by Jenn Vakey
When Rilynne sat back up, she shot a baleful look at Young and rose from her seat. Grabbing Ben by the hand, she pulled him back into the conference room.
“I must say,” he said as he closed the door behind them. “I'm a little proud of you.”
Rilynne let out a quick laughed followed by a groan. “Why, did you think I was going to pounce on her in the middle of the office and call her out as a fraud?”
He twisted his face and nodded. “The thought had crossed my mind,” he said. The grin on his face calmed her. “So how'd she do it? I know you saw something.” She looked up at him curiously. “You tense up just slightly when you have one of your flashes. It's not noticeable unless you know to be looking for it.”
“Huh…” she said as she thought over it. She didn't know whether she should be pleased with his level of observation or concerned with the fact that she had a visible tell. She was still contemplating it moments later when Ben elbowed her and brought her back to their conversation.
“Oh, um… She researched us online and read the stories in the paper about us. As for Kim's shoe, that wouldn't have been hard to learn about. I even heard some officers talking about it downstairs when I walked in. I'm sure she did, too.”
Ben leaned against the table and looked over at Young through the window. After a few moments, an impish grin formed on his face.
“What?” Rilynne asked.
“Oh, I was just trying to picture you dressed up like that,” he said. Rilynne reached out and shoved him. “What? I think you'd look cute. You could even get charms you could carry around, jingling in front of people.”
“I'm glad you think it's so funny. You remember this if anyone actually does find out and we're both looked at the way people are looking at her now,” she said. She slid off the table and took a step toward the door. Ben reached out and pulled her back to him, wrapping her up in his arms.
“That's something you will never have to worry about,” he said. His hot breath against the back of her neck sent a wave of chills down her spine. “Even in the off chance that they actually did learn the truth, no one here would ever look at you like you were crazy. There isn't a single person in this office who doesn't trust you with their life. Nothing could ever change that.”
Rilynne leaned back against him, pulling his arms tighter around her. “Just because you accepted it, doesn't mean anyone else would.” He leaned down and pressed his lips against her neck. Her chest tightened as a quiver spread through her.
“That's not fair,” she whispered.
He kissed her again, this time just behind her ear. “What's that?”
“You know I can't think straight when you do that,” she said on a low moan. “You're trying to distract me so I don't go in there and call her out. It’s an abuse of power.”
Reaching up, he grabbed her chin and turned her head around to face him. He leaned down until their lips were so close that she could feel his warmth reaching out for her. “Is that really a bad thing?” With each word, his lips grazed against hers. When she couldn't take it anymore, she moved forward to meet them. As she did, though, he pulled back just enough to maintain their separation.
Rilynne grinned as her heart started racing. “No,” she whispered.
When she moved forward again, he didn't pull back. Instead, he kissed her, hard. She spun around in his arms and deepened the kiss. For one perfect moment, she forgot about everything going on around them. The world dissolved away, leaving just them in that quiet room, with nothing to think about except each other.
“What did I say about saving it for the honeymoon?” interrupted Matthews a few moments later.
Rilynne grinned as they drew apart. She closed her eyes and shook her head before turning to face her partner. He was standing in the open doorway, arms pulled up in front of him with a puckish grin on his face. “Can we help you with something?” she asked.
“Just thought I should let you know what that psychic said,” he said. He pushed off the door frame and moved to the table. “You know, it always surprises me that the freaks come out on cases like this. You would think that when a child's safety hangs in the balance, they would have some decency and back off.”
Rilynne shot Ben a sideways glance before walking over and sitting next to Matthews.
“So what did that charlatan have to say?” she asked.
“Well, she wasn't bad as far as they go” he said. “I was honestly surprised when she mentioned Katy.”
“Newspaper article last month,” Rilynne interrupted. “You'll notice she talked her way around it, not stating that Katy was pregnant, because she didn't know if she still was. The nerves that she mentioned could either be from pregnancy or from being a first time mom with twins.”
He nodded in an impressed sort of way.
“People like that are good at saying just enough to let you come to your own conclusions,” she continued. It was a skill she mastered herself at a young age. “So what did she have to say about Kim?”
“More of the same after you left,” he said. “She avoided any direct questions, though she was adamant that Kim was safe and would remain that way.”
“Of course she was,” Ben said. He straightened the collar on his pale blue polo before walking toward them. “No one would listen to her if she said otherwise. Do you have any actual leads?”
“We ran a check on all the names that were on the list and everyone came back clean. There were a few misdemeanors here and there and one DWI charge, but nothing of relevance,” he stated. “How did the interview with the biological father go?”
With the sudden appearance of the psychic, Rilynne had completely forgotten about talking to Fore. “Dead end. He's a kid with no desire to be a parent. He also confirmed that Kimberly Adams didn't have any other family. At least none that he knew about.”
“Well, it's getting pretty late,” Matthews said. “I'm going to go home and check on Katy.”
