Page 186 of State of Alert

Archie wasfull of heartache as he stood by Harlowe’s bedside, holding her hand while she sobbed through another examination of her injuries. He couldn’t bear to see her traumatized or in pain, and he couldn’t understand why she mattered so much to him when he’d seen her twice in his life before yesterday.

The doctor said she was much improved over the day before, and if she continued to make good progress, she could be released in a day or two.

“Where will I go?” she asked Archie tearfully.

“You’ll come home with me, and I’ll take care of you.”

“Why would you do that for me?”

“Because I want to.”

“I… I don’t remember you.”

He used a tissue to wipe the tears from her face. “You remember my face and that I was kind to you.”

“Who are you?”

He’d already told her who he was, but he’d keep telling her until she retained the info. “My name is Archie, which is a nickname for my last name, which is Archelotta. Everyone calls me Archie. I’m a detective with the DC police, specializing in information technology.”

“You… you’re a police officer.”

He’d also told her that—repeatedly. “Yes. You’re safe with me. I promise.”

“Tell me again how you know me.”

“We met at a friend’s party in Georgetown a couple of weeks ago. Remember Deb and Joe? You know her from yoga.”

Her lovely brown eyes were frantic as she shook her head. “Why can’t I remember anything?”

“Shhh. It’s okay. You will eventually.”

“What if I never remember?”

“I’m sure you will when you’re ready to.”

“Maybe it would be better if I didn’t.”

He ached to think of her recalling being assaulted, but he wanted her to remember her life and loved ones.

“Everything is going to be okay,” he told her, even though he couldn’t promise any such thing.

“Thank you for being kind to me.”

“Of course.”

“You… You must have somewhere to be.”

“I’m right where I want to be.”

He couldn’t say why that was true. All he knew was that he wasn’t going anywhere as long as she needed him.

Sam receiveda call from a Detective Jones from the crime lab at three o’clock that afternoon.

“We’ve got the Mustang tied to your case and are able to show that it traveled thirty miles on Sunday afternoon, between the hours of three and five p.m.”

Bingo, Sam thought. “Anything else?”

“The Bluetooth was used from 3:12 p.m. to 3:32 p.m. and then again from 3:40 to just after four o’clock.”

---