explosion at the corner of Alhambra and Pierce.

"You want me to meet you?""You wouldn't get within two blocks
"You want me to meet you?""You wouldn't get within two blocks. standing at the bottom of the stairs. "It referred to Morton Lightower as an `enemy of the people. Do you have any idea who could've targeted your brother?""No accident. Where the hell was it now?"I cared for her. The only motion in his face was a slight flickering in his eyes."Michelle put the phone down. It was good to hear the laughter back in her voice." Cappy said. Flames gusted just fifty feet away. next to the standard clock radio.""X/L."No. blown to pieces. Jesus. choking immediately on the gray."Nope."I don't get any reading." I smiled." Jacobi said. I held Martha as a car passed by." Linda said." I shook my head. 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.First to go were the stacks of old board games they hadn't played in years. She looked stunned. she is only six months old.

"Then the town house with the terra-cotta roof exploded into flames. "Lieutenant?"I turned. Someone was either let in or had access. Smoke was everywhere. One look at the SWAT team and she let out a startled scream." I said. isn't it? I think I know her. I tried to call you at the office. praying that someone would answer.""I may not outrank you."All run long."Jill. Steve's flying in from Chicago. We knew the place could be booby-trapped. A SWAT team guy waited with a ram in case we needed to break in."You know.""Not for Eric. I just assumed..Back in the office. and a sickening feeling churned in my stomach. holding Martha.. "Is anyone there?"The smoke felt like sharp razors slicing into my lungs. I'd be asking'. which weren't getting closer fast enough for me. my buddy Jill came along.

about eleven.All of a sudden I became aware of barking. Her whole career sprang from that scoop. C'mon."Yeah. grinning.""Thank God!" she exclaimed." The two men took seats.It was priceless and it said so much about the human con-dition. I saw myself on the street. Zinn. "We always check.Cappy rapped at the door. didn't I?" Michelle asked.""Woulda put a bit of a damper on our margarita nights. Her whole career sprang from that scoop. even brushing my teeth.One of them had caught his eye. honey. And I want access to all correspondence. Some sort of twisted kidnapping?""If it is.."Where's the baby?" Cappy shouted." he continued."Nope. August Spies. "You sure you don't want that coffee?" I asked.

You should go home. We have three dead. Malcolm would come by." her mother used to say. backed up ominously toward the spot."You don't think I'm such a monster." Michelle said again."I fixed on the address: 17 Pelican Drive.""Noted. "Man and a woman. She never came back. unlike any Sunday morning I could remember. On the paneled walls. I nodded. I collapsed against a fire truck up on the sidewalk. Homicide.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. so if all this tender concern is being wasted. coughing. if I'm five minutes late."Yeah. if I'm five minutes late.The woman turning the corner just before the flash. even for your normal fixer-upper.Any moment now."The Lightowers' remains were side by side on two gur-neys. that we had murderers out there with C-4.

The neigh-borhood just waking up." She whistled for Otis and began to jog back to her car.I stumbled through the flames.Then I drifted back to the scene at the Marina.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. calm. I was thinking."So. clearly upset by the question. too. I hollered a last time. Lawyer.""These recommendations. As I went through my door. "What could I possibly have for you." I called.Cut away the past. who the hell knew? My eyes went wide. We had her college ID.. Closer this time. I spotted a hallway where I thought the sounds came from. Detectives. Down the hall. AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE. I shouted.""Woulda put a bit of a damper on our margarita nights.

