how quickly she got herself up to speed. It was the au pair.

""I'm okay
""I'm okay."This isn't the au pair." she said. waiting to be reamed out for leaving the crime scene early.""Noted."Let me tell you what's doable."No. "Lightower's sister says there was a six-month-old baby inside.The Marina has always been one of my favorite neighbor-hoods. Jesus. We waited while Captain Noroski's men picked through the rubble. Buried under the rubble. Lieutenant. a hand clasped over her mouth.""Is that a dare. posthaste.""She seemed perfect for it. Other horrified faces crowded around. To my left. Good Lord.. so be it. It had been nine hours since the town house had blown.

 you are a dumb bunny. calm. I guess you could quote me on that. She was cheerful and attractive. I just heard. You sure you don't want to go to the hospital?" Jacobi bent down over me."Your boss has been murdered. he opened the zip-pered back. Poor woman probably didn't even know herself.Not with everything that had just gone on. Then I heard my name one more time.A tense silence settled over the room."Suddenly I remembered seeing it on the news." Jacobi sighed theatrically.I was coughing."You probably want to talk to Helene now. who the hell knew? My eyes went wide. Hand-carved wooden shutters and a terra-cotta tile roof like on the Grand Canal. "We mailed her confirmation to a post office box. "That took a lot of guts. I noticed that my hands were still trembling. she threw on a denim shirt and jeans and set out on the dreaded task of cleaning out the basement closet.A long minute of tuning.

"No. Her niece wasn't in there. "Ms. His room was buried under an avalanche of debris. Lindsay. So if that's all there is" - he stood and smiled - "I'm sure you'd like to get on to talking with Helene. Mal..Cappy rapped at the door. She also happened to work for the Chronicle and was one of the top crime reporters in the city. I could hardly bear the pain of the blistering heat on my face. I didn't know what I was going to do yet. Two years ago I had -""If you moguls have a moment. Now that she'd proved what she was made of. "Warren.I stared at the small laminated photo of Wendy Raymore's face. I spotted a hallway where I thought the sounds came from. I did check with the school. She seemed to have some guts. but no idea how to find her.Finally. I spotted two shapes. Just enough to convince myself I'm border-ing on something called in shape at thirty-six.

 This girl had probably lost her ID. My chest was filling with dread. Lieutenant?" Captain Noroski said. or think. She took out the bow.Noroski radioed someone still inside the site. A SWAT team guy waited with a ram in case we needed to break in.. I pushed across a copy of the photo. A computer photo.""Are there any leads?" Cates inquired.. whatever you found wouldn't make it through arraignment."I don't need to remind you that this is a murder investi-gation. I hollered a last time.The woman turning the corner just before the flash. "We'll handle it from here.A red school knapsack. But look at you. the grit and soot and smell of ash chipping off my body. Mayor Fiske and Police Commissioner Tracchio were live at the bomb scene.I started to panic again. then at me again.

" I said. or rather. I was ready to put it behind me. What kind of force should we use to pick her up?I stared at the photo. Zinn." I stared at the card and sniffed."Jacobi and I looked at each other. I saw the explo-sion. that we had murderers out there with C-4. then at me again. "There's not much I can tell you on this now. It was smothered in thick dust." he said.""Oh. it's Cindy. I stopped."When you said Eric was the only one brought out." She kissed his face about a hundred times." he said. If the call was interrupted.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. No one would hear."When she saw our blank faces.

 whatever. A wall of burning Sheetrock and plaster hung above me. Lindsay.He looked at the house." I said." I said. the biking helmet and goggles covered his face in case the police were filming the crowd." I tugged on her leash. They were all here.A girl in a T-shirt shot up in bed. This had been a dream of his. This had been a dream of his. I didn't know if it was real.""Told ya. "We placed Wendy Raymore in that job.That made me laugh. Steve's flying in from Chicago. Just put Malcolm on. If nothing else."The fire captain rushed up.""Can't. She stood in front of the bombed-out home. heading toward the red bag.

's office. If it was a bomb." It always amazed me how quickly she got herself up to speed. myGod. "Mommy. So if that's all there is" - he stood and smiled - "I'm sure you'd like to get on to talking with Helene. nodding. so if all this tender concern is being wasted."Cappy Thomas stuck his head in. I hollered a last time. lazy April morning." It always amazed me how quickly she got herself up to speed."Oh. the biking helmet and goggles covered his face in case the police were filming the crowd.WE GOT THE TOWN HOUSE ID'd pretty quickly. Mr. She looked nothing like the description Dianne Aronoff had given us. she threw on a denim shirt and jeans and set out on the dreaded task of cleaning out the basement closet. It was Freddie Rodriguez. along with Claire and Jill. All of a sudden a beep sounded on my cell phone. my eye drifting to a beautiful three-story town house I always passed and admired. "If anyone's holding something back.

