Page 73 of Dead Drift

“Isn’t that against the rules for a Muslim?”

“Yes, but intel on Ebeid shows he didn’t become a practicing Muslim until he was in his early twenties. Prior to that, he lived unconventionally, for an Iraqi. I never thought to check who he may have had ties to before his conversion because it appears once he converted, he left everything and everyone he knew behind.”

“So you think he may still have cared for someone he left behind?”

“It’s possible. Just because you leave doesn’t mean you stop loving.” He knew that full well. Though it seemed almost impossible that a man as cruel as Ebeid could care for anyone or anything other than his cause.

“So I’m looking at his life in 1990, while he was in France?”

“Correct.”

“And he’s how old now?”

“Fifty.”

He leaned over her.

She arched a brow. “Are you going to stand there the whole time?”

He tilted his head in the affirmative. “Was planning on it. Why?”

“You’re a bit of a distraction.” Her cheeks flushed.

He swiveled her chair around so she faced him and then leaned her back. “Is that right?”

She smirked. “Do you want me to figure this out?”

“In a minute.” He took that minute to kiss her—long, slow, and tender.

“Well, that’ll help me focus,” she said after he pulled away and spun her back around to face the computer.

He glanced at his watch. “I’m going to call Malcolm.”

“Sounds good.”

Kate fanned herself after Luke excused himself to make the call. What was the man doing to her? She was strong, focused, determined. One kiss and she was swooning. It was ridiculous.

Tapping into the databases she needed to begin with, she started combing her way through, searching Ebeid’s name and scrolling back through time.

30

Kate felt as if she were watching Ebeid’s life play out like a movie in reverse. She observed a lot of content before something finally captured her attention—something key.

“Luke,” she said, turning and jolting back when she saw he was standing less than two feet behind her, propped against the wooden post, his arms linked across his chest, and a charming smile on his lips.

“Sorry I spooked you,” he said, pushing off the post. “You were so engrossed, I didn’t want to disturb you.”

“Okay.” Her heart started to return to a somewhat normal beat. “But we’re going to have to work on you either not being so stealthy or, if that’s not possible, at least announcing your presence.”

“Deal,” he said, coming to sit beside her. “It was fun watching you doing your thing.”

She shook her head with a smile. “You’re weird.”

“Never claimed otherwise.” He shrugged with an impish grin and indicated her laptop with a tilt of his handsome head. “You’re really good at what you do.”

She tucked a loose strand of hair back into her cobalt headband. “Thanks. How’d it go with Malcolm?”

“He swears vehemently he would never order a hit on us. He agrees Lauren’s gone off reservation.”