Page 30 of Covert Past

Declan lifted the device into his palm. “I think I have a reader that will work.” He dug into his laptop bag and found the small device placing the drive into it and attaching it to his phone. “This might take some time. Usually getting access to the drive itself is a challenge. Who knows what we’ll find once I’m past the first hurdle.”

“Whatever is there, it isn’t how they’re finding me. That’s an information drive. We used them a lot. There’s no GPS in it.”

Boone swung her way. “I hadn’t thought about that. You’re right.”

They were back to square one.

She was convinced whatever was on the drive would hold answers about why Daniel died.

Outside, the wind slammed into the house with growing force. Windows shook.

“From what I can tell through the weather reports, this first thunderstorm moving our way is going to be a monster. We’d better get this place ready for the storm,” Declan told them. There’s a propane stove downstairs. I can’t imagine we’ll have to put sandbags out to keep the cabin from flooding, but I have some if needed.”

“Has the cabin flooded before?” Boone asked with growing concern. They were some distance from the water.

“Not during the last couple of hurricanes,” Declan told them. “Best to be prepared, though. We can transport the stew and then gather the supplies we need.”

Boone carried the pot while Ellie and the men brought down the dishes and utensils they’d need to eat.

Once the stove was going to keep the stew warm, Declan pointed them to the boards they could use.

He placed the small drive into the reader and set it on the table. “As much as I’m itching to dive into this and see what’s on it, we’d better get this place secured.”

Working together to bring the boards up from the basement, it took less than an hour to cover the windows and secure the doors.

“That should do it,” Boone dusted his hands and scrutinized their work. “Let’s get downstairs and see if we can crack that drive.”

Ellie bit back a scream when the lights flickered as they made their way down.

“We shouldn’t have to worry about them going out with the generator,” Boone told her.

Ellie checked on the stew. Almost done. Upstairs, the wind continued to grow in strength. She claimed the chair beside Boone and watched Declan sit back in his seat, shocked. “I’m into the actual drive itself but it’s encrypted. This might take some time.” He turned the phone Ellie’s way. “Any idea what type of program is used?”

She studied the screen before telling him no. “Sorry, that’s not one of our programs. I would’ve been able to help you otherwise.”

Declan nodded. “No problem. I’m going to send this to my laptop. I have several programs to crack encryption installed on it.”

“The current problem remains. We don’t know how they’re finding us.” Eli voiced his concerns aloud.

She rubbed the back of her neck. “There’s nothing else from my past. The ring was it.”

“Everything okay there?” Boone asked when he noticed her massaging her neck.

“I’m fine.” She told him about the injection spot that had gotten infected. “It’s a constant irritant.” Even more so than the bullet scar. The beatings she’d taken through the years.

“Got it loaded on my laptop,” Declan announced. “I’ll run it through all the programs. Hopefully, something will work.” He waited until the first decoding program was going before he joined their conversation and asked, “You’ve changed your name to something that isn’t close to your former ID?”

Ellie confirmed she had. “More times than I can remember. I went underground to get my IDs.”

“Do you think someone you went to for help couldbe giving the enemy your information?”

She thought about it for a second. “I don’t think so. When I first changed my name, I went to a former contact who dealt in illegal identifications, but even if they somehow found out about him, that was half a dozen name changes and a long time before I came to the US.”

Boone crossed his arms. “I can’t imagine there are a lot of illegal ways to get IDs. Did you do any online?”

“A few. But I covered my tracks. I don’t think they could have found me.”

“Maybe not, but with technology changing so quickly and with spy technology always shifting, it’s possible there was a way.” She could tell from Declan’s expression that it was a longshot. “This may take hours. I’m going to check in with my family and JT.” He stepped away.

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