Page 119 of Archer

“He’s always careful,” I said.

Archer held me closer. “Right up until he isn’t.”

Knox examined the message over Colton’s shoulder.

Nobody said anything else for a long moment.

“The language is escalating,” Knox said. “He’s moved from obsession to ownership. The ‘I’m coming for you’ is a direct threat.”

I stared through the window to the water.

A lone kayaker paddled toward the dock, unhurried, and oblivious to all of this.

Nash released a heavy breath and put his sheriff’s hat back on. “I’m going to get this message into the file tonight and loop in my contact at the Carolina State Bureau of Investigations. Webb is building a legal case against himself one message at a time. We just need to keep him talking.”

“And find him,” I said.

“And keep Harper safe while we wait,” Knox added.

Nash looked at me. “We’re not done yet. We’re just recalibrating.”

He said his goodbyes and headed toward the parking lot. Knox fell into a quiet conversation with Colton.

Archer pressed a kiss to my head. “Let’s go grab your gear.”

We were back at Knox’s house before full dark fell. He stayed with Colton and Nash to hash out a new plan. Sloane went to bring them dinner and catch up on work she’d missed while we overtook Island Adventures as concert headquarters.

Archer carried my guitar case up the porch steps and set it inside the door, then turned to take my hand.

“We should talk about what comes next,” he said.

“I know.”

“His escalation is upsetting me, and I don’t get upset.”

“Well, I’ve been upset for a long time, and right now I just feel exhausted.” I was tired and considering a permanent trip to another country where I could reinvent myself, name and all. Maybe teach snorkeling or become a cruise director. Anything other than accept this fear and unwanted shadow as a fixture for the rest of my life.

“I want to move you.”

My eyes jumped to Archer. Had he read my mind?

“Not permanently,” he clarified. “Just until we get a handle on this situation.”

“Move me where?”

“I don’t know. Maybe somewhere off the island. I think it’s time to cut off Webb’s access to you completely. Social media. Physical location. Just disappear for a while.”

“You want me to go dark.”

“I want you to be safe.”

I sighed, disgusted all over again with the colossally failed plan. “I was safe tonight. I put myself right out there on the edge of a dock, and he didn’t come near me.”

“He was watching.” Archer’s voice didn’t rise, but the edge in it sharpened. “And he threatened you.”

The fight drained from me, and I took a seat at the kitchen island to process the overwhelm. “You’re right. I know that. He’s dangerous and delusional. I was just thinking about leaving the country and changing my name. I’m tired. And pretty pissed, actually, that some complete stranger can upend another person’s life like this. I want to punch him!”

Archer’s lips quirked. “You are not alone.”