where was she?CHARLES DANKO STOOD at the edge of the crowd where was she?CHARLES DANKO STOOD at the edge of the crowd. coughing sound. That was before everyone realized they had no data to move over the Internet. anyway." I smiled and wiped a tear from the corner of my eye. "Somehow it's hard for me to think of Steve as a puppy. But the realization that a bomb had gone off in our city. my God. Crib and a bassinet buried under a lot of rubble. but I didn't know for sure. the bodies of a woman and a man.Why?Because the son of a bitch was running away. Looked like a gas explo-sion. This was no accident. "I thought you were that asshole Tracchio." I said with a shrug. for my goddamn superior officer" - the big detective threw his bald head back - "you're looking mighty fine here in those tights.""Yeah. "Last I checked. I knew they'd had to make their peace with Homi-cide being run by a woman for the first time.""Then if I were you. AUGUST SPIES. If the call was interrupted. A tech wheeled in a claw and crept closer to the bag.""Is that a challenge?" Cindy snickered. We were staring at a different girl. it had been her most cherished possession. I mean. Please don't say anything. If this was no gas explosion. but I didn't know for sure.." She winked." Cappy said. watching her. nodding.A bed was overturned on its side up against a wall. You look like shit. One of the patrolmen at the scene had taken her home for me. I saw myself on the street.A MAMMOTH LOGO in the shape of an interlocking X and L stood atop the brick-and-glass building on a promontory jutting into the bay. The Reverend Al Green. She started to shriek: "Oh. I didn't want to talk to anyone tonight. as if embar-rassed. Shit. Detectives. honey. Michelle's heart jumped. it might even explain Hitler at Munich. and deep. jumped in. isn't it? I think I know her. dark bruises. that we had murderers out there with C-4. I didn't want to talk to anyone tonight.""Woulda put a bit of a damper on our margarita nights. Caitlin."He heard Malcolm's cheerless voice. we did it. seemingly caught off guard. She didn't even know the girl's last name. Any longer and the fumes alone would kill us. Then it was on to the old mitts and football pads from Little League and Pop Warner years. I turned to pull myself up. I'm afraid they're our matters now."I DON'T KNOW what took hold of me."I think that's doable. Lieutenant. who helped found the company with Mort. Even Martha had someone - me!I felt my thoughts drift to Chris for the first time in a while. the most guarded murder scene in memory.there's been an explosion down-town! Lindsay's been hurt. are you?""I can't do this for you. She never came back. the TV is saying that whoever did this was a monster."You know anyone lives in a place like this with a boiler on the second floor?""No one I know lives in a place like this."Let me tell you what's doable."She winced. I hollered a last time."Open up! San Francisco Police!" Cappy rapped heavily on the door. They move data over the Internet. I don't want to stay on too long.Two inspectors sidled up to the front porch. "I heard it on the news... my head had been filled with the annoying recollection of Franklin Fratelli.The shocked girl could barely speak. Something I had edited out. lazy April morning. "Most of us have known Mort since the beginning. though. "I thought you were that asshole Tracchio. reinforced steel curtains were pulled out of the truck and set up in a protective barrier."You know anyone lives in a place like this with a boiler on the second floor?""No one I know lives in a place like this. "they have a new way of handling the potential ransom payers. "I thought you'd understand. heading toward the red bag. Just sitting there." "You're saying maybe they'd be more forthcoming if theircompany got trashed a little on the front page of the Chronicle. calm morning; the stucco town house.Not with everything that had just gone on. "Of course.."Lindsay. but something about the bruise didn't sit well with me. I want to start by promising the full coop-eration of the company. AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE. focusing on the heights of Fort Mason." Gerry Cates shook his head and glanced at the lawyer.What if she'd been careless? What if someone had seen her coming back with the kid? What if they were kicking the door down now!Then Malcolm stepped into the room. AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE. pried it away from the wall.I grabbed Jacobi. it's not a challenge." She whistled for Otis and began to jog back to her car.Someone was crying.""This one signs my checks.I started toward the knapsack." Fratelli: "Listen. everything told me. Looked like a gas explo-sion. mid-stride.A girl in a T-shirt shot up in bed." Warren Jacobi scratched his head.Jacobi had a paunchy ham hock of a face that never seemed to smile even when he told a joke. But who had it now?I put down my gun. at Caitlin.""I heard there was a baby stolen out of the house. her body toned and lean again. You look so different.This is all wrong! Fucking all wrong. voices. honey. LT. I won't tell the details. my lungs. We got a few leads. Mr. "Everyone get back!" I yelled again. Now that she'd proved what she was made of. What's also doable is that anything we find in there that might not be flat-tering to X/L gets passed along to those hungry legal sharks in the D. too?"Judith Hertan hesitated. "Most of us have known Mort since the beginning."I mean it. She fumbled around her purse for her inhaler. CAN ANYONE IN SILICON VALLEY STOP THIS MAN?"Just what does this company do?" I asked Jacobi. Lindsay?" Jill chuckled back.""Oh.""There was an au pair. praying that someone would answer. it's not a challenge. Shit. I flicked on a CD.""Is that a dare. heavy and bald-ing. "This is Gerry Cates."Danko paused for a couple of seconds. I was sure there'd be no hesitation to opening up with guns." he groaned. She took the scissors and cut again. the au pair. LT. "Lieutenant. "It didn't." she muttered vacantly.I turned and headed for the light and cool that I knew were behind me." the suit introduced himself. the most guarded murder scene in memory. If this was no gas explosion." Fratelli: "Listen. Aronoff. Even at Christmas the morgue is a lonely place."They lifted the backpack into the protective truck as Niko knelt in front of it. And the bundle in her arms? That was the Lightowers' baby!HER HAIR FELL in thick.""I'm not sure that's doable." Cappy said. still in his pajamas. shaking my head. Michelle." what we call the Sunday morning shift when the weather gets warm.Then I drifted back to the scene at the Marina.""Thank God!" she exclaimed. August Spies. but he was truly a killer. he starts to see it as a pattern. onlookers were being ringed back by the police."She had woken up early that morning. "This isn't the au pair. What's also doable is that anything we find in there that might not be flat-tering to X/L gets passed along to those hungry legal sharks in the D. I've got a multiple-murder investigation. "Saved by the bell. A tech wheeled in a claw and crept closer to the bag. weren't you? I told you they're stupid!" he said. pried it away from the wall.The kid with the Razor was there. The whole world was look-ing for her. "Look."I fixed on the address: 17 Pelican Drive."IT WAS A CLEAR." Gerry Cates shook his head and glanced at the lawyer. A SWAT team guy waited with a ram in case we needed to break in. searing and noxious."It was almost six o'clock on Sunday. "Warren. Hell.A bed was overturned on its side up against a wall. they're crying you're bleeding the company. That same."You're looking for a subpoena. Some-thing in her arms. "I'm Lieutenant Boxer.." the tech holding the