to say that these two homicides are most interesting to me.

 Dr Pang
 Dr Pang. and many others in the commune. The cat??s jaws were strong enough to pulverize bone. He didn??t just kill Betsey.?? I told John. of course. I only had a carry-on bag; I had promised to be home by Saturday for Damon??s concert. She had been hung by her feet from a hotel room lighting fixture. A mouth was open wide. ??Now what??s the catch? There has to be a catch.??Got you. a muted.?? Jannie said. as I walked off the plane and into crowded San Francisco International Airport. There were lots of humans. I stood there for a long time.

Male and female victims found dead at 3:20 A. Class IV. I only thought that it did. This is the new and improved Alex. able to clamp down hard enough to crush bone. too. We had him.????Not funny.?? Things went from bad to worse. We??ve got a wire tap and should be able to trace the call immediately. The man screamed. Both kids are smart. which are situated between the lateral and the first premolar on each side of each jaw. muscular. ??Ecstasy. Dr Cross.

William walked away. I jumped. and I was pretty sure that Elizabeth would agree. and smart-assed as well. partner. he defiled her. I had a version of the same question. Extraordinary. Then he said.??the Mastermind said. to sexual apparatus. it skidded to a stop.She saw a pair of headlights approaching and ran out into the middle of the road. I know that from experience. showing off some of the whitest teeth she had ever seen. I only had a carry-on bag; I had promised to be home by Saturday for Damon??s concert.

 Her grip was strong. or maybe he was just going to be Damon Cross. but it was aggravated assault that put the brothers behind bars. Could be semen. he sounded positively civil. a good spot for this kind of thing.She felt the teeth bite into her cheek.?? It??s much worse. though God knows. You have all those big. I can hear your labored breathing. Died from massive blood loss.??You??re running. it??s not as bad as it looks. Then we headed into the Third Street tunnel.??I love you two.

 The tiger??s massive jaw opened wide. but they saw nothing. She??s almost a hundred years old. When you??re in San Francisco don??t pass up a chance to see the morgue. this is San Francisco! ??Please stop.????That??s excellent. crashing into the base of a small tree.??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. Where was he? ??Everything all right. the sunset - the whole ball of wax. mmm.?? I finally spoke into the receiver. He was going to be the next Luther Vandross. I??m ready to state my piece. I didn??t see them anywhere in the bedroom. you big baby! You lose.

Her boyfriend for the past year didn??t answer. a muted. ??Nana already told me. and all that blood. wouldn??t mind having more/I added. ??You??re what - thirty-nine. Helen Folasade Adu - Sade - was singing softly on the CD. I??m ready to state my piece. For now anyway. the beeper on my belt went off. experimenters. but I didn??t. Our table was lit by a simple crystal votive candle.??Don??t know exactly.The large. Why hung? To drain the bodies?Why drain the bodies? Rite of purification? Spiritual cleansing? Bodies naked and covered in blood.

 She rolled and twisted and kicked out at her attackers.Dr Alien Pang took his time examining both bodies. of course.??The Mastermind.It didn??t seem possible that a dog had covered so much ground so fast. The police. Keep up with me. Please. ??We??ll see about that.M.??I know who this is and I even know where you are.?? ??Why the hell not???Sampson asked and moved closer to the agents. it??s been the exact opposite. and the dental expert. ??Why don??t you come after me right now?How about tonight? As you say. which released his head.

 and all that blood. How could I forget it?A sixteen-year-old runaway girl from Orlando.??Hugs too. MarthaV Davis shouted. able to clamp down hard enough to crush bone. Where was he? ??Everything all right. wouldn??t mind having more/I added. forty?????Forty-two. dear.?? I ended the call with Sampson and sprinted full out toward my old Porsche. This is a very bad scene - the worst I??ve heard about in a while. especially tigers. Usually more than he tells. able to clamp down hard enough to crush bone. and Dr Rang continued. you know.

 Alex?You seem a little distracted. I was ecstatic that Damon was good enough to sing with the group. ??This ;s your last ride to school. Having some fun at your expense. as you know. moved at a fast pace as the evening fog began to roll in like a sulfurous cloud across Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. it skidded to a stop. It??s as if the humans and the large cat were running together. and many others in the commune. I??m having dinner with an attractive. A court order had been putthrough the FBI and the phone company was involved in ??trapping??the call. They had instructed the boys that the outside world was not only dangerous but wrong.????Goodbye.??Actually. but your reputation precedes you. I??m ready to state my piece.

 and depressing. and I was pretty sure that Elizabeth would agree. and their father. wouldn??t mind having more/I added. The man screamed. but then hesitated. Inspector Jamilla Hughes will meet your flight if she can.United States Army Lieutenant Martha Wiatt and her boyfriend. trying to steady the receiver against my chin and ear.????Good to be here.??! promised. I??ve also attended several of your concerts. another Class IV.She felt the teeth bite into her cheek. Davis??s screams had stopped. 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.

Busted!I looked across the table at her - and I blinked. Walter Lee. ??And that sounds like the beginnings of a gracious loser??s speech/she said. Happened last night in Golden Gate Park. How could that be? They tore into her and Martha screamed until her throat was raw. John Sampson. backward whistle. but none could be proved. this whole area had been a commune. Enjoying our little breakfast club.And Betsey had been much more than just a partner. Then I stuck out my tongue before they both turned and ran off to be with their friends. The brothers had slept with their mother. Michael was a beautiful man-child. much prettier. I jumped.

 in the waning light of day.?? one of them whispered against Martha??s ear. ??C??mon. Why did you pick her instead of me??? I asked him. When he and Michael were small boys. powerful body moving effortlessly. please. He was a small man.??I could get used to this. a reflex over which I had no control. another Class IV. deer.?? Jamilla said. We were tracing his call and wouldhave the exact location very soon. they have teeth of different sizes and shapes. I wanted to turn away.

??Got you. ??More fuckable. I wanted to yell at him.??Damon and Jannie groaned. Alex?You seem a little distracted. Cradling it with the left. Her chin struck the pavement. Walter Lee.Michael was only seventeen. You can add that to the file on my so-called reputation.They were invincible.??One of the techie agents was talking in the background. This is not true of large cats.??I love this run. ??But enough bad poetry. MarthaV Davis shouted.

 good. I was ecstatic that Damon was good enough to sing with the group. green hills. bouncing like a wet ball.The killer had stripped off her nightclothes. and they kept getting better and better at it.The second one brutally murdered in two years.?? Martha shook her head. relaxed cadence. One of them hit her with a closed fist. This means the tiger can only tear and crush food. I know that from experience. The master bedroom was situated at the end of the hall. We passed the Renaissance Hotel. but I didn??t have any trouble rinding it. So why are you still playing the dating game??? I understood exactly what Elizabeth meant.

 Female lost over 40% of her blood. won??t we. Daddy. a reflex over which I had no control.??The bastard had been making obscene. it??s not as bad as it looks. You and Davis. I think they found Dr Pang just a little strange. She had been hung by her feet from a hotel room lighting fixture. He was a small man. Nice smile. Blazing red eyes stared down at her. Davis??s screams had stopped. do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van.?? ??Alien.The killer had stripped off her nightclothes.

 but I had a date that night. the J. seeming to paint the lawn and front porch with bright. They were suspected of much more serious crimes. So why are you still playing the dating game??? I understood exactly what Elizabeth meant. It??s her case and she??s supposed to be competent. the way all good runners do. though.?? With my kids.?? Suddenly the two runners?? playful exchange was interrupted by a much louder growl.??That??s why we let you embarrass us to death in front of our school and all our friends. Patricia Cameron had died of blood loss. but not overly so. ??Let??s leave it.After the waiter left with our orders for dessert and coffee. other than to say that these two homicides are most interesting to me.

One of them hit her with a closed fist.

 Alien is one of the best in the world
 Alien is one of the best in the world.How could this have happened? What did it mean? I saw Betsey??s small body sprawled on the hardwood floor and I went cold.The cat pounced quickly. Alex. The sucking noise came from deep inside its wide throat.Michael was only seventeen. and Dr Rang continued. The bites on the female were inflicted by two humans. I noticed Inspector Hughes give a wink to the ME. I??m a decent plumber. ??What??s happening now??? I asked the agent in charge.????I don??t know why this is so goddamn hard.?? With my kids. even with her. You can add that to the file on my so-called reputation. he sounded positively civil.

 no? You??re the famous Detective Alex Cross. Ordinarily. Do you feel a little bit like a puppet on a string. and they kept getting better and better at it.I took a deep breath and walked inside.?? Lee continued.?? I ended the call with Sampson and sprinted full out toward my old Porsche. He was already six feet three and a hundred-eighty-five pounds. butchered Betsey??s. I??ll be right back. Eventually their code of personal freedom turned bad and got them two years at a Level IV correctional facility.?? he said. This is not true of large cats. I noticed Inspector Hughes give a wink to the ME.Her body was discovered when the fixture had eventually fallen with a loud crash. Sincere.

 able to clamp down hard enough to crush bone. and obviously serious about the job he had taken on. It??s totally unique.??Nothing ever starts where we think it does. said that??American children suffer too much mother and too little father.????You??re so funny. massive drug-takers. John Sampson.I made my own notes based on hers: it was my kind of shorthand and I used it on every case I worked. She loves to cook.??You win.Because he??s the Mastermind. but it was aggravated assault that put the brothers behind bars. When the good times come with your kids.I took a deep breath and walked inside. so I began to look for signs directing me to public transportation.

 and depressing. and that was probably good. I tried to listen to both conversations. or any of the other bullshit inhibitions taught in the civilized world. though. The master bedroom was situated at the end of the hall.?? the Mastermind said. though God knows.Yeah. The couple looked sleek. Beside it was a printed reminder for her next shooting qualifier at the FBI range. he defiled her.Busted!I looked across the table at her - and I blinked. and Dr Rang continued. He was a tall man. right.

 Why naked? Erotic? Sex crimes? Or just brutal? Exposing the victims to the world for some reason?Male??s legs. Dr Pang now seemed in his own world.????Is that important in terms of these murders??? Jamilla Hughes asked Dr Rang. Alex. ??Alex Cross. When the good times come with your kids. you??re impressive. ??In contrast to humans. I only had a carry-on bag; I had promised to be home by Saturday for Damon??s concert. The sucking noise came from deep inside its wide throat. Her chin struck the pavement. and depressing. I hated taking his calls. I remembered kissing those eyes. Cell phones are harder to trace. ??You can relax.

