Page 35 of Chasing the Past

“Let’s hope.”

“Stay safe,” JT said and ended the call. He didn’t know what to say to her once it was just them. He’d kissed her. Partly because she reminded him so much of Sashi, but mostly because he wanted to kiss her—Asal. “How about I make us something to eat. You want to try and get some rest?”

She shook her head. “I’m far too keyed up for sleep. I’ll help you in the kitchen.”

While he was glad to have the help, she was a distraction. He couldn’t get the way she felt in his arms out of his head.

“Let’s see what’s in the fridge. I don’t think I can top your earlier meal but I’ll try.”

He opened the fridge. JT’s sister Liz had thought ahead and stocked the fridge and pantry for them.

“What would you say about spaghetti and meatballs?” His grandmother’s recipe was a bit complicated, but he saw all the ingredients that would be needed.

She smiled. “I’d say that sounds delicious. What can I do to help?”

“Nothing. Just keep me company.” He pulled out a chair for her.

“I can do that.”

He gathered the ingredients and started by preparing the sauce first.

“How long have you lived on Hope Island?” she asked, and he looked her way.

“Since I left the service for good. JT, Declan, and I started the business a little while afterward. JT was a police officer for a while but left the force when his first wife, who was also a police officer, was killed.”

“That’s terrible. I can’t imagine how hard that must be.”

He fought to control the pain that was always there whenever he thought about losing Sashi. “He left the force, and we started Hope Island Securities. It’s been an amazing journey.”

“You are close with everyone on the team, aren’t you?”

He glanced over his shoulder at her. “We’re a family. I can’t imagine life without them.”

She didn’t respond and he wondered if she was thinking about her hidden past.

“Do you think Omar was the person who killed Sashi?”

His hand stilled over the sauce. Would there ever be a time when it didn’t hurt to speak about Sashi’s death?

“It was definitely him who forced her into that building but what I don’t understand is how he managed to live through the explosion.” He lowered the heat and started working on the meatballs. “From what I could tell, there aren’t any scars on him.” A glance back at her saw his assumption confirmed with a nod.

“And you think he’s the one who owns the building? Why would he blow up his own building?”

“That’s a good question, unless there was something about the building that held incriminating evidence against him.”

“Like what?” Asal came over to examine the sauce. “This smells delicious.”

“Thanks. And we don’t know yet. If there were weapons stored in the building then Omar or Panther, as we believe he’s called, would want to get it out before the Taliban invaded the city.”

“So, he isn’t working with them?” She stirred the sauce, and he enjoyed the way they worked together.

“No, although he’s probably using them to accomplish his goals.”

He popped the meatballs into the oven.

“Which is?”

Eli washed his hands and wiped them on a towel. “From what we’ve learned about the Panther, he was a student of Bin Laden. Bin Laden and those who follow his beliefs want the complete restoration of Sharia law and the complete destruction of those who support the country of Israel. They blame the US for destroying Afghanistan and Iraq.”

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