He stared at his friend. “Chapman?”
Caleb nodded. “Detective Jameson called. Chapman was pulled over in Polson for not stopping at a red light. As well as the driving infringement, they’ve charged him with two counts of breaking and entering.”
Gabe couldn’t believe the police had found him. “When did they take him into custody?”
“About an hour ago. There’s more news. You were right about the phone records. Leith and his stepbrother have been calling each other. The police are searching both of their apartments.”
Gabe’s initial spark of relief was replaced with caution.
“I thought you’d be happy the police have found him.”
“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.” Gabe studied the trees around them, whistling for Sherlock when he still couldn’t see him.
“They’ll find the evidence they need.”
Gabe wasn’t so sure. Chapman had set up an elaborate hoax in the warehouse and stalked him for more than six months. Anyone who had invested that much time and energy into another person’s life wasn’t going to leave anything to chance.
“What does Jameson want us to do?” Gabe asked.
“Nothing for now.” Caleb looked across the front yard as Sherlock came bounding toward them.
“Where’s Natalie?” Gabe patted Sherlock’s head.
“In the backyard. I haven’t told her about Chapman.”
“Do you mind if I tell her?”
“Go ahead. I’ll keep Sherlock amused.”
Gabe handed Caleb the stick and walked around the side of the house. Whatever happened with Chapman was out of their control. The only thing they could do was wait.
* * *
Natalie pulledanother handful of weeds out of the garden. The last layer of paint on her canvas needed time to dry and she needed something to do. Keeping busy was the best way of stopping her imagination from working overtime—especially where Gabe’s stalker was concerned. Thinking about Leith Chapman would only give her ulcers.
Caleb had offered to drive to Sapphire Bay and collect another canvas, but she was reluctant to say yes. There was only one other painting she wanted to finish, but she didn’t want anyone to see it.
She stretched her back and studied the patch of dirt she’d cleared. At some point, the garden had been well looked after. The shrubs dotted along the strip of garden weren’t too overgrown. 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. She wasn’t much of a gardener, but anything had to be better than letting the dandelions and grass take over completely.
“Natalie?”
“Over here.” She smiled as Gabe came around the corner of the house. After nearly giving her a heart attack the other night, he’d switched tactics, making lots of noise whenever he came near her. “I heard Sherlock barking. He sounds happy.”
The early morning sunlight gleamed off Gabe’s wet hair. He wasn’t awake when she’d come outside, so she guessed he must have had a shower before letting Sherlock out for the day.
Gabe studied the garden. “You’ve done a lot of weeding.”
She threw another clump of weeds onto the pile beside her. “I thought I’d get an early start. In another couple of hours it will be too hot to be out here. Did you have a good night’s sleep?”
“About average.”
Gabe didn’t have to tell her ‘about average’ wasn’t enough. The black rings under his eyes were getting darker. They were both worried about Chapman and, right now, there wasn’t a lot they could do about it.
Natalie wiped a dribble of sweat off her face. “I haven’t seen Caleb since breakfast. Has he heard anything from the police or Fletcher Security?”
“The police have found Chapman.”
It took a few seconds for Gabe’s words to sink in. “They have? When?”
