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

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve

4:00 a.m.

“Your people have no idea who set this event in motion?” Jamie was having a difficult time getting past the notion that Abi and his backers had no idea how this mistake went down.

He kept his focus on the dark highway as they drove back toward the Case home. The doctor and his entourage were half a mile ahead. Abi had carefully kept his distance since leaving the parking area at the hospital.

“If my people have intel on last night, they’re not sharing the information with me.” He glanced at her through the darkness. “Frankly, unless there’s a reason for me to know, I actually do not care to hear about it.”

Now that was a cop-out. “Please. Do not try to spin this for me. Remember who you’re talking to, friend. This is not my first rodeo.”

The entourage up ahead took the turn to Lionheart Court.

Abi slowed, giving them ample time to move farther along the private drive leading to the doctor’s home before they reached the intersection.

He blew out a long, low whistle as they passed that exit. “At least we know he made it home without being whisked away by a competitor.”

Jamie waited until Abi had blown past the turn the doctor and his team had taken and then took the next right on Lady of the Lake Lane, which would take them to Excalibur. Following the doctor hadn’t been an option. They had been at the hospital keeping an eye on the situation for hours. Case hadn’t wanted to leave until he was certain all was good with Mr. Mason.

Jamie hoped the patient’s continued stability meant he was out of the woods for good. Mason and his family would certainly have a lot to celebrate this Christmas. To find yourself on death’s door and then suddenly pulled back by the skill of a surgeon was the very definition of a miracle.

Abi pulled into the garage of the Excalibur house, and she wondered again where Poe was and what in the world he was doing. If he had come here to help her and he’d ended up in trouble, she would never forgive herself.

She should call her grandmother to see if she had heard from him. Though she couldn’t see Poe calling Victoria and not calling her, there could be a reason she didn’t understand. She got out of the car and reached back inside for the dress and shoes she had worn to the party. Abi tucked his weapon in his waistband and grabbed his discarded clothes as well. There were things she wanted to say, but right now, she wanted a long, hot shower and a couple hours of sleep.

She wasn’t sure either would happen, but she could hope.

Abi reached for the door of the house and stalled. He instantly reached to his waistband and the weapon he had tucked there not ten seconds ago as he got out of the vehicle.

He jerked his head toward her and she stepped to the side of the door. Abi held the weapon ready and eased in through the door that Jamie could now see stood ajar.

She gave him five seconds and then she followed.

They moved through the main room and had just entered the kitchen when the overhead light came on.

Jamie blinked.

Poe leaned against the sink, an apple in his hand. “Took you guys long enough to get back.”

Abi growled and lowered his weapon. “I could have shot you,” he warned.

“Good thing you didn’t,” Poe shot back.

Jamie skirted around Abi and the island to stand toe-to-toe with Poe. “What the hell, man? Where have you been?”

He smiled. “Good to see you too.”

Now she was just steamed. “You disappear—leaving your phone as if you’ve been attacked and dragged away. What was I supposed to think?”

He had better have a good explanation. Right now her temper was pushing toward the out-of-control mark. This was not in any way shape or form the slightest bit comical.

“Your doctor’s body double was on the move.”

Abi made a face that said he wasn’t buying it. “What exactly does that mean?”

“I took a walk. Early. I took those very nice binoculars you had in the kitchen down by the cliff and had myself a look around. While I was watching I saw someone run out of the house. He seemed in a panic.” Poe shrugged. “Like the devil was after him.”

“That happened this morning?” Jamie shook her head. “Yesterday morning, I mean?”

“That’s right. When I zoomed in, I thought it was Case—Dr. Case. Two men—security, I presume—rushed out and tackled him.”

“How do you know it wasn’t Dr. Case?” Jamie glanced at Abi. The man she spoke with at the hospital had to have been the real Dr. Case...right? He hadn’t actually done any surgery. He only met with the patient and viewed a CT scan.

Uncertainty swelled inside her. What if it wasn’t him?

“I can’t be certain, of course,” Poe admitted. “But amid all the yelling—not that I could hear any of it well enough to understand what was being said—another figure appeared at the front door. I zoomed in and he, I think, was the real Dr. Case. He started pointing and barking orders, which would seem to confirm my initial conclusion. The two security thugs dragged the other Dr. Case into the house.”

