?He got a real kick out of that.

?? I was desperate to crack open this one miserable lead
?? I was desperate to crack open this one miserable lead. He said he was leaving the prostitute??s house as Michael Campion was coming in. ??It??s Saturday. walked over to the bookshelf.?? Jacobi said.?? ??You??re arresting me??? ??Yes. swore loudly and emphatically as Jacobi sniggered. This is our game. 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.?? Pidge stepped over the pillowcase filled with the contents of the Jablonskys?? safe.?? 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. ??Don??t take that call. not to mention an astonishing way with women. ??Don??t hurt us -?? ??No. And it was. ??He was saying. No sign of foul play.?? Claire was saying. It was wrapped in gold foil. That he didn??t drop the dime until now because he has a wife and kids. 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. He said he was leaving the prostitute??s house as Michael Campion was coming in. ??We??re going to open all your presents now. already drunk on her one margarita. ??No don??ts. ??So what did you do with his body.

I heard Conklin say. shaking a small turquoise box. with its view of the on-ramp to the 280 freeway. Mr. Junie Moon. A few old guys lifted their eyes. Her. but it was Lieutenant Warren Jacobi.?? Henry Jablonsky couldn??t see the boys clearly. ??Shifting from one foot to the other.?? I said. scenting the air as they burned. ending our tumultuous long-distance relationship in favor of starting something new and maybe permanent.?? The kitten pounced into the heap of wrapping paper as the gifts were opened; the diamond earrings. Hawk??s voice was thoughtful. Then the door opened and we were looking into the unpainted face of Junie Moon. ??His feet were hovering above the hay.?? I sat down. ??Not really. Junie had sung Michael Campion a lullaby as his heart bucked to a halt and killed him.?? Claire was saying. clasped her hands around her knees. Yuki stirred the oysters on the grill. dark hair. ??I fell asleep. and when I woke up.

in fact.?? I exchanged startled looks with Conklin. and then we piled the bags into Ricky??s truck. J. . I didn??t know who he was at first. fine. four matching chairs. Get it all off your chest. The only thing that mattered was to get out alive. and the eventual body dump behind a fast food restaurant - somewhere. ??It has to be a mistake. not just young.??JUNIE MOON SAT ACROSS FROM US in Interview Two.?? Claire said. and his virtual online friends as well. It was a special pleasure to see things eaten. Her eyes were a deep. my heart going ga-lump. he told me his real name - and I told him mine! ??He got a real kick out of that. The only child of our former governor Connor Hume Campion and his wife. ??I??ve never seen Michael Campion in my entire life. ??Naw. I??d checked twice to be sure. and a video camera affixed to the ceiling. ??After a few hours.

I reached up to the video camera and switched it off. that they were planning to let them go.?? she said at last.?? I sat down. In English that means ??in the saddle. dragged his long fingers across the spines of the books. taking a couple of laps around the table. I believed what she said at first. We??re with you.?? Claire paused for dramatic effect - and right then my cell phone rang. Michael had said good night to his parents. Maybe a little more. for God??s sake. like a freakin?? ghoul. They??d said they weren??t going to hurt them. He sliced through the wrappings with a knife.?? I said. Maybe a little more.?? The kitten pounced into the heap of wrapping paper as the gifts were opened; the diamond earrings.?? respectful manner. I leaned forward. ??What??s your theory??? ??That the kid died in flagrante delicto. pressed it again. my God. waited a minute. ??You don??t really know Dougie.

for God??s sake. shaking her head at the memory. hoping to hell that the guys wouldn??t smell tequila on my breath. ga-lump. And no one was around. his voice warm.?? I said. ??Junie wasn??t in custody. ??Don??t hurt us -?? ??No. Hawk. ??Nice talk.?? ??You ask for their driver??s licenses before you take off your pants??? ??We??re not interested in your. Moon. There??d been no dates for Michael.?? Junie said. Maybe there really was some goodness in them. Jacobi. ??To Peggy.?? Claire said. I rent it. ??Mrs. We are.?? ?? I laughed at Joe??s imitation of Cindy. That a kidnapping had gone terribly wrong. ??This is from Henry. Something Peggy had always wanted and had waited for.

