Page 47 of A Colby Christmas Rescue

Jamie had known Poe for a while now. She trusted him completely, but there was something wrong with this story. No, what was wrong was with the way he was telling it. “You’re saying you’ve been held hostage all day and night?”

“In the basement. I could hear the music when the party was going on.”

“How did you get away?” A cold hard knot formed in Jamie’s gut. So maybe he was telling the truth.

“About nine o’clock last night, a guy walked in and told me I was free to go. I walked back up here, but the two of you were gone.”

“I’m finding this a little difficult to believe,” Abi said. He looked to Jamie. “Are you buying this?”

“Are you okay?” Jamie searched her friend’s face. “I mean, really okay?”

He nodded. “I don’t think they intended to shoot me or anything. They just wanted me out of the way for a while.”

Jamie turned to Abi. “Can we be certain the man at the hospital was the real Dr. Case?” Damn, this was not good. Luke’s life depended on them delivering the surgeon—the real, miracle producing one.

A single moment of hesitation elapsed and in that fleeting second, Jamie knew Abi was about to lie to her.

“I can’t be certain.”

Now Jamie was furious. “You said you could tell the difference.”

“Wait, wait, wait,” Abi argued, stepping forward, bellying up to the island, “I would need to be close to him to confirm it’s really him. He has a birthmark.”

“Oh. My. God. Birthmarks are like tattoos—they can be recreated. Faked!”

“Not this birthmark. It wouldn’t be so easily faked. It’s a deep scar beneath his ribcage. He could certainly have had it repaired at some point in his life if he’d chosen, but creating the same look wouldn’t be an easy task—particularly if you only wanted it to be temporary.”

Jamie told herself to remain calm. Arguing with him would accomplish nothing. “As long as you’re certain.”

“I’m certain.”

“What’re we doing now?” Poe asked. “I got the impression they thought I was the trouble they’d maybe heard a rumor about. Then they let me go. I figured whatever was supposed to happen had happened, but then you two came back. So apparently, it didn’t.”

“We were at the party prepared to carry out the mission and there was an emergency at the hospital and Case had to go there,” Jamie explained. “He just got back home. We followed him there, then came here.”

“Whatever happened over there this morning,” Poe said, “and tonight, it feels like something totally unrelated to what we’re here to do.”

“Did you hear anything while you were there?” Abi asked, his own concern visibly growing.

“I was in the basement, so not much. Except there was a lot of moving around. Big sounds like furniture.”

Jamie considered what she had seen at the doctor’s home. “Everything appeared to be in place. It didn’t feel like there were items missing.”

Abi turned his hands up. “Maybe it was just the cleaning and prep for the gala.”

Poe shrugged. “I guess so. I’m just saying that’s about all I heard while I was down there.”

“Were you provided with food and water?” Jamie could see them sending someone down with water at least.

“A guy brought a tray at lunchtime and then later in the evening—before the party started.”

“You didn’t see anyone else the entire time?” Abi pressed.

“No one.”

“I need to think about this.” Abi glanced at Jamie, then left the room.

The sound of the glass doors opening and then closing told Jamie he’d gone onto the patio, probably to watch the house below.

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