.I knew instantly that the murder had happened in there. ??He??s a veterinary dental expert from the Animal Medical Center in Berkeley. Maybe there were a couple of??Big Dawgs??loose in the area.?? I told John. There were flashing red and yellow lights everywhere.?? I joined in with the hallelujah chorus of praise.Martha kicked up her pace a notch. blonde FBI agent I knew named Sandy Hammonds. This is a very bad scene - the worst I??ve heard about in a while. she went down hard. and Dr Rang continued. It came from far enough behind them that she wasn??t worried. He reached up and scratched his bald pate rather vigorously. right? Listen to this one.The man twisted sharply to the left. Detective. Inspector Jamilla Hughes will meet your flight if she can. my educated guess. She had never seen such teeth in her life.??Are you sure? That doesn??t seem possible. Most important would be our canines. It??s you I want.

experimenters. incredibly graceful and athletic. you??re impressive. Male actually died from bites!!! Female bitten - but not as severely. c??mon.A woman walked up to me as I started away from the gate. Male actually died from bites!!! Female bitten - but not as severely. John Sampson. staring into the distance at the rich. We??re real close.?? With my kids. massive drug-takers. You and Davis.Less than fifty minutes later.?? I ended the call with Sampson and sprinted full out toward my old Porsche.?? I ended the call with Sampson and sprinted full out toward my old Porsche. I??m having dinner with an attractive.7 she said. my educated guess. She looked up.??Walter Lee said. good. or run her tongue across. Dr Cross. One of them hit her with a closed fist. The FBI techs and the local police were swarming at the open door like angry wasps around a threatened hive. The teeth of tigers have been adapted for their feeding habits. More than anything.?? Jamilla said.

you know where I am. The brothers had slept with their mother.Busted!I looked across the table at her - and I blinked. and then they take a little more.??Damon reminded me. Is that even remotely possible? What animal would attack a jogger in a big city park? Seems far-fetched to say the least.??because that??s what you are. Why there? Visit park if possible. ??You didn??t have to do this. but I knew I couldn??t. Dr Pang.??Help your grandma around the house.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??d never been there before. dangerous streaks. and weighed at least two-fifty. backward whistle.??Nothing ever starts where we think it does. There were lots of humans. ??But enough bad poetry. She was knocked almost unconscious by the powerful blow.Soon the thick fog would blanket the bridge and bay completely. but he was very thorough. I jumped.??He laughed a mechanical laugh and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. completely bald. and Kyle tends to be thorough if a bit long-winded. Lieutenant Martha. ??What do you say?????We love you too.

like a mountain lion variety of cat?????No.?? I finally spoke into the receiver. This case has caught your full attention. incomparable. He was going to be the next Luther Vandross.Immortal. He was laughing maniacally.And Betsey had been much more than just a partner. Why naked? Erotic? Sex crimes? Or just brutal? Exposing the victims to the world for some reason?Male??s legs. Happened last night in Golden Gate Park.The killer had stripped off her nightclothes. one of their favorite things in San Francisco.The second one brutally murdered in two years. Detective. able to clamp down hard enough to crush bone. and she gave me a wink. or any of the other bullshit inhibitions taught in the civilized world. It was the whole truth and nothing but. and weighed just over five hundred and eighty pounds. Victims hung by feet from oak tree. It came from far enough behind them that she wasn??t worried. eerily quiet.??Walter Lee nodded. Did you miss me? I missed you. She was a little afraid now. do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van. and that sweet face. This is not true of large cats. I enjoyed the preliminaries.

she??s much. ??How about I kill your grandmother and your three kids tonight? I know where they are.?? I went to the restroom area and used my cell phone to call Kyle Craig in Virginia. was a good thing.??The bastard had been making obscene. ??Oh. It??s her case and she??s supposed to be competent. You left your partner with them. butchered Betsey??s. ??What??s happening now??? I asked the agent in charge. thank God. I can hear your labored breathing. You don??t sound too good. ??Let??s leave it. and Kyle tends to be thorough if a bit long-winded. as I walked off the plane and into crowded San Francisco International Airport.Soon the thick fog would blanket the bridge and bay completely. I could see the bold headline on the front page HORROR IN GOLDEN GATE PARK. ??You can relax. but they keep changing. Their teeth are the same size and shape and perform essentially the same function. showing off some of the whitest teeth she had ever seen. The first question was an obvious one. At one point during his examination. It was his second year with the Washington Boys Choir and he was doing real well. strong beyond belief. and that was probably good. ??Alex Cross. ??Alex Cross.

They had been arrested for possession. We passed the Renaissance Hotel. You were chosen out of all the beautiful people in San Francisco. I used to walk barefoot through those nasty tobacco fields to school. One of them hit her with a closed fist. Right on the heels of the two of them. grabbing onto flesh with his teeth. In a daze. arms. I??m ready to state my piece. They were growing up way too fast for me.?? she said.. the way all good runners do. though God knows. He??s crazy. that beautiful bridge. Very nice. incomparable.????You missed quite a few already. the J.??Damon and Jannie groaned. Where the hell was the Mastermind calling from???I think we have a fix on him. I??ve also attended several of your concerts. Their mother and father had been hippies. no? You??re the famous Detective Alex Cross. My hand flew to my face. even with her. Trust me.

??I spoke in a low voice. How could that be? They tore into her and Martha screamed until her throat was raw. And bizarre. This is a very bad scene - the worst I??ve heard about in a while. Now what had happened?Kyle knew who was calling back.?? Our waiter returned. Birds took flight from a nearby cypress oak. Then everyone inside the van groaned and cursed. I went back to join Elizabeth at our table. She??d been a cross-country star at Pepperdine University.Suddenly the FBI van stopped; it was chaos inside. it??s been the exact opposite. actually.Your date??s a lawyer. but then hesitated. to sexual apparatus. a reflex over which I had no control. threatening phone calls to me every morning for over a week.??Oh.??I said to Damon. too. very dignified voice.?? Damon scoffed. Walter Lee. I??m a decent plumber. she ran forward in a clumsy stumble. She did triathlons for fun. The agent said. No problems here.

We had joined the chief medical examiner. sugar. ??What??s the saying -??catch a tiger.??The bastard had been making obscene. The devil meets with this lawyer. We were having dinner at Marcel??s in Foggy Bottom. ??Dr Pang is a friend I have used before.??Your crime-scene notes brought it all back to me. bouncing like a wet ball. Where was he? ??Everything all right. no? You??re the famous Detective Alex Cross. A mouth was open wide. ??Ecstasy.When he was finished.??Nothing ever starts where we think it does.?? With my kids. Jannie is eight; Damon just turned ten. the beeper on my belt went off. blue-skied morning in Washington - well. The couple looked sleek. Detective?You should/said the Mastermind. ??Get the hell out of here!?? Adrenaline charged through her. She was wearing jeans. He??s a good friend of the medical examiner.??Tell me about Betsey Cavalierre. powerful body moving effortlessly.??She truly does.??I??ve read all of Toni Morrison??s novels. it skidded to a stop.

She leaned her weight forward. Elizabeth.

I saw the Washington Convention Center on the right
I saw the Washington Convention Center on the right. Don??t fall back. Class IV. forty?????Forty-two. Such as listening to some of the things that actually interest me. and obviously serious about the job he had taken on.As I stood in the bedroom. and laughed.He was very quiet inside - an art that he was still mastering. Christ. Oh Jesus. The brothers had slept with their mother. and obviously serious about the job he had taken on. moved at a fast pace as the evening fog began to roll in like a sulfurous cloud across Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.?? she said. ??Hello. ??Honestly. Shestumbled over a pointy rock and cartwheeled down a steep hill. butchered Betsey??s.The tiger was eight feet long. Male actually died from bites!!! Female bitten - but not as severely. I can cook if I have to. Kyle. They would help. Elizabeth.??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. You give them a tiny advantage. Then he said. They had instructed the boys that the outside world was not only dangerous but wrong.

Small red dots at the site of bindings to the ankles where victims had been hung. I used to walk five miles through tobacco fields to school. No problems here. then clamped down onto the man??s head. ??I mean.??Help me. a reflex over which I had no control. Inspector Jamilla Hughes will meet your flight if she can. but I didn??t. A runner and a large dog???Let??s get out of these woods. and Dr Rang continued. A runner and a large dog???Let??s get out of these woods.??I could see that we were getting off the D Street Exit. We passed the Renaissance Hotel. almost under his breath.It was him again. Then I stuck out my tongue before they both turned and ran off to be with their friends. Nothing overdone about it; nothing overdone about her either. not chew or gnaw. Alex. ??He??s living up to his name. and all that blood. Both of them were growling. Extraordinary. ??I was just thinking about the murder in DC/I told her.????Thank you. I??m on my way back to Washington right now. I??ll call you. doing sixty or seventy on the city streets.

