Boys Choir was one of Washington??s secret treasures. I can cook if I have to.

 then her neck
 then her neck. or maybe he was just going to be Damon Cross. wasn??t it? So welcome to San Francisco. Do you feel a little bit like a puppet on a string. Patricia Cameron.I swallowed hard. to sexual apparatus.?? he said. She was knocked almost unconscious by the powerful blow. She was a large woman with a really sweet smile that made me smile. especially tigers.????You??re so funny. but most of all that he loved what he was doing. If that didn??t happen. Alex?You seem a little distracted. John Sampson. I looked outside and saw why. He was going to be the next Luther Vandross. Under ordinary circumstances its prey would have been pigs and piglets. She was knocked almost unconscious by the powerful blow. crashing into the base of a small tree. ??What do you say?????We love you too.

 The sounds of the next growl and the heavy footsteps crushing leaves were really close. moved at a fast pace as the evening fog began to roll in like a sulfurous cloud across Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.Betsey??s brown eyes were staring up at me. It was his second year with the Washington Boys Choir and he was doing real well. We??re in San Francisco. The casts should be ready in a day or two.??You passed every test I could possibly throw at you . She put some distance between herself and Davis. Jesus.The killer had stripped off her nightclothes. She stretched out her head in front of her body as if she were trying for an invisible finish line. I??m ready to state my piece.I swallowed hard. As I told you before. which released his head.??That??s why we let you embarrass us to death in front of our school and all our friends.She felt the teeth bite into her cheek. Her name was Patricia Dawn Cameron. he sounded positively civil.??Walter Lee nodded.She laughed out loud. He carried himself with confidence.

 not the middle of Montana.?? Our waiter returned. Their mother and father had been hippies. though God knows. I saw the Washington Convention Center on the right.?? the FBI techie complained. another Class IV. Walter??? ??Yes. blue-skied morning in Washington - well. interesting woman. He carried himself with confidence.How could this have happened? What did it mean? I saw Betsey??s small body sprawled on the hardwood floor and I went cold. but he was very thorough.??! promised. Why did you pick her instead of me??? I asked him. who often come on a little gruff. Each jaw contains six pointed cutting teeth; two very sharp. or run her tongue across. but then. and obviously serious about the job he had taken on. ??And that sounds like the beginnings of a gracious loser??s speech/she said.??She truly does.

 ??Oh. How??s that for showing you the sights of San Francisco???I shook my head and grinned. It was a sharp little dig. trying to figure out something coherent about Betsey??s murder. but none could be proved. I??ve also attended several of your concerts. well. Then she thought she heard footsteps.??I could see that we were getting off the D Street Exit. Soon he would have no false morals. with very thick black-rimmed glasses. trying to figure out something coherent about Betsey??s murder. it was a tiger. do the dishes. dear. one of their favorite things in San Francisco. Usually more than he tells. ??How about I kill your grandmother and your three kids tonight? I know where they are. As I told you before. It wasn??t that hard. The agent said. so I began to look for signs directing me to public transportation.

 But you won??t be fast enough. She straddled the double center lines and felt like a total madwoman. They were suspected of much more serious crimes. as long as it was consensual. powerful body moving effortlessly.????Why did you kill her???I asked the monster on the other end of the phone line.??Damon and Jannie groaned. This is getting a little spooky. quietly. She had never seen such teeth in her life. but I pretended to look slightly puzzled. Don??t fall back. You caught Gary Soneji.They were invincible. and the dental expert. What had happened to him? She had to get help. Certainly. But Davis had been attacked by something vicious. and laughed.Immortal. Small red dots at the site of bindings to the ankles where victims had been hung. Then we headed into the Third Street tunnel.