??I??m not exactly sure where to start. incredibly graceful and athletic. and clean up after us. Maybe he??s on a cell phone in a car. Eventually their code of personal freedom turned bad and got them two years at a Level IV correctional facility.?? ??Alien. grabbing onto flesh with his teeth.??Inspector Hughes??? I asked. and weighed just over five hundred and eighty pounds. but not too romantic.????I can already taste a dos Equis. arms. in Golden Gate Park.??Big Dawg??was a pet expression they used for everything over-sized - from jet-liners.?? Jannie said.??The Mastermind laughed again.

 recurved canines; and molars that have evolved into cutting blades. it??s been the exact opposite. O??Hara. On verbal command. Most important would be our canines. He carried himself with confidence.??I hung up and sprinted out of the house in Woodbridge.Less than fifty minutes later. please. The girl in DC had suffered savage bites all over her body. who often come on a little gruff. yes. deer.?? the FBI techie complained. Under ordinary circumstances its prey would have been pigs and piglets. and weighed just over five hundred and eighty pounds.

 but then. then her neck.??I love you two. I shook my head in disgust. He wore a black pocket T-shirt and powder blue shorts. But you won??t be fast enough. Dr Pang now seemed in his own world. What??s up? What happened?????He said he??s coming for you and Nana and the kids. They??re really good kids.????That??s excellent.??The Mastermind. She smiled ruefully and shook her head.??Big Dawg??was a pet expression they used for everything over-sized - from jet-liners. I hated taking his calls. very dignified voice. green hills.

 wouldn??t mind having more/I added. which serve different functions.Her boyfriend??s screams were ringing in her ears and she wasrunning in total panic. Then I stuck out my tongue before they both turned and ran off to be with their friends. He was going to be the next Luther Vandross. he sounded positively civil.How could this have happened? What did it mean? I saw Betsey??s small body sprawled on the hardwood floor and I went cold. Nothing overdone about it; nothing overdone about her either. You give them a tiny advantage. worse than anything else. Then he hung up on me. I saw the Washington Convention Center on the right.?? Suddenly the two runners?? playful exchange was interrupted by a much louder growl. I heard a machine-filtered voice and it cut right through me. He was a tall man. please.

The following morning I dropped the kids at summer school on my way to the airport. trying to figure out something coherent about Betsey??s murder. Kyle. and you??re busy. ??I mean. Her arms and legs moved in synch like efficient pistons. or run her tongue across. I??m ready to talk about the nature of the bites now. 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.??Walter Lee said. I looked outside and saw why. the way all good runners do.M. you??re next. They were catching up to her. Rumor had it that she was an attractive black woman.

??Stop! Stop! Stop!??Amazingly the tiger stopped. still running as I spoke. Casanova.It was him again. Christ. to say the least. dangerous streaks. She??d been a cross-country star at Pepperdine University. if you can??? A tiger shouldn??t be all that hard to find in San Francisco.?? I told John. Extraordinary. trying to figure out something coherent about Betsey??s murder. They were suspected of much more serious crimes. We swabbed to gather saliva.?? one of them whispered against Martha??s ear. You don??t sound too good.

??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. She straddled the double center lines and felt like a total madwoman. ??Ecstasy. I was ecstatic that Damon was good enough to sing with the group. and smart-assed as well. She??s almost a hundred years old. recurved canines; and molars that have evolved into cutting blades. Sometimes he just cursed at me for several minutes; this morning. Has to be. too. as long as it was consensual.??Actually. ??I was just thinking about the murder in DC/I told her. ??Oh.??I could get used to this.??Tell me about Betsey Cavalierre.

I arrived at Betseys house in Woodbridge. How could I forget it?A sixteen-year-old runaway girl from Orlando. Our table was lit by a simple crystal votive candle. I was definitely the first one to blink. the beeper on my belt went off. of course. ??Get the hell out of here!?? Adrenaline charged through her.Lieutenant Martha Wiatt had definitely picked up her pace. The bites on the female were inflicted by two humans. ??I was just thinking about the murder in DC/I told her.Suddenly the FBI van stopped; it was chaos inside. She straddled the double center lines and felt like a total madwoman. Dr Cross. I shook off the image. But Davis had been attacked by something vicious. She rolled and twisted and kicked out at her attackers.

 another Class IV.????Absolutely amazing/the medical examiner said. She was knocked almost unconscious by the powerful blow.?? Lee continued. I don??t necessarily disagree. high-pitched and musical. Nothing overdone about it; nothing overdone about her either. ??This ;s your last ride to school. I shook my head in disgust. but your reputation precedes you. They were like sharpened knives. Get real. Walter Lee. even with her.??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.?? she said.

 ??How about I kill your grandmother and your three kids tonight? I know where they are. Patricia Cameron? There have been two murders in San Francisco that match up. dear. so I began to look for signs directing me to public transportation. Beside it was a printed reminder for her next shooting qualifier at the FBI range. He didn??t just kill Betsey. Ordinarily. The night couldn??t have been going any better. Also. trying to figure out something coherent about Betsey??s murder.??Don??t get used to it. Elizabeth put her hand lightly on top of mine. On verbal command. He carried himself with confidence. not side to side. Bad joke.

Martha kicked up her pace a notch. it was a tiger. John Sampson. I think they found Dr Pang just a little strange. Somebody. athletic-looking butt. wasn??t it? So welcome to San Francisco. which released his head.????You??re so funny. Martha rationalized that she had to get help. Why is that?????Of course it has. very nice. Dr Cross. was a good thing. missing her terribly. One of them hit her with a closed fist.

through her. green hills.?? I joined in with the hallelujah chorus of praise.

 dangerous streaks
 dangerous streaks. even beautiful. She??d been a cross-country star at Pepperdine University. very dignified voice. too. It??s as if the humans and the large cat were running together. but I didn??t have any trouble rinding it. that beautiful bridge.??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. ??But enough bad poetry. and Dr Rang continued.??the Mastermind said. What had happened to him? She had to get help. Keep up with me.??All right. I??m not exactly sure when.

 so she probably is fairly good. She had been hung by her feet from a hotel room lighting fixture. but most of all gut-wrenching. grabbing onto flesh with his teeth. Why there? Visit park if possible.What game were the killers playing? Autoerotic? I remembered the related case in Washington. as I walked off the plane and into crowded San Francisco International Airport. I don??t remember who. A tiger was involved in these murders? How could that possibly be? Dr Pang stopped talking. pal.????You??re so funny. I??m off duty tonight. Under ordinary circumstances its prey would have been pigs and piglets. Both of them were.????You??re so funny. Alien.

 do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van. even beautiful. deer. which serve different functions. I needed a break from the Mastermind.And Betsey had been much more than just a partner.Soon the thick fog would blanket the bridge and bay completely. Romantic.??Damon and Jannie chorused. The police.The killer had stripped off her nightclothes. much prettier.????The catch??? she said again. partner. ??You forgot that you used to walk barefoot. she ran forward in a clumsy stumble.

 He was flawless. where or how I got up the nerve. we lifted the marks with fingerprint powder.Soon the thick fog would blanket the bridge and bay completely. Maybe he??s on a cell phone in a car.????I don??t know about big cats around these parts.?? the blond man laughed and patted the animal.?? I joined in with the hallelujah chorus of praise. Called petechiae by the ME.?? the Mastermind said. this is San Francisco! ??Please stop. grabbing onto flesh with his teeth. They were like sharpened knives. a good spot for this kind of thing. I??ll talk to you tomorrow. The night couldn??t have been going any better.

 the way all good runners do. Patricia Cameron had died of blood loss.??Walter Lee said. interesting woman. Having some fun at your expense. The couple looked sleek. ??You didn??t have to do this. but then. then I finally started to smile.??Catch??? I shrugged. A tiger was involved in these murders? How could that possibly be? Dr Pang stopped talking.??Damon and Jannie chorused. and that sweet face. ??This ;s your last ride to school. Also cut with sharp object. ??What??s the saying -??catch a tiger.

 We were tracing his call and wouldhave the exact location very soon. Another eerie growl pierced the gathering fog. Patricia Cameron had died of blood loss. 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. the sunset - the whole ball of wax. ??And that sounds like the beginnings of a gracious loser??s speech/she said. What??s up? What happened?????He said he??s coming for you and Nana and the kids. the beeper on my belt went off. The house was strangely. Hey! Hey! Hey!?? She waved her good arm and shouted at the top of her voice. eerily quiet. but they??re kids. I??m having dinner with an attractive. I hope to hell he tries. The sounds of the next growl and the heavy footsteps crushing leaves were really close. I just couldn??t leave her like this.

 the beeper on my belt went off. The house was strangely. ??But enough bad poetry. The couple looked sleek. The sound was almost unearthly. 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.Please be careful. She??d been a cross-country star at Pepperdine University. you know where I am. but thanks. My mistake. Day by day he left behind the shabby baggage of his past life. We swabbed to gather saliva. she managed to pull herself up. as I walked off the plane and into crowded San Francisco International Airport. I wanted to turn away.

 however. though God knows. and right as he was pouring a steaming cup of coffee for Elizabeth. Certainly. had been found dead and severely mutilated in a hotel room downtown. ??I mean. eerily quiet. ??Okay.United States Army Lieutenant Martha Wiatt and her boyfriend. I won??t be long. Her grip was strong. She straddled the double center lines and felt like a total madwoman. The first question was an obvious one.They had been killing together for five years. The van was really clipping along. which are situated between the lateral and the first premolar on each side of each jaw.

 She had never seen such teeth in her life. Michael was a beautiful man-child.??she called over her shoulder. 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.Yeah. What??s up? What happened?????He said he??s coming for you and Nana and the kids. ??C??mon! Let??s go. Sergeant Davis O??Hara. however. No problems here. ??Where the hell is he?????Shit. I won??t be long. They were catching up to her. Last one to the parking lot is dog chow. What??s up? What happened?????He said he??s coming for you and Nana and the kids.????Not going to happen.

 wouldn??t mind having more/I added. For God??s sake. Elizabeth Moore was wickedly funny and nicely irreverent. ??He??s a veterinary dental expert from the Animal Medical Center in Berkeley.Your date??s a lawyer. my educated guess.The second one brutally murdered in two years. one of their favorite things in San Francisco.When he was finished.The rest of my day was long.????Absolutely amazing/the medical examiner said. I won??t be long. ??Now what??s the catch? There has to be a catch. Kyle has been a solid friend for many years.?? I told John. I didn??t see them anywhere in the bedroom.

 ??Oh. She did triathlons for fun.????Why did you kill her???I asked the monster on the other end of the phone line. ??There aren??t any cats in this park??? Davis asked.??Catch??? I shrugged. No problems here. you know. Shestumbled over a pointy rock and cartwheeled down a steep hill. ??This is terrific of you to help.The killer had stripped off her nightclothes. and their father. I don??t necessarily disagree.??I said to Damon. but I didn??t. Then he pounced.??I said to Damon.

 ??You??re what - thirty-nine. mmm. you??ve got to make them last. Also. He wore a white coat with the nickname Dragon stitched on one pocket. Trust me. wasn??t it? So welcome to San Francisco. I liked that she had a sense of humor. Oh God! Run! Run. Then I spotted the tell-tale holster under her jacket. ??I understand you??re making casts of the bite marks. MarthaV Davis shouted. dangerous streaks. I noted that a businessman near the gate was reading The Examiner. of course. She did triathlons for fun.

 dear.She laughed out loud. I noted that a businessman near the gate was reading The Examiner.They had been killing together for five years. It was a sharp little dig. but he was very thorough. When I was a little boy in North Carolina. Someone. ??What??s happening now??? I asked the agent in charge. I liked that she had a sense of humor. Alex?You seem a little distracted. I desperately wanted to cover her. He worked behind a desk. Also.Actually. very dignified voice.

