Page 58 of Chasing the Past

“What about Rafiq’s involvement? You believed he was the Panther once?”

Eli wondered if Rafiq was just one of many who made up the façade of the Panther.

He entwined their fingers. “We still have a lot to figure out, but we will in time. Right now, we have a second chance to be happy, Sashi. Through the years, I never let you go. I thought I just couldn’t move on from what happened. As it turns out, I couldn’t let you go because you were still alive.”

She leaned forward with tears shimmering in her eyes. “I’m so glad you didn’t. I love you, Eli. I realize we still have lots of things to work out—I can’t even imagine what is being planned—but we’ll get through it all. Together.” She kissed him tenderly. Her gentle touch familiar. Eli couldn’t wait for this to be over and they could start their lives together.

A text message came through on his phone from Will. Eli had to read it twice to be sure. “They have Luke. He was at his parents’ home. He followed Carter here on the island.”

“Luke’s safe.” He typed a response asking what Luke had seen that landed him on Gavin and Carter’s radar.

“He saw Carter and Gavin speaking with Rafiq in an alley near Fatima’s apartment. Carter saw him and knew they had to get rid of him. Luke got away and notified his superiors. He was able to follow them. Turns out, Gavin and Carter didn’t fly back to Langley. They headed straight for Hope Island.”

Eli called Will. “Any idea what type of attack has been planned?” he asked when Will picked up.

“Nothing yet. With Luke’s help and the CIA, we’ll figure it out.”

???

One week later. . .

The conference room erupted in applause when Eli walked in with Sashi at his side.

His friends were all there along with Luke and several people he didn’t know but he had no doubt were CIA.

“Thanks,” he murmured before claiming the nearest chair. Though his doctors hadn’t been happy with him leaving the hospital so soon, he’d had enough of being cooped up in a hospital room. He was ready to get involved in the hunt to stop the Panther’s deadly plan.

“Eli, this is David Laramie and Zack Baxter with the CIA.” JT made the introductions. “And you know Luke.”

Both men shook his hand and nodded to Sashi.

“Good to see you again, Sashi,” David, who was clearly the lead officer, acknowledged.

Sashi told Eli she’d been interviewed by the CIA.

“Shall we begin?” JT glanced at the two men who confirmed with nods.

The meeting was scheduled mostly as a courtesy to Eli to update him on the progress made so far.

JT turned the meeting over to David.

“As you know, we’ve found both the journal and the thumb drive among Gavin’s possessions. Our people determined the numbers were longitude and latitude coordinates along with dates. At least Gavin was telling the truth about the drive containing a series of numbers.” David brought the information from the thumb drive up on the screen. “Most of the coordinates are locations of previous attacks with the exception of these final three.” He stepped to the screen and pointed to them. “These are all locations in the US and the date is today.”

A chill ran down Eli’s spine. “The attack is happening today?”

David nodded but he was smiling. “Our people are in coordination with Homeland, and the FBI are on site now. There were multiple bombs planted around the country in New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Thanks to this intel, the bombs have been defused and those who delivered them are in custody. We’re hoping we can get them to talk and tell us who else is involved.”

Eli couldn’t take his eyes off the screen. “Do you think there are more intelligence officers involved?”

“We don’t think so, but we can’t rule it out,” Luke told him.

Eli automatically reached for Sashi’s hand. “What about McDowell?”

Luke glanced at David who answered. “He’s hiding in Afghanistan. They refuse to turn him over, but we’ve searched all his offices and homes and came up with a treasure trove of intel. McDowell finances all of the attacks associated with the Panther.”

Eli didn’t understand why an American businessman would turn on the country that had done so much for him. “Why’d he do it?”

David and Zack exchanged a look.

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