Page 90 of Archer

Archer’s lip curled back on one side, his expression lethal. “Let him try.”

Chapter 28

Archer

I hadn’t wanted to hurt someone the way I wanted to hurt Webb in a very long time. I imagined putting him through a wall, or maybe putting my fist straight through him, then I released the satisfying imagery and focused on Harper. Keeping her safe was my priority.

Webb was someone else’s problem. Colton and Knox would do all they could to help locate the stalker. Nash and the authorities would handle him when they did. But no one was harming Harper.

She sat on the couch, pale and still while the team discussed next steps.

I kept my eyes on her as we talked, but all I could see was that freezer.

A container meant for transport, storage, and disposal.

Webb had been doing more than following her. He’d been planning to take her. He’d built a twisted fantasy world where they were already together, and he was preparing to make that fantasy real by any means necessary. Including abduction and murder.

Or maybe that was the real plan all along.

“Archer?” Knox’s voice pulled me back. “You still with us?”

“Yeah.”

“Webb’s escalating and our pursuit has cost him his anonymity,” Nash said. “The storage unit contents, combined with the threatening messages and his continued harassment of Harper, give us enough for an arrest. But we have to find him first.”

“Coast Guard’s still searching?” I asked.

“Yeah, along with state marine patrol and local deputies. Even some volunteer search and rescue teams. But the marshes and maritime forest around here are extensive. Lots of places to hide a kayak or small boat.”

“He’s not in the forest,” Harper said. Her voice was strong as she stared at the phone in my hand. “He’s never far from me. That’s the whole point.”

She was right. Webb wouldn’t hole up somewhere remote, if he could find a way to stay near her. He wanted to be ready when his opportunity arose.

“He’s a completely average, unremarkable looking white-collar guy,” Harper said. “He’s probably staying at a rental and moving around in plain sight.” She rose and moved to the rear window.

“I’ll get his photo out to local property management companies,” Colton said. “Ask them to cross-reference recent bookings with his image and information.”

“Smart.” I met his eyes through the video screen. “Thank you. For keeping us updated.” The storage unit was horrific, but it felt like the break we needed.

Colton nodded, his gaze sweeping from me to Harper, then back. “We’ll get this guy.”

After the call ended, I joined Harper at the back window.

“You want to talk about it?”

“No, I need to work,” she said without turning. “I need to do something normal. Try to compartmentalize. Maybe I can escape again the way I did last night.”

I set my hands on her biceps. Of course a singer would want her music to comfort her after a shock like she’d just had. I wasn’t sure how I planned to process Webb’s level of detachment from reality or his freezer and zip ties, but I could at least try to be useful to Harper. “What can I do to help?”

“I have some old recording equipment in the bedroom closet. Can you help me get it down?”

I retrieved the portable interface, microphone, and laptop. She set it all up at the kitchen table with practiced efficiency.

“I’m going to record a rough demo of the song from this morning,” she said. “I’ll send it to Alexis to see what she thinks.”

“Do you want me to go outside?”

“No.” Her fingers flew over the keyboard. “You’re okay here, and doing this will help me settle my mind so I can think.” She took a few deep breaths. “Music has always been my dream, my life, my passion. He doesn’t get to take this from me.”