I grabbed Jacobi. typical police insolence.

 pushing my way through the billow-ing smoke
 pushing my way through the billow-ing smoke. I'd try to apply some nonlegal pressure. She also happened to work for the Chronicle and was one of the top crime reporters in the city.The girl had long dark hair and a swarthy complexion. one of those plastic labels. Martha wagged up to me. now!"FROM THE BACK of a basement closet. Something made me feel like crying..A bed was overturned on its side up against a wall. A monster. "But I'm afraid that's all we have time for today. She fumbled around her purse for her inhaler. onlookers were being ringed back by the police.Cindy Thomas was part of my inner circle. my God." he said. heading toward the red bag. you want to redo your kitchen.You know El Exigente." someone called from across the room."LEAVE IT TO CLAIRE. until he wore me down enough to ask him up for a meal on Saturday night (the short ribs braised in port wine I had to pack back into the fridge after he bailed on me at the last minute). She was running away.

 hearing the jays back for the first time that season. LT. "A house without music. My men are just finishing the upper floor. next to the standard clock radio. "Yeah. Just a few more feet. The whole world was look-ing for her. "You were expect-ing cops. Down that same hallway where I'd found the boy. and it hurt just to peek out from the protective cloth. Move everybody back." I deleted it without even hearing what he had to say for himself. Look."You know. Unless you wanna go inside and look around again yourself.What if she'd been careless? What if someone had seen her coming back with the kid? What if they were kicking the door down now!Then Malcolm stepped into the room."Let's go find a missing baby.It was a small boy."You know anyone lives in a place like this with a boiler on the second floor?""No one I know lives in a place like this. I held Martha as a car passed by. MY GOD!" I gasped as a flash of heat and debris nearly knocked me to the ground. restored town houses."No.

 the old girl's still got it. but finally he'd done something. But she couldn't be such a monster. "You're not gonna do this for me. it might even explain Hitler at Munich. and deep.I heard it again. the local police. She came over and gave me a hug. it's not a challenge."Please. A SWAT team guy waited with a ram in case we needed to break in. No "Ladies and gentlemen. hooded eyes impossible to light up with surprise. I try to huff out three miles. my God. Two patrol cars had the street blocked off. How did it go last night with Franklin Fratelli? Your big date?"They were standing there.I was right." she repeated. "We're gonna go for a hand entry."The news didn't exactly surprise us. Maybe it was the thought of the three dead people in the house. Financial watchdogs.

 a fireman climbed out from the debris on the ground floor."I pulled away from him.""Any evidence there's anything in Lightower's computer to back that up?""Call me suspicious. I don't want to stay on too long." said Jacobi. Caitlin?" she called to the bawling child. lifting her arms."Something you want to add to that. compliant grin. "Just didn't envision it like this. those little police antennae behind my ears always go twang. but he was truly a killer. One Forbes cover asked. It was just sit-ting there on the sidewalk.Claire had Edmund to soothe her on a night like tonight. "Martha's buying."A name was printed at the bottom. trying to catch my breath." He rocked on his heels.. Inspector. for nannies. Malcolm." said Cappy.

 and an entire town house burned to the ground in a possible bombing. even the children. now it's something like sixty cents. I saw the shadowy outline of a child's face.I could've died today. It had taken me a long time to feel in charge of these guys.Over and over I ran the reel." she muttered.Claire lifted her cello out of the felt mold." he finally said. Down the hall."We continued to stare at each other. My niece. I hollered a last time. I spotted a hallway where I thought the sounds came from.I took a thick Bell Western Yellow Pages off a shelf and tossed it with a loud thump on Cappy's desk." Noroski said. Can't they ever give you a break?"Claire took the phone. This had been a dream of his. Mayor Fiske and Police Commissioner Tracchio were live at the bomb scene. Cindy was there."My twenty-seven years on the job gives me the premoni-tion we're not talking busted boiler here.I pressed her hand..

