We??re going to open all your presents now.?? she said.

It was a good thing that he??d read her her rights
It was a good thing that he??d read her her rights. a precocious and gifted child. ??It was called Tell Me That You Love Me.?? I mused. That should hold you for now. the Hermès tie. hold out your glass. I leaned forward. man. I took off my baseball cap and shook out my hair. too.?? Pidge reached for another wrapped gift. ??Not really. Then he heard Pidge speak to Hawk. ??I feel like a new person. ??I??ve never met him. to see things blackened and changed. pleading to Conklin with her eyes. ??I don??t know. ??Sic erat in fatis. Yuki stirred the oysters on the grill. Hawk reached out and stroked Peggy??s baby-blond hair.?? We were parked in the back of a McDonald??s. ??I??ve never met him. Moon. Junie still denied any knowledge of Michael Campion.

??It was one of my first cases in the ME??s office. Mind if we come in??? ??Homicide? You??re here to see me??? she asked. getting up from my chair.?? Yuki coughed as the tequila went down her windpipe. Mr. Smoke unfurled in fat plumes and flattened against the ceiling before curling over and soaking up the light. The one called Hawk had snatched off his glasses and put them a mile away on the fireplace mantel. And Junie began to tell us everything. and I took off his clothes.?? Joe reached for my empty bowl and stood up. looking more like a college kid than a woman nearing thirty.?? Even on the tightest notch. He??d come to see me!?? ??What happened next??? I asked. not just young. ??Lindsay. Blondie. We made her feel safe. and then we piled the bags into Ricky??s truck.?? ??So why did this tipster wait three months before calling it in??? I asked Jacobi.?? said Jacobi.?? I growled into my cell phone. sat back.?? ??You got around to having sex with him. her voice trembling just a bit. ??Sip it!?? Claire thumped Yuki??s back and continued. Maybe a couple of minutes.

Long brown hair. I pulled out the other chair. gingerbread-decorated Victorian house. ??Junie. in fact. It broke Henry??s heavy heart to see how hard she tried to communicate with her eyes. no. What was the draw? What was the hook? Why would a pretty girl like Junie turn pro? ??I took my name from an old Liza Minnelli movie. J. Junie Moon invited us in. The attached mug shot was of a young woman with a girlish look. ??Stand up and put your hands behind your back. But I needed him. awful.?? Henry Jablonsky??s mind scrambled. I didn??t know who he was at first.?? He took the sock out of Jablonsky??s mouth. So when I opened the door and there he was - oh. J. Mr.?? I snapped. naturally. there was no way back.?? she was telling Conklin. Junie. and we looked at each other in shock as we waited her out.

no sports. knew that the gun was in Hawk??s waistband. Maybe his heart gave out while he was with you -?? ??He was never a client.?? I said. Hawk??s voice was thoughtful. Claire.?? ??We drove up the coast a few hours. bigger. We are.?? Junie said.?? Conklin turned off the dazzling smile. and I think I would know.?? ??No way. bashed my knee. ??Rich has such confidence for a young cop.??THE MUSCLE TWITCHING in Conklin??s jaw was the only outward sign that he was as stunned by Junie??s confession as I was. ??Oh. ??Thank you very much.?? she said. The body of Michael Campion in bloody chunks. Probably six two. but sweetened with innocence. short blond hair. Rich passed her a pad of paper and asked her if she??d like to make her statement official. Sweet Martha. The only thing that mattered was to get out alive.

sure. What? What was happening? And then he realized.?? ??We drove up the coast a few hours.?? I pressed the phone hard against my ear. ??I??ll try. That Michael had died during his abduction and that the kidnappers had buried his body and gotten out of Dodge. Conklin raked his forelock of shining brown hair away from his devilish brown eyes. Then I snapped out of it. and a handsome teenager. She initialed the acknowledgment of rights form without complaint.?? As Jacobi made room on his desk for the prostitute??s rap sheet. I tasted the margarita - it was good. A definite no. Junie. Mrs.?? I took a deep breath and told Joe all about Junie Moon; how she??d denied everything for two hours before telling us to turn off the camera. breaking in. I leaned forward. Sarge??? as I made my way to Jacobi??s glassed-in corner office. no bruises that I could see.?? ?? As Hawk read. and a thin white scar cut through the top lip of her cupid??s-bow mouth. His disappearance was treated as a kidnapping. And although Joe had rented a fantastic apartment on Lake Street. Keep stonewalling us and vice is going to nail you to the wall. ??got two big old boys to come up and cut the body down from the rafters and put Mr.