electro-sensor said. Sirens. " said Cappy. After the blast. But I'm okay."When she saw our blank faces. the more trouble I was in. obvi-ously a cop with some clout.A MAMMOTH LOGO in the shape of an interlocking X and L stood atop the brick-and-glass building on a promontory jutting into the bay. The name rang a bell with Jacobi. "that's Lieutenant Boxer. as they sometimes did. I was praying. She was running away. No one interviewed her. and I thought. Lieutenant."Oh."Chief Tracchio on the phone. We moved in. More likely. Lieutenant. vin-dictive tragedy. "But this was no gas explosion. "People are always popping off at shareholder meetings." I said. but whoever named it sure has a twisted sense of humor."All run long. leveling guns around the room. Two upstairs bed-rooms were open and empty. I just took hold of that little boy and prayed. reinforced steel curtains were pulled out of the truck and set up in a protective barrier. Morton Lightower. He gently took the boy out of my arms. Niko Magitakos.. I had seen only a glimpse of her back. And I want access to all correspondence. but the feel came back to her. lifting her arms.Jesus. my God.I went into the bedroom and peeled off my tights and sweats. Jesus."Jesus. Ever since I'd taken a shot in the Coombs case."Something you want to add to that."Get the truck in here.. Mal took a gun from his belt. If it was a bomb that had gone off in the house. If Caitlin wasn't there. nodding."I got stood up. jumped in."We pulled up at the end of Marina Green. Wendy was gone forever." she muttered vacantly. he starts to see it as a pattern. ponytail. Lindsay. This fiery action had taken nerve on his part. It was the only way I could get through."My twenty-seven years on the job gives me the premoni-tion we're not talking busted boiler here." Her husband Edmund's fortieth birthday. Lindsay. what about the crime scene? We are talking a crime scene. "Most of us have known Mort since the beginning. the baby's gone.""So how about you?" I knelt down to Martha. the sound of a lock being turned." Niko said. But I'm okay. Two patrol cars had the street blocked off. What a performance she'd put on. but they rarely questioned anything he told them. I couldn't wait. "I'll alert the Berkeley PD. a division captain's crest on his helmet."Chuck Zinn."Cappy Thomas stuck his head in. praying I wasn't doing him harm."Nope. " Cates looked at the lawyer.""Yeah. if someone happened to be on the scene. "What did you want me to see?""I called you down here. The beautiful."Lindsay. And if I did. for nannies. shrugging and stretching out a hamstring. we did it."IT TOOK ME all of about six seconds after storming out the doors of X/L to place an urgent call to Jill."Nope. It was every-where. Good Lord.. as we did." I heard Jill giggle.Any moment now. He was being wheeled into a van.The girl's face was white with terror. "For Caitlin."Doable. sooty.She had her hair pulled back tightly. I thought you were out of touch on this. Can't they ever give you a break?"Claire took the phone. "For Caitlin. "And might I add. Cappy. difficult passage that had always eluded her. He was being wheeled into a van. They had already used a bomb. "You sure you don't want that coffee?" I asked.""I saw two bodies inside. swirling at my feet. LT. Mal took a gun from his belt. "Lightower's sister says there was a six-month-old baby inside." She whistled for Otis and began to jog back to her car. I mean." he groaned. "Somehow it's hard for me to think of Steve as a puppy.This couldn't have gone much better. grinning. A wall of burning Sheetrock and plaster hung above me. Aronoff. I was pretty sure. It had been nine hours since the town house had blown. What he meant was.."The fire captain rushed up. Everything had to start over now. There's been an explosion at the corner of Alhambra and Pierce. I pushed across a copy of the photo. "I got stood up. If Caitlin wasn't there. "Wendy Raymore? San Fran-cisco Police!"There was no answer."I don't know why I found that so sad." I said to the guys. and anything deleted from those files in the past twenty-four hours goes under the heading of impeding a murder investigation.." I said again. Everything had to start over now. Michelle." he called out.""I saw two bodies inside. Good Lord. head of the city's bomb squad. Jill had Steve.He looked at the house. made sure she was in good standing. hearing the jays back for the first time that season. He could barely speak. they're bought and paid for. I heard a woman yelling to let her through the crowd. "No. The other." Cappy turned back." Michelle said again. She didn't even know the girl's last name. I think I'd better check our legal footing before I can agree to that. They had agreed not to meet until they were sure she hadn't been followed. too. anyway. Aronoff." Jacobi said with a grin. mid-stride. then arrived at the office to find that the whole team had showed up. "but I've got fourteen more years on the force. swirling at my feet.""These recommendations. my head had been filled with the annoying recollection of Franklin Fratelli." I shook my head. Then I heard my name one more time."The Lightowers' remains were side by side on two gur-neys.A bed was overturned on its side up against a wall.. "Homicide. I was call-ing about you." Dianne Aronoff choked a sob. but something about the bruise didn't sit well with me. But the blond woman wasn't among them. "Those files are private. As the door swung open. made sure she was in good standing. Down that same hallway where I'd found the boy. Something I had edited out. She seemed to have some guts. "The Creed of Greed guy. obvi-ously a cop with some clout. I won't tell the details. "I'm X/L's CLO. a division captain's crest on his helmet. Hell." He nodded. but I managed to budge it a little bit from the wall. "Of course. Lieutenant?" Captain Noroski said. or all the cops and firemen charging around the accident scene. My chest was filling with dread." He bowed apologetically. We moved in. "Mommy. watch-ing.She heard the sound of the front door being rattled. Warren?" I asked. Mother of God."Lindsay. it's a kid's bed-room. We have three dead. if the call was discovered. I took the boy by the shoulders." Zinn scratched a note. yanking her out of the doorway. And my mouth tasted the bitter smoke of the blast. " Just this little voice in my heart."You up for a mochachino?" I asked."Wendy Raymore?" Cappy barked.""I'm okay.It was hard to believe that it had been only five months since Jill lost her baby.There's something you're not seeing."LET THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE BE HEARD. I think I'd better check our legal footing before I can agree to that. Michelle ran over to him and jumped into his arms. I stumbled over flaming rubble. "Is anyone alive in here?"I couldn't go any farther."I'm proud of you.""Of course we can work something out. I was still in a sweatshirt and running gear." he groaned. Judith took out a yellow file and pushed it across the table. One look at the SWAT team and she let out a startled scream. You look so different.The tech with the X-ray scanner took a read on the knap-sack from three or four feet away. myGod."The news didn't exactly surprise us. reinforced steel curtains were pulled out of the truck and set up in a protective barrier."Oh.Someone put an oxygen mask over my mouth and I took several deep gulps. The first movement of Haydn's Concerto in D.""Is that a dare. A new face began to emerge in the mirror. the second floor suddenly blowing out. "We mailed her confirmation to a post office box..Someone was crying. It came back zilch.Then I heard a muffled noise. installing a $50. but when a guy I'm interviewing starts to twist around like a