Page 17 of Covert Past

He stepped from his hiding spot near the back of her house to watch the truck disappear down the road. Who was this new man? That she’d allowed someone close had him wondering if the years on the run had weakened her.

He turned to the woman who was part of his team and motioned her over. With her help, they’d been quietly surveilling their target’s house. He brought her along because a couple walking along the beach didn’t draw as much attention as his four men had in town the day before.

“Find out who the truck belongs to.” He gave her the licenseplate number.

She didn’t respond but went to work on the task.

The rest of his team emerged from the shadows.

“Stay out of sight until I call for you,” he told them once they were close. “She’ll have seen you in town and can identify you. She’s on alert. We can’t afford for her to slip through our fingers again.”

One man nodded and motioned the rest back to the house.

“Got it,” the woman said. “The truck belongs to a Boone Langston.”

He turned toward his companion. “Who is this Langston?”

She dug deeper into the man in question. “Former CIA.” Her concern became clear. “This can’t be good. If she’s gone to them for help . . .”

“You said former. What’s he doing now?”

She scrolled further. “He’s part of a private investigation firm called Hope Island Securities.” She looked him in the eye. “Not as bad, but still not good. If she’s talking, it’s possible the truth will come out.”

He shook his head. “She doesn’t know the truth. We’ll make sure it stays that way.” He headed for the car.

“Where are you going?” she asked.

“After her. We need that information. They’re expecting it soon.”

The woman started to follow but he stopped her.

“I’ve got this. She’s my problem to take care of.” And his to take all the glory for bringing her down.

He opened the door and got inside the sedan. For seven years he’d fought Ayla and failed. No more. Now it was time to fix the problem. And he would. Once and for all he’d handle Ayla and end the threat she didn’t know she posed.

???

The break-in had her rattled. It happened so close to her arrival on Hope Island. Normally it took much longer for them to find her.

The back-and-forth swishing of the truck’s windshieldwipers grated along her frayed nerves. The first wave of rain had started earlier than expected on their way in. It had grown steadily harder.

During the drive into town, she continuously watched the side mirror, her troubled thoughts on the men she’d noticed the day before. Through the years she’d gotten good at deducing threats. Those men were a threat.

Boone reached over and covered her nervous hand with his. She stared at his large, calloused hand. Human touch wasn’t something she allowed herself often. Most people she met along the way were little more than passing acquaintances. Some less. Being touched even in a casual way wasn’t something she was used to. She struggled to keep from pulling away.

“Relax. There’s no one back there.” Boone smiled over at her as he squeezed her hand.

She turned her head and looked into his eyes. Something she hadn’t felt—hadn’t thought about since Daniel—clawed its way to the surface past the bitterness.

No, she couldn’t go there. If her life remained on its usual course, she’d be forced to leave Hope Island soon. Those men from the day before crept into her head. She’d stay long enough to earn enough money to leave and then she’d disappear again.

What had once been her routine now made her stomach turn. She’d been running for so long that she couldn’t even see what normal looked like anymore. Didn’t remember it. Would there ever come a time when normal would be possible? She’d love to be bored, sitting around and doing nothing. Not having to look over her shoulder for fear of what crept up behind her. Ellie smiled to herself at the thought.

Boone slid the truck into one of the many parking spots in front of the Hopeful Coffeehouse. The lights were on. Ellie checked her phone for the time. Two minutes to spare.

“I’ll go in with you to make sure everything’s good, then take Dottie over to Sashi’s.”

“Thank you, but you really don’t have to babysit me. I’ll be fine.” Ellie gavethe pig a hug.

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