The Perfect Witness (38 page)

“You’ll be a target. You’d have to go undercover again with Witness Protection.”

She shook her head. “I’ll let Dantlow cover for me, but I have a different sort of witness protection in mind.”

His eyes narrowed. “And that is?”

“Renata. I’ll go to work for her and let her protect me.” She smiled. “She’d be far better than Dantlow. She knows all about secrets. After all, she’s the Keeper of the Ledger.”

He gave a low whistle. “You might make it work.”

“I will make it work. Because Renata has all kinds of truly exceptional agents at her disposal.” She paused. “And tops on her list is you, Mandak. You should be right at home managing my protection.” She tilted her head. “If you choose to accept the assignment.”

He tugged at her hand. “Come here.”

She stood up and moved to sit on his bed. “Is that a yes?”

“I need the words.”

The bonding was there between them, strong and enduring as it would always be. Still, she would say the words. “We’re both afraid to commit. But I’ll be braver and take the plunge.” She looked directly into his eyes. “I don’t ‘think’ I love you. I do love you. But I don’t know all the facets or ins and outs of it. So I have to learn it.” She smiled. “Megan had a great idea. She’s going to take Grady to the south of France and make love to him for a solid month. I don’t care where we go, but I’d bet we’ll come out of that month knowing what we are together.”

“No bet,” he said. “And I do love you, Allie Girard.”

“See? It’s already starting.” She kicked off her shoes. “Now try to scoot over without hurting yourself. I’m going to lie down and hold you for a while.”

He took her in his arms. “That nurse will be scandalized.”

“She’ll get over it. I’m not going to have sex with you. I’m not an exhibitionist.”

“What a disappointment.”

“Or maybe I will.” She sighed. “No, that would be totally without conscience considering your delicate state.”

“Delicate? Is a demonstration in order?”

She cuddled closer to him. “The only demonstration I want is the one you’re doing now. I feel treasured and loved.”

“And you are … forever.”

Don’t cry. Accept the gift. Give it in return.

Live every minute with joy and love,
Natalie had said.

Oh, I’m starting, Natalie. Can you tell?

How am I doing?

ALSO BY IRIS JOHANSEN

Sight Unseen

Live to See Tomorrow

Silencing Eve

Hunting Eve

Taking Eve

Sleep No More

Close Your Eyes
(with Roy Johansen)

With Open Eyes
(e-original short story, with Roy Johansen)

What Doesn’t Kill You

Bonnie

Quinn

Eve

Chasing the Night

Shadow Zone
(with Roy Johansen)

Eight Days to Live

Blood Game

Storm Cycle
(with Roy Johansen)

Deadlock

Dark Summer

Quicksand

Silent Thunder
(with Roy Johansen)

Pandora’s Daughter

Stalemate

An Unexpected Song

Killer Dreams

On the Run

Countdown

Blind Alley

Firestorm

Fatal Tide

Dead Aim

No One to Trust

Body of Lies

Final Target

The Search

The Killing Game

The Face of Deception

And Then You Die

Long After Midnight

The Ugly Duckling

Lion’s Bride

Dark Rider

Midnight Warrior

The Beloved Scoundrel

The Magnificent Rogue

The Tiger Prince

Last Bridge Home

The Golden Barbarian

Reap the Wind

Storm Winds

Wind Dancer

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I
RIS
J
OHANSEN
is the
New York Times
bestselling author of
Live to See Tomorrow, Silencing Eve, Hunting Eve, Taking Eve, Sleep No More, What Doesn’t Kill You, Bonnie, Quinn, Eve, Chasing the Night, Eight Days to Live, Blood Game, Deadlock, Dark Summer, Pandora’s Daughter, Quicksand, Killer Dreams, On the Run, Countdown, Firestorm, Fatal Tide, Dead Aim, No One to Trust
, and more. And with her son, Roy Johansen, she has coauthored
Sight Unseen, Close Your Eyes, Shadow Zone, Storm Cycle,
and
Silent Thunder
.

Visit her at
www.irisjohansen.com
and on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/Official IrisJohansen
.

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.

PERFECT WITNESS.
Copyright © 2014 by Johansen Publishing LLLP. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.

www.stmartins.com

Cover photograph © Vincent Besnault/Getty Images

eBooks may be purchased for business or promotional use. For information on bulk purchases, please contact Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department by writing to [email protected].

The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request

ISBN 978-1-250-02005-5 (hardcover)

ISBN 978-1-250-02006-2 (e-book)

e-ISBN 9781250020062

First Edition: October 2014