Betrayal with Murder (A Rilynne Evans Mystery, Book Three) Read Free Page B

is working through the night, they probably won’t be able to do much until daybreak. However, I did learn that you’re quite famous.”
    “What?” he asked with an obvious tone of shock. “How am I famous?” He paused for a moment before adding, “Does that mean you were talking about me?” She could almost hear his grin as he shifted quickly to amusement.
    “I may have mentioned you,” she said. “But apparently Wooldridge has made a habit of attending your lectures. He’s quite impressed with you. Enough so that he’s suggested that we send you all of the evidence on the case. Are you all right with that?”
    “Of course,” he said without hesitation. “I’ll hand off my cases to our other investigators. When will everything arrive?”
    Rilynne was slightly taken aback by his statement. In the entire time they had worked together, she had never seen him pass off a case to anyone.
    “He said it should be ready to be shipped by noon tomorrow,” she said. “He’s going to have an officer escort it to Addison Valley for you.”
    “Just give me the flight information when you have it and I’ll meet them at the airport. It’ll be easier than making them drive all the way out to deliver it. Do you have any idea what I should be expecting?”
    She paused and thought back to her conversation with Wooldridge. “No,” she said finally. “The only thing he told me is that Christopher’s wallet was found next to the remains. I know that it was out in the woods, though, so I’m sure you’ll have soil samples, his clothes, and any of the belongings that he had on him.” She felt almost as if she were talking about a completely random victim. The moment she realized it, a wave of guilt and sorrow punched her in the stomach.
    “I’ll make sure to get everything processed as quickly as possible,” he said in a reassuring manner. “Is there anything, other than the obvious, that you want me to be looking for?”
    The harder she thought about it, the more numb she felt. Before she knew it, her mind was almost a complete haze. “I can’t think of anything.”
    They sat in silence for several moments before Ben broke it.
    “So Wooldridge is the chief of homicide?”
    “That’s right,” she said, grateful for the change in topic. “I worked under him for close to three years before transferring. He’s a good man.”
    “I wonder why he’s been going to forensic conferences. It isn’t often that I see anyone there other than forensic investigators or students going into the field.”
    “He said that he likes to keep up with the breakthroughs,” she explained. “Like I said, he was very impressed with you.”
    “The feeling is mutual then. I have the utmost respect for anyone who takes the initiative to keep his department informed by making sure he himself is informed. Are you sure you don’t want me to just go up there to examine the evidence?”
    Again she found herself at odds. She knew that having him with her would make dealing with the entire situation much easier, but at the same time she, wanted to do what was best for the case. “You’ll be able to do much more in your own lab than up here. Besides, I don’t imagine I’ll be here for more than a day or two. It isn’t like there’s anything that I’ll really be able to do.”
    “Well, you’ve had a long day. Get some sleep and call me tomorrow when you know the flight information.”
    After hanging up, Rilynne had to force herself to get up and get ready for bed. When she finally climbed under the cool sheets, she fought with herself on whether or not to allow her eyes to close. She wasn’t sure that she wanted to face what her dreams might bring, but on the other hand, was desperate to. After another hour, her body finally took over and she drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep.
     

Chapter Two
    T o her surprise, Rilynne was still asleep when her alarm went off. Though she had only managed a few hours of sleep, usually she was up