Too Many Secrets

FIVE

Austin shook his head as irritation filled him. He wasn't in the mood for Derek's teasing. Not today. "I'm talking about Brittany—the woman you sent me yesterday afternoon."

"I didn't send you a woman."

"Stop it, Derek. I know she came from you. In fact, she told me you had sent her."

"What?" Derek's voice lifted. "Reeder, I don't have any women friends named Brittany."

The elevator doors opened and Austin walked into the underground parking. His nearly new, cherry red, Porsche was parked in his normal space. "She goes by Britt. She's about five foot, four inches tall. Her body is very slender, but toned. Her eyes are brown and she has long, black hair. She's absolutely stunning."

"Are you kidding me?" Derek snipped. "Reeder, I promise, I didn't send anyone to you. You told me not to because of your business deal...so I didn't."

Finally, Austin realized his friend was telling the truth. His gut clenched and confusion filled his head. "How can that be?" he shouted as he clicked open his car and climbed in. "She was at my place yesterday. I asked her if you sent her and she said yes."

"She's lying! I didn't send her. I swear it."

Austin closed the door and started his car. "So if you didn't send her, who did?"

"Did she say she was there as your birthday gift?"

As Austin backed out of the parking space, his mind tried to recall her specific words. "I think so."

"Man, I don't know what to say. She didn't come from me."

Austin gritted his teeth. This couldn't be right. Did he dream what had happened yesterday? No, he'd tasted her sweet lips, even after she'd left. The pleasant sensations running through him had lasted all night long.

"Well, I want to find her. I won't rest unless I know why she was in my penthouse." He gripped the steering wheel tighter. "Derek, I know you can find her, too. I don't know what it is about you, but you have a woman-radar. You know how to find the ones I like."

Silence stretched on the other end of the phone. Austin waited for his friend to answer. During the wait, he tried to think of some bribes for his friend just in case he said no. Finally, a ragged sigh came from Derek.

"Fine. I'll try and find her, but I need you to describe her the best you can. Tell me any of the outward flaws or interesting features she may have that will help me notice her."

A smile stretched across Austin's mouth. He couldn't help it. Thinking about Brittany, made him this way. "She's very beautiful. Her wavy, jet black hair, tumbles over her shoulders to her lower back, and she has the most amazing brown eyes I've ever seen. Her hands are immaculately delicate with long nails, but not the fake kind women like to wear nowadays. She's probably in her mid-twenties, and she's about five foot, four inches tall, with very shapely legs. Her chest isn't too large, yet not too small. And her body is toned—as if she works out a lot."

Derek chuckled. "But that could describe a thousand of girls."

"No, Brittany is one in a million. Her lips are slightly pouty, just the way a man likes just before he devours them, and she has a cute little button nose. Although her eyes are brown, they're really not quite that color, but almost rusty instead."

"Rusty?"

Austin's smile widened the longer he pictured her. "I know it sounds funny, but when you see her, you'll see what I'm talking about."

"Is there anything else?"

"Besides having the best bod I've ever seen, I think I've covered every inch of her. When she came to see me, she wore a red, silk dress with a matching jacket. The skirt of the dress was short, showing off her shapely legs. Her hair had been pulled back in a bun. She looked like she was going to some fancy party. I don't know if that will help you to find her, but that's about all of it in a nutshell."

"Thanks. Although I still expect it will be difficult to find her, I promise I'll try really hard. I suppose I owe you one since I didn't get you a birthday present."

Austin chuckled. "Thanks, Derek."

After Austin hung up, he thought about what he'd just said. Had he really sounded like a love-struck boy just now? Of course, somehow he'd led the poor woman astray, and he wanted a second chance at passion.

Unbeknownst to him, the woman had gotten under his skin, and he actually liked the feeling. But he couldn't get soft at this crucial point in his life. Especially not now, since he'd be signing the papers to purchase the Sheridan Hotel tomorrow. He needed to stay focused and strong...then after everything was over, he could let the eagerness fill him again.

Today was already starting out good, and hopefully he'd have some better news after work.

* * * *

Brittany took a fortifying breath as she smoothed out the tiny wrinkles from the fresh black slacks and lavender blouse she'd dressed in. This time she looked presentable to go to work. Although she'd told Kurt she'd meet him back at their office in one hour, her headache had grown worse, and she just couldn't attempt to talk to him—or anyone—about what had happened with Austin Reeder. The moments of pleasure she'd had with Austin were too fresh, and she couldn't face anyone.

