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She added huskily, “My very, very good friend.”
    “I’ve already heard about her.” Dale shook Kendra’s hand. “I understand you threatened to go to the media and scream bloody murder unless the Marshals Service arranged this meeting.”
    Kendra smiled. “You understand correctly.”
    Marshal Samuels scowled at Kendra. “And the U.S. Marshals Service doesn’t appreciate being blackmailed, Dr. Michaels.”
    “Too bad,” Janet said. “I sure appreciate it. When do we leave?”
    “Immediately,” the marshal said. “The sooner we get you both out of town, the better. Don’t you want to think about it? Are you sure you want to do this, ma’am?”
    Janet looked at Dale. “I’m sure.”
    “Okay. It’s your decision.” He shrugged. “After tonight, Janet Sanders won’t exist.”
    Even in the darkness, Kendra could see color drain from Janet’s face.
    “Then I guess this is goodbye.” Janet forced a smile as she turned toward Kendra. “You know I can’t thank you enough.”
    “Are you scared?”
    “Maybe a little. It’s kind of a shock to realize that all my past and experiences don’t exist.”
    Kendra hugged her. “Janet Sanders will always exist for me. And for the thousands of other kids you helped over the years. None of us will ever forget you. You know that, right?”
    Janet smile became warm with feeling. “I do now. Thank you, Kendra.”
    Dale put his arm around Janet and walked with her back to the marshal’s car. The marshal climbed behind the wheel and started the engine while they settled into the back seat.
    As they pulled away, Kendra waved, but Janet’s attention was focused solely on the man beside her.
    As it should be, Kendra thought. She was looking forward not back. But Kendra wasn’t at that point yet. She had too many treasured memories of her years with Janet. It would take time to let her go.
    She lifted her hand in a final farewell that was more for her own sake than for her friend.
    Then she watched as their car moved down the long street, until it became one with the lights of the city.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this story are either products of the authors’ imaginations or are used fictitiously.
    WITH OPEN EYES . Copyright © 2012 by Johansen Publishing LLLP, and Roy Johansen. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
    www.stmartins.com
    ISBN: 978-1-4668-2068-5

 
    Turn the page for a look at Iris & Roy Johansen’s new novel,
    CLOSE YOUR EYES, featuring Kendra Michaels:

    Available July 2012
    Follow the latest news from Iris Johansen at Facebook.com/OfficialIrisJohansen
    Copyright © 2012 by Johansen Publishing LLLP



 
    This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
    CLOSE YOUR EYES . Copyright © 2012 by Johansen Publishing LLLP, and Roy Johansen. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
     
    www.stmartins.com
     
    ISBN: 978-0-312-61161-3

Prologue
    IT WASN’T JUST her imagination.
    Stephanie Marsh looked back as she walked through the second level of the parking garage for Gold’s Gym. She wasn’t alone.
    She had been aware of distant footsteps attempting to fall in time with her own, but she had told herself that they were just echoes reverberating off the empty garage’s concrete walls.
    No such luck. There was definitely someone in the shadows behind her.
    Or was he in front of her?
    Stay calm, she told herself. It wasn’t as if she were one of the gym’s perfect tens who were weirdo magnets in their skimpy, formfitting workout wear.
    But since when did a psycho need a reason to attack a woman at 10 P.M. in an empty parking garage?
    She was okay, she told herself. Everything would be fine. As long as those security cameras