“They’re not that old. I have some cream cheese, too.” She pointed to the fridge. “How’s your leg feeling?”
“Sore. I took some ibuprofen.”
“Are you going to stay home from school tomorrow?”
“No way. We have all kinds of activities planned for the last few days of school. It’s the best part of the school year.”
Courtney pursed her lips as she flipped the switch for the coffee grinder.
When the grating noise stopped, Elise crossed her arms and said, “What? Why are you looking like a disapproving schoolmarm?”
“Maybe you should just take personal leave for the rest of the school year and get out of Dodge.”
“You mean turn and run away with my tail between my legs?”
“You’re allowed to be a coward. Nobody expects you to hunt this guy down.”
Elise curled her fingers into her upper arms. “He had his second chance to kill me and he sliced my leg instead. He knows I already gave his description to the police, and he’s not worried about it because he was wearing a disguise. There’s nothing I can do to him now.”
“He doesn’t know what you told the police. For all he knows, you could remember more details. You’re a threat to him, Elise. And that makes him dangerous.”
The ringing phone made them both jump. “Who’s calling this time of the morning?”
“It’s ten o’clock.”
Courtney made a face and answered the phone. “Good morning. Yes, she’s right here.”
She pressed the receiver against her thigh and whispered. “It’s the hunky cop.”
“Give it over.” Elise rolled her eyes and snapped her fingers for the phone. “Hello?”
“Hi, Elise. It’s Sean Brody. How are you doing this morning?”
So much better right at this minute.
“I’m good. Leg’s a little sore, but that’s stitches for you. Any more news since last night?” She hadn’t expected to hear his voice last thing before she went to bed and then first thing this morning. Not that she was complaining.
“Nothing new, although the woman at the Presidio may have been a victim of domestic violence. Seems her boyfriend has disappeared.” He coughed. “I’m in front of the building on the street. I was just driving by.”
“Do you want to come up?”
“I can’t leave the car.”
“I’ll be right down. Give me a minute.”
She ended the call and dashed upstairs with Courtney’s questions trailing after her. She pulled on her jeans from yesterday and zipped a sweatshirt over her pajama top.
Breathless, she stopped at the front door. “Sean’s downstairs. I’m just going to say hello.”
“Is this what they call community policing?” Courtney winked.
With her step lighter than it should be, Elise skipped downstairs and squinted as she hit the sidewalk.
Sean waved out the open window of his Crown Vic, and Elise approached the car on the passenger side.
The passenger window slid down, and she hunched over and thrust her head inside the car, resting her arms on the window frame. She inhaled the masculine scent of the car—new leather and fresh soap.
“Thanks for stopping by.”
“I was—” he waved his hand vaguely out the window “—in the area. Are you going to get that phone today?”
“I might as well get a permanent phone instead of a pay-as-you-go. I’m not sure I can ever use that other phone again.”
“I don’t blame you.” He opened his car door. “I need to stretch my legs.”
He joined her on the sidewalk and wedged his hip against the car. “One of the detectives stopped by the club yesterday and gave them a sketch. Nobody remembers the guy. We’re also reviewing some video from some cameras at the bridge and Chinatown. He’s going to trip up, Elise.”
She scuffed her toe against the cement. “I agree that he’s going to screw up, and I appreciate that you’re taking the time to keep me informed. Really.”
“I know what’s it like to be left out of the loop, and while I can’t let you in on everything, I don’t want to keep you completely in the dark.”
His eyes seemed to be looking beyond her face and he’d escaped to that place where she couldn’t reach him.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed someone moving quickly toward her on the sidewalk. Sean noticed him at the same time. He snapped to attention and his head jerked up as he pushed off the car.
Elise’s mouth dropped open and she stumbled back. This was not happening.
Sean caught her as she tripped, and then spun around in a crouch, his fists raised.
She screamed. “Wait! I know him.”
“No kidding. I’m Elise’s fiancé.”
Sean lowered his hands, but his fists remained clenched at his sides. He shot a sideways glance at Elise, whose face sported three different shades of red. But she didn’t look afraid. Angry, but not afraid.
“What are you doing here, Ty?”
“What do you think? I’m here to take you home.”
“I am home.” She twisted her head around to look at Courtney’s building. “Sort of.”
“You don’t belong here. You’re coming back with me.”
Elise made a cross with her fingers and held them in front of her. “No, I’m not. And stop calling yourself my fiancé. That ended a long time ago.”
That last line finally made Sean’s shoulders relax. He knew Elise wasn’t hiding anything.
Not like him.
“Who is this, Elise, and what’s he doing here?”
The man threw back his shoulders and his cold blue eyes raked Sean from head to toe. “Who are you?”
“This is ridiculous. Ty, this is Detective Sean Brody. Sean, this is Ty Russell from back home, and I have no idea what he’s doing here or how he found me.”
Ty took a step back. “I found out what happened to you, and I’m here to bring you back.”
Elise closed her eyes and pressed her fingers to her temples. “How in the world did you find out and how did you find me here?”
“I have my sources.”
Elise raked her hands through her loose hair. “Oh, please. Did you con Courtney somehow? Because we both know what a con artist you are.”
The man physically flinched as if Elise had slapped him. Obviously, these two had history but it sure didn’t sound as if they were engaged anymore—if they ever were.
“Someone attacked you and broke into your house. You’re not safe here.” He turned to Sean. “Detective, don’t you agree?”
He did agree, but he didn’t want Elise going back to Montana with this cowboy—her ex-fiancé. And what did he do to become Elise’s ex? Must’ve been something really stupid.
“I’m...we’re