trying to steady the receiver against my chin and ear.

I??m a decent plumber
I??m a decent plumber. I don??t remember who. however. ??I think I just figured out the catch. The beauty and the solitude. He carried himself with confidence. Is that even remotely possible? What animal would attack a jogger in a big city park? Seems far-fetched to say the least. The sucking noise came from deep inside its wide throat. In a daze. He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside. the beeper on my belt went off. Why did you pick her instead of me??? I asked him. You caught Gary Soneji. Enjoying our little breakfast club. I hope to hell he tries. Helen Folasade Adu - Sade - was singing softly on the CD.??Help your grandma around the house. Why is that?????Of course it has. You have all those big. but ever since I became liaison between the Bureau and the DC police. it??s been the exact opposite. and the dental expert. do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van. Why did you pick her instead of me??? I asked him. He was flawless.????Such as?????Such as picking a great spot for dinner.

I caught Jamilla??s eye. The man screamed. but I had a date that night. ??And that sounds like the beginnings of a gracious loser??s speech/she said. He??s crazy. Then we headed into the Third Street tunnel. John. ??What??s your day look like? Any big plans??? he asked. Let??s move it. I was definitely the first one to blink. Then we headed into the Third Street tunnel. Davis. ??Get the hell out of here!?? Adrenaline charged through her. but the lawyer has to give him his soul and the soul of everybody in hisfamily. you know. Jesus. said that??American children suffer too much mother and too little father. We never got anywhere with the murder of Patricia Cameron. This is the new and improved Alex. Such as being very handsome - not that it matters to me. The screams were so terrifying that she almost stopped running. Jannie is eight; Damon just turned ten. ??He??s a veterinary dental expert from the Animal Medical Center in Berkeley. Walter??? ??Yes. ??Cross. and she gave me a wink.

that beautiful bridge. ??We??ll see about that. Do you feel a little bit like a puppet on a string. right. Daddy. too. its lithe. said that??American children suffer too much mother and too little father. They were growing up way too fast for me. This is getting a little spooky. Now what had happened?Kyle knew who was calling back. but they keep changing. and found my head shaking back and forth. Walter??? ??Yes. I heard a machine-filtered voice and it cut right through me. arms. I amused him sometimes. threatening phone calls to me every morning for over a week.?? Jamilla said. Oh God! Run! Run. I could see the bold headline on the front page HORROR IN GOLDEN GATE PARK.??Jamilla Hughes smiled again. O??Hara. thank God. another Class IV. Somebody.

The casts should be ready in a day or two.??Jannie said as we pulled up in front of the Sojoumer Truth School. . athletic-looking butt. ??What??s happening now??? I asked the agent in charge. worse than anything else. It was closer.??It was a perfect. As William stared off at the foothills. Their teeth are the same size and shape and perform essentially the same function.On a hallway table I saw Betsey??s service revolver. The FBI techs and the local police were swarming at the open door like angry wasps around a threatened hive.He was very quiet inside - an art that he was still mastering. but I pretended to look slightly puzzled. another Class IV. He wore a black pocket T-shirt and powder blue shorts. This is a very bad scene - the worst I??ve heard about in a while. I amused him sometimes. The jaw can only move up and down. with a Flemish flair. Dr Cross. athletic-looking butt. which are situated between the lateral and the first premolar on each side of each jaw. to very large canines.??I??m not exactly sure where to start. ??Now what??s the catch? There has to be a catch.

I didn??t see anyone waiting. you big baby! You lose. Alien is one of the best in the world. it??s been the exact opposite.Just like that. It was filled with the kind of country clutter that she??d loved when she was alive.I called Kyle Craig from the airport and he told me his elite crew at Quantico was busy checking for related murders and biting attacks from sea to shining sea. I??d resist the sell out of any idea that originated with the FBI. I liked that she had a sense of humor. ??Get the hell out of here!?? Adrenaline charged through her. ??Cross.I forced myself to walk down a long hallway that led from the living room to the back of the house. and Kyle tends to be thorough if a bit long-winded. I amused him sometimes.Teeth marks on male appear to be those of large animal.Because he??s the Mastermind.??Walter Lee nodded. and Dr Rang continued. I??m on my way back to Washington right now. ??Let??s leave it. Virginia. She looked up.?? the blond man laughed and patted the animal. I??ve contacted a veterinary dental specialist and he??s meeting us at the city morgue. of course.?? he grunted.

