“It says, ‘Did you come to see my handiwork?’”
Curtis gurgled, his hand hovering over his weapon. “The SOB is here?”
“How long have you been away from your car, Elise? How much time did he have?”
Her head cranked back and forth. “I don’t know. I mean, I’ve been here for about twenty minutes. I didn’t notice anyone near my car. He’s here. He was here.”
“Maybe someone saw him.” Sean shielded his eyes and tipped his head back to look at the lampposts. “Are there cameras on this part of the parking lot?”
“Nope. It’s like our guy knows this area. No cameras where he dumped the body, either.” Sergeant Curtis held out his hand for the note, and Sean extended it between two fingers even though he wanted to rip it to pieces.
Why had Elise come here anyway? He’d been worrying about her all the way to the crime scene, and she’d been right behind him.
“Where’s Officer Jackson?”
“He’s back at the crime scene, extending the yellow tape. Why?”
“I had him combing through the crowd earlier, asking questions, on the lookout for something just like this.”
Elise’s eyes popped open. “Really? You suspected the killer might be here?”
“A lot of times they stick around to prolong the thrill.”
“That’s taking a risk.” She hugged herself and hunched farther into the big sweater she’d wrapped around her body.
“Our boy likes taking risks, doesn’t he? He used your key to enter your house, sent a picture to your phone.”
Her face crumpled. “Sent me her picture. Who is she, anyway?”
“We don’t know yet.” But the killer had sliced off her finger as a keepsake—something Elise didn’t need to know.
Curtis held up the note. “Do you want me to put this in an evidence bag and track down Jackson to see if he saw anyone suspicious?”
“Yeah.” Sean smacked the roof of Elise’s car. “Ask him if he noticed anyone lurking around the parking lot, if he saw anyone near a blue hybrid.”
Elise dragged a hand through her hair, loosening strands from her ponytail. “How did he find my car, Detective Brody? How did he know I was here?”
Despite her rigid posture, Elise looked ready to shatter into a million pieces. He tilted his chin toward the stone benches on the walkway to the visitor center. “Let’s sit down over here. And you can call me Sean.”
She turned and tripped over her own feet.
“Whoa.” He took her arm to steady her and kept possession of it as they walked toward a bench.
She sat on the edge and crossed her legs, her head swiveling from side to side. “Do you think he’s still here?”
“I think he’s long gone. He must have a police scanner or he was watching the area, knew we’d gotten the call and rushed over to see the spectacle.” He cleared his throat. “He must’ve seen you, Elise. Must’ve recognized you.”
She closed her eyes and a breath shuddered through her body. “He knows my car because he saw it in my garage, so he looked for it.”
“It must’ve increased his excitement tenfold to see you here.”
She slammed a fist against the back of the bench. “Now I’m even more upset that I came out here. I don’t want to give him any more satisfaction.”
“Why did you follow us?”
“I didn’t exactly follow you.” She rubbed her hand, red from the sudden contact with the bench. “Sergeant Curtis had mentioned the location of the body, so I waited until you took off.”
“That doesn’t answer the question.” The strands of her golden hair danced around her face, and his fingers itched to tuck them behind her ears. Instead he folded his arms and drove his fists into his biceps. “Why’d you come out here?”
“Are you seriously asking me that? Why wouldn’t I come when I’m so involved?”
He sliced a hand through the air. “That’s exactly why you need to stay out of this. Don’t tempt this guy. You’re the one who got away. Don’t keep reminding him of that.”
“You’re right.” She sniffled and pulled a tissue from her purse. “I guess I just had to see for myself. I feel...connected to this woman.”
“I understand that, but just let us do our jobs. He’s careless, addicted to the thrill. He wants the limelight. We’ll bring him down.” He touched her shoulder and then buried his hand in his pocket.
There was no doubt Elise needed protection, but she didn’t need it from him. Death and darkness dominated his existence. Elise needed life and light and laughter. She needed to get out of this city.
“You’re right.” She lifted her shoulders and then blew out a sigh. “I just felt compelled to be here.”
Sean narrowed his eyes as he turned his attention to the crime scene, where an officer was waving his arms at him. “Looks like they’re flagging me down. What are you going to do?”
“I’m meeting my friend for lunch.” She tugged at the sleeve of her sweater to reveal a watch. “And I’m going to be late.”
“Where are you having lunch?”
She blinked. “Chinatown.”
“It’s going to be crazy over there. They’re having a parade for the Dragon Boat Festival.”
“I’m pretty sure my friend doesn’t know that. Maybe I’ll park elsewhere and hop on the Muni.”
“I have a better idea. I’ll put a call in to the station there and let them know you’re going to park your car in the lot.” He slipped the notebook from his pocket and jotted down the intersection for her.
“You can do that?”
“One of the perks of being a cop in the city.” He pushed up from the bench and tucked the piece of paper in her hand. “I’ll walk you back to your car. Just be aware of your surroundings. Keep an eye on your rearview mirror.”
Her eyes widened. “You think he might follow me?”
“I think you need to be careful. Everyone should be aware of their surroundings.”
“Especially me.”
She clicked her remote, and he opened the car door for her, hanging on the frame. “You’re going to get a phone and give me a call so I have the number?”
“I’ll do that after lunch, and I have to at least drop by my place to pack a bag and get my school stuff together.”
His gut knotted. “You still have to teach.”
“One more week of school.”
“Like I said, be aware of your surroundings.”
She started her engine and snapped on her seat belt. “Thanks, Detective...Sean. Thanks for everything. I’ll call when I get that phone.”
His gaze trailed after her little car as it scooted out of the parking lot, and the knots in his gut tightened even more.
Of course she had to go to work and see her friends and live her life. He couldn’t follow her around the city.
Even though he wanted to.
* * *
ELISE GLIDED INTO a parking stall at the Central Division and gave her rearview mirror one last glance. If anyone had followed her here, he’d