With Open Eyes Read Free

on the myriad details in Dale Baylor’s home. Was there anything there that could give her some insight?
    She scanned the living room. A typical bachelor’s home, heavy on consumer electronics and light on decorative touches. Dale Baylor was left-handed, probably a nonsmoker, had expensive taste in wines, and was a fan of seventies rock and spy novels.
    Kendra turned back to the pile on the table and picked up a small, framed art print of a woman seated on a Victorian armchair. “What’s this?”
    “A gift from Dale. He said she reminded him of me.”
    “I can see why.” Kendra angled it into the light. “Have you shown this to anyone else?”
    “I don’t think so. I keep it in my bedroom. Why do you ask?”
    “I’m going to take this with me, okay?”
    “Sure, but why?”
    “I’ll tell you later. Just wait for my call, Janet.” Kendra pulled on her jacket as she walked to the door and opened it. “It shouldn’t be more than a couple hours.”

    Kendra knocked on Janet’s door two and a half hours later.
    When Janet answered, Kendra did not step inside. “I need you to come with me. Grab your sweater, it’s very cool out.”
    “Why?”
    “There’s no time to explain.”
    Janet stared at her. “You’re scaring me.”
    “Don’t be scared. Just come with me. I’ll drive.”
    Kendra led Janet to her car. They climbed in, backed out of the narrow driveway, and started down the dark street.
    Janet turned toward her. “Are you going to tell me what we’re doing?”
    “I took that picture to the FBI.”
    “What?”
    “They owe me a few favors, and I know they want to keep me happy. I saw your fiancé’s thumbprint on the upper left corner of the glass.”
    “Seriously? How did you even know it was his?”
    “He has a large callus at his thumb’s knuckle line. Maybe from holding ropes while boating. I saw it in several of the pictures you showed me. Even when I couldn’t see his face, I could still see that.”
    Janet shook her head. “I—I’m speechless. No. I’m not. The FBI. That’s big stuff. I’m not sure I like the idea you’d do this without even asking me.”
    “You wanted my help, Janet. And I found out something very—” Kendra’s eyes flicked to her rearview mirror. “Oh, shit.”
    “What is it?”
    “Get down in your seat. We’re being followed.”
    Janet instinctively whirled around to look.
    Kendra pushed her down by her shoulder. “Get down.”
    She pushed the speakerphone button on her steering wheel, and a man immediately answered. “Sutker.”
    Kendra was aware of Janet stiffening at the name. “Sutker? What the—”
    Kendra raised her hand to silence her. “Not now.” She spoke into the speakerphone. “It’s what I thought. He’s on our tail. I’m on Fifth about to turn north onto Quince Street.”
    “Okay,” Sutker said. “We’re ready for you, Kendra.”
    Kendra cut the connection.
    “ Who’s on our tail?” Janet said.
    “Someone has been watching your house. I couldn’t see him, but that Ford Explorer was the only car on the street with the windows fogged over. They were still fogged when I came back two hours later, so I knew someone was staking you out. Either that, or your street has become a prime make-out spot.”
    Kendra turned right onto Quince Street without signaling. Behind them, the Explorer’s tires squealed as it took the unexpected turn.
    “He’s getting closer,” Kendra said. “Just stay down.”
    She gunned the engine just as the street behind them lit up with police flashers. Sirens wailed and more tires squealed as four unmarked cars surrounded the Explorer. Kendra drove another half a block before slowing to a stop.
    “What in the hell is going on?” Janet asked.
    “Shh.” Kendra cocked her head to hear the amplified voice blaring from one of the police cruisers.
    “What are they saying?” Janet asked.
    “I couldn’t make it out. If I had to guess, probably some variation of ‘step outside the vehicle with