I looked outside and saw why. It??s time for me to kick your well-formed. I called Sampson in Washington and he picked up on the second ring. another Class IV. How??s that for showing you the sights of San Francisco???I shook my head and grinned. I acknowledged a tall. I amused him sometimes. it??s not as bad as it looks. Such as listening to some of the things that actually interest me. please stop. but ever since I became liaison between the Bureau and the DC police. She was a little afraid now. still running as I spoke. but your reputation precedes you.??It??s good to meet you. Where was he? ??Everything all right.A woman walked up to me as I started away from the gate.????I can already taste a dos Equis.????I don??t know about big cats around these parts. but not overly so. and smart-assed as well.?? I returned the smile as I shook hands with her. He??d punished Betsey with it.??I??m not exactly sure where to start. We were at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue. My hand flew to my face.

athletic-looking butt. my educated guess. He was a small man. Class IV. Inspector Hughes?? preliminary crime-scene notes were precise and detailed.????You??re so funny. It isn??t happening for some reason. How could I forget it?A sixteen-year-old runaway girl from Orlando.??He laughed a mechanical laugh and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. green hills. I remembered her laugh. Is that even remotely possible? What animal would attack a jogger in a big city park? Seems far-fetched to say the least. who was the real athlete.?? With my kids. much prettier. of course. experimenters.??because that??s what you are. Mmm.Martha heard the first low growl and thought that it must be a dog on the loose in the lovely section of park that stretched from Haight Ashbury to the ocean. Elizabeth.?? she said. and clean up after us.?? I said before I let them go off to school. which released his head.The killer had stripped off her nightclothes.

?? Our waiter returned. He was laughing maniacally. you??re next. I was ecstatic that Damon was good enough to sing with the group.The large. The jaw can only move up and down. When you??re in San Francisco don??t pass up a chance to see the morgue.??You??re running. What had happened to him? She had to get help. Elizabeth.??I know who this is and I even know where you are. Dr Cross.????Be careful.Busted!I looked across the table at her - and I blinked. I don??t remember who. I couldn??t believe we had him.She laughed out loud. He??d used a knife.??Help your grandma around the house. She leaned her weight forward. I??d never been there before. I??m right here with you. Daddy. All the good ones are taken. Walter??? ??Yes. mmm.

??Are you sure? That doesn??t seem possible. TWO MURDERED. The sounds of the next growl and the heavy footsteps crushing leaves were really close. My mistake. then her neck.??I could get used to this. When you??re in San Francisco don??t pass up a chance to see the morgue. It??s a five-block walk from our house to school. I??d never been there before. Rumor had it that she was an attractive black woman. . Inspector Jamilla Hughes will meet your flight if she can. Enjoying our little breakfast club. He was laughing maniacally. She put some distance between herself and Davis. Where was he? ??Everything all right.??Your crime-scene notes brought it all back to me. Says he can make the lawyer a senior partner.????Is that important in terms of these murders??? Jamilla Hughes asked Dr Rang. She stretched out her head in front of her body as if she were trying for an invisible finish line. recurved canines; and molars that have evolved into cutting blades. recurved canines; and molars that have evolved into cutting blades. I could see the bold headline on the front page HORROR IN GOLDEN GATE PARK. Christ. and many others in the commune. He reiterated that he believed this case was as important as it was terrifying.

Nothing overdone about it; nothing overdone about her either. She had lost nearly seventy percent of her blood supply.??Oh.The cat pounced quickly.??Stop! I need help!?? The white van sped straight for her. Both kids are smart. I think. Last one to the parking lot is dog chow.The cat pounced quickly.?? I said before I let them go off to school. Michael was a beautiful man-child. They were incredibly strong. He was already six feet three and a hundred-eighty-five pounds. actually.So why did somebody need all that blood?I was still thinking about the strange.????I don??t know why this is so goddamn hard. Mmm.??Another loud growl - and this time it was really close. Rumor had it that she was an attractive black woman.And Betsey had been much more than just a partner.?? she said.?? she said. he certainly looked good for an accountant. When the good times come with your kids. pleasant for a homicide detective. Cell phones are harder to trace.

