by Raine Thomas
“I took that consolation prize for you, or have you forgotten that?”
Of course Regina hadn’t forgotten. Nikki never ceased to remind her that she had infiltrated The Void for her.
Well, for Regina and a great deal of money.
Despite Nikki’s insistence that she had only dated Keith Connors for those reasons, Regina knew that Nikki had gotten more involved with him during the few weeks they were a couple than she admitted even to herself. She had been hurt by his rejection and took pleasure in discussing everything she had done with him in bed when she was around Keith’s current girlfriend.
Sydney never rose to the occasion. She always looked cool and poised during those interactions while Nikki looked cheap and trashy. Regina kept trying to get Nikki to see that. So far, it hadn’t sunk in.
“This isn’t the time or place to have this conversation,” Regina said with finality in her tone. “Drink some water and try not to make a fool of yourself the rest of the night.”
“Fuck you,” Nikki snarled loud enough to have more heads turning in their direction. “You can’t tell me to do whatever it takes to add drama to the show and then tell me to sober up and behave when it suits you.
“You want drama? I’ll give you some goddamn drama.”
Regina watched her spin and stroll unsteadily towards the bar. At least the second part of her tirade had been said quietly enough to remain between them.
As much as Regina hated to admit it, Nikki had a point. She had been relying far too heavily on Nikki to help keep Suddenly Something of interest to the House of Archer producers.
Having realized this a couple of weeks ago, Regina had reached out to a few people that she knew would add new layers of interest to the show and at the same time keep Suddenly Something involved. A couple of those people had taken her up on her offer and had already helped put some plans into action.
It seemed she needed to adjust the timeline on those plans, Regina thought as she watched Nikki snatch a fresh drink from the bartender and wobble over to plop herself in Mal’s lap. Cameras circled them, but Regina wasn’t sure they’d get anything air-able from the interaction outside of a drunken make-out session.
Nikki was only hanging on by a thread. If that thread snapped, Suddenly Something would likely be off the show for good. There was no way Regina would let that happen.
It was time to move her other plans forward.
Chapter Twelve
“We have some updates for you,” Security Specialist Frederick Reimer told Archer and Lily two days later.
They were sitting in the manager’s office within their St. Louis hotel, not wanting to have this conversation in the hotel suite with its many cameras and microphones. The rest of the security team had already been briefed. This was the third time Archer had met directly with Ordinem’s Chief of Security since they had started working together. So far, the updates on the investigation into Lily’s stalker—or stalkers—had been uninformative. Something in Reimer’s gaze told Archer that this time would be different.
Archer felt Lily’s grip on his hand tighten as she sensed it too. He brought her hand up and pressed it briefly to his lips. Her grip eased and she gave him a small smile.
“I’ll begin right off by saying we have not yet found or identified the male who detained you in the spa, Lily,” Reimer stated, compassion in his dark eyes. “That said, our team remains diligent in cooperating with local authorities to make sure he never gets near you again.”
Lily nodded. Though her expression didn’t reflect concern, Archer knew she shared his disappointment over this news. They both wanted that guy found and arrested. More importantly, they wanted to know who he was so they could do everything to keep him out of their lives for good.
“In what I’m sure you’ll find more positive news,” Reimer continued, “we have identified the person who has been leaving you threatening comments on social media.”
Archer straightened. Of the various threats against Lily that Ordinem was investigating, he had assumed finding the person who constantly threatened and disparaged Lily on social media would be the most challenging. He knew the person wasn’t leaving the comments from one specific location. The reports up to now had indicated the person was moving around L.A.’s public Wi-Fi spots. Hell, there was every possibility that the threats were coming from multiple people. It was one of Ordinem’s linguistics analysts who felt strongly it was one person due to the consistent tone of the comments.
“Who is it?” he asked.
“Our investigation has led us to Victoria Rucker.”
Lily drew in a sharp breath. “Are you sure?”
Reimer nodded. “We have a few unanswered questions, but we’re sure she left the comments. She confessed as much during questioning.”
Victoria Rucker had been the band’s social media manager before Lily took the role. She had been doing a poor job of it, something Lily had pointed out to Archer multiple times before Christopher finally did something about it at the beginning of the tour. Archer supposed it made sense that Victoria might hold a grudge against Lily since Lily had taken over her position. She would also have insights into how the band’s social media worked and probably knew enough about technology to avoid detection for this long.
“How did you find out it was her?” Archer wondered.
“You knew she was on our list of suspects,” Reimer replied. “As the previous social media manager, she was a logical possibility. It took time to track her since she used public computers. We ultimately kept a tail on her and finally caught her leaving another comment like the others.”
Lily tilted her head back and stared at the ceiling as though lost in thought. “I honestly didn’t think she cared about this job that much. She put so little effort into it.”
“Maybe that’s all she had the skillset to do,” Archer pointed out, releasing her hand to rub her slender neck. “Seeing you step into her role and achieve so much success so quickly must have set her off.”
Lily shook herself out of her contemplative state. “Why did she make those awful photos?” she asked Reimer, referencing the horrifying altered images that had been e-mailed to her several times over the past couple weeks.
