3. Archer
ARCHER
PRESENT DAY
“Can you show me the security system for your house and the camera setup when we get there?” Ace asked me, sighing loudly as though it was a forgone conclusion that I would tell her no.
“ Look , I’ve covered enough news stories about home break-ins, business robberies, and everything in between.
I’d like to think I’ve picked up a few things about what makes a good security setup and what doesn’t. ”
Vince was now driving us back to my place. Ace and I were in the back seat again, this time with her dog in her lap. That had been a fun adventure.
We had arrived at her apartment after doing a thorough perimeter check, and Diego watched everything from the car in case we were followed.
The four of us— Vince , Jack , Ace , and I —entered her apartment, where we were promptly greeted by her barking dog.
It literally never stopped barking for twenty-two minutes—yes, I counted—while we were there to scan the place and pack up her things.
While Ace packed up, Vince quickly installed a small hidden camera facing the door to her apartment in case someone tried to break in. Jack installed a second one facing her balcony door, all while his dog Dash sat next to him warily watching Ace’s dog bark incessantly at them.
Two suitcases, a bag full of dog supplies, and a bin full of “work stuff,” and we were finally on our way back to my place.
I gave in to her questions about security—if it would make her amenable to the plan, I would do it.
“Jack, Vince , and I live on an old horse farm. We originally bought eight acres total and split it up into three properties, but a few months ago, we decided to buy another neighboring eight acres for added privacy.”
“Oh wow, that’s nice,” Ace interrupted. “ You’re close but still have plenty of seclusion, it sounds like.”
I nodded and gave her more details. “ Jack took the original Craftsman home and fixed it all up. Vince and I built our homes from the ground up, though his isn’t finished yet.”
“Four more weeks,” Vince cut in. “ Hoping to get all moved in before Thanksgiving ‘cause Cat wants to host.”
“Cat is his new wife,” I told her.
“Congratulations,” Ace said to Vince and then turned to me. “ When you say built from the ground up, do you mean you actually built it yourself?”
“No,” I snorted back at her. “ I hired someone.” It would have been amazing to do that, but I had neither the skills nor the time to achieve that.
“We have cameras all around our properties along the perimeter as well as the main entrance. That way, if someone comes onto the property, we get an alert,” I explained as I pulled up the security app on my phone to show her.
“ There are also cameras around each of our houses with a line of sight at all doors and egresses. That is why you’re staying with me—at least for tonight.
If you don’t like this arrangement, we can discuss alternative options tomorrow. ”
“Are there alternative options available—and at the ready in case we need to change quickly?” she asked me, and I found I admired her ability to look at this rationally while also planning ahead.
“Yes, but this was the most convenient for tonight, considering how late it is,” I told her.
She paused, clearly thinking things through in her head. “ If they could find me at my apartment, couldn’t they just come to your house? I understand your house is secure, but I’ve also learned that if people want to kill you, they will find a way.”
“You speaking from personal experience?” Vince chimed in from the front.
“I can honestly say I have never had anyone take out a hit on me before, but I’ve covered enough news stories to know if the bad guys want it bad enough, they will find a way,” she responded.
“My house is secure, yes, but all of our properties are listed under a shell company, which is very distantly tied to the security company we own but still listed as a working farm,” I explained.
“ To anyone digging deep, it may just look like we bought the farm as an investment, not necessarily that we are living here.”
“You’ve mentioned this security company before,” Ace said. “ Will your boss mind that you’re utilizing all of these resources to help me—someone who technically isn’t married to you anymore?”
I knew what she was saying. People know that when you were a direct employee or a family member, your job would help you out, but in her case, she neither worked for, nor was related to anyone within the company.
“I am the boss,” I informed her, hoping that clarified the situation.
“ Vince , Jack , Wade , and I are all equal partners. We have five other employees— Diego , Axel , Dane , Andre , and Delia —who work for us, as well as Jack’s fiancé, Ruthie , who runs our front desk and handles all our administrative stuff. ”
I took in the look on her face. It was only there briefly, but there was definitely a look of impressed shock in her eyes.