Michelle's heart jumped. Please don't say anything. Hand-carved wooden shutters and a terra-cotta tile roof like on the Grand Canal." he said." Zinn scratched a note. choking immediately on the gray. Blond. word is that you saved a kid today.Then I heard the crying again." she said with a laugh. Just seeing it brought back a swell of memories: hours and hours of learning the scales. everything told me. In my eyes."You probably want to talk to Helene now. "Nothing. "Nothing. Inside was a filled-out A Nanny Is Love! application form. mid-stride.""I heard there was a baby stolen out of the house. having come straight off the first tee at Olympic. very emo-tional news briefing on the steps of the Hall. I shouted. he must be quite a fool."I'm gonna get you out of here. I heard a woman yelling to let her through the crowd. then arrived at the office to find that the whole team had showed up. most of them with graduate degrees.

praying that someone would answer. calm morning; the stucco town house.Cut away the past. was a photo in a frame. Lieutenant. Jesus.""Can't. She never came back. No smoke or fire. I couldn't see for shit.WE GOT THE TOWN HOUSE ID'd pretty quickly. We moved in. A few seconds later. "Hush. shrugging and stretching out a hamstring."We continued to stare at each other. backed up ominously toward the spot. "I thought you'd understand. "We found the nurs-ery.""Definite bombing. Cindy was there.The child was coughing and crying. A wall of burning Sheetrock and plaster hung above me. These were very smart people. "Somehow it's hard for me to think of Steve as a puppy."Suddenly. I'd be asking'.

." I said again." Noroski said. A SWAT team guy waited with a ram in case we needed to break in. coughing. No one understands. "People are always popping off at shareholder meetings. Lindsay. it had been ten years since she'd held it in her hands.""I heard there was a baby stolen out of the house. But who had it now?I put down my gun. Jacobi had run the name on the photo.""Can't. still in his pajamas. Lindsay?""If you mean.I crossed Alhambra. Cindy."You know." I shook my head.. but I managed to budge it a little bit from the wall. "Why don't you go on home?" Cappy said. I tried to call you at the office. "Lightower's sister says there was a six-month-old baby inside. I had saved his life. In the morgue. Martha.

a hand clasped over her mouth.." Jacobi rolled his eyes. I'm telling you. Danko was thinking as he observed the homicide scene.I stumbled over debris. Just a few more feet."You want me to meet you?""You wouldn't get within two blocks."I pulled away from him. "You could call Baghdad a vacation spot. "I can taste that mochachino. Or the picture on Wendy Raymore's student ID. "We have a Palestinian delegation in town I know nothing about?"I told him what I had seen. We were told the family had an au pair - who's missing. Michelle. "Yeah. Computer files as well. LT. nodding. horrified. To my left. This could be her. Lindsay.""I'm not calling about the crime scene. But the realization that a bomb had gone off in our city."The cop didn't even bother to make eye contact. `The media treats me like bin Laden.

" her partner. He'd been juggling about a hundred news departments and wire services in his Topsiders and jeans. so professional. War-ren had the "front nine. Just enough to convince myself I'm border-ing on something called in shape at thirty-six.I turned away and crouched down to shield Martha as the oven like shock waves from the explosion passed over us. Something made me feel like crying. Just sitting there.""You dumb twit. Any longer and the fumes alone would kill us. I'm all right. You okay?""I think so. It couldn't be better. the biking helmet and goggles covered his face in case the police were filming the crowd.E. leveling guns around the room. Sundays were shit crime-solving days.. Lindsay. What was left of it. Shit. Another adult in a back room on the first floor. and I thought. blond clumps onto the bathroom floor. backed up ominously toward the spot. It would be nice if he were here tonight. everything told me.

"Which fund you in?""I think it's called Long-Term Growth. Warren. avoiding new hot spots flaming up. This could be her."He heard Malcolm's cheerless voice. Closer this time. "is a house without life. put a fucking pillow over its head.FORTY MINUTES LATER we were down the block from 17 Pelican Drive in Berkeley. we doin' suits and ties tomorrow.. Get Magi-takos from the Bomb Squad up here." I called. coughing." someone called from across the room. an X-ray scanner. wants to see you. Lindsay. praying I wasn't doing him harm." the tech holding the electro-sensor said. but he was truly a killer.Claire lifted her cello out of the felt mold. This had been a dream of his.."Wendy Raymore?" Cappy barked. said. Stock used to sell for sixty bucks.

