Page 24 of Cat and Mouse

I stare at the ceiling, trying to catch my breath, trying to shake off the remnants of the dream. But it lingers, the feel of his hands, his lips, the sound of his voice still echoing in my mind.

"Fuck," I mutter, throwing an arm over my eyes.

I've had dreams before, sure, but nothing like this. Nothing that felt so real, so intense. It was like he was actually here, like he was actually touching me.

I sit up, running a hand through my hair, trying to clear my head. This is bad. Really fucking bad. I can't be dreamingabout him like this, not when I'm supposed to be catching him, supposed to be stopping him.

But I can't deny how much I want him, how much I want that dream to be real, how much I want him to come back, to finish what we started.

"Get it together, Liz," I mutter to myself, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. I reach under the pillow, my fingers brushing against the cool metal of the gun. It's real. That part, at least, is real.

I hold it in my hands, staring at it, trying to ground myself. I need to focus, to keep my head on straight. But all I can think about is him, the way he looked at me, the way he touched me.

I shake my head, trying to clear the fog, but it's no use. I'm too wired, too keyed up. I stand up, pacing the room, trying to shake off the dream, trying to get my mind back on track.

But it's useless. Every time I close my eyes, I see him. Every time I breathe, I can still smell him, still taste him. It's like he's everywhere, in my head, under my skin, and I can't get him out.

I sit back down on the bed, dropping the gun onto the nightstand. I'm not going to sleep tonight, not after that. I'll just lie here, replaying the dream over and over, torturing myself with what I can't have, what I shouldn't want.

But I do want it. I want him. And that scares the hell out of me.

I lie back down, pulling the covers over me, but I don't close my eyes. I can't. Not with him still so fresh in my mind, not with the memory of his touch still burning on my skin.

I don't know what's happening to me, don't know why I'm feeling this way. But I do know one thing: I'm in deep, deeper than I ever thought possible. And there's no going back now.

I'm in too deep with him, with this sick fascination, this twisted attraction.

***

New York has way too many Leonardos. The database just keeps spitting them out like it's some kind of sick joke. Every time I type in his name, I get a different set of results, but nothing that connects to my Phantom. It's been two days, and I'm nowhere closer to figuring out who the hell he is. My patience is running thin, but the thought of his lips burning into mine still lingers, and that pisses me off even more.

I slam my laptop shut and lean back in my chair, staring up at the ceiling like it might offer some divine answer.

"Damn it, Leonardo, who the hell are you?" I mutter to myself.

My phone buzzes on the desk, startling me. I grab it, half-expecting another dead-end lead. But no, it's Captain Harris's name flashing on the screen.

Shit.

My stomach knots up because every time he calls me, it's never good news. Did he somehow find out about the secrets I've been keeping? About what happened in Milwaukee? If he did, I'm screwed. For my career's sake, I hope he's just calling to ask about a case, though that seems like wishful thinking.

"Detective Kane," I answer, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Kane, I need you in my office. Now."

His tone is somber, and my anxiety spikes. "On my way."

Hanging up, I push back from my desk, my mind racing. What the hell does he want now? I can't think of anything specific, but the fear of my past catching up to me has my pulse kicking into overdrive. Milwaukee... Damn it, I don't want to go back there, not in my head, not in reality.

The walk to his office feels like the longest trek. I try to push down the panic rising in my chest, but it's like trying to hold back a flood with a paper dam. His door's slightly ajar, and I knock twice before stepping in.

Captain Harris is sitting behind his desk, looking... sad? I can't read him fully, but there's something off in his expression.

"You wanted to see me, Captain?"

He nods, motioning for me to sit. I do, trying to brace myself for whatever's coming next. The silence stretches on for a few seconds, and it's killing me.

"Kane," he finally starts, his voice low. "I've got some bad news."

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