Page 14 of State of Retribution (First Family #9)

A rchie 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.”

“I’ll go make it.”

“Would you mind if I took a shower?”

“Not at all. Make yourself completely at home.”

“You’re very kind. I wish I remembered meeting you before… Well… I suppose it’s better that I can’t remember much of anything that happened over the last week or so.”

“About that… We have an incredible psychiatrist at work. Everyone loves him. I’m sure he’d stop by to talk if you feel up to that.”

“I’m not sure what we’d talk about.”

“There’s trauma in the not remembering as well as the physical injuries. Dr. Trulo is the best.”

“Why would he care about me? I don’t work with you.”

“He’d care if I asked him to.”

“Why do you care?”

Archie shrugged. He’d been asking himself that same question for days. “I just do. We had a good time together before this happened. I want to see you back on your feet and on the road to a full recovery.”

Her shy smile touched him in places he hadn’t realized were there. He’d had that same reaction to her when they first met and every time he’d seen her since, even when she was in the hospital.

“Thank you for everything. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”

“I’m happy to help. Whatever I can do.”

“Don’t you have to work?”

“I took a few days off, which I never do, so I have a ton of leave.”

“It’s nice of you to do that for me.”

“No problem at all. How about you grab that shower while I make us some breakfast?”

“That’d be great.”

“Coffee?”

“I’d love some.”

“You got it. Do you need a hand getting up?”

“I might.”

Archie moved closer and offered her an arm to hold as she sat up, grimacing from the bruises on her ribs and abdomen. She wore one of his DC Federals T-shirts and a pair of his sweats that were far too big for her. He needed to see about getting her some clothing that fit properly.

When she was upright on the side of the bed, her feet on the floor, she took a moment to collect herself, pushing hair back from her face. “Sorry that I’m like a ninety-year-old.”

“No need to be sorry. You’re recovering from painful injuries. Take your time.”

She took hold of his arm and stood slowly, wincing and tearing up. “This sucks.”

“It totally sucks, but you’re doing so much better than you were even yesterday.”

“If you say so.”

“I say so.”

She kept a tight grip on his arm as he walked her to the bathroom.

“Let me grab a change of clothes for you. We’ll see about getting something that fits you.

” He’d reached out to their mutual friends, Joe and Deb, to ask if Deb knew where Harlowe had been living.

Deb had said she wasn’t exactly sure, but she thought it had been a short-term rental or extended-stay hotel since her sales-rep assignment in the District was temporary.

Erica was working on figuring out the exact location where Harlowe had been staying.

Harlowe’s cell phone hadn’t been with her when she was found.

In the hospital, after Harlowe decided to trust him, she’d asked Archie to speak to the doctors for her because she couldn’t handle hearing the details of what’d happened to her.

Archie had yet to share those details with her, or the fact that the doctors had determined she’d been sexually assaulted.

But he was pretty sure she knew that, based on her injuries.

“I’m sorry for all the trouble I’m causing you.”

“It’s no trouble. I swear. I’m happy to help you any way I can.”

Her eyes filled with tears that unnerved him. They made him want to wrap his arms around her and promise he’d take care of her for as long as she needed him. He hoped that’d be a long time.

But he was afraid of scaring her, so he resisted the urge to hug her.

“Do you need anything?” He put out towels and made sure there was shampoo and body wash in the shower.

“No, thank you. I should be fine.”

“Call me if you need me.”

“I will.”

He wasn’t sure if he should leave her to fend for herself, but he also didn’t feel right offering to help. Hopefully, she could get through it on her own.

In the kitchen, he poured himself another cup of coffee.

His mind raced with questions, concerns and a fiercely protective feeling for a woman that was all new to him—and deeply unsettling.

Archie had more questions than answers where she was concerned, and yet…

He was becoming more involved with every passing hour.

In his bedroom, he found a clean T-shirt and another pair of sweats with a string around the waist that she could tighten. When he heard the shower running, he opened the bathroom door to put them on the counter.