“How does this explain why you disappeared?” Abi asked, his distrust showing.

“Apparently, while I was watching this go down, there was another member of the security team watching me. I took off in a direction away from the house so he would hopefully believe I had come from a different location. I dropped my phone and didn’t want to risk going back for it.”

“So where have you been?” Jamie demanded.

“Well, I thought I was in the clear, but I ran right into the guy. He took me down to the house and that’s where they kept me until about two hours ago.”

Jamie had known Poe for a while now. She trusted him completely, but there was something wrong with this story. No, what was wrong was with the way he was telling it. “You’re saying you’ve been held hostage all day and night?”

“In the basement. I could hear the music when the party was going on.”

“How did you get away?” A cold hard knot formed in Jamie’s gut. So maybe he was telling the truth.

“About nine o’clock last night, a guy walked in and told me I was free to go. I walked back up here, but the two of you were gone.”

“I’m finding this a little difficult to believe,” Abi said. He looked to Jamie. “Are you buying this?”

“Are you okay?” Jamie searched her friend’s face. “I mean, really okay?”

He nodded. “I don’t think they intended to shoot me or anything. They just wanted me out of the way for a while.”

Jamie turned to Abi. “Can we be certain the man at the hospital was the real Dr. Case?” Damn, this was not good. Luke’s life depended on them delivering the surgeon—the real, miracle producing one.

A single moment of hesitation elapsed and in that fleeting second, Jamie knew Abi was about to lie to her.

“I can’t be certain.”

Now Jamie was furious. “You said you could tell the difference.”

“Wait, wait, wait,” Abi argued, stepping forward, bellying up to the island, “I would need to be close to him to confirm it’s really him. He has a birthmark.”

“Oh. My. God. Birthmarks are like tattoos—they can be recreated. Faked!”

“Not this birthmark. It wouldn’t be so easily faked. It’s a deep scar beneath his ribcage. He could certainly have had it repaired at some point in his life if he’d chosen, but creating the same look wouldn’t be an easy task—particularly if you only wanted it to be temporary.”

Jamie told herself to remain calm. Arguing with him would accomplish nothing. “As long as you’re certain.”

“I’m certain.”

“What’re we doing now?” Poe asked. “I got the impression they thought I was the trouble they’d maybe heard a rumor about. Then they let me go. I figured whatever was supposed to happen had happened, but then you two came back. So apparently, it didn’t.”

“We were at the party prepared to carry out the mission and there was an emergency at the hospital and Case had to go there,” Jamie explained. “He just got back home. We followed him there, then came here.”

“Whatever happened over there this morning,” Poe said, “and tonight, it feels like something totally unrelated to what we’re here to do.”

“Did you hear anything while you were there?” Abi asked, his own concern visibly growing.

“I was in the basement, so not much. Except there was a lot of moving around. Big sounds like furniture.”

Jamie considered what she had seen at the doctor’s home. “Everything appeared to be in place. It didn’t feel like there were items missing.”

Abi turned his hands up. “Maybe it was just the cleaning and prep for the gala.”

Poe shrugged. “I guess so. I’m just saying that’s about all I heard while I was down there.”

“Were you provided with food and water?” Jamie could see them sending someone down with water at least.

“A guy brought a tray at lunchtime and then later in the evening—before the party started.”

“You didn’t see anyone else the entire time?” Abi pressed.

“No one.”

“I need to think about this.” Abi glanced at Jamie, then left the room.

The sound of the glass doors opening and then closing told Jamie he’d gone onto the patio, probably to watch the house below.

Poe looked at Jamie then. “There’s something off with this. He’s not telling us everything.”

Jamie nodded. “At this point I don’t think I can even pretend he’s being completely up front.” She looked directly at Poe then. “I was really, really worried about you. I walked the cul-de-sac.” She exhaled a big breath. “I was scared that you were in real trouble.”

Poe took her by the arm and ushered her toward the stairs. He looked to see that Abi was still on the patio. “Come with me.”

They hurried up the stairs and into the en suite of the room Poe had been using. He closed the door and turned on the shower.

“That story I gave downstairs was for Abi.”

Her anger flared again. She had suspected he was not telling the truth. “Poe, what does that mean?”

“It means I am worried about what’s happening here. I do not trust this guy. He is lying about too many things.”

Jamie waffled between thinking he could be right and lashing out. “What things exactly?”

