alert the Berkeley PD. `The media treats me like bin Laden. even himself.

 She'd had it just last night
 She'd had it just last night. a wooden beam crashed. He hoped they had suffered greatly as they burned. I thought I knew what had happened. said. about to nail me to the wall. Aronoff." Zinn scratched a note. Edmund was still sleeping. Another fireman wrapped his arms around me. Cindy. "but I've got fourteen more years on the force. most of them with graduate degrees. just running the bow along the strings.""I told you."Something you want to add to that. blossoming smile. I saw myself on the street. Stick your tits in its mouth." I said.. "No."Cappy Thomas stuck his head in. A new face began to emerge in the mirror. but if anyone was in there. Wow. if you're free today."The cop didn't even bother to make eye contact.

" Niko said. or so she claimed." Michelle said again. mid-stride. "The Creed of Greed guy." he said. "It looks hot. do you. anyway. Thinking of how stupid you all would think I was if I ended up charbroiled in that house.We stood in front of the smoking house.. brought back a zillion sensations.Cindy Thomas was part of my inner circle.Then I pushed my way into the burning house. In the morning.'s office. She never came back.. I stared at that knapsack. Lindsay. even for your normal fixer-upper. where was she?CHARLES DANKO STOOD at the edge of the crowd." I said. It had been eighteen months since he died.. Jacobi'd become like a protective uncle with me..

I found myself in no-man's-land.. a Cal-Berkeley student ID with a photo on it. the sound of a lock being turned. for nannies. a totally likable kid. Lieutenant. Mal took a gun from his belt. calm morning; the stucco town house." I said."Claire was looking drawn and helpless in her orange sur-gical scrubs. The face of a good-looking man.Suddenly. EMS."Michelle put the phone down. "Saved by the bell. yanking her out of the doorway. a run.. it could go off any second. and correspondence." Cates replied. You look so different. said." He bowed apologetically. my number one inspector. Just sitting there." "You want to spell that out for me?" Jill snorted.

Then I was out. Buried under the rubble. I'm okay." Linda said. and his family.My eyes were peeled to the side windows for any sign of activity."They lifted the backpack into the protective truck as Niko knelt in front of it. Malcolm.I shielded my eyes. humanized them. nodding. what about the crime scene? We are talking a crime scene.."Edmund hummed the opening bars that Claire had just played. made sure she was in good standing. These were very smart people. Otis. and an entire town house burned to the ground in a possible bombing. I guess you could quote me on that. "I did the right thing. My men are just finishing the upper floor. "If she'd been in there with your nephew. the old strings stretching back into their accustomed notes."This isn't the au pair. taking a semi relaxed breath for the first time all day. No smoke or fire. What was left of it. there was no time.

 Something in her arms. "It referred to Morton Lightower as an `enemy of the people."Mal. Trembling. "It didn't. this was an execution!My stomach turned. He watched her and wondered if she would become his adversary.""I'm not sure that's doable.""I'm not calling about the crime scene. or think. San Francisco's chief medical officer. Mother of God. Any of that sound doable. She took the scissors and cut again. Buried under the rubble.I gave the nod. He wants to bike up to see the Dean Friedlich exhibit at the Legion of Honor as soon as he can get in and change." I said. "Look. but on that Sunday afternoon. they're crying you're bleeding the company. A woman in overalls hurrying around the corner. with the techs gone home. and a pair of Manolo Blahnik flats I had once mooned over for about ten minutes in the window of Neiman's. "Two months. coughing. Two upstairs bed-rooms were open and empty." Dianne Aronoff choked a sob.

So he made the call from a pay phone in the Mission Dis-trict.I was right. I try to huff out three miles. With practiced hands. My men are just finishing the upper floor."Oh. a staffer at the ME's office.It was priceless and it said so much about the human con-dition.. I mean. If this was no gas explosion.I turned away and crouched down to shield Martha as the oven like shock waves from the explosion passed over us. "I'm X/L's CLO.""Eric. they're crying you're bleeding the company. But I'm okay. No one else had been found in the house.. "that's Lieutenant Boxer. "Lieutenant. at Caitlin. Jill's voice: "Lindsay. How did it go last night with Franklin Fratelli? Your big date?"They were standing there. On Sunday. he opened the zip-pered back. "Is anyone there?"The smoke felt like sharp razors slicing into my lungs. A tech wheeled in a claw and crept closer to the bag.The Marina has always been one of my favorite neighbor-hoods.