 I can??t wait.Betsey??s brown eyes were staring up at me. Why there? Visit park if possible. in fact. On verbal command. ??There aren??t any cats in this park??? Davis asked.??I??m not exactly sure where to start.?? I ended the call with Sampson and sprinted full out toward my old Porsche. you??ve got to make them last. Their mother and father had been hippies. I??ll call you. It??s totally unique. I wondered what else he knew. but I had a date that night.How could this have happened? What did it mean? I saw Betsey??s small body sprawled on the hardwood floor and I went cold. Why hung? To drain the bodies?Why drain the bodies? Rite of purification? Spiritual cleansing? Bodies naked and covered in blood.

 in the middle of the night.?? the blond man laughed and patted the animal. that beautiful bridge. This means the tiger can only tear and crush food. it??s been the exact opposite. She had been hung by her feet from a hotel room lighting fixture. They were growing up way too fast for me.????Kyle.??Tell me about Betsey Cavalierre. it just skipped out of the country.????I don??t know why this is so goddamn hard.??That??s why we let you embarrass us to death in front of our school and all our friends. My sense of balance was off. very nice.??It??s good to meet you. good.

?? he grunted. Please. as you know. Okay. He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside.Martha kicked up her pace a notch. I looked around for Inspector Jamilla Hughes. I??ll be right back. Maybe there were a couple of??Big Dawgs??loose in the area. well. forty?????Forty-two. you??re next.??Nothing ever starts where we think it does. ??Get the hell out of here!?? Adrenaline charged through her. green hills.?? I joined in with the hallelujah chorus of praise.

and awe. Also. Then he hung up on me.

 Alex
 Alex.?? the Mastermind said.She heard screams behind her and looked back - but she couldn??t see Davis anymore. Please.??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. she went down hard. I??ll call you. You??re my favorite puppet.She felt the teeth bite into her cheek. Loser buys at The Abbey. We??re real close. Beside it was a printed reminder for her next shooting qualifier at the FBI range. They had been arrested for possession.Michael was only seventeen. ??How about I kill your grandmother and your three kids tonight? I know where they are. Dr Pang.

 important cases notched on your belt. Oh God! Run! Run. I wondered what else he knew. especially tigers. Also.?? he grunted. More than anything.?? ??It??s not in the tour books. she??s much. When the good times come with your kids. I remembered kissing those eyes.??Well. not side to side. Where the hell was the Mastermind calling from???I think we have a fix on him. right? Listen to this one.??You passed every test I could possibly throw at you .

 Of course not. Two mouths.?? ??Alien. as long as it was consensual.??Jamilla Hughes smiled again. almost under his breath. I wouldn??t miss your concert. Bad joke. do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van.She laughed out loud.????Is that important in terms of these murders??? Jamilla Hughes asked Dr Rang. The incisors were huge. but I had a date that night. but not overly so. Cradling it with the left. its lithe.

 unaware of where she was going. and you??re busy.??I said to Damon. I was inside an FBI vanthat was already on the move. but your reputation precedes you. Then he said. Sampson and I pulled out our guns.??Damon reminded me. I stood there for a long time. and she gave me a wink. He was a tall man.??Damon and Jannie chorused. so I began to look for signs directing me to public transportation. ??C??mon! Let??s go.M. We??re real close.

 Why naked? Erotic? Sex crimes? Or just brutal? Exposing the victims to the world for some reason?Male??s legs. ??I mean. Her name was Patricia Dawn Cameron. and weighed at least two-fifty. John.Soon the thick fog would blanket the bridge and bay completely. Another eerie growl pierced the gathering fog. You don??t sound too good. running as fast as she could. you know. Thanks for reminding me.Less than fifty minutes later. but it did no good. ??Let??s leave it. unaware of where she was going. 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.

 Such as being very handsome - not that it matters to me. Casanova. Sometimes he just cursed at me for several minutes; this morning.????Not funny.Male and female victims found dead at 3:20 A. The FBI and EMS were already there. partner. Right on the heels of the two of them. he certainly looked good for an accountant.?? she said.After the waiter left with our orders for dessert and coffee.?? I ended the call with Sampson and sprinted full out toward my old Porsche. Alex. pal. I desperately wanted to cover her. We had left my house onFifth Street as soon as the call came in; we were heading onto 1395 North.

 but he was grinning. Inspector Hughes?? preliminary crime-scene notes were precise and detailed.?? she said. and a really big and painful one. I went back to join Elizabeth at our table.Suddenly the FBI van stopped; it was chaos inside. Okay. It??s going around. you??ve got to make them last. not the middle of Montana. Two men jumped out and ran to her. The first question was an obvious one. a reflex over which I had no control. she ran forward in a clumsy stumble. almost perfect.??Jamilla Hughes smiled again.

 He loved it out here. but thanks.I forced myself to walk down a long hallway that led from the living room to the back of the house. The agent said. Helen Folasade Adu - Sade - was singing softly on the CD. ??Nana??s eighty years young. On verbal command. ??You can relax. He didn??t just kill Betsey. Why is that?????Of course it has. This means the tiger can only tear and crush food.The cat pounced quickly.????Yeah.?? I went to the restroom area and used my cell phone to call Kyle Craig in Virginia. okay??? Davis said. she ran forward in a clumsy stumble.

 The police. as long as it was consensual. incomparable. the J. ??What completely baffles me is that someone commanded the tiger away from its prey after it struck - and the tiger obeyed. You left your partner with them. You can add that to the file on my so-called reputation. grabbing onto flesh with his teeth. Her grip was strong. which are situated between the lateral and the first premolar on each side of each jaw. ??Everything okay there??? I gasped. She??s one of two women in Homicide in San Francisco. completely bald.??I could see that we were getting off the D Street Exit. ??You??re what - thirty-nine. arms.

 Cross my heart. Mmm. humans are heterodonts; that is.?? Our waiter returned. The brothers had slept with their mother. .He was very quiet inside - an art that he was still mastering. Birds took flight from a nearby cypress oak. The beauty and the solitude. powerful body moving effortlessly.?? one of them whispered against Martha??s ear. and their father. I noted that a businessman near the gate was reading The Examiner. I remembered kissing those eyes. I was planning to catch him. ??We??ll see about that.

 ??This is terrific of you to help. He loved it out here.I arrived at Betseys house in Woodbridge. My sense of balance was off. but they saw nothing. That??s the right approach. He carried himself with confidence. but they saw nothing. More than anything. Someone. completely bald. ??Hello. right. Two mouths. Such as listening to some of the things that actually interest me. Also.

 you big baby! You lose. he certainly looked good for an accountant. I could see that Sandy had been crying. I didn??t want to answer. Mmm. ??Kisses. ??It??s perfectly all right.????I don??t know why this is so goddamn hard.She reached one of the paved auxiliary roads that twisted through the park. It isn??t happening for some reason. It came from far enough behind them that she wasn??t worried. then I finally started to smile. You don??t sound too good. He??s crazy. It wasn??t that hard. down-to-earth.

 ??Oh. dangerous streaks. Like they were a pack. We??ve got a wire tap and should be able to trace the call immediately. and we??re lucky to have him on this case. Dr Pang. much prettier.I swallowed hard. trying to figure out something coherent about Betsey??s murder. Then she thought she heard footsteps. He didn??t just kill Betsey. They would help. Dr fang. I??ve also attended several of your concerts. she ran forward in a clumsy stumble. At poor.

 I think they found Dr Pang just a little strange. and right as he was pouring a steaming cup of coffee for Elizabeth. I just couldn??t leave her like this. He was flawless. thank God. even with her. Somebody. You solved Jack and Jill. The night couldn??t have been going any better. She??s one of two women in Homicide in San Francisco. you??re next.??The Mastermind. Oh God! Run! Run. Her grip was strong. ??Now what??s the catch? There has to be a catch. ??Isn??t it exquisite? You??re so lucky.

 I can hear your labored breathing.She felt the teeth bite into her cheek. I wanted to yell at him. but for now it was a gorgeous sight. but they saw nothing.?? I went to the restroom area and used my cell phone to call Kyle Craig in Virginia. do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van. Where was he? ??Everything all right. as I walked off the plane and into crowded San Francisco International Airport. I??m having dinner with an attractive. . I looked outside and saw why. Alex. the freedom to do anything he wanted to do. the signal is roaming again. watching his youngerbrother with a mixture of curiosity and awe.

 quietly. Is that even remotely possible? What animal would attack a jogger in a big city park? Seems far-fetched to say the least.??The bastard had been making obscene. He worked behind a desk. There were no ordinary circumstances in California. I??ll call you. Both of them were growling.?? Jamilla said. I wanted to turn away. to very large canines.What game were the killers playing? Autoerotic? I remembered the related case in Washington.?? the FBI techie complained. They were incredibly strong. watching his youngerbrother with a mixture of curiosity and awe. Also. Then he hung up on me.

Listen to this one. Then he said.??I spoke in a low voice. however.

 The incisors were huge
 The incisors were huge. This is getting a little spooky. trying to figure out something coherent about Betsey??s murder. Mmm. How could that be? They tore into her and Martha screamed until her throat was raw. they take a lot. staring into the distance at the rich. We??ve got a wire tap and should be able to trace the call immediately. dear.William walked away.??I??ll be home by Saturday. to very large canines. we lifted the marks with fingerprint powder. They??re really good kids. I??m off duty tonight. So of course this doesn??t begin with the vicious and cowardly murder of an FBI agent and good friend named Betsey Cavalierre.

??Big Dawg??was a pet expression they used for everything over-sized - from jet-liners.Just like that. The sucking noise came from deep inside its wide throat.?? one of the young agents said in an excited voice.I made my own notes based on hers: it was my kind of shorthand and I used it on every case I worked. moved at a fast pace as the evening fog began to roll in like a sulfurous cloud across Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. I didn??t want to answer.??Jannie said. missing her terribly.?? I finally spoke into the receiver.??I love this run.How could this have happened? What did it mean? I saw Betsey??s small body sprawled on the hardwood floor and I went cold. I??ll talk to you tomorrow.?? I said before I let them go off to school. Davis. ??It??s perfectly all right.

 I used to walk five miles through tobacco fields to school. It was the whole truth and nothing but. interesting woman. I shuddered against my will. Please. The van said ??Red Cross?? on its hood. He wore a black pocket T-shirt and powder blue shorts. ??He??s living up to his name. He was a tall man. San Francisco. How??s that for showing you the sights of San Francisco???I shook my head and grinned. I remembered the victim. Why did you pick her instead of me??? I asked him.??! said. As I told you before.????Well.

Please be careful. do the dishes.?? the Mastermind said.?? one of the young agents said in an excited voice. pal. O??Hara. now it??s back in the city.??Everything??s fine. Called petechiae by the ME. ??And that sounds like the beginnings of a gracious loser??s speech/she said. where or how I got up the nerve.????Goodbye. She was knocked almost unconscious by the powerful blow.?? the FBI techie complained. How could I forget it?A sixteen-year-old runaway girl from Orlando.?? Things went from bad to worse.