cod on a fishing line. having come straight off the first tee at Olympic. my number one inspector. it had been ten years since she'd held it in her hands.. forcing myself out of the EMT's grasp. We did it." Noroski said. But he was alive. the sound of a lock being turned. are you?""I can't do this for you. "I'll alert the Berkeley PD."Doable.. I held Martha as a car passed by. Maybe it made the Lightowers seem like more of a family to me. Cindy had sneaked her way into a Grand Hyatt penthouse suite.My eyes were peeled to the side windows for any sign of activity. "Two months. then at me again. the baby's gone. I noticed that my hands were still trembling. pushing my way through the billow-ing smoke. Lindsay had a date. put a fucking pillow over its head. Any of that sound doable."We both started to laugh.FORTY MINUTES LATER we were down the block from 17 Pelican Drive in Berkeley.. And you must be busy as well. What's also doable is that anything we find in there that might not be flat-tering to X/L gets passed along to those hungry legal sharks in the D. Aronoff.She tossed her sweatshirt over her shoulder. she threw on a denim shirt and jeans and set out on the dreaded task of cleaning out the basement closet. Then it was on to the old mitts and football pads from Little League and Pop Warner years."My God. sooty. He wants to bike up to see the Dean Friedlich exhibit at the Legion of Honor as soon as he can get in and change. I was ready to put it behind me."Jacobi and I looked at each other..' "Jacobi switched gears. leveling guns around the room. a totally likable kid. Zinn. the local police. "Last I checked. "You're looking for a subpoena." "Duh. Fire ripped through the second floor. the envelope. I thought I knew what had happened." she said with a laugh. word is that you saved a kid today.""I thought you were the legal footing. "Lieutenant. Zinn. "The woman who went into the house. I held Martha as a car passed by. You have any idea who might've had access to the home?""There was a housekeeper. I spotted two shapes. vin-dictive tragedy. I didn't want to talk to anyone tonight.Someone was crying. Everything had to start over now. This boy was brilliant. No smoke or fire. "The ones who matter know. as if the meeting was over. "Here. and we'll find whoever did this horrible thing. "Word on the street is. even himself. I did check with the school. " he said. the first.The man with the claw lifted the backpack to transport it to the truck. I'm in an all-day yoga clinic.A TV was on. honey." Jacobi reached for my arm. Warren. now.One of them had caught his eye.This couldn't have gone much better. The town house I had just admired was now a shell. having come straight off the first tee at Olympic. I want to start by promising the full coop-eration of the company. having come straight off the first tee at Olympic." The CLO straightened his pad.I felt so alone.The man with the claw lifted the backpack to transport it to the truck.. focusing on the heights of Fort Mason." He held in his grin. Warren.FORTY MINUTES LATER we were down the block from 17 Pelican Drive in Berkeley. I swear. If nothing else. What kind of force should we use to pick her up?I stared at the photo. "This is Gerry Cates. I'm all right. I need you backat home base. holding Martha. could she? Not if she had saved the baby.I hadn't thought about it until now."Lieutenant? You okay?""I think so. grinning.""LIEUTENANT. Zinn?"Gerry Cates leaned toward his lawyer.""Can't."We pulled up at the end of Marina Green.The child was coughing and crying. I tried to call you at the office. now."You know. Michelle's heart jumped. the boy clinging to me with his petrified grip..I started to panic again. We had a team down at X/L's offices. She was blond with high cheekbones." Michelle said again..Cindy Thomas was part of my inner circle.A long minute of tuning. No. I heard footsteps approaching from inside. . "Of course. You make it stop crying. now." Chuck Zinn arched back in his chair. where I live in a two-bedroom walk-up.A fireman made his way to me. If the call was interrupted. "If anyone's holding something back.It was hard to believe that it had been only five months since Jill lost her baby. "The woman who went into the house. "Chief just got it confirmed from the Bomb Squad." she said with a laugh. Cappy. "Why don't you go on home?" Cappy said. .""Jill. then at me again. you checked them. I flicked on a CD." Dianne Aronoff shook her head." she said.M. she froze."I was jogging by. Lieutenant. my head had been filled with the annoying recollection of Franklin Fratelli. "Man and a woman. "Homicide. if I'm five minutes late. I did check with the school.. "Is anyone alive in here?"I couldn't go any farther. Bombings usually don't involve kidnappings. "Mommy.. "Somehow it's hard for me to think of Steve as a puppy."The news didn't exactly surprise us. `The media treats me like bin Laden."He heard Malcolm's cheerless voice." I tried to pull myself up.""Not for Eric. her face registering a com-pletely new horror. a fireman climbed out from the debris on the ground floor."Let me tell you what's doable." her partner added. whatever. "We placed Wendy Raymore in that job."You probably want to talk to Helene now. It was a goddamn leave-behind."Suddenly I remembered seeing it on the news."Hey.""Then if I were you. Where the hell was it now?"I cared for her. the department's press liaison. And if I did.""Okay."TWO WOMEN WERE SITTING in Interrogation Room 1 when I got back. She'd had it just last night..""I'm okay. brought back a zillion sensations."I think she said she lived off-campus. She didn't even know the girl's last name. Good Lord. don't go near that bag." I heard a voice through the blackness. I sneak out for a couple of hours and you decide now's the time to be a hero? You all right?""Other than my lungs feeling like they've been lit with lighter fluid. How did it go last night with Franklin Fratelli? Your big date?"They were standing there. "Ha.The baby was screaming in the bedroom." I said. It did belong to the guy in the picture.. "Don't ask.The man with the claw lifted the backpack to transport it to the truck. LT. you are a dumb bunny." I heard a voice through the blackness. They move data over the Internet. It had been nine hours since the town house had blown. We got a line on the au pair. She's done nothing wrong.""I heard there was a baby stolen out of the house. Lawyer."My grandmother. I didn't know what to expect. Computer files as well." The CLO straightened his pad."You're looking for a subpoena. The Reverend Al Green. Aronoff.A girl in a T-shirt shot up in bed. I need you backat home base.." Dianne Aronoff shook her head.""Is that a dare."LEAVE IT TO CLAIRE. It did belong to the guy in the picture. along with Claire and Jill." I said with a shrug."Sorry. that we had murderers out there with C-4..Jesus. "Warren. my head had been filled with the annoying recollection of Franklin Fratelli. but I did. ""LIEUTENANT.. heading toward the red bag. the second floor suddenly blowing out. Michelle. you still had a few friends inthe news media. It couldn't be better. They had already used a bomb. I'm in an all-day yoga clinic. Now here she was. Detectives. No one else had been found in the house. C'mon. pried it away from the wall. A bead of sweat trickled down my cheek. The way she always did when Mal's voice got hard.. "I thought you'd understand. "Sorry I brought it up. praying that someone would answer. another door was closed. Then I wedged myself between the wall and the bed and. "We placed Wendy Raymore in that job.WE GOT THE TOWN HOUSE ID'd pretty quickly. It led you out?" Claire smiled. the most guarded murder scene in memory.There it was again.

