Found With Murder by Jenn Vakey

everyone, because that's what people think of when they hear psychic visions.”  She knew she was ranting, but it felt good.  When she looked up at Ben, she was surprised to see him staring wide eyed down at her.  “What?”
    “You just referred to yourself as a psychic,” he said.  “Well, in a way.  She must really be getting to you.”
    Rilynne let out an involuntary chuckle and shook her head.  Ben had always been good at helping her relax, no matter what the situation was.  This one definitely called for it.  If he hadn't held her back, she had a feeling she would inevitably go off on the fraudulent psychic, which could very well end up exposing her secret. 
    After taking one last breath to calm herself, Rilynne dropped her head down against Ben's shoulder and closed her eyes.
    She was sitting in a car watching the road block that was set up a block away.  The sun was shining brightly as she looked back to the little girl sleeping in the back seat.
    “We have the ransom money,” a voice sounded out through the car.  It was Wilcome's voice.  She looked to the police radio sitting on the passenger seat as she felt the air leave her lungs.
    “What?” a man's voice said softly.  “That's not possible.”
    Her eyes shifted back to the road block as a wave of panic spread through her.
    Suddenly she was in a room.  It was too dark to make out anything around her, but she could tell she was sitting on the edge of a bed.  There was a soft snoring coming from just beside her.  Kim was sleeping.
    Then she turned to the clock on the nightstand.  Guilt weighed down heavily on her as she looked at the time.  It was five minutes after nine.
    She bolted up, fighting off the urge to scream.
    “What is it?” he asked.  There was a note of panic in his voice.  “What did you see?  Is Kim okay?”
    Rilynne turned to him.  She didn't know exactly what to say, or even what to think.  She had been unsure enough about Kim's safety when it appeared to be a simple kidnapping for ransom.  With the thought that ransom wasn't actually the motive, she was scared to think of what could happen.
    “Rye, what is it?” Ben asked.  His voice was low and demanding.  “Tell me what you saw.”
    She struggled to catch her breath as she nodded.   “It's a ruse,” she said.  Her voice was shaky.  “He isn't going to pick up the money.  I'm guessing that's why the number was so unbelievably high.  He didn't want her to pay it.  He wanted her to give him a reason not to have to give her back.  He wants Kim, not the money.  He isn't giving her back.”
     

Chapter Eight
    T he tears started rolling down her face.  She let out a deep sob as he pulled her toward him and held her tight.  The warmth of his body reached through her clothes, making the chill of the evening air disappear.  Her body shook in his arms.  “W-what do I do?”
    He nuzzled her hair and mumbled something she couldn't make out.  After several minutes, her tears dried and she sat up.
    “You will find her,” he said.  There was a confidence in his voice that surprised her.  It wasn't something she was feeling herself.  The sound of it gave her strength, though.  Strength that she wouldn't have thought she could find in that moment.
    “Okay,” she said, “They're on the wrong track.  We need to find out who would be more concerned with having Kim than taking the three million.  It has to be personal.  That's a lot of money to give up.  You wouldn't do it unless she was important.”  She knew as she said it that it wasn't something she needed to explain to him.  As it was, he had given up that much just to get her back.
    “I think it would be safe to say it isn't a random child predator,” he said.  “I don't see someone like that being so attached to a child that he would willingly pass on the money.  Not when he could just as easily find another kid.”  The thought of it made him sick; she could see it on his