That Summer Night (Callaways #6) by Barbara Freethy Page B

missing."
    "And you want me to find him?"
    "No, I've got that covered, I think."
    "So, he's not missing?"
    "I think he's hiding," Reid answered. "He wants my help, but before I agree to give it, I need to know what he's involved in."
    "Do you have any theories?"
    "Unfortunately, no. This was all brought to my attention last night. So I'm still working in the dark." He leaned forward, resting his forearms on his thighs. "What I do know is this: Robert works for Abbott Pharmaceuticals. They have been funding his research for years, including his most recent project, which involves a possible miracle-making drug for Alzheimer's. The trial in Colombia involved a genetic cluster of Alzheimer cases. After the raid on the clinic, much of the data from the trial was lost, so the trial will need to be restarted or run somewhere else. Whether that has anything to do with Robert's disappearance I don't know. It could be something else entirely, but my gut tells me that the events are connected."
    "Anything else?"
    "I know that both the FBI and the State Department have sent agents to talk to the people on the medical team that returned from Colombia. Their questions were focused on Robert and his whereabouts."
    Matt nodded. "And you want to know what their interest is in your brother?"
    "Besides the obvious fact that no one seems to know where he is."
    "I have some contacts in both agencies."
    "Good."
    "But first I have to ask you something," Matt said.
    Reid knew what was coming, but he managed a nod. "Go ahead."
    "Why the hell would you want to help your brother after what he did to you?" Matt waved a disbelieving hand in the air.
    "I've been asking myself the same thing," he admitted. "I haven't come up with an answer, but I'm thinking that maybe once I know what's really going on with him, I'll know what I have to do."
    "I think you should leave him to rot in whatever hole he's crawled into."
    Reid wasn't surprised by Matt's attitude. Matt had been one of the ushers in his ill-fated wedding. He'd seen the destruction first hand.
    "I may still do that," he said. "It depends on what you find out."
    "Is this request coming from your parents? Are they pulling some family guilt trip on you?"
    "No. I'm not sure what they know. I haven't spoken to them in years."
    Matt stared back at him. "Really?"
    "Really," he echoed.
    "Then was it Lisa who asked you to help?"
    "No, it wasn't Lisa," he said. "Apparently, she and Robert divorced a year ago."
    "Divorced, huh? Well, I can't say I'm surprised. Lisa didn't have a long attention span when it came to men. Sorry if that's too brutal."
    "It's the truth," he said with a shrug.
    "So if it wasn't Lisa or your parents who asked, then who was it?"
    "That's not important," he replied, wanting to keep Shayla's name out of it. "Can you help me or not?"
    "I can help."
    "I'll pay you for your time."
    "Don't worry about that. I'll collect when you come to work for me."
    "That might be never."
    Matt smiled. "Yesterday I would have believed that. Today, I'm not so sure. You look a lot different than you did last night in the bar. It's amazing what twenty-four hours can do to a man."
    He couldn't argue with that. Shayla had certainly turned his life upside down. He got to his feet. "You still have my number?"
    "Of course. And even if I didn't, I could find you. I'm that good."
    "You were never short on confidence."
    "Neither were you, Becker." Matt stood up to face him. "I know this isn't the Army, but we're doing some good things. We're making a difference and we're playing by our own rules. That has to appeal to you."
    "I'll think about it. That's all I can say right now."
    "I'll take it." Matt walked him to the door. "While I'm not thrilled about helping your brother, I have to say that I'm glad Robert got you off your favorite bar stool."
    He smiled. "It wasn't Robert; it was a beautiful blonde."
    Matt grinned, a gleam in his eyes. "Ah, now it all makes sense. What's her name?"
    "That's on a need to know