Page 118 of Archer

The comments came too fast to read individually, but I tried anyway.

Her new song made me cry in a parking lot

WHERE HAS THIS BEEN

I needed this more than I can explain

Alexis was probably already on the phone with the label.

I sang a few of my popular favorites and a cover to a song I grew up listening to with Gram. I told everyone that the new album was coming and more live shows were in my future. Then I ended the stream.

The immediate silence of a disconnected feed was always strange. All those thousands of people, gone in the press of a button.

But my world still held hundreds of fans and onlookers by water and land.

And my security team was still in motion.

Beside me, Archer’s gaze jerked, and the low bass of his voice responded to something heard through his earpiece. Knox emerged from the direction of the dunes, shaking his head once before reaching the dock.

I waved one arm overhead and blew kisses as I turned and jogged back to Island Adventures.

Archer followed close behind, and the others joined us inside.

“He watched,” Colton said. “Webb watched the whole stream. Same IP, stayed active until you signed off.” He didn’t look up from his screen. “He never moved.”

“Are we thinking he’s in a boat?” I asked.

“Coast Guard didn’t see anything out of the ordinary.” Colton shook his head. “You gave one hell of a performance, but we missed our goal.”

Beyond the windows, the onshore crowd dispersed slowly with the explicit direction of local law enforcement. People on their phones were likely already posting clips of the performance. Kayakers and paddleboarders slowly disbanded as well.

“He really didn’t come.” Disappointment flattened my lungs. “That was the whole point, and he didn’t come.”

No one argued.

Nash pulled off his cap and ran a hand through his hair. “We’ll regroup. His digital footprint is getting denser. Every time he activates an account, Colton gets closer.”

“To what?” I leveled them each with a discouraged stare. I couldn’t have a security team this large follow me around every day for the rest of my life. If we couldn’t catch Webb, my life and career were over. And I was out of ideas to draw him out.

My phone buzzed in my pocket.

I pulled the device into my hand. Alexis would want the short version of how things went from my end.

But the message wasn’t from Alexis.

I didn’t recognize the account. No photo, no followers. I opened the message.

Beautiful performance. But you were performing for HIM, not for me. You’re a liar. You’re not waiting for me. Or he’s holding you against your will. Either way, I’m coming for you.

My hand shot out and found Archer at my side.

His arm wrapped around me in an instant, protective and strong. He took the phone with his free hand and read it aloud.

His team hissed curses and closed ranks.

Archer passed the phone to Colton without a word.

A few moments passed as he tapped my screen. “Burner account,” Colton said. “I’ll try to trace it, but he’s been careful so far about building a firewall.”