Page 52 of Loving a Billionaire

Standing in shock, Austin shook his head. “I didn’t do it. I’m not a killer!”

Feakes 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.” Feakes nodded. “But we need to dust this for fingerprints, and also get your fingerprints.”

Kurt waited for the sergeant and the others to walk out of the room. Talia 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, Talia. I didn’t kill Kalama. 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 Kalama Kane.”

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.

EIGHTEEN

You are a professional. You can do this!Talia fought the emotions twisting inside of her as she willed herself not to cry again. Feakes could see she’d become too involved with Austin to handle the questioning. Even the sergeant 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 Kalama... 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 Kalama. 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?”

Talia paused and looked into the window. Austin’s forehead creased and his gaze narrowed. Where was Tyrone going with this?

“Aloha Pacific Bank. Why? That’s not a secret. Most people bank there.”

Tyrone and Gibbs exchanged grins. Talia’s heart dropped.

“Mr. Reeder, we found something interesting on Kalama Kane’ bank statement. She doesn’t go through Aloha Pacific, however, earlier this year, that very 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?”

Talia growled and swung around. She looked at Kurt first, and then switched her attention to Feakes. “Seriously? What does that have to do with anything?”