know I wasn't going to let him die.

 my God
 my God.Not with everything that had just gone on. "Warren."No. too. The Reverend Al Green."Claire was looking drawn and helpless in her orange sur-gical scrubs. MY GOD!" I gasped as a flash of heat and debris nearly knocked me to the ground. I think he's going to be all right. Before she realized she would never be a Yo-Yo Ma and headed to med school. Mother of God."Is anyone there?" I shouted. `The media treats me like bin Laden. Jill." I smiled. articles and magazine covers featuring Morton Lightower's glowing face ran the length of the room.Jacobi. We have no idea where she is. "Martha's buying. "I think she some-times spent the night.""Don't forget contributors. blown to pieces. the sound of a lock being turned. Aronoff." Claire gave me a halfhearted smile. I saw the shadowy outline of a child's face. Before she realized she would never be a Yo-Yo Ma and headed to med school. Jacobi had run the name on the photo.

Then she noticed Edmund. taking a semi relaxed breath for the first time all day. a couple of letters of recommendation.Back in the office. we can keep her." I said. what's going on?""Wendy Raymore?" Cappy kept his gun on her." said Jacobi." I said with a shrug. No "Ladies and gentlemen. Some-thing in her arms. "Would you be asking me if your goddamn superior officer happened to be a man?""Damn right. "Where are you?"Nothing. Don't let this blow. you have to be strong. This girl had probably lost her ID. and sitting down.Then I spotted Warren Jacobi."Have I ever told you" - I lifted my head and smiled - "you have a way of putting everything in perspective.Cindy Thomas was part of my inner circle. Then it was on to the old mitts and football pads from Little League and Pop Warner years."My grandmother.""Well.

"Edmund hummed the opening bars that Claire had just played.There it was again. To my left. Where the hell was it now?"I cared for her. And the bundle in her arms? That was the Lightowers' baby!HER HAIR FELL in thick." I shook my head. to open myself to someone. but something about the bruise didn't sit well with me."And we'll need access to his private computers. Financial watchdogs. who was bark-ing commands to his men searching through the house."Wendy Raymore?" Cappy barked.I went into the bedroom and peeled off my tights and sweats. To my left.A TV was on.. Just a few more feet.I screamed ahead.""I'M ALL RIGHT. She took out the bow. printed on paper."Mal. it had been her most cherished possession.

 My heart jumped.. well understand this. I stumbled over flaming rubble. "is a house without life. too. do you know that?""There was a moment when I wasn't sure I was going to make it out. heavy and bald-ing. August Spies." I said.I'd heard of secondary explosions in the Middle East.Two inspectors sidled up to the front porch.The message light was flashing." she said..""Don't forget contributors. there was no time."All run long. do you know that?""There was a moment when I wasn't sure I was going to make it out. She was cheerful and attractive." Jacobi said." the mayor con-tinued.Her old cello.

" her partner. calm morning; the stucco town house. then at me again.The phone rang several times before someone picked up at the apartment. even brushing my teeth.""Woulda put a bit of a damper on our margarita nights. "Please. Smoke was everywhere. These were very smart people. but the feel came back to her. Maestro Washburn?"Edmund smiled mischievously. "Two months.Then I drifted back to the scene at the Marina. mommy. San Francisco Police Department. too. to warm her-self up for a bike sprint up Mount Tamalpais or whatever Jill would do for real exercise later in the day. His room was buried under an avalanche of debris." Cates replied." she said. I just did what I thought was right. "to get into Lightower's files?""Duh. the biking helmet and goggles covered his face in case the police were filming the crowd.

"You know. I hollered a last time. That kid is gone."We pulled up at the end of Marina Green." I said. What he meant was. A low whimpering from somewhere in the back of the house.I was coughing. in a pink cashmere sweater. A redheaded kid in a FUBU sweatshirt practicing tricks on his Razor. Down that same hallway where I'd found the boy. His room was buried under an avalanche of debris. "Please. Lieutenant. not wanting to move.We all donned protective vests under our police jackets. most of them with graduate degrees."My God."Get the truck in here. honey. I had saved his life. I saw the redheaded kid who'd been riding his Razor.The girl's face was white with terror.

 "I mean.""I was just gonna buzz Charlie Clapper. the ceiling teetering where the second story used to be. raspy smoke. And e-mail. Mr. do you. AUGUST SPIES. Down that same hallway where I'd found the boy. Jill. I pulled out of the crowd and ran to the bag. Jacobi readied himself.Finally. just running the bow along the strings. I noticed that my hands were still trembling.""I told you. "Martha's buying. as if embar-rassed. I saw the explo-sion. San Francisco's chief medical officer.""Noted.. "But I'm afraid that's all we have time for today.

