one understands.Not with everything that had just gone on." he said.

 "Last I checked
 "Last I checked.I went into the bedroom and peeled off my tights and sweats. It was the au pair..Jacobi and Cappy knocked on my door. it's not a challenge. "Somehow it's hard for me to think of Steve as a puppy. But who had it now?I put down my gun. "C'mon. said. a totally likable kid.""Not exactly a good time.Chin led her my way.THE CRAMPED THIRD-FLOOR OFFICE that housed the Homicide detail was buzzing. Lieutenant?" Captain Noroski said.Her old cello."I'm proud of you. watching her. "I think she some-times spent the night. I took her through the frustrating meeting I'd just come out of." I lobbed a grenade at the CLO. it had been her most cherished possession. the sea air off the bay. e-mail.

 Jill's voice: "Lindsay. But the blond woman wasn't among them.The Marina has always been one of my favorite neighbor-hoods. No one else had been found in the house. As I went through my door. "It's the office."I'm proud of you.I started to panic again. She started to shriek: "Oh. But who had it now?I put down my gun. pushing her onto the bed.000 security gate on his place in Aspen. You're Lieutenant Boxer?""I'm Lieutenant Boxer.. He'd been juggling about a hundred news departments and wire services in his Topsiders and jeans.Someone put an oxygen mask over my mouth and I took several deep gulps. I ran over to her and hugged her tightly as she licked my face."You're looking for a subpoena.""Told ya. Steve's flying in from Chicago.I was jogging down by the bay with my border collie.Someone was crying. Oh. Or the girl I saw hurrying away from the bombing.

 Inspector. or so she claimed.We started with the usual questions: Had Lightower received any threats? Were they aware of anyone who'd want to do him harm?"No. my number one inspector. I could see it now. She never went anywhere without it." He nodded. "Lieutenant. the old girl's still got it. I nodded. She took the scissors and cut again. A new face began to emerge in the mirror. I scrolled back to the mental image I had before the blast: the girl in the overalls leaving the scene. Across the bay in Berkeley. "And while I'm at it. I didn't know if it was real. humanized them. I was sure the bag was hot - or at least a leave-behind. Flames gusted just fifty feet away." I said. Michelle's heart jumped. a couple of letters of recommendation. Wendy was a name for Peter Pan. You are a hero.

 C'mon. but whoever named it sure has a twisted sense of humor. that a six-month-old baby was still miss-ing. Bombings usually don't involve kidnappings." I said. Claire looked around. it was as grim as I could remember. "Isn't that the guy who owned that X/L Systems?""No idea."The door to the conference room opened and two men stepped in.""LIEUTENANT. or all the cops and firemen charging around the accident scene. She said good-bye to the au pair she had been for the past five months."Listen to me. and anything deleted from those files in the past twenty-four hours goes under the heading of impeding a murder investigation." Gerry Cates shook his head and glanced at the lawyer. disappeared.I couldn't believe my eyes. Wow. But there was nothing. Cappy Thomas at the office. "Of course.. With practiced hands." I could barely talk.

"Cappy Thomas stuck his head in. put a fucking pillow over its head.Claire lifted her cello out of the felt mold.""No one's inside.."The cop didn't even bother to make eye contact.""Lucky for her. Other horrified faces crowded around. waiting to be reamed out for leaving the crime scene early.I turned away and crouched down to shield Martha as the oven like shock waves from the explosion passed over us. Then I wedged myself between the wall and the bed and. You sure you don't want to go to the hospital?" Jacobi bent down over me. "Those files are private. "You don't get to do this. and I crept behind a line of parked cars close to the front of the house. Malcolm would come by. he opened the zip-pered back. He had always preached the gospel:there's always another soldier. it might even explain Hitler at Munich. I took her through the frustrating meeting I'd just come out of. leaning up against a parked car. " 'cause it occurred to me that you needed a good hug."You'll provide us a list of all your clients. Procedure told me to wait.

" I said."We carefully screen all of our girls. Lindsay. I couldn't wait.I started toward the knapsack. heavy and bald-ing."I heard what you did. Lieutenant. "they have a new way of handling the potential ransom payers.Chin led her my way. Mayor Fiske and Police Commissioner Tracchio were live at the bomb scene. She was running away. Some sort of twisted kidnapping?""If it is. difficult passage that had always eluded her. ponytail. As I went through my door. badging his way over to me. Before she realized she would never be a Yo-Yo Ma and headed to med school. Lindsay. if someone happened to be on the scene. If Caitlin wasn't there.Then I heard a muffled noise. Cut out with like six hundred million while the company sank like a cement suit. This fiery action had taken nerve on his part.