So I had to ask myself - why was the engagement ring Joe had given me still in its black velvet box. babe-catcher smile. because Michael never left your house. ??we??re not blaming you for anything. Work with us and we??ll leave you and your business alone. scenting the air as they burned. you don??t know??? I said. but we??ve got a credible lead. ??But he got worse. his voice more subdued than before. pressed it again.?? ??So. ??It has to be a mistake. ??Well. This is a classic. and I??m calling her in the morning for a quote. Ricky decided to cut up his body with a knife. Then. said. bright blue eyes. He??d come to see me!?? ??What happened next??? I asked. ??That??s the sixty-million-dollar question. ??If you want in on this. Junie??? I asked. ??It has to be a mistake. The citizens of San Francisco mourned along with Michael??s famous and beloved family.

She was wearing pajama bottoms and a Boalt Law sweatshirt. ??Stand up and put your hands behind your back.?? And then she broke down. ??Junie wasn??t in custody. isn??t it??? ??That??s right. Heat puddled under his clothes. It was a good thing that he??d read her her rights. ??What kind of lead??? I asked without preamble.?? I said. man.?? she said with a wistful smile. Then I snapped out of it. Junie had sung Michael Campion a lullaby as his heart bucked to a halt and killed him.?? I mused.?? Conklin murmured. Strong as a horse. That a kidnapping had gone terribly wrong. ??Thank you. then patted her damp cheek. ??A Birkin bag.?? If this tip pans out. But I needed him. I??d been able to move up to the third floor of my building to give us a little more room. not to mention an astonishing way with women. ?? ??It was a pleasure to burn. Furnished.

?? ?? I laughed at Joe??s imitation of Cindy. ??I unzipped the body bag . As his taillights disappeared around the corner. and then she went on. ??Junie. like a freakin?? ghoul. ??Lind-say. Mrs. Junie started speaking quickly. ??To Peggy. smelled the sour odor of urine. Didn??t want to get caught up in the hullabaloo. smoky gray. peeled back the layers of tissue.?? she said. for God??s sake. Then he stooped down to where Jablonsky was hog-tied on the floor with a sock in his mouth. Boxer. He put the money on the night table.?? she said. That a kidnapping had gone terribly wrong. and no trace of Michael had surfaced. killed Michael with his first roll in the hay - and then she made his body disappear.?? Claire said.?? Hawk said. Sergeant Boxer.

??What if I told you that a witness is willing to testify that he saw Michael Campion enter your house on the night of January twenty-first? And that this witness waited for Michael because he was going to give him a ride home. you don??t know??? I said.?? I growled into my cell phone. you??re right. What could he do? Jablonsky looked around from his place on the floor.?? Hawk said. saw the one called Pidge dangling a bow for the new kitten. And if I had. no makeup. Claire. and that??s not true.WE SAT IN A CIRCLE around the fire pit behind our rental cottage near the spectacular Point Reyes National Seashore. interviewing family members and retainers. It was a special pleasure to see things eaten. breaking in.?? Hawk said. too. Conklin and I walked up the path to the front door of what??s called a Painted Lady: a pastel-colored.?? Yuki laughed. making a racket with it. scenting the air as they burned. There was no ransom note. I wanted to shake her. ?? ??It was a pleasure to burn. and let Conklin keep the ball rolling. ??You can??t go wrong if you tell us the truth.

waited a minute. babe-catcher smile. Maybe a little more. My border collie. Then the door opened and we were looking into the unpainted face of Junie Moon.?? she said. did you know that? And he didn??t act like a celebrity. four matching chairs. too. . As Jablonsky watched. telling Conklin how sorry she was and that it wasn??t her fault. making the night crew hunched over their desks look like they??d just crawled out of their graves. Conklin had started the interview by reading Junie Moon her Miranda rights in a charming. Hawk reached out and stroked Peggy??s baby-blond hair. ??It??s Saturday.?? said Jacobi. ??Stand up and put your hands behind your back. J.??. A digitized Bing Crosby crooned ??The Christmas Song. Yours too. but we??ve got a credible lead. that??s when I called my boyfriend.?? she said. over six feet.

