Focus.
Their author client, CJ Rollins, emailed them the picture with a single line.
I’m watching you, and I think this photo is the perfect inspiration for the cover.
“Maybe we should tell Garrett about it,” Josh said, worry in his voice.
“Yeah, maybe. He could at least tell us what to do. He’s not threatening us or anything, but it’s clear he’s stalking us. What I don’t get is why he’s doing it.”
“Wasn’t this guy one of our first clients? He’s been with us for years, so why is he only being creepy now?”
Riley froze, recalling their past interactions with CJ Rollins.
“You’re right,” he said, his thoughts tumbling. “We were surprised he reached out to us a few months after we announced our business.”
“Yeah! We were freaking out ’cause we got this best-selling author messaging us. It was like it was too good to be true.”
A chill ran down Riley’s spine. Was it in the realm of possibility that this guy was playing some kind of long game with them? If so, where would it end?
“Are you going to respond?” Josh asked, breaking Riley from his dark thoughts.
He took a moment to think before drafting something, hoping to get some answers.
If you continue stalking us, we’ll be forced to take legal action against you and drop your contracts.
It was only a moment before a response landed in their inbox.
Since I was in a parking lot, on public property, I’m afraid I wasn’t doing anything illegal. But go ahead and try. I know way more than you think.
“Okay, fuck this guy,” Riley said, standing from his spot on the couch with his laptop and stomping toward his bedroom.
He preferred working on the couch next to Josh, but when he needed more computer power, he was forced to vacate to his mini-desk.
“What are you doing?” Josh asked, following him into his bedroom and sitting on the edge of Riley’s bed.
Riley glanced at him, sitting nervously in his snuggie. They always tried to get as cozy as possible athome, and once they discovered snuggies, it upped the cozy-factor. He spared his rumpled bestie a smile and turned to his workstation.
“I’m hacking the bastard. Time to find out who he really is.”
“Oh shiiiiiiiit!” Josh said, pumping his arms. “Motherfucker is about to bearileyated!”
Riley paused in his typing to stare at Josh. “Ari-what?”
“A-riley-ated. It’s like annihilated, but by Riley.”
Despite his mood to scorch some earth, he couldn’t help but smile. Josh was supportive with everything.
“I like it,” he murmured, getting back to work.
“Wait!” Josh shouted. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”
Riley narrowed his eyes for a second until it hit him. He chuckled as he opened his desk drawer and slipped on his Batman mask. Now, he was officially in detective mode.
Josh gave him a firm nod and said, “That’s better.”
He smiled sheepishly, happy to be wearing a mask now that his cheeks were probably getting pinker, and got to work. After a few moments, he found that CJ Rollins’ email and website were created using a library computer on a college campus in Philly almost a decade ago. That wouldn’t help with much, especially since it was such a popular school with South Jersey students.
Next, he went after CJ’s billing details and found that everything was created under a business called CJ Rollins, LLC, and only led to a P.O. Box.