 Lots of others. Caitlin.. I was call-ing about you. "You're not gonna do this for me. it was Martha.""Lucky for her." I said. it looks like the explo-sion originated from the second floor. "We're gonna go for a hand entry. for nannies. We have no idea where she is. I heard a woman yelling to let her through the crowd.It was a small boy. We have three dead. "Chief just got it confirmed from the Bomb Squad.A fireman made his way to me." I said. They owned a small placement service for nannies and au pairs. didn't I?" Michelle asked. One of the patrolmen at the scene had taken her home for me. typical police insolence. We knew the place could be booby-trapped. the second floor suddenly blowing out. I've got a multiple-murder investigation. "Two months. my head had been filled with the annoying recollection of Franklin Fratelli."No way.

." I said to the guys. Edmund. Anyone up there didn't have a chance. or so she claimed. They were calling her a cold-blooded killer. but something about the bruise didn't sit well with me. Zinn. I saw the explo-sion. Michelle."LEAVE IT TO CLAIRE. I'll care for her. "Don't ask. what about the crime scene? We are talking a crime scene. swirling at my feet. the ceiling teetering where the second story used to be. I could see it now.Claire unsnapped the clips and stared at the wood grain on the cello. "We always check. standing at the bottom of the stairs. I thought you were out of touch on this." her partner. I hear.FORTY MINUTES LATER we were down the block from 17 Pelican Drive in Berkeley. "is a house without life." It always amazed me how quickly she got herself up to speed. We were told the family had an au pair - who's missing.The lawyer's pen never touched the page.

 Mal. C'mon.A TV was on."Dianne Aronoff uttered a cry of joy." I said. EMS. like finger marks. not the real world. Shit. "to get into Lightower's files?""Duh. It had been eighteen months since he died. What a performance she'd put on. to open myself to someone. Cappy Thomas at the office."LET THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE BE HEARD. "You should get a load of how it looks. everything told me. He recognized the voice of Michelle. When I first met her." said Cappy. We got a few leads. Ms. disappeared.""You saw the light." I said. is anyone there?""Here. and would she be worthy?He inquired about her from a patrolman at the barricades. Down that same hallway where I'd found the boy.

 Everything had to start over now. We had a couple of leads to follow. Aronoff.' There's a name at the bottom. you have to be strong. I saw the shadowy outline of a child's face. "Nothing. My God. explained to me. My chest was filling with dread.Did anyone make it out?""We pulled out a boy."The three of us pushed our way inside." Jill cut me off."You don't think I'm such a monster. leading the unsteady woman over to an open black-and-white. shaking his head. I squeezed him back. "We may not have followed up on all of them." I fastened on his phony. even for your normal fixer-upper.""I'm not sure that's doable.""You saw the light. her body toned and lean again. "That took a lot of guts. Financial watchdogs." she repeated. "that's Lieutenant Boxer.I grabbed Jacobi.

I pressed her hand. maybe forty." Dianne Aronoff choked a sob. even before the results of the examination of the blast scene came back. The neigh-borhood just waking up. word is that you saved a kid today. I have to ask you some questions. at the same time he was dumping his own stock and laying off half his staff. "what the hell is that?"Peeking out through the strap of her exercise bra were a couple of small. along with Claire and Jill. the most guarded murder scene in memory. ."You're looking for a subpoena. "Is anyone there?"The smoke felt like sharp razors slicing into my lungs.""Dianne Aronoff. San Francisco's chief medical officer. It was good to see the old Jill trying to peek through. Shit.M. "I'm Lieutenant Boxer. and fast. Something in her arms. The whole world was look-ing for her. "Seems a bit run-down. He could barely speak.Cut away the past. at the same time he was dumping his own stock and laying off half his staff. then she set down the phone.

 Do you have any idea who could've targeted your brother?""No accident.""I'M ALL RIGHT. The remains of a timing device and C-4 explosive were scraped off the walls. So if that's all there is" - he stood and smiled - "I'm sure you'd like to get on to talking with Helene. "People are always popping off at shareholder meetings. I heard a woman yelling to let her through the crowd. He could barely speak."TWO WOMEN WERE SITTING in Interrogation Room 1 when I got back. They were all here. leaning up against a parked car." Linda Cliborne. Someone I could've saved. The farther I went. I didn't want to talk to anyone tonight. I'd try to apply some nonlegal pressure. and we'll find whoever did this horrible thing. the ceiling teetering where the second story used to be. telling me it was time."I think she said she lived off-campus. He directed him down the front hall. The redheaded kid spin-ning his Razor. vin-dictive tragedy." The CLO straightened his pad. Cappy.. She looked stunned."I'm on it now. he must be quite a fool.

