Page 11 of A Colby Christmas Rescue

“Don’t worry,” Poe said softly. “We won’t fail... We never have before.”

He was right...but this time was different. This was not just another mission... This was her little brother.

Chapter Three

Nashville

4:00 p.m.

The private airfield near Nashville was off the beaten path, but then Jamie suspected that was why it had been chosen. Whether it was the fear that their calls were being monitored or could potentially be so, there had been radio silence during the four-plus-hour flight from LA to Nashville. She’d contacted their superior at IOA and notified him that she and Poe would be out of reach for a few days. Since they were due time off after an operation it was no problem.

Poe had helped Jamie keep herself together. Not an easy task when she was worried. Luke was not like her. He hadn’t embraced this undercover, secret agent life. He was a total pacifist—a man focused on learning how to help others with medicine. Although Victoria had insisted they both learn how to use a handgun, Jamie would bet Luke had not touched one since.

“That’s your grandmother?” Poe asked as he watched Victoria emerge from the limo that had arrived.

Jamie smiled. She tried to think how Victoria Colby-Camp appeared to others. A mature woman with silver threads in her dark hair. Tall, trim, well dressed. She looked a good twenty years younger than her age. From all appearances she might be your average attractive, wealthy middle-aged woman.

Except there was nothing average about Victoria.

“That’s her.” They had used a different airfield. Having two jets arrive from Chicago at the same place would have roused suspicions. Jamie rushed to her grandmother and hugged her as hard as she dared. Even so, she was impressed at the slim, toned body she felt beneath the layers of clothing. Victoria not only kept her mind sharp, but she also kept her body lean as well.

“Jamie.” Victoria drew back and looked her up and down. “We don’t have a lot of time, so we need to talk fast.”

Renewed worry twisted in Jamie’s belly. “What can you tell me?”

“Let’s talk inside.”

Jamie turned to her grandpa, who was watching them across the top of the vehicle. She smiled. “Hey, Grandpa.” She hitched her head toward the man waiting behind her. “This is Poe. We work together.”

Lucas Camp pointed a gaze at Poe that likely sent a shiver down his spine.

“Sir.” Poe gave him a nod.

“Poe,” Jamie said, drawing his attention in her direction, “this is my grandmother, Victoria.”

Her mission partner nodded. “A pleasure to meet you, ma’am. I’ve heard a lot about you.” He glanced toward Lucas. “Both of you.”

Victoria nodded before ducking back into the passenger compartment of the limo. Jamie climbed in behind her. Lucas settled on the seat next to Victoria, and Poe dropped next to Jamie opposite her grandparents.

“What in the world happened?” Worry about her little brother had torn Jamie apart during the flight here. She wasn’t sure how much more of the not knowing she could handle.

“I received a call this morning,” Victoria explained. “It was Luke. He said I would receive instructions via a courier and that I should do nothing until I received those instructions. The only thing he could tell me before hanging up was that it had to be you who carried out the instructions.”

Jamie and Poe exchanged a look.

“Then, we can safely assume,” Poe suggested, “that this someone is aware of your particular skill set.”

Jamie nodded. “Agreed.”

Lucas said, “We have some idea of what your work entails. What aspects of that work do you believe has put you in someone’s crosshairs?”

Jamie thought about the question for a moment. “As you know,” she explained, “our agency operates a very diverse team to resolve issues all over the world. Sometimes, like today, our assignments seem sedate.”

“Like picking up a Santa-for-hire,” Poe clarified, “before he was neutralized and delivering him to a safe location.”

Jamie went on. “We have no idea who this Santa was or why someone wanted to terminate him. Frankly, it seemed like the sort of assignment any cop in the LAPD could have handled. But there was a reason we were sent in to do it. We just may never know what that reason was.”

“I can shed a little light on that one,” Lucas said.

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