Page 24 of Covert Past

“Nope. I wasn’t followed. I think I got everything. I’m Janine by the way.” She extended her hand to Ellie.

Ellie clasped it. “Thank you for taking the risk.”

Janine shrugged off her thanks. “It wasn’t a problem.” She popped the trunk. A couple of boxes. All Ellie had to her life. It never bothered her before how sad it was that she’d condensed her life to two boxes. A few changes of clothes both warm and lighter depending on where she’d end up. A change of shoes. Some toiletries. A few books she’d gathered along the way to ward off the loneliness.

Pretty pathetic. She touched the ring in her jeans pocket. Daniel had proposed while they were on a mission in Iran. During a moment of calm, Daniel had gotten down on one knee and told her he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.

It was one of the few times she’d cried. Those hadbeen tears of happiness. The last joyful ones she’d shed.

“Let’s get everything loaded onto the boat,” Boone said from close by.

She turned. Those brown eyes watched her carefully. Was he wondering if she was the murderer her own people believed her to be? Had she made an awful mistake by telling him her ugly secret?

“I picked up some supplies for you.” Janine opened the back door and handed over several bags of food. “I know you have a freezer full of meat at the cabin, but I thought you might need some vegetables and dairy. Depending on how long you’ll stay there, I can arrange to bring out more.”

“That’s very kind of you.” Ellie was humbled by how people who didn’t know her at all were risking their lives for her. “I can’t pay you right away, but soon, in time.”

Janine squeezed her shoulder. “Don’t worry about it. It’s what we do for each other.”

The building was large enough to fit the SUV comfortably. Above the dock and on a hydraulic lift was a twenty-eight-foot fishing vessel equipped with twin outboard motors that would cut through the choppy water quickly.

Once everything was stowed, Janine prepared to leave. “Be safe. According to the harbormaster, the winds are growing. Waters are treacherous. Waves are churning and might be dangerous.” She hugged her people and then did the same for Ellie. “Take care of yourself. You’ve got some of the best people on your side. Let them help you.” She turned on her heel and headed back to her car.

Ellie watched her leave, overwhelmed by the kindness these total strangers showed her.

“We’ll leave the SUV here in case we need to evacuate Breakers.”

Ellie shivered at Eli’s words. For seven years she’d been living in shadows. She’d told herself she was working on getting answers, but in truth what she might find out scared her. What if the monster who had taken Daniel’s life posed as a friend?

Now, she’d set into motion something that couldn’t bestopped. Boone and the members of Hope Island Securities were good. They wouldn’t stop digging until they had the answers she claimed to want. The truth would be known whether she liked it or not.

Boone held out his hand to help her onboard.

Eli closed the door they’d driven through. As soon as he returned and everything was secured below, Declan hit a button on a remote control that lifted the door to reveal the ocean. The rain appeared to give them a brief reprieve for which she was thankful for.

Declan fired the twin engines and idled out of the dock. The door closed, and they were on their way.

The vessel moved through chaotic seas with ease although the wind continued to kick up. Despite the windshield, a salty spray peppered her face as they picked up speed. She brushed her hair from her face and watched colors of the sunset barely visible through the thick clouds. Silvers of burnt orange colored the waters. Within the distant clouds lightning flashed. The storm was gaining strength.

Despite her concerns, Ellie couldn’t look away from the fragmented sunset. She didn’t remember the last time she’d enjoyed one. Tears stung her eyes. She turned her head away and brushed the tears aside.

Growing up, her parents hadn’t been practicing Jews. They’d kept the high holidays but more as a time to get together with family than to remember the reason for celebrating the occasion.

During her adult life, Ellie hadn’t believed in much of anything except what she could see.

But staring at the majesty of the storm and the sunset, seeing the way things had fallen into place to bring her to Hope Island and how she met Boone, her mindset began to shift. She’d trusted someone, something she’d never done before, and she believed Boone had been the right person to tell her story.

Now, she had a team working on her side to help get her answers. That couldn’t be a coincidence. Maybe it was time for her to get better acquainted with the God she’d ignoredfor so long.

“Everything okay?” Boone touched her arm. She hadn’t realized he was so close until he’d spoken.

She squared her shoulders and tried to control her emotions that simmered close to the surface. “I’m fine. Just admiring the sunset.”

He claimed the seat beside her. “Yeah. I never really paid that much attention to them before either,” he said as if reading her mind.

She turned her head and studied his profile. Handsome. The thought popped into her mind unexpectedly. Ellie couldn’t remember the last time she’d thought of a man as attractive. During school and then in her training for Mossad she’d been focused. Being paired with Daniel had changed that. She’d lost her heart to him.

Ellie swallowed back the lump in her throat and realized she’d been quiet, but Boone didn’t seem to mind. He kept his focus on the sunset.

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