Page 11 of Hack
CHAPTER FIVE
Archer tossed the remote control down on the bed, bored with staring at the TV as he waited to hopefully hear back from Carter. After leaving Carter's house the evening before, he'd stopped off and picked up some Chinese food and had locked himself away in the motel room. As nice as it was to have some downtime to relax and unwind, he was bored. There was only so much research he could do on his laptop before he couldn't stare at the screen anymore.
It wasn't like there was anything new to look at. He had all the case files practically memorized. His gut told him the answers were there. He just needed to focus on the right clues and follow where they led. The only evidence they had were the bodies and the gravesites. Whatever he needed was there somehow. He'd triangulated the gravesites, but there was no common factor there. They were scattered around the country. The first few gravesites held multiple bodies, but the more recent ones had only held one. Was Lyle slowing down in the number of girls he kidnapped or was there something else at play, perhaps more graves they'd yet to find? Archer just didn't know.
It was frustrating to sit around and wait for another grave to be discovered. The odd thing was, the graves were never hidden well. They were always near popular hiking trails or lakes where they would be found easily. It was as if Lyle wanted them found, as if he was flaunting his kills, wanting recognition of them. Each girl's body always held a bouquet of flowers, and each grave always had stakes with pink ribbons tied to them that surrounded the gravesite. It was Lyle's calling card.
Archer jumped at the sound of his cell phone ringing. He stretched to grab his phone from the nightstand, seeing a blocked number flash across the screen. He smiled, sure it had to be Carter. It fit his personality and profile to make sure his number was blocked and not available to anyone he didn't want to have it.
"Hello?" Archer asked.
"Hey, it's Carter. Can we meet and talk?"
Archer swung his legs off the side of the bed as he sat up. "Sure. When and where?"
"There's a café across the street from your motel, does that work in thirty minutes?" Carter asked.
Archer smiled, not shocked at all that Carter would know where he was staying. He assumed Carter would have run his name and details through every database there was. His credit card would show where he'd stayed the night. "That works for me."
"See you then." Carter disconnected the call.
Archer stood as he set his phone back down. He had enough time to grab a quick shower before meeting Carter.
As he undressed and headed to the small bathroom, he wondered what Carter would have to say. The truth was, he really didn't have anything to offer Carter that Carter couldn't do himself. It was clear Carter would have access to all the files, and probably even notes and other things made about the case. He was sure that Carter had brainstormed every lead, focused on every bit of evidence, and come to many of the same conclusions that Archer had. He didn't need Archer by his side to do anything, but he hoped that Carter would still be willing to help him. Without Howard helping him access confidential files and using FBI resources for him, his search would slow, and Archer wasn't willing to let that happen.
He quickly showered and changed into a nice pair of jeans and a dark blue polo shirt. He combed his hair, leaving it wet before running his razor over his chin. It wasn't a formal meeting, but he still wanted to make a good impression.
Shoving his wallet into his back pocket, he double checked he had his room key, and headed out the door. It was early afternoon, but the sun was still high, the heat coming off the pavement adding to the already high temperature.
He waited for the light before crossing the street and making his way to the small café. The smell of food had his stomach growling, and he hoped Carter wouldn't mind if he ate while they talked.
It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the light once he stepped inside, but as he looked around, he saw Carter sitting at a booth, looking at the menu. He headed that way before the hostess rushed to seat him.
"You're early, because I know I'm not late." Archer sat down.
"It's California. You never know how traffic will be. I always leave early." Carter set the menu down and smiled. "Good to see you again."
"Thanks for calling. I was afraid you'd blow me off." Archer reached for the water pitcher and poured himself a glass.
"I said I'd call one way or the other. I always keep my word." Carter lifted the menu. "Hope you don't mind if we eat. I haven't had anything today."
"I'm starving." Archer picked up his own menu and looked through it. "Have you been here before?"
"Nope, first time. I don't go out too much. If they don't deliver, I probably can't suggest much." Carter smiled.
"Delivery. A man after my own heart." Archer lived off fast-food and take out. He decided on a hot roast beef sandwich before setting his menu aside.
Carter was silent as he continued to decide what he was going to have.
Archer let the silence settle between them. What they had to discuss was a heavy topic, and it wasn't something they would just jump into talking about. Especially in such a public place.
Once the waitress had come and taken their orders, Carter finally stared across the table at him. "I've got questions."
"I figured you might." Archer was fine with answering whatever Carter wanted to know. He had no secrets, no skeletons in his closet. His life was simple, and he liked it that way.
"Even if they are personal and not about the case?" Carter asked.
"I'm an open book. If there was something that wasn't in my history that you want to know, ask away." Archer folded his hands on the table. "I'm quite boring, honestly."
