Page 35 of Covert Past

“It’s possible. Our tech department was working with some of the most cutting-edge technology for its time. What if the real mole in Mossad planted the tracker because he knew what would happen that night?”

Declan kept a close eye on the laptop as the decoding program continued to work. “What happened to the informant within Syrian Intelligence?”

Ellie told them what she’d learned from one of her contacts. “They found his body not far from the building where Daniel and I were to meet up with him. I’m sure he died before the attack on us.”

“They were tying up loose ends,” Eli said. “They probably figured out he was giving away secrets and tortured him until he gave up the name of who he worked with at Mossad and where the meet would take place.”

Ellie appeared to have no doubt. “They killed Daniel because of something his contact might have told him.”

“And they framed you because the rumor was out that there was a mole within Mossad. You made the perfect patsy,” Boone said gently.

She shook her head. “I have no idea what Daniel might have died for. Or what is on that drive.”

“Whatever it is, we’ll figure it out.” Declan glanced at his laptop. “We’re about 5 percent along in the decoding process.”

Even from the safety of the basement, the storm’s rampage could be heard. Though there weren't any windows, for which Ellie was grateful, the rain battered down on their location hard enough to cause waves of concern.

“I’m going to check on the water level outside.” Declan scraped back his chair, grating along Ellie’s nerves.

“I’ll come with you.” Eli rose and followed his friend upstairs.

“I can’t believe this.” Ellie couldn’t stay seated any longer. She stood and paced the room. “All this time they’ve had easy access to me. Why didn’t they kill me from the start? If I’d died in that box, the truth would have died with me. I would have gone down as a traitor. The mole would be protected, and no one would be the wiser.”

Boone stood as well. “My guess, it’s whatever was hidden inside the ring—” Boone stopped speaking.

“What?”

He ran a hand through his hair. “Did you have the ring with you that night?”

Ellie didn’t understand where he was headed. “No. I rarely wore itduring work.”

“Where was it?”

She had kept it in a safe deposit box whenever she was working. She told him as much.

“Under your name?”

“No.” The confusion cleared away. “No, under an alias. I kept it there along with some money and an ID under the alias in case . . .”

He stopped beside her. “That has to be it. They needed you alive to get the ring’s location. Whatever is on it is important to someone.”

There was one flaw in his theory. “They tried to kill me, remember?”

“Or did they?”

“You think they wanted me to believe I was being set up so I could lead them to the ring?”

“It makes sense. Think about it. They didn’t find the weapon you had hidden. That’s a rookie mistake. You were supposed to escape.”

“They shot at me . . . but it was only a shoulder wound.”

“You’re smart, Ellie, and you’ve been a spy for a while. It would have to appear believable.”

“I see what you’re saying, but they didn’t follow me.”

“Something must have prevented it. Maybe they were watching your place expecting you to show up there.”

She told him about going to Gideon for help. “He was my mentor. He trained me. Gideon told me he couldn’t help me. He left me out in the cold, and I’ve spent the last seven years blaming myself for what happened to Daniel.” And wishing she were the one to die that night instead.

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