""Anything short of aroused body parts to suggest they're holding something back?" The blood began to roil in my chest. searing and noxious. too. "Martha's buying. from a digital camera." I said to the guys. Don't let this blow.We started with the usual questions: Had Lightower received any threats? Were they aware of anyone who'd want to do him harm?"No." The CLO straightened his pad.. I heard footsteps approaching from inside. or it had been stolen. One look at the SWAT team and she let out a startled scream. A muffled.. typical police insolence. could she? Not if she had saved the baby." I said. A single pass.I turned and headed for the light and cool that I knew were behind me. dropping to my knees. I pushed across a copy of the photo.. The idea of a baby still in there.

 Even at Christmas the morgue is a lonely place. we trained our guns on whoever was behind it. The Reverend Al Green. It did belong to the guy in the picture. Do you have any idea who could've targeted your brother?""No accident. It was 11:45. Please... She seemed to have some guts. difficult passage that had always eluded her. Get Magi-takos from the Bomb Squad up here. If nothing else."Your boss has been murdered. "Seems a bit run-down. Lindsay?" Jill chuckled back. well."Michelle put the phone down. if the call was discovered. a scholarship gift from the music department at Hampton..The child was coughing and crying. Inspector. Cappy informed me.

 My heart jumped. backed up ominously toward the spot.." I said. that's probably the third body we found. LT. Jesus Christ. Down the hall. unlike any Sunday morning I could remember. or rather. A square armored truck. chewing on their grin like two oversize teenagers. As I went through my door."You know anyone lives in a place like this with a boiler on the second floor?""No one I know lives in a place like this. through the CCI database and the FBI. the sea air off the bay." I said."Use everything. blanketing my face. I stumbled down the hallway. One of the patrolmen at the scene had taken her home for me. could she? Not if she had saved the baby. "Lightower's sister says there was a six-month-old baby inside."Behind me.

WE GOT THE TOWN HOUSE ID'd pretty quickly. I saw myself on the street. "Every cop in the city will be looking for this kid. We moved in. avoiding new hot spots flaming up. One look at the SWAT team and she let out a startled scream." I lobbed a grenade at the CLO. With practiced hands. One had salt-and-pepper hair and a ruddy com-plexion. Claire." he said. "Who?""Caitlin. This was no accident. Warren.I turned away and crouched down to shield Martha as the oven like shock waves from the explosion passed over us."We carefully screen all of our girls. Michelle. my God. "Morton and Charlotte Lightower were among our city's most generous and involved citizens. 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.The girl's face was white with terror. A fireman.. Just a few more feet.

 "Wendy Raymore? San Fran-cisco Police!"There was no answer. The idea of a baby still in there.. Now. "I'm X/L's CLO. I was sure the bag was hot - or at least a leave-behind. Bombings usually don't involve kidnappings. But I'm okay. is anyone there?""Here..It was hard to believe that it had been only five months since Jill lost her baby. A million students carry them. MY GOD!" I gasped as a flash of heat and debris nearly knocked me to the ground. You look so different." Jacobi said with a grin. I took her through the frustrating meeting I'd just come out of. To my left. "I want to assure the people of this city that this is an isolated event. In the middle of a `downward dog' when my phone rings. What he meant was. hands on hips.. voices. "The TV.

 My chest was filling with dread.."It was almost six o'clock on Sunday. nodding."And we'll need access to his private computers. "Lieutenant?"I turned. a wide.The girl's face was white with terror.Cindy Thomas was part of my inner circle. could she? Not if she had saved the baby. "C'mon.She heard the sound of the front door being rattled.. Curling streets of colorful. just running the bow along the strings.. What I do is supposed to be about making money. San Francisco Police Department. or it had been stolen. Homicide." she said.. Claire looked around. do you.

 holding Martha. "Of course.""Me too." Gerry Cates shook his head and glanced at the lawyer. who was bark-ing commands to his men searching through the house. if the call was discovered.So he made the call from a pay phone in the Mission Dis-trict. my voice." Niko said." He nodded.WE GOT THE TOWN HOUSE ID'd pretty quickly. Inspector Paul Chin ushered her forward. Buried under the rubble. a totally likable kid." she said. She was cheerful and attractive. but the feel came back to her. Maybe it was the thought of the three dead people in the house. too. I stumbled over flaming rubble. Even at Christmas the morgue is a lonely place.. I just wanted to give you an update - everything is working beau-tifully." he was crying.

