Beauty & The Beast (Book 1)

65. Masquerade

Cat hands Evan her tablet. When Vincent told her he'd heard the name Ray, she remembered seeing that name on the list of associates. High on that list. "Ray Sheckman."

"You really think that this well known portfolio manager is our missing assailant?"

"He's been investigated twice for loan sharking. Both in cases connected to the East River Crime Syndicate, but no arrests. I was hoping that you'd found some evidence linking him to Darius's murder?"

Evan looks to the side. "In all of those?" Cat looks too and sees boxes of evidence stacked in the corner. "Not even close."

"Those are all from the crime scene?" Cat asks in shock, following Evan out of the morgue and into the office.

"Minus the six boxes I've already been through." He walks past exactly those six boxes to his desk. "If you wanna get your man, you better find some other evidence. Fast."

"What do you mean?"

"Garnett and Newell were just here." He looks at Cat. "Your boy Sheckman is on their list of possible suspects. That they also linked to the Syndicate. They're trying to get warrants."

"Even for Sheckman?"

"I don't think they've got enough to present to a judge, but...I wouldn't put it past them to fabricate evidence." Those two guys were just really...hyped for the case, or that's what Evan noticed about them. They were determined to catch the killer.
"How'd you get onto him?" Evan wonders, closing the file in his hand.

"Uh," Cat sighs. "Just a hunch."

"A hunch?" Cat just looks at him. "If you're right, Ray Sheckman might be the only person who's ever seen this vigilante's face. He could be the key to this whole investigation."

Oh God. I need to find Ray Sheckman. If he talks before we get to him...
"Then I better hurry. Wouldn't wanna lose a collar to the new meat heads on the block," Cat walks out backwards as she talks, turning at the door and leaving.

*

Evan waits until she is gone, then takes out the card Sorenson gave him and closes his doors. He dials the number.
"Doctor Marks. This better be good."

"It's better than good. I've got a witness. And he's seen our cross species creature up close... If I can find him alone to learn what he saw, would you be willing to expand our working arrangement?"

"Give me a name. If he's as big of a threat as you say he is, we can discuss it."

"Right," Evan scoffs. "Don't call me, I'll call you?" He shakes his head. He gives them a name they go after him alone and that leaves Evan with nothing. Again. "No, I'll handle this myself. And then we'll talk." He hangs up.
He was not falling for it. Not again.

****

Cat stares up at ADA Lowan walking to the break station, information on Ray in hand. She wanted to find out if he knew something. She goes upstairs and stands beside him.
"So, how's your little investigation coming along?" she asks with a smile.

"Is this your way of telling me you're not worried?"

"I'm seeing what I'm up against." She takes the coffee from him and he sighs, turning to stand against the counter, pushing his hands into his pantpockets.

"It's going fine. It is just an informal appraisal." He smiles at Cat. "It's not a witch hunt."

"So when do I get pulled into one of your...appraisals?"

"To tell you the truth, I'm kind of avoiding you." She lifts her brows an inch. "Look, I know you must have done something major to end things with Tess. No one walks away from the number of collars you two ha - "