She leaned forward and her blond hair tickled the inside of his elbow. She smelled salty—not at all what he expected from this blue-eyed blonde with the peaches-and-cream skin.
She wrinkled her nose. “I guess it could’ve been different. He had a bird tattoo. You have a bird tattoo.”
He smoothed down his sleeve and buttoned the cuff. “I’m glad we got that out of the way. I wanted to show you mine to see if it would prompt any more detail.”
Actually, he hadn’t been thinking at all. What did it matter if he and a killer both had a tattoo of a bird on their arms? Unless someone was trying to pin something on him.
Just as someone pinned something on Dad.
“I...I really didn’t mean to imply that I thought it was you out there.” She twisted her damp hair into a rope over her shoulder. “The similarity just startled me. You have to admit it’s a coincidence.”
Despite the warmth of the space, he slid into his jacket. “Yeah, a coincidence. A lot of people have tattoos today, but that detail might make it easier to find this guy.”
“I hope so. I’m not his first, am I?”
“I can’t say for sure, Elise.” He tucked his notepad into his jacket pocket. “Is the hospital releasing you soon?”
“The nurse is coming back to check my temperature. If it’s at a safe level, I’m free to go.”
“It’s almost morning. How are you getting home?”
“Taxi.” She hit her forehead with the heel of her hand. “My purse. It must’ve fallen on the ground outside the club.”
“Or he took it.”
She widened her baby blues, which seemed to get even bluer. “My license is in there, my phone, my credit card.”
He has her address and her contacts and God knows what else.
“If he tries to use the card, we can track him.”
“He knows my address now. I got away. I can give a description of him.” Her hands clawed at the sheets.
He resisted the urge to take one of those small fists in his hand. “Maybe he left the purse at the scene. We’ll call the club to see if anyone found it. We’re going to canvass outside the club anyway, see if he left any evidence, question the employees.”
Still clutching the sheets, she said, “I’m sure he has my purse. He called my name wh-when I was hiding from him. I never told him my name.”
A nurse peeked around the curtain and tiptoed to the bed in the small space. “Excuse me, Detective. I need to take her temperature.”
Sean scooted his chair back to give her room, and the nurse leaned over Elise, pinching a thermometer between her fingers and wheeling the machine on the stand closer to the bed.
“I’m just going to put this under your tongue and we’ll see how you’re doing.” The nurse made a tsking noise. “They could’ve done a better job drying your hair.”
Elise twirled a damp lock around her finger and shrugged.
The nurse peered at the thermometer. “You’re good to go. How do you feel? How’s the head?”
“I’m warm, I’m dry and my head hasn’t hurt since the last ibuprofen I took.”
“Then I’ll bring your clothes and have the doctor sign your release. I’m sorry we have to kick you out of the emergency room. You should see your own doctor as soon as possible for a once-over.”
“I will, thanks.”
When the nurse left, Elise clasped her hands in her lap, looking...lost.
Sean cleared his throat. “Since you don’t have your purse, can I give you a lift home? Unless you want to call a friend.”
Or a boyfriend? Husband? Surely this woman had someone in her life, someone to keep her safe.
“I’ll take the ride, if you don’t mind. My best friend is the one I went to the club with. I doubt she’s going to be up at this time of the morning. I doubt she’s going to be home.”
“I’m assuming you lost your keys, too. How are you going to get into your place?”
“I hide a set outside.”
“Not a great idea.” He started to shake a finger at her, and then snatched it back. She didn’t need one of his lectures on safety.
Color rushed into her pale cheeks as she dropped her gaze to her folded hands. “I guess it wasn’t a great idea to approach this guy at two in the morning on a deserted street, either.”
“Don’t beat yourself up, Elise. He’s clever. Why would you think he’d be a danger with a cast on?”
He’s not the first killer to use this ploy, and he won’t be the last. He had to remember that, too. The M.O. wasn’t unique, just as bird tattoos weren’t unique.
“I should’ve known. My friend, Courtney, would’ve known. Street smarts she’d call it.”
“Is Courtney the one who stayed at the club past two and may not be home this morning?” He raised one eyebrow.
“Yeah.” A smiled hovered on lips.
“Doesn’t sound too street smart to me.”
“Here are your clothes.” The nurse had a plastic bag hanging from her wrist and a black dress dangling from her fingers. “We did our best to dry them, but I think the dress is ruined.”
“Oh, well. Small price to pay.” Elise took the dress from the nurse and shook it out.
Sean pushed up from the plastic chair. “I’ll be in the waiting room.”
It didn’t take long for Elise to get dressed. After he’d circled the waiting room twice and inspected and rejected the vending machine in the corner, Elise shuffled into the waiting room, hospital slippers on her feet and a snug black dress hugging her curves.
She crossed her bare arms, and Sean strode across the room, shrugging out of his jacket. “Can’t the hospital loan you a blanket for the trip home?”
“I think the nurse expected someone to pick me up and bring a change of clothes.”
He draped his jacket around her shoulders. “Do you want me to call someone for you?”
“It’s too early in the morning to call anyone.”
“Family?”
“None here.”
“Boyfriend?”
“Nonexistent.”
At least he’d gotten that out of the way. He pulled the jacket tight under her chin. It was as if her assailant had known she was alone. Maybe this wasn’t a random attack.
He pointed to her feet. “Can you walk in those things?”
“If I don’t pick up my feet, they’re surprisingly comfortable. My shoes have been swept out to sea by now.”
Sean had parked his unmarked car in the small driveway in front of the emergency room entrance. He guided Elise to the car with a hand on the small of her back. Comfortable or not, it looked as if she could trip over those slippers at any minute.
He opened the front passenger door for her and she ducked in the car, tugging at her short dress. Had it shrunk after her dip in the bay? The black, sparkly material barely covered her assets—not that he minded.
He cranked on the heater after cranking on the engine. “Are you warm enough?”
“I’m fine.” She wiggled