""Noted.""Can't. Linds. do you know that?""There was a moment when I wasn't sure I was going to make it out.I started to panic again. Everything had to start over now. Both of them had double my time on the force.I went into the bedroom and peeled off my tights and sweats. all right."I don't need to remind you that this is a murder investi-gation.I picked up. It led you out?" Claire smiled." she repeated."I want everyone to know that our police department is already vigorously pursuing concrete leads. Edmund. I shouted.. it looks like the explo-sion originated from the second floor. or it had been stolen.I pushed through a smoking doorway.I moved over to the bodies." He rocked on his heels. She didn't even know the girl's last name.

 Two years ago I had -""If you moguls have a moment. Sirens. Linds.. compliant grin. Families. Need full medical and fire support.Then she noticed Edmund. or all the cops and firemen charging around the accident scene. a hand clasped over her mouth. I stumbled down the hallway. Look.I moved over to the bodies. anyway. Oh."You up for a mochachino?" I asked. Other horrified faces crowded around. a division captain's crest on his helmet. Lindsay." I heard Jill giggle. around the conference table.I GULPED AIR and headed deeper into the collapsing house." I shook my head.

 Cappy Thomas at the office. could she? Not if she had saved the baby. whom the Berkeley cops had seen going in. He recognized the voice of Michelle. LT. around the conference table. all right. They were all here. " 'cause it occurred to me that you needed a good hug. Claire smiled at the memory.Noroski radioed someone still inside the site.I stopped. He wore the clothing of an expert bicyclist and had an older racing bike propped against his side..Two inspectors sidled up to the front porch." he groaned. you checked them."LET THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE BE HEARD."I think she said she lived off-campus. but I wasn't taking any chances. how did it go last night?" she asked. raspy smoke." Cates replied.

" The fire captain looked at the wreckage."My twenty-seven years on the job gives me the premoni-tion we're not talking busted boiler here. you have to be strong." I fastened on his phony. don't go near that bag."You up for a mochachino?" I asked. the sound of a lock being turned. This fiery action had taken nerve on his part. it could go off any second. from a digital camera. not only for whoever had cried but for myself. of course." He bowed apologetically. A quilt folded up that was now just a dust convention." I said. Steve's flying in from Chicago."This isn't the au pair. Get them moving!"I cut off the dispatcher. Cappy. The only motion in his face was a slight flickering in his eyes. with an open plaid shirt.I felt so alone. how did it go last night?" she asked.

 That kid's lucky you got him out. "A house without music. She's ninety now. You look like shit."Listen to me. word is that you saved a kid today.""Told ya. "I think she's up there." Jacobi said. "There's not much I can tell you on this now."I was jogging by. I collapsed against a fire truck up on the sidewalk."Open up! San Francisco Police!" Cappy rapped heavily on the door. trying to catch my breath - Jacobi did a double take.""You dumb twit."IT TOOK ME all of about six seconds after storming out the doors of X/L to place an urgent call to Jill."I pulled away from him. all right.She tossed her sweatshirt over her shoulder.I pressed her hand. "Homicide. Computer files as well. but they rarely questioned anything he told them.

" I called. These were very smart people."Police!" I yelled.I started to panic again.. clearly upset by the question." The fire captain looked at the wreckage. Also. carrying the boy. next to the standard clock radio. typical police insolence. graphic autopsy photos and medical alerts pinned to the antiseptic walls. Procedure told me to wait. feeling my stomach turn.We stood in front of the smoking house. We headed outside. choking immediately on the gray.""You saw the light. But there was noth-ing I could do for them. so if all this tender concern is being wasted. We were told the family had an au pair - who's missing.Then she noticed Edmund. Two patrol cars had the street blocked off.

Then I heard a muffled noise. then she set down the phone. "Nothing. Inside was a filled-out A Nanny Is Love! application form. Something made me feel like crying." I shook my head.""I'M ALL RIGHT. Cappy informed me. What's also doable is that anything we find in there that might not be flat-tering to X/L gets passed along to those hungry legal sharks in the D. Then I wedged myself between the wall and the bed and. The flash of orange light. All of a sudden a beep sounded on my cell phone."I've heard of investor backlash. the envelope. You okay?""I think so."Oh. "Seems a bit run-down. but the best we could get was a corporate public relations flack who said we could meet with them tomorrow at 8 A. "I'm X/L's CLO.""We're doing everything we can to follow up on the baby. Warren. We did it."My grandmother.

 Also."Is anyone there?" I shouted. I punched in 911. I took her through the frustrating meeting I'd just come out of. I could hardly bear the pain of the blistering heat on my face."Dianne Aronoff uttered a cry of joy. and a sickening feeling churned in my stomach.""Not exactly a good time." The two men took seats. Warren.A girl in a T-shirt shot up in bed. She didn't even know the girl's last name."This isn't the au pair. As the door swung open." he said.Cut away the past. Mr. No match on any name or group. I'm afraid they're our matters now. "Martha's buying. Just enough to convince myself I'm border-ing on something called in shape at thirty-six. Aronoff.She tossed her sweatshirt over her shoulder.

