Found With Murder by Jenn Vakey Page B

until after the ransom is picked up, though.  We can’t risk our guy getting spooked.  After we get eyes on him, he’s to be followed unless it’s confirmed that Kim is in the car with him.”
    “I’ll call it in,” Rilynne said.
    Rilynne walked back into the kitchen to make the call.  When she finished, she turned around to see Ben walking cautiously toward her.
    “Do you want to go for a walk?” he asked.  “Or maybe a run?  You haven’t gone on one since this all happened.”
    “I could go for a walk,” she said.  His offer was actually surprising.  Though the tension had lessened, she wouldn’t have thought for a moment that he would go out of his way to have a little alone time with her.  At least not yet.
    He smiled without uttering another word and took her by the hand.  After telling Wilcome they were going out, he led her through the front door.
    The day was nicer than she thought.  It had been cold when they walked over that morning, but the temperature had risen significantly.  She might have even been hot in her sweater had it not been from the gently breeze sweeping over them.
    Ben was expecting the conversation to turn to his big reveal as soon as they stepped out onto the walkway.  It was obvious by the tenseness of his body.  Rilynne really wanted to talk more about it, but she was taking more pleasure in watching him squirm every time they spoke.  She wondered quietly to herself how long she could draw it out before he grew comfortable enough that he no longer reacted.
    “So...” Rilynne started as they turned onto the sidewalk.  She fought to keep the smile off her face as Ben’s grip on her hand tightened just slightly.  “Did I ever tell you I got to ride in a helicopter a couple times when I was in high school?”
    “No, you didn’t.  Let me guess, a search and rescue helicopter?” he chortled.
    Rilynne shot him a spiteful look before rolling her eyes and nodding.  Ben laughed.  “It wasn’t like that ,” she said.  “I was just a passenger the first time.  I rode to the hospital with them when one of my friends was injured.  After that, I considered getting my license and learning how to fly them.  The first time I went out, though, there were problems and we went down.”
    He stopped walking and turned to face her.  “You were in a helicopter crash?”
    “It was my senior year,” she said as she thought back.  “Someone had tampered with it in an attempt to kill the pilot.  Sadly, they succeeded.”
    “Tell me you at least found out who was behind it?”  It wasn't clear if he was more amused or shocked.
    Rilynne nodded and started moving back down the sidewalk.  “Of course I did,” she said with a cocky grin.  “My relentless desire to solve cases started long before I joined the department.  I swear I thought my mom was going to die of stress before I reached my eighteenth birthday.”
    “Knowing you, I’m surprised she didn’t.  Most parents just have to worry about their children getting caught up in something dangerous,” he said.  “You sought it out, didn’t you?”
    She nodded, though she knew the question didn’t warrant an answer.  They paused when they reached the end of the block, both silently considering which way to go.  After a few brief seconds, they almost simultaneously turned left.
    The streets were quiet, even for a Monday.  With news of Kim’s kidnapping all over town, parents were keeping their children in and away from danger.  Rilynne was glad.  She had been surrounded by chaos the past few days, even longer if she considered the last minute wedding plans.  It was nice to get away from it all and just enjoy the silence.  Ben must have been thinking the same because neither of them spoke again until they turned down the next block.
    “You know, we still haven’t decided on where we’re going to live after we get married,” she said.  Though they spend practically every night together, Ben still