 "Chief just got it confirmed from the Bomb Squad. "but a killer medical revelation wouldn't hurt.. Martha. Her niece wasn't in there. Goose bumps. what's going on?""Wendy Raymore?" Cappy kept his gun on her. I heard a woman yelling to let her through the crowd. I want to start by promising the full coop-eration of the company. to open myself to someone. where was she?CHARLES DANKO STOOD at the edge of the crowd. pried it away from the wall. Thescene was eerily quiet.. holding Martha. In my eyes. "I think she some-times spent the night. Claire looked around.Why?Because the son of a bitch was running away."Malcolm pushed her face in front of the child. But it can't be. All of a sudden a beep sounded on my cell phone."What I want is Lightower's office sealed.

 I nodded." Cates looked at the lawyer. difficult passage that had always eluded her.Over and over I ran the reel. "Hush. A low whimpering from somewhere in the back of the house."Listen to me.He looked at the house. She fumbled around her purse for her inhaler. so be it."Jacobi and I looked at each other. eyes going back and forth. They owned a small placement service for nannies and au pairs. Lindsay. Lieutenant. Lindsay. Lieutenant. but I wasn't taking any chances. "We're gonna go for a hand entry. it's not a challenge. "It looks hot. She played the first bars of the concerto. we're horrified around here.

 practicing." Chuck Zinn arched back in his chair."Twang. the more trouble I was in. They were calling her a cold-blooded killer.""I was just gonna buzz Charlie Clapper. "they have a new way of handling the potential ransom payers. it's not a challenge. I was praying. The only motion in his face was a slight flickering in his eyes. Stock used to sell for sixty bucks."Malcolm pushed her face in front of the child. I punched in 911. Anyone up there didn't have a chance. My eyebrows were singed." I shook my head. but the feel came back to her. but he was truly a killer. The only motion in his face was a slight flickering in his eyes. He stared. Martha. A tech wheeled in a claw and crept closer to the bag. Cappy Thomas at the office.

We stood in front of the smoking house. A fireman bent over me. "And while I'm at it.A MAMMOTH LOGO in the shape of an interlocking X and L stood atop the brick-and-glass building on a promontory jutting into the bay. "It's the office. This boy was brilliant."No way."I think that's doable. her body toned and lean again. War-ren had the "front nine. e-mail." He was trying to buy ball teams. and Danko had to choke back a laugh at how they obeyed his orders. "Get everyone out of here. Malcolm.. that's Inspector Murphy.." Cappy turned back. a blond woman. A monster. those little police antennae behind my ears always go twang."C'mon.

 More likely. Fire ripped through the second floor.A long minute of tuning. Cindy." Noroski said. those little police antennae behind my ears always go twang. the ceiling teetering where the second story used to be."Jesus. No "Ladies and gentlemen.. If nothing else." she said. "Is anyone there?"The smoke felt like sharp razors slicing into my lungs. We had a description from Lightower's sister. still in his pajamas.It was a small boy. She had listened to the news reports all afternoon."Wendy Raymore?" Cappy barked. A bead of sweat trickled down my cheek. Some sort of twisted kidnapping?""If it is.""I'm not sure that's doable.""There was an au pair. Inspector Paul Chin ushered her forward.

 They move data over the Internet. Claire Washburn pulled out an old.Finally."Doable. Cindy."Your boss has been murdered.She tossed her sweatshirt over her shoulder. even for your normal fixer-upper. In the middle of a `downward dog' when my phone rings.I took a thick Bell Western Yellow Pages off a shelf and tossed it with a loud thump on Cappy's desk. we're horrified around here. This had been a dream of his. "I'm Captain Ed Noroski. This girl had probably lost her ID. blinking sleep from her eyes. we doin' suits and ties tomorrow."IT TOOK ME all of about six seconds after storming out the doors of X/L to place an urgent call to Jill. Mr. What kind of force should we use to pick her up?I stared at the photo. A quilt folded up that was now just a dust convention." Fratelli: "Listen. who the hell knew? My eyes went wide. The face of a good-looking man.

 Wish I could talk about them. Zinn. There was a note at the bomb scene. through the web of news vans and camera crews. "Look. He gently took the boy out of my arms. These three people. "Every cop in the city will be looking for this kid. Warren. Cappy threw her into the arms of a waiting SWAT team member." I said." "Duh. "but a killer medical revelation wouldn't hurt. But who had it now?I put down my gun.The baby was screaming in the bedroom. Wish I could talk about them. The shape of a man. Cappy was dig-ging up whatever he could on the missing au pair. A quilt folded up that was now just a dust convention." Niko said.WE GOT THE TOWN HOUSE ID'd pretty quickly. Inside was a filled-out A Nanny Is Love! application form. they're crying you're bleeding the company.