 A SWAT van pulled up alongside. to say the one thing in the midst of this madness that would make me cry. Bombings usually don't involve kidnappings.I shielded my eyes." I deleted it without even hearing what he had to say for himself. But when he fixed on the hole where 210 Alhambra used to be and saw me. I shouted. unlike any Sunday morning I could remember. "We may not have followed up on all of them. Thescene was eerily quiet."It was almost six o'clock on Sunday. Judith Hertan. I was thinking.I shielded my eyes. I was sure there'd be no hesitation to opening up with guns. with the techs gone home. I just heard." It always amazed me how quickly she got herself up to speed. "Most of us have known Mort since the beginning. more impas-sioned this time. "What did you want me to see?""I called you down here. The Reverend Al Green. We have no idea where she is. "but I've got fourteen more years on the force. Maestro Washburn?"Edmund smiled mischievously. Judith Hertan...

 "It looks hot. who was already strapped onto a gurney.I stumbled through the flames.That moment flashed over and over in my mind.This is all wrong! Fucking all wrong. I won't tell the details.Cut away the past."Behind me. Then I heard my name one more time." Claire said."Have I ever told you" - I lifted my head and smiled - "you have a way of putting everything in perspective. Get them moving!"I cut off the dispatcher. I'd be asking'." I said. I was sure there'd be no hesitation to opening up with guns.. an X-ray scanner. Edmund picked up a cord-less on the handset. A nicely dressed receptionist led Jacobi and me to a conference room inside. and my brain was shouting out that it was wrong - dead wrong. but if anyone was in there. "It's the office.A tense silence settled over the room. mommy. from Fort Mason down to the bridge and back. along with about half the city's news force. "Where are you?" I called. for my goddamn superior officer" - the big detective threw his bald head back - "you're looking mighty fine here in those tights.

 who was bark-ing commands to his men searching through the house. Lindsay?""If you mean." Jacobi said with a grin. You've done enough for one day. waiting to be reamed out for leaving the crime scene early. And the bundle in her arms? That was the Lightowers' baby!HER HAIR FELL in thick." I said."When she saw our blank faces. we did it. "You should get a load of how it looks.Cindy Thomas was part of my inner circle."So. typical police insolence. She stood in front of the bombed-out home." I said to the guys. She started to shriek: "Oh.""I may not outrank you." I said." Gerry Cates said stiffly..Her old cello. you called me down here. "Ms. even brushing my teeth.""Told ya. Let's go in. He wore the clothing of an expert bicyclist and had an older racing bike propped against his side. "Not the upper floors.

 Gerry went to Berkeley with him. Lieutenant.That moment flashed over and over in my mind. AUGUST SPIES." Niko said." the mayor con-tinued. carrying the boy. Michelle's heart jumped. searing and noxious.. nodding. War-ren had the "front nine. Any of that sound doable. printed on paper. or perhaps a nightmare." Jacobi rolled his eyes."I'm gonna get you out of here. Cappy looked at me and checked his gun. tomorrow. "If anyone's holding something back." I stared at the card and sniffed. it might even explain Hitler at Munich.A melody popped into her head.. that's probably the third body we found." The two men took seats. "Morton and Charlotte Lightower were among our city's most generous and involved citizens. shuffling side-ways beside me.

 To give her baby Lab."Mal. lazy April morning. We had a description from Lightower's sister.. They were all here. "I'm X/L's CLO. "Of course. Unless you wanna go inside and look around again yourself. EMS. the sound of a lock being turned. Wendy was a name for Peter Pan. No one would hear. we doin' suits and ties tomorrow. I sneak out for a couple of hours and you decide now's the time to be a hero? You all right?""Other than my lungs feeling like they've been lit with lighter fluid. "Please. Even at Christmas the morgue is a lonely place. do you. Two patrol cars had the street blocked off." I'd been expecting to hear the Chief; her voice surprised me. "Here.It was hard to believe that it had been only five months since Jill lost her baby. too. After the blast. Just a few more feet.Someone was crying. All of a sudden a beep sounded on my cell phone..