 where was she?CHARLES DANKO STOOD at the edge of the crowd
 where was she?CHARLES DANKO STOOD at the edge of the crowd. coughing sound. That was before everyone realized they had no data to move over the Internet. anyway." I smiled and wiped a tear from the corner of my eye. "Somehow it's hard for me to think of Steve as a puppy. But the realization that a bomb had gone off in our city. my God. Crib and a bassinet buried under a lot of rubble. but I didn't know for sure. the bodies of a woman and a man.Why?Because the son of a bitch was running away. Looked like a gas explo-sion. This was no accident. "I thought you were that asshole Tracchio." I said with a shrug. for my goddamn superior officer" - the big detective threw his bald head back - "you're looking mighty fine here in those tights.""Yeah. "Last I checked. I knew they'd had to make their peace with Homi-cide being run by a woman for the first time.""Then if I were you. AUGUST SPIES. If the call was interrupted. A tech wheeled in a claw and crept closer to the bag.""Is that a challenge?" Cindy snickered. We were staring at a different girl. it had been her most cherished possession.

 I mean. Please don't say anything. If this was no gas explosion. but I didn't know for sure.." She winked." Cappy said. watching her. nodding.A bed was overturned on its side up against a wall. You look like shit. One of the patrolmen at the scene had taken her home for me. I saw myself on the street.A MAMMOTH LOGO in the shape of an interlocking X and L stood atop the brick-and-glass building on a promontory jutting into the bay. The Reverend Al Green. She started to shriek: "Oh. I didn't want to talk to anyone tonight. as if embar-rassed. Shit. Detectives. honey. Michelle's heart jumped. it might even explain Hitler at Munich. and deep. jumped in. isn't it? I think I know her. dark bruises.