“I talked to your grandmother.”

His words stunned her. “What?”

“I told her my concerns and she did some digging. This guy Case didn’t start out being the good savior surgeon that everyone thinks. He purposely only performed certain surgeries. The patients he chose paid him huge bonuses under the table. That’s why he has a body double. He fears for his life. But that seems to be shifting so I don’t know exactly what’s happening. This is just part of the talk about him.”

This was not what Jamie wanted to hear. It didn’t represent the way Case had presented himself at the hospital.

“His body double is actually his identical twin brother. All of this—” he glanced at the door, then lowered his voice “—all of this is wrong. Whatever Abi is doing it’s not what he says he’s doing. If some rich guy wanted the surgery, all he would have to do is pay the bonus price.”

Jamie thought of the Mason family. How could they have paid a bonus for surgery? Why wouldn’t someone—anyone—file a complaint about this?

“Your grandmother gave me this information,” he said. “I couldn’t have known otherwise. Her investigator, Ian Michaels, is here in case we need backup.” He pulled a weapon from his waistband at the small of his back. “That’s how I got this.”

Jamie felt sick. “I’m not saying you or my grandmother is wrong, but there has to be an explanation. Abi wouldn’t do this.” There was bad and then there was bad . “And what you’re saying about Case just doesn’t fit with the man I met last night.”

“I’m with you, Jamie. Whatever you decide. I swear I am. I just need you to think long and hard and decide if there’s a chance you might be wrong.”

“I get it.” She did. She really did. “You have my word that I’m taking all that he says with a grain of salt.”

“Good.”

A knock on the door made them both jump.

“Is this a private party or am I invited?”

Jamie and Poe shared a look. Poe shut off the shower and opened the door. Abi walked in, making the bathroom seem far smaller than it had been moments ago.

“Who wants to tell me what’s going on?” He folded his arms over his chest and leaned against the door frame.

“We’ve learned some information that seems to counter the intelligence you have,” Jamie admitted.

Abi looked to Poe before meeting her gaze. “And where did you get this intelligence?”

“My grandmother.” She squared her shoulders and crossed her arms over her chest. “I trust my grandmother implicitly.”

“What is this intelligence?” He looked between the two of them again.

“Dr. Case is charging bonuses from the patients he chooses to help. His so-called body double is actually his identical twin brother.”

Abi nodded. “Well, your grandmother’s intelligence is not without merit.”

Fury blasted Jamie. “You didn’t think I needed to know any of this?”

“Well, there are mitigating circumstances that prevented me from telling you these things.”

Jamie held up her hand. “Start from the beginning and tell me those things now. Right now.”

“Shall we retire to the living room where it isn’t quite so stuffy and humid?”

Jamie sidled past him. She had not been this furious in recent history. These two men were people she trusted. Well, Poe more so than Abi, but she trusted them both on some level. And one or both were yanking her chain in a very dangerous game.

If not for needing to stay in complete control for her brother’s sake, she could definitely use a drink right now. This was beyond nuts. When she reached the great room, she couldn’t sit down. Instead, she leaned against the bar and waited. Poe took a position next to her. Abi sat on the sofa with an I-see-how-it-is face.

“Dr. Case has an identical twin brother who was used as his body double when the need arose. And, for a while, it did appear that he was choosing patients who paid a bonus for his services. But then, about two months ago he learned that his twin brother was scamming his patients. He was pretending to be the surgeon and, in a way, filtering the patients. Only those who were prepared to pay a huge extra fee under the table were put on the surgeon’s schedule. When he found out, Dr. Case chose not to press charges since the man was his brother. Instead, he warned that if his brother ever showed his face around him again, he would see that he paid for what he had done.”

Jamie could see where this was going. “So the scam was discovered and remediated before your employer was in need of surgery. Since Dr. Case never chose patients in this way, he would cut off his hands before agreeing to such a thing.”

“Exactly. Which leaves us with the plan as I’ve lain out to you already.”

Jamie turned to Poe. “Sound plausible to you?”

Abi rolled his eyes. “Really?”

“I can see that scenario happening,” Poe said, ignoring Abi. “Nothing the Colby Agency found opposes the possibility of that scenario.”

“Knowing all that, what do we do now?” Jamie asked. “My brother is still caught in all this.”

