Page 40 of State of Retribution

“All good here.I’ll be home as soon as I can.”

“I can’t wait to hug you.”

“Same, love.See you soon.”

“Be careful with my wife.I love her more than anything.”

“Will do.Love you more, and I already won that fight, so don’t even try it.”

He laughed, as she’d hoped he would.“We’ll continue this fight later.”

“Can’t wait.”

Sam hated ending calls with him, the only person she wanted to talk to all the time.Well, him and their kids.She never got tired of being around them, but there was work to be done before she could go home to them.After finding Archie’s cell number in her contacts, she called him.

“Are you okay?I heard you passed out.”

For fuck’s sake.“I’m fine.How’s your friend doing?”

“A little better.”

“I’m glad to hear that.Listen… I hate to ask you this, but we’ve got dick on this case.Is there any way we might be able to talk to her today?If it’s the same attacker, she’s the only one who got out alive.”

“I was thinking about that.Hers was different.After she was hit in back of the head, she was drugged and sexually assaulted.From what I’ve read about your other vics, they were only hit from behind.”

“They were, but I’d still like to talk to her if at all possible.You know how this can go.She might remember some small thing that’ll blow the whole case wide open.”

“She’s very fragile, Sam.I don’t know if putting her through that right now is the right thing to do.”

“I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t feel it was urgent that we stop this person before they kill someone else.”

“Let me talk to her and see if she’s up to it.”

“Thank you, Archie.”

“I’ll get back to you.”

The line went dead, and Sam closed her phone, feeling bad for having pressured him—and his friend—at such a difficult time.However, other lives were in danger until they caught this killer.

Chapter Nine

Archie gave a soft knock on the door to his rarely used guestroom, where Harlowe had been resting.

“Come in.”

Her voice was a little stronger today, which he took as a reason for hope that she might bounce back from this devastating incident.He stepped into the room to find she was still as pale as the white sheet, her auburn hair like a wreath of fire surrounding her still-striking face, despite the bruises on both sides.

“How’re you feeling?”

“Better.”

“I’m so glad to hear that.Do you think you could eat something?”

“I’m a little hungry.”

“That’s great news.”He’d been concerned by how little she’d eaten since he brought her home the day before.It was inching closer to dinner time, but he didn’t think she was ready for anything heavy.“What sounds good to you?I can make some scrambled eggs and toast or oatmeal.Peanut butter toast is also an option.I also have soup and crackers.”

“Eggs and toast sound good.”

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