Page 15 of A Colby Christmas Rescue

“You ever heard of burnout?” Poe tossed back at him.

Both men had a point. “All right,” Jamie said, redirecting the conversation. “So we have to get him during the party on Sunday night or risk him getting away before he can do what your employer needs him to do.”

“Ouremployer,” Abi countered.

“What’s the plan to get into the house?” Poe asked.

“You don’t need that information yet,” Abi said. “You will learn each step as needed. That’s the most secure way to move forward.”

She and Poe exchanged a frustrated look.

“For now, there are other security issues that need to be addressed. I’ll need your cell phones and we’ll conduct a little pat down.”

“You can’t be serious.” Jamie shook her head. “No way.”

Abi turned his hands up. “It’s your choice but you know the consequences.”

“Fine.” She passed him her cell. There was no option for resisting. “Just do it.”

With visible reluctance, Poe held out his cell phone as well.

Abi took the phones to the coffee table, gave them a quick check and then added what was no doubt a tracking device or bug of some sort.

“You are to make no unauthorized calls until this is done.” He handed each one their phone back. “You are not to leave this house until the job is finished.”

“I take it you’re here to stay.” Not really a question in Jamie’s opinion. He was here for the duration, she suspected.

“I will be here until you complete this mission.”

“Look me in the eye,” Jamie demanded, “and tell me that you do not have orders to terminate anyone when this is over.” Not that she was afraid of him getting the upper hand on her. She wasn’t. She was every bit as good as he was one-on-one. But she was worried about what might happen to her brother even if she did get the doctor. And his family. Would Case’s family be harmed? As for Poe, like her, he could take care of himself.

“I have no termination orders,” Abi said. “Unless, you fail to follow through with your instructions and, I will be honest with you, I declined that part of the deal. If you opt out or fail, your brother’s execution will be carried out by someone else, but mark my word, it will be carried out.”

She supposed she couldn’t ask for more than full disclosure.

“There is just one issue,” Abi said.

Here it came. Damn it.

“Your friend here,” Abi said with a glance at Poe. “He was not part of the plan.”

Poe visibly braced.

“Which means,” Abi said, “that I have the less than pleasant duty of informing my employer of the modification.”

“Please,” Jamie said bluntly, “you have had ample time to do this already. Obviously, you had a clue it was happening because you provided clothes for him.”

“Actually, those are mine.”

Jamie held up both hands. Oh. She hadn’t thought of that. “Whatever. I want Poe here. He’s with me—to watch my back. Deal with it.”

She held her breath. Hoped to hell he would allow her this one concession.

For a long moment, Abi only stared at her. Finally, he looked away. “You’re lucky I’m feeling generous.” He shrugged. “Besides, we might need him for a distraction of some sort if we get into trouble.”

“I don’t plan to get into trouble,” Jamie argued. “That’s your MO, not mine.”

Abi laughed. “Well, let’s hope you can keep that record. This is not going to be as easy as it sounds.”

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