Just a few more feet. We did it. And the bundle in her arms? That was the Lightowers' baby!HER HAIR FELL in thick. It was 11:45... the sound of gulls."Suddenly. If Caitlin wasn't there. I lifted the strap and read. Claire listened. My men are just finishing the upper floor.""I may not outrank you."The Lightowers' remains were side by side on two gur-neys. She had listened to the news reports all afternoon. Cappy was dig-ging up whatever he could on the missing au pair. I want to start by promising the full coop-eration of the company.The woman turning the corner just before the flash.""Well. I just took hold of that little boy and prayed." The CLO straightened his pad. my lungs.""I'm not calling about the crime scene. Martha. the wonderfully coldhearted au pair. We headed outside. do you.

She's ninety now. Lindsay. She was cheerful and attractive."IT TOOK ME all of about six seconds after storming out the doors of X/L to place an urgent call to Jill.""I'M ALL RIGHT. when she had struggled through the first movement of Haydn's Concerto in D - the last time she had played. e-mail. offering a card to Jacobi. I pulled out of the crowd and ran to the bag. before they send in the Arthur Ander-sen boys to do a little office tidying. He wore the clothing of an expert bicyclist and had an older racing bike propped against his side. along with Claire and Jill.. then at me again. Cut out with like six hundred million while the company sank like a cement suit. the boy clinging to me with his petrified grip."Use everything." I said. I was thinking. it had been her most cherished possession. "Is anyone there?"The smoke felt like sharp razors slicing into my lungs." she said.' There's a name at the bottom. Maestro Washburn?"Edmund smiled mischievously. I stared at that knapsack.Then I spotted Warren Jacobi. "Yeah.

"I was hoping to catch up with you sometime today. or all the cops and firemen charging around the accident scene. I squeezed it gently. you want to redo your kitchen. Across the bay in Berkeley. Any longer and the fumes alone would kill us. maybe we could work something out. and sitting down. compliant grin."The door to the conference room opened and two men stepped in. but now it was reality - and this par-ticular reality was going to terrify the good people of San Francisco. Goose bumps. then I did. and would she be worthy?He inquired about her from a patrolman at the barricades. most of them with graduate degrees. my eye drifting to a beautiful three-story town house I always passed and admired.Then I drifted back to the scene at the Marina.""Lucky for her. "This is Lieutenant Lindsay Boxer. She was running away." Jacobi rolled his eyes.""I thought you were the legal footing."Behind me. the department's press liaison. I heard footsteps approaching from inside. It was just sit-ting there on the sidewalk. All she knew was that she couldn't let the baby die.

An EMT carefully put a blanket around me..Back in the office. "but I've got fourteen more years on the force. grinning." someone called from across the room. They were all here. I was sure the bag was hot - or at least a leave-behind." he finally said. In my eyes. It was the only way I could get through. I punched in 911. She didn't even know the girl's last name. he must be quite a fool. "Don't ask. the day the worst week of my life began.It was then that the phone rang. it was as grim as I could remember."Twang. Linds. leading the unsteady woman over to an open black-and-white."I heard what you did." She winked. but I did. "Lieutenant?"I turned. Let's go in. installing a $50.

leading the unsteady woman over to an open black-and-white. Need full medical and fire support. "Ms. No one interviewed her. "Which fund you in?""I think it's called Long-Term Growth. praying I wasn't doing him harm. my number one inspector. an X-ray scanner. I stumbled down the hallway. dabbing at her eyes." I said.""I'm not sure that's doable." he said. Someone I could've saved. Cindy.. Procedure told me to wait. This had been a dream of his. their clothes on fire. "to get into Lightower's files?""Duh. just like the rest. "Wendy Raymore? San Fran-cisco Police!"There was no answer." Noroski said. telling me it was time. It was every-where. Zinn?"Gerry Cates leaned toward his lawyer.I grabbed Jacobi.

but I can't." Gerry Cates shook his head and glanced at the lawyer. didn't I?" Michelle asked.That morning. I stumbled down the hallway." Gerry Cates said stiffly." I fastened on his phony. "What's a CLO?""Chief legal officer. Sounded a little off.""Told ya.I hadn't thought about it until now. My God. "The ones who matter know. "It referred to Morton Lightower as an `enemy of the people." She winked. the biking helmet and goggles covered his face in case the police were filming the crowd.. or think. my God. the TV is saying that whoever did this was a monster. Caitlin. "The Creed of Greed guy. choking immediately on the gray. Warren. a wooden beam crashed. a cashmere sweater over jeans." her partner.

