Beauty & The Beast (Book 1)

84. Assassination attempt

Cat pulls into an open spot across the park, worried about where Vincent might be. He wasn't answering his phone. And neither was JT. Although, it was daylight hours so JT may be at the University. She rushes up to Tess's side when she sees her.

"Hey, sorry I'm late."

"It hasn't even started yet," Tess waves her off, continuing to walk.

"I was at the graveyard with Vincent - "

"Oh right," Tess looks at Cat. "It's today."

"No, I'm fine, but he had to hang back because Gabe was there."

Tess frowns. "What?"

"Yeah, turns out he knew my mom but when Gabe left, Vincent was gone."

"Wait, I'm still on Gabe knew your mother?"

"I've been calling and texting and no one's been answering." They stop at one of the squad cars with their layout for the security detail on the hood. "I don't know what happened." Cat was at a loss. Did he get taken in broad daylight by Muirfield?

"Maybe his cell died?"

"And he just left me there?"

Tess looks intently at Cat. "You're spiralling because it's the day. Look, you know, Gabe led a task force that hunted Vincent, he probably just took off because he didn't want Gabe to see him."

Cat blinks, looking behind Tess. "Right...You're right," she sighs. Cat's phone rings and she hastily fishes it out of her pocket. "Hello!"

"Hey."

"Heather," Cat closes her eyes in dismay.

"Worst day ever...I mean, I'm wallowing in mom's scrubs," Heather sniffles, scoffing.

"I'm gonna come and wallow with you soon, uhm, and I'm gonna bring someone, I hope that's alright?"

"A guy?"

"No. Gabriel Lowan, the ADA." Tess looks at Cat with wide eyes. Gabe? And she wonders why Vincent took off? Crazy woman...

"Sounds like a guy to me?"

"He was a patient of mom's," Cat lifts her shoulders.

"No way!"

"He has a lot of stories about her so..."

"Aw, a shared past," Heather gushes. "Alright, well, I'll order another pizza."

"Also, did we ever have mom moved?" Cat wondered if Heather knew anything about the stone. If anyone knew it would be either Heather or her dad.

"Moved?" Heather asks in confusion.

"Yeah, fromt the grave...her headstone's cracked."

Tess lifts a brow. "It is ten years old," she muses.

"And patched," Cat tells Heather, looking at Tess. "It's probably just vandals, uh...I love you, and I will see you soon okay?"

"Alright. Love you. Bye."

Cat hangs up and looks at Tess, who is eyeing her with a tilted head. "What? I am just curious?"

Tess shakes her head, smirking, "You're bringing a guy to a family event Vincent can't go to and wonder why he's not talking to you?"

Cat stares at her. She groans. "Oh my God, he probably overheard."

"And guys are possessive," Tess starts to walk again, having gathered their radios. "Joe's trying to possess the precinct, ship me off to the 15th."