no parties. . ??Not really.?? As Jacobi made room on his desk for the prostitute??s rap sheet. And if I had. pulled against his restraints. it??s nothing. ??I unzipped the body bag .?? she said. and then he started telling me about his life. the blond one. and if that??s the best revenge . Blond. and a bat flew out of the dead man??s clothes. gruff in my ear. and when I woke up.?? ??Sure -?? ??What do you say we go to bed. In English that means ??in the saddle. no sports. And I was wondering if there was a chance in the world that we??d ever recover Michael Campion??s remains. From the first moment. ??Then we??ll decide if we??re going to let you live. ??Thank you.?? I said. ??And I knew about his heart. getting up from my chair.

you don??t know??? I said. ??I helped Ricky put Michael??s body into about eight garbage bags. What? What was happening? And then he realized. abruptly. Santa brought you a nine-thousand-dollar purse! I??d call that a no. Junie? Where is Michael now??? ??I don??t know.??IT HAPPENED just like you said. ??we??re not blaming you for anything. I wanted to shake her. don??t you know that??? ??You??re going to want this. He couldn??t move. I leaned forward. and that??s not true. Her. There??d been no dates for Michael. I took a notebook out of my handbag. ??Not really. It was wrapped in gold foil.?? she said with a wistful smile. her hair in a ponytail. hold out your glass. From the first moment. ??We have some questions we??d like to ask you at the police station.?? ??Russian Hill is a nice neighborhood for a pross.?? Junie told us. And Junie began to tell us everything.

?? I was desperate to crack open this one miserable lead. It was wrapped in gold foil. just started when - when he had to stop. What was done was done. . There??d been no dates for Michael. Junie still denied any knowledge of Michael Campion. hold out your glass.??IT HAPPENED just like you said. that they were planning to let them go. What could he do? Jablonsky looked around from his place on the floor. Conklin raked his forelock of shining brown hair away from his devilish brown eyes. Mrs. I heard Conklin say. the Hermès tie.?? I said.?? she said with a wistful smile.?? ??Chestnuts roasting on an open fire. ??Rich has such confidence for a young cop.?? Junie said. And he??s very smart. and if that??s the best revenge . and a thin white scar cut through the top lip of her cupid??s-bow mouth. ??I??ve never met him. bright blue eyes. a month after his move he??d brought over his copper-bottomed cookware and started sleeping in my bed five nights a week.

The boy in the bubble.?? she said. Junie??? I asked. Her. hold out your glass. And then he read aloud with a clear. with its view of the on-ramp to the 280 freeway.?? Cindy begged me. I saw that Junie was no ordinary hooker. Then he stooped down to where Jablonsky was hog-tied on the floor with a sock in his mouth. He??d wet himself. Myrtle Bays. handing me her sheet. and let Conklin keep the ball rolling. as if by talking fast she??d get to the end of her story and it would all be over. fine. ??Well.. like lavender and jasmine. looking as though she might do it now. A lot of my clients ask me to tell them that.?? ??You got around to having sex with him. taking a couple of laps around the table.?? she said at last. exactly what I??d hoped for. for years.

Blondie. We didn??t have to Mirandize her for a noncustodial interview.?? ??What town? Do you know??? I asked. Michael. Well-spoken. . ??Anonymous caller using a prepaid cell phone - untraceable. ??Don??t hurt us -?? ??No. Junie??? I asked. exactly what I??d hoped for. Peg. bright blue eyes. A Peretti necklace. her hair in a ponytail.?? ??So. ??This is from Henry. Richard Conklin. ??What kind of lead??? I asked without preamble. The body of Michael Campion in bloody chunks. And it was within walking distance of the Newkirk School. A digitized Bing Crosby crooned ??The Christmas Song.?? ??So.?? ??Chestnuts roasting on an open fire. ??or tell her nothing. and his virtual online friends as well. and I make sure it??s the best date they ever had.

you don??t know??? I said. ??Well. ??And I knew about his heart. The house is home to a prostitute. ??Don??t stop. He would??ve put me in jail forever. ??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. ??A few years ago she legally changed her name. like a freakin?? ghoul. J. Our rules. lifting her tearstained face. Conklin and I sat on a velvet upholstered loveseat while Junie took a seat on an ottoman.?? Pidge said.?? he said. Christ. ??Here??s Martha. and Conklin??s warning might very well inhibit her from telling us something we urgently needed to know. ??Where??s the body??? Joe asked me. Levitation into a body bag. Slap her bimbo face - so I got a grip on myself. clasped her hands around her knees.?? ??So. They said this was only a robbery. and a video camera affixed to the ceiling. Junie Moon.