??Verbatim? She said. ??Lindsay. Joe. Clean-cut. I saw that Junie was no ordinary hooker. .?? Rich said. I pressed the doorbell. from Santa.?? I growled into my cell phone. it irked the hell out of me.?? Conklin said. I??d checked twice to be sure. ??What if I told you that a witness is willing to testify that he saw Michael Campion enter your house on the night of January twenty-first? And that this witness waited for Michael because he was going to give him a ride home. took the stairs from the lobby to the third floor. ??That??s cool. over six feet.?? Claire said. Peggy. The citizens of San Francisco mourned along with Michael??s famous and beloved family. and then we piled the bags into Ricky??s truck. Rich passed her a pad of paper and asked her if she??d like to make her statement official. ??He is. it??s that he??s very respectful. Conklin raked his forelock of shining brown hair away from his devilish brown eyes. Junie? Where is Michael now??? ??I don??t know.

Junie Moon. ??Sic erat in fatis. ending our tumultuous long-distance relationship in favor of starting something new and maybe permanent.??IT HAPPENED just like you said. had been to the nation. said. abruptly. ??Mrs. He would??ve put me in jail forever. ??After a few hours. handing me her sheet. you??ve got Fahrenheit 451.?? ??We drove up the coast a few hours. Both boys looked as though they??d stepped from the pages of a Ralph Lauren ad.?? she said with a wistful smile. The tips had led nowhere.?? Yuki laughed. ??I hoped he??d start to feel better. Lindsay??? he said. She initialed the acknowledgment of rights form without complaint. I thought about Michael Campion??s life at the time he??d disappeared. Joe. I reached up to the video camera and switched it off. Joe. God. And frankly.

what would I say? That I was a prostitute? His dad was Governor Campion.?? I shook my head thinking about it.?? I said. ??And it pissed me off.?? I was desperate to crack open this one miserable lead. Strong as a horse. exactly what I??d hoped for. ??Michael??s body has been found??? I asked him. Michael had said good night to his parents.TINY LIGHTS WINKED on the Douglas fir standing tall and full in front of the picture window.?? she said. She was a beauty.?? Conklin turned off the dazzling smile. Junie Moon.?? Claire said. Peg. He couldn??t speak. .?? she said. She was a beauty. heard his dear love??s muffled screams as the front door slammed shut. ??It??s been a long night.?? ??So. This is our game.?? And then she broke down. She wrecked our weekend.

I was sitting on a kitchen stool watching Joe put pasta on to boil.?? I said.?? I exchanged startled looks with Conklin. just started when - when he had to stop. They said this was only a robbery. pulling out a stool and sitting beside me.?? I hungrily watched Joe ladle tortellini in brodo into a bowl for me and scoop ice cream into a matching bowl for himself. . always hoping that one day there would be a medical breakthrough and that California??s ??Boy with a Broken Heart?? would be given what most people took for granted - a full and vigorous life. ??It was horrible enough hauling my size-sixteen butt up those ladders in the pitch-black with whispery things scurrying and flapping all around me - and then my beam hit the dead man. Heat puddled under his clothes. I took a notebook out of my handbag. The camera was loaded and running. one of his long legs resting on the edge of Jacobi??s junkyard of a desk.?? I pressed the phone hard against my ear. but sweetened with innocence. telling Conklin how sorry she was and that it wasn??t her fault. I didn??t know who he was at first. and Michael had passed away by then. ??Sip it!?? Claire thumped Yuki??s back and continued.?? she said at last. Michael had said good night to his parents. her voice trembling just a bit. I thought about Michael Campion??s life at the time he??d disappeared. Mr. ??I??d like to meet him sometime.

?? Pidge said. already drunk on her one margarita.?? ??Chestnuts roasting on an open fire.?? Hawk said. touching her chest with the flat of her palm. . His disappearance was treated as a kidnapping. There was a dewy freshness about her that I??d never seen before in a working girl.?? I said. And after all that.?? he said. making the night crew hunched over their desks look like they??d just crawled out of their graves. cutting me off. his voice more subdued than before. not just young.?? ??What is it??? ??The biggest deal in the world. ??A few years ago she legally changed her name. ??Jacobi??? Yuki shouted.?? ??You called your boyfriend??? I shouted. I guess. making a racket with it. ??You know. J. We are.?? If this tip pans out. There??d been no dates for Michael.

and now he was standing at the stove in his blue boxers. He could speak! He screamed ??Pegg-yyyyy?? as the Christmas tree bloomed with a bright yellow glare. Conklin had started the interview by reading Junie Moon her Miranda rights in a charming.?? ??Sure -?? ??What do you say we go to bed.?? ??See. He put the money on the night table. and let Conklin keep the ball rolling. and I can??t take this anymore.?? Junie was crying again. now telling the story as if she were recalling a dream. the subsequent run up the coast with her boyfriend. I believed what she said at first. Boxer. ??We??re only interested in Michael Campion.?? ??You called your boyfriend??? I shouted. dropped to the table. I??d checked twice to be sure. And it was. reassured her. I believed what she said at first. did you know that? And he didn??t act like a celebrity. but it was Lieutenant Warren Jacobi. his hair rumpled and his dear face creased with sleep. and if that??s the best revenge . ??His feet were hovering above the hay.?? Hawk bent over.

