Found With Murder (2 page)

“Detective,” he said with a gentle nod when he approached her.  She offered him a weak smile before he turned to Wooldridge.

“Where are we with the roadblock?” inquired Wooldridge.

“We had a car in the area when Detective Matthews' call came in, so we were able to get it set up immediately,” he replied.  “We've been searching all cars going out but haven't found anything yet.  I've also sent units out to canvas the area surrounding the abduction site to see if anyone witnessed her being taken or saw a suspicious car.”

“What about the registered sex offenders?” she asked.

Wied nodded.  “I already have officers looking into them, concentrating on both those closest to the scene and the ones with similar preferences first.  I also have people out looking into anyone who has ever been accused or convicted of attempting to kidnap a child.”

Rilynne nodded and pulled out her phone.  “Wilcome wants an update every fifteen minutes,” she said.  “I'll call him now, but can you make sure someone can take over when I'm out of the office?”

“I'll do it myself,” Wied stated.  “Do you have an update on whether or not he's been able to get a list from Detective Sibrian of anyone who has been in and out of her daughter's life?”

“I'll check on it now,” she said.

After filling Wilcome in and checking on Lori, Rilynne sat the phone down on her desk and leaned back in her chair, looking quietly around the room.  She didn't recognize a third of the people bustling about, which surprised her given the fact that the police department wasn't very large.

“What's the word?” Wied called out from the conference room.

Rilynne just shook her head.  He gave her a disappointed nod and turned back to Matthews who was tacking things to the white board.  After letting her eyes take another pass around the room, she ran her hands over her face and closed her eyes.

No matter how hard she tried to see something useful, the only flashes she was able to get were from when Kim was taken.  It was like a scene running on a loop, showing over and over in her mind.  After several long minutes, she couldn't take it anymore.

“You should go home,” Wooldridge said when she opened her eyes.  “There's nothing else you can do here tonight.  Go get some sleep so you can start fresh tomorrow.”

Though he was no longer her chief, she still had trouble not doing what he told her to.  She wanted to stay but she just nodded and reached for her purse and dress.  “Call me if anything happens,” she instructed.  He agreed and she walked out the door.

“What are you doing out here?” she asked when she found Ben half asleep on the bench in the hall.

He looked down at his watch before standing to meet her.  “They’ve got everything handled in the lab and I didn't want to distract you.  Heading home?”

She grabbed his hand and led him toward the elevator.  “Wooldridge insisted,” she said.  “There isn't anything for me to do here, though.  The roadblock is in place and the canvas hasn't turn up anything so far.  Our sketch artist happens to be out of town for the next couple days, so we can't have Harper work on that yet.  I don't know how much good it would do even if he could do it tonight, though.  From what I saw, his attention was entirely on Kim.  Were you able to pull any prints off of her shoe?”

When Ben pushed the elevator button, the doors instantly rattled open.  He put his hand gently on her back and ushered her in before stepping in himself.  “The one adult sized one we pulled was Lori's,” he said.  “There were quite a few that were partially smeared, but they all came back to Harper.  He really did put up one hell of a fight, didn't he?”

Rilynne nodded, thinking back to the strength that had been behind his grip on Kim's leg.  The man had to knock him down just to get away.  “How do you have Harper's prints?” she asked after a few moments.

“Lori had both his and Kim's logged into the system,” he explained.  “We were talking about setting up a program to have all of the children in town printed in case a situation like this one ever came up.  It's still being debated, but Lori decided she liked the idea and brought both kids in.”

Rilynne avoided meeting anyone's eye as they walked through the crowded lobby for fear that someone would ask her for an update on the case.  She didn't want to admit aloud that they still had nothing.  She was relieved moments later when they stepped out onto the street without anyone approaching them.

“She's always been cautious when it came to the kids.  That's why it's so hard to believe that this happened.  This is a small town; these kinds of things aren't supposed to happen in places like this,” she said.

Even talking about it made her feel like she was going to break down again.  She took in a deep breath and let it back out slowly in an attempt to steady herself.  Surprisingly, it worked.

Ben pulled her car door open and smirked down at her as she sat down.  “This coming from the woman who's been grabbed three times,” he chortled.  He shut the door before she could respond.

“That's completely different,” she said as soon as he pulled his own door open.  “Besides, one of them wasn't in Addison Valley.”

