Bree! She was running down the block from where she'd had to leave her car. The police had completely blocked off Fifth Street now. It was starting to look like one of those gruesome crime scenes that I hated to be called in on. Only this time, it was my house, my family.

“What is it, Alex? I just got the call. Saw the address. What happened?”

“Somebody took Nana, Ali, and Jannie,” Sampson told Bree. “That's what it looks like.”

Bree came into my arms and held me tight. “Oh, Alex, Alex, no.” She made no empty promises, just gave me the only comfort she could. Her embrace, a few whispered words.

“No note, no message?” she finally asked.

“I didn't find anything. We should look again. I don't think I was too clearheaded the first time I looked. I know I wasn't.”

“You think you ought to go back in there right now?” she said and took my arm.

“I have to. Come with me. Both of you, come.”

We all went back into the house.

Chapter 129

WHILE BREE AND Sampson started looking around, I called Damon's school and talked to the headmaster, then got Damon on the line. I told him to pack some things. We would be moving him soon. Sampson had already made the arrangements for him to be picked up. “Why do I have to come home?” Damon wanted to know.

“You're not coming home right now. Not yet. It isn't safe here. Not for any of us.”

I joined Bree and Sampson and we searched the house for several hours, but there was nothing for us to find. No message left anywhere. The only evidence of a struggle was the mess in the kitchen and a tangled runner in the foyer.

I thought to check my computer, but there was nothing there either. No messages had been left anywhere. No threats. No explanation of any kind. Was that the message?

I decided to place a call to Lagos next. It was eight a.m. there.

I reached lan Flaherty's office, but he didn't pick up himself this time.

“Mr. Flaherty is not here at the moment,” said his assistant. She sounded nervous.

“Do you know where he is or when he's expected back?” I asked her. “It's important that I talk to him.”

“I'm sorry, I don't. There is a lot going on here, sir. It's a very bad situation.”

“Yes, I know. May I leave a message for him?”

“Of course.”

“Tell him that Alex Cross is back in Washington. They've taken my family. I think it's the Tiger or his people who did this. I need to talk to him. Please make sure that he gets this message. It could be a matter of life or death.”

“Yes, sir,” said the assistant, “it always is.”

Chapter 130

SAMPSON, BREE, AND I stayed in the house another hour or so. We searched every room again, looking for anything to work with.