Page 54 of A Colby Christmas Rescue

She leaned closer to Lillian and explained, “I need to get you someplace safe.”

“We can’t leave Mommy and Daddy,” she whimpered.

“Listen to me, Lillian,” Jamie whispered with all the urgency she could muster. “I can’t help your mom and dad while I’m taking care of you. I need to settle you someplace safe so I can help them. That’s what they would want. Trust me.”

“I can’t leave them,” the girl insisted.

Shouts echoed from the front of the house. The door was open again. Someone was coming out or going in. Judging by the furiously raised voice, the coming or going—whichever it was—was not voluntary. Jamie listened intently to make out the words. Someone was not happy with how something had been done.

“Find her!”

She heard those words clearly.

“Now!”

They were looking for Lillian. A new wave of tension poured through Jamie. She considered the distance from their hiding places to the woods. It wasn’t the direction she’d wanted to go, but she was out of options and quickly running out of time.

Jamie pressed a finger to the little girl’s lips. Hoped she understood that it was imperative that she didn’t make a sound.

If they could make the tree line, Jamie would find the way to the house. She would call Victoria, then Ian Michaels. Poe had said he was close by. He could help.

Jamie clasped Lillian’s hand in hers and gave it a squeeze. She leaned closer once more and whispered, “We’re going to try and make it up the hill through the woods. Just be careful where you step and stay close to me and try not to make a sound.”

Lillian nodded her understanding.

Holding tight to her hand, Jamie headed for the tree line. She wanted to go faster, but she wasn’t sure how Lillian would do, so she set her pace to match the girl’s.

The beam of a flashlight suddenly obstructed their view.

“Hold on there,” a voice commanded.

Not Poe. Not Abi.

Damn it.

Jamie froze. Lillian did the same, gluing herself to Jamie’s side.

“You were supposed to wait by the cars.”

“No one told me where to wait.”

“Well, I’m telling you now. Let’s go?”

The beam of the flashlight shifted and in the moments it took her vision to adjust, she spotted the weapon in his hand.

“Fine,” Jamie said, feigning frustration. She wasn’t really sure what her part was supposed to be in this. Did they think she was someone else? Maybe the nanny who was on vacation. Who knew if their intel was up to par. Either way, it was best to play along until she had a better grip on what was going down.

The man with the gun ushered them back to where the two poorly parked cars waited. Another of the team opened the back passenger door.

“Get in,” their guide ordered.

Jamie ushered Lillian into the car and slid in next to her.

“What about Mommy and Daddy?” Lillian cried softly.

“I’m sure they’ll be fine,” Jamie lied. What else could she do? No doubt these thugs were here for Dr. Case. He was far more valuable than anything else they might find in that house.

Jamie just couldn’t say what the intent was.

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