“I never said she did,” Reimer levelly responded. “I mentioned that we have some unanswered questions. That is among them.”
Archer frowned. “But you think she sent them, right? Ryan said the tone of the e-mails sounded female.”
“We aren’t jumping to any conclusions. We’re currently verifying Ms. Rucker’s whereabouts on the dates and times the e-mails were sent. That will give us more leverage when we approach her about them again.”
“Again?” Lily pressed. “So you already asked her about it and she said she left the comments but she denied the e-mails?”
“Yes.”
Archer frowned. That made no sense. Yes, the photos were more extreme than the comments because they added a visual component, but the comments had been just as menacing and much more public.
“Why would she do that?” Lily asked, echoing his thoughts.
Reimer folded his hands on top of the desk. “We’re trying to get that answer.”
“So there might be someone else sending the e-mails?” Archer asked.
“We’re going to proceed as though that’s the case until we prove otherwise. We want to be diligent in our service to you.”
Jesus. That meant there could be more than just two people threatening Lily.
Lily brought a hand to her stomach. Seeing the movement, Archer once again took her hand and rubbed her palm in a way that calmed both of them. She leaned into him.
“We’re continuing the investigation into the list of people who might possibly hold grudges against you, Lily,” Reimer said. “A number of them have been eliminated as suspects. Your former boss, Doug Gallo, and the former co-worker you mentioned, Laura Steffler, remain persons of interest, as do a few others.”
Archer knew the stories about
Doug Gallo and Laura Steffler all too well, as he had supported Lily through both of those difficult times in her colorful work history. Gallo was a sexist pig who hit on Lily more times than she could count. She finally threatened to file a complaint and he fired her. Lily hadn’t let it rest at that. She had gotten a number of former female employees to side with her and press charges against Gallo for sexual harassment. Gallo had quit his job before the case went to trial. He had yet to find new employment. The women had decided to let that and the news coverage about the story serve as enough punishment rather than continue investing in legal fees.
Laura Steffler had worked with Lily during Lily’s internship at a regional magazine right before she graduated college. Lily had been responsible for fact-checking and had found several glaring errors in Laura’s articles. The editor finally had enough and fired Laura, offering Lily the job. Lily had turned it down, as it was a magazine about art and architecture, two subjects that didn’t particularly interest her. Laura had blamed Lily for losing her job and had cornered her after work one day to have it out with her. Security had to be called and interrupted the heated exchange. Laura apparently remained near the top of Ordinem’s suspect list.
Ordinem had also looked into Lily’s few former lovers, including Johnathan. Aside from his pending lawsuit, however, Johnathan appeared to be in the clear as far as threats against Lily. The same was true for Lily’s other exes. That angle hadn’t led the investigative team anywhere.
Nor had the family angle. Lily had mentioned her estranged relationship with her mother and half-siblings, so Ordinem had done their due diligence and researched them. It turned out none of them had the technical wherewithal to know about posting in an anonymous way. They were also more likely to attack Lily directly and in person. That all but ruled them out as suspects.
No one mentioned the faceless, nameless females Archer had slept with once over the years and never saw again. There was little to be done as far as investigating them.
Archer hated knowing that. He’d never be able to live with himself if this person threatening Lily turned out to be one of his former one-night stands, especially if that female ever tried to follow through on those threats.
“What you should both take away from this is that we’re making progress,” Reimer concluded. “The investigation is ongoing and I’ll update you as we learn more. For now, we’ll wrap up the investigation into Ms. Rucker. You should discuss whether or not you want to press criminal charges.”
Lily’s eyebrows lifted. “Criminal charges? But all she did was comment on social media.”
“That’s not all she did,” Archer argued. “She said derogatory things about you and made threats. Who knows how far she might have taken it if she hadn’t been caught?”
“Mr. Archer is right,” Reimer said. “Cyberstalking is a criminal form of harassment in California. Truthfully, though, the odds are that Ms. Rucker will get off with probation or a restraining order since she has no history of criminal behavior.”
“Even so, I want to press charges,” Archer said. “I’d rather have a restraining order against her than nothing. This should set an example for anyone considering issuing these kinds of comments or threats down the road.”
Reimer saw Lily’s nod of agreement and added one of his own. “It’s a good idea to take these things seriously. I’ll consult with Ms. Custer and the local authorities about it.”
Archer had put Reimer in touch with his lead attorney the day Ordinem started working with the band. Unbeknownst to Lily, they were also working together on Wingerson’s lawsuits. Hopefully that matter would soon be put to rest.
“Thanks, Red,” Archer said, getting to his feet and assisting Lily to hers. “I certainly feel better knowing things are progressing in the investigations. Makes it easier to focus on little things like wedding plans.”
As he’d hoped, that made Lily narrow her eyes at him. “Little things?” she repeated. “You’re hilarious.”
He shot her his most winning smile. It didn’t alter her warning glare in the least.
“Fine,” he said, throwing his arm over her shoulders as they exited the office. “Enough about wedding plans. How about we go and see some of St. Louis before we have to be at the venue?”
