No chance of that, she thought. Just those fingers on her hand and wrist were causing her pulse to race. And the bastard probably knew it. “What a terrible predicament for you.”
“And it gets worse. You didn’t like seeing me hurt, it scared you. You’re going to shy away from feeling that again. You might panic and run.”
“You don’t believe you might be flattering yourself?”
“No. I can’t afford to do that.” He was no longer smiling. “I was almost there. I’m not going to make a mistake and cheat us both. I don’t mind taking a step back but only one step.”
“You appear to be leaving me out of this decision.”
“No way. The decision is all about you … wanting me.”
“You’re making it sound entirely too difficult. I’m surprised you don’t want to forget about me and go back to Ashley or one of your other girlfriends.”
“The situation isn’t that desperate. We can work it out. Shall I tell you how?”
“I can hardly wait.”
“I might be stuck in this hospital for a few days. You’ll come to visit me every day and enjoy my stunning charisma and vast intelligence. And also reassure yourself that I’m so tough that you don’t need to worry about anything happening to me. Then when I’m out of here, I’ll go slow and I might even let you set the pace.”
“Might?”
“I don’t want you to believe I’d lie to you.”
She shook her head. “How arrogant can you be? You’re sure you have me figured out. You even have a damn solution.”
“I hope I have you figured out.” He laid his head back on his pillow. “I’m wasting a lot of time and energy I don’t have if I’m wrong.” His smile was weary. “Give it a shot, Kendra?”
He was looking suddenly tired and drained and she wanted to give him anything he wanted to make that exhaustion go away. “We’ll see.” She turned toward the door. “If I decide you’re not using how I feel to manipulate me.”
“No promises. It’s the nature of the beast. You’ll have to make up your own mind.” He snapped his fingers. “Oh, and I didn’t mean that you have to come back to the hospital today. You have other things to do. Then go home and get some rest.”
“I don’t have to come back today?” Her eyes widened with indignation. “That’s the worst thing you could have said to me. And what other things have you decided I have to do?”
“Open the door. She should be waiting in the hall by now.”
She jerked the door open and saw Jessie Mercado sitting on the bench a few yards down the hall.
“Jessie?” Her eyes flew back to Lynch. “What the hell?”
“The main event,” he said quietly. “She’s a woman who had two tours in Afghanistan and was once captured and held prisoner. She knows about rage and sorrow and revenge and how both can change who you are. If you feel like it, you might want to talk to her. If you don’t, she’ll understand.”
But he’d gone to the trouble of getting in touch with Jessie because he’d thought she might need her. She stood there looking at him. He didn’t appear either bright-eyed or as strong as when she’d first seen him this morning. He was not invulnerable and he undoubtedly was arrogant and manipulative. But he’d let her see his scars and he’d tried to heal hers. How many men would be strong and caring enough to do that?
“Hi, Kendra.” Jessie had gotten to her feet and was strolling toward her. “I heard you were here. Want to go have a cup of coffee with me?”
“That sounds like a great idea.” Kendra’s smile was brilliant. “If you’ve got your bike. Let’s go take a ride on the beach and find a coffee shop. I need to feel the wind in my hair and maybe jump a few dunes. Someone told me lately I was getting stodgy.”
Her smile lost none of its brilliance but there was definitely a hint of sly mischief as she glanced at Lynch. “If we make it back in one piece, I’ll see you tomorrow, Lynch.”
ALSO BY IRIS JOHANSEN AND ROY JOHANSEN
Night Watch
The Naked Eye
Sight Unseen
Close Your Eyes
Storm Cycle
Silent Thunder
ALSO BY IRIS JOHANSEN
Night and Day
Hide Away
Shadow Play
Your Next Breath
The Perfect Witness
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
Deadlock
Dark Summer
Quicksand
Pandora’s Daughter
Stalemate
An Unexpected Song
Killer Dreams
On the Run
Countdown
Blind Alley
Deadly Visions
Beyond Belief
The Answer Man
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
IRIS JOHANSEN is The New York Times bestselling author of No Easy Target, Night and Day, Hide Away, Shadow Play, Your Next Breath, The Perfect Witness, 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. You can sign up for email updates here.
ROY JOHANSEN is an Edgar Award–winning author and the son of Iris Johansen. He has written many well-received mysteries, including Deadly Visions, Beyond Belief, and The Answer Man. You can sign up for email updates here.
IRIS JOHANSEN and ROY JOHANSEN have together written Night Watch, The Naked Eye, Sight Unseen, Close Your Eyes, Shadow Zone, Storm Cycle, and Silent Thunder.
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CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Also by Iris Johansen and Roy Johansen
About the Authors
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the authors’ imaginations or are used fictitiously.
LOOK BEHIND YOU. Copyright © 2017 by IJ Development, Inc, and Roy Johansen. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
www.stmartins.com
Cover photograph: woman’s face © George Rudy/Shutterstock.com
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Johansen, Iris, author. | Johansen, Roy, author.
Title: Look behind you / Iris Johansen and Roy Johansen.
Description: First Edition. | New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2017.
Identifiers: LCCN 2017006879 | ISBN 9781250075987 (hardback) | ISBN 9781466887343 (e-book)
Subjects: LCSH: Murder—Investigation—Fiction. | BISAC: FICTION / Thrillers. | GSAFD: Suspense ficti
on. | Mystery fiction.
Classification: LCC PS3560.O275 L67 2017 | DDC 813/.54—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017006879
eISBN 9781466887343
Our ebooks may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, extension 5442, or by email at MacmillanSpecialMarkets@macmillan.com.
First Edition: July 2017