Page 60 of Finding Forever

My initial spark of relief was replaced with caution. “It’s too early to get excited. The breaking and entering will be classified as a misdemeanor. He could be out of prison in less than a year. The police will need more evidence if they’re going to charge him with stalking.” I studied the trees around us, whistling for Sherlock when I still couldn’t see him.

“They’ll find the evidence they need,” Alex assured me.

I wasn’t so sure. Chapman had set up an elaborate hoax in the warehouse and stalked me for more than six months. Anyone who had invested that much time and energy into another person’s life wouldn’t leave anything to chance.

“What does Jameson want us to do?” I asked.

“Nothing for now.” Alex looked across the front yard as Sherlock came bounding toward us.

“Where’s Riley?” I patted Sherlock’s head.

“In the backyard. I haven’t told him about Chapman.”

“Do you mind if I tell him?”

“Go ahead. I’ll keep Sherlock amused.”

I handed Alex the stick and walked around the side of the house. Whatever happened with Chapman was out of our control. The only thing we could do was wait.

forty-three

RILEY

I pulled another handful of weeds out of the garden, my mind spinning. The last layer of paint on my canvas had to dry, and I needed something to do. Keeping busy was the best way to stop my imagination from working overtime—especially where Eric’s stalker was concerned. Thinking about Leith Chapman would only give me ulcers.

Alex had offered to drive to Sunrise Bay and collect another canvas, but I was reluctant to say yes. There was only one other painting I wanted to finish, but I didn’t want anyone to see it.

I stood and stretched my back. At some point, the garden had been well looked after. The shrubs weren’t too overgrown, and a good prune would make all the difference. Three pale pink daisy bushes gave the yard a little color, and some pansies peeked through the weeds. I wasn’t much of a gardener, but anything had to be better than letting the dandelions and grass take over completely.

“Riley?”

“Over here.” I smiled as Eric came around the corner of the house. After nearly giving me a heart attack the other night, he’d switched tactics, making lots of noise whenever he came near. “I heard Sherlock barking. He sounds happy.”

The early morning sunlight gleamed off Eric’s wet hair. I hadn’t been awake when he came outside, so I guessed he must have had a shower before letting Sherlock out.

Eric looked around the yard. “You’ve done a lot of weeding.”

I threw another clump of weeds onto the pile beside me. “I thought I’d get an early start. In another couple of hours, it’ll be too hot to be out here. Did you have a good night’s sleep?”

“About average.”

He didn’t have to tell me ‘about average’ wasn’t enough. The black rings under his eyes were getting darker. We were both worried about Chapman, and right now, there wasn’t a lot we could do about it.

I wiped a trickle of sweat off my face. “I haven’t seen Alex since breakfast. Has he heard anything from the police or Bryant Security?”

“The police have found Chapman.”

It took a few seconds for his words to sink in. “They have? When?”

“Earlier this morning. Detective Jameson called Alex a few minutes ago.”

“Has he been charged with anything?”

Eric sighed. “As far as I’m aware, he’s only been charged with running a red light and breaking and entering. The police are searching his apartment and his stepbrother’s. Hopefully, they’ll find enough evidence to charge him with stalking and whatever else they can throw at him.”

“So, Leith won’t be coming back to Sunrise Bay?”

“Not if the police can help it. It all depends on what they find in the Chapman brothers’ apartments.”

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