THE BRIDGE

by Carol Ericson

  She reached for his hand and laced her fingers with his.

  Before reaching the midpoint, Sean stopped and faced the water. He plunged his hand in his pocket and pulled out the GPS. He stretched his arm back and flung the black box over the guardrail and into the bay. “Let that SOB track that.”

  A sharp breeze stirred up the mist, and the moisture caressed her face. “Why here, Sean? Why this spot?”

  He gazed out toward Alcatraz, his face a mask. “Because this is where he did it. This is where my father jumped.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Elise eyed the big clock on the wall as she read the last few lines of the story of Ferdinand the bull, who liked to smell flowers all day. What a life.

  Ty was recuperating in the hospital and was demanding to see her. This was one of Ty’s demands she was only too happy to oblige.

  The bell rang while she and her students were dragging the beanbags and pillows back into the corners of the room. “Last day of school tomorrow. Bring your best smiles for the party and get ready for first grade.”

  She waved and smiled until her cheeks hurt, and then she packed up her bag.

  Viola’s husband stopped by, wedging his shoulder against the doorjamb. “You doing okay, Elise?”

  “I’m fine. Just wrapping up.”

  “I heard about the two murders. The boys down in homicide getting any closer to nailing this guy?”

  “I hope so.” She turned off her classroom light and joined him at the door. “Are you looking forward to going to Alabama?”

  He rolled his eyes. “Not at all. I’ll walk you to your car since Vi’s talking with a parent right now.”

  She tossed her bag in the backseat and hung on the door of her car. “Thanks for the escort.”

  “You bet. Take care and tell those boys in SFPD to call us in if they need any help.”

  “I’m sure they’d take that in the spirit it was meant.”

  He grinned as she slipped onto the driver’s seat and shut the door.

  She raced back across the bridge into the city. She’d see Ty alone, but Sean had promised to meet her at the hospital. He hadn’t been in on the questioning of Ty, but he’d heard through certain channels that Ty had retracted his accusation against him.

  At least his department didn’t believe Sean was capable of that.

  She pulled into the parking structure of the hospital—the same one where she’d met Sean less than a week ago, although it seemed like an eternity. How had they gotten so close so fast?

  For some reason, the killer had targeted them both and that had given them some sort of shared purpose. Would that connection end when the killings did? She didn’t want to be bound to Sean through some sick individual’s obsession.

  She joined a group in the elevator and rode up to the lobby of the hospital. From there she took another elevator to the fourth floor and checked in with the nurses’ station.

  “I’m here to see Ty Russell. Elise Duran.”

  The nurse at the desk tapped a few keys on the keyboard and nodded. “Four fifteen, down the hall to your right.”

  Elise thanked her and made her way down the antiseptic-smelling corridor, her running shoes squeaking on the shiny floor. When she reached Ty’s room, she peered through the glass at him reclining on the hospital bed, watching TV.

  She rapped one knuckle against the window, and his head jerked up. He beckoned to her with his right hand—the unbandaged one.

  Lifting the door handle, she pushed through with her hip. “How are you, Ty? You look a lot better. Got your color back.”

  “I’m just great.” He lifted his heavily bandaged left hand. “Except I’m missing my finger.”

  “I’m so sorry. That must’ve been horribly painful, but why in the world did you head to Sean—Detective Brody’s house instead of the emergency room?”

  “I don’t know.” He muted the TV. “I was in shock. I was in a rage.”

  “You couldn’t possibly have believed that Detective Brody would send someone after you and that person would then reveal who hired him.”

  “I guess it’s pretty stupid now that I think about it.”

  “Were you able to give the police a description?”

  “Didn’t the detective tell you? The man that attacked me was wearing a black ski mask over his face, and a bulky jacket. He was shorter than me and a lot heavier. If he hadn’t ambushed me, I could’ve taken him.”

  “I feel terrible that you got all mixed up in this. You should’ve never come out here.”

  “Really, Elise? When your landlord, Oscar, called me and told me what had happened, how could I not come out?”

  She sighed and wound a strand of hair around her finger. “Ty, I’m not your concern anymore.”

  “Are you worried about the finger? It’s just my ring finger. I can’t wear a wedding ring on the hand, but at least it’s not my index finger or thumb.”

  “The finger—that means nothing, but I can’t believe you’re talking to me about wedding rings. If we were so great together, you never would’ve cheated. It’s over between us, Ty.”

  “It’s that cop.”

  “It is not that cop. How many times have I told you this past year that I had moved on?” She patted his knee beneath the sheet. “You should, too. Give it a try with Gina. You must’ve seen something in her to risk our engagement.”

  His mouth dropped open. “Gina? She’s a waitress at the Cozy Café.”

  She raised her eyes to the ceiling, remembering all over again why she’d had her doubts about him. “I can’t help you there, Ty.”

  She snatched her hand back and rubbed it against her jeans. “I’m curious and you’ve probably already told the police, but how did you get Sean’s address?”

