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

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen

Stonewall Drive, Noon

Lillian wanted food so they had to stop. Thankfully, she recognized where they were pretty quickly once they were on the main road and directed the driver to her favorite drive-through. Jamie wasn’t really hungry, but she understood the necessity of eating. She hadn’t gotten any sleep, so forgoing food was not a good idea. She needed her head clear and her body energized.

“So this is the place.” Jamie assessed the mansion where the doctor and his wife had been taken.

“This is it,” Poe said, surveying the estate as the car parked in front of the house.

It wasn’t as new as the doctor’s mansion, but it was every bit as ostentatious in its own right. The whole situation was over the line. One rich guy kidnapping another to get what he wanted. How screwed up was that? Maybe growing up a Colby made her understand at a fairly young age how completely upside down the world could be, but there were still times, like this one, when she just couldn’t get past the reality of how bad it really was. More than just upside down.

What was wrong with these people?

The part that bothered her the most in all this was that she actually got it. These people were desperate. Desperate people, no matter how wealthy, did desperate things, creating desperate situations.

Jamie got out of the car and held the door for Lillian. The girl was still shoving fries in her mouth when she got out. Poor thing, she really had been starving. Kids were like that. She remembered when she and Luke were that age. They were always clamoring for food—especially fast food.

The double front doors opened, and Abi stood in the doorway. “Welcome back.”

Jamie’s first thought was to punch him, but what kind of example would that set for Lillian? It was better if she behaved herself until the two of them had a minute alone to talk in privacy.

“Let’s get this show on the road,” Jamie shot back. “I’d like to see my brother.”

Abi stepped aside and gestured for her to enter. “The doctor and Mrs. Case are waiting in the great room.”

Lillian stuck close to Jamie as they walked through the entry hall and on to the great room. Like the Case home, the whole place was decked out for Christmas with a massive tree and tons of garlands. Under the tree, dozens of wrapped presents waited.

Mrs. Case gasped and rushed to her daughter. She paid no attention to Jamie, which was good. Dr. Case did the same.

Poe gave her a nod from the other side of the room. Jamie responded in kind. This was the best part of what they did—reuniting families or couples after a situation had pulled them apart. They didn’t always get this moment.

After a good deal of hugging and weeping, Dr. Case stepped back from his family and walked toward Abi. “Let’s get this done.”

“Very well.” Abi gestured to the door. “You know the way.”

Jamie glanced at Poe. “I’m going with them.”

Poe nodded. “I’ll hang around here.”

Jamie hesitated. There were many things she wanted to say to him—things she probably should have said before now—but all of that would have to wait. Jamie needed to know what was happening with the doctor. This was the part that her brother’s life depended upon. Poe would look after the daughter and the wife.

She wasn’t allowing Abi or the doctor out of her sight until Luke was free. Whatever else happened, she intended to see that her brother was brought home safely.

Abi led the way down to the walkout basement area. There they walked through a massive game room and into a short corridor with no windows. At the end of that corridor was a door like one found on a bank vault. Jamie wasn’t sure whether to be startled or impressed. Abi entered the code as if he’d been here many times before. Jamie decided she could safely assume the owner of this place was Abi’s employer.

The door opened and they walked into a small curtained off area. The sort of space found in a mobile hospital setup. There was a sink, a temporary shower and a smaller curtained off dressing area. This, she surmised, was the prep area for the space beyond. No doubt a state-of-the-art surgical setup. Now she was totally impressed.

Case glanced back at Jamie and Abi and then started to strip off his clothes. He didn’t need a block of instructions on what came next. Jamie turned her back and gave him some privacy. When the water in the small shower started running, she faced Abi once more.

“This guy has a surgical suite in his basement?” Was this for real?

“When he made the decision to go this route, he went all out.”

Jamie shook her head. “This is way over-the-top, Abi.”