“You're right,” he said.  “That one was in an even smaller town.  I'm beginning to think you're a magnet for people wanting to take you.”

Rilynne shrugged and laugh.  “What can I say?  People just want me.”

When she realized what she was doing, her expression abruptly hardened.

“It's okay to laugh,” Ben said gently.  She looked up and found an empathetic look on his face.  “I know how much you're hurting right now and how helpless you feel.  You can't focus solely on that, though.  Not only will it drive you crazy, it'll make it all the more difficult for you to do what you need to do in order to find her.”

She knew he was right, but she still felt only guilt.

“It's actually four,” she said, trying to distract
herself.  She looked over to find a puzzled look on his face, so she continued.  “I was grabbed when I was a teenage, too.  It wasn't like this, though.  I was playing detective and snooping around in a situation I probably shouldn't have been anywhere near.  Needless to say, my surveillance skills weren't as honed as they are now, and I ended up getting spotted.”

“What happened?” Ben asked curiously.

She spent the rest of the drive going over the details of the case and the time she spent with her captors.  By the time she finished, they were walking through her front door. 

Rilynne draped her dress over the back of a dining room chair and walked into the kitchen.  She knew she needed to eat something.  Kim had been taken before dinner was served, though even the thought of eating at that moment turned her stomach.  She pulled the refrigerator open only to close it again after a few moments.

“Come on,” he said, taking her by the hand and leading her out the backdoor.  Without needing to ask, she knew exactly where he was taking her.  It was the same place he took her every time something was wrong. 

There was a chill reaching through her clothes as they made their way through the woods.  The moon was high and bright, giving them just enough light to navigate without trouble.

Like usual, the clearing was empty.  Rilynne had never seen anyone else in it in all the times Ben had taken her.  Ben himself said that he had only ever seen one other person in all the years he had been going out there.

He led her to the giant boulder in the middle and helped her up before climbing up next to her.  The cold air tickled her nose as the night breeze passed over them.  She'd forgotten how calming a deep, cold breath could be.  Since moving to Addison Valley, they had been few and
far between.  Even in the middle of winter, the temperature rarely reached below freezing.  The nights were of course colder, but having promised Ben she wouldn’t go on anymore middle of the night runs, she didn't often get to enjoy them.

“You really did look incredibly beautiful tonight,” Ben said, breaking the silence several minutes later.

Rilynne felt her cheeks growing warm as she dropped her head down on his shoulder.  “You didn't look too bad yourself.  You really should consider pulling out those nice shirts of yours for more than just court.”

“But then you would grow accustomed to them and I wouldn't get to see that little smirk you get every time I wear one.”  She looked up to find a grin on his face as he looked down at the city lights below.

She knew he was as shaken by the night's events as she was, though he wasn't showing it.  She didn't have to ask to know why.  He was being strong for her and doing everything he could to keep her from giving into the dread building within her.

Rilynne slid off of Ben and lowered herself down on the boulder.  The night sky was clear, not a cloud visible.  All that littered the darkness were the countless number of stars looking down on them.  She let her eyes sweep over them before drifting closed.

Rain was pouring down over her as she sat in the middle of a large yard.  It didn’t bring its usual relaxing feeling.  Instead, there was only sorrow; an immense, overwhelming sorrow like she had never felt before.  Her arms were heavy where they lay on her lap.  When she looked down, she found a small red bundle cradled in them.

She didn’t know what she was looking at, but she couldn’t keep her eyes on it.  It was too painful.  Instead, she looked to the ground around her.  Like the mound in her arms, the grass was also painted red.  Though she couldn’t think of what would have left it such an unusual shade, its appearance only left her more distraught.

As she watched the rain slowly wash the grass clean, she found the courage to turn back to her lap.  Her face was wet but it wasn’t from the rain. 

Her body shook violently as she raised her arm out from under the lump.  Tangled in her fingers as they emerged was something long and stringy. 

It took a moment for her to realize what it was.  When she really looked at it, though, she knew there was only one thing it could be.

R
ilynne rolled off of the boulder and ran to the tree line before dropping down on her knees and emptying her stomach.  Tears rolled down her face with each body wrenching heave.  She didn't even know Ben had come up behind her until she sat back and he wrapped his arms around her and lifted her to her feet.