“Really?”
“Yep. I’ve never been here before. Let’s go see what this city has to offer.”
He didn’t bother telling her that he had arranged everything ahead of time. She figured it out herself the moment a horse-drawn carriage pulled up for them right in front of the hotel to take them on a private guided tour of the city. The carriage was stocked with champagne and a picnic lunch of her favorite foods. It was touristy and cheesy as hell, but Lily never stopped smiling.
Their driver, a friendly and weathered old man who called himself Iggy, was on point. He and his beloved horse, Romeo, did an excellent job of taking them to areas of significance as well as some local hotspots, entertaining them with outlandish stories that Iggy swore up and down were true. He also paused a few times in private spots under bridges and in alleys to “rest the horse,” giving Archer the ability to fit in some quality make-out sessions with Lily away from the public eye.
They finished the tour with a private trip up to the top of the Gateway Arch. Archer found it more than a little terrifying. The tiny car that carried them up one jarring click at a time felt like the inside of an egg. He had to hunch so he didn’t hit his head on the top of it.
Reaching the top of the arch offered little relief from his sense of claustrophobia. The entire thing swayed like it was made of Lego bricks. Lily took one glimpse out the window overlooking the city and deemed that she’d had enough of playing tourist for the day. They wound up back in the egg in less than five minutes despite him paying to keep the attraction closed to the public for a full hour.
But, hey...they had done it.
“Thank you, Dane,” Lily said as they neared their hotel and the horde of paparazzi awaiting them. “This was a little pocket of paradise on this trip.”
“Anything for my beautiful Muse,” he said, placing a light kiss on her lips.
Ryan, Barney, and Trey all met them in front of the hotel. It had taken a great deal of arguing from Archer to get them to agree to let him and Lily take the trip on their own. Their relief that no harm had come to Archer or Lily was apparent as they approached the carriage.
A number of the hotel’s staff made themselves helpful by clearing a narrow path and keeping the paparazzi and gawking fans at bay. Archer hopped down from the carriage first and then turned to assist Lily. When he was sure she was safe with their armed escort, Archer pulled out his wallet and fished out a tip for Iggy.
The driver’s eyes went wide at the number of bills. “Oh, no, Mr. Archer. I couldn’t possibly.”
“It’s not for you,” Archer said with a grin, pressing the money into the kind driver’s hand. “It’s for Romeo. He did all the hard work.”
Iggy barked out a laugh. “That he did. Thank you, sir. If I may say, you and your lady really have something together. I know you’ll both be very happy.”
Archer thanked him and stepped back so the carriage could be on its way. He returned to Lily’s side, taking her hand when she reached for him. Ryan and Trey led them to the front doors with Barney walking behind them.
Cameras flashed. The air filled with shouts and questions, none of which Archer or Lily addressed.
Back to reality, he thought.
They were only a few feet from the lobby door when Lily suddenly stopped walking. Archer stopped too. He looked down and saw that her face had paled. Her eyes were wide and intent.
Following her gaze, Archer spotted a male dressed in the hotel’s livery. There was something instantly familiar about the glasses-sporting guy with choppy brown hair. Archer caught only a brief glimpse before the other male turned and hurried inside.
“That’s him,” Lily said, her voice barely audible.
Archer knew what she was
saying. She meant that the male was the guy from the police sketch. The guy who was stalking her.
Ryan looked at her over his shoulder. He glanced briefly at Archer. Whatever he saw on Archer’s face had Ryan turning in the direction of Lily’s stare and starting that way at a jog. He spoke into his cuff as he yanked the door open and rushed into the lobby.
“This way, Mr. Archer. Miss Lily.” Trey led them through one of the other lobby doors, directing them away from where Ryan had gone.
Archer put his arm around Lily. He felt her trembling. A brief scan of the lobby told him that the guy Lily had spotted wasn’t around. Archer hoped like hell that Ryan found the guy.
Barney strode into the lobby and over to the front desk to consult with the staff there. Within minutes, the hotel’s manager arrived and guided them all back into the office where Archer and Lily had met with Reimer only a few hours ago. Archer sat in one of the chairs and pulled Lily onto his lap. She didn’t protest, sliding her arms around him and pressing her head against his chest.
“I’ve seen him before,” she murmured.
His grip on her tightened. “Where?”
“I can’t remember. But I know I’ve seen him.”
The guy had looked somewhat familiar to Archer too. He had assumed that was because he’d been studying the police sketch so much, but maybe it was because he’d run into him before. He and Lily had personally met a few thousand people on this tour. He supposed it wasn’t surprising they couldn’t immediately place him.
They waited in silence for Ryan’s return. When he finally stepped into the office, Archer had only to look at him to know.
Lily’s stalker had escaped.
Chapter Thirteen
The vibe among the band was subdued as they prepared to take the stage for their sound check that evening. After Lily’s stalker was spotted and pursued without getting caught, the band switched hotels. Sage had barely managed to get his things situated in his new room before leaving for the concert venue.
