A Colby Christmas Rescue (Colby Agency: The Next Generation #1)

Chapter Five

Chapter Five

Excalibur Court, 2:00 p.m.

Abi excused himself and went outside to take a call.

He hadn’t stopped for food. But Jamie got why he hadn’t.

“I don’t like this.” Poe stared beyond the wall of glass doors and watched Abi pace back and forth next to the infinity pool.

Jamie braced her hands on her hips and met her friend’s gaze. “I’m with you, believe me. If something is going wrong this early in the game, we’re in trouble.”

“You’re thinking of that tail he struggled to lose.”

She nodded. “That was my primary reason for wanting to go out today. He’s making this all seem so pat—as if everything is in place with no concerns. This—” she looked to the man outside “—is a concern.”

Poe turned his back to the outdoor space and fixed his worried gaze on Jamie. “You know when you have this feeling deep in your gut that something is really, really wrong but you can’t quite put your finger on the problem?”

Jamie flattened her palm against her belly. “Right here. The same place that lets you know when you need to cut and run.”

“Yeah.” He glanced over his shoulder at the man outside. “I’m not saying your friend is setting us up, but he knows this is off somehow and he’s just going along as if it’s all good.”

Yeah, she’d picked up on that. “The good news is I didn’t get the impression at Luke’s place that there was a truly violent struggle or any of the usual issues we should worry about.”

Actually, that could be good or bad, but she had decided to see it as a good thing. Victoria had heard Luke’s voice. For now, the situation appeared to be running along without any glitches—with the exception of the potential tail they’d had to lose. If the plan played out the way they had been briefed, then hopefully Luke would be released tomorrow night.

She wasn’t thinking beyond that. It wasn’t like a person or persons could be kidnapped and everyone involved just walked away as if nothing had happened. There would be repercussions. And, frankly, it wasn’t like she could pretend she had immunity in the kidnapping of a prestigious doctor—if this went down as planned.

Since Abi appeared in no hurry to get back inside, Jamie decided to use the time wisely. Who knew how much time she and Poe would have alone?

“What do we know about this Dr. Case?” Poe asked. “I mean, really? Beyond the bio on his website and in the file Abi provided?”

“I was just thinking the same thing,” Jamie admitted. “The basics are that he graduated from Vanderbilt, then went on to specialize at Johns Hopkins. He spent the next dozen years building his claim to fame in neurosurgery.”

Poe glanced outside to ensure Abi remained preoccupied. “Early this year he completed the first successful surgery removing a previously deemed inoperable brain tumor. Since that time, he’s completed many more such operations. But he’s only one man.”

“And patients from all over the country are frantically trying to get on his schedule.”

“While he,” Poe said, “is talking about cutting back on the number of surgeries he’s doing in order to train more surgeons to do the same.”

“But the patients are desperate—they’re facing death sentences without this surgery.” Jamie started to pace. She could only imagine how the patients felt. If the doctor was doing all he could, then this wasn’t easy for him either.

“The bottom line is,” Poe went on, “what does your friend’s employer want with Dr. Case?”

“Ostensibly, this lifesaving surgery for himself or a family member.”

“Either way, the man—woman, whoever—has the means to go after what he wants no matter that it’s not legal.”

“He has the means but he doesn’t have the time to wait,” Jamie agreed. “So he’s buying a place at the front of the line.” Certainly not fair but there were those who would do whatever necessary to get what they wanted.

“If he’s smart he has created a plan that ensures he will walk away from this without revealing his identity.” Poe shrugged. “It’s the only possibility that makes sense. Why would he want to live only to go to prison?”

“Which suggests it’s a family member, so he doesn’t care.” Jamie frowned. “The one hitch in that plan is the doctor. How does Abi’s employer protect his identity from the surgeon himself?”

“I don’t see how he can.” Poe considered the idea for a moment. “Unless it’s all carefully choreographed in a way that Case does his thing and then he’s taken away. The employer’s personal physician will take it from there. Which would mean he’d require a private surgery suite.”

“Why the Colby Agency?” Jamie shrugged. “I mean, the agency is the best, but there are other players out there who could help with this op. I haven’t seen or heard anything as of yet that makes me believe I have a particular skill set that this guy couldn’t find in another operative.”

“But,” Poe said with a look that underscored his words, “it’s you this guy—” he hitched a thumb toward Abi “—wanted to play with.”

She couldn’t deny the possibility. “Maybe, but Abi is smart. He wouldn’t allow his personal feelings to get in the way of a successful mission. He’s too good for that.”

