Page 12 of Hack
"I didn't see anything boring about you. You've lived an interesting life. I'm just curious about some of your decisions, some of the paths you've chosen."
"Like why I left the FBI?" Archer guessed.
"Oh, my questions go back farther than that." Carter grinned. "I'm curious why someone would put in the time and effort to graduate law school, top of his class, then fail to take the Bar Exam and completely change the path you were on and suddenly go through the police academy?"
It was a question Archer hadn't expected, but one he didn't mind answering. "Because my father died about the time I graduated and I finally felt free enough to follow through on my dreams and not his."
Carter nodded. "I can understand that, but that's a lot of education to throw away."
"Education is never thrown away. It has its benefits whether you follow through on what you learn or you don't. I was a better police officer from having gone through all those classes, and I'm a better P.I. now because of it. I see things through the eyes of both an attorney and a cop. I know exactly how far I can push the laws before I break them."
"Do you do that often, break the law?" Carter smiled.
Archer could tell by the look in Carter's eyes that while he was trying to make light of the question by smiling, he wanted an honest answer. Archer wasn't going to lie. "I have when the need arises, but not for my personal gain or pleasure." He wanted to turn the question back on Carter, but didn't think it was wise while he was trying to get Carter to work with him. He needed Carter at ease, and turning this conversation back on him wouldn't do it.
"I like your honesty." Carter reached for his water.
"I have nothing to hide. I'm not proud of all the things I've done in my life, but I've always had good reason to do them." Archer did try to live by the letter of the law, but it wasn't always easy. "I guess technically, having Howard, and now hopefully you, slip me information from the FBI database would be one of those times I've bent the law."
Carson gave a single nod. "I'm as guilty there as you are. While I have sources with the CIA who probably know I'm lurking in their system, none of them have said anything."
"I doubt anyone blames you for keeping up with the case." Archer would do the same thing if it had been his daughter killed. Hell, he was doing it and he didn't have any personal attachment to the case other than a desire to find the asshole and stop him. "I worked the case through the first three gravesites. I was just a field agent and was still new. I was hoping to move up the ranks, but it didn't take long to see how quickly cases were piled to the side when new things had the public's attention. I hated it. There was something about leaving a case open that never felt right. I didn't like the unfinished business. I prided myself in all aspects of my life in completing what I started once I was free to make my own decisions about my life. I'd lived too many years having no choices at all. Anyway, there was something about this case that I never could let go. I wanted closure, not just for me, but for the victims, for the families." He gave Carter a weak smile. "You deserve to see Lyle brought to justice."
Carter blew out a long breath. "I just want him to suffer the way he's made others suffer. I know it's wrong. Seeing him caught should be enough, but I can't help but want vengeance. I want him to hurt and suffer like all his victims have."
"I think it's normal to feel that way. Honestly, I'd be shocked if you didn't."
Carter stared at Archer. "So, what I need to know is, if I help you and we find information that leads us to Lyle, will you stop me from going after him?"
Archer met Carter's stare. "If it's a suicide mission for you to go in, yes, I will do everything in my power to stop you, but, if I think you won't die going after him, I would be able to look the other way and let you do what you feel needs to be done. Just so that whatever you do leaves enough evidence it was him to give the other families affected by this some closure. Can I say I'd help you? No, I'm not sure I could, but I do know I can turn a blind eye to it if you go in."
"I wouldn't ask you to help, and I promise now, it won't be a suicide mission. When it happens, I'll be sure he's the one that suffers." Carter's eyes narrowed. "I want to get my hands on this fucker. I've hunted him for years."
"So have I, and I know I'm close. There are things the FBI hasn't figured out, but I'm still piecing together. Plus, as I said, I've been watching his brothers, and I'm convinced they know more than they are telling anyone. I'm sure Lyle is working under another name. I just need to watch the brothers. In time, they'll make contact." Archer glanced around them, making sure no one was close enough to hear what they were discussing. "Most of what I do, I can do alone, but there are times, like if new graves are found or new evidence comes forth through the FBI, that I might need you to take a peek and let me know what is there."
"And in return?"
"I don't have much to offer other than my word that any leads I have you will know about. I'll openly share everything I know or think about the case. My goal is to stop Lyle from killing anyone else. I don't care who stops him, just that someone does. If there is something I can offer that you need, say the word."
Carter met his gaze. "I want to know everything you know. I want to sit down with you and go over everything from day one to now. I've tried my hardest to put this behind me, but it's never far from my mind. I want to work with you and find a way to bring this nightmare to an end. I don't know how we do it, but my gut tells me that together we can find a way."
"Done. I have files of things I can email you, and even more on paper. As I mentioned, I'm due in Tennessee the day after tomorrow, but I'm happy to stop by my place and gather what I have and come back with it. The job in Tennessee should only take a couple of days, then we can meet up again, if you're okay with that." Archer was excited to get a second set of eyes on his theories and see if he was heading down the right path. To have someone knowledgeable about the case sit down with him and go over everything would be amazing. It was more than he'd hoped for.
Carter sat back as the food was delivered. Once the waitress left, he looked over the table at Archer. "Call me when you are done with whatever you're working on. We can meet and figure out what each other knows. I'm interested in hearing your theories and ideas. I have a few of my own, but nothing concrete enough that I can follow up on them. I'm hoping you have some information that can change that." He took a bite of the club sandwich he'd ordered.
"That works. My plan was to track Levitt and Luis a bit more. I wish I could trace their calls or even put a tracker on their cars, but that's beyond my skill. I know the FBI could do it, but again, it's as if they don't want to bother following leads, or they really believe the brothers when they say they don't know where Lyle is. I just can't see them not knowing. The three of them were close when they were younger. I don't see them cutting ties, then again, maybe if they were aware of what their brother was doing, they might have walked away from him. I just don't know, but my gut tells me they will lead us to him." Archer cut into his roast beef.
"I might be able to track their calls. When we sit down and talk, it's something we'll figure out. I've run a couple of checks on Lyle's family, but didn't come up with much." Carter glanced at the couple who was being seated right next to them. "So, tell me about you."
Archer understood the sudden change of topic. The hunt for a murderer wasn't something to discuss in public with people close enough to hear. "Not much to tell. I was a spoiled rich kid living Daddy's dreams for the first half of my life. Then I decided to live my own for a while, but became disillusioned with all the red-tape and political bullshit that I faced both in the police force and the FBI. Figured I was better on my own. At least if I failed alone, there wasn't anyone to blame but myself. It wasn't some head-honcho telling me to forget what I've seen and move on to something else. Probably shouldn't tell you this, as I'm asking you to work with me, but I don't work well with others."
Carter laughed. "I get it. I'm the same way. I'm best alone, locked in a room with my computer. Still, I'm not sure it's that you don't work well with others. You just don't work well with by-the-book authority who get off on power and make common sense look like a thing of the past."
Archer laughed. "That could be true. You just described the FBI perfectly. Don't get me wrong. They do good. I'm sure you saw it with your time in the CIA. While we might have been dealing with different issues, the authority structure is much the same. It's in the past. I'm much happier since I went off on my own."
"Where's home?" Carter asked.
"Didn't all this show on my background check?" Archer raised a brow.