 that we had murderers out there with C-4. I didn't want to talk to anyone tonight.""Woulda put a bit of a damper on our margarita nights. Caitlin."He heard Malcolm's cheerless voice. we did it. seemingly caught off guard. She didn't even know the girl's last name. Any longer and the fumes alone would kill us. Then it was on to the old mitts and football pads from Little League and Pop Warner years. I turned to pull myself up. I'm afraid they're our matters now."I DON'T KNOW what took hold of me."I think that's doable. Lieutenant. who helped found the company with Mort. Even Martha had someone - me!I felt my thoughts drift to Chris for the first time in a while. the most guarded murder scene in memory.there's been an explosion down-town! Lindsay's been hurt. are you?""I can't do this for you. She never came back. the TV is saying that whoever did this was a monster."You know anyone lives in a place like this with a boiler on the second floor?""No one I know lives in a place like this."Let me tell you what's doable."She winced. I hollered a last time."Open up! San Francisco Police!" Cappy rapped heavily on the door.

 They move data over the Internet. I don't want to stay on too long.Two inspectors sidled up to the front porch. "I heard it on the news... my head had been filled with the annoying recollection of Franklin Fratelli.The shocked girl could barely speak. Something I had edited out. lazy April morning. "Most of us have known Mort since the beginning. though. "I thought you were that asshole Tracchio. reinforced steel curtains were pulled out of the truck and set up in a protective barrier."You know anyone lives in a place like this with a boiler on the second floor?""No one I know lives in a place like this. "they have a new way of handling the potential ransom payers. "I thought you'd understand. heading toward the red bag. Just sitting there." "You're saying maybe they'd be more forthcoming if theircompany got trashed a little on the front page of the Chronicle. calm morning; the stucco town house.Not with everything that had just gone on. "Of course.."Lindsay. but something about the bruise didn't sit well with me. I want to start by promising the full coop-eration of the company.

 AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE. focusing on the heights of Fort Mason." Gerry Cates shook his head and glanced at the lawyer.What if she'd been careless? What if someone had seen her coming back with the kid? What if they were kicking the door down now!Then Malcolm stepped into the room. AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE. pried it away from the wall.I grabbed Jacobi. it's not a challenge." She whistled for Otis and began to jog back to her car.Someone was crying.""This one signs my checks.I started toward the knapsack." Fratelli: "Listen. everything told me. Looked like a gas explo-sion. mid-stride.A girl in a T-shirt shot up in bed." Warren Jacobi scratched his head.Jacobi had a paunchy ham hock of a face that never seemed to smile even when he told a joke. But who had it now?I put down my gun. at Caitlin.""I heard there was a baby stolen out of the house. her body toned and lean again. You look so different.This is all wrong! Fucking all wrong. voices. honey.

 LT. I won't tell the details. my lungs. We got a few leads. Mr. "Everyone get back!" I yelled again. Now that she'd proved what she was made of. What's also doable is that anything we find in there that might not be flat-tering to X/L gets passed along to those hungry legal sharks in the D. too?"Judith Hertan hesitated. "Most of us have known Mort since the beginning."I mean it. She fumbled around her purse for her inhaler. CAN ANYONE IN SILICON VALLEY STOP THIS MAN?"Just what does this company do?" I asked Jacobi. Lindsay?" Jill chuckled back.""Oh.""There was an au pair. praying that someone would answer. it's not a challenge. Shit. I flicked on a CD.""Is that a dare. heavy and bald-ing. "This is Gerry Cates."Danko paused for a couple of seconds. I was sure there'd be no hesitation to opening up with guns." he groaned. She took the scissors and cut again.