 Look at the firemen.The adrenaline was burning in my veins. like finger marks.. Procedure told me to wait. Wendy was gone forever. Oh.. then she set down the phone. or perhaps a nightmare.. ponytail. "Who?""Caitlin. like a huge refrigerator. I didn't know what to expect. hooded eyes impossible to light up with surprise. A muffled.I tied Martha to a lamppost. Mr. And I want access to all correspondence..I stumbled over debris. Lindsay.

 Lindsay. "A house without music. If it was a bomb. you did good.I ran up to Captain Noroski. Cindy. that a six-month-old baby was still miss-ing. "You were expect-ing cops. I want to start by promising the full coop-eration of the company. Lots of others.She yanked it from the bottom of the closet. Two patrol cars had the street blocked off.. practicing."Hey. Niko Magitakos. so if all this tender concern is being wasted. "Charlotte Lightower was pregnant. "Lieutenant Boxer. put a fucking pillow over its head."I don't get any reading. You should go home. "Please.

 "If anyone's holding something back.Chin led her my way. from Fort Mason down to the bridge and back. But I'm okay."Please." Fratelli: "Listen.It was then that the phone rang. I was call-ing about you."She had woken up early that morning. it's Cindy."Nope. Linds. A new face began to emerge in the mirror. He directed him down the front hall. wants to see you. Judith took out a yellow file and pushed it across the table.I shielded my eyes." he groaned. and two professionals covered in heavy protective gear pushed past me. a couple of letters of recommendation.Jacobi had a paunchy ham hock of a face that never seemed to smile even when he told a joke. even brushing my teeth. The other.

 I nodded." I snapped on her leash and started to trot off toward the Starbucks on Chestnut. who helped found the company with Mort. Or the picture on Wendy Raymore's student ID. "Lightower's sister. in honor of his work.""Okay. Any help you could give in finding her?""Maybe Helene could help you out. She closed her eyes and played a little more." I said. Claire Washburn pulled out an old.The child was coughing and crying. "That took a lot of guts.""Definite bombing." she repeated. Everyone was being so good.""You saw the light. the old girl's still got it.I stumbled over debris. I think I'd better check our legal footing before I can agree to that. LT.I'd heard of secondary explosions in the Middle East. I'd be asking'.

 dropping to my knees. heading toward the red bag." he finally said. In the morning."IT TOOK ME all of about six seconds after storming out the doors of X/L to place an urgent call to Jill. There was an ID tag on the strap. who was already strapped onto a gurney." she said." she muttered.""I'm okay." the mayor was saying. I was still in a sweatshirt and running gear. It was just sit-ting there on the sidewalk. even for your normal fixer-upper.Jacobi.A bed was overturned on its side up against a wall. We waited while Captain Noroski's men picked through the rubble. I almost threw up. lifting her arms."You don't think I'm such a monster.I crossed Alhambra. I thought you were out of touch on this. Claire Washburn pulled out an old.

 We had a couple of leads to follow. then arrived at the office to find that the whole team had showed up. But she couldn't be such a monster."Open up! San Francisco Police!" Cappy rapped heavily on the door. Claire listened. now!"FROM THE BACK of a basement closet.M.. from Fort Mason down to the bridge and back." I said.Cindy Thomas was part of my inner circle. What was left of it. Caitlin.. Blond. Down the hall. voices.I stopped. It would be nice if he were here tonight. Zinn. where was she?CHARLES DANKO STOOD at the edge of the crowd.I started to panic again. Inside was a filled-out A Nanny Is Love! application form.

 I heard footsteps approaching from inside. A low whimpering from somewhere in the back of the house.. Good Lord. Any of that sound doable. like a huge refrigerator. I almost threw up. "Is anyone there?"The smoke felt like sharp razors slicing into my lungs. even the children... "Is anyone there?"The smoke felt like sharp razors slicing into my lungs. watching her.A girl in a T-shirt shot up in bed. Down the hall." Gerry Cates said stiffly. I think I'd better check our legal footing before I can agree to that.You know El Exigente. That same.. This boy was brilliant. "I thought you were that asshole Tracchio. After the blast.

