FIFTEEN
Kurt paced the front of the hotel, waiting for Brittany to arrive. Reeder wasn’t here, either, and Kurt had a bad feeling the two were together. If they showed up together, he didn’t know what he’d do. It would certainly crush his heart, because then he’d know she hadn’t cared enough to ponder his suggestion earlier today.
When Martinez and the others arrived, Kurt realized they would be searching Reeder’s suite without her.
Martinez marched toward Kurt, pointing toward the front doors of the hotel. “Let’s do this.” Then the captain stopped and glanced around. “Where’s Russell?”
“She’ll be here.”
“I’m not going to wait for her to powder her nose.”
Gritting his teeth, Kurt held back the remarks he’d wanted to fling at his supervisor. Why did the man have to always pick on Brittany? Kurt wished he knew.
Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Brittany’s Jetta squeal into the parking lot. He sighed with relief, and pointed in that direction. “She’s here,” he told the captain.
“Good.” Martinez nodded. “Let’s go.”
She practically jumped out of her vehicle, and marched Kurt’s way. By the stern expression on her face, he would be arguing with her very soon. At least he had the others to back him up. She could yell at him all night, but the fact was, the detectives finally got a lead they could count on. Without the murder weapon, how could they truly convict the killer? The other men must have noticed, because they quickened their step inside the hotel.
“Kurt Hamill!” she shouted. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“I told you on the phone.” He turned and tried to follow the other detectives. “Gibbs talked to one of Reeder’s board members—”
“Why was Gibbs talking to one of the board members?”
Kurt rolled his eyes. “Because, sweetheart, that’s what we do when we check up on suspects’ alibis.”
“And did this board member confirm that Austin was with them?”
“Yes, but he wasn’t sure what time it actually was. He thought it could have been later than ten, which means—”
“I know what that means. Was he the only one Gibbs questioned? I’m assuming the wordsboard membersare plural. Gibbs should have asked more than one person.”
“Brittany, will you stop interrupting me, and listen to what I have to say?” They walked into the elevator, and Brittany pushed the button for the top floor. “The board member told Gibbs that he’s like an art dealer. He finds ancient artifacts and sells them to wealthy people. Reeder just happens to be one of those people. Fred Cheek said he sold a medieval weapon to Reeder only four months ago. The artifact is calledIndian Shispar.It’s a flanged mace—the exact weapon that killed Hillary Banks.”
She glared at him. “I know what the weapon is called.”
He held up his hands in surrender. “You don’t need to bite my head off.”
Grumbling incoherently, she raked her fingers through her long hair and looked down at the floor. His mind went into overdrive. Why wasn’t her hair in a ponytail? She really shouldn’t have taken it out. With her hair long and flowing like this, it made her that much more desirable.
“I just don’t understand you, sometimes,” she said, after a few seconds of silence. “Austin has a perfect alibi, and yet you’re still determined to search his apartment for the weapon.” She met his gaze again. “Have you forgotten I was in there a few times? I didn’t see any weapons.”
Kurt leaned back against the wall and folded his arms. “Did you get to seeallof his rooms? If I remember correctly, you were only in the living room and the kitchen and dining areas.”
Huffing, she turned back to look at the electronic board as it counted each floor, giving off a small ding when they reached a floor. He wished she wouldn’t be like this. What else could he do to make her see that Austin Reeder wasn’t the man she thought he was?
“Were you with Reeder tonight?” Kurt finally asked the question that had been on his mind tonight.
“That’s none of your business,” she snapped without looking at him.
Kurt knew she had. She didn’t need to say it. The crushing weight in his chest pressed down harder, making it difficult to breathe. He couldn’t let this affect him. Not until after they’d searched the perp’s penthouse suite.
Just as they reached the top floor, and the elevator doors opened, the second set of elevator doors also dinged and opened. Kurt watched to see who exited the elevator, because he knew the rest of the detectives were already here.
Austin Reeder walked out, his face red with anger. The perp glanced at the other detectives waiting at the front door, and then he moved his attention to Kurt. A scowl crossed the perp’s face.
“What do you guys want now?” Reeder growled.