By the time Harlowe walked into the kitchen twenty minutes later, Archie had the food ready.

She looked like a waif in his clothing.

He went to offer her an arm to hold as she made her way slowly to the small table. “Let me grab a pillow for you to sit on. Hang on.”

In the living room, he grabbed one of the throw pillows his mother had insisted he needed when he moved into the apartment and brought it to the kitchen.

“Thank you,” she said as she lowered herself slowly to the now-cushioned wooden chair.

His entire body and soul ached for her. He wanted to murder the person or people who’d done this to her. Even after more than fifteen years as a law enforcement officer, he was still infuriated and saddened by the depravity he saw on—and off—the job.

Archie served plates for both of them along with coffee, creamer, sugar and sweetener, since he wasn’t sure how she took her coffee. Thank goodness for grocery delivery services, or he would’ve had beer, beef jerky and granola bars to offer her.

“Are you okay drinking coffee later in the day?”

“I think so, but I guess we’ll find out if it keeps me awake. Also, this smells delicious.”

“It’s one of three things I can cook most of the time.”

“What are the other two?”

“Spaghetti sauce and burgers on the grill.”

“Those are hard to screw up.”

Smiling, he said, “That’s what I’ve found. Do you like to cook?”

She thought about that for a second. “Yes, I think I do.” A look of panic appeared in her expressive brown eyes. “What will I do if I can’t remember basic things like that, things I knew how to do or who I was before?”

In addition to remembering nothing about the kidnapping or assault, she was fuzzy on other details about her life prior to the incident.

“I’m sure it’ll come back to you at some point.”

“But then so will the bad stuff.”

“Possibly.”

She took a bite of toast and a sip of black coffee. “Maybe it would be better if I didn’t remember any of it.”

“Do you have any memory of what happened to you?” He asked the question as gently as possible, wishing he didn’t need to ask it at all.

“Even though I’m scared of the memories, I’ve been trying really hard to come up with anything I can, but there’s just nothing before the hospital.”

“You told me you’re a sales rep for a food company.”

Her brow furrowed.

She’s adorable, he thought, even when she’s confused and upset.

The few times he’d seen her before she went missing, he’d thought she was charming, delightful and sexy, even if she was somewhat secretive about the details of her life.

He’d sensed then she wasn’t telling him everything, but he hadn’t felt right about digging deeper.

“One of my colleagues was hoping she might talk to you about what you remember,” he said tentatively.

“I’ve already been over it with the police. I don’t remember much of anything.”

“Maybe if she brought Dr. Trulo, the psychiatrist, with her, it might help.”

“I’m willing to do whatever I can to assist in the investigation. I want to know what happened more than anyone. But I don’t want to disappoint you.”

Goddamn, but she got to him with the way she looked at him. He placed his hand on top of hers. “You couldn’t disappoint me.”

“Yes, I could.”

“Don’t worry about that. I think you’re amazing, and I have since the first time we met.”

“Tell me about that.”

“We were at a party in Georgetown at my friend Joe’s house. You knew his wife, Deb, from yoga. Joe and I play softball together. You said you’re a sales rep for a national food company that services grocery stores and restaurants.”

Archie’s phone rang with a call from Erica Lucas. He showed the caller ID to Harlowe and took the call on speaker. “Hey, Erica. You’ve got both of us. How’s it going?”

“I’m making some progress on Harlowe’s case.

Her parents called the department, asking for a wellness check since she stopped returning their texts and calls a few days ago.

They live outside of Pittsburgh, where Harlowe grew up.

They said she’s on a six-month assignment to DC and has been living in an extended-stay hotel.

They gave me the address near Columbia Road. The parents are flying in today.”

His heart sank at the thought of them swooping in and taking over caring for her.

“Archie?”

“I’m here. So she told me she came here for college and never left, but they said she’s on a six-month assignment here. That doesn’t add up.”

“We can ask them about that.”