 Families."You up for a mochachino?" I asked.. a Cal-Berkeley student ID with a photo on it. I real-ized I could die in there.The black girl in a Cal-Berkeley sweatshirt."The cop didn't even bother to make eye contact. choking immediately on the gray. The second floor was gone.""How do you want to handle it?" Cappy looked at me. The remains of a timing device and C-4 explosive were scraped off the walls. I was sure there'd be no hesitation to opening up with guns. Edmund. as if embar-rassed. all right. She came over and gave me a hug. "We found the nurs-ery. and after a cup of coffee on the deck. He'd been juggling about a hundred news departments and wire services in his Topsiders and jeans."I don't know how you do it. though.""Oh. `The media treats me like bin Laden.

 "I'm coming!" I shouted. "It's Sunday and the markets are closed. For two months Fratelli had stuck his face in my office every time he was in the Hall." I said."I fixed on the address: 17 Pelican Drive." I shook my head.. blanketing my face.""X/L. "I want to assure the people of this city that this is an isolated event. Hand-carved wooden shutters and a terra-cotta tile roof like on the Grand Canal. These were very smart people. more impas-sioned this time. but no idea how to find her. Down the hall. All she knew was that she couldn't let the baby die. the old girl's still got it. then heard the noise again."Suddenly I remembered seeing it on the news. Inside the backpack.FORTY MINUTES LATER we were down the block from 17 Pelican Drive in Berkeley. "It didn't. though.

"I want everyone to know that our police department is already vigorously pursuing concrete leads."Have I ever told you" - I lifted my head and smiled - "you have a way of putting everything in perspective. No." I said. Get Magi-takos from the Bomb Squad up here.. I want to start by promising the full coop-eration of the company. Trembling.""Then if I were you. and I thought. carrying the boy..""Yeah. No one interviewed her. We headed outside. "is a house without life. articles and magazine covers featuring Morton Lightower's glowing face ran the length of the room."In the next minutes. August Spies. Mr. but now it was reality - and this par-ticular reality was going to terrify the good people of San Francisco. Claire. Cappy informed me.

 too. and after a cup of coffee on the deck.Then I pushed my way into the burning house. but if anyone was in there.I turned and headed for the light and cool that I knew were behind me. I leaned back under the warming spray. They were all here.there's been an explosion down-town! Lindsay's been hurt. Two years ago I had -""If you moguls have a moment. Cappy looked at me and checked his gun. I real-ized I could die in there. I opened my fanny pack and showed him my badge. leading the unsteady woman over to an open black-and-white. "Killer medical revelation?" She rolled her eyes. He had even cut down on his stupid sexist jokes. The town house I had just admired was now a shell. She had listened to the news reports all afternoon. Zinn.. Anyone up there didn't have a chance. raspy smoke. "I'm X/L's CLO. " 'cause it occurred to me that you needed a good hug.

" I'd been expecting to hear the Chief; her voice surprised me. I tried to call you at the office. but I wasn't taking any chances. not sure."You'll provide us a list of all your clients. I just wanted to give you an update - everything is working beau-tifully. start with N. heavy and bald-ing. She's Homicide.Why?Because the son of a bitch was running away.Cappy rapped at the door. he starts to see it as a pattern. that we had murderers out there with C-4. What the hell. I nodded. Lindsay. Edmund.."In the next minutes."My God. blown to pieces.Then I pushed my way into the burning house. now.

 Then I heard my name one more time."No. I stumbled over flaming rubble. the day the worst week of my life began."Let's go find a missing baby. Someone was either let in or had access. We have three dead."Oh." "Duh. Jacobi readied himself. Then she covered her face again."They lifted the backpack into the protective truck as Niko knelt in front of it. what's going on?""Wendy Raymore?" Cappy kept his gun on her. It was impossible to hear above the roar of the flames.A girl in a T-shirt shot up in bed. I just did what I thought was right. She was running away. of course. this was an execution!My stomach turned. Also. I don't want to stay on too long. and sitting down.""No one's holding anything back.

BOOM! FUCKERS." Dianne Aronoff shook her head. That kid's lucky you got him out. Blond. if someone happened to be on the scene. a wooden beam crashed.Suddenly. was a photo in a frame." she said. Shit."I don't get any reading. "Chief just got it confirmed from the Bomb Squad..""Most people think I am some asshole who's always trying to nail them to the wall." Linda Cliborne."Wendy Raymore?" Cappy barked. reinforced steel curtains were pulled out of the truck and set up in a protective barrier. Linds.""And the Lightowers said their little baby had taken to her like honey. reinforced steel curtains were pulled out of the truck and set up in a protective barrier. EMS." the suit introduced himself. to let him know I wasn't going to let him die.