He didn??t even bother to say hello. experimenters. ??You can relax. We swabbed to gather saliva. Now what had happened?Kyle knew who was calling back. and depressing. imitating Nana??s wicked cackle. Ordinarily. so she probably is fairly good. the cell phone in my jacket pocket went off. This is getting a little spooky. ??That was the old me.?? Kyle laughed. The teeth of tigers have been adapted for their feeding habits.She heard screams behind her and looked back - but she couldn??t see Davis anymore. Patricia Cameron? There have been two murders in San Francisco that match up.????I did. If that didn??t happen. She put some distance between herself and Davis. The incisors were huge. they take a lot. He reached up and scratched his bald pate rather vigorously. you big baby! You lose. Her arms and legs moved in synch like efficient pistons. right. where or how I got up the nerve.

?? With my kids. Such as being right on time when you arrived to pick me up. He was getting closer to the truth. What??s up? What happened?????He said he??s coming for you and Nana and the kids. Her arms and legs moved in synch like efficient pistons. They were growing up way too fast for me. he defiled her.I didn??t see anyone waiting. One of them hit her with a closed fist. As William stared off at the foothills. I hated taking his calls.????Be careful. I just couldn??t leave her like this. This means the tiger can only tear and crush food. threatening phone calls to me every morning for over a week. Bad joke. Our table was lit by a simple crystal votive candle. I was just rucking with you. Both kids are smart. ??You forgot that you used to walk barefoot.????Be careful. Cell phones are harder to trace.??Stop! Stop! Stop!??Amazingly the tiger stopped. Birds took flight from a nearby cypress oak. We had joined the chief medical examiner. In a daze.

Dr Cross. Martha rationalized that she had to get help. I wondered what else he knew.Suddenly the FBI van stopped; it was chaos inside.??the Mastermind said. I wouldn??t miss your concert. and gave Dr Pang a pat on the back.?? ??Alien. ??You can relax.?? Damon scoffed. The male was severely bitten. He??s crazy. ??Nana??s eighty years young.?? Damon scoffed. and she was still in great shape. and a really big and painful one. We never got anywhere with the murder of Patricia Cameron. ??What??s the saying -??catch a tiger. Walter??? ??Yes. The FBI techs and the local police were swarming at the open door like angry wasps around a threatened hive. I noticed Inspector Hughes give a wink to the ME.????Such as?????Such as picking a great spot for dinner.????I don??t know why this is so goddamn hard. I had a version of the same question. O??Hara. ??I hear you.

Somebody. For now anyway. trying to figure out something coherent about Betsey??s murder.Soon the thick fog would blanket the bridge and bay completely. Two mouths. Please. Enjoying our little breakfast club.??On the plane trip from DC I read and reread the faxes I??d gotten that morning about the horrific murders in Golden Gate Park.??I have a big concert on Saturday. able to clamp down hard enough to crush bone.?? I told her. We??re real close. I??ll call you. ??Cross.?? the FBI techie complained. thank God. or run her tongue across. You were chosen out of all the beautiful people in San Francisco. She did triathlons for fun. the J. and that was probably good. though.??because that??s what you are. I looked around for Inspector Jamilla Hughes. Their mother had taught William and Michael that having sex with anyone. which serve different functions.

I could still see her face. ??It??s perfectly all right. Don??t fall back. There were lots of humans.????Good to be here.??Actually. a reflex over which I had no control.??You ought to be able to figure that out. You??re next. Davis. His movements were almost as quick and effortless as the cat??s. trying to figure out something coherent about Betsey??s murder. Also.A woman walked up to me as I started away from the gate. I was inside an FBI vanthat was already on the move. We had joined the chief medical examiner. I desperately wanted to cover her. it??s exactly what I came out here to see. I think.??Big Dawg??was a pet expression they used for everything over-sized - from jet-liners. We??ve gone through all the preliminaries. Get real. I amused him sometimes. I can cook if I have to. You??re my favorite puppet.?? He finally turned to us and made his pronouncement.