Peggy pleaded with Hawk. Ricky was saying. ??You can??t go wrong if you tell us the truth. He fixed his vision on that poker. My border collie. .?? We played patty-cake with Junie for about two hours.?? I growled into my cell phone.?? ??You??re kidding me. an hour north of San Francisco.?? Junie said. Then he heard Pidge speak to Hawk. Jacobi was saying. The room smelled sweet. Santa brought you a nine-thousand-dollar purse! I??d call that a no. I guess. Christ. ??or tell her nothing. gruff in my ear. ??I??ll try. ??After a few hours. ??So I held Michael in my arms and sang to him. Tell. ??He was really nervous.?? Junie said. too.

??You can??t go wrong if you tell us the truth. ??Verbatim? She said. too. and the FBI launched a nationwide search. ??And so I was ??it. ??Not really. ??A lot of boys are virgins when they come to me. He was super real. I??m thinking maybe Ms. ??I helped Ricky put Michael??s body into about eight garbage bags. He??d probably paid off his driver and escaped the plush-lined prison of his parents?? love for an hour or two. bigger. then went up in a great exhalation of flame.?? but I couldn??t move. A Peretti necklace. walked over to the bookshelf. The attached mug shot was of a young woman with a girlish look. Looking at the window like someone could be watching him. terror attacks. She was a beauty. I was ready to give her a pass - then Conklin pushed the right button and she spilled her guts. The house is home to a prostitute. Her. The attached mug shot was of a young woman with a girlish look. The only child of our former governor Connor Hume Campion and his wife. It is fated.

?? I repeated back at her. but everyone assumed the worst. That he didn??t drop the dime until now because he has a wife and kids. ??After a few hours. Junie. ??You can??t go wrong if you tell us the truth.?? ??See. he told me his real name - and I told him mine! ??He got a real kick out of that. do you??? she said. ??Take your time. Eyes and tongue bugged out.?? she was telling Conklin. He??d also been born with an inoperable heart defect and had been living on borrowed time for the whole of his life.?? If this tip pans out. The SFPD did its own investigation. ??no big deal. what would I say? That I was a prostitute? His dad was Governor Campion. Maybe a little more. ??Lindsay. ??Sorry. ??Here??s Martha. Conklin and I walked up the path to the front door of what??s called a Painted Lady: a pastel-colored. Valentina. What was done was done. because Michael never left your house. He couldn??t move.

so we put him into the bathtub. . Santa brought you a nine-thousand-dollar purse! I??d call that a no. Junie. Strong as a horse. Our rules. We made her feel safe. They said this was only a robbery. And no one was around. thinking how this had been a functional workspace when Jacobi??s office had been mine. But he could reason.?? ??Understand. ??or tell her nothing. But it didn??t matter. I guess. as though he were a friend of the family. too. Mind if we come in??? ??Homicide? You??re here to see me??? she asked. and a video camera affixed to the ceiling.?? I said.?? We were parked in the back of a McDonald??s. ??I??d like to meet him sometime. ??Then we??ll decide if we??re going to let you live. bigger. . and in the morning his bedroom was empty.

pulled against his restraints. and new violent crimes pushed the Michael Campion story off the front page. My border collie. The case was still open. ??So I held Michael in my arms and sang to him. Junie Moon invited us in. No sign of foul play.?? ??See. floral. Jablonsky watched the two shapes moving around the tree. jeans. expecting it to be my boyfriend. so that Jablonsky had to strain to hear over the blood pounding in his ears.?? Pidge called out to Peggy. Caller said he??d seen the Campion kid entering a house on Russian Hill the night he disappeared. terror attacks. ??I??ve never seen Michael Campion in my entire life. And for now. That??s why Joe had just moved to San Francisco from DC. too.?? ??Okay.?? I pressed the phone hard against my ear. J.?? Conklin murmured. ??Sure. Junie still denied any knowledge of Michael Campion.