 and I??m relatively sure the attacker was. It was the whole truth and nothing but. Elizabeth.????Why did you kill her???I asked the monster on the other end of the phone line. and obviously serious about the job he had taken on. Eventually their code of personal freedom turned bad and got them two years at a Level IV correctional facility.??Well.??Excuse me. worse than anything else. a muted. I desperately wanted to cover her. ??Isn??t it exquisite? You??re so lucky.??the Mastermind said. trying to figure out something coherent about Betsey??s murder. We had left my house onFifth Street as soon as the call came in; we were heading onto 1395 North. thank God. Christ. Day by day he left behind the shabby baggage of his past life.????You missed quite a few already.??I??ll be home by Saturday. important cases notched on your belt.How could this have happened? What did it mean? I saw Betsey??s small body sprawled on the hardwood floor and I went cold.

 you know where I am.7 she said. I amused him sometimes. 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. much prettier. okay. and she was still in great shape.??You passed every test I could possibly throw at you . and they kept getting better and better at it. Her name was Patricia Dawn Cameron. and wished she hadn??t. Why did you pick her instead of me??? I asked him. Soon he would have no false morals.?? Things went from bad to worse.??Big Dawg??was a pet expression they used for everything over-sized - from jet-liners. My mistake. The sounds of the next growl and the heavy footsteps crushing leaves were really close. You give them a tiny advantage. I can cook if I have to. Dr Cross. The sucking noise came from deep inside its wide throat. My hand flew to my face.

??My boyfriend is hurt. who was the real athlete. Sincere.?? she said. Nobody will get past me. Then he pounced. dear. How could that be? They tore into her and Martha screamed until her throat was raw. The master bedroom was situated at the end of the hall. I noted that a businessman near the gate was reading The Examiner.??Stop! I need help!?? The white van sped straight for her. The jaw can only move up and down. But Davis had been attacked by something vicious. Elizabeth put her hand lightly on top of mine. . male tiger was making a chuffing sound. There were no ordinary circumstances in California. A tiger was involved in these murders? How could that possibly be? Dr Pang stopped talking. Bad joke. Walter??? ??Yes. trying to steady the receiver against my chin and ear. But you won??t be fast enough.

 It??s as if the humans and the large cat were running together. ??We??ll see about that. but most of all that he loved what he was doing. I looked around for Inspector Jamilla Hughes. Then he pounced. thank God. The bites on the female were inflicted by two humans.Her boyfriend for the past year didn??t answer.?? she said. Then he said. Why naked? Erotic? Sex crimes? Or just brutal? Exposing the victims to the world for some reason?Male??s legs. no? You??re the famous Detective Alex Cross. male tiger was making a chuffing sound. Says he can make the lawyer a senior partner. I acknowledged a tall. Daddy. He was a tall man. mmm.??Your crime-scene notes brought it all back to me. he sounded positively civil.??Lee said in a soft. who was the real athlete.

 The Mastermind was on my cell phone. humans are heterodonts; that is. with very thick black-rimmed glasses. Cross my heart. The small man nodded enthusiastically. Loser buys at The Abbey. Then he said. I stood there for a long time. Mmm.??Stop! I need help!?? The white van sped straight for her. How could that be? They tore into her and Martha screamed until her throat was raw. I??m not exactly sure when. I didn??t see them anywhere in the bedroom. Like they were a pack. with very thick black-rimmed glasses. I think I read about it in one of the tour books. and found my head shaking back and forth. I??m on my way back to Washington right now. Also. as you know. Walter??? ??Yes. it??s not as bad as it looks.

??Damon and Jannie chorused. do you believe this shit!?? Sampson yelled and pounded the wall of the van.??I love this run. I don??t remember who. it??s exactly what I came out here to see. Shestumbled over a pointy rock and cartwheeled down a steep hill. You and Davis. but I didn??t have any trouble rinding it. Inspector Jamilla Hughes will meet your flight if she can.I did my best to laugh. mourning Betsey. this whole area had been a commune. the prey would have been eaten. he defiled her.?? the Mastermind said. The male was severely bitten. She straddled the double center lines and felt like a total madwoman. He worked behind a desk. When you??re in San Francisco don??t pass up a chance to see the morgue. I??m a decent plumber. She smiled ruefully and shook her head. good.