However, today was a new day, and she'd put the past behind her and start over fresh. Now as she stood at the cement stairs leading into Seattle's West Precinct, she hoped her body didn't magnify the transgression she'd done with Mr. Reeder from the day before. Did she still look like a woman who'd just experienced the best kiss of her life? More importantly, did she look like someone who had been very attracted to a murder suspect?

As she walked into the building, her co-workers looked up at her, nodded a greeting, and then returned to their work. So far, so good. Meeting Kurt this morning would be different, she was sure.

He'd been on his computer when she walked into the room. His eyes were fixed on the monitor, and he twirled a lock of sandy colored hair around a finger. He did this unconsciously, and she'd always liked to tease him about it. But she wasn't in the teasing mood today.

He didn't notice her until she was almost to her desk. When his gaze met hers, he pushed away from his desk and stood. His tall frame stood over her by a good five inches.

"How are you feeling?"

She gave him a one-shoulder shrug. "Better, I think."

"Are you ready to tell me what happened?"

She really wasn't, but...she had to tell him at some point. "Yes."

"Here?" He pointed to their desks. "Or somewhere in private?"

She took a quick glance around the room. There were too many people at their desks and could overhear. "Private."

He motioned her to step ahead of him, and then they walked into the nearest empty interrogation room. As she sat, he closed the door.

"Tell me what happened. I don't want you to leave anything out." Kurt paced in front of her. His tone of voice was the one he used when cross-examining the perps.

"Kurt," she said with a sigh. "I'm not a perp. I'm your partner, remember?"

He chuckled and sat across from her. "Fine. Is this better?"

"Much better." She forced a smile as she expelled a disheartened sigh. "I waited for you to come, but inside the suite, I heard a noise like someone had fallen on the floor. My gut told me to go in to check it out. I worried there was a robbery in progress, or worse—someone was trying to kill him."

He nodded. "I would have probably done the same thing."

"Good. Thankfully, it wasn't a robbery in progress, or someone trying to end his life. But he walked out of the bathroom wearing nothing but a bathrobe."

As she explained, she left out a few things, mainly because she didn't want Kurt to know all the nitty-gritty details...like how incredibly handsome he was, and how sweet he seemed at first, and how her heart skipped a beat whenever he locked gazes with her.

Kurt sucked in a fast breath. "What?" His voice lifted. "He thought you were a call girl?"

She shrugged. "What else was I to think? The questions he aimed at me led me to believe that I was being paid for by some guy named Derek...or Mr. Reeder, himself. Regardless, money was mentioned." She huffed. "And of course, you forget what I was wearing. It's no wonder he thought I was a hooker."

Kurt shook his head. "Hookers are different than call girls. I thought you knew that."

She scowled. "Well, yesterday when I was placed in that situation, I didn't see a difference."

Kurt's mouth quirked, but thankfully, he didn't laugh. She would have slugged him hard if he had.

"So the only thing you found out about Hillary Banks was that she and Reeder were involved in a relationship?"

"Yes, I think. He mentioned knowing her from his past, so they were just friends. He dropped the subject after that and wouldn't answer any more questions. When I tried to bring it back up, he...um, well, he tried to dissuade me from talking about it. I left there upset that he thought of me as a call girl, and of course, that I couldn't get him to talk."

"Perhaps if he thought you were a detective, that wouldn't have happened."

She silently growled. "Actually, you know as well as I do that suspects are more open with people who aren't connected with the police. Or have you forgotten that?"

He held up his hands in surrender. "There's no need to get irate with me."

She took a deep breath and slowly released it as she silently counted to ten. She was getting upset, but Kurt didn't have anything to do with it.

Her partner left his side of the table and walked around to her, sitting on the desk right beside her.

"I'm sure you know Mr. Reeder has a reputation with women, right?"

She folded her arms and lifted her chin. "I think he's an egotistical, male chauvinistic jerk, and if I ever see him again, it'll be too soon."

Kurt groaned and rubbed his forehead. "Really? Most women I know fall madly in love with him on first sight."

"Well, I'm not like that." She really hated lying, but she detested looking like a fool, even more.

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"Why?" she hesitantly asked.

"Because yesterday while Gibbs and Tyrone were investigating the victim's apartment in Edmond again, you'll never guess what they found."

"What?" She was pretty sure she wasn't going to like his answer, especially if it meant she would have to see and talk to Austin Reeder again.