????That??s excellent. but your reputation precedes you. I looked around for Inspector Jamilla Hughes.??It was a perfect. MarthaV Davis shouted. When I was a little boy in North Carolina. She leaned her weight forward. One of them hit her with a closed fist. Then he looked at Jamilla and me. She??s one of two women in Homicide in San Francisco. Alien. Both kids are smart. I was in the rear of the speeding van with three Bureauagents and my partner. ??C??mon! Let??s go. I know that from experience. The Mastermind was on my cell phone. it??s been the exact opposite.????Not going to happen. or run her tongue across. Day by day he left behind the shabby baggage of his past life. grabbing onto flesh with his teeth.?? I said. The sucking noise came from deep inside its wide throat.A woman walked up to me as I started away from the gate. Gaining ground fast. it??s not as bad as it looks. Most important would be our canines. ??Cross. you??re next.

bouncing like a wet ball. The brothers had slept with their mother. There were lots of humans. okay.?? I answered. but then hesitated.??Are you sure? That doesn??t seem possible. ??That was the old me. you??re impressive. I couldn??t believe we had him.7 she said. How could that be? They tore into her and Martha screamed until her throat was raw. I wouldn??t miss your concert. but I didn??t.?? she said.??You??re up early. Alex. You have all those big. The irony stung. if you can??? A tiger shouldn??t be all that hard to find in San Francisco. no? You??re the famous Detective Alex Cross. Let??s move it.Actually. good. A runner and a large dog???Let??s get out of these woods.??Lee said in a soft. with a Flemish flair. Trust me. He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside.

????Be careful. and I??m always videotaping them. blonde FBI agent I knew named Sandy Hammonds. I??m having dinner with an attractive.??Big Dawg??was a pet expression they used for everything over-sized - from jet-liners. Beside it was a printed reminder for her next shooting qualifier at the FBI range.??You??re running. blonde FBI agent I knew named Sandy Hammonds. He had already studied photographs of the bite areas which had been taken at the crime scene. I was ecstatic that Damon was good enough to sing with the group. nice looking. I enjoyed the preliminaries. Dr Cross. she went down hard. How??s that for showing you the sights of San Francisco???I shook my head and grinned.????I don??t know why this is so goddamn hard. I remembered kissing those eyes. It??s moving outside Washington. ??I think I just figured out the catch.It was him again. I wanted to turn away. A runner and a large dog???Let??s get out of these woods. Lieutenant Martha. I??m a decent plumber. Cell phones are harder to trace.??I hung up and sprinted out of the house in Woodbridge.?? she said. I enjoyed the preliminaries. worse than anything else.

backward whistle. I acknowledged a tall.??Jannie rolled her eyes. I didn??t want to answer. sugar. ??I understand you??re making casts of the bite marks. Jamilla Hughes and I were inside the morgue at San Francisco??s famed Hall of Justice. She was knocked almost unconscious by the powerful blow. which serve different functions.M.I didn??t see anyone waiting. Dr Cross. terrible bites. I??ve contacted a veterinary dental specialist and he??s meeting us at the city morgue.?? I answered.??You ought to be able to figure that out. It??s you I want. It??s a whole lot more interesting than any trolley-car ride. I could see the bold headline on the front page HORROR IN GOLDEN GATE PARK. I was planning to catch him. down-to-earth. ??What??s your day look like? Any big plans??? he asked.??Big Dawg??was a pet expression they used for everything over-sized - from jet-liners. watching his youngerbrother with a mixture of curiosity and awe.?? He finally turned to us and made his pronouncement.????Is that important in terms of these murders??? Jamilla Hughes asked Dr Rang. and gave Dr Pang a pat on the back. but then hesitated.??Nothing ever starts where we think it does.

They were growing up way too fast for me. They had been arrested for possession.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. or ethics. He was going to be the next Luther Vandross. the prey would have been eaten. Could be semen.?? I told John. please. Nothing overdone about it; nothing overdone about her either.??I could see that we were getting off the D Street Exit. worse than anything else.??Well.Her boyfriend??s screams were ringing in her ears and she wasrunning in total panic. Last one to the parking lot is dog chow. and we??re lucky to have him on this case.????Such as?????Such as picking a great spot for dinner. but not overly so. The irony stung.?? ??Saturday. but not too romantic. and the dental expert. Alien. water buffalo. It??s going around. I noticed Inspector Hughes give a wink to the ME. some animals are homodents. still running as I spoke. TWO MURDERED.

you know.So why did somebody need all that blood?I was still thinking about the strange. not chew or gnaw. she managed to pull herself up. Called petechiae by the ME. So did I. I had my marching orders and I planned to keep my promises from now on. or any of the other bullshit inhibitions taught in the civilized world. Happened last night in Golden Gate Park.?? one of them whispered against Martha??s ear.??Jamilla Hughes smiled again. When he and Michael were small boys. I didn??t see them anywhere in the bedroom. experimenters.They were invincible. but they keep changing.????I don??t know about big cats around these parts. MarthaV Davis shouted. It??s a whole lot more interesting than any trolley-car ride.??All right.??Martha said.?? Suddenly the two runners?? playful exchange was interrupted by a much louder growl. ??There aren??t any cats in this park??? Davis asked. trying to steady the receiver against my chin and ear. Elizabeth put her hand lightly on top of mine.????You??re so funny.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. This is a very bad scene - the worst I??ve heard about in a while. I??ve also attended several of your concerts.

Detective. and gave Dr Pang a pat on the back.So why did somebody need all that blood?I was still thinking about the strange. Patricia Cameron had died of blood loss. Shestumbled over a pointy rock and cartwheeled down a steep hill. Where the hell was the Mastermind calling from???I think we have a fix on him. and she gave me a wink. San Francisco. She??s almost a hundred years old. not side to side. ??So what??s the catch??? ??After he told his joke. it skidded to a stop. Male actually died from bites!!! Female bitten - but not as severely. worse than anything else.????You missed quite a few already. You left your partner with them.????I don??t know about big cats around these parts. This is a very bad scene - the worst I??ve heard about in a while.?? she said.??Jannie said as we pulled up in front of the Sojoumer Truth School. Cross my heart. They were growing up way too fast for me. TWO MURDERED. I know that from experience.Michael was only seventeen. As I told you before. The sucking noise came from deep inside its wide throat.??Big Dawg??was a pet expression they used for everything over-sized - from jet-liners. I was just rucking with you.

but he was very thorough. I remembered the victim. ??This is terrific of you to help. So did I. ??Alex Cross. the beeper on my belt went off. Died from massive blood loss. Their mother and father had been hippies. I think.?? ??Thank you for your time.I took a deep breath and walked inside. had been found dead and severely mutilated in a hotel room downtown. or ethics.Just like that.??Damon reminded me. I acknowledged a tall. and a really big and painful one. Why there? Visit park if possible. I??m a decent plumber. ??You forgot that you used to walk barefoot.??I said to Damon.Please be careful. showing off some of the whitest teeth she had ever seen.??Your crime-scene notes brought it all back to me.??said Martha Wiatt. he certainly looked good for an accountant. Died from massive blood loss. then I finally started to smile.The rest of my day was long.

they have teeth of different sizes and shapes. grabbing onto flesh with his teeth. Also. Walter Lee. There were lots of humans. the way all good runners do. I don??t necessarily disagree. I know that from experience. and I??m relatively sure the attacker was. ??You??re what - thirty-nine. Well. sugar. ??What??s happening now??? I asked the agent in charge. still running as I spoke. athletic-looking butt.??! promised. It??s totally unique. They were suspected of much more serious crimes. She rolled and twisted and kicked out at her attackers. We swabbed to gather saliva. As I told you before. I jumped. to say the least. She??s almost a hundred years old. please. ??Where the hell is he?????Shit.??No. trying to figure out something coherent about Betsey??s murder. The bites on the female were inflicted by two humans.

Jesus. Female lost over 40% of her blood. I used to walk barefoot through those nasty tobacco fields to school.??because that??s what you are.????I did. sugar. I??d never been there before. and that sweet face. She straddled the double center lines and felt like a total madwoman. but for now it was a gorgeous sight. I heard a machine-filtered voice and it cut right through me.??I could get used to this. The beauty and the solitude.She laughed out loud.?? she said. antelope. It??s a whole lot more interesting than any trolley-car ride. I wouldn??t miss your concert.??Big Dawg??was a pet expression they used for everything over-sized - from jet-liners. he marveled at the concept of the unbridled mind. I??ll be right back. Happened last night in Golden Gate Park. A mouth was open wide. watching his youngerbrother with a mixture of curiosity and awe. I heard a machine-filtered voice and it cut right through me.??Catch??? I shrugged. Walter??? ??Yes. you??re next.??Walter Lee nodded.

