Free Found With Murder by Jenn Vakey

of the latter category.
    As bad as it made her feel, she was relieved when her phone rang moments later and she had an excuse to step away.
    “I need to take this,” she said, pushing herself off the couch.  Lori slowly nodded but didn't turn to face her.  She swept quickly out of the room before pulling the phone up to her ear.  “What do you have?”
    Matthews let out a low sigh before speaking.  “We found a flight from Milwaukee to San Antonio in Maloy's name two days before Kim was taken.  We haven't found any record of him in town, but if I had to guess, I'd say he found her.”
    The air left Rilynne's lungs as she dropped back against the wall.  “He's here, I know he is.  Put in a call to all motels and cabin rentals.  Send a picture and see if anyone has seen him.  I want eyes on him by the end of the day.  No one is to approach, though.  If he has Kim, we need to follow him until he takes us to where he's holding her.”
    “What about Sibrian?” he asked.
    “I don't want to tell her anything until we have an answer.”
    He hesitated for a moment.  Rilynne didn't need to ask why before she continued.
    “I know she'll be furious with me for keeping her in the dark, but I don't want to give her either false hope or something else to worry about,” she said.  “I'll accept full responsibility for the decision.  She can be as angry with me as she wants when all of this is done.”
    “All right,” he said uneasily.  She could tell he still wasn't happy with the choice she made, but he didn't argue.
    She let out a low groan as she slid her phone back into her pocket.  After taking several slow breaths to compose herself, she turned to find Ben and Joe watching her.  She cursed under her breath and walked over to meet them in the kitchen.
    Joe's eyes shifted quickly to Lori and back.  “What's going on?” he asked quietly.  She wondered to herself if Ben had mentioned the decision to keep the new development from Lori, or if he had come to it on his own.  “You know something; I can see it on your face.  Tell me,” he demanded.  “I want to know.” 
    With a resigned sigh, she leaned against the island and ran her hands back over her face.  “I assume Lori told you why she moved here?” she asked.  The question made her feel uncomfortable.  It was one thing to tell Matthews so he could look into it, but it felt almost like she was betraying her friend by telling Joe.  “The real reason, that is?”
    His eyes settled back on Lori and he nodded.
    “Did he find her?” he asked.  “Did he take Kim?”
    “We don't know,” she replied honestly, relieved that he already knew.  “We're looking into the possibility, though.  Actually, Harper might be able to help us if you'll allow it.”
    He kept his gaze on Lori for several long seconds before turning back to Rilynne.  “I'll call my mom and have her bring him back.  What is it you’ll need him to do?”
    “Just look at some pictures,” she said.  “If we manage to track Maloy down before Harper gets back to town, we'll set up a line up for him to look at.  He won’t have any direct contact with him, though.”
    “Even if he isn't the man who took Kim-” he said.
    Rilynne nodded.  “I will do everything I can to keep him away from her,” she finished.  “I'm sure I can find something to arrest him on.  Maybe if he's harassed enough by the department, he'll give up and move on.”
    “Don't tell her,” he said shortly.  “Not right now.  She can't handle it right now.”
    She reached over the tiled island and placed her hand gently on his before nodding.
    As she walked back into the living room, she became convinced that if the department wasn't able to keep Maloy away from Lori, Joe would take it upon himself.  Knowing Ben, he would probably want a piece of the action, as well.  She was struck with the sudden realization that it was quite possible that both men might end up arrested before the year was