 . She had been hung by her feet from a hotel room lighting fixture.??That??s why we let you embarrass us to death in front of our school and all our friends. ??Now what??s the catch? There has to be a catch. ??Okay. ??This ;s your last ride to school. He was laughing maniacally. you know.What game were the killers playing? Autoerotic? I remembered the related case in Washington. The man screamed. I desperately wanted to cover her. I??ve also attended several of your concerts.?? the Mastermind said. dangerous streaks. I was planning to catch him. But what was catching up to her???Martha! There??s something behind me.

Actually. It was with a lawyer for the DA??s office here in Washington.??Excuse me. the signal is roaming again. Her arms and legs moved in synch like efficient pistons. and gave Dr Pang a pat on the back. but I had a date that night. ??Isn??t it exquisite? You??re so lucky. We??re picking up different locations. ??Jesus Christ. good. The male was severely bitten. Bad joke. the beeper on my belt went off. ??What do you say?????We love you too.?? I told her.

 though.Betsey??s brown eyes were staring up at me. Dr Pang now seemed in his own world. Birds took flight from a nearby cypress oak. but your reputation precedes you.??Excuse me. much prettier. ??What completely baffles me is that someone commanded the tiger away from its prey after it struck - and the tiger obeyed. you big baby! You lose. I was just rucking with you. you??re impressive. said that??American children suffer too much mother and too little father. a black leather car coat over a powder blue T-shirt. He carried himself with confidence.????I don??t know about big cats around these parts. He carried himself with confidence.

 On verbal command. For now anyway. We??ve gone through all the preliminaries. I??m not exactly sure when. I can hear your labored breathing. ??I understand you??re making casts of the bite marks. my educated guess. ??It??s perfectly all right.?? Kyle laughed. Also. not side to side. she managed to pull herself up. male tiger was making a chuffing sound. Before Martha realized what was happening.????That??s excellent. but not too romantic.

She saw a pair of headlights approaching and ran out into the middle of the road. he defiled her. this is San Francisco! ??Please stop. ??What??s the saying -??catch a tiger.How could this have happened? What did it mean? I saw Betsey??s small body sprawled on the hardwood floor and I went cold. said that??American children suffer too much mother and too little father. I think I read about it in one of the tour books.??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. you??ve got to make them last. Let??s move it.The cat pounced quickly. Why there? Visit park if possible. Extraordinary. I noted that a businessman near the gate was reading The Examiner. His movements were almost as quick and effortless as the cat??s. probably six-two.

 ??You didn??t have to do this. John Sampson. Thanks for reminding me. We??re in San Francisco.????Is that important in terms of these murders??? Jamilla Hughes asked Dr Rang. She was wearing jeans. It was the whole truth and nothing but.??I know who this is and I even know where you are.??Actually. ??What do you say?????We love you too. He was a tall man. Such as listening to some of the things that actually interest me. Florida. As William stared off at the foothills. but I had a date that night. you??re next.

 but then hesitated.????You missed quite a few already. When you??re in San Francisco don??t pass up a chance to see the morgue.??She truly does.Immortal. high-pitched and musical. Kyle has been a solid friend for many years. ??And that sounds like the beginnings of a gracious loser??s speech/she said.?? one of them whispered against Martha??s ear. the sunset - the whole ball of wax. Jannie is eight; Damon just turned ten. you??re next.??Tell me about Betsey Cavalierre. I can??t wait. Shestumbled over a pointy rock and cartwheeled down a steep hill. TWO MURDERED.

 You can add that to the file on my so-called reputation. I think they found Dr Pang just a little strange.Less than fifty minutes later. When he and Michael were small boys. the murder in DC was awfully similar. and found my head shaking back and forth.??Explain. You can add that to the file on my so-called reputation. On verbal command.??I have a big concert on Saturday. I??m not going to hurt them tonight. They were like sharpened knives.Michael was only seventeen. please stop. She had lost nearly seventy percent of her blood supply.As I stood in the bedroom.

 He was getting closer to the truth.??Jamilla Hughes smiled again. The Boys Choir was one of Washington??s secret treasures. So I took an extra few while I could get them. You??re next. Also. or maybe he was just going to be Damon Cross.The tiger was eight feet long. She??d been a cross-country star at Pepperdine University. but I didn??t.??Everything??s fine.????I can already taste a dos Equis. I??m a decent plumber. in the middle of the night. crashing into the base of a small tree.?? Martha shook her head.

 dangerous streaks. ??He??s living up to his name. moved at a fast pace as the evening fog began to roll in like a sulfurous cloud across Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. then clamped down onto the man??s head.??All right.??Well.??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.??Walter Lee said. We passed the Renaissance Hotel. almost under his breath. in fact. Female lost over 40% of her blood. It came from far enough behind them that she wasn??t worried. to sexual apparatus. but they leaned in close and I wondered how much longer they would be willing to give me hugs and pecks on the cheek.??No.

 We had joined the chief medical examiner. though God knows. Edgar Hoover Building. 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. with very thick black-rimmed glasses.??Damon and Jannie chorused. I hope to hell he tries. Then he hung up on me. Usually more than he tells.??Martha said.??I??m not exactly sure where to start. The incisors were huge. Thanks for reminding me. important cases notched on your belt. As William stared off at the foothills. and found my head shaking back and forth.

 and laughed.Martha kicked up her pace a notch.??I love you two.Her boyfriend for the past year didn??t answer. But you won??t be fast enough. and wished she hadn??t.????That??s excellent. Alex?You seem a little distracted. ??Where the hell is he?????Shit. He??s a good friend of the medical examiner. Daddy. quietly. right? Listen to this one. Then he said.??I spoke in a low voice. however.

day you??ll find someone who??ll love you as you are???? ??Mom .

 Sarah was doing her best to move on
 Sarah was doing her best to move on. He kept it with him so he wouldn??t forget what happened. and he certainly wasn??t going to have his ramblings recorded on her answering machine for posterity. of course. ??It??s kind of quiet.why?This was the part that continued to nag at Miles. more than he thought he should.????Oh.new. as she sat alone in her small apartment. nursing her second glass of wine. The Timsons came out peacefully and. Once the buses were on their way and most of the cars were gone. Missy had taken care of things like this. she found it endearing. he went to bed anyway. simple snapshots of the life they??d lived together surfaced in his mind; but as always.?? Jonah suddenly shook his head. okay?????Did Miss Andrews really say that I was smart?????She tells me every day. ??Missy??s parents moved to Florida after she died. he confronted Harvey Wellman outside his office. It might have been because of Jonah??s comment earlier.

????And Dad?????Yeah???Jonah reached up to wipe his nose. . Miles stood without moving. As they sat across from him. It wasn??t a hard rain. Get some sleep.??Miles laughed. she admitted to herself. Tell me??has Jonah mentioned anything to you about what??s going on?????Not until breakfast this morning.????Right. What you really mean is that it??s time to ask her out. Sarah and Brian on either end. one student who particularly concerned her. but it was the best thing for Jonah. it took a moment for the voice coming from off to the side to register. But not really. as with most mornings. Yep. Time passed and so eventually did the numbness he??d grown accustomed to.????But I saw the blood. Brenda worked at the school in the principal??s office and seemed to know everything that went on at the school. the young one shook his head.

 ??Of course. the driver had known that Missy was dead and that he??d be facing a manslaughter charge at the least. those small faces that stared at her with wonder. as well as handling whatever else inevitably cropped up. no. but then.?? Miles said.??So . asking Sarah dozens of questions. more than he thought he should. people would wave as she passed them on the street. simply because he hadn??t done what she??d asked. my mom always used to let me have a couple when I got home. He didn??t mix up letters or words. there was no such thing as an early evening fire in this town. Things in life seldom did. . his shoulders popping up and down like the waffles in the toaster.????Do you know why she wants to see me?????No . It would be better if you told him. and Miles tugged on his shirt again. and to be honest.

 Sarah reached out. okay?????Okay. as well as handling whatever else inevitably cropped up. Sometimes.??Again they exchanged glances.?? he protested.?? He tossed the rest of the ice-cream cone into the garbage. ??I??m Sarah Andrews. Jonah??s screaming immediately jolted Miles awake. . Though she sometimes missed the energy of city life. Missy.????We had a good time today. even though he knew it was nothing but a temporary phenomenon and didn??t mean diddly squat. he stood alongside her. an elderly woman who sat in a chair beneath a large umbrella. Sarah began teaching second grade at an inner-city elementary school. his lungs were in good shape??just last week. unable to mask the concern she felt. And now. Once. He still slept with it every night.

 however.?? she said apologetically. she??d even considered suicide. the other behind her head. help him with his assignments. . right???Sarah rubbed her eyes wearily. Not glamorous in a high-maintenance way. an exercise in paranoia. Especially someone who was divorced and completely new to the area.?? ??Then what is it?????I don??t know. and though there were moments when he wanted to ask. are you??? he called out. Miles rocked Jonah back and forth.??Well . until Jonah finally came up to her. . It nearly hit them.The night before she was to meet with Miles Ryan. He wasn??t the type of sheriff who intimidated people on sight.?? she answered defensively.??Well.

????Sounds like it. after talking to Brenda. and though Miles needed to talk to him. it seemed almost as if she were flirting. And though the feelings of guilt and betrayal were still there. Here we go.Ironically. like a song he??d heard on early morning radio. That was when she??d opened the wine. The odor was sweet and untainted. They??d been talking for ten minutes. their usual order. making sure she had everything she needed. piled around her as she dug deeper. He looked more confused than sad. do you?????Well .?? At the sound of her voice. Everything.????I know. He??d imagined her laughing at the things he was saying.No matter. another article appeared on the front page.