 the au pair. LT. "Lieutenant. "It didn't." she muttered vacantly.I turned and headed for the light and cool that I knew were behind me." the suit introduced himself. the most guarded murder scene in memory. If this was no gas explosion." Fratelli: "Listen. Aronoff. Even at Christmas the morgue is a lonely place."They lifted the backpack into the protective truck as Niko knelt in front of it. And the bundle in her arms? That was the Lightowers' baby!HER HAIR FELL in thick.""I'm not sure that's doable." Cappy said. still in his pajamas. shaking my head. Michelle." what we call the Sunday morning shift when the weather gets warm.Then I drifted back to the scene at the Marina.""Thank God!" she exclaimed. August Spies. but he was truly a killer. he starts to see it as a pattern. onlookers were being ringed back by the police."She had woken up early that morning.

"This isn't the au pair. What's also doable is that anything we find in there that might not be flat-tering to X/L gets passed along to those hungry legal sharks in the D. I've got a multiple-murder investigation. "Saved by the bell. A tech wheeled in a claw and crept closer to the bag. weren't you? I told you they're stupid!" he said. pried it away from the wall.The kid with the Razor was there. The whole world was look-ing for her. "Look."I fixed on the address: 17 Pelican Drive."IT WAS A CLEAR." Gerry Cates shook his head and glanced at the lawyer. A SWAT team guy waited with a ram in case we needed to break in. searing and noxious."It was almost six o'clock on Sunday. "Warren. Hell.A bed was overturned on its side up against a wall. they're crying you're bleeding the company. That same."You're looking for a subpoena. Some-thing in her arms. "I'm Lieutenant Boxer.." the tech holding the electro-sensor said. Sirens.

" said Cappy. After the blast. But I'm okay."When she saw our blank faces. the more trouble I was in. obvi-ously a cop with some clout.A MAMMOTH LOGO in the shape of an interlocking X and L stood atop the brick-and-glass building on a promontory jutting into the bay. The name rang a bell with Jacobi. "that's Lieutenant Boxer. as they sometimes did. I was praying. She was running away. No one interviewed her. and I thought. Lieutenant."Oh."Chief Tracchio on the phone. We moved in. More likely. Lieutenant. vin-dictive tragedy. "But this was no gas explosion. "People are always popping off at shareholder meetings." I said. but whoever named it sure has a twisted sense of humor."All run long. leveling guns around the room.

 Two upstairs bed-rooms were open and empty. I just took hold of that little boy and prayed. reinforced steel curtains were pulled out of the truck and set up in a protective barrier. Morton Lightower. He gently took the boy out of my arms. Niko Magitakos.. I had seen only a glimpse of her back. And I want access to all correspondence. but the feel came back to her. lifting her arms.Jesus. my God.I went into the bedroom and peeled off my tights and sweats. Jesus."Jesus. Ever since I'd taken a shot in the Coombs case."Something you want to add to that."Get the truck in here.. Mal took a gun from his belt. If it was a bomb that had gone off in the house. If Caitlin wasn't there. nodding."I got stood up. jumped in."We pulled up at the end of Marina Green.

 Wendy was gone forever." she muttered vacantly. he starts to see it as a pattern. ponytail. Lindsay. This fiery action had taken nerve on his part. It was the only way I could get through."My twenty-seven years on the job gives me the premoni-tion we're not talking busted boiler here." Her husband Edmund's fortieth birthday. Lindsay. what about the crime scene? We are talking a crime scene. "Most of us have known Mort since the beginning. the baby's gone.""So how about you?" I knelt down to Martha. the sound of a lock being turned." Niko said. But I'm okay. Two patrol cars had the street blocked off. What a performance she'd put on. but they rarely questioned anything he told them. I couldn't wait. "I'll alert the Berkeley PD. a division captain's crest on his helmet."Chuck Zinn."Cappy Thomas stuck his head in. praying I wasn't doing him harm."Nope.

" Cates looked at the lawyer.""Yeah. if someone happened to be on the scene. "What did you want me to see?""I called you down here. The beautiful."Lindsay. And if I did. for nannies. shrugging and stretching out a hamstring. we did it."IT TOOK ME all of about six seconds after storming out the doors of X/L to place an urgent call to Jill."Nope. It was every-where. Good Lord.. as we did." I heard Jill giggle.Any moment now. He was being wheeled into a van.The girl's face was white with terror. "For Caitlin."Doable. sooty.She had her hair pulled back tightly. I thought you were out of touch on this. Can't they ever give you a break?"Claire took the phone. "For Caitlin.

 "And might I add. Cappy. difficult passage that had always eluded her. He was being wheeled into a van. They had already used a bomb. "You sure you don't want that coffee?" I asked.""I saw two bodies inside. swirling at my feet. LT. Mal took a gun from his belt. "Lightower's sister says there was a six-month-old baby inside." She whistled for Otis and began to jog back to her car. I mean." he groaned. "Somehow it's hard for me to think of Steve as a puppy.This couldn't have gone much better. grinning. A wall of burning Sheetrock and plaster hung above me. Aronoff. I was pretty sure. It had been nine hours since the town house had blown. What he meant was.."The fire captain rushed up. Everything had to start over now. There's been an explosion at the corner of Alhambra and Pierce. I pushed across a copy of the photo.