A tiger was involved in these murders? How could that possibly be? Dr Pang stopped talking. Let??s move it. Another eerie growl pierced the gathering fog. not chew or gnaw. Her chin struck the pavement. didn??t you?You think he can stop me? John Sampson doesn??t have a chance against me. The small man nodded enthusiastically. to very large canines. Sergeant Davis O??Hara. Hey! Hey! Hey!?? She waved her good arm and shouted at the top of her voice. right? Listen to this one. a reflex over which I had no control. Jesus. Has to be. ??Get the hell out of here!?? Adrenaline charged through her. right. backward whistle.??Help your grandma around the house. He was getting closer to the truth. sugar.??Stop! Stop! Stop!??Amazingly the tiger stopped. you??re next. I??m having dinner with an attractive. and weighed at least two-fifty. She put some distance between herself and Davis.??The bastard had been making obscene.??All right. it skidded to a stop. As I told you before.

arms. I grabbed it.?? Things went from bad to worse. Let??s move it. even with her. For God??s sake. nice looking.Immortal. I??ve also attended several of your concerts.?? he grunted. mourning Betsey.??he said. Why hung? To drain the bodies?Why drain the bodies? Rite of purification? Spiritual cleansing? Bodies naked and covered in blood. This is not true of large cats. It was his second year with the Washington Boys Choir and he was doing real well.Actually. Gaining ground fast.United States Army Lieutenant Martha Wiatt and her boyfriend. but most of all that he loved what he was doing. imitating Nana??s wicked cackle. forty?????Forty-two. She loves to cook. she was pretty sure she??d broken her right arm.??Damon and Jannie groaned. Right on the heels of the two of them. The night couldn??t have been going any better. Inspector Jamilla Hughes will meet your flight if she can. Well. right? Listen to this one.

or so she says. I know that from experience.?? ??Alien. the J.??Everything??s fine.White substance on male victim??s legs and stomach. She??s almost a hundred years old. trying to figure out something coherent about Betsey??s murder.??Lee said in a soft. who was the real athlete.??The bastard had been making obscene. and Kyle tends to be thorough if a bit long-winded. ??I mean. that settled any future debate about who was in better shape. He loved it out here. not the middle of Montana. but it was aggravated assault that put the brothers behind bars. 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. but they leaned in close and I wondered how much longer they would be willing to give me hugs and pecks on the cheek. That??s the right approach. It??s as if the humans and the large cat were running together. He was laughing maniacally. Sergeant Davis O??Hara.????Why did you kill her???I asked the monster on the other end of the phone line.?? the Mastermind said. She put some distance between herself and Davis. Elizabeth Moore was wickedly funny and nicely irreverent. but they??re kids.????I can already taste a dos Equis.

The couple looked sleek. Ordinarily. but thanks. Called petechiae by the ME.?? the Mastermind said. I think they found Dr Pang just a little strange. I don??t necessarily disagree. so she probably is fairly good. male tiger was making a chuffing sound. I caught Jamilla??s eye. He was already six feet three and a hundred-eighty-five pounds. trying to steady the receiver against my chin and ear. Inspector Hughes?? preliminary crime-scene notes were precise and detailed. Sampson and I pulled out our guns. Sometimes he just cursed at me for several minutes; this morning. eerily quiet. the prey would have been eaten. Called petechiae by the ME. I don??t remember who. It??s a whole lot more interesting than any trolley-car ride.?? Suddenly the two runners?? playful exchange was interrupted by a much louder growl. We were at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue. unaware of where she was going. as long as it was consensual. I used to walk five miles through tobacco fields to school. I could still see her face. I grabbed it. One of them hit her with a closed fist. Male actually died from bites!!! Female bitten - but not as severely.

The jaw can only move up and down. ??This is terrific of you to help. The beauty and the solitude.????Not funny. When I was a little boy in North Carolina. You give them a tiny advantage. which are situated between the lateral and the first premolar on each side of each jaw. She was wearing jeans. and weighed at least two-fifty. I recognize the number the FBI in Quantico. Small animals scampered away as fast as they could. ??Kisses. He was a small man. He was speaking solely to the ME at this point. Cell phones are harder to trace.So why did somebody need all that blood?I was still thinking about the strange. He was flawless. I caught Jamilla??s eye. They were like sharpened knives. We were tracing his call and wouldhave the exact location very soon. then her neck. Moisture jumped off her close-cropped reddish-brown hair. How could that be? They tore into her and Martha screamed until her throat was raw. they have teeth of different sizes and shapes.??Walter Lee nodded. I had a version of the same question. Also.?? one of them whispered against Martha??s ear. My job was to keep him on the line until the trace wascompleted.

even with her.??Tell me about Betsey Cavalierre. I only thought that it did. but he was very thorough. ??Isn??t it exquisite? You??re so lucky. She was wearing jeans. mmm. Don??t fall back. For God??s sake.??Explain.She saw a pair of headlights approaching and ran out into the middle of the road.????You missed quite a few already. I think they found Dr Pang just a little strange. Michael was a beautiful man-child. Elizabeth put her hand lightly on top of mine.??Excuse me.The large. I??m ready to talk about the nature of the bites now. I??m afraid I might get CRS someday - the can??t remember shit disease.??I??m not exactly sure where to start. though God knows. This was as bad as it gets. Inspector Hughes?? preliminary crime-scene notes were precise and detailed. The first question was an obvious one. it just skipped out of the country.??Big Dawg??was a pet expression they used for everything over-sized - from jet-liners. and gave Dr Pang a pat on the back.?? Martha said in a steady. San Francisco.

Their mother had taught William and Michael that having sex with anyone. This is the new and improved Alex. ??He??s a veterinary dental expert from the Animal Medical Center in Berkeley. I??d resist the sell out of any idea that originated with the FBI.Her body was discovered when the fixture had eventually fallen with a loud crash. You solved Jack and Jill.??Big Dawg??was a pet expression they used for everything over-sized - from jet-liners.She reached one of the paved auxiliary roads that twisted through the park. This is getting a little spooky. Happened last night in Golden Gate Park.??She truly does. It isn??t happening for some reason. That??s the right approach. had been found dead and severely mutilated in a hotel room downtown. but your reputation precedes you. or Al Green. TWO MURDERED. Someone. had been found dead and severely mutilated in a hotel room downtown. ??It??s perfectly all right. Rumor had it that she was an attractive black woman.?? he said. ??Isn??t it exquisite? You??re so lucky.?? Kyle laughed. much prettier.??Help your grandma around the house. and smart-assed as well.??Explain. You can add that to the file on my so-called reputation.

and you??re busy. or run her tongue across. Why hung? To drain the bodies?Why drain the bodies? Rite of purification? Spiritual cleansing? Bodies naked and covered in blood. So I took an extra few while I could get them.??I??ll be home by Saturday. she ran forward in a clumsy stumble. as long as it was consensual. Says he can make the lawyer a senior partner. I looked outside and saw why. running as fast as she could.The following morning I dropped the kids at summer school on my way to the airport. The first question was an obvious one.????Thank you. as you know. another Class IV. and I??m always videotaping them. It isn??t happening for some reason. if you can??? A tiger shouldn??t be all that hard to find in San Francisco. He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside. Florida. ??Oh. I??m right here with you. and I was pretty sure that Elizabeth would agree. he marveled at the concept of the unbridled mind. I only thought that it did. I wanted to yell at him. Kyle has been a solid friend for many years. but I knew I couldn??t. grabbing onto flesh with his teeth.

Lieutenant Martha. Her arms and legs moved in synch like efficient pistons.She heard screams behind her and looked back - but she couldn??t see Davis anymore. Such as being very handsome - not that it matters to me. but I knew I couldn??t. Called petechiae by the ME.??The bastard had been making obscene. They were growing up way too fast for me. Dr Pang.??Big Dawg??was a pet expression they used for everything over-sized - from jet-liners. Damon.??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. Of course not. right? Listen to this one.?? he grunted. ??I understand you??re making casts of the bite marks. I haven??t seen anything remotely like it. I was reeling. Enjoying our little breakfast club. do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van. chest severely gouged - victim appears to have been bitten repeatedly. Loser buys at The Abbey. It was filled with the kind of country clutter that she??d loved when she was alive. Cross my heart. Dr Pang.?? ??It??s not in the tour books. Where was he? ??Everything all right. Gaining ground fast. Her name was Patricia Dawn Cameron.

??Alex.??The Mastermind. ??What completely baffles me is that someone commanded the tiger away from its prey after it struck - and the tiger obeyed. pal. How could I forget it?A sixteen-year-old runaway girl from Orlando. we??d better hurry. ??This is terrific of you to help.??Oh. which released his head.??she called over her shoulder. to very large canines. So I took an extra few while I could get them. Then he pounced. Female lost over 40% of her blood. His movements were almost as quick and effortless as the cat??s.Michael was only seventeen.??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. it just skipped out of the country. butchered Betsey??s.?? With my kids. Jannie is eight; Damon just turned ten.??she called over her shoulder. As I told you before. ??C??mon! Let??s go. The agent said. She stretched out her head in front of her body as if she were trying for an invisible finish line. Keep up with me. At one point during his examination. however.

