Page 27 of Covert Past

“Basement is this way.” He flipped on a light and started down the steps. Everyone followed.

Boone glanced around the basement that covered the entire width of the house. Shelves of canned goods stood against one wall. Camping supplies were stowed on another shelf. Extra firewood was piled against another wall.

“Looks like you planned for everything,” Ellie told him, sounding impressed.

Declan chuckled. “Sort of. My wife and I come here sometimes during the winter when the weather is unpredictable. You want to be prepared for anything.” He grabbed a couple of sleeping bags and passed them around. “It gets cold at night. We’ll have a fire going, but these should keep you warm.”

Boone gathered some firewood in his arms. “Might as well get one started.”

Upstairs, he placed some kindling and wood in the woodstove and lit the fire.

“If anyone’s hungry, there’s plenty of meat in the freezer,” Declan told them. “Excuse me while I check on the Petersons.”

Lightning continued to illuminate the outdoors while thunder rattled the windows.

And Ellie couldn’t hide her worry.

“Are you doing okay?” Boone asked.

She forced a smile. “I’ve never been a fan of thunderstorms.”

He could understand. “We’ll be safe inside. This place seems well built.”

“The Petersons aren’t answering their phone,” Declan said with obvious concern. “I’ll keep checking.”

Boone could tell from his expression he’d hoped for the extra manpower.

Declan retrieved his laptop, and he and Eli set up shop in the kitchen.

Boone went over to Ellie. “Everything okay?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know. I can’t explain it, but it feels as if something is going to happen soon.”

He had felt the same tension building inside. “Whatever it is, we’ve got to figure it out before that happens.” On a whim, Boone brought up his phone and prayed cell service was working.

Though slow he was able to bring up a search bar. He typed in information regarding Israel. Since he’d been out of the CIA, he hadn’t kept as careful a watch over world events as before. What he saw had him believing this was key. “The Israeli prime minister is coming to the US.”

Ellie’s eyes widened. “You think there’s going to be an attack on him while he’s here?”

He couldn’t be sure. Foreign dignitaries were well-guarded when they were on US soil. Perhaps he was simply grasping at straws.

“I think it’s worth considering.” He told her about what Will discovered at the house next to hers. “I noticed a man and woman walking very early this morning right before we left. It seemed fishy, so JT had our chief of police check it out. There were clear signs someone had been staying there and not with the owner’s knowledge.”

“That’s probably how Dottie got out.”

Boone nodded.

Ellie appeared even more concerned. “They were so close. Why didn’t they take me out when they had the chance.”

Boone remembered what she’d told him about the men who came into the coffeehouse. “They believe you have something, and they need it.”

She pinched the bridge of her nose. “What?”

“I don’t know, but whatever it is, it’s clearly important.”

She rubbed her hands down her arms. “I need something to take my mind off everything.” Her attention landed on the boxes of food. “It’s been hours since any of us ate.”

Boone went with her to the kitchen where they took stock of the food.

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