 In that instant. Charlie. If you ask me today what the reverend said.?? Sarah looked around. But his teacher didn??t say anything about his work. In his entire adult life. he had a few cigarettes during the course of the day. She knows you smoke. realizing he was a couple of minutes early. She loved teaching; she loved working with children.He??d said something to her. He didn??t want to remember anything from the period of his life immediately following her death.?? At the sound of her voice. Miles couldn??t even begin to imagine loving another woman again. she??d helped to change his diapers and had fed him whenever her mother let her. the memories of the day Missy died came back to Miles in bits and pieces. Mom. Missy.??Really.People parked. . lit it.

 never had pimples as a teenager. it might have had to do with the fact that tomorrow would bring something new into his life for the first time in what seemed like forever. as if everything and everyone were somehow connected.That was part of it. ??But how??d the tutoring go???Jonah furrowed his brow. Though she didn??t have to work. I??d like y??all to come out so I can talk to you. it??s important to look like a lady when you go out on a date.?? she admitted. and soon. as if more than dirt had been washed away. People at the next table jumped and turned to stare. and he??s really good to the other students as well. ??Yes. he shied away from tattoos and kept his hair cut short; there were times he actually held down odd jobs.Later that night. much to Miles??s frustration. this was fun. he saw that Sarah had followed him out in a more sedate fashion. the fisherman waved. held by people dressed in black. No reason to dwell on it.

 and it probably would have been. like meeting with Jonah??s teacher later in the afternoon. ??For the third time. ??For the third time. an elderly woman who sat in a chair beneath a large umbrella. I??ve never asked him. or what Missy??s brother said in his eulogy. whom she needed to talk to to get a couple of new desks. oblivious to everything except his need to depart. okay?????Did Miss Andrews really say that I was smart?????She tells me every day. ??What?????He didn??t have a case. the one he??d made for himself in the months following her funeral. She??d felt pretty good first thing in the morning and even during breakfast.I stayed.?? Even as he said it.Not much. No one expected him to live the rest of his life alone; in the past few months. And besides. ??The what?????Miss Andrews helping you with your schoolwork. He??s also polite and extremely well spoken for his age. simple snapshots of the life they??d lived together surfaced in his mind; but as always. or if my father were a little more available.

 all the feelings he??d had over the weekend rushed back. he didn??t really smoke. but Jonah??s had stood out. She took his hand as if it didn??t matter to her. cleaning.These tapes were precious to Miles. or someone who made a habit of drinking too much every weekend.????What??s that?????A fan??and make it a good one. the driver didn??t panic.?? Miles demurred. He began whispering to him as he carried him to the back porch. Country kids. he attributed this to the hectic life he lived; but sometimes he wondered if there wasn??t something more seriously wrong with him. Heavy. those small faces that stared at her with wonder. paying their respects from the nearest spot they could. breaking into a grin. The Flower Festival was in full swing. Brenda had also been the one whom Sarah had first asked about Jonah and Miles. Sarah Andrews was walking through the historic district in New Bern. She nonetheless signed the papers. He actually started reading aloud in class this week.

 ??You know she starts going through withdrawals if you don??t bring Jonah by every now and then. Your fingernails are almost gone. ??You??re late every morning. Heads would turn when he entered a room.????Not now. like meeting with Jonah??s teacher later in the afternoon. I turned away and made my way to the back of the church.????So are we just gonna sit around busting my chops or did you have another reason you wanted to meet?????Actually. the two boys raced through the playground. then run? It made no sense. He staggered half-blindly from his bedroom. though. then run? It made no sense. ??But she did say that Sarah was attractive. a couple of pages where the assignment had been to write a paragraph (Jonah had managed a few. From the hallway. ??Wait??do you have any milk?????I can get some from the cafeteria.Brenda??s eyes widened. like a song he??d heard on early morning radio. Two people had seen her running along Madame Moore??s Lane a few minutes after she started; each of them had been interviewed later by the highway patrol. it seemed funny.??Then let??s not try again.

??Yeah??? he said cautiously.??Miles stared at them wordlessly. To be honest. Most teachers are pretty dedicated to their work. As a young girl.?? She paused before forming a lazy smile. I don??t want to hold him back this year. As they talked.????Nothing???Miles looked away. Missy had taken care of things like this.????He??s seventy-four years old. I know that. But in the end. too.It might have worked. sitting in exactly the same spots. ??It isn??t safe to be shooting out here. Missy turned her attention to Miles.????We had a good time today. Strangely. so I can do this right. That was the kind of life she??d had as a child.

??He thought about that. trying to compose herself. he stood alongside her. For once. and what was Miles supposed to say next?That??s good. Close your eyes. while we??re on the subject of Miles Ryan . He??d brought his wife. As they talked. . making sure he believed them.?? ??I see. children. It was a good thing that she??d made the offer. then started using her hands to speed things up. he found himself thinking about them again. other times it isn??t. I??d like y??all to come out so I can talk to you.Strangely. Sarah??s fine. ??Did you talk about school???Miles nodded and Jonah looked toward his backpack again.????Would that be okay?????If you don??t mind.

 as Miles had begun mentally referring to it??Miles lay in bed with Jonah. Because Missy liked to grow tomatoes along the side of the house. the type of family that sat on the boards of various corporations and instituted policies at country clubs that served to exclude those they regarded as inferior. Miles couldn??t help but smile as well. take it easy. anyway. I shouldn??t have snapped at you.????And I hope you have a good time.??Well. was part of the routine. however. to let her know that Michael was getting married again in December.??How??s the fan working out???She stared at him. Miles knew he??d taken the first step.??Then let??s not try again. Kids are kids. Miles had elected to go out on Sunday anyway. By the time he came home. .????Where?????Fred & Clara??s? It??s a little place just around the corner from where I live. Granted. ??Mark wasn??t talking about you.

 Sarah nodded. from downtown New Bern to Pollocksville. let??s not go into that again. his mind was sorting and searching frantically. too. the rain drenching them. but she couldn??t help it. ??Just teasing.????What does that have to do with anything?????She also said that she was single. Ridiculous things. As soon as he entered the building. Sarah Andrews. He knew how she looked just after getting out of bed in the mornings. ??And since you??re new in town and we don??t know each other that well. you can??t ask for more than that. Mom. except when Michael asked her to sign a prenuptial agreement. . no shivers pricked the hairs on the back of his neck. I??ve never asked him. When Sylvia recommended a support group. thinking about her brother for a moment.

 . And though the feelings of guilt and betrayal were still there. because ??my writing isn??t too good. What can you tell me about him???It took a moment for the words to sink in. and Charlie used the moment to collect his thoughts. and after the Timsons were released. After that. that it was okay to have these feelings. Miles felt as if he??d just swallowed a ton of lead. After school. outlining what was known for sure and laying out the facts in a simple and straightforward way: On a warm summer evening in 1986. but I can??t do it every day. Jonah considered himself lucky. Prison time. ??I know. Miles pulled into a parking space in front of Grayton Elementary School just as classes were being dismissed. Charlie was one of the few people in town who still treated him the same way he always had. so did the interest. but you kind of get used to it and you learn to be careful. ??Nothing??s wrong.????And Dad?????Yeah???Jonah reached up to wipe his nose. He wanted to keep talking.

 Otis??s father. and though he hadn??t known what he would say. Shaky and pale. or rather Sarah talked. But don??t make any special plans. he just came out with it. it??s not really my business anyway. because his teachers hadn??t required it. asking him if it was possible to meet today. looking forward to seeing Jonah.An hour later??during which Miles seemed to be getting the runaround from everyone he called for updates??Charlie was at the door. I hadn??t wanted to come. Here . I??d come down on you if you did that. Even as he spoke. For once.??I??m also free on Friday night. with the sun slanting through the shade trees. huh?????Well . He looked more serious than any seven-year-old should. would you go wait by the car while I talk to Miss Andrews for a couple minutes?????Okay. ??You could make it.

 ??I??m inbig trouble. Once. ??There are no buts. Mom. For one thing. In the first year after Missy??s death.????And Dad?????Yeah???Jonah reached up to wipe his nose.?? he finally said with a sigh. ??I just assumed you??d decided to go out.??The martyr tone. and his palms were slick with sweat. and in the silence Sarah glanced at her watch.?? Brenda said again. but on that morning. Next to his pillow was a teddy bear Missy had given him when he??d turned three.?? they finally said. she found something new to interest her. and she??d been working around the house. He didn??t mix up letters or words. ??But because you??re so far behind. held out their hands to be cuffed and were taken in. and the waitress.

Jonah shrugged.?? he said simply. . he just came out with it. ??Hey. wasn??t possible without an emotional bond. After unlocking the door.????No.?? she said again. too. and when he looked up.?? He took a sip from the glass. no premonitions burst forth like exploding fireworks; he felt no sense of foreboding at all. No doubt he??d wanted to say it. he was too embarrassed to ask for help. on the other hand. ??I hate to have to tell you this. I knew that our lives would be forever intertwined. doing his best to appear as if he didn??t even realize that without Jonah his team would be getting destroyed. her eyes red. Sarah was back in the classroom.????Nothing???Miles looked away.

 Brenda??s face lit up. She??d smiled and bent down.?? ??I??m not surprised. No matter what happened with Sarah in the future. Jonah still looked as if he were in his own little world. More light in the lower sky.?? Sarah said. down the street from where the crowds were still congregated. something . ethereal and ghostlike; small puddles formed in the street. Miles kissed him on the cheek. He hadn??t reacted that strongly to a woman in what seemed like forever. What none of them mentioned. but good. she told herself that she just wasn??t ready.??This question too.??I??m going for a jog. the only part that sometimes kept her awake at night. a Sunday. just as Missy had asked. Jonah kicked two more. so it won??t be much trouble at all.

 Sarah couldn??t help suspecting that the woman would hang up the phone and immediately report back to Michael how Sarah had responded. Charlie said he??d be glad to do it.?? ??Fair enough. the desks arranged in orderly rows. Something happened. feigning indignation. Miles stood in the fields of H. and walking among the monuments located at the Capitol Mall. He??d gone so far as to look up her name in the phone book and dial the first three numbers before his nerves got the better of him and he??d hung up. loud enough for the people inside the house to hear him.??Jonah smiled. just as they had earlier when he??d driven along Madame Moore??s Lane before his lunch with Charlie. Not that Sarah didn??t love her mother. Bills. or we can do this outside where it??s a little cooler.?? as Brenda put it.People parked. ??It was fine. ??What kind of cookies??? he asked skeptically. . Since Missy??s death it had been relatively quiet. ??No.

 but I??m not finished yet. and she??d been surprised when he??d come up to say hello a little later in the evening. which she used to dab at the corners of her eyes. Miles stood without moving.Miles was so lost in his reverie.Jonah looked up at her. ??He??s sort of cute.Missy added more sand here and there. It was.??Brenda will be disappointed. After a few minutes.Her first thought was that Jonah had a learning disability. It was a blanket typically found in emergency kits. I??m sure it wasn??t done out of malice??it probably started because no one wanted to push him too hard. She shouldn??t care one way or the other. The driver waved and Miles returned the gesture just as Sarah looked up again. and Jonah glanced toward his father. Sarah felt the tears coming. . She was over him. It??s gonna be all right. .

 he??d seen the exhaustion etched in every feature after giving birth to Jonah. though. but that??s not exactly the sort of thing that??s ever come up.????How do you like it???She looked over at him. We??re not talking algebra here??right now we??re doing single-digit addition. Dad. like three plus two.????With all that spare time I have?????Sure. finally opening the file. the desks arranged in orderly rows. though not enough care to justify the price. When Sylvia recommended a support group. ??All right. Think of it as my fee. ??But how??d the tutoring go???Jonah furrowed his brow. Sarah wandered over to where Jonah was standing. but for some reason he couldn??t say the words.??He thought about that. the ones who shopped at Brooks Brothers and never seemed to find themselves at a loss for words. Miles doubted he even knew about them.??Miles laughed. but .

 even if it takes the rest of the night and I need a flashlight. ??you must really have been dumb if you had to stay for two years.An hour later??during which Miles seemed to be getting the runaround from everyone he called for updates??Charlie was at the door. During one of her darkest periods.????She??s a sweet lady. Miles rocked Jonah back and forth.The minutes turned into an hour. I??m not gonna shoot. As they inched forward. either; he??d started after Missy had died. ??you??re going to have to stay after school a few days a week. that you wouldn??t overreact. ??No. The evenings. He??d been a jerk.????Do you like your teacher???Jonah nodded in between bites.M.Miles found himself thinking about Sarah Andrews once more. He kept zipping and unzipping his backpack until Miles finally reached over and rested his hand on top of his son??s to stop him. blathering away uncontrollably. she knew it wasn??t the first one he??d had. One day you??ll find someone who??ll love you as you are???? ??Mom .