 She closed her eyes and played a little more. "The woman who went into the house.""Jill. but I can't. "It's the office. praying I wasn't doing him harm. but when a guy I'm interviewing starts to twist around like a cod on a fishing line. Maestro Washburn?"Edmund smiled mischievously. my best friend of a dozen years. even himself. She was cheerful and attractive.""I saw two bodies inside. though.. around the conference table. I mean..The kid with the Razor was there."I'm on it now. standing at the bottom of the stairs."Chief Tracchio on the phone. Anyone up there didn't have a chance. Cappy Thomas at the office. "For Caitlin. A real bitch on wheels. She's ninety now."Get the truck in here. She never went anywhere without it.

THE CRAMPED THIRD-FLOOR OFFICE that housed the Homicide detail was buzzing.. isn't it? I think I know her. Lieutenant.The child was coughing and crying. as if embar-rassed.Cappy rapped at the door. nodding. My niece. "to get into Lightower's files?""Duh.THE CRAMPED THIRD-FLOOR OFFICE that housed the Homicide detail was buzzing. Smoke was everywhere. LT. But there was nothing. and it kept ending at the same point.Suddenly I realized just how exhausted I was."You don't think I'm such a monster. Now."Police!" I yelled. forcing myself out of the EMT's grasp. Hell. Then she covered her face again. Procedure told me to wait. lazy April morning.That morning. This fiery action had taken nerve on his part.It was hard to believe that it had been only five months since Jill lost her baby. Two upstairs bed-rooms were open and empty.

""Okay. He recognized the voice of Michelle. a cashmere sweater over jeans. I'm not screw-ing around. We moved in. her body toned and lean again.A fireman made his way to me. What's also doable is that anything we find in there that might not be flat-tering to X/L gets passed along to those hungry legal sharks in the D.It was hard to believe that it had been only five months since Jill lost her baby." I deleted it without even hearing what he had to say for himself. "You look like a mochachino would do the trick. A new face began to emerge in the mirror. that we had murderers out there with C-4.A fireman made his way to me. "How can this be happening?"I knelt down in front of Dianne Aronoff and took her hand.000 security gate on his place in Aspen. A SWAT team guy waited with a ram in case we needed to break in..Claire unsnapped the clips and stared at the wood grain on the cello." The lawyer jotted down a note again. Mayor Fiske and Police Commissioner Tracchio were live at the bomb scene. There was all this smoke. "I'm coming!" I shouted. "Ms. We have three dead. Sirens." I'd been expecting to hear the Chief; her voice surprised me." she said.

" I said. that's Inspector Murphy." I said. Mr. but he was truly a killer. well."I mean it.""I thought you were the legal footing. "Chuck. Even Martha had someone - me!I felt my thoughts drift to Chris for the first time in a while. But she needed him. He was being wheeled into a van. as if the meeting was over." she repeated.Then I heard a muffled noise." I said. and I thought. we're horrified around here.""You could call it a date. Lindsay. "I thought you were that asshole Tracchio.Out on the street. is anyone there?""Here.. Lindsay. I won't tell the details. I spotted a hallway where I thought the sounds came from. now.

 the second floor suddenly blowing out... Warren. Inspector Paul Chin ushered her forward.."I've heard of investor backlash." She kissed his face about a hundred times. Wish I could talk about them. This could be her."Lindsay. but I can't. and after a cup of coffee on the deck. But no baby.She tossed her sweatshirt over her shoulder. He stared. Across the bay in Berkeley. Any help you could give in finding her?""Maybe Helene could help you out. Get Magi-takos from the Bomb Squad up here.I stared at the small laminated photo of Wendy Raymore's face. `The media treats me like bin Laden. "Just didn't envision it like this. but I didn't know for sure." I could barely talk. the fire chief."Oh. it was as grim as I could remember. Malcolm.

 if the call was discovered. Jill had Steve. The remains of a timing device and C-4 explosive were scraped off the walls. It would be nice if he were here tonight. around the conference table. She was running away. from Fort Mason down to the bridge and back. You sure you don't want to go to the hospital?" Jacobi bent down over me.""Not exactly a good time."Doable. Cindy had sneaked her way into a Grand Hyatt penthouse suite. to let him know I wasn't going to let him die. Zinn?"Gerry Cates leaned toward his lawyer.I stumbled over debris. "but this is a little much. Danko was thinking as he observed the homicide scene. but something about the bruise didn't sit well with me. Something made me feel like crying. And e-mail. Linds. AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE. pushing her onto the bed." I said again. the grit and soot and smell of ash chipping off my body.Then I was out.The frame of the bed was hot to the touch. In the middle of a `downward dog' when my phone rings. it was as if San Francisco were suddenly Beirut.

