Page 12 of Covert Past

“You were hungry.” Ellie gave the animal more and then poured water into a bowl. She grabbed a kitchen towel and wet it, intending on getting some of the mud off the pig.

An engine grew louder as it neared the road in front of her place. This was the last house down this way. No one would come this far by accident.

Ellie snatched her weapon and killed the kitchen light. She eased toward the front windows. A set of headlights flashed across the house. Ellie ducked back. The vehicle stopped out front. A door opened and slammed shut. One person. Was it the same person who came here earlier?

From the kitchen, the pig snorted as if voicing its concern.

Ellie waited for the driver’s next move. She had weapons stashed all over the house. If they came for her, she’d fight with everything she had to live.

The knock took her by surprise. Most assassins didn’t knock. She wasn’t taking any chances. Maybe someone was lost. If so, they’d leave after a minute.

“Ellie?”

She immediately recognized Boone’s voice, relief weakening her limbs. Why was he here?

“Come on, I know you’re in there.”

She placed the weapon on a bookcase and unlocked the door.

Boone stood before her. “Anything wrong?” His attention was on her face as if seeing things even a trained Mossad agent couldn’t hide.

“No, nothing.” A complete lie, but she was holding onto her façade.

He came inside, and she stepped back, putting distance between them. Ellie slammed into the bookcase, her injured ribs sending currents of pain down her side.

Boone reached out to steady her but she stopped him while holding onto her injured side. “I’m okay. I fell a few weeks back and bruised some ribs.” A flat-out lie that he probably didn’t buy. Thankfully, Boone didn’t push.

The pig in the kitchen came to investigate. The little darling stopped next to Ellie and looked up at Boone as if to challenge his presence.

“Who’s your friend?” He eyed the animal with a crooked grin.

“I don’t know. She showed up here tonight. I think she’ssomeone’s pet.”

“More likely she came from the illegal petting zoo that was in town a few days back. They were shut down. The owners left in the middle of the night. Word around the island was they were squatting in one of these vacation homes. No doubt, your neighbor’s place. They probably kept the animals in the garage and out of sight. I’m guessing this little cutie got left behind intentionally.”

Ellie’s heart went out to the creature. She’d been abandoned by her people as well. “I’m not sure what to do with her.”

Boone shrugged. “You could call animal control.”

“And have them put her down? No way. I’ll keep her before I let that happen.”

He leaned over and petted the pig’s head. “I don’t blame you.” Once he’d straightened, he frowned. “Though it makes me wonder if she was left behind in the house how she’d get out.”

An uneasy feeling slithered into the pit of Ellie’s stomach. Myron told her she’d have this stretch of beach to herself. All her neighbors’ places were summer homes, and with summer ended, they’d have left the island by now.

He looked around the place. “Doesn’t look like they did any damage.”

Ellie squared her shoulders. “I told you I left the door open.”

Boone stopped her before she could build on the lie. “You didn’t leave it open.” Ellie bit her bottom lip and waited for him to continue. “I realize I haven’t known you long, but I gather you’re not the type to leave anything unchecked. You would have made sure the doors were locked before you left.”

The challenging look he gave her demanded she deny it. She couldn’t.

“I used to work for the CIA,” Boone said quietly.

Immediately Ellie’s guard flew up. A spy. She mentally tried to determine the threat to her safety.

“I’ve seen a lot of things during my time with the Agency. Enough to spot someone running for their life.” He waited for her to deny what she couldn’t. “What’s going on, Ellie?”

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