The water in the shower stopped, preventing the need for Abi to respond. Jamie kept her back to Case as he dressed in what she presumed would be his surgical scrubs and gown. A sense of dread that would not be tamped down climbed into her throat. What if the patient died? Case was unquestionably a skilled and highly sought after surgeon who hadn’t lost a single patient so far—according to his bio. But that didn’t mean it couldn’t happen. No matter that she and Abi had done what they were expected to do, would Luke still be released if the patient didn’t make it?

Focus on the now, Jamie. Don’t borrow trouble.

Case opened the curtained door and entered the surgery suite. The glimpse Jamie got of the room beyond this prep area was stunning. She couldn’t imagine the money spent to prepare for this...but then, what was the value of a loved one’s life? Most likely it was whatever a person possessed.

Abi gestured to the rack of scrubs. “If you’re planning on going inside, you need to scrub down and dress for the occasion.”

“We don’t have to shower the way the doc did?” Jamie would be the first to admit that she could use a shower, but she didn’t want to miss a moment of what was happening.

“Not unless you’re planning to help with the surgery. But since he already has a nurse, another surgeon and an anesthetist, our assistance is not required.”

Jamie gave a slow nod. “I’d like to see what’s going on in there, considering I have a great deal to lose.”

“Understandable.” Abi peeled off his sweater, grabbed the bottle of Hibiclens soap and started the necessary process. Jamie did the same. They scrubbed down and pulled on surgical gowns.

When they stepped beyond the larger curtain, Jamie was almost startled. The lights. The equipment. It was incredible. The real thing—maybe even more state of the art than the average surgery suite found in hospitals. Right in the center of it all was a surgical table complete with the patient and surrounded by all the necessary equipment and, apparently, personnel. A clear enclosure separated that center area from the rest of the room. It was like a room with invisible walls inside a bigger room.

She watched as they prepared the patient—not an adult...a child. Her chest constricted.

As Abi had said, there were three people besides the surgeon, all suited in surgical gowns. Two working closely with the doctor, the other standing at the patient’s head. The anesthetist.

The setup really was incredible. She shouldn’t be surprised. If this was going to be done right, they needed not only the proper equipment, but also the proper personnel as well. No expense appeared to have been spared.

Another man, middle aged, stood well beyond the activity on the other side of the smaller surgical room. Was this the child’s father?

Jamie leaned closer to Abi so she could whisper. “Is that him?” The doctor and those working around the patient were talking among themselves. She didn’t want to distract or disturb them.

“Yes.” Abi followed her lead, speaking in a whisper. “The father—my employer.”

“Did you know the patient was a child?” Jamie understood that the patient’s age didn’t make what they had done right...but it somehow made it more palatable.

“I did. That’s the only reason I agreed to the job.”

Jamie’s attention shifted to the ongoing procedure. The conversation between the doctor and those helping was so soft that she couldn’t make out their words through those clear walls. It was the sounds of the machines that made her feel oddly discombobulated. Or maybe it was the whole situation that created such a sense of being overwhelmed.

“Should we go now?” She suddenly felt out of place even watching.

“I’m staying. You don’t need to.”

She nodded. “Okay. Going upstairs then.”

Jamie exited the sterile environment, peeled off the surgical gown and pulled on her sweater. She tossed the gown into the provided hamper and opened the door. As she walked out, the door closed behind her, locking her out. She flinched at the sound or maybe it was the idea of what was happening in there.

Forcing her mind away from this thing they had done, she considered that she should call her grandmother and let her know she was okay and that the procedure was happening. Hopefully, Luke would be released soon. She shook herself. Good grief, it was Christmas Eve. She needed to see if anyone had heard from her parents.

One thing was certain—this was the most bizarre holiday of her life.

The trudge up the stairs was harder than she’d thought. She supposed she was more exhausted than she had realized or maybe all the emotions were just catching up with her. She had necessarily restrained her feelings related to Luke being held hostage. Now they were working overtime to bubble up.