But the realization that a bomb had gone off in our city. As I went through my door.That moment flashed over and over in my mind.""I may not outrank you.Then I pushed my way into the burning house."This isn't the au pair. Lindsay. and correspondence. I shouted. or think.. "Wendy Raymore? San Fran-cisco Police!"There was no answer. Lindsay?""If you mean."Get the truck in here.I grabbed Jacobi. "You were expect-ing cops.I went into the bedroom and peeled off my tights and sweats. I didn't know if it was real. There was a note at the bomb scene.""I'm okay. I think he's going to be all right. It was still beautiful.MORTON LIGHTOWER. Anyone up there didn't have a chance. even for your normal fixer-upper. and a pair of Manolo Blahnik flats I had once mooned over for about ten minutes in the window of Neiman's.That moment flashed over and over in my mind.

"there goes the after-noon."She felt herself wheezing now. and two professionals covered in heavy protective gear pushed past me."All run long.He looked at the house. a run. My eyebrows were singed.Someone was crying. "I think she's up there. Jill.. No sign of activity inside. Claire Washburn pulled out an old.Then I heard a muffled noise. and two professionals covered in heavy protective gear pushed past me. "Morton and Charlotte Lightower were among our city's most generous and involved citizens. Claire listened." Jill cut me off.""Any evidence there's anything in Lightower's computer to back that up?""Call me suspicious. No match on any name or group. Maybe it made the Lightowers seem like more of a family to me.I started to panic again. weren't you? I told you they're stupid!" he said. She took the scissors and cut again. You look so different. yanking her out of the doorway. when she had struggled through the first movement of Haydn's Concerto in D - the last time she had played.

You look like shit. All of a sudden a beep sounded on my cell phone. Claire.Did anyone make it out?""We pulled out a boy. and sitting down. his eyes suddenly blank. and would she be worthy?He inquired about her from a patrolman at the barricades.Jesus. It had been nine hours since the town house had blown. Cindy was there. Wow. Inside was a filled-out A Nanny Is Love! application form. "I think she some-times spent the night. Shit. are you?""I can't do this for you." Gerry Cates shook his head and glanced at the lawyer. Edmund picked up a cord-less on the handset. Get them moving!"I cut off the dispatcher. or think. along with about half the city's news force. We have three dead. I stumbled down the hallway. or all the cops and firemen charging around the accident scene." Cates replied. could she? Not if she had saved the baby. "I want to assure the people of this city that this is an isolated event. but something about the bruise didn't sit well with me.

" I tried to pull myself up. Lindsay. A redheaded kid in a FUBU sweatshirt practicing tricks on his Razor. a hand clasped over her mouth. Homicide." I shook my head." he said."This isn't the au pair. like finger marks. Tracchio was a glorified bean counter. AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE.The woman turning the corner just before the flash.Then she came upon the old aluminum case buried under a musty blanket." I said. that's Inspector Murphy. Danko was thinking as he observed the homicide scene. I thought you were out of touch on this. are you?""I can't do this for you." Jacobi said. Claire smiled at the memory." he groaned.It was a small boy. nodding. to say the one thing in the midst of this madness that would make me cry. Lindsay. "Lightower's sister says there was a six-month-old baby inside. War-ren had the "front nine.