  “He gave it to me.” Ty studied his bandaged hand. “The Alphabet Killer gave it to me.”

  A chill zigzagged down her spine. “Go home, Ty. Go back to Montana.”

  They chatted a bit more about home until Ty’s pain meds kicked in and his eyelids began to droop and his words began to slur.

  Elise tiptoed out of the room and practically ran into Sean coming around the corner at the nurses’ station.

  Grabbing her shoulders to steady her, he said, “I was hoping to run into you.”

  “And you did—literally.”

  “You look washed out, although it could just be the lighting. Are you okay? Did Ty give you a hard time?”

  “Not really. He started the conversation still believing there was a chance that I’d go back to Montana with him, but I think he’s getting the picture now.”

  “He’s probably halfway in shock. That was a nasty business, and he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

  “You know the killer gave him your address?”

  “The detective questioning him told me.”

  “Do you think he knew your address before he tracked my car there?”

  “Probably.” He tapped her head. “Don’t get it into this thick skull of yours that you led him to my place.”

  “Was there any evidence with the bodies?”

  He cupped her elbow. “Let’s get something to drink in the cafeteria. We can’t talk here, and I’m not even supposed to be hanging around Ty’s room. I’m off the case, remember?”

  They took the elevator down to the lobby and crossed to the other side of the building to the hospital cafeteria. They both filled up sodas from a self-serve machine and snagged a table in the back of the noisy room filled with clattering plastic trays and hushed conversations.

  “So, what do you know?”

  Sean took a long sip from his straw. “Only what I got from Curtis. It’s a lot different when you’re not on the scene.”

  “I can’t believe th
ey’re keeping you away. You know more about this case than anyone.”

  “If anything, they were justified in their actions today when Ray Lopez showed up and started wondering aloud why the lead detective wasn’t at the crime scene.”

  “How did Lopez even know it was the work of the Alphabet Killer?”

  “He didn’t. Just fishing.” He jiggled the ice in his cup and tilted it toward the soda machines. “I’m getting a refill. How about you?”

  “Diet.”

  He returned with the cups topped off.

  “Sean, was that cop last night right? Did the victims both have names that started with the letter C?”

  “Yes. They were a married couple.”

  She bit down on her knuckle. “That’s awful. Wh-where are their fingers?”

  “I’m not discussing this with you, Elise. You don’t need to know the details, and don’t get all in my face and tell me you have a right to know. I’m not falling for that.”

  “I’m not going to play that card.” She folded her hands on the table in front of her. “But I would like to know what was in the note. That can’t be too gory, can it?”

  “The note.” He plucked a napkin from the metal dispenser and lifted a pen from his pocket. He scribbled as he spoke. “Fifty-one plus fifty equals 187. Forty-two plus fifty-eight equals 187.”

  Elise cocked her head. “Makes no sense at all.”

  “He’s just yanking our chain.”

  “Have you tried to decipher it yet?”

  “Haven’t given it a lot of thought. It’s not my case, remember?”

  “Even though he sent the note to you?”

  “It’s not like I can run around and investigate the case on my own. I’m not like my brother Judd.”

  “What does your brother Judd do?”

  “He’s a P.I., a private investigator. He follows a different drummer. He could never report to anyone. He’s a rebel who distrusts authority.”

  “Where does he come in the line of Brody brothers?”

  “He’s my youngest brother.”

  “That makes sense. He probably remembers your father the least and has the most flimsy connection to him. Sounds like he might have grown up distrusting authority.”

  “Wow, are you picking up tips from Courtney or something?”

  She stirred her ice with her straw. “Some things don’t take a degree in psychology. They’re just obvious.”

  “Well, you’re probably right about Judd. He doesn’t see what the big deal is. He can almost accept that his father was a serial killer and move on.”

  “But you can’t.”

  “Never.”

  “He didn’t know him like you did. How old was he when your father jumped?”

  “He was six years old.”

  “A baby, like my kids.”

  “Yeah, he missed Dad and would cry himself to sleep when he was gone, but he didn’t really understand what was going on.”

  “Reminds me a lot of my kids. So many of them come from broken homes or they never knew their fathers, and their moms are busy supporting the family. In many ways, it’s just best if they move on, find another father figure.”

  “That’s what Judd did. He’s a carefree SOB. Wish I could be more like him.”

  She traced the grooves of his knuckles. “You were the oldest. You were his father figure, and you couldn’t afford to be carefree.”

  “Not then, but maybe I should move on, too.” He crossed an ankle over his knee. “Is Ty going home?”

  “As soon as the hospital releases him. I think he’s had enough of San Francisco.”

  “I’m sorry he got caught up in this.” He turned his hand over and captured her fingers. “It’s interesting that the killer has taken the index fingers of all his victims, but he chopped off Ty’s ring finger. Do you think that has some significance?”

  She tapped her cup. “Funny you should bring that up. Ty was talking about how he couldn’t wear a wedding ring anymore. It’s almost like the Alphabet Killer knew about our situation, almost like he was protecting me from Ty.”

