Page 46 of A Colby Christmas Rescue

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 otherDr. Caseinto 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.”

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