Upstairs, Lillian and her mother were on the sofa in the great room, watching television. Mrs. Case looked as exhausted as Jamie. There was no shortage of guards. All dressed in black and stationed at every door and at the larger windows. Not just to keep the doctor in either. To keep new intruders out, she supposed.

Worry tugged at Jamie’s brow. Where was Poe? She walked to the front door and had a look outside. No Poe out there. Then she walked back through the great room and on to the kitchen before she found him.

He stood at the island, a host of vegetables piled around him. He glanced up as she neared. “I decided to make a salad. Fast food never fills me up.”

She went for a smile, but didn’t quite feel it happen. “Sounds smart. Can I help?”

“You interested in cucumbers?”

“Sure. A salad isn’t a salad without cucumbers.”

She washed the long English cucumber and selected a knife. “Thick or thin slices?”

“Prepper’s choice.”

She thought about bringing up the morning’s event and then the identity of the patient downstairs, but decided she needed to think on it for a while. There was a lot wrong with how those hours went down, but she couldn’t be certain it had been what she now suspected.

Poe grabbed a couple of carrots and started to chop. He was very skilled.

“You’ve had lessons,” she suggested.

“A class in Paris.” He shrugged. “Another in Rome. I love to cook.”

How had she not known that?

When they had prepped all the veggies and tossed them into a larger bowl, they cleaned up. The mundane work helped with the questions and emotions nudging at her. A little more mundane would be most welcome.

Poe tossed the hand towel on the counter by the sink. “I’ll see if anyone is hungry.”

“Do you have a cell phone? The guy who drove us to the other location took mine.”

“Sure. Amar gave me another.” Poe passed his cell to her. “I’m glad you’re back, Jamie.”

“Me too.”

“I was worried. Really worried.”

She nodded. “I’ve worried a lot during this thing.”

He held her gaze for a moment longer as if he had more to say, then turned and headed for the great room.

Jamie had a feeling they both had things they needed to say.

She walked to the sink and stared out the window as she entered Victoria’s number. As always, her grandmother answered on the first ring. “It’s me,” Jamie said since the number would not be familiar.

“I’m so grateful to hear your voice. Are you all right, Jamie?”

“I’m fine. Tired, but fine. The surgery is taking place now. Hopefully, Luke will be released soon.”

How was it that saying the words almost made this thing feel like it was a normal mission? This was not normal. It was not even close to normal. They had broken a good number of laws, not to mention they had kidnapped a man and his family from the other thugs who had attempted to kidnap them. Add to that how someone on the opposing team had kidnapped her and the girl and they’d had to escape.

How crazy was that? Worse, she still couldn’t even begin to fathom what the coming ramifications would be.

Mrs. Case and Lillian came into the kitchen with Poe. He served them both as if he’d trained at a five-star restaurant. Even when Lillian insisted there should be meat on a salad, he managed to rummage in the refrigerator and find deli slices of turkey, chopped it and added it to Lillian’s salad.

The man was good. He was kind. Jamie smiled. And handsome.

“I can send the jet for you and Luke when you’re ready,” Victoria insisted, drawing Jamie’s attention back to the call. “I’m anxious to have you both home.”

That was the thing. No matter where Jamie lived and worked, Chicago would always be home.

“Sure.” Whatever Victoria wanted to do would be fine by Jamie. At this point any sort of vacation from her everyday life would be great. “Have you spoken to Mom and Dad today?”

“I did and I’m so happy to say they’ll be coming home tomorrow. They’ve decided that as much as they’ve enjoyed their little getaway, that Christmas is about being at home with family. I didn’t tell them what was happening with Luke. I’m hoping the two of you will be here by the time they arrive and that this whole nightmare will be behind us.”

Jamie hoped so as well. “I’ll call you as soon as I lay eyes on Luke.”

They exchanged goodbyes and Jamie took Poe’s phone back to him. “Thank you.”

“Everything all right with your grandparents?” He heaped salad onto a plate.