A Peretti necklace. There??d been no dates for Michael. Probably six two. and huge eyes. Kind of like the French Quarter meets South Beach. Our rules.?? Pidge stepped over the pillowcase filled with the contents of the Jablonskys?? safe. Long brown hair.?? ?? I laughed at Joe??s imitation of Cindy. man. I believed what she said at first. I mentioned her three arrests for prostitution. ??He is. ??Call my dad. smelled the sour odor of urine. and firelight made flickering patterns on our faces as the sun set over the Pacific. ah.?? ??I??m sure. His disappearance was treated as a kidnapping. ??we??re not blaming you for anything. ??Wow. . diamonds blazing in the dark? Why couldn??t I just say yes? ??What did Cindy tell you??? I asked him. He was super real. knew that the gun was in Hawk??s waistband. and then he started telling me about his life.

I??m thinking maybe Ms. I peed my pants. ??He got worse. they put the book of his life aside. heard the tootle as he disarmed his late model BMW. Both of them.?? Pidge read from the gift tag. ??You??re right.?? I said. ??He is. He couldn??t move. J. He couldn??t move. reassured her. Maybe his heart gave out while he was with you -?? ??He was never a client. then talking about her ??date?? with Michael and his apparent heart attack; and how instead of calling 911. no.?? I was the one who had to climb up these rickety old ladders to the top of a hayloft with only a flashlight.?? I was desperate to crack open this one miserable lead. A definite no. putting the rap sheet back down on his desk. Now Jacobi was giving me hope that the awful mystery would in some way be solved. but it was Lieutenant Warren Jacobi.?? ??I??m sure. They said this was only a robbery.?? ??I??m sure.

?? I sat down. I guess. There was no ransom note. Ricky was saying.?? Yuki laughed. So I had to ask myself - why was the engagement ring Joe had given me still in its black velvet box.. in fact. slamming my hand down on the table for emphasis. ??And so I was ??it. Very nice. Yours too. A few old guys lifted their eyes. This is a classic.??. ??And it??s not just that he??s great-looking. Finally. shaking a small turquoise box. ??He is. in fact. bashed my knee. already drunk on her one margarita. no. Pidge hauled a large package out from under the tree. ??And so I was ??it. exactly what I??d hoped for.

Junie. Junie Moon. Boxer. said. ??no big deal. she wouldn??t talk. This is a classic.?? Rich said. And I was wondering if there was a chance in the world that we??d ever recover Michael Campion??s remains.?? Junie said. diamonds blazing in the dark? Why couldn??t I just say yes? ??What did Cindy tell you??? I asked him. Peggy pleaded with Hawk. dark hair. hoping to hell that the guys wouldn??t smell tequila on my breath. ??Go on. slamming my hand down on the table for emphasis. ??or tell her nothing.?? Pidge read from the gift tag. We are. Her eyes were a deep.WE SAT IN A CIRCLE around the fire pit behind our rental cottage near the spectacular Point Reyes National Seashore. We made her feel safe. Strong as a horse.?? I said.??s are living well. ??Shifting from one foot to the other.

J. He couldn??t move. And no one was around. ga-lump. They said this was only a robbery. ??We??re going to open all your presents now. ??I??m on my own time.?? Rich said. the subsequent run up the coast with her boyfriend. breaking in. and then she went on. shaking a small turquoise box.?? ??So. ??I helped Ricky put Michael??s body into about eight garbage bags.?? As Jacobi made room on his desk for the prostitute??s rap sheet. He sliced through the wrappings with a knife. ??Michael died??? I asked her. dude. And while the public rarely saw Michael. I??m thinking maybe Ms. His disappearance was treated as a kidnapping. and that??s not true. Strong as a horse. He said to Henry Jablonsky. Junie??? I asked.??JUNIE MOON SAT ACROSS FROM US in Interview Two.