But you won??t be fast enough. well. Then he pounced. and then they take a little more. ??but it should be. I wouldn??t miss your concert. Edgar Hoover Building. I can cook if I have to. they have teeth of different sizes and shapes.Because he??s the Mastermind. staring into the distance at the rich.??Are you sure? That doesn??t seem possible.?? Martha said in a steady.?? she said. eerily quiet. I could still see her face. you know where I am. He was getting closer to the truth. Now what had happened?Kyle knew who was calling back. My mistake. A tiger was involved in these murders? How could that possibly be? Dr Pang stopped talking. Virginia. Cross my heart. of course. Dr fang. 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. Where was he? ??Everything all right.??I??m not exactly sure where to start. ??Nana??s eighty years young.

Her chin struck the pavement.As I stood in the bedroom. I was in the rear of the speeding van with three Bureauagents and my partner. The irony stung. The tiger??s massive jaw opened wide. incomparable. Right on the heels of the two of them. You can add that to the file on my so-called reputation. It was a sharp little dig. Day by day he left behind the shabby baggage of his past life.??Lee said in a soft. and the dental expert. A tiger was involved in these murders? How could that possibly be? Dr Pang stopped talking. They had been arrested for possession. I was inside an FBI vanthat was already on the move. He didn??t just kill Betsey. I had my marching orders and I planned to keep my promises from now on.??You mind if I take this? It??s important. who often come on a little gruff. I could see the bold headline on the front page HORROR IN GOLDEN GATE PARK. please stop. Very nice. dear. a muted. recurved canines; and molars that have evolved into cutting blades. Enjoying our little breakfast club. Then I stuck out my tongue before they both turned and ran off to be with their friends. Birds took flight from a nearby cypress oak. a black leather car coat over a powder blue T-shirt.

He was a small man. Dr Cross. relaxed cadence.?? I said. it was a tiger.?? the Mastermind said. We passed the Renaissance Hotel.??Don??t get used to it.??Walter Lee nodded.?? one of the young agents said in an excited voice. Could be semen. recurved canines; and molars that have evolved into cutting blades.??Jannie said. or maybe he was just going to be Damon Cross. Edgar Hoover Building. Maybe there were a couple of??Big Dawgs??loose in the area.??Everything??s fine. On verbal command. massive drug-takers.?? Inspector Hughes said. Jesus.??William Alexander stood off in the distance. I??m ready to talk about the nature of the bites now.?? Suddenly the two runners?? playful exchange was interrupted by a much louder growl. Of course. I heard a machine-filtered voice and it cut right through me. I wondered what else he knew. Davis.The rest of my day was long.

They were like sharpened knives. and I was pretty sure that Elizabeth would agree. Somebody. It??s a whole lot more interesting than any trolley-car ride. dear. Dr Cross. They would help.??Another loud growl - and this time it was really close. Like they were a pack. I??ll talk to you tomorrow.????Yeah. She??s one of two women in Homicide in San Francisco. Patricia Cameron had died of blood loss.?? /! also like children. The beauty and the solitude. Could be semen.??My boyfriend is hurt. He was a tall man.????Goodbye.??because that??s what you are. I called Sampson in Washington and he picked up on the second ring. I recognize the number the FBI in Quantico. The casts should be ready in a day or two.??I love this run. . She looked up.I arrived at Betseys house in Woodbridge. ??Nana??s eighty years young. Dr Cross.

??Are you sure? That doesn??t seem possible.????Not going to happen. completely bald.United States Army Lieutenant Martha Wiatt and her boyfriend. ??I mean. It was filled with the kind of country clutter that she??d loved when she was alive. of course.As I stood in the bedroom.?? ??Why the hell not???Sampson asked and moved closer to the agents. the way all good runners do. We passed the Renaissance Hotel. Each jaw contains six pointed cutting teeth; two very sharp. When the good times come with your kids. Elizabeth put her hand lightly on top of mine. athletic-looking butt.?? ??Thank you for your time. you big baby! You lose. but my insides were already tied up in knots. and they kept getting better and better at it. It wasn??t that hard. Having some fun at your expense. If that didn??t happen.??All right. Right on the heels of the two of them. I??m a decent plumber. It came from far enough behind them that she wasn??t worried. so I began to look for signs directing me to public transportation. She??s one of two women in Homicide in San Francisco.?? ??Thank you for your time.

Of course not. antelope.?? I told her. Then he said. then clamped down onto the man??s head. with a Flemish flair. we lifted the marks with fingerprint powder.??Damon reminded me. ??Okay. We??ve gone through all the preliminaries. Kyle. I??d resist the sell out of any idea that originated with the FBI. On verbal command. the prey would have been eaten. A mouth was open wide.Dr Alien Pang took his time examining both bodies. it skidded to a stop. ??In contrast to humans. At one point during his examination. Our table was lit by a simple crystal votive candle. Damon. Detective?You should/said the Mastermind. but it was aggravated assault that put the brothers behind bars. eerily quiet.So why did somebody need all that blood?I was still thinking about the strange. I was just rucking with you. This is not true of large cats. I??m not going to hurt them tonight. Such as being right on time when you arrived to pick me up.

and then they take a little more. Happened last night in Golden Gate Park. He worked behind a desk. The canines are used to tear food. Dr Cross.??Jamilla. hard. The sound was almost unearthly. I liked that she had a sense of humor.??I love this run. She didn??t particularly look like a homicide detective. you big baby! You lose. O??Hara.?? /! also like children. This is not true of large cats. won??t we. She smiled ruefully and shook her head. ??Oh. He??s crazy. TWO MURDERED.??Excuse me. but not overly so. Such as listening to some of the things that actually interest me. Elizabeth. the prey would have been eaten. pleasant for a homicide detective. He loved it out here. She leaned her weight forward. Elizabeth.

she was an attractive black woman. Gaining ground fast.

I??m having dinner with an attractive
I??m having dinner with an attractive. right? Listen to this one. At poor. She was a friend of Betsey??s. He keeps dragging me into the nastiest murder cases on the FBI??s docket. Then he pounced.?? ??Alien. They??re really good kids. butchered Betsey??s. This is the new and improved Alex. Dr Cross. Like they were a pack. Don??t fall back. She??d been a cross-country star at Pepperdine University. ??Nana already told me. You were chosen out of all the beautiful people in San Francisco.??I love this run.??Jannie said as we pulled up in front of the Sojoumer Truth School. Such as listening to some of the things that actually interest me.??It??s good to meet you. and Dr Rang continued.??Jannie said as we pulled up in front of the Sojoumer Truth School. I haven??t seen anything remotely like it. On verbal command. I??d never been there before. The cat??s jaws were strong enough to pulverize bone. or so she says.After the waiter left with our orders for dessert and coffee. Damon.

??It was a perfect. When the good times come with your kids. Then he hung up on me. As William stared off at the foothills.??You ought to be able to figure that out. Damon. not the middle of Montana.??! promised. Left that part out. almost perfect. who was the real athlete. the freedom to do anything he wanted to do. this whole area had been a commune. ??You didn??t have to do this. I only had a carry-on bag; I had promised to be home by Saturday for Damon??s concert.??I could see that we were getting off the D Street Exit. Michael was a beautiful man-child. Loser buys at The Abbey. water buffalo. The sound was almost unearthly. ??C??mon! Let??s go.?? ??Well. I needed a break from the Mastermind. Certainly. I??m afraid I might get CRS someday - the can??t remember shit disease. But Davis had been attacked by something vicious. dangerous streaks.??he said. but I didn??t.

?? ??Why the hell not???Sampson asked and moved closer to the agents. Like they were a pack.She heard screams behind her and looked back - but she couldn??t see Davis anymore. Dr Cross. I used to walk five miles through tobacco fields to school.??Help your grandma around the house. I remembered kissing those eyes. You left your partner with them. The jaw of a tiger is extremely strong. to say the least. Also. muscular. wouldn??t mind having more/I added. Why did you pick her instead of me??? I asked him. She??s one of two women in Homicide in San Francisco. ??Okay.?? Suddenly the two runners?? playful exchange was interrupted by a much louder growl. mmm. He didn??t even bother to say hello. which looked to be close to a hundred years old. She had never seen such teeth in her life. but none could be proved. water buffalo.??I know who this is and I even know where you are. interesting woman. How could I forget it?A sixteen-year-old runaway girl from Orlando.????A tiger??? Jamilla was the one to express the disbelief we were all feeling. but he was grinning.So why did somebody need all that blood?I was still thinking about the strange.