“Yes, and she just told me that my parents are coming home tomorrow so it’ll be a good day.” As long as she got Luke back home safely.

He passed her the plate. “Eat.”

Jamie thanked him and joined the Case family at the island.

Mrs. Case set her fork aside and turned to Jamie.

Jamie braced for her fury. Not that she could blame the woman. Look what they had done to her family...to their holiday plans. The thought sickened her. She couldn’t tell the family that she’d only taken part in this because her brother’s life was at stake. They certainly didn’t need any added stress after all they’d been through. Besides, what kind of excuse was that? Who was to say whose family was the more important one?

No one...because that was not true any way you looked at it.

“Lillian told me about how you helped her escape that man. How you helped her run to safety and to hide.”

Jamie managed a smile that felt like an imitation at best. “It was a team effort.” She and Poe shared a look. She suspected he didn’t feel heroic any more than she did.

Lillian blushed. “You’re a superhero. Like in the movies.”

“You were pretty heroic yourself, Lillian. You were strong and brave. You should be very proud of what you did too. Like I said—a team effort.”

Mrs. Case smiled a weary expression as she turned back to her salad. Jamie felt sick at the idea of what she must be thinking. Though the woman was obviously grateful that Jamie had helped her daughter, she likely recognized as well that Jamie was part of the original kidnapping crew. That reality couldn’t be ignored.

Lillian picked at her salad, eating mostly the turkey, before skipping back into the great room to resume the movie she’d been streaming.

Poe took his salad and followed her.

Jamie forked the greens and took another bite. She generally liked salad, but it all tasted bland today. She suddenly wished she had gone with Lillian and Poe. Sitting here with Mrs. Case and feeling what was no doubt the weight of her mounting accusations was not exactly sparking her appetite.

After an entire minute of silence, the older woman said, “My husband is very upset. He feels this entire event is a travesty.”

It was actually, and Jamie wasn’t going to try to excuse her actions. She had done what she had to do to keep her brother safe. She wouldn’t do things any differently if she had to do it over and over again.

“He has,” Mrs. Case went on, “tried very hard not to think of all the patients he can’t save. He is only one man. But it has been very difficult. The burden of all those other lives has weighed heavily on him. Particularly in light of what his brother did for months before we realized what he was up to.”

She didn’t explain further, and Jamie didn’t ask. She was already aware of the twin brother’s deceit.

Mrs. Case went on, “The past few hours have driven that point home. It’s one thing to know what’s happening, but another altogether to be faced with the reality.”

Jamie could only imagine how horrifying the ordeal had been and the number of emotional levels that horror had hit. As Mrs. Case had already said, the weight of having to turn patients away was awful enough, but to be forced to look at a child who desperately needed that help, and whose father was willing to do anything to make it happen, was immeasurably painful.

Working hard to keep her voice steady, Jamie confessed, “I will tell you I am not proud of the part I played in this. But—”

“If you hadn’t,” Mrs. Case argued, “my daughter might be dead. My husband might even be as well. Or me. You and your people kept us safe.”

Jamie opted not to correct her. Yes, she, Poe and Abi may have provided a buffer between the Case family and the bad guys from the other team, but the truth was they weren’t that different. They’d all been here for the same goal ultimately—to get Dr. Case to do what they wanted.

“They wanted twenty million dollars,” Mrs. Case said. “For our daughter.”

“There was a ransom demand?” Jamie wasn’t aware that had happened, but she wasn’t entirely surprised.

“Oh yes. Once you and Lillian were taken away, another man informed us of what they expected. We had twelve hours to pull the money together—which was absolutely ludicrous—before they were going to kill Lillian.”

“Wow...that’s terrible.” Jamie replayed those minutes over in her head. The men had operated on a reasonably professional level. They had appeared prepared for what they had come to do...mostly. “They told me nothing. I had no idea.”

“Your people saved us— you saved our daughter.”

