Hidden Threat by Sherri Hayes Page A

so Matthew plopped down in a seat and waited for his brother to finish.
    When Jason looked up, he found a disheveled Matthew. It was almost comical.
    When he ended his call a few minutes later, he sat back in his chair. Not saying anything, he just waited. He hoped Matthew would finally tell him what was going on and why he’d been acting so strange lately. The words that came out of his brother’s mouth were not ones for which he was prepared.
    “I was wondering if you’d like to go out tonight. Hit a club or something.” Matthew’s body language was all over the charts. He was tapping his fingers in a steady rhythm on the arms of the chair. His back was stiff, and he looked like he was getting ready to bolt at any second.

    Jason blinked. “You want to go to a club?”
    He watched his brother swallow and then nod. Maybe being in a more casual environment would help his little brother. It sure couldn’t hurt. “Yeah, sure. How about I swing by about seven?”
    “Yeah…yeah. That’ll be good.” He ran his hands down his legs nervously and stood. “I’ll see you then.”
    Matthew rushed out the door, leaving Jason in shock. Who was this person, and what had happened to his brother? He hadn’t seen Matthew this rattled since high school when he asked his two-year crush to the prom.
    And what was with the sudden desire to go clubbing? Matthew never went to clubs. Okay, maybe not never but almost never. Jason didn’t think Matthew had seen the inside of a club since they’d gone out three years ago. His brother hated clubs. Said they were nothing but meat markets, and he wanted no part in them.
    The question was what had changed. Why was Matthew willing to go to a place he loathed?
    He would figure out what was going on with his brother one way or another.
    Before he could think on it any further, his phone rang, and once again, work pulled him back in.
    ***

    At six-thirty, Lisa pulled into Cali’s drive. The house was massive. She’d only been to the Stanton estate once before to drop off some paperwork for Alvin, but it was no less impressive the second time. Getting out of the car, she walked to the door and rang the bell. 
    A minute later, the door opened, and Cali whirled into view. “Hi,” she said, securing an earring just under a stray curl. Stepping back, she motioned to Lisa. “Come in. I just need to grab my shoes, and then I’ll be ready.” 
    Cali disappeared around the corner, leaving Lisa in the foyer. The house was no less extravagant on the inside. Creating a spacious feeling, the ceilings were at least twenty feet high. She was still admiring her surroundings when Cali reappeared. “Okay. Let’s go.”

    Lisa and Cali met Jen and Becky at a casual barbeque restaurant called Hoggies.
    Cali had never been there before, but apparently, this was a regular meeting place for the three women. Jen and Becky welcomed her with open arms. It turned out Becky was a nurse at Chicago Memorial and Jen was a swim coach at DePaul University.
    The three women had met in college and stayed in contact over the years. Becky and Lisa were from Chicago originally and had been ecstatic when they learned Jen was taking a job here to be closer to her sister. Cali found out the three got together every month for a girls night out, and they were happy to have a new addition.
    Cali could hardly keep up with the questions being thrown at her. None of the women had been overseas, and they were fascinated with her time in Africa. She did manage to get in a few questions of her own. Jen and Becky were both single and unattached at the moment. Lisa’s involvement with Jason was common knowledge among the women. And as Cali found out, they wanted an updated play-by-play of the secret office romance that was becoming anything but secret.
    After finishing their desserts, the ladies took a few minutes to freshen up before they left for Faux, a local dance club. It was about seven thirty, and Lisa assured Cali that the