Boiling Point (Crossing the Line #3)(38)

Unless Charles had been right all those months ago…and Austin had been the sucker being played in the hotel room.

Afraid at what he might find, Austin dropped his gaze to the girl who’d supplied him with a heaping dose of brutal jealousy only moments ago, and prayed he wouldn’t find deception on her exquisite face. Her hands were clenched around the tea he’d brought her, attention focused straight ahead. So pale, he envisioned rubbing his hands together and laying them on her cheeks to give them color. She looked as shell-shocked as he felt. Was it guilt? Or was the captain’s newest case actually a coincidence?

No. He didn’t believe in those.

Austin felt the captain’s sharp gaze transfer to him and did his best to appear bemused. He had no choice but to act surprised by the news until more information could be obtained. “A fellow con, is he? He must have felt the draw of my unparalleled talent and wanted to get a glimpse of me in the flesh.” He crossed one ankle over the other. “He’ll be sorry to learn I’m not passing on my secrets.”

Derek’s dark look said he wasn’t entertained. “Have you crossed paths with Reitman?”

Here lies a crossroads. If he lied to Derek, he would lose this squad job if it ever came out in the wash, which could spell prison time if he didn’t get out of town fast enough. Eventually, he’d have to make his way out of the country, never to lay eyes on his daughter again. Probably a good thing for all parties involved, but it would be…unpleasant. Never seeing her again. His other option was to be honest—the horror—which would f*ck him over with Polly if she didn’t already suspect he had more than a passing knowledge of Reitman’s activities. All these thoughts occurred to Austin within a split second, as did the subtle headshake from Polly caught at the edge of his peripheral vision. And a flash of them tangled together in the darkness without the bitter taste of deception between them.

“I’ve crossed paths with no Charles Reitman, although I might have met him by another name.” Austin nodded toward the file. “Have you a picture handy?”

It took Derek a moment to act, reaching behind him to scoop up the heavy file, settle it on his lap, and remove a five-by-seven snapshot. All without his focus wavering from Austin. Interesting. When it became obvious that the captain didn’t plan on getting up any time soon, Austin sauntered over and accepted the glossy picture. Keeping his features schooled, he took a moment to scrutinize the shot, although he recognized his ex-partner instantly. It must have been relatively new, because Charles had aged around the eyes, hair gone silver at the temples. Being that they’d only gone their separate ways almost four years ago, he wondered if Charles’s usual wells had run dry. Karma could be a bitch, as Austin was sure he’d find out for himself someday soon enough.

“Not familiar.” He handed the picture back to Derek and swore he could feel Polly’s energy calm to his right. Where she still sat beside the motherf*cker who’d taken his seat. God, he couldn’t wait to get her alone. Screw waiting until tonight. His smile was more unnatural than he would have liked as Derek circulated Charles’s snapshot. “What has brought this poor imitation of yours truly to the windy city?”

Derek finally turned away to include the rest of the room. “Reitman’s MO is fairly straightforward. Cozy up to new money and involve them in a nonexistent investment scheme. He plays the long con, and his patience makes him good at it.”

Austin realized he was still standing in front of the room and went to take his position once more against the wall, casting a discreet look toward Polly as he went. She was still white as a sheet drying in the wind, attention trained on Derek. Perhaps it was a good thing they weren’t sitting beside each other or he might have yanked her up against his side by now, shaken some red back into her lips.

Sera’s voice made the image blur. “Does Reitman already have a mark? Do we have a starting point?”

“It appears he does.” Derek sifted through the file. “She’s nothing like his usual victim. Well-moneyed, cultured, established in the upper echelon of wealthy society, not just in Chicago, but international circles. In the past, he’s been more apt to target up-and-coming businesspeople with little experience making investments. But he appears to have switched gears.” The captain took the photograph back from Sera, tossing it faceup onto the desk’s surface. “Reitman arrived in Chicago with the young woman, although they’re not living together, nor do we have any idea how long they’ve been acquainted. But they’re frequently seen together at parties, dinners, and what have you. It’s possible he’s going for one final score, getting this woman and several of her peers to invest in a fabricated idea. That’s what we need to find out.”

Austin’s sixth sense began to ping. Derek was right; this wasn’t Charles’s racket. It was too big. Too risky. And to Austin’s knowledge, Reitman didn’t mix women with business, although he certainly indulged that particular vice off the clock. Handling the women had been Austin’s end of the bargain and the reason Reitman had taken him on as a partner in the first place. His ability to charm the fairer sex had been his way into the life. Not to mention, the reason he’d wanted out after years of using his body to make money. He’d been nothing short of a prostitute.

Something was afoot here, and the acid boiling in Austin’s gut told him it was bad. Very bad. But when Derek opened the folder again and Austin caught a peek at a woman’s photograph, Austin realized he’d had no idea the level of f*cked-up that had been achieved. Reitman’s mark was the last woman Austin had ever conned. Isobel Klausky. Sitting on the woman’s knee was his illegitimate daughter in her ballet costume, red hair in pigtails tied up with ridiculous white bows.