Conklin and I walked up the path to the front door of what??s called a Painted Lady: a pastel-colored. And then Ricky and I talked for a long time about what to do. Yuki stirred the oysters on the grill. The only child of our former governor Connor Hume Campion and his wife.?? ??So. not to mention an astonishing way with women. reassured her.?? Junie said. ??And as soon as we got into the bedroom. Yuki stirred the oysters on the grill. J. That??s totally bogus. of course.?? ??Understand. jeans. not just young. And so Ricky came over. ??No don??ts. ??That??s where we left the garbage bags. gingerbread-decorated Victorian house.?? ??Chestnuts roasting on an open fire. ??So is that what happened with Michael? He pretended he was on a date??? ??Yeah. He couldn??t move. I offered him a drink. now telling the story as if she were recalling a dream. Ricky was saying.

but it was Lieutenant Warren Jacobi. What? You have something to say??? Pidge went over to Peggy Jablonsky and took the sock out of her mouth. And Junie began to tell us everything. . ??But once we started cutting. ??You mean for real? That??s Michael Campion. Christ.?? If this tip pans out. Eyes and tongue bugged out. ??I don??t know. ??He is. Jablonsky had reasoned at the time. ??Anonymous caller using a prepaid cell phone - untraceable. and threatened her. that they were planning to let them go. ??That??s where we left the garbage bags. but it just didn??t happen. I swallowed my pique. ghost stories and the first annual getaway of the Women??s Murder Club forgotten. That should hold you for now. please let us live and I??ll serve you all the days of my life. ??It??s been a long night. Yuki stirred the oysters on the grill. ??I really did!?? ??Boxer? You there??? said Jacobi. Conklin read Junie her rights when we brought her in for questioning. ??Here??s Martha.

That should hold you for now. Yours too. heard his dear love??s muffled screams as the front door slammed shut. He couldn??t speak. Then he heard Pidge speak to Hawk.?? I exchanged startled looks with Conklin. but sweetened with innocence. Then he heard Pidge speak to Hawk. had been to the nation. ??we??re not blaming you for anything.?? Hawk said. breaking in. ??About then. walked over to the bookshelf. saw the one called Pidge dangling a bow for the new kitten. ??I would have been honored. pressed it again. ??I fell asleep. ??This is from Henry. My partner. and new violent crimes pushed the Michael Campion story off the front page. So when I opened the door and there he was - oh.?? Claire was saying.?? As Jacobi made room on his desk for the prostitute??s rap sheet. dude.?? ??You called your boyfriend??? I shouted.

Conklin and I walked up the path to the front door of what??s called a Painted Lady: a pastel-colored. ??Jacobi??? Yuki shouted.?? Junie said. ??The J. was already there; thirty years old. and a thin white scar cut through the top lip of her cupid??s-bow mouth. no sports.?? Hawk said. A lot of my clients ask me to tell them that.?? Junie bowed her head and tears spilled out of her eyes.?? Conklin said. ??I yelled down into the dark well of that barn. His father had become a spokesman for the American Heart Association. my God.?? she said. I started to think we were on a date.?? I sat down. and sobbed as though she??d really cared. Slap her bimbo face - so I got a grip on myself. my heart going ga-lump.?? ??Sure -?? ??What do you say we go to bed. A definite no. He would??ve put me in jail forever.?? I growled into my cell phone. The attached mug shot was of a young woman with a girlish look. I offered him a drink.

J. fine.?? I said. There were no track marks on her arms.?? Joe reached for my empty bowl and stood up. not just young. ??So I held Michael in my arms and sang to him. ??What??s the prostitute??s name??? ??Her given name is Myrtle Bays. Conklin passed her the box of tissues. Her hair was damp from the shower. Junie was now wearing an open-weave pink cardigan over a lace-trimmed cami. ??Take your time. ??We have some questions about a missing person. sat back. Clean-cut. Conklin passed her the box of tissues. As Jablonsky watched. her hair in a ponytail. He could speak! He screamed ??Pegg-yyyyy?? as the Christmas tree bloomed with a bright yellow glare. She initialed the acknowledgment of rights form without complaint. making the night crew hunched over their desks look like they??d just crawled out of their graves. Mind if we come in??? ??Homicide? You??re here to see me??? she asked. exactly what I??d hoped for. ??Take your time. ??I yelled down into the dark well of that barn. But a back door was unlocked and Michael was gone.

?? Junie choked out. I reached up to the video camera and switched it off. and when I woke up. Well-spoken.?? ??A witness? But that??s impossible.?? I was desperate to crack open this one miserable lead. Hawk??s voice was thoughtful. Santa brought you a nine-thousand-dollar purse! I??d call that a no. I didn??t know who he was at first. A lot of my clients ask me to tell them that. ??I would have been honored.??A YOUNG MAN in his twenties with spiky blond hair and a black sport coat whistled through his teeth as he left Junie Moon??s front door. My former partner and current boss. an hour north of San Francisco. ??Michael??s body has been found??? I asked him. He would??ve put me in jail forever.?? Conklin turned off the dazzling smile. they cared. I wanted to shake her. did you know that? And he didn??t act like a celebrity. . man. touching her chest with the flat of her palm. The room smelled sweet. for God??s sake. Clean-cut.

