Wanted with Murder (A Rilynne Evans Mystery, Book Five) Read Online Free

looking for any sign of Ben. By the time she made it to the large boulders overlooking the water, she had given up. He was gone.
    She climbed atop them, placing herself in the shade of the large coconut tree just behind her, and laid gently back to watch the clouds dancing above. She thought about staying there forever. That is until the large coconut just above her came loose and dropped toward her head. She rolled out of the way just in time to avoid it as it hit the rock.
    Boom.
    Rilynne’s eyes shot open as a loud knock echoed through the house. At first she thought it was simply part of her dream, but another one quickly followed.
    She glanced over to her alarm clock. It was just after eleven. She considered getting up to answer the door but quickly decided against it. Ben already had a key, and anyone else would call her if it were something important. When no call came in, she just rolled over and went back to sleep.
    *
    “We’ve got a call,” Matthews said before she had even fully stepped into the office the next morning. She was surprised to see him in before her. In the entire time they had been working together, it had only happened a handful of times. “I’ll meet you downstairs in a few minutes. I desperately need coffee.”
    Rilynne grinned and headed back the way she had just come. When she stepped off the elevator into the lobby, she spotted Ben walking through the front door.
    “On your way out?” he asked.
    She responded with a gentle laugh. Ben cast her a quizzical look, looking around to see what was so amusing.
    “You’re a mess,” she stated, looking him up and down. His hair always looked like he had just rolled out of bed and raked his fingers through it, but it was even more disheveled than normal. The circles under his eyes left him with the look of a much older man. “Did you get any sleep last night?”
    He shook his head as she reached up to try and straighten his hair. After a few unsuccessful moments, she slid her hand gently down his cheek. He leaned into it, letting out a satisfying sigh and said, “I ended up-”
    “Evans, let’s go,” Matthews interrupted as he walked past them. “Katy is staying at her sister’s until Sunday, so I’d like to get home at a decent hour tonight. I could really use the sleep.”
    “Not coming?” she asked Ben.
    He shook his head again. “I’ve sent Summers out,” he replied. “I’m actually going home to try and get a couple hours sleep myself. I’ll be in the lab later if you need me for anything.”
    After saying goodbye, Rilynne hurried out the front door and climbed into Matthews’ awaiting car. “So what do we have?” she asked.
    “I didn’t get the details,” he stated, weaving through traffic. “All I know is we have two bodies in an apartment. Wilcome didn’t give me any of the specifics. I was actually considering asking him if Jerkins and Sibrian could take it, but they’re looking into a cold case. I would much rather work a fresh scene right now.”
    Rilynne turned to face the window so he didn’t see her smile. She wasn’t used to seeing him so grumpy.
    The medical examiners bus was already parked in front of the apartment building when they drove up. They stepped under the police tape and found him in the first apartment they came upon.
    “Why if it isn’t two of my favorite detectives,” he said joyfully when they walked in.
    “And just how many favorite detectives do you have?” Rilynne chuckled. Something about Dr. Andrews always seemed to lighten her mood. Perhaps it was his striking resemblance to Santa, which always made her think of Christmas. It could have also had something to do with the fact that he was one of the most cheerful people she had ever met, which had not been diminished by his chosen profession.
    “Not many,” he said with a puckish grin. “I assure you it isn’t above nine.”
    “I’m sure it’s completely coincidental that there are, in fact, only nine homicide