Page 4 of A Colby Christmas Rescue

Over the course of the past half century, the Colby name had amassed a good many powerful enemies. The activities of those enemies were closely monitored at all times. It was a necessary evil in the world of high-level investigations. The trouble was that new enemies cropped up and old enemies found fresh ways to hide. It was a never-ending cycle of discovery and catch up.

“Then we wait,” Victoria said. There simply was no other choice. Waiting was far more difficult than taking action, but it was, at times, necessary.

Victoria’s cell chimed with an incoming call.

Her heart rushed into her throat.

Jim.

“Don’t tell him anything,” Lucas urged.

As difficult as that would prove, Jim was thousands of miles away and could do nothing about what was happening here. He certainly didn’t need the additional stress.

“How is Tasha?” Victoria decided coming straight out with the question was the best way to prevent herself from blurting the truth. Worry twisted inside her, slicing like barbed wire.

“She came through the preparation for the procedure quite well. The doctors are very hopeful.”

Her son’s voice sounded strained and so very tired. “This is wonderful news,” Victoria said, fighting the sting in her eyes. Jim did not deserve this—whatever the hell it was. He had been through enough. Far more than most people were aware. His body bore the scars from the physical torture he had suffered from the moment he went missing as a child. The mental scars had taken years to put behind him. They would never be forgotten, but he had built a wonderful life and Victoria wanted nothing to tear that sweet life apart.

He had paid far more than his share already.

“She’ll rest today and then the procedure will go as scheduled tomorrow. If it’s successful, we should know by Monday.”

This was far sooner than Victoria had expected. If this did not go their way...no, she couldn’t think that way.

“Is there anything we can do, Jim?” Victoria offered. “We all have you and Tasha in our prayers, of course.”

“That is much appreciated, but we are hanging in there. The staff here is working diligently to make our time as stress free as possible.”

“I’m so glad.” Thank God.Thank you, God.

“I should go and be with Tasha. Please let Luke and Jamie know we’re doing fine.”

“I will,” Victoria promised. “Don’t worry about anything here. We have everything under control.”

“Thanks, Mom. Love you.”

Victoria’s chest tightened. “Love you.” The call ended and for a bit she stared at the dark screen and struggled to hold back her emotions.

Lucas placed his hand over her free one. “You did what you needed to do.”

She nodded. Lowered the phone and looked from one of her dedicated friends to the next. “Whatever else we do, we must—”

Her cell chimed again. She gasped as the name on the screen flashed.

Luke.

“Let it ring once more,” Chelsea said.

The phone chimed again, and Victoria answered. “Luke?”

“Grandmother, you will receive a letter of instruction from a special courier in fifteen minutes,” he explained. “You are to follow the instructions in this letter very carefully. They have explained the first part of the instructions and I am supposed to pass that part along to you now.”

His voice gave the impression of calm, but there was no missing the hum of fear just beneath the surface. The sound of it tore at her soul.

“Whatever we need to do,” Victoria said. “Just name it.”

“Besides the ten million dollars, there is something he needs and there is only one person who can get it for him.”

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