FBI headquarters. Shestumbled over a pointy rock and cartwheeled down a steep hill. but they leaned in close and I wondered how much longer they would be willing to give me hugs and pecks on the cheek. Alien is one of the best in the world.?? Jamilla said. The Mastermind was on my cell phone. We??ve gone through all the preliminaries. white. The sound was almost unearthly. ??Isn??t it exquisite? You??re so lucky. relaxed cadence. the murder in DC was awfully similar. But what was catching up to her???Martha! There??s something behind me. He wore a black pocket T-shirt and powder blue shorts. She??d been a cross-country star at Pepperdine University. You give them a tiny advantage. they take a lot.????You missed quite a few already. When you??re in San Francisco don??t pass up a chance to see the morgue. Then we headed into the Third Street tunnel. right? Listen to this one. right? Listen to this one. strong beyond belief. Elizabeth put her hand lightly on top of mine. Soon he would have no false morals. She was a large woman with a really sweet smile that made me smile. I won??t be long. white.??Got you.

??Okay. Her chin struck the pavement. humans are heterodonts; that is. I??m afraid I might get CRS someday - the can??t remember shit disease. down-to-earth. Also cut with sharp object.????I can already taste a dos Equis. ??Now what??s the catch? There has to be a catch.??You??re up early.They were invincible.????I did. Someone. It??s you I want. I haven??t seen anything remotely like it. You left your partner with them. This is not true of large cats. He wore a black pocket T-shirt and powder blue shorts. Walter??? ??Yes. They??re really good kids. humans are heterodonts; that is. Thanks for reminding me. please.Male and female victims found dead at 3:20 A.??Got you. but most of all gut-wrenching. Her name was Patricia Dawn Cameron.Male and female victims found dead at 3:20 A. ??How about I kill your grandmother and your three kids tonight? I know where they are. ??This ;s your last ride to school.

it??s not as bad as it looks. I was just rucking with you. She was a large woman with a really sweet smile that made me smile. We were having dinner at Marcel??s in Foggy Bottom. as long as it was consensual. That??s the right approach. Martha rationalized that she had to get help. Okay.?? I answered. O??Hara. Small animals scampered away as fast as they could. but your reputation precedes you. The devil meets with this lawyer.Actually. he certainly looked good for an accountant. ??Everything okay there??? I gasped. Dr Pang.??Jannie rolled her eyes.?? ??It??s not in the tour books. Christ. A tiger was involved in these murders? How could that possibly be? Dr Pang stopped talking. Alien is one of the best in the world.??William Alexander stood off in the distance. I thought so. When you??re in San Francisco don??t pass up a chance to see the morgue. ??Nana??s eighty years young. aren??t you? Keep running. That??s the right approach. that settled any future debate about who was in better shape.

the J.?? Jannie said. It was closer. a good spot for this kind of thing.??You??re up early. forty?????Forty-two. You??re still my love slave. mmm. in Golden Gate Park. I??m afraid I might get CRS someday - the can??t remember shit disease. Beside it was a printed reminder for her next shooting qualifier at the FBI range. He didn??t just kill Betsey. I used to walk barefoot through those nasty tobacco fields to school. We had left my house onFifth Street as soon as the call came in; we were heading onto 1395 North.?? /! also like children. The lawyer stares at the devil and asks.Male and female victims found dead at 3:20 A. ??And that sounds like the beginnings of a gracious loser??s speech/she said. He??d punished Betsey with it. I had a version of the same question. you??re impressive. The FBI techs and the local police were swarming at the open door like angry wasps around a threatened hive. The van said ??Red Cross?? on its hood.??he said.??Jamilla. but most of all gut-wrenching. When you??re in San Francisco don??t pass up a chance to see the morgue. or so she says. she??s much.

I shook off the image. A runner and a large dog???Let??s get out of these woods. thank God. We had left my house onFifth Street as soon as the call came in; we were heading onto 1395 North. okay. he sounded positively civil. There were no ordinary circumstances in California. Why is that?????Of course it has. She??d been a cross-country star at Pepperdine University. ??C??mon. another Class IV. I know that from experience. My sense of balance was off. but ever since I became liaison between the Bureau and the DC police. but for now it was a gorgeous sight. I had my marching orders and I planned to keep my promises from now on. They had instructed the boys that the outside world was not only dangerous but wrong. incredibly graceful and athletic. you??re impressive. ??Ecstasy. and smart-assed as well. When you??re in San Francisco don??t pass up a chance to see the morgue. Martha had known that all along.??I love this run. I enjoyed the preliminaries. right? Listen to this one.Your date??s a lawyer. ??Jesus Christ. He was getting closer to the truth.

We were having dinner at Marcel??s in Foggy Bottom. right. its lithe. that beautiful bridge. Dr fang. We??re real close. showing off some of the whitest teeth she had ever seen. It wasn??t that hard. the one that preceded me.??she extended her hand and smiled as I took it. We had joined the chief medical examiner. had been found dead and severely mutilated in a hotel room downtown. I know that from experience.I didn??t see anyone waiting.??I hung up and sprinted out of the house in Woodbridge. He carried himself with confidence.On a hallway table I saw Betsey??s service revolver. Of course. it??s been the exact opposite. You??re next.?? /! also like children.??Jannie said. Beside it was a printed reminder for her next shooting qualifier at the FBI range. There were flashing red and yellow lights everywhere. I tried to listen to both conversations. experimenters.?? I said. Detective. Patricia Cameron? There have been two murders in San Francisco that match up.

??You??re what - thirty-nine. No problems here.M. 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. but I had a date that night. It was his second year with the Washington Boys Choir and he was doing real well. but it was aggravated assault that put the brothers behind bars. I was ecstatic that Damon was good enough to sing with the group. You solved Jack and Jill. won??t we. Her name was Patricia Dawn Cameron. Davis. he marveled at the concept of the unbridled mind. We passed the Renaissance Hotel.????That??s excellent. okay. and they kept getting better and better at it.?? ??It??s not in the tour books. and wished she hadn??t. and that sweet face. I??d resist the sell out of any idea that originated with the FBI. are you Detective Cross???I had noticed her just before she spoke to me. ??Dr Pang is a friend I have used before.??Tell me about Betsey Cavalierre. Also cut with sharp object.?? Inspector Hughes said. a reflex over which I had no control. ??Everything okay there??? I gasped. Jannie is eight; Damon just turned ten.

Then he hung up on me. I??ll be right back.??It??s good to meet you.??The Mastermind. But what was catching up to her???Martha! There??s something behind me. The bites on the female were inflicted by two humans. I??m a decent plumber. Get real. Nothing overdone about it; nothing overdone about her either. imitating Nana??s wicked cackle.?? the Mastermind said. A runner and a large dog???Let??s get out of these woods. and that was probably good. At poor. bouncing like a wet ball. Get real. Like they were a pack. The sounds of the next growl and the heavy footsteps crushing leaves were really close.Her boyfriend??s screams were ringing in her ears and she wasrunning in total panic. Nothing overdone about it; nothing overdone about her either. Trust me. nice looking. Where was he? ??Everything all right. forty?????Forty-two.??You mind if I take this? It??s important.?? he said. It came from far enough behind them that she wasn??t worried. ??He??s a veterinary dental expert from the Animal Medical Center in Berkeley.Dr Alien Pang took his time examining both bodies.

The house was strangely.?? Kyle laughed. Edgar Hoover Building. but I pretended to look slightly puzzled. was a good thing. When he and Michael were small boys. I heard a machine-filtered voice and it cut right through me. The girl in DC had suffered savage bites all over her body. Having some fun at your expense. Maybe there were a couple of??Big Dawgs??loose in the area.The tiger was eight feet long. You can add that to the file on my so-called reputation.?? I told her.????I don??t know why this is so goddamn hard. I desperately wanted to cover her.?? I said. doing sixty or seventy on the city streets.?? Suddenly the two runners?? playful exchange was interrupted by a much louder growl.??I??ve read all of Toni Morrison??s novels.She felt the teeth bite into her cheek. to very large canines. but they??re kids. He was a small man. won??t we. backward whistle. but most of all that he loved what he was doing. Each jaw contains six pointed cutting teeth; two very sharp. Each jaw contains six pointed cutting teeth; two very sharp. a black leather car coat over a powder blue T-shirt.

Trust me. I looked around for Inspector Jamilla Hughes.?? Suddenly the two runners?? playful exchange was interrupted by a much louder growl. Dr Pang. and a really big and painful one. he sounded positively civil. Then she thought she heard footsteps.?? she said. it skidded to a stop. watching his youngerbrother with a mixture of curiosity and awe. I was in the rear of the speeding van with three Bureauagents and my partner. Where the hell was the Mastermind calling from???I think we have a fix on him.??Help your grandma around the house. humans are heterodonts; that is. right. Kyle has been a solid friend for many years.Your date??s a lawyer. good. Why there? Visit park if possible. it was a tiger.Less than fifty minutes later. ??You didn??t have to do this.?? It??s much worse. . Such as being right on time when you arrived to pick me up.????The catch??? she said again. it??s exactly what I came out here to see. Where the hell was the Mastermind calling from???I think we have a fix on him.????Thank you.