He held her close as she wept, not asking what had happened.  She tried to push the horrific image out of her mind, but she couldn't.  It was the only thing she could see when her eyes closed.

It wasn't until her tears finally slowed ten minutes later that Ben moved her back to the boulder.  He helped her back up, but didn't join her.  Instead, he stood in front of her and placed his warm hands down over her legs.  Still he didn't ask what she had seen.  They sat there in silence, Ben gently running his hands up and down her thighs, for another five minutes before she was ready to talk.

“There was so much blood.”  She spoke so low that he might have missed it had they been any further apart.  “I saw him holding her.  She was covered in blood.”

Ben let out a deep breath and tightened the hold he had on her.  “Are you sure it was Kim?”

Rilynne started to nod but paused.  She thought back over every detail before looking down at him.  “I didn't see her face.  Her hair, what little of it that hadn't been stained by the blood, was the same, though.  Same color, same wavy curls.”

“That doesn't mean it was her,” he said firmly.  “Even if it was, there might still be time to stop it.”

“It was raining, hard,” she said.  “He was sitting with her on his lap as the rain poured down over them.”

“See,” said Ben.  “It hasn't rained.  It's not even supposed to rain all week.  Maybe, and I know this doesn't make it any better, but maybe it was another little girl.  He could have taken someone before and something happened to her.”

“You're right,” she said.  She wiped her eyes.  “That doesn’t make me feel any better.  If he took another girl and she died, chances are the same will happen to Kim.”

“Well, what did you feel?”  He was almost hesitant as he asked.

Rilynne was glad he did.  She was so stunned by what she had seen that she didn't stop to think about what she had felt.  “Sorrow,” she said.  “He was sad.  He didn't take any pleasure in seeing her dead.  That doesn't mean anything, though.  Even if he kills her by accident, or kills her and feels bad about it later… she'll still be dead.”

For once, he didn't seem to know what to say.  He just stared up at her helplessly as she looked up to the stars.  Rilynne concentrated on them instead of the images dancing through her mind.  She searched the sky until she found what she was looking for, the star she had dedicated to her father.

Rilynne had inherited not only her eyes from him; she had gotten his visions.  After he was killed, she found herself turning toward that star every time she felt like she needed some guidance.  Though it was just a star, even looking upon it would calm her and help her to see things more clearly.

“There's still time,” she muttered several minutes later.  “He couldn't have gotten her out of town.  We haven't had rain for months and there wasn't any forecasted for anytime soon.  That means there's still time for us to find her before anything happens.”

If Ben found fault in her logic, he didn't mention it.  Instead he moved his hands up to her waist and lifted her off the boulder.  “We should head back,” he said.

Rilynne nodded, her head in a haze, and followed him back through the trees.  She was so lost in thought that she didn't realize she was back home until Ben reached up to unlock the backdoor.

“Are you going to stay?” she asked.  She didn’t know which answer would make her happier.  Though she always missed him when he was away, part of her just wanted to be alone.

“I have friends staying at my place tonight.”  He reached up and gently brushed the hair away from her eyes.  “I should go fill them in on what's going on and let them know we'll have to postpone the wedding.”

The words stung.  Although it was an obvious move given the current situation, she hadn't thought about the fact that they would no longer be getting married tomorrow.  Her disappointment must have shown on her face, because Ben reached out and pulled her into his arms.  He didn't need to say anything.  The feel of his arms around her made her feel like everything was going to be all right.

“I'll see you at the station tomorrow,” she said.

Rilynne shut the door behind him and walked straight to her bedroom.  She didn't even bother to turn off all of the lights before pulling her pajamas on and climbing into bed.  She couldn't believe how much had happened over the last several hours.  It felt so unreal, like a horrible dream she was having trouble
waking from. 

After pulling the blankets up around her, she stared up at the ceiling fan spinning above, afraid to let her eyes close.  It would be impossible for her to see anything that could help find Kim if she didn't, but she was afraid.  If anything bad had happened, or was going to happen, she would inevitably see it.  It was more than she would be able to handle.

Rilynne held her eyes open for as long as she could.  After close to an hour, she couldn't do it anymore and she drifted into a deep sleep.

The breeze flowing through the trees warmed her as it passed.  Her bare feet crunched the leaves that littered the ground with every step she took.  She liked the way it felt, even with the occasional jab from a fallen twig.  She didn't want to leave.

