Page 39 of A Colby Christmas Rescue

She hoped for the sake of all involved that he would be reasonable...not that there was anything reasonable about what was coming.

Chapter Ten

8:40 p.m.

Mrs. Case motioned for her daughter who was admiring the many decadent looking desserts spread across silver trays. Or perhaps it was the chocolate fountain in the middle of that table that had her mesmerized.

Either way, Lillian turned away empty-handed and skipped toward her mother. Almost bedtime. Sweet treats were apparently off the menu.

Jamie wondered if it was Abi’s appearance at the dessert table that had alerted the child’s mother. He’d insisted on finding something chocolate.

If his sudden need for chocolate hadn’t made Jamie suspicious, seeing Dr. Case withdraw his cell phone from his jacket pocket for the first time since their arrival certainly did. The doctor turned from the trio to whom he’d been engaged in conversation. The three continued with whatever discussion they’d been having but the doctor’s posture changed dramatically as he listened to the more personal conversation.

Abi appeared next to her with a delicious looking offering. She shook her head. “Something’s happening.”

She’d no sooner said the words than Dr. Case ended his call and moved back toward the trio he’d abandoned. She didn’t need a listening device to get the gist of what he was saying. His body language spoke loudly and clearly as he patted one man’s shoulder and gave nods to the others. He was excusing himself.

Next to her, Abi suddenly reached for his cell phone.

Jamie ignored his subdued murmuring. She was far more interested in what was happening with the doctor. He crossed to his wife and daughter, said a few words, then dropped a kiss on each of their cheeks.

He was leaving.

He hurried from the room. Jamie drifted toward the front of the great hall, then on to the entry hall just in time to watch him disappear through the front double doors with no less than four men dressed in black accompanying him. Members of his security team, no doubt.

When she turned back to find Abi, he was moving in her direction. He put his arm around her shoulder and leaned close to her temple. “There’s an emergency at the hospital.”

“Are we staying here to await his return or going to the hospital?” She smiled up at him as if they were sharing secret love messages.

“We go with the doctor.”

A final glance at the wife and daughter showed the wife smiling with friends and the daughter having wrangled a dessert without her mother noticing. The other guests appeared unconcerned about the doctor’s abrupt departure. The servers continued offering drinks and finger foods and the music played on.

Jamie followed Abi from the house. The night was colder than when they’d arrived or perhaps it was only because the anticipation-fueled adrenaline related to what could happen had worn off, reminding her she’d opted not to wear a coat.

Abi said nothing until they were in the car traveling away from the house. “You’ll find a change of clothes in the back seat.”

She’d expected there would be a change of clothes for them at their next destination, but she hadn’t anticipated it being in the car. Turned out to be a good decision.

She tucked up her dress and slid somewhat awkwardly over the console into the back seat. A pair of jeans, a sweater and sneakers were folded neatly on the seat. When had he done this? She supposed he had not. More likely someone had prepared everything to his specifications.

Unzipping the dress wasn’t exactly the easiest feat, but she managed. She eased the luxurious fabric down her hips and over her legs.

“You have everything under control back there?” He glanced in the rearview mirror.

“I do.” She pulled the sweater over her head and tugged it into place. She kicked off the heels and slipped into the jeans. This was a relief. She’d always felt more at home in jeans than in anything else.

She folded the dress and placed it on the seat, then set the shoes atop it. A quick search of the floorboard using the flashlight app on her cell helped her find a pair of socks. When the socks and sneakers were on, she was set, except for her hair. Making quick work of the task, she removed the pins, shook her hair free and then did a quick braid. It was best if she didn’t look anything like the blonde in the red dress from the party.

“Any idea on how this changes our plans?”

“We’ll wait until—”

Jamie’s gaze swung to the rearview mirror. She didn’t have to ask why he’d suddenly stopped talking. The bright lights filling the mirror provided the answer.

They had a tail.

“Brace yourself.” Abi’s fingers visibly tightened on the steering wheel.

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