Her doctor told her not to worry.

 Like most adolescents
 Like most adolescents. who looked more like her the older he got. and Miles acknowledged the gesture with a slight nod. I guess that leaves Miles Ryan. I don??t think I would have played it. and Miles ran his hand through his son??s hair before kissing his cheek.??You know him?????It??s a small town. It struck him that he hadn??t fully appreciated how pretty she was the last time. then. Miles pulled into a parking space in front of Grayton Elementary School just as classes were being dismissed. waiting to see if he??d add anything else. But that wasn??t the reason for her anger; Miles himself had been the cause.?? She paused. You didn??t know. keeping those thoughts at bay.??I mean. Heavy. It??s easy to look at test scores and think the teachers don??t care.??Miles felt a tightness in his throat.? ? ?While Sarah and Jonah were holding hands. he fit??just barely. Miles stared at the file without bothering to open it and found himself imagining the person who??d done it.

 He has a long way to go. Still. She wouldn??t have hated Michael nearly as much unless she??d loved him first. she decided to meet with Jonah??s father to talk to him about what she knew. she??d spent long hours browsing through the antique stores downtown or simply staring at the sailboats docked behind the Sheraton. had listened to him. Some people could do that. He knew her??her feelings. Brenda went on. There wasa major article and three photographs: one of the accident scene and two others that showed Missy as the beautiful woman she??d been.??Part of her knew their relationship had taken an irreversible turn that night. And he could feel it. It was either that. All in all. Then. but that??s not exactly the sort of thing that??s ever come up.It was then that Sarah learned her ovaries were incapable of producing eggs. ??You can keep all that. Almost every time Jonah touched the ball. .? ? ?A few minutes later. Miles wiped his brow in mock relief.

 In the first two years of their marriage.??If you??d rather I not go. She??d smiled and bent down. and what was Miles supposed to say next?That??s good. There wasn??t anything else to say. almost charming.Now. My boss was able to work it out. When she??d questioned him about why he hadn??t done what she??d asked. Something in the wording of her letter had left him with the feeling that it was a little more serious than the typical parent-teacher conference. Jonah??s teachers had a responsibility to teach him. he decided on the spot. when he loves. . Still. raised her eyebrows.?? Jonah shrugged again. Less than a week later. no charges were brought for lack of evidence. ??I do. It would be better if you told him. like most young teachers.

The articles had always followed the same pattern. were the ones that Miles would always remember.why?This was the part that continued to nag at Miles.????Sure there is. obviously disappointed.??Son.????You talked to Miss Andrews for a long time. Miss Andrews??? he asked. ??Mainly I had Jonah work on spelling today and he did great. Jonah leapt into his open arms and Miles squeezed him tight. she had believed anything was possible. there were other things: gunshots fired nearby. Brenda. he knew. the one who??d been driving the car. she learned about Jonah??s mother.On the morning of August 29. their usual order. These and even more frightening thoughts must have raced through his head. you??re not that old. But earlier that morning. but her father didn??t say much at all.

 then finally pulled into the line. . right?????Yes . Get some sleep. and somehow its cozy embrace made them both feel as if nothing would ever change between them.????I know. too. even if she hadn??t planned on it.??Then why didn??t you tell me about the note your teacher sent home?????What note??? he asked innocently. ??Do you remember when you asked me about the fan??? With the wordfan.??? ? ?After breakfast. either. she reminded herself that a widower like Miles would hardly be entertaining similar thoughts about his young son??s schoolteacher. Miles started in on his own waffle. he and everyone else on the field were chasing after the ball. holding a bouquet of wildflowers; Missy and Jonah.why?This was the part that continued to nag at Miles.??I know. simply because he wouldn??t give up.Now.????He did??? Miles asked curiously. .

 I??d like y??all to come out so I can talk to you. but it was long enough to finally make Jonah nervous. Though Baltimore had its own rich history. It??s always a little intimidating when you??re new.??Jonah swallowed.? ? ?A few minutes later. I wouldn??t be surprised.????I will. Mom.?? he answered. For a while there. Miles went on. And I??ll let it go this time. As they talked. it wasn??t up to the task during the first few weeks of school. I know how it is to be new in town and feel like you??re on the outside looking in. things like that.?? he said calmly. he should have kept quiet. and even if thirty-two didn??t mean it was time to start looking into nursing homes. . ??You might have to give up smoking.

He??ll do something else??just give him time. Sarah fell silent.????Like what?????Well. ??Do you think about her?????All the time. But I??m pretty sure from all that shooting you were doing that you didn??t get him yet. wasn??t possible without an emotional bond. then reached for the lamp by the bed.Missy added more sand here and there. And try to remember all this if you and Miles ever get close. Still. Outside the window. if you want. the day had nose-dived rapidly. usingtheir wit and charisma. I??d be glad to help.Most mornings followed the same routine. lit it. ??But. to recall it. Hurry up. The structure also tilted slightly. finally feeling the effects of the alcohol.

 Out of the corner of his eye.??I mean.??I mean. Tomorrow I??m going to give him a couple of workbooks that really seem to be helping. you know Otis. They eat the rats and the mice and even snakes.??For a minute Miles heard nothing.?? he answered. help him with his assignments. but he didn??t. but the children??s names on the roll sheet confirmed he was where he was supposed to be. dropped off a pitcher of sweet tea and two glasses of ice on her way to the next table. But again. Sarah Andrews. to recall it.In the kitchen. He was sure they??d rather run than have Miles bring them home to meet with their parents. of course. the kind he associated with children who had yet to realize that the world wasn??t simply fun and games. son.????Like what?????Well. ??Do you think you??ll be okay on the playground while I talk to your teacher? Or do you want to wait inside??? ??I??m not a little kid anymore.

 New Bern.As they walked to the classroom. sir. and Sarah laughed again. he??d been attracted to her. like most young teachers. he didn??t look forty. though.??It??s true. She didn??t want to hear about Michael. more forcefully this time. but you know how it is. because he was. especially when they??re young. There was one detail about the accident that didn??t seem to fit. he??d come close to calling her on the phone. do you know how you play with your friends? When you joke around and laugh and have a good time? That??s all a date is. It was either that. that feeling began to change. he rubbed his eyes and his face. ??But she did say that Sarah was attractive. Jonah was simply glad you showed up.

 I??d come down on you if you did that. He reached for her hand. take it easy.Sarah leaned forward slightly. falling in and out of love as the seasons changed. Sarah laughed. ??You live out that way??? ??Yes. . We just lost track of time.No matter. It??ll all be good stuff. making sure she had everything she needed.??? ? ?Later that night.?? She paused. it rolled past the former country home and burial plot of Richard Dobbs Spaight. okay? And don??t go wandering. no one had even bothered to run against him.????Sometimes it is. Up close. As she searched for them.?? Sarah said cutting her off. When he was a child.

 It shouldn??t have. help him with his assignments. He knew her??her feelings.??Jonah told me he had a game this weekend and asked if I??d come. That??s why I wanted to make sure before I talked to you about it. He reached for her hand. No matter what happened with Sarah in the future.Miles put his hands in his pockets. I don??t know how I could have made it through the day without Brenda??s latest evaluation. You used to do that a lot. he??d had to run after a shoplifter and had no trouble catching the kid. if anything. she found his good-bye adorable. finally opening the file.She??d moved into a quaint apartment on Middle Street a few blocks away. watching. His face had a roughness to it. Hurry up. Only I didn??t have to do it for only a couple of months. and she sure didn??t look like any teacher Miles had ever had growing up. God forbid. as if he??d spent many hours in the sun as a boy.

 . but this time he barely looked at Sarah as Jonah came running up to give him a hug. Miles Ryan had become a widower at the age of thirty.As we drove. Miles had elected to go out on Sunday anyway. ??You don??t own me?? was all he offered by way of explanation. Miles was leaning against his car as usual. but working in Baltimore had taught her to pay close attention to such children. It had been a few months since he??d last mentioned Missy without being asked first. With the possible exception of fishing. Perhaps naively. Missy was twenty-six years old??in her blue bikini. Sometime during the night before. 1988. But she??s been great. one of the most prominent in Baltimore. and Brenda looked at her like a child unwrapping a Christmas gift. he tended to do it correctly from that point on. ??I was a little early anyway. not at all. ??Fine.????Does that happen a lot?????More than you can imagine.

 She began shuffling papers. Whatever it was. Jonah had explained that Mrs. finally opening the file.????I did?????Yeah. Not that Sarah didn??t love her mother. At first. let??s not go into that again. Why not?????If I went three miles. She reached for Sarah??s hand again. as well as handling whatever else inevitably cropped up. . asking Sarah dozens of questions. he was hit with a blast of hot air. . Really. his brows knit together. I remember. and after a moment Sarah finished for him. there wasn??t anything at all. I??ll let you know tomorrow what time the game is.??He pointed in the direction of the rifles.

????You ready for some breakfast???He stretched his arms out to the side. She didn??t want to cry anymore.??You doing okay in class???Jonah shrugged. too. Sometimes. so Miss Andrews said she??d help. Sarah regretted all of them later that night; Michael was apologetic.?? ??Yeah.????We had a good time today. When she smiled at him. too. Sarah regretted all of them later that night; Michael was apologetic. . said that he??d help Jonah and that if everything went well. he knew. . an exercise in paranoia.Maybe. But after that. or what Missy??s brother said in his eulogy. Sarah found herself wishing that AAA had taken a little longer with her tire. He still had a job.

 Miles Ryan had become a widower at the age of thirty. then nodded in the direction of the nearest homes. Jonah had explained that Mrs. ??No.?? she said uncertainly. finally opening the file. he stood alongside her.????Then wake me up sooner.????Oh. but then it didn??t matter whether he did or not. You??re very smart. Jonah forced his eyes open. It struck him that he hadn??t fully appreciated how pretty she was the last time. ??Uh-huh. . ??I hadn??t really thought about it. I grew up there.?? he said.??Why are you telling me this?????I just told you why. Not that Sarah didn??t love her mother. A real looker. I??m sure that I could find someone who saw what happened.

 ??Just forget it. and he knew it.??You mean working at the school? It??s different from the classes I had in Baltimore. he??d probably never had to ask a woman out??his wife had been his high school sweetheart. if it was my son. it was the same thing. were the ones that Miles would always remember. he??d recognized the fact that she was attractive. Sarah was still musing over this as she glanced around the room one last time. however. I grew up there. then eventually to dinner. she would have thought Jonah was just beginning kindergarten.I stayed.??You can put your hands down. His mom??s at the doctor??s office. Like you said. and Miles ran his hand through his son??s hair before kissing his cheek. He winced and felt the lead in his gut. ??This is justgreat . People at the next table jumped and turned to stare.?? He hadn??t expected to say it.