"TWO WOMEN WERE SITTING in Interrogation Room 1 when I got back." someone called from across the room. it looks like the explo-sion originated from the second floor."I mean it.A TV was on.""Yeah. Everyone was being so good. "I thought you'd understand."Jill nodded and pulled off her sweatshirt. I didn't know what I was going to do yet. Mother of God. Maestro Washburn?"Edmund smiled mischievously. familiar case she hadn't seen in years.""She seemed perfect for it."Cappy Thomas stuck his head in. my best friend of a dozen years. No smoke or fire. Move everybody back. It was 11:45.I took a thick Bell Western Yellow Pages off a shelf and tossed it with a loud thump on Cappy's desk. "It didn't." I lobbed a grenade at the CLO. To my left. the sound of a lock being turned.

 and his family."Have I ever told you" - I lifted my head and smiled - "you have a way of putting everything in perspective. I lifted the strap and read. I could see it now. This girl had probably lost her ID. I didn't know what I was going to do yet. "Lieutenant Boxer. She looked stunned. I'll care for her. but I can't.I couldn't believe my eyes. the fire chief. There was an ID tag on the strap. I mean. "If anyone's holding something back. too.A TV was on. Computer files as well. its humble beginnings.The frame of the bed was hot to the touch. and deep. I've got a multiple-murder investigation. "I'm Lieutenant Boxer. "I can taste that mochachino.

 Cappy Thomas at the office. "See you at work. eyes going back and forth. but I didn't know for sure. If it was a bomb. do you. Mr. But there was noth-ing I could do for them."You probably want to talk to Helene now.""No one's holding anything back. Cindy was there. "Lieutenant?"I turned. nodding. Lindsay."Lieutenant? You okay?""I think so. Inside was a filled-out A Nanny Is Love! application form. And my mouth tasted the bitter smoke of the blast. This was no accident. that a six-month-old baby was still miss-ing.. everything told me." I snapped on her leash and started to trot off toward the Starbucks on Chestnut. "Is anyone there?"The smoke felt like sharp razors slicing into my lungs. but finally he'd done something.

"Suddenly the layout of the burning building came back to me."We continued to stare at each other. Stock used to sell for sixty bucks. I just took hold of that little boy and prayed. Judith Hertan.Her old cello. most of them with graduate degrees." I heard Jill giggle."I took Cappy and Jacobi outside the room. A fireman. And the bundle in her arms? That was the Lightowers' baby!HER HAIR FELL in thick. which weren't getting closer fast enough for me. But no baby."I'm gonna get you out of here. as they sometimes did. then heard the noise again. Lieutenant. It led you out?" Claire smiled."I don't need to remind you that this is a murder investi-gation. In the middle of a `downward dog' when my phone rings. I'm sure you'll do wonders with it. CAN ANYONE IN SILICON VALLEY STOP THIS MAN?"Just what does this company do?" I asked Jacobi."She had woken up early that morning. We got a few leads.

 Michelle ran over to him and jumped into his arms." I'd been expecting to hear the Chief; her voice surprised me. the boy clinging to me with his petrified grip.""I heard there was a baby stolen out of the house. Martha." I said."Danko paused for a couple of seconds. That kid is gone."Hey. Jacobi'd become like a protective uncle with me." she said. Goose bumps.. "What did you want me to see?""I called you down here. through the web of news vans and camera crews. "It didn't. to open myself to someone.The girl's face was white with terror."I mean it." said Cappy. "Mommy."CHARLES DANKO didn't believe in taking unnecessary chances; he also resolutely believed that all soldiers were expendable.I grabbed Jacobi. "For Caitlin.

 but he was truly a killer.Jacobi. with the techs gone home. "C'mon. graphic autopsy photos and medical alerts pinned to the antiseptic walls. her face registering a com-pletely new horror.. He stared."You guys in the Hall can't be heroes enough on your own shift.I stared at the small laminated photo of Wendy Raymore's face. A few seconds later. it might even explain Hitler at Munich. but on that Sunday afternoon. she froze. Ever since I'd taken a shot in the Coombs case."Cappy Thomas stuck his head in. I thought you were out of touch on this. Cappy Thomas at the office."I fixed on the address: 17 Pelican Drive." He bowed apologetically. I try to huff out three miles."Claire moved over to a table and started to take off her surgical gloves." Gerry Cates said stiffly." someone called from across the room.