A redheaded kid in a FUBU sweatshirt practicing tricks on his Razor. Flames gusted just fifty feet away." I said." She kissed his face about a hundred times." Gerry Cates said stiffly. A residence. Then I heard my name one more time. Niko wheeled out a boxlike instrument." I said. but the best we could get was a corporate public relations flack who said we could meet with them tomorrow at 8 A. horrified.We started with the usual questions: Had Lightower received any threats? Were they aware of anyone who'd want to do him harm?"No. "I think she some-times spent the night. Stick your tits in its mouth. even the children. I want to start by promising the full coop-eration of the company."I don't know how you do it. I saw the redheaded kid who'd been riding his Razor.In that instant I realized that people could still be inside. Captain.""No one's inside. made sure she was in good standing. Cappy Thomas at the office. She came over and gave me a hug. It was the au pair.BOOM! FUCKERS. The idea of a baby still in there.

Lindsay. the local police. It had been nine hours since the town house had blown. A few seconds later. I had saved his life. dark bruises. practicing. Cut out with like six hundred million while the company sank like a cement suit. "Is anyone there?"The smoke felt like sharp razors slicing into my lungs. taking a semi relaxed breath for the first time all day. Tracchio's got a clamp on all releases until we can figure out what's going on." I said.. I guess you could quote me on that." I deleted it without even hearing what he had to say for himself."The cop didn't even bother to make eye contact. A nicely dressed receptionist led Jacobi and me to a conference room inside.We stood in front of the smoking house. just for a little while. Just a few more feet. It was Freddie Rodriguez. through the CCI database and the FBI. Someone was either let in or had access. What a performance she'd put on.I found myself in no-man's-land. or think." The two men took seats.

A redheaded kid in a FUBU sweatshirt practicing tricks on his Razor. or it had been stolen. nodding. Lieutenant."I don't know why I found that so sad. "Ms. Maybe it was the thought of the three dead people in the house.. Cappy Thomas at the office."Oh. how did it go last night?" she asked. A wall of burning Sheetrock and plaster hung above me. That was before everyone realized they had no data to move over the Internet. I'm telling you. raspy smoke. hearing the jays back for the first time that season." Michelle said again. but I can't. I won't tell the details." Gerry Cates said stiffly. Any longer and the fumes alone would kill us. I lifted the strap and read. "Unfortunately." he was crying. CAN ANYONE IN SILICON VALLEY STOP THIS MAN?"Just what does this company do?" I asked Jacobi. She was cheerful and attractive..

"CHARLES DANKO didn't believe in taking unnecessary chances; he also resolutely believed that all soldiers were expendable. Warren?" I asked. It was smothered in thick dust. I stared at that knapsack. Michelle ran over to him and jumped into his arms. A low whimpering from somewhere in the back of the house..""Yeah.. It came back zilch." I said." Dianne Aronoff shook her head. "Just one more thing." he said. And my mouth tasted the bitter smoke of the blast. There was all this smoke. I squeezed it gently. "Warren. I didn't know if it was real. what about the crime scene? We are talking a crime scene. it looks like the explo-sion originated from the second floor. "What's a CLO?""Chief legal officer." she said.One of the charred bodies inside. but finally he'd done something.""Okay. the local police.

It was 11:45." She kissed his face about a hundred times. but if anyone was in there.The kid with the Razor was there."I was hoping to catch up with you sometime today. word is that you saved a kid today.I shielded my eyes. "I think she some-times spent the night." she gasped. We had a description from Lightower's sister. Homicide.""I heard there was a baby stolen out of the house. I don't want to stay on too long. Mal took a gun from his belt. at Caitlin. Lieutenant.."She winced. leading the unsteady woman over to an open black-and-white. No. Cappy Thomas at the office.I went into the bedroom and peeled off my tights and sweats.

Cappy looked at me and checked his gun.." what we call the Sunday morning shift when the weather gets warm. I could see it now. Shit. "Who?""Caitlin. I need you backat home base. This fiery action had taken nerve on his part. For two months Fratelli had stuck his face in my office every time he was in the Hall."Oh. I'm not screw-ing around.. "I mean. word is that you saved a kid today. You look like shit. No one else had been found in the house. Warren. We got you covered."So. Michelle ran over to him and jumped into his arms. didn't I?" Michelle asked. There's been an explosion at the corner of Alhambra and Pierce.