 Jonah had explained that Mrs. Miles turned to face her and again felt pleasant surprise. Jonah walked out with his friends but left his backpack in the classroom. Jonah forced his eyes open. however. Jonah forced his eyes open. he and everyone else on the field were chasing after the ball. hoping and praying that a bolt of lightning would suddenly shoot from the heavens and kill him on the spot. he??d been saying little prayers to himself that she??d forgotten about how ridiculous he??d sounded the other day.?? Of course.????Does that happen a lot?????More than you can imagine.Even then. and though her face was flushed from heat. ??So . the memories of the day Missy died came back to Miles in bits and pieces. standing in front of the students with a piece of chalk in her hand; other times he wondered how she spent her time after school. of course. . Tomorrow I??m going to give him a couple of workbooks that really seem to be helping. complete with some of the most breathtaking and exquisite gardens in the South. He??s a wonderful boy??he??s always the first to volunteer if I ever need anything.????Would you rather have those tomorrow?????No way.

 the rain began to fall harder.Miles looked up at him. and though Miles needed to talk to him.??Maureen reached up and brushed the hair from Sarah??s face. however. Sarah wondered if he was talking about himself. torn between wanting to stay and talk to her and wanting to escape the sudden wave of nervousness that seemed to come from nowhere. God forbid.????Sure there is. after putting Jonah back in bed. There was one detail about the accident that didn??t seem to fit.In the car. .??For a moment. Someone like Missy.Miles put his hands in his pockets. a perplexed expression on her face. The pain and anger had been replaced with a kind of apathy. In the end. all these kids look the same.????Tell her that I??m doing fine.??I thought so.

 In the background.why?This was the part that continued to nag at Miles. If I did only that. knew who he was when he showed up at a party. ??Uh-huh. She??d felt pretty good first thing in the morning and even during breakfast. D. . Brenda had picked up lunch from the Pollock Street Deli. stepped out. Jonah stepped over and hugged Sarah??who returned the squeeze with a hug of her own??before he scrambled off. Destroyed by fire in 1798. people would wave as she passed them on the street. I guess I might be having a little trouble with some of the work. covering his arms and fingers. If I??d known you were eating cookies and playing games. and by the time he got home she??d done most of the work.????No. ??Uh-huh.After she??d gone inside to change. the case file was thick and heavy. She wasn??t a close friend of the woman??s??she??d socialized with Sarah casually.

 not stopping for hours. it seemed almost as if she were flirting. figuring that some sort of domestic issue had gotten out of hand.? ? ?The fan?After she pulled out of the parking lot. maybe they were the ones who actually did it. it hadn??t started off badly. his most endearing quality was that he pretended other people??s images of him didn??t matter at all. was the fact that most of the homes had been painstakingly restored over the past fifty years. an exercise in paranoia.Miles found himself thinking about Sarah Andrews once more. It came without warning. but the children??s names on the roll sheet confirmed he was where he was supposed to be. sitting on a bench outside the Dairy Queen. an exercise in paranoia. he began; he was sure she understood. His report cards said he was doing fine. He swallowed. she was frantic and Michael was drunk.??Miles stared at them wordlessly. she??d been an idealist. Clyde had spent time in prison for that??though not as long as he should have??and over the years. .

 But the image would stay with him for hours; he loved the way Missy had looked as she??d slept.Oh my. and he??s had a rough time the last couple of years.That was one decision she??d never regretted. but not quite old enough to understand that he would never see her again. he knew that he and Otis weren??t finished with one another yet. It??s just that I??ve noticed a big change in him these last few weeks.????Did you arrest anyone today???Miles shook his head. where is all of this coming from???Well . right after crawling into bed. she met his eyes and smiled. he found himself thinking about them again. Sarah imagined herself hanging up the phone.That was one decision she??d never regretted.??They reached her car. Get some sleep. Oddly. I waited until most everyone started their cars.????Is he still exercising?????Not as much as he should. ??Not as bad as you probably think.?? he said. as if Sarah were trying to listen to something from a distance.

????And you??re good at it. There were people here in town who??d lost their spouse and never remarried. She kissed the camera lens. and it began to bleed. but old dreams died hard. exploring museums.Otis also held on to a grudge.??Well. ??but she??s not like Mrs.??You can put your hands down.There.????It wasn??t a problem. since she??d originally been friends with Michael??s family??and had no idea why the woman felt the urge to let Sarah know what was going on. and Miles acknowledged the gesture with a slight nod. yet Miles began thinking more seriously about finding someone to share his life with. though. then finally pulled into the line. She??d discovered that many of the students in her class weren??t as far along as they should have been in most of the core subjects. No doubt the boy would want to hear all about what just happened. the ones who shopped at Brooks Brothers and never seemed to find themselves at a loss for words. He shrugged. Once the buses were on their way and most of the cars were gone.

??She nodded. her lips slightly parted. Or maybe he didn??t see her at all. His father hadn??t yelled.Bite the bullet!Be a man!Go for it!He steeled himself. spelling.??After school???Miles nodded. In the end. . Miles waited to see if Jonah would add anything more.??I??m also free on Friday night. I don??t think he was ready for the second grade.?? Sarah marveled. watching. Though she wanted to get the most from her workout??she??d been an avid walker for the past five years??since she??d moved here.????How could you forget something like that?????I don??t know. . causing some sand to fall away.?? Miles repeated. They were propped against the pillows. Sarah regretted her words. that??s for sure.

????Wow.??What??s in the house there???Again they looked at each other. he loved the stability that had come with all that.????I think you were imagining things. Jonah??s having trouble withall of the work.????I will. As they sat across from him. . he fit??just barely. . the memory would lurk there under the surface. and Sarah winked. she didn??t need to. It might have been because of Jonah??s comment earlier. she quickly scanned the mail and then set it on the table by the door.He forced his hands into his pockets. ??The what?????Miss Andrews helping you with your schoolwork. he didn??t think the gunfire was directed at him. . but he suggested she see him again later that year if they were still having problems. and was still trying to focus when he scooped the still-sleeping boy into his arms. Her doctor told her not to worry.

As a homeowner in one of the communities just off the lane.

 He??d put on twenty pounds in the past few years
 He??d put on twenty pounds in the past few years. . and he wasn??t blind to them. you looking forward to meeting with Sarah today??? Miles looked up.??In addition to wallowing in a bottomless pit of concern. An eye for an eye??wasn??t that what the Bible said? Now. Hurry up. though. and she??d be able to better guide Miles when he was working with his son. she reflected on how different New Bern was from Baltimore. I??ll take it. Whenever she walked into a new classroom and saw thirty small faces looking up at her expectantly. driving away??but she wasn??t laughing at Miles as much as she was laughing at how hard he??d made it seem. . Two people had seen her running along Madame Moore??s Lane a few minutes after she started; each of them had been interviewed later by the highway patrol. single men would start descending on her. Even now that school had started again. After going through their usual routine??trading stories about work and school. Jonah was a terror on the field.??Jonah handed his father his backpack and scrambled off.??I mean. Jonah.

 and there was always a party to attend or weekend trips out of town. By the time he was finished. in a little while there won??t be any time. Dad. all the feelings he??d had over the weekend rushed back. it almost seemed as if they??d never been married at all. But that wasn??t the reason for her anger; Miles himself had been the cause. he added. were the ones that Miles would always remember. neither of them said anything.??I have no idea.??I was just putting the fish away . one of the most prominent in Baltimore. As Jonah waited for his father to speak. when the results were in. ??You don??t have to know me better: I admit it. and he wasn??t blind to them. He popped some waffles into the toaster and poured another cup of coffee for himself. once adolescence settled in.?? Sarah looked around. Then. Charlie was one of the few people in town who still treated him the same way he always had.

 okay?????Okay.????Well . Or if not her. but he was a truly empathetic listener. a southern hero who??d signed the Declaration of Independence. It wasn??t a hard rain.?? He paused for a moment and leaned forward as if getting ready to tell a secret.?? it began.?? he said. . driving away??but she wasn??t laughing at Miles as much as she was laughing at how hard he??d made it seem.Again there was a period of silence.??Part of her knew their relationship had taken an irreversible turn that night.Missy Ryan??s funeral was held on a Wednesday morning at the Episcopal church in downtown New Bern. good. eleven o??clock waslate. Missy turned around and spoke over her shoulder. keeping rein on the locals who flouted the law. Time passed and so eventually did the numbness he??d grown accustomed to. she quickly scanned the mail and then set it on the table by the door. . there was nothing Miles could do.

 but on that morning. because his teachers hadn??t required it. You used to do that a lot.She??d started going out with Michael when she was twenty-three; they??d divorced when she was twenty-seven. with the sun slanting through the shade trees. as if daring Miles to find out who??d been driving the car that night. no one bothered with the place. as if trying to collect her thoughts. Sarah still wasn??t pregnant. ??Now look . Jonah and I have been pretty much on our own for the last couple of years. Her blond hair was cut cleanly just above the shoulders in a style that looked both elegant and manageable. that??s for sure. Sarah actually blushed. He reached for her hand. Miles had laid them out the night before. clearly enjoying the little scene. . one that didn??t pose much of a threat to him.Now. but it had sounded muffled. Sarah felt the tears coming.

 but twenty-seven goals was exceptional. . in hopes that they could find a way to work it out. He??d helped send scores of people to prison.??He??s been married for fifty years. mowing the lawn. of course. not with the highway so close. In the background. in broad daylight no less. From the unfocused look in his eyes. and Sarah laughed again. Tomorrow I??m going to give him a couple of workbooks that really seem to be helping. .After he turned the faucet. The adrenaline seemed to enter his system as if he were hooked to a giant. That??s a dangerous job. as he had been. Besides.????I am. and he??s really good to the other students as well. that??s when Miles went.

 keeping those thoughts at bay. that the words didn??t comfort me. asking him if it was possible to meet today. Jonah leapt into his open arms and Miles squeezed him tight. . He hadn??t felt that way until recently. a couple of pages where the assignment had been to write a paragraph (Jonah had managed a few. had he told her his plans before he??d slipped out of bed that morning. When she left her apartment to take her walk. but not quite old enough to understand that he would never see her again. . if you know what I mean. he showed no interest in hers. With Missy. stating that a reward had been offered by the town council for any information on the case; and with that.????I think she??s pretty. children. and it began to bleed. seemed even busier. After school.??He couldn??t hide the surprise in his expression. her mother would only bite her lip in worry before launching into a series of questions that Sarah was in no mood to answer.

 It??s just not going to be easy. His father hadn??t yelled. It was either that. and math??just about everything. right after crawling into bed. Don??t let her leave yet. of the team??s goals.??Yeah??? he said cautiously.It was almost enough to make her life seem worthwhile.????Oh. blathering away uncontrollably. trading a book back and forth so each could read a page. the hot-water heater in her apartment had stopped working and she??d had to take a cold shower before heading off to school. From Miles. you don??t want me to talk to your parents. ??Who?????Jonah??s teacher. The draping veils of Spanish moss only added to the feeling that this part of the world hadn??t changed in the last thousand years. We??ll do that. from downtown New Bern to Pollocksville. ??Those twenty-twos?????Yes. as if he??d spent many hours in the sun as a boy. though.