??Another loud growl - and this time it was really close.??The Mastermind laughed again. and I??m always videotaping them. She leaned her weight forward. one of their favorite things in San Francisco. Also. Cross my heart. Romantic. in the middle of the night. Alien. I just couldn??t leave her like this. Why did you pick her instead of me??? I asked him.William was twenty.??Tell me about Betsey Cavalierre. almost under his breath. seeming to paint the lawn and front porch with bright. I could see that Sandy had been crying. but ever since I became liaison between the Bureau and the DC police. pleasant for a homicide detective. Gaining ground fast. I acknowledged a tall. Dr Cross. who was the real athlete.??You ought to be able to figure that out. The man screamed. and she stuck out her tongue.?? the Mastermind said. like a mountain lion variety of cat?????No. You have all those big.

humans are heterodonts; that is. ??Everything okay there??? I gasped. The night couldn??t have been going any better. which are situated between the lateral and the first premolar on each side of each jaw. ??What??s the saying -??catch a tiger. At one point during his examination. The beauty and the solitude. I hated taking his calls. or Al Green. Our table was lit by a simple crystal votive candle.??Stop! Stop! Stop!??Amazingly the tiger stopped. but he was grinning. Virginia. Their mother had taught William and Michael that having sex with anyone.When he was finished. Dr Cross. ??Everything okay there??? I gasped. This case has caught your full attention.?? Lee continued. Elizabeth. aren??t you? Keep running.I didn??t see anyone waiting.?? Our waiter returned. I amused him sometimes.The cell phone rang again before I got to the car. Please. I noted that a businessman near the gate was reading The Examiner. and I was pretty sure that Elizabeth would agree. She straddled the double center lines and felt like a total madwoman.

????You missed quite a few already.Less than fifty minutes later. Alex. and wished she hadn??t.They were invincible. It??s her case and she??s supposed to be competent. actually.Teeth marks on male appear to be those of large animal. but it was aggravated assault that put the brothers behind bars. You don??t sound too good. ??Jesus Christ. The canines are used to tear food.She saw a pair of headlights approaching and ran out into the middle of the road. He didn??t even bother to say hello. but I knew I couldn??t. He wore a black pocket T-shirt and powder blue shorts.?? ??Why the hell not???Sampson asked and moved closer to the agents. that beautiful bridge. 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. which released his head. so she probably is fairly good. you??re impressive.?? Our waiter returned. relaxed cadence. It wasn??t that hard. Davis??s screams had stopped. ??He??s a veterinary dental expert from the Animal Medical Center in Berkeley. ??Okay. Daddy.

??Don??t know exactly. ??He??s living up to his name. I don??t remember who. Martha rationalized that she had to get help. worse than anything else.?? Damon scoffed. Please. the freedom to do anything he wanted to do. That??s the right approach. It was with a lawyer for the DA??s office here in Washington. Damon. ??What??s happening now??? I asked the agent in charge. but they??re kids. She loves to cook. water buffalo. Someone. Sampson and I pulled out our guns. You caught Gary Soneji. ??Ecstasy.The cell phone rang again before I got to the car.??I hung up and sprinted out of the house in Woodbridge. It??s time for me to kick your well-formed.??I??ve read all of Toni Morrison??s novels.Lieutenant Martha Wiatt had definitely picked up her pace. I think I read about it in one of the tour books. with very thick black-rimmed glasses. probably six-two.??He laughed a mechanical laugh and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I??ve contacted a veterinary dental specialist and he??s meeting us at the city morgue.

where or how I got up the nerve. John. worse than anything else. nice looking. You??re still my love slave. trying to steady the receiver against my chin and ear. I shook off the image. Alex. It??s a five-block walk from our house to school. He??s crazy.?? I joined in with the hallelujah chorus of praise.I forced myself to walk down a long hallway that led from the living room to the back of the house.?? Martha said in a steady. c??mon. The devil meets with this lawyer. a muted. you??re impressive. but they saw nothing. Small red dots at the site of bindings to the ankles where victims had been hung. MarthaV Davis shouted. He didn??t just kill Betsey. I enjoyed the preliminaries.????Why did you kill her???I asked the monster on the other end of the phone line. no? You??re the famous Detective Alex Cross. They would help.????Goodbye. ??We??ll see about that. Also cut with sharp object. ??How about I kill your grandmother and your three kids tonight? I know where they are.

??I mean. For God??s sake. but they saw nothing. was a good thing. It was a sharp little dig. She had been hung by her feet from a hotel room lighting fixture.????Is that important in terms of these murders??? Jamilla Hughes asked Dr Rang. massive drug-takers. Small animals scampered away as fast as they could.??The kids laughed and so did I.??Don??t get used to it. you big baby! You lose.?? He finally turned to us and made his pronouncement. Their mother had taught William and Michael that having sex with anyone.?? she said. but it did no good. arms. Then he said. All the good ones are taken. I wanted to turn away.??She truly does.??Jannie said. we lifted the marks with fingerprint powder. okay. very nice. On verbal command. He wore a white coat with the nickname Dragon stitched on one pocket. It was filled with the kind of country clutter that she??d loved when she was alive. arms.

wouldn??t mind having more/I added. if you can??? A tiger shouldn??t be all that hard to find in San Francisco. backward whistle. but my insides were already tied up in knots.??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. It??s moving outside Washington. The van said ??Red Cross?? on its hood.??You??re up early. and you??re busy. mmm. Each jaw contains six pointed cutting teeth; two very sharp.?? I finally spoke into the receiver. Certainly.. but I knew I couldn??t. c??mon. Dr Pang. which are situated between the lateral and the first premolar on each side of each jaw. ??Kisses.The large.??Catch??? I shrugged. pal. That??s the right approach. then her neck. Jesus. good. He was already six feet three and a hundred-eighty-five pounds. Very nice. The lower body was coated with blood.

Why there? Visit park if possible. but not overly so. worse than anything else. too. ??I hear you. almost perfect. I wouldn??t miss your concert. Having some fun at your expense. then clamped down onto the man??s head.Her body was discovered when the fixture had eventually fallen with a loud crash. and depressing.????Kyle. He was already six feet three and a hundred-eighty-five pounds. wouldn??t mind having more/I added. I only had a carry-on bag; I had promised to be home by Saturday for Damon??s concert. The FBI and EMS were already there. Female lost over 40% of her blood.The cell phone rang again before I got to the car. 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. You left your partner with them. I haven??t seen anything remotely like it. She was a friend of Betsey??s. John. they take a lot. Okay. ??Okay. backward whistle.??You ought to be able to figure that out. He??s a good friend of the medical examiner.

with very thick black-rimmed glasses. I shuddered against my will. in fact. You caught Gary Soneji.I forced myself to walk down a long hallway that led from the living room to the back of the house. I??ll talk to you tomorrow. The sounds of the next growl and the heavy footsteps crushing leaves were really close.??It??s good to meet you. it skidded to a stop. ??Get the hell out of here!?? Adrenaline charged through her. won??t we. who was the real athlete. ??Alex. We??re in San Francisco.??William Alexander stood off in the distance. aren??t you? Keep running. My hand flew to my face. The lower body was coated with blood. And bizarre. ??You can relax. Why hung? To drain the bodies?Why drain the bodies? Rite of purification? Spiritual cleansing? Bodies naked and covered in blood. Alien is one of the best in the world. We were tracing his call and wouldhave the exact location very soon. and their father. Then he looked at Jamilla and me. I??m right here with you.??My boyfriend is hurt.????I don??t know why this is so goddamn hard.Less than fifty minutes later.

Dr Pang. She was wearing jeans. showing off some of the whitest teeth she had ever seen. staring into the distance at the rich. More than anything. Dr Cross.?? I said.Please be careful. Christ. but for now it was a gorgeous sight. ??Isn??t it exquisite? You??re so lucky.Because he??s the Mastermind. but they leaned in close and I wondered how much longer they would be willing to give me hugs and pecks on the cheek. ??Alex Cross. You can??t get away from me. no? You??re the famous Detective Alex Cross. Somebody. had been found dead and severely mutilated in a hotel room downtown.Immortal.?? Jannie said. Don??t fall back.??It??s good to meet you. but they keep changing.I swallowed hard. It??s time for me to kick your well-formed. in fact. A mouth was open wide. Has to be.??The Mastermind.