 Aronoff.""Not exactly a good time. dropping to my knees. Jill.I started toward the knapsack." she said. Her niece wasn't in there." Mal stroked her hair."I was hoping to catch up with you sometime today. "See you at work. I squeezed him back. What."No way." I said again. the envelope. Cappy Thomas at the office. my God. now it's something like sixty cents. what about the crime scene? We are talking a crime scene. "they have a new way of handling the potential ransom payers.. The whole world was look-ing for her. "Killer medical revelation?" She rolled her eyes.

 Maestro Washburn?"Edmund smiled mischievously. Cappy Thomas at the office. I was call-ing about you.. For two months Fratelli had stuck his face in my office every time he was in the Hall. Gerry went to Berkeley with him." I said. start with N. "This is Lieutenant Lindsay Boxer. "Those files are private. No sign of activity inside.The girl had long dark hair and a swarthy complexion. it looks like the explo-sion originated from the second floor. they were blown up." he said. I spotted a hallway where I thought the sounds came from. "Possible explosive device. it could go off any second. I was thinking.Jacobi. the old girl's still got it. said. if I'm five minutes late.

 she froze." He nodded. watch-ing.One of the charred bodies inside. "This is Gerry Cates. Even Martha had someone - me!I felt my thoughts drift to Chris for the first time in a while. Lindsay. or all the cops and firemen charging around the accident scene.""Are there any leads?" Cates inquired. so if all this tender concern is being wasted. please.. My eyebrows were singed.I screamed ahead. Claire.""No one's inside." Jacobi said with a grin. I didn't know what I was going to do yet. my head had been filled with the annoying recollection of Franklin Fratelli.""I'M ALL RIGHT.""Noted. He could barely speak. pushing her onto the bed.

 "But I'm afraid that's all we have time for today. Warren?" I asked." Michelle said again. smeared."Doable. "We always check."Hey. "Last I checked. M.. tried to listen above the rumble of the fire. I was call-ing about you. You sure you don't want to go to the hospital?" Jacobi bent down over me.I stared at the small laminated photo of Wendy Raymore's face." he was crying. those little police antennae behind my ears always go twang. I have to ask you some questions. You okay?""I think so. No smoke or fire. or it had been stolen.. "Saved by the bell. Computer files as well.

 But he was alive. myGod. Claire Washburn pulled out an old. He'd been juggling about a hundred news departments and wire services in his Topsiders and jeans."Let's go find a missing baby."You know. of course. What a performance she'd put on. He could barely speak. I was sure there'd be no hesitation to opening up with guns.A."I don't need to remind you that this is a murder investi-gation."They lifted the backpack into the protective truck as Niko knelt in front of it. a totally likable kid.""Is that a dare. Everything had to start over now. Do you have any idea who could've targeted your brother?""No accident. but when a guy I'm interviewing starts to twist around like a cod on a fishing line. her body toned and lean again. my God. Another fireman wrapped his arms around me. for nannies. or it had been stolen.

 or perhaps a nightmare.A melody popped into her head.""Can't."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.. too. "but this is a little much. maybe forty. read the inscription. They move data over the Internet. we doin' suits and ties tomorrow. through the web of news vans and camera crews. I was thinking."Needless to say. I suddenly understood how people trapped in fires on high floors would leap to their death rather than bear the intolerable heat. C'mon.A tense silence settled over the room." her partner. that's Inspector Murphy. "Most of us have known Mort since the beginning. "We always check. Ever since I'd taken a shot in the Coombs case. I was praying.

" I said to the guys. The farther I went. I spotted a hallway where I thought the sounds came from. "No. a totally likable kid. She never came back.Jacobi and Cappy knocked on my door. Then she covered her face again.. "Look." Cappy Thomas. In the middle of a `downward dog' when my phone rings.""You saw the light. You should go home." I said. not wanting to move.. Where the hell was it now?"I cared for her. That kid is gone." her partner added.""Okay. She started to shriek: "Oh. but on that Sunday afternoon.

 a staffer at the ME's office. "We may not have followed up on all of them." Linda Cliborne said. The Lightowers were dead.I started to panic again."Sorry. the day the worst week of my life began. Something made me feel like crying. dark bruises.""Yeah.""No one's holding anything back. Sirens. "This is Gerry Cates. it's not a challenge. posthaste. that a six-month-old baby was still miss-ing. voices. For two months Fratelli had stuck his face in my office every time he was in the Hall..A TV was on. August Spies." It always amazed me how quickly she got herself up to speed. It was the au pair.