“Don't forget to stop by the store so you can ease Katy's nerves,” Rilynne joked. Matthews laughed before his expression hardened. “You're going to the store, aren't you?” she asked.
Matthews let out a sigh before nodding and walking out the door.
“He's really going to, isn't he?” Ben asked, pulling Rilynne back into his arms. Rilynne chuckled and dropped her head down against him.
“We should probably head home, too,” Ben said. “Marti is going to need out. I haven't been able to swing by since lunch, and I'm guessing you haven't either.”
Rilynne had completely forgotten about the puppy waiting for her at home. Ben had gotten her a fluffy Siberian Husky puppy just a month before. He said it was a pre-wedding gift, but she had a feeling he had ulterior motives. A large dog would not only provide some protection at home, she’d also be able to take her out running with her when she was old enough. He wasn't shy with his reservations about her out running alone, especially with how accident prone she was.
“No, I haven't,” she said. “I have a few more things to finish up, though, so why don't you go take care of her and I'll be just a few minutes behind.”
“Are you sure?” he asked. “I can wait.”
“No, you go ahead,” she insisted. “I'm sure she's already begging to be let out. I won't be long.”
Ben kissed her cheek and stood up.
After watching him leave, Rilynne sat down at her desk. The office had been full all day; it was almost unsettling how quiet it now was. While it brought back the sense of dread and heartache she had been struggling to push away, quiet was exactly what she needed.
She flipped through Kim's adoption paperwork, looking for anything that stood out. After that, she made her way down the list Lori had given her. Everyone who had come in contact with Kim was listed on it, including anyone who frequently passed the house like the mailman or delivery drivers.
Rilynne started at the top of the list and worked her way down, name by name. The pediatrician, his nurses, and the preschool staff were
all easily cleared. Each was either home with their families or already in bed. None had any feelings coursing through them that led her to believe they had anything to do with Kim’s disappearance.
While she did see disturbing scenes from one of the moms from the play date group, leaving her to believe she was running a swingers party in her basement, and another one who was smoking something that didn't look like a cigarette, no one stood out. The same was said for the karate instructor and the maintenance men.
By the time she reached the men from Joe’s poker game, she was starting to grow frustrated. She tried to push it off, knowing she wouldn’t be able to see anything if she didn’t relax, but it didn’t help. After the third man in the group was cleared, she found herself unable to see anything else. She tried each name, but the only thing she found was more frustration.
She groaned, her eyes starting to burn as they passed over the list for the third time, and closed her eyes to try and clear her mind.
She was walking down the sidewalk toward her house. With the moon shining brightly against the dark sky, the street was lit up almost as if it were the middle of the day. Or maybe it wasn't the moon causing it.
Rilynne looked around as she started to smell something harsh. The breeze carried an aroma that closely resembled a tire burning. The moment it registered in her nose, she saw a billow of smoke slowly moving toward her.
“What?” she said aloud, looking at the twenty foot wall that was steadily inching forward. She peered side to side, looking for a way around it, but it went on in both directions for as far as she could see. It was so thick that as soon as it passed over something, it could no longer be seen.
“Fire!” she yelled down the empty street. Panic filled her as she looked at all of the homes that were only moments away from being consumed. “Wake up! There's a fire!”
She tried to run to the house on the left, knowing the elderly woman who lived there, but she was too late. Before she could reach the door, it was swallowed by the smoke. She considered pushing through it and going in after her, but she couldn't make herself.
She ran through the yard of the next house, banging on each window as she passed, but no one responded.
Where was everyone? As she looked from house to house, she saw that not a single light was on. In addition to that, she found that every car was gone.
Rilynne went to the front of the next home and grabbed the water hose at the side of the house. After turning it on, she aimed it at the giant wall moving toward her. The water hit the smoke and bounced right off.
She yelled and dropped the running hose at her feet. It wasn't smoke.
With one last look around, she turned and ran down the street. She ran until she reached the station, which had the first light on that she saw. The relief she felt at seeing it was quickly squashed, though, when she stepped into the empty lobby.
It wasn't just empty. It looked like everyone had just dropped everything where they stood and left. There were papers and files scattered across the floor and a pair handcuffs hanging loosely from the bar at the closest desk with the key still in them.
“Is anyone here?” she yelled. She stood quietly for a moment to listen but the station was silent.
She was torn. She didn't know if she should run and get further from the mysterious wall or if she should search the station. After a few long seconds, she grabbed the phone off of the first desk.
First she tried Ben. No answer. After the third attempt, she tried calling Matthews. Again, no answer. Finally she called her mother.
“Rilynne?” Amber was in a near panic when she answered the phone. “What are you still doing in Addison Valley?”
“Mom, what's happening?” Rilynne asked. “Everyone's gone and there's a smoke-like fog sweeping through town.”
“Get out of there!” she yelled. “You have to get out before…”
The line went dead.