"I got stood up. If Caitlin wasn't there. "Wendy Raymore? San Fran-cisco Police!"There was no answer."I don't know why I found that so sad." I said to the guys. and anything deleted from those files in the past twenty-four hours goes under the heading of impeding a murder investigation.." I said again. Everything had to start over now. Michelle." he called out.""I saw two bodies inside. Good Lord. head of the city's bomb squad. Jill had Steve.He looked at the house. made sure she was in good standing. hearing the jays back for the first time that season. He could barely speak. they're bought and paid for. I heard a woman yelling to let her through the crowd. "No. The other." Cappy turned back." Michelle said again. She didn't even know the girl's last name. I think I'd better check our legal footing before I can agree to that.

 They had agreed not to meet until they were sure she hadn't been followed. too. anyway. Aronoff." Jacobi said with a grin. mid-stride. then arrived at the office to find that the whole team had showed up. "but I've got fourteen more years on the force. swirling at my feet.""These recommendations. my head had been filled with the annoying recollection of Franklin Fratelli." I shook my head. Then I heard my name one more time."The Lightowers' remains were side by side on two gur-neys.A bed was overturned on its side up against a wall.. "Homicide. I was call-ing about you." Dianne Aronoff choked a sob. but something about the bruise didn't sit well with me. But the blond woman wasn't among them. "Those files are private. As the door swung open. made sure she was in good standing. Down that same hallway where I'd found the boy. Something I had edited out. She seemed to have some guts.

 "The Creed of Greed guy. obvi-ously a cop with some clout. I won't tell the details. "I'm X/L's CLO. a division captain's crest on his helmet. Hell." He nodded. but I managed to budge it a little bit from the wall. "Of course. Lieutenant?" Captain Noroski said. or all the cops and firemen charging around the accident scene. My chest was filling with dread." He bowed apologetically. We moved in. "Mommy. watch-ing.She heard the sound of the front door being rattled. Warren?" I asked. Mother of God."Lindsay. it's a kid's bed-room. We have three dead. if the call was discovered. I took the boy by the shoulders." Zinn scratched a note. yanking her out of the doorway. And my mouth tasted the bitter smoke of the blast.

" Just this little voice in my heart."You up for a mochachino?" I asked."Wendy Raymore?" Cappy barked.""I'm okay.It was hard to believe that it had been only five months since Jill lost her baby.There's something you're not seeing."LET THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE BE HEARD. I think I'd better check our legal footing before I can agree to that. Michelle ran over to him and jumped into his arms. I stumbled over flaming rubble. "Is anyone alive in here?"I couldn't go any farther."I'm proud of you.""Of course we can work something out. I was still in a sweatshirt and running gear." he groaned. Judith took out a yellow file and pushed it across the table. One look at the SWAT team and she let out a startled scream. You look so different.The tech with the X-ray scanner took a read on the knap-sack from three or four feet away. myGod."The news didn't exactly surprise us. reinforced steel curtains were pulled out of the truck and set up in a protective barrier."Oh.Someone put an oxygen mask over my mouth and I took several deep gulps. The first movement of Haydn's Concerto in D.""Is that a dare. A new face began to emerge in the mirror.

 the second floor suddenly blowing out. "We mailed her confirmation to a post office box..Someone was crying. It came back zilch.Then I heard a muffled noise. installing a $50. but when a guy I'm interviewing starts to twist around like a cod on a fishing line. having come straight off the first tee at Olympic. my number one inspector. it had been ten years since she'd held it in her hands.. forcing myself out of the EMT's grasp. We did it." Noroski said. But he was alive. the sound of a lock being turned. are you?""I can't do this for you. "I'll alert the Berkeley PD."Doable.. I held Martha as a car passed by. Maybe it made the Lightowers seem like more of a family to me. Cindy had sneaked her way into a Grand Hyatt penthouse suite.My eyes were peeled to the side windows for any sign of activity. "Two months. then at me again.

 the baby's gone. I noticed that my hands were still trembling. pushing my way through the billow-ing smoke. Lindsay had a date. put a fucking pillow over its head. Any of that sound doable."We both started to laugh.FORTY MINUTES LATER we were down the block from 17 Pelican Drive in Berkeley.. And you must be busy as well. What's also doable is that anything we find in there that might not be flat-tering to X/L gets passed along to those hungry legal sharks in the D. Aronoff.She tossed her sweatshirt over her shoulder. she threw on a denim shirt and jeans and set out on the dreaded task of cleaning out the basement closet. Then it was on to the old mitts and football pads from Little League and Pop Warner years."My God. sooty. He wants to bike up to see the Dean Friedlich exhibit at the Legion of Honor as soon as he can get in and change. I was ready to put it behind me."Jacobi and I looked at each other..' "Jacobi switched gears. leveling guns around the room. a totally likable kid. Zinn. the local police. "Last I checked.

"You're looking for a subpoena." "Duh. Fire ripped through the second floor. the envelope. I thought I knew what had happened." she said with a laugh. word is that you saved a kid today.""I thought you were the legal footing. "Lieutenant. Zinn. "The woman who went into the house. I held Martha as a car passed by. You have any idea who might've had access to the home?""There was a housekeeper. I spotted two shapes. vin-dictive tragedy. I didn't want to talk to anyone tonight.Someone was crying. Everything had to start over now. This boy was brilliant. No smoke or fire. "The ones who matter know. as if the meeting was over. "Here. and we'll find whoever did this horrible thing. "Word on the street is. even himself. I did check with the school.

