Brody Law: The Bridge / The District / The Wharf / The Hill

Courtney dropped the rest of her bags and stuck out her hand. “Nice to meet you.”

She arched an eyebrow at Elise. “Is he moving in, too?”

“N-no. He, well, he followed me here. There was an incident at the Dragon Boat Parade.”

“What?” Courtney gripped Elise’s shoulders.

“I was attacked.”

Courtney let out a yelp and then herded Elise to her spotless living room and sat her down.

Elise told her the story while Courtney alternately gasped, cursed and covered her mouth with her hand.

“Elise, this is crazy.” She turned on Sean, her black hair whipping across her face. “What are you doing to catch this guy?”

“Everything we can.” He pulled the sketch Elise had helped create out of his pocket and smoothed out the creases. “Here he is. You didn’t notice him in the club that night, did you? You didn’t notice anyone watching Elise?”

“Look at her.” She jerked her thumb at Elise. “She’s gorgeous. Of course I noticed guys watching her, but not this nut job.”

Sean’s phone buzzed in his pocket and he pulled it out, glancing at the display. “It’s the station. I’m going to take this and then I’ll get out of your way.”

He rose from the chair and wandered into the kitchen as Elise and her friend continued their excited chatter.

“Brody.”

“Brody, it’s Curtis. You’d better get down here.”

Sean’s heart pounded and the blood thudded in his ears. “What’s up?”

“That dead girl we found today? Katie Duncan?”

“Yeah?” With his mouth suddenly gone dry, Sean could barely form the word.

“Her killer sent you a message.”

“What’d it say?” Sean clenched his jaw where a muscle twitched erratically.

“It’s not so much what he said, dude, as what he sent.”

Sean spat out an expletive. “Just tell me.”

“He sent you a finger, Brody. Katie Duncan’s severed finger.”

Chapter Eight (#ulink_ff7a48c8-1f82-5b3e-a710-a84e9542fb82)

Only half listening to Courtney’s exclamations, Elise directed her gaze at Sean clutching his cell phone to his ear. With his back turned toward her, she couldn’t see his face but his shoulders had a rigid set and his white knuckles made it look as if he could crush that phone with one hand.

Courtney snapped her fingers. “Earth to Elise.”

“Sorry. What were you saying?”

“Never mind.” Courtney turned her head to look at Sean. “Not as important as some things.”

Sean ended the call and took a few steps into the room, his face stern and white. “Duty calls. I gotta go back to the station. Take care of that leg, and don’t forget to pick up a phone and give me the number.”

“My leg’s fine, and I’ll get that phone.” Elise pushed up from the sofa. “Hold on, I’ll see you out.”

Courtney waved. “Bye, nice to meet you. Maybe we’ll see each other again.”

Elise stepped into the hallway with him and pulled the door shut. “Is everything okay?”

He relaxed his jaw enough to speak. “Everything’s fine, except we have a diabolical killer loose in the city.”

“What was the call about?”

“Murder and mayhem—just an ordinary day on the job. That’s my life, Elise, and you don’t need to hear about it.”

Did he think she couldn’t handle reality? She grabbed his arm and his biceps felt like granite. “You can tell me. You don’t have to push me away.”

He cupped her face in one large hand and stroked his thumb across her cheek. “Yes, I do.”

His touch belied his words, and his proximity had her breath coming in short spurts. “But I don’t want you to.”

The harsh kiss he pressed against her mouth came so suddenly, it took her breath way. Just as quickly it ended and he turned on his heel and disappeared into the stairwell.

Elise put two fingers to her bruised lips and backed into Courtney’s condo.

“Sean Brody is one hot detective.” Courtney’s words sang out amid the banging of cupboard doors and pots and pans.

Closing her eyes, Elise took a deep breath and then turned and joined her friend in the kitchen. “Good-looking guy, but still a cop.”

Courtney dropped a package of pasta on the countertop. “Are cops off-limits for some reason?”

“Oh, you know.” Elise waved her hand in the air. “Control issues.”

“Small price to pay, girl. And I’d say you’re the one with control issues. He’s obviously interested.”

“Why do you say that?” Courtney involuntarily brushed the tips of her fingers against her chin where Sean’s stubble had scratched her.

“I’m a therapist, remember? I’m trained to read people, even people as zipped up as Detective Brody.”

“Do you think he’s zipped up?”

Courtney bit her lip as she filled a pot with water. “He holds himself very still, holds his emotions in check. But, come on. What cop goes out of his way to escort a witness around? Even a cute little girl-next-door like you?”

“I think he’s just doing his job and he’s thorough.” Elise tugged on the ends of Courtney’s hair. “How was your client this afternoon?”

“I had to talk her down from a ledge, but she was okay.”