As much as Jamie appreciated being called a hero, there were some things that didn’t add up for her. First, a twenty-million-dollar ransom demand should have come with a bigger team. What kidnapper who believed an asset was worth twenty million dollars only sent along one guard with that asset?

This was wrong somehow. Frankly, everything that had gone down felt wrong on some level.

There had been just three in the other crew in the first place. Three. With a twenty-mil ransom demand. Oh yeah, there was something very wrong with this situation.

Poe came to the door. “Jamie.” He hitched his head toward the great room.

Jamie produced a smile, one slightly more real this time, for Mrs. Case. “Excuse me.” She slid off her stool and went to the door. “What’s up?”

“We need to talk.”

She followed him beyond the great room to the entry hall. The guard there seemed to sense their need for privacy and stepped outside to monitor the door from there.

Poe glanced around. “Something is off with what happened this morning.”

“I couldn’t agree more.” She hitched a thumb toward the kitchen. “The wife just told me there was a ransom demand for Lillian. Twenty million dollars.”

Poe shook his head. “That’s crazy. One of those guys—from the two left behind when the one took you and Lillian—basically split after you two were gone. Abi called in a backup crew to clean up the mess, but let’s face facts, we already had more than three—besides us—here in the first place, which begs the question, how were we overtaken by three thugs?”

Jamie had an idea about that. “I think it was a setup to make the Cases believe we’re the good guys.”

“You mean we’re not,” Poe said with a shake of his head. “Don’t answer that. I already know what we’ve been in this op.” He blew out a big breath.

This was just another aspect of this whole business that weighed on Jamie. “I shouldn’t have let you get involved with this.”

He harrumphed. “Like you could have stopped me.”

“We just have to make sure the rest of this goes off without a hitch. The family gets taken back home and no one dies.”

Her chest tightened as she thought of Luke.

Keep him safe.

3:00 p.m.

B Y THE TIME the doctor and Abi surfaced, Lillian had fallen asleep, and her mother was pacing the floor.

Jamie wasn’t sure what would happen next, but if they were all lucky, it wouldn’t involve the police. Or worse, the FBI, considering they had kidnapped the doctor and his family.

“How did it go?” Mrs. Case asked, looking tattered around the edges.

Dr. Case gave her a nod. “Very well. I’ll be seeing him when we return from our vacation for a follow up. Until then, the doctor who assisted me will keep an eye on him. But I’m not anticipating any issues.”

Jamie shared a look with Poe. That was certainly not the announcement she’d anticipated.

“A car will be here for you and your family in ten minutes,” Abi explained.

Wait. Wait. Was this it? No accusations. No cops. No nothing?

Dr. Case turned to Abi. He looked from him to Poe, then to Jamie. “I realize what has happened today. Don’t doubt that I am fully aware.” His gaze lit the longest on Jamie.

This was the part she had been expecting...dreading.

“But in reality, all the three of you took from my family were a few hours of our time.” He glanced at his daughter. “I wonder if you—” he looked from Jamie to Poe and then Abi again “—had not made the decision to help the child downstairs, what would have happened to our family? Those other men were clearly unconcerned for the safety of my family. Their only desire was money.” He shook his head, regret clear on his face. “The idea that my work has come to this tears me apart. Anyone who needs the help I can provide should be able to have it without such theatrics. This has opened my eyes to what I know I must do next. It wasn’t bad enough what happened before...” He heaved a heavy breath. “The only answer is that more surgeons must be trained in this procedure. It’s the only way to see that we meet the need of all...not just that of certain patients.” He exhaled a weary breath. “Thank you for helping me to see this more clearly.”

Abi nodded, but said nothing. He turned to Jamie and motioned for her and Poe to follow him to the kitchen. They gathered around the island.

“A car will be arriving shortly.” He set his gaze on Jamie’s. “The driver will take you to your brother’s condo. Luke will be delivered there at approximately the same time.” He turned to Poe then. “If you need a different car, just say the word.”

“I’m going with Jamie.” Poe looked to Jamie. “We have a mission report to complete.”