“While we were at the party,” Abi explained, “I left a couple of bugs in the house. Popped a couple of tracking devices on cars. We’re just waiting to hear there’s movement.”

“Is the Case’s vacation still on?” Jamie asked. How long were they going to be in a waiting stance? She needed to find her brother and get him out of this mess.

“The vacation is still on. At some point this morning, the family is supposed to prepare to leave. The time is being withheld for reasons that are obvious.”

“If the family loads up to go on vacation,” Poe said, “there will be all manner of security involved. Are we going to end up in a shootout?”

“We are not. We will step in before they get into the family limo to make their escape,” Abi explained.

“Have you spoken with your employer since the emergency fiasco? Any update on who this fake nurse was?” That still bugged Jamie.

“We have reason to believe someone else has decided to make an attempt on the doctor.”

Having one desperate individual ready to cross so many lines to make something happen was one thing but to have two—at least—competing to achieve the same goal was more than a little disturbing.

“How do we know there won’t be additional attempts?” Jamie started to pace. She couldn’t help herself. The situation was not contained at all. There were far too many variables.

“We have no control over what others do,” Abi argued. “We can only move forward with our own plan until some sort of roadblock pops up in our path and then we go around it.” He looked directly at Jamie. “That’s why I told my employer we needed the best.”

This conversation was feeling repetitive. “I appreciate the vote of confidence, but this is far too risky for comfort.”

Poe added, “My gut says that we should move on our own count and not based on the movements of others.”

“Waiting could be a mistake,” Jamie agreed. She turned to Abi. “It gives the other team more opportunity to try a second strike.”

“We are not moving prematurely,” Abi argued. “There is nothing to be gained by jumping the gun, so to speak.”

“Let’s talk about this,” Jamie pushed back. “We just spent six hours at the hospital because someone posing as a nurse called in a fake emergency. Now, we’re tired—the security supporting Dr. Case are no doubt tired as well. And we’re standing around here as if we have all the time in the world and no one else is even thinking about this sort of thing.”

“All right.” Abi pushed to his feet. “I will call my employer and see if he will agree to our moving forward now.”

He walked outside and closed the glass doors behind him.

Poe turned to Jamie. “We need to be prepared. Luke is depending on us to ensure this goes down right and, frankly, I’m losing any and all confidence in what he’s doing.”

“I’m with you and ready to go,” Jamie assured him.

“I should call Victoria and let her know what’s happening.”

Jamie shook her head. “I should call her.”

“Sure. She’ll be happy to hear from you.”

Jamie took out the cell and put through a call to her grandmother. It was even earlier in Chicago, but she wouldn’t mind.

“Jamie, are you all right?”

She sounded so worried, and Jamie’s chest ached at the idea. “I’m fine, Grandmother. We’re on standby for the moment. We had a false alarm and the mission had to be delayed but we should be moving out soon.”

“Poe is there with you now?”

“Yes, he is. He’s updated me on everything.”

“Good. I’m not sure Abi’s employer is on the up-and-up, Jamie.”

“I know. I’m worried about that too. Hopefully we’ll know something soon. I’m ready to move.”

“Just be careful. You have a guardian angel.”

Jamie smiled. “I will, Grandmother. Don’t worry, I know.”

They said their goodbyes, and Jamie ended the call just as Abi returned from his private call.

“We will be moving out shortly,” Abi announced. “We have a very short time for any final preparations.”

“Thank God.” Jamie took a breath. “I just need one last assurance from you, Abi, that this man—your employer—is properly prepared for the intentions he has laid out. This is a very delicate situation. If I note even the slightest hint that some untoward situation is going down, I will not help make that happen.”

“No one,” Abi insisted, “wants to keep Dr. Case alive more than my employer. You can rest assured that every precaution will be taken to protect him and his family.”

Jamie turned to Poe. “Are you still prepared to do this? I will understand if you want to walk away. If any part of this goes wrong...”

There was no need to explain. Everyone in the room understood exactly what she was saying.

“I’m in,” Poe said. “We do this together.” He turned to Abi. “The three of us.”

Abi nodded. “Thank you.”

“Let’s do it,” Jamie announced.

Abi gave her a nod as well. “It is the right thing to do.”

As long as no one died...she could live with doing whatever she had to do to save Luke.

She hoped that guardian angel her grandmother had sent was ready as well.