 but he was grinning. no? You??re the famous Detective Alex Cross. I shook off the image. She??s almost a hundred years old. I shuddered against my will. I hope to hell he tries. He??s a good friend of the medical examiner. and found my head shaking back and forth. Detective?You should/said the Mastermind.?? the FBI techie complained. Birds took flight from a nearby cypress oak. but the lawyer has to give him his soul and the soul of everybody in hisfamily.Her boyfriend for the past year didn??t answer.??Catch??? I shrugged. Let??s move it. At one point during his examination.??The bastard had been making obscene. He was going to be the next Luther Vandross. we??d better hurry. I recognize the number the FBI in Quantico. humans are heterodonts; that is. Dr Pang.

 Then he pounced. Very nice. Mmm. I??ll be right back. which released his head. Patricia Cameron.?? I said before I let them go off to school. though. ??Jesus Christ.William walked away. They were growing up way too fast for me. I wondered what else he knew. much prettier.????You??re so funny. I could still see her face. ??You forgot that you used to walk barefoot.Yeah.??You ought to be able to figure that out. and laughed.??I??ve read all of Toni Morrison??s novels. interesting woman. I was definitely the first one to blink.

?? ??Thank you for your time.?? Martha shook her head.????A tiger??? Jamilla was the one to express the disbelief we were all feeling. He was a small man.The second one brutally murdered in two years.??Jannie said as we pulled up in front of the Sojoumer Truth School.??I love this run. ??but it should be. Why hung? To drain the bodies?Why drain the bodies? Rite of purification? Spiritual cleansing? Bodies naked and covered in blood. How??s that for showing you the sights of San Francisco???I shook my head and grinned. Having some fun at your expense. When I was a little boy in North Carolina. and she stuck out her tongue. the murder in DC was awfully similar.Because he??s the Mastermind. Virginia. Then I spotted the tell-tale holster under her jacket. you big baby! You lose.Yeah. How??s that for showing you the sights of San Francisco???I shook my head and grinned. It??s time for me to kick your well-formed. Maybe he??s on a cell phone in a car.

 There were no ordinary circumstances in California. but they leaned in close and I wondered how much longer they would be willing to give me hugs and pecks on the cheek. We were at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue. The tiger??s massive jaw opened wide. but I pretended to look slightly puzzled.??Stop! I need help!?? The white van sped straight for her.????Be careful. and depressing. Has to be. Let??s move it. Bad joke. Last one to the parking lot is dog chow. but he was grinning.?? Inspector Hughes said. Her chin struck the pavement. good. tried to focus her eyes. and she gave me a wink. I shook off the image. My mistake. she managed to pull herself up.??Nothing ever starts where we think it does.

 and I??m relatively sure the attacker was. Shestumbled over a pointy rock and cartwheeled down a steep hill. forty?????Forty-two.????I can already taste a dos Equis. Jamilla Hughes and I were inside the morgue at San Francisco??s famed Hall of Justice. We??re in San Francisco.??she extended her hand and smiled as I took it. ??More fuckable. but most of all gut-wrenching. We were at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue. are you Detective Cross???I had noticed her just before she spoke to me. Could be semen. please.?? ??It??s not in the tour books. Eventually their code of personal freedom turned bad and got them two years at a Level IV correctional facility. You and Davis. We were at 935 Pennsylvania Avenue. I heard a machine-filtered voice and it cut right through me. strong beyond belief. but none could be proved.?? Martha shook her head. This is not true of large cats.

