Part 37 (1/2)

Clapper is a crisply turned out man in his late forties, a former homicide cop, and a very fine CSI. I went over to him and said, ”I don't think you've ever seen anything like this.”

After I briefed him on what I was calling a crime scene, we walked over to the wreck and Clapper poked his head into the vehicle.

He took a long look, then he backed out and said, ”It's an explosion, all right. But the way I understand belly bombs, they're mechanical devices, surgically implanted. Powder. Cap. Detonator. I don't see wires. I don't smell explosive powder.

”And this is strange,” Clapper continued. ”The blast was restricted to the front seat. Bombs of this type are meant to blow up not just the vehicle, but everything around it. You're right, though. This is a new one on me.”

I said, ”We've run the plates, but I want the bodies ID'd before Eyewitness News notifies next of kin.”

I pointed to a red nylon backpack in the rear foot well. After a tech shot photos of the bag and the fairly untouched rear seat, I unzipped the bag. Inside was a toy dog, a bunch of CDs, a cell-phone charger, and a blue spangled wallet.

Inside the wallet was a driver's license.

”Our female victim is Lara Trimble, twenty-one, lives in Oakland,” I said.

There was a mess of paper litter in the rear foot well, and I found myself staring at something that might be important.

”Can you shoot that?” I asked.

Once forensics had photos, I gloved up and lifted out a hamburger bag that hadn't been damaged in the blast.

”h.e.l.lo,” I said out loud. ”Is this where they had their last meal?”

Clapper said, ”Thank you,” then deftly took the bag from my fingers and sealed it in a gla.s.sine envelope. ”This is what we like to call evidence.”

Claire joined us and said, ”Charles, what are you thinking?”

”I'm thinking that this scene is going to be on the national news in a wink. The FBI, Homeland Security, ATF, as many feds as can fit on the deck, will be here in a half hour and the bridge will be closed until next Christmas. For twenty-four hours, anyway.”

The Golden Gate Bridge was a high-quality target, an American icon. Bombs on this bridge would scare everyone in San Francisco. It was scaring the c.r.a.p out of me.

I called Brady's cell and said that we were looking at possible terrorist activity.

He said, ”s.h.i.+t. Of course we are.”

Then we all stood around in the swirling fog and waited for the feds to arrive.

About the Author.

JAMES PATTERSON has created more enduring fictional characters than any other novelist writing today. He is the author of the Alex Cross novels, the most popular detective series of the past twenty-five years, including Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider. Mr. Patterson also writes the bestselling Women's Murder Club novels, set in San Francisco, and the top-selling New York detective series of all time, featuring Detective Michael Bennett. James Patterson has had more New York Times bestsellers than any other writer, ever, according to Guinness World Records. Since his first novel won the Edgar Award in 1977, James Patterson's books have sold more than 280 million copies.

James Patterson has also written numerous #1 bestsellers for young readers, including the Maximum Ride, Witch & Wizard, and Middle School series. In total, these books have spent more than 220 weeks on national bestseller lists. In 2010, James Patterson was named Author of the Year at the Children's Choice Book Awards.

His lifelong pa.s.sion for books and reading led James Patterson to create the innovative website ReadKiddoRead.com, giving adults an invaluable tool to find the books that get kids reading for life. He writes full-time and lives in Florida with his family.

MARSHALL KARP has written for stage, screen, and TV, and is the author of The Rabbit Factory and three other mysteries featuring LAPD Detectives Mike Lomax and Terry Biggs. NYPD Red 2 is his third collaboration with James Patterson.

jamespatterson.com.

Books by James Patterson.

NYPD Red Novels.

NYPD Red 2 (with Marshall Karp) NYPD Red (with Marshall Karp).

Featuring Alex Cross Cross My Heart.

Alex Cross, Run Merry Christmas, Alex Cross Kill Alex Cross Cross Fire.