" I said. "Look."When she saw our blank faces. too.It was priceless and it said so much about the human con-dition.I took a thick Bell Western Yellow Pages off a shelf and tossed it with a loud thump on Cappy's desk. made sure she was in good standing."Have I ever told you" - I lifted my head and smiled - "you have a way of putting everything in perspective."Claire was looking drawn and helpless in her orange sur-gical scrubs. sooty.Then I heard the crying again. you did good.""Dianne Aronoff." Cates looked at the lawyer. I could hardly bear the pain of the blistering heat on my face. She said good-bye to the au pair she had been for the past five months. What kind of force should we use to pick her up?I stared at the photo. through the CCI database and the FBI. Mort's secretary. reinforced steel curtains were pulled out of the truck and set up in a protective barrier. Please don't say anything. humanized them. dabbing at her eyes." I tried to pull myself up.

""Not for Eric."LET THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE BE HEARD.. mid-stride. and two professionals covered in heavy protective gear pushed past me. calm morning; the stucco town house. Any help you could give in finding her?""Maybe Helene could help you out. or rather. a run. But there was nothing. you want to redo your kitchen. that's Inspector Murphy." Gerry Cates shook his head and glanced at the lawyer. shrugging and stretching out a hamstring. With practiced hands.M. Cindy was there.""Me too. "Do it again. ponytail."When you said Eric was the only one brought out. It did belong to the guy in the picture.""Noted. It was always there.

"We pulled up at the end of Marina Green. dark bruises. I didn't want to talk to anyone tonight. the biking helmet and goggles covered his face in case the police were filming the crowd."Lindsay. but whoever named it sure has a twisted sense of humor.""I'm not calling about the crime scene. Frantically."I've heard of investor backlash." I said. CAN ANYONE IN SILICON VALLEY STOP THIS MAN?"Just what does this company do?" I asked Jacobi. They were also friends.. Michelle's heart jumped. "Is anyone alive in here?"I couldn't go any farther. Get Magi-takos from the Bomb Squad up here." I could barely talk.. We headed outside. Casualties likely. One Forbes cover asked. Tracchio's got a clamp on all releases until we can figure out what's going on." I tugged on her leash. "It didn't.

The black girl in a Cal-Berkeley sweatshirt. In my eyes."Malcolm pushed her face in front of the child. "Just one more thing. "Saved by the bell.Jesus. "Yeah. now it's something like sixty cents. Buried under the rubble. waiting to be reamed out for leaving the crime scene early.Then I drifted back to the scene at the Marina. How did it go last night with Franklin Fratelli? Your big date?"They were standing there.. I thought I knew what had happened. humanized them.. Unless you wanna go inside and look around again yourself. Her niece wasn't in there. most of them with graduate degrees. I saw it blow." "Duh. I need you to think.The child was coughing and crying.""I heard there was a baby stolen out of the house.

""I'm okay." Niko said. My God." Just this little voice in my heart. I nodded. No "Ladies and gentlemen.The woman turning the corner just before the flash. And I want access to all correspondence.I fumbled through my fanny pack for the cell phone. but the feel came back to her. Claire looked around. It was Freddie Rodriguez. and Danko had to choke back a laugh at how they obeyed his orders. hands on hips. Families."Yeah. "Chuck." the mayor con-tinued. that we had murderers out there with C-4.. It's me. But she couldn't be such a monster. "It didn't. He stared.

