Anya Knows... (Paperback) by Fulton Wirt

Imagine yourself, a freshman cop, walking your beat through a dark and quiet street on the backside of the French Quarter. It's three a.m., and squeaking doors from a neighborhood bar pull your attention. You see the woman, who has secretly captured your heart, aggressively pushing away from the malicious advances of a scoundrel, you swell with anger. The scoundrel slinks off into the shadows, but she is unaware you are near. She turned to escape the scene, and you stealthily follow from a distance, ensuring her safety home. 

As you turn a corner, you stop stone cold and shiver at the sight of a severed hand lying at the street's edge. You move in closer to investigate and discover it's real. It's not as Mardi Gras prop. Deep breath, you lower your head. A sudden sound makes your heart jump. The girl you had just sworn to protect is being assaulted again. You run like hell to discover the knife to her throat. You're from the country, so your marksmanship skills are innate. You shoot, man down. You handle the situation and put your girl in safe hands before alerting your superiors to the gruesome scene just around the corner. 

You take your captain to the scene, but the girl's hand is now gone, vanished into thin air. Your captain acts perturbed and unconcerned. His behavior doesn't sit well as you come to realize that someone else has been watching you. Who?