Tess Gerritsen: Die Again

The plane touches down and rolls to the gate. Outside, the sky is a brilliant blue, and I know the air will be soft with the scent of flowers and the sea. I slip Johnny’s photo back into the envelope and tuck it inside my purse. Out of sight, but never forgotten.

I rise to my feet. It’s time to go back to my family.

To Levina

I will never forget the thrill of my first glimpse of a leopard in the wild. For that treasured memory, I thank the wonderful staff at the Ulusaba Safari Lodge in Sabi Sands. I owe special thanks to ranger Greg Posthumus and tracker Dan Ndubane for introducing me to the beauty of the African bush—and for keeping my husband alive.

I owe a huge debt of gratitude to my literary agent, Meg Ruley, who has been my stalwart friend and ally through the years, and to my editors, Linda Marrow (US) and Sarah Adams (UK), for their invaluable help in making this book shine.

Most of all I thank my husband, Jacob, for sharing this journey. The adventure continues.