"Police!" I shouted again. In my eyes. But it can't be. Look at the firemen."The news didn't exactly surprise us. "Don't get cranky. No one else had been found in the house. though. My heart jumped." I said. I didn't know if it was real."Cappy Thomas stuck his head in." I said. But the realization that a bomb had gone off in our city. Maybe ten years old.A red school knapsack.""Yeah."Jill.""I did. Jill's voice: "Lindsay. but I didn't know for sure. She seemed to have some guts.""Told ya. shuffling side-ways beside me.

 the department's press liaison. hearing the jays back for the first time that season."Behind me. One look at the SWAT team and she let out a startled scream. that shouldn't be there. I scrolled back to the mental image I had before the blast: the girl in the overalls leaving the scene. my lungs. at Caitlin. "but I've got fourteen more years on the force."Jacobi exhaled."Police!" I yelled." Jacobi rolled his eyes. Cappy looked at me and checked his gun. a fireman climbed out from the debris on the ground floor. A SWAT team guy waited with a ram in case we needed to break in.""She seemed perfect for it. Please don't say anything. a division captain's crest on his helmet." Mal stroked her hair."No way. Cindy had sneaked her way into a Grand Hyatt penthouse suite. "The ones who matter know. about eleven. "You're not gonna do this for me.

""And the Lightowers said their little baby had taken to her like honey. A fireman. "This is Gerry Cates. for nannies. Shit. the fire chief. "Hush.""These recommendations." she said. hooded eyes impossible to light up with surprise. I saw the shadowy outline of a child's face. then she set down the phone.""I did. That same. Mother of God. but something about the bruise didn't sit well with me..This couldn't have gone much better.I fumbled through my fanny pack for the cell phone. "You were expect-ing cops.First to go were the stacks of old board games they hadn't played in years. well understand this. they were blown up..

" She kissed his face about a hundred times.""Can't."I don't know why I found that so sad. a wide." Cates replied. "Everyone get back!" I yelled again.Then I heard a muffled noise.I couldn't believe my eyes. Just a few more feet. explained to me.. But there was noth-ing I could do for them."AN HOUR LATER Tracchio and I held a tense. grinning. It had been nine hours since the town house had blown."I think that's doable.That morning.We stood in front of the smoking house." I said to the guys. I held Martha as a car passed by. The other. Mr. That same. Move everybody back.

 "Why don't you go on home?" Cappy said. trying to catch my breath. Two patrol cars had the street blocked off. He could barely speak. She took the scissors and cut again.. even before the results of the examination of the blast scene came back." I said. chimed in. EMS." Jill cut me off." I deleted it without even hearing what he had to say for himself. A SWAT team guy waited with a ram in case we needed to break in. so professional. It was smothered in thick dust. dark bruises. I lifted the strap and read. nodding. Down that same hallway where I'd found the boy.""You could call it a date. I ran over to her and hugged her tightly as she licked my face. A quilt folded up that was now just a dust convention.A melody popped into her head. Danko was thinking as he observed the homicide scene.

 Wendy seemed like a gem. I'm sure you'll do wonders with it." "You're saying maybe they'd be more forthcoming if theircompany got trashed a little on the front page of the Chronicle.I moved over to the bodies." The fire captain looked at the wreckage." he groaned. Two years ago I had -""If you moguls have a moment.I stumbled over debris. I want everyone moved back away from here."CHARLES DANKO didn't believe in taking unnecessary chances; he also resolutely believed that all soldiers were expendable.Cappy rapped at the door. What. who helped found the company with Mort."This isn't the au pair.. they're bought and paid for.The man with the claw lifted the backpack to transport it to the truck. "We mailed her confirmation to a post office box.. "Sorry I brought it up. "You were expect-ing cops. But when he fixed on the hole where 210 Alhambra used to be and saw me. "Oh."There was a collective sigh.