“Then we have to assume there’s a personal connection between your family and this mission. Or perhaps that’s what he wants us to believe.”

That was the part that worried Jamie. Which was true?

“I need to have a closer look around here.” She surveyed the large great room. “Can you keep Abi preoccupied when he comes back in while I have a look around?”

“Sure. We’ll just pretend to be mates,” he teased in a faux British accent.

Jamie shook her head at her friend, glanced toward Abi and then hurried out of the room. She made her way up the stairs and went straight to the bedroom Abi had chosen for himself. He’d made the room assignments. Considering the clothing and toiletry selections he’d prepared for her, he’d had access to this property for at least a day or two before they arrived.

She opened the door and walked into his room. The bed was unmade. The rumpled sheets kept her gaze lingering longer than they should have. She forced her attention to the nightstands next to the bed. She quickly went through the drawers of each. The only personal item she found was a cell phone charger. She moved on to the dresser where she rummaged through his underwear and socks, taking care to feel for any items that might be hidden inside.

She found nothing in the drawers or under them, so the closet was next. Two blazers and three shirts hung on wooden hangers. Jamie checked the pockets and then the extra pair of shoes standing neatly on the carpet.

There was nothing in the room that he wouldn’t want anyone to find.

Jamie walked out of his room and closed the door the way she had found it. Abi was too savvy to leave anything lying around that might give away some aspect of his plan. She went through her and Poe’s rooms, double-checking for bugs. She found nothing.

Downstairs, Abi had come inside.

“Since we weren’t able to stop, I’ll order lunch,” he announced.

Jamie wasn’t sure she could eat, but she kept that to herself. Food was essential to gain energy. “Anything but pizza.” She had eaten pizza two nights in a row on the previous mission.

Poe laughed. “Yeah, the only food available near that last motel was pizza.”

“No pizza,” Abi assured them. “I was thinking Mediterranean.”

“Works for me,” Poe announced.

“I need to check in with Victoria,” Jamie announced. She needed to know what was going on.

Abi looked up from whatever app he’d chosen to use for ordering food. “As long as I can hear the conversation, I don’t have a problem with that.”

Jamie nodded. “Understood.”

Poe caught her gaze. “I think I’ll take a nap until the food comes.”

Sounded like Poe had some looking around he wanted to do as well. He disappeared upstairs, and Jamie put through the call. Her grandmother answered on the first ring. “It’s me,” Jamie said, wishing she could be there in person to talk to her. She’d likely been waiting for a call all day.

“Are you okay, Jamie?”

She smiled. She loved the sound of her grandmother’s voice. So commanding and yet so caring. “I’m good, yes. We went to Luke’s condo today. I didn’t find any readily visible cause for alarm.”

“Have you spoken to him?”

“No. Maybe I’ll get to later.” Jamie chewed her lower lip. There was a lot she wanted to say but holding back was the smarter choice. “Any news from Mom and Dad?”

Her mother hadn’t been herself lately. Jamie was glad she and Dad were on vacation and not in the middle of this mess.

“I did,” Victoria said. “They’re doing well. Just missing all of us. I assured them we will all be fine for Christmas. They should enjoy themselves and relax.”

“That’s exactly what they should do,” Jamie agreed. “I hope you gave them my love.”

“I certainly did. Jamie...”

She heard the worry in her grandmother’s voice. “Really, Grandmother, I’m fine.”

“Please be careful. I wish there was more we could do.”

“Knowing that you’re standing by is enough.”

They talked a few minutes more before Jamie was able to say goodbye. She so loved her grandparents. Victoria was the epitome of all that Jamie believed was right in this world. She hoped to be able to accomplish just a fraction of what her grandmother had done with her life. Her grandfather too.

“What’s the ETA on the food?” She tucked her cell phone away.

“Should be here any minute.” Abi searched her face, her eyes. “I find it difficult to believe your grandparents aren’t up to something. But I haven’t picked up on any chatter from the Colby Agency.”

“They would never do anything that might endanger Luke or me.”

“You’re lucky to have people who care about you that way.”

She felt like that was an opening, but decided not to take it. “I’ll find Poe. Let him know the food will be here soon.”

Giving Abi her back, she hurried from the room and up the stairs. She found Poe in his room, staring out the window toward the home of Dr. Quentin Case.

“Abi says the food will be here soon.”

Poe glanced at her, then waited for her to join him at the window. “I can’t figure out what he thinks he’s accomplishing by keeping everything a secret until the last minute. You know there’s a reason that we’re not going to like.”