Dr Cross. she??s much. The cat??s jaws were strong enough to pulverize bone. Why there? Visit park if possible. Nobody will get past me.?? Our waiter returned. We had him. ??He??s living up to his name. not the middle of Montana.??It??s good to meet you. Such as being very handsome - not that it matters to me. My sense of balance was off. Then he looked at Jamilla and me.I forced myself to walk down a long hallway that led from the living room to the back of the house. it??s been the exact opposite. John. The beauty and the solitude. Hey! Hey! Hey!?? She waved her good arm and shouted at the top of her voice. You and Davis.Actually. hard. much prettier. Why did you pick her instead of me??? I asked him. I saw the Washington Convention Center on the right.??William Alexander stood off in the distance. you know where I am.?? I returned the smile as I shook hands with her.??I could see that we were getting off the D Street Exit. Now what had happened?Kyle knew who was calling back.

??Kisses.????That??s excellent. They??re really good kids. the signal is roaming again. almost under his breath. So did I. chest severely gouged - victim appears to have been bitten repeatedly. I tried to listen to both conversations. Small animals scampered away as fast as they could. and she gave me a wink.????That??s excellent. The master bedroom was situated at the end of the hall. ??This ;s your last ride to school. One of them hit her with a closed fist. Class IV. able to clamp down hard enough to crush bone.??Big Dawg??was a pet expression they used for everything over-sized - from jet-liners.She laughed out loud. humans are heterodonts; that is. and the dental expert. The bites on the female were inflicted by two humans. and their father. The bites on the female were inflicted by two humans. The teeth of tigers have been adapted for their feeding habits.?? Damon scoffed. and found my head shaking back and forth. I remembered her laugh. ??What??s your day look like? Any big plans??? he asked. but I pretended to look slightly puzzled.

??Oh. some animals are homodents. He carried himself with confidence. even with her. doing sixty or seventy on the city streets. the one that preceded me.The young blond male didn??t even try to resist.The following morning I dropped the kids at summer school on my way to the airport. in the middle of the night. Please. ??Isn??t it exquisite? You??re so lucky. but he was very thorough.?? Martha shook her head.??Actually.Immortal. to say the least. ??What completely baffles me is that someone commanded the tiger away from its prey after it struck - and the tiger obeyed. Class IV. They??re really good kids. she was pretty sure she??d broken her right arm.?? the FBI techie complained. I saw the Washington Convention Center on the right. Nice smile. she went down hard.??It??s good to meet you.??My boyfriend is hurt. There were flashing red and yellow lights everywhere. ??What??s the saying -??catch a tiger. The similarities to the California murders were too striking to ignore.

though God knows.?? Jamilla said. It was a sharp little dig.????Why did you kill her???I asked the monster on the other end of the phone line. When he and Michael were small boys. I had a version of the same question. ??Why don??t you come after me right now?How about tonight? As you say. Rumor had it that she was an attractive black woman.?? one of the young agents said in an excited voice. ??C??mon.??You win. the beeper on my belt went off. I was inside an FBI vanthat was already on the move. Oh God! Run! Run. Detective?You should/said the Mastermind.?? I answered.M. We had joined the chief medical examiner. I acknowledged a tall. this is San Francisco! ??Please stop. was a good thing. She stretched out her head in front of her body as if she were trying for an invisible finish line. .She felt the teeth bite into her cheek. Christ. but then hesitated. trying to steady the receiver against my chin and ear. but then. ??Okay.

The beauty and the solitude. and she was still in great shape. not chew or gnaw. I could see that Sandy had been crying. ??This is terrific of you to help.The second one brutally murdered in two years. As I told you before. It came from far enough behind them that she wasn??t worried. Nobody will get past me. She loves to cook. It was filled with the kind of country clutter that she??d loved when she was alive. Happened last night in Golden Gate Park. Birds took flight from a nearby cypress oak. especially tigers. Another eerie growl pierced the gathering fog. aren??t you? Keep running.????Kyle. but for now it was a gorgeous sight. I??m ready to state my piece. c??mon.When he was finished. We swabbed to gather saliva. ??Oh. we??d better hurry. Class IV.?? she said. It??s you I want.Lieutenant Martha Wiatt had definitely picked up her pace. This is getting a little spooky.

Gaining ground fast.??I??ve read all of Toni Morrison??s novels. Then he looked at Jamilla and me.Another one of my partners was dead. Such as being very handsome - not that it matters to me. We??re in San Francisco. a muted.??Explain.?? Things went from bad to worse. He??d used a knife.??Damon reminded me. it skidded to a stop. The FBI and EMS were already there. I liked that she had a sense of humor. Jannie is eight; Damon just turned ten. ??There aren??t any cats in this park??? Davis asked. I can hear your labored breathing. He wore a black pocket T-shirt and powder blue shorts. ??What do you say?????We love you too. actually. They were like sharpened knives. you??ve got to make them last. however. ??This ;s your last ride to school.?? He demonstrated with his own teeth and jaw.?? she said.Male and female victims found dead at 3:20 A. Rumor had it that she was an attractive black woman. Gaining ground fast.

You have all those big.?? Martha said in a steady. Partner.

Mmm
Mmm.??It was a perfect. a black leather car coat over a powder blue T-shirt. It was closer. Her arms and legs moved in synch like efficient pistons. He reached up and scratched his bald pate rather vigorously.The cell phone rang again before I got to the car. water buffalo. So why are you still playing the dating game??? I understood exactly what Elizabeth meant. Such as listening to some of the things that actually interest me. incomparable.?? I said. We had left my house onFifth Street as soon as the call came in; we were heading onto 1395 North. She was a little afraid now.Dr Alien Pang took his time examining both bodies. Of course.?? I ended the call with Sampson and sprinted full out toward my old Porsche.

Jesus. Dr Pang. Michael was a beautiful man-child. Did you miss me? I missed you. He??d used a knife. It wasn??t that hard. A runner and a large dog???Let??s get out of these woods. It??s as if the humans and the large cat were running together. Lieutenant Martha. ??Dr Pang is a friend I have used before. The van was really clipping along. Alex. in fact. The similarities to the California murders were too striking to ignore. blue-skied morning in Washington - well.?? the blond man laughed and patted the animal. and many others in the commune.

He was a tall man. ??Alex. I hope to hell he tries. TWO MURDERED. The food is French.??That??s why we let you embarrass us to death in front of our school and all our friends. My mistake. She stretched out her head in front of her body as if she were trying for an invisible finish line. You and Davis. and she was still in great shape. ??I was just thinking about the murder in DC/I told her.?? ??Alien. worse than anything else.?? the FBI techie complained. Has to be.How could this have happened? What did it mean? I saw Betsey??s small body sprawled on the hardwood floor and I went cold. but most of all gut-wrenching.

you??re next. as I walked off the plane and into crowded San Francisco International Airport. The canines are used to tear food. When I was a little boy in North Carolina. too. ??There aren??t any cats in this park??? Davis asked. Each jaw contains six pointed cutting teeth; two very sharp. Do you feel a little bit like a puppet on a string. we lifted the marks with fingerprint powder. I can??t wait. white.?? Martha said in a steady. Daddy. Also. Our table was lit by a simple crystal votive candle. It??s as if the humans and the large cat were running together. Gaining ground fast.

I made my own notes based on hers: it was my kind of shorthand and I used it on every case I worked. okay??? Davis said.????I did. Such as being very handsome - not that it matters to me. He wore a black pocket T-shirt and powder blue shorts. then I finally started to smile. we lifted the marks with fingerprint powder. probably six-two. no? You??re the famous Detective Alex Cross. Davis??s screams had stopped.She felt the teeth bite into her cheek. But what was catching up to her???Martha! There??s something behind me.?? Jamilla said.?? I answered. I had my marching orders and I planned to keep my promises from now on. They??re usually good to be around. water buffalo.

So why did somebody need all that blood?I was still thinking about the strange. and obviously serious about the job he had taken on. ??Jesus Christ. As I told you before. though. Why is that?????Of course it has. Then I stuck out my tongue before they both turned and ran off to be with their friends. Also. You can??t get away from me. trying to steady the receiver against my chin and ear.The young blond male didn??t even try to resist. which released his head. ??What??s happening now??? I asked the agent in charge. Why there? Visit park if possible.??I know who this is and I even know where you are. The Mastermind was on my cell phone. ??C??mon.

Under ordinary circumstances its prey would have been pigs and piglets. Davis. John Sampson. As William stared off at the foothills. Her grip was strong. Soon he would have no false morals. The night couldn??t have been going any better. and you??re busy. Cradling it with the left.?? one of them whispered against Martha??s ear. as long as it was consensual. dear. ??That was the old me. I was just rucking with you. I??ll call you. watching his youngerbrother with a mixture of curiosity and awe. a good spot for this kind of thing. So was Michael. I??m not going to hurt them tonight. It was with a lawyer for the DA??s office here in Washington. Maybe there were a couple of??Big Dawgs??loose in the area. well. I had my marching orders and I planned to keep my promises from now on.The rest of my day was long.A woman walked up to me as I started away from the gate.????That??s excellent. Helen Folasade Adu - Sade - was singing softly on the CD. still running as I spoke. Davis.

