Page 24 of Chasing the Past

“At my place . . . Oh no. If Omar—or whoever he really is— finds them, whatever he’s looking for that’s so important might be gone for good.” Eli grabbed his phone and called JT who answered on the first ring.

“I need your help.” He explained what he and Gavin had been discussing. “There’s a box in the attic marked Sashi. Get to it before Omar does.”

“I’m on it. As soon as I have the box, I’m on my way to you. I’ll bring Declan and Janine with me.”

Eli blew out a huge, relieved breath. “Thank you. Be careful. There are still so many unanswered questions, and we can’t forget that there’s someone else above Omar. Probably the person calling the shots.”

“We’ll be careful. There’s been a police cruiser parked out front. Hopefully, that will deter any intruders. As soon as it’s possible, we’ll meet you over at the house to go over what we know so far. Until then, be careful. There’s nothing about what is happening that makes sense. All we know is there’s a very dangerous man involved.” JT said goodbye and ended the call.

Eli couldn’t get the warning out of his head. Too anxious to simply sit by and do nothing, Eli went to the kitchen and found the coffee. He made a pot and then went over to the kitchen window and looked out. Upstairs, the bed creaked.

Lord, I wish she didn’t look so much like Sashi. . .

“Brother, I think I found one of the doctors from Kunduz.”

Eli scrambled to the dining room. “Who?”

“Doctor Fatima Zaman. She was the last name on your list.”

“Where does she live?”

“Here in the US. In Boston.” Gavin scanned the information. “I have a number.”

“What are we waiting for?” Eli picked up his phone and called the number on the screen.

Three rings and a woman answered, “Hello.” She sounded as if she had been sleeping.

“Fatima?”

A long hesitation was followed by a tentative confirmation. “Who is this?”

“Eli Warren. I was a friend of Sashi Ghulam.”

A heart-wrenching gasp followed. “I think about her all the time. Not a day goes by that I don’t wish I could talk to her one more time.” She stopped for a moment. “I miss her smile.”

Eli tried to swallow the lump in his throat but couldn’t.

“I’m sorry. I know you loved her and she loved you.”

He did know. At times it was comforting and other times it was its own form of torture.

“Has something happened regarding Sashi’s murder?” Fatima asked, realizing the real reason he’d called.

“We’re not sure. Do you remember the night she died?” Getting those words out was still hard.

“I do. Although I didn’t find out she was dead until a few days later.”

That made sense. Kunduz had fallen the following morning.

“I’m wondering if Sashi left anything with you for safekeeping.”

“How did you know . . . ?”

Eli shot Gavin a look. “What was it?”

“Her suitcase. She told me she was leaving that night with you which was why I thought it strange that she asked me to hold it for her while she went back to her apartment to get some things she’d forgotten.”

Sashi had gone back to her apartment. Was that where she’d been taken? “Do you remember what she said to you?”

---