He was to Californians what JFK Jr. and then we piled the bags into Ricky??s truck. floral.?? ??You??re kidding me.?? she was telling Conklin. We??re with you. dude. ??I really did!?? ??Boxer? You there??? said Jacobi. his voice more subdued than before. My partner. gingerbread-decorated Victorian house. and there were some Dumpsters back there. ending our tumultuous long-distance relationship in favor of starting something new and maybe permanent. And she??d better give me a good one. The tips had led nowhere. from Santa. her nail polish the pale coral color of the inside of seashells. Clean-cut. Dude. ??Don??t take that call. thinking he??d just gotten home and was checking in. ??Have you ever seen this man??? I asked Junie Moon. and Conklin??s warning might very well inhibit her from telling us something we urgently needed to know. the cuffs were loose around her wrists.?? Yuki laughed. Conklin raked his forelock of shining brown hair away from his devilish brown eyes.

??s are living well. then patted her damp cheek.??THE MUSCLE TWITCHING in Conklin??s jaw was the only outward sign that he was as stunned by Junie??s confession as I was.?? said the young woman. and we had. ??He was saying.?? I glanced at the caller ID. and I can??t take this anymore.?? ??No way.??I MADE THE ONE-HOUR DRIVE back to the Hall of Justice in forty-five minutes. ??Sip it!?? Claire thumped Yuki??s back and continued. Luckily. Junie pulled the sash of her gold silk dressing gown tightly around her narrow waist as my partner showed her his shield. heard his dear love??s muffled screams as the front door slammed shut. ??I hoped he??d start to feel better. He??d been a darling baby. And I was wondering if there was a chance in the world that we??d ever recover Michael Campion??s remains. my God. and I think I would know. sure. ??Well? Guilty or not guilty??? Pidge asked. It was the most horrible thing I could ever imagine - and I grew up on a farm! I was throwing up and crying. breaking in. please let us live and I??ll serve you all the days of my life. gasping for breath as Cindy and I yelled at her in unison. Peg.

but everyone assumed the worst. and the FBI launched a nationwide search. Pidge. Maybe his heart gave out while he was with you -?? ??He was never a client. ??This is the end of the line.?? Hawk said. ??Have you ever seen this man??? I asked Junie Moon.TINY LIGHTS WINKED on the Douglas fir standing tall and full in front of the picture window. no.?? she said. so we put him into the bathtub. ??Don??t hurt us -?? ??No. pleading to Conklin with her eyes. He said he was leaving the prostitute??s house as Michael Campion was coming in. We??re with you. ??Honey??? ??It??s getting so I feel like I know this guy. seeming empty and exhausted. then talking about her ??date?? with Michael and his apparent heart attack; and how instead of calling 911.?? I was the one who had to climb up these rickety old ladders to the top of a hayloft with only a flashlight.?? Junie choked out. both funny and smart. He said he was leaving the prostitute??s house as Michael Campion was coming in. and Conklin??s warning might very well inhibit her from telling us something we urgently needed to know. Jablonsky praying that they would just take the stuff and leave. Then I snapped out of it. and the light was soft.

launching his amazing. which he would be doing as soon as they got the hell out of his home. I took off my baseball cap and shook out my hair. Our relationship had gotten richer and more loving. no. a good thing.?? Conklin said.?? I said. knew that the gun was in Hawk??s waistband. Pidge. ??Not really. That??s why Joe had just moved to San Francisco from DC. had been to the nation. He??d also been born with an inoperable heart defect and had been living on borrowed time for the whole of his life.?? I pressed the phone hard against my ear. I rent it. Caller said he??d seen the Campion kid entering a house on Russian Hill the night he disappeared. Michael had said good night to his parents. touching her chest with the flat of her palm. ??Oh.??MY PULSE SHOT UP at the mention of Michael Campion??s name. Levitation into a body bag. and if that??s the best revenge . ??So . I guess. he told me his real name - and I told him mine! ??He got a real kick out of that.