Agent Benbow flagged us down with his hand, came up to the passenger-side window, and said to me, "You've got experience in hostage negotiation?"

"Not enough," I said.

"Give it your best, Sergeant," he said. "Be his friend. Don't antagonize him. Try to get him to come out with the boy."

"What have I got to offer?"

"Whatever he wants. Once we have the child, he's ours."

Benbow held out a Kevlar vest. I put it on and took the bullhorn. I called out to Gordon, "Peter, this is Lindsay Boxer. I'm here because you asked for me and I want this to turn out right for everyone. Open the front door slowly, put your hands on your head, and come out, okay? No one is going to shoot."

There was no reply, so I tried again, varying my request. Then, taking a phone number from Benbow, I called Gordon's home. Five rings. No answer. Then the machine picked up, and a little girl's voice said, "This is the Gordon house. Please leave a message."

I was out of moves, wondering why Gordon had even asked for me, when my own cell phone rang. I pulled it off my belt and stared at the faceplate. The caller ID was blocked, but I knew.

"Boxer."

"Well, hello, sweetmeat," said the Lipstick Killer.

Chapter 94

THE SOUND OF Gordon's voice in my ear bypassed reason and went straight to my adrenal glands. I broke into an instant sweat, feeling it roll down my sides, between my breasts, across my brow. I was having dj vu of some of the most terrifying hours of my life, but somehow I forced myself to keep my voice steady.

"Gordon, no one wants to hurt you. We know you've got your son, and he's very important to all of us."

"He's important to you. I don't give a crap about him. Ask my wife. Odds are, he's not even mine."

"How can we all get what we want?"

"There's only one way, and it's my way. Drop your weapon," Gordon said. "Call off the choppers. If I hear rotors, this conversation is over. My house is wired to explode. I have trip wires inside and out. There's one safe path, and it's the walkway to the front door. Come on down, Lindsay, come onnn downnnn."

I told Gordon to hold, and I briefed Benbow, who shook his head and said, "No frickin' way."

I said, "I'm not coming in, Gordon. I need you to come out with Steven. I guarantee your safety. My word of honor, no one will shoot."

"Lindsay, you want the kiddo, you have to come to me. I'll use you and the kid as a shield. We get into your car, and no one follows. If I see a gun, I shoot the kid and myself. If I hear a chopper, I shoot. If anyone breaks a window or steps on the lawn, the house blows. Do you copy?"

Benbow took the phone out of my hand and said, "Gordon, this is Special Agent Richard Benbow, FBI. I can't let Sergeant Boxer go in, but I'll come to your door unarmed and escort you to safety. Give us the child, and I'll personally drive you to Mexico. How's that for a deal?"

Benbow listened to Gordon's response, then snapped the phone closed. "He told me he wants Boxer. Otherwise it's over and I can go fuck myself. He hung up."

There was only one option, the killer had told us. His way, or he would blow up everything, including his own child.

I took my Glock out of its holster and put it down on the grass. I asked God for protection, then headed up Peter Gordon's front walk.

Chapter 95

I KEPT MY eyes on the front door of a dreary house on an old shoe of a block that might be the last thing I'd ever see. I rapped on the door-no answer. I rapped even harder. No answer again.

What the hell was this?

I turned to look at Conklin and shrugged. Then I reached out and pressed the doorbell.

I heard Conklin shout, "No, Lindsay, NO!" and at that moment there were two loud explosions, a nanosecond apart.

The air cracked open. The ground lurched, and I was knocked off my feet. It was as if I'd been hit by a truck. I fell hard to the ground and was lost in a dense cloud of black smoke. I inhaled the bitter taste of cordite, coughing until my guts spasmed. Men shouted from the street, and there was the loud static of car radios. I heard Conklin calling my name.

I peered through the smoke and saw my partner lying fifteen feet away. I screamed, "Richie," scrambled up, and ran to him. He was bleeding from a gash on his forehead.

"You're hit!"

He put a hand to his head and said, "I'm okay. Are you?"

"Fucking perfect."

I helped Rich to his feet. He put a hand on my shoulder. "Jesus Christ, Linds, I thought he'd killed us."

Fire was consuming an SUV at the curb. Injured men, bleeding from shrapnel wounds, leaned against their vehicles or slumped by the street. The intensity of the blast marks near the road told me that Gordon had planted a bomb on the sidewalk. Another bomb had gone off at the back of the house-and the home was starting to burn. Were these explosives meant to kill? Or to create chaos?

Where was Gordon now?