When a second adult appeared and seemed to head toward him, Archer recoiled. What if he were one of the strangler's accomplices set to murder him for daring to witness such a crime? However, Thaddeus's question had such thoughts halting in his brain, "N-no. Someone else hurt him!" He whispered his answer, loud enough for both men to hear.

It was much too dark, and Archer was far too distracted by all that seemed to be happening to realize he might recognize Thaddeus from the museum. His guard remained up as he glanced between the two. His gaze settled on Lou once more who insisted he only saw what happened. The boy wasn't exactly sure if he could be lying, but he certainly hadn't been the one who had possibly killed the man laying on the ground. "He wasn't the one who did it." He wasn't quite defending Lou, but he wasn't about to allow the poor man to be blamed for a crime he didn't commit.