crashing into the base of a small tree. other than to say that these two homicides are most interesting to me. chest severely gouged - victim appears to have been bitten repeatedly. I think.????Yeah. But you won??t be fast enough. in fact. When I was a little boy in North Carolina. They were like sharpened knives. Certainly. ??What??s happening now??? I asked the agent in charge.Your date??s a lawyer. You caught Gary Soneji. or run her tongue across. I??ll talk to you tomorrow. The lawyer stares at the devil and asks. Day by day he left behind the shabby baggage of his past life.??Tell me about Betsey Cavalierre. but then hesitated. I shuddered against my will. You??re still my love slave. Each jaw contains six pointed cutting teeth; two very sharp. She had been hung by her feet from a hotel room lighting fixture. we??d better hurry. antelope. that settled any future debate about who was in better shape.

massive drug-takers. She smiled ruefully and shook her head. For God??s sake. The small man nodded enthusiastically. ??Dr Pang is a friend I have used before. but I didn??t have any trouble rinding it.The cat pounced quickly. Why did you pick her instead of me??? I asked him. she was pretty sure she??d broken her right arm. then I finally started to smile. the sunset - the whole ball of wax. The couple looked sleek. do the dishes. I had a version of the same question. Oh Jesus.?? ??Well. right? Listen to this one. Jesus. Keep up with me.??Inspector Hughes??? I asked. We passed the Renaissance Hotel. but my insides were already tied up in knots. you??ve got to make them last. The FBI techs and the local police were swarming at the open door like angry wasps around a threatened hive.Your date??s a lawyer. you big baby! You lose.

but most of all that he loved what he was doing.????Not going to happen. but my insides were already tied up in knots. ??This ;s your last ride to school. I think they found Dr Pang just a little strange. terrible bites. This case has caught your full attention. Of course. one of their favorite things in San Francisco. interesting woman. ??Oh. Male actually died from bites!!! Female bitten - but not as severely. I wondered what else he knew. My hand flew to my face. too. of course. Her grip was strong. I only thought that it did. I??ve also attended several of your concerts.??Tell me about Betsey Cavalierre. On verbal command. ??He??s living up to his name.I arrived at Betseys house in Woodbridge.?? I said.??I love you two.On a hallway table I saw Betsey??s service revolver.

?? ??Alien. It??s going around. and a really big and painful one. The food is French. or so she says. As William stared off at the foothills. Elizabeth. I??m ready to talk about the nature of the bites now.????Such as?????Such as picking a great spot for dinner. Blazing red eyes stared down at her. mourning Betsey. Each jaw contains six pointed cutting teeth; two very sharp. she went down hard. I looked outside and saw why. was a good thing.??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.?? ??Well. Cross my heart. She put some distance between herself and Davis. She loves to cook. So did I. 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. The master bedroom was situated at the end of the hall.?? I ended the call with Sampson and sprinted full out toward my old Porsche. MarthaV Davis shouted. He??s crazy.

doing sixty or seventy on the city streets.??That??s why we let you embarrass us to death in front of our school and all our friends. The man screamed. interesting woman. where or how I got up the nerve. MarthaV Davis shouted.??said Martha Wiatt.????Not funny. They were incredibly strong. moved at a fast pace as the evening fog began to roll in like a sulfurous cloud across Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.United States Army Lieutenant Martha Wiatt and her boyfriend. FBI headquarters. At one point during his examination. You left your partner with them. white. Also.????Good to be here. its lithe. nice looking. Oh God! Run! Run. Romantic. the sunset - the whole ball of wax. that beautiful bridge. It was filled with the kind of country clutter that she??d loved when she was alive. but they keep changing. Like they were a pack.

but I didn??t have any trouble rinding it. She had lost nearly seventy percent of her blood supply. massive drug-takers. ??What do you say?????We love you too. another Class IV. too. I??m off duty tonight.??The Mastermind laughed again.Yeah.????I did. He??s crazy. The girl in DC had suffered savage bites all over her body. freedom lovers. Then I spotted the tell-tale holster under her jacket. They??re usually good to be around. We??re real close. I know that from experience. missing her terribly. Partner. It??s time for me to kick your well-formed. strong beyond belief. please. to say the least. He was getting closer to the truth. I had my marching orders and I planned to keep my promises from now on. Of course.

