talking busted boiler here. a run."Doable.This couldn't have gone much better.

 "there goes the after-noon
 "there goes the after-noon. I stared at that knapsack. "Wendy Raymore? San Fran-cisco Police!"There was no answer."Let's go find a missing baby.Chin led her my way. "Yeah."There's no charge. How did it go last night with Franklin Fratelli? Your big date?"They were standing there. I stared at that knapsack. they're bought and paid for. "We placed Wendy Raymore in that job. But he was alive.I stared at the small laminated photo of Wendy Raymore's face. "they have a new way of handling the potential ransom payers. The town house I had just admired was now a shell. Sundays were shit crime-solving days.

. I was sure the bag was hot - or at least a leave-behind."You up for a mochachino?" I asked. It led you out?" Claire smiled. Now here she was. Detectives. having come straight off the first tee at Olympic. I stared at that knapsack. I did check with the school. a lung-clearing bray from me while Mary Decker over there bobbed on her toes as if she could go another loop. Cappy looked at me and checked his gun.""Any evidence there's anything in Lightower's computer to back that up?""Call me suspicious. We waited while Captain Noroski's men picked through the rubble." he said. dabbing at her eyes. Cindy was there.

 Jesus. Tracchio's got a clamp on all releases until we can figure out what's going on." the mayor con-tinued. his eyes suddenly blank. So if that's all there is" - he stood and smiled - "I'm sure you'd like to get on to talking with Helene. A computer photo. Clearly dead. Mal took a gun from his belt."We carefully screen all of our girls. I heard footsteps approaching from inside. the local police.The frame of the bed was hot to the touch. But no baby. He had even cut down on his stupid sexist jokes. We were told the family had an au pair - who's missing. The Internet honcho.

"It was almost six o'clock on Sunday. it had been her most cherished possession. "I thought you were that asshole Tracchio. She's ninety now. "Morton and Charlotte Lightower were among our city's most generous and involved citizens. you checked them. a division captain's crest on his helmet. it had been ten years since she'd held it in her hands.. "I'm Lieutenant Boxer. Sundays were shit crime-solving days. Poor woman probably didn't even know herself." she said with a laugh.""Is that a challenge?" Cindy snickered. This boy was brilliant. Just a few more feet.

 "C'mon. I just took hold of that little boy and prayed."Twang.This couldn't have gone much better. She's ninety now.We all donned protective vests under our police jackets." he was crying.The kid with the Razor was there.. "What's a CLO?""Chief legal officer. "It's Sunday and the markets are closed. She's Homicide. It came back zilch."Get the truck in here. MY GOD!" I gasped as a flash of heat and debris nearly knocked me to the ground. more impas-sioned this time.

 Move everybody back. The house was a shabby blue Vic-torian on a street of similar row houses several blocks from the campus."Suddenly. "This is Lieutenant Lindsay Boxer. "We may not have followed up on all of them.One of them had caught his eye. Mr." The lawyer jotted down a note again."Something you want to add to that. "Just didn't envision it like this. They were calling her a cold-blooded killer. Mort's financial affairs were paraded all over the media. in honor of his work. "What could I possibly have for you. shrugging and stretching out a hamstring."Jill nodded and pulled off her sweatshirt.

" she said. I'm sure you'll do wonders with it. No one would hear."Jill nodded and pulled off her sweatshirt. No match on any name or group. a lung-clearing bray from me while Mary Decker over there bobbed on her toes as if she could go another loop. Then it was on to the old mitts and football pads from Little League and Pop Warner years. it could go off any second.."I don't get any reading.""I told you." I said. It led you out?" Claire smiled." I stared at the card and sniffed. then I did."Claire was looking drawn and helpless in her orange sur-gical scrubs.

 blossoming smile. waiting to be reamed out for leaving the crime scene early. Cindy.."She had to figure it out - what to do with her. "Word on the street is. We did it.""Is that a challenge?" Cindy snickered. I thought I knew what had happened. Just put Malcolm on."Oh. watch-ing. isn't it? I think I know her. Thescene was eerily quiet. No drum roll. Then she covered her face again.

 "We've heard Caitlin is missing. a couple of letters of recommendation. humanized them. But I'm okay. Edmund was still sleeping. What was left of it."Chief Tracchio on the phone. "Who?""Caitlin. It was the only way I could get through. Can't they ever give you a break?"Claire took the phone. and would she be worthy?He inquired about her from a patrolman at the barricades. you called me down here. but the best we could get was a corporate public relations flack who said we could meet with them tomorrow at 8 A."Sorry. as if the meeting was over.Cappy rapped at the door.

Noroski radioed someone still inside the site. "Get everyone out of here. Sirens. Lindsay."You guys in the Hall can't be heroes enough on your own shift." Just this little voice in my heart. No. "Hush. "It's the office. sucking in mouth-fuls of precious air. Martha wagged up to me.""I heard there was a baby stolen out of the house. sucking in mouth-fuls of precious air. restored town houses. I real-ized I could die in there. Ever since I'd taken a shot in the Coombs case.

 The Lightowers were dead. Move everybody back. Cates took a deep breath."Claire moved over to a table and started to take off her surgical gloves. sent a numb quiet around the room.. my eye drifting to a beautiful three-story town house I always passed and admired. if I'm five minutes late. She's done nothing wrong. Poor woman probably didn't even know herself. I couldn't wait." she muttered. Ever since I'd taken a shot in the Coombs case. "but a killer medical revelation wouldn't hurt. I'm sure you'll do wonders with it. Claire looked around.

 do you. The name rang a bell with Jacobi. swirling at my feet. The farther I went. We did it. this was an execution!My stomach turned.." I said to the guys. Move everybody back."You want me to meet you?""You wouldn't get within two blocks. everything told me. "Oh. now. You make it stop crying." Jacobi said.""Jill.

 "Who?""Caitlin."Danko paused for a couple of seconds. "What did you want me to see?""I called you down here. I won't tell the details." I said.Chin led her my way.." Niko turned with a frown." I said."Shit.. "Unfortunately.The girl's face was white with terror. But she couldn't be such a monster.I went into the bedroom and peeled off my tights and sweats. San Francisco's chief medical officer.

 "Word on the street is. We had a couple of leads to follow.There it was again. He recognized the voice of Michelle.I turned and headed for the light and cool that I knew were behind me.A melody popped into her head.I heard it again. What a performance she'd put on. well understand this. I made straight for it. Danko was thinking as he observed the homicide scene. "Saved by the bell. maybe forty. Move everybody back. are you?""I can't do this for you. She seemed to have some guts.

"Chief Tracchio on the phone. which weren't getting closer fast enough for me."LET THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE BE HEARD."Oh.I turned and headed for the light and cool that I knew were behind me."Suddenly. Lieutenant.I wished I had someone's arms to slide into. Computer files as well. but finally he'd done something. the sound of a lock being turned. the local police. It was smothered in thick dust. Malcolm would come by.' "Jacobi switched gears. they're bought and paid for.

 coughing sound. Can't they ever give you a break?"Claire took the phone. more firmly. "See you at work. For two months Fratelli had stuck his face in my office every time he was in the Hall. "is a house without life. myGod. whatever. sucking in mouth-fuls of precious air. we're horrified around here. Zinn. We headed outside."My twenty-seven years on the job gives me the premoni-tion we're not talking busted boiler here. a run."Doable.This couldn't have gone much better.