Abi nodded. “Very well.” He smiled. “We make a good team.”

Jamie laughed. “Except for the fact that you were keeping all sorts of details from us.” She leaned in closer and spoke more quietly. “Like the three guys from this morning. Give me a break. After the doctor’s monologue in there, you really expect me to believe that was a coincidence? And where did you find them? Thugs-R-Us?”

Abi didn’t smile, but the twinkle of amusement in his eyes was unmistakable. “No one is calling the police,” he said. “In my humble opinion, that implies it was a brilliant strategy.”

“You couldn’t have warned us?” Poe argued, sounding more than a little ticked off.

Abi bumped him on the shoulder with the side of his fist. “The goal was authenticity. It’s hard to fake, wouldn’t you say?”

Poe held up a hand. “Whatever.”

“In any case,” Abi said, “thank you for your help. Your car will be here any moment.” He smiled at Jamie. “You’ll be pleased to find Ian Michaels behind the wheel.”

Whoa. Now wait a minute. “How did you get in touch with Ian?” Poe had told her that Victoria had sent Ian to provide any necessary backup, but that was the last she’d heard about him being here. Too much had gone down for her to even think about Ian. She decided it might be best not to mention this to her grandmother’s long time loyal investigator.

“I called your grandmother,” Abi explained. “I told her you would be ready to depart within the hour and she said Michaels would pick you and Poe up for transport back to Chicago.” He chuckled. “She also invited me to your Christmas party. Unfortunately, I’m unavailable. I’m sure you understand.”

“Of course. You’re a busy man.” Jamie barely resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

“One more thing,” Abi said. “For the record, the ransom demand for Luke...” He shrugged. “Just a little something for more of that authenticity.”

Jamie did roll her eyes that time. “Good to know.” She extended her hand. “Until we meet again, Abi.”

He gave her hand a shake. “I am certain we will.” He turned to Poe next and extended his hand.

“I, for one,” Poe said, “hope to never see you again.”

Abi laughed. “I’m confident that can be arranged.”

When the first car arrived, Jamie, Poe and even Abi stood on the portico and waved goodbye to the Case family. As the car drove away, Lillian turned around in her seat and waved some more. Jamie kept waving until the car was out of sight.

“This must be the enigmatic Mr. Michaels,” Abi said as a second car rolled up to the house.

Jamie turned to face her old friend. “Take care of yourself, Abi.”

He hugged her. She didn’t resist. Given their occupations, it could easily be the last time they saw each other.

Poe only allowed the other man a nod before walking away.

Ian emerged from behind the wheel and gave Jamie a hug. “I am so glad to see you,” she admitted.

“Always.” Ian drew back. “Let’s go pick up your brother.”

Jamie and Poe relaxed in the back seat as Ian drove away, though it was impossible to relax completely until she laid eyes on her brother.

The drive to his condo felt like a lifetime and when they arrived, Luke was sitting on the front steps. Jamie rushed out of the car and into his arms.

“I didn’t have a key to get inside,” Luke said.

Jamie laughed. “Oh my God, it is so good to see you. I’ve been worried to death.”

He shrugged. “It wasn’t so bad. I played video games the whole time.”

Jamie resisted the urge to kick him. “Don’t tell Poe,” she warned. “I’m not sure he would take it as well as me.”

Luke made a zipping gesture across his lips. “I won’t say a word.”

“Come on.” Jamie ushered him toward the door. “There’s a key under the mat.”

“Who put a key under my welcome mat?” Luke frowned. “That’s like the first place a burglar looks.”

Jamie decided not to tell him that she’d put the key Abi had used under there in case she needed to come back. To her way of thinking, if Luke was missing, there was nothing else in the condo worth worrying about.

Inside, he looked around and groaned. “I need to water my plants.”

“Pack your bag,” Jamie told him. “I’ll water your plants. We have a jet waiting for us.”

They were going home. Together. For the first time in far too long.