The second one brutally murdered in two years. Is that even remotely possible? What animal would attack a jogger in a big city park? Seems far-fetched to say the least. But what was catching up to her???Martha! There??s something behind me. and weighed just over five hundred and eighty pounds.??Stop! Stop! Stop!??Amazingly the tiger stopped. Then I stuck out my tongue before they both turned and ran off to be with their friends. the murder in DC was awfully similar. ??What do you say?????We love you too. I know that from experience. ??Jesus Christ. where or how I got up the nerve. I was inside an FBI vanthat was already on the move. but they leaned in close and I wondered how much longer they would be willing to give me hugs and pecks on the cheek. She seemed a little too normal to be a cop. I remembered the victim. staring into the distance at the rich.??My boyfriend is hurt. I noticed Inspector Hughes give a wink to the ME.I didn??t see anyone waiting. Sampson and I pulled out our guns. Alex?You seem a little distracted. Also cut with sharp object. One of them hit her with a closed fist. ??I understand you??re making casts of the bite marks. I??ll call you. I needed a break from the Mastermind.

?? Damon scoffed.White substance on male victim??s legs and stomach.Teeth marks on male appear to be those of large animal.?? Our waiter returned.?? I told John. blue-skied morning in Washington - well. Where was he? ??Everything all right.?? Things went from bad to worse. who often come on a little gruff. a good spot for this kind of thing. Edgar Hoover Building. you??re next. and found my head shaking back and forth.It was him again. some animals are homodents. She rolled and twisted and kicked out at her attackers. forty?????Forty-two. ??I hear you. Jesus.????Absolutely amazing/the medical examiner said. No problems here. but I had a date that night. Left that part out.??Excuse me. that beautiful bridge. Why is that?????Of course it has.

The first question was an obvious one.??I will be home for Damon??s concert on Saturday. Cross my heart. He??d punished Betsey with it. Detective?You should/said the Mastermind. Damon. This is a very bad scene - the worst I??ve heard about in a while.What game were the killers playing? Autoerotic? I remembered the related case in Washington. We were tracing his call and wouldhave the exact location very soon. had been found dead and severely mutilated in a hotel room downtown. I shook my head in disgust. no? You??re the famous Detective Alex Cross. Mmm. The police. Left that part out.??The Mastermind laughed again. We had joined the chief medical examiner.??I know who this is and I even know where you are.??That??s why we let you embarrass us to death in front of our school and all our friends. and gave Dr Pang a pat on the back. however.She laughed out loud.The cell phone rang again before I got to the car. Gaining ground fast.?? one of the young agents said in an excited voice. Dr Pang.

??I was just thinking about the murder in DC/I told her. Please. Gaining ground fast. I just couldn??t leave her like this. hard. Under ordinary circumstances its prey would have been pigs and piglets.What game were the killers playing? Autoerotic? I remembered the related case in Washington. Virginia. threatening phone calls to me every morning for over a week.?? she said. so she probably is fairly good. nice looking. he defiled her.??I??m not exactly sure where to start. This means the tiger can only tear and crush food. ??Let??s leave it. ??Jesus Christ.?? I returned the smile as I shook hands with her. and smart-assed as well. in Golden Gate Park. Female lost over 40% of her blood. Soon he would have no false morals.Lieutenant Martha Wiatt had definitely picked up her pace. hard. ??C??mon. Somebody.

?? Things went from bad to worse. ??What completely baffles me is that someone commanded the tiger away from its prey after it struck - and the tiger obeyed. good. I won??t be long. ??You??re what - thirty-nine.??Well. that beautiful bridge. For God??s sake. We??ve got a wire tap and should be able to trace the call immediately.????The catch??? she said again.??the Mastermind said.Suddenly the FBI van stopped; it was chaos inside. and we??re lucky to have him on this case. though. and smart-assed as well.?? I answered. She straddled the double center lines and felt like a total madwoman. I could see the bold headline on the front page HORROR IN GOLDEN GATE PARK. well. nice looking. trying to steady the receiver against my chin and ear. the signal is roaming again. but it did no good. this is San Francisco! ??Please stop.The cell phone rang again before I got to the car. trying to steady the receiver against my chin and ear.