With Open Eyes Read Free Page B

attacker. He called his handler and they pulled him out of there and removed the body. But you showed up before their team could clean the rest of the scene. Believe me, the only reason we behaved the way we did is for his protection.”
    “His protection? What did he do?”
    Kendra looked at Sutker. “We had an agreement, detective.”
    “Your agreement was with the Marshals Service, not me.” He hesitated and then shrugged. “But I told them I would give you a ride. Least I could do.” He motioned toward his car. “Please come with me. It’s only a short trip.”
    Short, indeed. Just three blocks away Sutker parked on a dark residential street.
    “Why are we here?” Janet said.
    As if in answer to her question, the rear door opened on a car parked across the street. A man climbed out and closed the door behind him.
    Janet stiffened and then gasped as she recognized him. “Dale.”
    She jumped out of the car and ran across the street toward him. He moved toward her, but they stopped short of each other in the middle of the deserted street.
    Kendra and Sutker climbed out of his car and stood several feet away.
    Tears welled in Janet’s eyes. “You didn’t trust me? Why didn’t you tell me?”
    Dale shook his head. “Janet…It wasn’t that at all.” He moved closer to her. “God, I thought I would never see you again.”
    “Answer me. Why didn’t you tell me?”
    “I wanted to, Janet,” he said hoarsely. “But I was afraid. Afraid I’d lose you.”
    She wiped tears from her cheeks. “That could never happen.”
    “Not even if you found out that I had lied to you about who I am?”
    Another man climbed out of the car that Dale had come from. He flashed his U.S. Marshals Service badge at them. “Henry Samuels, ma’am. Whatever he may have told you, he’s a good man. He did the right thing.”
    “You don’t have to tell me he’s a good man.” Janet’s gaze never left Dale’s face. “What happened?”
    Dale looked away. “I worked for a company in Savannah, and I found out some things about my employers that I wished I didn’t know. They were mixed up in a lot of bad, scary stuff from drugs to Mafia-controlled vice. I thought about just ignoring it, but I couldn’t. I ended up testifying against them. The next thing I knew there was a price on my head, so I entered witness protection. I moved here, and I was really hating life…until I met you. After that, I didn’t regret anything that had happened.”
    “Then why were you just going to leave without telling me?”
    “It was for your own good, Janet. After that man tried to kill me the other night, I knew that I couldn’t stay. I had to leave you. I had to start all over.” He added simply, “It broke my heart.”
    “Did it?” Janet thought for a long moment. “Then take me with you.”
    “What?”
    “I mean it. Take me with you. I’ll start over with you.” She met his gaze. “You said you loved me, that you wanted to spend your life with me. Unless you’ve changed your mind.”
    His eyes widened. “Are you kidding? I’d love to have you with me. But I could never ask you to—”
    “You didn’t ask. I volunteered.”
    “But it’s your entire life. It would mean leaving behind everybody and everything you’ve ever known.”
    “I know, Dale. But I’ll have you.” She smiled. “And I’m quite capable of creating a dandy new life for myself wherever we go. I won’t depend on you for anything but what we have together. Deal?”
    “Deal. I’m not sure it’s a great bargain for you.” He drew her into his arms. “But I’m going to be selfish and take it anyway.” He kissed her. “I want you to know, if you change your mind, I’ll let you go.”
    “Oh, shut up. You’re not going to get rid of me. I’ve made up my mind and Kendra will tell you that I can be very determined when I—But you don’t know Kendra.” Janet pulled away and gestured toward Kendra. “Dale, this is my friend Kendra Michaels.”