“Everyone has been briefed, and they are all on board to assist,” Vince added. “ Speaking of which, Jack said he will drop off Dash and meet us at your place with the others.”
I nodded at him, knowing Ruthie would likely come too—under the guise of “working with us,” but mostly because she was nosy.
“The others?” Ace asked with one brow lifted in confusion.
“Several other people we work with are meeting at my place so we can go over some security plans for the next few days,” I informed her.
I could tell she had more questions, but thankfully Vince’s voice cut her off. “ Home sweet home.”
She looked up and out the window. It was dark, but I saw her taking it all in as we pulled down the drive to the property. Trees lined the main road, providing a little bit of security. About fifty yards down, Jack’s house came into view.
“That’s Jack and Ruthie’s place,” I pointed out to her as we drove by. We passed a small pond on the side of Jack’s property and then some small hills and lots of grassy meadows.
A few minutes later, Vince’s home came into view, and I pointed that out to her as well.
The outside of it looked all done, but the inside was still a work in progress.
My house was last, as you curved down the street to the right.
It was a combination of stone and wood. It had a very rustic cabin charm to it, though it was brand-new and modern in every way.
“You take her and the dog in and show them around, and I’ll grab the stuff and bring it in,” Vince announced as we pulled up to the front of my house.
I confirmed with him as I opened the door for Ace to get out. She let Percy walk around a bit and do his business before we made our way up the front steps. I disarmed my alarm system as we walked in and then flicked on some lights.
The front door opened to a narrow entryway.
I gave her a brief tour, letting her know the garage was on the right and formal dining room on the left, which I used as a makeshift gym for now.
As we continued down the hall, it opened into a large open space with the stairs on the left and the living room and kitchen in front of us.
“Let me show you your room upstairs so Vince can put your stuff down, and then I’ll show you the rest of the house,” I told her as I waited for her to follow.
“Am I allowed to know the alarm code and have keys in case Percy needs to go out to pee at night or early in the morning?” she asked.
“For now, come wake me up if that happens,” I responded. “ While I’m confident my place is secure, I don’t want to leave anything to chance, so I’d rather go out with you.”
She nodded in response, and we walked upstairs.
The first room on the right was a guest bath, which I told her would be hers.
My room was directly across the hall from that bathroom.
Her room and another guest room were farther down the hall, but the extra room was currently being used as my home office.
“Here, take these, and I’ll go grab the rest,” Vince said as he made it to the top of the stairs, handing me her two suitcases.
I brought them into her room and set them down by the door. She then set Percy down so he could sniff around the room.
“Is this okay?” I found I oddly cared what she thought of the space.
“Yes, this is very nice, thanks,” she replied, taking in the room around her.
Vince came up with the rest of the items and set them down. “ Diego is here, and Jack and Ruthie just pulled up. Wade and Axel are two minutes out.”
I nodded at him as he pivoted to walk down the stairs, and then I turned to Ace . “ Go ahead and take a few minutes to freshen up or get him settled, and I’ll meet you downstairs so we can go over your schedule for the next few days and what the plan is.”
“Sounds good,” she replied. “ Just give me three minutes.”
I nodded and made my way downstairs to greet the guys as they arrived.
Jack had left the apartment complex right behind us to make sure no one we didn’t know had followed us.
Diego , however, had stayed behind for a little while longer to see if anyone tried to get near her apartment after we left.
Sure , we had put up cameras, but people who were highly trained—as hitmen often could be—would either see the cameras or could stealthily scope out her apartment in other ways.
“All clear,” Diego announced when I stepped into the living room. “ No sign of movement or anything odd after you left.”
“Good,” I replied as Wade and Axel walked in the front door. They moved to join Vince , Diego , Ruthie , Jack , and me in the living room.
“Where is she?” Wade asked as he sat down on my couch next to Ruthie and Jack .
“She’s upstairs in the guest room but should be down in a minute,” I told them.
“What do you need from us in the next few days?” Diego asked from the recliner on the far side of the room.