 It was good to hear the laughter back in her voice. "Who?""Caitlin. But no baby. This girl had probably lost her ID. To my left." Just this little voice in my heart.""Not exactly a good time. A computer photo. but I wasn't taking any chances. She looked nothing like the description Dianne Aronoff had given us. Buried under the rubble. I made my way over to the boy.She yanked it from the bottom of the closet. "Think I own a few shares in that piece of shit they call my retirement fund. It was impossible to hear above the roar of the flames. shaking his head. in a pink cashmere sweater. Now I saw the entrance."AN HOUR LATER Tracchio and I held a tense. Even Martha had someone - me!I felt my thoughts drift to Chris for the first time in a while."What I want is Lightower's office sealed. about to nail me to the wall."I fixed on the address: 17 Pelican Drive.I gave the nod.

. "Viola. it looks like the explo-sion originated from the second floor. then heard the noise again..."LET THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE BE HEARD." she said. "I'll alert the Berkeley PD. More likely. lifting her arms. very emo-tional news briefing on the steps of the Hall. I hollered a last time.A fireman made his way to me. A square armored truck. Everything had to start over now."Twang. weren't you? I told you they're stupid!" he said. my God. blown to pieces." She winked. do you know that?""There was a moment when I wasn't sure I was going to make it out. the first. Judith took out a yellow file and pushed it across the table.

 I collapsed against a fire truck up on the sidewalk. Unless you wanna go inside and look around again yourself. what's going on?""Wendy Raymore?" Cappy kept his gun on her."You guys in the Hall can't be heroes enough on your own shift." I tugged on her leash. "Warren. And e-mail.I picked up. put a fucking pillow over its head.Then I spotted Warren Jacobi. honey. She had listened to the news reports all afternoon.A TV was on. it had been ten years since she'd held it in her hands."I don't get any reading. Edmund picked up a cord-less on the handset. Move everybody back." Warren Jacobi scratched his head. "Every cop in the city will be looking for this kid. "You sure you don't want that coffee?" I asked. If this was no gas explosion. raspy smoke. is anyone there?""Here. Hell.

 There's been an explosion at the corner of Alhambra and Pierce. .. She closed her eyes and played a little more." she said. where I live in a two-bedroom walk-up.Wendy. No one interviewed her. Judith took out a yellow file and pushed it across the table. maybe we could work something out. She fumbled around her purse for her inhaler. Maestro Washburn?"Edmund smiled mischievously. A few seconds later. but when a guy I'm interviewing starts to twist around like a cod on a fishing line. "Get everyone out of here."The news didn't exactly surprise us. LT. she threw on a denim shirt and jeans and set out on the dreaded task of cleaning out the basement closet. The intense heat bit at my eyes and face. but whoever named it sure has a twisted sense of humor."You guys in the Hall can't be heroes enough on your own shift. before they send in the Arthur Ander-sen boys to do a little office tidying.I GULPED AIR and headed deeper into the collapsing house..

 Cindy had sneaked her way into a Grand Hyatt penthouse suite. Do you have any idea who could've targeted your brother?""No accident. And e-mail. choking immediately on the gray.It was priceless and it said so much about the human con-dition. She was blond with high cheekbones.. leading the unsteady woman over to an open black-and-white. badging his way over to me.I fumbled through my fanny pack for the cell phone. so be it."This isn't the au pair. "Last I checked. printed on paper.Cut away the past." I shook my head. She never went anywhere without it. Something in her arms. My niece. "Martha's buying. for my goddamn superior officer" - the big detective threw his bald head back - "you're looking mighty fine here in those tights. He was being wheeled into a van. Get them moving!"I cut off the dispatcher. dropping to my knees.

 CAN ANYONE IN SILICON VALLEY STOP THIS MAN?"Just what does this company do?" I asked Jacobi. Wish I could talk about them.I picked up. I pulled out of the crowd and ran to the bag. raspy smoke. for nannies. But who had it now?I put down my gun. A SWAT van pulled up alongside." she muttered. it's not a challenge.The shocked girl could barely speak."AN HOUR LATER Tracchio and I held a tense. I was sure there'd be no hesitation to opening up with guns." I said. the wonderfully coldhearted au pair. it's a kid's bed-room. shrugging and stretching out a hamstring. watching her. leaning up against a parked car. dabbing at her eyes. "Charlotte Lightower was pregnant.""Thank God!" she exclaimed.I grabbed Jacobi. typical police insolence.