She was late, though.  Rilynne couldn't imagine what she could possibly be late for, but she could feel it deep within her.  As much as she wanted to continue enjoying the day, she knew what would happen if she didn't get back, and it frightened her.

She ran, not caring that the rocks scattered along the path were digging into her feet.  Anticipation and dread both built within her as she approached the tree line ahead.  She was almost there.

When she stepped out of the trees, her feet sank down into the hot sand.  It burned, but she didn't mind.    As she walked out onto the sunny beach, all of the ill feelings she had been almost consumed by disappeared.  This was her favorite spot in the world.  Nothing could bother her here.

“Auntie Rye, Auntie Rye!”

The little voice warmed her deep within, even more than the bright sun above.

She spun around so fast that she nearly lost her balance.  She didn't have time to steady herself before the bouncing child jumped on her.  They both tumbled to the ground, laughing as they hit the soft sand.

“I missed you, Auntie Rye.  Can I wear my pretty dress now?  I really want to wear it so I watch you marry Uncle Ben,” she said, lying on top of Rilynne.  “You told me I could.  Can I?”

“Of course you can,” Rilynne said.  She wrapped her arms around Kim and held her tight.  “We just need to find you first.”

“I'm here with you silly,” Kim giggled.  “Can't you see me?”

Rilynne sighed and sat up.  Kim scooted off of her and onto the sand.  She was just as happy as she always was, playing with the sand beneath her.  Rilynne couldn't take her
eyes off of her.  The smiling child didn't have any of the fear or worry that everyone else did.

“Can you help me with something, jellybean?” Rilynne asked after several minutes.  Kim nodded without looking up at her.  Her attention was focused on the small crab walking between them.  “When we were at the big party last night, a man came and took you.  Can you tell me who the man is or maybe where he's keeping you?”

Kim shrugged and poked the crab with her chubby little finger.

“Your mommy talked to you about strangers and what to do if someone ever tries to take you away from her,” she continued.  “Do you remember that?”

Her head bounced up and down.  “I did just what she told me to.  I kicked him and bit his hand and scratched him with my fingers.  It didn't hurt him, though.  He said he knew I was just scared and he wasn't mad at me.  Then he gave me ice cream to show me I wasn't in trouble.  It was my favorite, strawberry with sprinkles.”

“That's great, honey.”  Rilynne had to struggle to keep her frustration from sounding in her voice.  “Do you remember anything about where you went after the party?  Did you see what kind of car he was driving?”

“This is a really pretty crab,” Kim said.  Her focus was waning.  “Do you think my mommy will let me keep it?  I really want to.”

Before she could answer, something in the distance caught Kim's eye.  When Rilynne turned to see what it was, Kim jumped to her feet and started running.

“Wait,” Rilynne called out as she started after her.  As fast as she ran, she couldn't keep up with Kim.  After a few moments, Kim turned and ran into the trees.  When Rilynne stepped in after her, the beach disappeared and she found herself standing in a large dress shop.  She had been there before, several times.  It was the shop where she bought her wedding dress.

“So nice to see you, Ms. Evans,” the pleasant woman behind the small counter said.  “I was very sorry to hear about your wedding.  As we discussed, I can't give you a full refund for the dress.  As it was never worn, I am able to give you seventy-five percent, though.  Now, you said that you would be needing cash, correct?  Usually we wouldn't but given the circumstances…”

Rilynne was confused.  She opened her mouth to tell the woman there must be some kind of mistake when she noticed the garment bag in her arms.

“It was just delayed,” she mumbled to herself, looking down at the bag.  “We didn't call off the wedding.  We just had to put it off for a little while so we could look for Kim.”

If the woman heard her, she showed no sign of it.  Instead, she started typing away at the computer before reaching out and taking the bag from Rilynne.

“I've already pulled it together for you,” she said sweetly, sliding an envelope across the counter.  “And again, I'm very sorry.  I'm also sorry I couldn't give you the full amount back.  I would like to offer the remaining twenty-five percent as a store credit, though.  You can use it whenever you're in need of a dress again.”

Rilynne nodded numbly as she picked up the envelope and turned around.  She didn't understand what was going on.  Her wedding hadn't been cancelled.  Why would she be returning the dress?