Page 41 of A Colby Christmas Rescue

He put the phone away and turned to her. “A patient he operated on early this morning developed an issue, which is why he’s been called back here. We’re going to hang around and then follow him back to the house.” He sent her a pointed look. “At a safe distance and in a different car, of course.”

“Of course.”

They exited the car and headed across the street. The wind whipped across her face, making her flinch. Despite knowing that Poe wasn’t the one who had followed them, she couldn’t help looking around. Where the hell was he? She glanced at Abi. If he was responsible for whatever had happened to Poe...

She wasn’t prepared to go there just yet. There had to be another explanation. Poe would not abandon her under any circumstances. However, as she’d already considered, he very well might take a different tactic to help with whatever he feared was coming.

She had every intention of giving him the benefit of the doubt either way...until there was no longer room for doubt.

They didn’t enter the hospital through the lobby. Instead, they used the garage entrance. It was open twenty-four hours a day and since they had not arrived at the garage in a vehicle, the chances that security had spotted them via the cameras was unlikely. The cameras were only at the entrance and exit. Crossing over a short concrete wall in an area well camouflaged by shrubs near the entrance had protected them from view. Then they took the stairs to the level where the sky bridge crossed over to the hospital. Too easy.

“You have some idea of where we’re going?” Jamie asked as they moved along the corridor. So far no one had paid attention to their arrival.

“Surgery, I presume.” He flashed a smile.

Maybe it was that hint of a British accent, but his answer grated on her nerves. Of course the doctor was here for a possible return to surgery but that didn’t mean she and Abi would be hanging out there. The goal was not to be spotted by the doctor’s security team.

Careful to avoid eye contact with anyone they passed, they wound through the hospital until they reached the entrance to the surgery center. From there it was necessary to fly under the radar. Visiting hours were over and the usual excuses for their presence were no longer available.

Three people were seated in the surgery center’s waiting room. Jamie assumed they had friends or family who’d had to undergo emergency surgery. Then again, for all she knew, surgeries were scheduled all hours of the day and night.

“You wait here,” Abi said. “I’ll have a look around. See if there’s a need for anything beyond just hanging around.”

If this was a true emergency with a patient, they had nothing to worry about.

“Whatever you say.” She walked into the waiting room and took a seat where she could watch the corridor through the glass wall. If any dudes in all black showed up, she was following.

Abi watched her for a moment before going on his way. She pulled out her cell and then put it back. She couldn’t call Poe. His cell was back at the house, disabled. Damn it. She thought of the car that had followed them on the way here. Case’s personal security couldn’t have known they were at the house on Excalibur...could they?

Why would they? The doctor’s personal security team wouldn’t likely have gotten a heads-up on a potential kidnapping plan.

Would they?

Only if Abi’s employer was very, very bad at keeping secrets.

Then again, it could be as Abi suggested and the follower had been a member of Case’s team who’d followed them from the house to ensure they weren’t trouble...except she wasn’t buying the idea that they would go so far as ramming a guest’s car. Following it, she could see. After some time to mull it over, she was confident Abi had gotten that one wrong. Or simply gave her the story to cover the fact that he had no idea where the car had come from.

A man in scrubs and a surgical gown entered the waiting room and one of the two women who had already been present when Jamie arrived rushed toward him.

They spoke, heads together, for a moment, then the man patted her on the shoulder and left.

Standing in the middle of that waiting room, the woman lapsed into tears, her hands covering her face.

Since no one else moved to go to her, Jamie did. She grabbed the box of tissues on the table next to her chair and walked over to where the woman stood crying. “Are you all right?” Not exactly the most original conversation starter, but there it was.

The woman looked at her, eyes red and filled with tears. Jamie offered her the box of tissues.

She tugged a couple free. “Thank you.”

“Would you like to sit down?” Jamie asked.

The woman blew her nose, dabbed at her eyes and then shook her head. “I’m fine. Really. I’m only crying because I’m so grateful.”

She glanced around the room. The television was set to a news channel with the sound muted. The two anchors’ words scrolled across the bottom of the screen.

“Do you mind if we step into the corridor?” She shivered. “It’s really cold in here.”

She was right. It was cold as hell in here. “Of course.” Jamie followed her into the corridor. “You were saying you were grateful.”

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