Page 21 of Chasing the Past

Asal leaned forward in her seat and studied the house. It was amazing. Two stories with a wide porch that wrapped around the entire house.

“It’s beautiful.” She wasn’t even aware of saying the words.

Eli glanced back at her with a smile. “Yes, it is. The couple who owns the place are our clients. Liz was able to get their permission for us to stay here as long as we need.”

She noticed a car parked out front and immediately shrunk back against the seat.

Eli saw what she did. “It’s okay. That’s Liz’s car.”

She’d been told about JT’s sister. She had once been a police officer and then a housewife and was now a real estate agent.

Eli got out and held the door open for her. Retrieving their bags from the back, they hurried up the steps to where Liz waited for them.

She hugged Eli in greeting.

“Liz this is Asal Noor and Gavin Biggs.”

“Nice to meet you both. I’m sorry it’s under these circumstances. Here’s the key.” She handed it to Eli. “The St. Clairs understand the house won’t be shown as long as you’re using it as a safehouse.”

“Thanks, Liz, I appreciate your help.”

Liz waved off his thanks. “I’m glad to be able to do it. I’ve got to run. I have another house to show on the mainland. Keep me apprised.”

Eli hugged her again. “I will.”

Liz waved goodbye and then got into her car and left.

Inside the house, Asal was amazed by the beauty around them. The house had vaulted ceilings that rose past the second-floor balcony. There were windows all around that afforded breathtaking views of the water and the peninsula.

“There’s certainly plenty of space.” Eli sat their bags down by the entrance. Rachel had brought Asal several changes of clothes and toiletries. Asal was grateful for her thoughtfulness. “I came here a couple of times to meet with the St. Clairs when they were our clients. Why don’t we get you settled into one of the rooms? I know this has all been quite an ordeal, Eli said and grabbed her bag. He started for the staircase. Before he reached it, his phone rang, and he pulled it from his jacket pocket.

“It’s Will.” He answered the call and put it on speaker. Will had told them he’d be going to the house that Omar had rented.

“What did you find out?” Eli asked when Will was quiet.

“There’s no one here, Eli.”

The others gathered around to listen.

“Haddad is gone,” Eli said, his voice tight.

“Yes. There’s no sign anyone was here except someone burnt something in the fireplace.”

Eli’s gaze flew to Asal. “Any idea what was burned?”

“It looks like a passport. More than one actually. The fire’s out but the items are badly burned.”

“He burned Asal’s passport?”

Asal tried to understand why Omar would want to burn it.

“That’s just it. There are three passports. All are Asal’s, only each has a different name and address.”

Asal shook her head. “That’s not possible.”

“There’s something else. One of the passports is for Sashi Noor.”

Her sister’s maiden name. Why had Omar used her sister’s name on her passport?

---