“Chase Bank. Why? That’s no secret.”
Tyrone and Gibbs exchanged grins. Brittany’s heart dropped.
“Mr. Reeder, we found something interesting on Hillary Banks’ bank statement. She doesn’t go through Chase Bank, however, earlier this year, Chase Bank was depositing one thousand dollars in her account every month for three months.” Tyrone cocked his head, staring at Austin. “By chance, was that money coming from you?”
Brittany growled and swung around. She looked at Kurt first, and then switched her attention to Martinez. “Seriously? What does that have to do with anything?”
“I’m sure we’ll find out.” Martinez pointed to the window.
Austin remained silent, even when his lawyer leaned over and whispered something in his ear. Nodding, Austin cleared his throat and straightened his shoulders.
“Yes. I had sent her one-thousand dollars for three months.”
Brittany’s knees weakened and she fell against the wall. Kurt rushed to her side, but she shooed him away. This all had to be a nightmare. Hadn’t Austin been honest with her at all during their few short dates? Apparently not, or she would have known all of this.
“Why, Mr. Reeder? Was she blackmailing you?” Gibbs probed. “Did she know one of your deep, dark secrets and was going to expose it to the community?”
“No. That’s not what happened.” Austin didn’t take his stare off Gibbs.
The pound in Brittany’s head grew stronger. She was going to be sick, she just knew it.
“It wasn’t? So you’re telling me she wasn’t your mistress? Tell us, Reeder.” Tyrone asked, moving closer. “What did she have on you that would make you want to kill her?”
“I did not kill her,” Austin said in a loud voice. “How many times do I have to tell you that? I was with a few board members that morning. Why isn’t this sinking inside your head yet?”
Tyrone leaned on the table, putting his face right in front of Austin. “Then tell us why you were paying her.”
Austin’s gaze shifted toward the window. Brittany knew he couldn’t see her, but he certainly knew she was watching. He looked back at the other detectives, and then sighed heavily.
“Hillary was my cousin.”
Brittany released a high-pitched gasp, and then quickly covered her mouth with her hands.Cousins?That couldn’t be right. He made her believe Hillary had been a lover at one time, that had turned into friendship later on. Why didn’t he tell her? What was so important to keep that a secret?
“Her mother and my father were siblings,” Austin continued. “Hillary came to me one day a few years ago, explaining how she’d gotten involved with Belle’s Escort Service, and she needed help getting out. I gave her some money. I even talked to the owner and paid them to let her go. Then a few months ago, she told me she had gotten into another scrape and needed help. Once again, I dished out money to help her. It lasted for three months, and then I stopped the payment. When she came to see me and ask why, I told her I wasn’t going to help her any longer. We argued, and she left. End…of…story!”
Gibbs shook his head. “No, Reeder. There has to be more to the story. Why were you on her list?”
Austin’s face turned red. “I don’t know. Why don’t you ask her?”
“Oh, really funny, Reeder.” Tyrone snickered.
“Listen,” Austin continued, “one of the things she told me the day we argued was that she was trying to get money from other men, but they weren’t helping her.”
Gibbs and Tyrone glanced at each other and then moved their attention back to Austin. “What men?”
“She didn’t tell me their names. But if she played theoh, pity me,card on them, I’m sure they were giving her money, too. So why aren’t they here? Why are you wasting your time with me instead of finding the real killer?”
“Because none of those other men had the murder weapon in their house,” Tyrone said loudly.
“I’m going to ask you one last time,” Gibbs said, moving back around the table toward Austin. “Did you kill Hillary Banks?”
“And I’m going to repeat my answer…again. No! I did not kill my cousin. I had no reason to kill her.”
When Gibbs and Tyrone started grilling Austin about his collection of medieval weapons, Brittany wanted to scream. Hadn’t they already asked him those questions? She knew the process of interrogating a perp, but why were they asking him the same thing?
What bothered her was that Austin hadn’t trusted her enough to tell her about his relationship with Hillary. Why? What could be embarrassing about a wayward cousin?
Kurt moved beside her and nudged her with his elbow. “We need to talk,” he whispered.
“No, we don’t.” She didn’t take her eyes off the men in the other room.
“I’ve been your partner for a year, and you’re not going to give me a chance to explain?”
Anger rose higher inside of her, making her head pound harder. Yet, at the same time, her heart was shattering slowly, the more lies she heard from Austin, and definitely Kurt. She didn’t know whether to yell or cry.
She turned and glared at Kurt. “Why would you want to explain? I’m not going to believe you.” She shook her head, not caring if the captain overheard. “You know, it hurts,” she placed her fist to her heart, “when someone you thought was a friend lies to you, but when someone you’ve known for so long, who is with you practically every day for a year, outright lies to your face, that’s when the world tumbles and crashes all around. I’m sorry, Kurt, but I can’t let you explain.” She took a deep breath. “You aren’t the person that I thought you were.”
She pushed past him and darted out of the room, running down the hall. She couldn’t get away from here fast enough, now.
