Page 18 of Cat and Mouse

"Got it. I'll see what I can dig up. Anything else?"

"Yeah, look into her current team. I want to know who she trusts, who's close to her."

"Will do. Be careful, Leo."

"Always am," I say, ending the call.

I sit back, thinking about Elizabeth. She's not just another cop. She's a puzzle, and I'm going to solve her. That scar, it's more than just a mark. It's a story, and I'm going to uncover it.

I close the laptop and drive home, the image of her face burned into my mind. There's a fire in her eyes that I can't shake. She's my match, and I'm not going to let her go.

As I walk into my apartment, I know what I need to do.

Elizabeth Kane, you're mine to unravel. One piece at a time.

Chapter 5 - Elizabeth

I jolt awake, heart racing, drenched in sweat. The images from my dream linger—my partner lying in a pool of blood, his eyes lifeless. I try to shake it off, dragging myself out of bed and into the shower. The hot water does little to wash away the memories, but it helps me focus.

I get dressed, the routine calming my nerves. I make my way to the station, coffee in hand, trying to push the dream to the back of my mind. Captain Harris is already there, looking as weary as ever.

"Morning, Kane," he says, not looking up from his desk.

"Morning, captain. Anything new?" I ask, hoping for a breakthrough.

He shakes his head. "Nothing. We're no closer to finding the Phantom. It's like he's a ghost."

I bite my lip, feeling a pang of guilt. I haven't told anyone about meeting him on the balcony. If they knew, I'd be pulled off the case for sure.

"Maybe we're missing something from the club," I suggest. "No one's talking about Carson, but it's clear she worked there. We just don't know in what capacity."

He looks at me, curious. "What's your plan?"

"I can go question some of the waitresses," I say, trying to sound confident.

"Okay," he nods. "Do it. We need any lead we can get."

I head out, making my way to the club. The place is almost empty, just a few staff cleaning up from the night before. I find a waitress, a young woman with bright pink hair, and introduce myself.

"Detective Kane. I need to ask you a few questions about Amy Carson."

She looks nervous but nods. "Sure, what do you need to know?"

"What was her job here? No one seems to know."

She glances around, lowering her voice. "Amy wasn't a waitress. She was a dancer. Went by the name Ginger."

"A dancer?" I echo, surprised. "Did she have any connections with staff or clients?"

She nods. "Yeah, she hooked up with some of the staff and clients. She was... popular."

"Popular?" I raise an eyebrow. "With who?"

"Mostly the regulars and a few of the staff. She was good at keeping secrets," she says, glancing around again.

I thank her and move on to another waitress, getting similar stories. Amy was a dancer, not a waitress. And she had a lot of connections in the club.

Back at the station, I report my findings to Captain Harris. He leans back in his chair, thinking. "A dancer, huh? That changes things. If she was hooking up with staff and clients, one of them could be our guy."

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