The Naked Eye (38 page)
Authors: Iris Johansen
“Positive. I’ve been thinking about doing it since you and Eve sprung me from the place. Buy the damn hospital, get rid of all the monstrous memories, and donate the land for a park, where all the memories will be happy ones. But I had to brace myself and make sure that was the way I wanted it to go. For some reason, I was reluctant, maybe I was even afraid. It had been my home and prison for so many years.” She smiled. “But one thing Colby did for me during that last hideous day was to erase all doubts. I was trying to celebrate life before he came along, but he gave me the crowning lesson.” She lifted her champagne glass. “Here’s to living every day and every minute with joy.” She glanced at the hospital, then at the guests scattered at the tables. “And being grateful to people who love you and live them with you.”
“I’ll drink to that.” Eve was suddenly there beside them. She gave Beth a kiss on the cheek. “This is a very good thing.” She took a sip of her champagne. “Now afterward, wouldn’t you like to come home with me for a while?”
Beth chuckled. “You always try, don’t you?”
“Well, I was a little shaken when I was called out here this time. I’m all for letting you live your own life. But I prefer you
live
it.”
“My fault,” Kendra said quietly. “It won’t happen again, Eve.”
Eve chuckled. “Good Lord, I’m not blaming you. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about Beth, it is that she’ll do as she wishes.” She sighed. “I just wish she’d wish to come home with me.”
“Soon,” Beth said. “I still have some growing up to do.”
“That goes on forever, Beth,” Eve said gently.
“Maybe. But everyone else had a head start.” She looked to the west. “The sun’s down, it should be dark in a few minutes.”
“Is it time?” Kendra asked.
Beth looked for a long time at the hospital. Then she lifted her hand and gave the signal. “Yes, it’s time.”
She got to her feet and lifted her glass with Kendra and Eve on either side of her. “Let’s watch the fireworks. They promised me it would be splendid. Better than the Fourth of July.”
And the next moment proved that to be true. The hospital blew in a fiery explosion that lit up the night sky.
“Oh, yes,” Beth whispered. “Celebration.”
IRIS JOHANSEN
is
The New York Times
bestselling author of
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.
Visit
www.irisjohansen.com
or sign up for email updates
here
.
ROY JOHANSEN
is an Edgar Award–winning author and the son of
Iris Johansen
. He has written many acclaimed mysteries, including
Deadly Visions, Beyond Belief,
and
The Answer Man
.
Visit
www.royjohansen.com
or sign up for email updates
here
.
Iris Johansen
and
Roy Johansen
have together written
Sight Unseen, Close Your Eyes, Shadow Zone, Storm Cycle,
and
Silent Thunder
.
ALSO BY
IRIS JOHANSEN
&
ROY JOHANSEN
ALSO BY
IRIS JOHANSEN
Stalemate
An Unexpected Song
Killer Dreams
On the Run
Countdown
Blind Alley
ALSO BY
ROY JOHANSEN
Deadly Visions
Beyond Belief
The Answer Man
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CONTENTS
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.
THE NAKED EYE.
Copyright © 2015 by Johansen Publishing LLLP. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
Cover photographs © Sorbis / Shutterstock
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The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:
Johansen, Iris.
The naked eye / Iris Johansen and Roy Johansen. — First edition.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-1-250-02054-3 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-1-250-02055-0 (e-book)
I. Johansen, Roy. II. Title.
PS3560.O275N35 2015
813'.54—dc23
2015013655
e-ISBN 9781250020550
First Edition: July 2015