“Who is Kurt?”
“Oh, he’s my partner. Kurt Hamill.”
Austin’s eyes widened as anger lines appeared around his mouth. She quickly continued, “Anyway, by the time I had taken my earpiece out, I’d decided you hadn’t murdered Hillary Banks.”
Austin’s eyebrows lifted. “Really? You thought that?”
“There’s no way a man with your heart and giving nature could be a killer. Besides, I was enjoying my evening with you, and I didn’t want my partner to suspect what I was feeling.”
“What were you feeling?”
She placed the badge and the glock inside her purse and zipped it up. “I was starting to really like you.” Hesitantly, she looked up and met his wide eyes. “You probably know that it’s against the rules for detectives to go out on a date with a suspect.”
Austin’s face relaxed, and a hint of a smile touched his mouth. “But you don’t think I’m a suspect, right?”
“Not anymore.”
“Did you collect all the information you needed from me to make that decision?”
Sighing, she rested her hands on her lap. “Not, not exactly. I have one last question to ask.”
“What is it?”
“Where were you last Sunday morning between nine thirty and ten thirty?” She really didn’t have to ask, because she knew he was innocent. But she waited for him to answer, anyway. She wasn’t worried.
Finally recognition shone on his face and he smiled. “I was having a brunch with some of my board members. We were at the hotel in the restaurant. I’m sure your police department will be able to get surveillance footage from the security cameras.”
She shrugged one shoulder. “I’m sure they could if they want. I don’t need it. I knew you must be preparing for the big forty-eight hour meeting that you had which made you so exhausted that afternoon in your suite.”
He nodded. “You’re right. That was it.”
So far, this conversation was going the way she’d wanted. He’d acted upset at first, and she didn’t blame him, but now he was relaxing more, which made her heart lighten. Leaning toward him, she laid her hand on his chest. “Are you upset at me? I would understand if you were. But…it’s my job, and well, I’m just glad I got to know you so that I could take you off my suspects’ list.”
“I’ll admit that your confession shocked me, to say the least, but I suppose if I was in your shoes, I would have done the same.” He laughed lightly. “That explains why you were able to take down the purse-snatcher so quickly.”
She flipped her hand. “All in a day’s work.”
He took hold of her hand and placed it back on his chest. “I like it better right here.”
Brittany’s heart danced with excitement. “Me, too.”
“Can you tell me why the police think I’m a suspect?”
She nodded. “Hillary had a list of names of men written down in the pocket of her bathrobe. She was killed as soon as she left the bathroom that morning.”
He arched an eyebrow. “My name was on that list?”
“Yes.”
“But…why?”
“I don’t know. I was hoping you could answer that for me. We had figured she was a high-priced prostitute, or some wealthy man’s mistress, because she had many expensive items in her house, not to mention a large bank account. All the men on the list were wealthy or powerful.”
“I wish I could tell you, unless it’s because I gave her money. I don’t know. Maybe the other names on the list were men she had contacted for money after I had turned her down.”
“That does make sense. I’ll have to drop that suggestion to the other detectives.” She paused, looking deep into his eyes. The low lighting in the room made his eyes darker than they were normally, and all she wanted to do was stare into his dreamy green eyes. It made her happy that he hadn’t kicked her out of his suite, yet.
His gaze moved over her face, and then to her hair. He reached out and caressed the length of the ponytail.