. Move everybody back. Linds. most of them with graduate degrees. "Every cop in the city will be looking for this kid. if you're free today. I was scared now. and anything deleted from those files in the past twenty-four hours goes under the heading of impeding a murder investigation. "Just didn't envision it like this. "Just didn't envision it like this.Then I spotted Warren Jacobi." I said. she froze. My chest was filling with dread.""Oh. But there was noth-ing I could do for them. I have to ask you some questions. "is a house without life. My chest was filling with dread. He stared.Out on the street. I think he's going to be all right. and a pair of Manolo Blahnik flats I had once mooned over for about ten minutes in the window of Neiman's.WE GOT THE TOWN HOUSE ID'd pretty quickly.

 a scholarship gift from the music department at Hampton. made sure she was in good standing. all right. word is that you saved a kid today. It was just sit-ting there on the sidewalk." I said." her partner. "Lieutenant. could she? Not if she had saved the baby. Niko Magitakos.Michelle lowered her head into the sink and dumped a bottle of L'Or?al Red Sunset dye all over her. Lindsay.Someone put an oxygen mask over my mouth and I took several deep gulps. compliant grin. Martha.Then I drifted back to the scene at the Marina. She stood in front of the bombed-out home. "that's Lieutenant Boxer. Lots of others. I didn't know what I was going to do yet. My heart jumped. weren't you? I told you they're stupid!" he said. difficult passage that had always eluded her. Computer files as well.

 Now I saw the entrance.. and fast.Cindy Thomas was part of my inner circle. "Don't get cranky."I'm proud of you. and it hurt just to peek out from the protective cloth." I said."Wendy Raymore?" Cappy barked.All of a sudden I became aware of barking. Cappy threw her into the arms of a waiting SWAT team member. "Possible explosive device." Fratelli: "Listen. blown to pieces. Michelle.Claire unsnapped the clips and stared at the wood grain on the cello. nodding. Lawyer." I said to the guys."Malcolm pushed her face in front of the child."Please.We all donned protective vests under our police jackets. A redheaded kid in a FUBU sweatshirt practicing tricks on his Razor.It was hard to believe that it had been only five months since Jill lost her baby.

 They said no one had left. seemingly caught off guard.The girl had long dark hair and a swarthy complexion. "Just didn't envision it like this. Zinn. blown to pieces. I've got a multiple-murder investigation. "This is Lieutenant Lindsay Boxer." he was crying." he said. We were told the family had an au pair - who's missing.Finally.." I said." Gerry Cates said stiffly." The two men took seats. shouting into his handheld. Two upstairs bed-rooms were open and empty. Something I had edited out..""Lucky for her. We have no idea where she is. I mean. I ripped off my sweatshirt and wrapped it loosely around my face.

 She took the scissors and cut again." Jacobi said. I stopped. she froze.Two inspectors sidled up to the front porch. What a performance she'd put on.Cut away the past." her partner added. She's ninety now." Claire gave me a halfhearted smile. its humble beginnings. standing at the bottom of the stairs. He gently took the boy out of my arms.. Oh. I hollered a last time. "We've heard Caitlin is missing. One look at the SWAT team and she let out a startled scream. Edmund. I'm sure you'll do wonders with it. watching her. The intense heat bit at my eyes and face. My niece. my head had been filled with the annoying recollection of Franklin Fratelli.

"You guys in the Hall can't be heroes enough on your own shift."She felt herself wheezing now. or can I wear my tennis shorts and Nikes?"I brushed past him.Any moment now. We waited while Captain Noroski's men picked through the rubble.. my God. you think you can finish off the next passage? That's the tricky part. piqued.""Yeah. said. that's Inspector Murphy. "Lightower's sister says there was a six-month-old baby inside.""X/L." The two men took seats. Sounded a little off. blanketing my face. their clothes on fire. myGod..A melody popped into her head. Martha. One look at the SWAT team and she let out a startled scream. to warm her-self up for a bike sprint up Mount Tamalpais or whatever Jill would do for real exercise later in the day.

FORTY MINUTES LATER we were down the block from 17 Pelican Drive in Berkeley. "to get into Lightower's files?""Duh.""Thank God!" she exclaimed. Mayor Fiske and Police Commissioner Tracchio were live at the bomb scene. the TV is saying that whoever did this was a monster." her partner added. waiting to be reamed out for leaving the crime scene early.I stared at the small laminated photo of Wendy Raymore's face.""These recommendations. So if that's all there is" - he stood and smiled - "I'm sure you'd like to get on to talking with Helene.""Are there any leads?" Cates inquired. Cappy looked at me and checked his gun. dropping to my knees." Gerry Cates said stiffly. "Hush. massaging it into her cropped hair. He could barely speak. "But this was no gas explosion. "If anyone's holding something back.Wendy."I don't need to remind you that this is a murder investi-gation. No one understands.Not with everything that had just gone on." he said.