“I know.” She leaned one shoulder against the window frame. “The only reason to do that is if he thinks I’ll have an issue with the proposed execution of the op.”

“The house is right there.” He nodded in the direction of the mansion in the valley below. “Why not just spell it out now? It’s not like we can’t put together a number of scenarios in our heads. We’ve done this sort of thing too many times.”

“Maybe he’s worried we’ll give him the slip and share the details with the police or with someone else who can stop him.” This wasn’t the sort of global issue the IOA dealt with, but they would certainly not hesitate to send an extraction team to recover two of their agents. Except contacting anyone at all was a risk she wasn’t willing to take. Luke’s life hung in the balance.

“Unless,” Poe countered, “the employer is Abi himself.”

Now this was an avenue she had not considered. “You may be right.” Wow. She knew Abi’s family. There was his father. His mother. No siblings. No spouse as far as she knew.

“Whatever he’s planning,” Poe said, drawing her attention back to him, “I don’t want you taking the risk too far. You have to protect yourself, Jamie.”

She frowned. “Why would I not protect myself? It’s the first rule of any op. You can’t complete it if you’re down for the count.”

Poe laughed. “You always do that. Deflect. I just don’t want you to throw caution to wind for this guy. He’s not worth it, Jamie. He’s using you and Luke.”

Yeah. She recognized Poe was right on that one. “I’m aware.”

He reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “You’re important to me, Jamie. Our work is sometimes dangerous—maybe not so much when we’re plucking Santas from trouble.”

She laughed. “Even Santa needs rescuing sometimes.”

“True. Just be careful. I don’t trust this guy at all.”

She hugged him. Closed her eyes and inhaled deeply of his unique scent. “Don’t worry. I plan on taking you home for Christmas when this is finished.”

She’d made that decision the moment this whole thing started. She wanted her family to know this man. The realization surprised her a little...but in a good way.

10:00 p.m.

J AMIE STOOD ON the patio and stared toward the Case home. The place was lit up like an airfield. If the family had company tonight, it wasn’t obvious. No cars parked in the front cobblestoned parking area. Even from here she could see the massive fountain with its flickering lights that sat in the middle of that parking area.

According to Google, the house where Dr. Case lived had only been built two years ago to the tune of several million dollars. He’d built the house even before perfecting the surgical procedure that had put him on the map. He had two children. A son who had started Harvard this past fall. And a daughter who was only ten years old. His wife wrote children’s books and spent a lot of time volunteering. Good for her. She was also a nurse, but she donated her time to a clinic in downtown Nashville.

By all accounts, the family was highly respected and more than a little revered in the area.

All the more reason for Jamie to see this through one way or another. Someone had to protect that family during this... Whatever it was. She just hoped she wasn’t going to be caught in a situation where she had to choose between her brother and a member of the doctor’s family.

So far there had been no mention of weapons, but she wasn’t naive enough to believe they were going into this thing unarmed. Particularly considering Case had serious security. There would be weapons, and anytime weapons were involved, trouble was just one tiny mistake away.

That would be the problem. Getting in and out without triggering a gunfight with the doctor’s security team.

As if she’d voiced the issue out loud, Abi joined her on the patio. He surveyed the valley below before turning to her.

“It’s cold out here,” he pointed out.

Her body suddenly realized he was right. She shivered. “I hadn’t noticed.”

He laughed. “I see that.”

She wrapped her arms around herself. “Not that cold. Remember I grew up in Chicago.”

He removed the jacket he was wearing and draped it over her shoulders. “I remember.”

The warmth from his body immediately seeped into hers. “Thanks.” She tugged the coat closer around her.

“Your friend has been pacing the floor for hours.”

Poe had paced the floor down here until only a few minutes ago and then he’d called it a night only to pace the floor in his room.

“He’s restless.”

“He needs to chill.” Abi crossed his arms over his chest, the cold night air obviously getting to him since he’d given his jacket to her.

“Maybe he could if you’d give us some insight into how this is going down.”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that. You will know exactly what to do when it’s time to move.”

She heaved a frustrated breath. “That’s no way to run a railroad,” she argued. “Preparation is always key in any operation. Preparation of all players.”

He shot her a grin. “Trust me. I have thoroughly prepared for this. For all of us.”

“Tell me one thing.” She turned to him and fixed her gaze on his.

“One thing,” he agreed.

“Does someone in your family need this doctor’s help?” If this was personal, the situation was all the more dangerous. Personal was never, ever good.

“No one in my family is involved. This is not personal, Jamie. You have my word.”

“Good.” She considered what she should ask next. “How did you learn of this mission?”