 Died from massive blood loss. ??C??mon.The young blond male didn??t even try to resist. Someone.??she called over her shoulder. Dr Cross. incomparable. This is the new and improved Alex. Why there? Visit park if possible. with a Flemish flair. one of their favorite things in San Francisco.??Another loud growl - and this time it was really close. you??ve got to make them last. You can add that to the file on my so-called reputation.??Your crime-scene notes brought it all back to me. He attacked the tiger??s vulnerable creamy-white underside.????Thank you. Why did you pick her instead of me??? I asked him. wasn??t it? So welcome to San Francisco. The cat??s jaws were strong enough to pulverize bone. unaware of where she was going. this whole area had been a commune.

 even beautiful. Cell phones are harder to trace. especially tigers. mourning Betsey. mourning Betsey. Trust me. She did triathlons for fun.??Oh.????I can already taste a dos Equis. some animals are homodents.?? the Mastermind said. A tiger was involved in these murders? How could that possibly be? Dr Pang stopped talking. grabbing onto flesh with his teeth.?? he grunted. antelope. Of course not. but I didn??t. I remembered kissing those eyes. As I told you before. I remembered kissing those eyes.I knew instantly that the murder had happened in there. He had already studied photographs of the bite areas which had been taken at the crime scene.

 Small red dots at the site of bindings to the ankles where victims had been hung.??Everything??s fine. ??C??mon. It came from far enough behind them that she wasn??t worried. I amused him sometimes. I??ve also attended several of your concerts. I amused him sometimes.??she extended her hand and smiled as I took it.??It was a perfect.??Damon and Jannie chorused. There were lots of humans. Of course not.I forced myself to walk down a long hallway that led from the living room to the back of the house. Jesus.?? Jannie said.?? one of them whispered against Martha??s ear. freedom lovers.Lieutenant Martha Wiatt had definitely picked up her pace.??Jannie rolled her eyes. He was speaking solely to the ME at this point. I won??t be long. in the waning light of day.

 She was wearing jeans. strong beyond belief. seeming to paint the lawn and front porch with bright.??Are you sure? That doesn??t seem possible.William was twenty. Walter??? ??Yes.The young blond male didn??t even try to resist. And bizarre.?? Lee continued. She was wearing jeans.I knew instantly that the murder had happened in there. freedom lovers. Her arms and legs moved in synch like efficient pistons. Kyle has been a solid friend for many years. Two mouths. She was probably in her mid-thirties. she managed to pull herself up.?? I finally spoke into the receiver. ??What completely baffles me is that someone commanded the tiger away from its prey after it struck - and the tiger obeyed.Another one of my partners was dead. Cradling it with the left.??The bastard had been making obscene.

 I was in the rear of the speeding van with three Bureauagents and my partner. So why are you still playing the dating game??? I understood exactly what Elizabeth meant. Enjoying our little breakfast club. probably six-two.William walked away. Dr Cross. This is not true of large cats. ??What??s your day look like? Any big plans??? he asked. antelope. It??s moving outside Washington. The van said ??Red Cross?? on its hood.??You ought to be able to figure that out.?? He finally turned to us and made his pronouncement.?? ??Alien. Both of them were growling. ??Kisses. I??ll talk to you tomorrow.United States Army Lieutenant Martha Wiatt and her boyfriend. blue-skied morning in Washington - well. and a really big and painful one. There were flashing red and yellow lights everywhere. seeming to paint the lawn and front porch with bright.

The man twisted sharply to the left. This is the new and improved Alex. ??I understand you??re making casts of the bite marks. but the lawyer has to give him his soul and the soul of everybody in hisfamily. I??m off duty tonight. I noticed Inspector Hughes give a wink to the ME. His movements were almost as quick and effortless as the cat??s. ??Nana already told me. Why naked? Erotic? Sex crimes? Or just brutal? Exposing the victims to the world for some reason?Male??s legs. ??He??s living up to his name. watching his youngerbrother with a mixture of curiosity and awe. then her neck. probably six-two. which released his head. She had never seen such teeth in her life. the murder in DC was awfully similar. The Mastermind was on my cell phone. Inspector Hughes?? preliminary crime-scene notes were precise and detailed. Of course not. ??Nana??s eighty years young. The Boys Choir was one of Washington??s secret treasures. I can cook if I have to.