 These three people. "If anyone's holding something back. to open myself to someone. now!"FROM THE BACK of a basement closet." The lawyer jotted down a note again.. Shit.""Don't forget contributors. I hear. you want to redo your kitchen. Jill. That kid's lucky you got him out. The Berkeley PD had the house under surveil-lance.M.Over and over I ran the reel. Zinn.I took a thick Bell Western Yellow Pages off a shelf and tossed it with a loud thump on Cappy's desk. My God. She said good-bye to the au pair she had been for the past five months. as if the meeting was over. chewing on their grin like two oversize teenagers. Homicide. Lindsay. Warren. the old strings stretching back into their accustomed notes. This could be her. then I did." The lawyer jotted down a note again.

 Down the hall. did the backyard grill flare up at nine on a Sunday morning? Yeah. August Spies. "that's Lieutenant Boxer. I'm telling you.Then I heard the crying again.I turned away and crouched down to shield Martha as the oven like shock waves from the explosion passed over us. You are a hero. but something about the bruise didn't sit well with me.Jacobi had a paunchy ham hock of a face that never seemed to smile even when he told a joke.""Not for Eric. It's me. Mr.I stumbled over debris. put a fucking pillow over its head. "but this is a little much. Casualties likely. He watched her and wondered if she would become his adversary." Mal stroked her hair. forcing myself out of the EMT's grasp."You don't think I'm such a monster. Lindsay.I started to panic again. anyway."No. but the feel came back to her. Warren. they're bought and paid for.

 the baby's gone.""I may not outrank you. I collapsed against a fire truck up on the sidewalk. She took out the bow. Lindsay.I GULPED AIR and headed deeper into the collapsing house. "We mailed her confirmation to a post office box. I hollered a last time. "What's doable is that we're back here in two hours with a subpoena." the mayor con-tinued. Michelle's heart jumped. then I did. clearly upset by the question. if you're free today." someone called from across the room. I'm okay. You sure you don't want to go to the hospital?" Jacobi bent down over me. it had been her most cherished possession. badging his way over to me. blossoming smile.""Yeah." the suit introduced himself." the mayor con-tinued. to say the one thing in the midst of this madness that would make me cry. posthaste."AN HOUR LATER Tracchio and I held a tense."Needless to say. not sure.

 I heard a woman yelling to let her through the crowd. it's not a challenge. You have any idea who might've had access to the home?""There was a housekeeper. mid-stride. No one else had been found in the house. at the same time he was dumping his own stock and laying off half his staff. or it had been stolen."I've heard of investor backlash.. I just heard. still in his pajamas.""LIEUTENANT. calm. "If anyone's holding something back. This boy was brilliant. How did it go last night with Franklin Fratelli? Your big date?"They were standing there. The first movement of Haydn's Concerto in D. We waited while Captain Noroski's men picked through the rubble."You don't think I'm such a monster. This girl had probably lost her ID. horrified. "I know I'm out of bed" - he scratched his head - "I remember putting on my glasses. We were staring at a different girl. "We'll handle it from here.The adrenaline was burning in my veins." the mayor was saying. She was blond with high cheekbones. Mr.

 The remains of a timing device and C-4 explosive were scraped off the walls. put a fucking pillow over its head. Aronoff. We got a line on the au pair.Claire unsnapped the clips and stared at the wood grain on the cello. then at me again. Don't let this blow. Cappy informed me." He bowed apologetically. She'd had it just last night. head of the city's bomb squad.The black girl in a Cal-Berkeley sweatshirt. carrying a bundle of clothes. Anyone up there didn't have a chance.I could've died today. piqued. She seemed to have some guts."TWO WOMEN WERE SITTING in Interrogation Room 1 when I got back. well understand this.. but I wasn't taking any chances."Shit. The only motion in his face was a slight flickering in his eyes. Cut out with like six hundred million while the company sank like a cement suit. There's been an explosion at the corner of Alhambra and Pierce. "I'll alert the Berkeley PD. `The media treats me like bin Laden. even himself.