Page 88 of Hack
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Archer pushed a folder to the side of his desk, debating on if he wanted to pick up another case. It was a family who was convinced their son was stealing artwork and selling it. It wasn't the kind of case he liked taking because the police were already investigating, but the fact he could put more time in and ask questions without doing it under the guise of being a cop gave him an advantage. Still, did he really want to follow some drug addict around town until he located where he was selling the art?
"Hey, would you mind if I hacked into the FBI from here?" Carter asked from the doorway.
Archer was about to say as long as it was safe, but this was Carter they were talking about. Of course, it would be safe. "Sure. You do what you need. Do you want my computer?"
"Nah, I stopped while I was out this morning and bought one. No offense, but your computer is a bit out of date." Carter grinned, looking at the old computer on Archer's desk.
"Yeah, I don't use it often. I mostly do things on the laptop, which is newer, but I'm guessing to you, anything more than a year old is outdated." Archer sat back in his chair.
It had been a week since Carter had come to him in bed, and since then, things had been easier between them. They still weren't really acting like a couple, but they were talking, spending time together, and sharing a bed every night, though other than holding each other, they hadn't done anything.
"I like to keep up with the newest tech." Carter came in and sat down. "I'll make sure everything is secure, but if you're worried, I can do it from another location."
"I trust you. You're not going to bring the Feds to my door. Do what you need to. If you need anything from me, let me know. You going to check up on the case?" The information from the media was at a standstill, and after the first initial shock of the girls being found, there hadn't been much in the news.
"Yeah, I want to see if they tied anything back to Luis and Levitt, and see if they admitted to kidnapping the other two missing girls. The woman with Lyle was one of the missing girls from the Atlanta area, but it wasn't the one Dana had thought. I don't know. I guess I'm just looking to see how they tied up loose ends."
Archer was curious as well. "Did the FBI ever contact you to let you know about Lyle's death and his connection to Angel's?"
"Yeah, I checked my voicemail a couple of weeks ago from your phone. There was a call asking me to get hold of them. I emailed them after, telling them thank you and requested no further contact as I hoped to move on with my life now that the murderer had been found. I haven't heard back. I'm sure they think I'm just a grieving parent. I also called Howard and checked on him. He said to tell you hello, and off the record, he said we did a good job."
Archer smiled. "I hope that fool is enjoying his retirement."
"From the hula music I heard in the background and the clanking of glass, I'd say he's doing just fine." Carter took a seat in one of the chairs in front of Archer's big desk. "You okay if I steal a corner to work?"
"Go for it. I'm just tinkering around, trying to decide if I should accept a case or not. Take all the room you need."
"Did you want to travel back to California with me when I go?" Carter asked.
Archer looked up, surprised by the question. "Do you want me with you?"
Carter nodded. "I'd like you there."
"Then yes, I'll be with you."
"Then hold off on that case unless it's a quick one. I'm thinking of heading back maybe the end of this week. I've put this off long enough. I need to face them, and I need to thank Xander for all he did for me." Carter sighed. "I can't ever repay him for what he did."
"I'm pretty sure he isn't expecting anything. He went because he's your friend. He protects you the same way you've always protected him when he goes out."
"Yeah, but he doesn't break down and freeze up when he goes out."
"No one is going to hold that against you."
"I wouldn't blame them if they did."
"They were glad to be there for you."
"We'll see how they feel when we get there and I talk to them about it all." Carter opened the laptop he'd bought. "Faith is the one I'm scared to see. She's going to kill me for not calling her back."
"You know, I think she'll be the one who understands the most. She's just been worried about you, but I don't get the feeling she's mad when I talk to her. I think more than anything, she just wants to hear your voice and know you're okay." He'd spent a lot of time talking to Faith over the last few weeks. She'd called every few days to check on Carter.
"I hope Xander didn't tell her what I did." Carter sighed.
"She doesn't know details. At least she acts like she doesn't when I talk to her. She knows you and Xander went in and killed him and saved the girls. That's all she needs to know. The how of it all doesn't matter. Besides, I think if anyone would understand the violence, it would be Faith. She's lived through it. She knows what monsters like Lyle are capable of." Archer quickly sent an email, refusing the case he'd been offered.
Once done, he turned and watched Carter on the computer. It was good to see him focused again. There was still a lot weighing on his mind, but he seemed more at ease. The fact he was ready to go back to California said a lot. Stepping back into his old life wasn't going to be easy, but Archer wanted him to get back to normal so that Carter could try and move on with life and not get stuck in what had gone on over the last month.
