Kurt motioned toward the door. “We have a search warrant. We would like you to open the door and let us in so we can do our job.”
Martinez moved forward to present Reeder with the signed warrant from Judge Peterson. Reeder switched his gaze to Brittany, and his frown deepened. Kurt didn’t want to look at Brittany’s face, because he knew it would show the pain—and frustration—she obviously shared with Austin. Kurt couldn’t take seeing her look so broken.
Reeder opened his door. The detectives moved inside, each going to a separate corner of the room. Kurt went ahead of Brittany. When he received his first glance at the wealthy man’s room, he tried not to let his jaw drop in awe. Then again, why would Austin Reeder live any other way? He had luxury when he was younger, so why not now?
When Austin walked past Kurt, he shook his head. “I should have known you were behind this. You always saw the worst in me—and my mother.”
The loud gasp from Brittany jerked Kurt’s head her way. Her eyes were wide and accusing as she moved her gaze between him and Austin.
“You two…know each other?”
Austin arched a judgmental eyebrow. “I’m surprised your partner didn’t tell you sooner Brittany, but yes, we know each other. His father married my mother when I was ten years old.”
Kurt shook his head. “I never wanted to be related to you, and I feel even stronger about it now.”
“Kurt, why…why…didn’t you tell me,” Brittany sobbed out the words. Tears formed in her eyes and her bottom lip quaked.
He wasn’t going to feel guilty over this, no matter how much he loved Brittany. “Britt, I had never approved of him or his mother. They both thought themselves to be above the law.” He tossed a glare at Austin. “You were the reason I wanted to become a cop, so I could put wealthy—and crooked—men like you away behind bars. Your mother should have gone to jail for tax evasion, and you…” Kurt shook his head. “You should have gone to jail for just being a liar. I can’t count how many times you lied just to get out of doing things. Your whole life has been one big lie.”
Austin shook his head. “I don’t know what I ever did to you to make you feel this way. I may have paid a few people in school to do my homework assignments, but that’s as far as I got when it comes to cheating. Just because you didn’t like me, you had to make up stories to tell my parents. Thankfully, your father never believed you. Believe it or not, Hamill, I haveneverbeen deceitful. My mother has, yes, but I’m nothing like her.”
Kurt snickered. “Yeah, tell it to the judge.”
Kurt moved past him to assist his co-workers in finding the weapon. But within seconds, Tyrone’s voice was heard from one of the rooms. “I found it!”
Before Kurt could think to move, Brittany pushed past him, with Reeder close on her heels. Kurt passed a bathroom, a bedroom, and a den, before coming to the last room. This was where Reeder kept his collection. Not only were there several pieces of medieval weapons, but there were an assortment ofallkinds of weapons from ancient times. If he wasn’t so elated to know they finally found the murder weapon, he’d be in awe of all of the priceless artifacts in this room.
Tyrone held up the flanged mace. Martinez was standing close, examining the sharp tips of the weapon, especially the area where the sharp edge was missing. The captain nodded and carefully slid a large, clear bag over the top. This piece would be added to the other evidence involved with this case.
Standing in shock, Austin shook his head. “I didn’t do it. I’m not a killer!”
Martinez shot the perp a heated scowl. “Hamill, cuff Mr. Money-bags and bring him down to the station for questioning.”
“I want my lawyer present.” Austin stood firm.
“Your lawyer will be present.” Martinez nodded. “But we need to dust this for fingerprints, and also get your fingerprints.”
Kurt waited for the captain and the others to walk out of the room. Brittany didn’t leave. Her face had lost color, and her eyes were filled with tears as she stared at Austin.
The perp shook his head. “You have to believe me, Brittany. I didn’t kill Hillary. I’m just an artifact collector, not a murderer.”
Kurt grasped Reeder’s wrists, pulling them behind his back and hooking on the handcuffs. “Let’s go, Reeder. We need to ask you some questions about the murder of Hillary Banks.”
Hanging his head, Reeder allowed Kurt to lead him out of the room. Finally, Kurt would get to see his stepbrother humiliated—and get what he deserved. Kurt couldn’t believe the happiness that flowed through him right now. How many years had he waited for this moment? How many times had he seen rich guys pay their way out of crimes? Well, Kurt would personally see to it that Reeder couldn’t use his money for this bail out.
~*~*~*~
You are a professional. You can do this!Brittany fought the emotions twisting inside of her as she willed herself not to cry again. Martinez could see she’d become too involved with Austin to handle the questioning. Even the captain wouldn’t allow Kurt into the interrogation room, either, since they knew each other growing up.
As she paced back and forth in the observation room, she listened closely to every question Gibbs and Tyrone were asking Austin. So far, she’d known these answers. Austin knew Hillary…she tried to get him as one of her clients, but he refused…he was in a board meeting that morning she was killed…blah, blah, blah.
Her heart broke with each question the detectives threw at Austin. Sometimes his lawyer would cut in and tell Austin he didn’t have to answer that, but Austin always answered. He kept repeating that he didn’t kill Hillary. Deep inside of her, she believed him. But why did he have the murder weapon?
The fingerprint results came back on the weapon, and there were many prints that were smudged, and some were overlapping, but the one good print they found was Austin’s. He didn’t deny handling the weapon, because, obviously, he purchased it and set it upon the shelf.
“Mr. Reeder, who do you go through to do your banking?”
Brittany paused and looked into the window. Austin’s forehead creased and his gaze narrowed.Where was Tyrone going with this?
