That Summer Night (Callaways #6) Read Free Page B

said,
    "This is far enough."
    She glanced around, wanting to make sure there was no one close enough to hear what she was about to say. Then she looked back at Reid. While she could smell the liquor on his breath, the gleam in his eyes told her he was paying attention.
    "I was working for your brother at a clinic in Colombia until a week ago. There was trouble. Some people were hurt—killed—and your brother went missing." She licked her dry lips. "This morning Robert called me. He said he was in danger and that only you could help him."
    "Is this a joke?" Reid asked, disbelief in his eyes, eyes that were definitely green, a beautiful green, she thought, distracted by his gaze. "Well?" he prodded.
    "No, it's not a joke," she said, forcing herself to focus. "Why would you ask that?"
    "Because there's no way Robert could possibly think that I would want to help him."
    She remembered what Robert had said on the phone—that he didn't know how long it would take her to convince his brother to meet him. "Look, it's not a joke. I don't know what's between you and your brother, but Robert said you are the only one who can save his life." She saw lingering doubt in Reid's expression and searched for another way to convince him. "It was on the news—the attack on the clinic—you can look it up online. I'm not lying about what happened. Your brother is in serious trouble."
    Reid ran a hand through his hair, his jaw stiff with tension, his eyes glittering with emotions she couldn't begin to decipher.
    "This doesn't make any sense," he muttered.
    "Maybe it will make sense if we keep talking. Can we get some coffee?" She could see the indecision in his eyes, but she couldn't take no for an answer. "What do you have to lose by having a cup of coffee with me?" she asked. "Just give me fifteen minutes."
    "Maybe tomorrow."
    "It can't wait until then. Please." She was close to begging, but she didn't care. She'd been on edge for a week, and she wouldn't be able to stop the nightmares until Robert was back in San Francisco, living his life, and doing his job. "You have to help me. I don't know what else to do."
    Her pending hysteria worked in her favor. Reid put his hand on her shoulder again. "Okay, calm down. We'll talk." He glanced at his watch. "There's a coffee house around the corner. It should be open for at least another hour."
    "Perfect," she said with relief, following him outside.
    The bar was in an industrial area that was fine by day but seedy at night, and while it was only a little after eight o'clock, she was happy to have Reid by her side.
    They crossed the street at the corner and were only a few feet into the intersection when a car came speeding down the block.
    She froze at the sudden, blinding headlights. Then Reid shoved her towards the sidewalk as the car screamed past, flying around the corner on squealing tires. She landed hard on the pavement, Reid's body adding more weight as he fell on top of her.
    The shock of what had almost happened took her breath away. She was still trying to get it back when Reid jumped to his feet. He ran toward the corner, but the car was gone, and there was no one else around who could have seen what happened.
    She was making her way to her feet when he returned to her, his expression grim.
    "He almost hit us," she said, her lips trembling.
    "Yeah." He gave her a hard look. "You asked me what I had to lose by having coffee with you—I think I just got an answer."
    "That wasn't about me," she protested.
    "Wasn't it? You tell me my brother is in danger and then someone tries to run us down? I don't think that's a coincidence. We need to talk. Did you drive here?"
    "No, I took a cab."
    He pulled out his phone. "So did I. I'll call a taxi. We'll go to my place."
    "Your place?" she echoed. "Isn't the coffee house down the street?"
    "I'd like to get farther away from here. Is that a problem?"
    She slowly shook her head, reminding herself that he was Robert's brother. She could trust him,