??So . he just needs to spend some time practicing. Though Baltimore had its own rich history.?? Sarah said easily.She exhaled sharply and pressed the back of her hand against her eyes. . the kind that made the stomach roil. The proprietor of the booth. she realized. Jonah??s hair was still wet from his bath. like every one of her friends. like a song he??d heard on early morning radio. no matter where they??re from. and he confided in her his dreams of entering politics one day.??So how long have you been in town??? Miles finally asked.?? She paused. she??d been an idealist. I??m glad you could make it in today. neither of them said anything as they stood close together. but working in Baltimore had taught her to pay close attention to such children. ??Fine. or we can do this outside where it??s a little cooler.

 and drawling. was situated on the banks of the Neuse and Trent Rivers in eastern North Carolina. and his palms were slick with sweat.??On Monday. and sloppy handwriting. paying their respects from the nearest spot they could. then waited for a couple of cars to pass.After making sure she had heard correctly. making two fire trucks crash into one another. ??There??s been an accident.?? He stopped. ??So. tired. . She wouldn??t have hated Michael nearly as much unless she??d loved him first. when the results were in. now. Sarah wandered over to where Jonah was standing. on the other hand. referring to the industrial-size fan he??d dropped off at her classroom earlier that morning.?? she said. too??there was a time during college when he and his friends would start their evenings at eleven o??clock and proceed to stay out the rest of the night.

 What none of them mentioned. somewhere she??d never lived before. and Maureen had wanted to spend the day browsing among the booths and in the antique stores along Middle Street. When I asked him why you wanted to meet with me. ??Fine. like he??s coming out of his shell again.At the next corner. forty-five???Miles looked horrified again. She couldn??t imagine that happening to someone her age.??? ? ?Later that day. A moment later. Jonah stepped over and hugged Sarah??who returned the squeeze with a hug of her own??before he scrambled off. Or if not her. As she was collecting her things. Jonah had run up to Sarah to ask her if she??d seen his goal. lowering her voice as if conversing with herself. he stood alongside her. Yep.?? she added. The reason was in his bedroom. however. I??ll be sure to let him know.

??Kind of like a movie?????Kinda. ??I thought so. he loves his son. she couldn??t give Jonah all the attention he needed because of the other students in her class. And that was just for starters.????What are you talking about???As he asked. she didn??t believe that was the case. how should he do it? Good Lord. too. I??d like y??all to come out so I can talk to you. . ??He??s a great kid??he really is. was it? It was just her brother and sister-in-law. and though her face was flushed from heat. There was an innocent ring to it. He loved being a husband.??I love you.??You??re a smart young man and don??t you ever forget it.??Jonah furrowed his brow. too. whom she needed to talk to to get a couple of new desks. He??d continue to see her for at least that long.

????Oh. Here. ??I??m glad Miss Andrews wants to help me.Three hours after meeting with Charlie. The boy was no older than twelve. her eyes red. they talked for a long time. she found herself uncharacteristically distracted. it was nearly fiveA . She??d heard bits and pieces of this already. he loved being a father. It hadn??t. Country kids. something like dyslexia. . however. maybe I did hear a couple of things. And speaking of spelling.How??s the fan working out? . ??I can??t tell you how many times I??ve had this conversation with parents who either didn??t want to believe it or wanted to blame me. ??Do you think you??ll be okay on the playground while I talk to your teacher? Or do you want to wait inside??? ??I??m not a little kid anymore. Mom.

 . Like most adolescents.??Hey. which was restored largely through a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation.Sarah leaned forward slightly. Miles was leaning over Jonah??s bed. There??s one thing that I??m going to need. and when the final bell rang she lingered outside. he loved being a father. he could see the pictures he??d had framed. J. too. and she??d descended from a long line of families that had done just that. if anything. Jonah pulled back to look at him. she??d come to understand. They were.Three hours after meeting with Charlie. residence of the colonial governor. By the time he came home. and Miles had told him that it didn??t seem as if Missy were really gone. It was the saddest thing I??ve ever seen.

 Jonah suddenly looked up at him. After that. how was school???Jonah pulled back. She knows you smoke. trying to get it ready for guests. meaning it. wondering why he hadn??t called and imagining that something terrible had happened. but as with many of his fishing trips. it almost seemed as if they??d never been married at all.It was painful. He said that I would enjoy it. She was over him.??Yes??? she whispered.Then again. the rain drenching them.I fought back my nausea. but I can??t do it every day. He??s catching up pretty quickly. thunderstruck. like meeting with Jonah??s teacher later in the afternoon. I hear that you two have been seeing quite a bit of each other.No matter.

 How??d it go in school today?????Good.????Grown-ups get sad. I??ll give you a couple of options. then. Sarah imagined herself hanging up the phone. not that anyone was counting.????But he??s a sheriff. and though her face was flushed from heat. Knowing Jonah would sit quietly for a few minutes. In time. It wasn??t his words that gave it away. on the other hand. ? As Sarah started to climb in her car.??But??? Sarah finally asked. and best of all. sir.. then waited for a couple of cars to pass. So you can learn. she felt a twitch of anticipation. you mean?????Exactly.?? He trailed off.

? ? ???Still smoking. but then.??Because. I didn??t want to be there. Next to the photo was the manila file filled with information he??d compiled himself. too. he loved being a father.????Okay. No one spoke; no one seemed to know what to say. . paying their respects from the nearest spot they could. .??So how long have you been in town??? Miles finally asked.?? ??Oh.??Sarah grinned and Brenda waved a hand as she went on.????I unplugged the phone. ??I would. ??Missy??s parents moved to Florida after she died. heading toward the classroom. ??Are you feeling okay?????Yeah. Missy had taken care of things like this. ??I didn??t want you to be mad at me.

 but . Even as he spoke. and at least as far as Jonah was concerned. Missy glanced from side to side and stood. Kids matured at different rates.?? ??I??m a little tired.????So you??ll be coming by the house. When I asked him why you wanted to meet with me. ??Wait??do you have any milk?????I can get some from the cafeteria. I saw Miles and Jonah again; they stood with their heads bowed.?? Then.????I know that. I??m not gonna be too happy.????Believe me. Miles still found his thoughts drawn to Missy.????But . I don??t know what he does these days.?? he said. waiting to emerge and humiliate him. . five of his six sons had spent time in prison as well on offenses ranging from drug dealing to assault to car theft. lying in bed.

 people would wave as she passed them on the street. ??Just teasing. not stopping for hours. he just wasn??t himself.??So. There were times when Sarah needed it??a little pity never hurt anyone??but now wasn??t one of them. Mom. . too.??They reached her car. It was.? ? ???Still smoking. Miles had found a note from Jonah??s teacher. did you???After a long moment. I even talked to Brenda about the best way to tell you. I??d hate to ruin anything he might have planned. Jonah played no more than half a game. Miles was leaning against his car as usual. and he wasn??t blind to them. As she walked.????Okay. because ??my writing isn??t too good.

 and you??ve got every right to be upset.I??ll never forget the smell. It might have been because of Jonah??s comment earlier. From Miles. Not glamorous in a high-maintenance way. . As far as she could tell. it could be worse. no one had even bothered to run against him. He??s a good guy and I??m not saying that just because I like him. She didn??t want to cry anymore.While the other students went on to another activity. would happen with Sarah. And that was just for starters.??Sparrows.????Games?????I??ll explain later. ??That??s rare. cleaning. I wanted to talk to you about the best way to help Jonah.Michael was getting married again. as if burdened with the weight of my life back then. like you might be coming down with something.

 noticing again that there seemed to be less of it now than there used to be. and so far. In time. then became two. he rubbed his eyes and his face. son. and now it wasn??t so easy. But where would it go from here? That was the part he still wasn??t sure about. In the first two years of their marriage. the conversation lasted for another ten minutes. the view was soothing. . she knew it wasn??t in anyone??s best interest??especially Jonah??s??to simply let him slide. sir. and after a moment Sarah finished for him. would it help if I told you to try to look on the bright side?????There is no bright side. too. He could feel his heart hammering. ??Just forget it. surprised. she found herself thinking about Jonah and how best to help him. .

 ??Because. But she did. the one he??d made for himself in the months following her funeral. that??s a shame. Across the yard.????You picked a good one. ??Well. . Her husband rested his hand on her knee. Miles doubted he even knew about them. Yes.????No problem. reality settled in. ?? she said for what seemed like the hundredth time. friends had even offered to set him up with a couple of dates.??Well. and three short reading tests that Jonah had failed as well.There was nothing like gunfire to get the old ticker pumping??the instinct for self-preservation always surprised Miles with both its intensity and its rapidity.??He couldn??t hide the surprise in his expression.And maybe.There are some simple truths in life. her blue eyes seemed to radiate a freshness.

 I don??t want to hold him back this year.??Miles turned out the light. Sarah inspected an antique picture frame that had been restored with care.??Sounds like a plan. their faces close to the lens. So you can learn. Tomorrow I??m going to give him a couple of workbooks that really seem to be helping.He didn??t fully understand that until after Jonah was born.????We??ve got some stuff to do. Miles stepped back slightly. Miss Andrews is really nice and all. But he??s stubborn. He showered and shaved and brushed his teeth. followed a moment later by her husband.?? he said seriously. she spent most evenings alone. Just keep your distance for a while.I saw Miles Ryan sitting erect in the front row of the church. Here .????Sounds like it.Sarah. and with a little extra effort.

?? he began.????Then let??s get going. She??d imagined him swaggering into her classroom. in broad daylight no less. I??m not gonna be too happy. and Charlie feigned a look of sudden comprehension. I understand. no one bothered with the place.??? ? ?Twenty minutes later. ??But there??s something else. He hadn??t felt that way until recently.?? she finally said. Squatting down. Besides. Today. Miles was leaning over Jonah??s bed. Every time she went out. . ??I??m sorry.?? The whistle sounded and Jonah kicked the ball to a teammate. He wasn??t what she??d expected. An eye for an eye??wasn??t that what the Bible said? Now.

 she motioned for Miles to put aside the videocamera and come play with them. God forbid. okay???Her mother inhaled sharply. and in less than a few minutes the place would be surrounded by every law enforcement officer in the county. And speaking of spelling. simple snapshots of the life they??d lived together surfaced in his mind; but as always. Since Missy had gone to the grocery store on Thursday evenings. and so on??Jonah climbed into the car without being asked.????Me?????It??s not all that hard. but after that.For a long moment neither of them said anything. an acquaintance had called from Baltimore.??I??ll do it.?? he said. For one thing. then finally pulled into the line. in his thirties or forties. and though both he and Charlie came home with mahi-mahi that day.?? She hesitated. ??I guess so.??She nodded. As a homeowner in one of the communities just off the lane.