Rilynne looked down at the phone as a wave of terror engulfed her. She dropped it and ran for the door. When she stepped out, she saw the fog only half a block away.
She turned and ran, faster than she had ever run before. Her heart was racing in her chest as she looked back to find the wall moving faster. It was catching up to her.
Suddenly she heard something that made her stop in her tracks.
“Make it stop! I promise I'll behave, just make it stop!”
The voice belonged to a young girl, though she couldn't see where it was coming from. She spun around in place, looking between every building to find its source. “Please, I'll listen!” it called out again.
Rilynne had been so concerned with finding the girl belonging to the voice that she forgot about the fog until she turned back around.
It was ten feet away… one foot… one inch…
Chapter Six
“Babe.” A voice came from just beside her. Rilynne gasped when her eyes shot open. As several other voices filled the background, it took several moments for her to realize where she was. She sat up, her body aching from the awkward angle she had been lying, and turned to face him.
“Did you stay here all night?” Ben asked. She nodded and looked up at the clock on the wall. It was just before seven. “I thought you were only going to stay for a few more minutes after I left. I didn't know what to think when I woke up and you weren't there.”
“I'm sorry. I didn't mean to worry you,” she said. She let out a yawn as she stretched in her chair. “I guess I just lost track of time.”
He ran his hand gently down her cheek. “Did you find anything?”
She closed her eyes and shook her head. When she opened them again moments later, she found Ben's knuckles dragging along his unshaven chin. She liked the scruffy look on him, though she rarely had the opportunity to see it. Like her, he was a bit of a workaholic and almost never took off long enough to let it grow out.
“I'm going to run home and change,” she said. “That charlatan is due in soon, and I'd rather not be around when she gets here.”
Ben furrowed his brow as he turned toward her. “Are you sure she-?”
“Is a fake? Yes,” she interrupted, though it didn't ease the expression on his face.
“No,” he said, shaking his head. “Are you sure she isn't involved? What better way to make a name for yourself than by solving a child abduction case. More than just that, a cop's child. It would almost guarantee future work with the department.”
Rilynne let out a deep sigh but didn't have an answer. She was angry at herself for not considering it, though. She had been so hung up on the flashy show Young had been giving that she hadn't even entertained the possibility that she could be more than just a fraud.
“I'll have Steele look into it,” she said. “He's adamant that psychics don't exist, so I trust he can do a thorough job without getting sucked into her show.”
Ben grinned. “Poor naïve man,” he chuckled. “Come on, I'll drive you home.”
She nodded and grabbed her purse. After sending Steele a quick message, they started toward the elevator.
“What were you dreaming about?” he asked when the doors closed behind them. “Did you see anything useful?”
She thought back over the dream before shaking her head. “At least not anything that stands out. I'm still not used to deciphering them. The most I've been able to do is tie things together after the fact. That's not really going to help us right now.”
When the doors opened to the lobby, Ben took Rilynne's arm and they walked quietly toward the front door. Just before they reached it, Ms. Young stepped in.
“Good morning, detective,” she said. She smiled briefly before her eyes widened and she pulled her hand up over her mouth. “Oh dear,” she gasped. “You must be careful today. Horrible things will happen to you if you don't look around the corner before you turn.”
Rilynne looked her up and down, trying to keep the baleful look from her expression. “I'll keep that in mind,” she said politely. She turned to Ben, who seeme
d to be struggling not to laugh, and walked out the door without giving her another look.
The moment the door shut behind them, Ben let out the laugh he had been forcing in. “Isn't that something a fortune cookie would say?” he chortled.
Rilynne wasn't as amused by the encounter. She was never one for catty drama, but it took everything she had within her to restrain herself around that woman. She was going through more than enough already without having to watch someone make a mockery out of something that was such a big part of her life.
“Maybe I can help you make sense of your dream,” Ben said when they climbed into the car. “Or possibly see something you overlooked.”
Rilynne nodded, thankful for a change of subject, and went over every detail she could remember as they drove back to her house. Despite his offer, though, he was also unable to find anything useful in it.
While she jumped into the shower to quickly rinse off, Ben took Marti out in the backyard. He was still chasing her around ten minutes later when she finished getting dressed and walked into the kitchen. As she watched him through the window, she couldn't help but wonder how he would be when they had kids. As the thought passed through her mind, the current situation hit her like a punch in the stomach, causing a tear to roll down her cheek.
She watched him for several more minutes before finally pushing the door open and stepping out.
“I think we should go over to Lori's,” she said. He nodded and picked up the bouncing puppy as he followed her back into the house.
With Lori just a few doors down, they decided to walk instead of drive. Rilynne's stomach tightened with every step. Not because she thought something new might have come up, but because she knew it hadn't.
She was trying to brace herself for the conversations to come when something at the corner of Lori’s yard caught her eye. Though at first glance nothing seemed out of the ordinary, it still made her stop in her tracks. Ben made it a few steps further before turning around and facing her.