Too Many Secrets

SIX

Kurt pushed his fingers through his thick wavy hair that almost brushed his shoulders. It was getting long and he needed it cut.

"They found boxes of condoms, foam contraceptives, plus her birth control pills."

Brittany shrugged. "She's a woman who likes to be extra careful. After all, she was seeing Mr. Romeo Reeder."

Kurt chuckled. "There's more. They asked the neighbors if she had any boyfriends, and nobody saw her with anyone. Gibbs and Tyrone discovered that she had made large deposits in her bank account in the last two years, and yet we can't see that she even had a regular job. They also found a receipt from the drugstore where she purchased these items." He arched an eyebrow. "They showed Hillary's picture to the store manager, and he said she'd been a regular customer for about two years." He licked his lips. "And didn't you just tell me Reeder said he briefly knew Hillary?"

"Yes, something like that."

"Don't you see, Britt?" He stood and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Hillary had been a call girl for two years. That explains the expensive jewelry and the birth control contraceptives."

Brittany gasped. "No wonder Romeo had mentioned paying me last night. He must be a regular John. And Derek...must be involved, too. Reeder talked about his friend getting him women all the time."

Disgrace swept through her, churning her stomach, just like it had done yesterday. For years she'd tried not to look like a floozy in front of men. She'd wanted them to see her for her mind, not her other attributes. And now...she felt almost as low as the call girls, especially since a wealthy, and very handsome man thought that way about her, too.

She didn't know how she could remove this feeling, but she needed to do it, soon. She couldn't work this way.

"All right, so Hillary is a call girl." Brittany c****d her head. "What does this have to do with me seeing Romeo again?"

He laughed and sat on the edge of the table again. This time, he took her hand loosely in his and gently stroked her fingers. The only time Kurt got mushy like this was when he desperately wanted something. He'd even gone as far as to bat his big hazel eyes and pout! How pathetic. She definitely didn't want to hear what he had to say, only because she knew she'd lose her breakfast all over him.

"Well, I got to thinking...since Reeder thinks you are a call girl already, you could play along until you get him to confess."

She narrowed her gaze on him. Her heartbeat hammered wildly. "Do you honestly believe he's guilty?"

Kurt's hesitation made her nervous, but finally he gave her a slow nod. "Actually, I do. Reeder is a wealthy man. The other men on the list that was in Hillary's robe pocket didn't have as much money. Reeder moves to the next woman quickly, and that tells me that he didn't care about what happened to our victim. Women like Hillary are expendable to men like him."

"But what's his MO?"

Once again, Brittany could see the wheels turning in his head as he paused in deep thought. He kept his blue eyed gaze on her. This man was easy to read. Of course, working closely with him, she learned how to understand his expressions.

Finally, his eyes widened and he grinned. "I'm willing to bet money Hillary was going to blackmail him. Powerful men in the community—like the men on her list—would be an easy target to blackmail."

She nodded. "Yes, I believe you're correct."

"So? Does that mean you'll go undercover and play the part as a call girl?"

Frustration rose inside of her quickly, and she balled her hands. Her first instinct was to turn him down, but in her conscience, she knew he was correct. She'd have to find a way to be around that man without feeling any lower than she felt already.

"Fine, but I will not do what call girls, um...do. There's no way I'll do that. Not for the job...not for anyone!"

Kurt's expression relaxed. He winked and playfully punched her shoulder. "I don't expect you to. In fact, we'll figure out a way to make sure that doesn't happen."

She blew out a defeated breath of air. "Will Captain Martinez go along with this?"

Kurt nodded. "I'll convince him that this is the best course of action."

"Good, because I don't think the captain likes me very much."

She stood and folded her arms across her chest, mainly to keep herself from the dread shivering inside of her. "You got my back?"

"Don't I always?" He cupped her face with both hands. "You can count on me. I'll never let you down."

* * * *

How can I get out of this?

Brittany paced the length of her apartment, which wasn't very big, anyway, but she'd hoped that walking would make her mind work properly. She needed a plan soon. It had been two days since her incident with Austin Reeder, and Kurt thought she should try to see the wealthy playboy tomorrow. Her partner had said she should make their meeting appear accidental.

She wrung her hands against her middle and clenched her teeth. She would rather have four root canals in one day than meet Austin Reeder accidentally—or meet him at all, for that matter. It was hard to think of this man as her assignment. Instead, she couldn't stop thinking about the way he'd kissed her. Never had she felt such passion, and that scared the livin' bejeezus out of her.

The knock at her door, made her jump. She moved to the door and peered through the peephole at the tall man with graying brown hair. Dad? What was he doing here? When she opened the door, he stood in front of her, holding a large box.

"Hi," she said, motioning her hand for him to enter. "Why are you coming over so late?"

He carried the cardboard box to her kitchen table, and set it on top. "Earlier today I was going through the house to make room for Patricia. I found several things I could finally get rid of." Sighing, he raked his fingers through his hair and sat on one of the chairs. "I haven't looked through the house like that since before your mother died."

Nodding, Brittany sat next to him and grasped his hand and gave it a squeeze. "You should have asked for help. I would have done it for you."

He shook his head. "No. This was something I had to do." He sighed heavily. "Five years without your mother by my side has taken its toll on me. I've not wanted to look through the house for fear I'd feel the great loss I experienced that first year after cancer had taken her life."

Brittany recalled that time, as well, and she knew exactly what her father had been feeling. She'd been very close to her mother, and to have her die like that nearly sent Brittany to the looney bin. If it wasn't for her best friend, Dawn, Brittany wouldn't have survived that first year.

"Well, I'm sure it needed to be done, and you'll be able to begin your life with Patricia soon."

"Yes." He chuckled softly. "The wedding is getting closer." His brown-eyed gaze moved off her and to the box on the table. He patted the side of the cardboard. "I found this in the attic. Your mother and I had packed some of your things in boxes and put them in the attic after you left for college. I thought you might want to go through it and see if there's anything you want to keep."

"Sure. I'll look inside and see what memories are important to me." She stood and leaned down to hug her father. "Thanks, Dad."

He rose to his feet and kissed her forehead. "Don't forget, we're having a family dinner next week." He touched his finger to her nose. "And I don't want any excuses why you can't come. Is that clear?"

She laughed. "Fine, then. I won't give you an excuse if something happens to come up."

He shook his head. "Don't let anything come up at all. This dinner is important to me. You and your brothers haven't really gotten to know Patricia. I want you all to like her...to accept her. I know bringing her in as your stepmother is going to be hard, but—"

"Dad," she interrupted, "I'll be there. I promise." It was her fault she hadn't gotten to know Patricia yet. Deep down inside, she didn't want anyone to replace her mother.

Brittany walked him to the door and closed it behind him. She hated drudging up the past. There were so many bad memories, especially when it came to guys.

Had she really changed that much? She didn't dare wander down memory lane for fear she'd not like what was there.