  Sean slapped his palm against the table. “I’m glad you see that, too. That’s exactly what I was thinking. He seems to have fixated on you, Elise.”

  She hunched her shoulders. “I don’t want him fixated on me.”

  “Of course not, but in a way it makes me feel better. I don’t think he’s going to hurt you. It’s almost as if once you escaped from him, he developed some respect for you and is putting on a show just for you.”

  “Yuck. I wish he’d stop. I’ve had enough.” She tapped the table in front of him. “Does the note mean he’s going to kill again?”

  “I don’t see how he’s going to keep up this pace. A killing takes a lot out of someone—emotionally, physically. He’s already killed three people this week. Some serial killers go months between kills.”

  “He’s going to screw up. I just know it. Attacking Ty like that was totally out of control.”

  “It feels like he’s heading for some kind of climax.”

  “Sexual?”

  “That’s also something curious about this guy. So many serial killers rape their victims. The victims haven’t shown any signs of molestation.”

  “Of course, that would just leave more evidence like DNA. He’s very careful, isn’t he?”

  He sucked down the rest of his soda, slurping at the end. “Sorry. Do you want another?”

  “I’ve had enough caffeine. I’m going to have a hard enough time getting to sleep tonight.”

  He grabbed her hand. “You’re staying with me, right? That’s decided.”

  “Courtney invited me to join her in her fabulous suite.”

  “Would you rather be with Courtney in her fabulous suite, or with me in my not-so-fabulous house?”

  She ran her tongue along her bottom lip and stared deep into his dark eyes. “Your house was about the most fabulous place I’ve ever been—especially your shower.”

  “Such impure thoughts from a kindergarten teacher.” He wiggled his eyebrows up and down. “Do you need to go back to your place or Courtney’s to get anything?”

  “Probably not a bad idea to drop by my place even though I packed enough the first time around to get me through the week.”

  “You know—” he ran his knuckles down her forearm “—it might not be a bad idea for you to get out of the city when school’s over. Did you have any plans before all this broke?”

  “I was actually just going to take a week or so and drive down the coast—you know, through Monterey, Big Sur and maybe as far south as Hearst Castle. I’ve never been to any of those places.”

  “That’s a great drive. You’ll love it. Can you do that sooner rather than later?”

  “Are you trying to get rid of me?”

  “Trying to keep you safe.”

  She hunched forward. “Sean, tell me you’re going to catch this guy.”

  “Me?” He jabbed his chest with his thumb. “I’m not allowed to catch him. I’ll be picking up other cases and leaving the Alphabet Killer to the task force—the task force I’m not on.”

  “That’s crazy.”

  Sean’s eyebrows collided over his nose. “Fifty-one fifty.”

  “Huh?”

  “The call for picking up someone mentally unstable—fifty-one fifty.”

  “Okay, if you say so.”

  He shoved the napkin in front of her. “Fifty-one fifty. It’s in the note.”

  “Is he telling us he’s crazy? We already know that.” She folded up one edge of the napkin as she studied the other numbers. “Could this be a coordinate again?”

  “I don’t know, Elise. Could be anything and could be a total red herring like the coordinates for
the Golden Gate Bridge.”

  She tapped some ice from the cup into her mouth. “I wonder what he thought when he tracked my GPS right into the bay.”

  “I hope he realized two can play stupid mind games.” He rolled up the napkin and stuffed it in his pocket. “He loves those mind games.”

  “And fingers.”

  “Is Ty going to be okay?”

  “He’ll get over it. Like you said, I think he’s beginning to realize he’s lucky to be alive.”

  “And he’s beginning to realize it’s over between the two of you? Is it over?”

  “Of course. Did you think I’d feel so much sympathy for his finger I’d go back to him?”

  “I think he was hoping you would.”

  “I set him straight.”

  Sean pushed back from the table. “Unless you want to eat hospital cafeteria food, let’s get going.”

  “I’m in the parking structure below.”

  “Not a great idea, Elise.”

  “We got rid of the GPS. He’s not tracking my movements anymore.”

  “We don’t know what he’s up to.” He patted his pocket with the napkin. “He’s obviously on the hunt for a new victim.”

  “Does the task force have any idea how he finds his victims?” She dropped her cup in the trash. “Any idea how he found me?”

  “We...they’re looking into everything, Elise.” He glanced up and pointed. “That guy can tell you more than I can now.”

  Detective Curtis was barreling into the cafeteria and didn’t notice them until Sean raised his hand.

  Curtis’s eyebrows jumped. “You didn’t drop in on the vic, did you?”

  Sean placed his hand on her arm. “She did. Don’t worry—I stayed well away.”

  “Was Ty able to tell you anything, Detective Curtis?”

  “You can call me John.” He skimmed the top of his short hair with the palm of his hand. “He couldn’t tell us much. Guy came at him out of nowhere.”

  “Are you heading up the task force now?” Elise shifted from one foot to the other, brushing Sean’s arm. He seemed to be taking his removal from the task force well, but his body still seemed tight and tense.