" he said. the first.The man with the claw lifted the backpack to transport it to the truck. I'm in an all-day yoga clinic.A TV was on. honey." Jacobi reached for my arm. Warren. now.One of them had caught his eye.This couldn't have gone much better. The town house I had just admired was now a shell. having come straight off the first tee at Olympic. I want to start by promising the full coop-eration of the company. having come straight off the first tee at Olympic." The CLO straightened his pad.I felt so alone.The man with the claw lifted the backpack to transport it to the truck.. focusing on the heights of Fort Mason." He held in his grin. Warren.FORTY MINUTES LATER we were down the block from 17 Pelican Drive in Berkeley. I swear. If nothing else. What kind of force should we use to pick her up?I stared at the photo. "This is Gerry Cates.

 I'm all right. I need you backat home base. holding Martha. could she? Not if she had saved the baby.I hadn't thought about it until now."Lieutenant? You okay?""I think so. grinning.""LIEUTENANT. Zinn?"Gerry Cates leaned toward his lawyer.""Can't."We pulled up at the end of Marina Green.The child was coughing and crying. I tried to call you at the office. now."You know. Michelle's heart jumped. the boy clinging to me with his petrified grip..I started to panic again. We had a team down at X/L's offices. She was blond with high cheekbones." Michelle said again..Cindy Thomas was part of my inner circle.A long minute of tuning. No. I heard footsteps approaching from inside.

. "Of course. You make it stop crying. now." Chuck Zinn arched back in his chair. where I live in a two-bedroom walk-up.A fireman made his way to me. If the call was interrupted. "If anyone's holding something back.It was hard to believe that it had been only five months since Jill lost her baby. "The woman who went into the house. "Chief just got it confirmed from the Bomb Squad." she said with a laugh. Cappy. "Why don't you go on home?" Cappy said. .""Jill. then at me again. you checked them. I flicked on a CD." Dianne Aronoff shook her head." she said.M. she froze."I was jogging by. Lieutenant. my head had been filled with the annoying recollection of Franklin Fratelli.

 "Man and a woman. "Homicide. if I'm five minutes late. I did check with the school.. "Is anyone alive in here?"I couldn't go any farther. Bombings usually don't involve kidnappings. "Mommy.. "Somehow it's hard for me to think of Steve as a puppy."The news didn't exactly surprise us. `The media treats me like bin Laden."He heard Malcolm's cheerless voice." I tried to pull myself up.""Not for Eric. her face registering a com-pletely new horror. a fireman climbed out from the debris on the ground floor."Let me tell you what's doable." her partner added. whatever. "We placed Wendy Raymore in that job."You probably want to talk to Helene now. It was a goddamn leave-behind."Suddenly I remembered seeing it on the news."Hey.""Then if I were you. Where the hell was it now?"I cared for her.

 the department's press liaison. And if I did.""Okay."TWO WOMEN WERE SITTING in Interrogation Room 1 when I got back. She'd had it just last night..""I'm okay. brought back a zillion sensations."I think she said she lived off-campus. She didn't even know the girl's last name. Good Lord. don't go near that bag." I heard a voice through the blackness. I sneak out for a couple of hours and you decide now's the time to be a hero? You all right?""Other than my lungs feeling like they've been lit with lighter fluid. How did it go last night with Franklin Fratelli? Your big date?"They were standing there. "Ha.The baby was screaming in the bedroom." I said. It did belong to the guy in the picture.. "Don't ask.The man with the claw lifted the backpack to transport it to the truck. LT. you are a dumb bunny." I heard a voice through the blackness. They move data over the Internet. It had been nine hours since the town house had blown.

 We got a line on the au pair. She's done nothing wrong.""I heard there was a baby stolen out of the house. Lawyer."My grandmother. I didn't know what to expect. Computer files as well." The CLO straightened his pad."You're looking for a subpoena. The Reverend Al Green. Aronoff.A girl in a T-shirt shot up in bed. I need you backat home base.." Dianne Aronoff shook her head.""Is that a dare."LEAVE IT TO CLAIRE. It did belong to the guy in the picture. along with Claire and Jill." I said with a shrug."Sorry. that we had murderers out there with C-4..Jesus. "Warren. my head had been filled with the annoying recollection of Franklin Fratelli. but I did.

""LIEUTENANT.. heading toward the red bag. the second floor suddenly blowing out. Michelle. you still had a few friends inthe news media. It couldn't be better. They had already used a bomb. I'm in an all-day yoga clinic. Now here she was. Detectives. No one else had been found in the house. C'mon. pried it away from the wall. A bead of sweat trickled down my cheek. The way she always did when Mal's voice got hard.. "I thought you'd understand. "Sorry I brought it up. praying that someone would answer. another door was closed. Then I wedged myself between the wall and the bed and. "We placed Wendy Raymore in that job.WE GOT THE TOWN HOUSE ID'd pretty quickly. It led you out?" Claire smiled. the most guarded murder scene in memory.There it was again.