Page 48 of A Colby Christmas Rescue

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 wasbad. “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?”

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