Why is that?????Of course it has. He??s a good friend of the medical examiner.Busted!I looked across the table at her - and I blinked. How could that be? They tore into her and Martha screamed until her throat was raw. a reflex over which I had no control.??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.I took a deep breath and walked inside.??You win. We were having dinner at Marcel??s in Foggy Bottom.I knew instantly that the murder had happened in there.?? It??s much worse. and Dr Rang continued. Dr Cross.?? ??Alien. won??t we. There were no ordinary circumstances in California. I shook my head in disgust. trying to steady the receiver against my chin and ear. I was in the rear of the speeding van with three Bureauagents and my partner.She saw a pair of headlights approaching and ran out into the middle of the road. which released his head. and all that blood. I was in the rear of the speeding van with three Bureauagents and my partner.??Damon and Jannie chorused. I??ve contacted a veterinary dental specialist and he??s meeting us at the city morgue. we??d better hurry. do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van.The tiger was eight feet long. We were tracing his call and wouldhave the exact location very soon.

??Oh.The cell phone rang again before I got to the car. The FBI and EMS were already there. I??m ready to talk about the nature of the bites now. He loved it out here. but your reputation precedes you. pleasant for a homicide detective. He was laughing maniacally.Michael was only seventeen. my educated guess. We were at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue.Lieutenant Martha Wiatt had definitely picked up her pace. I only thought that it did. Christ.?? Martha shook her head. trying to figure out something coherent about Betsey??s murder. butchered Betsey??s. I didn??t want to answer. She??d been a cross-country star at Pepperdine University. ??What??s happening now??? I asked the agent in charge.?? Lee continued.??One of the techie agents was talking in the background. She had never seen such teeth in her life. we lifted the marks with fingerprint powder.A woman walked up to me as I started away from the gate. I stood there for a long time.?? I said before I let them go off to school. as long as it was consensual.And Betsey had been much more than just a partner.

good. They were like sharpened knives.??Are you sure? That doesn??t seem possible.??Everything??s fine.. ??How about I kill your grandmother and your three kids tonight? I know where they are. Dr Pang now seemed in his own world. So did I. There were flashing red and yellow lights everywhere. I??ve also attended several of your concerts. It??s moving outside Washington. not chew or gnaw. imitating Nana??s wicked cackle. I saw the Washington Convention Center on the right. it??s exactly what I came out here to see.She heard screams behind her and looked back - but she couldn??t see Davis anymore. ??What do you say?????We love you too. The devil meets with this lawyer. or run her tongue across. You can??t get away from me. and right as he was pouring a steaming cup of coffee for Elizabeth. Where was he? ??Everything all right. and she gave me a wink. I looked around for Inspector Jamilla Hughes.??Jannie rolled her eyes. ??Isn??t it exquisite? You??re so lucky. but not too romantic. do the dishes.I knew instantly that the murder had happened in there.

Okay.I made my own notes based on hers: it was my kind of shorthand and I used it on every case I worked. I went back to join Elizabeth at our table. At poor. Small red dots at the site of bindings to the ankles where victims had been hung. The van was really clipping along. They had been arrested for possession.I didn??t see anyone waiting. doing sixty or seventy on the city streets. She??s one of two women in Homicide in San Francisco. Someone. Usually more than he tells. Her chin struck the pavement. but not too romantic. I??m a decent plumber. a reflex over which I had no control. Walter Lee. It was a sharp little dig. Loser buys at The Abbey. He was already six feet three and a hundred-eighty-five pounds. Moisture jumped off her close-cropped reddish-brown hair. muscular. Martha had known that all along. wasn??t it? So welcome to San Francisco. Elizabeth put her hand lightly on top of mine. as I walked off the plane and into crowded San Francisco International Airport. She leaned her weight forward.??I said to Damon. not chew or gnaw.

??You forgot that you used to walk barefoot. Beside it was a printed reminder for her next shooting qualifier at the FBI range. ??Everything okay there??? I gasped. I??ll call you. Called petechiae by the ME.Martha kicked up her pace a notch.??Damon and Jannie groaned. Then I stuck out my tongue before they both turned and ran off to be with their friends.????I can already taste a dos Equis. Alex. I??ve seen way too much of him.????Kyle. ??What??s your day look like? Any big plans??? he asked.The rest of my day was long.I made my own notes based on hers: it was my kind of shorthand and I used it on every case I worked.??All right. The food is French. Partner. I think they found Dr Pang just a little strange.????You??re so funny. The sound was almost unearthly. dangerous streaks. are you Detective Cross???I had noticed her just before she spoke to me.????Not going to happen. ??but it should be. I noted that a businessman near the gate was reading The Examiner. I hated taking his calls. My sense of balance was off. I was ecstatic that Damon was good enough to sing with the group.

I had a version of the same question. however. staring into the distance at the rich. It??s a whole lot more interesting than any trolley-car ride.?? Lee continued. she??s much. As William stared off at the foothills.Just like that. probably six-two.??Help your grandma around the house. able to clamp down hard enough to crush bone. Then she thought she heard footsteps. moved at a fast pace as the evening fog began to roll in like a sulfurous cloud across Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. We??ve got a wire tap and should be able to trace the call immediately. yes.Michael was only seventeen. I jumped. The brothers had slept with their mother. wasn??t it? So welcome to San Francisco. It was his second year with the Washington Boys Choir and he was doing real well. Alex. There were flashing red and yellow lights everywhere. ??Isn??t it exquisite? You??re so lucky.??I spoke in a low voice. You??re still my love slave. but most of all that he loved what he was doing. He was speaking solely to the ME at this point. nice looking. Then she thought she heard footsteps.

as you know. ??You can relax. They were suspected of much more serious crimes. but they leaned in close and I wondered how much longer they would be willing to give me hugs and pecks on the cheek. She??d been a cross-country star at Pepperdine University. It was a sharp little dig. I??ll call you. actually.The cell phone rang again before I got to the car. too. please. you know. you??re impressive. Victims hung by feet from oak tree. You solved Jack and Jill. Elizabeth put her hand lightly on top of mine.??You win.?? the Mastermind said. actually. You give them a tiny advantage. Then he hung up on me. You caught Gary Soneji.The rest of my day was long. ??Ecstasy. chest severely gouged - victim appears to have been bitten repeatedly. .He was very quiet inside - an art that he was still mastering. Cross my heart. ??We??ll see about that.

??Excuse me. This is not true of large cats. you know. I wanted to turn away. So why are you still playing the dating game??? I understood exactly what Elizabeth meant. I won??t be long. said that??American children suffer too much mother and too little father. The van said ??Red Cross?? on its hood. But Davis had been attacked by something vicious. tried to focus her eyes. but then. now it??s back in the city. probably six-two. I didn??t see them anywhere in the bedroom. It was filled with the kind of country clutter that she??d loved when she was alive. though. Virginia.??Damon and Jannie groaned. ??C??mon! Let??s go. aren??t you? Keep running. It??s going around. He was flawless. deer. I used to walk barefoot through those nasty tobacco fields to school. ??Nana??s eighty years young. actually.??Jamilla.??You??re up early.??the Mastermind said.

The following morning I dropped the kids at summer school on my way to the airport. partner. I??d resist the sell out of any idea that originated with the FBI. probably six-two. right. ??What completely baffles me is that someone commanded the tiger away from its prey after it struck - and the tiger obeyed. Her name was Patricia Dawn Cameron. I used to walk five miles through tobacco fields to school.?? one of the young agents said in an excited voice. Of course. Then everyone inside the van groaned and cursed.????Well.?? He finally turned to us and made his pronouncement. Last one to the parking lot is dog chow.??she extended her hand and smiled as I took it. but I think I just spotted a little pussy. no? You??re the famous Detective Alex Cross. that beautiful bridge.?? I ended the call with Sampson and sprinted full out toward my old Porsche. Alex. Maybe he??s on a cell phone in a car. Martha rationalized that she had to get help.??Walter Lee said. and I??m always videotaping them.Soon the thick fog would blanket the bridge and bay completely. Then he pounced. I??ve seen way too much of him.??Walter Lee nodded. I went back to join Elizabeth at our table.

She??s one of two women in Homicide in San Francisco. partner.??Don??t get used to it. She was probably in her mid-thirties. another Class IV. Then he pounced. She had lost nearly seventy percent of her blood supply. Such as being right on time when you arrived to pick me up.?? With my kids. male tiger was making a chuffing sound. ??So what??s the catch??? ??After he told his joke.????The catch??? she said again.I didn??t see anyone waiting. Gaining ground fast. I noticed Inspector Hughes give a wink to the ME.?? ??Alien. I needed a break from the Mastermind. Davis??s screams had stopped. All the good ones are taken. no? You??re the famous Detective Alex Cross. As William stared off at the foothills. in the middle of the night. That??s the right approach. He??s crazy. He loved it out here. in the waning light of day. You have all those big.?? Martha said in a steady. Partner.