“So what you really want is two things,” he said, eyebrows raised.

“The one thing was just me getting started.”

He smiled. “I see that.” He exhaled an audible breath. “I was approached by a representative of my employer.”

He looked directly at her as he spoke. Gaze open. No blink, no flinch. So far he appeared to be telling her the truth.

“Are you completely comfortable with the plan?” She had worked with Abi before. He was good. Damned good.

“The plan is flawless. You do not need to worry about the plan. I have considered every possibility. There are no weaknesses...no holes.”

“Your reputation is impeccable when it comes to planning and executing a mission,” Jamie confessed. “I saw firsthand when we worked together how capable you are.”

“Capable.” He chuckled. “A good word, I suppose.”

“No other aspect of anyone’s ability is relevant if it’s not capable.”

He seemed to weigh her words a moment. “We spent a good deal of time together during that mission.”

They had spent a considerable amount of time together, and they had shared a moment .

The memory had her cheeks heating. She was thankful it was dark to prevent him seeing that she’d blushed at the memory.

“We worked well together,” he pointed out.

“We did, but—” Jamie looked directly at him “—it can’t be like last time.”

Her brother’s life was in the balance. She could not allow herself to be distracted.

“The mission hasn’t started yet,” he argued. “Who knows what we’ll find time for before we’re finished?”

“Did you drag my brother into this just so you could force me to be involved?”

“How do you know Luke isn’t my employer?”

The question startled her. This was something she had not considered. She thought a moment about the possibility. To her knowledge, Luke had no significant other just now. He would have told her. But she couldn’t say with complete certainty that there wasn’t someone he wanted to help. He was always doing things for other people—especially those in need. This seemed a little over-the-top for his ability. He had a sizable trust fund, but it wasn’t like he could withdraw that kind of money without permission.

Unless that was what the ten-million-dollar ransom was about.

The thought had her gritting her teeth for a moment. No, she decided. No way.

“Luke would have come to me if he’d needed help with something like this.” Jamie was certain. He wouldn’t have gone about it this way. No way.

Abi searched her face, her eyes. “I did not and would not have taken your brother hostage in order to get your attention. It’s important that you understand that was not my decision.”

“Can you guarantee me he’s safe?”

“I can assure you that he is perfectly safe.”

“Then you trust your employer enough to take that risk?”

He frowned. “What risk?”

“The risk that if something happens to my brother, I will make you pay.”

His frown slid into a grin. “I am very well aware of what would happen to me if I was responsible for trouble with your brother.”

“Just so you know, I won’t go in without being fully briefed and feeling confident that all is as it should be. So don’t go suggesting it’s time to go with the idea of filling me in on the way. I will refuse.”

“I’m aware.” He tugged the lapels of the jacket a little closer to ensure she stayed warm. “We will go through everything very carefully before we move in.”

So they were invading the house.

“I’m assuming we have invitations to the party,” she said, mostly just to see what he would say.

“Better to be invited than to have to figure out another way in.”

“Your employer is powerful.”

“Of course.”

That he was rich went without saying. “But he isn’t powerful enough to get the one thing he wants more than anything else.”

Abi’s gaze collided with hers. “There are some things even money cannot buy.”

Which told her that Abi’s employer had already approached this doctor and been turned away.

“For all those other things,” Jamie suggested, “there are people like you.”

Abi smiled. “If not me, someone else would do it. At least if I do it, I do it well.”

No question. The upside was that what she knew of Abi was as close to good as a mostly bad guy could be.

“I know what you’re thinking.”

She sort of hoped he did not. “And what’s that?”

“You’re thinking ‘What is a bad guy like me doing trying to help someone do a good thing—like kidnap a doctor to save a life?’”

“The thought occurred to me, yes.” It wasn’t the usual job Abi was known for.

“You’re wondering,” he went on, “if I might be growing soft in my old age.”

She laughed. She couldn’t help herself. Abi was only thirty. “Didn’t cross my mind.”

“When I was approached about this mission,” he explained, “I could not say no. By this time tomorrow you will understand my reasons.”

“I’m sure you’re aware that no one involved is going to walk away from this legally speaking.” It wasn’t a threat, merely a statement of fact.

“I have a plan for that as well.”

He sounded so certain of himself. “I just hope your plan is as good as you seem to believe it is.”

He traced a fingertip down her cheek before dropping his hand. “I have never failed. Never. You are aware of this.”

She resisted the need to shiver at his touch. “Just because you’ve never failed doesn’t mean you won’t.”

That was the part that worried her the most. There was always a first time for failure. And the first time was always the worst.