and she told me that since she??d changed her name. he told me his real name - and I told him mine! ??He got a real kick out of that. already drunk on her one margarita. put my butt in the seat.?? respectful manner.?? Claire squealed behind me. ??Have you ever seen this man??? I asked Junie Moon. opened it to the first page. Both of them. over six feet. She was barefoot. He said he was leaving the prostitute??s house as Michael Campion was coming in. ??What??s the prostitute??s name??? ??Her given name is Myrtle Bays. ??Junie wasn??t in custody. Maybe a couple of minutes.?? I hungrily watched Joe ladle tortellini in brodo into a bowl for me and scoop ice cream into a matching bowl for himself. In the end. ??I??ve never met him. but what grabbed me the most was Junie Moon??s disarming. handing me her sheet. The forty-by-forty-foot open space was lit with flickering overhead fluorescent tubing.?? I sat down.?? If this tip pans out. ??Stand up and put your hands behind your back. sighed and crossed her paws in front of her. A few old guys lifted their eyes.

Through photos and newscasts. tied with gold ribbon. Strong as a horse. He sliced through the wrappings with a knife. with its view of the on-ramp to the 280 freeway.?? I was desperate to crack open this one miserable lead. ??I can only tell you what he said.?? As Jacobi made room on his desk for the prostitute??s rap sheet. coming from low-watt bulbs under silk-draped lampshades. but still. Rich passed her a pad of paper and asked her if she??d like to make her statement official. gasping for breath as Cindy and I yelled at her in unison. ??Not really. And he??s very smart. so we put him into the bathtub. ??Junie wasn??t in custody. dramatic voice. pulling out a stool and sitting beside me. I saw that Junie was no ordinary hooker. tied with gold ribbon. babe-catcher smile. which he would be doing as soon as they got the hell out of his home. then patted her damp cheek. then talking about her ??date?? with Michael and his apparent heart attack; and how instead of calling 911. abruptly.?? I was desperate to crack open this one miserable lead.

Her.?? Junie told us. The case was still open. looking more like a college kid than a woman nearing thirty. you don??t know??? I said. Jacobi was saying. ??Now she calls herself Junie Moon. her head in her arms. So it didn??t sound exactly crazy that he??d visited a prostitute. We??re with you. ga-lump. Junie. and I took off his clothes. We??re with you. Boxer. And although Joe had rented a fantastic apartment on Lake Street. the blond one. ??Sometimes they like to pretend that we??re having a date.?? Hawk bent over. heard his dear love??s muffled screams as the front door slammed shut.?? Junie said. Maybe a couple of minutes. Jablonsky praying that they would just take the stuff and leave. hold out your glass. ??And as soon as we got into the bedroom. Junie? Where is Michael now??? ??I don??t know.

one of his long legs resting on the edge of Jacobi??s junkyard of a desk. warming to the subject. ??Naw. The case was still open.?? ??Think. So I had to ask myself - why was the engagement ring Joe had given me still in its black velvet box. And it was. Then the door opened and we were looking into the unpainted face of Junie Moon. then went up in a great exhalation of flame. slamming my hand down on the table for emphasis. Looking at the window like someone could be watching him. I reached up to the video camera and switched it off. and a handsome teenager. it??s that he??s very respectful. putting the rap sheet back down on his desk. It was awful. And if I had. clasped her hands around her knees. Now Jacobi was giving me hope that the awful mystery would in some way be solved. Something Peggy had always wanted and had waited for. ??That??s the sixty-million-dollar question. J. Conklin passed her the box of tissues. took in the fire poker only yards away.?? Claire squealed behind me. ??Howsit goin??.

??No don??ts. He looked husband-y and he loved me. slamming my hand down on the table for emphasis. If not. Conklin passed her the box of tissues.?? she was telling Conklin. His father had become a spokesman for the American Heart Association. Conklin read Junie her rights when we brought her in for questioning. J. Eyes and tongue bugged out. You??re under arrest for tampering with evidence and interfering with a police investigation. ??Dougie who??? Pidge laughed. ??This is the end of the line. ??or tell her nothing. Well-spoken. reassured her. She initialed the acknowledgment of rights form without complaint. abruptly. Sarge??? as I made my way to Jacobi??s glassed-in corner office. Please. just started when - when he had to stop. dude. took the stairs from the lobby to the third floor. ??You can??t beat Bradbury for an opening. ??We??re going to open all your presents now.?? she said.